2009-06-02 - Sanctuary and Shu Shirakawa

Adler's Kids on the moon SRT - Tuesday, June 02, 2009, 7:48 PM

Unlike some of the most impressive organizations in the Earth Sphere and beyond, Sanctuary is independently run and uses what they can. Thus, there are no fancy deployments of battleships and immaculate ranks of soldiers in their mass-produced mobile suits to gun the line.

Then again, it's also why Yue Rohay has chosen something that, as far as Divine Crusaders operations go, is small in size. A nearby crater has been selected as a rendezvous point, within which the team lays in wait.

The operation is simple -- but simple doesn't always mean easy. There are two teams, one of which Yue has left to a band of Trailer mercenaries in their assortment of mobile suits and rides -- the Escape Team. They would be in charge of securing their escape route by distracting the DC's posted defense perimeters, and as a means to fall back upon.

The Strike Team -- consisting of the movement's many volunteers -- will be in charge of the rescue operation, swooping in and disabling the Cosmolions piloted by Adler's school children in order to whisk them away for de-brainwashing. No doubt this act will be viewed upon by the children as an act of terror, kidnapping their dearest family away from them... but it has to be done.

The outcome of this first operation will impact the movement's future; succeed, and news will spread, sending a statement to those with a similar mind to Adler Koch, but more importantly, those who similarly seek to stop such crimes. Fail, and risk already strained relationships across factions to worsen as lives are consumed, resources drained and ambitions lost.

And it is up to everyone present, with their own strengths to lend to the cause, to make that happen.

Latooni Subota, unlike many of her EFA compatriots, has absolutely no issue with working with former Orb personnel. Why would it bother her? They sometimes want the exact same thing as she does.

Like now.

Latooni Subota wanted to give them any help she could. She has first-hand experience with the School; she knows what those children are stuck doing, and she would give anything she owned to get them out. She'd certainly fight and bleed on their behalf.

And so to show her backing, she is flying the single most identifiable robot she has access to - the pink and purple Fairlion that won the Gundam Fight, freshly painted and trailing glittering thruster wash behind it as it flies through the void. She has put herself near the front of the strike team, having a vague notion that she can draw the ire of School defenders long enough for someone else to actually get out with the children in question. Glory in battle does not interest her.

Mebius wisely kept Orcrist low, piloting the floating pink Orbital Frame into the crater where the team is gathering. Despite the gravity of the situation, she is very warm and playful. "I can already see the headlines," a very low-power, immediate-area-only transmission to her allies, "Heartless terrorists kidnap children, give them to good homes. Citizens and leadership outraged!" She looks over the crater ridge and concludes: "I'm ready on your signal."

Among the units of Sanctuary was Marin Lae's own Hizack Custom. Marin was in the unit as well, preparing for the upcoming battle. While one of the more recent volunteers, she's certainly behind its actions all the way, and willing to do whatever she can for it. That, and Yue was one of the people she could trust on things like this. And her friend.

The Hizack Custom, for this fight, was coming with another rifle attached to its back though, a more physical and traditional sniper rifle, as opposed to its energy powered Beam Launcher, for back up purposes. She had yet to really test it out, and was kind of worried about its effects, especially in space, but no better time to test it.

"Everything is green to go here Yue. Just waiting on the call," She says.

There is a unit here that probably no-one would expect. An organization run by a former member of Orb, full of Spacenoids, run by a spacenoid, only partially containing members of the Federation... And yet, hunkered down in the crater is a single Phantoma Booster unit painted black and blue, a bulky Vulcan Cannon cradled in it's hands. The pilot is silent, face hidden behind the tinted visor of his helmet. But there's only one man who would dare to paint ace colours onto a Phantoma. Only one man who, hell, has actually earned such a thing.

The Crimson Shura god kneels with the other robots, the Shura in the cockpit watching and waiting, completely silent on the matter. The people in the trailers had urged him to lend him their stength to save children. However, to save them from fighting was something Folka was still wrapping his head around. Why would you save children from the arts of combat, and expect them to survive in this world? However, the subject of choice was important, and Folka was still learning about the human condition. These humans wanted a life of peace, but others desired wars. Each one seemed to conflict with the others, and Folka was slowly wondering if the diverse society the earthlings shared was what made them so strong. Despite their diversity, they still rose up to fight against larger threats...

Arado Balanga is here because Adler told him to be here.

He doesn't have to like it. The kid rises up in the Sunlion, the modified Lion painted in its distinct golden colors with blue lining here and there. The visor flashes green, as the machine rises up, Divine Crusader radar emplacements detecting the presence of enemy forces. His eyes narrow, a little, as he looks at the monitor -- and thinks of those kids down there.

He never thought that part of his plan would involve doing this. He doesn't like it.

"This is Arado Balanga," he says, over the DC tactical network. He keeps his voice calm. "Looks like we've got company incoming."

The Valhawk is currently holding position at the edge of the rendezvous crater, with both Kazuma and Mihiro triple-checking their machine's status and diagnostic readouts. Even though the Valhawk survived last night's battle at Boaz with little more than scuffed paint, Kazuma isn't taking any chances tonight. This is, in its way, more important than taking out the EFA's Gundam X was ... and more to the point, the strike team has to *disable* any resistance from the Cosmolions themselves without putting the pilots' lives in danger, which is going to take considerably more finesse than most battles call for.

Granted, Kazuma tends to make a habit of not letting his shots go near the cockpit, but even that allows for accidents.

The radio comm is too quiet. Solis sighs, his amniotic surrounding him as he engages the comm.-band, "Cosmo 17. Watch your maneuvering. Your Cosmolion's reactive systems are keening, I can hear their song from here.." The reply comes, "Yes, HXG 1.." The Hostis sits on the lunar surface, overwatching the Cosmolions like some sort of elder brother watching younger, smaller children.. Solis' voice again comes over the comm.-band, "Listen to your machine, Cosmo 17. Embrace it. Recognize the freedom and strength it gives you.." The reply comes, "Yes, HXG 1..." Solis frowns, looking to June and Castilla for a moment, before speaking again, "You are not alone, Alicia. None of you are.." The reply comes, "...yes, Solis.." June glances at him, "What is all that about?" Solis frowns, "We are all meant for warfare, June.. I do not want them to be as we were.. Someone has to be concerned for the forgotten parts of humanity. That is our core mandate." "No, it is not," June mumbles, "Our mandate is to kill the xenos." "To protect humanity, all of it," Solis replies, "That is our mandate. Destroying the xeno scum is just an element of it." Castilla frowns, "We're detecting strange readings on the spectral core analyzer. Feeding to analyticae.. Sensorum core sanguine.." Solis nods, "Noted. June, begin charge of weapon systems. Castilla, feed way points for transit mark, localize perimeter deviation and realign." The sensors of the Hostis Xeno Generis, the eyes of Solis Vivent, gaze upon the dancing Cosmolions above as he turns, to begin his patrol..

With AEUG laying low for the most part there hasn't been much for one Katie Erickson to do piloting wise. She's been busy keeping the mobile suits on the Argama in pristine condition for the time when a return to the fields of battle is necessary. For the time being she's gained approval to take her own Nemo out to aid Yue with her operation, the thought of saving children being turned into war machines exactly the sort of thing the Anti Earth-Union Group would like to support- and so here she is.

Tentatively a member of the Strike Team, she keeps her Nemo near the edge of the crater so it isn't spotted before the attack begins in earnest- being painted bright gold tends to make it stick out and garner attention. "Alright, all my systems are green." She takes a look at the Phantoma and considers for a moment, "And remember, we're here to save the kids, not kill them. Just disable their units!"

 Arado Balanga transmits, "We got some funny activity..."

 Solis Vivent transmits, "I'm detecting it as well."

 Solis Vivent transmits, "We've begun weapon charge."

 Noriko Takaya transmits, "Ehhh?"

Likewise, Allenby has no particular problems with Orb either. Sure, they were former enemies but Allenby was a Divine Crusader who was firmly /everyone's/ enemy. For this particular goal, she'd happily work with their likes. Hilariously, the Nobel Gundam is only the second girliest robot in the field. The Fairlion has it beat in that department tonight by virtue of sparkles. She flies beside the smaller mecha, much like Latooni, counting on her iconic presence to draw out the spirited defenders so more precise people can make the grabs without being accosted by Adler's more zealous followers. "Bearsley reporting." She transmits to Yue sounding oddly serious tonight. "Here to-" that seriousness disappears for a moment, "-draw some aggro as we say in the biz."

In the centre of a barren lunar field, some distance from the mouth of the Moon Cradle, the New School children train. The actual New School facility was more like a high school than a mech training facility, and so Adler Koch needed to arrange for exercises to be handled well outside of that base. One class was taken at a time, under strict controls and the supervision of "graduated" School children who might be available at the time. This class is the Bronzo Delta Class, with support from other children. All of those on this exercise are ten years old or older. They have been raised together. Thirty Cosmolions, containing Bronzos who are fighting one another in pairs, achieving preset notional "objectives", and moving as coordinated by Adler Koch (who is lying abed in the Moon Cradle after a recent embarassing physical incident), through digital links. The machines are all slightly modified from the norm: their cannons larger, assault blades replaced with hammers, unstable plasma throwers strapped on the back, and similar. The children move perfectly in their pairs. These particular Boosted Children are raised in pairs, taught to fight together and work their way through life with perfect teamwork in battles as a primary concern. Koch is proud that so many Bronzos had survived to this point. He felt he'd finally gotten the training regimen correct... As battle data and "grades" pour in, the old Doctor doesn't even begin to suspect a sudden monkey wrench, lurking, waiting to descend upon his Y-adorned and ugly face...A monkey wrench with Phantoma Ace colors?!? And then Arado reports in, and Adler Koch speaks eldritch swear words.

 Arado Balanga transmits, "Looks like inbound units!"  Adler Koch transmits, "WHAAAAAT?!"

 Solis Vivent transmits, "Perimeter appears to be breached. Enemy targets inbound, hiding amongst the ground clutter."

 Adler Koch transmits, "This has potential training value. Engage them alongside the test subjects. Withdrawal carries more danger than engagement."

 Ouka Nagisa transmits, "Dr. Koch. Requesting permission to activate the proto-GEIM System."

 Arado Balanga transmits, "All right. Arado Balanga, in the Sunlion... Moving in!"

 Adler Koch seems to pause for a long moment. "Alright. But fifty percent functionality only. And I'll monitor the safety program in case of instability. You have the training, Aurum."

Staren jumped at the chance to join an organization that is concerned only with right and wrong, and not with factions and politics. He's glad to see the EFA here -- It shows that such a thing is possible! Plus, now he can do something about these awful experiments. Orb wouldn't let him help stop experiments on people, something about misunderstanding his transhumanist viewpoint.

The Star Hawk is near the edge of the crater, deploying hovering, coconut-sized camera drones to keep an eye on things. Some are up in lunar orbit, more will spread out when the strike team moves in to help watch out for any surprises between them and the escape team. Staren's bright red robot (not a Char imitator, it's just his favorite color, really) taps its foot as he waits, excited and a little nervous. He's aware of the possibility that the children like it here for lack of knowing anything else... He's a bit uncomfortable with what this will emotionally do to them, but... They'll get over it when they're debrainwashed. They just need to be Befriended. He also knows this is a scientific installation, which means weird experimental weapons could be here they've never seen before. He's seen what Adler's fielded, who knows what the guy keeps to defend his home?

The Ophanim is dressed in a gargantuan hooded cloak draping its form, obscuring it visually save for a fitted sleeve for the rear cameras to peek out of. The cloak itself is nothing special - no anti-beam coating or anything - but rather a strategic choice, to reduce Yue's visibility so she may reap its organizational benefits. It is also using a false IFF.

"... Divine Crusader armored module cluster identified, 0830 direction. Units confirmed : DCAM-004C Cosmolion. Setting identified units as mission parameter, registering nonlethal hitmarks for convenience."

Yue pauses as she glances at those present around her... someone as inspirational as Guy would be better poised to give them a rousing pep talk. But... perhaps she should say something too. She pauses, hesitating... then goes to her backup plan and presses a button on a tape recorder.

An excited male voice belts out, "YOUSHAAAAA!!!! HAVE YOU GOT HOT-BLOODED SPIRIT? LET'S DO THIS!! FOR JUSTICE, LOVE AND DREAMS!!"

Yue places her (covered) hand to her face for a moment, then follows up with a nonplussed, "End briefing." That'll tide them over for now. The cloaked mobile suit lifts off into the air and advances.

 Ouka Nagisa transmits, "Yes, Doctor."

 Solis Vivent transmits, "We must not allow our compatriots to fall into the brutal hands of the EFA!"

Lunamaria Hawke is here, and has no reason /not/ to like it; Luna, after all, is ignorant of most atrocities committed by the Divine Crusaders. She's just a soldier -- a relatively fresh graduate from the academy, at that. All she knows is that she's fighting for a tomorrow worth fighting for.

Her ZAKU, with its (ha ha) Gunner pack equipped, forms up alongside Arado's Sunlion. "... well, it's better than a debris field," she says. "Sunlion, HXG, I'll be giving you long-range fire support. If you need anything, let me know!"

There's something charming about that warm demeanor and that dippy little smile. ... Or maybe it's just the fact that her normal suit highlights the fact that she has fantastic legs.

Macua hadnt been the same since last night with the battle against the EFA. Shes been quite well quiet. She vanished to her room on the Freedan shortly after and hadnt emerged until it was time for the operation. Even her Haro, Zako didnt go near her most of the day. That was a sign something was really wrong.

Shed chosen to take the 9-ball Seraph due to its superior handling and the fact it had a flight mode. That might be needed to get away should the mission go bad this day. She speaks over the radio her voice distorter active.

"Echo in position and making ready to move on target."

For the moment the Armoured Core waits for the right moment to strike, hopefully they can pull this rescue operation off.

Overlooking the training area of the schoolchildren is a single Guarlion... now, this wouldn't be anything that remarkable. Guarlions are a staple of the Divine Crusader's forces, piloted by many ace pilots. The only difference is, this pilot is not officially part of the Divine Crusaders.

Murata sits in the cockpit of his machine, his eyes closed and his arms crossed deep in meditation. The children themselves are of little concern to him outside of his mission mandate to protect them. There was an offer to teach them combat techniques, but Murata does not have the patience to teach others the art of combat.

At the first signs of trouble however, he opens his eyes and scans the area visually, his hands reaching out to gras the controls. His senses come alive at the familiar anticipation of conflict. The battlefield is his home. It is the only place where he doesn't simply exist, but comes truly alive.

"This is Aurum-1 to all Bronzo Deltas, tighten up your formation. I know this is your first time, but let's use it to make a good impression on Dr. Koch. If you do well, it'll be easier for me to convince him to let you have tomorrow off while we go over the data, alright?"

Ouka Nagisa's R-Eins stands out like a sore thumb. A lighter shade of grey then the Cosmolions around it, its Tesla Drive throws off red fire instead of blue. But most distinctive of all, it is a Personal Trooper, thicker and more beefy then the Armored Modules and far more humanoid besides. There is, of course, the fact that this particular unit should not exsist but inexplicably does somehow; the mass production model of the EFA's R-1!

Ouka begins snapping out orders as hostiles are reported. "All Brono Deltas, fall back towards Dr. Koch's Peregine and perform close-range support of it. Stick with your partner and support each other, no matter what! Remember, if you work togather, you will come out of this alive." The R-Eins does not turn back towards the Peregine. It turns, instead, towards the incoming opposition.

"Proto-GEIM System... Activate!"

The R-Eins wavers a moment as the system turns on, sending that horrible, horrible spike of pain through the back of her skull, making it reverberate down her spinal chord, and sending her into several moments of muscle spasms. But the pain is only temporary now. She's been hardened, fortified. She can handle the proto-GEIM with ease, now. "Engaging." Ouka says quietly as the R-Eins snaps to, driving itself towards the hostiles.

COMBAT: Ouka Nagisa has set their HP to 3 person boss HP. < COMBAT: Ouka Nagisa has activated a spirit command.

Kazuma very nearly smacks his head on his console at the 'briefing' transmission. "Oi oi ..."

Then he starts chuckling as he sits up straight. "Hot-blooded spirit. Mihiro, we loaded that up too, right?"

