2023-03-11: Three Birds Flying
- Log: Three Birds Flying
- Cast: Lucine Azul, Liam 7-020, Shelby Korts
- Where: Side 4 Shoal Zone
- Date: U.C. 0097 03 11
- Summary: Rita has been missing lately in light of Luio & Co.'s campaign to capture her, so three souls with ties to her try catch up with the Phenex in hopes that they can make a difference. At the end, they make a foolhardy decision: to try to protect Rita, even if it means taking on everyone coming after her.
+------------------------------< Flashpoint 1.0 >------------------------------+ +--------------------< FLASHPOINT CHALLENGE: Exploration >---------------------+ | MANDATORY STAT: SKL | | TERRAIN: Space | | ATTRIBUTES: Close Quarters | | BONUS STATS: PIL, MOB, and ARM | +-------------------------< TITLE: Turn Every Stone >--------------------------+ - "STOP RUNNING!" Barks a freelancer, firing his beam rifle. - - - - Close in the distance, azure flame cloaks a golden Gundam in glimmering - - radiance. The Phenex darts through the shoal zone at breakneck speed. - - Asteroids and rifle fire alike seem little more than a distraction to her. - - - - "How could a pilot survive this?" Wonders a bounty hunter as the Phenex - - redoubles her speed, cleanly dodging electrified nets sent toward her. - - "That blue light is in front of its thrusters! The hell IS that?!" - - - - Racing deeper into the shoal zone, the Phenex seems intent on losing her - - pursuers with the aid of the dangerous terrain. A few of Luio & Co.'s - - hired hands pull back, unwilling to risk it. Those hunters more dedicated - - to their task will find a difficult field before them: space junk and - - asteroids alike float aimlessly. Perhaps it would be best to focus on - - piloting until the area opens up. - +------------------------------< DIFFICULTY: 2 >-------------------------------+ +---------------------------------< .SRTMOO. >---------------------------------+
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
< ".... Shelby, do you have a read on her? I'm getting readings of other hunters. She may be close." > The message goes over the channel shared between the three, but it doesn't keep her from adding, < "..... is it okay to use your name, here, as long as it's not on private channels, or do you have a preference?" >
Earlier, a plan was hatched. The specifics are the sort that could only be described by 'chance', or even 'fate' if someone wanted to give such events more weight. Lucine wanted to reach the Phenex, but didn't know how to. At some point, she asked Shelby, due to Shelby being one of the more sensitive Newtypes she knows, as well as one of the first she's even met since coming from Mars.
Whether Shelby revealed her connection to Rita then, or when Liam was involved, is uncertain, but Lucine was not about to refuse Shelby's help in what might be a complete and utter crapshoot: they're going to protect the Phenex.
Liam's help was also essential in the wake of realizing what the Banshee was capable of; while he has proved to have some sensitivity, he wouldn't fall easily as Lucine had, should the Banshee or something similar pops up.
Now, Lucine faces a decision. < "I'm not going to deter the hunters just yet; but I'm not going to help them either. The shoal zone will do everything I need." > She frowns thoughtfully, looking over the read-out. < "... Keep close. I'll try to figure out a path through. This shouldn't be too different from the Asteroid Belt, when it comes down to it..." >
The deer-like antlers of the Dianthus glow a magenta signal as it weaves through the debris, more intent on getting around the junk than going straight through it.
They're not here to capture the Phenex, after all.
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
Luio and Co. has made no secret of its desire to capture the Phenex. It's offering an exorbitant amount of money, and that has attracted attention from mercenaries, glory-seekers, and the desperate. Liam is none of the above, and very much wants to keep Rita out of the company's hands. When Lucine informed him of her plan, Liam went along for one simple reason: He cares about Rita, and wants to know if she's safe, because he hasn't seen or heard from her in weeks. This is not like her.
A CGUE follows close behind the Dianthus, shield and blade in hand. This particular Mobile Suit is part of the Ra Mari II's complement--specifically, the one Liam borrowed when Banagher and Lucine and Eight got lured in by the Banshee. The carnage wrought by the horrific Unicorn-sister has been wholly repaired.
"<Understood,>" Liam says. He's sticking to tightbeam for this one; secrecy's important, lest people ask what the hell he's doing helping Lucine and flying what is definitely a ZAFT Mobile Suit. <"Following closely. Shelby, is that-->" The CGUE's mono-eye (not a Zeon suit, don't look too closely at what Shelby's piloting, don't) focuses on something in the distance. Something that's making the mercs curse. "<I think that's her.>" Liam suddenly sounds breathless.
He urges the CGUE forwards, relying on his own skill at fine maneuvering; this is a densely-packed debris field, but it shouldn't be anything he can't handle. Hopefully.
FPT: Liam 7-020 has acted with Skill and Piloting.</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shelby Korts has posed.
<"'Temperance' on comms, please.">
She leaves the meaning and significance of the callsign to interpretation; she was assigned the name when the Nanai Faction joined with the Shuffle Alliance and did not have a problem with -- nor wish to question -- the choice. Admittedly, she thought it was a little cute when she finally looked up what it meant.
Shelby's head tilts a little. <"The distance between asteroids is pretty large. The distance between junk is a lot more erratic. Just watch out for things hiding in the wreckage.">
Hefting the sealed container of (decaf) iced tea, she slurps up a mouthful of jelly-drink and turns her head to survey a bit of the wreckage; listen for the 'noise.' It's a lot harder in space, given the big-ass distances... but all the same.
Don't worry about this very *absolutely* a Zeonic mobile suit, Liam-- a holdover from the Axis Shock operation that does not actually bear the banner or markers of the Sleeves-- though painted in shocking knockout pink and a black that tries to eat space itself.
The worry is a little palpable on Shelby's part: She hopes nothing is wrong. She frowns a little. <"She could lose them in an instant if she wanted to.">
Stuffing the drink into the cupholder on the outside of the seat, Shelby shifts her weight against foot pedals and control sticks, the Jagd Doga twisting in a tight spiral before aiming to keep right up with the others.
FPT: Shelby Korts has acted with Skill and Piloting.
