Harvest Festival (Lukas, Tackle, Gear)

Aug 25, 2018
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#1
January 24th
21:00
Outskirts of the DEC Forest


The catastrophe that had struck the Middle East and left the Dimensional Energy Crystal forest in its wake was one of the worst crises in human history, and its effects would be felt for decades to come. But while for humanity it was a tragedy for Ruina it was both a blessing and an unprecedented opportunity.

Anger. Terror. Sorrow. Despair. The entirety of Middle East was drowning in negative emotions.
Which equaled negative energy, something the Ruina sorely needed.

This particular area had been a city, but a large portion of the former city had been taken over by the DE Crystals. Most of the city - what was intact of it at least - was dark, only a few lights lighting up streets and the vacant buildings.

It was in this ruin where three pillars of smoke formed above the streets, and soon three Angeli were where the pillars had been: Two wasplike and one Angelus S. The Angeli immediately started to buzz around, vacuuming negative energy out of the air, but not entering the DEC forest for even a passing moment. Huvud had given very clear orders to the Miles captain.

They were not to enter the DEC forest.





Back in DARC, Huvud was focused on a screen that was showing a constant stream of what the Miles captain was seeing and hearing. Most of his attention was on the Dimensional Energy crystals, and the forest they formed.

There was something there, he was certain of it.
 
Aug 4, 2018
334
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Somewhere in the UK
#2

Nineteen Rotations. That was what it took for XN-L's prey to present itself. She had been able to sense the Vaura hiding in the depths of humanity, but something masked their true origin from her scent. So she had settled for beginning her work in a place with little mortal influence, where the ravaged dregs lay beset by beasts. Her blades - and those of her associates - were put to use against man and beast alike. Groups of bandits that preyed on survivors were put to the sword, their cries for mercy unheard at her hands.

For they instilled despair into those around them, and with that despair came nen. All this had to lead to unusual behaviour in the survivors they often encountered. Prostrating themselves, trying to give gifts...

They... worshipped her. A golden goddess, come to save the masses from extinction. Slayer of DAMON and marauder alike. If only they knew the truth.

That which creates Negative Energy can only bring destruction. Mortals whose free will drives them to become a source must be destroyed.

And yet more will always come. Perhaps the only solution was...

"Utter silence." The words escaped her while she mused on her newest target. She could be seen peering into the distance, watching something that lay beyond the horizon.

"Three miles north-east. The Vaura come to feed at the forest's edge. We will destroy them. and perhaps trace them to their origin." With those parting words she unfurled her wings, giving Vulyn and Eris the time they needed before taking off in the direction of her foe.
 

GEAR

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Jun 15, 2018
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#3
"Took them long enough."

Eris Pseudea exhaled twin tails of smoke from her nostrils, as a pair of keen eyes flicked up. Her soft blue tresses wavered back and forth as she fanned herself, an ornate, and expensive looking peacock-feather fan clutched in her perfectly-manicured hands. As she reached up to flick on the Medius' control panels, the black, feather-lined fur coat about her shoulders sagged down to her elbows, before she sloughed it off completely, letting it fall to the floor below.

Traveling in the wake of XN-L for the past nineteen days had proven enormously lucrative for the two of them, to say the least. With the Directory military too busy to mount an effective counterattack in response to vague, garbled reports of a "golden entity", those with any sense had cleared out of the trio's path. As a result, what towns they hadn't passed through that had been obliterated by the Lunar Pulse had been abandoned, Mobile Weapons literally left where they stood as their inhabitants fled.

And then there were the other ones.

There was a certain kind of person that embraced such figures as XN-L, Eris had learned. People that had flocked from near and far, to behold the gleaming, angelic figure, prostrating themselves before its impassive splendor, bringing offerings and singing prayers. At first she had accepted them in its stead, greed shoving aside morality... But, now?

They were starting to look at them the same way they looked at it.

