2011-06-07 - Azure Wings

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Tuesday, June 07, NCA 121 20:23 Greenland Local Time Peregrine Class battleship, DCSF Misty Dream

They were still over the ocean. The hangar is filled with a somewhat smaller sized squad of Divine Crusaders. The Amenthes is active, and floating before the hatch - which is soon to give way in order to let the forces behind him come down upon the small Katharonian base they are en-route to. There is a constant radio feed with the battleship's captain, so that the order to launch can be given as early as possible. The red glow of the machine courses eradically and brightly throughout its veins, almost completely in synchrony to Ascian's current mental state. He's practically gritting his teeth, waiting for the signal to launch comes in. The clipped on ankh earring is still hanging from his ear, ever since he'd put it on last night. That night with that strange dream.

"What did she mean... Mayet is watching over her?" He didn't remember much of that dream, but certain elements still were on his mind. Duat, the frame's Artificial Intelligence decides to jump in with an answer; "You dreamt. It is obvious that Mayet is connected to her in some way. Within a dreamlike state, things don't always make sense."

"Thanks, Duat." Ascian mutters, after which he lets out a long-drawn sigh and lets his head fall back against the section behind his seat - letting him look up at the ceiling of the Misty Dream's hangar. Ironically, the lights are a gentle blue, making his machine currently look a tad purple from the outside. But then, when in a state such as his, one is expected to make these kind of connections everywhere. Like a constant state of deja-vu. For a moment, he manages to calm himself and closes his eyes. His mind is left to wander for a moment, a moment only spent to beat himself up. If only he'd looked more thoroughly. If only he'd been closer to her during that jump. If only, if only, if only. The constant red haze within the cockpit begins to thicken, and Amenthes; spirit begins to assert itself into 'reality' as an actual physical entity again. She's about to say something, to whisper little things into Ascian's ear - however doesn't get a chance. a voice crackles through the hangar's speakers, and Ascian's attention being ripped back to reality causes the figment to disappate.

"We're in range." The captain calls out. "As planned, starting barrage now!"

"Roger that." The hangar doors begin to open, and the dark sky immediately becomes visible beneath. Ascian grins. Finally. Finally he will have the chance to punish who-ever had been foolish enough to become the pilot of the Mayet. And finally, he had a chance to obtain his sister's Orbital Frame. The last memento! "Everyone, launch now!" And even as Ascian calls out that single 'order', the Amenthes's verniers hit full power and the machine forced metal of the hangar to bend inwards when it takes off and curves right about towards the Katharon base.

NOW Greenland

Amongst the icy plains of Greenland, amongst a few trees, stands a thick cemented hangar along with a landing tower. It doesn't particularly stand out on the radar, or photos, as it is almost white against the white snow on the ground. It is only through sheer ingenuity that the Intelligence Agents of the Divine Crusaders had managed to find this place. With the appearance of the grey Peregrine Class battleship however, an air-raid siren begins to blare throughout the area, followed soon by a golden-yellow light piercing the skies and crashing just left of the base, and digs a /huge/ trench besides it, turning nearby trees to ashes and then finally piercing the small mountain-side to the north-west and causing a huge explosion! Immediately, an avalanche is triggered, as snow and debris comes rushing down towards the base.

A message then comes in to the radar tower, where the base's director is scrambling to the top and comes to a halt - panting. "It's the Divine Crusaders sir! They are demanding we hand over the Orbital Frame!" The communications officer calls back, one earpiece being held to his ear. "What do we tell them?"

The director barks out, immediately; "We don't negociate with terrorists! Launch all mobile suits! Throw everything we got at them!"

Within moments, the hangar opens, and a small squad of Astray units lead the way, turning about to launch their beam-weapons at the incoming Peregrine and its squad - only to immediately be ripped into by a flood of homing laser fire, carving straight into their cockpits and snuffing out the lives of the pilots. "RAAAAAAAAAAH!" Ascian shouts within his cockpit, as he unleashes a further barrage upon the hangar.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __         |__|  ^^   |  ^^   |  ^^   |  ^^   |  ^^   |  ^^   |  ^^   |  ^^   |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|         |  ^^   |  ^^   |  ^^   |  ^^   |  ^^   |__|__|  ^^   |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|  DC  |__|__| ## | ## | ## |__| | ^^   |  ^^   |  ^^   |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__| ## | ## | ## |__|         |  ^^   |  ^^   |  ^^   |  ^^   |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|  DC  |__|__|__|__|__|__| | ^^   |  ^^   |  ^^   |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|  DC  |__|__|__|__|__| | ^^   |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|  $$  |__|__|__|  DC  |  $$  |__|__|__| |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__| DC  |__|__|__| |__|__|__|__|__| ##  |  ##  |  ##  |  ##  |  ##  |  ##  |  ##  |  ##  |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|  $$  |__|__|         |__|__|__|  $$  |__|  ##  |  ##  |  ##  |  ##  |  ##  |  ##  |  ##  |  ##  |__|  ##  |  ##  |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|         |__|__|__|__|__|  ##  |  ##  |  ##  |  ##  |  ##  |  ##  |  ##  |  ##  |__|  ##  |  ##  |__|__|  $$  |__|__|__|__|         |__|  $$  |__|__|__|__|__|  ##  |  ##  |  ##  | VV |  ##  |  ##  |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__| |__|__|__|__|__|__|__| ##  |  ##  |  ##  | VV |  ##  |  ##  |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__| |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|        |__|__|__|__|  $$  |__|__|__|__|  KA  |__|  KA  |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__| |__| $$  |__|__|__|  $$  |__|__|__|__|  KA  |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|  $$  |__|__|__|__| |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__| $$  |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|         |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|  $$  |__|__|         |__|__|__|  $$  |__|__|  $$  |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|         |    |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|  $$  |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|         |    |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|  $$  |__|__|__|__|__|__|         |    |    |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|         |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |         |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |     -- | ## | Peregrine Battleship            |  ^^   | Ice Mountains | DC  | Deployed DC Forces              |    | River | KA  | Deployed Katharon               |  VV  | Open Hangar Door | ##  | Katharon Base                   |  $$  | Trees That Will Inevitably Fall Divine Crusaders :                   Katharon : 1) Retrieve the Mayet               1) Protect the Base 2) Take out Katharon Defenses       2) Protect the Mayet 3) Destroy Katharon Base            3) Fend off Divine Crusaders

EARLIER...

Oh, the Katharon scientists weren't happy. Lin had inadvertantly had her first live-fight combat away from the Argama and somehow the Orbital Frame had managed to disable the various recording devices that they'd tried to equip to it. Of course, somehow that had ended up being her fault, even if she had no idea whatsoever how Mayet had managed to detect, much less disable the equipment.

So, they'd decided to go about things a different way. Lin and her Orbital Frame had been sent along with a small squad of the Argama's pilots to the Greenland facility. There was the understanding that she would participate in a series of tests in order to get better information about Metatron and Orbital Frame technology. The only problem: Mayet didn't seem to want to cooperate. The blue Orbital Frame had flat out refused to leave the landing hangar, regardless of the pleadings from her pilot.

"What, have you never seen a stubborn mech before?"

NOW...

It has been two days since her arrival at the Greenland base. They'd tried to heft the Orbital Frame up onto huge hauler. After the second mobile suit vanished into thin air, pilot included, most of the rest of the hangar staff had refused to go near the thing. It took the better part of a few hours of convincing on the part of Lin to get Mayet to release the two mechs, and their quite shaken pilots, from the unit's Vector Trap. They'd tried to lift the blue machine with cranes, but somehow the wires always ended up cut. And all of this chaos went on while Lin was having a 'talk' with the scientists, who couldn't wrap their mind around what they were seeing happening before their very eyes.

They'd left her with a somewhat dubious ultimatum to get the machine to follow orders, 'Or Else'. Whatever that had meant. "Listen, Amit. You need to get Mayet to actually listen. Otherwise, I'm going to be in really big trouble." Lin sighs to herself as she leans against the cockpit of the blue machine, donned in the same flight-suit she'd put on this morning for the scheduled round of testing. <<"I'm afraid Mayet is unwilling to be subjected to any of the facility's tests. She does not believe you are capable of making a proper decision in this matter.">> Lin sighs, leaning her head forward until it comes to a *clunk* against her machine's side. "Not this again..."

And that - dear viewers, is when the alarms begin to sound. The scramble order echos through the hangar as Lin's head perks up, looking around as the Katharon pilots make for their own machines. "Do you think she might be up to actually fighting to keep me alive?" There is a pause from within, as if the AI were thinking this over, or having some inner dialogue with the Orbital Frame it controls. <<"Yes, I believe she would allow that.">> With a roll of her eyes, Lin clambers up into the cockpit, tugging a helmet on over her short-cropped white hair.

<"Mistwalker, you are not to launch. I repeat, you are not to launch."> The voice of the controller blares over her radio, causing Lin to curse under her voice. "With all due respect, sir, why the hell not?" Her hands flex over the control orbs, already feeling the flow of Metatron beneath her fingers. <"They're demanding we hand over the Orbital Frame."> The sound of explosions echoes outside - the obvious result of that first defensive by the base's staff. "Sir, our people are dying out there because of me. I'm not about to hide in here like a coward. If nothing else, maybe I can distract them enough so that the base survives." There is another of those long silences, as the command staff seems to mull over this decision. <"Permission to launch granted, Mistwalker.">

"You heard the man, Amit. Wake up Mayet, let's get moving." <<"Affirmative.">> There is a hiss as the cockpit closes, and the sound of thrusters powering up as Mayet shifts from a kneeling position, slowly rising up into the air as she hovers behind some of the still-deploying defense units. As soon as there is an opening, the blue Orbital Frame speeds out of the hangar, trying to get some distance from the rest of the defense force and perhaps draw out whomever it is that has such interest in her. "Come on, take the bait." She whispers, "You want me, come and get me."

Otto Habsburg looks up, inside of his Mobile Fighter's cockpit. The Liondam sits inside a hangar, currently with its legs in the angular Armored Module formation. Its Tesla Drive glows, softly, behind his machine. The brown-haired young man opens his eyes, then narrows them as the call comes out. He sees shots ripping into the hangar ahead of him.

His eyes, suddenly, narrow. "Scheisse!" he yells, as a hand grabs the throttle and kicks it into overdrive. Blue light explodes from the back of the Liondam, as the machine lifts four meters off the tarmac, and weaves between the laser bursts.

The Armored Module lifts up into the sky -- whipping up through a cloud and parting it, before it begins to bank sharp to one side. Its eyes glow a faint green, as it turns around, coming back for the base. "This is Otto Habsburg!" he transmits. "I am in the air!"

Suriel was always a bit off..

And crazy too.

However, that insanity has been tempered thanks to his training under Gym, he knows when to let the voice in his head out, and when to temper it. His brain, used to high speed calculations, but now he notices something that others don't...bases just don't get power from nothing.

"Hey, computer. Locate their power source."

-Source located. it is several meters below the earth, a geothermal pocket that has been detected and tapped into."

Hehehe...

"I got a plan. Send a message to Ascian that we are breaking formation." He says, not even bothering to directly talk to his 'commander'. Instead, he dives down, his Sword breakers come out in 'drill' mode, and start burrowing into the earth with their SPACE LASER design. The Qareen himself also deploys it's own mining lasers, usually used to destroy dense asteroids to get metatron when on long term assignments...

He is drilling at an alarming speed down and closer to that line...

 "Colossus Online. Welcome back, Neva." Followed by Neva squeeing a little, "They installed the voice perfectly! Colossus, perform systems check." "All systems are online and nominal, Neva." "Excellent! Colossus ready for launch!"

 Ascian Luddite transmits, "A voice-unit on your old machine? Eh, whatever. Thanks for joining us, Neva."

 Ascian Luddite transmits, "Also, roger that, Qareen."

 Otto Habsburg transmits, "This is Otto! We have an attack on our base in Greenland!"

 Axel Almer transmits, "Be careful, boys. Come home in one piece."

 Neva Fernandez transmits, "The Colossus may be ancient, but a lot of its systems needed to be overhauled for the modern age, especially where weapons was concerned. This was the last upgrade."

 Axel Almer transmits, "Greenland's a damn cold place to claw your asses out of the ice with."

 Ascian Luddite transmits, "Roger that, Commander Almer! I'll be sure to return these guys to you back in one piece."

