2011-01-06 - Join Hands

CHERNOBYL, UKRAINE

No one really knows what happened here. It's a prehistoric curiosity, a veritable Springfield Mystery Spot of our time. Chernobyl seethes with unusual activity the likes of which is usually only seen in Siberia. People grow wrong in this place. The water burns flesh. No one's really sure why.

There are theories, of course -- with any true causes being lost to history and hysteria, there can only be theories. Some people say that it was the site of a great war in the time before Gundams, and that the land never recovered from those grievous wounds. Some people conjecture that it was cursed by gypsies, before the Great Gypsy Influenza send their Rom asses packing to the stars, where they are currently known as 'Spaceknights.' And some people say that it's just flat-out haunted. (A few scientists propose the radical theory that there was some kind of nuclear catastrophe but they are basically shouted down all the time because HOW COULD MANKIND HAVE HAD NUCLEAR POWER SO LONG AGO et cetera).

Zeon, of course, has theories of its own. Sites of great psychic activity or historical psychic advancement -- that's the emerging pattern in Haman Karn's blitzkriegs on Earth. And they say that Chernobyl is a place that breeds Newtypes -- that something in the air does something to the brains of the few who live there.

So an army of Zakus, plus other people who actually have names, plus a bizarre horned unit swoop in from the skies, triggering alarms all over the place. Zeon! On Earth! Again! (The poor Cyber Newtype children at Neo Murasame Labs are /still/ recovering from all that rape!)

And that strange suit... who could be within it?! Is this Haman Karn's latest terrible invention?!

 Mystery EXAM Efreet Pilot says, "Mission objective is to ascertain whether or not a..."

 Mystery EXAM Efreet Pilot pauses for a moment, uncomfortably.

 Samuel Flynn transmits, "...Yeah?"

 Mystery EXAM Efreet Pilot says, "...'magickal psychick temple' exists beneath the earth at coordinates to follow. Combat pilots, we're protecting the Shovel Zakus. Which I guess are the... the Zakus with the shovels."

 Samuel Flynn transmits, "Uh... huh. Okay, sure, why not."

 Erika Keese transmits, "Magical psychic temple...?"

 Mystery EXAM Efreet Pilot sighs audibly.

 Suriel Misaki transmits, "And you people call ME crazy."

Isamu Dyson is in Russia having illegal sex with prostitutes.

ROUNDS UNTIL ISAMU DYSON IS 'READY'... 5.

 Mystery EXAM Efreet Pilot says, sounding like he's fighting off a throbbing headache, "Look, I didn't--"

 Haman Karn can somehow be heard despite being silent.

The Zaku army is accompanied by... something that isn't a mobile suit at all, oh no! The smaller form that drops with them from the skies in bronze and dark grey is a BattleMech, though it's a strange design, previously unknown to Earth. It lowers to the ground on shoulder- and leg-mounted jumpjets, descending gradually until it touches down and starts running with the mobile suits above. Sensors become even more unreliable as it does; it's ECM package is among the best the Inner Sphere can produce, and they've gotten good at electronic warfare.

The Dola runs across the poisoned ground. Inside it's cockpit, Samuel Flynn winces as the sound of a geiger counter tick-tick-ticking away is audible to his ears. "Well, glad this thing's plenty shielded," he mutters. "Now lets see who comes to throw a wrench into the works /this/ time." He takes the controls, and the Dola readies it's...

...big knife?

 Mystery EXAM Efreet Pilot says, "--that is, uh, I'm pretty sure the Feds will be on us quickly, so let's just... be... quick."

 Samuel Flynn transmits, "Uh, right. Right! Quick."

 Samuel Flynn transmits, "So are we, uh, are we digging randomly, oooor do we have some likely spots?"

 Mystery EXAM Efreet Pilot says, "Transmitting coordinates of likely sites. The Zakus are gonna handle the worst of the excavation, we just need to make sure they have time to work. But, um, I guess a little-- do you guys hear that?"

 Samuel Flynn transmits, "Cool, got it--uh..."

 Mystery EXAM Efreet Pilot says, "No, seriously, who's doing that?" There is no apparent noise that he's reacting to.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn, who hears completely different voices, "Nnnno?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn jokes, "But maybe it's the ghosts that haunt this place, huh?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Amenthes isn't awake - it's not her."

Truth be told, with the exception of a few people within their ranks, Erika has been feeling more and more... distanced from Zeon proper. Their actions have become increasingly more irratic and extreme and it is becoming clear as daylight that all the higher ups within it's ranks care about is blind vengance against the Earth even if it costs them everything. None the less, she is here as a representative of the Oldsmobile Army, aka 'Mars Zeon', which is hilariously the less extreme of the bunch despite being both derived from Zeon (which is insane) and being nextdoor neighbors with BAHRAM (which is also insane). With a heavy thud, her blue and purple ReFined Gouf hits terra firma and sraightens up, it's single monoeye sweeping across the landscape. "Seriously...? We're coming all the way out here for this...?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Erika Keese transmits, "I don't hear anything..."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Erika Keese transmits, "I don't hear anything..."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Mystery EXAM Efreet Pilot says, "There's no -- such thing as ghosts, or my name isn't Nimbus Scherzen."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Well if we're looking for a, uh, magic psychic temple or something... anyway, it's probably just radio feedback or something."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Nimbus Scherzen coughs. "Probably."

MEANWHILE, 20 MINUTES AGO

Amuro Ray sneaks out of one of his villas, pulling on his Karaba ARMY jacket and slipping some aviators over his eyes, to hide the bruised look of sleeplessness. Behind him, Beltorchika turns over in her sleep, where her arm falls over another figure in the bed. It looks like Amuro managed to sort out that mess from the report to everyone's satisfaction.

Just as he reaches the Benz in the lot, his SPACE ALARM goes off. Grunting in surprise, he looks down at his Haro watch, which is displaying the coordinates of the atmospheric breach. Unscheduled atmospheric breach. The Newtype pokes at the projected holoscreen. "Enhance," he commands, and a satellite image fizzles in. He taps a section of the screen again. "Enhance."

Zeon.

With smouldering eyes, he dashes away from the Benz and gets into his second most-expensive ride. Seconds later, it blasts off into the skies over REDACTED and towards Chernobyl.

NOW!

The pink and white Waverider screams down from the atmosphere towards the Zeonic incursion. Immediately, two Shovel Zakus point towards the encroaching ace, and in almost the same instant they explode. It doesn't even look like Amuro fired a laser. They just explode from his mere presence.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Haman Karn transmits, "Nnnnn. I sense -- /him/. Kill him! Kill the White Devil! Spill his blood on the temple's sacred altar!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Haman Karn, it's worth noting, is currently 'out in space.'

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "White Devil? Someone translate this for me..."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn suddenly more worried about, "White Devil? Amuro Ray?!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Erika Keese transmits, "Amuro Ray."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite grumbles. "Great..."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Haman Karn transmits, "DESTROY HIM!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Uhh, yes ma'am!"

MINUTES AGO

The Zeta Plus isn't the only machine approaching! The red form of the Star Hawk's fighter mode also flies through space, preparing for reentry. "Amuro Ray! Are you investigating the breach near Chernobyl too? I'll be honored to fight at your side! I wonder what someone wants with the site of an old nuclear disaster? That's what it was, those who say we didn't have nuclear power back then are silly, the thing is we had _fission_ rather than the much safer fusion, fusion plants don't risk a violent explosion -- well, _normal_ fusion plants, obviously minovsky fusion power plants and some of the other experimental stuff now is riskier, the benefit is that these technologies provide a higher energy density--"

ONE INFODUMP LATER

"--And that's why people will think you're crazy if you babble about oysters for a few minutes! Hey, Zakus!"

The Zakus promptly fail to explode, instead turning and firing at Staren -- his fighter weaves around, and transforms in mid air, landing and beginning to slice up zakus with the hybrid swords. One enterprising Zaku uses the others as a distraction, and empties an entire magazine of machinegun rounds into the Star Hawk's back -- But the Star Hawk doesn't explode that easily, and Staren downs it with some railgun rounds, before turning to look at the more elite machines. The Star Hawk moves naturally, as if it were a giant human, as it looks between them, turning its head slightly. A Gouf, a... it looks kind of like a battlemech but who knows, and some... weird zeonic suit, some sort of custom or experimental unit? "What are you doing here?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Changing my own objective - protecting the Zakus."

How did he get dragged into this again? Oh yes, the higher ups said that to keep good ties with the Zeon army, and to keep proper tabs on them, it was best to send some organizations along with this crazy mission. He'd read the objective a few times now, while he'd laid there with his legs on top of the side console and holding his head up with the opposite arm. "Magical psychic temple?" He could not help but think back of the short time he'd spent in La Gias and the time at the Balmarian's White Star, where they'd hid their shield generator in a temple. "What is it with people and temples these days?" He mutters under his breath and turns his eyes on the 3D map that is being displayed in the middle of the cockpit.

Unlike the others, he was not coming in from orbit. The Orbital Frame was kneeled beneath a camo-net. There was a reason he was a scout for the Divine Crusaders - he managed to get places quick and set up before others. Then suddenly. Radio chatter! And then, on his radar, a giant red marker. Enemy contact. Though Haman Karn had warned him ahead of time that Amuro Ray was coming - he was still surprised when the marker actually appeared on his unit's radar. "How did she do that...?" He whispers. "High probability that the detection of the pilot was caused by NewType abilities." Duat reports.

"So now what?" Well, 'now what' became quite clear the moment miss Karn started yelling over the radio about spilling blood and the death of the 'White Devil'. "Geesh." Ascian complains to Duat. He didn't feel like it. "Fine..." He throws his feet off of the sidepanel and lays his hands lazily on the controls. The red glow that had been so severely dimmed as to remain hidden suddenly bursts to life - bioluminescent lines filling with the Metatron produced energy. The camonetting suddenly disappears as it is literally /sucked/ into the Vector Trap the Amenthes carries.

Right from that moment, its wings spread out - pushing Metatron crystals out from their folds. The same happens at the back of its legs, where it carries a set of much smaller wings. And then! Liftoff! The Amenthes shoots out from a nearby village straight for Staren's Star Hawk, its right arm remaining a hand and the left arm into a rifle - which begins to come aglow at the same time as the hand forms a red orb beneath it... that grows. "Hey you!" Ascian shouts at Staren. "Didn't your momma ever tell you not to railgun things that weren't yours!?" And as he states this he fires a volley of plasma-shots with the rifle that go quite wide - trying to drive his enemy towards himself. Then, the red ball suddenly pulses to life as Amenthes twirls around once and flicks it straight for the Star Hawk.

"Walk in her shoes, Setsuna. See what it's like to have you shouting at her."

That was the advice given to Setsuna F. Seiei when he opted to speak to one of his teammates concerning Risa Pzallon's latest defeat within Gundam Exia. Every time she had fallen in battle, he had shouted the name of his beloved.

His beloved is the Gundam, of course.

Today, rolling into battle within a different mobile suit than his standard fare, Setsuna F. Seiei has opted to take the advice given to him a little too literally. "I'll be there shortly," he announces over the radio as an addition to the 'on-route' he just gave the great veteran Amuro Ray. This thing is fast on its wheels, and it only just now appears as a blip on enemy radar. Those enemies dare carve a distortion into the face of Mother Gaia? He'll carve their carving of a distortion, but good!

Bringing up the machine gun, he begins peppering the far-off Shovel Zaku's with the heavy machine gun of the unit. Most of the ordnance falls into the ground well short, as Setsuna F. Seiei is used to beam weaponry, and not the real thing.

"Huh," he sounds within the cockpit. This is a new experience for him. Perhaps his teammate, perhaps Lockon Stratos, was wise to give him the advice he is taking wrong.

The flashy metatron crystal showoff gets Staren's attention, giving him enough time to take a defensive stance as Ascian shoots at him. Staren transmits his face going :|, and then a middle aged woman appears. "Don't be silly, the entire _point_ of a railgun, or any weapon for that matter, is to use it on other people's things to stop them! Why on earth would I tell him only to use it on his own things?? You might want to rethink some of your mother's sayings!" Staren, meanwhile, charges, in a zig-zag motion to make him harder to shoot, before delivering a couple of swift swings with the beam-edged metal hybrid swords.

Nimbus Scherzen, yet another ace pilot who no one has ever seen do anything until right now, grunts at the controls of the EXAM Efreet. The monstrous, spiked purple unit flies like a dream -- every turn is smooth and precise, acceleration be damned. So why does he feel so anxious controlling it -- why is he feeling like he's at the wheel of a flying brick?

A flying brick, that is, not a flying Brick. If that boy had wings, man, watch out.

But enough metacommentary! Shovel Zakus dig and dig, using Neo Shovels, which are shovels powered by Minovsky particles or something. It makes digging fun! And efficient. And deadly.

Still, orders are orders, and the current set are: Kill Amuro Ray! "The White Devil..." Nimbus Scherzen, a non-Newtype, murmurs. So why does his Efreet broadcast such strong newtype energy?! Why is the aura so foreign and hard to get a bead on?! And why is it shooting at Amuro right the f now?!?!?!?!?

Guarding Shovel Zakus and seeking some kind of 'magic psychic temple' while they get both haunted /and/ attacked by Katharon. Why, this is just turning out to be a remarkably interesting day. Sam sighs, wincing at the sheer intensity (and volume) of Haman Karn's demands as they come through his radio. He snaps off a quick response in the affirmative and mutes it momentarily. "Geez. Crazy Newtypes give me the creeps..."

Sam turns when one of the Shovel Zakus reports that there is some maniac with a machine gun coming at it. He looks a little confused and follows the trail of dust and dirt that gets kicked up by the weapon, eventually settling on a... mech with rollerblades. "Is that a Maganac? Huh. Cool."

He can appreciate the machine later. The BattleMech moves to intercept it, rounding the Shovel Zaku squad and letting loose with a couple of shots from the light 'Mech's medium lasers, the green beams sizzling as they strike dust and through the sparse clouds. It's only a Maganac; it shouldn't be too much of a problem, right?

Why do people keep trying to use logic on his jokes. Didn't they learn to just go along with it? Curse them! Ascian is too busy twitching his right eye to really react properly to the fact that this dude was suddenly coming for him! Of course, he really should have expected that. Why does he keep getting distracted anyhow. "WARNING!" Duat warns him of the fact that a set of swords are aimed at Amenthes. Sword-no-swiping! Sword-no-swiping! Damnit! The swords swiped! Quite accurately at that, as the hybrid weapons lash into his unit's torso - scraping away the Armor Plating and scarrings its exoskeleton.

