2023-08-06: A Message Too Far
- Log: A Message Too Far
- Cast: Alto Saotome, Emalya Zamana, Hikaru Amano, Liam 7-020, Sheryl Nome, Ruri Hoshino, Lucine Azul, Setsuna F. Seiei
- Where: Side 1
- OOC - IC Date: August 6th 0097
- Summary: A team investigates the unexpected reactivation of a fold communications hub. There they find an old call for help from the stars. As well as learning about the extent of the Vajra threat to Earth.
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
"A lost little girl's love
"Will cross a rainbow
"To reach you, I'm sure it'll reach you
"While our maidenly hearts give us courage."
The audio from Ranka's concert plays in the cockpit of Alto's Messiah.
The Eden colony is not too far away, relatively speaking, so the live signal
is coming in strong. It's a bit of a sore reminder about how Alto is being
forced to work right now, instead of attending. But it's not like he could do
anything about it. A contract from a potential client is one thing. But when
the order to investigate the unexpected reactivation of a fold communications
hub comes from within, from Nergal itself, you kind of have to go with it. Not
that Alto knows why Nergal's higher ups are interested in this station. It's
not Nergal property. Perhaps the rumors he heard about pirates setting up shop
there have something to do with it.
Regardless of the reason, he's here. And with help too. The large
station looms ahead, starting to grow in size at they get closer. At roughly
three kilometers across, it's hardly a match for any of the space colonys. Yet
still roughly ten times the size of your average warship. Thankfully this does
mean there are a fiew avenues for mobile weapons to enter and traverse the
station, which may be important if pirates are involved.
Alto radios to the others with Nergal who have joined the
investigation, <"That's it ahead. Hubs like this used to be used to keep in
contact with the various colonization fleets and colonies out there. But since
the cutbacks in space exploration, most of them are now offline. Which
should include this one..."> But that's clearly not the case, as the group
is now close enough to confirm that the station's systems are all back online.
"A piano flies through the sk-
"As stard--t becomes musi--l no---.
"--- monsters will ----
"--- ----- inside - ------- ----."
As the group grows closer, interference levels rapidly begin rising,
outside signals becoming garbled. It's not clear what the source of
interference is though... Perhaps someone else is here indeed?
-=-=-=-
Approaching from the opposite direction of the station, Setsuna will be
facing similar such interference. Though he has at least a little more
information to go on. Thanks to the intelligence resources provided by VEDA
and the predictions of Celestial Being's talented tactical forecaster, it's
clear that this is no simple pirate incursion. Intel suggests the criminal
organization, BioNet, has their sights set on the station. For what reason
isn't clear, but what is clear is that with BioNet involved, hostile
intervention will likely be necessary. Thus requiring the dispatch of a Gundam
to investigate.
<Pose Tracker> Emalya Zamana has posed.
Emalya's not listening to the concert over the audio. It's not that she's not
interested; quite the opposite! But it would be a distraction if she's
supposed to be on a mission, and she was regrettably chosen for this
particular outing on the same day!
Well, there will be others. Maybe Radiha wil pick her up some souvenirs!
Regardless, "And yet it does not!" Include this one, that is. "Very curious.."
But the interference is rising, picking up notably. Emalya frowns at it,
sitting in her Excalibur in her blue flight suit.
"So I suppose we should expect company of some kind..."
<Pose Tracker> Hikaru Amano has posed.
"Man, this sucks!" Hikaru complains over the radio, helpfully. "First they make
us investigate while we're havin' fun in the sun... now we can't even sit back
and enjoy a concert..." She whines. "It's a total Shakespearian tragedy, isn't
it, Lucine?!" She makes that point to Lucine in particular, mostly because
they've been assigned partners on this mission.
Unlike on the beach, where the idea of a Jovian dormant weapon at least makes
sense, this time, she barely even gets why the big-wigs are making them do
this. One thing's clear, though - it's got something to do with money! Hikaru
hopes she gets a raise after this mission. That'd certainly help morale!
For now, she follows behind in her ace custom orange Aestivalis, noticeably
slower for now.
And when the interference comes in, it only makes Hikaru's mood worse than it
already was. "What's the big deal?" She complains (to herself). "I was trying
to at least watch something if we're gonna be here all day!" The universe
wants Hikaru to be bored it seems, but assumedly, she'll be busy soon...
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
The relationship between NERV and Nergal is... somewhat complicated,
since the megacorporation's signature flagship--and all the employees
aboard--went rogue. That said, NERV's primary mandate is dealing with science
crime and alien threats, and weird activity at a Fold relay could easily be
either of them. When Nergal asked for backup, NERV sent along someone who'd
already been tasked with putting a new purchase through its paces.
The Dianza Sol is the flagship Mobile Suit of the Jeturk Corporation,
brand-new compared to everything else Federation forces field en masse. It
looks something like a much, much bulkier Jesta, with a grey-and-dark-blue
color scheme, and the NERV leaf freshly-stamped in red on the shoulder. A pair
of thick, heavy shields are mounted to its shoulders.
Liam sits in the cockpit, one ear on Ranka's song and the other on the
radio chatter. "Don't think it's scavengers," he says. "Maybe bold ones? But
picking apart a prize like this would take... special gear. Right?"
Liam frowns, to himself, as Hikaru starts complaining. He doesn't want
to say aloud that he feels safer here than in a crowd of people, but he's
thinking it. Instead, he turns on his cockpit vocorder to make a note.
"Handles well, mass considered. Bulkier than anything I've piloted so far, but
the armor--" The radio starts sputtering.
The Dilanza Sol boosts forward--slowly, but steadily--to put itself
between the station and the others. "Don't like this," Liam transmits.
<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.
Ranka's concert is the debut of Rainbow Bear Bear, so Sheryl hasn't
had the chance to listen to it before now. All the same, as she does listen
through her own radio, she smiles, eyes shut, and hums along. It's a very cute
song, and she remembers some of these lyrics from what Ranka had shared with
her a while ago. So she finally managed to produce a song she can call her
very own... Sheryl has mixed feelings about Ranka's meteoric rise to success,
but she is genuinely happy for her on this. She has real talent, and real
passion, and has put in a ton of hard work to succeed--three things that
Sheryl respects.
She's a bit torn on her current situation, too. She'd planned on
attending Ranka's concert... but she's still working hard on her end to
become a pilot, whether she flies as a combat fighter or not, and after last
time she does want to prove--to herself, to Grace, to Alto--that it isn't
a bad idea. Specifically, she'd promised to listen to Alto this time and
retreat if things turned sour in what should otherwise be a relatively safe
investigation mission--and when he suggested that she co-pilot with him in his
Messiah, well, how could she refuse such a generous offer from a much more
experienced pilot?
As they approach the station, and the signal from Ranka's concert
starts to cut out from the interference, Sheryl opens her eyes and focuses on
the view ahead. "<Pirates, hm...>" she murmurs, thinking of that encounter she
had over a year ago. They'd attacked her transport, claiming to be there to
kidnap her, but then that'd turned out to be a cover for something else... She
hadn't thought about it in ages, having decided to leave it to someone else,
but all of a sudden she wonders if it's connected.
"<If they're still lingering around here, we'll make them regret it!>"
she declares. Sheryl isn't hungry for a fight, but she's a proud woman, and if
they really are about to cross her path again, she won't back down. ...Even if
Alto's going to be doing the lion's share of the fighting.
<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.