"Uh ...." Mihiro gives her brother a quizzical look. "You're not going to scare me, are you, oniichan?"

"Let's focus on scaring the Divine Crusaders away from the kids we're here to rescue. Engines to full power, and bring the weapons systems on-line!"

"Ryoukai!"

The Valhawk surges forward, heading towards the Cosmolions practice grounds - or more accurately, towards the DC patrol units which are going to stop the Sanctuary forces from rescuing the Cosmolions and their pilots, possibly outspeeding their allies as Kazuma pushes the Valhawk's thrusters all the way to maximum speed.

Simon has come along with the Strike Team today because, well, he hates Adler a lot?? You'd be surprised with how that can be enough justification for one fellow sometimes. The truth is, the first time he truly felt Adler's crimes strike at him personally--was when he heard about Allenby's Berserk Button. At which point Simon immediately flew over and blew up one of his ships.

Perhaps, he thinks, he'll do that again today. "Reporting in," He transmits to the team but is otherwise quiet.

Arado looks sideways at Lunamaria Hawke's ZAKU. He cracks a half-grin and presses a button down on the radio, to send out a transmission--and tries to not think of all the kids in the Bronzo Delta Class back there; all of the kids that were just like him. He swallows, hard. "Yeah!" he transmits. "Don't worry about it--just stick near me and you'll be all right."

Besides, she has fantastic legs. It almost takes away from the mounting anger in the pit of his stomach, which only grows further when Ouka announces the activation of the GEIM System. The kid leans forward in his cockpit and closes his eyes for a moment.

"Let's do this, Hawke," he says. He looks down the battlefield, though -- at the other kids in the Bronzo class (the new one, he reflects) and his big sister. His eyes narrow, and he looks forward. "C'mon!"

Rey Za Burrel activates his ZGMF-X3000Q Providence ZAKU unit.

Rey Za Burrel activates his ZGMF-1001 ZAKU Phantom unit.

Rey Za Burrel's ZGMF-1001 ZAKU Phantom transforms into its Blaze ZAKU Phantom mode.

"... ... ...Green Turtle, engaging!" The Phantoma blasts forward suddenly with its' booster rockets, flying over the lip of the crater and continuing to climb, the Vulcan Cannon pointing towards the distant DC units. It doesn't fire just yet, the black and blue LEV just taking it's time. They're nippy little targets and he's gotta' be careful, just slowly lining up a shot on one that he decides to single out. Nice and slow, nice and slow, no need to rush...

Marin makes a mental note to talk to Yue about who she talks to about getting rousing pep talks. Then again, she's also certain that the pep talk worked on some of the people here. For now, though, it would be best to focus on what's coming up.

Taking up a position to try and minimize what it shows of itself, the Hizack Custom got itself ready and set up its Beam Launcher for firing, taking aim at the HXG. "Okay... careful aim... precision shot..." She said to herself. She couldn't hit the usual targets on a machine to destroy it. Have to disable with out causing a big explosion.

Thus, when the DC units charged, and the Phantoma shot out as well, Marin followed suit, firing off as precise a beam as she can at the unit. "Time to do this!"

Mebius looks around, taking stock of the other machines here, dropping communications so she can privately frown at the sight of so many Federation machines. It's unsettling, but she quickly forces it down and is right back to her brightly smiling self. The unusual 'briefing' only helps reinforce that, then things get underway and Orcrist also rises out of the crater, its AI helpfully highlighting non-vital locations on the various Cosmolions. It's a long range shot, but Mebius points the arm-bow at one such Cosmolion, and sends a pink ray flying at its lower hip in an effort to tear off the legs.

A gold ZAKU launches shortly after the red Gunner ZAKU. It is an unusual color on the prototype ZAFT variants of the famous Zeon Mass Production Models. Without extended space flight capabilities, the golden robot struggles to maintain a pace with the better equipped millenium series Zaku. But with his primary Zaku Phantom in drydock for repairs after the attack one day previous, Rey Za Burrel is left with few options --

"Lunamaria, Arado," Rey transmits, magically outranking (maybe?) Balagna despite having about a year less combat experience. "Stick together and try and maintain a formation. I'll use the Trial Type's Rail Guns in support with Lunamaria's Gunner pack to cover you. These threats to space cannot be allowed to continue."

Rey snaps the communication window closed and exhales, his gloved hands tightening around the controls of his Mobile Suit. "Battle is becoming more and more routine," he considers humorlessly. "Is this the future you fear, Gilbert?"

Latooni Subota does not speak because, frankly, she is worried out of her wits and talking will only make it worse, unless it's about work - and she has nothing to say about the mission at the moment.

The Fairlion blasts forward, accelerating rapidly before it pulls up, pirouetting once in the air as it ascends vertically and wrapping itself in the thruster exhaust for a few seconds. She finally does speak, only three words: "Cut the thrusters," because Cosmolions and other Lions are pretty useless without them.

She hovers, scanning. The Fairlion lacks her full suite of scanners, but it has enough for her to start pinpointing units for her allies; she designates probable Schoolchild-piloted machines for the others to start retrieving.

And then she sees the R-Eins. Latooni swallows - and designates that one as a threat, just as calmly and professionally. She knows who's in that one. A few moments later, and the thin cannons in the 'hair' of Fairlion start to fire a stream of little pink energy bolts, just tracking the fast Eins unit.

COMBAT: Latooni Subota has attacked Ouka Nagisa. Rolling Cannon added to their queue.

Staren is startled at the sudden 'pep talk'. "WHa? Who's in-- Oh, a recording..." He hmms. Unusual, and not what he'd choose, but perhaps it is an experiment to use the effects of hot blood? He certainly approves of that, he'll scientifically understand hot blood one day, you just see!

The Star Hawk takes off after the Phantoma. "I'm glad to see you're alright." He radios the pilot. He's mostly forgotten about him being a meanie and calling him a terrorist and yelling at him when Akira got eaten, at this point. He could use his own speed to pull ahead, to try and disable one of the children's lions and tow it away... Getting in and out quickly is part of why his machine can transform, after all, but right now he's waiting for their defenders to pick targets first. FLying ahead and getting mobbed would be stupid, after all."

"Enemy forces detected on inbound, hiding in the ground clutter," Castilla mumbles. "We will protect our comrades," Solis growls, "Castilla, feed sensorum data to June, I don't want to accidentally damage our facilities with our firing.." The Hostis Xeno Generis begins broadcasting its grumbling scrap-code across all non-secure DC bands, making itself 'loud' and threatening. Castilla shouts, "Inbound attack!!" Solis looks up in time to see the blast coming in, "BRACE!!" Castilla shouts, "Firing ablatives!!" The cockpit takes the strike forcefully, failing to get past the exterior armor, but the effects on Solis are immediate and brutal. A massive explosion of blood from a facial wound sends Solis striking back against the amniotic jar. He grits his teeth, blood flowing from the gash in his face, "...re-repulsor!!" June nods, "YES! My Rex!" The Repulsor begins to cycle, before flooding out glowing shards of energy at the attacking Hizack. "I will not let you harm them! Not without a fight! I WILL NOT ALLOW IT!!" He growls, "DO YOU HEAR ME, COMRADES?! SOLIS VIVENT FIGHTS FOR YOU!"

COMBAT: Your attack has been added to Marin Lae's queue.

COMBAT: Solis Vivent has attacked Marin Lae. Gatling Repulsor added to their queue.

 Solis Vivent transmits, "AAARGH!!"

Is that... IS THAT... THE SUNLION?? Simon always felt Dandylion would be more suitable for Arado because he's just dandy! Though this sentiment might have already been brought up in a prior battle. If they fight, they can't just go through the motions or Arado might get in trouble, Simon thinks. But at the same time it's just not in him to give off false impressions to a friend like that.

"Okay, Arado...!" Simon transmits, "I bet you know what we're here for! I challenge you..." He rears back a mighty fist, "TO--"

"What?" Simon asks. "Oh--well--I mean..."

Arado is a bit too far off for him to easily vault into melee so, instead, Simon picks up a large piece of debris and flings it at Arado. "Heads up!"  Solis Vivent thinks they just assume any video with a lot of hits is theirs <Hippodrome> Rocket says, "... wait. Since when does Viacom .... yeah." COMBAT: Simon has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: You have struck Marin Lae with a major hit using Gatling Repulsor. COMBAT: Simon has attacked Arado Balanga. Large Thrown Object added to their queue.

Yue has trust in all of her teammates to be able to step up to the plate where they can, united only by the one cause today, but that is more than enough for some people. Besides, as far as being a combatant in this kind of a mission goes... Yue is at a bit of a disadvantage.

"Beam saber... machine cannons," she reminds herself. She'd have to give the ol' beauty a rest, given its disposition towards imprecise, mass destruction rather than pinpoint shots.

Ophanim's wings are molded into rocket thrusters under that cape, which is all that the Gundam-esque pilot needs to propel forward past the enemy ranks to try countering Ouka's command of having them form a defensive perimeter around Adler's capital ship. Primarily a long-ranged combatant, Yue is out of her element here... but then again, no one said it'll be easy.

"Target locked," she announces to herself, gripping her hands further. She begins on the nearest of the Cosmolions by unleashing a round of machine cannon rounds with a set pattern.

COMBAT: Yue Rohay has attacked Adler Koch. 90mm Machine Cannon added to their queue.

COMBAT: Simon has struck a glancing hit on Arado Balanga's Sunlion Prototype using Large Thrown Object.

COMBAT: Arado Balanga has counter attacked for a minor hit on Simon's Gurren-Lagann using Autocannon.

"Yeah, I gotcha!" Arado transmits over his radio, to Rey Za Burrel. Weird name, he thinks--but these things happen in PLANT. The kid squints a little down at the cockpit's image of the blonde-haired soldier, and then he looks back up. "Don't worry, I'll handle them when they get in close!"

Focus, he reminds himself. Focus on getting through this alive, focus on making sure the other Bronzo-class kids aren't hurt, and focus on making sure that Ouka makes it out okay. He swallows hard, and starts forward, bringing one arm backward. The gold-plated hand reaches back and draws out the sonic lance. The huge weapon comes out, and blue energy erupts along the length of the spear, glowing and crackling.

"Here they come! Get ready, guys!" he yells, and looks ahead. "Simon! Here I come!"

The piece of rock slams into the armor of the Sunlion; the debris breaks on it, leaving a dent in the armor, but little else. The Sunlion twists around, blue light erupting from the Tesla Drive as it tears forward--breaking away from Rey and Lunamaria, if they aren't careful--and grabs the weapon with both hands. It comes striking down for the Gurren-Lagann with a mighty thrust for its midsection. "Believe me... I know why you're here!"

COMBAT: Arado Balanga has attacked Simon. Sonic Lance added to their queue.

COMBAT: Arado Balanga has missed Simon with his Sonic Lance attack.

COMBAT: Simon has counter attacked for a minor hit on Arado Balanga's Sunlion Prototype using Drill Punch.

The Shura stands quickly... So the stealth part of the operation was over all ready...the Shura was glad for this, the Ialdabaoth flying through the lunar terrian before landing behind the Guarlion. Folka's unit slowly slides into a defensive stance and motions for the Guarlion to come, the Shura giving the other unit a chance to draw it's blade and of course get the first strike. "Unknown unit, I wish to know why you defend the DC's ability to restrict the free will your poeple are given. Show me with not just your words, but with your actions as well!" Folka says, his voice booming with power as the Shura god's aura started to expand.

The (recorded) hot blooded cry fires Katie up for the start of the mission, and the Nemo leaps out of the crater and starts running in along the surface of the moon at high speed. It's true that she's a part of the Strike Team, but after a moment of inner reflection... she isn't sure that it's such a good idea to try and disable the Cosmolions herself. She's not exactly a great shot. Looking for new targets she notices some Zakus off in the distance. The first one that catches her eye is the GOLD one. Gold Nemo vs Gold Zaku? A tempting thought... however- "What is that?" Her eyes turn to the red painted Zaku and the Gunner Pack. "I've never seen that before... better take care of it!" The Nemo slows down and lines up a shot, it's oversized Zaku style shield pulled up to cover itself. "Aim and... fire!" A single lance of beamfire shoots across the distance towards Lunamaria's Zaku.

COMBAT: Katie Erickson has attacked Lunamaria Hawke. Beam Rifle added to their queue.

For a moment, Allenby wonders if she should taunt the DC by making pig calls at them. She then realizes that she doesn't know any pig calls and this line of thought is quickly disrupted as she takes notice of the R-Eins, DC's very own 'I Can't Believe It's Not R-1' that they have somehow come into possession. That they have given Ouka to pilot. It had to be her in there. If not, well, no big issue, it was still the DC. Her solution to this dilemma is produced quite rapidly. The pink beam ribbon flashes out and the energy is quickly shaped into a glowing white hoop. The Nobel swings the hoop overhead, then throws it at the R-Eins. "Hey Lat, I'm going in for close combat. I'll try to take its rear so I don't get one of those cannons in my face." Because Allenby has had one of those cannons in her face before. It sucked.

COMBAT: Mebius Lylecraft has struck a major hit on Adler Koch's DCAM-004C Cosmolion using Elfin Bow.

COMBAT: Yue Rohay has missed Adler Koch with her 90mm Machine Cannon attack.

COMBAT: Allenby Beardsley has attacked Ouka Nagisa. Nobel Hoop Shot added to their queue.

<Radio: B - Secure> Arado Balanga transmits, "Lunamaria, heads up!"

COMBAT: Allenby Beardsley has missed Ouka Nagisa with her Nobel Hoop Shot attack.

COMBAT: Ouka Nagisa has counter attacked for a minor hit on Allenby Beardsley's Nobel Gundam using Twin G-Revolvers.

COMBAT: Latooni Subota has struck a solid hit on Ouka Nagisa's R-Eins using Rolling Cannon.

COMBAT: Ouka Nagisa has missed Latooni Subota with her Twin G-Revolvers counter attack.

COMBAT: Katie Erickson has missed Lunamaria Hawke with her Beam Rifle attack.

At the beginning of the combined forces assault, something happened: Fourteen of the children began to run. At cosmolion speeds, back past the DC lines toward the Moon Cradle. Adler, unable to ship out and protect the children specifically, had withdrawn half of the class (almost) and left the other sixteen to fight for their own betterment. This way, he could have both a sample and a control group. Logically, the Doctor knows he should have left exactly half, but that would have meant splitting one pair of Bronzos. This tended to have negative experimental value. The outlying Coordinator scouts have also headed into the Moon Cradle with the Cosmolions. The sixteen remaining Bronzos turn, along with Arado and Ouka and all the rest, to face the attacking force. They split into eight pairs. These pairs fight back to back, rolling and banking in the midst of attacks. Mebius manages to bring down one Cosmolion, but Yue's assault is nimbly avoided by the pair she'd fired at. The Cosmolion which has lost its legs is picked up by its companion, and then slung over the back of it, enabling both to continue fighting. That pair, however, is now far slower and more unwieldly. Koch swears, but less vehemently. Watching from his distant roost, Adler Koch logs the data. He's getting good reads. While the pair that Mebius attacked are still recovering from the expert beam attack, Yue's "pair" turn their railguns on her and begin to unload. In fact, they spread out to two distant points, rushing Yue and then circling her so they can shoot inward like a pair of gun-toting sharks with one brain. Their Lions make a blur, the space-capable craft moving almost as well in the microgravity as they would in true weightlessness. The six pairs which have thus far been untouched split off into two cells, making two groups of 4 pairs apiece which are facing outward defensively, prepared to fight. While they coordinate well in their pairs, the groups of Bronzos still fight with almost unearthly teamwork. Doctor Koch transmits to Ouka: "Feel free to utilize the experimental boosted systems and the plasma thrower. We must not lose any of your... siblings." He uses the word distastefully, but Koch has long since learned to navigate the quirks of Ouka's damaged personality.

COMBAT: Adler Koch has attacked Yue Rohay. Railgun added to their queue.

<Radio: B - Secure> Solis Vivent pants, "...I hate...when they target the....*hnk!* cockpit.."

COMBAT: Adler Koch has struck a glancing hit on Yue Rohay's Ophanim using Railgun.

COMBAT: Yue Rohay has missed Adler Koch with her 90mm Machine Cannon counter attack.