+------------------------------< Flashpoint 1.0 >------------------------------+ +--------------------< FLASHPOINT CHALLENGE: Exploration >---------------------+ | MANDATORY STAT: SKL | | TERRAIN: Space | | ATTRIBUTES: Close Quarters | | BONUS STATS: PIL, MOB, and ARM | +-------------------------< TITLE: Turn Every Stone >--------------------------+ - "STOP RUNNING!" Barks a freelancer, firing his beam rifle. - - - - Close in the distance, azure flame cloaks a golden Gundam in glimmering - - radiance. The Phenex darts through the shoal zone at breakneck speed. - - Asteroids and rifle fire alike seem little more than a distraction to her. - - - - "How could a pilot survive this?" Wonders a bounty hunter as the Phenex - - redoubles her speed, cleanly dodging electrified nets sent toward her. - - "That blue light is in front of its thrusters! The hell IS that?!" - - - - Racing deeper into the shoal zone, the Phenex seems intent on losing her - - pursuers with the aid of the dangerous terrain. A few of Luio & Co.'s - - hired hands pull back, unwilling to risk it. Those hunters more dedicated - - to their task will find a difficult field before them: space junk and - - asteroids alike float aimlessly. Perhaps it would be best to focus on - - piloting until the area opens up. - +------------------------------< DIFFICULTY: 2 >-------------------------------+ +--------------------------------< TENSION: 6 >--------------------------------+ | PILOT: Lucine Azul | | STATS: SKL/MOB Charges Used: 0 Success | | PILOT: Liam 7-020 | | STATS: SKL/PIL Charges Used: 0 Failure | | PILOT: Shelby Korts | | STATS: SKL/PIL Charges Used: 0 Success | +-----------------------------< Round 1 Results >------------------------------+ +---------------------------------< .SRTMOO. >---------------------------------+ FPT: +flash/draw to start a new round! FPT: Lucine Azul's party has drawn a new Challenge! FPT: Drawing Card 2 for Round 2. +------------------------------< Flashpoint 1.0 >------------------------------+ +--------------------< FLASHPOINT CHALLENGE: Exploration >---------------------+ | MANDATORY STAT: MOB | | TERRAIN: Space | | ATTRIBUTES: Breakthrough | | BONUS STATS: WSP, TAR, and SGT | +---------------------------< TITLE: Heavy Clouds >----------------------------+ - "Attention, Phenex hunt units. Do you copy? We need to take away her hiding - - places. On my signal, scatter, then regroup and destroy anything she could - - use to hide behind." - - - - The voice of the benefactor of this mission comes through the radio on a - - private line. There's no room for argument -- before any could even be - - raised, she speaks again. - - %R "If you do not comply, we cannot guarantee your safety. 10. 9. 8..."%R%R - - Either unwarned or uncaring, the Phenex soars in a great arc, darting from - - an asteroid to a destroyed Zeon ship. - - - - "...3. 2. 1." - - - - Magenta light bursts from the direction of the Luio & Co. ship. The - - brilliance is tremendous, blinding in its strength. The beam itself is - - absolutely massive. If any mobile suits were caught in the blast, they'd - - take significant damage. A clean path is cut through the shoal zone, - - nearly striking the Phenex itself. - - %R Spinning out in her haste to stop before flying into the beam, the - - Phenex's blue fire is extinguished. Still at last, she appears dazed.%R%R - - "Now! Take away her options! Destroy the debris field!" - +------------------------------< DIFFICULTY: 2 >-------------------------------+ +---------------------------------< .SRTMOO. >---------------------------------+
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
< "'Temperance' it is, then." > Pause. < ".... Which is... balance, I think... I wonder what Major Arcana I would be...." > Oh no.
Looping through the outer edges of the debris, Lucine hums over the tightbeam. < "Ah, yes, that's true. There wouldn't be room for colonies hiding away in them if there was space junk rocketing around the place..." >
Liam's path is obscured when one bounty hunter blasts through a piece of space junk with their missiles, setting a chain reaction in motion as his path is suddenly obscured with the end result of piece of corroded hull of an ancient vessel.
< ".... Liam, did you do okay, back there?" > There's one other advantage they all might have here: none of them are liable to sacrifice the other for the chance at some sweet prize money. < ".... I hope Rita's okay... Maybe it's due to the Banshee that she's acting this way...?" >
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
"<Acknowledged, Temperence,>" Liam says, as the CGUE boosts through the rest of the debris to catch up. "<Comms designation: Harrier-2.>" (Liam may have been trying to get Lucine to be 'Harrier-1' for hours, now, bless her chronic incompatibility with OpSec.) "<Reporting microdebris impacts, Harrier-1, nothing severe."> Then--
'Attention, Phenex hunt units. Do you copy?'
Liam's eyes narrow behind the mirrored faceplate of his helmet. He doesn't respond--Lucine was the one who handled the talks with the Luio representatives, and he is keen to keep his aura of 'faceless goon' intact. Someone lucky enough to salvage a ZAFT officer's suit, and good enough to keep it flying Maybe someone who went AWOL from the war and took a suit with them. There's freedom in being a mystery.
Unfortunately, they're still contractually obligated to do the Company's bidding, and as their benefactor speaks, the CGUE abruptly slows. Scatter?
Shelby and Lucine see it a moment before it happens: blinding fire pours from the ship, atomizing debris with brute beam-weapon force. No one is hit.
Liam's stomach lurches as he sees the Phenex reeling. "Come on, Rita," he breathes, in the safety of his cockpit--because OpSec means paying close attention to his comm toggles. "Get out of here."
The CGUE shoulders its rifle, and takes up a firing-line position next to its two squadmates. "<Clearing cover,>" says 'Harrier-2', his voice modulated and generically masculine. He sights and shoots at each piece of space junk in turn, trying to push them into more convenient positions.
FPT: Liam 7-020 has acted with Mobility and Sight.
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
There's a pause, which is hopefully still endearing to Liam at this point. < "A-ah... I'm Harrier-1, right." >
'Do you copy?'
Lucine winces. What do they do? If it was her alone, Lucine could simply operate on her own and bear the consequences. However, she's not, and moreover, she's in the Dianthus, which was a terrible decision, in hindsight. "....."
The blast is more powerful than Lucine was expecting, almost getting the Phenex, if not briefly stun her.
< "..... I didn't think this part out..." > she admits, over the tightband between the three of them.
What would her father do?
...... He'd grab the Phenex for himself, or for his teammates, if he had any he felt loyal to, at the time.
But he wouldn't be open about it until it was forced.
< "... Attention, Phenex hunters. This is Harrier-1." > Lucine's soft voice projects to the wider group. < "The Phenex is at its most dangerous now. I may not sound it, but I've been in several battles with it.... this unit was powerful enough to take on a rogue Macross. It won't display its full power until it's in a corner. I advise caution, above all else, or you'll be fried, like all the others I've seen. Or worse." >
Lucine technically isn't lying. But neither is the Phenex truly against a corner, just yet.