"Why you..." - "Why are you getting angry? That was your own fault." Duat comments. "Shut up!" Ascian retorts. Nosy artificial intelligence. What was that thing talking back to him for anyhow? And more importantly. SINCE when did it start talking back to him? No matter. He had a battle ahead of him. And that meant he had to concentrate. "Get back here!" He turns the Amenthes around and forces his will into the machine once more - increasing its velocity and quickly rushing for the Star Hawk with one hand forwards, a purple electric crackle forming around it. He was going to GRAB and ELECTRICUTE! Who-ever was in there, better hope their cockpit was well insulated! "Are you really that dumb!?" He finally calls out at the girl who'd replied to him within that machine.

TEN MINUTES AGO

Amuro Ray is flying through the sky when Staren Wiremu drops in beside him in the Star Hawk. He acknowledges the younger pilot with a grunt, and then Staren starts talking at him. He grunts again.

NINE MINUTES AND 50 SECONDS AGO

Amuro Ray mutes Staren's audio stream but continues to nod every once in a while to keep up appearances.

NOW!

The new Zeon unit is already giving Amuro Ray a headache, and he doesn't like that. He likes even less that it seems to be coming after him, but it IS his job to save the day and fight the unknown after all. It's difficult to get a reading on the pilot-- he can't really predict where the machine is going to be, as he normally can.

The grenade slams into the Waverider with nearly no notice. Amuro growls, firing the head vulcans from beneath the fuselage of the mobile armor in retaliation-- and to try and herd the strange new robot into position for what's coming next.

The pink Zeta Gundam 3A (the A is for Amuro) transforms as it touches down, rolling to take a knee and whipping out its heavy beam rifle all in one fluid motion.

The White Devil doesn't even aim; he just fires directly at the spot where the Mystery Machine SHOULD be. With his instincts betraying him, he has to rely on that 'skill' thing.

"I don't know how she does this," laments Setsuna F. Seiei as he continues the assault on the enemy Zakus. That is, he continues to fire his gun, endlessly in fact, to the point where he draws the attention of one of their guardians; a BattleMech, no less. The approaching laser fire draws a leveling of the machine gun. Seiei pulls the trigger. He's given a resounding click-click-click sound. The clip is empty.

"Shit," the Gundam Meister is too used to advanced weaponry. He moves the hand of the mobile suit, ejecting the clip, even as the laser fire rips into the chassis of the suit. Smoking holes are left in the wake of the impact, which the Meister does not like. "It's been too long. I'm out of touch with basic weaponry. And roller-skates."

Shifting on the skates, the Maganac strafes to one side -- and then begins a perilous, but rather graceful looking skate forward, aiming to close the gap with the Dola. The heat blade of the unit comes up, aiming forward, as the pilot within directs the mobile suit into a jumping leap to evade close-range fire -- and ideally slam the blade right into the BattleMech's torso!

Shovel Zakus dig for victory while, on a different route toward victory, the EXAM Efreet gets shot in its big purple tummy.

"ARRRRGHH!" cries Nimbus Scherzen.

"AIIIIIIEEEE!" screams another female voice in the cockpit.

The Efreet breaks off its attack for a moment, because seriously, what the hell. "The White Devil -- using his tricks on me," Nimbus mutters, beginning to sweat profusely, staining the pits of his flight suit and making the whole cockpit reek. "I won't give in to his games!"

The EXAM Efreet roars to life, coming in hot and fast, because this is a hot mission. Its dual heat sabers spark into existence, and it brings both up toward Amuro in a sweeping slash, like Baraka from Mortal Kombat, but cool.

Staren, ever a smartass, when confronted with what he percieved to be a rather stupid (when thought about) comment, actually forwarded it to his mom, and forwarded her reply. That's not obvious?

Staren rolls his eyes. "No, but apparently you are." Why yes, the Star Hawk _is_ designed to direct electrical attacks into the ground rather than into the cockpit. Seriously, who _wouldn't_ electrically isolate the cockpit?

Staren uses the distraction of getting hit to lift his missile launcher to the orbital frame's face, hotloading them with a thought, and then fires.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "How're you keeping up there, Flynn?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Well enough I guess--this guy's not bad, but it's gonna take more than that! Any progress on the digging yet?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "No clue. This guy is keeping me quite busy."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Nimbus Scherzen says, "Looks like they're breaking through the first layers on the main site... I think-- ugh, the White Devil is playing tricks on my mind!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Concentrate! A Newtype can only mess with your head as much as you let 'em; you'll be fine!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Samuel? Ehhh..."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Not really true..."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Sometimes, you simply have no way to resist."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Look, I know what I'm talking about, alright? Kinda my specialty."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Fine fine. Then teach me how to resist."

Closing the distance between the Dola and the Rollerblader is really not a problem; the Dola is fast, but it's still a BattleMech, which means it's ground-bound and not prone to outrunning a mobile suit even on a good day. Instead, it fires again, a laser passing the Maganac as it gracefully gets right up in it's face by /leaping/.

"What the hell is he /doing/," Sam utters, puzzled when the blade hits the dead center of the Dola. The 'Mech's reverse jointed legs bend and it ducks lower, the big blade in it's right hand suddenly humming to life. He slashes at the Maganac and falls back as he does, keeping the vibroblade between him and it even as the gash right below the cockpit sparks and hisses.

"Must be better in melee--" The Dola circles and then lunges, long steps bringing it and it's vibroblade in. He thrusts the blade right for the center of the enemy mech, and then ducks low, stepping around to the side of the enemy machine. He brings the blade down and sweeps it back up again, driving the weapon in for one of the mech's leg joints and then trying to break away.

It would work better if he was faster, but you take what you've got.

The strange mobile suit leaps at the Zeta Gundam with blazing blades, reeking of confusion, hatred and fear. That much is overpowering enough to break through the-- whatever it is blocking Amuro from the pilot's feelings. The swords flash and spark, but the White Devil is not there any more.

Instead, he is below the Zeon machine, doing a power slide under the swords. Pink blades snap out from hilts ejected into each of its own hands, and swing around towards the enemy robot's legs like a comically oversized pair of novelty scissors.

There's something about this mobile suit-- something itching through Amuro Ray's mental defenses, scratching at the back of his mind like a cat who woke you up at 4:03 AM insisting to be let out, and now it's 4:10 AM and the stupid cat has realised that it's raining outside and that it doesn't like the rain and it wants back in so it keeps scratching at the door and scratching and scratching and you have a pillow over your head but you just CAN'T SHUT IT OUT OH MY GOD.

Darn! The electrical hold doesn't trigger properly, and he notices - by the way the Star Hawk continues to move - that it didn't hit the cockpit. "Tssk. Jerk." He pushes for his unit to speed away again, only to have the rocket shot from his opponent's unit clip one of the sharp blades on his unit and cause the early explosion to rock the Orbital Frame out of the way. He swings the unit about so that he can still face the enemy unit and quickly darts his gaze over the status of the Amenthes. "This is not looking good. Time to up the ante!"

Upping the ante comes in the form of seperating the wings, a dozen a bits all together combined, that quickly rush to the side of the frame and show their little red dots at their tips. Unlike funnels, these things don't really stray from the Amenthes much. Duat is guiding them, whilst keeping track of god-knows how many other things on the unit. There was no way it'd be able to handle that.

What it can handle though, is warping space and spray physics-defying laserbeams! The red hot lasers burst fromt he homing beam array and randomly zig-zag about, moving past Star Hawk - or moving straight at the unit, each at a nearly randomly process... until they have the unit surrounded and all close in on it! "Great comeback. Really. Is 'no, you' the best you can think of?" Ascian calls out towards Staren. Kids. Why was he even lowering himself to their level?

Closing the gap proves easy enough thanks to that leap. The blade of the Maganac sinks in, but not deep enough for Seiei's liking. There's /resistance/ and it is awful, whereas with his particle-lined blades used by his Gundam, slicing through enemies is as easy as a hot knife through butter. "This isn't to my liking," he mutters within the cockpit, as thanks to the aforementioned resistance he cannot pull free and dash away -- the immediate reprisal proves swift, scoring a heavy gouge across the front of the Rollerblader.

It's a gouge that's compounded, as the vibroblade thrusts for the chest of the Maganac. Twisting, it expands the initial damage into a full-out cross mark, twin lacerations crossing one another.

Sent staggering backwards as a result, the pilot can only watch as the BattleMech seizes the opportunity, aiming that blade again to cripple a leg-joint and reduce the mobility of the mobile suit. It'd just be a suit, if that happened! "No way!" Seiei shouts his defiance, kicking the knee up, knocking the blade aside. The Dola moves back, but it's fighting a mech with wheels.

And they're made for both walking, skating and kicking. "I don't why you're doing it, but I'll stop you from digging that hole!" Setsuna F. Seiei declares, par for the course as far as Celestial Being's thoroughness in research has been as of late. Taking two skates forward to gain distance on the Dola, he sends the unit into another leap -- and aims one of those bladed feet right for the back of the torso unit!

Ken Marinaris had picked up there was an attack as AI informed her of the situation. The Ardjet would be picked up comming in at high speed any sensor pack could pick it up she's not hiding anything or running her stealth systems she's hoping to get their attentions away. She has no idea what the zeeks are after just yet really.

She's just here to deal with them.

"Katharon units detected."

"We're focusing on the zeeks for now."

"Roger!" Erika would then find her self comming under fire from Ken. Several laser blasts are sent her way and the fast martian machine which she should know is comming right at her.

Nimbus Scherzen grits his teeth and prays that his impending death at the hands of the White Devil is at least a brave one. But suddenly, he's alive! The EXAM Efreet, which just a moment ago felt sluggish -- like a wet sponge -- has suddenly lashed him out of the way of Amuro's assault, but sent a speedy karate kick out besides. The heat sabers get tabled, and the Efreet whirls around in the air.

"I -- I think I'm getting the hang of this," Nimbus says, smiling cruelly. Below him, Shovel Zakus continue to dig and mine. The ground occasionally rumbles from their evil work.

"I see him moving, almost too fast for the naked eye to register -- but the targeting system is barely having a problem keeping up with him... incredible!" Nimbus brings a missile to bear, watching the icon on his little screen stay fixed on Amuro effortlessly. Then he fires!

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Damn. The traitor is here..."

Waaahnanananana! Alarms go off in Erika's mobile suit as the Ardjet is detected making a beeline for her position, but Erika is already moving thanks in part to the sudden appearance of Katharon. Her eyes quickly glance around, first at the gathered soldiers of the AEUG then at the lone A-Law Orbital Frame on app-- Wait, Orbital Frame? The RF Gouf leaps forward and tucks in it's shoulder as it rolls, diging behind a rock formation as the weaving lasers bury into it. A moment later, the Gouf pops up out of cover and unleashes two quick shots from it's beam rifle. "Tch, must be the Ardjet, unless the A-Laws have somehow managed to start making their own OFs."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Erika Keese transmits, "I see her!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Take her down! Katharon already got their hands on Metatron. It's time we take it out of the hands of the A-LAWS."

Staren finds himself swarmed with lasers at close range! Ity's all he can do to keep them from striking anything vital -- still, the Star Hawk's armor plating is criscrossed with lines of slag. "What's it matter? Do you really care what I say? Are you going to talk if I ask you why you're here??" Staren tries to press the attack and put Ascian on the defensive, _staying_ close and in the DC pilot's face, and continuing to slash and stab with the hybrid swords, if he can keep Ascian pressured maybe he can come up with a better tactic!

Resistance is something Sam is used to by now, using physical blades. While he likes the smoother cut of a beam saber or a monosword, this is doing just fine. The vibroblade cuts armor like it was casually slicing up a loaf of bread, but it can't get nearly as neat a slice with someone who apparently knows what they're doing at the controls over there. He leaves two gashes, goes for the third, and then keeps going, breaking off--

Another leap! The Dola puts both hands on the hilt of the vibroblade and crouches, the cockpit's display filling with the oncoming foot of the Maganac. Flynn looks straight at it like a deer in headlights for what feels like a very long moment (and, incidentally, now knows how the rollerblades work on something that big, too).

/Then/ it moves. The Dola runs right forward, diving under it and stabbing upwards with the blade in a two-handed grip. The Dola slides through the dirt a short ways and comes to a halt, the BattleMech clamboring back to it's feet and turning around again, releasing the blade with it's left hand.

"Sorry, I'm not letting you stop us!" Sam suddenly shouts. "Haman Karn ordered it be done--" The Dola's jumpjets fire and it takes to the air. The 'Mech approaches in it's own leaping lunge, holding the blade out one-handed as it rockets at the Maganac like... well, like Setsuna, actually.

"--and sorry but I'm a lot more scared of /her/ than of /you/!"

Ironically, a dumb rocket would had had a better shot at tagging Amuro Ray than the homing missile. The homing missile means he gets a lock warning on his HUD, giving him (comparably) plenty of time to reorient his perceptions towards the attack. The missile swoops in towards the mobile suit, and the mobile suit reacts. Gears grind and fire flares from the flared ankle cowls of the Gundam.

And it does a totally sweet cartwheel. The missile passes cleanly between its thighs like a blind man getting scammed by a prostitute, and detonates fruitlessly into the hard earth, also like a blind man getting scammed by a prostitute.

The cartwheel finishes, and the Zeta thrusts into the air like Superman, ejecting a pair of rocket-propelled grenades from its wrists. They're the non-homing kind, so he has to rely on his aim and his abilities here. Simultaneously, he transmits a message towards the enemy pilot.

"Something's wrong with your machine," he declares. "You should probably get out before I finish destroying it."

"Sure! Why not? It's not like I have anything better to do." Ascian really couldn't care less. "We're digging stuff from out of the ground. And while you are here fighting me, the nice little Zakus down there are excavating... god knows what." Ascian replies over the Radio. "I'm really not that bad of a guy." He then adds onto that. He kinda was though. And whilst he speaks, Ascian tries his best to keep up with Staren's - clearly more superior - techniques. That, or he just isn't feeling it this battle. The latter /is/ the more likely one, with how he just feels like he is getting dragged into useless scuffles by his superiors.