Marin smirked as she watched her beam strike true, the damage being done now. However, the follow up attack, the glowing shards of energy, manage to catch Marin off guard enough that her attempts at evading the attack fall short. The Hizack gets its own form torn by the attacks and Marin's thrown about in the cockpit of her own machine. Fortunately its one of those panorama type cockpits that are used with Hizacks and Marasais and mobile suits like that, so she doesn't take too much physical damage herself, just mostly when her head hits the sides and back of her chair.

"Okay... have to keep moving, and make each shot count. Just as always," Marin said, mostly to herself.

The Hizack quickly began to move again, not sure how many attacks it could get off, let alone survive against the HGX. It tried to keep itself hidden, preparing the next shot to be fired. Adjusting, aiming, not so much on hitting, but rather on just doing damage, focusing on trying to get the shot to hit something valuable. Or even blowing a weapon off through its exploding ammo or something.

COMBAT: Marin Lae has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Marin Lae's Beam Launcher - Focus has been added to your queue.

COMBAT: Marin Lae has attacked Solis Vivent. Beam Launcher - Focus added to their queue.

When Katie's beam rifle shot lances out for Luna's red ZAKU, Luna is instantly on the defensive. "Okay, I've got contact! I'll keep this one tied up -- Rey, Arado, good luck!" She weaves out of the way of Katie's beam rifle fire, retrieving one of her grenades seemingly at random.

"You'd come here for /kids/?!" she says, almost incredulous, as she weaves in toward Katie's unit; now that someone's on her, she's going to need to abandon the 'long range support' idea as such. "What's even wrong with you?!"

She tosses the grenade in a lazy arc toward Katie's machine; when it impacts, be it with Katie's machine, the ground nearby, or somewhere else altogether, it becomes apparent that it's a high-explosive grenade; incendiary wouldn't work that well on the moon, after all. What with the lack of atmosphere.

COMBAT: Lunamaria Hawke has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Lunamaria Hawke has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Lunamaria Hawke has attacked Katie Erickson. ZR271 Thermite Incendiary Grenade added to their queue.

COMBAT: Katie Erickson has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Lunamaria Hawke has missed Katie Erickson with her ZR271 Thermite Incendiary Grenade attack.

The Valhawk continues racing over the lunar surface, slewing this way and that to try and pre-emptively throw off any incoming fire that the DC might sling in its direction ... and almost slams into a certain Guarlion.

"Whoop, hello there!" exclaims Kazuma as he flips the Valhawk into a maneuver resembling a horizontal Immelman (there's probably an official name for such maneuver), swinging around the Mumyou and more-or-less braking; at the moment of least (relative) motion, Kazuma squeezes the triggers for the laser vulcan, opening up on the Guarlion - and only then recognizing it. "Ah, swell ..."

Suffice to say that the Valhawk does NOT stay put after that, but speeds away again, aiming to get OUT of potential melee range.

COMBAT: Kazuma Ardygun has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Kazuma Ardygun has attacked Murata. Laser Vulcan added to their queue.

"The Gundam of Gundams..." Ouka breaths out at the sight of the Fairlion. "Latooni." The R-Eins draws its G-Revolvers, twirling them about in its fingers as slides into position above the lunar surface. Targetting reticles open up in front of Ouka's face as the GEIM helpfully highlights the Fairlion and... "Allenby!" Ouka half shouts. "What is the meaning of this! Have they influenced your mind the same way that they have Latooni's?" Ouka's machine hops up and over the Nobel hoop, spraying rounds downwards at the distant Nobel. The roll cannon shots tag her good as she pulls out of her evasive maneuver. The shots she sends back in the Fairlion's direction aren't much more then a disruption.

Ouka grits her teeth; this will be a difficult battle. But it won't be unwinnable. She has the GEIM System on her side and she knows her sisters. Allenby will close to melee, Latooni will attempt to flank and support. If she can disrupt their teamwork (and even though part of her hopes that she can't, even though she knows that she must), then she can take them both home and reunite her family.

The R-Eins slams its feet into the craggy surface below and thrusts forward with it's booster, skating inches off of the ground. In one smooth, deft motion, she holsters the G-Revolvers and draws her Tonfa blades. She comes skidding in at Allenby first, slashing away as she blazes right past, before leaping up into the air again to strike out at the more distant Latooni!

"Yes, Doctor Koch." Ouka replies. But she has no intention of trying out something that might not work in the middle of a battle this vitally important. "I will protect them... /all/ of them."

COMBAT: Ouka Nagisa has attacked Allenby Beardsley and Latooni Subota. Blade Tonfa Chain Attack added to their queue.

COMBAT: Kazuma Ardygun has struck a minor hit on Murata's Guarlion Mumyou using Laser Vulcan.

COMBAT: Murata has missed Kazuma Ardygun with his Sword Cut counter attack.

"Then you better be ready!" Simon says, "Because the Gurren Brigade goes in a straight line where other people zig zag!" He hesitates, starting to rethink that battle quip, but it's TOO LATE! Arado is already moving inward with his Sonic Spear. Like most supers, Simon doesn't do the smart thing and dodge--he just grabs for the sonic lance with one of his hands, managing to hold it in place with minimal damage to his own frame!

Pulling inward, intending to drag the Sunlion closer, Simon yells, "Brace yourself....!! MANLY UPPERCUT OF WINTER DREAMS I GUESS?" He slams one fist in--and then lets go of the lance, intending to punch once again!

COMBAT: Simon has attacked Arado Balanga. Drill Punch added to their queue.

COMBAT: Ouka Nagisa has struck a solid hit on Latooni Subota's XAM-007S Fairlion using Blade Tonfa Chain Attack.

"Inbound attack, energy type, high yield!" Castilla shouts! Marin's blast sears in, striking into the arm of the Hostis Xeno Generis, damaging the as of yet unfired MEG Vulcan cannon and sending explosives rippling up its feeds until Castilla shunts out the compromised ammunition. It falls to the ground, silent explosions casting the lunar surface in light. Solis clutches his arm, screaming in pain as dozens of explosions of blood ripple across it, and the arm itself twists and bends until wet cracks issue through the amniotic. "We're already at 59 percent," Castilla yells, "Further damage endangers your heal...your usefulness, my Rex!" Solis spits blood into the amniotic, "I will...not...abandon them.." The fusion cutter begins to spark to life, energy flooding it. "..I will not permit you to harm them, not while I still am capable of battling, DO YOU HEAR ME EFA PILOT?!" The Fusion Cutter sears out, blinding amidst the darkness of space, it lights the benighted far side of the moon as if the sun itself were there upon it.

COMBAT: Solis Vivent has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: You have turned on your [Scan] spirit command.

COMBAT: Your attack has been added to Marin Lae's queue.

COMBAT: Solis Vivent has attacked Marin Lae. Fusion Cutter added to their queue.

Yue has to appreciate and be awed at their seemingly seamless teamwork; she definitely has her hands full, and the machine cannons show their deficit as somewhat inaccurate weapons. It can't be helped - they only fire in one direction. As the Cosmolion pair surrounds her, one of the railgun shots lands as she reads their movement, burning into a Gundanium fauld.

"Synchronized movement pattern... recognized, updating combat journal," Yue reminds herself, before diving in towards the nearer of the pair with her beam saber, brandished from the wing's recharge rack. Her saber goes down onto - as Latooni reminds - the thrusters in a disabling arc of lavender.

COMBAT: Yue Rohay has attacked Adler Koch. Beam Saber Mastery added to their queue.

David is still floating aaaall the way back there, overlooked, slowly adjusting his aim. He thinks he's just about got it. He's just observing, and he's seeing...patterns. Patterns of two. He starts firing. He's firing beams from the Vulcan Cannon's side-barrel projector, aiming to headshot Cosmolions, always aiming for one in every distinct pair. He wants to mess up the teamwork, make them falter to save each other. Ruthless, maybe, but...it's for their own good. He has to take advantage of it.

COMBAT: David Churchill has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Simon has struck a solid hit on Arado Balanga's Sunlion Prototype using Drill Punch.

COMBAT: Arado Balanga has counter attacked for a minor critical hit on Simon's Gurren-Lagann using Sonic Lance.

COMBAT: David Churchill has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: David Churchill has attacked Adler Koch. Beam Side-Barrel Pulse Gun added to their queue.

COMBAT: David Churchill has missed Adler Koch with his Beam Side-Barrel Pulse Gun attack.

COMBAT: Yue Rohay has struck a devastating critical hit on Adler Koch's DCAM-004C Cosmolion using Beam Saber Mastery.

<Radio: B - Secure> Solis Vivent hacks wetly, "...have to...defend..."

COMBAT: Marin Lae has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: You have struck Marin Lae with a devastating hit using Fusion Cutter.

COMBAT: Marin Lae has counter attacked for a minor hit using Beam Launcher - Point Blank!

COMBAT: 456 points of damage taken! 7098 health points left!

Macua Huitl :has spotted Muratas Guarlion with the Divine Crusader forces. She knows that armoured modual and shes going after it. The 9-ball Seraph swoops in transforming into its humanoid configuration it lands on the lunar soil and transforms pulling its beam rifle out. "Not surprised to see you here Murata. Ill save the speeches today, and Ill be taking your machine when were done with you."

The AC opens fire with a number of beam shots before kicking in its jump jets and trying to get away

Macua Huitl's AC-013 Nine Ball Seraph transforms into its Nine Ball Seraph - Suit Mode mode.

Just a day ago, the machine had fallen into his hands.

Just a day ago, his questions, answered. His goals became clear. Such a machine, foreign to him, yet familiar. So much like Wing, yet with the answers he had never bothered to search for, believing the one path he was on was the only way to bring an end to battle. To bring a future without war.

Information would not have been leaked, but it was spread. The ZERO had given him insight. Another step to bring an end to his goals. Perhaps foolishly, he sought the quick way. What would bring about peace with the least amount of time. A path that is riddled with violence.

The Neo-Bird Mode passes through space, thrusters having set it's speed, systems shut down afterwards. It flies, silently, through the void. The green light flashes to life of it's own accord.

"ZERO system activated...."

A quick set of instructions are keyed, the cockpit flickering to life, systems flashing once before they come online. The verniers, at the back of the Neo-Bird mode, send it flying through space as it approaches the surface of the moon.

There's something in the way. David. The ZERO system takes note of him. His beliefs, a future without him. A target to be avoided? A target to be destroyed?

The Neo-Bird mode flips outwards, the Wing Gundam Zero brandishing it's shield, bringing it towards David in an attempty to slam it against the Phantoma and bring it forcibly to the ground.

COMBAT: Heero Yuy has attacked David Churchill. Shield Bash added to their queue.

COMBAT: Macua Huitl has attacked Murata. Rifle shot added to their queue.

Staren watches the children on his sensors. Such teamwork... But, he was expecting them to be good pilots. "If we're going to capture them, we'll need teamwork too!" And now the defenders are engaged... The Star Hawk transforms to fighter mode and puts on a burst of speed, before returning to humanoid mode... The optical sensors focus quickly on nonlethal target after nonlethal target, acquiring missile locks before unleashing a volley, smoke trails twirling and zig-zagging this way and that in the vacuum...

COMBAT: Staren Wiremu has attacked Adler Koch. Long Range Missiles added to their queue.

Arado grins a little bit. "Yeah... you too, Lunamaria!"

The soldier swings back his Sonic Lance after Simon deflects it. He nods his head. "C'mon--give me everything you got!" he yells, before he grins widely, as the punch comes in. This one strikes into the chest of the Sunlion, denting the armor in and leaving a large bit of crushed metal there, where the drill ground into it. He hits his thrusters, rising upward, and swings back the Sonic Lance. The blade stabs down once for the Gurren-Lagann.

It then gets pulled back, and spun overhead.

A moment later, Arado cracks it down for the other side of the Gurren-Lagann's waist. "Simon!" Arado yells, as the end of the spear goes in. "Do you know the name of the kids you're trying to save?"

COMBAT: Macua Huitl has missed Murata with her Rifle shot attack. COMBAT: Murata has counter attacked for a solid hit on Macua Huitl's Nine Ball Seraph - Suit Mode using Assault Blade. COMBAT: Arado Balanga has attacked Simon. Spinning Strike added to their queue.

The assault began.

The defenses and klaxons went off, and like always Shirakawa found time in his busy schedule to aid. However, this was different. It was Dr. Adler Koch. How interesting that he would, after so long, attract some attention as such. I was always his thing, was it not? Too much attention was never good for any organization. It brings only ruin.

The Granzon appeared upon the moon, ripping into focus quickly as it does. The wormhole that it sprouts from fires it out, allowing it to descend into the lesser G atmosphere. The monsterous super robot comes into focus as it hangs about the Moon cradle as it has done before. Shirakawa finds it interesting.

The Granzon's weapons come to life, the antennae jolting out as both monsterous hands of the super robot come out, powering the generator into creating a black hole. The weapon had already been created, generated quickly in an attempt to get the drop upon whoever was unlucky enough to be Masaki for a day.

Shirakawa muses. There are a lot of resistance hired by Dr. Koch. Why that man would need so many body guards is beyond him, but it is nice to feel important still. The Granzon swivels slowly, turning towards the cosmolion swarm and opening fire.

"Graviton gun. Fire!"

Shirakawa was a man of reasons. Even now he had them.

COMBAT: Shu Shirakawa has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Shu Shirakawa has attacked Adler Koch. Graviton Gun added to their queue.

COMBAT: Macua Huitl has reset their systems to full.

COMBAT: Macua Huitl has attacked Murata. Rifle shot added to their queue.

COMBAT: Heero Yuy has struck a solid hit on David Churchill's Phantoma Booster using Shield Bash.

COMBAT: Macua Huitl has struck a glancing hit on Murata's Guarlion Mumyou using Rifle shot.

COMBAT: Murata has counter attacked for a solid critical hit on Macua Huitl's Nine Ball Seraph - Suit Mode using Assault Blade.

COMBAT: Shu Shirakawa has struck a devastating hit on Adler Koch's DCAM-004C Cosmolion using Graviton Gun.

COMBAT: Staren Wiremu has missed Adler Koch with his Long Range Missiles attack.

<Radio: A - Chat> Arado Balanga transmits, "SHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!"

<Radio: A - Chat> Adler Koch transmits, "Huh. Shirakawa is shooting at children."

Cal Cathan activates his Killer Whale unit.

<Radio: A - Chat> Lunamaria Hawke transmits, "D -- doctor Shirakawa?!"

<Radio: A - Chat> Ken Marinaris transmits, "..."

<Radio: A - Chat> Ouka Nagisa transmits, "Doctor Shirakawa!"

<Radio: A - Chat> Ken Marinaris transmits, "What the hell are you doing you bastard?"

The beam shot misses cleanly, going off to hit the lunar surface somewhere and spraying dust harmlessly upward before it settles quickly back down, no air to hold it aloft. She watches curiously as the long gun toting mecha starts moving in closer- well, that's interesting. "These children deserve a chance at a better life. They shouldn't be forced to fight. Everyone deserves a chance at living the life of a civilian if they choose it." She's fairly calm, keeping her emotions in check. It'd be too easy to get emotional and start yelling over something like this.

As the grenade arcs in the Nemo leaps upward, the low gravity allowing it to get enough height so the explosion on the ground below is out of range. Getting ever closer to the Zaku the Nemo pulls out a beam saber and ignites it. Rather than rushing in to strike the gold painted unit pulls it's arm back and then flings the weapon, sending it tumbling end over end towards Lunamaria's mecha.

COMBAT: Katie Erickson has attacked Lunamaria Hawke. Thrown Beam Saber added to their queue.

<Radio: A - Chat> Bernie Wiseman transmits, "I'm sure he has his reasons..."

<Radio: A - Chat> Lunamaria Hawke transmits, "Turning your guns on -- this has to be some kind of mistake!"

<Radio: A - Chat> Adler Koch transmits, "Oh cut it out, Marinaris. Right now, get the subjects to safety."

COMBAT: Katie Erickson has struck a solid hit on Lunamaria Hawke's ZGMF-1000-A1 Gunner ZAKU Warrior using Thrown Beam Saber.

<Radio: A - Chat> Arado Balanga transmits, "Damn it...!"

<Radio: A - Chat> Ken Marinaris pauses at Adler. "Yes sir."

