2022-12-16: A Christmas Tree Attacks a Sombrero
- Log: 2022-12-16: A Chrismas Tree Attacks a Sombrero
- Cast: Alto Saotome, Yurika Misumaru, Artemisia ka Britannia, Vitaly Sokolov, Ruri Hoshino, Ranka Lee, Brera Sterne, Treize Khushrenada, Lucine Azul, Sheryl Nome
- Where: Neo Mexico Colony
- OOC - IC Date: 0096-12-16
- Summary: What is initially mistaken to be a Christmas stunt turns out to be a Vajra invasion attempt to take over the Neo Mexico colony and turn it into one of their nests!
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
The Britannian owned colony of Neo Mexico is a bit of a strangely
designed one, though that's not too uncommon amongst the Neo colonies. This
was is very much shaped like a sombrero, complete with wide brim and giant
cacti that aren't actually cacti. And for some strange reason, the main rise
of the 'hat' is spiked, like a cactus.
https://i.imgur.com/GsOxe1L.png
Regardless of the strange appearance of the colony, it's still home to
over a hundred thousand people. That's a lot of people who find their
curiosity peaked by an oddity on slow approach to their colony from the depths
of space. It was first noticed yesterday, long range cameras picking it up
during their sweeps. It's not giving off any signals or identification and yet
its course is not static, clearly indicating it's under some kind of power.
And yet the course is quite strange, in that it's not straight. It continues
to wobble around, though still heading in the same rough direction towards the
colony and then the Earth beyond.
Images zoomed and enhanced reveal an object that is roughly tree
shaped. Pine tree, to be specific, with the well known wide base leading to a
point. Details at that range were hard to pick out, but there were obvious
flashing lights and the vague colours of the object were red and green. It
even looked like the vaguely shaped 'branches' were moving in a wind that
didn't exist in space.
Given the above information, most just passed the object off as some
kind of Christmas stunt. It is that time of year. Ideally the Britannian
authorities on the station should have sent a scouting party, but they
couldn't be bothered. It's the holidays period, no one really wants to do any
more work than is necessary. And one strange Christmas themed object on a slow
approach is hardly a threat to the colony's defenders. Right?
Right?
Wrong!
The first sign that Something is amiss is when one of the few station
controllers still bothering to pretend to focus on his work decides to do
another zoom and enhance of the approaching object. Being closer than it was
yesterday, the details are easier to pick out. The image begins to render on
his screen. He goes to take a sip of his hot chocolate as the details start to
come into focus. The 'branches' and 'leaves' are looking decidedly less
tree-like. In fact, they're starting to look very...
The controller spits out the mouthful of choclatey goodness and jumps
up from his chair, starting to run out of the room, shouting, "COMMANDER!
COMMANDERRRRRRRR!"
An hour later and a collection of the colony's GM III defenders have
assembled at the edge of the colony's rim. The 'Christmas tree' can be seen
not far into space beyond them. While its 'branches' continue to sway in that
invisible wind, it's quite clear that this is no stunt. The vast majority of
the object was made up of alien creatures all grouped up together, their
insectoid-like bodies continually moving and shifting. An ominous look, for
sure.
A call for help had gone out, though the commander for the colony's
defense had not expected it would be necessary. It was just a few space bugs,
they could handle it. Right?
Right?
Wrong!
"Fire!"
The GM IIIs open up with their beam rifles, the beams of light
streaking out across the void towards the 'tree'. But just as they reach its
edges, the tree blossoms like a flower! The collected creatures separate from
each other, rocketing out of the way of the beam shots and out into space
before turning on the defenders.
Panic begins to grip the hearts of the Britannian pilots as they
quickly find it damn hard to aim at the agile creatures. And soon enough the
first wave of the smaller green creatures
(https://www.mahq.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/vajra-small.jpg) reach the
rim that the defenders are standing upon. They crash down into it, claws
starting to rip into the 'ground' as they rush across it towards the GMs.
Anguished cries begin to sound across local comms as the mobile suits are
ripped to shreds by powerful claws and rapid barrages of organically formed
bullets. The last of the initial defenders explodes as a lance of golden
bio-energy rips his machine apart. The red creature
(https://www.mahq.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/vajra-large.jpg) that fired
it landing on the colony amidst the machine's floating remains, before it
begins to claw its way along.
The Vajra begin to spread out across the colony's surface even as more
GM IIIs begin to pop out of airlocks to engage them with beam weapons,
starting to create a veritable display of light and explosions that could even
be called pretty at a distance...
KTS: Kaiju Navi has deployed in Vajra Heavy Soldier. KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has deployed in RX-123-P Gundam TR-S [Rabscuttle Proto]. KTS: Yurika Misumaru has deployed in ND-001 Nadesico. KTS: Lucine Azul has deployed in Dianthus Mk. 3. KTS: Treize Khushrenada has deployed in OZ-06MS4G Leo Type IV Greif. KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has deployed in RPI-00/SH Gloucester Skathi. KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has changed loadout. KTS: Ruri Hoshino has deployed as a Sub Pilot for Yurika Misumaru! KTS: Brera Sterne has deployed in VF-27 Gamma Lucifer <Fighter Mode>. KTS: Sheryl Nome has deployed as a Sub Pilot for Lucine Azul! KTS: Kaiju_Navi has deployed as a Boss for 7 opponents. KTS: Treize Khushrenada arrives loaded onto Vitaly Sokolov's combat deck! KTS: Ranka Lee has deployed as a Sub Pilot for Brera Sterne! <Pose Tracker> Yurika Misumaru has posed.
()()2 HOURS AGO()()
Tumbleweeds kick up across the dusty streets. The sun moves slowly
overhead. Anxious townfolk peek through the windows. Two figures stand back to
back - one, a slightly beleaguered young man with scruffy brown hair, dressed
in a light, ragged set of overalls. The other, a blue haired young woman in
the full duster and cowboy hat affair, brim shaded over her eyes.
"Heh. So it's come to this, hasn't it, pardner? For so long we were
riding side by side, but you just had to sell me out right when we were about
to pull off the heist of the century. One way or the other, one of us is
walking out of this with everythin'. Are ya ready...? Ten paces...then we
draw."
"...Yurika, I think this is stretching the definition of a da-"
The 'lone ranger' spins on her heel, balling up her fist and pouting
and complaining. "Nooooo!! Akitoooo, I'm the Two Hammer Ranger, Bonnie
Capone!! The whole point of this is to get way into it! Whoever loses will
fall dramatically into the others' arms and confess how we did our betrayal
out of love that couldn't yet bloom!"
One of the saloon observers grouses, "Hey!! Cut to the chase already,
I've got 200 gilla on the boy winning the duel, dammit-"
BEEPBEEPBEEP, BEEPBEEPBEEP goes the sound of the Emergency Deployment
alarm, and with a pout and huff, Yurika darts off, with an exhausted Akito
trailing behind, passing through the swinging doors of the 'bank', heralded by
a merry "Thank you for coming to the one and only Wild Britannian Frontier
Experience, only here at Neo-Mexico! Don't forget to pick up photos on your
way ou-"
()()NOW()()
...She hasn't bothered changing! No time for that! Megumi in particular
is giving the captain a particularly beleaguered kind of look as the Nadesico
boots up. There's a slight hotness in Yurika's cheeks.
. . . o o o O O O (Oh noooo. . . they all think I'm super lame...!)
A conference call flickers atop one of the many rather hyperactive
floating screens of the Nadesico's comms - Yurika clearing boarding and
operations with all the Neo-Mexico staff. Though she's looking a little less
at the admirals and dock staff, and more at herself...
. . . o o o O O O (...wow! They're staring at me because I look
ridiculously cute like this!!!)
"Alrighty!!! Let's get this show on the road! Everyone's counting on
all of us together - we can't let any of these horrible space bugs through!
The Nadesico's HITTIN' THE ROAD!~"
With a twirl of her hat into Observation Mode, Yurika heralds Nergal's
flagship to launch, missiles already ablaze and filling the expanse of space,
arcing in myriad puffy cloud trails towards the tiny Vajra!
KTS: Yurika Misumaru targets Kaiju Navi with Missile Barrage! KTS: Yurika Misumaru has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Kaiju Navi successfully evades Yurika Misumaru's Missile Barrage
<Pose Tracker> Artemisia ka Britannia has posed.
'Weird shit surrounding the spacemen' is not something that takes the top
Britannian priority in a lot of situations. Some of this was likely because of
the command staff being distracted by
A ROYAL VISIT!
Yes; one of the luminaries of Area 4, the empress-consort Olivia ka Britannia!
And two of her children, the 11th Princess (Artemisia ka Britannia) and an
as-yet unscored minor Princess (Charite ka Britannia) as well. There had been
quite a reception, which has been
PROFOUNDLY
Interrupted.
NOW
"Oh, my!" says OLIVIA, an extremely elegant woman in her early 50s, from the
colony command center, where she has been placed in a location of relative
honor and powerful blast-wall protection. There is a well upholstered couch.
This isn't the first time this kind of thing has happened. "It isn't a tree at
all!"
"I'm putting a thousand on the invaders," says CHARITE, who is 12 years old and
has a sullen face along with black sausage curls. "Do you take it, mama?"
"Darling, darling; this isn't appropriate," Olivia replies. She twirls open the
folding fan with its cloth-of-gold webwork and stirs the air leisurely. "The
odds are still all recovering from this shocking decision... and we would be
cheering against your sister, wouldn't we?"
Charite pulls a :/ face but doesn't comment further, beyond folding her arms
with huffiness.
IN ONE OF THE LAUNCH ZONES,
Artemisia ka Britannia presses the power-up sequence. The energy fillers hum as
the chargers rise up - a non-typical but merry chime adding the thruster set's
full functionality. "Damn things," Artemisia mutters to herself. Her eye
closes and she takes several deep breaths as she reaches for another console,
one that will allow her to speak Encouraging Things, should she need to.
She doesn't, just yet. "Worthless... might as well be ****ing plants. Why come
here, anyway. Plants to the PLANTs," Artemisia mutters to herself. "By God, I
hate space. Nothing good ever comes of it." One more deep breath and she
clicks on the communication link:
"ARISE, SOLDIERS!" Artemisia shouts into the mic. "In the Emperor's name! DEATH
TO EVERY FOE. The enemy has come this far and spilled blood, only to die in
disgrace! Be stirred, and rise to glory!"
Artemisia raises her right hand forwards in a fist. You know it's coming:
"ALL HAIL BRITANNIA!"
And the launcher fires, and Artemisia clicks down the comm as the Skathi
accelerates down a magnetic rail and pivots as it flies into the great
starring void of orbital space, thrusters pivoting it around -- "Yellow ones,
eh? A bug that ****es megaparticles, how lovely - YOU!"
Harkens whip outwards towards one of the smaller units, aiming to smash into
chitin and, vitally, provide anchoring. "Come to mother," Artemisia says, one
hand already raising the space-axe magnetically attached to the KMF's frame.
