Mission 032 - Love on the Battlefield

[srwu_mods]

Wyvernpies (02:43:46): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYn2Q-kVNAk
Wyvernpies (02:45:13): A short while ago, the ESUN received word of another attack by the Anti-Earth Gebians. Their target: a city in Greece.
Wyvernpies (02:46:15): ESUN command's trying to process the news as fast as they can while also organizing a team sent to respond.
tengusaur (02:46:39): Hetepheres: "The attack was not detected in advance? This can only mean..."
Wyvernpies (02:46:44): Dirchs: "A full-blown blitzkreig..."
tengusaur (02:46:50): Hetepheres: "Get the Scaraber ready. At once!"
Wyvernpies (02:47:18): Roland: "And... no. The forces stationed there received no kind of early alert!"
Wyvernpies (02:48:40): Dirchs: "You know who's behind this then, General?"
tengusaur (02:48:59): Hetepheres: "I have my suspicion."
Meraxa (02:50:05): Ataru: Please tell me that the ability to get right past every warning system we have is rare for your people.
Wyvernpies (02:50:08): Dirchs: "Well, travel time to Sparta will be short, so if there's anything important you think might make a difference, we have a limited window to hear it in."
tengusaur (02:50:13): At that moment, she receives the message that Scaraber is ready for combat, so she turns around and heads for it, not waiting for anyone.
tengusaur (02:50:49): Hetepheres: "No, it is not a common ability. Only one certain commander knows how to do this."
tengusaur (02:51:29): Hetepheres: "She is an expert at fast attack operations like this."
Meraxa (02:52:24): Ataru: Right. Best to keep her from leaving then. Don't want her getting a second chance. Or for anyone else to get ideas...
griefgathering (02:52:36): Seta: "...I am ready to move as well." Even though the previous mission was taxing on the mind.
Wyvernpies (02:52:56): With time of the essence, the rest of you are more or less hustled into get situated and on the shuttle being prepped for the trip to Greece.
cubey@aol.pl (02:53:39): Look who is also on the shuttle.
cubey@aol.pl (02:53:43): Ren: "Hello."
tengusaur (02:53:47): Hetepheres: "...We need to deploy immediately. Any units that are ready for combat right now have to be enough."
cubey@aol.pl (02:53:52): "It's my first deployment."
tengusaur (02:54:16): Hetepheres: "...Good that you are immortal."
VJockey (02:54:26): [There's a soft, frightened gulp next to Ren.]
griefgathering (02:54:30): Seta: "She is...?"
Wyvernpies (02:54:41): Roland: "Right... though we'll get a second team ready... just in case of emergencies."
VJockey (02:54:51): [Volya is there as well. Any units ready for combat, like Heph said.]
griefgathering (02:54:52): Yes, going to call you a she, Ren.
cubey@aol.pl (02:54:53): Ren: "Not immortal. I am sure I will die one day. Just... not now."
Wyvernpies (02:54:58): Once everyone's situated, the shuttle blasts off.
tengusaur (02:55:16): Hetepheres: "Please do. There is no guarantee anything will be left by the time they arrive, but it is good to have backup."
Meraxa (02:55:29): Ataru: Just consider it more time to mature with age.
Wyvernpies (02:56:55): The flight to Greece is rocky; the shuttle pilot pushing the vessel's engines about as hard as he can for better or worse. The occasional news update you receive about how the attack continues don't do anything to lighten the mood either.
Wyvernpies (02:57:58): But it's when you finally are in visual of Sparta that you can get the full picture of what's happening there. What's nearly done with happening there.
Wyvernpies (02:59:38): There's dead in the streets, militia and proper soldiers on foot firing everything from rifles to explosives at the attackers. Buildings just completely smashed apart, and a Gebian attack force there that's still in the process of mopping up a few persistant -but impotent- Genoaces.
VJockey (02:59:51): "...This is..."
griefgathering (02:59:57): Seta: "..."
tengusaur (03:00:19): Well, as soon as they reach this, Scaraber jumps out of the shuttle, its insectoid wings spreading!
Wyvernpies (03:00:27): The beetle-like Levies are present in large numbers too... but there's four unfamiliar machines present too.
tengusaur (03:00:32): Hetepheres: "We're moving in. There is no time to waste."
Meraxa (03:00:41): Ataru: ...This is the exact kind of thing we've prevented from happening in the last...
griefgathering (03:01:09): Seta: "Understood."
VJockey (03:01:21): [Well horror doesn't cut it, Volya just looks like he could pass out in shock at any moment as he breaks out in a cold sweat. But either way... He rushes to Interitus, nearly tripping in his haste and soon the plant beast rushes out of the Shuttle.]
Wyvernpies (03:01:55): Three of which are identitical, with forms similar to humans and insects, with a slew of insectlike-wings, multiple arms, and staves as well... in addition to the golden color of Noble Barriers.
cubey@aol.pl (03:01:57): Ren: "No. This is terrible."
cubey@aol.pl (03:02:32): The horned person's voice shakes with some hesitation. But only for a moment.
cubey@aol.pl (03:02:56): Ren: "Ren Ubuntu, launching! Please don't be afraid anymore. It will be alright now."
Wyvernpies (03:03:29): But the last was unique. A mantis-like machine, with armor in places that almost made it resemble a belly dancer... and a silver Noble Barrier active as well.
cubey@aol.pl (03:03:41): The Huckebein mk II M leaves the shuttle. Look, Ren managed to find a unit with horns to ride. Kinda.
Wyvernpies (03:03:46): And your arrival does not go unnoticed.
tengusaur (03:04:02): Scaraber lands heavily among some rubble.
tengusaur (03:04:41): Hetepheres: "...General Mukantagara."