Ranka's music filters through the Nadesico's bridge, just the same.
Yurika's not here right now, for some no doubt vital Yurikan reason -- but
their executive officer, Jun Aoi, has graciously allowed it to be played. At a
low volume, of course. They're working.
"Facility reports all systems green," Ruri Hoshino, the ship's
Operator, reports to the party and the bridge in her typical stoic manner.
Seated at the bottom of the bridge, in the forwardmost position, she is the
most unusual girl here -- largely because she is still a girl, fourteen
years old and with her white-blue hair all tied up in twin-tails. "Life
support, green. Gravity, green. Weapons, green. Shielding, green.
Communications, green..." She rattles off all the systems, specifically.
"So it doesn't include this one," Jun concludes, frowning, as he
watches the main screen. "Let's get closer. Megumi, open hails."
"Roger!" Megumi Reinard, the Nadesico's communications officer, chirps
as she tries to open a line. A line which Jun speaks through --
"Identifying: Jun Aoi, Executive Officer of Nergal's ND-001 Nadesico.
I'm requesting you identify. Repeat: requesting identification. Flag and
purpose. Over."
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
And on the other side of the equation... is another reason for Alto to
be a little more grumpy.
< ".... I would've thought you guys would be at Ranka's concert." >
This comment comes from a normally perceptive Lucine, who is also along on
Nergal business. And for once, she's not in her usual Dianthus, but a VF-171
Nightmare instead. < "... Granted, Hikaru, you've never been much of a concert
goer... oh! Have you ever seen a Shakespearean play? I watched some videos of
them before... " > Emalya, is still someone she's understanding, so she's not
including immediately in this chatter.
It's probably for the best, given the banter back and forth.
It also feels good, for Lucine, to not have something be purely due to
someone else's generosity. Even if Lucine's faith and loyalty to the Nadesico
crew (or 'Nadescrew', as Hikaru puts it) has strengthened tenfold due to the
help everyone has given her, there has to be some point where she pays back.
And so, Lucine gives up on a Ranka concert, which is a-okay, because Ranka is
a precious resource that must be shared, and she's gobbled up many
opportunities to see her as it is. She already has a plan for a version of her
own 'concert'--
< "I'll be doing a stream of Ranka's concert when we get back to the
Nadesico. If you don't mind squeezing in with the plants, everyone's welcome
to join in... It'll be at sundown, ah, that is, when the grow lights are
turned off for the day. Liam, did you say you wanted to watch? I forgot to ask
earlier..." >
As they approach, Lucine frowns at the expected interference. < "....
Rather creepy, when something cuts off like that..." > She then goes silent,
letting Jun do the neccesary work.
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna F. Seiei has posed.
A concert is going on in Side-1, and Setsuna's listening, if only
briefly. He'd never personally attend a concert like this, but is curious.
Songs have power over people, after all. A feat that one could compare to...
Well...
He lets a few lines of Ranka Lee's song play before killing his radio,
the inside of the Exia's cockpit now completely silent save for the thrumming
of consoles as Setsuna goes over the information provided by VEDA one last
time. It would seem that BioNet's influence reaches even beyond Earth. It
doesn't matter, however, as it's his job to deal with it. You treat the
symptoms before you remove the source, and hopefully someday soon, VEDA will
allow him to excise this group like the malignant tumor they are.
Since this is a solo mission, the Exia is fitted with all its
trappings, various swords fastened onto every available hard point of the
predominately blue and white mobile suit. The amount of firepower it's
sporting seems a bit excessive, and with the only other piece of non-killing
equipment that it's carrying being a shield, it makes it rather obvious that
the only thing this suit was designed to do was eliminate.
Not that anyone else can see him at this given moment, as he
approaches the station from a completely different side, GN particles pushing
the Exia through the vacuum of space quietly and with relative ease.
SCENESYS: Rena Lancaster has updated scene #394, 'Narrative'.
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
<"Well, I doubt it's tourists on vacation."> Alto replies to Emalya's
expectancy of company. And given the lack of Federation presence at this
Federation station, it's clearly not their doing either.
As the signal from Ranka's concert all but turns to static at this
point, Alto frowns as he flicks it off, agreeing with Liam as he warns, <"Keep
an eye out."> He lets the large machine take point. Thankfully though, there's
no immediate threat.
While the situation is a little tense, there's still opportunity for
people to continue the chatter, which is good, it keeps people from stressing
out. Though as Lucine gives out an invitation to a Ranka concert viewing, Alto
coughs a bit before replying, <"Sure... I guess I could show up."> Like he
wasn't going to watch it himself anyway.
While the pilots amongst the group continue to chatter, Alto turns his
head to the side, adressing his co-pilot, "Access the station layout. Find us
an entry point." Given that there's nothing seemingly outside the station,
they're likely going to have to go in.
The Nadesico's first officer takes the lead on the investigation,
opening up comms to the station, requesting identification. He gets a
response, one that Setsuna is actually able to pick up as well as it's a
general signal. Though said signal is weak, possibly due to the interference:
<"---- -- --- ------ ---bal, ---- ------ -- --- ----- -------- --eet.
-- ---- come u-der ----------- attack ---- hos-ile ----- --------- ------ ---
----- -- --- or--t -- ------ --. ---- --- tearing --- ----- apart and --
req--re ---rgency assis----- ---- any nea--y -ess-ls! --- -------- -- ------
--- ----- --- ---- ---tructi-n. Pl--se... -elp u-!">
<Pose Tracker> Emalya Zamana has posed.
"A stream sounds nice!" Emalya says, and then, "Ha ha, if we could do it
outside, we could do a stream by the stream..."
She seems amused at this at least. She is glad to work with the Nadesico
again, remembering positive experiences with the crew, but she misses the way
the interference intensifies at first because she's trying not to distract
herself.
Pirates, though...
"If not pirates, and not the Federation, then who?" Emalya wonders of Liam.
But as they get closer...
No, it is not tourists. She does keep an eye out as well, until suddeny there
is the matter of the signal--
"It is a distress signal!" Emalya exclaims as she puzzles it out. "We must
assist!"
"Mr. Aoi," Emalya directs to the Nadesico, "Requesting permission to board and
engage!"
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
<"I do,>" Liam transmits. It's... weird, seeing Lucine in a VF and not
the Dianthus, given her deep emotinal attachment to it. He makes a note to
keep an eye on her, even though this isn't as bad as the time Elisa got her
claws in. <"On the way back. Bring out the beanbag."> How daring, the
thought of snuggling up in front of Hikaru and everyone!
(But the greenhouse could also get really cramped, so it's a smart move
that way, too.)
Then, the Nadesico picks up and relays the signal, and ice shoots down
Liam's spine. "<Horror movie,>" he breathes, echoing something Spike said
months ago. "<Pilot 7-020, Dilanza Sol, moving to board.>" The Mobile Suit
jets forwards, towards the nearest access shaft big enough to accommodate its
bulk. "<Hikaru, Lucine, taking the lead.>" It's a bit of a squeeze, but Liam
is a skilled pilot, and the Dilanza floats inside with a grace that belies its
bulk. "<Thing's built for Natural responsiveness,>" Liam mutters, to his
wingmates, in a desperate attempt to lighten the mood. "<But it flies well.>"
Liam holds down two triggers, and draws the sticks in. The Dilanza's paired
shoulder shields swing down to protect its torso.
<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.
