2022-04-03: Monsters of Space
- Log: Monsters of Space
- Cast: Alexis Kerib, Celebro, Saraven Vai, Serinas Nikola, Banagher Links, Trevor Teach, Anita Rosetta
- Where: Copernicus City
- Date: April 03, 2022
- Summary: A kaiju attack strikes where it's least expected: The Moon.
<Pose Tracker> Alexis Kerib has posed.
The downside of making allies, even allies of convenience, is that you actually have to provide the things you offered eventually.
Then again -- getting that particular thing done takes roughly a minute of Alexis's time and effort, in this circumstance. It even allows him to accomplish something *else*, or at least, begin laying the framework for something else. It'll be a process that takes months, unless everyone involved is roughly twice as observant as he estimates...
... but then, Alexis is no stranger to the long con.
The dome of Copernicus City stands tall enough that buildings of all shapes and sizes sit beneath it; the ones most immediately at issue tonight, however, are the ones in the industrial sector. The manufacturing capacity of Copernicus expanded during Zeonic occupation -- only to get shuffled around between several multinational corporations in the aftermath of the war. Getting into Copernicus's manufacturing sector, at this point, is a little on the pricey side.
Conveniently, a kaiju attack is a great way to depress property values without it being remotely obvious that's what's going on!
One minute there is absolutely nothing; the next there is a 70 meter dinosaur rampaging.
ZAFT and Londo Bell actually have data on this particular dragon-like kaiju; the first time it appeared it was in Tsutsujidai, though its eyes were sunset-red and not the silver-ringed black they presently are. ... that's probably an interesting curiosity at best, though, when it's gearing up to vomit a giant ball of superheated something-or-other onto a few blocks of Anaheim Electronics warehouses and factories.
KTS: Alexis Kerib has deployed in Ghoulghilas.
[Public] Sho Muramoto> Is there room on that scene or is it full?
You are now gagging Public.
<Pose Tracker> Celebro has posed.
'Allies' is a strong word. In fact, it's a wholly inappropriate word.
The best Celebro can imagine is player two with the shitty controller.
------
Even now, the surface of the moon is littered with remnants of the one year war. Most of it has been scavenged, or torn apart, or destroyed by fighting. But sometimes you find something the vultures missed. Two thirds of one of Zeon's specialized Lunar Defense Weapons. Inside a normal suit, the body of Shinya Kaburagi, Monster Research Center Nerd, holds up a medal. It's not a particularly strong or rare one, but that's not the point. The point is how much he's going to enjoy it. He flings the medal, which drifts lazily into the remains of the tank.
There's a flash, and then a roar that carries through vacuum in a way roars don't.
"Kiete... karekareta."
----
Mere moments after the Ghoulgilas appears, something comes thundering into Copernicus, a 60 meter tall unnatural beast. It looks for all the world that someone grafted most of a T-Rex like dinosaur to the bottom half of a G87 Luna Tank- most of the dinosaur's body is visible, but some of it is armoured by the the Lunar Tank's curved armour, and it's bristling with guns, a mighty jaw, and a powerful tail. As if to prove that point, it prepares to swing into the Anaheim assets.
It's a competition now, and Celebro intends to win.
<Pose Tracker> Saraven Vai has posed.
Dragons are a little outside of the Sleeves' usual... well, 'mandate' is too strong a word for what is really a ragtag remnant of two prior generations of ragtag remnants. But that infinitely-regressing remnant does have important ties: Namely, they get a lot of hardware under the table via Anaheim Electronics.
A freighter docked at the manufactory seems like it'll be a hapless victim in the rampaging kaiju's line of fire. At least, until a loading hatch on its upper hull swings open and a lift kicks in. The machine being lifted into place is absolutely not a cargo machine.
The Varguil's monoeye camera pings to life and darts towards the rampaging shape of the whatever-it-is. Saraven frowns as she looks down at her master console, then up again to peer at the 70-metre dinosaur. "Why is that here," she murmurs, knitting her brows in mild bafflement.
For the moment Saraven opts to keep a healthy range. The Varguil takes a short leap from the freighter and maneuvers to a spot behind a warehouse, descending into a crouch with its long rifle held at the ready and braced against the structure roof. For now, she holds her fire, biting her lower lip and taking stock of the huge whatever-it-is. Her teeth catch her lower lip for a moment before she taps her comline.
"Do we have any identification on this?" she asks. Something's nagging at her and she isn't sure why.
"We have nothing in our records," a clipped feminine voice comes back. "What's wrong, Saraven?"
"I don't know, Dr. Metta." Saraven adjusts the setting on her rifle. "Something feels off."
There's a moment's pause before the older woman on the other end of the radio answers. "Be aware of it, but driving this creature off is required right now. Be careful. Mobile suits aren't normally equipped for this kind of combat."
"Acknowledged." Saraven responds quietly but smartly - before something else comes rolling in.
Saraven lowers her eyelids ever so slightly and exhales. "Why is there a dinosaur on a G87 Luna Tank," she murmurs, beginning to raise her hand towards her faceplate before realizing she cannot facepalm while in a helmet.
The moment of consternation gives way to her usual quiet focus as she braces, unloading a couple of precise shots towards the rampaging Ghoulgilas. A second later, she taps her comline.
"Zeon task units, synch communications to me." Her tone is quiet and calm despite the situation. "Eliminate the targets and limit damage to this facility."
KTS: Saraven Vai targets Alexis Kerib with Long Beam Rifle Shot!
<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.
A kaiju is attacking the moon! It's not the ancient classic movie, "Godzilla Goes to Space!", it's happening right here, right now, and it's threatening Anaheim Electronics, a somewhat sympathetic supplier of mobile weaponry for ZAFT and the Zeon remnants!
It's a mission Serinas is ordered to take because of the latter part, but she'd do it anyway, because of the former part: Fighting giant monsters is a heroic and good thing to do, even in the belt they've seen movies from Earth about this, as well as newsreels about the fights against Dr. Hell and the Dinosaur Empire!
...And conveniently, Serinas is already here, with a camoflaged joint ZAFT/Sleeves freighter that's getting supplies... although she wasn't expected to have to deploy while they were docked!
Serinas has used the CGUE extensively in simulations, training exercises, and routine patrols, but this will be its first real sortie. Her thoughts of 'You trained for this, you trained for this, you trained for this' as she climbs into the cockpit and boots up the mobile suit's systems are interrupted by a technician contacting her over comms. "Pilot Nikolas?"
"Hm? What is it?"
"After what happened when you went to Africa, we realized if anything goes wrong with the tank you might be stuck micronized, as well. You're one of the few used to using a dedicated anti-ship weapon, so... We've made modifications to the AA-76/QD cannon so you can use it handheld in an MS as well. It's equipped to the CGUE now and awaiting testing." He looks nervous. "Normally we'd wait until you got back into space to test it, but those kaiju..."
Serinas nods, "Understood." then glances over her weapon displays, the CGUE drawing and stowing the beam cannon as she checks that basic pre-programmed movements are functioning. "Sounds good. Let me make a quick modification..." With one hand she swings out the keyboard and begins typing, while the other steps the CGUE out of its gantry and turns it around. "Won't need the extra weight of *this*..."
She sets the MMI-M7S 76mm Machine Gun aside in the rack. "Aaaand done." The CGUE turns around again, draws the beam cannon, and stows it in the machine gun's usual spot.