And that, frankly, terrified her. There was a sense that something else was going on here, the foundations of some kind of... movement, and now it was accelerating too quickly for her to simply slip away. All she could do was hold on tight... and watch. She reached up to her lips, removing the cigarette, and flicked it clear of the open cockpit, thumbing the line to Vulyn as she did so.

"How're you holding up?" She asked, Eris giving a sigh as she pulled herself upright.
 
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Nov 12, 2018
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#4
Straddling the head of the Raubtier, Vulyn was dressed in... what she would consider a sharp contrast to Eris’ extravagant new outfit. A simple black and silver trimmed Pilot’s Suit with a full length “fuck you” cloak and collar, having been previously burnt in the possession of whoever it’s previous owner, but it felt... Good. She had, at some point, said goodbye to her hair as she was now sporting a faux hawk in a partial attempt to clean herself up. She looked across to Zanel, as she seemed to be thinking out loud. Vulyn nodded as she continued, locking the panel to the sub camera she was working on down.


“Utter silence tends to drive people mad, Zan. Don’t wanna pry, but if you need to talk, feel free.” The mechanic confided in her giant companion before dropping into her cockpit.


“About as well as I can. Still a bit... Shaken from the other day, I suppose. Never had to actually shoot a person before. At least not out of a Mobile Weapon before.” She shook her head as strapped her toolcase into the proper holder and strapping it down. “If you mean the fact that we’re basically the Apostles to an extra dimensional golden giant? Doing well I think.”

Vulyn glanced at the monitor she had Eris in and shrugged as her cockpit properly closed. “Honestly I’m not sure what to feel.”
 
Aug 4, 2018
334
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Somewhere in the UK
#5
"Positive. Our foe feeds on despair, anger, hopelessness... it empowers them. But they cannot gain sustenance from hope."

While she had at first ignored the worshippers, leaving their 'offerings' as something for her subordinates, the resulting movement had lead to something of a revelation. Before she was simply Zan-El - An agent of destruction. But to them she was Nāzi'āt - the Angel of death come to aid those in need. This was not her original purpose, and yet it served her goals.

Those who worshipped XN-L generated nothing which would threaten her. They could be spared without fear, as long as their belief never faltered. And what mortal would falter, when a divine being could be seen above protecting them?

This was her new duty. Her new charge. XN-L took flight, throwing up a cloud of dust as she approached her enemy. No... Their enemy.


Five minutes and three miles later.


"Now!"

XN-L smashed into the town's outskirts, knocking one of the already-unstable structures towards one of the outer Angelus and continuing inwards until she was in the centre of the Ruina. Both blades were swiftly extended with a flick of her wrists, but she made no motion to attack - buying time and drawing attention for her comrades to move into position.
 

GEAR

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Jun 15, 2018
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#6
"I don't think we thought our exit plan through, no."

Eris sighed and removed the dogend from her lips, letting out one last, remorseful puff of smoke before flicking it away to its demise, allowing the cockpit to close shut as she straightened. As the internal monitors came back online, she was given a brief, soulful stare from her own reflection, two almost red eyes looking back at her, questioningly.

...Blue. She thought, silently.

Why were they blue?

She was starting to think the whole episode had been something of a joke - some kind of delusion she had experienced as a product of one too many bumps to the head - but that seemed far too convenient, too self-assuring a response. The truth was there, coiled up in the depths of her subconsciousness, staring back accusingly - yet, whenever she grasped for it, it would retreat into the labyrinth innards, cackling and flicking the finger as it did so. The sensation was maddening - yet, there was little she could do about it for now.

Nothing but pursue these Vaura, whatever they were... and hopefully find an answer.

"Whatever. Let's go, Vulyn!"

The black Personal Trooper's yellow eyes lit up as it rose to its feet, rainwater falling off its form in sleets, as it swing the Divided Rifle over its shoulders. There was a dull roar and glow as its thrusters began to engage, Eris tightening her grip on the controls.

"...I'm not afraid." She whispered, feeling the cold sweat trickling down the back of her neck.

"I'm not."