It's been a few days since that sorrowful exchange above and below the waters of the Pacific Ocean. While she feels she managed to 'be there' for Ascian in his time of great sorrow, a certian princess of the destroyed country of Helena feels she owes him more than that. Seril Vaskell stares up at the dormant shape of the Yatagarasu, hands balled into fists at her sides. She's not dressed in her normal fashion, but rather the red and white framerunner uniform that her big brother had given her, a helmet held under one arm as she regards the ancient machine. A thin red line appears on the resting machine's chest, where the concealed Eye belongs. Seril starts briefly, but quickly pushes the fear out of her mind. This is for Ascian. She sets her eyebrows in a determined angle, stepping forward. The helmet is lifted, then thrown down at her feet as she walks, "I'm not afraid of you!" NOW

-My Divine Flame.- -Take my flame.- -In raging conflageration, melt everything down.- "I'm. Not. Afraid. Of you." Seril repeats through clenched teeth. The Yatagarasu, deployed via the Misty Dream's launch catapult, tumbles helplessly through empty air. A thin crack of crimson appears on its chest, then shoots open into the unmistakable molten red Eye. Wings erupt from the Godmachine's back. Snapping these open, it rights itself, then tucks the wings in again. Solar plasma engulfs the unit, turning it into something akin to a descending asteroid. Its impact blasts a crater in the battlefield, hurling up soil and flashing ice into steam. From the crater, wreathed in flames and descending--molten--rubble, the Yatagarasu's rises. Within, Seril leans forward, her teeth bared in an unsettling smile, "You're all idiots... You hurt my big brother... Now you're all going to DIE!" -Excellent-

 Suriel Misaki transmits, "No problem boss. Just drillin' a hole into their geothermal lines and then going to throw something large and unstable into the pocket. Then run like hell."

 Ascian Luddite transmits, "I like your thinking, Misaki."

 Seril Vaskell, over a barely audible bass voice, "I'm. Not. Afraid. Of you! Open your eye, behold the impure, and purify everything through your divine flame!"

 Suriel Misaki transmits, "Oh yeah, girly there can mess with fire can't she? This might make this even worse."

 Seril Vaskell transmits, "--nyu?"

 Suriel Misaki transmits, "Just watch out for the large explosion of lava."

 Seril Vaskell transmits, "Psh... I'll do you one better."

 Suriel Misaki transmits, "No wait, don-..."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell transmits, "Tell me when you do it, and I'll make it *WORSE*!"

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

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "Gimme a moment."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Neva Fernandez transmits, "The Colossus is ready when you are, sirs."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell transmits, "Yatagarasu is on station!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Neva, launch at your own disgression."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell transmits, "Big brother, if that orbital frame shows up, I'll leave it to you. There's no way I could disable it without completely destroying it."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell transmits, "And I know you want it."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "It's here!"

Macua Huitl own mobile fighter is here as well, the Amazon CI was new, freshy off the factory at Morgenroete in partnership with Haran Conglom. Thing had turned out pretty well with it so far. She's along side Ott and the machine is hovering there. Macua is sadlynaware of something things that have been going on, she's had some matters to tend to such as aiding in the recovery of Kira Yamato and his Gundam over in Japan.

With the DC commming he'd not have time to deploy in any other machine, then comes Ascian's machine the strange presence of that thing also the fact he keeps thinking or refering to her as what the Balmarians had made into has left her often wondering about him.

The DC's come to play and she's intend to send those who backed Haman packing. Given what had been done to several colonies and even earth side it may be a very bad worse as Seril does join the assault she knows that machine. Also Suriel is here as well this just getting worse. Snow melts off the machine as it keeps flying.

"Otto, Lin? Form up we're going to keep on our toes we got two orbital frames inbound and that unit that was razing part of a city in india." Aboard the DC ship is one particularly big super robot, the Colossus, which its pilot is setting herself into, and after strapping herself in powers up the systems.

<Colossus Online. Welcome back, Neva.> Comes the voice of the A.I. that had been installed during Neva's downtime. It was deep and rumbly, yet dignified.

This causes Neva to SQUEE a bit! "EEE! They installed the voice perfectly! Colossus, you're absolutely perfect! Anyway, perform systems check."

<All systems are online and nominal, Neva. Colossus is ready for launch.> The systems voice says, as diagnostics finish.

"Excellent! Colossus LAUNCHING!!"

With that, the giant One-Shot Jet Pack fires up, and accellerates rapidly, sending the Colossus out of the DC ship, and out into the sky wear it soars for a mile or so into the designated airspace of the battlefield, and then the jet pack detaches from the ancient robot.

From there, the only direction left is down, and the Colossus drops down and lands with a quaking rumble on the ground, before standing up straight.

"Ready for battle, sirs!"

<Radio: B - Katharon Secure> Macua Huitl transmits, "another contact."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Neva Fernandez transmits, "Colossus Deployed, and ready for battle!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Roger that, miss Fernandez."

Truth be told, she's a little sore from last night's mission. The only fortunate thing is that the TDD-1, the 'Toy Box,' is both an incredibly fast and agile submarine /for/ a submarine, and their captain, one Theresa Testarossa, knows how to navigate even the little niches and gaps betwen the outer world and that of La Gias. It shaves hours, if not days, from most travel times. Even then, Rachel has other contacts in the AEUG to rely on.

Arm Slaves are also a little rough.

Rachel Miu Athha was in Greenland just recently, too, visiting a small restaurant on a small coastal town with none other than the Earth Federation's own Latooni Subota. Meeting like Quattro Bajeena meets with his own contacts, they had a nice chat on the hill nearby and went to get something to eat.

When she arrived, it was dressed in relatively nice dress clothing-- a black turtleneck, slacks, and a short coat to keep the bite of Greenland's chill at bay, there to help keep an eye on what-all was going on and to provide a pipeline of information straight back to Bright Noa on the Argama. When the skirmish troop is detected...

"Princess Athha, Anaheim Electronics had this delivered for you."

She stares at her flight suit for the red Mobile Suit being uncased in the hangar, and feels uncertain.

In short order, the tingle of the Bio Sensor ripples in the back of her mind, making contact with the internal workings of her Mobile Suit. The Gundam's eyes blaze green, and it lifts off from the base before flying to catch up with the others representing Katharon's interests, and the Orbital Frame. Rachel closes her eyes in-flight, draws in a deep breath, and rests her hand on her chest, at the location of a simple pendant cut into the shape of a star that still hangs around her neck, under the padded flight suit.

'I can do this,' she tells herself. 'I can do this.'

"ETR Reaction Detected!" Duat calls out as the lion-tailed frame rushes out of the hangar amidst the splashes of laserwork, followed soon there-after by Otto's Liondam. "Shit, they're flying her. Don't let her get away." Who is he asking to do this anyhow!? Ah right, himself. His hands grip tightly around the control orbs, and he squints his eyes, forming a sort of tunnel vision aimed purely on that one single machine. <"You're not getting away!"> The wings of the Amenthes spread further, and what was once twelve becomes double, metatron crystals jutting between and connecting the Phoenix's wings with its beautiful red glow and sends a full burst of feather-shaped embers across the air, making the machine look like a true Phoenix for a moment, wrapped within the fires of rebirth.

<"You! In the Orbital Frame! I'm here to take what is rightfully mine!"> After all, without his sister, that unit was now his, that he was certain off. His gaze only momentarily escapes the figure of the blue Orbital Frame, as the radio crackles. "Seril..." He whispers, watching the Yatagarasu release itself from the steaming patch that was once filled with snow. "Right. I can't worry about her right now. She can take care of herself. Duat, keep track of all DC units!" - "Roger that. Warrior."

The Amenthes rockets forth faster and faster, getting back to its top velocity, whilst Ascian raises the right arm of his Orbital Frame. "I know your abilities... Mayet. I know your range, I know everything about you. There is no way that some damned Katharon soldier can get everything out of you my sister did. I CAN DO THIS!"

Within moments, the Amenthes has overtaken the Mayet and is floating before it - twisting itself about in one swift motion, its rifle aimed directly at the enemy unit's cockpit; the other arm set as a blade, aimed at Otto and Macua. <"Don't get in my way!"> He warns them, and then blasts forwards again, and dips underneath the Mayet, sending bolt upon bolt at the bottom of the unit, trying to find a blindspot in the enemy's defenses, and to possibly concuss the enemy framerunner.

Suriel's movements are still extremely fast for someone digging underground. The hole made is litterally only his sized, and his goal is the shaft that powers the base. The sword breakers fire their laser drill ordience, before pausing, the orbital frame then firing his own spray. The Orbital frame and it's bits are starting to get dangerously close to the base, as well as the pocket of geothermal heat.

-Temperature rising to unsafe levels.-

Suriel, who is already sweating, grins. "Activate the heat shield and synch it away to parts of the frame. We can probably last a little longer...we just need to get close.

"Get ready to deploy the explosive ordinance."

The avalanche - that's the first thing that Lin notices as Mayet speeds out over the icy surroundings. Flaring the strange energy wings drawn out behind the Orbital Frame, it races with time to get between the falling snow and the Katharon base. The fingers of one mechanical hand snap into a fist and then change shape, taking on the appearance of a large blaster rifle. There is a whine as the blue unit lashes a huge beam of energy across the ground, forming a depression to catch the falling ice and rock in an attempt to save the facility from being crushed, or buried.

Of course, that effort seems for naught as the Yatagarasu lands, creating that crater as well as the flow of heat that seems to come off of the impact. It catches Lin off-guard, her fingers tensing over the glowing controls of Mayet. <<"Correcting for turbulance.">> Spiraling end over end, the Orbital Frame nearly ends up crashing into the ground, but the thrusters kick in at the last moment, leaving it hovering a distance away. "Amit, what was that?" <<"Analyzing.">> The view screen blinks to a camera-eye view of the Crusader sun-god, which causes Lin to curse under her breath. "It's that one again." There is appreciation in her voice, and perhaps a bit of worry. <<"That one?">> The cold calm of battle seems to spread over Lin as she takes a few breaths, nodding once. "Nevermind that."

No, there isn't time to bring the AI up to date on her past combat experiences. Although, it seems as if nearly all of them have been combined into one place. First the god machine, then the Orbital Frame she'd faced down less than a week ago, and then... A bolt of energy zooms by the edge of Mayet's cockpit, getting just a bit too close for comfort. <<"Incoming Orbital Frame. Identification confirmed: Amenthes">> Lin reaches up to adjust the camera view, one hand remaining on the controls as she twists it sideways, sending the feathered appendages floating behind Mayet out to try to intercept some of the blow. "I don't care what it's name is, Amit." No, she knew the red Orbital Frame - Lin had fought it before. "Obviously he's the one who wants Mayet, so let's see if we can't distract him long enough for the other Katharon forces to protect the base." <<"This does not seem wise.">> In the end, a couple of blaster shots strike home, causing Lin to wince from the impact.

The two hands of Mayet shift once more, forming into smaller pistols which are swept outward, moving in various directions as a series of shots trail in front of the Amenthes, trying to find the right timing to strike with at least one of those quick, weaker blasts.

MOMENTS AGO

"We get an AI and _this_ is how you treat it, ordering it and its pilot around like some MACHINE?!" Staren shouts, storming through the hallway. "You're lucky the first I'm hearing of this isn't because I'm one of the pilots here on a _rescue_ mission because 'the orbital frame has gone berserk'! Idiots! It's a person, not a machine! ...Well you know what I mean, it _is_ a machine, but it's a person too!"

All Staren gets is some looks, probably because he's in _the hallway_ and not talking to anyone in particular.

Then he hears the scramble order, and looks up at the alarm.

"Idiots, idiots, idiots, idiots, idiots..." Staren mumbles to himself as he runs through the halls. Not being close to the hangers, it takes him longer to reach them -- he's panting and out of breath as he looks over the machines... and then smiles. "Well... at least they have some good stuff here..."

NOW

"Staren Wiremu, Dom Trooper, launching!" The Mobile Suit... walks out, because it's not being catapulted from a ship today. "Hey! Leave them alone!" Staren fires up the thrusters and leg hoverskirts, charging around Alina's machine to get to the Amenthes, drawing an enhanced beam saber and going for a powerful diagonal swing -- with a lot of force behind it, intending to shove the orbital frame back if Ascian parries. "So now the Crusaders want them too, huh? Doesn't _anyone_ realize they're _people_?!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki tchs, "Always with the numbers...GIEM S-"

MOMENTS AGO

"Sure, sure," Banjo dismissively murmurs as one of the base's mechanics runs a series of figures past him. "I told you--money's no object."

/Most/ of his attention is focused on an electronic tablet as a work crew hurries to convene with a Haran Conglomerate-marked cargo trailer.

Periodically, he flicks a finger across the screen; a chorus of squawks and distressed oinking rises in reply.

"Just make sure it's done /right/; we need all the equipment we can get."

NOW

Banjo's electronic tablet is a cracked shell of its former self, now; the first base-rocking blasts jolted the thing from his grasp and the chaos of engineers and pilots sprinting through the base's hangar section led to its hasty end beneath the feet of his allies.