"If you even HAVE mothers, you damned--"
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia targets Kaiju Navi with Slash Harken Hook! KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
With the disappearance of some of the most prominent teams or team-members of
NERV, the Federation stands at high alert. Part of this alert means a heavier
presence of G-Hound forces at more vulnerable locations. The Rapid Response
Team, normally based out of Earth itself, is instead currently maintaining a
position in orbit in order to increase its range -- what with the
disappearances having occurred near Junius-7.
So when a call for help goes out from the Colony of Neo Mexico, deployment
preparations are almost immediate. The sizable 'Mobile Armor' going by the
name of Rabscuttle being released from one of the G-Hound vessels in order to
report to the site at illegal speeds.
Coming into range of the mass approaching Neo-Mexico, Vitaly Sokolov gets a
peculiar signal from a high ranking officer in G-Hound. "Suit?" She asks
somewhat incredulously. The support vessel is in fact carrying some additional
support vessels in the form of some Leos at this time. But considering who the
inquiry is coming from, she is quick to communicate to one of the Rapid
Response Team members that they'll switch pilots on the suit in question.
Blinding light suddenly enters the region in front of Neo-Mexico. Big swarms of
missiles are being unloaded into the edge of the approaching swarm!
Unreasonably large blasts create obliterating screens of force between them
and the colony itself, followed by an enormous Battleship class beam. A waving
streak of blue carries through space, narrowly (in space distance terms, at
the edge of regulation safety) streaming over the Nadesico's position.
Followed by a barrage of machine-gun fire tearing in the same direction.
The source of which, the incredibly fast Rabscuttle, then ducks back into the
Nadesico's shadow, using it for positional cover as it suddenly moves into
the colony, barely slowing down in time as it practically 'drifts' and does a
U-turn as it arrived, expertly docking into the place and using one of its
claws to stabilize itself.
The enginge continues on, as one of the Leos opens its hatch in order to
welcome Treize Kushrenada on board to take control. The entire 'fire-drill' of
change-around being performed with REA efficiency and expertise. And the
moment Treize is on board and strapped in, a call comes in.
"Re-entering battlefield. Prepare for acceleration."
Followed by a sudden PUSH, forcing the commander into his seat as the
Rabscuttle blasts back out of the hangar, and begins to move itself into a new
combat position.
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Kaiju Navi with High Mega Particle Cannon - Charge Beam!
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.
The 'meaning of Christmas'... I wonder what that is?
It was never really relevant to me.
But aliens can resemble this stuff, too...
Is it really relevant to them?
"Fool," was Ruri's succinct evaluation of Yurika's entrance. She, of
course, was at her station the whole time. She's such a diligent girl!
She pays attention to the pre-flight alerts with more concern than
Yurika seems to; she remembers the Vajra. She spares a thought for Ranka, as
she looks out at them, but someone like Ruri has no comforting words for her
in the middle of a fight.
"The Vajra employ swarm tactics," she tells their pilots, her face flat
on the communication screen. "Now transmitting evasive data." She connects
with the Dianthus and Gamma Lucifer to advise them, as Omoikane aligns his own
combat data, too.
(And her consciousness lingers, at the Dianthus, to ask the /machine
itself/ if it's feeling strong enough to fight after its difficult experience.)
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has cancelled her attack. KTS: Kaiju Navi successfully evades Artemisia ka Britannia's Slash Harken Hook KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Kaiju Navi with High Mega Particle Cannon - Charge Beam!
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Ruri Hoshino targets Yurika Misumaru, Brera Sterne, and Lucine Azul with Caution.
KTS: Ruri Hoshino has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
An attack by the Vajra is always terrifying enough as is, when the distress
call by Neo-Mexico goes out, Ranka feels a certain panic well up in her
throat. She forces herself to swallow it. The implications are awful.
If the Vajra are setting up more nests in the Earthsphere...
Ranka doesn't huddle with Ai-chan in the observation deck of the Nadesico this
time, she's on the bridge...
... every so often glancing to the Captain in wonder. "Wow, Captain Yurika
looks adorable in that..." She murmurs as she tops off Prospector's coffee
when she sees the first visuals.
She almost drops the pot. Instead carefully putting the lid back on it and
placing it on a stand near the back of the bridge.
Her eyes move from side to side trying to track the sheer amount of them and
the missiles flying their way... she watches their fighters launch.
It evokes so many horrible memories but...
Slowly she sidles up to Megumi and whispers something, who promptly nods back
her way, and hands her a spare headset.
Clicking it, she murmurs into it, "<Everyone.>" There's a tremor in her voice,
as she radios out, "<Be careful out there. Please take care of things and
come back to us safely.>"
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has cancelled her attack. KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has deployed in RX-123-P Gundam TR-S [Rabscuttle Proto]. KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Kaiju Navi with High Mega Particle Cannon - Charge Beam!
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Ranka Lee targets Brera Sterne, Lucine Azul, and Yurika Misumaru with Caution.
KTS: Ranka Lee has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Ranka Lee has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Brera Sterne KTS: Ranka Lee has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Brera Sterne KTS: Treize Khushrenada arrives loaded onto Vitaly Sokolov's combat deck! KTS: Ruri Hoshino suggests caution, raising Brera Sterne's Intuition! KTS: Ranka Lee suggests caution, raising Brera Sterne's Intuition! KTS: Ruri Hoshino suggests caution, raising Yurika Misumaru's Intuition! KTS: Ranka Lee suggests caution, raising Yurika Misumaru's Intuition!
<Pose Tracker> Brera Sterne has posed.
The Vajra. Brera lives by his orders. He has no memory data to do anything but.
It's his only reason for being... and those orders have always been toward a
key, long term goal: destroy the Vajra. That's what she wants of him. That's
what the Lucifer was designed for, and Brera was designed for the Lucifer. Yet
his thoughts stray...
"Ranka?"
He speaks it, softly to himself, as he pilots the Lucifer is entirely through
his cybernetic connections. He does not need to move at all within the cockpit
as it sails through space toward their target. The UI is entirely within his
own processors, Ruri's data directly transmitted to his own thoughts. If
anyone were to watch from within, it may seem the ship flies itself. ...His
diagnostics are spiking the closer they get to the enemy. That's unlike him.
But he remembers how Ranka fainted that day, and how she awoke, her memories
slipping away from her like his always have from himself.
Fighting the Vajra is his purpose for being here. His orders. But Ranka so
close to the battlefield... Why should it matter?
"<Ranka. Everything will be fine.>"
His voice is stoic for someone piloting his VF into battle, it flying full
speed in fighter form as a streak of red across the abyss of space. Metal
plates split open, and clusters of missiles fire out toward the Vajra swarm in
a spreadshot as he weaves through the aliens attackers.
KTS: Brera Sterne targets Kaiju Navi with Detonation Cluster! KTS: Brera Sterne has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Treize Khushrenada has posed.
Today of all days the Romefellar foundation had begun it's tour, a tour
of nobility and humbleness abound to go from colony to colony and spread
holiday cheer and festivity...to those they deemed worthy of it. To top it
all off the jolly old men had volunteered the Colonel of G-Hound to be their
escort for the day. Of course there is a benefit to all the trouble that
Treize is being put through as today he is not just Treize Khushrenada but is
Treize Clause. That is right the Colonel of G-hound has been going around all
day dressed as Santa (https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/47570044) handing out
gifts to all he interacts with, despite the frowns the old men give.
Unfortunately the festivities have been interupted by a holiday tree
that obviously just feels left out. The members of Romefellar being escorted
to safety and Treize himself, still sporting the red santa hat and cloak makes
his way to the hangar, as he looks at images sent to his communication device,
" Of all the things to imitate, truly no worse fiend exists. To disguise
itself as the image of holiday cheer, I can not allow this to stand "
Slipping a earbud fromt he device and places it in as he continues to the
brisk walk to the hangar.
<"This is Colonel Claus, we can not allow the people of the colony to
suffer from this attack. Please by all means bring my sleigh around.">
The Colonel stands around ready for the arrival of the Greif, tethered
to Vitaly's Rabscuttle. Over the private comm he speaks directly to Vitaly,
<"I appreciate the pick up. I will admit I had not expected to have to do tree
trimming until my return to earth.">
As the Rabscuttle manuevers Treize takes the time to aim with the
cannon on the Greif, acting as almost a seperate turret of the Rabscuttle for
now, the shots are almost rhymically fired towards the minions of the Vajra
trying to keep the battle contained to one spot as best he can.
KTS: Treize Khushrenada targets Kaiju Navi with Greif Cannon Anti-Ship Volley! KTS: Treize Khushrenada has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to evade Vitaly Sokolov's High Mega Particle Cannon - Charge Beam, taking 4230 damage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to intercept Brera Sterne's Detonation Cluster, taking 6120 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
===EARLIER===
"I got your message. I apologize for not getting back to you sooner.
There's a new food lab opening up and the engineers have been annoying. 'Why
do we need this' and 'why can't we just do this', as if they're the ones
who've dealt with managing a colony's food supply from the ground, and...
sorry. I should really do a retake, but..." The older woman in Lucine's screen
sighs and massages her temples with one hand. She shared many of Lucine's own
traits: the same blue teal hair (longer, in a braid, slightly lighter), the
same mouth, the same facial shape. However, her eyes where a dark brown,
framed by thick rim glasses that she had. Her face, further wrinkled from the
stress and loss of the past year. "I hope you're feeling better, Lulu.
Dimensions are not my field of expertise, but, there's nothing wrong with a
practical amount of hope. Our grasp of logic just doesn't... hold up,
sometimes, and for those times, you have to allow yourself the flexibility to
realize the full potential of the universe. Which is something I'd like to
covey to the _engineers_.... ah." There is a beeping off-screen. She looks
off. "... It can't wait? Wait did those assh--" The scientist looks back at
the screen. ".... You didn't hear that. Give me a message back when you get
free, alright? I'll have time later tonight-- er, well, in Alba Standard Time.
Love you lots, Lulu."
The message ends, with the endcap of 'Dr. Diana Azul', as the darkened
matte screen reflects Lucine's face at an unflattering angle, as she is holed
up on the bean bag Liam got her. ".... oh, mom..." Lucine huffs a sigh, and
turns into the bean bag. Maybe she'll just call it a night, and take it easy--
Then Yurika's call comes, launching Lucine out of the bean bag with a
startled yelp.
===NOW====
Yurika looks like she's anxious about something. There's a whiff of
anxious coming from the direction of the observational deck. Could it be the
outfit? It must be the outfit! "Captain, you look very nice!" Lucine is being
supportive to the floating screen of Yurika, as she walks to the hangar. "...
