Silver Fallen Angel (Open)

MKR

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Aug 19, 2018
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#21
Standing opposed to the 'Riot S' was a familiar chassis although its inner workings were significantly different from a week ago. The Weissritter 'Abend' as it was now called silently stood opposed to the mech covered by a tarp. What was previously blue had now been painted orange and it seemed the unit now had a better built in scope and magnifier alongside a whole slew of new and improved features.



On her way over she had noticed a few things already, for one the unit was faster than ever before and it seemed that it could get even more speed and maneuverability, an AB field now protected the unit though she couldn't tell the power source as she skimmed the manual. In general the unit just seemed to perform much better, even the rifle had gotten an upgrade alongside the unit. A small cable dangled from the end of it for what seemed like no particular reason except as good luck charm. As both sides waited for the go signal the Abend inspected its weapon before returning to a neutral pose, holding the gun against its shoulder in an almost salute like fashion.

With all preliminary checks done she put the Weiss in standby mode and its chest opened up, revealing the cockpit and pilot, who seemingly had found a method to use the decorative cable, sliding down it as a quick method down the unit's frame and waving over to the pilot nearby the Riot S as she walked over.

"Ashley Chase I take it?" She asked, presuming the same lack of formality applied to all of the DEI. "Johanna van den Berg, nice to meet you."
 
Aug 4, 2018
334
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Somewhere in the UK
#22
Ashley turned to look at the Abend when the cockpit opened, carefully watching Johanna as she descended and approached.

"That's me. Nice to meet you, I... guess? You know who I am, but I don't think we've ever met."

Her voice still simmered with mild frustration, but she seemed to be trying to avoid directing it at the newcomer. She forced a smile, offering a handshake as she looked over the other woman.

"So what's going to happen? I got told 'training exercise', but that's it. We fighting each other, fighting together, or what?"

That wasn't exactly true - Ashley had been told by Couch it was a duel, but she wanted to be sure that was the actual plan and not something he conjured for his own amusement. Stranger things had happened.
 

MKR

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Aug 19, 2018
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#23
"Yeah we haven't. But I happened to talk to Ms. Kokkonen as I guided her through the Air Christmas and she shared her rather high opinion of you." Johanna answered as she shook Ashley's hand, taking notice of but not remarking on the woman's frustration.
"Managing to maintain a photon engine and doing some good before joining the DEI as its star test pilot is what I heard."

"A joint training exercise, though despite the 'joint' it seems the intention would be a duel. A civil display of units and pilots." She remarked looking up at the tarp.

"Speaking of units, what's this Riot 'S' like? Didn't expect the DEI to come up with a new model with the Riot C's only around for a few weeks, let alone one carried by a battleship." Her eyes returned from the mystery machine under the tarp to Ashley. Curiosity and interest in the forefront of her mind, while also noting that the Riot 'S' was notably larger, or longer rather, than the model used by the C-Types
 
Aug 4, 2018
334
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16
Somewhere in the UK
#24
A hint of a smile flashed onto her face, but it vanished when the 'test pilot' part was mentioned. She'd been hired for security, not to be dragged into testing the latest iteration of suicide machine Dylan had cooked up.

"I see. They never hired me to test machines, it just... happened. Killed a few DAMONs on TV, next thing I knew I was killing them in labs instead. And after that the wonderful Doctor Couch picked me out and made me use his ridiculous deathtraps. Least this one won't explode if you look at it funny."

Ashley let out a sigh. This other pilot probably didn't care about her complaints, and she'd likely already shattered whatever vision of her was in the girl's mind.

"Sorry about that, been under a lot of stress lately. My old machine - the Beta - got blown up in orbit by some lunatic in a regenerating mech, and then Dylan apparently spent the last three days ripping apart the Alpha to make this new thingy. Called it the 'Scorpion'. I don't really get it, but it's not like the names were consistent at all before."

She rolled her eyes, and then her face darkened. Ashley took a sudden step forward, keeping her voice low as she muttered a warning.

"By the way - don't expect this to stay civil. Dylan hates losing. I don't want to hurt you, but if anything happens... be careful."
 