FPT: Lucine Azul's Glimmer Engine Ability assists! FPT: Round Complete! +------------------------------< Flashpoint 1.0 >------------------------------+ +--------------------< FLASHPOINT CHALLENGE: Exploration >---------------------+ | MANDATORY STAT: MOB | | TERRAIN: Space | | ATTRIBUTES: Breakthrough | | BONUS STATS: WSP, TAR, and SGT | +---------------------------< TITLE: Heavy Clouds >----------------------------+ - "Attention, Phenex hunt units. Do you copy? We need to take away her hiding - - places. On my signal, scatter, then regroup and destroy anything she could - - use to hide behind." - - - - The voice of the benefactor of this mission comes through the radio on a - - private line. There's no room for argument -- before any could even be - - raised, she speaks again. - - %R "If you do not comply, we cannot guarantee your safety. 10. 9. 8..."%R%R - - Either unwarned or uncaring, the Phenex soars in a great arc, darting from - - an asteroid to a destroyed Zeon ship. - - - - "...3. 2. 1." - - - - Magenta light bursts from the direction of the Luio & Co. ship. The - - brilliance is tremendous, blinding in its strength. The beam itself is - - absolutely massive. If any mobile suits were caught in the blast, they'd - - take significant damage. A clean path is cut through the shoal zone, - - nearly striking the Phenex itself. - - %R Spinning out in her haste to stop before flying into the beam, the - - Phenex's blue fire is extinguished. Still at last, she appears dazed.%R%R - - "Now! Take away her options! Destroy the debris field!" - +------------------------------< DIFFICULTY: 2 >-------------------------------+ +--------------------------------< TENSION: 6 >--------------------------------+ | PILOT: Lucine Azul | | STATS: MOB/SGT Charges Used: 0 Success | | PILOT: Liam 7-020 | | STATS: MOB/SGT Charges Used: 0 Success | | PILOT: Shelby Korts | | STATS: MOB/TAR Charges Used: 0 Success | +-----------------------------< Round 2 Results >------------------------------+ +---------------------------------< .SRTMOO. >---------------------------------+ FPT: +flash/draw to start a new round!
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
Clearing debris with weapons fire is, quite frankly, a bad idea. Cleanup crews use special tools, like mesh nets made from ultrahigh-tensile fibers, and magnetic clamps for larger pieces. Shooting a piece of space junk is a good way to make even more space junk.
This plays out in the team's favor. Weapons fire from Dianthus, the CGUE and the Jagd Doga pushes most of the larger bits out of the way of the Luio mothership. If they just so happen to cause problems for the rest of its escort, well, surely it was an accident.
Lucine's attempt at distraction earns a laugh from one of the other hunters, a woman with a voice like crunching gravel. Her Suit--an Alto Flight Type with a beam rifle and a grinning death's-head painted on its visor--has been keeping up with them. "<Or worse. Honey. Everything gets mean when it's cornered."
The suit's IFF labels it as the 'Ares' Vengeance'. A Martian refugee? A Cowgirl who's taken up a new line of work?
FPT: Lucine Azul's party has drawn a new Challenge! FPT: Drawing Card 3 for Round 3. +------------------------------< Flashpoint 1.0 >------------------------------+ +--------------------< FLASHPOINT CHALLENGE: Exploration >---------------------+ | MANDATORY STAT: PIL | | TERRAIN: Space | | ATTRIBUTES: Coordinate | | BONUS STATS: INT, SKL, and RX | +---------------------------< TITLE: I Keep Hiding >---------------------------+ - With the debris field cleared, a new high-speed object appears. - - - - Screaming through space at Gs that no regular human should be able to - - tolerate, the Narrative A-Packs surges forth on its boosters. The - - battlefield scatters as the newcomer arrives, freelancers making way for - - the latest addition to the board lest their suits be caught in its wake of - - another Hi Mega blast. Jona Basta quickly capitalizes on the opening his - - initial salvo has created, sending out barrages of missiles and beam rifle - - fire that eradicate the smaller pieces of cover around the immediate area. - - - - Discarding his large boosters, Jona turns his attention solely to the - - Phenex. "Rita! I know you can hear me! Stand down and come with me. I need - - to make things right, and I won't let Michele sell either of us, ever - - again!" No response. Gritting his teeth in frustration, Ensign Basta slams - - on his pedals, the A-Packs accelerating as it leads the Phenex Hunt.%R - - Azure flame rekindled, the Phenex makes a move toward what seems to be a - - segment of a destroyed colony. A ragged hole is torn into one side, - - promising shelter to the besieged Gundam. - - - - One leg creeps out of that hole, though -- another, another -- eight of - - them, carrying the scorpionid wanzer, Da Xukong 0. Its piercing tail can - - inject plasma, out here in space, and there's an axe at its side... but - - those weapons aren't what its pilot intends to use against Rita. - - - - "Rita," is the /conflicted/ voice from that wanzer, belonging to the - - ill-famed Yuliana Kafim. With greater, louder anger, she shouts: - - "RITAAA--!!" As she screams, a draconic crest on the wanzer's headparts - - clicks upwards, rising up -- and as that crest lifts, so too does a - - sickening sense of absolute /silence./ Those with higher Awakening will - - feel the way their empathic abilities /fail,/ in an ever-widening sphere - - of influence around Da Xukong, extending far beyond the grasp of her - - wanzer's hands. Her warning is clear: the Phenex cannot hide here. - - - - The wanzer leaps out of the hole in the colony to try and catch her, - - anyway -- but it lands heavily on some ancient, crumbling tower, instead. - - In frustration, the Injector styled as a tail lashes out, and /this/ at - - least is a problem for anyone... even if they're as psychic as a rock. But - - so long as Da Xukong's crest is risen, the Phenex is not -- perhaps - - /cannot/ -- coming this way. - - - - Abruptly halting, the Phenex darts directly away from Yuliana. The - - terrifying pilot has the right idea -- prevent the Gundam from escaping - - deeper into the debris field by splitting up and herding her into the - - cleared section of the shoal zone. - +------------------------------< DIFFICULTY: 3 >-------------------------------+ +---------------------------------< .SRTMOO. >---------------------------------+
<Pose Tracker> Shelby Korts has posed.