I'm... going to try to use the Dianthus instead of the Alto this time. Ruri,
can you keep an eye out to make sure there's nothing irregular with the
controls? The labs at NERV looked at it, but... just in case." Switching her
screens off, she switches to her pilot suit, then steps into the bay, with the
Dianthus sits.
Looking up at it, Lucine frowns. "... Is it okay to still put a little
of my hope in you, just a little bit...?"
A few minutes later, the Dianthus deploys from the Nadesico.
At Ranka's concern, Lucine is tempted to start with a 'don't worry',
but instead... no, she'll acknowledge Ranka's worry. < "I understand, Ranka. I
won't let you down." >
It takes a little bit of getting used to the controls, but familiarity
begins to take over. <"Dealing with swarm tactics is what the Dianthus is best
at, thankfully,"> Lucine says, to Ruri. < "I'll lay down a perimeter of energy
explosives as I move in." > The Dianthus flies in closer in a random path to
the hat-shaped colony, dispersing a scattered trail of balls of light.
For Ruri's other senses, the Dianthus's automatic system, while not to
the point of a self-aware consciousness that some more advanced units would
have, just might express a 'gladness', if it was possible. Perhaps the
stylized image of a five petaled dianthus blossom, twirling.
KTS: Ruri Hoshino suggests caution, raising Lucine Azul's Intuition! KTS: Ranka Lee suggests caution, raising Lucine Azul's Intuition! KTS: Lucine Azul targets Kaiju Navi with Lunate Crown v.2 Fireflies! KTS: Lucine Azul has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Kaiju Navi blocks Treize Khushrenada's Greif Cannon Anti-Ship Volley, taking 5720 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Treize Khushrenada's Battlefield Prodigy activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Treize Khushrenada's To Defy Destiny activates, causing Sparkle!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Treize Khushrenada's Intended Target activates, causing Nullify!
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Kaiju Navi blocks Lucine Azul's Lunate Crown v.2 Fireflies, taking 1200 damage!
KTS: Lucine Azul begins a Formation attack! <Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.
Sheryl Nome has toured all through the Earth Sphere, including several
locations in Britannia and Britannia-controlled Areas, and between what she's
seen of their culture and learned of their history, and how they've treated
less famous friends of hers, she can't say she has a positive impression of
the empire. But as little as she likes Britannia, she hasn't really had a
personal bad experience with them. The same can't be said of the Vajra.
Gripping her taiyaki phone like she might squeeze the filling out of it
while she glares at the holo-screen projected above showing the feed of the
attack, Sheryl bolts to her feet from where she'd been resting in the
Nadesico's observation deck.
"The Vajra?! I knew they'd been quiet too long!!" She clenches her
fists, her painted nails digging into her skin. She pays that no mind. The
Nadesico doesn't have spare Variable Fighters (as far as she knows), and
anyway, even she has to admit that she's just not good enough at piloting yet
to jump into a battlefield with the Vajra. Still, there's no way she's just
sitting back and doing nothing, either. Right now, it's time to storm straight
to the bridge.
*whump* *echcachcachcach*
Right now, it's time to remember, just as she drops to her knees in a
severe coughing fit, she was resting here because of a bad cold (as far as she
knows). Next to her, her manager kneels at her side.
"You can't! Sheryl, I know how frustrating this must be, but you know
you can't push yourself right now," Grace chides her, one hand on her back.
"Or do you want to have to take even more medicine?"
Sheryl grimaces. She already hates those pills, and just standing up
got her head swimming. Even so, she looks like she has half a mind to charge
up there anyway...
"...and Brera's out there. He'll be able to handle this one," Grace
adds.
Sheryl relaxes, if grudgingly. "Oh, all right," she relents. "But tell
him to give them hell, for me!"
Grace smiles sweetly. The light glints off one of the lenses of her
glasses. "Of course. Now, let's get you back..."
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
Numerous cheers go out across local comms as the majestic shape of the
Nadesico exits out of one of the larger hangars, missile barrage rushing out
towards the groups of smaller Vajra flitting around in space above the colony.
The cheers quickly recede though as the agility of the smaller creatures prove
quite troublesome. Their movements are almost artistic as they dance through
space, missiles trailing only to explode out of range of the fast creatures.
Several groups of them turn their attention towards the Nadesico, beginning to
rush the larger vessel, their sharp claws ready and eager to try and tear into
its hull in multiple areas.
Morale falls further as even an honoured Princess of Britannia is
having trouble against these insectoid invaders. Her target wiggles out of the
path of the fired Harkens, before it and a few of its brethren turn to swarm
her. Bio-machine guns start to spit those organic bullets towards Artemisia,
the creatures no doubt offended by the implication that she is their queen. Or
so one would imagine they would be, if they were capable of understanding.
The large beam that comes streaking in from the Rabscuttle proves more
effective, catching a number of the smaller Vajra off guard by its sudden
appearance. Their forms burn and rip apart under the beams effect, before
their charred corpses float off into the darkness. The beam and deaths of the
Mobile Soldiers draw the attention of one of the larger red ones, its head
turning to watch the machine perform a quick docking manuever. The Heavy
Soldier pushes off from the colony's structure, beginning to give chase. The
large protrusion on its back begins to crackle with golden energy, before a
large beam of light blasts off it, sweeping out towards the Rabscuttle just as
it's accelerating away with its passenger.
The Rabscuttle has additional help though now, as even as the large red
Vajra fires, its target fires back. The cannon fire controlled by Trieze slams
into the side of the Heavy Soldier, taking a large chunk out of the creature's
exoskeleton. It doesn't look pleased. The red Vajra rapidly closes the
distance to the Rabscuttle, its six limbs stretching wide before attempting to
surround its prey and crush the life out of it.
As if it was practically made just for this, Brera's Lucifer streaks
through space, bouncing between the swarming groups of the small Vajra. Its
missiles fan out, hunting them down even as they try to outrun or shoot the
missiles down. But for most, they are chased to their deaths, the missiles
exploding against them and sending chunks of Vajra floating. Those that do
survive try to avenge their fallen, turning their attention on the VF,
unleashing their own missiles in response. The swarms of bio-micro-missiles
dance through space with golden trails towards Brera.
Lucine's Dianthus tries to catch a large number the Vajra in a wide
area attack, laying out of a veritable minefield of light. The Vajra appear to
be smarter than one might suspect though, the swarms of Mobile Soldiers
briefly slowing and allowing one of the larger Heavy Soldiers ahead. The red
Vajra begins to intentional force its way through the field, its heavier armor
tanking the blows where its smaller brethren might have been completely
destroyed. Carving a hole through to the other side, the Heavy Soldier is
rather scorched now and looking a little worse for wear. But its Mobile
Soldiers charge through the opening, beginning to rush towards the Dianthus.
They split up, before making multiple runs from multiple directions, their
sharp claws lashing out at Lucine and trying to overwhelm her with numbers.
Alto is the last to launch from the Nadesico, his VF-25F Messiah
rocketing out of the catapult and out into space. The sight that greets him is
a grim one... But as much as he wants to rush into the mess and destroy those
vile creatures, he's more concerned about the Nadesico. Knowing the Vajra's
capability for destruction-The Frontier Fleet lost numerous capital ships in
the first Vajra attack-He can't just leave the ship unprotected. So he takes
up a defensive position, his gunpod already trying to ward off the smaller
Mobile Soldiers swarming towards the vessel.
But Alto does warn over local comms, <"We can't let the Vajra into the
colony! There's no telling where they'll be able to hide and regrow their
numbers.">
KTS: You have not deployed a robot. (see +deploy) KTS: You have not deployed a robot. (see +deploy) KTS: You have not deployed a robot. (see +deploy) KTS: You have not deployed a robot. (see +deploy) KTS: You have not deployed a robot. (see +deploy) KTS: You have not deployed a robot. (see +deploy) KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Yurika Misumaru with Vajra Mobile Soldiers Swarm Converge!
KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Artemisia ka Britannia with Vajra Mobile Soldiers Swarm Fire!
KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Vitaly Sokolov with Vajra Bio-Cannon Powered Blast! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Treize Khushrenada with Vajra Armored Claws Six-Legged Grab!
KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Brera Sterne with Vajra Bio-Micro-Missiles Guiding Swarm!
KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Lucine Azul with Vajra Armored Claws Vicious Swipe! KTS: Kaiju Navi has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Lucine Azul rushes into the attack! KTS: Lucine Azul partially guards Kaiju Navi's Vajra Armored Claws Vicious Swipe, taking 4320 damage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi has engaged Lucine Azul! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov blocks Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Cannon Powered Blast, taking 1850 damage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi rattles Yurika Misumaru, making her next maneuvers more difficult.
KTS: Yurika Misumaru partially guards Kaiju Navi's Vajra Mobile Soldiers Swarm Converge, taking 2940 damage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi has engaged Yurika Misumaru! [Entertainment] Ennil El> I don't know what makes this Alien Metron a Twilight, but he's pretty good at knocking monsters out with energy beams [Entertainment] Crossfire Salem> the power of friendship
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia fails to charge. KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia partially guards Kaiju Navi's Vajra Mobile Soldiers Swarm Fire, taking 4080 damage!
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Kaiju Navi anchors Treize Khushrenada, forcing him into close range. KTS: Treize Khushrenada fails to evade Kaiju Navi's Vajra Armored Claws Six-Legged Grab, taking 5160 damage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi has engaged Treize Khushrenada! KTS: Kaiju Navi begins a Formation attack! KTS: [Lucky] Brera Sterne's Rival of Ares activates, and luck goes his way! KTS: Brera Sterne successfully evades Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Micro-Missiles Guiding Swarm
<Pose Tracker> Yurika Misumaru has posed.
In trying to fit with her ~outfit motif~, Yurika ponders her decision
by leaning up against the side of the bridge's doorway, arms crossed, head
tipped downward. "So it's a bunch of the little rascals, like rats that'll
gnaw on our wagon wheels..." She's playing up her voice being kinda rugged and
raspy - it's like she expects thinking about this like a frontier outlaw will
give her a bit more insight.
"Well, you can't just gear up for the trail while varmints are nibbling
at your supplies - slow and steady wins the race even against these speedy
little buggers!"
She stands upright, beaming proudly and tall - and passing by Ranka on
the way, she deposits a 'Christmas' gift to the green haired girl - a big,
colorful sombrero hat, shaped just like Neo-Mexico! "That is to say : Alto's
got the right of it! You, Lucine, and Akito-kun, make sure to be the
Nadesico's rat poison of sorts, on the defensive! We're going to hold steady
and charge up the Gravity Blast, and hopefully wipe that horribly ugly affront
to the holidays off the map!"
"You don't have to tell me twice! URYAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH-!!!" Akito
Tenkawa screams outwards (prompting Minato, in particular, to lightly pull her
headphones away from her ears), his vivid pink Aestivalis shooting from the
Nadesico and immediately entangling with several larger Vajra, stabbing and
slicing at them in quite the violent fervor.