"Now can you PLEASE..." His words are cut off as the swords ring off of Amenthes' one arm - and then eventually manage to STAB through its Torso. A painful ring suddenly rushes through his body, causing his voice to stagger painfully. "GET OUT OF MY WAY!" Okay, now he's getting pissy. He raises the Amenthes' rifle up as he begins to fall towards the ground - wings still not reformed - and starts just shooting bursts of plasma at his enemy - hoping that he'll hit something important. But, important to note is perhaps that he is aiming away from the cockpit!

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite hisses in pain over the radio.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "What just happened down there!?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Shit!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Erika Keese transmits, "what the-- that light!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Haman Karn transmits, "Yes -- YES!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Haman Karn transmits, "Hold that position! Do not let the Federation get that land!"

"What?!"

It's the demand of a Gundam Meister who is used to a much more agile, much more adept machine than something cobbled together by a kid who went 'daddy, daddy, you should put roller blades on it!' at her mobile suit designing father. That man's name will go down in infamy as--

"What?!" Seiei demands, as the Dola not only ducks, but provides that upwards thrust which totally upsets the rocking rhythms to which a rollerblading mobile suit operates. It's upended, flipping through the air to land in a marvelous heap, complete with yet another impact gouge to the chassis.

It's as the unit slippery-skates back to its feet that the final strike comes. Taking a page right out of the Seiei Handbook, between the pages of 'Attack 4: Scream While Stabbing' and 'Attack 6: Stab While Screaming,' the Dola makes that lunging leap--

--and buries the blade right to the hilt, in the upper torso of the Maganac. The force of the blow is such that the mobile suit slips on its wheels, the blade coming up and exiting through the right shoulder.

Landing on its back, the Maganac sparkles with rampant electricity, on the verge of detonation no doubt, as system failure flares all about. Best to escape before it explodes!

Seiei does just that, opening the cockpit and running for the nearest safety point. "I've rolled a mile in her shoes. She may be the master of the rollerblades, but I am a Gundam! This is the last time I pilot something else!"

Until he needs another life lesson, anyway.

The Maganac explodes in a shower of wheels and roller derby music!

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Maganac down! Ascian, Keese, Scherzen, how're you holding up?!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Not good..."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Something just... doesn't feel right."

Ken Marinaris is fast, she fires off a missile at Erika if there was any doubt about who it was? the WISP answers it pretty clearly it's Ardjet all right and it's comming in fast, she doesn't say a thing over the radio, what is there to say to the DC after all at this point? She evades the incomming fire and keeps on going at quite high speed,. She keeps an eye on the machines here, things will likely get bad once the DC is dealt with, after all. As for Erika she gets even more WISPs. She pauses picking up the workers. Humm prehaps it's time to deal with them can't let them get whatever are after.

"Radation spike Ken I suggest you don't go out."

"... Why would I!"

Erika gets more WISPs.

The WISp slams right through the rock Erika is using for cover and slams into the chest of the Gouf, staggering it back a step. Erika lets out a curse in response and quickly steadies herself before leaping away from her now useless cover, "Damn!" She quickly snaps up her beam rifle again for another shot. Only to get interupted by the sudden eruption of LIGHT! Oh, and radiation too. Can't forget that. "What the-- that light!" Warnings go off as more WISPs come soaring in and Erika snaps back to the here and now as she launches into the air over the swarming drones, then quickly snaps into a cartwheel to avoid the follow up swarm. "Hold this position she says--" Erika bitches, "Don't let the Federation hold this land she says? Does that woman even care that we're potentially sitting on a giant radioactive dump?" The right arm snaps up and a thin cable ending in a beam cutter launches out, sailing tight towards Ken in an attempt to skewer her and chain her down.

"What the f--" Amuro begins, completely distracted by the nuclear holocause erupting from beneath the Shovel Zakus. He stares at the glowing apocalypse, and at the warning signs springing up all over his HUD. WARNING: DANGEROUS RADIATION LEVELS!

"Good... god...! Who would DO this??" he demands. But his answer is right behind him, raving mad and wielding heat sabers with deadly intent. The increased vibe of the suit gives Amuro something to latch on to, at least-- and his attention is pulled away from the glowing death by a sudden NEWTYPE FLASH streaking across his mind. "Ggh--!" he gasps, slapping at the heat sabers with one of his beam sabers, succeeding only in avoiding total annihilation. The blades still carve a nasty gash across the white and pink armor of the suit, and 1.5 hip/crotch flaps fall right off, exposing the robo-groin.

The White Devil is angry now. He is angry because /someone/ (Haman Karn) has unleashed Earth-raping radiation from god knows where. And this thing-- this abominable machine-- seems almost as bad. Clearly its pilot has been twisted, corrupted by some new system or program of the Queen of Space.

The ponderous Hyper Mega Launcher comes out, and fires-- but that beam stops short and becomes a massive blade sprouting from the ungainly weapon. With a demonic roar, the Hero of the One Year War swings the great bayonet straight towards the Efreet's midsection.

It's probably too late for the pilot, anyway.

"Digging here? For what, radioactive soil and rubble?" Staren shakes his head. "If you don't know what they're doing, and you're not such a bad guy, why are you helping them?" Staren dives out of the way of the plasma shots, which hit the ground and the ruins as he runs around, trying to keep to cover, before suddenly _leaping_ up into the air, thrusters propelling him towards the orbital frame! He crosses his swords and swings in an X, followed by a swift kick. "What are you fighting for?"

And that's why Little Setsuna F. Seiei never went out without his Gundam ever again.

Ever.

Sam blinks a couple of times when he realizes that that actually /worked/, the blade wrenching out the shoulder of the Maganac as it crumples to the ground. He pauses a beat and is about to let out a victory whoop when he realizes that it's crackling in a very sort of... iconic, telltale way. It's hard to miss when you've seen it before.

The Dola leaps into the air again, rocketing over the Maganac. It lands on the frozen ground in a crouch, blade out to one side--and then the Maganac Rollerblader explodes! The blast is pretty epic, with the bronze Dola silhouetted nicely in the foreground of the shot. He doesn't look back; after all, cool guys don't look at explosions.

Sam doesn't worry about the pilot. He starts running off to look for Ascian's Amenthes, searching high and low--and finding him up high, engaged with some kind of custom machine. He doesn't even need a second look at it to tell that the Star Hawk is a variable mech of some kind; he identifies a couple of it's weapons immediately, guesses at what kind of power plant it uses, and...

...comes up behind it as it comes up at the Orbital Frame, like some kind of chain of dumb charges. "Ascian, get clear!!" The Dola shoots off the ground in chase of the Star Hawk, swinging both his weapons down to swat the enemy mech out of the sky, continuing to use the Setsuna F. Seiei School of Melee Combat as his guiding star. But wait--

Is that a /tree/ he's swinging?!

<Radio> Tightbeam to Samuel Flynn and Staren Wiremu: Ascian Luddite say, "What... am I fighting for... I don't know."

This wasn't looking good. Ascian's Orbital Frame was not reacting as well as it should at all. Maybe as a cause of him not really feeling this battle. But then, everything today seemed a bit gray to him. Dull. Lifeless. Even the giant spike of radiation which comes from the ground beneath - shown in a nasty green geiger-counter gauge that was starting to go deep into the dark green - simply seemed similarly... uninteresting. Even the bright light from below just could not get him to care. And whilst he did utter having a bad feeling about this operation, the truth was that he'd had that feeling this entire time. Perhaps it was just that Haman Karn was the one running this operation. After all, he'd decided that he /did/ worry about the kids at the Neo Murasame Labs.

And it is that mindset that kind of lets Staren get to him. If he wasn't such a bad guy, why was he helping them? His hands twitch. "I... I don't know!" He replies. "I fight for Mars! I fight to keep Mars from the clutches of the EFA. The only reason I am /here/, /right now/, is because I am a soldier! I follow orders! It's what I do! It's the right thing to do!" Right? Even he doubted those words. But he'd been so indoctorined into the military that he'd blurt such non-sense either way.

And whilst in this state of utter confusion, the young man simply watches as his unit raises its arms, changing into blades and blocks the incoming swords... only to be pushed back with severe ease and RAMMED into the ground beneath. His body shakes as the Orbital Frame meets the rough earth - planting him rather close to the white light and the radiation... but not as close as those Zakus had been... and a red shield immediately goes up as Duat tries its best to protect its runner.

The Hyper Mega Bayonet smashes into the EXAM Efreet's wounded torso and rips out a section of highly irradiated Efreet robo-intestines. The lucky part is, Nimbus Scherzen avoids death. Thankfully, his cockpit is insulated against the radiation. He hopes.

"Need to... get reinforcements... the White Devil... I can hear him screaming in my mind... My thoughts... He... he kind of screams like a girl," Nimbus says, bewildered. "I don't understand..."

Then, suddenly, the EXAM Efreet breaks away and flies off, toward DC Earthbound territory (what little of it exists), abandoning what is essentially 'a Superfund site times twenty.' But Zeon clearly wants something down in that glowing hellmouth...

...so they'll certainly be back.

Tomorrow, in fact.

Ken Marinaris pauses at the light and radation. "You getting this!"

"Yes."

"Good!"

The Ardjet meanwhile evades the incomming cable, just bnarely she brings her machine around. "Really I thought the Oldsmobile army would have sensed the madness."

She pauses as looking at the other machine. "Surrender or run it's your choice."

"Ardjet flag the Katharon units as neutral."

"Setting from green to yellow Ma'me."

Orbital frames... Staren's learned where the cockpit is, so, as the Star Hawk stands over it, he prepares to behead it and disable sensors, hopefully forcing a retreat. "I'm sorry... We can't help mars right now. But is Zeon really helping Mars either? Or are you exchanging one tyrant for anoth--" And then Staren turns towards the battlemech and steps out of the way, slicing one of the trees in half while the other lands a blow less solid than it could have.

Trees?! He's never seen anyone try that before except Marcus... He swipes at it with one sword, more to keep it at bay than as a direct attack. "What about you? What are you here for, what do you hope to do with a bunch of radioactive waste?" And then he dives, slashing at the legs with his swords as he passes, then somersaulting and coming up in a kneeling position and whirling around to stab the 'mech at waist-level... A maneuver like that should be impossible for anything being piloted anything close to battlemech-style -- maybe he's using a trace system?

The RF Gouf comes to a rest as there is a brief lull in the action... then Erika just sighs a bit, "Oh christ. Not this guilt trip bullshit again..." The Gouf takes a moment to put away it's beam rifle as Erika replies, "Marinaris, you should know exactly why I am supporting that woman despite her actions. It's because Mars doesn't have a lot of friends in the world and we need to stay on the good side of what few allies we have or else we're just going to end up under occupation. You fought for Mars. You should know this." The hand pulls out a beam sword that snaps to life as Erika takes it in both hands, "And you should know what my response is to 'standing down', so please, let's skip the usual back and forth over who's the greater evil for a change." The RF Gouf takes three bounding steps forward, then leaps high into the air, it's beam blade raised above it's head as Erika calmly states: "It gets old."

The confused and tormented Efreet pilot pulls out, but Amuro is left feeling troubled and angry. And afraid. Afraid of that radiation leak, and what it could signify... but it's not something he's equipped to handle on his own, or even with Staren's help. This is going to need a major clean-up operation-- or more. Who knows what's underneath that rupture?

"Staren, we're getting out of here!" he transmits to the younger pilot. "There's nothing more we can do here-- not yet."

Suiting action to words, he flips over to the Waverider mode and rockets upwards, circling the site a few times to wait for Staren to bug out as well.

The BattleMech comes down and loses one of it's tree-based weapons to a hybrid sword. Sam marvels at the construction of the weapon as it passes perilously close to his 'Mech, not pausing in bringing the other one down and smashing it to splinters against the armor of the Star Hawk. Must've been rotted, he realizes; not much good as a weapon...

"What /about/ me, huh?" The Dola's jumpjets fire, the hybrid swords slashing through the lower leg and clipping the lowermost joint on the same. It cuts out and drops, slamming into the hybrid machine and then rebounding away with another quick burst. The 'Mech turns by the time Staren comes in for the waist strike, it's definitely Luciferian and definitely modern vibroblade clashing with the incoming weapon.

Sam grits his teeth and faces him down. Staren may be thinking he's from the Luciferian Sphere, but that's not /entirely/ true. "I'm here on a mission and to stop you from killing my friend, asshole!" He sounds angry. His accent comes through; sounds like he's from somewhere in New England rather than a moon around Lucifer, but it's a toss-up as to where if you don't visit often. "You wanna know what I fight for, right?!"

The Dola suddenly goes on the offensive. It moves in a jerking, zig-zagging pattern, light on it's feet, especially for a BattleMech. The blade strikes point-first, swiping the hybrid sword nearest out of the way and then stabbing for the inside shoulder joint of the Star Hawk. It's surprisingly well-aimed; it seems to seek the Star Hawk's weak points and goes for it with quick attacks, rotating the arm and hand servos with deftness to get to them.

"I'm fighting to fix this shitty world before jerk-offs like you screw it up even more, that's what! Satisfied yet?!"

As if to punctuate his point, he lunges forward, using the 'Mech's mass to try and go right past the hybrid swords and drive the vibroblade home, just like he did to the Maganac. The fact that there are more vulnerable electronics, power system and gyros in the quasi-'mech of the Star Hawk is surely coincidental to this technique.

"I wasn't gonna kill him! I was going for the head! And we're trying to fix the world, not screw it up!" the Star Hawk jumps back, trying to block and parry, some attacks still getting through. For a moment he wonders how this guy knows exactly what weak points to go for, then remembers he's from Lucifer. Okay, so there's a downside to basing your machine on Lucifer technology... Oh, right. "The head's not the cockpit in that model, and I was going to sever it, not destroy it!"

Okay, time for one of the tricks up his sleeve. Staren braces himself in the cockpit... and then with astounding speed the Star Hawk flies forward, barely controlled... No 'mech jump jets could do that! Yep, it was definately a good idea to make the main engines usable in the Mark II's humanoid configuration. The Star Hawk kicks off the ground and flies into the sky, where it transforms and zooms off... "Your skills as a mechwarrior are really something... It will be interesting, if we meet again. I hope it won't be to the death."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever! You all say that line, so don't give me your crap!" Sam fights fiercely. He tries and tries and tries again to break Staren's guard, striking at the Star Hawk, driving it back--and then being not at all surprised when he takes off into the air and begins to transform. He /knew/ it.