Absolutely, one hundred percent an accident. Promise.
Mobile Suits and other machines come screaming past; the Narrative dips through at a ridiculous speed and calls out to the Phenex. Shelby's eyes widen a bit, brow creasing as something just ... reverberates, inside her. There's no hiding it in the least; Lucine certainly can feel it, like the whole of the young woman's world suddenly twists and lenses. Like things are,
literally,
coming into focus. Pieces fit together. Her lips part slightly.
"Was that..." Jona?
And then everything goes *wrong*. She can feel it from a great distance; farther than ever before. It pulls and grates against her senses; a violent sensation that feels quite like all of reality -- her Newtype abilities, her telepathy -- are being pulled toward the screaming event horizon before a catastrophic black hole. That feeling is -- always, and only -- Yuliana.
"... God damn it..."
It feels worse this time, too; her head twisting and her stomach roiling and skull starting to ache. Tilting forward in her seat, shifting her footing on the pedals and shifting. <"Harrier-2, that Wanzer -- watch out for it! Harrier-1, stay *away* from it!">
Her arms jerk swiftly to the side, one pushing ahead as the Jagd Doga ducks and dives beneath a section of the shoal before kicking into a fierce acceleration, trying to use the bulk of the Mobile Suit to avoid getting too close to the Da Xukong and it's anti-newtype technologies ... and pilot. She can't let *her* know that she's here.
Shelby just cannot deal with *that* right now.
<"Try to keep up!"> she calls as the Zeonic unit charges ahead, trying to duck and dodge and avoid stray weapons fire, explosions, shrapnel, and everything *wrong* with Yuliana Kafim.
FPT: Shelby Korts has acted with Piloting and Intuition.
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
The Dianthus flies in place as its pilot hears the distinctively gravely voice of the cowgirl. Lucine's voice, quieter than usual, is broadcasted over Shelby and Liam's bands. < "..... I know who that person is." > Shelby will likely feel it; Lucine's mental state is an bittersweet concoction of anxiety, fear, happiness, and melancholy. < ".... She's an old cowgirl from Mars. One of the people my dad ran around with. .... she's alive. She probably doesn't recongize the Dianthus, but it probably won't take her long to recongize who I am. That suit.... I can't remember, but I think my dad mentioned having worked on it." > She could have misremembered. It's been so long.
Far, far too long. Lucine won't even insult this woman by bothering with asking her to walk away from this one.
That homesickness elevates. It's too much for Lucine. She hasn't even seen her mother in a year, now. Mars might as well be a figment of her imagination, but here someone is, from her past, who had to deal with her little fiercely sensitive self, and snuck her hard candies.
< "...... Kris would've been glad to know one of the old guard is still around. ... I'm glad y--" >
Jona's unit blasts by at speeds far faster than anything Lucine's seen. < ".... how.... is that pilot even....?" >
Now, it's Lucine's turn with Shelby, with that feeling of things coming together, like an answer to a vague question unspoken.
And then, like the ghost of past and present encountering each other in the same scene, Yuliana enters. "Gh!!"
Why hadn't Lucine foreseen this? Of course Yuliana would be here, just as Rita had tried to be there for her. < "... A-ares, stay back from the Da Xukong!" > She has enough sense of mind to not openly say Mary's name aloud; who knows if her past could be following behind her.
She feels like she's going to throw up. It's never been this bad.
But Little Lulu can't fail in front of 'Bloody' Mary Driver. Gold eyes focus on the screen. ".... I'm coming...."
The Dianthus has no Newtype functions to shut down. All Lucine needs to do is rely on her own training, just as she did that terrible day, back on Mars. Focusing on Shelby's unit like a light from a distant lighthouse, Lucine pilots the Dianthus through the spots of danger, twisting around to try to keep up.
There's tears sticking to her face. It was always annoying, when that happened.
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
"<Family friend?>" Liam's stomach twists. His parents had friends. Did any of them survive the drop? Is there anyone out there who knows who he used to be?
"<That a custom build?>" Mary asks, juking her Alto around a fused lump that might've once been part of a colony's rad-shielding. "<Swear I've seen it-->" There's a hushed silence. A moment later, Mary's voice trickles through a laser-comm tightbeam into Lucine's cockpit. "<...little Lulu...?>" It's so hesitant, so faint--like she's not sure whether to hold out hope, or if she just can't do that to herself, after Mars.
Jona blasts pasts. Mary lets loose with an exceptionally colorful curse before she can switch back to broadband.
That was the Gundam from the Institute raid--the one he shielded from Yuliana. The anguish in its pilot's voice is plain, but the words...
Michele. Michele sold them?
Liam's lips set into a stony frown behind the anonymity of his mirrored faceplate.
"<Who the fuck is that kid?>" Mary says, "<He's going to G-LOC his dumb ass.>"
But Jona, it turns out, isn't the only new entrant on the field. Out comes the scorpion.
Liam's eyes focus on the bizarre machine, flicking back and forth, taking in more detail with every micro-motion. Is it a wanzer? There's something familiar about the joints, and the layout of its armor, but he's never seen one that looks like a god damn scorpion made of machinery--
Its crest spreads. A chill shoots down Liam's spine the moment he registers the pilot's voice. What is she doing here?! Wait. Didn't Rita try and save her?
"<The fuck is going on here?>" Mary demands, of the universe itself. "<Who's Rita? Is that his ex?>" A pause. "<HUA, Harrier-1. Going to keep a wide berth on that one.>" The Alto boosts forwards, trying to come at Rita using a straightforward, obvious course. Which is of course the entire point; sometimes, when hunting, you need to flush the prey with something they think they can avoid, before you cut them off.
Liam doesn't have a Newtype's intuition, or Mary's years of hunting sophont prey. He flips up a safety-guard, touches a panel with two fingers, and pushes the reactor towards redline. The CGUE's jets would thunder, if there were air to carry the noise. G-forces pile on Liam's chest as he arcs out and around, trying to cut off another of Rita's avenues. (If he happens to falter at the last minute, well, that's just a brief brush with G-LOC. Right?)