MKR

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Aug 19, 2018
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#25
Johanna calmly listened, her face turning neutral as Ashley explained her situation, contemplating something inside her head as the situation that DEI's star test pilot painted was put in front of her. She glanced over as she was warned about Dylan and nodded.

"Well, just make sure you aren't being forced in your role okay? If you want to do security there are many places that can offer you that role." She answered after a moment. Her voice low herself.
"So if the stress is getting to you and you need a breather, well. Unless they violate some ten odd worker's rights laws you can say you want to do what you signed up for instead of testing whacky robots."

Johanna put a hand on Ashley's shoulder and gave a sympathetic smile.
"Besides how's some random guy gonna force this to stop being civil? The two of us are going to be the ones doing the fighting and sure at the end of the day we are effectively showboating for the DEI and Upsilon respectively but there doesn't need to be a winner and a loser."

She took a deep breath and let go of Ashley's shoulder, rubbing the back of her neck returning her tone to normal.
"And yeah, Scorpion does sound pretty silly after "C"."
 
Aug 4, 2018
334
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16
Somewhere in the UK
#26
"I'm not being forced into it. But I can't just quit. It's... complicated."

Ashley shakes her head, but there's a hint of a smile. Johanna seemed like an actually good person... she didn't want to hurt her. She gently brushed the woman off, stepping back and facing towards her machine.

"Well, I guess we'll have to see. One last thing - the person you're gonna hear over the comms while fighting? That's... not me. Don't listen to anything she says, and... please don't take it to heart."

That was a lie. It was her. Just her anger and her hate and her everything forced to the surface by the drugs. But she couldn't even admit that to herself, let alone a complete stranger.

With that closing remark she left, ducking under the tarp and seemingly heading for the cockpit of her machine.
 

MKR

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#27
Johanna silently stood there as Ashley left her closing remarks, watching the woman disappear into the tarp she slightly shook her head. The difference between forced and unable to leave was minute and she genuinely worried for Ashley.
But it couldn't be helped right now, there was showboating to do. So the pilot walked back to the Abend and used the cable that she used to get down to return to the cockpit.

Inside the Weissritter all systems went online again and as Johanna did her final check up she milled over the final remark. Disasociative Identity Disorder? Maybe something more simple. The nature of the warning was simple, ignore everything Ashley says while piloting but the context behind it was what mattered.
Either it required serious medical or psychological treatment or the girl simply was not fit to pilot. It was to be figured out.

The Abend's wings split open for a second before closing again as Johanna concluded her check up, the Weiss looking at the tarp and then at the Resolution, the DEI ship in whose shadow they would be fighting.
This 'Dylan' character was likely to pull something during the fight if Ashley was on the losing side from the sounds of it, but on the other side it was her job to raise morale and lowering morale as a result of the first thing she did upon return would be catastrophic.

The Abend gripped the trigger of its Partizan Launcher, returning its gaze to the tarp. What a lovely, messy, situation she'd gotten herself in.
"This is Ensign Johanna van den Berg, I am ready to begin the joint training exercise." She announced, her eyes on the tarp.
 
Aug 4, 2018
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Somewhere in the UK
#28
The tarp was soon pulled away, revealing something... odd. Ashley's machine was identical to that of the older Riot units at first, but there seemed to be an entirely new attachment. A sort of shell, with a dark presence radiating from it. While most of the spectators were far enough away to be unaware, at this proximity Johanna would become aware of a chill down her spine once the machine activated. It took a step forward, the eyes lighting up with a deep green glow.



"All systems functional. Riot S is ready to begin exercise."

Ashley gave her confirmation on the line, but was almost immediately interrupted by Dylan. While he was watching the entire show live from the Great Axion, a secondary feed showed him the internal view of Ashley's cockpit. And the fact she hadn't bothered touching either bottle of Stimulants provided.

"Bup bup bup! Belay that, Amie is missing one of the crucial startup segments. I want the Scorpion at peak performance. No holding it back now."