Wyvernpies (03:05:40): [Hetepheres] In fact, the mantis machine turns to face you almost immediately! "General Hetepheres!" declares a feminine voice from the machine. The words are practically spat out, the mantis robot pointing its staff at the Scaraber and letting loose an energy beam at it!
Wyvernpies (03:05:45): (React: Heph)
Wyvernpies (03:06:12): (Lineup: Seta, Volya, Ren, Ataru, Heph)
tengusaur (03:06:28): Scaraber is protected by a gold, anti-physical barrier right now, but Hetepheres defends in another way - by firing a laser from her own staff to counter the enemy beam! +
cubey@aol.pl (03:06:43): Ren: "Volya, can you hear me?"
Wyvernpies (03:06:51): (Enemies: Levies x 40, Guardians x 3, Mantilani (piloted by General Mukantagara))
griefgathering (03:06:59): As usual, Seta deploys on foot, both to conserve her Craft's operating time and her confidence. But this time she's in her normal white battle dress.
VJockey (03:07:26): "Y...yes!"
Wyvernpies (03:07:35): [Heph] The two beams collide, canceling each other out before Mukantagara breaks off the attack and regroups with her forces...
tengusaur (03:07:37): Hetepheres: "What do you think you are doing here, Mukan? Last time I checked, you were stationed at the defensive fleet, protecting Geb from alien attackers!"
Wyvernpies (03:07:54): Mukantagara: "Here to slaughter more of your own-"
cubey@aol.pl (03:08:02): Ren: "Don't be afraid. You're not alone - there's me, and everyone. But most importantly... you have Interitus."
Wyvernpies (03:08:06): "Don't... use that name."
Wyvernpies (03:08:13): (Seta, Volya, Ren)
cubey@aol.pl (03:08:17): Ren: "Please trust him. You could never wish for a better companion."
VJockey (03:08:18): "R...Right..."
VJockey (03:08:25): "Not alone.."
cubey@aol.pl (03:09:00): The Huckebein lands on the ruined street, its halo giving the mass produced Real Trooper an unearthly look.
tengusaur (03:09:22): Hetepheres: "...Mukan, this is madness. Is this why you joined the military? Are you that easily swayed by the AEP rhetorics?"
Meraxa (03:09:43): Gold Four, emerging from the shuttle, tries to land gently on a raised bit of landscape.
cubey@aol.pl (03:10:01): "And, there we go..." *Red grabs for the mech's G-Revolver. Huckebein moves in forward and starts shooting, firing careful rounds at round backs of the Levies.+
cubey@aol.pl (03:10:06): *Ren
Wyvernpies (03:10:12): Mukantagara: "I came because the AEP recognized that my skills are wasted by being idle on Geb... That I can see to a quick conquest of Earth and minimize the casualties of our own people."
Wyvernpies (03:10:35): "And even now... you keep using that name. Like you think that we could go back to that time...!"
tengusaur (03:10:40): Hetepheres: "At the cost of Earthling casualties?"
VJockey (03:10:49): *Interitus crouched down, the eyes that lurked within its shoulder armor seemed to dart around at the sight of the levies before it swung its hands forward and lashed out with its vines at multiple levies, seeking to drain them of enough of their energy to force them to flee!+
cubey@aol.pl (03:11:07): Ren: "It sounds like the two of you have history together."
Wyvernpies (03:11:18): Mukantagara: "Better them than us."
Meraxa (03:12:18): Ataru: What about some interstellar love and cooperation? Would be a nice change of pace...
griefgathering (03:12:37): Seta: *"Craft Ignite- Partial. Code: Judgement!" A pair of disembodied hands focuses large amounts of electricity into the guns Seta is wielding on foot, and she takes aim at some of the Levies. The bullets fired may look normal, but each will explode into chains of lightning upon impact!+
VJockey (03:13:09): "But that isn't fair! W.. who... who gets to decide whose life means more?!"
tengusaur (03:13:14): Hetepheres: "This is not what I told you."
cubey@aol.pl (03:13:53): Ren: "I agree. People of Earth and Geb are not too different from each other. The bodies may differ, but we are all sentient people, capable of love and caring."
Wyvernpies (03:13:58): [Ren] The G-Revolver shots connect with three of the Levies' backs, smashing into their insides and causing the machines to plummet to the ground and crash. Others still are moving in though, laser cannons firing at the Huckebein to put an end to it like they have to the other pilots who fought and died against them!
Wyvernpies (03:14:01): (React: Ren)
cubey@aol.pl (03:15:21): *Huckebein swerves towards a side alley, hiding behind a building with the firearm held high in both hands.+
Wyvernpies (03:15:29): Mukantagara: "And what would you tell me, General? Yours would be the words of a traitor! How many Gebians have you killed since you chose humans -aliens!- over us... even over me."
Wyvernpies (03:15:50): "How many Gebians have to die before you realize what you're doing is wrong?"
tengusaur (03:16:00): Hetepheres: "...Is that really what you think, Mukan?"
Meraxa (03:16:35): Ataru: You're the one launching an unprovoked invasion on our homeworld! We can't even find yours in the Hubble Telescope!
Wyvernpies (03:17:31): [Volya] The vines surge out, piercing through two of the Levies and beginning to suck them dry. But one of the Guardians charges in to run interferance, holding its spear in the machine's four arms before slashing apart the vines and then turning the weapon on Interitus!
Wyvernpies (03:17:34): (React: Volya)
cubey@aol.pl (03:17:34): Ren: "Do you only care about Gebian lives? What about the Earthlings?"
Wyvernpies (03:17:49): Mukantagara: "You're delusiona, General Hetepheres."