FPT: Liam 7-020 spends 1 ID Charges! They will apply this coming round! FPT: Liam 7-020 has acted with Piloting and Reactor. FPT: Round Complete! +------------------------------< Flashpoint 1.0 >------------------------------+ +--------------------< FLASHPOINT CHALLENGE: Exploration >---------------------+ | MANDATORY STAT: PIL | | TERRAIN: Space | | ATTRIBUTES: Coordinate | | BONUS STATS: INT, SKL, and RX | +---------------------------< TITLE: I Keep Hiding >---------------------------+ - With the debris field cleared, a new high-speed object appears. - - - - Screaming through space at Gs that no regular human should be able to - - tolerate, the Narrative A-Packs surges forth on its boosters. The - - battlefield scatters as the newcomer arrives, freelancers making way for - - the latest addition to the board lest their suits be caught in its wake of - - another Hi Mega blast. Jona Basta quickly capitalizes on the opening his - - initial salvo has created, sending out barrages of missiles and beam rifle - - fire that eradicate the smaller pieces of cover around the immediate area. - - - - Discarding his large boosters, Jona turns his attention solely to the - - Phenex. "Rita! I know you can hear me! Stand down and come with me. I need - - to make things right, and I won't let Michele sell either of us, ever - - again!" No response. Gritting his teeth in frustration, Ensign Basta slams - - on his pedals, the A-Packs accelerating as it leads the Phenex Hunt.%R - - Azure flame rekindled, the Phenex makes a move toward what seems to be a - - segment of a destroyed colony. A ragged hole is torn into one side, - - promising shelter to the besieged Gundam. - - - - One leg creeps out of that hole, though -- another, another -- eight of - - them, carrying the scorpionid wanzer, Da Xukong 0. Its piercing tail can - - inject plasma, out here in space, and there's an axe at its side... but - - those weapons aren't what its pilot intends to use against Rita. - - - - "Rita," is the /conflicted/ voice from that wanzer, belonging to the - - ill-famed Yuliana Kafim. With greater, louder anger, she shouts: - - "RITAAA--!!" As she screams, a draconic crest on the wanzer's headparts - - clicks upwards, rising up -- and as that crest lifts, so too does a - - sickening sense of absolute /silence./ Those with higher Awakening will - - feel the way their empathic abilities /fail,/ in an ever-widening sphere - - of influence around Da Xukong, extending far beyond the grasp of her - - wanzer's hands. Her warning is clear: the Phenex cannot hide here. - - - - The wanzer leaps out of the hole in the colony to try and catch her, - - anyway -- but it lands heavily on some ancient, crumbling tower, instead. - - In frustration, the Injector styled as a tail lashes out, and /this/ at - - least is a problem for anyone... even if they're as psychic as a rock. But - - so long as Da Xukong's crest is risen, the Phenex is not -- perhaps - - /cannot/ -- coming this way. - - - - Abruptly halting, the Phenex darts directly away from Yuliana. The - - terrifying pilot has the right idea -- prevent the Gundam from escaping - - deeper into the debris field by splitting up and herding her into the - - cleared section of the shoal zone. - +------------------------------< DIFFICULTY: 3 >-------------------------------+ +-------------------------------< TENSION: 18 >--------------------------------+ | PILOT: Lucine Azul | | STATS: PIL/INT Charges Used: 1 Failure | | PILOT: Liam 7-020 | | STATS: PIL/RX Charges Used: 1 Success | | PILOT: Shelby Korts | | STATS: PIL/INT Charges Used: 0 Failure | +-----------------------------< Round 3 Results >------------------------------+ +---------------------------------< .SRTMOO. >---------------------------------+
<Pose Tracker> Shelby Korts has posed.
She's doing her best to focus on her flight, but the broadcast from the Narrative is distracting; pulling at her attention and eating away at her focus. And then, worse than that, Yuliana Kafim is simply *crushing* against her senses, offending everything that makes her a newtype and a mind-reader. Even Lucine and Liam's minds; the scattering of their own surface thoughts twisted and distorted like they're being pulled into strands of spaghetti around the hell-scape that is the crested wanzer.
God damn it, Yuliana. She should've done something about her on Sweetwater, when--
When she had a chance, and--
And Shelby's focus wavers; an alarm goes off as a piece of shrapnel comes careening out of nowhere to crash against the Jagd Doga's side; the pilot shifting her shield arm to try to haul it aside without losing too much speed-- or spinning out of control into the shoal zone.
Unfortunately, it sends chunks of metal and debris spinning out at Lucine and Liam as well, making it a confusing mess to navigate one way or another.
<"Sorry,"> Shelby says, after a moment. Her voice is firm, brow scrunched as her skull feels like it's about to cave in at any moment. <"We can make it-- just... I'll be more careful! I'm sorry.">
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
< "Yes. Dad.... thought it was a great idea to teach me to fly, which.... is likely why I'm even alive, now." >
Trying to weave through the debris, Lucine sniffs as she makes a direct call, while giving Liam and Shelby the chance to listen in. < ".... You know, for my 18th birthday, I asked Mom to send me some of those hard candies you'd give me. I forgot the brand, though, so... they didn't taste the same." > It's a quiet story that reveals some things: that she is Lulu, and that she and someone else managed to make it out of that colony.
Shelby encounters some difficulty, but it's still her signal that keeps Lucine from becoming completely lost. She can't feel anything just yet, even with Liam nearby; it's when he gets in her sights that Lucine is able to follow behind him.
< ".... No, Rita's a little young for that." > Lucine can't help the humor from creeping into her voice. < ".... She's the pilot of the Phenex." > Another long, awkward pause. < ".... She helped me when I was in a dark spot. I won't ask you to do anything, but just know... I intend to repay the favor. I don't know why the Phenex is acting like this, but it can't fall into Luio's hands. I'm sorry." > She laughs, and sniffs again. < "..... I always was too sensitive. But.... I'm still stubborn. It was good seeing you, again, Ms. Mary. Please survive all this." >
Lucine flicks the channels over. < "Temperance. It's okay. That was a hairy situation, and I think we're out of range of Yuliana." >
Yellow eyes scan over to where the Phenex is. Lucine gasps. < ".... that pilot! Rita's going to kill him if she keeps up like that!" > Lucine fires her boosters in a vain attempt to try to catch up. < "RITA! Stop it! Please!" >
FPT: Lucine Azul spends 1 ID Charges! They will apply this coming round! FPT: Lucine Azul has acted with Reactor and Armor.
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
Liam's CGUE bobs and weaves, tracing a path through the worst of the spall. "<Square breaths, Temperance,>" he transmits, over the group's tightbeam. <"Square breaths.>" As the three machines form up again, Liam takes the lead, but he keeps an aux sensor firmly locked on the Ares' Vengeance. His face tightens, and he blinks to hold the tears at bay.