Is that even a name? Whatever. He's gonna hold this entire thing up until I take a pill. And as funny as it'd be to watch the blowback he'd get... the sooner thisis overthebetter.

She popped the pill, and felt it kick in almost immediately. He'd lied - this was different to the ones she'd used in the beta. Hopefully it meant it'd last longer, but the side effects were clearly in full force.

"Roger that, Couch. Stim taken as ordered. I'll let you explain to the brassholes what that means for me and my unfortunate sparring partner."

Back on the bridge, Katri had her head in her hands. Dylan didn't even notice, and had also apparently missed that this argument was occuring on an open directory channel.

"They are a vital part of the Scorpion's operation, but I wouldn't have ordered you to take them if I thought you stood a chance against Miss Jolanda without them. Good luck. May the best man - or machine, in this case - win!" There was a hint of venom to his words, the insults deliberate instead of accidental. Perhaps he meant to egg Ashley on. As learning what she might do if she snapped in the presence of the sphere... was a treasure more than worth the cost of an incident here.
 

MKR

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#29
Johanna straightened her back instinctively as the Scorpion went online, her eyes shot open.
"What..." She muttered to herself, too soft to come across the comms. Something was wrong with this Riot. Like the machine itself just wanted to kill everyone, it reminded her of-

She cut off the thought and narrowed her eyes, so this was what she meant with unable to leave? The phrase brassholes also hung around like a foul odor on a sunny day. At the very least Johanna began to understand what Ashley meant with not taking to heart what she said while piloting.
It was perhaps something to file a report about after this was all done, combat stims with side effects that immediate don't exactly seem to belong in such situations, let alone in field use.

"Hmm well in a competition of men there was a real fight. But when we get down to machines." Ashley was volatile in this state, that much was clear by their earlier interaction. But it seemed the man behind the curtain, Dylan Couch, had accidentally or not moved into the shared spotlight and she was not gratifying his misnaming with a reply.

"There you've lost."


The Abend's visor collapsed down, the green orb lighting up as the unit took off, four split missiles fired off from its shoulders going for the Riot but they were just a distraction, the Weissritter's left arm pointed forwards as the four missiles raced towards her enemy waiting for them to be about to impact, or be stopped by the Scorpion to shoot the arm mounted beam cannons, who now packed more of a punch than a mere week ago.

While all this happened the Abend used its newly enhanced sight to track its enemy tightly, Johanna would need to know what kind of tricks all were stored within that little box on its rear, she knew what a Riot aught to have in store but that, that was something to figure out.
 
Aug 4, 2018
334
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16
Somewhere in the UK
#30
“Au contraire, the Scorpion is far superior to your upgraded reject. The internal mechanisms may have been upgraded, but it’s soul remains the same. And that soul...”
As Dylan spoke the Scorpion launched itself into the air, a glowing blade jutting out of the left arm. But this wasn’t the same Proton sabre used by the past Riots. It had a sickly green glow, and the first swing arced out far further than it had any right too. While it only skimmed the edge of one of the missiles flying at Ashley, that swing took less than a second.

“Is weak.

Her arm became a green and orange blur, the space between them filled with green flashes as the missiles were obliterated. One slice for the outer casing, a dozen more for the micromissiles within.

"Hubris isn't a good look on you, 'Jo. Last bitch I fought thought she was oh so clever, and it blew up right in her stupid smug face!”
The Scorpion was still flying in a straight line, and would be easy to track and fire upon. But it seemed like that was her plan.

Gotta see how hard she can hit... Don’t need the other guns with a blade like this. Can use the other weapons as shields agBEAM!

One rifle was quite literally ripped off its shoulder and tossed into the path of the attack, detonating violently as it took several beam shots. Flashes of green would once more cut through the explosion, Ashley’s sabre flashing as she twisted erratically through the air towards her opponent. And while the edge of the blade didn’t reach far enough to rip the Weissritter apart yet? It was approaching well in advance of the machine itself.
 