The cable connecting the Dola's vibroblade to it's arm detaches. Sam gets a power warning on his heads-up display, right next to the flashing radiation alert. He brings the arm back, crouching like he was going to fire his jumpjets--and then he does, leaping into the air at the Star Hawk! He can't get the kind of height he needs as fast as all that, but it does give him forward velocity.

Which he promptly uses to throw his weapon, because lasers are for chumps.

Ken Marinaris says, "I was giving you a chance to run."

That's when the Gouf comes in gast too fast for her to get away. The Gouf cuts an actual part off the orbital frame. The removed section bleeds teal light as does the damaged frame itself. She pulls back the cape about her machine explodes into a large number of WISPs and they all seek out Erika.

"You chose not to take it. GO WISPS!"

_Throwing_ his weapon?! Looks like he's picked up some earth sphere tricks too, Staren notes... and the aerospace fighter is soon out of there. "Well I believe it. I wouldn't risk my life for it otherwise..." Staren gives a parting observation.

The WISPs catch the Gouf while it's still in midair and a slave to it's own momentum, slamming it with enoughj force to send it crashing to the ground. Erika comphensates though as she tucks her machine in and breaks her fall with a quick tumble that ends with her back on her feet. "Heh, why should we surrender when we're winning? Your little Katharon buddies are all running away in case you haven't noticed... but hey, I'm going to give you a little break." The beam sword is stowed away as Erika grabs for her rifle, then snaps both it and her machine gun hands towards the Ardjet. "This is /your/ chance to run away."

Amuro fals in a little ahead of the Star Hawk and jets off, leading the way out of the combat zone. "Let's move."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "...he got way."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Alright. Ascian, you OK over there?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Y... yeah. I'm fine. As is Amenthes. She's just... not wanting to go anywhere."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Alright, cool. Keese, they're withdrawing; I don't think they want to stick around any more than we do."

The Star Hawk follows... after a moment, Staren puts it on autopilot, following amuro, and drops out of cyberspace, finally able to relax. Still, he's shaking a bit.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Erika Keese transmits, "Tch, alright."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "I'll just stay here and... watch the sensors or something."

Ken Marinaris sees the remaining DC but isn't seeming to run, she says, "They never were my allies." Sounds like she was planning to cut them down once the DC had been delt with. But for now she now turns to pull back the odds are not in her favor and she doesn't trust the AUEG further than she can throw them. With that the Ardjet just punches it, someone has to get back and report what's going on here.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Erika Keese transmits, "Marinaris ran."

CHERNOBYL: LAND OF MYTH AND MYSTERY

Yesterday, Zeon attacked. Radio transmissions indicated that they were intent on discovering some sort of 'psychic temple,' the ruins of which Haman Karn had decided were buried beneath Chernobyl. Now, Chernobyl's story is lost to history so her guess is as good as anyone's. But still, she's mad crazy and probably high to boot.

Anyway, what the Shovel Zakus ended up doing was digging until they triggered a minor earthquake, causing a glowing split in the ground. Yes, glowing -- it pours out light like a halogen, and has sent radioactivity levels spiraling out of control. It's already a Neo Superfund sight. Now it's steadily becoming a Neo Ultrafund site.

Zeonic forces are protecting the site until Haman Karn herself can arrive. This means that a lot of Zaku pilots are probably going to die of radiation sickness and attendant cancers over the next decade. These forces include a freshly-rebuilt EXAM Efreet, piloted by fairly anonymous ace Nimbus Scherzen.

But no doubt the forces of Not Bugfuck Crazy would like to chase Zeon away and seal up this horrible mess they've made. Our story begins on the moon of Cybertron, where Optimus Prime plans a shuttle run to Earth...

This time Erika is not taking any chances. She's bringing in the big guns. Decked out in (hopefully) radiation proof gear and sitting deep within the confines of her Valsion Kai which is also (hopefully) radiation proof, the young newtype Martian sits, feeling pretty damn disgusted by the way things are turning out. "I swear, if we didn't need the crazy bat, I'd let that witch just off herself with her insane stupidity... how many of her own troops are going to die just so she can fuck around with radiation?" Yeah, her opinion of Haman Karn has hit rock bottom. If only there were a more suave, charismatic person capable of leading Zeon? Someone perhaps handsome, blonde, and male. :/a

How long had it been sense he was in this cockpit?

It was not a place he wished to be so soon, but duty called. Zeon was acting more bizzarly these days, and now something was pouring radiation everywhere. A single Guarlion was deployed from a ship that officially didn't exist. This unit would cross into the airspace of Russia, before vanishing off the map.

On the edges of the city the Guarlion would be simply unnoticed. Visual cloaking systems activated as the long rifle was set into place. The colors of the Guarlion were those of the Last Batalion.

Ringo Mason prepared to take revenge.

Amuro Ray returns for another round with the Zeonic plague, hoping to make a dent in the Shovel Zakus and whatever else Haman sends out to defend this madness. He doesn't have access to any radiation cleaning equipment at the moment, and can't seem to get the resources out of the other branches of Katharon. That means that he has to rely on the EFA and A-LAWS to handle the situation-- but that doesn't mean he can't do his part.

With the Zeta 3A in for repairs and the rest of his units at least 20 minutes away, Amuro commandeered a plodding Shell Flag and Dodai from the nearest Katharon base and headed straight back to Chernobyl. His arrival this time is far less dramatic; without a Gundam to amplify his fearsome nature, he can't just make Zakus explode on sight.

Fortunately, he does have a gun. So when two Shovel Zakus point upwards and go, "Look! It's a... mobile suit!" Amuro responds by shooting them neatly through the cockpit, leaping off the Dodai and landing heavily on the corpses of their machines.

He'd been here. In fact, he'd participated in the last battle - in order the protect the peon-like Zakus. In that battle, he'd faced off against Staren and his Star Hawk - and the unknown girl within. In that battle, whilst the Amenthes certainly had taken damage - the main reason he'd been unable to proceed was simply the lack of will to keep on fighting. Even now, the man still struggles somewhat with the question that he had been offered. What was he fighting gor? And whilst he knew what he was fighting for - Mars, and finding his sister - it still bothered him.

But for someone who both has many, but asks little questions - someone who is simply a soldier and seems to be, at times, unable to properly think of his own... a lack of answers gets one many a thing. Anger. Annoyance. The general feeling one has been made a fool out of. But in the end, it all just comes down the the first.

The Amenthes was settled close to the radiation still - a thick red shield glowing fiercely around it. Settled next to it was a large looking truck of sorts whic had been emptied of its contents. Presumable, it had held a Metatron (Not Energon) cube of sorts. The cockpit remained closed, and looked somewhat more dark. As if the unit was putting more time into protecting the pilot of whatever was outside.

"I can't believe we have such good protection against radiation." Ascian mutters at Duat, looking at the many gauges that have to do with the alpha, beta and gamma particles that try piercely to penetrate the shield - to little avail. "The Metatron is seen as a dangerous radiation. The cockpit is thereby heavily protected from it. Even the veins of Metatron that run into the cockpit are shielded." Obviously though - that shielding stopped on the controls themselves - for the direct contact was required for his commands to come through.

He is about to comment on this when suddenly... BOOM! A nearby explosion rocks the Amenthes. "What the." He quickly reseats himself and looks out of the window whilst Duat begins to boot up weapon systems. "What was that?" - "Katharon IFF detected. A Shell Flag model." - "Why didn't you warn me in time?" - "The radar is under severe stress due to the radiation. It is almost impossible to make out mobile suit signatures between all the noise given off by the unknown origins beneath the earth. That sounded bad, for just a moment.

When suddenly Ascian grins. "That means they can't detect us either! Keep that shield up Amenthes." His hands lay firmly around the controls. A grin appears. "I have some frustration to vent - and that guy just became my target." - "READY FOR COMBAT OPERATIONS."

So, the Amenthes' wings spread beneath that red shield and move out to the very edges, so that the Orbital Frame does not have to stop its use to fire. On the vid-screen before him, a targetting reticule appears, fitting neatly over Amuro's unit. Of course, he had no clue who was inside of that thing. "Fire!" And so, his unit listens - whilst still on the ground and envelloped in the red shield, it fires a large quantity of red lasers from its homing beam array - lashing out towards his enemy - trying to ram into it from multiple directions as the beams themselves dart about as if they were their own funnels.

At least one Katharon reinforcement is available! Staren's experimental Astray, and fancy new Star Hawk Mark II may be in for repairs, but Staren has keps a backup unit ready he hasn't needed to use in battle in a long time...

A VF-11 Thunderbolt, Orb's top-of-the-line valkyrie, with special aerospace-use Super Parts invented by Staren, flies down out of the sky! It's painted red and white, the colors of the old Orb Union. "Haman Karn! I don't know what you think you're doing, but it stops here!"

In cyberspace, Staren's eyes flicker between the available ground targets as his sensors acquire locks... And then, the valkyrie does what valkyries do best, and launches a swarm of missiles, raining down upon the shovel zakus like smoking, explosive hail... and on the rest of the DC forces, too!

With all the radiation, homing weapons would normally be ineffective-- but not homing beams: they operate under different parameters. The Shell Flag isn't exactly designed for high speed maneuvers-- in fact, it's designed for the opposite of high speed maneuvers-- but Amuro does his best. It's not quite enough, as several of the beams slam into the heavy armor of the modified Flag, ripping away at the green plating like ravenous wolves.

The Newtype fires off a pair of missiles blind, useful for interference and distraction rather than actual damage. They go wide, as their on-board navigation chips are instantly fried by the skyrocketing radiation.

Speaking of rockets, this mobile suit has a launcher for 'em! Amuro quickly scans through the information available on this Orbital Frame-- much of it gathered yesterday. He doesn't like what he sees, but he rarely does when it come to the Metatron-powered machines. "All right, then," he breathes, psyching himself up and opening his mind to the battlefield. "Time to do some work."

The rocket launcher flips out from the equipment backpack and into the Shell Flag's hands, where it tracks the Amenthes and fires three rockets in quick sucession, aiming at seemingly random points. No targeting computers here.

Haman Karn isn't here -- but Nimbus Scherzen is! The pilot of the EXAM Efreet is currently stood up in his cockpit, trying to look behind his seat. "Must be a tape recorder or... some kind of... weird aftereffect of the radiation bath," he says to himself. "Oh no, maybe I have rad-poi--"

Boom! A missile volley strikes the EXAM Efreet head-on, making the ace pilot fall ass over elbows. He clambers back into his seat and brings the horned (and spiked!) mobile suit around, its beady eye gazing at the Thunderbolt. "Huh... well, he's no White Devil, but he'll d-- ooo?" That last bit turns into a question as Nimbus looks around the cockpit again and wonders if he's losing his mind.

No time for that, though! The EXAM Efreet launches forward, Heat Saber igniting with a fizz and flash! "Sieg Zeon!" the pilot cries, slashing at Staren's priceless mobile suit.

With the radiation levels so high, it's basically impossible for even the highly advanced Valsion Kai to detect the approaching enemies... but Erika, being a cheating Newtype, has other ways of detecting oncoming attacks. And that would be-- NEWTYPE FLASH! "What the--" Erika snaps her head around, reflexively snapping up her machine's arm towards the missiles. Energy leaps forth, blazing the rain of missiles away and striking the Thundebrolt in the process, "Katharon's back again I see!" The Valsion turns, leaning forward as a port in the chest opens up and a single rocket leaps forth... a rocket that detonates into a blinding flash of disrupting particles. Not that the radiation isn't doing a fine job as is.

"ETR Reactions increasing! Multiple units detected on the visual spectrum." Duat warns, quickly lining up a series of vid-windows to indicate them. Staren is the first to appear. But since it is a different unit, Ascian doesn't recognize it. Then a second fires, coming out of nowhere. "It's getting busy out there." He quickly moves his hand, concentrating on the radio. But it only fizzes at the moment. Too close to the source of the radiation after all. "Dangit! No orders. Guess that means I got to assume that there will be no reinforcements." The wing bits begin spinning rapidly beneath their shields - at the same time as suddenly... rockets! He can feel the earth tremble through his unit as the first series erupts above the ground. "Shit." His eyes focus on a single set that is then suddenly coming /his/ way.

"Get those out of the sky, Duat!" - "Having trouble locking on. The sensor system keeps failing." He could see it, a little indicator that kept flickering on and off claiming 'sensor'. Then another set of explosions trigger near him, missiles trashing the ground around him. The Amenthes slowly stands up from its kneeled position and lifts his hands onto the cockpit to protect it - vidwindows quickly making up for the lack in visual. "Stop shooting at me!" He shouts - but has not activated his speakers or radio... so it isn't really for anyone to hear. With the one rocket still well on its way to him - the homing beams suddenly fire once more!

But this time, their path is a lot more logical. All twelve of them form a thick beam together, rushing through the missile at near point-blank range... which then proceeds to explode and pressures the red shield severely. "Damnit..." - "Shield starting to get low. I suggest extraction from this area, due to high radiation poisoning when undone!" Duat warns. "I know! But for now..." For now, he had to put his concentration on guiding those red lines unto the air. After all, a little explosion did not stop those beams.

They kept going, then suddenly split from their thick-beam setup into two groups of six, each going for one target. One for Amuro's Shell Flag, whilst the other set went for the 'Super' Thunderbolt. Each of course, gets the same treatment, as the beams split up further and begin to zig-zag about. It was hard to guide two sets of these, without Duat helping him. But somehow, he was handling it well enough. Or at least, so he though. Perhaps it had to do with the fact that even the indicator for 'Duat' began to flicker, improving his direct connection with Amenthes during the times it was turned 'off'. And of course, serving in a tiny batch of Metatron poisoning.

Staren watches the missiles rain down... and then holy shit, the whole battlefield's after him! The Valkyrie dodges every which way in an awesomely animated flight scene, only to get caught by the heat saber, which starts to send it tumbling -- On reflex, Staren transforms, gets it under control, and returns to fighter mode, flying around in a massive loop to attack again. But... who to attack?

Staren focuses on the strange Zeon unit -- It has Amuro worried, and it managed to hit him -- It's gotta be taken down! The gunpod starts firing, and doesn't stop, Staren trying to keep the constant stream of bullets trained on the machine. "Amuro, how do I get these guys off me?!"

