~Beyond the Border~ > Rumia's Party Games
Mecha RPG - Recollection of a Solar War (Story Thread)
Moerin:
Time: Um... Sometime during the attack on Avalon. Possibly around the same time as everything else is going on, I suppose.
Muteki Senshi Lunablade - Episode 1: Birth of the Invincible Soldier!! Lunablade Takes To The Sky
Nate had no idea how he'd gotten into this mess.
This was supposed to be a normal day, just like any other. He never expected to find himself behind the controls of a Nightmare, let alone one co-piloted by the Lunarian ambassador.
But here he was, doing just that. By virtue of being the nearest person she could find who knew how to operate a Frame, Watatsuki no Yorihime had forced him into the cockpit of Lunablade, a half-finished experimental prototype granted to her by the Gensokyo Coalition as a goodwill gift to help foster an alliance with the Lunarians.
"I knew Yukari was up to something, but this is low even for her!"
...Which seemed to be failing miserably. For whatever reason, the co-pilot seemed to be currently blaming all the system's ills on Yukari Yakumo.
Nate sighed loudly as he surveyed the situation on the monitor. By the looks of it, the MFC was currently attempting an invasion of Avalon. Why? Nate couldn't think of any way they could really profit from this. If anything, this was likely to lead to all out war if it wasn't stopped soon. As much as he hated the thought, he would have to use the giant ivory knight that he'd been pressganged into piloting to help quell the attack. Sighing again, he placed his hands on the controls and...
"What are you stalling for!?" yelled Yorihime, her lavender hair swishing elegantly as she turned around to look up at Nate. "Hurry up and move us out! We have to stop Yuk-"
"Actually, those look like MFC mechs. Unless Gensokyo have forged an alliance with them in secret, I doubt she has anything to do with this." His companion was about to respond with another wild accusation, but Nate cut her off. "But it doesn't matter who's attacking right now, only that someone is attacking. Now, I've run a diagnostic check, and it seems we're missing half our armaments. Not only that, but we're heavily outnumbered... We can't just rush in recklessly."
"That is true... Nathanial, was it? But we still have to do something." The Lunarian slammed a fist against on her armrest. "We can't let this injustice take place! We have to fight back!"
Nate tapped out something on the console. "I know, I know... Well, I can't see any other options right now, so..." The cockpit shook slightly as Lunablade took to the skies. "Let's just get in there and show 'em hell!"
The flight pack of Lunablade spread out, making it look somewhat like an avenging warrior angel ready to bring down some holy wrath upon the enemies of all that is just. It charged forth towards a group of MFC mechs, laser fire blasting from it's eyes.
"Um... We're not doing much damage... Are you sure this is a super prototype?"
"Of course it is!" Ambassador Watatsuki yelled in annoyance. "You're just not fighting properly! Use something other than the weakest weapon we have!"
Nate checked the list of armaments. As he had noticed earlier, roughly half of the arsenal currently had a flashing [WEAPON MISSING] indicator beside it. "Um... So what should I use? Uh... What's this "Sword of Lunaria" thing? We'll go with that..."
Lunablade reached for a holster on it's back and withdrew... A large handle, and nothing more.
"...The hell!? How're we supposed to fight with th-" Nate's exclamation was stopped short as a massive blade of light red (pink, really, but Nate kept denying that to himself in his head) energy erupted from one side of the handle. "...Okay, that's better."
Lunablade held the massive laser blade in both hands, and was about to swing it at it's foes...
"...Why are you hesitating, Nathanial!?"
"I... I don't know... It just doesn't seem right to do this without shouting something cool..."
Yorihime's hand met her face. "Do you really have to? Very well, just... Make it quick..."
A faint smirk crossed Nate's face, and he activated an open channel to all mechs in the area.
"Ahem... Is this on? Ah, here we go..." He cleared his throat, and then... "Attention all MFD troops! What you are currently commiting is an act of unprovoked aggression towards Avalon, and it shall not go unpunished! The Invincible Soldier Lunablade shall cut you all down with this, THE SWORD OF LUNARIA!"
Yorihime buried her face in both her hands, as Lunablade struck out against the nearest MFD trooper, cleaving the mecha neatly in two. Somehow, possibly thanks to Nate's proclamation, the pilot was able to activate his escape mechanism in time.
"Ah... Was that a bit over the top?"
"Y-yes... Yes it was, Nathanial... Please never do that again..."
"...Yeah, that sounded pretty stupid."
Jana:
MFC All-Terrain Boarding Frigate, GranShario, High Mars Orbit, behind the moon Deimos, 6:00 PM, Day 1
[Ready for launch, Lieutenant Monteiro.]
As Jan Monteiro, leader of the Martian Foundry Corporation's Dakka Brigade, checked his comm screens, he responded to the voice from the radio. "Well then, let 'er rip!"