"Goddamnit," Banjo exhales in disgust as he settles into a loose, readied stance at the center of a mobile fighter's cockpit. He casts one last, vexed look at the base around him before beginning to lift off to join the defensive forces--and then it happens.

A patch of asphalt cracks and gives way - seemingly spontaneously - not far away, the earth beneath the pavement having been weakened by the tunneling Sword Breakers.

Repurposing remote weaponry for excavative purposes is not an exact science, as it turns out.

"Huh."

Golden sparks flash against several points of the Invincible Man of Gundarium, Daitarn 1 as the mobile fighter bodily turns towards the hole; one split-second of contemplation later and Banjo's already made up his mind to examine it further by arcing feet first towards it to make his own way into the growing tunnel system beneath the base.

"If these assholes brought a sandworm to Greenland," he mutters as a pair of glowing golden fans come to bear to help him tunnel exploratorily through the area, "I just quit for today--screw them."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell transmits, "What are you doing? Focus on what you're doing! I'll burn everything if I have to!"

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

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell transmits, "Just make sure that little trick of yours is ready!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "...You think you can handle these goons?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "You two, stop squabling. Suriel, do you really need GEIM for this small a force?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki breathes. "Yeah alright. Thanks."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite mutters, "Stop tormenting yourself, Misaki."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "What was that Assian?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Nothing... carry on."

As it rises out of its impact crater, the Yatagarasu spreads its wings and begins to levitate on the nearly invisible thrust generated and shunted through the black-energy 'feathers' that compose those wings. Magic pulses along the cannon-like device concealing its right arm while, inside, Seril gauges the battlefield. Ascian has already engaged Mayet. More enemies are emerging, and she raises the Yatagarasu's weapon towards them. But something catches her eye. A measly little DOM has just attacked Amenthes.

Yatagarasu spreads its wings out, then thrusts them down, hurtling into the air after the mobile suit. She's not quick enough to interrupt its attack on the red Orbital Frame, but that doesn't slow her down much. It just ticks her off.

Setting her fanged teeth, Seril tenses herself. The heat produced by the charging Yatagarasu increases rapidly, to the point where snow and ice begins to melt even when it's airborne, "Leave him alone!" Though the shots have been fired, the Yatagarasu itself intersperses itself between the Dom (and a lot of other things) and the duel between Mayet and Amenthes. Its cannon is raised, pulsing with magic, and the air around it *ignites* into a high-temperature ball of golden solar plasma. The distance is so close that Staren runs the risk of running right into the star.

"If you want to get him!" Seril shouts, her voice quivering with rage, "You'll have to go through *ME*!"

Macua Huitl has picked up a huge unit a colossal one. She sees the large stone machine and realises she might do fairly awell aginst it the Gundam Fighter sends her machine into a full out five landing on the ground infront of the much larger unit and looks up at it. The green optics light up as macua opens a channel.

"Let's see what you got."

She's already leapiing against the larger unit the thrusters melting some of the snow which could be prehaps older than Macua herself is. She comes right at the huge rock like thing and? Starts kicking the hell out of it!

Suriel's head pops up...there is a signal down here with them!

It's pretty powerful one too, and Suriel can't help but get a hype out of that! Yes...something that would make this all interesting. The drills keep doing their thing, Suriel himself doesn't move to meet Banjo right off the bat, he figures he has some time, who knows if the other unit is bigger than him or not...

He wants to give his little friend up top something to make EXPLODE REAL GOOD.

He just wonders if he can escape before it takes them both up with it.

At this point Suriel would have just about breached the pocket, getting ready to hit it.

His cockpit was getting uncomfortibly hot now...but Suriel wasn't caring about the dangers of molten hot magma...

Just about the mission now...

Oh and the little idiots that jumped out to make sure he didn't have to fry his mind to make sure they won.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Why that little! HOW DARE HE GET IN THE WAY!?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell transmits, "I know, right?! I'll incinerate that tin can right away!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "Hmm? What little shit?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell, darkly, "The dead guy in front of me."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Neva Fernandez growls, "Meeting some opposition... They're -dead-.

The Colossus had faced Macua once before, though perhaps not in her Gundam Fighter Machine, but regardless, Neva feels her machine get rocked by the impact of the Gundam Fighter's kick, and staggers back some.

"Colossus! Damage report!" <Damage is minimal.> Neva growls, and says, "I'll kill them!"

The Colossus, seemingly unphased by the kick, raises one of its large hands and thrusts it forward, while charging a burst of energy from the palm, aiming to release it on impact.

The Amenthes turns his head up as it passes underneath the Mayet and swings its feathers straight up to reinforce its shield as the Mayet swings about with those twin guns. The diamond-ended tendrils cut through the air, blocking the shots as they come in whilst Ascian aims that rifle back up and sends a quick volley through whilst the frame is firing. "Tsssk, they didn't put some kind of novice into that machine, that's for sure." Ascian grunts, continueing to squint his eyes, the red glow beneath his eyes quickly starting to burn as he is already starting to lose his temper again. The blasts however continue to come in. His fingers tap quickly against the control orbs, trying to adjust the locations of the tails, but a few blasts still carve through, ripping into the shield and scarring the sides of the Amenthes. "Tssk..."

<"Why you littl~URGH!"> The Amenthes is then thrown forwards as the beamsaber of Staren's cuts right into the back of the machine. Duat had already sprung up a screen to notify him of the DOM's appearance, but he'd been so concentrated on the blue Orbital Frame that he'd lost all track of the world around himself. "Damnit. Duat!?" - "Sorry, I will attempt to warn earlier next time." The British sounding Metatron computer replies, whilst Amenthes' framerunner slices up through the air and tries to get behind the Mayet! "And what the fuck is he on about!? Who are people too?!"

The machine twirls around, sending a wave of feathers into the air in a spiralling shockwave fashion before shifting the other arm into a rifle as well and aiming at both units now beneath him - Mayet and Staren's DOM. "Tssk... screw it." The wings then suddenly deploy like bits and rush forwards, forming a vertical circle around the Amenthes and firing a helix-like stream of homing lasers as the wings swirl around the Amenthes. That voice. He met that guy before. <"Shut up Staren! How dare you get in the way! And you, in the Mayet! Give up that Orbital Frame /right/ now!">

As soon as he gets near enough to catch the Qareen on his sensors, Banjo pulls Daitarn 1 to a dead stop. Extending its arms to either side, he carefully turns in place to carve out enough space for himself to maneuver comfortably in his little earthen pocket, and once /that's/ seen to he actually turns to face the Orbital Frame's signal.

"Come on," he quietly urges the Qareen's pilot while pressing his right index and middle fingers to his brow; Daitarn 1 mimics the motion, and its systems reply to the gesture by shunting copious amounts of solar energy to the machine's forehead. "Keep digging, keep digging... c'mon..."

The tip of Banjo's tongue pokes out of the corner of his mouth when the command console tells him he's gotten a full charge, and by sweeping his and Daitarn 1's arm out to the side, he actually /discharges/ the energy as a scything golden ball of light. Slagging the rock in its path, the sphere bounces through the underground on a direct course towards the Qareen's signal; hopefully it'll be there by the time the ball makes it.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Hrrm? Suriel, I'm detecting a strange energy-pattern coming from deep inside the base..."

Charging toward the Divine Crusaders in-transit to their base, Rachel Miu Athha's golden eyes cut down to a thin narrow as her mind, her Newtype senses, reach out. Amplified by the Bio Sensor, it gives her a bit of a sense of what's going on, the levels of aggression of those that she charges toward.

The brighter machine-- the one that burns, and the one that holds that strange aura and feeling to it-- that's the machine she heads towards, perhaps against her better judgment. She hasn't piloted the P2/3C since the Geminus had arrived on their doorstep, the massive Mobile Armor assaulting the AEUG flagship with it's dozens of Mobile Suit-sized remote weapons. She remembers the hijack, and she remembers the aggression, the sadism, and the lingering emotions of the ghost of a dead woman in her own mind.

The legs of the red Zeta Gundam twist and roll into place, armor and parts shifting. The shield of the Gundam is set over the head and body like the nose-cone of some kind of highly stylized jet, and the red machine moves with a sudden burst of acceleration the likes of which cannot be achieved in it's other mode.

As it flies, Rachel reaches one hand forward, her palm turning upward and hand closing into a fist-- and then, at the tip of the machine, a beam juts forward from one of the beam cannons in the Waverider-mode Gundam's disposal. Flying at tight angles, rolling one way, twisting in another, Rachel aims to have the Red Zeta drive the tip of the blade into the Yatagarasu as it zips by, effectively going for shank-and-run tactics!

MEANWHILE

"I knew she would use it."

In her office at Anaheim Electronics' corporate headquarters, Martha Vist-Carbine stubs her cigarette into the twenty-four karat gold ashtray on her desk and leans a little in her chair, a single finger jabbing into a console. The display on her monitor shows data streams coming from one Mobile Suit Gundam, model Zeta P2/3C.

She smiles, just a little. "Predictable... and useful."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "I see it! *woosh* As it went by me." :D"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Sorry, I would normally have caught it earlier..."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell transmits, "Just bring down the jerk who stole Mayet--nngh..!--Leave these bullies to us!"

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

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite whispers, "Thank you."

Macua Huitl has as well it's been a while she looks to the other machine as it comes in. She brings up one hand activates the geist blow and catches the blow she stops it, energy urges about her machine and she then brings her other hand about to counter attack.

"Not bad buit it seems you have been slacking!"

Macua now brings back the fist that's sitll got the Geist blow actinve and launches into an chian of strikes. She then pulls away from the other machine and notes as her machine keeps from sinking into the icey surface.

It doesn't seem to take long before the once peaceful Greeland scenery is overtaken by the sounds of gunfire and the heat of combat. The normally sociable Lin settles in, cool as ice as she surveys the movements of the red Orbital Frame, keeping a secondary display showing the combat between her friends from the Argama and their various opponents. She doesn't have time to come to their aid, though, as her own enemy comes up from underneath, requiring a quick flex of her fingers and a nearly instinctive response that pulls Mayet back from taking the full brunt of the homing lasers. With a flap of those energy wings from beyond the Orbital Frame, Mayet turns and lashes out with her tail, trying to slice into the other unit, only to find that it isn't there.

"Quick one." <<"Enemy unit's speed is not able to be matched by Mayet. Distance may be needed.">> "Alright, Amit, pull us back, get us some distance from that Orbital Frame." Even if she isn't able to pilot quite at the full skill she once had, Lin is still quite capable. The blue machine brushes a nearby tree, arms raised. Then, something causes her to pause. The voice of the enemy pilot. Her hands freeze over the controls and her breath catches, showing a momentary break in that calm focus. Then, without a word, her eyes narrow. <<"We have reached firing range.">> "Switch formations. Let's see how he handles something other than guns."

The gun arms of Mayet shift back into curved, taloned fingers which are drawn across her chest in a movement reminiscent of some martial arts. Within the cock-pit, an intense Lin moves her hands over the controls, the heartbeat of Mayet flowing within her veins as it causes the marks on her arms to glow bright enough to be visible through the fabric of her flight suit. With a quick movement, the machine lashes at the air, blades of energy lashing from each of the fingers as they sweep out towards the quicker moving enemy.

One moment, Staren is giving the Amenthes and its pilot what for. WHAT FOR.

The next, Staren is trying to get his bearings as alarms scream in the cockpit. Where the hell did all that heat come from, the DOM is freaking _melting_! Homing beams just make it worse. The mobile suit stumbles back, turning to face the Yatagarasu. "The orbital frame, idiot! It's a person too! ... Is yours?" Staren shouts back at Ascian, then looks quizzical... oh right, FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE. "That is... a neat trick. But you're not the only one--!" Suddenly, there's a blinding light from the DOM... when Seril can see again, if he successfully blinded her sensors, the charging DOM Trooper is slamming into the Yatagarasu, beam shield first, and then stabbing its enhanced beam saber deep in with the other hand. "How do you like that...? Get out of here, Crusaders!"

<Radio: B - Katharon Secure> Macua Huitl transmits, "Lin, are you all right?"

<Radio: B - Katharon Secure> Alina Luddite sounds a bit unnerved. "Holding my own. Worry about keeping yourself safe."

Suriel gets a heads up...not only does his MOM find it neccisairy to warn him, but his computer indicates that SOMETHING made of pure AWESOME was running at him.

Or more importantly, infront of him. Suriel stops and jumps back just in time, the thing tearing an arch infront of him and causing a new hole to be formed...Suriel turns and gets the indication of where Banjo was... it would take him time to reach him proper...

Oh shit! He knew that unit...

Hmm...well, Suriel knew he was going to have a hard battle reguardless of what he did...