Amuro is down in the trenches today, and it feels nostalgic to be stuck on a unit which can't fly or even hover. It's always a bit of an adjustment to fight in gravity, and on the ground to boot. Even so, he is a seasoned veteran, and an unfocused attack isn't going to take him off-guard. "Not so fast," he breathes, sending the Shell Flag into a dolphin dive at the last second, sliding under the homing blast and immediately rolling to the right.

The Newtype opens up a transmission, even as he watches the Efreet taking a beating out of the corner of his eye, and directs a voice burst to the Orbital Frame. "If you don't want to die from radiation poisoning, I suggest you get out of here."

The Shell Flag remains prone, and swings up the 200mm linear cannon from beneath its right arm to snap a pair of shots towards the Amenthes. "Consider this the limits of my, y'know, generosity in this, uh, this matter."

"Who keeps -- talking?! Who's there?!" Nimbus Scherzen screams in his cockpit. He's freaking out over nothing, and the radio cuts in and out, occasionally broadcasting his spaz-attacks to the general populace. "Stop it -- whoever's doing -- STOP IT!"

Then Staren's Gunpod Circus hits the EXAM Efreet. Nothing will bring your priorities into check more quickly than 'infinity bullets' -- and so it is here. Nimbus comes to his senses just in time for Ringo Mason to take his shot.

"Wha--?"

Nimbus Scherzen: not a Newtype. And yet he acts like one, his suit whirling around and /punching/ the bullet that Ringo fired. Punching it /right back into Ringo's Guarlion/.

Then, a second later, the Efreet's arm explodes, like a goddamn kung fu movie. "AAARRRGH!" Nimbus cries. "WHAT IS /HAPPENING/?!"

The EXAM Efreet, one arm less but still kicking, compensates with those implements of kicking, firing a couple leg missiles at Ringo while Nimbus continues to freak out.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Wow. NewType kid's gone more nuts than Suriel..."

No. No, it was too much for him after all, to keep track of two at the same time. In addition, these pilots were clearly /skilled/! "Duat?" Ascian asks. He gets no reply. The Artificial Intelligence is still there, and somewhat active. But clearly not enough to talk to him. Or maybe something else was going on. With a machine as completely unpredictable as an Orbital Frame, one never really knows. What Ascian /does/ know, is that the Amenthes' shields are starting to falter! He continues to grope the half-orb controls, his fingers fitting nicely into a series of 'dips', and sends through the command to lift off. The wing-bits quickly come together and settle against the back of its shoulders.

But things are just not going as fast as they should. The Amenthes is still feeling 'lethargic' to him. And this shows quite visibly when Amuro's shots come in. It's almost like time reversed. Because to Ascian, Amuro's voice seems to only be 'realized' when a series of hot bullet slice straight through his shield and lacerate the armor around the lower torso and arms. He could in fact feel the heat radiate from them momentarily as one flew straight over his cockpit. "WOAH! FUCK!" Ascian barely is able to restrain himself from jumping up from his seat.

"Hey man! This shield is keeping the radiation out. If you are so concerned with keepin' me alive, then don't f'in fire at me!" Geesh. What kind of warning shot was that? He looks outside, seeing the shield visibly disappating. Like little invisiible animals were taking chomps out of it, a golden-yellow glow gnawing at it as the shell of protective energy recedes. "Gotta get outta heeeere." Already the geiger counter began ticking like a crazy loon. Luckily, Amenthes can be fast when it really /needs/ to. That is, when it needs to protect its runner.

It takes to the sky, its wings finally together, forming that strange almost indian like general theme on a female looking machine that is based on Egyptian lore. It doesn't take long for it to get far enough out that the radiation is low enough that the remaining bits and pieces of shield can still manage. And whilst it is fleeing, hoping to keep that nutjob who'd just shot at him after giving a warning at bay, throws a twosome of large red orbs of energy his way. That is, balls of compressed space - keeping a severe amount of energy within. Things that tend to go 'booooom' on simply touching /anything/.

Erika frowns a bit, glancing back between the sudden appearance of a Guarlion and the Variable Fighter in front of her, unsure of which to prioritize. Thankfully, the man who hears voices in his head makes that decision for her, leaving her to deal with the mostly fresh Thunderbolt. "Right then, time to get to work." The massive supah roboto reaches behind it and pulls out an uncomkfortably huge blade that it weirds effortlessly in one had. Energy starts to gather at it's back as the Tesla Drive charges up and the machine leans forward almost predatorially. Then suddenly, it's right in front of Staren, rising on a trail of energy as it's blade comes crashing down on the VF.

Ringo, who is also a newtype is not sure what to say about having his own bullet punched back at him. Of course, reguardless of what happened, it had done the job...and the bullet's damage to him was only minor. The Guarlion started to advance, starting to release missiles...but then the Efreet launched into an assault.

The rifle came down, firing shots to try and shoot some of the missiles down, while the Mobility of the Guarlion kept pace with the others, auto cannon firing to destroy them. It was a close call, but Ringo's reflexes and skill at the controls kept him alive.

However, the previousily said missiles move at the Zeon unit, they have no radar ping and are nearly invisible due to being propelled by non-combustion means. They are also somehow homing missiles, aiming to try and strike the unit down before it could recover.

"Send a message to Haman for me. Ringo Mason is alive."

"It wasn't a warning shot," Amuro responds, suddenly bursting from cover in a blue chrysanthemum of thruster fire. "And I don't care if you live or die. I was just trying to be nice."

The orbs burst on the ground where Amuro was a full second ago, unleashing their potent payload all over the dead, irradiated earth. The explosion is potent, and while the Newtype is already ahead of it, the shockwave stills causes trouble for his sensors and trajectory. He handles it deftly, riding the force up into the air and aiming down at the Orbital Frame with the rocket launcher.

He fired three grenades last time; this time he empties the clip, essentially carpet bombing the Amenthes as he sails overhead.

Nimbus Scherzen has one response to Ringo: "Who?"

Then the EXAM Efreet is molested by a drunk uncle's worth of homing missles, sending it blasting into the irradiated landscape, bouncing and crippled. "Does -- does anyone else hear -- that -- that /screaming/--"

The Newtypes around might. It's coming from the suit itself, a cry of agony muffled by metaphysical walls and doors, alien and cold and a little unnerving, until it suddenly fades out.

Nimbus Scherzen passes out, too. The message will no doubt be delivered when he wakes up.

The Thunderbolt flies through the air... Hey, that went well! When suddenly

SWORD

The Thunderbolt careens out of control, saved only by Staren's quick reflexes switching to hybrid mode and stabilizing. Now... Woah. That is a big robot. "The bigger they are, the harder they fall!" He declares, as he guides the small valkyrie in close and activates the... beam armblades? Who makes a melee valkyrie?? And then tries to fly around, stabbing and slashing here and there, darting around the larger machine, while hopefully staying in too close to easily attack!

Ringo, satisfied with the results turns away from the battle. The Guarlion turning it's back and starting to take off.

Sure, Bian's Zoldark's dream is being violated on the battlefield, but he wasn't sure of his chances against a Valsion by himself... and it was killing Staren. This is like...Haman and Axel and Vindel getting into a knife fight. So let them decide who gets to live or whatever.

Ringo is too busy being HARD BOILED! Then he take off into the sky. Pchoooooo.

The grenades not only surround Amenthes, one even manages to score a direct hit whilst the machine is trying to dodge the first - landing straight into its chest and ripping armor and Metatron exoskeleton off - and sending a stream of 'pain' into Ascian. Sure, it wasn't his pain, and it wasn't real pain. But he could sense the 'life' within Amenthes diminishing, screaming at him. It's almost overwhelming. But somehow, he's managing it. Perhaps because he's gotten used to it now; the undeniable fact that his unit is definitely to some extents 'alive'.

"Killing people isn't being /nice/." Ascian reminds Amuro, wincing, running his gaze over a report that shows that the Amenthes' torso is entirely exposed to enemy fire, and that its energy-streams are partially cut off. There are foreign objects - grenade shrapnel - stuck in the unit as well. And his shields? Well, those he just kissed goodbye entirely. In fact, the unit's power was so on a rampage that a small wind could probably send off a chainreaction that would be sure to disable this thing. But he had to push through! He had to survive!

Then suddenly. Silence. The flow of Metatron seems to stop for a moment, and the little indicator that showed that Duat was online... went dead. "Sh..." Just great. Now what?! He had no training in how to fly this thing without the Artificial Intelligence! His mind suddenly finds itself overloaded with signals he simply can't makes sense of. He knows some of them. He knows what is the life support. He knows what is the shields and the energy. He knows what they are. But to keep them all in check is nearly impossible. "Shit shit shit shit..." Ascian's dictionary seems to contain but few words today.

In anger and frustration, he just puts his mind on trying to get this loon away from him! The Amenthes' wings quickly send a rush of red energy flying, pushing the unit sideways, whilst at the same time pieces of armor simply... fall off, now that he's also unable to contain the energy that keeps some of those attached to the unit. Duat normally does that for him. In fact, he cannot currently even figure out how to get the arms to transform into their rifle forms. And in no way is he going to go up close and personal. Not with all that radiation.

Then suddenly, his mind finds something. The last thing he'd used - that same attack. He tries to reach for it. He tries to reproduce that signal. And he manages. The unit suddenly stops in midair, as his concentration is taken away from flight, and spreads its arms in a turn-V figure. At each prong, a tiny little orb of red appears again. "Geesh. Using the same attack over and over is so lame." Ascian manages to mutter to himself whilst he concentrates on compressing the space around the massive amounts of energy he is feeding into it. Much more than normal. He just keeps pushing and pushing, until finally the unit /flickers/ due to the strain on its reserves.

"Fire!" Why was he vocalizing this anyhow? His mind did the work. The signal flowing through his hands into the controls - sending it into the arms to sway upwards in a X-shaped motion, each arm forming one line as they sweep forth and toss the two balls of compressed space and damaging red plasma energy at the enemy. Or rather... it was really more of a 'lob'.

A good strategy, save for one slight hiccup that takes the form of a blue field that surrounds the Valsion Kai. Though nowhere near as powerful as the original Valsion's G-Territory, the Kai's Beam Coat is none the less enough to pretty much stop Staren's assault almost dead cold, with only a few blows making it to the machine proper. Strangely though, Erika doesn't immediately try to murder Staren. She's a bit too busy with the sudden SCREAMING in her head, "Gah...! What is that sound?? It feels like a banshee is wailing in my ears!" Erika tries to block out the noise, but it only ends when Nimbus slumps into unconsciousness and the screaming stops. With that, Erika takes in a shuddered breath, "Nnng... my head..." Then she glances at the Thunderbolt poking away at her beam coat and grows, feeling short tempered after having the Devil shrieking in her ear, "Get out of my face!" The Valsion turns and opens up with a focused barrage from it's autocannons.

Erika's answer is point-blank autocannon fire!

(It's a pretty good answer!)

The Thunderbolt is riddled with bullets -- Only quick blocking with the shield manages to prevent cockpit or engine hits, at the cost of crippling the arm. Staren starts flying away, and some explosive bolts blow the arm off before the valkyrie transforms to fighter mode and gets the heck out of dodge!

Amuro decides to take a risk and end this quickly. With the Efreet down, he has a chance to really turn the tide here, and open up the terrain for the Feds to clean up. He just has to trust that they WILL clean it up, and not try to turn the radiation into some kind of anti-personnel weapon as they seem so fond of doing with everything they can lay their hands on.

Ascian throws his balls at the Newtype again, but Amuro just charges right into them, much as he did back in the day, fighting Char. Just charges right into those balls, firing hot lead as he goes. Well, missiles in this case. Either way, the bust onslaught does a number on the mass produced Shell Flag, ripping away its torso armor and blasting its left arm clear off. The limb spirals away to embed itself in the dirt, but the Flag is already through the attack and past the Orbital Frame, ready to move on. Regardless of the outcome, he has to deal with that mass production Valsion.

"Staren, get out of there!" he transmits sharply, bounding across the landscape and under the fleeing Valkyrie. He grits his teeth. This is going to be ugly-- the souped up Flag is no match for even a toned down Valsion, but he doesn't have a choice. Fortunately, the Flag is kitted out with hard munitions. Unfortunately, he has no idea whether or not the Valsion Kai is immune to those as well.

Time to find out.

The right hand swings down the rocket launcher, slamming it into a spare clip mounted on the mobile suit's hip armor. It reloads with a KER-CHAK, and whips back up into ready position within seconds. Amuro dives to the left, heading for a low hill to get cover. Along the way, he holds down the trigger and doesn't let go until the CLACK CLACK of the chamber tells him that the launcher is empty.

"Hayai!" Ascian exclaims, watching as his opponent darts straight through the barrage of Burst Spheres - then lets his missiles dance and crash into the Amenthes, leaving giant craters in its armor and exoskeleton and breaking limbs to such an extent that they are barely hanging on. Ascian's cockpit even manages to be scraped severely enough that the thing opens up partially on one side. Of course, this all causes one heck of a scare. With the young man clutching to one side of his cockpit as air starts sucking at his body. For a moment there, he thought he was going to get pulled out and die before the Amenthes even had a chance to plumet to its death when...

"Sorry sir. Let me fix that." Duat was back! A black energy shield suddenly forms around the cockpit whilst the unit does indeed begin to fall - away from the radiation this time. "I have signaled for another supply of Metatron. However, I cannot currently pull up from this freefall. Please brace for impact. Routing energy to kinetic cancelation in the cockpit. "But Duat... what about you?" Wait. Why was he worried about the A.I.? Because it was installed in the cockpit, but not invulnerable to such crashes. But still. Why care about a damn A.I.? "I will be fine sir. There is only a 80% chance of on-board failure." - "That's too much!" He felt his body being pulled on, gravity sending the unit down quicker and quicker. "It was enough... to stop the train." The light dims again. Duat clearly beginning to lose control again.

"Duat!" Ascian calls out. And then. Darkness. The unit crashed into the ground beneath, and like a limp doll - its limbs still barely attached and the wings completely to pieces. The young man... unconcious. His head having been hit on the back of the cockpit when it'd impacted on the ground. Nothing life-threatening. But... Duat also... was not responding or coming through on the radio to ask for assistance.