MKR

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#31
Johanna clicked her tongue as the rifle barred her shot from landing square in the scorpion's face. The Weiss' visor shooting back up as her opponent approached. Suddenly that upgraded movement came in real handy too, allowing her to skirt the edge of the Scorpion's cuts in a dance like motion. Well at least this somewhat explained the feeling of pure murder that machine gave off, how it did so was yet to figured out but hey, step one complete and one hell of a lethal weapon located it struck far and it struck quick. Preventing the Partizan launcher of getting hit with that would be key to this fight the pilot figured.

At the conclusion of the volley the Weissritter's plasma cutter, now also upgraded into a NEO plasma cutter would suddenly strike the photon saber, parrying the blow for some breathing room. A few seconds at most, but that would be all the time she needed.

"Don't worry Ashley, I'm only insulting the unit you are one stand up gal." She said, the wings on the back of the Abend splitting open as draconic wings of energy formed from them. About time, she thought. She'd need the extra speed. With her free hand the Weissritter rotated the partizan launcher, putting it across the length of its arm like a pool cue.

"But hey, Couch if you're going to talk about upgraded rejects give yourself a honorable mention. Weren't the earlier Riot units literally barred from use for safety hazard reasons? Because the soul of that thing just wants to explode all over everyone. The Weiss' soul, well it just tells me to shoot. Speaking of-"

With the cutting remark done Johanna would fire the solid round of the launcher as soon as she broke her parry, she needed distance and the best way was to do that was to go up.
 
Aug 4, 2018
334
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16
Somewhere in the UK
#32
As the blade was parried it seemed to stop, being held up in the air for a couple of seconds and inspected by the Scorpion. Seems she didn’t know it could do that either.

Wait. That’s not how long the blade should be. What if I extended it far enough to impale the Great Axion an-
No. Bad Ashley. That’s the drugs talking. Couch doesn’t deserve to die. Yet.


“And that is what makes it weak! No emotion. No passion! The Riot was a wild beast, it only bit back if the pilot was unworthy - or if an unwise test pilot decides destroying it to inconvenience a temporary foe is worth the loss to science.”

A familiar sigh could be heard over the microphone while Dylan was being theatrical. His words seemed to inspire a change... the bulb on the back of the Scorpion had its points glowing yellow, but nothing changed in the machine. Yet. Johanna’s shot would strike true, with only a last second dodge stopping it from ripping off anything more than the other shoulderpad.

“Shut. Up! JUST SHUT UP!

Ashley’s outburst heralded the blade tripling in length, now being deliberately extended outward and going for the Abend’s head. Her strikes were wild and uncoordinated, an unpredictable outburst of anger. This wasn’t about incapacitating the machine, or about winning. She just wanted to hurt the machine - to hurt someone. Anyone.
 

MKR

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Aug 19, 2018
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#33
Johanna was about to respond to Dylan when Ashley cut in, the Upsilon pilot now noticing the bulb going on on the back. That seemed bad, the blade tripling in length confirmed as much as instead of a witty reply Johanna was forced to think about her actions.

Random slashes in sheer anger. All aimed for the head. Need to find the pattern.

One went left, one went right, another one went wide and the fourth went short. But the scorpion was getting closer, she needed an out and the extreme focus of her foe would let her do just that. The deadly volley of green continued, the Abend focusing on not getting its head ripped off as it slowly leaned back. Johanna watching for her opportunity.

And there she saw her opportunity, she collapsed the visor down and made the Weiss bend forwards, readying its rifle as the one strike connected with the front of her unit's head. But that was just where she wanted it, a crack and the sound of glass shattering filled the air as the Scorpion's blade dug into the Weissritter's visor and broke it in two, but the eyes underneath were unharmed with only a cut appearing on the Abend itself the lines of the upgraded mech transitioning from red to its iconic blue as its generator was tasked with its burden.

And the wings on its back flapped, the unit rocketing past the scorpion using the window of her foe's rhythm to get behind the machine and flip herself around once that was done the rifle split open and Johanna smiled. So this was the Abend's new trick.