Wyvernpies (03:17:57): "The fact you keep using that name is proof of it."
Wyvernpies (03:17:59): ^delusional
tengusaur (03:18:21): Hetepheres: "...Very well..."
VJockey (03:18:37): "GAAH!"
tengusaur (03:18:46): Hetepheres: "Everyone. Engage all the enemy forces in order to stop them from destroying the city, but try to focus your attacks on the enemy commander."
tengusaur (03:18:56): Hetepheres: "They should retreat... When she is dead."
Meraxa (03:19:13): #Volya
tengusaur (03:19:30): Hetepheres: "Pay attention to the color of the Noble Barriers Mantilani and the Guardians have. Golden protects against physical damage, silver against energy."
griefgathering (03:20:12): Seta: "...Y...Yes, General."
Wyvernpies (03:20:13): [Seta] More of the Levies are blown apart from the power of your Craft... but you shouldn't get complacent! Others bank and begin to charge, opening fire one the inviting target of your human form... and another Guardian is moving to intervene as well... but instead of getting right in your face with its spear, it spins the weapon around to fire an energy beam at you instead!
Wyvernpies (03:20:17): (React: Seta)
cubey@aol.pl (03:20:23): Ren: "Do you want to kill her? Is that your wish, Hetepheres? It looks like you know each other."
Wyvernpies (03:20:24): (Just as a quick reminder too:
Wyvernpies (03:20:33): (Guardians have golden barriers right now. Mukantagara has silver.)
cubey@aol.pl (03:20:41): # Seta
tengusaur (03:20:51): Hetepheres: "Look how many Earthlings died around us already. Who do you think is responsible?"
Wyvernpies (03:20:54): (Let me resolve your reaction first)
VJockey (03:21:26): *Yeah that stung, Volya backs away as best as he could but he didn't even and fend off the spear with Interitus' shortsword he couldn't do anything to the Guardian at all-... then Interitus let out a growl. Something... it wanted Volya to trust it... and so he did... a pulse ran through the plant creature as the eyes on its shoulder glowed brightly and lashed out at the assaulting Guardian with viridian green lasers! All that energy it drained had to go somewhere.+
VJockey (03:21:35): "Y...you could do that?!"
VJockey (03:21:44): "Tbbttthhhtt.."
Wyvernpies (03:21:50): [Ren] The Huckebein gets grazed by some of the shots, but it does manage to get to cover. The Levies that attacked previously break off to regroup.
Wyvernpies (03:22:03): (Alright, now Ren can support defend)
VJockey (03:22:05): "Well it IS kind of important to know that you could shoot eye lasers!"
cubey@aol.pl (03:22:58): Ren: "Unless there is no other option, I hope to save everyone!"
griefgathering (03:23:07): Seta: "Ah!" *Despite being partially summoned, Judgement calls forth and twirls its polearm overhead to generate a whirling barrier of electricity to defend against the attacks!+
Wyvernpies (03:23:07): Mukantagara: "If not us, then any number of other threats."
Meraxa (03:23:23): Ataru: Ask it if it has any other powers that might be useful!
Wyvernpies (03:23:27): "Ones that won't stop once they've asserted control over the planet."
cubey@aol.pl (03:24:02): *As Ren is exclaiming this, the Huckebein moves out of its hiding spot and charges the Guardian that shoots at Seta, to tackle it and disrupt its aim.+
Wyvernpies (03:25:51): [Volya] The Guardian's assault is not one that's easily repelled, and Interitus gets slashed along one of its arms before its eye beams are fired out, striking the Gebian machine and cutting through the side of its neck. The Guardian stumbles back, clearly damaged but not out of the fight yet!
VJockey (03:26:22): "Interitus... we're going to need to do that again soon.."
Wyvernpies (03:26:25): (Ataru can continue if he wishes)
VJockey (03:26:30): "Tbttttht"
VJockey (03:26:43): "Wait- what do you mean we don't have enough energy-... oh.."
VJockey (03:26:54): "Oh.... no."
Meraxa (03:27:39): Ataru: Headshot. *And Ataru pulls the trigger, aiming for just that. Who builds cockpits into the head, right?+
Wyvernpies (03:28:27): (Ataru can also take his actual turn, as can Kakizaki and Heph)
Meraxa (03:30:15): Ataru subsequently turns, trying to pick out targets... and finds them in the form of Levies, trying to pick off a group with more headshots!+
Wyvernpies (03:30:47): [Ren and Seta] The Levies' laser cannons are warded off by the electric spin-shield Judgement provides! The Guardian's cannon is another story though, pushing back the weapon and causing the shield to begin tilting and leaving an opening in Seta's defenses! Ren moves to help out... but against the golden Noble Barrier of the Guardian she's at best a momentary distraction that the Guardian swats away with its staff... which at the very least takes the heat off of Seta!
tengusaur (03:31:18): * Hetepheres: "You listened too much to your father. You let the words of that man poison you!" Scaraber rushes forward, drawing all four blades at once! The insectoid machine spins once at the end of the charge, cutting into Mantilani with all khopeshes in quick succession, then strikes with two blades from each side in a double X-cut! +
tengusaur (03:31:31): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-aexLJKwME
griefgathering (03:31:35): Seta: "...Ren! Are you alright?"
tengusaur (03:31:38): Hetepheres: "But today, I will stop it."
cubey@aol.pl (03:32:12): Ren: "Yes! Thank you... I need to talk less, it really is unprofessional, isn't it?"
cubey@aol.pl (03:32:34): The Huckebein digs its feet in to try to stop before it crashes into buildings.
griefgathering (03:33:34): Seta: "It is alright, thank you for your help...!" *Enthusiastic waving.*
cubey@aol.pl (03:34:07): Ren: "Ah, that's good!" The Huckebein waves back.