<Radio: A - Chat> Shu Shirakawa transmits, "I do have my reasons, Dr. Koch. You have given me reason enough to show me you are not an able parent."

<Radio: A - Chat> Adler Koch transmits, "So... killing the children is your solution?"

<Radio: A - Chat> Adler Koch transmits, "I mean, whatever your position, that is a waste of test subjects."

<Radio: A - Chat> Solis Vivent growls, "Dr. Koch may be unsuitable, but this..this treachery!"

<Radio: A - Chat> Adler Koch transmits, "Also, you'll notice I didn't berate you, Shirakawa. Adults can disagree."

<Radio: A - Chat> Shu Shirakawa transmits, "Yes, Dr. Koch, killing children is the solution. As is manipulating them."

<Radio: A - Chat> Shu Shirakawa transmits, "To send children out to fight and then expecting them all to live is a pipe dream."

<Radio: A - Chat> Adler Koch transmits, "Well, yes. But so is sending out soldiers period. Sending them out in the expectation our own side will not kill them, however, is reasonable."

<Radio: A - Chat> Solis Vivent transmits, "Those are our /comrades/!"

<Radio: A - Chat> Adler Koch transmits, "Huh. Well, fair enough. Children, withdraw. Ouka, others."

<Radio: A - Chat> Shu Shirakawa transmits, "A lesson is a lesson, no matter what banner you fly."

<Radio: A - Chat> Adler Koch transmits, "Which is fair. But I trust there will be no hard feelings if we all immediately turn weapons on you, given the circumstances?"

Lunamaria brings her ZAKU's shield up to block the Nemo's tossed saber; this /mostly/ works, if not completely. "You don't have the right to impose what /you/ want on them, either!" Luna shouts back... and that's when Granzon shows its ugly head, and does its ugly business.

Seeing death dealt so casually in such large numbers is something Luna can't abide... but she has to stick to the mission, just the same. "Nnnh... just -- just leave, already! There isn't even a point for you to be here anymore -- after what just happened!" she shouts, weaving past the Nemo and firing a series of blasts from the ZAKU's heavy beam assault rifle -- which bears significant resemblance to the old Zaku machine gun. Funny, that.

COMBAT: Ouka Nagisa has struck a solid hit on Allenby Beardsley's Nobel Gundam using Blade Tonfa Chain Attack.

The Fairlion is fast, but not impossibly fast. Latooni swerves around the revolver shots without taking more than some scratched paint from a darting dive that went a little short. But she does not get away from the blow to her Fairlion's stomach.

The blades don't dig too deeply, but it is enough of a cut to draw a surge of sparks from the Fairlion, and make Latooni rapidly overcorrect and surge backwards almost straight horizontally. "Ouka - Big - "

She doesn't get out the rest of it. Latooni's eyes widen as she sees Granzon appear in the distance, and open fire on the Cosmolions. "No...! Ouka, look! He's killing them! Stop him!" The Fairlion skips around Ouka, accelerating toward the Granzon, her hair-cannons firing as rapidly as Latooni can cycle them, even at a risk of overheating.

COMBAT: Latooni Subota has attacked Shu Shirakawa. Double Rolling Cannons added to their queue.

COMBAT: Lunamaria Hawke has attacked Katie Erickson. MMI-M633 Beam Assault Rifle added to their queue.

COMBAT: Lunamaria Hawke has missed Katie Erickson with her MMI-M633 Beam Assault Rifle attack.

<Radio: A - Chat> Adler Koch transmits, "Thought not."

<Radio: A - Chat> Shu Shirakawa transmits, "Oh, I expect nothing but, Dr. Koch. Fair is fair, after all."

"Hmph, that voice," Murata replies quietly to himself as he reaches down to grasp his sword, "I remember it." The blade slides free with a steely rasp as he focuses his sights upon Folka and his Shura God. Then out of the corner of his eye, he sees a blurr and reacts swiftly to swipe at the Valhawk as it almost careens into him as the laser vulcans pit his shoulder armor. His thrusters flare brightly as he launches skywards immediately after and dives towards Folka, only to again be interupted. This time he does not even hesitate as he grabs the assault blade from his Guarlion's back and launches it towards the Seraph as Macua's beam shot grazes him, "Many have try child. You can ask them how their attempts of stealing the Shishioh Blade went after I send you to hell." His attentions again refocus on the Ialdabaoth as he continues his mad charge, "I do not need to explain my motives or actions to anyone... though if you wish to learn them from our battle, you may do so provided you survive!" The Shishioh Blade flashes brightly as Murata raises it above his head and launches skyward, then comes down with a single, brutal cut from shoulder to hip.

COMBAT: Murata has attacked Folka Albark. Bisecting Cut added to their queue.

<Radio: A - Chat> Adler Koch transmits, "Well, very reasonable attitude, Shirakawa."

<Radio: A - Chat> Solis Vivent transmits, "...this is...this is madness!"

<Radio: A - Chat> Solis Vivent transmits, "Those are our fellows! Trained to battle for the glory of mankind!"

Rey Za Burrel lets Lunamaria and Arado pull ahead, dropping back to perform artillery support -- as he mentioned in his orders to the two wingmen. Lining up his side-mounted Railguns, the golden ZAKU starts spitting super-propelled slugs towards the Federation resupply ships in the distance. News of Shu's drama below draws Rey's brief attention. He queries command, uncertain of how to react. This is a new experience for the young ZAFT Redcoat.

<Radio: B - Secure> Rey Za Burrel transmits, "What is happening --?"

COMBAT: Folka Albark has activated a spirit command.

<Radio: B - Secure> Ouka Nagisa is less resonable. "Arado, on my wing!"

COMBAT: Murata has struck a major hit on Folka Albark's Ialdabaoth using Bisecting Cut.

COMBAT: Folka Albark has counter attacked for a minor hit on Murata's Guarlion Mumyou using Rapid Punching.

<Radio: B - Secure> Solis Vivent transmits, "Shirakawa has gone rogue. He is assaulting our units."

<Radio: B - Secure> Arado Balanga transmits, "I'm on it!"

<Radio: B - Secure> Shu Shirakawa transmits, "I am righting a wrong. This goes beyond loyalty."

<Radio: B - Secure> Arado Balanga transmits, "Killing them doesn't right /anything/!"

<Radio: B - Secure> Solis Vivent transmits, "Those are our people! Humanity is not a tool to be cast aside or thrown away when it displeases someone!"

COMBAT: Arado Balanga has struck a major critical hit on Simon's Gurren-Lagann using Spinning Strike.

COMBAT: Simon has counter attacked for a solid hit on Arado Balanga's Sunlion Prototype using Drill Knuckle.

<Radio: B - Secure> Rey Za Burrel transmits, "... What wrong?"

<Radio: B - Secure> Solis Vivent snarls, "/They/ still have a chance. I will not see you rob them of it."

The low gravity of the Moon apparently is throwing Marin off, coupled with the damage from earlier... its certainly not helping the Hizack being able to evade the blows. The Fusion cutter comes in and practically slices off tons of armor, nearly taking an arm and a leg with it before firing off a shot at the massive tank's hand at the point blank range.

"Tch... taking way too much damage here... but if I can at least take out this machine, or damage it enough to disable it..." Marin said.

Taking to the skies, or space as it might be, the Hizack aimed its weapon down at the HXG, just looking to snipe it from above, pouring what energy it could into the attack. Marin hopes its enough.

COMBAT: Marin Lae has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Marin Lae has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Marin Lae's Beam Launcher - Snipe has been added to your queue.

COMBAT: Marin Lae has attacked Solis Vivent. Beam Launcher - Snipe added to their queue. COMBAT: Solis Vivent has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: You have turned on your [Invincible] spirit command.

COMBAT: Marin Lae has struck you with a solid critical hit using Beam Launcher - Snipe!

COMBAT: 1367 points of damage taken! 5731 health points left!

"Oukaaa!" Allenby shouts as, just as she predicted, Allenby begins to close. She was trained to be a melee fighter, by School and by Master Asia, so there's not much reason for her to do anything different. This puts her just in the right range to take the brunt of the tonfa which sinks into the Nobel's chest far above the cockpit. Allenby grunts and rears back a fist. She abruptly stops, however, as a blast of graviton gun is aimed at the swarm of Cosmolions. Where the other kids are. "...oh /hell no/!" With another grunt, she breaks away, then points briefly to direct Ouka's attention to this sight. "Look at that! Shu, trying to kill our siblings! See?! SEE? THAT'S WHY I LEFT THESE MONSTERS." ...partially, but hey, it works in this situation. With a roar of thrusters, Allenby is off, doing her best Masaki impersonation as she flies at the black hole powered super robot, one fist reared back. "SHUUUUUUUUUUU!"

<Radio: B - Secure> Shu Shirakawa transmits, "You are fully well to able to try to stop me."

COMBAT: Allenby Beardsley has attacked Shu Shirakawa. Donke-er Falcon Punch added to their queue.

The Wormhole shot hits two of the Cosmolions. It strikes at the exact moment that Koch gives the retreat order. Unfortunately, the two Cosmolions hit were each half of a pair. This means their 2 partners will /not/ leave without them. The remaining teams depart, leaving a scene in their wake: the wormhole shot has blown apart two Cosmolions, but the floating escape pods were ejected expertly, leaving two Bronzos floating in pods, and their partners trying to retrieve them. The remainder have begun to flee in all directions, but it will take some time for them to clear the battle area. The remainder are still "fair game". When Staren fires, it is while the two Bronzos are in their fragile escape pods. Their partners see this. The two girls, with their Bronzo lifemates in pods nearby, both rage out immediately. Cannons rise and lock on the Star Hawk: unleashing blast after blast. And then there is the sound. A deep low keening like the dying of universes or the sundering of worlds. One of the Bronzos in the pods is quite seriously injured, and his partner knows it. That cry echoes into space, mournful and deep, as both of the still-cosmolioned fighter girls begin spiralling in place and firing shot after shot from special railguns. These blasts alight with flaming napalm that somehow burns in the void of space, aimed to hit the Star Hawk and coat it in burning wreckage. And still the cry continues. A brother is 'urting, and these two aren't retreating with the rest. The two girls scream like banshees, eyes practically white or red from rage according to the cockpit cams Adler can see. That's another pair lost to grief or fear or preservation of a "self" they'd been taught to cherish. Koch checks them off in his book, and sits back to watch the carnage.

COMBAT: Adler Koch has attacked Staren Wiremu. Hellfire Rondo added to their queue.

COMBAT: Adler Koch has activated a spirit command.

<Radio: B - Secure> Arado Balanga transmits, "Believe me! I'll stop you!

COMBAT: Adler Koch has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Adler Koch has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Adler Koch has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Adler Koch has activated a spirit command.

"Murata." The Shura says evenly, the blow digging deep into the armor of the Crimson Shura god as it staggers back. Grunting, the Shura grabbed the blade and pulled it out, before aiming a barrage of punches towards the Guarlion. The strikes individually weak, but Murata would notice they would quickly add up in damage. Folka narrowed his eyes, before diving forward, between the defenses of the Guarlion's blades and aiming a quick series of punches for the underside of the cockpit, before spinning around and aiming a vicious kick for the side of the Guarlion's head.

Folka would then raise both hands up, aiming to drive them both into the armor of the Guarlion, aiming to release energy bolts through the unit. "I see you have gotten a new unit. However, are you still fighting with your same selfish reasonings?" COMBAT: Folka Albark has attacked Murata. Martial Arts Combo added to their queue.

"Son of a ..." The curse is bitten off (almost literally) as Kazuma stops swearing and focuses on his new target: the Granzon. With the Valhawk's speed, it takes very little time for Kazuma and Mihiro to cross the battlefield, brother and sister united in fury as they head for Shu Shirakawa's physics-bending super robot.

"SHIRAKAWA!!! YOU'RE NOT GETTING AWAY WITH THIS ONE!!" roars Kazuma as he opens fire, Laser Vulcans probing at the Granzon's armor in search of weaknesses.

COMBAT: Kazuma Ardygun has attacked Shu Shirakawa. Laser Vulcan added to their queue.

What the hell Heero. David is still focused on the Cosmolions, trying to pick them off...when, suddenly, the Wing Gundam smashes into the side of his LEV, knocking it down to the ground, causing it to just smash into it heavily. He turns...and the rage is there, instantly. He doesn't have any words. Just a single, rage-filled roar in the privacy of his cockpit as the unit suddenly staggers to it's feet again, missiles firing from it's backpack at the Gundam.

COMBAT: David Churchill has attacked Heero Yuy. Phantoma Missile added to their queue.

"Energy reaction!" "TO HELL WITH IT!" Solis growls, turning his attention towards Shu. The blast strikes into the side of the Hostis as it turns to adjust its firing systems, the structure is smoldering, Solis' body bleeds.. "SHIRAKAWA!!!!" He growls, "TRAITOR!!" June blinks, and turns to look at him, "We can't just fire on the Granzon! We don't have.." "..remember what they did to us, June, what they would've done to us...thats what he's trying to do now.." Solis' eyes narrow.. The Hostis Xeno Generis roars, and launches a full barrage at the Granzon.

COMBAT: Your attack has been added to Shu Shirakawa's queue.

COMBAT: Solis Vivent has attacked Shu Shirakawa. Missile Bank added to their queue.

COMBAT: Folka Albark has struck a major hit on Murata's Guarlion Mumyou using Martial Arts Combo.

COMBAT: Murata has counter attacked for a minor hit on Folka Albark's Ialdabaoth using Wakizashi.

Mebius is witness to the same thing virtually everyone else here is; the thoughtful rescue operation spanning across factional lines has been abruptly sent awry by the arrival of Granzon. No longer interested in shooting to disable Cosmolions, Mebius brings Orcrist on a straight-ahead path for Granzon, and opens a channel with Shu. She almost looks angry and disapproving. The idea is there, but her face makes it look more like she's annoyed and disappointed in a misbehaving child. "It doesn't get any lower than what you're doing, taking traumatized children and hurting them even more." She unwisely opts to tease Shu: "I can only imagine what kind of childhood you had, that you grew up to be someone who treats kids like this. I wonder where your moustache and black hat are?" Slowing down to line up a shot, Orcrist raises its arm-bow and the sound of an energy-charging 'hum' can be heard... then a thick orange beam flies out from it, trying to gut Granzon square in its chest. Mebius isn't showing it, but what just happened hit a very deep, motherly nerve in her and she's taking it out on the cause; Shu.

<Radio: C - None> Solis Vivent transmits, "EFA Quislings."

COMBAT: Mebius Lylecraft has attacked Shu Shirakawa. Moon Ballista added to their queue.

<Radio: C - None> Cal Cathan transmits, "Quislings."

<Radio: C - None> Allenby Beardsley transmits, "Solis."

<Radio: C - None> Solis Vivent transmits, "You who aimed to attack us, I presume you are motivated by some foolish desire to steal our comrades away from Dr. Koch. Shirakawa apparently aims to terminate them. On my own recognizance..."

<Radio: C - None> Cal Cathan transmits, "I bet you made that word up..."

<Radio: C - None> Solis Vivent transmits, "I am requesting assistance in defending them."

<Radio: B - Secure> Rey Za Burrel transmits, "ZAFT Command. What is the Moon Cradle?"

<Radio: C - None> David Churchill transmits, "Little /busy/!"

<Radio: C - None> Shinji Ikari transmits, "Actually, it was a term from World War II, referring to concentration camp victims who worked with the Nazis in order to get preferential treatment."

<Radio: C - None> Staren Wiremu transmits, "You don't have to ask..."

COMBAT: Adler Koch has missed Staren Wiremu with his Hellfire Rondo attack.

<Radio: C - None> Cal Cathan transmits, "World war...oh...surface history."

COMBAT: Yue Rohay has activated a spirit command.

The gravity blast really is the last thing that Yue needs right now - and she knows from a former battle (at around the time Sanger decimated an island with a sword) that the Granzon, while dangerous, is terribly obnoxious and a waste of time to try to fight... was that his plan? To draw on the anger of her teammates as an enmity magnet?

Yue focuses further, attempting to just keep her eye on the 'prize'; the sounds do influence her, but she keeps that slightly damper spirit deep within her. No, there is nothing but focused efficiency on Yue's face. She will succeed in this. They have to.

