On the Strait and Narrow (Val, Sess, Say)

MKR

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Aug 19, 2018
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#1
September 8th
DEC Forest outskirts
Former Turkey, site of the Dardanelles Strait
21:35 PM, local time


It would be beautiful if it were not so abhorrent, the Dimensional Energy Crystals that sparkled brightly in the glistening moonlight. Less then a year ago this had been a prospering region, the route now traversed by a Huckebein made by ample of ships coming and going for trade. People lived here and they thrived, except now. Now nothing lived here, or perhaps that was merely the hope.

After all if something lived here... It wanted you dead.

The DEC forest had sprouted suddenly, something had gone wrong on the moon and this came in response. Earth bearing the weight of whatever sins had been committed above its atmosphere and since then many a millionaire that had sought a shard of DEC cried themselves to sleep due to their wasted fortune and the forest that had made the Dimensional Energy Crystal from a scarcity to having a steady supply literally in the blink of an eye had grown steadily. How long would it continue to do so? Would it ever stop? Could it perhaps be stopped? These were pressing questions but less pressing than the murderous vagabonds rampaging around called Ruina and the classic human internal conflicts between the many factions.

One of those factions now had arrived, the first target of two began entering sight as in this clear night the technicolor crystal was still visible, uncomfortably so. Where once had been foliage and overgrowth it was coming, near the shore where some buildings still remained they only did so in spirit, half deteriorated and 'eaten'. Why they called it a forest however was plenty clear as spires rose up out of the ground, stretching arms bearing no leaves or fruit into the sky and threatening to collide with any sky faring machines were they to deign fly into them. Their sizes varied but if they had sprouted so quickly here, at the edge of the contaminated area the question was how massive they were near its center.

So far the forest had been quiet, and now there was an arrival at the opening to the Dardanelles strait, though covered in night the end, or beginning depending on which direction one was moving in, of the strait remained intact and open. Yet whether that would remain the case was in question. The only way to know was to go on, and head into the forest at night.
 
Dec 13, 2022
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#2
White gloves clenched the sticks of the venerable Huckebein Mk-II M, emerald eyes fixated on the horrific sight on the monitors as a young man's jaw tightened. Carefully maneuvering the thrusters to work in sync with the Tesla Drive flaring, the bright blue of the Huckebein's backpack cast a light over the dark sea writhing beneath the unit as it cruised through the clouds, continuing its inexorable flight to unknown skies, green visor gleaming with a Photon Rifle ready. The DEC growth, a forest of crystals and graves... He observed the dilapidated buildings, crumbling yet supported by the crystalline structure, like some alien city - The young man didn't know how many lives the DEC's branches had claimed.

It was possible it'd claim him, too, tonight.

"Well... First stage of the mission is done, we've got eyes on the Dardanelles. It's open - and even if this area isn't secured, that's not our mission. Just gotta see if it's possible to get stuff through, then other people can start laying groundwork."

As Ceren Xalto's gaze lingered on the otherworldly treeline, he could feel a shiver crawl up his spine. He was afraid - he was afraid when he joined Jericho, he was afraid when he was selected for this mission, and he was afraid now, watching the contrary serenity of a calamity's aftermath. Choking down the anxiety in his throat, he took a deep breath, and leaned back against his cockpit's seat. Faint splotches of oil stained the seat, superficial scratches and dings on the console - some were caused by him, so many days ago, in his flight from Germany... No- No, he couldn't think about that right now. He had a mission to see through.

At least he had some assistance, in that contractor tagging along with him on what could be a dead man's errand...
 
Nov 12, 2018
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#3
The MK-II M's partner wasn't in the air by its side. Instead, the Virgola's navy blue silhuoette awaited on the shoreline below, already unholstering - or rather, unslinging - its oversized, rectangular brick of a weapon from the storage mount on the rear of its hip. Wrestling the Gunnery Carver into a firing position, the barrel was brought to bear on the expanse of glimmering crystal that stretched out before the units; though it had no particular target in mind at the time, it seemed the pilot expected one to emerge at any moment.

"Understood."

Kenneth's curt, deadpan response belied the palpable unease the contractor felt as the Virgola's head slowly turned, scanning the edges of the "forest" just ahead. Occasionally, the moonlight refracted or bounced off the shining spires in just the right manner to produce the impression of motion where none existed. Though there was some still distance until they entered the mass of DEC proper, he found himself already unable to calm his nerves; his fingers moved shakily to double-check system readouts one final time.

To think of the sea of crystal growths before him as beautiful - even in a sort of grotesque fashion - didn't cross his mind once. Those gems, perhaps considered valuable by some...they had been nothing but a blight on his life. No, more than that, they had taken-

Taken? Was that the right word? Why...had he come here to begin with? It was getting difficult to think. A strange pressure was building on his skull like the slowly-tightening grip of an invisible vise, and he came precariously close to believing the sensation felt uncomfortably familiar.