With that, the Medius Locus cannonballed into the brush, following in the wake of the golden angel. She kept a safe distance for the time being - Zanel could handle herself. She was more interested, for the time being, in getting a look at the enemy...
 
Nov 12, 2018
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#7
Vulyn just nodded in response, returning her focus to her weapon, cockpit closing around her as she shifted into Flight mode.

“Copy. I’ll take the skies.”

Thrusters on the Raubtier ignited, launching the mech up as it transformed, blasting off into the sky. She flew parallel to her companions, warming up her beam cannon and arming her bombs.
 
Aug 25, 2018
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#8
Their sensors having warned them of XN-L's swift approach, the Ruina regrouped swiftly, converging in an open area with little cover. As XN-L's shining figure dashed towards them they dispersed, one of them flying upwards while the other two dispersed horizontally.

No words were exchanged, no communication attempts were made. To the Ruina XN-L identified immediately as a foe to destroy. While still continued to suck in negative energy from their surroundings all three Ruina machines opened fire on the angelic machine, the wasps firing hails of energy bullets while the Angelus S shot with its beam rifle. The Miles that had flown higher stopped almost immediately after starting to fire, switching its focus to the Raubtier, though it didn't resume firing.




Huvud stared intently at the XN-L through the screen. Much like the Ruina on the field a hatred for the angelic being had stirred in him as soon as it had shown itself. The being was clearly opposed to them and to their Lord, and could even pose a threat if left unchecked.

Unacceptable.

It would have to be destroyed. The sooner the better. He opened the radio. They had prepared something if the entity hiding within the DEC forest had shown itself to be hostile. Hopefully it would suffice.

"Send it in."




In the skies behind the three Angeli, slightly above the Raubtier and highest Angelus something stirred. Obscured by the night sky a large pillar of Ruina smoke was born. Far larger than any that had appeared anywhere beforehand, something was being teleported over.

But what?
 
Aug 4, 2018
334
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Somewhere in the UK
#9
"We will leave when our enemies lie dead. There is no need for an exit plan."

XN-L didn't even try to dodge the bullets raining down around her, tilting her head to one side and glancing into the forest that bordered the city. It was a lifeless land, devoid of all but beasts... but something within felt familiar. All thoughts on that were discarded when the beam rifle was fired, twisting to the side fast enough that the beam simply sheared through one of her wings. The slightest hint of emotion seemed to register on the angel's face as part of her wing hit the ground.

Pests.

She kicked off from the ground almost lazily, charging directly at the wasp and ignoring the bullets that dented her shining form. Once in range she attempted to bodyslam the unfortunate Ruina, and would slice at its head and chest before kicking off the machine and changing direction. XN-L began chanting as she flew through the air, conjuring a new blade and driving it into her damaged wing.

"Kore wa nihongode wa arimasen!"

As she spoke the blade vanished and was replaced by a magic circle surrounding her wing, the missing piece reforming as a golden silhouette and quickly solidifying - as if it had never been damaged. Once her wounds were healed XN-L gazed skyward, waiting to see who - or what was coming to meet them next.
 
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GEAR

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#10
Traveling low to the ground behind XN-L, Eris was more than happy to allow the golden figure to take the lead. Upon glimpsing the so-called Vaura, her brow furrowed. There was... a vague sense of unease, there, though she couldn't quite place it. These machines radiated the same kind of energy as the Bulldog before - suddenly, she caught herself: How do I know that?

No time to think about it now. They needed to fight - finding answers would come later.

The Divided Rifle was brought about, locking into place about the Medius Locus' right arm, twin barrels extended out as she leveled it at the closest "wasp". No Directory design to be sure, she thought, but it looked like it was built more for speed. Of course, she added mentally as the crosshairs on the machine's display lined up, there was only one way to be certain.

Two shots erupted from the Medius weapon, sending four jets of plasma in quick succession into the air, aiming to prevent the Angelus from flanking XN-L, aimed at the abdomen-like structures dangling from their undersides.
 