Ruri reports that the systems of the ship ahead are all green--meaning
everything is functional. That'd only be the case if people were actively
using it, right? Sheryl's eyes narrow as she considers that.
"<Call it bad timing! I need credits for school and Alto here is a
professional,>" Sheryl transmits back. She perks when she says she'll be
streaming the concert later, though. "<Oh, really? I'm definitely interested!
Count me in, Lucine~.>"
It's a good idea to keep track of what your rivals are doing, after all.
Alto tells Sheryl then to access the station layout and find an entry
point. She pauses. This has not been covered in her training thus far. To
cover that, she says lightly, "What's with the cough, Alto? Coming down
with something?"
As she does, she sends a private transmission to Grace, reading, 'GRACE
HELP'
Grace, somewhere aboard the Nadesico--perhaps on or near the bridge,
even--just smiles. "My, that girl," she murmurs, and opens access to the
station layout via Sheryl's terminal, runs a quick, tight scan, and forwards
her information on the most obvious entry point. Out of the goodness of her
heart, obviously, and no other reason. Certainly not to keep Sheryl reliant on
her if she's going to insist on pursuing this path.
Of course, there's someone here who'll no doubt notice that kind of
data transfer, but as long as Ruri keeps it to herself for now... Though,
there's someone else around that Grace has noticed, that Ruri might be
more interested in than this, anyway.
"<Here--I found something,>" Sheryl says triumphantly, taking that
information and spreading it, first to Alto, then to the other ships--maybe a
little unnecessarily, given that it's an entry point obvious enough to be
spotted with the naked eye. Regardless, she feels bad about passing off
Grace's work as her own and makes a mental note to study up on this sort of
thing later.
<Pose Tracker> Hikaru Amano has posed.
"It would've been nice..." Hikaru sulks, about Ranka's concert. "Sure, it's not
the stuff I usually listen to, but I can appreciate some good music! So I
might just take you up on your offer..."
But Erina said no and told me to get on duty." The screen that pops on Lucine's
interface will show her pouting and crossing her arms. "What authority does
she have anyways?!"
As for Shakespeare... "Of course I have!" She beams. "Romeo and Juliet was kind
of one of the original enemies to lovers archetypes from the Middle Era, so I
definitely took reference! And who doesn't enjoy Macbeth and Banquo's steamy
'friendship'?" It's probably not the answer Lucine was expecting, but it's
certainly a very Hikaru answer.
The IFS, even through the interference is pinged with a universal distress
signal. Unlike Emalya, Hikaru does not wait for Jun's order - finally, they
can get going! "Charging forward!" Hikaru announces, as the Zero-G Aestivalis
speeds ahead, forming up with Liam. "Roger, roger~" She chirps to Liam,
watching that shiny new Dilanza Sol in action. She whistles in approval when
he comments on the responsiveness. "Yeah, really! It's even able to keep up
with the Aestie!" She agrees - it's no small feat.
But despite her lightheartedness, she's looking... she took that distress
signal seriously, at least. Even Sheryl's helping... she thinks. "Hey, thanks,
Miss Galactic Fairy!"
<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.
Megumi quietly switches off the Nadesico's feed of Ranka's concert,
when it dies to static. Most of her efforts, though, go to boosting that
signal... as much as she can.
"They're requesting urgency assistance from any nearby vessels," Megumi
translates for everyone, with her sensitive ear, and a frown. "They've come
under attack from hostiles... they're tearing them apart. And there's
something with construction, or maybe destruction... I think they identified
as part of a fleet, but I couldn't clear up that part of the signal."
Jun frowns, and his response to Emalya -- and the others -- doesn't
hesitate: "Permission granted. All hands: this is now a rescue mission. I
repeat: this is now a rescue mission! Proceed at will!"
Ruri Hoshino, meanwhile, frowns, even as she accepts Sheryl's data.
She's detected something else, from the other side of the station. The line
she opens up to the Exia, at first, is personal: "Excuse me," and the
surprising thing might be the communication window the Nadesico pops up,
showing Ruri's young face as she speaks. "This is Ruri Hoshino, Operator,
ND001-Nadesico. I don't sense hostility from your machine, so let me ask for
your help. Our Executive Officer just declared this a rescue mission... the
people inside are in trouble. I won't ask who you are, but I'm transmitting
you the signal codes to communicate on our channel. If you're willing to help,
please respond. Thank you."
Bloop, the window disappears. But, indeed, Setsuna's been given the
data to help him communicate.
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
Emalya chimes in, and Lucine audibly agrees. < "Ah, maybe we could
project a field in the simulation room... thing... the VR room...?" > When the
large majority of listeners agree, Lucine grins on her video feed. < "I think
it will be fun. Like, ah, a sleepover?" > Like in those slice of life comic
books set on Earth!
Hikaru responds with the appropriate amount of LET'S GO PASSION on the
subject of Shakespeare. < ".... Ah, so they were together? So Hamlet was
conflicted in more than one way..." >
All talk of sleepovers and stream watching immediately quiets when the
distress signal is made. 'Horror movie' Liam says. < ".... I'll see if I can
sense anything when I get a little closer. I can't guarantee anything at this
range..." >
Sheryl reports finding an entry point. < "Ah, thank you, Sheryl. .... I
think getting into range now; I'll follow behind if I need to get closer." >
Lucine closes her eyes, and concentrates, trying to find some idea of what may
be inside. Her range slowly expands-- she senses the pilots around her, her
companions, and then works on expanding this beyond into unfamiliar territory.
By the time she might sense Setsuna, he may have already made himself
known in one way or another, but with her focus on the station, he may be
overlooked temporarily.
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna F. Seiei has posed.
A distress signal? There's not enough room in the Exia to ferry more
than one person, and bringing the Ptolemaios over would take time he probably
doesn't have. His brow furrows a bit underneath his helmet as he weighs his
options, before he gets an unexpected message. The Nadesico? That's the Nergal
ship, if he recalls correctly.
Ignoring the fact that the call was forced, the Gundam Meister
responds to Ruri, and to the rest of the currently deployed units given that
he was rather quick to accept the communication data he was given, his tone
completely flat and lacking any real discernible emotion.
<"This is Setsuna F. Seiei. I'll grant you my assistance, at least for
now.">
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
A rescue mission! There are still numerous questions surrounding this
mission, but at least they have direction now.
Thanks to the effort of Sheryl, who totally figured out a good access
point on all on her own, the Nergal side of the group meet at the nearest
access hatch. Sadly the Nadesico will have to float outside, as the hatch is
not quite THAT big.
Alto slows his fighter's approach, triggering the transformation into
Battroid mode and then floating up to the hatch. Reaching out, the Messiah's
hand wraps around the large handle beside the hatch. Access codes that they
Totally Have Permission To Have And Use are exchanged with the station's
system and the Messiah then turns the handle. The hatch slides open. As he
begins to maneuver his robot inside, Alto says to his co-pilot, "Keep an eye
on that radar. We don't know what we're getting into here."
The access shafts are a little tight, but big enough for the various
mobile weapons to move through. As they are doing so, another signal comes in
over the general channel:
<"This is the S----- ------, lead ------ of the ---th Research -----.
-e have come under significant attack from hos---- ----- --------- --lled th-
----- -- --- ----- -- ------ --. --ey are -----ng the ----- ----- --- --
------- --------- -------nce from any nearby vessels! All attempts to esca--
--- ----- --- ---- -----------. ------... ---- --!">
Strangely enough though, a second signal actually begins to filter in
amidst the first. It's music! And the voice... It's a familiar one!