Wyvernpies (03:34:39): [Ataru] The Guardian gets its head blown off by Ataru's precise shot, the machine falling on its back... but still getting up again. It's not really seeming super-aggressive though. On the other hand the Levies unfortunately don't really have humanoid forms with heads that can be easily shot... but forunately their actual bodies aren't amazingly tough either! More of the beetle-like machines fall!
Wyvernpies (03:35:43): Mukantagara: "You speak of him as if you know him better than I do!"
Fri Freeman (03:35:56): Kakizaki:"Aww... Do you mean I'm unprofessional? " Kakizaki flies above the Levies and strafe them with his gunpod.+
tengusaur (03:36:04): Hetepheres: "I know him well enough."
Meraxa (03:36:29): Ataru: And another one gone... and another one gone... another one bites the dust... *Ataru realises, without his squadmates, he can... lack for banter*
Wyvernpies (03:36:49): Mukantagara: "If you did then you'd be fighting beside me rather than against me."
cubey@aol.pl (03:37:22): Ren: "Can we talk this over? It sounds like words could achieve here a lot. Please."
tengusaur (03:37:50): Hetepheres: "No. It is too late for words. And Mukan... was always stubborn."
VJockey (03:38:04): "What Ren said! Please! I don't want anyone else to die here!"
Wyvernpies (03:38:14): [Hetepheres] The Mantilani responds by charging at the Scaraber as well, scythe-like claws on its wrists moving to stop the khopesh slashes as it flicks one of its hands... a whip it's holding letting loose a burst of electricity at the Scaraber!
Wyvernpies (03:38:20): (React: Hetepheres)
Wyvernpies (03:39:08): [Kakizaki] As the VF-1 performs its attack run, one of the Levies is shot apart but others bank to one side or the other... also letting their guns be angled up high enough to return fire at the machine!
Wyvernpies (03:39:17): (React: Kakizaki)
Fri Freeman (03:39:39): Kakizaki: "You sounds like you know her very well, general."
Wyvernpies (03:40:10): Mukantagara: "Talk is for the politicians. Not soldiers."
Fri Freeman (03:40:14): Kakizaki:"Hey, I thought beetles can't see up! That's why I attacked from above!"
tengusaur (03:40:32): * Too late for words indeed! Hetepheres has no time for talking right now, too busy raising her blades to defend and parry the incoming claw with the upper two, while crossing the lower ones to intercept the incoming electric blast. +
cubey@aol.pl (03:40:36): Ren: "No, talk is for everyone."
Wyvernpies (03:40:46): (Seeta, Volya, and Ren can act)
Meraxa (03:40:54): Ataru: Aren't you technically acting on the behalf of a particular political party...?
cubey@aol.pl (03:40:59): Ren: "And it sounds like you two were very close to each other, so the fact that you fight like this right now is heartbreaking."
Fri Freeman (03:41:29): Kakizaki stops attacking and speed up his VF to get away from the beetle's attack zone.+
tengusaur (03:41:32): Hetepheres: "This is the reality of war. Focus on making sure no more Earthlings die here."
cubey@aol.pl (03:41:52): Ren: "No one will die. I promise."
Fri Freeman (03:41:58): Kakizaki: "I will, general!"
griefgathering (03:42:07): (enemy list update please?)
cubey@aol.pl (03:42:11): (What barrier does Mantilani have?)
VJockey (03:42:56): (Silver i think, it hasn't changed)
Wyvernpies (03:43:17): [Hetepheres] Your blades manage to guard you against Mukantagara's own attacks... but as you continue the exchange your barriers begin changing... the Scaraber with a silver one and the Mantilani with a gold! And with no protection against physical attacks now, the Scaraber suddenly gets a leg ensnared by the Mantilani's whip! One tug later and the Scaraber falls!"
Wyvernpies (03:43:40): (Enemies: Levies x 29, Guardians x 3 (1 damaged), Mantilani (Mukantagara))
VJockey (03:43:46): "!!"
Wyvernpies (03:43:50): (Guardians have silver barriers now, Mantilani has gold)
Wyvernpies (03:44:13): Mukantagara: "Just like its pilot, your machine is weakest on its back!"
Wyvernpies (03:44:23): And the Mantilani stabs down with its claws!
Meraxa (03:44:26): Ataru: ...Did they all just...? Are they in sync?
Wyvernpies (03:44:28): (React again: Hetepheres)
cubey@aol.pl (03:44:41): *Huckebein draws a long rifle from an overhead holster.
tengusaur (03:44:41): Hetepheres: "Exploiting my weakness like this... You really are not a general for nothing, Mukan!"
cubey@aol.pl (03:44:47): # Heph (also combining with my own action)
Wyvernpies (03:45:07): (Go for it)
cubey@aol.pl (03:45:48): *The Real Trooper holds it one-handed, with Ren aiming in intense concentration... fire! A photon energy blast shoots at one of Mantilani's armed limbs!+
Wyvernpies (03:45:52): [Kakizaki] Prioritizing safety over additional kills is the right course of action in this situation, Kakizaki. The VF gets away just as the space it was occupying gets filled with laser fire.
tengusaur (03:46:02): * Hetepheres tries to make Scaraber get up on its feet, but so far, she's only struggling uselessly! The mech kinda looks like a beetle turned upside down like this, too... The most she can do is bring those swords up for a defensive barrier of blades again. +
VJockey (03:48:22): *Lacking enough energy to be able to take on the Mantilani with anything not resembling panicked flailing, Volya continues to fight the Guardians. Lashing out with the vines once more in hopes to get enough power to support Hetepheres from it!+
Wyvernpies (03:48:43): [Hetepheres and Ren] The khopeshes lock with the Mantilani's claws, but without any real ability to make use of the Scaraber's mass the Mantilani is overpowering it! At least until Ren's snipe-shot blasts one of the Gebian machine's limbs, causing the machine to be knocked back!"
griefgathering (03:49:05): *Someone has to take some of the pressure off Heph, so from her current position, Seta aims at Mantilani and fires several solid rounds - this time with her handguns in actual Craft size. The trick here though, just like the previous shots, is that they start out physical, but explode into lightning upon contact!+
tengusaur (03:49:40): Hetepheres: "As much as I hate to admit it... I need help getting up."