His machine, a standard heavy Martian mech frame, seemed unimpressive from far away with it's standard red paint job, but as one got closer, the heavily modified chain guns on each arm suddenly stood out. As the leader of the military's heavy long-range combat group, it only made sense that Jan's mech would have even more firepower than those of his unit. While the mech of the other members of the Dakka Brigade could boast about some very special weapons and equipment, Jan's was the only one to carry a total of 4 armaments, counting the small plasma blaster and beam rifle modified to be mounted on each of the machine's shoulders.
As his machine was sent into space by a Martian craft's catapult launcher, Jan flipped a switch on his communications array. "This is Dakka Brigade leader. All units, check in."
[Dakka Leader, this is Dakka 2, standing by.]
[Dakka 3, standing by.]
[Dakka 4, standing by.]
[Dakka 5, launching from base.]
Sighing at the lateness of his newest member, Jan thought he heard a chuckle from one of the other members over his intercom. "Repeat status, Dakka 5?"
[...Dakka 5, standing by.]
Rolling his head to crack his neck, Jan began the process of maneuvering his mech to the front of his formation. "Fall in, team. We've had reports of combat aboard the colony ship orbiting the home planet, and our job is to move in and await further orders."
[Easy enough, Leader.]
[Oughta be a quick job, right guys?]
[Hey, my pilot lights are acting funny... Should I get them fixed, Dakka Leader?]
"Oy, Dakka 5. I said it'll be a quick job. Let's move out!"
Some time later, Jan and his unit were approaching the colony ship Avalon. It appeared to be still, an the combat seemed to have ended... Until a voice on the radio told him otherwise.
[Dakka Brigade Leader, this is GranShario Bridge. Do you copy?]
"Yeah, you're coming in loud and clear, base. What can I do for ya?" Already dreading the concept of leading his small group into combat, Jan waited for the inevitable command.
[We have reports coming in that a Martian pilot has gone rouge and is attacking other Martian mechs. Your new orders are to move in and secure this rouge mech for judgment at the council. There are currently other machines in combat right now; only protect Martian interests and stay out of combat for as long as possible.]
Hanging his head back, Jan replied, "Ah, okay then. Over. Dakka Brigade, you get all that?"
Amidst the confirmations over the radio from his unit, Jan thought to himself. I think Anthony's unit already went ahead to that colony ship. I hope that traitor didn't already get at him... Eh, he's an excellent pilot. I'm sure he's fine. "Dakka Brigade, move out!"
As his unit approached the base, Jan was caught up in small-talk with the other pilots. "So you think it's odd that we've been held outside of the operational zone for so long, Dakka 3?"
Dakka 3 was the unit's explosives-expert, with a mech utilizing a variety of seeker missiles, rockets, and a heavy bazooka mounted on its right shoulder. She had a record of being a bit of a pyromaniac, but when in combat, she remained as professional as anyone else. [Yeah, that's what I'm saying, Leader. We've gotten next to no news on this "operation," even though we've had guys leaving base for two hours.]
[You're over-analyzing things, and I'm not one to talk.] This came from Dakka 2, the brigade's veteran sniper. While his machine's only armaments were a heavy sniper rifle and a pistol for close-range combat, his mech also carried a variety of scanners to uncover hidden enemies. An academy buddy of Jan's, he had been recruited almost immediately for his ability to translate the scanners' raw numerical data into data Jan could use to command the rest of the Dakka Brigade.
[I'm thinking command is hiding something for the rest of the units... They were just afraid that Leader and 2 would figure it out, but I guess 3 beat you guys to it...?] Dakka 5, the brigade's newest recruit, was an adept fighter in mid-range, utilizing a variety of pistols and sub-machine guns to take down multiple enemies at once. Her mech's prize weapon was a pair of modified shotguns, with ammunition types that could be changed depending on the situation for maximum penetration or maximum spread. While most members of the Brigade needed to be at a distance, she could shine even when surrounded by enemies. However, she was still a very recent graduate of the academy, and still had to get used to life as an actual enlisted member of the Martian Army. She still spoke with an air of insecurity around the more veteran members, but she showed great potential.
[Super Cool Story Bros, but I think we should get in and out as soon as possible. Besides, we have a pretty crappy job to do, what with prisoner capture and transport.] The joker of the Dakka Brigade, 4 had a mech customized to move in and out of combat quickly, with extra boosters and weapons that could unload as quickly as possible. A heavy machine gun and rocket launcher on each arm allowed him to do some high damage, while a shoulder-mounted laser allowed him to cover his retreat. His ability to fire from different locations quickly made him a feared member of the Dakka Brigade, despite his personality.
"It's an interesting theory, but I'm gonna have to request radio silence. We're almost within hailing range of the Avalon," Jan said to his unit. As the chatter died down, Jan flipped some more switches and spoke once again. "This is Martian Foundry Corporation's Dakka Brigade Leader. Do you copy, Avalon?"
Waiting for a minute and hearing no reply, Jan focused his attention back to his unit. "Something's definitely wrong. Dakka 2, are you picking up anything?"
[Scanners are showing several small holes in the hull of the colony ship. We should be able to board using one. There are also a variety of heat signatures from the inside... Mechs in combat, no doubt. I'll try and filter out the enemy mech's radio signatures and find our man.]