Nov 12, 2018
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#11
Met with a Mobile Weapon on her own territory, Vulyn locked the target and primed two AA missiles. “Come on, you... Freaky... alien?” What even were they fighting? Aliens? Mobile Weapons from the inner Earth? Whatever it was, it did make her uncomfortable.

“Suck my Nu- oh god, guys there’s something forming up here.” The pillar of smoke definitely caught her off guard, firing the missiles at her original target before readying her special payload. “I’ve got this. You guys focus on the wasps.”
 

MKR

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Aug 19, 2018
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#12
Amidst the DEC forest that had served as the backdrop to the combat, a bolt of yellow lightning struck, the dark clouds beginning to encroach on the desolate village from above and with it begin to cover the moonlight that shone down on all parties.
The feeling that XN-L felt, the one that distracted her, would soon begin answering itself. Above them she would first smell an all to familiar smell, though she would have no time to take precautions as only a moment after, from the dark clouds a purple figure burst forth and the smell was now accompanied by the full presence of an ancient foe.

From amidst the clouds the intruder to the battle narrowed its eyes, singling out the angelic figure with its gaze. It dashed past the new smoke column with little care for what it might bring out and once he deemed the distance appropriate, the head reeled back. Flames licking the cold night air.


As it brought its head back forwards, a torrent of flame began cutting through the city in a half circle shape, the intent was simple. Cutting XN-L off from any of its newfound allies. When the fire breath concluded the dragon hung still in the air, a dim purple light sprouting from the sole of its foot as it begun its descent back to ground level.

All the time it fell its gaze never once was removed from its designated foe, but the newly lorded savior of the region could catch the slightest grin from her foe. The monster impacted the ground in front of its quarry, the fire wall it had erected momentarily wavering before reasserting itself as the dirt and stone began to give in slightly underneath the weight of the monster as it gazed down upon its long lived enemy.

"Zan-El." the purple beast spoke, a deep voice emanating from its throat. "And the puppets of the Lord of Ruin." The beast looked back towards the Angelus engaged in combat.
"Servants of Ruin, I believe we can set aside our issues for the time being, a temporary partnership if you would. As long as she remains."
It returned its gaze to the true threat, now fully smiling. A dangerous smile now illuminated by the flames of a burning city.
"Never have I been so glad to see you before and with allies nonetheless." A grim chuckle came from the dragon. "Luckily, I have my own."

The sound of shattering glass filled the air, from where XN-L had came space began to shake and rebel. Out of the previously empty space a Dino damon stepped, the usually technicolor DEC on its body tainted a vile purple as it let out a bellowing roar. Rearing its head towards the nearest target, the Medius.

"Now that the children are entertained... Shall we?" with that the draconic foe's gaze fell upon XN-L. More fire building up in its throat as it readied its next assault.
 
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Aug 25, 2018
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#13
Whether by miracle, sheer luck or fluke, XN-L's assault on the Angelus was for naught, the machine darting under the first attack, with the second slash parried by a newly manifested energy blade. However, before the Miles pilot could even contemplate attacking the XN-L's kick sent it spinning wildly away. Still trying to retake control of the machine the pilot was helpless before Medius' plasma shots. The projectiles utterly destroyed the lower half, leaving behind a cloud of purple mist and the still spinning torso, now starting to lose altitude.

The Angelus in the sky fared much better, managing to dodge both of the AA missiles sent its way. Curiously, it did not return fire, instead hovering in front of the smoke pillar.

The Miles captain was unsure about what the best course of action would be. Thankfully, it was saved by its dilemma by the arrival of Crystal Dragoon and his pet.

"Agreed." It rasped out in its abomination of a half-mechanical, half organic voice. Both XN-L and Medius hopefully kept busy it turned its attention to the Raubtier flying in the sky. With a spiraling steam of energy that formed to a large beam saber it dashed towards Vulyn, attempting to slice its right arm off right at the shoulder.

The pillar that the remaining Angelus was covering started to dissipate. Whatever the Ruina were warping had arrived. Two wings could be seen as the smoke disappeared.