Yue's machine cannons flare out and unleash a barrage that seems random in their wake of fire, but she has pre-set the coordinates to aim for the fortunately next largest thing to the torso of each Cosmolion. Each target that she moves her unit's body over ... locked.

COMBAT: Yue Rohay has attacked Adler Koch. Machine Cannon Barrage added to their queue.

Simon says, "No! But... But I would like to!" Simon doesn't feel embarrassed by this, at least not too embarrassed. Simon wants to save people even if he doesn't know them. He wouldn't be comfortable with a stranger being brainraped by Adler so not knowing their name isn't exactly an ego blow in that sense.

What it DOES do, however, is make Simon realize that the depths of Adler's crimes will never be totally to his understanding. The manipulation of minds is bad enough, but it's the little touches of Adler's work that really make you feel the horror.

He summons a drill across his fist and punches into Arado's armor even as the spear stabs into the side of his mech, ripping out a good sized hole across its left leg. He's about to strike again when.

SHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!

Simon turns his head, the frame freezing on him as it shifts to everybody else horrified by what the man just did.

And when it returns to Simon, he is calm, not shouting, just talking, as if shouting would just mock the memory of what just happened.

"Arado." He says, "I...will have to put our fight on hold for a second." A beat. And then: "I'll see you there?"

Regardless he slides forward for the Granzon, Gurren FOOT pulled back as he swings it forward in a mighty strike!

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING KICK!!"

Katie thinks about that for a moment. "...well, I guess you're sort of right there, but we're here to give them a choice. Right now they're simply being used! If they're saying they want to stay simply because they're brainwashed that isn't a real choice at all." Oh look, a giant super robot of death. ...targeting the cosmolions? "What the..."

She's distracted enough that when Luna comes in with her beam rifle she doesn't realize it until it's almost too late. She raises her shield to cover and- the shots go wide, missing. "Lucky..." She shakes her head. Now the pilot is really confused. As the Granzon blasts Cosmolions, she watches in horror. "Oh god, this is bad." She grits her teeth for a moment, "Sorry, but we still need to save these kids, and if you'll stop as we try to retrieve them I don't have a choice!" The Nemo raises its shield and rushes forward, trying to crash it into the barrel of that huge gun to knock it upward and away before ramming full on into the ZAKU, it's other hand reaching for the beam saber impaled in the mobile suits shield. "I'm sorry!" She shouts, and then quiter, "Really I am..." COMBAT: Simon has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Simon has attacked Shu Shirakawa. Gurren Boogie added to their queue.

COMBAT: Katie Erickson has attacked Lunamaria Hawke. Shield Bash added to their queue.

COMBAT: Katie Erickson has missed Lunamaria Hawke with her Shield Bash attack.

COMBAT: Lunamaria Hawke has missed Katie Erickson with her MA-M8 Beam Tomahawk counter attack.

Macua Huitl machine it sliced up pretty badly from the attack that Murta has dished out, the blade slices through several notable systems as Murata moves past her. Shes about to twist her machine about and open fire when Shu shows up.

Then Shu fires on the people they are here to save. She can still hear Yazans laughing taunts from yesterdays battle. The AC transforms into flight mode and is heading right for Shus machine. The beam rifles now mounted on the ACs nose and Macuas pulling the trigger as she closes.

Surprisingly she doesnt even justice speech Shu today. Shes more than content in shooting green beams at him it seems this day.

As soon as her shot was fired, Marin prepared for a counter shot, prepared to try and pull her Hizack out of the way, or even eject if needed. A counter shot was fired, but aimed at the Granzon, and Marin was more than glad for that for now. She quickly piloted her unit over towards where Katie was, landing and ready to do her job.

"Lets get this over with and get what kids we can." Marin said, switching out her rifles at the same time.

"Latooni..." Ouka says, reaching a hand out in her cockpit towards the Fairlion. The R-Eins mimics her gesture unconciously. It's a very touching moment, but then suddenly everything just goes to hell utterly. The R-Eins turns about at the screams. The Wormhole Shot reflects in the PT's visor.

The R-Eins does not move.

Ouka is torn. If she moves to assault Shu, then several of the children will very likely be taken by the assaulting forces. But if she leaves Shu to the others and engages these unknown assailents, then she can not garuntee that several will not die. It is a choice that no one should have to make, to lose one's loved ones in one way or the other. Ouka puts her face in her hands for several seconds and the GEIM System begins to creep into her thoughts. That old, all-too familiar head pain returns again. Ouka makes her choice. Kidnapped children might be recovered. Dead ones are gone forever.

R-Eins' Tesla Drive spools up, belching red flame in its wake as it rushes forwards at insane speeds. Ouka's amber eyes lock onto the targetting points her combat computer feeds to her. More... more data. Yes. The shoulder cannons behind the R-Eins' head deploy forward.

"Dr. Shirakawa... this... will not stand!"

A pair of molten red beams rip out of the R-Eins, burning their way forwards. Dozens of meters ahead, the two beams converge and spread, into one single, massive beam that threatens to overwhelm even the mass of the Granzon, piercing through it's warp fields and armor alike!

COMBAT: Ouka Nagisa has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Ouka Nagisa has attacked Shu Shirakawa. Big Sister Will Make Everything Better - With The GEIM System added to their queue.

When the situation gets completely, ridiculously stupid, Luna's training starts to wear off; things go back to the streets. Luna has managed to convince herself, by some small miracle, that this /isn't/ where she excels.

That's a lie.

"We'll handle this -- it's our project, /our/ doctor fired on them -- just let us clean up our own mess, okay?!" she pleads with Katie, retrieving one of her machine's two beam tomahawks; she swings with the flat of it, knocking the shield-crash away and denying Katie the beam saber.

This isn't going to work, she thinks; she reaches up and grabs the beam saber, hoping to use it against the Nemo. Unfortunately, contact with a ZAFT hand plug results in it shorting out. Whoops. Left without the weapon she planned to use, Luna decides to handle things the old fashioned way. Rearing back one of the machine's heavy fists, she swings a knockout punch right for the Nemo's face, trying to keep it occupied.

Staren's eyes widen. Granzon? Shoot, he was barely able to scratch it last ti-- It's shooting the children? It's not on Adler's side? Wait, SHU'S SHOOTING THE CHILDREN! Okay, they're going to have to take Shu down even if it helps Adler. He can't abide by this killing. Maybe, just maybe, some of the children will remember that they were helped... There's a ting as some rounds glance off his armor-- suddenly he's being rushed by not one but two of the cosmolions, cannons blazing. Staren shakes his head and the Star Hawk takes off, flying upwards, weaving around as it dodges the fire. On an open channel to the two attacking him, he radios: "We're here to help you. Maybe we won't be able to free you today, but we won't let you die! Help us defend you!" The Star Hawk flies up, up towards Granzon. "Shu Shirakawa... Gundams aren't invincible... and neither are you! We won't let you kill these children!" He raises the right arm's FAST pack and fires the railgun on full auto at the Granzon.

COMBAT: Lunamaria Hawke has attacked Katie Erickson. ZAFT Armored Keeper Of Unity - Pugilation added to their queue.

COMBAT: Staren Wiremu has attacked Shu Shirakawa. Railgun Burst Fire added to their queue.

COMBAT: Lunamaria Hawke has missed Katie Erickson with her ZAFT Armored Keeper Of Unity - Pugilation attack.

"They're kids from the Bronzo-class," Arado says. His tone of voice is quiet, and he grimaces, as the drill punches into the armor; it grinds through frame and metal, leaving a neat hole punched into it. The kid hisses, softly, as he looks on. "So that's why I'm here. See, before my name was Arado Balanga, it was Bronzo-28, and I was--"

He sees the graviton cannon fire, then. The wave of black light erupting forward; the screams of those kids that were just like him. For a second, Arado's jaw slackens and his eyes go wide. His knuckles whiten as he grips the controls.

He says what Simon thinks: "SHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!"

He doesn't have time to agree with Simon -- or with Ouka, or the others. He just flies forward, moving along with Simon's Gurren-Lagann. The Sunlion goes spiralling up as Simon moves his foot in, weaving around Ouka Nagisa's R-Eins, and rises up into the air. "If you think I'll let you get away with that--for even ONE SECOND--then you don't know me!" he roars. "I'm Arado Balanga! I came from this place, and you're not touching any more of them!"

The sun crests the Moon's nearest crater for a moment, and the Sunlion glitters for a brief second. "MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHTY!"

He drops down, thrusters all firing, as one foot swings down. The armored left leg is aimed outward, pointed for the head of the Granzon; the side of it has a bladed aileron up the length of the leg, which is aimed straight down. Blue light erupts behind the Sunlion, as the Tesla Drive roars to life.

"LIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!"

He comes sweeping down. A flash of gold splits the skies--and the moment the Gurren-Lagann kicks inward, his foot strikes down, even as the red beams from Ouka's machine fly in.

"KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICK!"

COMBAT: David Churchill has struck a solid hit on Heero Yuy's Wing Gundam Zero using Phantoma Missile.

COMBAT: Heero Yuy has missed David Churchill with his Beam Saber counter attack.

COMBAT: Arado Balanga has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Arado Balanga has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Arado Balanga has attacked Shu Shirakawa. Mighty Sunlion Kick added to their queue.

COMBAT: Macua Huitl has activated a spirit command.

Staren Wiremu also hears the wail... It's briefly unsettling, but he's kind of busy to get distracted by it right now...

COMBAT: You have struck Shu Shirakawa with a solid hit using Missile Bank.

COMBAT: Shu Shirakawa has counter attacked for a minor critical hit using Wormhole Beam!

COMBAT: 1030 points of damage taken! 4701 health points left!

COMBAT: Staren Wiremu has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Kazuma Ardygun has missed Shu Shirakawa with his Laser Vulcan attack.

COMBAT: Shu Shirakawa has missed Kazuma Ardygun with his Autocannon counter attack. The blows rain down on the Guarlion, throwing it back away from the Ialdabaoth and-- wait, when did he draw his wakizashi? And why is there a fresh scar on the the thigh of Ialdabaoth's standing leg? "I am not like that fool Sanger or his teacher. I do not try to pretend that ideals will shield me on the battlefield." He glances to his right at the two other Trailers who attacked him, and see they have temporarily refocused their attention upon the newly arrived Granzon... and seeing that one expressed a desire to kill him and loot his remains and the other is a loyal comrade with the first... well...

The Guarlion suddenly launches forward, it's black slashing out as Folka as he passes... but rather than come around to strike again, he angles away from the Shuran and flashes his blade twice more. Once as he passes by the Valhawk, and the other as he careens past the Seraph on his way to protect Adler's 'precious resources'.

COMBAT: Staren Wiremu has struck a solid hit on Shu Shirakawa's Granzon using Railgun Burst Fire.

COMBAT: Shu Shirakawa has missed Staren Wiremu with his Wormhole Beam counter attack.

COMBAT: Murata has attacked Kazuma Ardygun, Macua Huitl, and Folka Albark. Blade Flurry added to their queue.

COMBAT: Macua Huitl has struck a solid hit on Shu Shirakawa's Granzon using Beam Rifle Snipe.

COMBAT: Mebius Lylecraft has struck a solid hit on Shu Shirakawa's Granzon using Moon Ballista.

COMBAT: Allenby Beardsley has struck a solid hit on Shu Shirakawa's Granzon using Donke-er Falcon Punch.

COMBAT: Shu Shirakawa has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Latooni Subota has struck a solid hit on Shu Shirakawa's Granzon using Double Rolling Cannons.

COMBAT: Simon has missed Shu Shirakawa with his Gurren Boogie attack.

COMBAT: Murata has missed Macua Huitl with his Blade Flurry attack.

COMBAT: Macua Huitl has counter attacked for a minor hit on Murata's Guarlion Mumyou using Missile Launchers.

COMBAT: Kazuma Ardygun has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Murata has struck a minor hit on Kazuma Ardygun's Air Force Valhawk using Blade Flurry.

COMBAT: Arado Balanga has struck a major hit on Shu Shirakawa's Granzon using Mighty Sunlion Kick.

COMBAT: Murata has struck a minor hit on Folka Albark's Ialdabaoth using Blade Flurry.

COMBAT: Folka Albark has counter attacked for a minor hit on Murata's Guarlion Mumyou using Rapid Kicking.

COMBAT: Shu Shirakawa has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Ouka Nagisa has struck a major critical hit on Shu Shirakawa's Granzon using Big Sister Will Make Everything Better - With The GEIM System.

<Radio: C - None> Staren Wiremu transmits, "Shu Shirakawa... Gundams aren't invincible... and neither is Granzon! We won't let you kill these children!"

<Radio: C - None> Solis Vivent transmits, "TRAITOR!!!"

Katie shakes her head, "We're not going to abandon the children just because things get a little messy. Surely you can understand that! Listen, we're not trying to hurt them. We're only interested in giving them a better life than living as the tool of someone else. No one should have to live like that!" Seeing the Beam Saber short out causes a wince, as she really needed that. Luna apparently -didn't-, however, as she comes in with a hard punch that was likely to short out her sensors if it hit. So the Nemo ducks, the first swinging right over it's head.

"No deal. Like I said, I'm sorry but we can't just give up when things get difficult." Having said that the girl actually... disengages, turning to Marin's Hizack and pulling a repair kit from the back of her shield. "Okay, it's made by the same people who made the Nemo so it shouldn't be too difficult. Lets see..." The Nemo hand reaches into some of the more damaged places and actually rips out some damaged internals, spare parts quickly put in place and rapidly fused into place before a small slab of weak plating that'll have to work for armor is slammed over it. "There! That should give you a twenty percent boost in power output. Your lucky, the servos themselves weren't damaged at all! Now get back out there!" Hopefully as she does this she doesn't get just mauled by Lunamaria!

COMBAT: Katie Erickson has just effected repairs on Marin Lae's mech.

The Phantoma missile crashes into the Wing Zero, even as Heero attempts to drive it past, beam saber pulled from one of the verniers as Heero dives towards the Phantoma. It's enough, in this case, to dissuade him. The ZERO system reads something more. Something .. more important.

The arrival of the Granzon is noted. The ZERO system claims by not getting involved, he, too, will have a higher chance in what he wishes for. Shu is not the only one that apparently has such wishes.

The children will only be further used in war. They will only be further used, even if they are saved, in the future. Their lives will be like his.. perhaps worse.

His only choice, according to ZERO, is to get rid of them. He disengages from the Phantoma, putting distance between the two machines. Machine cannons begin to spin, rolling about as they pop out of the Wing Zero, beginning to spin as Shu's attempt is made. The Cosmolions still fly. Some of the children, still fielded.

This doesn't make the base impenetrable.

The twin buster rifle is raised, pointed down towards the base of operations, shoulder cannons opening fire upon the cosmolions, to deactivate and pin the machine's down as the weapon begins to charge.

"If this is how peace will be found, ZERO....."

COMBAT: Katie Erickson has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Katie Erickson has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Heero Yuy has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Heero Yuy has attacked Adler Koch. Dual Machine Cannons added to their queue.

Katie makes the mistake of turning her back on a ZAFT Red -- even the worst Red is leaps and bounds beyond a normal pilot, even if their strengths are going un- or underutilized. Luna doesn't really have anything to say to Katie -- you can't let the enemy get too far into your head anyway, though, she reminds herself. Best to just complete the mission and worry about it later.

Luna draws the second of her machine's two beam tomahawks; usually she doesn't think to do this, but the situation has gotten more tense than it was a little while ago -- it's only natural that her style shifts accordingly. Lunging in, she raises both blades high...

... and, surprisingly, /throws/ one of the, before following up with a forceful strike from the other. Her combat style... it's a little unorthodox, to put it delicately.

COMBAT: Lunamaria Hawke has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Lunamaria Hawke has attacked Katie Erickson. Twin Tomahawks added to their queue.

COMBAT: Yue Rohay has successfully covered Adler Koch.

COMBAT: Heero Yuy has successfully covered Adler Koch.

COMBAT: Ouka Nagisa has successfully covered Adler Koch.

COMBAT: Lunamaria Hawke has struck a devastating hit on Katie Erickson's MSA-003 Nemo using Twin Tomahawks.

<Radio: C - None> Staren Wiremu transmits, "What is that machine doing here? Isn't that Zechs's?"