"--en if I'm in a dark ra--
"--at pours so ---- - -ant to cry
"Above the clo---, --- ---- -ky shines bright enough to daz--- --."
Alto blinks a little in confusion, <"Is that... Ranka's concert?">
There's no way the signal is reaching through all this interference. Alto
wonders, <"Is the station's comms array boosting the signal?">
It's the Nadesico, with its advanced sensors and little genius operator
that begin to see the truth though. Something they've seen before, a few times
now. Fold distortions. Which, admittedly aren't wholly unexpected at a fold
communications hub. But these are some very specific types of fold
distortions. The same type which, in the past, have been too weak to trace.
Now though, they are stronger. And with some modifications to the Nadesico's
sensors, it should be possible to trace them. Though that will take a little
bit of time.
What's more important right now, is that these fold distortions are
very likely the source of the threat within the station. That source being...
Lucine reaches out with her senses. Close to her, are her fellow
pilots. A little further away, she's able to pick up another presence. Given
the recent comms from Setsuna, that's likely who it is, approaching through
the station from another direction. But as she continues to search, she starts
to sense something else. Something familiar. A wholy alien familiar, the
source of which she has encountered a number of times now. That source being...
The Nadesico group pass through an interior hatch, into a T-section.
Their systems alert them to another approaching unit. At the other end of the
main shaft they're in, they can see another hatch open. It's the Exia Gundam!
The two sides have but a moment to exchange greetings, before their systems
alert them to yet another source of movement within the station. This time
from the third shaft of this T-section that branches away from the one they're
in. That source being...
Vajra!
Several of the green Vajra Mobile Soldiers claw their way through the
interior hatch and out into the main shaft. Sharp claws dig into the shaft
walls as they split up and begin to crawl their way towards the two groups
menacingly.
KTS: Hikaru Amano has deployed in Aestivalis Zero-G Frame (Hikaru). KTS: EN Barrier activated! KTS: Liam 7-020 has deployed in MD-0031UL Dilanza Sol. KTS: Liam 7-020 has changed loadout. KTS: Setsuna F. Seiei has deployed in GN-001 Gundam Exia. KTS: Alto Saotome has deployed in VF-25F Messiah <Battroid Mode>. KTS: EN Barrier activated! KTS: Setsuna F. Seiei has changed loadout. KTS: Emalya Zamana has deployed in VF-19A Excalibur. KTS: EN Barrier activated! KTS: Ruri Hoshino has deployed in ND-001 Nadesico. KTS: EN Barrier activated! KTS: Kaiju Navi has deployed in Vajra Heavy Soldier. KTS: Kaiju_Navi has deployed as a Boss for 7 opponents.
<Pose Tracker> Emalya Zamana has posed.
"A steamy friendship..."
Emalya is perhaps more reliant on military discipline than most of the
Nadesico, as a rule. She does wait for permission--but once she has it, she
rockets off, her machine in Fighter mode barreling straight for the station
towards the entry point that Sheryl specifies. "Thank you!" she says, even
though she did spot it with her naked eye, because that's what you do.
As she reaches the hatch, she triggers transformation into Battroid mode, and
begins making her way in. SHe does not have the special senses Lucine does;
she has to rely on others. A new person assisting is welcome, but--
Vajra. As they move towards the group, "Vajra! Engaging!" A lot begins to
make sense all at once to Emalya Zamana, and those things include violence.
She fires from the beam rifle/pod her mecha is holding, shot after shot to try
to buy the others some time to act.
KTS: Emalya Zamana targets Kaiju Navi with Mounted Beam Gun Pod Shot! KTS: Emalya Zamana has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Sheryl Nome has deployed as a Sub Pilot for Alto Saotome! KTS: Lucine Azul has deployed in VF-171 Nightmare Plus <Battroid Mode>. KTS: EN Barrier activated!
<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.
It's a little bit of a disappointment and a little bit of a relief that
this is a rescue mission, seemingly unrelated to any pirates. Still, things
seem to be proceeding apace, especially as Jun makes the change in their
mission parameters official.
Sheryl chuckles confidently. "<Anytime~>" she chirps to Lucine and
Emalya--then playfully chides Hikaru, "<Though it's just Sheryl right now! I'm
only the Galactic Fairy as a professional songstress!>"
Radar is at least something Sheryl's studied--it's important as a main
pilot as well as a co-pilot, so she knows how to read it and relay the
information it's giving her. "<Right. Just leave it to me!>" she thus tells
Alto with genuine confidence. Huh, there's someone else coming in too... a
Gundam? They seem to be helping them out, so Sheryl doesn't worry about it,
despite her otherwise unpleasant experience with Gundams.
It doesn't last very long. As she works her controls, Ranka's song
interlaces with the distress signal. Sheryl blinks, lifting her head as she
listens. "<What... Why is that...?>"
The radar picks up some signals--several signals--and Sheryl blinks
down at them. "<There's something nearby! A lot of somethings!>" she calls
along with the system alerts. "<They're coming in hot! Be careful!>"
And just then, Vajra begin to claw in through the metal walls. Sheryl
gasps, sharp and shocked. "<Vajra!>" And then, with growing white-hot anger:
"<How dare they?! Alto! Everyone! They must be why we got a distress signal!
We have to take them out before they destroy someone else's home!!>"
KTS: Sheryl Nome targets Alto Saotome, Lucine Azul, and Hikaru Amano with All-Out.
KTS: Sheryl Nome has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Sheryl Nome orders an all-out attack, raising Alto Saotome's Skill! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 15200 KTS: Your EN is now 58. KTS: Sheryl Nome has activated the Trust Spirit Command targeting Alto Saotome
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
"NERV's trialing them," Liam says. "From some 'Benerit Group'. Heard of
them... maybe a little?" He's heard the name, they're an established group
of military contractors, but they're not as big as Nergal or Anaheim. "Thanks,
Sheryl," he adds, a smile in his voice. The Dilanza Sol's computer is already
mapping the interior of the station based on that data.
Several things happen at once: The distress signal repeats. A Gundam
Liam does not recognize appears from an intersection. And then...
Vajra.
Liam's blood runs cold as Sheryl announces their presence. "<Why
here?">" he says, but there's no time to ponder this--only to act. "<Keeping
point! Time to see what Jeturk's workers made!>"
The Dilanza Sol's jets ignite behind it, turning its leisurely forward
float into a headlong charge. The left shield snaps down onto the Mobile
Suit's forearm, while the other one folds out. Its right hand rises, and pulls
its rifle from the equipment rack. Liam sucks in breath, braces the rifle
against the Dilanza Sol's side, and pulls a trigger. A brilliant red-violet
glow erupts from the end of the rifle--not a conventional beam blast, but a
bayonet blade.
The Mobile Suit drives the bayonet forward, towards the head of the
nearest Vajra. Hit or miss, Liam drags it right, through the onrushing mass of
limbs and carapace and biological energy weapons.
"<Take your shots!>" Liam cries, to the two behind him.
KTS: Liam 7-020 targets Kaiju Navi with Bayonet Charge! KTS: Liam 7-020 has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Hikaru Amano has posed.
"Oh, but Hamlet's a different guy!" Hikaru playfully corrects Lucine. "But now
I'm considering how a crossover might shake things up... maybe it'd be
possible to save them both in the end! But that'd be kinda a cop-out, don'tcha
think?"