That's one down! Combined with the fact that the Guarlion seems to have pulled back means that there's still the chance for victory if she can just chase off that armored Flag. The Valsion turns as the rocket barrage is unleashed and ends up eating a face full of rockets that staggers the masisve super robot. Erika lets out a curse as she tries to steady herself before she falls, "Shit! Whoever that pilot is, he's good!" The Valsion plants a foot back as it stabilizes itself, then slams the Divien Blade into the ground and snaps up both arms. Energy gathers around the barrels mounted on said arms as opposing energies swirl around one another, "Dual Cross..." "SMASHER!" The Valsion is bathed in violet light as two spiraling beams leap forth, snaking through the air like striking cobras towards the Flag.

Some part of Amuro Ray-- the part not currently engaged in battle, which is a small part-- hopes that the Orbital Frame's pilot will find a way to escape before the radiation gets to him. That same part holds the same hope for the hapless pilots of the defenseless Shovel Zakus, but the hope is not strong. The horror of this place is too strong. Haman's terrible will is too strong.

She should not be allowed to live. But he cannot commit the resources to hunting her down until he can find willing allies; Bright is too caught up in whipping the Katharon pilots into shape, but could be persuaded, especially now. Colonel Testarossa's concerns are for the Earth, especially now. Char-- 'Quattro'-- is still afflicted with selfishness, still refusing to take responsibility for his past.

Amuro Ray can't begrudge them their varying foci. He is the man who abandoned space for nearly a decade, wallowing in self-pity. But he will find a way. Haman Karn must die.

For now, though, the problem of softening Chernobyl's defenses has to be his focus. Focus, Amuro. Focus on what's in front of you. Deal with it. The Shell Flag clips the rocket launcher to its magnetic tramp stamp, pulls out the blade. The blade quivers, as if thirsty for action, for blood and oil. The dual Cross Smashers rave across the sky, the force of their passing harrowing the tortured earth, ripping away the dry, cracking scabs of nuclear ruin to reveal gaping wounds beneath. This battleground is a hell. It is what the entire Earth could become, thanks to the folly of humanity.

But not today.

The White Devil zigs, zags, throws his inadequate machine across the brutalised landscape like a wounded dog driven to attack a mammoth out of desperate starvation. The White Devil craves war, death, victory, though he cannot bring himself to admit these wretched desires which pulsate beneath the surface of his skin. He must win. He must overcome. He must live up to his own legend.

The Shell Flag explodes upwards, hacking away at the Valsion Kai's undercarriage with its singing sword, aiming to inflict wounds upon the machine to match those of the Earth, to drive it from this place as if it would take the slow death of radiation with it in its flight.

"You..." rasps the dog of war, throat raw with battling emotions, "should have stayed /home/!"

The glow fades from the nozzles of the Cross Smasher as Erika quickly grabs the massive Divine Blade from it's resting spot. The blade flicks out as she takes it in both hands and braces herself, carefully watching the movements of her foe. And about a half a second before it happens, Erika feels a FLASH in her mind and snaps her gaze down, "THERE!" The Divine Blade drives down into the earth right in front of Amuro and essentially acts like a gigantic steel wall roadblocking his path to her delicate underbelly. "I won't lose!" The blade twists, pulverizing rock and stone, then rips upwards. Debris flies everyone, zinging past the Flag as Erika strikes up with the flat side of the sword to knock it into the air. A moment later, the Valsion follows, it's blade rising in an arcing slash to bicsect the small mobile suit, followed swiftly by another blunt side swing to send the pieces of the machine sailing over the horizon. Batter up!

Another Newtype-- of course. He can feel it now that the Efreet has pulled back, dulled its endless screeching and clawing at the walls of his soul. A strange presence for the battlefield, and a woman at that. He hesitates for a second, battling his fury. Control. Focus. It's almost too late to avoid the crushing blow of the sword which is easily larger than his entire machine-- but his instincts refuse to let him die.

The sonic blade skids along the broad side of the Divine Blade as it hacks down, the Flag's arm trembling to push the chop /just/ off its course, just enough to save the machine and give it a moment to avoid the follow-up strike. Just as yesterday, Amuro slams downwards, powersliding under the horizontal blow like a showboating guitar hero, awkwardly sheating the blade one-handed, reaching back, detaching that death-sowing rocket launcher, slipping beneath the Valsion Kai's legs, resting its barrel belly-up on the intact shoulder-- firing once, twice without looking at the great super machine's back.

Something's gotta give.

"What the-- beneath?!" The Valsion Kai half-twists as the Flag slides right between it's huge legs, but before it can fully turn, the grenade rounds explode violently against it's shoulder and staggers the mammoth machine forward a step. Then it creaks with a deafening groan as the armor slowly pulls away from the frame, metal rending. The earth shakes as it (along with the massive sword) crash to the ground. "Tch... damnit..." Tesla Drive flares bright, kicking up dirt as the super robot surges away from the Flag. It's one remaining arm snapping down to scoop up the fallen Orbital Frame as Erika makes a beeline for friendly lines.

The Shell Flag throws itself into a somersault, then does a clumsy handspring (thanks to the rocket launcher being in the way) in a different direction, just in case. Behind him, the sword crashes to the ground, and the Valsion Kai beats its retreat. That leaves the Shovel Zaku's undefended.

Realistically, Amuro Ray should now get the hell out and wait for the EFA and A-LAWS to come in with some kind of radiation sweeping equipment, something to contain the leak-- or whatever it is-- and a bloody army.

But he just doesn't trust that that's going to happen.

The Shell Flag turns back, and hauls the Divine Blade off the ground, holding it across its shoulder. The arm won't hold out for long wielding a weapon that heavy... but it won't have to.

So burdened, the White Devil marches on the dig site. It's time to do some work.

CHERNOBYL -- THE DISASTERS OF TOMORROW TODAY

In the past two days, Chernobyl, mysterious site of ancient presumed horror, has seen a lot of activity. First Zeon cut a glowing, extremely radioactive gash into its surface. Then there was some more fighting around that gash. And now, today, Haman Karn has finally arrived at the site she declared was home to some sort of ancient 'psychic temple.'

Parking her Qubeley over the glowing hole in the ground, Haman babbled for a while, speaking in bizarre non-language. The Quebley itself didn't move. Enemies of the Divine Crusaders no doubt malingered, waiting for an opportunity to strike. No doubt, then, that Haman Karn, Queen of Space, would beat them to it.

Of late, Haman Karn has been poison for her fellow Newtypes' minds. Imagine hanging out next to a car alarm that beeped incessantly and loudly about how futile life is and how you should despair completely and how it knows what your uncle did to you back on that one camping trip. Bad feelings are the order of the day. And suddenly, like a signal flare, that psychic output spikes, and the ground rumbles.

"Yes -- YES --" was Haman Karn's last transmission before a gigant glowing worm-monster shot out of the gash in the ground and swallowed the Qubeley whole.

Oops!

The thing roars, shaking the ground more with every wiggle, triggering Earthquakes all throughout the vicinity. Sure, it may have just ended one of the reigning galactic threats. But it's still a menace. And you can take that to the bank. The menace bank.

Strangely, the EFA and the A-Laws have been rather quiet on the whole subject of 'Giant Radiation Hole being Occupied By Zeon Forces', but that hasn't stopped a lot of rumor mongering. Word is on the street that this mysterious radiation hole is some kind of alien artifact or a cache of nuclear weapons. Some of the other theories are even more wild, involving other dimensions and conspiracies.

Regardless, someone has paid to someone to go find out what it is, and the person hired is Marcus. "Christ, and everytime I think the Earth sphere can't get more stupid, someone has to go and prove me wrong..." The Atlas III stomps it's way through the field towards the reported site of the mysterious radiation hole, guided by the ever crackling geiger counter, "Jesus, will you look at those readings... something out there is a few degrees shy of meltdown from the looks of it. Picky I can't detect shit through all the interferance. Would be nice to find out what's out there." Cue the Atomic Powered Worm. "... One of these days I need to keep my mouth shut."

Yesterday.

Ringo exploded some poor jackass in a experimental mobile suit slowly driving him insane.

Today, Ringo has come back to kill...

Haman was devoured by a giant radioactive worm. Some part of him is slightly annoyed that his ability to kill Haman with his bare hands is gone. The other, is less so because Karma had just somehow manifested.

Then something dawns on Ringo. "Uh... people on the battlefield. What happens if Haman decides she is going to psychically control that thing? Or the radiation turns her into some sort of Nuclear Newtype bitch? I think we need to make the thing die. Or promote it to the comannder of Zeon."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "What... in the..."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Uhhh... all hail commander worm beast?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner transmits, "What is happening?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> James Heller sighs. "Did she just get eaten by an elder god minion?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Haman Karn is conspicuously silent on the matter!

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Dibs on the Neo Murasame Labs!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "She might have some nice stuff stashed there."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> James Heller transmits, "Damn it where are my banishment rituals . A copy of Gekikan month... battle androids, no, Newtype, no. It's around here somewhere!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "What happened?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Why don't we cut it open and see if she falls out?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner transmits, "That is what I would like to know."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "...Wait did she get eaten by a giant worm?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Yeah, pretty much"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "Which is also nuclear?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Uh huh."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "That's about the size of it."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner ...

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "...All hail space commander worm!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner audio face-palm.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "I would follow that worm to the grave."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner transmits, "Do you need assistance in getting the commander out?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "Aww come on. I mean...the worm will be less likely to eat us."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner transmits, "It /did/ just eat the commander, didn't it? If I am hearing correctly."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "That... looks like it."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "You know... I bet she'll be pissed if we destroy this thing."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "So... who do we fear more? The giant worm... or commander Karn?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Think of it like surgery."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "With explosions!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Uhh..."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner transmits, "Then I suppose that leaves the question doesn't it? Do you wish to save the commander, or-- serve a nuclear worm that could eat us all?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn pauses hesitantly, as if considering this question in earnest.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell observes calmly, "The worm is probably smarter."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Ouch."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "Nuclear worm! NUCLEAR WORM!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Ouch."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "You know I bet she's got this recorded, so when she mind controls the nuclear worm thing or something, we're all, uh."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Wormfood."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "You might be."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "You know. Christmas present."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "Ooo...I bet that would cause lots of explosions."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite goes through his onboard weapon systems. "I don't think the Vector Cannon would be called... surgery."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "I just rebuilt the Gremlins, they're basically remote cutting lasers."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "I'm certain you could. But how long do you think you'd keep it up before some well-meaning hero stopped you?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner transmits, "Do any of you have an engery beam saber?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "If you're going to threaten me, send me the specifications."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "I've got a laser blade on my NEXT."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "Let me see if I can't find you a spot to slice into."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "Uh..."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Zero-two Dragonslayer model."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner transmits, "Let me guess.. your not on the next."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "Well, Dr. Hell, don't you have a timer to determine this?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "Doctor."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Sure I am, just finished fixing her up."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite corrects. "Doctor. My apologies."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "If I were you, I would aim for the area closest to the mouth."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Copy that."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "You should be able to slice down the throat fairly easily, giving the demented little girl an escape route."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "If she doesn't want to get out, it's equally easy repaired."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Good plan."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Insolent is pretty much rad-proof, I'll get in close if I've gotta."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell drolly observes, "It's almost as if I'm some sort of biologist."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "I know, right? I thought you were a doctor of infernology."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Commencing dentistry!"

"Oh geesh. /Now/ what!?" Ascian and the Amenthes he was riding - looking not quite properly repaired yet, missing some pieces of armor - both are in a state of not... being quite whole. The young man is wearing a bandage around one side of his face - letting him only look out of the cockpit with the other, non-hidden, eye. The Orbital Frame itself has one leg somewhat up, the other hanging on - but only barely so. Its arms were properly repaired however. "I can't believe they could only find such a small supply of Metatron." Ascian is staring at the little indicator for Duat, which is barely flickering. The A.I. however, is capable of replying. "It was the same amount as used at the N.U.T. facility after the train incident. I believe that the Amenthes unit may have begun to... need more." - "Need more?" The BAHRAM framerunner's hands are both on the controls, but he can feel it. Like Amenthes isn't quite... 'full'.

"Never mind. I believe I can sense what you mean." And it really didn't matter. Because beneath them, a gigantic... worm... was coming out. He set the Amenthes' sensors to a higher resolution to try and see if he could find the Qubeley inside of that place, after which he engages the shields. "If we are going to get close to that monster... we better keep out the radiation." A red shield quickly envelops the unit.

What follows is some quite interesting talk on the Divine Crusader radio, as well as some suggestions by Dr. Hell. "Amenthes, modify the homing beam array for constant output along a single point - to make it into a cutting system." Ascian commands - to which Duat replies with a simply confirmation. Its wings break apart, following this, and quickly begin turning around their horizontal axis whilst aiming for the worm's mouth. "Fire!" And so, the homing beam array focusses all of its lasers to a single point - then lashes that severely enhanced red beam straight forwards at the giant worm's mouth - trying to cut it open from afar.

Ken had returned today to see just what was happening.

"Ken this is out right lovecraftian."

"I see that, now the question is why do we stop this."

"Do you want an eldrich horror with the DC?"

"You have a point."

The Ardjet flies in, making sure the cockpit block is sealed.

Ringo would get a radio from Ken. "So your here for her to hummm, Oh ya sorry about your arm it's kinda burried now..."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "I wonder how Welch is doing..."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "On another note..."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Miss traitor is back..."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "Then...kill her?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner transmits, "Traitor?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Ken."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Ken."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "Are you really that helpless without Karn guiding you?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "Here, let me help you."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "Take the joystick, or preferred means of control, in hand."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "Aim carefully, and wait for the lockon."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner transmits, "I see, her."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "Then fire."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "I do better... when I have orders. And currently, I am split between two thoughts."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "So simple, even a Newtype monkey could do it."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "Then focus."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Very well. The moment the cutting-laser is done, I will commence attack on the traitor."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "I'm sure you guys can handle a giant worm."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "Your orders are to verify what happened to the little lunatic of Zeon as priority one, because if she's not around it's going to cave in on itself like a collapsing canyon; priority two is to exterminate Ken Marinaris, and priority three is to discover the nature of the worm."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "And as much as I am loathe to say it, if Zeon falls apart, the DC won't last much longer."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner transmits, "Do you wish for me to head there and deal with the traitor as you all focus on the worm?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Sorry Remille. BAHRAM business."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "Don't be an idiot, boy. She's a traitor to the Divine Crusaders as much as she is BAHRAM."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "Honor gets you killed in war."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner transmits, "I see, then next time I will not concern myself in assisting with any matters of BAHRAM."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite thinks over this for a moment.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "What you say makes sense. Very well then."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Remille. Kill the broad."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner transmits, "As you wish."