"Partisan Launcher! X mode!" She announced as from the barrel and the split parts of the launcher beams appeared, coalescing into one whole as a stream of energy aimed to wreck the backside of the Scorpion. With this fired the rifle closed itself and the Weiss went back to its new shade of red as the heat purge system deactivated, the Resolution now serving as its backdrop.

She gathered her thoughts, glaring at the Scorpion. The Abend held its weapons at the ready.

"I see. Well Couch, I agree with Ashley. You should shut up if all you mutter is insane nonsense. You force emotion out of a machine, but there is no passion. There is no heart, no spirit. All I feel from that machine and hear from your mouth is anger and stupidity respectively. So I'll inform you of one simple truth Couch. You lose." Ashley had warned her that was the one thing Dylan hated, losing. Well she was going to poke that bear.

As soon as the Scorpion turned around to face its foe once more, there would be another B mode bullet in the air, this one aimed at the left arm. She'd stop the volley of cuts in a very simple manner, but removing the blade.
 
Aug 4, 2018
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16
Somewhere in the UK
#34
While Johanna's first shot was expertly aimed and ripped a hole in the bulb, it seemed to close almost immediately afterwards - fixing itself in a way the Riot's body lacked. Ashley didn't seem to notice, continuing her charge at the Weissritter.

Right up until the slug hit. It ripped the Scorpion's arm right off, causing it to fall to earth and the machine itself to slow down as it struggled to regain balance. Another sigh came over the comms. This time from Dylan, of course.

"Hmph. Amber, this feels like a good time for the Venom. Maybe it can make up for your shortcomings."

There was only a hint of displeasure.. but this was the angriest he'd visibly been in a long time. While Ashley grabbed the bottle and squeezed out a capsule Katri spoke up as well, trying to dissuade her.

"Ashley, don't-"

Too late. The drug had already been taken, and something... bloody filled her mouth as she bit down. It all went down her throat, leaving hints of it stuck in her teeth.

"Fuck off! I'm not doing this for your stupid fight. I'm doing this for me. And you're next!"

Her eyes went red, and so did those of the Scorpion. Her second blade ignited on the other arm, still glowing that unhealthy green as it lashed out against the Weissritter with an unholy ferocity. Abend's rifle was her first target, Ashley charging right up into the Weiss's face and trying to rip it apart piece by piece. Rifle. Arms. Legs. Bit by bit, like a child ripping limbs off a spider.
 

MKR

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Aug 19, 2018
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#35
So that was how Dylan would remove the civility of the fight. With 'Venom'. She had seen enough, recorded enough.

Inside the cockpit Johanna's gaze turned cold, so much for Rodger's request of not hampering the recovery effort. The wings flapped as the Weiss made its retreat towards the Great Axion, still facing the Scorpion as it leveraged its superior speed, always keeping that blade at an arm's length.

"As Upsilon's chosen member to participate in the joint training exercise." She formally stated. "I am hereby officially cancelling the match for concerns of my opponent's health and well being."

And this is when Couch truly lost. The scorpion could smash the Abend in as many bits as it wanted but that had just been recorded, officiated and was now on the record. The anger didn't stop, it wouldn't especially after what Johanna just announced. This was the kind of anger that demanded destruction, a missile with barely any guidance. One with some regenerative function too.

All she had to do now was outlive the effects, or perhaps more accurately Ashley's attention on her. She still felt bad for the girl, and would rather this hadn't happened but the situation required this course of action from her. But the Scorpion was not as easily left in the dust as she hoped. For now the AB field that protected the Abend yet sufficed as the game of cat and mouse continued but if the enemy got any closer it meant her rifle was going to be turned into cut meat.

"Tell me Couch, what did you do to Ashley." her voice was neither angry nor sad, it was a matter of fact tone with which she addressed the captain of the Great Axion.
 
Aug 4, 2018
334
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16
Somewhere in the UK
#36
While the Abend's field was more than effective against most weapons.. a blade made of dimensional energy didn't care about silly things like barriers. Or whatever composite it had for armour, apparently - a lucky strike ripped off one of the legs after Johanna made her announcement, but after that the Scorpion just.. stopped. And twitsted unnaturally in midair until it was looking right at the Resolution's bridge.