He turns, firing a wave of energy machine gun fire, and dives down the new tunnel created by Daitarn 1, using his drills to build upon the start, and try and confuse the larger unit.

He was so close...

The bubble of solar plasma dissipates around the Yatagarasu, its arms held out in a defensive posture between Staren's Dom and the dueling Orbital Frames. Inside, Seril floats in a similar fashion, her face set in a determined glare. "I won't let you hurt him!" A second enemy darts in from her peripheral, and Seril reacts quickly, thrusting her arms down. Yatagarasu reacts by hurling out a ring of small stars around its feet that spiral upward around it, presenting a threat to both the incoming Zeta variant as well as the still-close DOM Trooper. The impact of the Waverider's bayonet causes both Seril and the Yatagarasu to flinch, and the machine backs away slowly in midair, "We're not leaving until we have what belongs to...to us!"

She almost said 'to big brother', but caught herself in time. There's as bright flash, dominating her vision, and then she lets out a surprised shriek of pain, thrusting her hands out to push the DOM away. The Yatagarasu is notoriously difficul to inflict physical damage to, but there's a noticable score mark in the black stone-like surface, which leaks a searing-hot crimson sludge. "As far as I'm concerned, you can go straight to hell!" The godmachine rears back, thrusting its cannon upward. Magic pulses along the lines, and the weapon's panels split apart with a hiss of steam. Sliding back and to either side, the mechanism within is exposed - A pulsing solar core of boiling high-density plasma. Cooling fins shoot out the top side and underside, angling back. Yatagarasu folds its wings in, then hurtles through the air between the two mobile suits, spinning around to fly backwards. Orbs shoot off the ends of its wings, scattering messily in all directions and rapidly expanding into a field of stars, filling the sky in its wake with a minefield of plasma.

"If you don't run away, I won't hesitate to kill you!" Not that she would anyway. Between the Crusaders being at war, and the Yatagarasu whipping at her heels, Seril has the restraint of an africanized honeybee.

<Radio: B - Katharon Secure> Staren Wiremu transmits, "For a moment there, I thought I was getting rusty... Sorry Alina, Mayat, Amit, I'm afraid I've got my hands full..."

<Radio: B - Katharon Secure> Alina Luddite transmits, "Don't worry about it, Staren."

The Colossus is once again rocked from being on the receiving end of Gundam Fighter punches, and the lights in its eyes glow bright while the pilot within growls, "You think you can beat the Colossus?! I'll BREAK YOU!!"

After which she begins throwing punches at the Amazon CI, punching repeatedly!

A brief moment of stillness precedes Daitarn 1 deftly sweeping its glowing Solar Fans through the air before its body; its hands - Banjo's hands - move swiftly enough to leave glowing trails in the mobile fighter's pseudo-residence, and each bullet that explodes against Daitarn 1's fans creates a new explosion of pretty and ultimately harmless light.

As soon as the risk of being machine gunned by Metatron-driven energy passes, Daitarn 1 pulls both arms briefly against its chest before sweeping them outwards; its fans race from its hands, bouncing through already carved tunnels and digging out new ones for several seconds before finally, suddenly emerging on either side of the Qareen; they seem to have aims on converging in the Orbital Frame's body to destructive effect before falling at its feet.

Hit or miss, Daitarn 1 also seeks to recollect its fans in short order, judging from the thundrous sounds of it tunneling towards the Qareen with its own two fists.

<"Tsssk..."> Since when did others knew about the sentience of these machines!? <"Yes, it's mine Staren! Once my sister's - who you people KILLED when you invaded that A-LAWS facility!"> It would be /impossible/ for Staren to know that Alina was actually that very same pilot. <"Now some damned /other/ framerunner is pilotting it, and I am going to KILL HER! And take back her memento!"> Those are the kind of words you don't usually hear from Ascian these days. Words that, if heard by Seril, might actually frighten her for a moment. Because that voice isn't just one of anger; there is definite mania within it. <"Die!">

As the Mayet tries to make distance between the Amenthes and it, Ascian doesn't let it. He's fully aware of its combat systems! He continues firing some rifle blasts at it, but due to his crazed manner of flying - swinging left and right, in and out, it goes way wide to such an extent that he too decides to just use melee weaponry! The arms morph, pliable metal twisting over the skeleton of the Amenthes, forming a set of sharp blades which cross right before the Mayet and halt the claws mid-swing! Yellow sparks rip off of the contact between the two forces, sending an actual shockwave out and cutting a momentary veil into the waters beneath! They've managed to move over the river!

<"Hiiiyaaaa!"> Like a hotblooded pilot, Ascian calls out, his face moving forwards and his hands /pushing/ against the halforb controls as if this was some kind of mobile suit where he had to push the controls forward. Light warps, rushing across his frame, across his own body. The hue within the cockpit lights up, flashing, and within moments, the Spirit Of Amenthes is there laying forwards along the cockpit, looking at the window before him. She turns about for a moment, and smiles. "Go, my warrior. Bring her back to us." She whispers.

The frame itself twists, then spins up - the sharp feet kicking out towards the Mayer's chest before he completes the 360 overhead spin and lashes one blade straight along that very same path and beats the Phoenix's wings, pulling himself back from the momentary bladelock.

The Quareen was less lucky this time...

The fans are harder to track, and as they come on either side of him, he is thrashed between the two blades like a squirl that fell into a jet engine plane. Well, not quite as bloody. The Qareen is quickly grounded, breaking through more rock, but not in the right direction. Suriel, growling and pulling himself together as the Metatron immediately repairs the damage to itself. The sword breakers come out, several more join the drilling, while others dive down the corridor, each one aiming to try and blast random parts of the Diatarn 1.

However, the Way was mostly freed now...and they would soon both be in the lake of lava under the base. Suriel was grinning... "I remember you, you blew the shit out of Ascian a while back." he says towards Banjo. "Sorry about the roof man, I wasn't trying to do that." he assides.

Staren's expression fades to surprise as he sees how little damage he apaprently did. And then it just becomes _more_ surprised as he sees the impossible: An open-air plasma core. Reactors don't work that way! What is this?! He suddenly wishes he had a Ratatosk and its ice magic handy... but barring that... maybe if he focuses on those cooling fins...

While Staren considers his plan of attack, the sky is suddenly full of... plasma balls. The Dom dodges them surprisingly deftly, as Staren's well-honed gamer reflexes find him a clear path. Allowing him to focus on hitting the strange machine with everything he's got. "You should have used remotes! Now, it's my turn!"

The DOM Trooper holsters its saber and looks up, hefting its mighty giga launcher. From its chest, beams suddenly fire, spreading out in a wide arc -- and supplemented by the launcher's beam rifle, and several missiles as Staren empties the launcher's entire magazine, missiles now programmed to seek out a mecha's hotspots -- like vents, and cooling fins...

<Radio: B - Katharon Secure> Staren Wiremu transmits, "Shit, how did all of that _miss_?"

A blast of static hits Lin's ears all of a sudden, cutting off a good chunk of what the enemy pilot had said. "Amit!" The blast of sound is enough to cause her hands to lift off of the controls, clapping over the sides of her helmet, over her ears. It doesn't do any good to block out the noise, but the reaction is instinctual. <<" Apologies. Mayet is under great stress and it is causing systematic feedback.">> "Mute all speaker systems other than yours." <<"Done.">> Call it coincidence, or call it an interfering Orbital Frame, either way - it seems clear that there are some things that Mayet isn't ready for Lin to hear. What does come through is that last statement.

<"I'll never die to someone like you!"> The voice that comes out of Mayet's speakers is feminine, but it is warped somehow. Instead of sounding like Lin, it comes out with a growling sound to it, as if she had somehow been mixed with the sound of a lion's roar. The strange way her voice gets transmitted causes another of those strange looks from Lin as she glances down at the controls, wondering where the 'make me sound normal' button might be. Then, those cold eyes snap back up, the targeting system already focusing on the Amenthes as it comes in closer towards her.

Her own cockpit glows an eerie dark blue, casting her face into pallor that seems almost deathly. Behind the framerunner, the ghostly vissage of a scantily clad woman is standing, her hands against the back of the control chair. Lin doesn't notice this, she's far too intent on the battle at hand. There is a growl from the sphinx's chest as she takes a hard blow against the armor plating, sending her backwards out of the way of the slash that follows. The force is enough to send Mayet hurtling to the ground, kicking up some as-of-yet-not-melted snow, dirt, and taking out a few trees in the process.

The Orbital Frame lays still. Could it be over so quickly? "Damage report." <<"Damage Nominal.">> Nodding her head, Lin slowly presses her palms against the controls, a movement that causes Mayet to get to her feet, tossing splintered wood and pine needles to the ground around her. The blue unit's arms raise, seeming as if she were about to shift into another of those martial-arts style motions. At the end of it, both arms have shifted into long range rifles, which snap together in front of her and begin to charge as they track the Amenthes's movements. "Fire." There is a whine of power, and then a blast as the condensed beam is released, making a path towards the red 'frame's chest.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell transmits, "--What? Is Yatagarasu..? ... No, that's not me!"

And then suddenly, on-board systems on every mobile suit receive a mess of conflicting data.

ALERT ! ALERT ! ALERT ! SPATIAL-TEMPORAL DISTORTION DETECTED --ATT$&*ETING TO CO#$^!ATE-- LOGIC FAILURE LOGIC FAILURE LOGIC FAILURE END OF LINE

The very air itself deforms to your very eyes. An enormous swath, over fifty meters in length, simply discolors unnaturally. Like a strip of celuloid that has overheated, bubbling and deforming until something within eats itself out. A disk-shaped rupture in space, yawning wide open to reveal a ray of inordinately bright sunlight. Which is suddenly eclipsed --

..by GRANZON.

The nonpariel work -- Divine Crusade Supermachinery Humanoid Zero-Three -- emerges from the tear with its back-end. The hum of its Annihilation Engine omnipresent, gently thrumming in ears easily half a dozen yards away. Floating by its own propulsion, gently drawing itself out into the present day in war-besotted Greenland. Its Warp Shield shimmering periodically around its enormous cobalt frame, a layer of protection seemingly invulnerable.

"Was that your best?" Shu Shirakawa lets out a bored sigh. From within the Most Perfect Weapon of Destruction, prodigal son of La Gias seems to be as best, disengaged from the entire matter. Tilting to the side, supporting his head on his fist. "Honestly, Balanga, with all your fury.. and all your bluster.. was this the best you could muster?" He sounds.. disappointed.

On the opposite end of the rip in space-time, a battered red Personal Trooper stands. Your scanners would suggest this has been over two weeks ago, just outside of Houston, Texas.

"Mn," Shu muses softly. A little smile edges upon those delicate lips. "I suppose I have no choice, if this is the best they can muster. But, perhaps.." his eyes glide across the multi-tiered battle-grid displayed across Granzon's command-centre. There..! Just several clicks past the Wildwurger. The blue Personal Trooper, Wildfalken.

"Perhaps you might be a bit more capable.. if you felt a little less secure in the world, brave Balanga."

His hand tilts forward, moving the joystick with his palm.

Granzon fires a single shot into the breach, a rippling emission of condensed gravity powered by the Annihilation Engine.

-- there is a shriek, and the wormhole dissipates.

Granzon turns smoothly in mid-air, its red-hued optical lenses glowing brightly as it turns its attention on the battle within Greenland's borders.

"Now.." Shu runs his tongue against his cheek, a faint sense of interest piquing his noble-born features. "..Now what have we here?

"Fuck 'em up," a little blue-bird beside Shu chirps. "Blast those cunts inta smithereens, Shu!"

"Now, now. Let's not be rude," Shu gently admonishes. "At least, not -terribly-."

The Waverider immediately tries to peel away from the Yatagarasu after the beam bayonet makes an impact, hooking it away when the flare of heat kicks up. Rachel draws in a breath and turns her head just a bit, shifting her weight to one side and pitching the Zeta Gundam into a barrel roll with the intent to evade the otherworldly machine's heat-- but still comes away with a scorching sear-mark across the bottom of the Waverider's frame.

Rachel breathes out with a 'whew,' and starts to bank the flying machine around for a second pass, the beam cannons firing. The blast of-- /stars/?-- becomes a little hard to circumnavigate at full speed, the red machine twisting more and moving as fast as Rachel's mind can coax it-- all while feeling the angry of the girl and the heat of the bursts of light that hover in the sky, burning and heating the armor soot-black.

The Zeta Gundam again shifts back to a Mobile Suit form, completing the process both a /top speed/ and using a maneuver that was taken straight out of the Flag Fighter Graham Aker school of piloting made famous in the One Year War. Indeed, a textbook Federation piloting trick on a Katharon machine.

"Just keep hitting it, Staren! We'll punch through soon enough, and then they're gonna /have/ to flee!"