Whatever Haman is up to here, it must be stopped!

These past two days, himself and Amuro have come from distant Katharon to face the Divine Crusader forces, with or without help from the Federation.

They have failed to take the site, but have hopefully slowed Haman's progress, throwing one machine after another at the problem. Staren's Astray was heavily damaged in a battle the day before as well -- He can't keep up with the repairs in this situation, so he's going to have to borrow a machine from Katharon.

MOMENTS AGO, IN SPACE

The blue ball of earth fills the front of Staren's screens, a 360-degree 'linear seat' cockpit, and reflects off his helmet visor. Earth and humanity... he fights so that they may achieve a better future. Today, he fights to free them from whatever horrors Haman will unleash if not stopped. The nemo's thrusters propell it forward and it turns as it falls into the atmosphere, ballute deploying from its backpack like some sort of falling balloon bean bag chair...

NOW

The Nemo's fall is only slightly slowed by the parachute. Staren can see the whole of Chernobyl from up here, and that green glow worries him. He's pretty sure radiation isn't supposed to actually make a green glow. Sure radioactive materials can glow from heat, but the particles themselves are invisible, and even cherenkov radiation is a very distinctive blue. So something _weird_ is up here.

Well he certainly wasn't expecting a giant worm. What the... there are really giant worms?! What the hell?!

Then Staren remembers that dinosaurs and elves live below the surface of the earth, and things feel normal again. Time to kill the giant monster!

Several meters above the surface, rocket thrusters fire on the underside of the backpack, halting Staren's descent, and then the Nemo lands and detaches the pack, which crashes to the ground. Staren keeps his eyes on the worm, but watches the DC units out of the corner of his eyes... You never know, this might be part of Haman's plan...

Turns out the Dola isn't /completely/ radproof, all the way through. The thing had to be hosed down and fixed up, weapons had to be replaced, and he practically had to have a toothbrush taken to it to get the grime off of it. Some days it's hard when you insist on doing all the repairs and refits yourself.

Insolent, though, is fixed up after the debacle around the White Star. Sam put together new replacement GREMLIN remotes, polished the thing to the kind of shine you can see yourself in, and tuned and tweaked it to his heart's desire. Something that flies seemed like a good plan when he got called back over to Chernobyl--

Giant worm.

"What the hell is this," Sam cries, throwing his arms up in shock and surprise. "A giant worm? Really?!" He sighs in disgust and gets on the radio.

Insolent kind of hangs out in the air for a moment, hovering while Sam starts converting the control scheme to the proper Allegorical Manipulation System settings for operating the remotes. The holographic keyboard setup appears, lights changing to a green tint in the mech's cockpit.

"Okay. Lets see what it can... do." He isn't sure if he should be shooting the worm or shooting the incoming non-DC mechs. Time will tell for that one, though.

Not to long, perhaps due to the fact the ship was already in route. The drop ship was martian designed with stealth feel to it and black pain with no markings to be found over its body. As it got closer to the combat zone, the hatch opened up in the back; Not shortly after the dark blue, near black Armored Core dropped out from the back.

The Armored Core feel from the sky, its red visor stared down at the battle field as it grew in closer and closer. Soon the thrusters fired and the Martian machine soared in the sky; taking aim with the rifle right at the the traitor of the Divine Crusaders, Ken Marinaris.

Her saphire eyes narrow behind her glasses, as she opens up radio communication, "Former Divine Crusader unit, Ken Marinaris. You only get this verbal warning, I am not here to play, but to kill you."

The Conqueror Worm (aka Witchfinder General) lets out a bizarre, echo-y bellow, cut short by being shot up. Beams light up the skies in a criss-cross of electric danger, lancing into the ribbed, glowing hull of the beast. It thrashes and wiggles -- it doesn't have weapons, nor limbs to make use of. Its attacks are limited to the most primitive of tactics.

Not that a little neo-primitivism ever hurt anybody -- just ask the early art boom of Soviet Russia, before socialist realism! But that's a distant memory and also a bunch of paintings, and this is Real Ass Worm War ('Real Ass' Worm War, not Real 'Ass Worm' War -- totally different).

The huge wormbeast swings in its rooted spot, seeking to slam its bulk into Staren and Ascian for daring to get too close. Oh no!

Ringo blinks.

He stares at Ken for a moment. "Woman, you have a way of greeting people, don't you?" he says with an annoyed grunt. He starts to go for the flask of wisky in his emergancy compartment when...

Lots of radio trafic, and of course...

"...You left the DC?!" he nearly shouts in surprise. Huh...

Then he moves the rifle towards the large worm. Ken could handle herself until the giant worm was put down.

The single shot fires, aiming to try and blow off a piece of the worms nose...or mouth...whatever it was.

Staren fires several beam shots at the worm (those looking closely might notice the Star Hawk's missile pod strapped to its rifle), but this apparently just makes it angry! It thrashes about, and the Nemo narrowly jumps over it. Staren sees it also attacked that DC Orbital frame...

<Tell you what... truce to take this thing down?>

Staren doesn't wait for a reply though, before holstering his weapon and turning his back to Ascian, chasing after the worm with beam sabers drawn. He begins with a vertical slash, then tries to stick the other saber in and run alongside the worm, to make one long, terrible cut!

So, quick recap: The DC is out mining radiation. Haman Karn got eaten by a giant radioactive vagina monster. Remille is picking fights with A-Laws. Marcus pauses to think about what to do... that giant worm /does/ need putting down, but it ate Haman "Crazy Bitch" Karn, so that might be grounds for a temporary reprieve from death right there. On the other hand, even if it dies, the DC can still cause a lot of trouble with their hands on this much potential radioactive material. "Eh, I never liked that psychotic witch anyway." A compartment on the left torso of the Atlas III pops open and a flight of fifteen long-ranged missiles streak out, arching high into the air before coming down upon both the Insolent and the Amenthes.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Look out Flynn!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "I see 'em, don't sweat it!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Tssk. Trailor trash have no honor."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "What did the good doctor just say?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "I'll break it down. HONOR IS FOR CHUMPS."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Hey, if I force our enemies to abide to honor - and we don't... it kinda works out for us. No?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "Yes."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell observes, once again dryly, "This is a great deal of why I am still alive."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "How long have you been alive, if I may be so curious?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell rattles off a number somewhere between 60 and 80, probably in the high seventies, left to imagination for the sake of expediency.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki suddenly, "Thousands of years ago, before the the dawn of man as we knew him..."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite asskisses, "That'd explain your wisdom, Doctor Hell."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell observes flatly, "You're a kiss-ass, boy."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Only saying what I think, Doctor."

Ken Marinaris says, "Yes, it's a long story Ringo I'll explain later! It's good to see you again!"

Ken's aware of the Raven but there's an eldritch worm to deal with really. She just gives a simple reply to the raven.

"I see."

She turns and opens up on the horrorific thing from below with a whole lot of lasers.

Incoming giant worm! When Ascian had started that laser to cut open its mouth, only to notice that the speed at which Amenthes could now move was greatly reduced, he'd kept his attention on the collosal thing at all times. And when the cutting laser finally halts for a moment, its armor even shudders. Yes, the Amenthes was quite in a state of malrepair. And there was this annoying whine in the back of his mind that was surely Amenthes telling him it needed more Metatron. It wanted to feed more. and retreat back to their wing-position when the worm retaliates.

But it had no time to feed. All it had time for was to put up both of its hands as the giant body starts coming down. It was a defensive maneuver really - automatically, like a child putting up its hands to protect itself from getting slapped. It catches the giant thing, which quickly begins to force him down towards the ground. "Shit!" Ascian mutters, and sets the verniers to full boost. The wings tremble under the force of trying to get out from underneath it. And when it finally does, Ascian is /pissed/.

He only becomes /more/ pissed when Duat suddenly warns him that there are missiles. Missiles that are coming /his way/. He quickly turns his head the entire way, since they were coming from his blind side, and presses his will into his unit to get that extra bit of speed to launch up into the air. Quickly, the right arm shifts into a rifle and begins rattling bolts of red plasma into their ways, exploding them early and at a safe distance away from him. "Damn trailor trash! Have you no honor!?" He calls out towards Marcus. "Attacking us from the back!" Not like he wouldn't do /exactly/ the same, mind you. Ascian's a bit of a hypocrite.

The wings then once again open. "Let's try this again. Same as last day." He spots Staren that very moment, as the homing beam array begins to power up. And he does receive the message. He ignores it though, believing that the fact that his next attack is /not/ aimed for him should tell the story. "Fire!" He calls out, and the laser splits into two areas, one retaliating against Marcus, zig-zagging and flailing around in random directions to make it harder to guess from where they would hit -- whilst the others remain in a straight line towards the worm, trying to cut its mouth open further... whilst lifting his unit up so that he can stare down its ugly mug -- trying to get a sensor reading on the /insides/.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "How does that ass taste?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Tssk."

The dark haired woman cants her head to the side as she seems to go ignored. Those saphire eyes stare at the five monitors with very little expression now in them. She then reaches over and flips off a switch killing the radio communications.

Remille then moves her hands over the soft glow of the touch key pad and begins to type on it, the data on the left lower screen is reflected in her glasses; It streams across with quick checks.

The Armored Core floats there in the air, the rifle not moving off from its target. Then in those silent moments, the finger of the Armored Core slowly starts to squeeze on the trigger of the sniper rifle; Slowly; Steadily.

A glow starts to emit from the barrel of the long martian rifle and then with suppressed air from the rifle, the energy beam is fired.

Insolent's missile warning system beeps a few times. Sam turns the NEXT and fires into the swarm with the machine gun clutched in it's right hand, detonating the warheads that split off to come at him before they get close. Insolent hardly has to move. "That's... an Atlas," he observes, zooming in a portion of his cockpit display to take a look at the sort of unusual BattleMech. "Sort of."

Sam opens up a comm channel to the 'Mech; it's really an open thing rather than a private band. "Hey, we've kind of got a situation here, so if you could do me a favor and keep those to yourself, I'd owe you one." He pauses a beat, and then adds, "Cool 'Mech by the way; who did the custom job? It looks great."

Insolent deploys three small spheres, dropping them out of the back of the shoulder-mounted rack of some sort. They fly under their own power closer to the worm and start to fire, slicing across it's flesh with bright cutting beams somewhat similar to the lasers on a 'Mech. Insolent hangs back, trying not to get in bite range while Sam runs numbers and feeds them to the remotes.

There are a lot of numbers. It's a good thing he's good at math.

"You mean the giant radioactive worm creature? Yeah, I kinda noticed that. I also kinda noticed that there are a bunch of Zeon machines around digging it along with metric tons of irradiated material up out of the ground," Marcus replies coolly, taking a moment to turn towards Ascian and rumble off a few rounds from his Ultra Autocannon as the spraying homing lasers pepper the Assault 'Mech's heaily armored hide. "Besides, it ate Karn. I would give it a god damn medal if it weren't a giant atomic killbeast." Striding forward like only an Assault 'Mech can into a chaotic battlefield, the Atlas pushes forward, keeping a steady pace as it lifts up it's left arm next and discharges two pinpoint beams of concentrated light. "Nothing personal. Just can't let you walk away with whatever it is you came for."

Ken Marinaris says "Your really an idiot we have an elrich horror here. Ah well, blinded by credits what can I say about you raven. Your kind always did love the dollar signs more than anything else." The Ardjet is hit but it should have gone down, a number of whisps are smoking and wruined as they had intercepted most of the shot. "You really don't care about the sort of scum your working for do you? NOW OUT OF MY WAY! THERES SOMETHING MORE IMPORANT THAN YOU TO DEAL WITH!"

More WISPs deploy and go after the worm rather than the Raven.

The worm screams! From all sides, it's besieged -- pieces of radioactive worm-blubber explode from its giant mass, like someone ripping out chunks of a glowing pumpkin. It's fairly revolting to look at, and a little disconcerting if one views the worm as the phallocentric symbol that it is. Crusaders, Katharon, etc. -- all working together to smash the patriarchy!

Anyway, the giant wriggling dick-beast bellows some more, and doesn't seem any closer to coughing up the crab-horror that it swallowed a million years ago. The big long cut that Staren made in its hide oozes radioactive worm-gut-juice, and it bleeds more heavily when the monster trembles, wiggling and emitting a deep rumble like a tummy throwing an acid tantrum. Samuel Flynn's lasers lacerate it further and deeper, and the thing bleeding everywhere is probably going to cause ecological devastation that will take decades to clean up.

But none of that stops it from surging outward and spreading open its toothsome, horrifying maw, like if someone was hiding a shark's mouth in the ugliest anus at the zoo (I leave it to you, the reader, to decide which zoo animal has the ugliest anus). And that horrible, Paul Dano-esque anus-mouth is headed /right for Samuel Flynn/.

Chomp!

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner transmits, "Your Traitor is either a cocky pilot or a fool."

The Frightner continues to hover there; The Pilot within starting to smile just faintly, before her lips crease to a serious straight line once more. She flips the switch back on, "I do not do what I do for a paycheck. I do what I do by the orders I have received. Those orders are to remove you, not to play save the commander. There are others for that and capable of the task placed before them. Just as I am capable of removing you." The Dark Armored Core then starts to reposition itself, landing down on the ground at last and sliding back slightly, "But if you so desire to make my orders easy, then who am I to argue. Though I do disdain easy targets."

The Sniper rifle takes aim once more before another shot screams across the sky.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner transmits, "Your Traitor is either a cocky pilot or a fool."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "I vote both."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner transmits, "Yes, I suppose being cocky does indeed lead into foolishness."

"Can't stop Zeon from being Zeon, dude," Sam replies with an audible shrug. Insolent sort of sways to the right; there's a quick flash as the booster triggers, propelling it out of the path of the lasers. With the timing of the dodge, it's pretty easy to tell he's used to Inner Sphere weapons. "All I know is, one of the scariest people I know just got eaten by a giant atomic death worm, and I think my boss would be ticked if we let her pass through it's digestive tract."