"Alright, I'm ready! Serinas Nikola, CGUE, Launching!"
...it's a freighter, though, so instead of a cool catapult launch, the grey mobile suit has to actually run out the bay doors. ( Where is it... ) Serinas thinks to herself, but... as soon as she glances *up*, it's clear. "There are TWO now?! Where did they COME from?!"
The weapon operates a bit differently in this mode, but the half-coordinator has easily picked up the instructions from that glance at the display earlier. It's not unlike having to make sure the first round is chambered on a double-action firearm, where it should behave normally after that. She draws the weapon and initiates the first charge, and there's the high-pitched whine of electronics powering up.
"No matter... If you came so suddenly, then I'll make you leave the same way!" The CGUE takes a running leap -- it can't fly in 1G, but it can for a short time in Lunar gravity, making a wide, graceful arc over the... dunosaur tank?! "Why would... why would you put a dinosaur on tank treads??" The CGUE hefts the cannon, the modular housing's front and pistol grip and battery making it resemble a typical MS weapon, and takes aim. "Here goes..."
She lines up the shot and fires from the peak of her arc, a large bolt of blue piercing energy lancing downwards (so that if it misses it will just melt some rock, naturally.)
KTS: Serinas Nikola targets Celebro with AA-76/QD Anti-Ship Beam Warning Shots!
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.
The hunt for Laplace's Box was anything but straightforward, even for the one posessing the key. Banagher's search had brought him close to the moon, and though it now pointed him in a different direction, he could hardly ignore people in need.
Blue stardust streaks through the lunar sky as a pure-white mobile suit enters the battle. He has no guidance or support, and little training, but that's never stopped him before!
"I won't let you hurt anyone!" Banagher says, gritting his teeth as Unicorn lifts its beam rifle.
KTS: Banagher Links targets Alexis Kerib with Unicorn Beam Magnum Shot!
KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Saraven Vai's Long Beam Rifle Shot, taking 3000 damage!
KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 74.
<Pose Tracker> Trevor Teach has posed.
Dragons? There are dragons on the moon!? The Earth! Has Dragons!??!
Something else emerges from the same cargo hatch the Varguil pulled itself out of. The mobile weapon is green and white with gold highlights. Its pale blue optics stare in what can only be described as 'abject disbelief' at the colossal kaiju stomping around Anaheim's corpro-industrial campus. "What," Trevor Teach says rather than asks. It's a statement, not an interrogative. "I thought 'Hic Sunt Dracones' was more of a figure of speech than an actual thing. Saraven, what the heck, why does Earth have dragons?"
Beat.
A dinosaur head bolted to a Luna Tank rolls into view in all its terrible, onion-shaped, Jurassic glory.
Somehow, the mobile suit-- the Isadore-- appears... absolutely flummoxed.
"Aaah, whatever! We can negotiate a fat bonus if we keep them off Anaheim's lawn, right?" Trevor huffs, shifting a control stick meaningfully up, then right, then up again as if to the beginning chords of a catchy opening tune. Thrusters unfold from the machine's back and lower legs, sending it hurtling into the air-- and towards the Ghoulgilas. It... actually overshoots, only for a ROCKET PROPELLED SCISSOR-CLAW to come hurtling back the way it came to try and yank up and back at the purple dinosaur's floppy neck! "Let's do it then! Sara, I'll take the front. It ain't much, but Isadore can at least take a few punches up close!"
Another meaningful lever yank. Trevor pulls a trigger, as the Isadore flips itself head over heels in mid-air. A hidden, industrial-grade servo motor begins whirring in its arm, reeling the piratical mobile weapon into close quarters with its chosen quarry...!
To deliver a boot to the backside of the Kaiju's (hopefully now yanked-upward) neck!!
KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Banagher Links's Unicorn Beam Magnum Shot, taking 5520 damage!
KTS: Trevor Teach targets Alexis Kerib with Rocket Anchor!
KTS: Trevor Teach anchors Alexis Kerib, forcing him into close range.
KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to parry Trevor Teach's Rocket Anchor, taking 4290 damage!
KTS: Trevor Teach has engaged Alexis Kerib
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
Distress signals have become a frequent feature in Anita's life. It feels like she's always responding to one or another whenever she's on duty. Well, it's hard to say no whenever there's someone asking for help...
The source this time comes from Copernicus City conveniently enough, since she's here already on Londo Bell business. It takes a few moments for her to hurry back to her Variable Fighter - the VF-25 Messiah Rosetta, a personalized variant of the VF-25 seen elswhere - and another for her to climb in and punch in the various codes she needs to receive permission to launch and fight in the city limits. She flies over the city, in the reported direction and, once the target in sight, does a quick (and unnecessary, but stylish) forward flip as her machine shifts into GERWALK mode to hover above.
"Kaiju, huh...? Why here?" Anita considers for a moment. Two of them, both dinosaur-shaped but one bipedal and the other attached to a tank with curved armor and just, tons of guns.
"Aren't we looking friendly...?" Anita comments, mostly to herself. Friendly or not, both of them are currently winding up to do some major damage to the surrounding structures. Also of concern... are some of the others who've arrayed to fight back against the kaiju threat.
Well, it wouldn't do to cause a scene. Anita flips over to general hailing frequencies.
"Hello, hello! Ensign Anita Rosetta of Londo Bell, here to land a land. Let's all get along today, shall we?" Anita broadcasts to all present, before turning her attention back to the dinosaur tank.
Keeping her distance, the Messiah Rosetta draws out her gatling gun pod and unleashes a spray of fire in the dinosaur tank's direction to draw its attention away from the buildings.
KTS: Anita Rosetta targets Celebro with Gatling Shot!
<Pose Tracker> Alexis Kerib has posed.
Alexis has, for the most part, moved on from worrying about this; he's observing, for the moment, but he's not concerned about Ghoulghilas. It's a clay model -- and one he can warp back together with only the most modest effort. Oh, sure, getting himself ready to deploy it again might be a hair more effort, but even then -- he's not pressed about it.
Strikes rain down upon it. Sleeves and the Unicorn take their shots on the monster, with Londo Bell coming in hot behind. Ghoulghilas's neck isn't quite ready to fire a return volley just yet; it needs a moment to recover, and the beam shots both rip through it; the Beam Magnum manages just a bit more purchase than the Varguil's rifle, but both lance through and leave sizeable holes. It's not a very robust thing -- quite literally full of hot air, the holes revealing insubstantial, wire-like lines criss-crossing the inside but otherwise mostly showing the interior to be hollow. As the Isadore streaks in and kicks it in the neck, the neck seems to crumble a bit -- almost as if it were made of stone rather than flesh, despite how it feels.
The body of Shinya Kaburagi feels a presence appear to one side. "Ah -- hello to you," Alexis says, floating at the most neutral posture he can muster. "What brings you to this side of the moon...?" His gaze sweeps up and down the normal suit-clad technician's form, and muses, "... Though I can't imagine, from your bearing, you're a particularly chatty sort of person."
*Now* -- albeit pockmarked by beam fire and already starting to sag -- Ghoulghilas acts. Lumbering through a forest of massive shipping crates, the creature swings its thick, wire-like metallic claws at its attackers, trying to dislodge Isadore from its neck and bleed the Varguil for its trouble. The Unicorn, on approach from the furthest angle, doesn't receive any attention yet; instead, Ghoulghilas just... stares at it. It feels like it's staring through to Banagher; there's a mildly unsettling psychic hollowness to the whole experience.