Marin smiled, glad that her unit was repaired, and thankful that it was in better shape than before now. Launching back off before she could potentially get attacked by anything else, she aimed the Hizack's sniper rifle at the Wing Zero. "Can't let you do that now. Alive they can still be saved and stopped. Dead..."

Marin shook her head and just took aim, before firing off the sniper shot towards the Wing Zero, the bullet hopefully hitting the machine.

<Radio: C - None> Macua Huitl transmits, "Take it down."

COMBAT: Marin Lae has attacked Heero Yuy. Sniper Rifle - Snipe added to their queue.

<Radio: C - None> Solis Vivent transmits, "Who the hell cares! If it endangers my comrades, it will perish in atomic fire!"

David frowns, watching as the Wing Gundam retreats...and starts to open fire. No. /No/. He feels that rage, that animal rage, swelling up in him. Before, he'd always felt it for the Crusaders, or Orb, or some other lot of terrorists, or arrogant spacenoids looking down on Earth, or the Martians crushing the people trying to give them a better future! All of them! But now... All for Heero. His vision sees only that Gundam. The Vulcan Cannon raises, pointing at it, and starts firing a long, rattling (if there was air) burst at the back of the Gundam as it fires on the cosmolions, his teeth bared with hatred.

COMBAT: David Churchill has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: David Churchill has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: David Churchill has attacked Heero Yuy. Vulcan Cannon Long Burst added to their queue. You should be, Murata. Your path only contains violence, and a short end and bloody ending. Yours is the way of the Shura, the reason I am here is to find a better way...a way without the excessive violence that maintains the status quo of my people. A way to engage in our martial arts forms that does not end in the constant warfare and destruction that we bring to wherever we go...this is why I am here today, to learn from these humans." Folka says, his hand holding the blade as she slashed through them, letting out a barrage of kicks to send Murata flying away. "Because of this, I am going to end our fight with this today." Murata was left alone, as Folka jumped, using the Lunar surface's light gravity and strange topography to propel the Ialdabaoth like a rocket for the retreating children. Folka quickly threw himself in the path of the Cosmolions, before spinning back around and aiming a barrage of kicks towards the Wing Zero. "You have made the wrong decision." Folka speaks, evenly towards the unit, as his hands move strangely, channeling the aura around himself once more, before the Ialdabaoth rises, and charges right towards Heero. If he misses, the Shura simply flies right by him. However, if the charge catches Heero, a kick aims to send Heero backwards, before the Shura would move as quickly as humanly possible, aiming to dart right behind the Wing Zero, aiming a second kick to throw it into the air. Another quick motion, and the Shura would leep, attempting to rise above the Wing Zero and shoot straight down. The foot of the Shura god would be covered in blue fire, the clawed weapon would aim down, trying to tear through the unit with a mighty kick. "KISHIN MOUGEKI KEN!"

COMBAT: Folka Albark has attacked Heero Yuy. Kishin Mougeki Ken added to their queue.

The Nemo is in a pretty terrible position as Luna decides to take advantage of the back-turned Nemo. The pilot of the gold machine has her focus so intently on fixing up Marins Hizack that she can't pay attention to what her opponent was doing. The hope that she might give her time to affix her repairs is snuffed out as the first beam Tomahawk slams into the back of the Nemo. "Augh!" Red warning lights start blinking all over the place, and she tries to turn around to face the ZAKU, just in time to have the other tomahawk come down on the shoulder of the Nemo, cleaving a gaping hole in the side of the machine and rending it's left arm a useless pile of hanging scrap. "Shoot! I really blew it this time. I guess I don't have a choice..." The mech reaches down with it's good arm and pulls a large weapon from it's hip, a single shot mech-scale RPG launcher. "You don't give me much of a choice." She aims the rocket-on-a-stick towards the red ZAFT Keeper of Unity and fires it, the unguided rocket spiraling in. At this range it might have -some- hope of hitting, too!

COMBAT: Katie Erickson has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Katie Erickson has attacked Lunamaria Hawke. Sturm Faust added to their queue.

COMBAT: Katie Erickson has missed Lunamaria Hawke with her Sturm Faust attack.

There are reasons for everything in this world. That is a fact that Shirakawa will never dispute.

Life, death, the difference between either are very slim. Shirakawa knows that he may very well be able to save someone, or kill them, in the blink of an eye. In the opposite manner he is certain that he may live or die at any time possible.

In the Granzon, Shirakawa has very little time to react when the full blunt of either side fall upon him. While knowing fully well all of Dr. Koch's men would fall upon him, he did not expect the very resistance that had come to stop him to turn about and fire upon the Granzon. Being a relatively well known target perhaps does not help him in this retrospect. With a title and a Super Robot comes a burden. It is only expected.

The assaults begin from every side. Missiles from Solis rip into the hull of the Granzon, powering past the warp field in tandom with Staren's Railgun burst. Both of them recieve wormhole beams, only for the system to be shut down rather quickly. Kazuma's laser vulcans may have missed the blunt of the Granzon, but has hit the conductor he uses to fire them.

What comes next amongst a chorus of his name falls upon the Granzon's burden. Rifles, beams, missiles and punches falls upon the Granzon. The multitude of firepower than falls upon it is enough to rip any craft apart from the inside out.

The two most devastating assalts are from Dr. Koch's children, Arado and Ouka. Even as the mighty lion kick crashes into the Granzon's figure, it isn't able to escape the two lancing beams that tear into it. Even as the Granzon still opperates, armor broken and multitudes of hundreds of thousands wasted in a single act, Shirakawa's thoughts have not changed even the slightest.

"What am I doing?" Shirakawa asks as the Granzon lifts into the air, escaping Simon's strike by feet. "It is simple. I have given these children an early release. Life, and death, are two things we take for granted."

"I myself am ready to die whenever it is my time. I will accept it rather than fighting a loss that is pointless." Shirakawa smirks, "Would you do the same, or would you all fight the god of death at his doorstep? I am afraid... that my time does not seem to be up, presently."

A wormhole rips above the Granzon, tearing through the sky as the broken hulk of the Granzon slowly passes through. Armor and wires are seen at every angle. Sparking and damage, the Granzon retreats with Shirakawa on board.

COMBAT: Yue Rohay has struck a major critical hit on Ouka Nagisa's R-Eins using Machine Cannon Barrage.

COMBAT: Ouka Nagisa has counter attacked for a minor hit on Yue Rohay's Ophanim using Blade Tonfa Rush.

<Radio: A - Chat> Arado Balanga transmits, "Gh... Don't think I'll forget this, Shu Shirakawa!"

<Radio: A - Chat> Solis Vivent transmits, "Where is his berth?!"

Everyone turns their assaults on Shu Shirakawa, leaving the two enraged Bronzos to stand unmolested for a time. They're spoiling to rejoin the fight. They both raise railguns and begin unleashing one volley, then a second, and another, at the general area. Oddly, they do not seem to fire on Shu. They've locked on, but their weapons are nonresponsive. They try to kill the Granzon, but are unable to kill. So instead, they turn toward their partners' escape pods, and grab them up, preparing to dart from the area and toward safety. The going is very slow with the pods alongside, however, since the two need to keep from invariably tossing the pods away into the lunar distance from an overcompensating Cosmolion thrust. Koch sips his tea, trying to consider just what Shirakawa intended to accomplish. He has several theories, but little hard data, and so he returns to transmitting orders to Ouka. All of the Bronzos have retreated save four, two in escape pods, and two carefully dragging the pods along.

<Radio: A - Chat> Shu Shirakawa transmits, "I hope today has left an imprint you will not forget."

Being in the zone of fire for too long is healthy for no one, not even the most invulnerable of super robots. And the field that the kids are operating in, freshly beset by Shu's Graviton cannon, is now being attacked by Heero in the Wing Zero. While she tried to ignore the setback caused by the Armored Module... this is getting too much to try to shrug off.

"... I do not understand your reasons, but I am certain that I have reason to oppose them," Yue declares to the 00. She brandishes the Ophanim's arm and the cloak whorls about its form, the wings transforming from their blocky vernier-shape to their normal, familiar form as the mobile suit's beam cannon comes into play.

Yue narrows her eyes, before she performs a circling strafe to set off a firm beam to escape from the muzzle of her own rifle at the prescient mobile suit. "Target ... selected for extermination."

As annoying as it is to see the Granzon retreating like nothing was wrong, Kazuma already has another problem on his plate - and it isn't Murata, even though his sword clips the Valhawk's stern end.

No, Kazuma Ardygun is going after the Wing Gundam Zero, and powering up the heat field as he goes. "I don't know who's piloting that mobile suit, but I *do* know one thing ... you're not taking any more shots at those kids!!"

The heat field flares, sheathing the Valhawk in crimson plasma, and Kazuma kicks his machine's engines into overdrive, with Mihiro halfway holding her breath as she does her job, keeping everything as stable as she can even as Kazuma is pushing the Valhawk to its limits. It's a delicate balancing act ... but it's one these two siblings are used to by now.

COMBAT: Kazuma Ardygun has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Kazuma Ardygun has activated a spirit command. "

COMBAT: Kazuma Ardygun has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Kazuma Ardygun has attacked Heero Yuy. Heat Edge Exploder added to their queue.

COMBAT: Lunamaria Hawke has activated a spirit command.

Latooni Subota swerves away from Shu after her first shot; she doesn't follow up the attack but instead breaks away. Latooni doesn't expect him to fire back - and more importantly, she expects that Ouka will be distracted and not follow her for several long moments.

Latooni guns her engines as she approaches the remaining Bronzo team. "This is Latune-11," Latooni says, hating herself for the lie - and it is a lie. She no longer thinks of herself as the number she once was. "Please follow me for the retreat. I will ensure that you are not hurt and are recovered safely."

She fires no weapons. Just in case they listen.

<Radio: A - Chat> Arado Balanga transmits, "Believe me!"

"Enemy unit departing by unknown means, "Castilla intones, "I suggest we return to..." "JUNE! The fusion cutter, give it to me!" She nods, "Yes, My Rex!" Solis turns his gaze towards the other attacker, to Heero and his machine.. "I hear your song. I reject it, machine. There is no fate or destiny. There is only war!" The fusion cutter sears forth, burning anger and hatred directed at the machine far above, "You will suffer for the sins of Shirakawa! You will suffer for.. For.. HARMING THOSE I PROTECT!!"

COMBAT: Solis Vivent has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: You have turned on your [Strike] spirit command.

COMBAT: Solis Vivent has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: You have turned on your [Scan] spirit command.

COMBAT: Your attack has been added to Heero Yuy's queue.

COMBAT: Solis Vivent has attacked Heero Yuy. Fusion Cutter Assault added to their queue.

With the reduction of the Granzon to a smoking, retraeting mass of metal, Ouka knows now what it is she must do. None of this... none of it at all, would not have happened if it were not for those... those /kidnappers/. Ouka's hands work across the controls of the R-Eins and she starts taking IFFs and pictures of as many of the combatants as she can. Because starting tomorrow, she is going to start looking for them. She is going to hunt them down. She is going to find them.

And then she will kill every last one.

But right now. Right this second, she is going to lay low the Ophanim and make an example of its pilot. R-Eins chews up the distance rapidly as Ouka presses the Personal Trooper past its limits, sweeping in between the two raging Cosmolions and pushing them out of the way, bodily, with her two arms. They spiral off in either direction. "BOTH OF YOU!" Ouka snaps at them. "Settle yourselves! You've each got one good hand on your machine, carry your partner to safety! Drag their Cosmolion if you have to. Don't worry... big sister is here now, they're be all right." It's difficult to put the proper tone on when your heart is telling you to murder someone. Somehow, Ouka manages. She still has that much humanity left, at least.

The machine cannon rounds rip across the R-Eins frame, ripping holes in it as Ouka powers forwards with her Blade Tonfas at the ready. She comes in hard and fast, smashing the butts of her weapons forward in a series of one-two strikes to press the Ophanim down out of the sky. She decends past in a blast of acceleration, slashing through.

"This will end you!" Ouka declares, with a cut-in.

R-Eins pulls a tight skid to come about, before accelerating rapidly at the Mobile Suit's back. Ouka attempts to blast through with an X slash, and then, once she's on the other side, twirls both of her tonfas about with a flurish, then stabs them backwards. She's not making an attempt to avoid the cockpit. In fact, she's rather hoping it will be hit.

COMBAT: Ouka Nagisa has activated a spirit command.

Success comes to Luna, and with it, she settles back into the way she was trained to fight. Seeing the rocket coming at her, she slices it cleanly in two before putting her remaining beam tomahawk away. "You have a choice -- fight or leave," Luna says, trying her best to remain calm -- she certainly sounds the part, at least, even if she's not really sure if she can actually pull that off.

Putting the Gunner pack to its /real/ use at long last, she floats back away from Katie's Nemo for a moment, pulling out the positively enormous Orthros beam cannon. "All right -- I'll show you exactly what this ZAKU was meant for!" she calls, before engaging the heavy beam weapon; it hums for a moment, just the shortest moment, before roaring to life, a red and white torrent spewing forth from it, threatening to annihilate the Nemo.

COMBAT: Lunamaria Hawke has attacked Katie Erickson. M1500 Orthros Beam Cannon added to their queue.

COMBAT: Ouka Nagisa has attacked Yue Rohay. Blade Tonfa Finisher added to their queue.

COMBAT: Lunamaria Hawke has missed Katie Erickson with her M1500 Orthros Beam Cannon attack.

Arado's Sunlion slams into the ground, once the kick against the Granzon is done. The foot strikes into the dirt, sending moondust washing up around the machine. The blunt end of the sonic lance is planted hard into the ground; he lets out a long sigh and looks downward, for a moment. "Damn it!" he spits. He doesn't bring the machine up, yet; his fist shakes around the controls and his eyes narrow. This is all getting to be too much for him. "I can't believe this..."

Mebius remains disappointed as Granzon disappears, but she keeps her temper very easily under control, spotting the pods and the remaining Cosmolions retreating with them. She sees that, and starts to aim high to hit the arms holding those pods... ...And suddenly a quiet young girl's voice tells her to not fire. "Hmm? Oh my. You must have something planned out..." It's possible Latooni may not be transmitting an image, but Mebius' face tries to appear on her display despite that, serene and warm. "So I'll hold off. By all means, give it a try." The arm-bow lowers, with Orcrist hovering in place for the time being as she watches and observes the situation...

One day Simon will know whether he would fight the god of death or not. Today he merely utters a "Maybe." But even then he knows that even if death is an unescapable fact of life, those children didn't need to die. They didn't need to suffer. Their life was suffering and now, and now...

Wait...escape pods? Simon sees two mechs carting them away. The problem is that they, too, are probably part of the same class and if he approaches they'll attack him.

Then again, the Gurren Lagann is a very tough machine.

"Arado," He says, "I'm sorry. If you still want to tell me--then... I'll listen, but before you do...Let me tell you this." He takes in a deep breath, "Your name could be Dogmeat Sewerspittle. I will always be your friend--"

He turns his mech around and charges for the fleeing Bronzo Team--an attack?! No, he is probably looking for an opoprtunity to extract the escape pods--will Arado stop him!? Or will SOMEONE ELSE?

"Don't worry," He says, even though he knows they're brainwashed, "I won't...hurt you!"

The Star Hawk's twin blades unfold as he approaches the Granzon. The wormholes are irregularities on his sensors, he has only a split second to dodge them but it's enough, weaving his way around the beams. "Shuuuu...!" He prepares for a close in strike and--

Granzon wormholes away.

Damn it. Alright, Target #2 then! He doesn't know who is in Zechs's (as far as he knows) machine, but they can't be allowed to do this! The Star Hawk turns, and flies towards it, thrusters blazing, hybrid swords lighting up. "I don't know who you are... But I've taken down a gundam that looked like that one before, and we'll take this one down too!"

He pulls back one arm, then leads with an attempt at a piercing stab with the right hybrid sword. Followed by a stab with the other blade as well, before tearing them both out and trying to knee the gundam aside and kick it away. "We didn't let Shu murder these children, what chance do you think you have?! You're going down!"

COMBAT: Staren Wiremu has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Staren Wiremu has attacked Heero Yuy. Hybrid Sword Rush added to their queue.

COMBAT: Ouka Nagisa has missed Yue Rohay with her Blade Tonfa Finisher attack.