Wyvernpies (03:49:41): Mukantagara: "An Earthling to the rescue... possibly having them at your back and ca-ah!"
cubey@aol.pl (03:50:02): Ren: "Please get up Hetepheres! The battlefield is not a place to be lying on your back helplessly."
tengusaur (03:50:03): Hetepheres: "Your support is appreciated."
tengusaur (03:50:36): Scaraber is still just kinda struggling there. Can't do much to get up on its own.
Wyvernpies (03:50:48): [Ren cont. and Seta] Mukantagara's villainous comment gets cut short by the surprise lightning shocks that bypass her anti-physical barrier! But the machine is far from beaten as its whip begins to swirl rapidly, almost hypnotically... a powerful electrical current building up inside of it before it's fired out at the two of you in retaliation!
Wyvernpies (03:50:53): (React: Seta and Ren)
cubey@aol.pl (03:52:00): Ren: "The Huckebein is an easily available, mass produced unit, yes?"
Wyvernpies (03:52:41): [Volya] The previously decapitated Guardian is easy prey for Interitus... at least at first. The machine is totally caught by surprise, its body beginning to shudder and have difficulty moving... but suddenly Interitus comes under fire from a number of the Levies... vengeful for their comrades and swarming the plant-thing like, well, like a bunch of bugs!
Wyvernpies (03:52:43): (React: Volya)
Wyvernpies (03:52:56): (Ataru, Kakizaki, and Hetepheres can act)
Meraxa (03:52:57): Ataru: ...You're not gonna be like that idiot who broke units repeatedly are you?
griefgathering (03:53:00): Seta: "...!" *In response, Judgement lashes out with its lance! Seta isn't hoping to cancel out the current, but to absorb it for later use.+
cubey@aol.pl (03:53:07): Ren: "Umm."
griefgathering (03:53:31): (Derp, polearm I mean)
cubey@aol.pl (03:53:36): *Huckebein leaps to the skies - and also forward, trying to avoid the electric attack mid-air, but if it hits then so be it.
cubey@aol.pl (03:53:56): *Ren's priority is to get to the Scaraber on the double, and give it a push from behind.+
tengusaur (03:54:17): # Ren
Wyvernpies (03:54:31): (Approved)
tengusaur (03:55:21): * As soon as Scaraber is up on its feet, Hetepheres is going to use its silver barrier to protect against the incoming energy current - both Ren and herself! +
Meraxa (03:55:31): Ataru: Right, so with silver now gold... *Ataru's primary armament is an energy weapon, so his target set has had to shift. He lines up Mukan's unit... and goes for the headshot!+
Wyvernpies (03:57:15): [Seta] Judgement meets the Gebian electricity! And the results... aren't exactly ideal. The electricity isn't quite like the kind that Judgement deals with, so there's a lot of bleed-off and damage to the Craft's limbs... but you still do manage to draw in a healthy quantity of it!
VJockey (03:58:41): *Well crap! There's honestly no way Interitus could fend this off could it? Well... that was kind of wrong. Vines across Interitus' body wriggled and detatched before launching out at rapid speeds! If they could absorb energy... perhaps they could weaken the beams before they get fried, and maybe some of the vines that get through can hit the Levies firing them!+
Wyvernpies (03:58:59): [Hetepheres and Ren] The Huckebein does not reach the Scaraber unscathed... and several of the electrical blasts do manage to shock the machine, shorting out or breaking terminals and damaging motors. But there's enough momentum and life in the Real Trooper left to reach Hetepheres and help get the machine back up... and from that point on you're safe thanks to the silver Noble Barrier.
Fri Freeman (03:59:32): Kakizaki: "Stop bullying the general, will you?" Kakizaki flies low, transform into gerwalk mode, and launches a swarm of missiles toward the Mantilani while circling around it.+
cubey@aol.pl (04:00:55): Ren: "There you go." Click, click - time to turn several non-essential and fried components off.
tengusaur (04:01:06): * Hetepheres: "Thank you for your help. Now, let us continue." Scaraber takes off to the skies, aiming its staff, the end of which starts to glow, before a flurry of rapid fire lasers fires from it at targets below! One of them is Mantilani, but only a few shots fly in that direction - most are directed at the nearby Levies. +
cubey@aol.pl (04:01:18): Ren: "It looks like my risky maneuver paid off." They actually sound a bit sheepish admitting that.
griefgathering (04:02:33): Seta: "Ah...please hang in there...!" Said to her Craft.
tengusaur (04:02:40): Hetepheres: "You brought your men here only to find death, Mukan. Those are the only results of this war - lots of dead Earthlings and Gebians."