It was a Tausendfuessler. There were no overt weapons on it, nor did it show any signs of sending out new Mobile Weapons. The only overt change was that the engines had been replaced, leaving behind trails of negative energy. Depending on her familiarity Vulyn may also have noticed that the Tausendfuessler seemed to be slightly larger, wider, like it had a layer of padding surrounding it.

The Tausendfuessler hovered in place.

Scanning...

Three hostiles detected.

Targeting...
 
Aug 4, 2018
334
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16
Somewhere in the UK
#14
"Crystal Dragon. I thought I could sense you lurking."

XN-L didn't even blink as her newest foe appeared, a fresh pair of blades lancing out from each wrist. She flew backwards while tossing them out in an almost lazy fashion, the blades crossing the distance between them in the blink of an eye. One seemed to break apart along the path, while the other would vanish a split second before striking the dragon's plating.

"Bold of you to show your face against me willingly. Or have you forgotten our last encounters?"


"Shiru!"

She raised one hand into the air, purple lightning arcing out from the remaining blade and forming a line of circles - with the last being around Crystal Dragoon. They each seemed to freeze in place, even the air standing still as their magic activated. With her other hand she simply pointed at her target. But now there was a cruel smile visible on her face.

"Your kind were always prone to fleeing before the final blow. Why bother to give you the chance this time?"

XN-L's halo began to ascend, forming a cross as its light intensified at every edge. Each of the four points spat out a green beam, the four converging into one at the first magic circle. They emerged as one single beam of green light, glowing brighter still as each circle was struck and consumed. By the time it was close to striking him the beam had tripled in width, and seemed to drill into his body for several seconds before detonating into a pillar of sickly green light.
 

GEAR

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Jun 15, 2018
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#15
At first, the Vaura seemed to pose little in the way of a threat to them... But then, several things happened in quick succession. As the... for lack of better word, Dragon swooped in overhead, Eris' body stiffened in sudden, paralyzing fear. DAMON? Here? No, she thought quickly, that thing could talk, and no DAMON she'd met had ever made any noise but their characteristic, unearthly screeching. More to the point, they seemed to be acquainted with her and Vulyn's shining friend - but further contemplation had to be set aside, as the familiar reverberations of a space-time distortion rippled through the surroundings.

What have I gotten myself into?

With contemptuous ease, the Dino DAMON forced its way through the fabric of reality, claws curling experimentally over the lips of its personal gateway as it heaved its colossal body through, the ground shaking terribly enough that the Medius was forced to take flight, thrusters flaring as cracks ran along the earth beneath it. The monstrosity occupied her entire vision, and her jaw hang upon in sheer awe of its size - it was the largest of its kind she had ever seen, and the sickly coloration only further added to the sense of terrible malaise that was quickly pervading the area.

She could almost feel a gaze from within her own subconsciousness staring back at her, like a distant, unseen backseat driver, silently stirring.

"No choice." She growled, slamming her foot down on the acceleration as the black Personal Trooper suddenly rocketed forward, barrel blazing as it unleashed a flurry of fire upon the creature, targeting its chest, its neck, and its head in what must have seemed like a suicidal charge - one errant swipe of those bladed claws, and that would be the end of her.
 
Nov 12, 2018
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#16
"Space Dragons. SPACE. DRAGONS."

She started to curse loudly as she fired her thrusters up and violently swung out of the way and under the blade of the Angelus S. “Not today, death!” She declared shakily, glancing over her hud to make sure she didn’t accidentally get any part of her cut off. The smaller PT swooped along the shadow of the Tausendfuesler towards the Wasp that hadn’t fired earlier. From that other one, they were clearly agile weapons, so if she could get it to stay in place...

She slowed her engines slightly as she took a breath to line up her shot, loading up her “special” Weapon. With the enthusiasm of a firework, a capsule fired from the missile rack of the Raubtier which quickly exploded out into a Spider Net, slamming against the Wasp that was guarding the Taus and hopefully pinning it against it.