Murata simply snorts at Folka's reply and does not bother with him any longer. The Shuran no longer is of any interest... instead his eyes focus on those who seek to make off with the remainder of Adler's children. His eyes narrow as he zeroes in on the familiar form of the Gundam Fighter Champion as she speaks to the pair of twins. The Guarlion's thrusters burst to life as he launches himself forward towards little Latooni, sheathing his blade as he does so. This next move requires the speed of Iaijutsu to pull off. As the Guarlion comes into range, the hilt of the blade slams out into the backside of the Fairlion, aiming to stun it momentarily as he unleashes a flurry of strikes so fast that they blurr into a carcade of silver flashes. Then comes the final blow as he hurtles by Latooni with a single strike and sheathes his blade. once more. No words. No warning. Just brutal intent.

COMBAT: Staren Wiremu has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Murata has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Murata has attacked Latooni Subota. Shishioh Blade added to their queue.

The trick is that when someone aims a massive beam cannon at you to not be where that beam is when it fires. It's pretty simple, really, and that's exactly what Katie and her Nemo do. It dashes to the side as the weapon goes off, it's form obscured for a moment by the light thrown off by the attack. But when it all dies down the Nemo is there, paint bubbled a bit but otherwise unscathed- she just got out of the way.

"I'm impressed! If you can find a way to Mass Produce those beam cannons we'll be in trouble, but you know what? It looks kind of expensive. I bet it'd be better on a weapons platform designed specifically to handle it." That said the Nemo reaches backwards, gripping the Beam Tomahawk embedded in its back and pulling it out, flipping it over and gripping tightly in its working hand. "Time for a little payback!" Looks like she's choosing the 'fight' option. She charges, lashing out with the 'stolen' weapon and trying to crack through the ZAKUs head. Maybe if she takes the sensors out she'll have half a chance, now that she's so badly damaged.

COMBAT: Katie Erickson has attacked Lunamaria Hawke. Beam Tomahawk Overhead Chop added to their queue.

COMBAT: Katie Erickson has missed Lunamaria Hawke with her Beam Tomahawk Overhead Chop attack.

COMBAT: Lunamaria Hawke has counter attacked for a solid critical hit on Katie Erickson's MSA-003 Nemo using MA-M8 Beam Tomahawk.

"My name used to be Bronzo-28," Arado says, quietly, looking at the place where Granzon vanished into a wormhole; the crackle of purple light, the last bit of Hawking radiation that came out of the black hole that it vanished into. He swallows. "I used to be just like them, Simon. I was just some kid, like they were, who didn't know what was going and what was what."

He looks down and frowns, as his hand moves to the controls--and he swings the targeting reticule over the screen. The green outline swings over, and then latches onto the Gurren-Lagann. It tightens and flashes red, as he locks on. His hand moves to the other weapons control.

He swallows, looking at the fleeing members of the Bronzo class. He looks downward, and then lets his hand off the weapon controls.

"Goddamn it, Balanga," he mutters to himself.

The Bronzos are tired, and a little bit on the far edge of crazy. So, they turn and approach Latune-11 with the pods of their brothers. There is a frenzied objection from Koch at their irregular movement, but there always is. Both girls open a radio channel to Latooni and something is transmitted. Then, slowly, the two pods containing the male Bronzos are shoved toward Latooni. For the girls, who had been raised basically symbiotically with their partners in accordance with new Bronzo regulations, this represents a huge bond of trust. Ouka's probably been telling them stories about Latooni again. No ration paste for her tonight. The two male Bronzos thus "entrusted" to the care of the Gundam of Gundams, their cosmolion-driving "sisters" begin a lightspeed charge: away from Latooni and the battlefield, and toward the Moon Cradle. The gesture of the two girls pushing the escape pods containing their "loved" siblings into Latooni's care is almost touching. The fact they fire a few shots at David Churchill on their way off the battlefield somehow doesn't make it any less so. Adler Koch swears and growls, at the same time wondering why the two girls had apparently "rejected" their partners and left them behind. He wasn't privy to their conversation with Latooni, and they'd erased it from the messenger logs.

Yue had barely any time to react, before Ouka's first cuts slam in and seriously unbalance her Tesla drives from a situationally disadvantageous angle; the result has the Ophanim spinning momentarily out of control as the young pilot focuses all of her hands' might on reshaping her wings to regain balance.

"Evasive maneuver simulations deplorable -- initiating active defense," Yue grits her teeth as she...

...pulls up the Buster Rifle with both hands to smash against the tonfa blades in a deflecting manuever, and for a moment the weapons are dead even in a lock with the two machines pressing for the advantage. However, Yue twists the side of the cannon - the remaining muzzle fraying as it is cleanly hacked off in two by Nagisa's vicious cross slash. The rest is easy, as she gains momentum to pull away from the finishing backstab.

"Buster Rifle condition critical," comes the mental warning in her head. Someone really has out out for her favorite weapon - she switches to the machine cannons to try to aim for the R-Eins' thrusters.

COMBAT: Adler Koch has struck a solid hit on David Churchill's Phantoma Booster using Railgun Triple Fire.

Luna is someone you don't press into close combat -- in spite of her horrible track record, it's the one place she really, really shines. When Katie comes in with that beam tomahawk, Luna readies her own again, hastily putting her gun away in order to counter-slice; she chops at the hand of the Nemo, dealing damage and deflecting the attack in one swift shot. "Don't underestimate a ZAFT Red!" she says, as she retrieves her other beam tomahawk out of midair.

Taking to the air again, Luna says, "I'll show you a trick I learned growing up watching Johnny Ridden, the Crimson Nightmare!"

There are so many things wrong with that sentence, and even more will become apparent soon.

Nevertheless, Luna takes to the sky, seemingly intending to come at Katie with both beam tomahawks again; however, her real angle is far more simple: a straightforward, drilling kick down into the Nemo, ideally putting it down for the count.

COMBAT: Lunamaria Hawke has attacked Katie Erickson. Crimson Nightmare Kick added to their queue.

COMBAT: Yue Rohay has attacked Ouka Nagisa. Machine Cannon Full Auto added to their queue.

COMBAT: Lunamaria Hawke has struck a major hit on Katie Erickson's MSA-003 Nemo using Crimson Nightmare Kick.

COMBAT: Katie Erickson has counter attacked for a minor hit on Lunamaria Hawke's ZGMF-1000-A1 Gunner ZAKU Warrior using Head Vulcans.

The attacks on Shu are savage she listens to him go on for a moment. She doesnt even give him a single reply. Shes got other things to deal with such as the Wing Zero still needs to be delt with. No gesture or look is given as Shu flees the combined might of everyone there.

The Armoured Core turns away from the hulking super robot, for there is a Gundam to deal with. Macua brings the machine into a run for the mobile suit. She doesnt fire anything fancy just a small flight of missiles at the Gundam

She then bounds away looking for other targets to deal with, hopefully theres still a chance to save the children but if not shell live with that. Though the request from the winner of the Gundam fight comes through loud and clear. She marks the actively fighting or more correctly formally fighting Bozos as natural.

Macua Huitl's AC-013 Nine Ball Seraph transforms into its Nine Ball Seraph - Flight Mode mode.

COMBAT: Macua Huitl has attacked Heero Yuy. Missile Launchers added to their queue.

COMBAT: Murata has struck a major hit on Simon's Gurren-Lagann using Shishioh Blade.

COMBAT: Yue Rohay has struck a major critical hit on Ouka Nagisa's R-Eins using Machine Cannon Full Auto.

COMBAT: Ouka Nagisa has missed Yue Rohay with her Steel Knife counter attack.

COMBAT: Macua Huitl has missed Heero Yuy with her Missile Launchers attack.

COMBAT: Heero Yuy has counter attacked for a minor hit on Macua Huitl's Nine Ball Seraph - Flight Mode using Head Vulcans.

COMBAT: Marin Lae has struck a major hit on Heero Yuy's Wing Gundam Zero using Sniper Rifle - Snipe.

COMBAT: Kazuma Ardygun has missed Heero Yuy with his Heat Edge Exploder attack.

COMBAT: Heero Yuy has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: You have struck Heero Yuy with a devastating critical hit using Fusion Cutter Assault.

COMBAT: Heero Yuy has counter attacked for a solid hit using Buster Rifle Warning Shot!

COMBAT: 1770 points of damage taken! 2931 health points left!

COMBAT: Heero Yuy has activated a spirit command. COMBAT: Folka Albark has struck a glancing hit on Heero Yuy's Wing Gundam Zero using Kishin Mougeki Ken.

COMBAT: Knock Out! Heero Yuy's Wing Gundam Zero unit has become disabled!

COMBAT: Heero Yuy has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Staren Wiremu has missed Heero Yuy with his Hybrid Sword Rush attack.

COMBAT: Heero Yuy has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: David Churchill has missed Heero Yuy with his Vulcan Cannon Long Burst attack.

COMBAT: Heero Yuy has counter attacked for a solid critical hit on David Churchill's Phantoma Booster using Buster Rifle Warning Shot.

"You think you can just take my family away from me?" Ouka asks as the Machine Cannons continue to drill into the R-Eins, ripping ever bigger holes into the sides of it. With one hand, Ouka slashes out with her steel knive in an emergency maneuver to get Yue to back off. She drops the impliment a moment later, then picks her Tonfas back up.

A little clock at the edge of Ouka's field of vision counts down it will take for the remaining two Bronzos to get clear of the engagement zone. She just needs to hold off everyone and everything until then. Snapping the Tonfas up into an aggressive stance, the Twin Beam Cannons abruptly fire, spraying twin lines of red fire outwards at the enemy machine. "You won't get away with this!"

COMBAT: Ouka Nagisa has attacked Yue Rohay. Twin Beam Cannon added to their queue.

COMBAT: Ouka Nagisa has struck a devastating hit on Yue Rohay's Ophanim using Twin Beam Cannon.

"I don't even know what a ZAFT Red is!" Katie responds as her attempt at turnabout is utterly crushed, the hand on the good arm of her Nemo getting carved up and sending the weapon flying through the air and back into the hands of it's rightful owner. Well, if anything's certain she isn't underestimating Luna now- if she ever was in the first place!

The attack comes, and the Nemo makes an attempt at running and gunning, it's head facing the ZAKU as it streaks down and peppering it with low caliber Vulcan fire. Not a good enough deterrent, it seems, as the kick smashes into the center of the Nemo and sends it flying backwards, the effects of low gravity obvious as it skips along the lunar surface. Unfortunately while it's in utterly horrid shape it is not, as was hoped, completely out of the fight. Any hope for a powerful reprisal attack, however, is gone. Mission Accomplished?

"Dang it. This one is way too good for me. I'm going to have to stall for time..." Shaking her head she uses the mangled hand as best she can, reaching down and pulling a small grenade from the Nemos waist. If nothing else, the arm can still /swing/ hard enough to fling it. It's just a matter of whether or not she can manage to hold onto it long enough to aim it properly. The weapon flings, and a few moments before it hits the ground explodes, sending out not fragments of metal but a massive burst of light to ruin human sight and sensors as well.

COMBAT: Katie Erickson has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Katie Erickson has attacked Lunamaria Hawke. Blinder Cracker added to their queue.

COMBAT: Katie Erickson has missed Lunamaria Hawke with her Blinder Cracker attack.

COMBAT: Lunamaria Hawke has counter attacked for a minor hit on Katie Erickson's MSA-003 Nemo using MMI-M633 Beam Assault Rifle.

Yue knows when she's been overextended, and try as she might, she can only go so far doing a million things at once - she isn't poised to engage in full-on combat with Ouka right now and she knows it. The double beam cannon shot just slams head on with the force of a Mack Truck running over daisies - an explosion follows wholesale pieces of Gundanium floating off from a dislodged and compromised frame.

"Escape Team, keep the gateway open -- the Strike Team is commencing retreat," Yue declares firmly as she draws back for a retreat, pulling up closer to where her teammates are at. "Long-range units further back, provide cover fire. Full speed."

Not caring how much damage her bullet might have done, Marin instead shifts back to the beam launcher, turning and preparing to fire off the shot. "Okay, hopefully I have enough energy in here for the shot. A nice headshot will do though..."

Taking aim at the machine that was fighting Katie, she adjusted the shot, the barrel, and the energy output, ready to provide the cover fire that Yue Rohay is asking for, and she doesn't kid around. And thus, the trigger is pulled, and the beam is launched, right at Lunamaria.

COMBAT: Marin Lae has attacked Lunamaria Hawke. Beam Launcher - Headshot added to their queue.

COMBAT: Marin Lae has struck a major hit on Lunamaria Hawke's ZGMF-1000-A1 Gunner ZAKU Warrior using Beam Launcher - Headshot.

<Radio: B - Secure> Solis Vivent transmits, "Status of remaining students?"

<Radio> Tightbeam from Kazuma Ardygun says, "Good to have you on our side for a change ... why'd you open fire to help us?"

"Arado..." Simon murmurs, "That means...there's HOPE!"

The Spiral Gauge loves hope. The gauge grows a full gauge, its color shining more brightly. The instrument actually shakes from the power invested within it. Naturally, at first, it seems like there won't be any use for it. At first he considers going after the two fleeing children and normally he would without a thought but since they gave Latooni their brothers. On good faith. It conflicts with him. They'll be punished, he thinks, they might even be killed. He doesn't know what to do so he does what any hot blooded pilot should do in such a situation.

JUST DO SOMETHING ANY--actually he asks Latooni since she seems to know what's what.

Nodding slowly to her he says, "Okay. I trust you." And he seems to mean it too. It doesn't imply he didn't trust her before, it's just a simple reaffirmation to show he cares.

He lowers his guard and then Murata comes in with a very impressive sword. Simon moves before he really thinks, shoving himself into position and interposing his mech between Murata's and Latooni's.

"GHAAAAAAAARGGGH!!!!" Simon screams as Murata's blade cleaves through his armor, into his arms, legs, and both cockpits--he even pierces through the bottom one but, as it's piloted by Boota today, doesn't actually kill a dude.

The assault ends with the Gurren Lagann collapsing down onto its hands and knees.

"Latooni," He murmurs, "Get...Get 'em out of here." He's bleeding from his head, his left arm is broken from the concussive force of the strikes. But he still has one godo arm.

"I..." He transmits to Murata, slowly pulling his mech back up, enlongating the machine's arms, and then forces it to stand. "If you're going to be..." The mech wobbles as it steadies itself, "If you're going to go after them, then I don't care if I'm a drill--you still won't break me down!!"

He swings the Gurren Lagann's fists into the air summoning a drill which swirls into a great size and length.

"GIIIIIIIGGAAAAAAAA!"

"DRIIIIIILLLLLLLLLL!"

"BREAAAAAKAAAAAAHHH!"

Simon lunges forward, his drill before him. This is something Murata has seen before. But will he fall prey to it once again like a Beastman or defeat it like a Man!

"Arado--" Simon transmits as he braces for impact, "--Seems like it may be a while before we actually finish our match."

It's thanks to him not firing that he was able to protect Latooni. That much is clear.

COMBAT: Simon has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Simon has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Simon has attacked Murata. Drill Breaker added to their queue.

Latooni Subota wanted the other two to come with her, too - but she understands that they are probably not going to. Especially as the radio sounds in her ear. "Understood," she sends back, quietly - and then she starts to /move/.

Wildraubtier is faster in a straight line, but Fairlion can dance around people trying to slow her down or stop her. With her arms full, Latooni is essentially unarmed, with only her tiny hair cannons to defend her - but that doesn't stop her from using her speed. Only a desire not to knock her cargo around too much stops her more extreme maneuvering.

Latooni takes off. She goes almost straight up, away from the Moon, and only once she has some altitude does she go along; Latooni tears off, using her ability to maneuver in open space to full advantage. A Guarlion comes up to her side; Latooni can't get out of the way without subjecting her 'passengers' to unpleasant or damaging G-forces, though.

But there's Simon. Simon is in the way; Lat hesitates only a moment before launching off without him, into the distance.

<Radio> Tightbeam to Kazuma Ardygun: You say, "They are my comrades. I am not going to allow them to be killed because Shirakawa has an issue with Koch... They are /people/, Ardygun."

COMBAT: Murata has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Murata has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Murata has activated a spirit command.