To punctuate this, the Zeta's fists are presented to the Yatagarasu, and slide-out compartments pop out of the forearms. Stout canister grenades are fired with contrails of smoke, spiraling through the air on a collision course with the super-heated god-machine!

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "It's the Granzon!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Neva Fernandez transmits, "Granzon?! You mean Dr. Shirakawa!?"

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

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "I think so. I mean, unless you know of other Granzons."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell transmits, "Suriel, is your surprise ready?! These people are pissing me off!"

Though far smaller and built from far less resilient materials - Gundarium as opposed to Martian Steel alloys - Daitarn 1 is a sturdy piece of machinery. Sturdy enough to handle digging through solid rock with its fists, enough to survive the loosed rock and rubble showering down on its head. Enough to keep on advancing as magenta beams begin punching through the earth to wash across its armour.

Tough as Daitarn 1 is, its pilot has to deal with the consequences of punching rock bare-handed, and letting stuff fall on his head constantly, and now being peppered with beam fire; so far, he seems to be persevering through it, though judging from his severe expression he probably isn't particularly /pleased/ about it.

When one of its fists finally breaks through to the Qareen's signal, he grits his teeth, sets his knees and lunges to try closing the rest of the gap with a grappling maneuver aimed at whatever part of the Orbital Frame's body he can actually get a hold of.

"And you're a member of BAHRAM," Banjo humorlessly replies, hauling itself nearer via its grip on the Qareen, the ground itself, anything he can get a hold of. "You're a little far from home. Here--"

Assuming that it can keep Qareen in place, it'll turn its own head into a deadly weapon by seeking to crush some of the Orbital Frame's head armour with its own V-fin adorned brow.

"--let's help you /fix/ that."

He wasn't about to meet the Daitarn 1 head on.

Suriel is insane, but he isn't stupid. He falls back, narrowly avoiding the full force, but the force of the blow was enough to take Qareen flying back. However, he looked down and grinned. Looking back at Banjo and smirking, Suriel spoke.

"Well, sorta. I'm the product of BAHRAM science and the School's ability to make children soldiers. The name is Suriel Misaki, nice to meet a powerful warrior.." he says, and it's true. Banjo was one of the foundations of his life.

"However, I got friends up there that need my help, and I don't like to loose." he says, and throws his hands down, firing someting out of his VECTOR TRAP. A mine, sparking with metatron, flies towards the Magma.

Suriel, immediately books it. Banjo might want to follow suit.

<Radio: C - Global> Shu Shirakawa transmits, "The Gundam, at last. You're all grown up, and in a new color."

<Radio: C - Global> Shu Shirakawa transmits, "..Let's see if you can stand the test of Granzon."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> James Heller transmits, "Shu?!?"

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

Within the Yatagarasu, Seril pants quietly, having no trouble breathing even though she's completely immersed within that kinetic-absorbing fluid. After filling the sky with plasma, the Yatagarasu's cannon arm refolds itself into its more compact form, halts, and surges after the DOM Trooper again. A field of superheated matter builds up across its charging form, giving the mecha the appearance of a charging comet. The heat is actually so intense that the fuel loads of the missiles detonate well before they can impact the godmachine. Beams refract through the plasma, curving around it entirely.

Coming to a stop, the Yatagarasu snaps its wings outward, dispersing liquid-like motes of plasma as it does so. Explosions slam into its back, knocking the machine off balance, and as it recovers it hurls out a spike of searing light that's just a bit off the mark. Inside, Seril shrieks in surprise more than pain. Yatagarasu whirls on its enemies, Seril's eyes wandering from the DOM Trooper to the red Zeta Gundam waverider. She goes over her options quickly. First, she needs to eliminate one of these enemies. The remaining one will be easier to deal with! That's right. Those violet eyes of hers settle on the battered DOM Trooper. And then something goes off behind her. The Yatagarasu straightens and twists at the waist, looking over its shoulder. Something just went bad in the fight she was trying to protect... With a roar of fury, Seril whirls back on the Zeta and the DOM, "I'm done wasting time with you!" Yatagarasu thrusts its cannon arm upward, magic pulsing along the frame. The air becomes heavier.

** WARNING ** ** WARNING ** ** WARNING **

A distinctive alarm klaxon fills the air above the Katharon Greenland Base. Seconds later, the Yatagarasu seemingly explodes into an enormous, boiling ball of raw solar plasma. Its gravity is unexpectedly intense, as well. Parked cars start to move, and then explode as the heat affects their fuel tanks. Small objects soar off the ground and into the star. It starts to pull in Staren's DOM, and makes flight perilous for Rachel's ZETA Gundam as well, tugging at the waverider as it maneuvers. But just how long can the girl inside maintain something so fearsome?

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "MAGMA TIME!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell *VWRRR* *VWRRR* *VWRRR*

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Seril! Don't overdo it!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Be careful of yourself."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell transmits, "It's fine! I just want to help you and these two are in my way!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "Don't hurt yourself, but...at the same time..."

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

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "Also, I just coated the Diatarn 1 in magma, I think he's mad."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> James Heller transmits, "... If you haven't taken Banjo down...."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "Oh man, it's DIATARN 1 man, hot magma can't kill it."

<Radio: C - Global> Macua Huitl transmits, "... Dr. Shirakawa."

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

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Seril! Get away from that guy!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite tssks.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell transmits, "If he's in my way...I'll melt that toy of his down, too!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "You will do no such thing!"

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

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "Seril? You know how I am crazy and not afraid of shit right?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "Don't fuck with that!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Leave that guy and the Gundam to have their petty little struggle."

Macua Huitl feels something terrible a terrible feeling she'd not felt in a very long time. The hair on the back of her neck stands on end. Then a moment later the distortion comes and the horror that is the Granzon has returned after it's long absence and Macua knows the machine power all too well. Her machine turns to see the machine and she narroes her eyes. It's shu, oh God it's shu. But she's got the other machine in her way.

There's no time to react to him further, she's got to worry about the stone giant she's facing. The attack comes in, and her machine weaves, avoiding the worst of the attack but there's no way to avoid it all her machine is grades some of the armor crumples inwards. Her trace suit also lights up on her arm just where she took her hit. She grabs a weapon off the back of her machine, it expands into a spear. She spins it once and then rushes the other machine. The Amazon CI seem to dplit and attack from various points. Only one of these are real, which one?

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "You'll have other chances."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell transmits, "...Fine. If he rips her apart, that's just less work for me."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Thank you, Seril."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell transmits, "But if he does get in my way, big brother, he's dead. I won't let anything stand between us."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Shu Shirakawa transmits, "Such conviction, Ms. Vaskell! We are all deeply touched by your unwavering devotion."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell transmits, "I'm all you have left, remember?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "That's right, Seril. That's why I don't want to lose you."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell transmits, "...Oh, you're not an enemy? That makes it easier!"

<Radio: B - Katharon Secure> Alina Luddite transmits, "Staren, are you alright?"

<Radio: B - Katharon Secure> Staren Wiremu transmits, "For the moment...!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Shu Shirakawa transmits, "And who would I be to break such a bond?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell transmits, "Sorry if you got caught in my lightshow!"

The corridors fill with magma before Banjo can negotiate them all the way to the surface, and he pays the price for being trapped down there.

The machine does rise from the melting earth - eventually - but its entire frame is red hot and sizzling in the open air as magma sloughs from its slowly rising form. Not long after it's fully emerged, a panel of armour hisses and pops right off of its body; a jet of steam races into the air from the newly opened gap, only to evaporate within moments.

Far more worrisome are the effects on Banjo himself, though; the young CEO is hunched in pain near the floor of the cockpit; emerald lightning arcs sporadically from the nodes in his trace suit, scorching the walls and charging contacts spread across them. His skin is bright red, and while there are, of course, no blisters popping up on it he's shaking and sweating profusely.

"Worse--than BAHRAM then; I gotcha," he hisses as he drops to a knee to try and catch his breath. After a moment he lifts his head, sees the machine/pulsating star hovering not so far away.

His lips press into a line of discontent.

"This is just great," he venomously transmits, "for turning around the image of BAHRAM as a bunch of extremist nutjobs--kudos."

He jerks his head towards the Granzon; Daitarn 1 makes an identical gesture.

"Seriously," he mutters, "great job."

Still radiating incredible amounts of heat, the mobile fighter races towards Qareen, red-hot hands clenching into burning fists that will, if Banjo has his way, clash with - and perhaps burn /through/ - the orbital frame's chassis.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Shu Shirakawa transmits, "Oh, apology accepted, Ms. Vaskell. I appreciate your tremendous self-awareness."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Shu Shirakawa transmits, "Though, it is a shame."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell transmits, "...Nyu?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Shu Shirakawa transmits, "..you won't quite be fit to deliver my message for me."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Shu Shirakawa transmits, "..Mr. Misaki, would you be so kind as to do what your colleague will be unable to do and deliver a message to Colonel Mauser for me?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "Uh...that depends. Is it a message...or is it death VIA being shown your stabs?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Shu Shirakawa transmits, "No, that will be your very self-aware colleague and her 'brother.'"

Disappointed at how all those weapons missed the mysterious La Gian machine, Staren starts loading a spare magazine into the giga launcher -- when suddenly, there is a new star over the base! Staren feels himself getting lighter, and reacts quickly -- the beam saber melts him handholds in the ground, and the stability from that together with the mobile suits thrusters prevent the DOM Trooper from being sucked in. Gravity manipulation? Is this girl connected to Shu Shirakawa? In any case, Staren fires bazooka round after bazooka round, holding the ground with the other hand and firing thrusters on full--hoping to catch Selin off-guard when whatever this thing wears off!

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Shu Shirakawa transmits, "Simply convey to Colonel Mauser the following, and with all due respect:"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Shu Shirakawa transmits, "End."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Shu Shirakawa transmits, "Of."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Shu Shirakawa transmits, "Line."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "Oh ok, I can pass that message alo...End of Line?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Vindel Mauser flatly transmits, "Fascinating."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "Oh hey, Colonel sir..."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "Shu said to give you a message..."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Vindel Mauser transmits, "Yes."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Vindel Mauser transmits, "I'm aware; if you're still listening, Professor Shirakawa, I would appreciate it if you uploaded technical information on the Annihilation Engine the next time you see fit to intrude."

Ascian's concentration remains on the Mayet as it is send straight down towards the ground. Here's him hoping that the pilot isn't well enough trained and is going to get knocked out due to the sudden G-Forces. Sadly, with factors such as 'hoping', fate inevitably lets one down. Unless you are the Zaibach empire. Then fate gets to take it like a champ. And speaking of taking it like a champ...

The framerunner's visuals concentrate upon Alina's Orbital Frame... and suddenly the camera pans out! In true FMV file, now in HD quality, the camera rushes out from the Amenthes, and circles around to a position besides Alina's Mayet. Dramatically, that first rifle comes to life. Lots of HDR effects flow as the blue blast rushes into the air! The camera quickly follows the beam, then moves ahead to meet up with the Amenthes. The arms come up, and it momentarily flashes a shot to Ascian, gritting his teeth and squinting at the oncoming blast. "DUAT!!!!" He calls out. Red light blasts out from the Amenthes... then... COLISION! The blue beam crashes into the Amenthes.

The camera pans out, and the second blast from the Mayet dynamically carves through the skies and rips into the Amenthes... hangs into that shield of its... then CARVES through the Amenthes' belly, forming a gigantic hole within it. An explosion quickly follows, quickly overcoming the silhouette of the Orbital Frame and bathing it within massive quantities of red and yellow and blue. The camera continues to spin around the Amenthes for a while more.

And within... Time stops! Ascian watches as shards of metal carve through the protective screen of the cockpit. A piece of it carves right past his left eye, leaving a nasty gash, whilst another stabs along the left of his leg! "GRAAAAH!" He cries out in pain, letting go of the controls for a moment and grabbing for his leg, buckling over. He hisses painfully. "Duat!" But it doesn't respond. Instead, the cockpit continues to fill with that red light. Sound from outside dulls. The cockpit suddenly seems to just... disappear around him. Instead, he stands naked -- little bits of strategically placed mist hiding parts of him -- before a flame-wrought woman with wings. "My warrior." She whispers, looking upon him and floats towards him, taking his hands and lifting them, then placing them around her waist. "Fight for me." And she moves her head in for a kiss...

The explosion warps away, warping into nowhere as the debris is sucked into the Amenthes, and its broken and disheveled body hangs in the air still where it had been hit. One hand slowly raises towards the Mayer, its fingers quivering. One leg is barely hanging on, and its tails look broken and tattered. The only thing that is truly still whole are its wings. Its mouthmask finally... shatters, revealing a set of vicious teeth. Its eyes light up like those of a monster. A ball of fire then forms beneath that hand, quickly growing as weaponized Metatron manifests within the shell of compressed space and is lifted up towards the air. The mecha then... CRIES OUT! It cries its metalic cry, its legs spreading, wings fanning out as far as the system will let them spread... and then finally...

