Dark Dawn (Gear)

Aug 25, 2018
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#1
Remains of L4: Outskirts
January
07:06



Three Mobile Weapons warped to the edge of the shattered remains of the L4 colony. Two of them came with the callsign of Ruina teleportation, pillars of negative energy smoke. The third however appeared in a blaze of blood-red lightning.

Two of them were modified Huckebeins instead of Angeli, though they had clearly been inspired by the wasp-like machines. They had boosters on their back identical to the ones Angeli had, the chests had additional plating that hid rockets behind them. The fingers on one of the arms were missing, the hand having been carved to a stump, while the other one held a Directory issued Rectangular Launcher. The pelvic area was completely different from a normal Huckebein, holding in it the stinger-like vacuum cleaner that the Angeli had.

The last one however, was completely different. Purple spikes jutted out of the white frame, the largest being on the shoulders with two chakrams around them. The fists were covered by three large claws on both hands.

It was Priscus Nox, Viggen’s Mobile Weapon. Though much to her chagrin many of the finer mechanisms were still unfinished.

Their main objective was to study the Black Sun, and whether it could be of use to the Ruina. The secondary objective was, like always, to gather negative energy. Even though the Huckebeins could hold less of it than Angeli and the Priscus Nox had enough for an emergency teleportation they could still gather quite a bit. The first thing Viggen noticed was that the Black Sun was calling to them as well as the Lamalice, but the compulsion was easily ignored.

Taking in the ruins of the colony before her and the Lamalice scuttling through them, Viggen grudgingly admired humans. All around the world, nevermind the history of the species, signs of the destruction they could inflict on their own almost by accident were...amazing.

Even if it took away some of her fun.

The three Ruina slowly began their advance towards the colony ruins, keeping a wary eye on the Lamalice, as well as for any other movement.
 

GEAR

Administrator
Staff member
Jun 15, 2018
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#2
L5.

The Lamalice were, if nothing, thorough. The creatures had left nothing but chunks of Colony debris scattered about the Lagrange point, all of it drawn into an eerie, off-kilter orbit around the pulsing, roiling, burning surface of what was known colloquially as the "Black Sun". Abramelin Zahed's creation had, as of yet, seemed to serve no exact purpose... but its malevolence could be felt for miles, a dark glow on the horizon that glimmered with an unearthly light.

Yet, life was not wholly alien to this sector. Space pirates of the bolder variety had taken up residence in some of the more habitable sections that remained, and of course the phantom forms of the Lamalice drifted back and forth across the void, seemingly aimlessly, yet always on the hunt for more sustenance. None approached the Ruina as of yet, though at any moment their seemingly docile nature could turn...



L5 Ruins

"Someone's here."

Within the dark depths of the Colony, a pair of red eyes opened.

"I feel... Vaura."

Their trip from the surface of Luna had been uneventful, by their standards. The occasional DAMON emergence had fallen swiftly before their monstrous mechanical shadow, and the creatures had since steered clear of them since. The Lamalice posed no threat, merely cowering before their presence as they advanced, making L5 something of an ideal location.

Within the chamber of the Colony's former main reactor, Morta's fingers twitched slightly, yet remained as they were, held out to her sides. The scent of blood was heavy in the air, crimson streaks being painted across every surface, forming a complex network of teeming, writhing runes that hurt the eye to behold, courtesy of the Space Pirates that had, until very recently, occupied this space. The air was lit by small, luminous orbs that occasionally emerged from the center of the ritual circle, sending pallid waves of light dancing across the chamber's interior, as the air around the two inhabitants began to warp, and bend, like a heat mirage.

Without turning her attention from her work, Morta's head turned back slightly towards the other, veiled figure in her presence - and felt a tingle run up her spine. He, after all... was something else.

"Uncle..." She said, her voice taking on a honey-sweet, pleading tone;

"Could you deal with them, please? I just need a little longer, here."
 

Gen Kumon

New member
Jun 14, 2018
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#3
"Well, I'd hate to be a poor host for our guests, so I guess I'll be headin out. Can't say I'm all that upset. Those pirates didn't last all that long..." Dan said as he took a few lazy steps toward the chamber's exit, picking his hat up off of the console it had been sitting on and dropping it onto his head.

"Vaura, huh?" he muttered to himself as he thumbed the door control and left the room with a final nod to Morta. "Let's see what they've got."

----------------------

With an impact that left the remnants of the colony rinning, the Endark blasted out of a decompressed hanger, it's oversized right arm ripping an unpowered hatch off it's hinges, sending it hurtling off into the void with an uncaring swipe as the massive mecha rode on a pillar on flame as it's thrusters worked up to full power.
 
Aug 25, 2018
205
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#4
As the Ruina advanced through the ruins it at first seemed like they were alone with just the Lamalice to keep them company. This misconception was doubted when something that wasn't a Lamalice briefly moved through their fields of vision in the distance. Whether it was some brief glimpse of the hatch Endark had thrown or some stray reflection of light from its thrusters was irrelevant, the end result was not any different for it.