"Aaah, he's such a hard worker!<3 Oh, Ruri-ruri, if you can, catch!" A
sombrero is whirled like a frisbee across the bridge - it impacts the front
screen, then bounces back, drifting downwards and landing uncannily right atop
Ruri's head-!
KTS: Yurika Misumaru targets Kaiju Navi with Gravity Blast - Charging...! KTS: Yurika Misumaru has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
The Rabscuttle's high velocity is limited by the fact that its maneuverability
is limited. Luckily, those limits are lightened within space. It begins to
turn its whole body, heavy boosters flaring across its hull to start its turn.
<"Hold on for extreme maneuvers."> Vitaly warns its passengers, as the entire
unit bends off at the same time that the Heavy Soldier takes aim.
The piercing golden energy tears right for the Rabscuttle, only for it to
suddenly pull its massive claws out of their locked positions and spread their
fingers. Multiple I-Fields suddenly form at their tips, catching the golden
energy and letting them impact on the claws. The light spreads, forks, and
pushes through, causing some hull damage and endangering some of the Leos on
the machine, as it makes for its high-G maneuver, turning in the midst of
space to turn its entire body towards the damaged Heavy Soldier. There's a
moment where it's slowed and the Heavy Soldier gets its chance to let that
line of gold arc towards one of her passengers.
But Vitaly believes Kushrenada isn't going to just all over from something like
that. And she isn't one to play it entirely safe. Her piloting style is fast
and ruthless in situations like this. One of those claws coming forward,
I-Fields still activated, reaching for the nozzle of the golden beam, trying
to grab into the machine and CLAMP ON!
From there, noting the powerful hull of Neo-Mexico, it PUSHES, its trusters
suddenly all coming online in the same direction, meeting the Heavy Shoulder
right in the midst of that 'jump'. The Rabscuttle's claw starting to close,
trying to CRUSH the Heavy Shoulder while the Leos mounted on its shell open
fire, trying to tear the enemy target open.
<"Last battle report declare, Vajra launch from and protect main vessel.
Perhaps, is Queen or Leader. Commander, see unusual target remaining back, or
being swarmed and protected?"> Vitaly Sokolov inquires with Treize Kushrenada.
<"Perhaps, inquire with Nadesico for sensor reading.">
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Kaiju Navi with Hrududu II - Claw Grab! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
Hearing Brera say everything will be fine, helps her believe it, as a thin
smile appears on her lips, "<Thank you Brera - when you say it, I know it's
true.>" A beat, "<And I know you won't Lucine.>"
Yurika passes by and drops a Sombrero on her head, and Ranka looks confused for
a moment, before beaming at her as if in sudden understanding, her hair even
lifting in delight, "Oh I see! This is a show of solidarity, isn't it..." She
clears her throat, "...pardner?"
Ranka's eyes light up as Alto speaks over the radio, however the news is grim,
and suddenly her expression falls... which is when something appears on a
display in front of her.
< REQUEST SONG = TRUE() >
< SET MORALE = YES!>
"Uh- if you think it will help, Omoikane, what song did you have in mind?"
Omoikane's response causes Ranka's eyes to widen, "I... you're sure?"
An affirmative came soon after, and Ranka nods in determination. "Alright, no
time to warm up... here we go!" Ranka adjusts her headset and... Omoikane
provides the melody, as a dynamic intro starts to play.
BGM Change: Gekiganger 3 - OP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl4JVo87L9w
And over the general channel, a feminine voice starts to sing an energetic
Shounen tune... most of the Nadesico crew at least has heard it before, even
if not everyone is a superfan.
"A dream is calling for tomorrow, a Cry of the souls,
"LET'S GO PASSION!
"Some day we will get back peace with our bare hands,
"LET'S GO GEKIGANGER 3!"
"Do you know? You are Earth's treasure,
"We want to protect your Freedom and Light,
"Sky, Sea and Land are everybody's power,
"One for all Show your courage; C'mon rise up!
"(LET'S GEKIGAIN!)"
And so that is how we got there, with Ranka wearing a Sombrero shaped like
Neo-Mexico, singing the theme of an almost century old anime over an open
channel.
KTS: Ranka Lee targets Lucine Azul, Brera Sterne, and Yurika Misumaru with All-Out.
KTS: Ranka Lee has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Ranka Lee orders an all-out attack, raising Yurika Misumaru's Skill! KTS: Ranka Lee has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Brera Sterne KTS: Ranka Lee has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Yurika Misumaru KTS: Ranka Lee orders an all-out attack, raising Brera Sterne's Skill!
<Pose Tracker> Artemisia ka Britannia has posed.
Someone speaks in general communication, rippling through the growing Minovsky
density. Artemisia makes a noise best rendered as "?"
Her Harkens do not find purchase on the Damn Bug. "Your feelings do you
credit," she answers Ranka, "but don't worry about US; worry about THEM."
Easy to say...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnHc08h_6DU
The underestimated soldiers rally, evading the Harkens as Artemisia bellows in
displeasure at this turn of events. Weaving around, the maneuvering is poor;
the Soldier units rain up their golden bio-bullets, and while a roundel of a
shield is thrown up to spare the KMF from being simply disabled in a single
blow, several other glancing hits leave ugly black marks on the flanks. "Tsk!"
Another Harken flies out -- but this time to anchor to the surface of
Neo-Mexico, to pull downwards. "What's their vulnerability, man?" Artemisia
challenges Alto as he gives a clear statement of -
IN THE COMMAND ROOM
"The stakes," Olivia ka Britannia says, "are revealed, then." She is not
looking at all laughing any more. Her fan hides the lower half of her face,
but what is visible is furrowed, spoiling the impression of ageless youth
quite significantly.
"There are plenty of other," Charite begins to say, before being nudged -
almost kicked - in the ankle several times. Olivia glares death for a moment,
but then settles backwards.
BACK IN THE SEA OF STARS
With the Colony underneath its wheels, the KMF can operate in something nearer
to its familiar environment, rather than dangling around legs as useful as
teats on a boar. Artemisia, without words, pivots the shielding module towards
the soldiers and mashes the thumb button to fire the standoff missiles, aiming
to dump the mass and hopefully lead towards a somewhat thinner density of bugs.
As she does this, Artemisia hears something from Vitaly. Her eye turns upwards,
towards - "Hnf," she says. "A mother hurling its children like missiles! How
*droll*." With this, and a quick glance around, Artemisia begins to rocket
down across the surface-district structures, tacking towards a rather
questionable replica of an Aztec temple some distance away.
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia targets Kaiju Navi with Escudo Q Missiles! KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Brera Sterne has posed.
A smirk touches across Brera's face as the battle blossoms around him. His
missiles exploding into the bodies of his alien adversaries, and theirs unable
to touch him as he darts and weaves through their return assault with expert
precision. The speed Lucifer sails at and the angles it whips around on to
accomplish this should rattle an ordinary pilot into sludge. But not a cyborg.
His flight path burrows into the swarm and darling loops back out around to
circle the perimeter, a flying herding dog (an attack dog) as he tries to cut
off their approach toward the colony. The large beam rifle carried under the
Lucifer remains quiet. It's the guns on his dorsal that light up with bright,
neon energy, opening firing into the vajra.
"<You're late>," he tells Alto.
But every motion is aggressive, not protective. It's nearly happenstance that
he may be diverting attention from the colony. Brera's intentions are to
destroy as many as possible with merciless pursuit into their numbers.
Ranka's voice softens the smug look on Brera's face. It is true. It will be
true. ...Why does her repeating it matter?
Then, she sings. It isn't Aimo, but Ranka's voice flows through with emotion
all the same.
Ranka's voice... and her image in a Sombrero hat. Brera squints at the image,
speaking his judgments only to himself.
"...Silly girl."
KTS: Brera Sterne has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Brera Sterne targets Kaiju Navi with Mauler Storm! KTS: Brera Sterne has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Kaiju Navi successfully evades Yurika Misumaru's Gravity Blast - Charging... <Pose Tracker> Treize Khushrenada has posed.
The Greif jostles and shakes, tossing Treize Claus around like a bowl
full of jelly as the unit whines and sparks at being snatched by the claws of
the Heavy soldier , the tether to the Rabscuttle being disconnected before the
damage to the tether becomes to much.
The Greif struggles and manages to reach it's beam saber, igniting the
blade and begins to work to hack it's way out of the death grip that the Heavy
Soldier is attempting to inflict. However just like his compatriot believes,
Treize is not done and continues to flick the beam saber rapidly trying to cut
the soldier's claws enough to free himself. \
While trying to cut himself free Treize is actively paying attention
to Vitaly's comment and takes action opening the comm channel to broadcast to
the area, <"Greif to the Nadesico, Treize Khushrenada to the Nadesico. Please
include us in your attack coordination, also the Rabscuttle noted we are
looking for one unit leading the rest, if your sensors can pinpoint which one
that is we will be able to end this fight sooner.">
KTS: Treize Khushrenada targets Kaiju Navi with Beam Saber 100 Combo! KTS: Treize Khushrenada has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Vitaly Sokolov anchors Kaiju Navi, forcing it into close range. KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to evade Vitaly Sokolov's Hrududu II - Claw Grab, taking 5100 damage!
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has engaged Kaiju Navi! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov continues a Formation attack! <Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.
Ruri reads about the state of the world in her spare time, and she has
to say that neither the REA nor the Britannian Union are particularly stellar,
in her eyes. They both tell their people what to do.
Even so, she's glad that Artemisia and Vitaly are helping them, today.
She monitors the Dianthus's systems -- and its lack of sentience is
little barrier for her, who feels the emotions of even basic machines. Even
if the Dianthus isn't curious about the world, she's still concerned for it!
"You're doing well," she asides, surprisingly supportive, to the machine.
Since she's speaking out loud, Lucine might hear, just the same.
Her stoic appraisal of the battlefield is interrupted, though -- as a
hat impacts the screen, bounces, and settles on Ruri's head. She blinks, once.
Twice.
"Catch," she echoes, in that particular Japanese way of 'I caught it!'
rather than 'you'd better catch it'
Her expression gentles, as Omoikane proposes an idea to Ranka -- offers
her agency, in the middle of something so frightening to her. It's actually
kind of funny... how he'd propose a song he was such a fan of.
(Minato, their helmswoman, takes a moment to flash Ranka a big
thumbs-up. "Nice!")
When Trieze contacts them, Megumi's recognisable face -- speckled with
freckles, her purple hair all tied up, she used to be a voice actress before
she became their communications officer -- appears in a communication window,
to him. "Nadesico to Greif, we hear you. We'll transmit the data now!" She
looks to the side, and asks: "Ruri, can you..?"
"Yes," Ruri responds, pressing her hands to her console. (The IFS
connection is much, much faster than typing ever could be.) "Now transmitting
evasive data to allied units." She reaches out to those Federation units, to
advise their machines, just the same.