"<Oh, Lulu...>" Mary's voice almost breaks. She doesn't know Lucine's letting her wingmates listen in. "<Oh, honey. I'm so glad. I'm so glad you two made it. Your old man. Did he...?>"
"<Temperance, Harrier-1,>" Liam says, his voice hushed. "<Problem.>" That problem, of course, is Jona's increasingly-reckless piloting; the cyborg winces as he sees the volley of fire--
No. He's herding her. But what's that?
Meanwhile, Mary's kept one eye on the Phenex, and the other on Lulu. What she hears, though... "<Oh so there is someone in that thing. Can you tell them to-->" Mary trails off. "<What?!>" There's a sudden turn in her voice. Pain. Confusion. Worry. Anger. "<Lulu, just HOLD ON ONE GOD DAMN SECOND-->"
Lulu does not.
Neither does Liam. "<What's she doing?!>" the cyborg says, over the tightband. "<Harrier-2, matching course and speed.>" The CGUE's reactor keeps inching towards redline. Liam watches it; he knows exactly how to manage a machine that's pushing its limits. He survived using the Proto Helios regularly for several months.
G-forces continue to stack up. Liam feels himself straining against them, forcing himself to stay upright. The CGUE starts to shake from the hellish acceleration, but it holds together. It was built for this sort of thing. So was Liam.
FPT: Liam 7-020 has acted with Reactor and Hit Points.
<Pose Tracker> Shelby Korts has posed.
<"Sorry, it's--"> Shelby flinches, one eye narrowing behind the sport glasses she wears with her helmet. She can feel something not Right; familiar in it's own right as she clenches her eyes shut and shakes her head.
Ride the wave.
Plant her feet?
She can't decide at this moment. What would her mentor do? Her mechanic-- one of her longest friends? What would Sophie do?
'Square breaths,' she repeats to herself.
Everything goes to hell; Rita accelerates to ridiculous speeds again, and the Narrative is essentially clinging on by a thread.
With agony in her wake and hope in the fore, the young woman's brow scrunches while she focuses -- hard -- on the Phenex.
Rita-- please, careful...
Lucine boosts, and Liam is not long behind. Shelby sucks in a breath, adjusting the grip on her controls. Throwing the sticks ahead, tweaking switches back, and stomping down with both feet, the Jagd Doga settles into a dash posture and opens up the throttle. G-force pulls Shelby back into the seat as the machine rattles and shakes...
<"I'm with you! Go! Go go go go go!">
FPT: Shelby Korts has acted with Reactor and Armor. FPT: Shelby Korts's Ability assists! FPT: Round Complete! +------------------------------< Flashpoint 1.0 >------------------------------+ +--------------------< FLASHPOINT CHALLENGE: Exploration >---------------------+ | MANDATORY STAT: RX | | TERRAIN: Space | | ATTRIBUTES: Endurance | | BONUS STATS: HP and ARM | +------------------------------< TITLE: Regrets >------------------------------+ - Back aboard the Luio & Co. vessel, Michele Luio and her ever-faithful - - companion monitor the Narrative's progress. "The pilot's condition, - - physical and mental, are unstable. He can only maintain the chase for - - another 200 seconds." - - %R Michele grits her teeth against a memory of a small blonde girl running - - from her. "You won't get away. Narrative, use the high mega cannon! You're - - going to lose her!" - - - - "Not yet! I can't get a clear shot! " Cutting the comms to Michele, Jona - - grits his teeth. Why are you always like this, RIta? Why?! The A-Packs - - speeds along the outside of the destroyed colony wall as Yuliana makes her - - appearance. Of course you had to call her, Michele. No time for grudges. - - Large beam sabers erupt from the tip of the A-Packs' armament as they - - carve into the colony tube, the fiery tips chasing after the RX-0 unit - - like gleaming shark fins.%R%R As the Phenex prepares to flee the exterior - - of the superstructure's cover, Jona fires a barrage of missiles towards - - the entrance, forcing his quarry to halt for a precious few seconds, lest - - it jet directly into massed munitions fire. - - - - Now! - - %R Extending forwards, the A-Packs unveils its Psycho Capture, twin - - tri-tipped emitters sliding down their housings and emitting twin jamming - - fields. The Phenex is quickly encased in a cage of prismatic light, the - - disruption anathema to its nature. Even so, with a mighty effort, the RX-0 - - sibling breaks free of its bonds and shatters the left unit with a wave of - - Psycho Energy. Ignoring Michele's continued commands to use the High Mega, - - Jona instead fires a cable from his left arm, hooking onto the Phenex only - - to be dragged along. - - - - Accelerating again, the Phenex barely seems to notice how she drags the - - Narrative Gundam behind her. All that matters now is keeping up with the - - pair -- it's too dangerous to try and attack with Jona in the line of fire. - +------------------------------< DIFFICULTY: 3 >-------------------------------+ +-------------------------------< TENSION: 18 >--------------------------------+ | PILOT: Lucine Azul | | STATS: RX/ARM Charges Used: 1 Success | | PILOT: Liam 7-020 | | STATS: RX/HP Charges Used: 0 Success | | PILOT: Shelby Korts | | STATS: RX/ARM Charges Used: 0 Success | +-----------------------------< Round 4 Results >------------------------------+ +---------------------------------< .SRTMOO. >---------------------------------+ FPT: +flash/draw to start a new round! FPT: Lucine Azul's party has drawn a new Challenge! FPT: Drawing Card 5 for Round 5. +------------------------------< Flashpoint 1.0 >------------------------------+ +--------------------< FLASHPOINT CHALLENGE: Exploration >---------------------+ | MANDATORY STAT: INT | | TERRAIN: Space | | ATTRIBUTES: Long Range | | BONUS STATS: TAR, SGT, and WSP | +--------------------< TITLE: No One is Bringing You Down >--------------------+ - Still soaring, the Phenex exudes light. Spreading in all directions, it - - feels like sunlight brushing against your very soul. Those who have hearts - - open even the slightest amount will hear the voice of a young teenaged - - girl. - - %R Hey... I want to know. Do you believe in heaven? - - -
- Radiance races through space, making its way across the entirety of the - - destroyed shoal zone, touching the Luio & Co. ship. - - -
- I don't know about heaven, but I do know this. I'm absolutely sure that - - souls are real. - - - - The Phenex races onward, across the open space carved by so many attacks. - - Azure flame holds her, safe and warm, in the vastness of the stars. - - - - This life isn't all there is. Again and again we're reborn.%R - - "Fire the High Mega cannon NOW, Jona!" - - - - Gritting his teeth in frustration, Ensign Basta cuts the cable with a beam - - saber, freeing himself from the Phenex as he simultaneously charges a High - - Mega blast. Vibrant pink mega particles gather around the cannon, before - - unleashing themselves as a furious magenta blaze towards Rita. Even this - - wouldn't be enough to stop her, would it? Only time would tell, as - - megawatts of Minovsky particles threaten to crash into the Phenex with - - overwhelming force. - - - - When I'm reborn again, I hope... I get to be a bird! And you, Jona? - - - - Once more, the high mega cannon has stunned the Phenex into stillness. To - - stop her, your sponsors would have you launch as many attacks as possible. - - A great reward will be given to the one who shoots the Phenex down. - +------------------------------< DIFFICULTY: 4 >-------------------------------+ +---------------------------------< .SRTMOO. >---------------------------------+
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
The little girl who cried in the face of someone's displeasure, who seemed so much unlike Kris if it weren't for those eyes that drew so many flings to him.... it could be seen as natural that she'd withdraw at the first indication of someone's displeasure, even if it wasn't at her.