Clutching the Rectangular Launchers and Chakrams respectively the three Ruina changed their direction towards here they had seen the movement, spreading out in a wide formation, though never leaving each others' sight.

It didn't take long for Ruina to once again change the way they approached the uncharted, ruin-filled space. The Huckebeins' Rectangular Launchers fired slugs several times to the direction they had seen the movement from, trying to smoke out whoever or whatever it was.
 

Gen Kumon

New member
Jun 14, 2018
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#5
For several long moments, the only movement from the targetted area was simply debris sent spinning from the impact of the Huckebeins' slugs. Then, slowly, a particularly large chunk of plating, fifty meters long by over sixty tall, once part of the colony's outer hull, began to slowly move. A subtle drifting at first, then faster, and then with a violent burst of speed, it began to flip end over end, moving directly at the trio of Ruina machines. From behind the newly made projectile, rising above it in a flare of thrust, was the Endark, the huge machine's brutish from totally uncovered, it's heavy Minarl hammer clutched in it's oversized right arm, the source of the blow that had sent the hull plate tumbling.

"Well, now, howdy folks. I'm afraid y'all weren't invited to this here party, and I'm gonna have ta' ask ya to leave. 'course, if y'all will be wantin' to contest that request, I'd be just deeee-lighted to entertain ya." drawled Dan over the radio, a wide, blood-chilling smile unseen on his face inside his mobile weapon's cockpit. "Really hopin' ya pick door number two, ta' be honest."
 
Aug 25, 2018
205
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#6
The three Ruina dispersed to evade the massive projectile that was thrown their way, though one of them was almost scraped by the unconventional projectile. They regrouped afterwards, forming a loose triangle with Priscus at the front. Priscus had its chakrams hanging from its hands, but Viggen didn't make an overtly threatening move just yet.

A hunger stirred within Viggen, an almost overwhelming desire to inflict pain, to destroy. But she did not attack Endark just yet. Her self-control was greater than that. Unlike Kvinna and Vapen she could put the cause before her desires easily enough.
So an attempt at diplomacy would have to be made.

"I would prefer it to be the latter as well." She replied. "But are you certain we can not both do our business in peace here? Our business would not disturb whatever it is that you are doing."
 

Gen Kumon

New member
Jun 14, 2018
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#7
"Hahahaha...haha! Well, y'all Vaura folks aren't as well informed as I thought you might be. We ain't some ignorant pirates, ya' know. This here knot o' energy is key ta' rippin a hole in space-time to bring forth one o' my compatriots. Or somethin' like that, I ain't the technical sort. Point is, you can kiss my ass an' git the hell out o' here."

With those words, seeveral panels across the Endark's body slid open with a burst of steam, nearly instantly dissipating into the vacuum of space, small red shapes in a myriad of missile tubes dimly visible, backing up Dan's threatening words.

"Or, you can feel the pointy end of these here warheads. Last chance ta' pick an option before I pick for ya'."
 
Aug 25, 2018
205
0
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#8
"That is not a reason to refuse us." Viggen replied coolly, before her face twisted. The beautiful visage morphed into something monstrous as her face was seemingly split in two by an impossible wide bloodthirsty grin, revealing rows of sharp teeth.

Not that anyone could see them. "Finally, a fight!" She snarled at Dan. The voice itself seemed to be soaked in a thirst for blood and destruction. All three Ruina sprung to action immediately, widening their formation as the Huckebeins went for the Endark's flanks, their Rectangular Launchers shooting several slugs at the missile tubes.

Priscus Nox's chakrams lit up with visible electricity running through them and were soon thrown. The right one, spinning at high speeds seemed to be arcing towards the small arm on Endark's left shoulder, attempting to cut through it before returning to Priscus Nox. While throwing the second chakram some of Priscus Nox's systems seemed to malfunction for a short while, almost like the machine had lost its balance during the throw the second chakram flew away in a wild, far too wide arc that would end behind Endark.

The chakram would come to an abrupt stop once there, though, and changing direction to fly towards Endark's back at a far higher speed than before.
 

Gen Kumon

New member
Jun 14, 2018
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0
1
#9
The bulky machine burst into movement as soon as the first shots were fired, slipping past several of the slugs fired by the Huckebeins. The remaining shots impacted on the Endark's heavy armor as the mecha's thrusters spewed flames into the void. The first chakram went sailing past the Endark as Dan jerked the controls, spinning his unit ninty degrees, barely out of the way of the attack.

Warheads began firing out of the launchers scattered around the Endark's body at this point, swirling up and then forward, aimed entirely at the two mass-produced Personal Troopers, ignoring the Priscus Nox for the first attack. Then, last moment, after the last of the missiles fired, the Endark whirled around, swinging the pink in it's oversized hard directly at the second chakram, intending to deflect it.