Wyvernpies (04:03:15): [Ataru and Kakizaki] The Mantilani reacts quickly to your joined attacks! "Bullying and exploiting the weaknesses of just one Gebian... and yet you don't care whatsoever when she does that to your enemies!" The mantis machine, surprisingly, is incredibly nimble, and as the VF tries to fly circles around her, the Mantilani manages to keep up with you with ease! Its scepter swings out, striking the VF-1 and knocking it to the ground, and from its end another energy blast is fired straight at Gold-4, overpowering the ASHBM's own shot and surging straight on back towards it! To finish off Kakizaki, Mukantagara slashes down with one of the Mantilani's other claws!
Wyvernpies (04:03:30): (React: Ataru and Kakizaki)
cubey@aol.pl (04:03:46): Ren: "You are really a hypocrite."
griefgathering (04:03:55): #Kakizaki?
Wyvernpies (04:04:05): (Approved)
cubey@aol.pl (04:05:18): Ren: "I am sorry but your view on things is self-centered and immature. You continue to hurt everyone, even people who were supposed to be dear to you. I won't let you do that anymore."
Meraxa (04:05:25): Ataru: Whoa! *An advantage of starting from a raised point? Down is always a convenient direction to try and slip out to+
Wyvernpies (04:06:20): [Volya] It's an awkward, desperate tactic, let me tell you that. The power of the beams are absorbed as they span the distance from the Levies to Interitus itself. Its vines take the worst of it, but Interitus still gets hit quite a bit before it finally manages to burst free from the enclosed circle, taking Levies down with it in the process.
griefgathering (04:06:32): Seta: "Please watch out!" *Seeing the damage that Gebian electricity did, Seta doesn't want to keep it for too long. She takes aim, this time with the pole arm, and unleashes a return blast of electric current at Mukantagara's machine. It won't be a particularly strong blast, but she hopes to repel or knock Mantilani's claw off-course!+
Wyvernpies (04:07:17): [Ataru] Fortunately down is a very good way to go right now. Gold-4 slips down under Mukantagara's shot to safety below.
VJockey (04:11:07): [Volya is shaking from this that much is certain. That battering hurt quite a bit.]
Wyvernpies (04:11:10): [Hetepheres and Seta] Hetepheres's beam shots do manage to connect with more of the Levies, and between her own shots and Seta's electric blast, the Mantilani is knocked away from Kakizaki! But do not be too quick to forget about other targs though Hetepheres, as the Scaraber is stabbed from behind by one of the Guardians and hoisted into the air... up high enough that the other intact Guardian can hurl its spear at your machine!
Wyvernpies (04:11:14): (React: Hetepheres)
griefgathering (04:12:46): Seta: "General!"
tengusaur (04:13:08): * Hetepheres starts spinning her staff quickly, using it as a shield to intercept the incoming spear! But she uses only two of Scaraber's hands to do that... Because the other two turn the blades they're holding backwards, and then stab back right at the Guardian behind her, with full force! +
tengusaur (04:13:21): Hetepheres: "Do not worry for me... I can still fight."
cubey@aol.pl (04:13:26): Ren: "Ah."
Wyvernpies (04:13:38): Mukantagara: "The AEP does not strive towards pointless death, General Hetepheres! The battles against the Earthlings serve as a means to an end, of a strengthened Geb that has long-since needed to bring the Earthlings under its control!"
Fri Freeman (04:13:54): Kakizaki: "Uh oh. At these time I wish VF can split instead of transform..." Pinned, nothing much that Kakizaki can do. He picks his gunpod from underneath of his gerwalk and tries to parry the khopesh with it.+
tengusaur (04:14:23): (claw)
tengusaur (04:14:34): (Scaraber has khopeshes, Mantilani has claws)
Meraxa (04:14:37): Ataru: We didn't even know you existed till this year! There is no need here!
tengusaur (04:15:03): Hetepheres: "Spare me this propaganda, Mukan. I know well what the goals of the AEP are."
Wyvernpies (04:15:06): [Hetepheres] The spear's knocked away in time, and fortunately before the other Guardian can inflict more damage your swords stab into its body! It drops its spear and stumbles back, letting you land back on the ground (and fortunately on your back).
VJockey (04:15:10): #Kakizaki?
Wyvernpies (04:15:39): (He's already gotten legit or de facto supports from Seta and Heph)
VJockey (04:15:46): (ah okay)
Wyvernpies (04:16:10): ^letting you land back on the ground (and fortunately on your feet))
Wyvernpies (04:16:34): Mukantagara: "You know and yet you fail to understand the sound logic behind them!"
Wyvernpies (04:16:47): The barriers shift once more
Wyvernpies (04:17:21): [Kakizaki] Fortunately Seta and Heph helped knock the Mantilani away from you, so your Gunpod doesn't get completely trashed in defending you from the claw.
Wyvernpies (04:17:39): (Enemies: Levies x 21, Guardians x 3 (2 damaged), Mantilani (somewhat damaged)
Meraxa (04:17:43): Ataru: The logic in that damn tape of Randy's was more sound than you are!
cubey@aol.pl (04:18:02): Ren: "Oh, what are you talking about?"
tengusaur (04:18:11): Hetepheres: "You mistake cold hate for logic, Mukan. Like many of our people, unfortunately."
griefgathering (04:18:25): Seta: "Controlling others with strength, is not right..."
Wyvernpies (04:18:28): (Guardians and Scaraber have gold barriers, Mantilani has silver)
Meraxa (04:18:39): Ataru: ...Nothing. Forget I ever brought it up.