Once more, Vulyn pushed the Raubtier to maximum output, engine flaring up as the Mobile Weapon shot forward on a direct run for the pinned Angelus. She held back pulling the trigger as long as she could, waiting for the last second to pull the trigger on the beam cannon, to the point of no escape.
 
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MKR

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Aug 19, 2018
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#17
Eris' newfound 'friend' seemingly took offense to her actions, even as the D-Fault protected it for the time being from a majority of the damage it would otherwise have taken to very important parts of its body. It roared once more as Medius closed in on it, its gaze still focused on her and her alone. It swiped down with one of its arms, yet its reaction seemed delayed. Almost as if its focus was elsewhere.

It caught the air where the Medius had been moments prior, yet did not seem dissuaded as with its other arm it opened the claws aiming to crush the black PT in its grasp. In the meanwhile it also swung its tail around dangerously, a fail safe should it fail to grasp its target. It would instead try to bludgeon it with a wide swipe.




The dragon seemed to simply stand there, the attack pattern was familiar. A devastating blow intended to kill the foe in one strike. Yet, both their forms had changed. So as he was put to stay in place his attention was elsewhere, he folded the dark purple wings behind his back with the movement he could still do, minimizing his surface area by tucking his head in as he was engulfed by the green light.

As the seconds raged on and the so called 'Space Dragon' was enveloped by light the fiery ring containing it and the angel began to shift in form, the massive indentation the crystalline foe had made begun to sprout crystals from the ground, sharing the color of the new arrival. Growing across the surface haphazardly like glass shattering some of these new pillars grew as large as XN-L herself.

As the light faded and sky scraping beams detonated, the wings spread once more, the front of the monstrous beast blackened and charred, its sides and back only slightly darkened. It opened and closed one of its three clawed hands, inspecting it as it looked at XN-L.

"That would be Crystal Dragoon for the time being, I shall reclaim that name another day. Do not fret, I have not developed a sudden case of amnesia. Nor do I intend to flee." As he spoke he stood up straight, some of the larger crystals surrounding XN-L seemingly burst at random, sending their shards everywhere in a hail.

"I came to test your performance, as well as mine."


The monster reeled his head backwards, among the shadows only its outline could be seen, as well as a deep red emanating from his eyes. The massive jaw opened the new particulate in the air being vacuumed up by the dragon. The crystals that sprouted all grew unstable, breaking and heading towards their singular goal it had to be more than any body mass this beast could have yet every shred of crystal that was made was crushed and absorbed. Yet despite this the self proclaimed 'Crystal Dragoon' could speak.

"You have performed below expectations, it seems I undervalued the importance of your vessel. So, as gratitude for all you have taught me today."

In truth Zan-El had dealt it a formidable blow. Still below expectations but not as far as was being said and not nearly a killing blow like the 'angel' intended.

"This is-"

The face on the Dragon's stomach turned its gaze from the head of the Dragon towards XN-L, opening a mouth of sorts which revealed what could symply be described as the inner workings of a large weapon.

"-the Mars Fire Breath!"

The main head shot forward unleashing a torrent of fire, titanic in size, from both the mouth in its chest and the real mouth. All with the intent to burn Zan-El, this ancient foe, to cinders. To make nothing remain but ashes.
Yet at the same time, this was also a test for both, the power of Crystal Dragoon's new weapon against XN-L's fortitude.
 
Aug 25, 2018
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#18
The Angelus guarding the Tausendfuessler burst into movement the moment the Spider Net was launched, dashing straight towards the Raubtier with thrusters blazing at maximum output. The net landed on the Angelus easily, the pilot not even trying to dodge it, but the momentum kept the machine charging towards Vulyn. The moment the two collided with each other, the plates on the Angelus' chest opened, firing rockets at Vulyn at the same time as the beam cannon tore it apart.

The Angelus S chased after the Raubtier as well, shooting several shots with its rifle, targeting the wings. The Miles captain continued past the collision, flying towards the Tausendfuessler.


Targeting complete.

Firing missiles.