COMBAT: Simon has struck a apocalyptic critical hit on Murata's Guarlion Mumyou using Drill Breaker.

Knock Out! Murata's Guarlion Mumyou unit has become disabled!

COMBAT: Murata has missed Simon with his 'Mumyou' Two Sword Man Machine Kill counter attack.

"Yeah..." Arado trails off a little, and looks at where Simon is for a moment. Funny, he thinks--it would get too close to shooting one of the kids. His eyes narrow, and he looks around, before he turns and glances back up at Lunamaria. He can help an ally.

"Hey, hey, HEY!" he yells. The Sunlion bursts off from the surface of the Moon; dust flies out around it, shooting up into the air, as it spirals up into the air, with a stream of blue light left underneath it. He twists around, flying straight up, and he heads up into the air and rises up next to her ZAKU. A grin splits across his face and he swings out his sonic lance, aiming it about.

"How about you people stop playing the odds?!" he asks. "You won't like my lucky streak!"

Murata turns as the Gurren Lagann rises once more and narrows his eyes as he readies his blade, "You are a brave one boy, but that shall not avail you! You shall die like all the others!" The blade flashes as he prepares himself them rushes forward to finish Simon with his ultimate technique. he raises his weapon high...! And gets beaten to the punch by the massive drill. The blow hits low as the Guarlion's legs simply cease to be, obliterated by the drill's force. The shock of the impact causes one arm to flop about and glance off the spinning vortex only to be ripped clean off by the frightful power. The remainder of the crippled Guarlion lips the end of the drill and gets launched off into space by it's own momentum. The entire time though, Murata never lets go of his blade.

Ouka lowers her tonfas, trying to shove them back in their holsters in time to draw a rifle and gun the Ophanim down from behind. The fastest one to come out is also the slowest firing; the Double Magna Rifle. It is days like this when Ouka finds herself desiring a Boosted Rifle. "How dare you run away without even addressing me!" Ouka says, ineffectively firing at the retreating Ophanim. But it's of little avail, she just doesn't have the range.

As Arado moves to support Lunamaria, Ouka exhales, then kicks her Tesla Drive into high gear, angling in on the sniper trying to pick her off. "A Hizack... damn Federation! So they're the ones behind this after all!" Ouka pulls the trigger several times, sending shots streaming down range. A Titan machine. It's almost enough to make her want to drop a very large rock on Riksent from orbit. Almost. Then, perhaps, the Federation will understand that she does not appreciate this sort of behavior.

His stationary spot is ruined. The odd Shura machine slamming into the Wing Zero, sending it from it's position, towards the moons surface. It's shaken, landing on the ground.

The missiles are sent towards the Wing ZERO. The ZERO system reacts. The Wing Zero's head pulls around. Heero following what actions it cries for. The Zero dives, head vulcans blasting the missiles out of the way. The buster rifles still charges as he begins the evasion run. Twin trails from the verniers burn brightly as the Gundam begins to move.

The rifle blast almost knocks Heero out of the sky - the bullet causing the ZERo to dip, even as it attempts to pull away. "... It's pointless. You will not save them.. only doom them to a greater hell." He claims, the ZERO system showing him what he wishes to see. David fires as well, but the buster rifle is turned towards him, the charge glowing brightly, before sending a massive eruption of energy towards the Phantoma - the pillar of light vaporizing the gunfire as Heero pulls backwards and away, still mostly untouched.

"It's useless... ZERO has shown me the way to win this battle." It seems he is not lying, as the odd machine comes forth finally, charging, but only slamming against the very edge of the Zero, clipping off armoring and damaging the frame.. barely, in such a case. "ZERO has shown me what awaits them.... this is my decision."

Kazuma, and Miihiro again. He remembers them. Their tactics. Still, not enough. The blade tears towards the Wing Zero, but the machine seems to react, pilot as well, before he can grow close. The shield is brought upwards, the Wing Charging forth, using the shield to edge the Valhawk's deliberate ram just enough to push it off it's course. "You haven't changed at all... Sacrifices must be made. ZERO shows me ... what future I wish for. If this is the only way." The machine continues to pull away, too fast. It's like it knows, ahead of time, where to be.

The Star Hawk. Once, Heero may have considered it an equal - but the pilot is far too naive. "Last time, Staren... was different. This time.. I know what I fight for." The piercing stab towards the Gundam is knocked away by the shield, but no damage is suffered to either machine. The beam sword holds both blades, pulling backwards with a burst of thrusters.

"... ZERO has shown me the future - to end this battle, to make sure it will never happen again... It can show either absolute victory..."

The ZERO system shuts off. Heero finds himself alone, systems beginning to falter. His eyes open wide. "ZERO...?" Just enough time as the Fusion cutter comes in. The Wing Zero is bathed within the glowing beam, the blade cutting into the armoring. Systems begin to fail. The machine is pulled backwards as the damage increased, the twin buster rifle pulled out and fired - the beam slicing through the much larger one, freeing the Wing Zero from the beam of energy - but that is all done by Heero.

The ZERO system once again activates afterwards - despite the heavy damage, the machine is unable to continue to fight. The major weapon systems, disabled... yet the suit is still capable of flight. The damage, through severe... was not crippling. "... Or utter defeat."

It dawns on him.

"ZERO... I was not supposed to achieve this mission... was I?" The pale green glow of the system refuses to answer, the Neo Bird mode flipping about, however damaged, before shooting off towards the Izumo, and Mithril, for repairs. "..But was it impossible? .. Or was this what I wanted?"

Alone, once again. Alone with the ZERO system, until he reaches the Mithril base.

Macua Huitl sees this battle is over, she knows it's time to go. They could have failed worse but this still leaves a bitter taste in her mouth. The incidnet with Yazan and the newtype last night still is fresh mental scar for her. The 9-ball rises up turns into flight mode and then speeds away. There's nothing more she can do today, she also needs to talk to Garrod and Captain Jimil. With the EFA craking out Gundam X's it may be time to get off the fence.

<Radio: B - Secure> Solis Vivent transmits, "Restate. What is the status of the remaining trainees?"

<Radio: B - Secure> Adler Koch transmits, "I was checking. All recovered save two."

<Radio: B - Secure> Ouka Nagisa transmits, "They've either recovered or been captured."

<Radio: B - Secure> Adler Koch transmits, "Those two, video shows, were withdraw by Latune-11."

<Radio: B - Secure> Adler Koch transmits, "(**Withdrawn))"

<Radio: B - Secure> Solis Vivent transmits, "How many lost, Koch?"

Moreso than usual, Luna is really on her A-game today -- her beam assault rifle is out instantly, turned toward the grenade and shot. The grenade explodes before it even could /attempt/ to blind Luna, probably doing more against Katie than for her -- especially since the shot in turn lances into her Nemo. Unfortunately, with her eyes off the prize, Luna glances back toward Arado and Ouka.

"... Thanks for the support!" she calls back to both of them, before turning her attention once more toward Katie. She isn't sure she can handle Marin in her current condition, at least not without a little softening-up by the other two; Katie, though -- Katie looks like she could get tipped over with a punch or two.

Of course, she doesn't /use/ a punch or two; no, her plan is to snipe, because that's worked so well every other time she's ever done it. Pulling out the ZAKU's 500mm cannon, Lunamaria narrows her eyes a little. "So, it's just another Earth Federation-backed mission..." she reflects, before firing the enormous slug at the Nemo.

COMBAT: Lunamaria Hawke has attacked Katie Erickson. M68 500mm Recoilless Rifle added to their queue.

COMBAT: Lunamaria Hawke has struck a major critical hit on Katie Erickson's MSA-003 Nemo using M68 500mm Recoilless Rifle.

Knock Out! Katie Erickson's MSA-003 Nemo unit has become disabled!

COMBAT: Ouka Nagisa has struck a major hit on Marin Lae's RMS-106CS Hizack Custom using Double Magna Rifle.

The Ialdabaoth looks towards the R-Eins for a moment, before crouching and jumping once more into the Lunar surface and towards the transport. This was not the place for their encounter, and the mission was...failed. The Granzon had made sure of this, and the actions of the leader of this group had solidified this. The Shura moves with great speed, there was no longer a need to fight here...especially with the Giga Drill Breaker finishing Murata. "We will have to conclude our battle at a later time." He says towards the pilot of the R-Eins.

With the Wing Gundam Zero retreating, the battle does indeed appear to be over from the perspective of the youngest Ardygun siblings, and Kazuma turns to head for the rendezvous point. It could have gone much better ... but it could also have gone a heck of a lot worse. Still, the DC will be doubly on their guard in the future - Kazuma's sure of that - but Sanctuary has announced its existence.

Maybe the DC will collectively wise up, unlikely as it seems. The fact that there were DC pilots in the area willing to fire upon other DC pilots to protect the children is a source of some hope for that.

Some distance away, in the Moon Cradle, Adler Koch makes another cup of tea, and goes to debrief the Bronzos. Fun will be had by none.

Giga Drill Breaker--when the episode is almost over, you can trust in it 100 percent of the time barring Lord Genome.

Simon passes by Murata's Guarlion as he strikes through. Time slows down as he listens to Murata speak. "You might be right." He agrees, "But not today."

The Gurren Lagann doesn't land gracefully, hitting itself faces first, shades cracking as it skids across the ground, tumbling several yards before lying still.

But it's still more or less in one peace.

<Radio: B - Secure> Solis Vivent transmits, "Dr. Koch, I would like to go on record as strenuously contesting your blasé attitude towards Shirakawa's treachery."

<Radio: B - Secure> Adler Koch transmits, "What good does getting upset do?" So much for buying time! If anything Katie's antics seem to have done little more than stir up a hornets nest. Even with the support of Marin the Nemo doesn't manage to buy any time at all, or even escape. The blinder cracker shot out of the air and the Nemo shot through with a beam rifle it turns tail and starts to run. It leaps into the air and engages it's venires to make itself a harder target- and right at the apex of it's leap is shot straight through with an enormous slug.

It comes crashing down to the moon surface, whereupon its legs collapse completely. It smashes into the ground, limbs tangling up amongst each other. Inside the cockpit Katie lets out a little groan, tossed about quite a bit from the ordeal. "This is Katie, I'm- aw crap." Not even the radio is working. "And this is why you wear a Normal Suit..." she mutters to herself, trying to find a way out of the cockpit.

<Radio: B - Secure> Adler Koch transmits, "I sincerely doubt Bian Zoldark will reprimand or punish Shu Shirakawa, and I am powerless to do so, Vivent. I can go as formal as I want to and it will do no good."

<Radio: B - Secure> Ringo Mason click, "Wow, what a wild night. I heard something was going on?"

<Radio: B - Secure> Solis Vivent transmits, "Those are your trainees, Doctor.."

<Radio: B - Secure> Adler Koch transmits, "And I would rather they not be killed, this is true. But unless you are suggesting a course of action, Vivent, file an official complaint and move on."

<Radio: B - Secure> Shu Shirakawa transmits, "For once Dr. Koch is thinking clearly. I would suggest you all do the same."

<Radio: B - Secure> Shu Shirakawa transmits, "This is but a passing matter. You will forget about it in weeks when a new threat to our survival arrises."

<Radio: B - Secure> Arado Balanga transmits, "They're--they're Bronzo class kids! You think I can forget about this?!"

<Radio: B - Secure> Ringo Mason transmits, "Hmm? So what did Dr. Shirakawa do now? Get some spinners for the Granzon?"

Solis Vivent watches the Wing Zero burn and run. He grits his teeth, but the damage begins to set in, the blood loss making him woozy... He sustains consciousness by will, adrenaline and anger.. Castilla frowns, "We should withdraw..." Solis glares at her, "Not yet.." The comm-net is activated, "Cosm...Alicia? Respond..." Silence, and then the tinny radio comm, "Yes, HXG-1?" Solis hrms and nods, "..nevermind.. Castilla, way point me back home.."

<Radio: B - Secure> Solis Vivent transmits, "He attempted to slay trainees."

<Radio: B - Secure> Solis Vivent transmits, "There is one thing I was taught deeply, Shirakawa."

<Radio: B - Secure> Solis Vivent transmits, "It is that hate never dies."

<Radio: B - Secure> Ringo Mason transmits, "Hmm. That's a pretty bold accusation. Did he directly assist the EFA or whatever decided to attack today?"

<Radio: B - Secure> Solis Vivent transmits, "I am presently filing an official complaint against you, as well as entering my name and my name alone for disciplinary actions Re: Firing Upon the Granzon."

Marin mutters as she sees her shot do nothing to help Katie, and she's now stranded there on her own. Further more, well, Ouka coming in and shooting off his weapon, shots hitting the Hizack Custom's shield as well as its legs and chest don't do much to help matters. Muttering still, Marin quickly launches her Hizack forwards towards Katie's downed machine, refraining from any sorts of attacks for now.

"Guys, I'm going to need cover! I'm not going to let one of our own be left behind!" She says. Marin really doubts that the Crusaders would be so kind as to let her drag Katie out of here. Still, stranger things have happened tonight so far.

<Radio: B - Secure> Adler Koch transmits, "No. The EFA attempted to capture my children. Shirakawa attempted to kill them. As far as his own remarks. And yes, I have evidence. But as I have said: Why bother?"

<Radio> Tightbeam from Ringo Mason not so calm, "Solis, know when to shut your damn mouth. This is a time you have to sit and take it, no matter HOW much you wana punch that smug look off his face."

<Radio: B - Secure> Shu Shirakawa transmits, "This will change nothing. I suggest moving on with our lives while we still have them."

<Radio: B - Secure> Ringo Mason transmits, "Unity is important."

<Radio> Tightbeam to Ringo Mason: You say, "Punch? No... I want to find him as he slumbers and BURN HIM."

<Radio> Tightbeam to Ringo Mason: You say, "Self-righteous bastard...grrrr...but... yes...you are reasonable... we must... If I am still alive after the disciplinary review, I will look into it..."

<Radio> Tightbeam from Ringo Mason says, "I agree. However, for the time being we can not move against him. Find yourself a way to release your frustrations that will not cause your death. I hear a good time with a girl is a good way to start."

<Radio> Tightbeam to Ringo Mason: You say, "I do not have a girl. Your statement is...confusing?"

<Radio: B - Secure> Shu Shirakawa transmits, "Then know that I fully support the goals of the Divine Crusaders as my own."

<Radio> Tightbeam from Ringo Mason says, "Why not take Ibis out."

<Radio> Tightbeam to Ringo Mason: You say, "I...have not been able to speak to Miss Douglas for some time. I am certain she has found other romantic engagements, with...human beings."

Arado does not bring his spear against Katie or Marin. The golden Sunlion instead hovers there, near the ZAKU. His eyes narrow as he listens to a few things on radio, and he looks downward. He mutters something into the radio, before he hears something else. His eyes look down again and he nods his head slowly. He flips the line to the local tactical network, for a moment. "Hey, Lunamaria," he says, opting to use her first name. "You all right?"

The Ophanim swoops down near where the Hizack and the Nemo are; with the Buster Rifle crapping itself out, there's no real way for Yue to provide serious cover fire. Thus, she does what she can with what power she's got - picking up the Nemo in an awkward and encumbering manner, before firing her Tesla drives to maximum speed.

"Marin, you have more firepower than me -- I'll take care care of Katie."

<Radio> Tightbeam from Ringo Mason says, "Oh you never know unless you try. At worse, she turns you down, you are sad for a time, but you move on."

<Radio> Tightbeam to Ringo Mason: You say, "Either way, I will need to survive the disciplinary review. Firing on allied forces, is...treasonous."

<Radio> Tightbeam to Ringo Mason: You say, "Mason. In the event of my execution."

<Radio> Tightbeam to Ringo Mason: You say, "Take care of Castilla and June."

With one of Sanctuary's members in need of assist, the Valhawk veers off its course to the rendezvous, slowing down as it approaches Marin's position, ready to help her get Katie out safely.

<Radio> Tightbeam from Ringo Mason says, "I doubt that will come to pass, young Vivent, but I will. You did not do anything that Shu did not do, and you were joined in battle by the other children if my sources are correct. Nothing will come of this, and if someone attempts to bring it against you, I will make sure it goes nowhere."

Kazuma's not the only one -- Staren also decides to turn his so-far-undamaged machine to Katie's rescue. The Star Hawk flies down to meet Marin and the Valhawk.