Hopes of an Endless Frontier (Open)

[MKR]

September 10th, OE 102
8:57 AM
Dresden, Germany

Such an enticing promise, the peace brokered between the shards of the fallen Directory. A return to what was before, and once Terra Sentinel would be expunged the hope for a unified earthsphere was realer than ever before now that Everglory had forfeited its independence for a seat at the table.

Peace for our time.

Words said so so long ago but echoed today. Then they were a prelude to the worst of man, this time would surely be different. Except, after peace then what? Would unity be enough to defeat the likes of Perfectio and its endless legions as Sullivan promised could harmony stop the evils far beyond the veil of darkness?
When the end of the world comes knocking, would men sing kumbaya as they are swallowed one by one into the dark beyond. Would they fight as a unified front against the coming tide?

Perhaps so.

But were they enough?

That was the question, would the kindle lit before nurture the fire to stave off the dark. That question had lingered ever since Sullivan made his offer to Jericho earlier this morning, and after deliberation two minds came to the conclusion, no. The flames needed to burn brighter, fiercer, they hadn't been ready and their fires burnt far more than those lit here.
The dark would swallow this world whole. Such was their answer.

And as such, amidst the chaos caused by Terra Sentinel South West another army marched. They had planned to silently infiltrate the center of this budding relationship and once again light the spark of conflict. But now here, in this city so famous for that war. Fighting filled the streets on one end, the defenders from both Endymion, Jericho and any whom they hired.
And on the other, a foe in machines so close to theirs yet exceedingly distant. Mecha that looked like Huckebein flooded the streets, yet they were wrong- off somehow. The face was different from the expectations one held for a Huckebein as some of the most iconic features had been lost, like an ex-Huckebein.

"We can't afford to be bogged down here." Communications on the other side lit up as the battle was surveyed, "This is Malta, entering engagement range. We will clear a path for the vanguard." A shadow was cast over the environs as a blip filled the radar. A Trilobyte class ship appeared with unknown identification, making its affiliation clear.

 

[GEAR]

“This just keeps getting better and better.”

Once again, the soldiers from the Moon and those from the Earth found themselves besides one another in the equivalent of a trench, shells raining down about them. A lime-green Riot C, and an equally verdant Zechariah, sharing a foxhole in a bombed out building.

“You said it. First Terra Sentinel, now these?”

“The Ruina might as well show up too and get their pound of flesh.”

“Don’t say that, you’ll jinx it-“

As if on cue, there was a terrible noise. Like the tearing of fabric and metal, overlaid with static, amplified a thousandfold, as a wave of blackness burst into being not far from the two.

The two soldiers shrunk back, as a pair of red eyes and horns peered out at them from the newly formed void in steely contempt.

But today was not their day.

No, for now “Dis” was merely the messenger.

---

Her thoughts swam into the darkness. It was a cold, dreamless state of being, as close to “death” as she could imagine. Ideas, beliefs, flickers of scenes passed through her and returned to their places of origin. She was nothing, and yet something, and in that moment she understood just how little she truly knew.

(Gaia Liberation Front. Goetian Legion. Negative Energy. Void Memories. Comforts of another “self”. Of where we once “belonged”.

None of us were meant to be here, yet all of us have been here before. All of us… except…)

Her eyelids fluttered gently.

(I am… the avatar of…

No, I am…)

Tilde.

Tilde Cortaine.

Those words asserted themselves, certain and powerful, against the cloud of ambiguity. Her hands grasped something cold and firm.

Tilde opened her eyes.

---

The black shroud swept its arm back, as though pulling away a vast cape of darkness, the matter beneath taking the form of something new, and yet similar. It gently lowered it to the ground as it formed, like a dancer lowering his partner, and its first steps into L’Isola made it more firm with every passing second.

A jet black frame, scarred with white, almost-tattoo like lines across sharp, predatory angles. All of it pointed, with splayed wings, cradling a long, murderous looking rifle with a wide, keen axe-head at the end. A pair of white, almost slit-like eyes peered at the two soldiers from under a bat-like helm, its face both familiar and yet wholly alien.

 

[ShadowVigilante1]

Having witnessed the offering of peace earlier was a great weight off of Dimidas’ chest. There was nothing greater than for humanity to unite, to fight together and build their brighter future. He wondered if it was to be enough, but sudden attacks from the flanks of the new alliance’s position was enough to spur him into action once again.

“Unknown IFFs… We don’t have time for this.”

Dimi’s brand new Wildschwein Clarent made touch down in the area, just in time to see his radar light up like a Christmas tree. Whoever these people were, it was already clear from the outset what exactly their goal was. To cause as much chaos in this time of newly forged peace. Will these new bonds break, or will they persist? That was what Dimi wished to see, and he hoped to steer people into the later option.

“This is Dimidas Corbyn of Jericho. All units, fall back and regroup! Reform a defensive line or they’ll blast right through us.”

The Clarent dashed past ruined buildings before eventually reaching the frontlines, firing off a couple of shots from its equipped Photon Rifle S. Small balls of focused energy barreled towards the incoming Beins, but clearly it was going to take more than that to eliminate this ambushing force. The Clarent ended up taking over in the same building as the foxholed pair, taking cover from the incoming shots.

”What’s the situa-“

Before he was able to ask his question, the demonic Dis and the winged huntsman appeared from a tear in reality and appeared before him. His reflexes told him this was danger, motioning the Clarent to equip a sidearm in its free hand, the Rail Cannon pointed right at the daemon with the Photon Rifle aimed at the dark huntsman.