[Ah, I would have liked to blow a hole in that...] [Stay frosty, 3. We need to conserve firepo- Wait, we have enemy mechs outside of the ship! Luner Corporation, by their radio signatures.]
"Dammit, this is the last thing we needed... 2, can you give us an alternate route around?"
[Working on that, Leader... I'm transmitting you all the data and a rough map.]
As one of the screens inside Jan's cockpit lit up, showing the locations of the Lunar mechs outside of the Avalon relative to their location, he got to work. "...All units, cut thrusters to 30% and proceed negative-30 degrees X, 50 degrees Y. We're heading right for a big hole in the hull that should get us in without problems."
making their way through the hole in the hull, the Dakka Brigade emerged into and area of the Avalon that combat had clearly been through. Buildings were ruined and craters pockmarked the ground, but it seemed that the fighting had moved elsewhere. "Mission status report, Dakka 2."
[I've located the source of the Martian radio signatures that have gone down. We just need to follow that trail and we'll find our prisoner, no problem.]
Nodding to himself as the new data was overlayed onto the map on his screens, Jan began laying out a quick path. "Now, we're heavily outnumbered, but if we wait to find out guy alone before we strike, he'll have no choice but to surrender against all five of us. Let's move!"
Some time after Purvis's last post:
[We're withing hailing ra- What the fuck?!]
"What's wrong, Dakka 2? Come in!"
[That rouge mech... It's...]
Jan took a better look through his main display, and what he saw was enough to warrant the reaction of his comrade. The rouge mech was none other than the prototype entrusted to Anthony Kabuto. Anthony was not just any other pilot to Jan, though... Anthony had been the mech jock that had convinced Jan to leave his old life and enlist. He had his unit had covered Anthony's close-range combat team on runs before, but it seemed that Anthony had gone berserk and was taking down his own men.
Reaching for his loudspeaker controls, Jan yelled into the mike, nearly frantic. "This is Lieutenant Jan Monteiro of the Martian Foundry Corporation. Rouge Mech, cease this at once! Don't you see that you're taking out your own teammates?! You've been heavily damaged, and are being accused of high treason! Stop this and come home!"
Slamming down his loudspeaker mike, Jan began barking orders tot he rest of his unit. "Dakka 2, stay in the rear and keep an eye on that unidentified frame. Keep all scanners running; we don't want any surprises. 3, stay behind me and get locks on Anthony and that frame. 4, Find some cover in case things get bad. 5, you're with me. Focus on Anthony, who will beat you to a pulp if you stop."
"Is. That. Clear?!"
Caber Knight Etch-A-Sketch:
Lunar Squadron, Martian High Orbit, after the Ophelia is deployed.
"Command, this is Full Moon. The Terran fleet has engaged the Martain forces in high orbit around Mars. Requesting orders." Forte spoke into the comms system.
"Hmm, this must be that large-scale operation that was supposed to occur, but what's going on here? Full Moon, stay out of the battle if you can, an LC fleet is on it's way to pick you up."
"Roger tha--" Forte was interupted by one of his wingmen shouting out.
"Incoming enemy forces from behind! It's a Terran shock force!"
"BREAK BREAK BREAK!!!!" The Squad broke appart as Buster Class Frames charged through. "We can out maneuver them! Get behind them and strike them with Plasma weapons!" Flying up to one of the Terran Busters, he slammed the barrel of the Plasma gun into the back of the enemy frame and fired. Noticing an enemy buster coming from behind, he threw the wreck of the previous frame at his foe and flew up.
"What the hell! I can't see!" The Buster threw the wreck off of the view-finder only to see the Garunda's railgun faced at him.
"Take this!" Forte fired the railgun down the length of the Buster, ripping through the Frame with ease. The shell, flying free, struck the engines of a Martian Cruiser. "Holy cow, two for the price of one!" Forte gasped it mild enjoyment. The comms system suddenly lit up with the sound of someone's voice.
"Attention all MFD troops! What you are currently commiting is an act of unprovoked aggression towards Avalon, and it shall not go unpunished! The Invincible Soldier Lunablade shall cut you all down with this, THE SWORD OF LUNARIA!" Turning to the source of the message, he saw a frame take down a number of MFC Frames with a huge energy sword.
"Ah... Was that a bit over the top?" it was a male voice, obviously.
"Y-yes... Yes it was, Nathanial... Please never do that again..." female this time
"...Yeah, that sounded pretty stupid." male again.
The Frame was unlike anything he had seen before. Was this a new Terran Mecha? And whoever was piloting it was... what's the word... not too bright, by the sounds of it. Why calls their machine 'the Invincible Soldier Lunablade'? Those questions would not really be answered as the Frame turned to the Garunda.
"Hey, isn't that a Lunar Corporation machine? I think I saw it on the news one day." the male voice said. Wait, they left the intercom on? That is really sad...
"Yes, that IS a Lunar Corporation Frame! I shall have vengence! Give me the controls!" the female's voice was filled with anger.
"Wait, the comms system is still on?" About time they found out...