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Banagher Links with Demoralize!
KTS: Alexis Kerib demoralizes Banagher Links, reducing his Morale drastically.
KTS: [Spirit Defense] Banagher Links's Determination activates, and his spirit endures.
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Saraven Vai with Unsheathed Hobby Wire Grab!
KTS: Saraven Vai successfully evades Alexis Kerib's Unsheathed Hobby Wire Grab
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Trevor Teach with Unsheathed Hobby Wire Grab!
KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Trevor Teach, reducing his Morale significantly.
KTS: Trevor Teach blocks Alexis Kerib's Unsheathed Hobby Wire Grab, taking 4510 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Deject!
KTS: Alexis Kerib has engaged Trevor Teach
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.
Perhaps Banagher would be more shaken by the appearance of true-to-life monsters were he not piloting a mythical beast of his own. Life was already so strange, what were a few kaiju added on top?
His opinion quickly changes as Ghoulghilas turns to look at him. A chill runs up Banagher's spine, even with all the distance between himself and the monster. Maybe there was more to this thing than a simple beast -- why was it here, anyway? Banagher frowns, sheathing Unicorn's gun. If the kaiju wanted to make this personal, he would play along. Maybe getting closer would answer his questions.
There was no need to hold back against something inhuman. Unicorn draws its beam sabers, and Banagher urges it forward, racing straight into the Ghoulghilas' personal space. Using the force of its momentum, Unicorn thrusts into the monster, accompanied by a yell from its pilot.
KTS: Banagher Links targets Alexis Kerib with Unicorn Beam Sabers Thrust!
KTS: Alexis Kerib has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Alexis Kerib has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Alexis Kerib parries Banagher Links's Unicorn Beam Sabers Thrust, taking 1320 damage!
KTS: Banagher Links has engaged Alexis Kerib
<Pose Tracker> Trevor Teach has posed.
"Ugh, what is this thing? It's like I'm fighting a particularly spongy asteroid...!" Trevor grouses, the impact from the Isadore's flying kick unfamiliar and offputting. "Tch, well if you've got a consistency like that, then I've got just the thing-- eh?"
Riding a dragon, as it turns out, is not as easy as the vernacular might make it out to be. Trevor's uncovered eye widens in surprise as the Ghoulgilas begins to buck and twist, before finally swatting the Isadore away with a raking claw-swipe. Trevor yells as he's hurled wide, slamming down hard into some Anaheim executive's shiny new sports car-- and digging a trench into the parking lot besides. "Damn. Dragons... I shouldn't underestimate dragons, huh...?"
Locking bolts disengage, dropping into the Isadore's hands what looks to be some kind of oversized crossbow hybridized with a rivet gun. Darting in, Trevor shoves the weapon's barrel close to the Ghoulgilas' flank and pulls the trigger, unleashing...
...Actual explosive stakes!? The kind used for honest to goodness asteroid mining out in the Belt!? "If it's got the consistency of a rock... Then we're going to do this the old-fashioned way!"
KTS: Trevor Teach targets Alexis Kerib with Explosive Bolt!
KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to evade Trevor Teach's Explosive Bolt, taking 2475 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Celebro has posed.
The Lunasaur Tank's treads are not fast enough to evade the strikes. Serinas' beam shot overhead hits the dinosaur square in it's back, eliciting another roar- this time of pain. It swivels around, treads turning, only to take a spray of gatling fire across it's neck, causing it to spin out badly, and it fires the rocket in the base of it's treads to- spin helplessly in the low gravity for a second, until it lands. Lunasaur Tank is now angry.
------
So is the Lunasaur Tank's creator, frowning from a vantage point. "<Pathetic...>" He mutters in space language, before suddenly there is a very tall... seijin? Whatever. Kaburagi's hunched over posture turns up to look at Alexis. So. That's his competition. He gives the giant a frankly disparaging look- there's no fear, no concern, just... boredom? "And what are you supposed to be?" He says, deadpan, droning. Ugh, nothing fun has happened yet.
----
The Lunasaur Tank opens fire with it's guns at Anita's Messiah, given the Luna Tank turrets *can* swivel up, a series of blast to shoot down the VF. Serinas CGUE, however, has a different fate. Instead, the Lunasaur tank charges towards the CGUE at full speed, somehow does a handbrake turn on tank treads, and swings out it's tail at the MS, and hopefully well... Crush it. It wants to crush, but crushing is hard in Low G, so it will settle for a home run if it can pull it off.
Why does a dinosaur know about baseball??
KTS: Celebro targets Anita Rosetta with Lunasaur Tank Gun Array Blast!
<Pose Tracker> Saraven Vai has posed.
Something is burning itself into Saraven's awareness. It has nothing to do with kaiju. Her gaze drifts towards the white mobile suit that comes barreling in - no Londo Bell IFF, nothing she recognizes instantly by sight, but the feeling is clear enough. She presses her lips together and watches the Unicorn out of the corner of her eye.
Banagher can probably feel it. There's a quiet pressure focused on him. Distant, yet potent, like someone staring through a scratched pane of glass.
...Why are you here?
A question - but one carried on a distant thought. Not heard, only felt.
Trevor asks the million-dollar question. Saraven presses her lips together. "I don't know," she admits a bit lamely, but quickly refocuses herself and maneuvers to coordinate with the Isadore. "Right, be careful, Trevor."
It's hard for something the size of a mobile suit to tank for something the size of an Evangelion, though. The huge Ghoulgilas takes a swing at her; she reacts instantly and ducks back behind the warehouse she'd sheltered behind. The huge claw rips through the air where the Varguil's head was, shearing a cut into the roof of the structure but narrowly missing truncating the mobile suit. Tensing in her seat, Saraven jerks the Varguil to one side and bounds out into the open, keeping low to try and stay below the swing of the gigantic monster's wire talons. The way it's looking at the Unicorn--
Something about it is bothering her. She can't figure it out.
Why do I know this feeling...?
...Lonely bird in a lonely cage... why am I think about that...?
...I need to go back there...
The connection feels like it's there. She can't plug the two sides of the equation together. All Saraven can do is keep her focus on the mission, no matter how many questions are burning holes in her consciousness. The Varguil boosts away, coming around to strafe behind several stacks of crates. She seems like she's veering away, until the funnels on the machine's backpack launch off and scatter like hornets from a shaken hive.
Another transmission comes through. Anita Rosetta? Saraven makes a mental note, the voice all too familiar. She taps her comm pickup.
"Our engagement is not against you today, Federation." It comes in a totally flat tone that rounds off the fact that she's calling Anita by her political allegiance. "Avoid damage to civilian lives and infrastructure--"
She trails off as the Lunasaur Tank trundles towards Serinas's CGUE through the middle of the approach vector Saraven was plotting towards Ghoulgilas. She presses her lips together, focus shifting. So do the funnels.
The gigantic Lunasaur Tank is suddenly hounded by funnels, herding in from two directions. Blasts pelt at the big monster's back and flank as the remotes come sweeping in, taking erratic approach lanes to make their patterns all the more difficult to predict.