Emalya seems to take interest in the idea of a steamy friendship, too... "You
ever read stories like that?" She asks back, curious. Zentradi culture has the
same love for music, she wonders if it's true for stories as well.
"Just Sheryl? That makes sense! But... a lot of pilots do like going with
special nicknames when they're on the field, too, y'know." She points out. As
a group, she, Ryoko, and Izumi are the Three Angels! Who came up with that?
"It might be fun to have different titles on the stage and in the cockpit."
Unfortunately, the banter is cut short by a swarm of Vajra - even as the Gundam
Exia arrives to stand against them. "Yikes... it's these things again!" She
exclaims. "I guess it's a good thing I charged ahead after all..." She adds,
pleased with herself.
"Hey, hey, right behind you!" Hikaru exclaims to Liam, brandishing her Rapid
Rifle, aiming to pop a few rounds in the clawed kaiju. "Get outta here... and
stay out!" She demands, as bullets fly, bolstering Liam's assault.
KTS: Sheryl Nome orders an all-out attack, raising Hikaru Amano's Skill! KTS: Hikaru Amano targets Kaiju Navi with Rapid Rifle: Team Formation!! KTS: Hikaru Amano has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.
The Nadesico has to wait outside, but that's fine. They'll put their
trust in their pilots -- plus one guest member, courtesy Setsuna's willingness
to help -- and their sensors continue to work, even here.
Ruri presses her hands to her console, as she feeds through the data.
"Fold distortions detected," she reports, to the away team and the bridge.
"Now triangulating."
Her eyes narrow, just so, as she says: "The away team has engaged the
Vajra," a report to the bridge. And for that away team, she says, instead:
"Now transmitting firing solutions." She offers this advice to their machines,
rather than their pilots, but... close enough.
KTS: Sheryl Nome orders an all-out attack, raising Lucine Azul's Skill! KTS: Ruri Hoshino targets Lucine Azul, Hikaru Amano, and Emalya Zamana with Coordinate. KTS: Ruri Hoshino has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Ruri Hoshino coordinates maneuvers, raising Lucine Azul's Piloting!
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna F. Seiei has posed.
Setsuna doesn't have much time to give a more proper greeting, not
that he'd want to mind. The enemy finally shows themselves, and Setsuna's eyes
widen a bit. Varja? If that's the case, that would mean that the person from
the distress signal might be... Now's not the time to worry, though, now that
he thinks about the situation a bit, the fact that BioNet might have some sort
of interest in the Varja is rather concerning.
<"Setsuna F. Seiei, eliminating the targets.">
There's no need to tell the others here what he's thinking. He's here
to eliminate, not theorize with people who he's formed a temporary alliance
with. Setsuna's grip on the Exia's joysticks tighten as he pushes them
forward, the Exia responding accordingly by flying forward toward the Varja.
The next movement almost happens in the blink of an eye as the Gundam
reaches behind its back skirt, pulling out a handle that lets out a thin blade
of pink GN particles that it then uses to carve into one of the emerging
aliens.
KTS: Setsuna F. Seiei targets Kaiju Navi with GN Beam Saber Slash! KTS: Setsuna F. Seiei has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Alto Saotome targets Kaiju Navi with Gatling Shot! KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 81. KTS: SP Regen activates. Your new SP value is 75. KTS: Alto Saotome has completed their actions for the round. KTS: [Lucky] Hikaru Amano's Toriyah~! activates, and luck goes her way! KTS: Hikaru Amano successfully accepts Ruri Hoshino's Coordinate KTS: Kaiju Navi's Beam Wall L1 activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to evade Emalya Zamana's Mounted Beam Gun Pod Shot, taking 2800 damage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to rush. KTS: Kaiju Navi's Beam Wall L1 activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Kaiju Navi partially guards Liam 7-020's Bayonet Charge, taking 1665 damage!
KTS: Liam 7-020 has engaged Kaiju Navi! KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to evade Hikaru Amano's Rapid Rifle: Team Formation!, taking 3375 damage!
KTS: Hikaru Amano begins a Formation attack! KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to rush. KTS: Kaiju Navi's Beam Wall L1 activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Kaiju Navi partially guards Setsuna F. Seiei's GN Beam Saber Slash, taking 1740 damage!
KTS: Setsuna F. Seiei has engaged Kaiju Navi! KTS: Kaiju Navi successfully evades Alto Saotome's Gatling Shot
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
Setsuna's timing is key; Lucine barely begins to register his presence
before he introduces himself. She pauses, about to hail back, before something
catches her attention.
Ranka's concert, and....?
< "... Vajra incoming!!" >
Lucine's advance warning is not much help beyond being an alert; she
herself has already transformed her vehicle into its Battroid mode as she
comes in with cover fire, trying to lay a hit before they attack.
KTS: Lucine Azul targets Kaiju Navi with Erikon Beam Cannons Rapid Fire! KTS: Lucine Azul has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Kaiju Navi's Beam Wall L1 activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to evade Lucine Azul's Erikon Beam Cannons Rapid Fire, taking 2550 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
<"Shit!">
Sheryl warns him, as do the others. But Alto had not been expecting
Vajra. Much like Liam, Alto's not even sure what they would be doing here.
Unless they were nesting. But that doesn't explain the station's reactivation.
It doesn't really matter though, as the path forward is clear.
The Vajra crawl their way along all four of the shaft's walls as the
now combined team move to engage. Liam and Setsuna are at the front, engaging
in close by virtue of their approaches. Setsuna's beam saber strikes out at
one of the Vajra Mobile Soldiers. It meets a little resistance against the
creature's carapace, but with a little persistence it slices through. Liam's
bayonet encounters the same resistance, but eventually makes it into the the
Vajra's head, though the creature continues flailing, threatening to tear at
Liam's armor with its claws. But then Hikaru comes in with the rescue, her
bullets putting holes in it and sending it limp. Emalya, Alto and Lucine
provide additional fire support. The beam shots finding difficulty penetrating
the alien creatures, but with enough shots, they cease movement to float still
in the shaft.
The initial wave of Vajra Mobile Soldiers lightens up, giving the team
a moment to breathe. Alto warns, <"We need to clear the station. If there's a
nest here... We can't let it grow."> The way forward thankfully seems clear:
The route by which the Vajra attacked from.
<"This -- the ---N-4 -lob--, ---- --ssel of the ----- -------- --eet.
We have come und-- -------cant attack from hostile alien creatures called the
Vajra in t-- ----- of ---lia --. --ey are tearing th- ----- --art and we
require emergency assistance from any nearby vessels! All attempts to escape
are being met with destruction. Please... Help us!">
"I'm gonna fire eve-- ---- --ssile I've got
"---na lock on with my bouncing chest
"Love is a dog fig--
"A loving ----- fight
The distress signal repeats again. It seems to be growing clearer, as
the Vajra are being killed off. Obviously they are (one of) the source of
interference. Though that still doesn't explain why Ranka's concert is coming
through as well. Especially with the Exia Gundam right there with its GN
Drive.
But with the clearer transmission, and the overlapping information from
the previous two, it becomes clear that it's on a loop. If they can clear out
the Vajra a bit more, perhaps they'll be able to get the whole signal!
Speaking of the Vajra, a little further in the access shaft opens up
into a larger bay. Obviously delicate equipment stretches from the top to the
bottom. According to the station's specs, it's a significant portion of the
communication hub's main antenna.