“Identify yourselves!” He said over loudspeakers towards the unconventional pair, he was getting an odd feeling from both of them. The bat-like one seemed almost similar to another machine in particular, the huntsman however, clearly it was based off quite the unmistakable design. If there was one thing that he was thinking about, it likely a self inquiry as to who or what these things were.

 

[Lukas]

Scattered transmissions. Flashes of power. A possible end to the Directory's shattered state had caused some grumbling among some of the mercenaries Ashley had pushed together, but she had remained seemingly neutral on the subject. Whatever limited personal understanding of the politics she had was long since gone - but something else drew her to the shattered battlefields of Germany. Somewhere in those burned out buildings lay understanding. Or failing that, another target worthy of death. The sounds of gunfire and explosions had distracted Ashley from her initial goal, leading to her jetting ahead far quicker than her associates onto a curious sight.

One she never thought she'd see again.

Riots?​

Hazy memories swam through Ashley's mind. While the sphere was no longer erasing memories from the time before, those that were gone remained frustratingly out of reach. But seeing the machines still brought back a sort of nostalgic feeling, half-real memories making her decision for her. As far as she was concerned, she was on their side. Whether they liked it or not. A flick of her wrist extended the Scaffold edge into something resembling a longsword, clasping it in both hands before swinging out in a lazy arc - slicing through anything and everything in its path. Buidlings and rubble swept aside to form a small clearing with which she could properly observe.


"Fall back. You don't want to be caught in what I'm about to do. But I'm-"

Ashley's broadcast was loosely directed at the Riot C on an open channel, more of a courtesy than a true warning. One interrupted by the arrival of yet another new player. Similar to the one that had drawn her in, but different in many ways. An Ares's blade was already spinning again, rapidly building up speed and velocity. Ready to swing at whoever moved first... or at any of the unknown Huckebeins who dared to interrupt.

"...on your side."

 

[MKR]

"Sir we've got unidentified machines appearing on all fronts!" A soldier alerted their superior as the Malta arrived to the battle in earnest, footage of the black machine and the new Wildschwein model on one side, the Sphere powered menace on the other. Each individually already presented a problem by adding yet further elements to this battle. A frown on the captain's brow as the battle below raged on, the mass of units from two factions fighting against the assailants beneath his gaze.

Shortly after Dimidas' call for a defensive line and his shots fired at them the formation opposed to him retaliated, with him hiding in the building together with the two units and a newly appearing machine. Their chakrams suddenly fired out going not inside but while remaining attached via a wire carving out essential supports to the already damaged building bludgeoned by the ongoing battle.
A controlled demolition this was not as the front section of the building began to collapse, first the bottom floors beginning to sink inwards as while the back remained standing the makeshift bunker very quickly would have its roof collapse in on it.

This footage too, played before the Malta's captain.
"This is no time for risks, the future is at stake." He spoke, behind him a man smirked. He was different from many others here in appearance, ears unlike that of humans and a tail adorned him both. "So." the man spoke "It's time for me to take the field then?"
The captain spared a glance back towards the Elaima, one of the few that had survived the end of their world.
"That it is, I want you and Hilda in the field."

The man nodded, noting to himself that not just one but two veterans were being fielded. Chances weren't being taken it seemed.
"I'll make it snappy, I assume I can bring my favorite?" The rebuilt remains of that machine, a machine of different implications in this side. A machine this man had used to terrifying effect in its original form.
"You can."

Ashley caused the surrounding Huckebeins, or machines approximate to it, to back off as she spun her weapon. Whatever intent she held it was clear to them she was no friend but while they held their weapons aimed at her, they did not yet fire. Not wishing to provoke an additional foe onto the battlefield, should she engage in earnest however the bolts of energy would shoot at An Ares' face with seemingly lethal intent all the same.

---

The Malta, looming in earnest over the city now opened its hatches. Two shapes looming within, one stood slightly taller than the mass of assailants below. Armed to the teeth based on the weapons strapped to its arms being visible even as the rest of its form was obscured. A shortened gatling gun strapped to the right arm and a held set of knives in the other from the looks of things.
Its wings soon unfurled, casting a shadow over the battle it would be joining soon.

"All systems green." Spoke its pilot, a feminine voice confirming matters for the one besides her.

Standing in the second opening was a much larger machine, towering over its peer with ease. Two green eyes lit up from his head in response, an orange gleam from its chest followed. In contrast to the muted hues of the machine besides it, obscured further by the shadow of the battleship this massive machine was colored a distinct blue decorated with yellow across its face and chest.

"Ahh its been too long." The male voice spoke "It must be age getting to me, but I am somewhat looking forward to trouncing youngsters!"

The massive machine gripped its weapon, a halberd standing taller than even it in two hands. Something was off about this machine, to these members of the former directory its visage emanated a notion of familiarity but that notion was then wrung through a funhouse mirror and left to dry for a few weeks. Simply put, it was like something they knew but couldn't put their finger on.

"That is definitely age getting to you." Hilda replied, "But at least channel it productively."

The smaller machine took off, picking up incredible speed immediately. Very soon the defenders would find themselves assailed by missiles raining on them like a hailstorm as it commenced drive-by tactics upon the unsuspecting masses.

"You really are no fun, no wonder Laura hasn't been heard from much since she left your care! Bwahaha!" The larger machine too activated its thrusters, engaging in flight and surveying for the status of those three machines. Who would be the biggest pain and who would be great fun.