"But yeah, I get that it isn't personal; wouldn't be asking for the name of your tech otherwise." He taps a few keys and one of the remotes breaks off, sweeping a blue cutting laser across the Atlas III's path. Sam's hyper-speed math gets thrown off by the sudden movement of the worm coming at him, leaving a black line across the ground and sending the remote spinning in the air. He looks back--

"Oh /shit/!" Insolent gets chomped right out of the air, the Armored Core NEXT's Primal Armor flaring to life and concentrating around the points of pressure from the teeth. It bathes the worm in even more horrible radiation, the flesh-melting Kojima Particles 'flaking' off the barrier they form and drifting through the air. He's pinned in it's mouth, so he does what any good pilot does: start cutting.

The 02-Dragonslayer laser blade mounted on it's left arm ignites, the short blade an intense blue with a white edge, stabbing straight into the thing's mouth and teeth. The reverse-jointed legs are jammed between it's teeth, and he starts to try and hack and slash his way free before it swallows him and sends him down to Haman Karn and /her/ resting place.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Oh /shit/! Uh, aim away from the mouth, aim away from the mouth!!"

Ringo watches as the worm looks to be pretty exploded. This thing isn't going to last long. The Weapon systems kick out the rifle, and switch over to the Railgun. Flying forward, Ringo lets a barrage of shots from the Railgun.

However he says only one thing...

Ok he SCREAMS one thing.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" So it reminds him a little of Space Rambo.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "You okay... ehh... 'in there'?"

"Yeah, I suppose your boss might frown on you letting her get turned into a pile of crap," Marcus shoots back. Then adds almost as an afterthought: "Oh, by the way. Might wanna look behind you." And /MUNCH/. That's gotta suck, but them's the breaks. While Sam occupied with dealing with the radioactive reject from Tremors (if only there were a concrete wall you could trick it into braining itself on), Marcus shifts his attention back to the other Crusaders and continues his march forward, missiles blooming form a hatch on the right torso that streaks towards Ascian. They're /supposed/ to be highly accurate and homing, but in this radiation level, who knows?

So far so good, non-ecologically speaking -- Staren's Nemo remains unscathed, aside from some radioactive worm blood which is peeling the paint anywhere _near_ it... And despite what he's done, the worm ignores him in favor of some DC machine. Ignoring him (and, you know, everyone else here) will surely be its undoing! Staren's Nemo runs up to some distance back from the head, and begins slashing with the beamsabers, arms spinning like a double windmill of plasma death! And if it weren't for the beam sabers cauterizing, it would probably be a literal bloodbath for the mobile suit... As it is, this thing is likely going to end up radioactive waste. Staren hopes he can cut deep enough to sever whatever passes for its central nervous system!

He briefly wonders if it's really necessary to kill the worm... Maybe they could all just leave... But then what if it surfaced around humans when there _weren't_ a bunch of mecha around to deal with it?

Best to deal with it now.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Not 'in' yet, but the Primal Armor's still holding up..."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "See if you can get a radio link setup with Haman."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "I'll... /try/, I guess."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner hrms.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "I'm going to throw a set of burst impacts off on its head - Flynn. It will simply create a kinetic force on the beast - and provide you with a hole to escape from."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Got it."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "At least... I think that is it's head..."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner transmits, "..is not the Primal Armor able to conduct a massive field energy?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Depends on the engine; I'm lacking the charge right now."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "But it /can/."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Besides, the KP blast from triggering Assault Armor is a form of radiation and I don't know if it eats it or what."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner transmits, "Hrm. Point. May cause it to grow larger."

Whilst the lasers hit properly, the Amenthes shifts its position constantly until finally the wings reform once more. "Thanks Duat." Ascian comments to the Artificial intelligence. "For what, sir?" - "For guiding my attacks. I can't really see depth that well with one eye." To demonstrate this, he lifts one hand off of the controls and reaches it out before himself - as if touching something that wasn't there. However, he quickly puts it back when a warning comes up. "INCOMING MISSILES!" In nice big capital letters. Gotta make sure the pilot can read it after all. And nothing says 'urgent' like capital, bold, red and /flashing/ letters.

The wings spread, metatron crystals portrude from between the feathery folds, and the Orbital Frame jets off - getting out of the way of the attack and watching as the missiles explode randomly where he had once been. "The hell?" He'd at least expected those things to come around and go for him on a second pass. He was totally planning on guiding them to the ground and do one of those awesome 'pull up at the last moment' routines. But the radiation was just crazy enough here, so close to the worm, that the electronics must have been totally fried. He feels lucky for having that red shield still holding around the Amenthes.

"Hang in there babe." The blue haired framerunner whispers to his Orbital Frame. Then suddenly its glow begins to fill up more. As if... those words had somehow invigorated it. "Yeah? Me too." Answering to a voice that simply wasn't there, Ascian prepares his unit for an assault on the worm's head using its space-compressed plasma bursts. Two massive orbs quickly begin to grow at the ends of the rifle-transformed arms and continue to grow and grow. He's completely ignoring the trailer now. If he was that bad of a shot, he wouldn't have to worry. That was his logic.

"Ready Flynn!?" He calls over the speakers, making sure the other young man would hear him. "Here we go!" And with a burst of speed he flings the first orb straight at the bottom of the worm's head as he speeds up towards the sky, then rolls over - doing a 360 over its horizontal axis, then spins around his vertical and lobs the second at the top!

Well, here's the secret: it's no longer just a worm. It's a giant pipe bomb. This is evident in how it /freaking explodes/. Samuel attacks from within; a whole bunch of others attack from outwith. The end result is that the top half of the thing basically splits like a cooked sausage and then splatters all over the landscape, further toxifying an already horrible landscape. And so, the day is saved from monsters!

Or is it? Because from the wreckage of the worm tumbles the Qubeley, slathered in radioactive guts and glop, looking about as dignified as a gallstone. The radio and other communications arrays are down -- sitting in that thing's stomach seems to have done major damage to the suit -- but Haman Karn is alive, if unconscious, within. The Qubeley lands on the ground and stays there, and a few Zakus swoop in to try and ferry it to safety.

But no doubt the fighting will continue, and the true secrets of the 'psychic temple' will reveal themselves in time...

...assuming Haman didn't just basically ensure a lifetime of 'dying of radiation sickness,' that is.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner transmits, "Is everyone alright?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Iiii've been better."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Anyway, cover the Zakus."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner hint of maybe a tease in her voice, "Worm guts seem good on a Next."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Pfft. They don't do anything for the aerodynamic design, I'll tell you that much."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "I'm... holdin' up. Miss Amenthes hungers for more Metatron though..."

Ken Marinaris raises the ardjet's hand as Remille lines up the shot, and sever whisps appear hovering there intercepting the shot. They are a loss but the primary unit is unharmed at all from that attack.

"Tch, you don't think much do you. Ah well."

Well it's too late to make a shot for HAMAN, her goons were too fast but she may be good as dead anyway from the radation. Then again if they got her to an area of N jammer effect. Who knows as for Remille she gets every last wisp making up Ken's cape comming after her.

"Now for /you/ little bitd!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Hrrrm... Ardjet contains Metatron..."

When the giant worm finally explodes, the spray of guts and whatnot spills against the red forcefield which Ascian has in place in a perfect sphere around the Amenthes. It slowly drips off, sparking the shield now and again whilst the framerunner tries to get a look at what is going on. It is only when Haman Karn departs that he gets a better visual on things again. He pivots the Amenthes about a bit in order to pan the view from his cockpit and finally sets his gaze onto Ken. "The traitor." He growls... when suddenly. His eye, beneath the bandage, glows a bit. Or rather, the skin beneath it, which already carried slight grooves of Metatron poisoning. It wasn't much, but enough to be noticable to a third party. But, there was no third party. Or was there? "Sir."

Duat suddenly pops up a mirror-view of himself. "Please take note of your current physical state." Seeing oneself suddenly in the midst of a battle is distracting. But when one ends up seeing what looks like a red bioluminescent line going behind cloth that is covering one's eye... that's just plain creepy. "What the..." Ascian utters and reaches his left hand up to that eye and touches the spot. "Tss!" It hurt a bit when he touched it. "What's going on, Duat?" He demands to know. "Unknown, sir." The artificial intelligence reports. "It would be best to talk to a professional about this."

And then suddenly, he begins getting that feeling again. The feeling that Amenthes isn't 'whole'. "I know, you need Metatron to repair further." But nothing was nearby. Or... was there!? He sets his attention onto Ardjet. A grin forms. The glowing skin beneath his eye is forgotten immediately as the little maniac in his head starts whispering words. "There, we can get Metatron there, Amenthes." The unit's wings flourish in red Metatron energy all of the suddenly, seeping off like embers. Burning like a phoenix's wings. "Let's go get it!" Its both arms shift into hands and the unit darts for Ken's Orbital Frame, fully intending on /grabbing/ it and siphoning Metatron... somehow. He didn't even know if that could be done. But he'd try!

Those sapphire blue eyes narrow as Ken at last turns her attention to her Armored Core, "Little bird." She says back softly, "..apparently you do not know what a Frightner is."

Those wisps come, and the Armored Core skates along the ground quickly, spinning its body to try and avoid the whisps. They slam down around the machine while it evade dances; Some hitting; Some missing.

The Damage being done by the impacts were starting to add up to the armors ability withstand the incoming damage, yet the Nightingale leaps into the air, even with the ones chasing after her up into the air. She takes the opening; Staring down the target mark and readjusting with her own eyes. "We are not little scavengers, we are the hunters." Then opening fire.

It was not soon did those wisps at last get to her, sending her Armored Core a bit off course and back into the ground below. It rolled on impact with the ground, but the martian machine rolled right back up onto its feet. Its free hand dug into the earth, trenching the ground with its metallic fingers to slow the speed.

Then the machine looked up at the target Ender, before, rising back to its feet and rushing back into the air once more to see Ascian going for the move to steal the metatron. Remille then raises a brow gently, thinking silently to herself, before she types in a few commands over the keyboard before taking the controls once more.

The Armored Core floats in the air as the small plasma cannon moves up on its shoulder and then moves slightly to lock onto its target. This will take precision aiming; Precision aiming is what Remille does best.

The Cannon aims for a spot between the two enders; A safe spot; before the beam starts to glow gently in the barrel. Moving side to side the redish pink glow becomes brighter and brighter, before it blasts out a small stream line energy beam to try and rip into Ken's machine.

The worm basically explodes.

Sam is inside of it when it does. His laser blade sears the outside, and just when he thinks he's got a way out, all kinds of weaponsfire converges on it. The outside bulges /in/, and then it splits open and pretty much spews everywhere. The Armored Core NEXT tumbles out, bouncing along the gut-drenched glowing ground and skidding to a halt a short ways from the corpse.

Insolent clambors to it's feet and fires it's jets, short bursts clearing gunk out of the thrusters by firing it like wet meat from a cannon. Sam tries not to look at the stuff that is covering the visor on the main screen, instead reaching one narrow hand up and wiping it off with a finger. He shudders at the thought.

"Okay," he groans, "that's just nasty. Sealed cockpit, sealed cockpit, sealed cockpit," he repeats to himself, his mantra warding him against the possible stench and horrific radiation poisoning. Insolent steps out of the gunk-pile and takes to the air again, flesh sloughing off it as the Primal Armor turns it to even more liquid radioactive goop.

He flies cover for the Zakus going for Haman Karn's mangled mech, trying not to lose his lunch. /Someone/ is gonna have to do the paperwork for this, and it is going to probably have to be him. He just knows it.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Zeon command suddenly reports, "Samuel Flynn. To you goes the honors of writing the report and other paperwork to this mission."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn must be some kind of Newtype. "--er. Got it, command."

The worm is defeated! But Haman gets away.

Is there any point to continuing to fight here? He can't exactly claim the site for Katharon by himself... Maybe he should just... go...

Then he sees them all ganging up on the A-LAWS pilot. That doesn't seem right. The Nemo sheaths its beam sabers, and draws forth its rifle again, with the attached missile pod. Staren acquires a lock on the DC machines, and prepares to fire...

And then Ken leaves. And he realizes she can go a lot faster than he can.

Time to beat it!

The Nemo runs away!

Ken Marinaris isn't about stay around not with these odds, she smirks over the comm. "I guess I'll see the both of you later. Oh I do your highly skilled mercs but you don't know what a REAL CAUSE IS!"

"Ken we're out numbered and the trustworthyness of Katharon is suspect on a good day."

"Right."

The Arjdet just turns and run at top speed.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner transmits, "Childish coward."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "So she is."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Better part of valor, I guess."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "I think I need a hose. Or a flamethrower."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner grumbles something under her breathe about causes.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> James Heller transmits, "Your reading as radiictive. You'll need to be decontaminated."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner transmits, "He is in a NEXT. Those machines are Radioactive. That is why the pilots have to be a.. hrm.. interesting breed. If you are not killed by what they are powered by, you be killed by the G-forces they can produce."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Remille Fortner transmits, "Unless my information is incorrect on the NEXT technology."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Yeah, they're pretty much radproof unless there's an armor breach."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Samuel Flynn transmits, "Gotta be, Kojima particles are nasty."

Amenthes is incapable of laying a hand on the Ardjet, as it speeds away before it even gets close enough. "Shit." Ascian knows that he cannot outrun her right now, since his Orbital Frame is damaged. "Tssk." He turns his attention on the giant hole in the ground for a moment, then looks at the others present on the battlefield. There was no more reason to stick around. "I am heading off, you guys. It doesn't look like there really is anything more to do here, and Amenthes needs some serious repairs." And he needed to ask someone rather important about his body. And the changes it was going through. His flight does quickly take him past Flynn though, raising his unit's hand... to give his NEXT a high-five before blasting off properly.

People start booking it left and right. Sam lets them. He doesn't feel like he has to shoot any of them down if they're going to just /leave/. The Armored Core NEXT is kind of chewed up and kind of slimy, so hunting them down would just be an exercise in getting shot up more and risking getting /himself/ slimy.

Yeah. Not happening.

Sam hovers, turning the AMS off and retrieving the Gremlin remotes with a quick go-home sort of message. He chatters on his radio while he does, right until the Armored Core picks up something coming at it... so it raises a hand.

GIANT ROBOT HIGH-FIVE!

Ascian gets a couple of awesome points for that one. Sam doesn't feel quite so bad about going home covered in worm-guts now.

Remille watchs as Ken leaves and hrms softly. She says very little, nothing really.

Instead she takes her leave, heading back for her drop-ship that is waiting for her at the meeting point.