What's not on the specs though is the collecting of bulbous objects
attached to the center of the array. Hundreds of them all gathered together,
gently pulsing with life.
They're not alone though, as a number of the green Vajra Mobile
Soldiers begin climbing out of additional access shafters. And from behind the
array and the nest, the ominous red of a Vajra Heavy Soldier emerges. The
Heavy Soldier raises one of its insectoid arms, part of the attached carapace
opening to reveal the bio-machine gun beneath. It starts unleashing those
rapid fire bolts of bio-energy towards some of the group, while the Mobile
Soldiers start to rush the others to try and overwhelm with numbers.
KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Emalya Zamana with Vajra Bio-Machine Guns Ripping Barrage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Liam 7-020 with Vajra Mobile Soldiers Swarm Converge! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Hikaru Amano with Vajra Bio-Machine Guns Ripping Barrage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Setsuna F. Seiei with Vajra Mobile Soldiers Swarm Converge!
KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Lucine Azul with Vajra Bio-Machine Guns Ripping Barrage! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Ruri Hoshino with Pass! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Alto Saotome with Vajra Bio-Machine Guns Ripping Barrage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Lucine Azul's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Lucine Azul fails to evade Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Machine Guns Ripping Barrage, taking 2090 damage!
KTS: Hikaru Amano has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Hikaru Amano successfully evades Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Machine Guns Ripping Barrage
KTS: Liam 7-020 has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: [Spirit Defense] Liam 7-020's Catecholamine Regulation System activates, and his spirit endures.
KTS: Kaiju Navi enervates Liam 7-020, reducing his Morale significantly. KTS: Kaiju Navi rattles Liam 7-020, making his next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Liam 7-020 fails to Parry Kaiju Navi's Vajra Mobile Soldiers Swarm Converge, taking 5040 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Disruptor activates, causing Jam L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Enervator activates, causing Deject! KTS: Kaiju Navi has engaged Liam 7-020! KTS: Setsuna F. Seiei has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Ruri Hoshino coordinates maneuvers, raising Emalya Zamana's Piloting! KTS: Setsuna F. Seiei has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: Emalya Zamana's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: [Spirit Defense] Emalya Zamana's Love, Hope, and Courage! activates, and her spirit endures.
KTS: Kaiju Navi enervates Emalya Zamana, reducing her Morale significantly. KTS: Emalya Zamana blocks Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Machine Guns Ripping Barrage, taking 2970 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Disruptor activates, causing Jam L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Enervator activates, causing Deject! KTS: Kaiju Navi enervates Setsuna F. Seiei, reducing his Morale significantly. KTS: Kaiju Navi rattles Setsuna F. Seiei, making his next maneuvers more difficult.
KTS: Setsuna F. Seiei parries Kaiju Navi's Vajra Mobile Soldiers Swarm Converge, taking 630 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Disruptor activates, causing Jam L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Enervator activates, causing Deject! KTS: Kaiju Navi has engaged Setsuna F. Seiei!
<Pose Tracker> Emalya Zamana has posed.
"I think so!" Emalya answers Hikaru when she asks her. "If I am understanding
the nature of the steam correctly and it is not gaseous water!" The other
kind of steamy. "I have enjoyed many such stories if I am right!"
It is nice meanwhile to be out with a SONGSTRESS but Emalya has to try to keep
it business or else she'll enthuse about it more.
But suddenly there are indeed Vajra...
"We must remain calm and engage them swiftly," Emalya cautions those who seem
to be fighting more emotionally. "IT would seem that particle beams are less
effective..."
And it would seem for that matter that the signal is repeating, and they have
more information. As more soldiers begin to rush out, Emalya attempts to
block--but she's put in a bad position, unable to aggress, forced back.
"Gah--"
Then she taps away at her onboard systems, "Designating targets--sending data!
i cannot get a shot, but maybe you can!"
KTS: Emalya Zamana targets Kaiju Navi with Designate L1! KTS: Emalya Zamana has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Ruri Hoshino fails to react to Kaiju Navi's Pass, taking 0 damage! KTS: Alto Saotome's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Alto Saotome blocks Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Machine Guns Ripping Barrage, taking 660 damage!
KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 14540 KTS: Your EN is now 70. <Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.
"<No problem, Liam~,>" Sheryl lilts, fielding the last of the
thank-yous. Hikaru's point that fighters on the battlefield can also have
titles gets a thoughtful noise out of her, and she smiles. "<Oh yeah, that's
true! Then what would you call me instead?>"
That might have to wait, though, since a) Sheryl isn't actually doing
the fighting right now, and b) VAJRA. "<How should I know?!>" Sheryl snaps at
Liam. "<Anyway, it doesn't matter! It's just like Alto said. If we don't wipe
them out, there's no telling how many more people they'll kill!>"
She frowns then over at the Exia Gundam and its pilot, calmly
(robotically??) announcing his name and subsequent action. It's one hell of an
action, too--Sheryl has little experience with Gundams, but this one lives up
to the reputation. The one Gundam pilot she has known (or rather that she
knows she's known; she doesn't actually know Liam is/has been a Gundam pilot,
and honestly if she did know that would not dissuade her from what she's about
to say) momentarily haunts her, and she transmits to him, "<Setsuna, you said?
Just checking, but you aren't secretly brainwashed or anything, are you?>" She
pauses; then she shakes her head. "<...No, actually, never mind.>"
That can't be that common... right? And anyway, she can't focus on
that, for a total stranger, when the Vajra are right in front of her--in front
of all of them. Emalya makes a good observation about the particle beam
weapons. "<That's right--I've heard that the more you use a kind of weapon on
the Vajra, the more resistant they get to them. So don't bother using beam
weapons!>" Sheryl transmits. She's not sure what to recommend they use
instead, but surely everyone here knows their options better than she
would, anyway.
The distress signal keeps getting clearer--and at the same time,
Ranka's song keeps mixing in with it. It's already turned from Rainbow Bear
Bear to Love is a Dogfight, and that heightened energy gets her to
realize that the distress signal is looping.
It fills her with instant, sudden dread. The Galaxy's distress signal
had come too late, too. She bites her lip and keeps that thought to herself
for now.
"<There's a lot more smaller signals on the radar up ahead, on the main
antenna. Hundreds of them, maybe,>" she transmits instead. "<Ah! There's more
of the bigger ones coming in! Focus on those first--you'll be in big trouble
if you run out of firepower!>"
KTS: Sheryl Nome targets Alto Saotome, Setsuna F. Seiei, and Liam 7-020 with Coordinate.
KTS: Sheryl Nome has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Sheryl Nome coordinates maneuvers, raising Liam 7-020's Piloting!
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
WARNING: BEAM COATING EMISSION SPECTRUM DETECTED
The Dilanza Sol's HUD lights up as Liam drags the bayonet. "<They're
adapting!>" the cyborg says, urgency in his voice. The Dilanza kills its jets,
raises its shield, and prepares to keep those claws off the Mobile Units
behind it--
Focused beam fire shreds the Vajra before that can happen. "<Hikaru,
Lucine, good shots. Keep alert, there have to be more.>" Liam has only ever
seen a lone Vajra once, and that was under very strange circumstances. Even
this wave feels... like they're holding reserves.
And sure enough: there they are.
"<The hell is on that antenna?>" Liam says. The Dilanza Sol advances
cautiously into the central chamber, shields at the ready. "<Ruri, patching
you through now.>" Just in case she hasn't done so already, a feed link opens
between the Dilanza Sol's sensors and the Nadesico's computers.