"ZAFT pilot," Saraven transmits, "do you have any information on these units?" Apparently the Sleeves aren't normally in the kaiju business.
KTS: Saraven Vai targets Celebro with Funnel All-Range Attack!
<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.
Someone is shouting about THEY HAVE DRAGONS ON THE MOON over the operation comms Serinas has temporary access to. She is just... confused. "Huh? Did you skip history class? Giant monsters used to attack the Earth Sphere all the time, didn't they? I've tried to stop Baron Ashura from attacking people like, twice this year... The one you guys are fighting showed up earlier in Tetsudaiji--"
Before she can elaborate, what is *less* confusing is the giant tail coming in as she lands. Serinas tries to steer her CGUE to get in too close for the tail to hit hard, only to get smacked!
As the MS is sent tumbling through the dome's airspace, part of Serinas reflects that maybe she needs to just not try that maneuver, no matter what machine she's in 6_9
It's okay, it's okay, that's what AMBACS is for! @Saraven: "...That's all I've got! That it appeared before..." She reorients, pouring on the thrust to slow down, kick off a sturdy-looking building, and charge back at the Lunasaur! She appears on an open channel to tell @Anita: <<"I'll make you an opening, Valkyrie! Get ready!">>
Stowing the beam cannon for a moment, she deploys the armblade as the CGUE zooms in, aiming to cut a long gash in that tail! "YAAAAAAAAGH!"
KTS: Serinas Nikola targets Celebro with Rip and Tear!
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
A response comes in, the Lilac Gale's now familiar voice coming flatly over the communications. Something about the way she words it ruffles her feathers, but Anita is good at shrugging things like that off.
"I'm gonna go ahead assume that's your way of saying 'we're good for today'." Anita replies nonchalantly. "Stay safe, pal!"
With that out of the way, she can turn her attention back to the Lunasaur Tank... and with good timing, as the dinosaur's turrets are all pointed her way. The Messiah Rosetta manages to evade the first volley, but it doesn't let up and soon enough she's forced to take it head on, drawing out her shield and using it and her pinpoint barrier to intercept the incoming blasts - the force of which sends her flying back in mid-air until her thrusters can compensate for it.
"This thing's got some serious firepower." Anita notes. This could get dangerous, quick...
The ZAFT pilot, meanwhile, addresses her.
"Gotcha!" Anita says. She waits for her to move in before circling around the Lunasaur's back, taking aim with her gatling pod once more and opening fire while the Lunasaur Tank is distracted by Serinas's attack. Her main goal is getting it positioned right where she wants it, to open it up for further attack from the others.
KTS: Anita Rosetta targets Celebro with Leading Fire!
<Pose Tracker> Alexis Kerib has posed.
Ghoulghilas's dead, hollow black eyes continue to track Banagher and the Unicorn; one of its claws comes up to meet the saber, and while that comes with its own cost in damage to the kaiju's hand, it stops the worst of the strikes. The explosive bolts are coming from too close to successfully get away, too -- they detonate, and do exactly what they set out to do, leaving a hole in the flank.
Alexis is... irritable today, for reasons that have very little to do with Celebro. "You may call me Alexis Kerib," he says; the phrase is practiced, which is convenient because it stops Alexis from sounding particularly annoyed. "Are you here on BioNet's behalf, then? You certainly sound like one of the two-bit criminals they prop up... though, no -- you do seem a touch more... well-traveled. What is it you're hoping to get out of this encounter?"
Ghoulghilas's body readies itself once again. This time, it uses its longer-distance attacks, rather than focusing entirely on the claws. Its mouth opens, flame pooling in it; after a moment, one shot issues toward the Unicorn -- and then three more, as blasts come rapidfire.
Trevor remains fairly close, and Ghoulghilas swats at the Isadore, turning to face it more fully. Its tail upends several shipping containers as it moves.
Ghoulghilas responds to immediate threats most of all; it doesn't seem too concerned with Saraven, after she's turned to face the Lunasaur Tank... though that might change.
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Banagher Links with Ghoulghilas Mouth Rapid Fire!
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Trevor Teach with Unsheathed Hobby Wire Swipes!
KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Banagher Links, reducing his Morale significantly.
KTS: Banagher Links fails to react to Alexis Kerib's Ghoulghilas Mouth Rapid Fire, taking 7200 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Deject!
KTS: Celebro fails to Parry Serinas Nikola's Rip and Tear, taking 3750 damage!
KTS: Serinas Nikola has engaged Celebro
KTS: Serinas Nikola begins a Formation attack!
KTS: Celebro fails to Evade Anita Rosetta's Leading Fire, taking 3375 damage!
KTS: Anita Rosetta continues a Formation attack!
KTS: Celebro fails to Evade Saraven Vai's Funnel All-Range Attack, taking 3300 damage!
KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 80.
KTS: Trevor Teach parries Alexis Kerib's Unsheathed Hobby Wire Swipes, taking 1410 damage!
KTS: Alexis Kerib has engaged Trevor Teach
<Pose Tracker> Trevor Teach has posed.
"What kind of history includes dragons!? I grew up in the Asteroid Belt, what the heck is a Baron Asura!?" Trevor demands, both of the pilot asking such ridiculous questions, and of the cruel and unforgiving cosmos itself. But to be quite honest, he has far more important things to worry about. There's a giant, angry dragon standing far, FAR too close for comfort-- but it's a dance that he cannot avoid. Not after making such a bold declaration at the outset of all of this!
He is to tank this beast. To draw its attention and to keep it focused on him. Therefore, that is exactly what he does.
The explosive bolt does its job, but in spite of there being a giant gaping hole in Ghoulgilas' flank, the monster doesn't seem to be slowing down at all...!
"Aren't dragons supposed to bleed when you wound them!?" Trevor demands again. Ghoulgilas swipes at him again and again, but this time, he's... more ready. Beam cutlass in hand, Trevor fades back when the strike comes and slaps its hands with the sizzling edge of his sword. Superheated particles slice away the tips of the kaiju's claws, reducing its range just enough to turn what would have been sure hits into narrow, armor-scraping misses. "What's with its insides...? It looks like... Like some kind of computer chip? Tch, decide what you're made of already, you stupid rock-circuit dragon!"
Another bolt is fired, this time directly into that exposed circuitry. But this projectile isn't an explosive. It splits into three independent stakes, each one aimed to bury itself into the Kaiju's insides. A moment after they land...
Nothing happens.
...And then a moment more and the things pop open and begin emitting powerful arcs of electricity! This... is a classic Zeonic Leader-type weapon!! "Fine, if you're all circuit, then let's see you try this on for size!"
KTS: Trevor Teach targets Alexis Kerib with Plasma Leader Bolt!
KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Trevor Teach's Plasma Leader Bolt, taking 3255 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Celebro has posed.
Serinas' armblade makes a solid slash against the Lunasaur Tank's tail, which whips around in pain and it roars again. It's a simple creature. If hurt, turn towards hurt, kill hurt. This is easy to use against what is, frankly, a very stupid monster because, as we know, all dinosaurs were stupid. (Celebro doesn't know about the Dinosaur Empire yet. They wouldn't change his opinion.)
The main thing this does it make it easy for Anita to shoot along the Lunasaur Tank's spine. The response is as expected, roar, turn. Boring. Increasingly boring. Saraven's funnels are new, and confuse the Lunasaur tank on where it is supposed to be attacking. It bites and flails and shoots wildly.