"It saves time then. You, dog of the Corporations!" She was clearly addressing Forte. "I shall have vengence for removing us from our home! I will not stand by while my hated foe stands before me!"
"What the hell are you talking about?!?" Forte yelled back, but it was clear that she was not listening. the Lunablade pointed the energy sword at the Garunda.
"I am Watatsuki no Yorihime! You took my home! In the name of the Moon, you will die!" Forte had no time to faceplam at the horrible line as the energy sword grazed the Garunda. Wait, she was on a ship! How the hell did she get here so damn fast? This woman was serious, so this called for serious business. Diverting power from the Bunkerbuster to the Overthrusters, the Garunda dashed past the Lunablade, spraying it with Plasma rounds.
The Lunablade grazed the rounds and zoomed after the Garunda. Whoever the pilot was, he or she know what the hell they were doing. The battle around intensified as the Lunar pilots gave it their all. Seeing the Garunda being chased, some of the squadmembers flew in and blocked the path.
"If you want ot get to the Captain, you're going to have to get through us!" caught off guard, the Lunablade was shot at.
"That's easily done, Corporation bastards!" The Lunablade ran one of the frames through with the energy sword. It pulled the sword throught the side and slashed the other frames in one fluid motion. As cool as this was, the Lunablade lost sight of the Garunda and proceeded to attack the MFC forces again.
The was no rest for the weary, as enemy fire came from a large ship near the Martian fleet. It didn't look anthing like Martian vessel he had seen before. Perhaps that Lunablade Frame was related to that ship. Hell, it was on there before it started chasing Forte. In anycase, it was rather bad to be shot at. He took aim with the railgun when it was hit by a shot from nowhere.
"Crap! I can't fire the railgun!" The deep-scan picked up a faint signature coming from the ship, similar to that Lunablade that attacked him before. Unable to shoot with the Railgun, power was diverted back to the Bunkerbuster and away from the railgun.
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-yzXxNnvPY )
"Overthrusters at full! Here I go!" The Garunda blasted towards the Avalon at full speed, dodging shots coming from the ship. Whatever he was fighting, it was a hell of a lot better than the Garunda. First the Lunablade, now this? Today's just not my day, Forte thought to himself.
It wasn't long before the Lunablade was once again on his tail. The ship will have to wait, Forte thought, as the Garunda pulled away and flew towards a Terran Cruiser for cover. Sitting in a blindspot, Forte openned fire with the Plasma gun. Again, the shots grazed the Lunablade as it weaved in and out of enemy fire. The Garunda moved out of the way just in time as the Energy Sword stabbed the hull of the cruiser. Flying along the length of the cruiser, the Garunda shot at the pursuing Lunablade, which dragged the sword through the ship firing lasers from it's head-mounted gun. A lucky shot hit the Garunda's stabilizer, sending it spinning out of control.
The Garunda plummeted towards the avalon, spewing smoke as though it had been destroyed. Power was diverted to the thrusters to help, but to no avail. The Garunda crashed down on the Avalon. With overheated systems, there was no choice but to wait until it could start up again...
Gappy:
--- Quote from: Dr. Purjewry M.F.D. on September 03, 2009, 08:03:08 AM ---During and just after MTG's prior post
Shizuha takes another stab at contacting Noble White, "Suwako dear? What are you up to now? It's really rather important that we know so we don't get in each other's way. And here, let me patch you through some of our scans, since you're a little blind now."
--- End quote ---
"To be honests, I'm not even sure what's happenings, nopes. Well...other than our Martian friends visiting." Suwako admitted with a nervous grin, sweatdropping a little, as their Nachtmare boosted along the ground within the now empty medieval town streets towards the incoming landing squadrons. "Ummm...my Knight (pilot), Trent, and I were mostly just trying to escape from, y'know, certain deaths, public executions and alls, yeps." She said, while Trent seemed to be busy clapping at imaginary flies.
"Public execution? According to the mission profile I have here, you're supposed to be....on a goodwill mission to assist with construction...?" Shizuha asked as Rumia began blasting at the incoming frames with the Maple Force's fweem beam. "...oh dear, you're technically on civie detail. By protocol I'm supposed to help with your evac but..."
"Yeps. But we can't run now." Suwako shook her head, her cockpit shaking a little from enemy fire. "No such thing as civies or soldiers in Gensokyo, rights?"
"....Hmmph..." Shizuha smiled, while flipping a few switches and typing rapidly across the holographic screens before her. "I guess not."
?Akh! My cheese and broccoli! Don?t stuff them up your nose you stupid hippo! Kero-chan, stop him!? Trent was shouting at thin air as he slapped at his controls. The Noble White began weaving awkward yet effective loops around incoming enemy fire while making good use of the Maple Force's covering fire. Sparks flew as a few tracers made contact, but they made little more than small dents in the Noble White's hardened, angled construction armour.
"I have to protects Tenshi, Yukari and those other poor little people over theres....and maybe the Haven too. These peoples have no rights to barge in here like thats, nope." Suwako declared with a determined grin.