Wyvernpies (04:18:44): (Ren, Volya, Seta)
cubey@aol.pl (04:19:22): Ren: "Huh?" Confused.
cubey@aol.pl (04:19:40): "Anyway, I just said something big, but it looks like I won't be able to back it up that easily..."
cubey@aol.pl (04:19:49): (Barrier status?)
tengusaur (04:20:04): (Guardians and Scaraber have gold barriers, Mantilani has silver)
cubey@aol.pl (04:20:41): *The Huckebein shakily turns towards the Guardians that attacked Hetepheres. It draws and activates a beam saber, holding it in front of the unit, ready to parry.
cubey@aol.pl (04:21:17): *Then Ren charges forward, slicing up at the damaged Guardian in a beam-uppercut!&
Wyvernpies (04:23:34): [Ren] The Huckebein's energy blade passes through the Noble Barrier, adding a gigantic vertical scar on the Gebian machine's body! It stumbles, falling back and down on its knees... but it also grabs the other spear! The one its comrade threw at the Scaraber... and slashes at the Huckebein with both of the weapons together!
Wyvernpies (04:23:38): (React: Hetepheres)
Wyvernpies (04:23:47): ^(React: Ren)
Wyvernpies (04:23:52): (Sorry about that)
griefgathering (04:24:04): Seta: *"I will try to keep the others' attention off you as well, General...!" The immediate area around Judgement is suddenly filled with eight blades made purely of lightning - scimitars, to be exact. The scimitars spin in place, before flying out at different angles to strike the nearest Guardian!+
cubey@aol.pl (04:24:11): Ren: "Ugh..."
tengusaur (04:24:42): # Ren
griefgathering (04:24:57): (Sorry for lateness, terlet break)
Wyvernpies (04:25:05): (It's cool)
Wyvernpies (04:25:11): (And Heph can support defend)
cubey@aol.pl (04:25:28): *The Huckebein's hand shoots out, trying to grab the spears just as they attack. And then Ren brings the blade down - on the weapons, and the enemy unit!+
Wyvernpies (04:26:26): [Seta] The nearest Guardian being the one that was already damaged thanks to Ataru and Volya... and the blinded, weakened machine is no match for that kind of serious overkill! The Guardian falls and explodes... taking with it part of an already-trashed building.
tengusaur (04:26:29): * Hetepheres rushes in, bringing all four of her swords down on the spears being stabbed! A burst of energy emanates from Scaraber to accompany this strike, making it especially forceful and the blades especially sharp! +
tengusaur (04:26:36): Hetepheres: "Scarab Power!"
tengusaur (04:27:20): Hetepheres: "You should have stayed on Geb..."
Wyvernpies (04:27:45): Mukantagara: "And you should have never left to warn the Earthlings."
VJockey (04:28:00): *Well in this situation Volya isn't sure what to do, everyone and everything's really turning into a flurry of activity in which he could barely even keep up with! He wasn't a soldier so.... he was going to help out someone who was... Kakizaki! Incoming energy boost for you!+
Wyvernpies (04:28:28): [Hetepheres and Ren] The Huckebein's hand gets smashed and impaled by those thrusting spears, but it still helps slow them down long enough for the Scaraber to arrive and parry the spears. The beam saber stabs through the center of the Guardian aftewards, putting an end to the Gebian war machine!
tengusaur (04:29:28): Hetepheres: "No, Mukan. I made many mistakes in the past... Mistakes you are free to hate me for. But this was not one of them."
Wyvernpies (04:30:31): [Volya and Kakizaki] Indeed incoming energy boost! Power pours into the VF-1, charging up all of its systems to the absolute peak! A shame that pinpoint barrier tech hasn't been scaled-down to fit on VFs yet...
Wyvernpies (04:30:41): (Ataru, Kakizaki, and Hetepheres)
Meraxa (04:31:10): (Enemy count? )
Wyvernpies (04:31:43): (Enemies: Levies x 21, Guardian x 1, Mantilani (somewhat damaged))
Meraxa (04:32:52): Ataru: Gotta thin the crowd some more... *Ataru has Gold Four traverising the streets, trying to pick off Levies at a distance where he finds them+
Wyvernpies (04:35:25): [Ataru] Gold-4 weaves through the streets and alleys, shots connecting with Levies one after another... though you're not the only one taking aim during all of this! Gold-4 comes under fire from behind by another pair of Levies, one targeting your machine while the other shoots up part of the building you're up against so the rubble coming raining down on your machine!
Wyvernpies (04:35:28): (React: Ataru)
Wyvernpies (04:35:41): (As mentioned before, the Guardian has a golden barrier, Mantilani has a silver one)
Fri Freeman (04:35:42): Kakizaki: "Awesome, what did you just do, kid? Or is this my real power? Have I just powered myself up now, like the main character I am?"
cubey@aol.pl (04:36:23): # Ataru
Wyvernpies (04:36:37): (Approved)
cubey@aol.pl (04:36:54): *Huckebein rushes to the shot up building, to hold the rubble up before it can fall.+
VJockey (04:37:10): "Its just something my partner can do..."
Fri Freeman (04:37:38): Kakizaki's VF transform into battroid mode, and start running on the street gunning every levies it can find+
Meraxa (04:37:55): Ataru: Why you...! *Ataru lets loose a few missiles to try and take out the sudden Levies, trying to back away as he does so+
Wyvernpies (04:41:14): [Ren, Kakizaki, and Ataru] Gold-4 gets shot up a bit from the Levies before its missiles manage to catch one of them... the other just being blown to smithereens by faster-than-usual fire from Kakizaki's VF! Unfortunately, getting struck like that costs Ataru precious fractions of a second... seconds that Ren makes up for him by stopping a large girder from crashing down onto Gold-4... at the cost of her own machine being smashed into the ground under it. Oh well, she'll survive. And in the meantime Kakizaki continues tearing up the streets, gunpod firing and blowing away Levy after Levy... for all of about 12 seconds.
tengusaur (04:41:21): Hetepheres: "Mukan... General Mukantagara, if you prefer. Change your mind about this. Do you really want to die, and bring so many to death before you? Retreat, or surrender."
tengusaur (04:41:23): * Scaraber lands and digs its feet into the ground in a stable position. Hetepheres aims the insectoid mecha's staff, held by all four hands - her target is Mantilabi. Energy focuses at its end, and then a large, bright and continuous laser fires straight at the opposing general!&
tengusaur (04:41:28): Hetepheres: "...Plese."