-----
Alexis can be as much of a bland boring pissbaby as he wants, as far as Celebro's concerned. He's not really interested. "...Ugh. Such a trash kaiju." He grumbles, basically ignoring Alexis. Stupid waste of a medal. That pink and blue one isn't doing much better. And then Alexis asks something interesting, finally. He grins.----
The Lunasaur Tank *roars* again, as it rights itself. It's time for it's rage to bear fruit. He opens fire with all guns at Saraven, a seemingly endless barrage at the Varguil to fill the sky with high calibur fire- it turns out when youi triple the size of a Luna Tank, you triple the size of it's guns, too. Serinas finds a trio of massive missiles fired straight for the CGUE, fromthe front of the tank. The Luna Tank isn't even ARMED with missiles, so those might be from the Dinosaur Tank. And the GERWALK Valkyrie, well, the Dinosaur Tank charges full speed, straight for Anita, with one thing on it's mind. A mighty, crushing, destructive chomp.
----
Celebro starts to laugh. It's a horrid cackle, that somehow echoes out of him, crazed and deranged. He looks up at Alexis, a psychotic grin on his face, and one red eye making eye contact at him. "Same reason as you, isn't it?"
"Kiete karakareta..."
KTS: Celebro has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Celebro targets Saraven Vai with Lunasaur Tank Gun Array Barrage!
KTS: Saraven Vai has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Celebro targets Serinas Nikola with Lunasaur Tank Gun Array Missile Barrage!
KTS: Saraven Vai successfully evades Celebro's Lunasaur Tank Gun Array BarrageKTS: Saraven Vai has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.
In the midst of Unicorns attack, Banagher feels a gaze on him, pressing down on his awareness. Distracted, he looks around.
"Im here so no one will get hurt." He says, half to himself. Could whoever asked even hear him?
Taking his hand off the controls for a moment to cover his right eye, Banagher is unprepared for the bursts of flame from the kaiju. Unicorn moves to protect itself, but too late the attack hits home. Yelling in anger (and a bit of fright), Banagher is unsure how to react.
Unicorn, however, has had enough, and knows just what to do. Sliding its pilot back, the NT-D systems activate, giving the pure-white mobile suit a dangerous red glow. Its white horn splits into the iconic Gundam V-fin and despite the pain this transformation brings, Banaghers thoughts quickly focus on destroying the monster before him.
"Why dont you look somewhere else!" He shouts at Ghoulghilas, sheathing one sword to hold Unicorns shield, NT-D frames shining. Channeling Banaghers anger, Unicorn lets loose a flurry of attacks with its saber, cutting into the monsters odd blue-and-pink skin.
Banagher Links transforms to RX-0 Unicorn Gundam <Destroy Mode>
KTS: Banagher Links targets Alexis Kerib with Two-Saber Combo!
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
Her plan works out - gatling fire draws the Lunasaur Tank's attention right to where she wants it. ...But, maybe it worked a little too well, because after it retaliates against the others it whirls on her with a giant chomp. Anita is quick to try and accelerate away, but she's not quite fast enough - there's a wail of kaiju teeth against metal and the crackling of the pinpoint barrier as the Messiah Rosetta is seized in the Lunasaur Tank's jaws.
"Can't say this is what I expected to do today..." Anita comments. The Valkyrie's arms try to grab onto the upper jaws to the groaning of metal. A barrier can do a lot, but a machine's going to be strained in a situation like this regardless... but, there is something she can do here.
"I hope you like your food a little spicy..." Anita comments with a grin, as the Messiah Rosetta's shoulder mounted beam cannon emerges, pointed down into the Lunasaur Tank's throat. Energy builds and builds within the weapon until it reaches full charge, at which point it unleashes in a powerful, concentrated beam with enough force to send the Valkyrie flying back out into open air - though the sheer energy expenditure means it'll take a second for it to return to full mobility.
KTS: Anita Rosetta has activated the Enable Spirit Command.
KTS: Anita Rosetta has activated the Enable Spirit Command.
KTS: Anita Rosetta has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Anita Rosetta targets Celebro with Concentrated Full Charge Beam Cannon!
KTS: Banagher Links rattles Alexis Kerib, making his next maneuvers more difficult.
KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Banagher Links's Two-Saber Combo, taking 3225 damage!
KTS: Banagher Links has engaged Alexis Kerib
<Pose Tracker> Saraven Vai has posed.
"Why is there even a Baron," Saraven asks with a blink and a glance at Serinas's CGUE. "Much less one with giant monsters?"
The ZAFT pilot, at least, says something that causes something to click in Saraven's mind. She sits up a little straighter and frowns.
"...Tsutsujidai? You mean where Akane is?"
She can't inquire much further. Her mind flashes a warning at her that's sharp enough to slash through even the blunted feeling that normally makes everything feel just a little distant to her. She draws a breath and begins to move.
The Lunasaur Tank starts firing in all directions - but none of those directions seem to be precisely right to catch the Varguil. Saraven moves instinctively, letting her mind lead her to where she knows those firing arcs will go. The Varguil boosts up in a high, arcing jump, then changes direction in mid-leap, then flips over a line of shellfire and drops to the ground, then jukes behind a cargo crate stack that explodes into debris a second later as the bullet hail intersects it. Breathing quickening, she fires her main thrusters and booms away to one side to gain range.
For another second, she looks out towards the battle with Ghoulgilas. Her eyes are on the white shape that is the Unicorn. Again comes that sense of pressure.
Banagher will feel it once more. Someone observing, but with thoughts rather than eyes. The Varguil isn't overtly staring at the Unicorn, but Saraven is *very* aware of it.
Nevertheless, there is the Lunasaur Tank, and the Lilac Gale of Mars maneuvers to take a position on the flank, hopefully safely clear of being charged into a fight. She guides the funnels deftly, this time maneuvering them around the giant tank-creature in a whirling tornado. They buzz so quickly that they seem to be everywhere at once, stopping only for a split-second at a time to fire and fire. Beams interlace and weave together like the bars of a glowing cage, trying to narrow the machine's range of movement and then blast it apart.
Saraven frowns as she guides the attack. "Why would giant monsters attack this facility? This is Luna, not Earth. Strange Earth phenomena aren't supposed to happen here."
KTS: Saraven Vai targets Celebro with Funnel Cage!
<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.
She hurt it. The three of them hurt it good! "I'm from the belt too! Did you not even get newsreels???" And it's focusing its guns on Saraven. Now's her ch--
Missiles?! No time to think. This keeps failing in actual sorties, but it worked in training. She presses in closer, trying to circle around the the dino-tank closely for an attack on the rear, too tightly for the missiles to follow -- or so she thinks.
"AAAH!" She clings to the controls with a white-knuckled grip as the cockpit rocks around her, loud explosions and damage alarms filling the air. Another hit like that and the CGUE will be lucky to make it out...
On the bright side, she's ended up right where she wanted! Just, with more holes in her CGUE than she wanted, the armored skirt completely blown off and internals exposed through gaping holes in the leg and front (well below the cockpit.)
She'll have to make this count! Serinas tries to land on the tail and jab her armblade into the cut made earlier and widen it, while the CGUE's left hand draws the beam gun and presses the muzzle right up to the wound. Or at least fires close if it stops her from lining up the shot. "Cut... through!"