"...But if you insist on taking that walking junkheap into actual battle..." Shizuha began, her eyes darting from indicator to indicator as she watched over the status of the fweem beam. "...then I'm afraid I can't let you go in alone."
?I wasn?t planning tos.? Suwako smiled. ?I?ve got a fellow goddess heres, yep!? She nodded at Shizuha. With a deft booster-powered leap the Noble White landed on the frontmost enemy frame and discharged its pile driver through its core before using its disabled body as a shield to charge in on the rest of its comrades. More fweam beam shots arched over its shoulders, downing any frames attempting flanking maneuvers.
??thanks for the vote of confidence, dear.? Shizuha grinned back. ?We?ll give covering fire from here while I?.? She flipped a few more switches. ??try and get this sniper rifle to work?.?
?Sorry about thats?? Suwako sweatdropped, smiling apologetically.
"Nah, don?t worry. We did blast your servos to Higan first." Shizuha nodded as Kisume sat back and counted up the kills while watching the external scanners carefully. "That said, do you need to patch into our scanners??
"Oh...about scans, I think...." Suwako began as a number of confident Solar Frames managed to dodge the fweem beam shots as they attempted to out-maneuver the Noble White from behind. However, just as they closed in from behind, intent on getting within shooting range, Trent punched the pink hippo in the face. The Noble White?s thrusters reversed abruptly, causing the Noble White to slam backwards into one of the Solar Frames, sandwiching itself between it and its meatshield. "....Trent sort of...doesn't need them...I think?" Suwako said, with an uncertain smile, as Trent rammed the pile bunker into the arm of the frame behind him before ripping its assault rifle free.
??doesn?t?need them??? Shizuha asked as Kisume found a more defensible position behind a huge pile of rubble. ??what? He has eyes on the back of his head or something??
?Oh no, he talks to animals.? Suwako explained with a grin. ?Very shy, invisible yet colourful animals.?
??.invisible, colourful animals??? Shizuha and Kisume exchanged worried glances.
The Noble White then spun around and rammed another pile-bunker into its victim?s abdomen, this time sending it skidding backwards into another one of its comrades. ??.Oh?that one has thick skin?.? Trent said, noting the fact that his pile bunker only made a shallow indent on the frame?s armour.
?Standard MFC Solar Frames.? Shizuha told them, as she finally managed to get the sniper rifle?s spare barrel and cooling chamber installed. ?Bulky armour. Slow, but difficult to penetrate. Not like those flimsy advanced recon ones. They?re getting serious. Take care out there.? She said as Rumia took aim while the hum of the sniper rifle?s main energy chamber picked up in intensity.
?Power conduits to rifle linked ups, yep. Switching to mid-range targetings?? Suwako said, as a live feed from the targeting camera atop the rifle appeared as a small screen on the cockpit display. ?I?ll take cares of the fine aimings. You just shoots.? Suwako said, squeezing her control orbs as a smaller targeting display appeared before her. ?Also, don?t hit the town, nopes. We don?t want to harm the townspeople??
?Just shoot, eh?? Trent nodded, as sniper fire arched over their heads. ?Sounds good to me. They?re making off with my broccoli!? He threw the meat-shield at the heavy mech he had dented earlier and before firing at its thrusters, causing its engines to erupt in a fiery ball of fire. Using the fire and smoke as a cover, he leapt over the downed mech and rammed his pile bunker into one while machine-gun-decapitating another. Three escape pods launched high up into the air with satisfying ?pops?. ?CHEEEEEEESE!? Trent roared as he fired up his thrusters once more.
Sparks flew up underneath the Noble White?s heels as its construction terrain-masters roared to life. It snatched up a shield and another assault rifle as it did a U-turn around the burning wreckages, equipped them, before rushing after the heavy frame squadrons.
?Don?t let them draw us too far! We need to protects the palace!? Suwako pointed out, inputing all the millisecond to millisecond corrections into the targeting computer.
?Protect?? Trent blinked upon hearing this foreign concept once more. ?Huh? What do you mean? ?protect??? He blinked. ??.what is it, Kero-chan?!? He snapped, somewhat irritated at his towel. ??do what? But those ninja kittens are getting away?? He pointed out.
?We can?t let the palace go kabooms!? Suwako simplified it for Trent.
?Aaah?? Trent frowned a little at this idea. ?So instead of making things go kaboom?.I?m supposed to keep something from going kaboom?.errr?how do I???
Suddenly the MFC heavy frame squad was engulfed in intense fire as heavy beams and rapid machine gun fire ripped through their ranks. Sonic booms shook the air as a new mecha roared over the burning masses, shedding a huge trail of plasma in its wake, before touching down in the main street, hitting the ground with is terrain-masters kicking up major sparks as it rushed up towards the palace. It purged a set of heavy Over-ED boosters as it rolled straight at the Noble White, before its main boosters kicked in, giving it a huge, insane burst of speed.
??what?s that, Kero-chan? It?s black so it?s evil?? Trent asked.
?Kero-chan makes sense.? Suwako said, agreeing with the simple logic of moral colour-coding.