Liam whips the bayonet to the right, blocking a rending claw before it
can tear into the Dilanza's torso. Another Vajra swoops down from the left,
trailing gashes in the brand-new Mobile Suit's armor. A third starts ripping
at the legs. The Dilanza Sol jets up and back, in a short, careful burst.
<"Watch your fire,"> he says. "<If we damage the array, that transmission
dies.>" And so, too, to the people on the other end... if they haven't already.
The Mobile Suit's rifle swings back onto the equipment rack. <"Roger,
Sheryl. Switching to backup weaponry.>" A long, thin cable unspools from the
Dilanza Sol's wrist. Liam pushes forward, and past the initial attackers to
charge the Heavy Soldier directly. His suit's jets blaze. The cable
electrifies, turning into a whip carrying enough voltage to at least stun
another Mobile Suit. Liam brings it down at the Heavy Soldier with a short,
efficient CRACK.
KTS: Liam 7-020 targets Kaiju Navi with Aftermarket Shock Filament Entangle! KTS: Liam 7-020 has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Hikaru Amano has posed.
"What would I call you? Huh... that's a good question." She stops to
seriously consider it for a moment, putting through a whole thought process.
"Well, they usually start with a colour, right? ...And then they add something
cool from space." Dramatically tapping her finger against her head, she
concludes, "The Pink Supernova! Yeah, that sounds cool!" Although indeed, it
may be some time before Sheryl can seriously consider it herself.
"Yep, you got it!" Hikaru answers Emalya, in regards to what type of steamy it
is. "Too bad we're out on a mission... bet we'd have a lot to talk about!" In
the background, Jun makes the most painful cringing wince, sitting in his
Acting Captain chair, overhearing all these conversations.
Ruri's ever-helpful data on the other hand, is just in time, allowing Hikaru's
Aestivalis to make a very risky evasive maneuver it wouldn't have otherwise.
"Not today, sucker!" She taunts the Vajra, appropriately sticking out her
tongue.
But, despite that minor victory... they just keep coming and coming, and if
they don't act quick, the people in trouble will never make it. Emalya's
informs them that beams are ineffective, and subsequently designates them. "No
beams, no problem! We'll just have to skewer 'em!" Hikaru exclaims,
brandishing the immediate knife in immediate fashion. "Lucine, Liam, you with
me? I'm going in!" She announces, as she is a team player, and charges forth
as if her machine is her own body, aiming to take out as many Vajra down as
she can - with the precision of the IFS she can be sure not to damage their
contact with the imperiled people, as Liam advises.
KTS: Hikaru Amano has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Hikaru Amano targets Kaiju Navi with Immediate Shish Kebab!! KTS: Hikaru Amano has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Sheryl Nome coordinates maneuvers, raising Alto Saotome's Piloting! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 14540 KTS: Your EN is now 70. <Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.
"We're getting a clearer signal," Megumi reports, adjusting her
headset. As she reports to the away team: "Keep clearing out the Vajra, and
we'll be able to hear what they have to say!"
"... or what they had to say," Goat Hoary rumbles, from his station
behind Jun.
Megumi doesn't have an answer to that, though she knows why he'd say it.
If this signal is automatically repeating, over and over...
"We have to proceed as if there are people in danger," Jun decides.
"But... be careful, away team. If that is a nest, you're in danger of being
overwhelmed in close quarters. Don't overextend yourselves."
Ruri accepts Liam's data, and acts on Jun's orders, with a stoic: "Now
calculating enemy fire rate and velocity... transmitting data." The defensive
solutions should help to keep them safe.
KTS: Ruri Hoshino targets Setsuna F. Seiei, Hikaru Amano, and Lucine Azul with Caution.
KTS: Ruri Hoshino has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Emalya Zamana designates Kaiju Navi, making it easier to target and opening it to indirect fire.
KTS: Ruri Hoshino suggests caution, raising Hikaru Amano's Intuition! KTS: Kaiju Navi's Force Wall L1 activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Liam 7-020 anchors Kaiju Navi, forcing it into close range. KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Liam 7-020's Aftermarket Shock Filament Entangle, taking 5720 damage!
KTS: Liam 7-020 has engaged Kaiju Navi! KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Hikaru Amano's Immediate Shish Kebab!, taking 7150 damage!
KTS: Hikaru Amano has engaged Kaiju Navi! KTS: Hikaru Amano completes the Formation attack! KTS: Alto Saotome targets Kaiju Navi with AK/VF-M9 Assault Knife Slash! KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 96. KTS: SP Regen activates. Your new SP value is 100. KTS: Alto Saotome has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Alto Saotome's AK/VF-M9 Assault Knife Slash, taking 4940 damage!
KTS: Alto Saotome has engaged Kaiju Navi!
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna F. Seiei has posed.
<"Brainwashed? No. Not anymore.">
There's very brief confusion from Setsuna, followed by a firm and
brief answer. Does this person know they are? No, of course they don't. Well,
if it was actual concern for his well-being or a joke question, he can't tell,
and neither does he really care. The most important thing to him right now is
the mission.
The Varja increase in number and close in, lunging at the Exia, and it
responds in kind, lunging back and repelling the beasts(?) with a swift kick
as the giant blade thats slung underneath its arm extends and slides forward
into place.
Once again, the blue and white mobile suit is on the offensive,
throwing the beam saber in its hand at one of the Varja as an opener of sorts
before shooting forward, the arm with the massive blade bolted to its arm
outstretched as it simply aims to drive the oversized weapon through the
armored carapace of the alien invader.
While Setsuna's not really concerned at the moment given the back up,
he realizes that, as the Exia is now, he's not really suited to dealing with
swarms. Perhaps that's the reason for Tieria's Virtue, now that he thinks
about it. Perhaps if he were here instead... No, he's fine. He could still
definitely handle this himself.
KTS: Sheryl Nome coordinates maneuvers, raising Setsuna F. Seiei's Piloting! KTS: Ruri Hoshino suggests caution, raising Setsuna F. Seiei's Intuition! KTS: Setsuna F. Seiei has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Setsuna F. Seiei targets Kaiju Navi with GN Sword Thrust! KTS: Setsuna F. Seiei has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Kaiju Navi's Beam Wall L1 activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Setsuna F. Seiei's GN Sword Thrust, taking 5760 damage!
KTS: Setsuna F. Seiei has engaged Kaiju Navi!
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
Sheryl's sharp shift from her usual playful self to something more
blunt reminds Lucine of what the similar circumstances she and many others
have had to deal with.
She takes a deep breath. The numbers almost manage to trigger that deep
well of fear within her as well, but the alien signatures signify that these
are Vajra; they have a mind. That's all that's needed, to make the difference
in her mind.
Ruri urges caution, with good reason: no amount of determination can
overcome raw numbers. Dread spikes in her stomach as Lucine spots the
bio-machine gun seconds before it is about to hit. Her instincts fall into
place, but not quickly enough; not with the Dianthus's speed to compliment it.
However, because it's not the Dianthus, it takes the shot, the energy
barrier flickering in to take some of the damage.