<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.
Why is there even a baron? "They're one of Doctor Hell's Generals! Doesn't everyone know that??"
Where Akane is? "Who??"
KTS: Serinas Nikola has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Serinas Nikola targets Celebro with CGUE Armblade Mighty Strike!
<Pose Tracker> Alexis Kerib has posed.
Alexis, paying vague attention to the ebb and flow of data, notes some talk. He can't get anywhere near everything -- but he does hear keywords. Perfect. Already they draw the line of a bond.
Celebro gets the seijin's immediate attention, though. "Hm. Well, I certainly can't argue otherwise," Alexis concedes, though part of him is loath to concede that anything about *him* resembles this... shambling, cackling space-teenager. His mask remains impassive. "I'm interested to see the shape you mold the Earth Sphere into! I would love to know what you're hoping it becomes, eventually."
The electricity surges through Ghoulghilas; it does seem to arc through that hollowness with a particular *insistence*, beyond what one would expect from the beast's consistency. Banagher's sabers, meanwhile... the Unicorn, small though it is compared to the enormity of a kaiju, manages to carve several nasty gouges into it.
Ghoulghilas lists to one side; the large, spindly horns above its shoulders dip down -- and then it swings them back up, hoping to drag Unicorn up into the sky.
It's Trevor, this time, who receives the attention of Ghoulghilas's mouth; the kaiju opens its mouth wide, and yet again, it lets out a high-rate barrage of balls of fire. A few arc for the warehouses and shipping platforms; the damage isn't *so* dire, though, because... well, because people are trying to address it. That goes a long way, here.
KTS: Alexis Kerib has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Alexis Kerib has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Trevor Teach with Ghoulghilas Mouth Rapid Fire!
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Banagher Links with Hobby Wire Horn Gore!
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.
Overwhelmed by the strain of the NT-D system and the battle itself, at the newest feeling of pressure, Banagher cries out. "Whos there? I can feel someone I know youre there!" The prickling in the back of his mind wont let up, more and more distracting as the battle drags on.
Ghoulghilas' horn strikes Unicorn hard, despite its shield managing to take the brunt of the damage. Banagher cant help but cough for a few seconds, stunned at being hit so ferociously. Unicorn is knocked away, giving Banagher a moment to regain his composure. The monster seems to be on its last legs, it would surely be alright to take a break, just for a few minutes.
As Unicorn retreats, it fires its Vulcans, unwilling to fully let go of its target.
KTS: Banagher Links targets Alexis Kerib with Head Vulcans Retreating Volley!
KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Banagher Links's Head Vulcans Retreating Volley, taking 1600 damage!
KTS: Banagher Links repulses Alexis Kerib, forcing him to disengage.
<Pose Tracker> Celebro has posed.
The funnel cage fully entraps the Lunasaur Tank, as it misses the Varguil by a wide margin. The burn and score it's flesh, but it insides- on the Dinosaur part at least- are just that. Flesh. Bone, muscle and organs. The armour seared away by the funnels reveals... machinery. Perfectly ordinary moon dinosaur parts, perfectly ordinary zeon mobile weapon parts. It's like there's no rules here, it just is.
The beam blast down it's throats *hurts it* and it reels back, smoke and cinders emerging from it's mouth. It roars in agonized pain, screaming, flailing. But not dead.
Serinas charges it. Based on the situation, that's an easy ender.It's throat is exposed- when one of it's short arms flings up, and it's claws knock the arm blade off route, slicing into juicy flank, but keeping the Meltrandi pilot in close.
Celebro cackles again, things are getting fun. This old man is asking questions that are interesting, and the Lunasaur Tank is finally angry enough, finally furious. "Shape?" He responds, madness throughout his body language and voice. "Who cares about shape? This whole civilization is a game! And I'm just going to have fun playing it until the end." He giggles. "Winning an easy game is still winning, after all. Now shut up. We're getting to the good part." He looks over at the battlefield. "Let's see whose toy breaks first."
The Lunasaur Tanks missile ports open at once, to the two combatants in close with it. While Serinas gets a series of 'smaller' missiles, Anita gets something much worse- An anti ship missile, at point blank range. Celebro clearly doesn't care.
In fact, he's doing some bullshit, kicking up smoke and dust before Dinosaur Tank's eyes glow in the smoke, and suddenly two lasers fly for the Varguil in a wide arc, with no care for collateral.
Not that there was any care for collateral.
KTS: Celebro has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Celebro has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Celebro has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Celebro targets Saraven Vai with Lunasaur Tank Gun Array Strafe!
KTS: Celebro targets Serinas Nikola with Lunasaur Tank Gun Array Missile Burst!
KTS: Celebro targets Anita Rosetta with Lunasaur Tank Gun Array Anti-Ship Shot!
<Pose Tracker> Trevor Teach has posed.
Electricity seemed to do... something to the creature. Are dragons vulnerable to lightning? Trevor clicks his teeth and considers his options. He only packed enough Leaders for one more of those attacks, but getting too close means dealing with the creature's claws. On the other hand...
Fireballs.
"Shit-- move!" Trevor hisses a curse, throwing his machine's thrusters into a sudden, sidestepping impulse... But even before the electrical signals reach his arms, as if responding at the speed of thought, the Isadore begins to move. Even in low gravity, inertia is a hell of a thing; his body is thrown into the side of his seat as the Isadore darts to its left-- before abruptly being hurled to the opposite side of the seat as the mobile suit steps again to the right. Making tight, almost impossibly close dodges, the piratical frame advances, ducking and weaving like a practiced boxer, even as the passing heat haze peels the paint away from its armor. It keeps the Ghoulgilas' attacks in a close cluster, sending fireballs hurtling roughly into the same part of the facility at its back. "Ghh-- Planning... Planning in a situation like this is for lily-livered bilge-drinkers, ain't it!? Screw it, this is a dragon I'm fightin!"
"We ain't got time for fun n' games! Isadore, let's do this together!" One more fireball. The Isadore's optical visor flashes as it leans into the shot, its scissor-claw hinging open with a crackle of arcing electricity! Bizarrely, for the briefest of instants, it feels almost... almost as though there are two presences within that mobile suit, nearly overlapping atop one another. Two consciousnesses that reach out across that special wavelength that Newtypes know so well... And then, just like that, there's only one again.
And it has dragonmurder on its mind.
Wreathed in a white-hot halo of skyfire, the claw tears through the last fireball. Roaring, Trevor drives the claw into the base of the Ghoulgilas' neck and braces a shoulder against its side. A powerful bank of capacitors discharges a vast amount of energy into the kaiju as the Isadore's anti-MS scissor claw goes to clamp down into its meaty body...!
"You've got a hell of a breath on you, dragon. But I've got a Dragon of me own!" Trevor grunts, dropping the bolt-caster. A compartment at the mobile suit's hip opens, launching a snub-nosed beam cannon into its waiting hand. "Beam Dragon--" E-Cap already glowing from the strain, the Isadore's thrusters fire as its clawed arm hoists to try and push the kaiju off-balance and expose its gaping wound. "FIRE!"
Plunging its gun-wielding arm deep, the Isiore goes to bury the barrel of that beam cannon into the kaiju's wireframe insides... Before discharging a full E-Cap's worth of firepower at point blank range!