Huvud had allowed the Ruina to arm the two Tausendfuesslers the research facility had according to Vapen's desires. The end result was now gloriously showcasing itself for the first time. Quite literally all around the Tausendfuessler the extra layer of 'padding' now revealed what itself for what it was, as the numerous, numerous metal covers opened, revealing rows and rows of rocket pods.

The entire surface area of the Tausendfuessler save its engines and the cockpit had been covered in rocket pods.

And all of them were firing at once.

The large Tausendfuessler completely disappeared into the purple trails the rockets left behind. Thankfully, for Vulyn and Eris the vast majority of the rockets were headed towards the XN-L, with only the contents of few rocket pods dedicated for the Raubtier and Medius respectively.

Less thankfully, the rockets soon revealed to have a homing aspect to them. Not advanced enough to make them impossible to dodge, but good enough to make it a great deal more difficult.

Having shot all its rockets the Tausendfuessler changed course, trying to leave the battlefield to the north. It was clearly faster than a normal Tausendfuessler.
 
Aug 4, 2018
334
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Somewhere in the UK
#19
"It appears I have not yet taught you humili-"

XN-L’s taunt was drowned out mid sentence by the fire, and soon replaced by a hauntingly eldritch screech. Pain. She had not felt true pain in such a long time. While her body was seared by the fire her mind struggled to remain composed, settling on a single thought:

This may have been a miscalculation.

The fire eventually died out, revealing XN-L's damaged body. She was.. a mess. Her golden form was battered and broken, covered in black burn marks while the shattered remains of her halo lay around her. Her form had been forced to one knee from the strength of the attack, but now that it was over she took what time she had to try and heal. The Halo reassembled itself just in time for her to glance upward and see the swarm of missiles heading directly for her.

Fantastic.

She waited until the last possible moment before moving, staying close to the ground and flying towards Crystal Dragoon as if going in for one last desperate attack. And then XN-L shifted sideways. Her body flew past the dragon, twisting back to put him in between her and the missiles. Two more blades were created and tossed at his back, more as a distraction than anything else. Alone, she could have fought him one on one had she not assumed the first strike would kill. But between the DAMON, the Vaura, and her own mistakes... sacrifices would have to be made. Fleeing would destroy what remained of her pride, but her priority was the mission. Had to be the mission.

"Eliminate the Vaura, then withdraw! I will follow once you are safe!"

There was a moment of hesitation from her before the next words came.

"If I do not return... continue to fight in my stead!"
 

GEAR

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Jun 15, 2018
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#20
Eris could only watch, her heart sinking, as her fire pelted harmlessly off the creature's barrier. She'd heard of the DAMON possessing such capabilities - but never had to see it herself. Not until now, at least. All around her, things were erupting into a frenzy, and it took all of her self control to keep the sense of panic from rising. She would survive. She had to. Somewhere, deep down, that single, overriding thought pushed through.

I have to live!

The monster's arm lashed out - three whirling blades, each easily large enough to tear her to shreds - yet... It seemed strangely lethargic, and she managed to clear its grasp, the Medius bolting over it - yet, not quite quick enough to avoid a glancing strike from the club-like tail as it whipped forward, sending her reeling, thrusters sputtering as the machine fought for control. In that moment of pain and screaming klaxons in the cockpit, Eris Pseudea unscrewed one eye -

And saw a veritable wall of death roaring towards her, in the form of a truly obscene amount of missiles. Part of her wondered, briefly, who in their right mind would ever do such a thing... and the rest let out a cry of fear.

"Oh, Hell!"

...Yet, she was not alone. The controls suddenly jerked, the Personal Trooper moving of its own free will as it rocketed sideways, one arm now sparking and dangling behind it, crushed beyond recognition by the DAMON's strike.

"AI1?" She gasped - moments before the Medius darted behind the only cover it could find:

The DAMON.

She clasped her hands over her ears, and clamped her eyes shut as explosions roared, engulfing the two forms in a sea of flame that threatened to burst her eardrums. All the while, the Medius clung to the neck of its assailant desperately with its one good arm, flattening itself as best as it could as devastation rained around the two.