"Ya think playin' tricks like that'll be enough ta' fool me?"
 
Aug 25, 2018
205
0
16
#10
"It could be." The evaded chakram sailed through the space back towards Priscus Nox, cutting several missiles on its way home before being deftly caught by the Melior Esse. The second chakram was successfully reflected by Endark's swing, flying off towards the side away from the battlefield.
It wasn't long before it was illuminated by lightning again and it shot back towards Priscus Nox.

The left Huckebein successfully avoided the missiles with the chakram's aid, weaving through them and staying behind rubble when needed. A plate on the Huckebein's chest opened, revealing a battery of rockets that were shot towards Endark.

The second Huckebein fared worse, with some of the missiles landing on their mark, the arm that was clutching the Rectangular Launcher being destroyed by them. After a brief moment of contemplation, the one-armed Huckebein turned to the Gatling guns on its head. Orange magic circles appeared on both sides of the Mobile Weapon's head, unleashing twin barrages of energy bullets.

Viggen was growling in the cockpit to herself. She wanted to avoid engaging Endark in melee, but with Priscus Nox's unfinished nature it did not have all its ranged capabilities. Well, there was still something.

A purple glow started to glow under the two shoulder spikes. At the same time the spikes were outright covered with lightning, before being shot straight towards Endark at high speed. Should they land, Endark would find himself being hit by twin lightning bolts.

Additionally, both Huckebeins and Priscus Nox started to vacuum negative energy out of the space around them.
 

GEAR

Administrator
Staff member
Jun 15, 2018
1,165
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#11
"Uncle Early..."

Within the depths of the Colony wreckage, Morta hurried as quickly as she could. Peals of energy licked across the "Pillar" as she imagined it, surging across its fault lines, snaking its way into its matter.

One of the "Seven Pillars" that held up this world's defenses... That was how Mother had explained it to her. That was her objective - to crush these, and to allow for their allies to flow freely into L'isola. It wasn't her first time... but still, this one was proving to be a difficult one to crack. Still, she comforted herself with the thought that it wouldn't take much longer, given the amount of pressure she was able to apply-

A sudden cold, sharp chill ran down her neck, causing her to glance up at the ceiling, transfixed. There were always defense measures, certainly - perhaps she had thought the Lamalice would have cleared those away... But-

They'd been discovered.

"Something's coming." She whispered into the ruin.




"O'great Ganeden...
Lend me your power...
Imbue your humble servant with the will of the Goddess!
"​

Queen Selene III opened her eyes, lit only by the flickering azure torchlight, the scent of burning incense on the air as plumes of flame burst into the air around her within the confines of the secret chamber. Black smoke choked the air, only adding to her wild, fearsome appearance as she fell to her knees.
Unknown to the combatants, a ritual was being conducted at that exact point beneath the surface of Luna. Not long after Sir Steelheart's departure had her services been called upon - it appeared the enemy was closer than they had even imagined... and there was no time to waste. Gerart would have to wait. Sacred oils dripped from her paintbrush as it drizzled down across an idol, placed upon a makeshift altar in the same room she had spoken to her brother in.

"Smite the evil Vaura...!
Drive them back into the darkness from whence they came!
Let the divine tides drag them down into the inescapable abyss!
"
Her expression flashed as she reached up, unsheathing a long, curved knife. Fire danced all around her - priceless antiques, nothing more than kindling to the flame - but she barely felt it, for at that exact moment, she was one with the Lady.

"COME FORTH, GUARDIAN OF ORDER!"

The blade crashed down upon the wooden idol, cast in the shape of a piscine beast, burning splinters shattering in every direction-



As the Endark's missiles rained down on the Ruina, the devotees of the Lord of Destruction would have experienced... a moment of brief, inexplicable discomfort - the remnants of a sixth sense exclusive to their kind, a prickling on the back on the neck that indicated all was not well. For the one-armed Huckebein, this sensation would likely have lasted the shortest, as there was a distant glimmer on the horizon-

A bleach-white beam, blinding in its intensity, burst out from between the ruins, large enough to envelope the mass-produced Personal Trooper whole - yet fired with all the precision of a sniper.

The source of the strike was immediately made clear, as something emerged from the wreckage. To even say emerged would have been unfair, as it seemed to languidly swim through space - broad, almost crystalline snow-colored fins pushing and pulsing at the space around it, accentuating a long, torpedo-like body that was evocative of a shark. Its structure did not look as if it had been manufactured, so much as carved, as if it were a living statue... albeit one large enough in size to threaten even the Endark with its bulk alone.

It turned its body slightly as it cruised ahead, regarding the two with a single visor-like eye... and whatever kind of animalistic intelligence lay beneath.

keren.png
"......."

The Custos had joined the battle.