Why am I doing this to her? She's not the one who did this. She's not the one responsible for any of this.

He is. Hurt him kill him hurthimkillhimkillkillkillkillKILL

The Scorpion gave Johanna something that vaguely resembled a nod before charing at the Axion, blade outstretched...



"Oh, Ashley. We were so close to seeing what it could do. Perhaps next time."

Dylan shook his head, pushing a button on a remote he'd taken out. Immediately the Scorpion split in half - the 'bulb' being propelled away, now crackling with electricity and having a parachute open from the top to ensure it safely landed below. By contrast, the now unpowered Riot simply fell like a rock, smashing into the ground with one last screech from Ashley over the comms before they fell silent. Dylan took the chance to appear visually within the Weissritter's cockpit, adjusting his glasses before addressing everyone still conscious.

"She was given a harmless electric shock. Otherwise there's a chance she would damage herself or the machine while the paramedics remove her."

Katri took this as the time to make her displeasure known, gripping his shoulder and balling her other hand into a fist.

"Couch. That wasn't the question. What. Did. You. Do?"

"I provided her with the prototype in our latest generation of combat stimulants, for use if she deemed it necessary. This will not be distributed to directory personnel just yet, due to side effects I'm sure we all noticed. Brazen disrespect for authority, incredible aggression... this is why we test these things, honestly. Of course the pilot won't be punished, while the decision to take it was entirely hers her actions afterwards were not of her own volition. Speaking of involuntary actions, someone should go pick the capsule and get it back on the Axion. We don't want anyone to have an unfortunate accident with the pure form of the Venom - Jeddah's still not finished decontaminating after the last breach."

Several Cornixes and civilian units descended from the Resolution. The Sphere was retrieved first by the Cornixes, while the civilian MWs disgorged a small medical team to attend to Ashley. One last communication was sent, this time directly to Johanna.

"Now.. while I'm sure you'd love to make a complaint, how about we wait until the medical assessments are complete. Don't want to count your chickens before they're hatched. And knowingly giving a false report... that's a black mark. It could even lead to an investigation if I wished. And I'm sure that would impede your directory duties immensely - they might even drop you from your precious team! So think about that while the nice men in white coats check her over, and then we can talk."
 

MKR

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#37
The Abend, its legs torn to ribbons silently watched the Scorpion descend onto the Resolution. Part of her hoped Ashley would succeed but with that same calm she watched the Riot plummet to the earth. Her eyes going to her display as the man behind the curtain appeared on it.
Johanna remained silent as she watched Katri be about to punch Dylan, merely listening. The electromagnetic transmission equipment built into the Weissritter listened too, recording every syllable and tongue movement, every frame of the screen and the motionless Scorpion down below.

Only after Couch had finally spilled the answers out was there any facial motion, a slight sneer. She pitied Ashley and her situation, she agreed with Katri's assessment of the man she had heard prior. She barely knew him but she loathed him and his attitude. The pilot slumped in her chair as she dealt with reality.

The Abend suddenly connected to that same mug again on a private channel and Johanna listened. Her cold eyes looking at his ugly mug through the screen. She remained quiet for a moment and then just began laughing.

"Complaint?" She sat upright, leaning in on the screen with Dylan's face on it. An almost malicious grin was painted on her features.
"Oh you believe I'm going to simply write a complaint and file it in? And then you open a private channel to try with the thinnest disguise possible cow me away from doing so?"

"Also you should read up on your organizations because last I heard you were working with the military and we weren't working for you." She shook her head.
"Allow me to break down to you what is going to happen Daniel." She pulled a USB out of the Abend, presenting it to the camera.
"I'm going to bring this to Rodgers, a nice compilation of every word you've said and even that last little bit alongside all the combat footage." She palmed the stick and smiled again.

"Because your nice men in white coats are probably going to report 'Increased stress lead to the drug malfunctioning' or perhaps 'slight composition error' if you're feeling generous. Why, you could say that merely presenting the facts as they are could be a black mark, which could lead to an investigation if Rodgers, I don't know. Was suggested to do so by the squadron member present for the occasion. Which, in turn, might even lead to you being dropped from your fancy position from PR feedback or even the Directory withholding the DEI's funding until your removal."