With one fell burst of speed, it comes straight for the Mayet, the big orb of explosive Metatron set before itself, obviously meaning to be planted STRAIGHT INTO the head of the Mayet. Meanwhile, within the cockpit, the Camera shows for a moment, Ascian, his head laying sideways, blood dripping down his face, unconcious... his hands on the controls.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Vindel Mauser transmits, "It'll help, when my scientists are figuring out how to connect it to Zweizergain."

<Radio: B - Katharon Secure> Rachel Miu Athha transmits, "What is th--"

<Radio: B - Katharon Secure> Staren Wiremu transmits, "Gravity manipulation... is she connected to Dr. Shirakawa...?"

The Colossus keeps getting hit and hit and hit as the Amazon CI spins and spins and smacks her repeatedly, even as it charges up another blast from its palm, and fires it off at Macua's mecha and striking.

Neva growls as she activates the power systems to both palm blasters, and points them right at the Amazon, and yells, "DIE, DAMMIT!"

Banjo's hand is BURNING RED! It's loud roar makes the Smaller unit DIVE FOR FUCKING COVER! Suriel is running, retreating...forced to fight back, against what seems to be overwhelming odds. Banjo has a lot of experience on him, and now there is LAVA exploding all around them. The base probably wasn't going to like what he just did...oh no. Diving back, and away from the large unit, he flips through his weapons...

Ah there we go...

"Oh yeah?! Really? LIKE Katharon has any leg to stand on. I mean, the fuckin' Trinities, the Celestial being, KATZ for gods sake! I mean, that dude is a engine of distruction beyond even what /I/ can do!" he says. "And i mean, the whole 'lets end conflict by getting rid of weapons and FLYING into space! Real fuckin' sane there, because newtypes are so fuckin' great. Let me tell you something, workin' for Haman? A newtype probably the most powerful one? She was a FUCKING BITCH. That's right. Huge bitch. Bluh bluh." he says, hand waving.

"So no callin' me out on my guys, until you get rid of your nutjob factions." he says, and suddenly flies right towards the face of the Daitarn 1. His Unit trying to ram the larger unit, trying to drive it backwards before his pike came out, aiming to drive it at the spot between the unit's eyes.

"Also, you're getting help by Dr. Gravity himself man. That dude is ...Come on man! SHU!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Duat transmits, "Framerunner's current vitals indicate he is unconcious. Thematically accurate dramatic screaming from loved ones and allies requested."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki too busy not dying to comply.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell, on cue, "No! Damn it, I have to get away from these guys!"

Macua Huitl aim is true and and the real Amazon Ci, scores several hits into the other machine. One of the fakes gets hit by the counter attack. IT vanishes, the next? Its the real one and the damage is taken right on the chest, Macua's stagged for a second but she's got a chance to reply. She sounds a bit pained a she says.

"You really think I'll die that easily?"

The spear spin a the counter attack comes in earnest, and she deflects the blasts with the spear, it stops spinning a moment later, she pauses lookg at them. "Not bad but still not enough! DANCE OF THE HOWLING MAGMA SPRITES!"

She leaps at Neva drive in the fist of her machine into the snow packed ground, and there starts to be steam, explosion and fire heading right in Neva's direction the very ground could turn to explosion and slush right under her!

As the twin blasts strike against the Amenthes, a strange feeling comes over Mayet's pilot. It almost feels as if something were squeezing around her heart, making it harder to breathe. "Amit." She gasps, taking a quick breath, "Check life support systems?" <<"Life support systems are operating at ninety percent.">> So why was it so hard to breathe? Her hand lifts off of the controls, looking at the damaged unit as it hangs in the air like some lifeless doll. "Is it disabled?" <<"Status unknown.">> Forcing her eyes shut, Lin grabs at her chest, entirely distracted from the battle at hand. Behind her, Mayet's head raises, as if she were sensing something from a kindred spirit.

<<"Friendly unit under fire and at critical damage levels.">> Lin's eyes quickly flash to the other screen, paying the Amenthes far less heed. "Staren." The young framerunner whispers, then curses under her breath. "Any speed you can pull out to get me there, Amit..." <<"Understood">> While the white-haired pilot controls the movements of the Orbital Frame, her AI is more focused on speed. A flare of blue energy lashes out from the huge wings along the hovering unit's back, sending it careening across the battlefield in an attempt to get to Staren in time to ward off the attack from Yatagarasu. Unfortunately, she's just a split second too late, and rather than being able to shield her friend, she can only watch, expecting the worst. Fate seems to be on his side, though, and there is a faint sigh of relief from the framerunner.

Kicking off from the ground, Mayet travels upwards into the air and hovers above the battlefield. While Lin may have had a momentary distraction from her battle with Amenthes, the vision of Mayet is still watching the red Orbital Frame. A transparent hand moves forward, laying lightly onto the young woman's shoulder, and that is the only warning that she has as the possessed Amenthes charges towards her. Lin's hands fly to the controls, instinctively pulling the machine's arms up over her chest to shield the worst of the damage. She's that close. Close enough to see those sharp teeth and the wrecked, feral look of the other unit.

"What happened to you?" She whispers, her own hand lifting off of one control to touch the image of Amenthes on her view screen. Then, realizing what she is doing, Lin snaps her hand back as if she were burned, looking at her fingers. "What am I doing? Amit! I want you to charge up the most powerful thing we have." <<"Unable to comply.">> "What?" Lin looks to the side where the speaker is, and scowls at it. Every time she tried to do something, the Orbital Frame seemed intent on getting in her way. "Just do /something/." <<"Unable to comply. Mayet is overriding my systems.">> For the time being, Mayet is simply motionless, with those arms raised, her own face mear inches from those razor sharp fangs of Amenthes.

And so, Shu Shirakawa all too happily pushed forward on the controls.

Supermachinery Granzon hurdles forward, propelling itself at an outrageously high speed toward the Zeta Gundam. The hum of its engines so powerful that the very air around it thrums with vibratory force. Even the pressurized, vaccuum-sealed confines of a Mobile Suit provide no dampening for this feeling. You can feel the operation of the Annihilation Engine down to your bones.

Its Gran Sword drawn, held back in its right hand. Reality warps along its wickedly-curved edge, a stray light of beamfire glinting off its length.

"Camille, your genius is so palpable. What brilliant angles, what masterful design. But is it enough to stand the test of time?" Shu suddenly links-up with Zeta Gundam via Neo-FaceTime, the slightly amused Man from La Gias quizzing the pilot inside. It is all but a test. A grisly, awful test. He smirks softly as his hands rock the controls along. "I suppose this might be an appropriate time--"

"..for you to fire up your soul, Gunda--" Shu is gently rocked within Granzon. From outside, the Warp Shield distorts and shimmers heavily. Solar plasma clings to the bubble, a glop of ultra-hot material that roils against the protective barrier. "Hnh," he lightly muses. A little tilt of his head and a series of holographic read-outs scroll down.

"Another 'god,'" Shu uses the term with disdain. His upper lip hedging upon a sneer. She wants to protect her brother. Far be it for him to prevent them both from being disconnected by a minor thing such as life and death.

Granzon whirls around. Its head rocks back, catching sight of Yatagarasu with an icy mechanical stare. Its arm raises with a smooth whir of its servo, armor-plated fingers flaring outward. From its palm, a bolt of pure force. Gnashing, grinding, crushing everything in its wake.

Locked arm in arm with the Orbital Frame, Daitarn 1 flies with no real say in /how/ it travels. The sheer speed of the Qareen's impact combined with the mobile fighter's already softened armour means crumpled abdominal armour and a sore midsection, not to mention a few stray spurts of propellant followed closely by thruster fire to set the air beneath the two machines dangerously aflame.

It isn't until the pike comes to bear that Banjo tries to reverse his fortunes.

"The Trinities are dead or working for the government," Banjo lowly transmits as the mobile fighter's fingers suddenly snap shut just beneath the pike's head; as soon as its grip has tightened, the weapon moves no more and merely hovers a few feet away from Daitarn 1's face. "Celestial Being has been brought under control. Katz isn't a /faction/, he's a stupid kid who's still trying to learn his way in the world."

The mobile fighter's propulsion systems propel bands of golden energy as they fire against Qareen's forward momentum in the hopes of reversing their movement and giving Daitarn 1 something of a physical advantage. At the same time, it sets its other hand higher up on the pike, and after a second or two it'll cut its movement and twist its entire body 'round to try hurling the Orbital Frame all the way to the ground.

"You /worked/ for /Haman Karn/, to boot--are you /going/ for dense? It's working."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Shu Shirakawa transmits, "Oh, by all means, my good Colonel.."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite growls whilst unconcious. "Shuuuuuuu!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Alert! Incoming file.. AnnihilationEngine.pdf.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> <<"The Colossus has sustained heavy damage, Neva. Please consider retreat.">> Neva growls and says, "-No-! I'm smashing her to BITS!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Vindel Mauser transmits, "W-Bots! Access that incoming file and use your blast processing cores to transfer it to my personal system."

<Radio: B - Katharon Secure> Rachel Miu Athha transmits, "What is he--"

<Radio: B - Katharon Secure> Macua Huitl transmits, "I think he's mistaken you... for Camille..."

<Radio: B - Katharon Secure> Macua Huitl transmits, "Or he's trolling you."

The heat is simply too intense for the missiles from the Giga Launcher to get close enough. They explode a noticable distance before even entering the pulsating star surrounding the Yatagarasu. Inside, Seril hunches forward, gasping for breath. She swallows, then straightens herself up a bit. The star's surface fades from yellow to an angry red, then collapses in on itself without fanfare, revealing a white-hot machine at its core. Seril glances around, getting her bearings, and the presence of her enemies. One that she'd thought was her ally opens fire on her!

With a shout, Seril throws up her arms. Yatagarasu twists and mimics the gesture as the force bolt impacts against its stone and silver exterior. That shout becomes a shriek. That's it. The Granzon has officially entered Seril's aggro table. Not only that, but Shu has shot to the top of the girl's list. But before she can act on the rage boiling in her blood, a deep bass voice fills the fluid around her. -My Divine Flame.- -Savor your rage.- -This is a foe that should be faced with our full strength.- -Do not cast your cherished life so carelessly.-

Seril grinds her fanged teeth slowly, and then points. Yatagarasu mimics the gesture, levelling its arm cannon towards the Granzon, "You're awfully brave! You have to fight a little girl after she's already been thrashed by two other enemies! If you want me to kill you, at least have the courtesy of doing all the work yourself!" She leans forward, her other hand curling, causing the Yatagarasu's gauntlet to hook its fingers into unnatural-looking talons, "So unless you want me to compress a star inside your cockpit, /BUTT OUT/!!"

The Yatagarasu raises its wings, then thrusts them down, hurtling into the sky and away from both the Granzon, the DOM Trooper, and the pink (IT'S LIGHTISH RED!) Zeta Gundam. While it's an upward flight initially, she twists and arcs quickly such that the Yatagarasu sails towards the Mayet and Amenthes, "I'm coming, big brother!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell transmits, "I'm coming, big brother!"

The explosion beneath the Colossus is enough to send it crashing to the ground. The Colossus lays still for a few moments, before setting back up and climbing back to its feet and once again towers above the Amazon Ci.

Neva inside is trying to keep her head together as she gets control of the Colossus back into gear. << The Colossus has sustained heavy damage, Neva. Please consider retreat. >> Neva growls and says, "-No-! I'm smashing her to BITS!"

Upon which, the Colossus reaches to its back and detaches its HUGE Colossus Blade, and raises it up high before swing it down to SMASH the Amazon Ci. "This is the might of the Colossus!! You can't stand against it!!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> W-Bots transmit in unison, "Accessing.. decoding.."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Shu Shirakawa transmits, "W-Bots transmit in unison, "I GOT THE MAGIC TICK. I KNOW IF I CAN HIT ONCE, I CAN HIT TWICE. I HIT THE BADDEST CHICKS, SHORTY DON'T BELIEVE ME THEN COME WITH ME TONIGHT. AND I'LL SHOW YOU MAGIC.""

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Shu Shirakawa transmits, "W-Bots transmit in unison, "WHAT? WHAT?""

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> W-Bots transmit in unison, "MAAA~GIC."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Shu Shirakawa transmits, "Oh, Chika. You and your humor."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Chika squawks, "I'ma freak to the core, Shu! These bitches don't know!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Lethe Rusina synchs in a few moments later: "... Colonel, the W-Bots in repair bay two have started yelling in unison about magic."