?So that thing might make the palace go kabooms?? Trent asked, his lips curling into a wide grin. ?Shirayuki! We?ve got us a bat to shoot down!?
?Umm?Trent?s piloting is a little queer?? Suwako murmured, adjusting a hundred different parameters across her screen for Trent?s awkward style of piloting. ??but it?s fun!? She giggled, as the Noble White?s terrain-masters whined into life, carrying it skidding?.sideways??
?Oh? Where are we going?? Suwako asked, swaying side to side to the rhythm of the Noble White.
?I don?t know. The pink hippo?s weight is bringing us that-a-ways.? Trent shrugged, pulling them onto a side-street parallel to the main-street, terrain-masters rolling in reverse as he drove backwards down the street. ?Yes, hippo, I know we?re driving backwards! No! I don?t think it?s supposed to do this! Will you stop mooning me?!?
?Wheee~!? Suwako cheered.
But the jet-black mecha seemed to suspect foul-play as it leapt up over the buildings in between them and landed in a shower of sparks behind them, dual machine-guns raised. Without hesitation, it opened fire on them.
?No! Don?t evade! It?ll hit the town!? Suwako gasped.
??eh?? Trent didn?t quite get what Suwako was saying, but raised his newly acquired shield anyway. Their cockpit shook violently as the heavy anti-tank bullets ripped at the already dented shield. ??.T-those buffalos again!? He suddenly gasped. ?They?re dancing the lambada all over my cucumbers!? He caused the thrusters to go into over-boost, sending the Noble White vaulting over the black mecha.
The black mecha continued firing up at the Noble White as it arced upside-down high over them, only to have the shield get in its way. The Noble White returned fire from behind its shield, which the black mecha countered by spinning, skillfully alternating its terrain-masters.
?Wheeee~!? Suwako cheered, flapping her sleeves happily from the vertigo, while Trent continued batting at the invisible hippo as his towel and the operator?s manual floated up in the zero-gravity.
The Noble White landed with a jolt, kicking up sparks. The black mecha raised its second rifle at the Noble White?s head. But just as the barrel erupted with hot lead, the Noble White ducked and cross-countered with its own rifle up at the black mecha?s face. The black mecha knocked its assault rifle out of the way with its other rifle, however, and like that they entered a fierce melee-gun battle.
Just then, a number of MFC heavies zoomed into the area, charging up at them?only to receive stray gunfire from both the mechas, both of whom seemed to be doing their best to spare the town any damage.
?Incoming transmissions?? Suwako announced in a sing-song voice as the black mecha ducked and spun underneath another shower of gunfire from the Noble White, while holstering one rifle, to pop up behind them.
?Heh, you?re not bad?for a boy?? A girl with long, silky raven-black hair stared at him through the com-channel?s live feed. She casually tucked a strand of hair behind her ears as she twisted one of the Noble White?s arm behind it, knocking its rifle out of its hand.
?And you?re not too bad for an evil villain.? Trent chuckled as he launched the Noble White into a sommersault, righting the twisted arm, before grabbing hold of the black mecha?s other rifle and firing at an incoming MFC mecha, shredding it to bits.
?Evil villain, you say?? The girl giggled pleasantly, seemingly amused. ?Well well, funny, considering we?re firing on the same enemy.?
?Are we?? Trent raised an eyebrow.
?Unless that was a friendly you really hated.? The girl said as they both somersaulted over the downed MFC mecha, ripping it to shreds with the rifle all the while.
?Fried Antly?? Trent blinked, as he spun them both around, slamming his shield into an approaching melee MFC heavy, before blasting it away with a pile-driver shot. ?Whazzat? Sounds yummy.?
?Hey, isn?t that Suwako?? Another black hat bobbed up in front of the com screen to reveal a spot of blue hair and a set of ruby-red eyes. ?Oy! Your Nacht?s looking even more junkier than ever! I didn?t even recognize it!?
?Oh! Iku-chan!? Suwako waved madly at the com screen.
?Ah, so you?re one of us?? The black-haired girl sighed. ?What a waste of bullets. At least set your IFF code before battle.? She muttered, as she pushed the Noble White aside and focused on smashing through the rest of the enemies between them and the Palace.
?Ayiefaf?? Trent blinked. ?Is that something like the green hyenas? I swear they make sounds like that sometimes.?
?Our servos are lamprey-frieds.? Suwako explained hurriedly.
?Oh well, we?ll alter our IFF decoder and have you input as a friendly.? The black-haired girl sighed. ?Callsign?s Exoleet, by the way, so you know who to scream for help from. And this is the Trie Noir, so you know who to stay away from.?
?Exhaust-feet?? Trent asked, blinking, only understanding a fraction of what the Exoleet girl said. ?Eh, kid, we don?t have a callsign, do we??
?Nopes.? Suwako shrugged. ?You can think of ones if you likes.?
?No, hippo, we?re not going with ?Captain Pink?.? Trent snapped at thin air. ?Eh, we?ll think of something.?
?Iku-chan, what?s going ons?? Suwako asked.