KTS: Ruri Hoshino targets Vitaly Sokolov, Treize Khushrenada, and Artemisia ka Britannia with Caution.
KTS: Ruri Hoshino has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Ruri Hoshino suggests caution, raising Vitaly Sokolov's Intuition! KTS: Ruri Hoshino suggests caution, raising Artemisia ka Britannia's Intuition! KTS: Ruri Hoshino suggests caution, raising Treize Khushrenada's Intuition!
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
Lucine spoke too soon. Calling the bluff of the Mobile Soldiers, Lucine
is on the losing end, recieving half her share of sharp claws against the
Dianthus's chassis.
< ".... Gh!" > Impossibly fluid black wax streams down the screen and
onto the dash, welling under the controls. She is stuck inside, with the
vacuum of space being the only safe harbor.
Lucine breathes, and the wax is gone, a product of her own mind.
Whereever a paranoid Newtype goes, a witch is not needed in order to see past
trauma.
Besides, space isn't safe, she's covered in Vajra. Also, is Ranka
singing....? < "Ah.... I think I get it.... is that.... the theme to
Gekiganger? The show Akito watches." >
Lucine is catching up! < "Thank you, Ruri." > The dianthus spinning in
Ruri's mind's eye spins just a tad bit faster for the compliment.
Imitating Akito's LETSUGO PASSION, Lucine delivers a yell of her own,
trying to cover for the fellow Martian by attacking the other end of the same
Vajra with two graceful swipes of her glaive, running a slivery criss cross
against the larger Vajra's backside. < "Heeeeya!" >
KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Lucine Azul targets Kaiju Navi with CL0-V3 Glaive Crescent Cross! KTS: Lucine Azul has completed their actions for the round. Sophia Mayhew Castellan teleports in.
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia enervates Kaiju Navi, reducing its Morale significantly.
KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to intercept Artemisia ka Britannia's Escudo Q Missiles, taking 7080 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Artemisia ka Britannia's Let this moment last forever activates, causing Sparkle!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Artemisia ka Britannia's The Hunter's Song activates, causing Deject!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Artemisia ka Britannia's Perfection of Movement activates, causing Nullify!
KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to evade Brera Sterne's Mauler Storm, taking 5250 damage! KTS: Kaiju Navi retreats from the attack! KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Treize Khushrenada's Beam Saber 100 Combo, taking 4230 damage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi blocks Lucine Azul's CL0-V3 Glaive Crescent Cross, taking 1320 damage!
KTS: Lucine Azul has engaged Kaiju Navi! <Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
The Neo Mexico colony's defenders are thankfully no longer struggling
so badly under the Vajra assault. Now that they have additional support.
However, the arrival of said support has only slowed the Vajra advance across
and around the colony. If they aren't dealt with quickly, they're going to
spread too far to contain effectively. The Nadesico in particular, with its
heightened battlefield awareness, will be able to tell that the Vajra are
focusing their pushes towards any openings into the colony.
Which is exactly why Captain Misumaru's plan is probably the smartest
move they can make at this point. Even as the smaller Vajra are trying to claw
their way through the Nadesico's hull-Akito and Alto's efforts to stop them
certainly hampering their progress-the Nadesico charges its patented Gravity
Blast Cannon. The rise in energy seems to turn some heads though, Vajra heads
to be specific. A few of the larger Heavy Soldiers turn their attention to the
Nadesico, their beady eyes observing it for a moment. Seemingly recognizing
the threat, they rush down to land on the colony's surface and dig their claws
in. The large bio-cannons on their back begin to crackle, charging up. At this
point it's almost like a race to see who can fire first! A race which the
Vajra win. The group of Heavy Soldiers unleash several charged bursts of
golden bio-energy towards the Nadesico.
The Heavy Soldier targetted by the Rabscuttle finds itself grabbed in
those claws. The biomechanical creature tries to hold back against the force
of the squeezing claws with its limbs. And for a moment it looks like it
might. But the added firepower from the Leos weakens the Heavy Soldier to the
point where it can no longer resist. The claws close, crushing and ripping
through the alien which quickly goes still from the damage... Until it starts
to thrash, rapidly! The large cannon on its back begins to crackle with
energy, glowing brighter and brighter and brighter. Its energy levels are
rising rapidly. It's going to explode!
Alto grits his teeth as his gunpod tries to gun down a Mobile Soldier,
the Gekiganger theme song starting to play in his ear. He hasn't seen the
show, no matter how often Akito tries to make him. 'What's their
vulnerability, man?' With his focus on aiming, Alto's reply is a bit rushed,
<"No idea! Shoot them till they die. Then some more for good measure. Even
taking off their heads doesn't stop them.">
This seems to work for Artemisia, as her missiles explode against the
Mobile Soldiers that had been harassing her despite attempts to shoot them
down. Maybe missiles are their weakness? Regardless, their strength is clearly
numbers as more of the smaller Vajra rush down to take the place of those that
exploded, attempting to use said numbers to overwhelm Artemisia from all
directions with a combination of gun fire and micro-missiles.
The rapid beam fire from the Lucifer's guns rip through several Vajra
in quick succession, causing them to explode in violent blooms of golden
light. The deaths draw the attention of a Heavy Soldier that quickly gives
chase after the agile VF. As it does so it raises one of its arms, the
bio-machine gun within folding out and beginning to unleash a rapid stream of
bullets at its target.
Treize struggles against the grip of the Heavy Soldier holding him.
Managing to unleash its beam saber, it cuts through a joint in one of the red
Vajra's limbs, severing it and seemingly causing the Vajra pain. It releases
its grip instinctively, rapidly backing up for a moment. Despite its injury,
it doesn't relent as it charges back in again. There's no grab this time, just
speed as it attempts to slam into the Grief and carry it crashing into the
colony's surface.
Trieze's request to the Nadesico does bring some attention back to the
source of the Vajra. Turns out it's a derelict. A wreck of some old ship,
possibly a transport. It appears to still have power to some degree, though
intermitent, which explains the flashing lights the original videos had
showed. The derelict appears abandoned though, having been left by the Vajra
it has simply floated past the colony. Gripped by the Earth's gravity, it will
no doubt fall at this point, likely to burn up in re-entry. Unfortunately,
this seems to dismiss the idea of a single controlling leader. At least as far
as anyone here is aware.
Lucine charges one of the Heavy Soldiers with a cry and a glaive. The
former can't be heard by the creature because space. The latter is met by two
of the creature's arms which come up to meet the weapon, the heavy armor on
them keeping it from inflicting much in the way of damage. Lucine is then
treated to a disturbing sight: The large cannon on the creature's back
swiveling and lowering to aim towards her at close range. Golden light
crackles for a few moments as it charges, before firing the blast of
bio-energy at point blank!
KTS: Kaiju Navi has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Yurika Misumaru with Vajra Bio-Cannon Tearing Shot! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Vitaly Sokolov with Vajra Bio-Cannon Self Destruct! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Artemisia ka Britannia with Vajra Mobile Soldiers Coordinated Encirclement!
KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Brera Sterne with Vajra Bio-Machine Guns Reckless Stream!
KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Lucine Azul with Vajra Bio-Cannon Close Impact! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Treize Khushrenada with Vajra Armored Claws Heavy Impact!
KTS: Yurika Misumaru partially guards Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Cannon Tearing Shot, taking 3990 damage!
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia fails to charge. KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia partially guards Kaiju Navi's Vajra Mobile Soldiers Coordinated Encirclement, taking 5880 damage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi rattles Brera Sterne, making his next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Brera Sterne fails to evade Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Machine Guns Reckless Stream, taking 5980 damage!
KTS: Ranka Lee orders an all-out attack, raising Lucine Azul's Skill! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov parries Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Cannon Self Destruct, taking 870 damage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi has engaged Vitaly Sokolov! KTS: Lucine Azul rushes into the attack! KTS: Lucine Azul partially guards Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Cannon Close Impact, taking 5280 damage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi has engaged Lucine Azul! KTS: Kaiju Navi has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Treize Khushrenada fails to Evade Kaiju Navi's Vajra Armored Claws Heavy Impact, taking 4290 damage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi repulses Treize Khushrenada, forcing him to disengage.
<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
<"Spasibo, Commander. Nadesico."> Vitaly remarks, as not moments later she
starts getting a flood of data from the Nadesico. Without a crew available to
seperate out the data, Vitaly is having to do quick readings. But soon, the
information starts flowing into the BUNNyS System, creating new movement
sequences for the woman to work into the current battle.
Notably, she spots one particular blip, as the Heavy Soldier begins its
detonation. The massive claw immediately shifts, the entire Rabscuttle using
its established momentum against the colony to suddenly turn, flinging the
Heavy Soldier away. Thanks to Ruri's evasive details, throwing it into a
sector of the battle that consists of no allied forces. The sudden explosion
is blinding, obscuring the entirety of the Rabscuttle for a moment..
<"Releasing all Leo units from Rabscuttle. Rabscuttle Seperation Sequence.">
Only for it to suddenly be rocketing towards earth, seperated from Vitaly's
personal unit. Multiple commands are being given to the Support vessel - which
is rushing right for the 'vessel' upon which the Vajra had arrived moments
ago. Between herself giving remote commands, and the Co-Pilot on the
Rabscuttle, what follows are sweeping lasers parsing through space. The
Rabscuttle having to go at high speeds to keep up and intercept it, while the
Hazel Gundam - which has undocked from it - remains near one of the colony
entrances, revving up a massive machinegun, slowly tearing through some of the
smaller troops.
Vitaly has an upper limit of how many things she can parse and do at the same
time. But she trusts the co-pilot to execute the remainder of the Rabscuttle's
commands.
In the distance, beam after beam sweeps near the vessel moving towards earth.
Beams reflecting through the remaining Mega Beam Launcher's side parts, trying
to cut across its hull like a chef trying to chop ingredients up, before
launching a larger beam blast.
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Kaiju Navi with 3-Barrel Beam Cannon Fingers! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Kaiju Navi blocks Vitaly Sokolov's 3-Barrel Beam Cannon Fingers, taking 5760 damage!
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has engaged Kaiju Navi! Artemisia ka Britannia (artemisia) has paged Alto Saotome with, 'hm. Well a player can hang! *rewrites some stuff*' <Pose Tracker> Yurika Misumaru has posed.
The airwaves fill with the sound of a...slightly familiar song. A
rallying call from Ranka - the Gekiganger theme song. Akito, for one, is fired
up all the more - capping off the theme's chorus with his own fierce "LET'S
GEKIGAN FLAAAAARE!!!" on a particularly big Vajra before it tries to eat a
hole into the Nadesico's undebelly. The Distortion Field-wrapped punch from
the pink Aestivalis tears a hole clean through the center - and he's off to
yet another horrible space bug in swift order, just a little bit in that
'traumatized by space monsters berserker rage' mode.