The Amenthes continues to rip forwards whilst the Mayet finds itself unable to move. Or rather, Alina finds the Mayet rejecting her commands. The sharp-teethed Amenthes' feathers fan out, and stab forwards, generating a gigantic gulf of little bolts of fire ripping towards the blue Orbital Frame whilst its arms reach out towards the machine's throat to try and strangle it... then suddenly... halts! There's a twitch within its figure too... reaching out... then suddenly laying a hand gently against its head. Like two lovers...

Within the world of Ascian's head, Ascian's hands continue to lay against the bare body of Amenthes' spirit. "Why..." He whispers softly. Then suddenly, he notices, in the distance, the figure of Mayet, overlaying with something else. But its' warped, constantly moving, he cannot see what it is beneath that figure. "Amenthes..." He whispers. It becomes clearer, now he can see another Amenthes trying to strangle Mayet, but is beind held back by yet another Amenthes. Three Amentheses?! His eyes move back onto the figure of the one before him. "Wake... wake my warrior. See for yourself." And there's a pulling sensation, pulled back into reality.

The red glow within the cockpit lightens again, causing the figure of the spirit to disappate. Ascian slowly wakens, muttering the word 'Shu' as somehow, he manages to feel through the Amenthes' sensors that Seril is in danger. Then... her voice. 'I'm coming, big brother'. "SERIL!" His eyes widen, and he watches as before him, is the Mayet. "What..." What happened? There is no time to figure that out. His gaze instead quickly aims to find the core within the enemy unit...

And then he spreads the hands of Amenthes, lifting away from its face, and boosts back for just a moment, flipping over backwards, then rushes straight forwards. <"GIVE ME BACK MAYET!"> He cries out, red bulbs of energy once again forming around its hands, which he uses to try and punch straight underneath the Metatron core - hoping to cut off its ability to deliver its signals to the cockpit, then spins around to use the second orb upon its spine. "Sorry, Mayet!"

Inside the cockpit, Suriel was breathing heavily. The back and forth between the two was tiring him out...he could not do this forever, and he was sure that Banjo knew this. This was David and Goliath, and he felt like the rock, as opposed to David. Suriel, caught in the arms of the Diatarn 1, had very little choice than to ride it out, before he was tossed. However, Suriel, even as the strain of the force aimed to rip him and his unit apart, managed to activate the reverse polarity on his...ok, lets just stop the science right there.

The unit suddenly FLIPS turnways, and falls UP for a second, reversing the momentum.

Suriel lands, before diving out and his arm snaps out. The scythe and bits wrap around the arm, turning it into a large cannon. The thing aims forward, aiming down towards Diatarn 1... a large ball of dark matter starts forming, bending light as it shines on it, before the large ball of SPACE COMPRESSION aims to try and tear parts of the unit from itself.

"Ok, you got me there. Working for Haman was pretty shitty. I just believe in the goals of the Shadow Mirrors. My master Gym said that I would get stronger surviving whatever madness she inflicted on the world...and he was right."

"Of course, this is the best fight yet.."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Vindel Mauser transmits, "Yes; Dr. Shirakawa's idea of humor, I believe. Once they're repaired, I'll have to send them along to him with my rebuttal."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Lethe Rusina transmits, "Understood, Colonel."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Shu Shirakawa transmits, "One would hope it's better than little girls enthrall to mad gods, Colonel. Tch, I suppose learning after I leveled the School would be a little too much for your 'Crusade.'"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell transmits, "You got something to say to me, traitor!?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite pants, "Seril... don't... go in on his taunts..."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Shu Shirakawa transmits, "Hush now, Ms. Vaskell."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell transmits, "Where I come from, we behead people who shoot their allies!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell roars, "THAT'S /PRINCESS/ TO SCUM LIKE YOU. You don't deserve to say my name!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki growling... "I remember that, asshole."

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

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "He's not worth it."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Chika squawks, "Bitch don't know Shu! Bitch don't know!"

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

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Chika squawks, "Come say that to my beak, you pencil-necked bitch! I'd sell you into white slavery if there was a market for it!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "Stop hiding behind Shu then, you bitch! I will break that beak off and shove it up yo-"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Will you shut up and concentrate on your own battle?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Go yell at Haran."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "At least he's intelligent."

The bright light, the heat and the flames, and then the--

-- Granzon?!

So triggers the standard FACE-PHONE as one Shu Shirakawa puts a call through to her. What is waiting for him in the cockpit is not Camille Bidan, but a young girl that is about eighteen years old, with dusky-color skin and golden eyes. White hair is cut into a short shag hairstyle, and she regards the confrontation with curiosity and skepticism.

"I'm not Camille," she says, perhaps stating the obvious.

And then the crimson red Zeta Gundam P2/3C catches sight of the Yatagarasu fleeing, heading toward the Orbital Frame support for the invading members of the Divine Crusade. Leaning forward in her cockpit-- and the video window tilting to keep the view on her head and shoulders-- the Mobile Suit chases after the Yatagarasu with the faintest trail of light chasing it.

Not the light of the verniers and thrusters. It's the wisps of a golden light starting to form.

Drawing back the right hand, a beam dagger is taken out, the hand opening to allow the handle to skid along the surface of the palm until it can be caught in a backhanded grip. Attempting to attack Seril's god-machine from on high, Rachel aims to put the machine right into the thick of it, to drive the short blade into what quantifies the lower back of the unusual 'robot.'

Her voice echoes. To the psychically-sensitive, there's a faint echo that has nothing to do with a radio being turned on as she yells--

"And you're not going to do that!!"

The Dom Trooper rights itself once the star disappears, and loads another magazine into the giga launcher. "Damn it..."

And then to add Insult to Injury, Shu starts going on about how awesome the Zeta is. Hey! What about the Star Hawk?! What's so special about gundams?! But Staren decides _not_ to draw Shu's ire, at least not today... He's got to protect the pilot, the AI, and the orbital frame! The DOM trooper skates along the ground, before launching into a flying leap! Timed to reach Yatagarasu just as it reaches the two orbital frames... when Staren tries to jam that beam saber into the strange machine's back, and break a cooling fin with its hand. "Gotcha...!" He drops off quickly though, not wanting to get caught if it turns into a sun again!

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Chika transmits, "Better listen to your boy, you Ender sack of shit. I'll peck out your eyes and then shit in 'em! I'll--"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Shu Shirakawa transmits, "Chika! Mind your manners."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell shriek!

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

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Seril, return to the Peregrine!"

"You're just racking up points all ov--"

The funny thing about compressing space is that once it's happened, things become a bit difficult to deal with on a scientific level.

The air near Daitarn 1 is suddenly awake with tempestuous, pseudonatural forces almost before Qareen even launches its swirling ball of darkness, and the hellacious force of their sudden emergence is enough to send the mobile fighter flying erratically away from their source.

The funny thing about compressing space in an area with an artificial star and the Granzon is that physics kind of cease to be more than a vague suggestion.

Thus, as Daitarn 1 draws near to the Granzon, it's thrown wildly in another direction entirely by the bands of gravitic force emanating from what was once a good half of the Divine Crusaders' entire operational budget. The decaying gravity well from Yatagarasu's time as an artificial sun seals the deal, and after beginning to swirl haphazardly through a seemingly random patch of air for a few seconds, the mobile fighter is finally launched far, far away from Greenland.

After about five minutes, it'll land somewhere in Arizona, and Banjo will be frowning.

There is no such display within the cockpit of Mayet. In fact, everything is eerily quiet. Lin's normally calm exterior breaks as she tries everything she can think of to get the Orbital Frame moving again. No matter how she handles the control orbs, the unit simply refuses to respond, and all she is left with is a look strait into the gruesome teeth of Amenthes as those hands reach forward for Mayet's neck. As if she were expecting something terrible, Lin ducks her head...

But nothing comes. When she peeks open one blue eye again, everything seems to have come to a hault, leaving Amenthes touching Mayet's face in that almost intimate way. "Amit, what is she doing?" <<"You need to see, but you are not ready.">> It isn't the cold voice of the AI that answers this time. Instead, it is a voice that somehow sends a shiver down her spine, goosebumps rising on the framerunner's arms. It sounds... so familiar. Like something out of her still-forgotten past.

Her mouth opens, about to say something else when Amenthes seems to come to life again. With Mayet still refusing to respond to her commands, there is little that Lin can do as the blast of energy slams into her Orbital Frame. Mayet is sent tumbling down towards the ground once more, managing to take out a few more trees in the process before coming to a stop. Crumpled, like some rag doll, the blue Orbital Frame still seems to have some life in it. An arm reaches out, twitching.

Within, Lin isn't in much better shape than her unit. A thin line of blood runs down the left side of her face as she lifts her head, hands still pressed onto the controls. <"Mayet is mine..."> Her voice comes as a whisper, in that same growling tone as the 'Frame's feline head lifts from the ground. <<"Damage significant. Systems failing.">> Lin doesn't seem to even hear the AI's warning. Instead, by sheer force of will, she manages to raise one of Mayet's hands to aim it towards Amenthes. Her chest heaves, struggling to take in breath. And then, just as she is about to fire, a hand appears on her arm. Looking over her shoulder, Lin sees that ghostly image of Mayet for the first time. The nearly naked woman just shakes her head from side to side, her expression covered by the ornate ritual mask.

Perhaps the injuries are too much, or perhaps the sight of something else... some other entity sharing the cockpit with her - in either case, the white-haired framerunner's eyes roll up into her head, and she tips forward, head coming to rest on the controls. The woman simply places a hand on Lin's head, and then vanishes. Outside, there is a flare of color from Mayet's eyes as the Orbital Frame stands once more. This time, without the control of her pilot. It almost seems to be inviting an attack from Amenthes, that gun raised in a threat of power, but not a single shot fired.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki breathing heavily... "...Target defeated...?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Well done, Misaki!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "I knew you could do it."

"Mn," Shu Shirakawa muses faintly at the silver-haired girl talking back. "So you aren't."

Seril Vaskel is yelling at him. Though Granzon and Yatagarasu stare each other down, the pilot on the other end seems disinterested by Seril's hot-blooded threat. Instead, Shu is more caught up with the top-heavy girl he's watching with a mild interest.

The transmission-link is cut the moment Rachel commands her Zeta Gundam after Yatagarasu. Shu leans back in his seat, rubbing his chin with a thoughtful look on his face. "But so much potential, nonetheless," he considers to himself.

Daitarn-1 sails beyond Granzon. Shu lifts his shoulders in a simple shrug. So much for Banjo Haran. Still, one mustn't make things expressedly too one-sided. While Chika cusses out Suriel over the radio, he merely adds a bit of button-clicking to the background noise.

Granzon raises its arm once more..

..and everything between it and the DOM Trooper goes heinously wrong.

The Yatagarasu turns slightly so it can look down its body at the pursuing mobile suits. Inside, Seril grits her teeth, "Get away from me! I'm leaving you alone now!" The thrust increases, and the Godmachine's velocity spikes suddenly. It's not quite enough to outrun the Waverider, though, and a blade bites in between its black energy wings. Seril winces, squeezing her eyes shut briefly.

Opening them again, tears stain the fluid around her face as she focuses on the beleagured Amenthes growing closer. Just as she's close enough to try and help, that pesky DOM Trooper leaps onto her back. The sudden weight and pain shatters her concentration, and the Yatagarasu's flight falters. That beamsaber wedges in under its wings, drawing another gout of that superheated fluid, and Seril shrieks. Losing altitude, she rolls frantically to try and shake the DOM off, only to slam into the earth herself. The wings still deployed, thrust still generated, the Yatagarasu grinds against the ice like that for several hundred yards before it bounces up enough to start gaining altitude again, rocketing out over the ocean.

It rolls slowly in flight. Inside, Seril floats. She reaches for the display that shows the rapidly receding Amenthes, muttering out a quiet, "..A...Ascian..." Her reach goes limp, and she passes out. In midair, the Yatagarasu's eye suddenly closes. Its wings recede, and the directionless godmachine plummets into the sea in a plume of steam and seawater.

Macua Huitl sees how large the machine is, yet it moves a bit faster than something it's size ought to move and it's fists are coming down. Macua's last move? May have come to bite her on the butt, given the terrain she has not that much experience in. She's caught in semi melted ground and as she's getting lose the hue blade comes down.

She's got not time to dodge, but she should have been destroyed the blade sinks into the slushy ground and Macua vanishes.

Steam rises up from the impact point something's happened, just what's happened there.

The ground behind Neva's machine explodes, ice and snow go everywhere there's steam and the Amazon CI is standing there as the snow and other debris se3tteld it's also badly damaged but intact.