KTS: Trevor Teach has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
<Pose Tracker> Saraven Vai has posed.
Saraven frowns faintly and knits her brows. "What kind of doctor calls himself Doctor Hell? Is that person responsible for this?"
She closes her eyes for a second to focus on the way the funnels dance, guiding them through the psycoframe system. But she can feel something else. Banagher reacting, verbal, yet she can feel the distress, a blurred feeling through the frosted glass of her consciousness. What comes back to him is a thought - a sensation that carries more than spoken word. A quiet interest from a presence that feels at once distant yet curious.
You came here looking for something, didn't you?
Through it all, part of her consciousness remains on the Lunasaur Tank. The roaring and howling that accompany her shots leave Saraven shuddering a little. Her shots aren't just damaging it - they're hurting it. There are guts and muscles and bones inside it. She pales behind her faceplate and tenses, forcing herself to remember that she absolutely must not demonstrate mercy.
Eye lasers blaze straight for the Varguil, tearing through a warehouse structure and throwing up an explosive cloud of debris and fire. Saraven clicks her teeth together and reacts at the speed of thought. The Varguil...
...throws itself into the explosion, on its chest. It hits the ground and vanishes into the smoke.
The lasers go slashing over the machine as it disappears into the collateral cloud, momentarily obscured. Saraven sees what's happening clearly: She dives just beneath the eye beams, hits the lunar surface and tumbles for a few dozen metres until the Varguil can push up to one knee. Dust and fire bloom through the air around her as she draws a breath, tense. Avoiding the blast was a narrow thing, putting her in the dubious cover of what's left of the warehouse.
She has a couple of seconds. Enough time to try and triangulate things. Pensive, she lets her thoughts extend towards Trevor, then Banasgher, then Serinas and Anita, and finally out to try and follow the two kaiju. Her frown returns, small but troubled.
If one of these monsters comes from Akane's world....
...It is a world, isn't it?
It seemed so strange... being there.
Akane... you're a bird in an empty aviary, aren't you...?
But then... why is this happening now...?
The Varguil rises from behind the ruins of the warehouse, long rifle in hand. Smoke still blooms from the damage the eye beams inflicted. Tracking the Varguil visually is hard.
Saraven doesn't need eyes. She focuses her thoughts on the Lunasaur Tank's pain. She depresses a trigger, and her rifle unloads. A violet blast tears through the dust cloud as she tries to centre-of-mass the huge machine.
I need to see you again... Akane....
KTS: Saraven Vai targets Celebro with Long Beam Rifle Charged Shot!
<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.
On the bright side: That worked! The Lunasaur is cut open and heavily damaged.
But it's not enough, not yet.
The titan over three times her size rages. Is this what it was like to be a miclone facing her ancestors, so many years ago...? Barely, she dodges claws, teeth, and tail...
...suddenly, missiles! There's no time. And THIS time, she just turns the CGUE to the side to take it right on the shield!
*KABOOM!*
The CGUE tumbles across the street. The shield blown apart entirely, the left arm mecha-skeletonized holding its twin gatling guns in condition that don't look like it will fire. The rest of the machine is scratched up and showing heavy damage in a couple of places, but...
It still functions.
Serinas just can't find her groove today, though. It's not coming together. Getting smacked around again and again by a titan is... it's like secondhand terror. The distress of the others reinforcing her own, making it hard to focus.
But still... this thing has to die! Not just to protect Anaheim... but to protect the people of the city, as well!
But in this state, she can't think of any clever tactics. There's just one obvious option, and Serinas's mind grasps it tightly.
Lying on its back, smoking, surrounded by cracked pavement, the CGUE lifts the anti-ship beam cannon and aims for the center of the Lunasaur's tank part. "Die, DIE, *DIE*!!!!!"
She pulls the trigger again and again, piercing blue beams lancing out one after another until either the kaiju is destroyed or she can't target it anymore!
KTS: Serinas Nikola has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
Serinas Nikola uses Hyper Reloader
KTS: Serinas Nikola targets Celebro with AA-76/QD Anti-Ship Beam Repeated Fire!
<Pose Tracker> Alexis Kerib has posed.
Well, that's certainly an answer. When Celebro explains -- giggling, hunching, shifting all the way -- that this whole civilization is a game, Alexis... cringes. "... I see," he offers. He pivots to one side, to watch the chaos -- but it's really more like he's staring into the camera nonplussed.
"Here's to a long and exciting game, then," he says, pleasantly. "Though perhaps not for the young lady's poor creation."
Ghoulghilas takes the vulcan blast square in the eye; one of those black-and-silver eyes seems to almost explode, as Banagher gains separation. The real meat of the damage, however, comes from Trevor; the Isadore's anti-MS claw clamps down firmly, and then --
-- those wireframe insides receive the full strength of that beam cannon. That's twice now that someone has discharged a full e-cap's worth of energy into Ghoulghilas, and:
It explodes! There's a great gout of flame, and when it clears, all that remains is...
... honestly, next to nothing. Some rubble. The buildings are *mostly* intact, at least; while Ghoulghilas has done some damage here, it only *might* manage to do much to create urgency to sell. Oh well -- Alexis has no grand commitment to real estate fraud. It's a courtesy -- and a different type of investment entirely.
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
"Oh, kaiju aren't just an Earth thing. They might be a little less common, but they happen out here in space, too. You can take my word on that." Anita replies to Saraven. A kaiju attacked her colony, after all. "...That is a good question, though. Why are they here?"
Anita 'hm's to herself, and as she does, she presses a few buttons on her dashboard as she tries to get her systems back online.
...Unfortunately, she's given time to neither finish her thoughts or regain full mobility as she finds herself face to face with, of all things, an anti-ship missile.
"...Well." Anita says. Even her usual easygoing nature is going to slip a little in the face of that. She brings up her shield and forces the pinpoint barrier to the front and over the canopy as the missile hits dead-on. The resulting blast sends the Valkyrie flying, crashing into and carving a trail through it as it eventually skids to a stop. It lays there for a moment before eventually forcing itself up. It's... certainly seen better days. It's going to need a good repair job after.
"Ah... that could've gone better." Anita says with a groan. She's still a little dazed and disoriented, but the EX-Gear is meant to protect the pilot from things like that for a reason.
Both of her main guns are going to need time to recuperate, and the vulcans don't seem quite big enough to deal with something like this... So, there's one last thing left she can do.
The Valkyrie goes for a running start, stumbling a bit before picking up speed and then, with a jump, the thrusters kick in and carry her forward toward the Lunasaur Tank. As she closes in, Anita draws out the combat knife and unleashes a series of quick, precise stabs - aimed for gaps in the armor that were already present or opened by the fight.
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.
Searching for something Suddenly this felt all the more dangerous. Banagher doesnt reply, this time, merely watching as Ghoulghilas explodes. He had expected the thing to collapse, maybe smoke a little, but explode? What kind of creature was this?
"Lets go home." Banagher murmurs to the battered Unicorn, willing it to transform back to its proper form.
but Unicorn doesn't listen. Instead, it slowly turns, looking up at the Varguil. Banagher recognizes the feeling that comes over the mobile suit, he's felt it once before.
"No, dont!" He says, willing the machine to listen to him. "They didnt do anything wrong!"
Alas, with another trail of blue starlight, the machine charges up to Saraven. Its sabre is lifted high, coming down on the rival machine with horrible precision.