Little Lulu runs away again, but this time, with a purpose in her heart.
Liam is not a Newtype, nor does he have the years of experience of someone like Mary.
He is built for G-forces. Lucine, despite acting like she is, is _not built for this_. Which shall probably signal to Mary that, yes, Kris 'Kit' Azul trained his little girl to pilot just like him.
The Dianthus could go faster, but it doesn't; there is a limit to how fast Lucine can stand, even as she grunts and contorts her face to force the blood to keep pumping into her face.
It's so woefully slow in comparison to what Jona and the Phenex are capable of, but they at least the two in sight.
The pursuit slows, and Lucine is grateful to do the same, dazedly breathing as she recovers. Liam will have an easier time of it, while Shelby may be in the same boat as Lucine is. However, they're here. The others will be following, soon, most likely.
< ".... That pilot... can't be alive... but... he is... Did she keep him from dying? Or..." > Maybe he's like Liam.
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
Mary falls behind. Perhaps she just can't keep up that kind of chase anymore--or, more likely, she's biding her time and waiting for an opening. (Even as she tries to process the sting of finding Lulu, whom she thought was dead, only to be rebuffed. What would Kris think?)
Liam pulls ahead again through sheer endurance. The thoracic reinforcement keeps his heart pumping, and his ribs from collapsing into his lungs. Darkness flickers in the corners of his eyes as he starts to tunnel-vision. And then
And then L I G H T
Hey... I want to know. Do you believe in heaven?
"Rita," Liam chokes out, "Please, stop. You're going to kill him." He doesn't know how Jona's survived this. Maybe he is like Liam. He knows Rita. Rita was a test subject.
Finally, finally, Jona cuts the cable, and follows orders. Once again, Liam grimaces as the Phenex goes still. He has his orders.
"<Harrier-2, firing to disable.>" But that doesn't mean he can't warn her. Rita, look out, Liam thinks, his heart tightening as he taps into that intimately-familiar sense of DANGERWORRYMOVE. The CGUE has spent the past thirty seconds braking out of its headlong rush, and the AMBAC spins a little to compensate as he unlocks and shoulders the rifle. Kinetic rounds rip through the void as Liam fires in short, controlled bursts, targeting the Phenex's extremeties, jets, shields.
He can't think about heaven right now, or souls. That will only lead him to a desolate place.
FPT: Liam 7-020 spends 1 ID Charges! They will apply this coming round!
<Pose Tracker> Shelby Korts has posed.
The Jagd Doga's arms and legs shift; the bulk of the robot rotating just enough to present the bulk of it's thrusters 'forward' before firing, creating enough reverse thrust to rattle the armor and shake the chassis to it's core. Catching up with Rita is something she never thought she was going to do in a million years.
She
She can't call out to Jona. Not like this. She can't scream at the Luio ship. She can't give herself away right now. She can't draw attention on Sweetwater, or Nanai's group. She can't put the Federation's eye on them *again*.
kept
Her skull is *throbbing* from passing the hell-mouth that is Yuliana Kafim, and now there is a lot going on all at once, from the blast that stuns the Phenex to the hanging notion that she may have to shoot to disable.
you
Something dead and angry bubbles inside her.
alive
"FUNNELS."
The six thick canisters mounted on the mobile suit's pauldron-shields detach with a metallic pop. Though simplistic and clunky and function-over-form in their design, they move in swift, synchronus purpose; a swirling symphony of speed and light as the fins deploy and the emitters hum with beam energy--
-- and then the shots flood and cut and beam through space. Their intent is not to actually strike Rita and are *not even close*, but play at dangerous angles; shots that are meant to disrupt firing solutions and create a constant blur of confusion and keep other hunters on the trail back and away.
FPT: Shelby Korts spends 2 ID Charges! They will apply this coming round! FPT: Shelby Korts has acted with Intuition and Targeting.
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
In her cockpit, as her body recovers Lucine's tears begin stick to the corners of her eyes again. Annoying.
It's like roughly putting a touch of salve to a wound that healed all wrong. It helps. It also makes her remember that wound that still hurts there.
This is a part of the world you knew, that shattered. You can return to that place, but you can never, ever return back home. You can never be the person they remember. You will always be the alien, the stranger, the outsider. There is no home, for you. It's gone, with all the people who inhabited it.
It hurts like a dull, cold ache in her chest, weighing her down.
'Hey... I want to know. Do you believe in heaven?'
Rita's voice calls out to her- maybe not directly to her, but she can hear it, feel it. It feels so warm. "... Rita...." Lucine reaches her hand towards the display screen, as if she could hold hands with the blonde girl, right then, if she could just reach out beyond herself--
The blast that stuns Rita might as well have been a punch to Lucine's stomach. Dizziness clouds her vision, and Lucine slumps back.
When she opens her eyes, Lucine sees Liam, no, his unit, firing. And Shelby, as well.
Her confused mind screams out. Shelby will feel it-- that pulse, of someone barely scraping against a ceiling of protective clay. Or a calcium shell, meant to shield a mind from the expanse of the collective ocean before it's able to survive.