Yurika . . . has to put on a slightly brave face. Why this anime!! Why
is it always Gekiganger. It's just some old toy commercial! ...but she can't
get on that to Ranka. She can't crush an innocent girl's hopes and dreams
like that!! Or can she?! No, she can't! ...but maybe-
The captain claps her cheeks to focus, shaking her head free of such
petty concerns. "Alrighty! We're ready for the big bang, aren't we? Gravity
Blast on full charge...it looks like we're locked and loaded!~ These critters
might be tough to handle, but we're about to blast 'em where the sun don't
shine! All cowpokes, at the rea-"
"Captain, please?" chimes in Minato Haruka, blipping in a little
window in front of Yurika's face even though she's physically in the same room
(albeit, it's a big room!) "Not sure what's gotten into you, but now's not the
time to overdo it, alright?"
It's enough to make Yurika recoil a little bit, the color draining from
her face. If Minato's being stern... "...hai. Yes. Understood. Sorry about
that. Mhm. I've got the angle we want to fire at, so. ...Please fire the
Gravity Blast. Pretty please."
That extremely non-bombastic request heralds a warning to the
Nadesico's allies about the imminent firing of that most expected great column
of light - and it surges out once they're out of the way - the whirling,
strangely-hued column of gravitons lighting up the inkiness of space - and set
to place a veritable star across the Vajra's false Christmas tree!
...Momentarily, Yurika does pipe in a comms window, to Lucine, not too
long after that...vision, of hers. "...Uhm. ...For some reason, just now, I
felt a very strong urge to make sure you're okay. ...You're okay, right? I'll
be sure to make you a good cup of hot cocoa when you get back, so don't push
too hard out there!"
KTS: Yurika Misumaru has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Yurika Misumaru has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Yurika Misumaru has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Yurika Misumaru has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Yurika Misumaru has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Yurika Misumaru has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Yurika Misumaru targets Kaiju Navi with Gravity Blast - Full Power! KTS: Yurika Misumaru has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Artemisia ka Britannia has posed.
Signals come in from the Nergal ship. Artemisia glances at them, head bobbing
just a little as the KMF continues to accelerate towards that pyramid. It
actually swerves to a separate approach vector.
The weakness seems to be 'shoot them until they die.' "Fair enough," Artemisia
says, as she bears downwards. Accelerate, accelerate - ah, but they're there,
aren't they? They're coming towards her. "That's right, you red bastards,"
Artemisia says, "this is the threat you've brought upon you. I hope you're
ready--!!"
One of them leaps from the top of a spire and nearly brings the Skathi down,
smashing down with claws that make the machine lurch. It's eerily silent other
than the THUMP, although there are some signal noises from the control
interface -- efficient haptics in space mode, don't you know -- but Artemisia
steers to scrape it off the side. A rain of incoming bullets -
Vault! Leap upwards - snap out a Harken to grip onto the side of some damn
greeble or other (it's actually the sealed extension of a residential
structure; Artemisia narrowly avoids smashing through a window while using the
Harkens for maneuver) and then downwards, nearer to the surface. A burst of
the thrusters to ensure she's ON them because she's using the drive to
accelerate --
Another soldier leaps. This one's coming from the less-visually-impaired side
of Artemisia -- she raises up the shield *and the damn thing lands on it
entirely*.
Impulse makes Artemisia try to hurl it away but the KMF's arm is seized by
horrid foreparts of some kind she can't quite make out. There's a great
snapping tear, a burst of gas and explosive charges, and now -- one armed --
the machine screams further forwards.
"Tsk... ha... HA HA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA," Artemisia shouts, "You idiot bug! That's
the arm you should have left me! Make me SCRAMBLE for this!" One last little
bunny hop and -
Up the quasi-pyramid's steps -- no, the smoothed stone alongside it, the
simulant limestone providing a perfect ramp. The KMF clears the top of the
pyramid, the thruster pack kicking in as it keeps going, banking slightly to
the left.
No, slightly more.
"You can't hide from me at this angle, you little ****s!"
IN THE CONTROL ROOM
"My, my, she does get excited," Olivia says, fanning herself. "But I think I
know what's about to happen~!"
Charite, who has been told she is not permitted to say such words until she is
old enough to fight her own mother, folds her arms in frustration.
BACK OUT THERE:
It's silent - not even very flashy, in the vacuum of space - but Artemisia has
eight of these great darts, and in this situation she can simply float by,
like a wolf hunter in a helicopter, and hurtle thunderbolts from on high. The
solenoid bow uses a great crack of electricity to propel the darts
magnetically.
They won't even see it coming!
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia targets Kaiju Navi with Pilium Coup-de-grace! KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Treize Khushrenada has posed.
The Greif is sent flying back as the Heavy Soldier slams into it and
Treize's body reactively tenses up in preperation for the impact as the unit
hits the ground with a thud and a nice Greif imprint in the surface of the
colony. Treize has the Greif lay there for a moment as he gathers himself.
"Twas a night not before christmas and all through the colony the kaijus were
crawling." Taking a deep breath he begins to get the unit up.
"All the colonist were stirring for they needed protection. " Gripping
the beam saber the Greif raises it and points it at the Heavy soldier, "My
unit is damage and will soon need care, but the colonist are expecting a hero
to soon be here."
The poem is said mostly for himself to help get him back into the
fighting spirit as he takes a deep breath, removing the santa hat for a
moment and runs his hand through his hair making sure it is back before
returning its hat to it's previous location. <" I know you are all doing your
best, but we can not afford to lose here, if you are holding anything back for
reasons I ask of you to remember that lives are at stake. ">
The thrusters of the Greif glow as it lifts off the surface and
launches itself back towards the heavy soldier attempting to drive the beam
saber into it.
KTS: Treize Khushrenada has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Treize Khushrenada has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: Treize Khushrenada has activated the Accel Spirit Command and Has Engaged with Kaiju Navi
KTS: Treize Khushrenada targets Kaiju Navi with Beam Saber 100 Thrust! KTS: Treize Khushrenada has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
Even if Brera's judgment is kept to himself, even if he'd vocalized it, Ranka
would have been happy just to get a reaction out of him at all.
She just enjoys seeing Brera more animated.
Minato gets a thumbs up from Ranka back mid-song. Whereas her face appears on
Lucine's screen mid-song, as she nods quickly in confirmation, her singing
never stopping.
Fortunately there's no innocent girl's dreams involved here. She learned the
song because Omoikane likes it, she didn't watch the anime yet.
She breaks into an impromptu dance step, which is no hindrance given the
headset and Omoikane keeping the 'cameras' on her so to speak.
"Let's hold tight the Dream, just look towards the future,
"LET'S GO PASSION
"Bring down the King of Dark Space Demons!
"LET'S GO GEKIGANGER 3!"
"A tears' S.O.S can arrive from everywhere,
"Burn! Power of Rage and Justice!
"Run through Galaxy plain's Runaway,
"All for one Love and Hope are the Warrior's Emblem
"(JET, MARINE, TANK, ARE GO!)"
While it's not everyone's cup of tea, the song does seem to be hyping up some
of the pilots at least! They're definitely working with each other better!
Ranka's face appears on Lucine and Brera's comms midsong purely just to put up
a V for Victory as if to tell them to win!!!!
KTS: Ranka Lee targets Brera Sterne, Lucine Azul, and Yurika Misumaru with Coordinate.
KTS: Ranka Lee has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Ranka Lee has activated the Enable Spirit Command targeting Brera Sterne KTS: Ranka Lee has activated the Enable Spirit Command targeting Lucine Azul KTS: Ranka Lee has activated the Enable Spirit Command targeting Lucine Azul KTS: Ranka Lee coordinates maneuvers, raising Brera Sterne's Piloting! KTS: Ranka Lee coordinates maneuvers, raising Lucine Azul's Piloting! KTS: Ranka Lee coordinates maneuvers, raising Yurika Misumaru's Piloting! KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Yurika Misumaru's Gravity Blast - Full Power, taking 10530 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Yurika Misumaru's I've Got a Plan! activates, causing Control Bonus!
<Pose Tracker> Brera Sterne has posed.
"<Your attacks will have limited effectiveness,>" Brera states over
communications, lacking urgency. "<As the Vajra take damage, they share data
with one another and learn to evolve against weapons used against them. Vary
your attacks, but understand a greater weapon is necessary.>"
Vajra burst and die from Lucifer's fire, and Brera watches. As it should be.
His eyes widen a fraction when the Heavy Soldier breaks from the pack. Lucifer
twists on a pin to escape, but its minute shifts left and right are not
enough. Bullets smash into the hull, tearing dents across it as Brera growls.
Lucifer's Fighter form unfurls, shifting and taking shape into a bipedal
silhouette, arming itself with the rifle the fighter once carried underneath.
Lucifer bursts toward the Heavy Soldier, pivoting gracefully and arcing around
as he fires a spray of beam bullets in explosive streaks of neon violet. They
aim to smash into his new adversary, but with plentiful fire for the 'missed'
shots to still fire into the swarm beyond.
He flies to the tune of Ranka's singing, 'silly' and ridiculous as he may find
it to be. But let him not protest too much: something in his heart stirs with
it, Brera's expression, well, existing at all as he balks at the image he
receives from Ranka on screen.
"Huh...?!" Stare. Staaaare. "<I-I have no intention of losing. This is...
unnecessary...>"
Uncertainty is an unconvincing tone.
KTS: Brera Sterne has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Brera Sterne has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Brera Sterne targets Kaiju Navi with Angle Shooting! KTS: Brera Sterne has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.
"Now coordinating Gravity Blast parameters," Ruri reports, to Yurika.
"Firing."
Brera's machine -- and, subsequently, Brera, given how closely aligned
they are -- may get the distinct sensation that someone else entirely
focused on the battlefield is checking in on them. He says he has no intention
of losing. "Even so," oh, it's Ruri, in her communication window, now wearing
a silly hat with her same flat expression, "I'm transmitting targeting data
now."
To the Dianthus, she adds: "The Vajra are searching for openings.
Please continue to lay down confounding fire."
And when her face appears on Akito's screen, Ruri says, completely
deadpan: "Let's go in progress."
KTS: Ruri Hoshino targets Lucine Azul, Yurika Misumaru, and Brera Sterne with All-Out.
KTS: Ruri Hoshino has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Ruri Hoshino orders an all-out attack, raising Brera Sterne's Skill! KTS: Ruri Hoshino orders an all-out attack, raising Yurika Misumaru's Skill! KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to rush. KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia enervates Kaiju Navi, reducing its Morale significantly.
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia rattles Kaiju Navi, making its next maneuvers more difficult.
KTS: Kaiju Navi partially guards Artemisia ka Britannia's Pilium Coup-de-grace, taking 6720 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Artemisia ka Britannia's Let this moment last forever activates, causing Sparkle!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Artemisia ka Britannia's The Hunter's Song activates, causing Deject!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Artemisia ka Britannia's Perfection of Movement activates, causing Nullify!