< "... Right behind you, Hikaru." > Lucine's video feed shows the clear
determination in her eyes, directed sharply ahead. < ".... We'll get those
people out, no matter what. We know what they're feeling right now... and
we're in a position to stop it." > A barrage of bullets fire out as Hikaru
charges, Lucine backing her partner up. < "... Setsuna. How are things
looking, on your end? And Liam, is your unit holding up?" >
KTS: Lucine Azul targets Kaiju Navi with Gun Pod Barrage! KTS: Lucine Azul has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Lucine Azul's Gun Pod Barrage, taking 5460 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
Alto can't help but choke in surprise as Sheryl just up and asks the
Exia Gundam's pilot if he's BRAINWASHED. Who asks something like that!? Just
out of the blue? Alto doesn't actually say anything about it though as he's
more focused on what Sheryl says next, "I don't like this..." And sure enough,
he pilots his Messiah into the larger bay to reveal what Sheryl had detected.
He only has a few moments though, before the Heavy Soldier opens fire. Alto
raises the shield on his VF's arm, pinpoint barrier activating to block much
of the shots. He was preparing to fire back when Liam raises a good point.
They need to be careful with that array.
Thankfully, Emalya, Sheryl and Ruri have them covered. With their
support, it becomes a lot easier to target the Vajra while avoiding the more
delicate parts of the comms array.
Liam charges the bigger Heavy Soldier, lashing out with his electrified
cable. The weapon strikes the Vajra hard, sending it flying into one of the
nearby walls. Though it seems that the electrical charge didn't have as much
effect as he might have hoped. Apparently the Vajra have some resistance to
that, too! But that's okay, because Liam is not alone!
Physical attacks still prove effective, as Hikaru shows. Her knife
stabbing repeatedly into a number of the smaller Vajra, seeking out openings
in their carapace that might look to be weak points.
Seeing Hikaru's efforts paying off, Alto decides to join in. Stowing
his gunpod, he draws the combat knife from his machine's shield and charges in
behind the Aestivalis pilot, stabbing at the Vajra to much the same effect.
Setsuna clearly follows suit, sending one of his beam blades flying
into the Heavy Soldier, using the opening created by Liam. Setsuna than
pierces the large creature with an equally large blade, causing it to flail
for a few moments before going still. A couple of the smaller Mobile Soldiers
rush Setsuna from behind-
-Only for the bullets from Lucine's gunpod to rip through them, sending
alien bloody flying and their corpses floating into the bay wall.
<"This is the SDFN-4 Global, lead vessel of the 117th Research Fleet.
We have come under significant attack from hostile alien creatures called the
Vajra in the orbit of Gallia IV. They are tearing the fleet apart and we
require emergency assistance from any nearby vessels! All attempts to escape
are being met with destruction. Please... Help us!">
"The future, th- -----, ---- ---- ----'re frozen
"Even if --- -- a dark rain
"---- ----- -- ---- I want to cry, -- ---- ----
"----- --- ------, ---- ----- ------ -- ---- -nto the stars."
As the remaining Vajra are quickly killed off, the distress signal is
coming in strong now. Strong enough that the Nadesico is able to trace the
source to the fold comms array itself. Turns out this is not a local signal.
Which makes sense, given the content. Though said content also raises more
questions. For one thing, its metadata indicates that, as some have hinted at,
it's an old transmission. Getting close to twenty years old. Has it really
been looping for that long? Or is something else going on? The fact that it's
still going suggests there's SOMETHING out there sending it. Plus, as far as
anyone here knows, the Vajra were first encountered barely 18 months ago, when
they attacked the Galaxy and Frontier fleets during their return trips to
Earth. The fate of the former still unknown.
With all those questions, there are still more. As the distress signal
comes in stronger with the Vajra deaths, the signal of Ranka's concert fades.
As do the fold distortions that the Nadesico is picking up. But thankfully,
its little operator has had enough time to tune in the Nadesico's sensors and
trace them.
KTS: Kaiju Navi's Vajra Heavy Soldier has been disabled.
<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.
"Triangulation complete," Ruri reports. "Several fold distortions
detected. One location is near you. I'm transmitting it now," she adds, as she
presses her hands to the console, and distributes the data to the away team.
"A dozen more signals are erupting over the Earth Sphere. There's also a
smaller fold distortion located in the Edgen space colony."
What those signals mean --
Well, that's for them to decide. Ruri dwells in data more than its
interpretation.
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
As Ruri transmits the location of the distortions here in the immediate
area, it's easy to narrow down. As the group are already there. Specifically,
the signal appears centered on the organic mass attached to the center of the
array. The Vajra nest.
<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.
"<Not anymore? ...Well, that's a relief,>" Sheryl tells Setsuna, and to
her own surprise, there is genuine relief there. Setsuna's deadpan,
no-nonsense demeanor is weirdly endearing--no, not weirdly, she suddenly
realizes; he reminds her not just of Rikka but of Brera. She shakes her head,
smiling despite herself. It's not even like that was what made her like Brera
in the first place.
For now, she tells Setsuna, "<Then I'm glad you got away from that,
whatever it was. Make sure you take care of yourself from now on!>" And she'll
leave it at that. At the end of a day, she doesn't know him, and he doesn't
know her, and she said what she wanted to say. That's good enough. (It doesn't
occur to her that asking someone if they're brainwashed is itself invasive.
Not even when Alto chokes at it.)
"Me neither," she tells Alto instead, tone turning grim. "If this is
anything like what happened back then..."
She doesn't say the rest. She doesn't need to. The fight isn't going
badly, at least; Liam takes to her commands quite well, and Sheryl smiles.
...but once again, it doesn't last.
The distress signal finally comes in loud and excruciatingly clear.
Gallia IV and the 117th Research Fleet ring a bell in the distant dark of her
mind, and Sheryl's eyebrows furrow. As she concentrates, though, she finds
herself softly singing along with the other transmission, filling in the
song where it blanks out:
"<Even if I'm in a dark rain, lala lalalala lalala...>"
The Pink Supernova might be an excellent combatant nickname, but for
right now, Sheryl Nome is still very much the Galactic Fairy.
And on the Nadesico, Grace smiles too, arms folded and light glinting
off the lenses of her glasses, as she listens to Ruri and the ancient
transmission both. Now all that's left is to let everyone mop up the Vajra
vermin.
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
< ".... The electrical signals must be affected by the carapace..." >
Lucine quietly observes, as the first round is resolved. She opens her mouth
to say something else, but is interrupted by the next transmission. < "...
That one came through alright... maybe the static is lightening up..." >
However, the signal coming from Ranka's concert is still disjointed. < "...
Maybe there's still interferance in that direction." >
Lucine, not as quick to understand the reasons why, doesn't realize the
true reasons. Besides, the more important thing is...
< ".... The Vajra.... nest...? This... can't be real..." > Her heart
calls out to Sheryl, singing softly over their radio feed.
Are they coming to claim Earth as their next conquest?
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
<poem>
The Global... The 117th Research Fleet...
These are names Alto is somewhat familiar with. The Global was one of the early Macross designs based upon the first such vessel. Anyone even vaguely familiar with Macross ships would be aware of this. The 117th Research Fleet... That's likely a name less known. And one Alto wasn't particularly aware of... Until more recently.
Alto frowns. This can't be a coincidence...
Regardless. They still have one more thing to deal with. With the distress signal received, they have all the information they're going to get from it.
The Messiah transforms into GERWALK mode, freeing the way for its wing-mounted missiles. A pair fire off, streaking through the bay towards the comms array and the nest attached to it. The missiles explode, the nest engulfed by them and burned away. The array is rendered inoperable in the process, but there was no choice.
They couldn't let those eggs hatch. Which just makes the information of the traced fold distortions even more troubling.