Wyvernpies (04:41:28): After that, the VF's gunpod just makes a clicking noise when the trigger's pulled.
tengusaur (04:41:31): *Please
Wyvernpies (04:41:45): Interitus might've charged up its power, but physical ammunition doesn't abruptly pop out of the ether!
VJockey (04:43:05): .
cubey@aol.pl (04:43:13): Ren: "Ow. Ow. Ow."
cubey@aol.pl (04:43:54): The Huckebein does not have the strength to lift itself up from under the rubble.
griefgathering (04:44:07): Seta: "...Is everyone alright?" Kinda focused on what is going on with Heph now.
Meraxa (04:44:36): Ataru: Ren, you alright?! *Gold Four turns around, its pilot realising the favour done. Here's hoping one arm is good for shovelling¤
Wyvernpies (04:44:40): [Hetepheres] "Finally calling me that... but you still insist on fighting against your own people! Fighting against me even...!" The Mantilani readies its own staff and opens fire on the Scaraber in retaliation, the beams crashing against each other with neither one seeming to gain an edge! "I should have just faced facts when I first heard you were siding with the Earthlings: you're insane! I don't know how or when or under what circumstances..."
Meraxa (04:44:41): **
cubey@aol.pl (04:45:02): Ren: "It hurts a little, but don't worry." A quick reassurance.
Wyvernpies (04:45:22): "But I refuse to retreat in the face of a fallen general!"
Wyvernpies (04:45:29): (Hetepheres: continue)
tengusaur (04:46:16): * Hetepheres keeps on pressing her beam, slowly increasing its power, just enough to keep her opponent in check... She's mentally counting down in her mind for the right moment...
tengusaur (04:46:18): Is it now?
Wyvernpies (04:46:27): Yes.
Wyvernpies (04:46:29): Yes it is.
Wyvernpies (04:46:59): Right on schedule, the noble barriers of the Scaraber, Mantilani, and the remaining Guardian shift again.
Wyvernpies (04:47:06): Silver for Scaraber and the Guardian, gold for the Mantilani.
Wyvernpies (04:47:16): But what difference does that make when your attacks are dead even?
tengusaur (04:47:33): Hetepheres: "...I see. I am sorry. I know you will not believe me, but all this time... I always loved you." And as soon as the barriers change, she puts full power into the beam, intensifying it to its full Scarab Power strength! +
cubey@aol.pl (04:48:06): Ren: "Hetepheres..."
griefgathering (04:48:13): Seta notes the barrier color change. "....That's..."
Wyvernpies (04:51:05): [Hetepheres] At once the equality between the two staff beams ceases. The Scaraber's beam blasts through the Mantilani's own with shocking abruptness... striking the Mantilani dead-on!
Wyvernpies (04:51:35): The Mantilani is blown backwards and into the air, a pained cry coming from inside of it before it shifts into a single word.
Wyvernpies (04:51:57): "-Mooooooooooooooooom!"
VJockey (04:52:24): "!!!!!!!!!!"
VJockey (04:52:32): [Volya just froze at that.]
Wyvernpies (04:52:37): The Mantilani explodes, General Mukantagara departing from the world of the living...
VJockey (04:52:46): "That..."
VJockey (04:52:46): "She..."
VJockey (04:52:52): "She was your..."
Meraxa (04:53:09): Ataru: ...W-What...
tengusaur (04:53:14): A single item is thrown away from the explosion. Scaraber approaches it slowly, then picks it up. It's Mantilani's whip, coiled at the moment.
tengusaur (04:53:20): Hetepheres: "Yes."
tengusaur (04:53:31): Hetepheres: "...She was."
tengusaur (04:53:42): Scaraber then turns towards the rest of Gebian forces.
VJockey (04:53:46): "I..."
VJockey (04:53:53): "Did it have to end like this..."
cubey@aol.pl (04:54:02): There is very poignant silence from Huckebein's cockpit.
Wyvernpies (04:54:06): Said Gebian forces are few in number now...
griefgathering (04:54:10): Seta: "..."
Wyvernpies (04:54:43): Just staring at what just happened before abruptly retreating... their genius blitzkreig general gone.
VJockey (04:55:44): [Interitus lets out a plaintive whine towards Hetepheres, approaching the Scaraber meaningfully.]
Wyvernpies (04:55:57): Not long afterwards, a Gebian transport ship rises up out of the distance before continuing that retreat with the survivors in tow.
tengusaur (04:56:25): Hetepheres: "They are escaping. There is nothing left for us here."
Fri Freeman (04:56:28): Kakizaki:"Wh... what..."
Meraxa (04:56:55): Ataru: ...I hope... she hasn't just become a martyr for their cause...
Wyvernpies (04:56:57): Much of Sparta lies in ruins around you... but the death toll and destruction would have been all the greater if you weren't there.
tengusaur (04:57:07): Hetepheres: "...Let us go back to the base." Scaraber turns around and starts walking towards the shuttle. And maybe it's because it's damaged, but it looks like it's carrying a heavy burden.
Wyvernpies (04:57:10): MISSION
cubey@aol.pl (04:57:11): Ren: "Are you alright with this?"
Wyvernpies (04:57:13): ACCOMPLISHED
tengusaur (04:57:37): No response from the Gebian general.