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has engaged Kaiju Navi!
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
Akito isn't the only one in 'traumatized by space monsters' mode,
though for Lucine, it hasn't quite translated to berserker rage. Her survival
on the fields of Mars was build on a high-strung gauntlet of evasion and
hiding, as well as lots of screaming. So, perhaps, in that way, it's still
very similar.
The creature's biocannon swivels downwards as its arms grip her glaive.
For a moment, staring up at it, Lucine sees another type of chitinous invader
with cannons, mindlessly attacking whatever it comes across like locusts in a
field.
And in that moment, Lucine lets out a stifled scream, the Dianthus
twisting away with a rough jerk just as the blast hits With the Dianthus
doubling backwards to avoid another attack, sweat staples a strand of hair
against Lucine's forehead, inaccessible due to her helmet.
'...Uhm. ...For some reason, just now--' Lucine meets Yurika's comms
window with a surprised glance, which is subsumed by embarrassment. "....
Sorry," she says, to the private comms window. "... I got too cocky. Though,
ah... Yurika... say, ah, are you...?" Ranka's V for victory plays in the
opposite screen as Lucine trails off. She smiles, giving a silent nod to
Ranka. "... It's nothing. I'll do my best, Captain Misumaru!"
Hearing Ruri's warning, Lucine turns the wider radio band on. < "Ah,
roger that. The Dianthus's meters are running low. I'm going to deliver my
strongest offensive attack before heading back; I'll support from the bridge."
> Santa Treize may be disappointed, but Lucine simply gives a small smile. <
".... With the Nadesico here to give presents, Mr. Claus, I imagine we will soon
no longer have a Vajra problem. But for now, the final act." >
Twisting in the void of space, the Dianthus lets loose a tightly banded
burst of glowing magenta firepower. The shots spiral out and arc around in a
pirouettes of sparkling explosions if and where they hit Vajra forces,
settling around like a blizzard of bright sparks, letting the Dianthus
withdraw backwards.
KTS: Lucine Azul targets Kaiju Navi with Lacrimosa! KTS: Lucine Azul has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Kaiju Navi blocks Treize Khushrenada's Beam Saber 100 Thrust, taking 4180 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Treize Khushrenada's Battlefield Prodigy activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Treize Khushrenada's To Defy Destiny activates, causing Sparkle!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Treize Khushrenada's Intended Target activates, causing Nullify!
KTS: Treize Khushrenada has engaged Kaiju Navi! KTS: Kaiju Navi blocks Brera Sterne's Angle Shooting, taking 2940 damage! KTS: Kaiju Navi blocks Lucine Azul's Lacrimosa, taking 3750 damage! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has activated the Resupply Spirit Command.
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
It does seem like the battle is turning in the favour of the defenders!
The Vajra numbers are beginning to dwindle. And so far indications are that
none have been able to make it inside the colony. Which is a good thing. The
last thing anyone needs is something as large as the Neo Mexico colony being
turned into a Vajra hive.
Vitaly splits her attention somewhat. Her support unit is sent rushing
after the derelict that had floated by. They begin to carve it into pieces
where their beams, causing secondary detonations. And sure enough, as the
derelict is being lit up, several Vajra comes rushing out of it trying to
escape the devestation. Only to fail, they themselves dying along with the
rest of the derelict.
Having seen what happened during a brief lull, Alto breathes a quick
sigh of relief, "That could have been bad..."
Meanwhile, the Hazel Gundam itself continues to engage the Vajra at the
colony, its machine gun shredding a number of the smaller ones. But they don't
take the deaths lightly, more closing in on him from multiple directions and
unleashing a large barrage of their missiles!
The Nadesico's Gravity Blast Cannon fires at the crescendo of Ranka's
singing. The massive beam of energy rushes outwards from the ship, carving
through space above the colony. It's a good thing Ruri's so perfect. You
wouldn't want to miss aim that... The Vajra, small and large alike, engfuled
in the energy are simply torn apart, disintegrating until there is practically
nothing left.
That one shot just wiped out a good third of the remaining Vajra.
Dozens of Vajra lives extinguished in a single moment.
At this moment... There is a distinct shift in the Vajra movements.
They stop their pushes towards the colony. The smaller Mobile Soldiers pause
before doing a quick 180 and beginning to fly AWAY from it. The Heavy Soldiers
though...
The remaining Heavy Soldiers not currently engaged with others group up
into formation together. Floating in the void, they focus their attention on
the Nadesico. The cannons on their backs charge and then fire, a deluge of
golden light conveying incredible amounts of energy rush towards the Nergal
ship.
Artemisia's darts crack through several of the smaller Mobile Soldiers
as they flee. One of the Heavies even finds itself with a large hole through
its body, though unlike its brethren it manages to intends to keep fighting.
It charges Artemisia, deadly sharp claws. As it reaches her it tries to plunge
the claws right through the Knightmare and Artemisia herself!
Treize's beam saber pierces through the center of the Heavy Soldier.
The creature spasms, before turning its arms towards him. Bio-machine guns
begin to unleash round after round towards him, trying to finish him off even
as his blade pieces through it.
The Lucifer and its Heavy Soldier opponent end up spiraling around each
other. Brera's beams rip into the creature while it retaliates with barrages
of missiles that streak out and try to chase the VF. It's clear that only one
of them is going to get out of this clash intact!
Lucine makes her way across space, magenta shots lighting up the sky as
several of the Mobile Soldiers explode from the firepower. But her system
quickly alerts her to a threat as a Heavy Soldier comes rushing in towards her
from behind. Its claws open up, arms reaching out as it attempts to grab hold
of the Dianthus's limbs. And if it succeeds, its large tail curls up,
threatening spike on the end point towards the machine's center. The Vajra
then sends its tail lancing forward, trying to pierce it through its prey.
As the Heavy Soldiers make their last ditched attacks against the
colony's defenders, ripples of light begin to form in space just beyond their
smaller brethren. The Mobile Soldiers fly into them, engulfed and vanishing,
leaving behind only sparkles.
Breathing heavily, Alto turns his head to watch the motes of light in
the distance, <"They're leaving...">
KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Vitaly Sokolov with Vajra Bio-Micro-Missiles Explosive Dance!
KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Artemisia ka Britannia with Vajra Armored Claws Sharpened Crush!
KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Treize Khushrenada with Vajra Bio-Machine Guns Ripping Barrage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Brera Sterne with Vajra Bio-Micro-Missiles Guiding Swarm!
KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Lucine Azul with Vajra Armored Claws Sharpened Crush! KTS: Kaiju Navi has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Kaiju Navi has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Yurika Misumaru with Vajra Bio-Cannon Charged Assault! KTS: Yurika Misumaru fails to react to Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Cannon Charged Assault, taking 4590 damage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi roots its unit, coming to a standstill and leaving it vulnerable.
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov fails to rush. KTS: Vitaly Sokolov partially guards Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Micro-Missiles Explosive Dance, taking 6500 damage!
KTS: Treize Khushrenada blocks Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Machine Guns Ripping Barrage, taking 2400 damage!
KTS: Treize Khushrenada has activated the Resupply Spirit Command targeting Vitaly Sokolov
KTS: [Lucky] Brera Sterne's Rival of Ares activates, and luck goes his way! KTS: Brera Sterne successfully evades Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Micro-Missiles Guiding Swarm
KTS: Ruri Hoshino orders an all-out attack, raising Lucine Azul's Skill! KTS: Lucine Azul retreats from the attack! KTS: Lucine Azul fails to react to Kaiju Navi's Vajra Armored Claws Sharpened Crush, taking 6480 damage!
KTS: Lucine Azul has been defeated!
<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
Brera Sterne begins to explain the matter of the Vajra, notably showing a
significant amount of knowledge and understanding of their enemy where nobody
else did. He can't see it, but within the cockpit of the Hazel Proto -
undocked from the Rabscuttle - her brow furrows with all the wrinkles of an
old woman.
<"I have greater weapon."> Vitaly Sokolov answers Brera, clearly not
understanding the point he was making. <"Not meet many alien or bug who do not
fall to bigger weapon."> As the Hazel Proto lands onto the 'hull' of the
enormous Neo-Mexico colony, and turns its head 'up' towards the swarm of Vajra
as they continue to be thinned out by the allies of the Federation.
The sizable and unbalanced looking Hazel Proto shifts its body around, the
massive gatling cannon continueing to fire at the bugs. Careful and
considerate not to fire any bullets in the direction of earth, worried about
any kind of consequences of firing towards the Gravity Well itself.
Something something Sir Isaac Newton.
The enormous Gravity Cannon's wave tearing across so many of them truly makes
Vitaly Sokolov both smile, and grimace at the same time. Such an awe-some
weapon, yet it is in the hands of what is basically a civilian organization.
And that much is truly worrisome. One can only imagine what a fleet of
Nadesico class ships could do within the earth's sphere. It's a good thing
that the weapon reportedly doesn't function as well within atmosphere.
The Dianthus dances, its magenta beams casting through space. Vajra that bend
off towards the colony immediately being intercepted. But she's not yet
moving, until she gets a reading back from the Rabscuttle, keeping a lasercomm
as well as she can. Moving from this location will make it hard to maintain
communications.
Multiple small arms can constantly be seem moving along the shoulders of the
Hazel Proto, removing things from the absolutely massive weapon containers on
its shoulders. Pulling out new ammo supplies to feed the 120mm Machine Gun,
and pulling enormous missiles out of them as two sizable launchers come up
from its back.
Then, as the detonation takes place of the vessel - the Vajra trying to 'sneak'
onto earth decimated by the support vessel, Vitaly's attention turns to the
forefront of the battle.
~"Engaging to safe distance to use N-Type WMD Weapon Type - Command, requesting
permission"~ Vitaly establishes a private commlink with Treize Kushrenada.
Launchers that look remarkably like the ones used by the Federation to assault
Junius 7, many years ago. More notably, what is being pulled out of the cargo
containers...
Orange noses, a black ring, pale long bodies. Barely readable markings on them,
that speak to their ominous nature.
A vessel like the Nadesico would immediately start getting readings from these
missiles. Horrific readings that speak to the readiness and willingness of
G-Hound to deal with massive space bugs with utter and complete finality.
As the Hazel Proto suddenly breaks formation entirely, and begins to move
straight into the swarm of the Vajra! Heavy Soldiers tearing into the Hazel
Proto, as its I-Field comes up. Some of the beam blasts being held back, while
other smaller ones begin to swarm around the machine. But the Hazel Proto
shows a remarkable bit of precision in its movement unlike the Daedalus.
Avoiding attacks of finality.
Sparks fly across the machine, while Vitaly signals.
<"TO ALL COMBATANT, please keep a distance of about fifty kilometers from my
current position."> Is the only warning they get as the machine proceeds
closer towards the Fold windows open up. Another twosome of massive rockets
are being prepared by the Hazel mid-flight, as the approval comes in.