KTS: Banagher Links has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Banagher Links has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Banagher Links has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
<Pose Tracker> Celebro has posed.
The Lunasaur Tank was already teetering on the brink, and the combined knife stabs and beam fire are enough to leave big smoking holes in it. Not through it, but in it. And then, with one last roar, the light leaves it's laser eyes, and it keels over onto it's side.
And it stays there, unmoving, dead, some unimportant buildings crushed under it. That's... going to involve cleanup. But hey, Anaheim definitely won't do something awful with a biomechanical monstrosity.
Was that Celebro's game? Who knows. But he's clappijng, a little. "Kiete karekareta." He turns to leave in... a direction-
Before the Unicorn turns on it's ally. Now what is *that* little toy?
<Pose Tracker> Saraven Vai has posed.
The Varguil's an older model in comparison to the Unicorn's generation. It preceded the Sazabi; Saraven's has been completed to full spec, a procedure that involved adding a psycoframe system. It is absolutely a quantum brainwave weapon and it does not try to hide it.
This probably does it no favours in the eyes of a certain white mobile weapon.
The Varguil emerges from the smoke, funnels docking again and rifle held in a half-raised position as she assesses the damage (injuries? both?) to the Lunasaur Tank. Saraven frowns deeply, pensive as she glances up to the sky, then off to one side. For just a moment, her thoughts drift away from the fight and towards something painfully distant, yet near. A lilac-haired girl with big glasses, sitting in a cafe. The loudest girl in a city that barely feels.
...Something's wrong...
It isn't Akane this time. Saraven's thoughts are abruptly slashed through by a brilliant flash. She sits up in her seat and snaps a beam saber into the Varguil's hand at literally the last possible second - and then the Unicorn is looming in front of her and swinging to kill.
There is a spray of sparks and flash-liquefied metal as the Unicorn comes down like a milling machine into a piece of metal. The beam saber rips through the Varguil's left shoulder armour and shears partway down into its torso plating. One thing saves Saraven from being killed instantly: The fact that at the very last moment, the Varguil had begun rotating that arm away to put the right-hand shoulder further forward in readiness for a parrying maneuver.
A failed one - but one that still kept the strike from cutting into the cockpit block. Still a deadly one. The Varguil sags backwards as an internal coolant reservoir explodes, hurling Saraven against her straps and slamming her back in her seat.
"What are you doing," she exclaims instinctively into an open comline as she jams her feet awkwardly into her control yokes and punches in a rapid pattern on her master console. The Varguil's verniers burn as it bursts backwards and away, trying to gain distance.
Saraven's not often surprised or flustered. This time she is. She doesn't even manage a counterattack.
KTS: Saraven Vai has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has disengaged.
<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.
The enemy defeated, Serinas lies back in the pilot seat and catches her breath. Hahhh... Hahhh...
And then the Feddie Gundam is attacking Saraven. "What?! We HELPED you, you jerk!" Even if it was also in defense of ZAFT's interests. "Get... you get away from her!"
The CGUE stands. Serinas looks at her damage readouts. But... she has to do something! She takes aim with the beam cannon... and her eyes focus on the buildings and dome beyond the Gundam, a much smaller and faster target than the kaiju. Damn it...
She glances at the state of the gatling guns, and her armblade. She's about to charge in when Saraven retreats. The CGUE raises what's left of its left arm, threatening the Unicorn with the damaged gatling guns. But if it doesn't give chase, she backs away to the ship after Saraven.
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.
"I'm sorry!" Banagher calls, "It just -- does this!" And then, more quietly, directed at the Unicorn itself, "Stop, stop!"
Unicorn continues to ignore him, its scarlet glow streaking across the sky as it gives chase. Heedless of its exhausted pilot, Unicorn seems to have stamina to spare, pulling out another beam saber in place of its shield. Seconds tick by. It seems the Gundam will never cease, despite Banagher's frantic noises.
Right as it catches up with the Varguil, it comes to a stop. Red panels fold out of sight, ceasing to glow. The V-fin becomes a single horn once more, and Banagher sighs in relief.
"I'm so sorry. Are you alright?"
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
It's strikes landed, the Messiah Rosetta lands some distance away and lands. One of the leg servos begins to give away and the machine starts to sag, taking some manuvering from Anita to restabilize it and take some pressure off of that leg. Behind her, the Lunasaur Tank lies unmoving...
...Which is a little odd, given the way the other one exploded without leaving a trace. Maybe different kaiju react different ways...?
"...So, what was up with that...?" Anita starts to consider, scanning the area. Anaheim mostly controls this sector... is that a coincidence? Well, maybe she'll be able to bill them for the repairs, at any rate.
Before she can carry this train of thought any further, something happens - the Unicorn Gundam begins to attack the Varguil, forcing the latter to retreat.
"H-hey, what's wrong? Is something up with your machine?" Anita asks. She's in no position to intervene, though - she just hopes it doesn't go after her next.
...Apparently, the question is 'yes' - something is very up with this. Well, that's a mystery for later. For now, Anita sinks into her seat.
...She'll sit here for a moment longer before getting out of here. She doesn't feel like moving at all right now.
<Pose Tracker> Saraven Vai has posed.
<poem>
The Lilac Gale of Mars is one of the most feared individuals the Mars Zeon Independence Army has produced. She's been fighting everything from Titans to space pirates to ace pilots with far more experience than her practically since she hit puberty. She's been a match for entire Federation task units on her lonesome since landing in the Earth Sphere.
The Unicorn chasing after her is different. It scares Saraven in a way she hasn't been scared before.
The machine's scarlet trail burns after her, and she widens her eyes and tenses, her pulse racing as she squares to another attack. This time, at least, she's ready for it. Her beam saber snaps forward and another pair of blades unfold from the machine's left arm as she prepares to mount a defense, until -
Huh...?
The flash of insight comes just a split-second before the Unicorn's glow fades away and the V-fin folds back up. The Varguil's momentum carries it further backwards to gain more metres of distance before the lilac mobile suit lands in a defensive crouch.
Banagher doesn't get an immediate answer. Behind the controls, Saraven breathes heavily and stares at the Unicorn. Her breath fogs the inside of her helmet a little before she swallows a lump in her throat. Reaching up, she unclips her helmet and slides it off to push a few sweat-soaked locks back from her forehead.
She gives herself a quick shake and takes a breath before reaching for her comm toggle. "...We are leaving," she answers, and for all that she's feeling, her voice remains as muted and emotionally blank as it always is. "I don't know what you came here looking for. But if you come after us again, I will not be surprised by it. Please do not do that."
She cuts the comm abruptly and jukes backwards a few more metres before beginning to plot a rapid course back towards the freighter she came in on. The Federation knows they're there now. Staying at Copernicus would be suicide. And--
A thought occurs to Saraven. She looks down and parts her lips as she realizes her hands are shaking.
...I feel...?
...Oh wow, I... I feel....
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.
Saraven's fear echoes through Banagher's perception, making him wince. "Wait!" He calls, wanting to do something to help. Thinking the better of chasing after her, Banagher murmurs one last "Sorry.", watching the Varguil fly away.
With one last look at the destroyed kaiju, Banagher takes the chance to make his own escape. Once again, a blue trail of starlight follows behind the Unicorn, as it races away.