The damaged machine is stillmore than functional, and the spear once again forms and expands in Macua's machine's hands. Inside she spins a double seemindly made out of energy and there's a smirk on her face.

"Let's see how you dance."

The Amazon CI speeds up again and lunges for the huge seemingly made from rock machine and rapiodly stabs with the spear, then flips over the huge machine and opens up with it's funnels as it flips over. IT lands and the spear is thrown away for a moment. The Geist blow system comes back on line and she just starts to attack the huge machine over and over again. Punch after punch and then she boots again, and several kicks are rapidly launched.

"Come on!"

The Amazon still moving fats flips away recovers the spear and then the funnels come in once more before returning to the machine. Once more she jets at the other machine, and pulls back her right fist, for one last punch aimed right for the other machines head and shes trying to drive the fist in hopefully cripply whatever scanning systems it has, she pull away again and while still air born land on the things wshoulder spike her fist down and leap away and landing some distance away. Will this even breach the giants armor? Thats the question.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Seril Vaskell transmits, "...A...Ascian... ...nn..."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Seril! Hold on! I'll be right there!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Neva Fernandez shrieks, "Nonononononono!!!" << Systems have been damaged beyond fighting parameters, Neva. Please consider retreat. "NO! I'll kill her!!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Neva! Don't do anything foolish! Retreat!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Go to the extraction point. You got me?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Chika squawks, "God-DAMN, that Princess bitch went down faster'n Lacus Clyne when you gave her that ring, Shu!"

<Radio: B - Katharon Secure> Rachel Miu Athha transmits, "Staren--"

<Radio: B - Katharon Secure> Macua Huitl transmits, "I'll get him out of here."

<Radio: B - Katharon Secure> Macua Huitl transmits, "Lin?!"

<Radio: B - Katharon Secure> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Why... is the Heart of Space suddenly... sad?"

"SERIL!" Ascian blares through the radio as he watches Seril be tripple-teamed by a combination of Staren, Rachel and Shu! "WHY THOSE... DAMNIT!" His attention flicks between taking revenge, and Mayer. Staren, Rachel... Shu... or the Mayet. He watches in the Vidwindow as the Yatagarasu is forced over the ocean... and falls. "DAMNIT! NO!" His head twists back to the Mayet. "RAAAAAAH! MAYET IS NOT YOURS!" Heavily upset by this woman claiming something else. Suddenly, from the peregrine ship, a series of red lights shine. Within one of the spare hangar... those red lights peer as the doors open. slowly. More and more flick on. "Drone Control active!"

A gigantic flock of Raptors suddenly rush down like a swarm of locusts, descending upon the lands and firing a gigantic gulf of laserfire, creating a path right towards the Mayet! More and more raptors follow, ripping into the base and the earth ahead of it. Closer and closer they approach to Mayet. <"Watch! Adom Nazir! Staren Wiremu! What happens to those who take away my loved ones!"> Ascian suddenly calls out, to the only one who he believes will listen. A small squadron seperates and rushes after the falling Yatagarasu, diving underneath its arms to try and lift it back up from the water.

That gun comes up, and his eyes turn back to that machine before him. "NOOOO!" As if in defense, he raises the right arm of the Amenthes whilst stabbing the left blade right into the tip of the gun. Greater and greater the ball of Metatron energy grows, even as the Raptors continue to approach. "GIVE ME BACK AMENTHEEEEES!" And down it goes, crashing upon the ground behind it, sending a gigantic shockwave throughout the unit and erupting the ground around it. A series of the raptors are caught within the blast and explode. More and more explosions form, as the blast absorbs the Mayet for a moment. Dust springs up, debris scatters everywhere...

And then finally.

Metal parts.

That is all that is left there where the Mayet had once been. Destroyed. Devastated. And Ascian laughs. <"SEE ADOM!? SEE THAT STAREN!? THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE THAT OPPOSE ME!"> He cries out, cackling maniacly.

The Mayet.

It's gone...

The Amenthes turns towards the other units, watching where Neva is, and a series of the leftover Raptors rush off towards the stone mech to pick it up. The wings of the Phoenix spread, and it rockets straight off towards the river, where the raptors have picked up the Yatagarasu. In one quick and fell swoop, Ascian has obtained the Yatagarasu and is en-route to the Peregrine and sets the fire-god into its hangar. The raptors remain, randomly rampaging on the base now that Duat has given it one final command - to search and destroy.

<Radio: D - WING boys> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Quatre the heart of spacedon't /exist/."

<Radio: D - WING boys> Duo Maxwell transmits, "That's jus' you bein' crazy."

<Radio: D - WING boys> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "But... it speaks to me..."

<Radio: D - WING boys> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Craaaaaaaaayyyzeeeeeeee."

<Radio: D - WING boys> Quatre Raberba Winner pouts.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Shu Shirakawa transmits, "Much better this time, Mr. Misaki!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Misaki, we're out of here."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "Thanks. Nice job on detonating the loud mouth."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "We did what we needed to do."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "Uh...so you blew it up? I thought you were taking it back?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite cackles.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Shu Shirakawa transmits, "Though next time, see about getting some new friends. I have a feeling these won't last you very long."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Shu Shirakawa transmits, "Or get you terribly far."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "I AM training under Gym."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> James Heller says to Ascian, "Dude your sounding a bit unhinged man.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Shu... shut up."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki sigh...

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite sighs. "The Mayet is fine..."

Okay the end of that last pose was an animation error, Staren's DOM totally rides the falling raven-mech to the surface before drmatically ripping its beam sword out and leaping off, because that is BADASS. Yes it is, shut up! Let Staren have a moment!

Staren's moment of PRETTY COOL ACTUALLY is short-lived, however, as suddenly gravity decides to rape his half-melted mobile suit.

Metal screams as it twists and bends, and there are terrible sounds as pieces snap and buckle under the pressure. Crumpled beam saber hilt and giga launcher drop from crippled hands, and the mobile suit falls over and lies still.

Staren doesn't have time to do more than think WHAT before he blacks out.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Chika squawks, "Oh shit, big man thinks he knows the score. Thinks he knows Shu. You a brave boy? You think you all billy?"

<Radio: B - Katharon Secure> Rachel Miu Athha transmits, "... Wait, where's Lin, what--"

<Radio: B - Katharon Secure> Staren Wiremu has no lifesigns! Wait, he's had no lifesigns the whole time. He may have been in such a rush he didn't suit up.

<Radio: B - Katharon Secure> Staren Wiremu 's mech also totally off now anyway

<Radio: B - Katharon Secure> Astrid Stalvern, after a long pause, emits the distintive sound of a beer opening, then pouring out.

<Radio: C - Global> Suriel Misaki transmits, "Hey Staren."

<Radio: C - Global> Suriel Misaki transmits, "KABOOOOOOOOOOM!"

<Radio: C - Global> Staren Wiremu no response! He may have blacked out due to GRAVITY SHENANIGANS

The Colossus takes hit after hit after hit after hit from the Amazon Ci. The machine wasn't made for dodging, it was made for absorbing hits and sending them back, and take the damage it does. To anyone watching though, all it seems to do is just stand there and... Nothing. Was the machine truly invulnerable to damage?!

The Colossus in response raises a hand up to fire off a palm blast and charges for a few seconds, and when it seems time to fire off a deadly blast.... The blaster just dies back down.

And the damage becomes obvious through its movements, which begin jerking as the Colossus begins to turn and walk away, before suddenly falling over and crashing to the ground face first.

What Neva doesn't know, is that there is a crack in the stone armor, just across the face, even as she screams at the machine to get back up.

<Radio: C - Global> Edward Fawkes bellows, "STOP! THIEF! STOP!" Sounds of things being trampled, possible people screaming/getting stomped on. "GET BACK HERE!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Neva Fernandez blink, "Wait--Don't fall- DON'T FALL OV---" Cut off by a megasized rumbling THUD.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "I've sent Raptor units to retrieve the Colossus, miss Fernandez."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "You'll be lifted up to the Misty Dream in moments."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Suriel! You coming yet!?"

Shnkt!

The Granzon settles beside Staren's downed DOM Trooper. Its colossal Gran Sword settled in the ground right beside it, its edge effortlessly cutting the ground. Its edge so close to the wreckage, so perilously near the cockpit. The Sword of Damocles, empowered by the ineffable cosmic force.

"Hn." Shu glances aside, so few traces of the Crusade remaining. What a pathetic showing. Mewling little children, left to scavenge over the only hope of mankind.

Shu Shirakawa re-appears on the Zeta Gundam's console. "Another time, Gundam," he smiles softly. Was this all a game to him?

Granzon turns, the lights along its chest lighting up. The air before it deforms, another tear in the fabric of reality again. On the opposite end, the distant world of Lucifer..

Anti-gravity systems activate, raising Granzon into the air. It propels itself forward with only the thrum of its Annihilation Engine, submerging into the rip and disappearing.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "No, I feel like giving Shu's bird the bird."

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

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Suriel! He's gone."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "Still giving the finger."

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

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite sighs, "That's fine. Now get your butt on board of the Peregrine, before the crazy Gundam units decide they wanna take on an entire battleship."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> *Blip!* Suriel's Qareen receives an incoming message.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki opens.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> The message is a little picture file.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Of a bluebird.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Pointing its ass to the viewer and its tailfeathers lifted up.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Suriel Misaki transmits, "CHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" You know there are flames in the background too."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite snorts.

Suriel looks around.

Well, if he continued this fight, it looks like Shu would basicly BLOW HIM THE FUCK UP.

Also, he FUCKING beat goddamn Banjo. Yeah, he is going to victory dance later. Fucking yes. HELL FUCKING YES.

Ok, enough celebrating.

He lifts off, looking as Staren gets flipped Turn-ways. "Ok, so, I am ok with Shu again." he comments, because well...Staren deserved that. He looks at Rachel and nods towards her. Ok, this is over, lets...

And then he gets THE MESSAGE.

Qareen, lifting it's hand into the air as the lava explodes behind him, as the pilot screams at Shu...

"CHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Oh wait...

"Ok, time to leave." he says, and bolts. "Have fun with the not dying in lava!"

Honestly, Rachel hasn't had much of a chance to interact with Lin in all the time that she's been on the Argama. She knows that she made some really good food, and that Macua was working with her on how to pilot. That the Orbital Frame has something to do with her past, and that the Orbital Frame needed to be studied. That maybe she could have something of her past taken back.

With Rachel's past, she could definitely understand it.

But after the Yatagarasu falls and she's distracted by Shu Shirakawa turning around and attacking Staren just moments after /assisting/ them, there's an explosive burst that rips and sears through the air. Her proximity to the god-machine was hiding it-- the anger of the girl inside, and the presence of the entity, that overwhelming mind. But as soon as there's some clearance, as soon as the Mobile Suit starts to turn--

-- the Mayet detonates-- -- the presence of one more mind disappears--

-- and then her golden eyes widen significantly, lips parting just slightly.

"Miss... L...in..."

The Zeta makes a sudden, powerful lunge toward the Amenthes, the crimson red machine starting to surge with psychic energy. It's her heart, it's the strength and amplification of the Bio Sensor-- and it's the sight, the feeling, of one of her allies being taken down on the battlefield.

"Urrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa--"

The Zeta blurs forward with a brilliant streak of golden light, but the Orbital Frame has already started moving before she has a chance to crash into the machine, or to land a strike. Immediately, it twists around and the thrusters fire again, the machine holding a beam saber that flares green.

No, bright green.

No, pink.

As the Red Zeta charges toward the Amenthes in the midst of recovering the Yatagarasu, the saber swings up high over her head, the stance looking like the spirit of Sanger Zonvolt is living inside that Gundam. The blade goes into /overdrive/, blazing out at least five times as long as it should have, the containment field sparking and snapping loudly and violently at the hilt.

The Orbital Frame makes it's escape as she swings, and the blade strikes the air beneath the Amenthes... but at the same time, that same stroke blazes through one, then two, then three, then four of the remaining squad of unmanned Raptors before the blade strikes the ground and starts to carve a brutal line of uprooted earth into the ground below. With the remainder of the drone reinforcements settling into a defensive grouping that puts the white-haired princess on the other side of a barricade as the escape craft, her hands ball up into fists, all while the saber continues to spark and spit and rage, while the eyes glow green, and while the whole Mobile Suit is consumed in what seems like golden flame.

In short: So much angry. Enough so that for the moment, she is the local brightly-shining beacon on the empathic-slash-psychic radar.

ELSEWHERE

Martha Vist-Carbine steeples her fingers, elbows propped on the arms of her chair. Data continues to scroll, as well as graphs and spikes that correspond with the most recent feed. Cherry red lips purse, then pull slowly into an amused, calm smile.

"Alberto, I'll let you handle the rest."