Johanna scratched her chin as if she was puzzled.
"No, I think I'm done talking to you you don't matter anymore. Hey Katri, can you make sure Ashley is okay for me?" She asked a bit louder.

"Now if you'll excuse me Mr. Couch, I have superiors to report to."
 
Aug 4, 2018
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Somewhere in the UK
#38
“Katri. Ensure the Scorpion’s retrieval is performed safely, and then prepare a full report for the dir-“

“No, Captain. I’m not qualified to handle that, and thus will be refusing an unsafe order. We’ll talk about my report after Ashley has been safely retrieved.”

Katri gave Johanna a nod before leaving the bridge. Dylan actually let a hint of surprise slip past the mask, but his smirk soon returned.

“Well played, miss. We’ll have to see if the Directory - If DEI - values my contributions more than your ethics.”

Their line was abruptly closed, and he slumped a little in his chair. This was... just a momentary setback. Overall positive results, the failsafe succeeded - just his luck running out. But that was why he’d pushed ahead as far as he had. Now it was just a case of riding the wave.



Medical report for: Ashley Chase. To be provided to directory command and Taskforce Upsilon if requested.

-Major bruising from impact and concussion. Currently being treated.
-Minor electrical burns. No care required.
-Non-fatal quantity of drug [REDACTED] in bloodstream. Drug will pass harmlessly through system in several hours, presumed to be delayed due to unconsciousness.
-Harmless foreign substance detected, believed to be byproduct of machine operation. Further research will be performed once extracted.

Public Conclusion: Increased stress combined with experimental formula caused temporary psychotic break. Recommend smaller doses and more testing before future iterations are used in live tests.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NOT TO BE SHOWN OUTSIDE OF DEI:
-"Harmless substances" were Venom nanomachines. Method of insertion unknown.
-Fatal dose of dormant venom nanites detected in blood, but no negative side effects to pilot.
-Nanites became active upon detecting their removal from her body, and were swiftly destroyed.

Additional notes:
Recommendation from Katri Kokkonen that Dylan Couch be forbidden from communicating to her in combat to prevent future incidents.


Message sent to: Johanna Van Der Berg, via official Directory channels.
From:AChase@Dei.com
Subject:Thank you

Message content:
Can we keep in touch? I heard about what you did afterwards.
-Ashley.
Attached are various means of communication, and a private email address.
 

MKR

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Aug 19, 2018
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#39
Johanna sighed as she finally got back to her room, not having bothered to change out of the pilot suit. All and all it had been an exhausting day and it wasn't even done yet. At least Rodgers saw and heard everything he needed to now, the Abend also was faster than anything she piloted before the 'don't overdo it' remark Juliette gave her certainly turned out true.
Although she had to admit, watching Katri not do as ordered was quite nice to see, even if it had to come at the expense of Ashley enduring that. But from the outside, aside from bothering Dylan and forcing him to play into her hand she wasn't able to do much bar getting some cogs in the system to turn.

She looked over at the yet to be unpacked bag sitting on her bed, she really should've done that immediately. With a slight sigh she sat down besides it picking up the mask on the table once more. It didn't exactly fit the Weissritter's color scheme anymore now, not unless the Abend went into high performance mode. Frankly she was going to let it collect dust here, looking like a C-Type didn't much appeal to her.

The bag shook a bit, Johanna putting the mask down once more. Raising an eyebrow as she opened the bag on top of her belongings a single tablet lay, vibrating as it was bombarded by what seemed to be messages. She was on the verge of remarking her annoyance until she actually read the messages.
She rolled her back onto her bed, today really was going to be a long day wasn't it.




Message sent to: Ashley Chase's private E-mail
From: JvdBerg@DirectoryNet.com
Subject: Re:Thank You


Message content:
Of course, sorry I couldn't do anything earlier though. Good to hear from you.

-Johanna