< "Harrier-2!!" > The call, more cognizant than the mental flash of alarm, follows a second later, Lucine stopping herself as she gets a second more to think. < ".... Wait, yes, we can at least make it look like we're capturing the Phenex." >
She fires up the Dianthus, spreading fireflies of energy out. Surely they're there to keep the Phenex from moving, but they could equally be landmines for any of the people following after them.
< "We can... we can do this!" >
FPT: Lucine Azul has acted with Intuition and Sight. FPT: Lucine Azul's Attrition applies! FPT: Lucine Azul's Evening Fog and Morning Dew Abilities assist! FPT: Liam 7-020's Attrition applies! FPT: Shelby Korts's Attrition applies! FPT: Shelby Korts's Ability assists! FPT: Round Complete! +------------------------------< Flashpoint 1.0 >------------------------------+ +--------------------< FLASHPOINT CHALLENGE: Exploration >---------------------+ | MANDATORY STAT: INT | | TERRAIN: Space | | ATTRIBUTES: Long Range | | BONUS STATS: TAR, SGT, and WSP | +--------------------< TITLE: No One is Bringing You Down >--------------------+ - Still soaring, the Phenex exudes light. Spreading in all directions, it - - feels like sunlight brushing against your very soul. Those who have hearts - - open even the slightest amount will hear the voice of a young teenaged - - girl. - - %R Hey... I want to know. Do you believe in heaven? - - - - Radiance races through space, making its way across the entirety of the - - destroyed shoal zone, touching the Luio & Co. ship. - - - - I don't know about heaven, but I do know this. I'm absolutely sure that - - souls are real. - - - - The Phenex races onward, across the open space carved by so many attacks. - - Azure flame holds her, safe and warm, in the vastness of the stars. - - - - This life isn't all there is. Again and again we're reborn.%R - - "Fire the High Mega cannon NOW, Jona!" - - - - Gritting his teeth in frustration, Ensign Basta cuts the cable with a beam - - saber, freeing himself from the Phenex as he simultaneously charges a High - - Mega blast. Vibrant pink mega particles gather around the cannon, before - - unleashing themselves as a furious magenta blaze towards Rita. Even this - - wouldn't be enough to stop her, would it? Only time would tell, as - - megawatts of Minovsky particles threaten to crash into the Phenex with - - overwhelming force. - - - - When I'm reborn again, I hope... I get to be a bird! And you, Jona? - - - - Once more, the high mega cannon has stunned the Phenex into stillness. To - - stop her, your sponsors would have you launch as many attacks as possible. - - A great reward will be given to the one who shoots the Phenex down. - +------------------------------< DIFFICULTY: 4 >-------------------------------+ +-------------------------------< TENSION: 30 >--------------------------------+ | PILOT: Lucine Azul | | STATS: INT/SGT Charges Used: 0 Success | | PILOT: Liam 7-020 | | STATS: INT/SGT Charges Used: 1 Failure | | PILOT: Shelby Korts | | STATS: INT/TAR Charges Used: 2 Failure | +-----------------------------< Round 5 Results >------------------------------+ +---------------------------------< .SRTMOO. >---------------------------------+ +------------------------------< Flashpoint 1.0 >------------------------------+ +----------------------< FLASHPOINT CHALLENGE: Success >-----------------------+ | MANDATORY STAT: | | TERRAIN: Space | | ATTRIBUTES: nothing | | BONUS STATS: PIL, TAR, SKL, INT, RX, SGT, HP, WSP, ARM, and MOB | +------------------------------< TITLE: Success >------------------------------+ - Once more, the Phenex spins out, losing the protection of her sacred blue - - fire. Dazed, she takes a moment to recover, her head swiveling to look - - between all her attackers. - - - - There isn't a clear way out. Raising one hand, the Phenex lifts her - - wing-like shields from her shoulders. They orbit around her, glimmering - - brilliant gold in the starlight. - - %R She's not running anymore, but it'll take more effort to bring her down. - - The Phenex waits, calmly observing her would-be captors. Where before she - - was content to dodge and run, now, it seems, she's ready to fight. - +------------------------------< DIFFICULTY: - >-------------------------------+ +---------------------------------< .SRTMOO. >---------------------------------+
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
Not everyone who started this chase made it to the end. Some fell behind thanks to damage, or simple inability to keep up with their quarry. There are still enough Mobile Weapons on the field to present the Phenex with a withering barrage of fire. It's stunned. The hounds are moving in.
But one hound, at least, has conflicted feelings about this whole matter: Liam's fire trails off when Shelby unleashes her funnels, and what happens is almost too fast for him to follow. The protective screen herds away an opportunist in a refitted Jegan, who veers out of the way before they can land a hit with their beam saber. Another MS with the logo of the Junk Guild brakes abruptly in mid-charge as one of Lucine's fireflies flits into its path.
But now... they're in the middle of a standoff. There are no more words from Rita--just the unmistakable, eerily-humanlike posture of someone sizing up the enemy.
"<What now?>" Liam transmits over tightbeam, his voice almost breaking.
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
Lucine's voice answers Liam. < "... We fight to keep Rita from falling into their hands. Until we know what's going on, or that Rita will be protected by someone other than us." > A pause. Her voice wavers. < "...... Harrier-2. Temperance. I'm hoping.... other people will join us, when they see us fight, or at least stand down. That might not happen at all. In fact, I'll assume it won't. I.... she.... I feel like, if I step away from here, something will die in me. So..." > She can't bring herself to ask them directly.
< ".... Even if we get no answers from this, and even if we never see her again.... I.... want to protect her." >
<Pose Tracker> Shelby Korts has posed.
The canister funnels end their relentless barrage and give Shelby enough time to find her focus; the anger rippling off her starting to subside as the Phenex seems to come back to it's senses.
Rita-- I don't want to fight you. I won't.
The Jagd Doga shifts, twisting around to float at side with Lucine and Liam.
Her voice is taut and resolute; she may have briefly flown off the handle but she seems to have better grip of her emotions-- or more properly, she's attempting to harness them. Not quite riding the wave or planting the feet, but finding a way to merge the two thoughts. And then when she finally speaks, she says,
<"She helped me survive actual Hell. I'll never give up on Rita, ever.">
Anything, anytime.
She hefts the beam minigun, the barrels spinning at idle speed.
<"Nobody gets past this line.">
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
"<...It's settled, then,>" Liam says. There is steel in his voice as he spins the CGUE around, turning his back on Rita and facing her attackers.
This is one of the dumbest things you've ever done, Liam thinks.
But somehow, he can't bring himself to care.