As Vitaly whispers; "Forgive me."
Not moments, before the first rockets fly.
There's a momentary silence in space...
Then, an eerie white glow suddenly forms ahead of the Hazel Proto. A sphere of
utter decimation that suddenly grows. Then a second..
A third...
As the shape of those missiles come to the forefront --
https://i.imgur.com/uCLud9D.png
As horror visits space, as a terrifying weapon once again sees use.
A fourth sphere of light, before radiation and EMP spring forth.
And for some, memories that the Federation would rather ignore, due to how
uncomfortable they are.
The screens within the Proto Hazel goes dark to protect against the pale light.
Geiger counters within the Hazel Proto go off, and Vitaly checks for the
status of the radiation protection within the cockpit. The metalic plating on
her suit glinting with subtle green glow.
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Kaiju Navi with Long Tube! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Vitaly Sokolov's Long Tube, taking 8320 damage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi has been defeated!
<Pose Tracker> Brera Sterne has posed.
If only Heavy Soldier or Brera will make it out intact, then Brera has already
determined who it will be from the start.
Lucifer lifts its beam rifle, color bleeding through its barrel until it glows
in brilliant neon. It opens up, splitting apart to allow a greater flow of
energy as Brera calculates precisely the time he needs to charge it against
the vajra's movements. The beam rifle fires before the vajra can hope to reach
him, a massive beam of energy exploding into it and puncturing through with a
powerful, piercing blow.
It is but one of countless many.
The Vajra pose a great threat, greater than Brera believes the fighters here
will truly recognize, even with his attempted warning. They think their
weapons are great enough, powerful enough, to decimate the vajra defenses.
Foolish. But more foolish, perhaps, to do nothing. So let them use their
'great weapons', let them kill as many vajra as they are able, and he will
follow the one who can lead them to true victory in time.
He doesn't have a choice.
Brera, and Lucifer, lower the beam rifle, watching the rockets fly, and light
takes over everything. Then Lucifer folds back up, compact and in its
plane-like fighter form before launching off and away from a battlefield where
he is no longer needed, leaving only a glowing trail in his wake.
No farewell or confirmation of disengagement, official or otherwise, is
provided over communication channels.
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
Brera and Lucine's reactions earn a smile even as she keeps singing. However-
The moment the gravity blast cannon tears into the Vajra, killing a third of
them-
"A dream is calling for tom-NNNNhaaaaaaaaaa!"
The song is interrupted immediately, by a heartbeat that feels ephemeral.
Ranka stumbles, arms clutching her abdomen, sweat drenching her brow.
One deep breath after another is taken in, as she tries to recover...
... she isn't given the opportunity. As the spheres of light form in her
vision, the first knocks her breathless as she falls to her knees, the
sensation not as bad as before by itself, but its like she's being punched in
the gut, upon the second she clenches her teeth... the third, she can't hold
it in anymore, and it becomes one prolonged scream of agony,
"aaaAAAAAAAaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Gravity, usually a boon on ships - is not one now, as she tries to fall on her
side in the fetal position, still clutching her abdomen, the sombrero rolling
forlornly off of her head."
<Pose Tracker> Yurika Misumaru has posed.
There's an obvious stillness once nuclear weapons begin launching out
towards the last remnants of the Vajra. For oh so long, nuclear weaponry has
been something feared - the judgment to not just raze something to the ground,
but to leave it harmful long past the point of impact...even if innocents must
be purged.
...That's how it should be, right?
...The distinctive shape of those weapons elicits only a slight tipping
of Yurika's head, even as Jun, Megumi, and Minato hold their breaths. The
tension in her crew at this weapon...is maybe slightly bewildering to her.
After all, warfare's salted the earth since time immemorial, hasn't it?
What makes these so much different? ...What makes her own command - this
gravity-twisting phenomenon Yurika's been entrusted with handling - any
different?
Just which one the people afflicted have had to endure.
"Phew! That will hopefully show the Vajra what's what," Yurika chimes
in, with the same slightly weary but still upbeat tone she tries to end any
mission on. "Good work, all of you, for defending the colony - I'd hate to
imagine what tragedy could happen if they'd gotten in. Ruri-chan, you're a
lifesaver as ever for having everything so ready to go even though me and
Akito were running late."
Maybe some on the bridge might think Yurika's strong for going about
her way. But to her - this was just the use of force against a truly hostile
enemy.
It's not like she can say she's totally absolved of causing harm with
her own entrusted force.
Ranka-chan, I hope this wasn't too rough to witness - your singing
definitely kept spiri- Ranka? RANKA?!" Yurika's hands fly up to her face at
the sight of Ranka doubling over in agony, sucking in a terrified gasp. "Fetch
the medics immediately! Injury on the bridge!" Yurika huddles down next to
Ranka, running through the first aid motions of checking for fever, checking
for obvious injury - assessing if there's something wrong with her pulse, like
sudden cardiac arrest. -This- is what scares her. Far more than what shape of
weaponry is used. "I...it'll be okay- emergency services are coming soon. Just
hang in there...!" Her hand finds Ranka's and grips tightly for stability.
It's warm, and certain - maybe that's the most important healing that could be
done of all, if Ranka's affliction isn't one of physical ailment...
<Pose Tracker> Treize Khushrenada has posed.
Treize raises the arms of his unit as the barrage of bio bullets tink
against the exterior of his unit like rain, behind the enemy he sees the light
starting to form. A retreat, or perhaps reinforcements. The request comes in
and Treize takes a moment before he states. ~~"I, Treize Khushrenada, here by
give my authorization."~~ The voice analyzer would mark his words that he was
the one that did that. It will require some PR to clean this up later.
Treize watches his actions, he didn't pull the trigger but he gave the
word so he might as well have. So he damn well better watch what he had
created up till the moment of the bright flash. Shielding his eyes at that
last moment turning away. <"Hazel, you are authorized to return to dock. We
will proceed with clean up. "> Treize would justify what he had her do later,
something about human life versus the lives of the kaiju, the innocent vs the
aggressor, some form of rationalization that would allow him to sleep tonight.
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia fails to parry Kaiju Navi's Vajra Armored Claws Sharpened Crush, taking 5400 damage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi has engaged Artemisia ka Britannia!
<Pose Tracker> Artemisia ka Britannia has posed.
Artemisia, for all her unpleasant cackling at each hit, is watching what they
do. So one sol bow will destroy the little ones, and it puts a hole in the big
one but it DOESN'T cripple -
Ah.
The Vajra heavy soldier falls upon the Knightmare Frame, which tussles for a
moment, chain-firing the Harkens to try to knock the damn thing LOOSE but it
isn't working --
A Neo Mexican camera sweeps to track this scuffle. Olivia ka Britannia holds
her breath. Charite ka Britannia leans forwards...
Gravity ripples; light distorts; Artemisia gets a leg up, enough to avoid the
incoming power strike or at least to have it merely scrape the cockpit open
rather than go THROUGH her - it feels so calm, she thinks, like I'm in the
ocean - before the sol bow comes up, smashes against the head of the Heavy
Soldier, and fires.
THUMP.
Silence. Continued life. The hiss of the Normal Suit she is wearing (and it's a
*very* nice one, let us tell you, dear reader) becomes very palpable.
Artemisia lifts her head and looks towards --
-- Ah.
The brutally torn-up KMF pivots a little, to put the Heavy Soldier still in the
clinch between itself and what is to come.
"Huh," Artemisia says, presently, to herself.
"Might as well have gone to the gym." She sounds disappointed, obscurely, but
the laughter does stop.
<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.
A greater weapon...
"The Rabscuttle is employing nuclear weaponry," Ruri reports, and her
tone is unmoving, even as Ranka screams in the background.
(Her heart is not so unmoved.)
"The Vajra are retreating. Recalling all units for repair." This, too,
is delivered without inflection. "Yes, Captain." She's a lifesaver. This is
known.
"Ranka-san requires medical attention," she goes on, stoic. "Contacting
medical services now." And she does! Inez is a good doctor, even if her
empathy could use work; she'll be able to help Ranka. Hopefully.
Should she be screaming? Should she be shocked?
She has a job to do.
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
The nuclear explosions light up the sky around the fleeing Vajra. Some
have already managed to escape, but the rest are caught in the fury of the
weapons of mass destruction, leaving practically nothing behind but the
occasional particle of dust.
This, combined with the help from everyone else cleaning up the
stragglers, leads to the final Vajra being eliminated from this part of space.
It's a bit of a bitter victory, given the lives lost amongst the colony's
defenders as well as the use of some truly frightening weapons. But it's clear
that this path was far preferable to the alternative, where the Vajra used the
colony to nest and grow their numbers to levels that could become unmanageable.
Alto himself has just finished off the last Vajra in the vicinity of
the Nadesico when he notices the vast explosions in space. He's honestly not
all that concerned about the use of those weapons. If the Frontier Fleet had
chosen to use Reaction weapons in its earlier engagements, perhaps things
wouldn't have been so bad... The Vajra deserve it anyway. They-
-Alto's thoughts are interupted by the sound of Ranka's scream through
the comms. His eyes go wide as he calls out, <"RANKA!"> The Messiah spins
around, quickly transforming back into fighter mode as its thrusters ignite
and it starts blasting back towards the Nadesico's hangar.
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
Lucine hears Alto's voice. < ".... They're... leaving?" > She almost
doesn't want to believe it. Why do they send so much on attacking someplace,
only to leave? Could it be a tactical maneuver, or something else?
Does she dare to hope?
The Heavy Soldier manages to rush the Dianthus at that moment, grabbing
the unit's limbs and leaving its center prone to a spear through with its
tail. The spears through, hitting the shielding of the cockpit.
< Flee. Go. >
< No, she can't leave the Dianthus behind. >
Before it has another chance to make another spear through, Lucine
fires a blast of fuel, wheeling around until the Vajra is flung off.
It's just a few meters she'll need to reach. A blast of fuel, and a
strange, irregular path to the Nadesico...
... avoiding the Hazel, in a subtly rounded arc, a few moments before
Vitaly's warning is made.
Lucine couldn't say why she did, in that moment, but when as the
Dianthus's screen dims the input of the bright explosion, Lucine 's stomach
churns.
Her head hurts. She needs to get back. *Now*. Because--
--Ranka is hurting--
< "... Alto. Get to the Nadesico now. Please. Ranka's hurt." > Lucine
is too dazed to switch to a private line, though this is quickly corrected by
the time she follows up with her second message. < "I'll be right behind you.
Go now." > Sure, it was evident from the way the transmission cut off, but
there's an urgent, clipped tightness to Lucine's voice that seems to suggest
an emergency. But what sort of emergency specifically needs Alto?
The sort of emergency Lucine would sense, of course, but that's a card
she's not willing to reveal completely.