?There?s some sort of huge fight going on outside. The MFC are trying to take control of Avalon and the Terrans are here to contest that control.? Iku said, quickly and efficiently adjusting for her Knight?s targeting. ?We?re tasked with saving the dignitaries and evacuating them, possibly onboard the Amaterasu.?
?What about the civilians?!? Suwako gasped as the two nachtmares effortlessly ripped through another set of Martian light frames.
?Priorities, Suwako. Take things step by step.? Iku said, patiently.
?Uhh?? Suwako looked somewhat disheartened as Trent stole a new set of rifles to use.
?Hey, kid, why the long face?? Trent asked. ?The hippo?ll eat ya.?
?Th-the people?? Suwako began. ??.n-nobody?s going to save them??
?Shave them?? Trent asked, faced by another completely foreign concept. ??well, kid, you just do whatever you like, and I and my friends the green hyenas will be right behind ya.? He turned around to face the empty seat. ?No, hippo, RIGHT behind her, not a hundred yards behind her.?
??.t-thank you?Trent?? Suwako suddenly broke into a relieved smile. ?That?s it! We?re saving the people!?
?All right! I?ll be sure to shave?em all bald!? Trent nodded, getting into the spirit of the thing.
?Hey, how far did you people go?? Shizuha asked as the Noble White and Trie Noir rolled up to the palace, leaving behind a trail of scrap metal. The Maple Force was busy covering another flank where a Terran landing party was quickly advancing on them. ?Oh, I see the Amaterasu was nice enough to send reinforcements. I?ve been trying to reach them but the enemy?s jammed all transmissions beyond the Avalon.?
?Not yet.? The black-haired girl said. ?We?re part of the guard sent down to Avalon. Amaterasu hasn?t made a move yet.?
?What?re they??? Shizuha began, before?
A heavy boot landed heavily atop a nearby pile of rubble, courtesy of a certain, rather pissed, Tenshi Hinanai. She raised her rifle high up above her head and fired a barrage of hot lead into the sky in a maddened, frustrated attempt at getting some attention. "Will you people stop screwing around for just one second and listen to...?" She was cut off by a boot to the arse from behind.
Yukari bowled her over from behind and raised a handy megaphone while nursing the huge bump oh her forehead from being used as a pole-staff and bowling ball. "Bucket Force, Trie Noir, I will contact you two in a bit. Suwako, I need a ride. You?re the only one with cockpit space."
"No, Hippo, she's not lunch. You can't kill the nice middle-aged lady." Trent said to the thin air occupying the seat next to his.
"I heard that!" Yukari shouted into the megaphone.
"Ah, it's Yukari, yeps!" Suwako said. "Umm...shall I???
A sudden explosion rocked them as an RPG exploded relatively harmlessly on the Maple Force?s heavy-laid armour. ?Oh crap! Anti-Frame Soldiers!? Kisume shouted. ?And marines! They?re after the dignitaries!?
Yukari was saved from getting shredded by hot lead by virtue of a hand, Tenshi?s, pulling her by the ankle, such that she fell behind the rubble, right beside Tenshi. ?Ah, the daughter of the Hinanai?? Yukari smiled pleasantly. ?How nice to see you again so soon.?
?The bitch of the Yakumo?? Tenshi nodded at Yukari as more bullets shredded the rock they were hiding behind. ?I?ll repay that, tenfold, by the name of the Hinanai.?
?Don?t shoot!? Shizuha ordered as Rumia trained her sniper rifle on the foot soldiers hiding behind the palace windows and pillars. ?You?ll bring down the palace!?
?Yukari-sama!? her aides, Ran and Ruukoto, ran out to meet her. Ruukoto shielded Ran with her android armour as they dove behind the rubble.
?So no shooting while riding this thing, right?? Trent grinned.
?Yes, but?? Shizuha began, but before she could finish, the Noble White had already knelt by the mound of rubble and was already opening its cockpit. ?W-wait!?
?Incoming!? Shizuha announced, as ground-shaking sonic-booms accompanied by ground units rendered suddenly immobilized in a crackle of electrical shock announced the approach of yet another new mecha. ?Wait, it?s one of ours! Why is it?N-no! Stop! That?s a friendly!? Shizuha shouted over the coms.
?YAAAAAAAAH!? Trent leapt out of the cockpit, towel flying behind him, as the Noble White was suddenly engulfed in an ECM shock. He landed atop a pair of surprised marines, drop-kicking one to the ground, while hooking another one around the neck with his towel before pulling the soldier?s head into collision with his knee. He snatched up one of the fallen rifles with his towel before laying down covering fire to keep the other marines at bay.
?Are?arererere?.?? Suwako was frantically pulling on her controls. Her entire cockpit had gone dead. ?Treeeeent! The controls are deads!? She cried in panic.
?Use the manual!? Trent shouted, as he leapt over the rubble mound and charged at the enemy, guns blazing. ?Bash the controls with it!?
?Incubus! That was a friendly!? Shizuha said to the pilot of the mecha now hovering over the downed Noble White, it?s ECM cannon still crackling with live energy.
?But?it had guns aimed at two dignitaries and it had no IFF signal.? Linker Medicine Melancholy pointed out, as their nachtmare, the Incubus, turned its sights on the incoming enemy horde.
?Suwako, let me take a look!? Tenshi shouted as she leapt onboard the cockpit amidst a shower of tracers raising sparks off the side of the Noble White. ??oh, dear Takamagahara, the main CPU is fried. But?.? She leapt atop the pilot seat and pulled open a panel to reveal a slowly rotating, shimmering orb, hovering in a small, cramped space laced with cables, piping, and such. ?Your mana core?s still running, so if bypass the CPU??
?You mean fly the thing withouts a CPU?!? Suwako gasped. ??by touch?!?
?You?ve been flying this without radar and sensors.? Tenshi nodded at the fried servo units. ?I don?t know how you did it, but if you can pull that off, losing a CPU is no big loss.?
Yukari, meanwhile, was giving instructions to her aides. ?Ruukoto, get the Lunablade prepped for princess Yorihime. We can do that much for her, at least. Ran, round up the dignitaries and prepare them for evacuations.?
?What about you, Yukari-sama?? Ran asked, worried.
?The mana core.? Yukari said, darkly. ?They?re after Avalon?s mana core, and by Kami I will die before I let them have it.? She said. ?Now go. I shall see you two onboard the Amaterasu.? She gave them a quick smile of encouragement before leaping atop the Noble White?s cockpit. ?I?ll cover your retreat! Just get to safety! Suwako, are we ready to go?!?
?We need a Knight.? Tenshi pointed out the empty pilot?s seat as she took one of the empty seats. ?And why on earth are you here?!?
?TREEEEEEENT!? Suwako shouted out at Trent who was pinned down by enemy fire.
?Just go on! There are too many pink flamingos for me to move! And the damn hippo?s sitting on my butt!? Trent shouted back as tracers gave the rocks around him a hearty shave.
Suddenly, the Noble White?s eyes flashed a bright blue as its mana core gave out a high-pitched whine.
?Sh-Shirayuki-chan!? Suwako cried up at the Nachtmare as it suddenly strode forwards before delivering an almighty punch into the palace, causing the ground to shake violently amidst a cascade of falling marble and pillars. The marines were toppled off balance as they stumbled and rolled their way to cover.
Suwako took the opportunity to reach down over the cockpit?s side and grab Trent?s hand. Trent grasped it and, with Yukari and Tenshi?s help, he was heaved onboard.
?Ah?Trent! Thank Gensokyo that Shirayuki protected you!? Suwako gave him a reproachful pout. ?Never, ever do something like that ever again!?
??Shirayuki?protected me??? Trent asked, as the cockpit?s doors closed with a hiss behind him. ??protect?? He looked around the cockpit, as if weighing up the alien concept. He didn?t have much time to think though, as he was soon pushed back into his seat, ready for another bout.
Hello Purvis:
Right after Noble White reboots.
"Someone deal with those faeries down there!" shouts Kisume, failing to come up with any word that really fits the foot soldiers better.
"I think Suwako's mecha is rather damaged," says Shizuha.
"Good, they can deal with those faeries!" Kisume takes renewed stock of the Terran Mecha that had hitherto been pinning them down. "Not like those guys can do much to a machine like that!"
"Ah, then we are going all the way?" asks Shizuha.
"Yup," says Kisume, "Get ready, both of you, we're about to bring the ruckus!"
"Gotcha!" says Rumia.
"Very well," Shizuha says, then opens comms again. "Noir, Incubus? This is Red with Bucket Force. We're going assault those frames close up. If you could work with us, that'd be very helpful. After we clean that up we can do something about that frigate, don't you think?" Maple Force begins to lurch forward and change, "Oh, someone get Suwako in the white machine to do something about those people on foot, thank you and over~"
"Thinks he's queen shit because he can pilot on visual alone," Kisume grumbles, as Maple Force compacts into a wedge-like shape, wings flaring out.
"Crow Force!" sings Rumia, and she aims the Fweem Beem at one of the medium-built Terran Frames and opens fire.
A moment later, Crow Force has all but bridged the distance between them and the Terran Squadons and shifts again, it's front flaring out into Kisumesque shape of Bucket Force and slamming into another Medium build mecha; the force of the impact bowling it over. At the same time, it slams into the arm of another light mecha, moments before Bucket force changes again, flaring out to the smaller, sword-wielding, winged form of Faerie force and hurtling ahead toward a medium unit bringing a rifle to bear on it. One of the swords jams into the barrel, moments before a beam fires from its torso into the rifle mech's torso. Then it darts to the left, hurtling toward a medium-build mecha with an energy sword as it changes again, elongating into the snaky form of Eel force and sliding under the sword mecha's diagonal chop and cutting at the mecha's leg with one of it's fins. Then it whirls around, taking the form of Faerie force once more and sending a spray of rather anemic lasers at the Terran platoon.
"Don't focus on any one of them!" Kisume says.
"I know," says Rumia, "just knock them all off balance like we practiced!"
"More closing in," Shizuha says, "I do hope the others can follow our act."