Johanna-

Kenneth blinked. Did he...zone out just now? In this situation? The tension faded as he allowed himself to refocus, sweeping the forest's edge one last time.

"Though, let me get this straight-"

The Virgola raised an arm from the Gunnery Carver's grips, allowing the barrel to fall earthwards, and pointed into the shining spires before them.

"That right there...is pretty much just death, right? And we're supposed to go through it. Just checking to see if my understanding of the situation matches yours."

He was only half-joking.
 
Dec 13, 2022
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#4
The Huckebein Mk-II M dropped down a few thousand feet to better be seen by Kenneth's Mark-I Eyeball, that Photon Rifle brought to bear as Ceren, too, watched for any signs of a threat emerging, disturbed by mankind's machines getting ever closer to the forest's hungering branches. His sensors were cold, save for the friendly IFF of the Virgola at his pseudo-side, and yet a pit of anxiety remained cold in his gut. Regardless of how many deep breaths he'd taken, or the steadying of shaky, gloved fingers on the hand rakes of his Personal Trooper, this pressure wouldn't fade.

At the very least, hearing his fellow unfortunate soul speaking was a grounder.

"Um..."

Well, he wasn't wrong. There was a reason they sent only two Mobile Weapons to investigate this area - why waste anything more on first - and last - contact?

"Yeah."

Ceren knew the risks (At least, the ones explained to him), but he'd taken this mission anyhow. Anything he could do to help, to keep his hands and mind busy, To get the sounds and sights of the slaughter out of his head, to stop hearing the missile warnings on his six at night, for something, anything he could do to find purpose after his cowardice-

"...It's a cold comfort, but if stuff does go wrong, I could probably carry you out of here with me? This Tesla Drive isn't exactly working overtime on a machine like mine."

While the Jericho pilot's voice betrayed his own unease with their mission's success rate, and his fear at what was hidden beneath overgrown, corrupted skyscrapers - it seemed that Kenneth would at least have someone at his back.
 

Hitura Rael

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Sep 29, 2018
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Northeast Ohio
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#5
Vertalis tapped away at his keyboard while watching the feed from the Capra. Today, they were surveying the edge of the forest again. Since Couch's death, may his soul not rest in peace for the war crimes and ethical codes he flagrantly violated, the crew had been stationed here on his suggestion. Finding a way to stop the growth of this forest was something worthy of pursuing, now that the bully was gone.

Every day, the damn thing crept, just a little more, each spire just a little bigger, and all the more deadlier. Monitoring it, however, with the proper equipment, they could find a way to counter act it, maybe even shrink it! It was just a matter of determining the mechanism of how it grew.

"Two marks have appeared on scans doctor."

Vertalis turned his attention from the readings to the rest of the crew. "The Hostile entities?"

"Negative."

"Hmph," He snorted, then resumed recording data, "No need to prepare the canon then." They had repaired it, though he did push for safeguards and ethics behind it's use. The Ruina that inhabited the area were targets for it, interlopers were not. That particular weapon was a Hail Mary now, not to turn on human beings. "Capra is nearby. Minerva."

"..."

"There are two inbound units, please intercept them and orchestrate their surrender. We'll deploy Cuddles behind them to cut off their retreat. You should be able to handle both with ease."

"..."

Honestly, Cuddles was overkill at this point. The creature could easily snipe the two now. But Minerva did not seem to like needless killing, and all of the crew owed her and Roman...

"You are authorized to capture them instead of killing."

"Understood." Minerva muttered in response, monotone and quiet.

"Alright, shift to battlestations everyone."




The Capra abandoned position to advance toward Kenneth and Ceren. Her signature would appear on their radar long before she emerged from the crystal forest in front of them. The goat like pink machine floated before them, emerging like a succubus from hell. The runes upon her wings glowed Dimensional Energy Green, though they would not have much of a way of knowing that meant the Capra was powered up.

"You have entered restricted airspace," The girl's monotone voice drawled, clear as a bell, just loud enough to be heard, "You will lay down arms and surrender peacefully-"

A second signature suddenly appeared behind them. The sea bubbled and roiled, swelling like a boil on flesh until the tension broke. An unearthly roar of static, grinding metal, and fury rang out. Cuddles shifted into position behind them, chest panel exposed with a rainbow of light glittering menacingly.

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"If not... We will subdue you. And Cuddles is not as nice as I am."
 

MKR

Moderator
Staff member
Aug 19, 2018
626
3
18
#6
Amidst the crystal trees, gnawing darkness and ruined ruins which may or may not be home to Ruina there was something stirring. Hidden amidst the 'canopy' and lying in wait. Its own nature made it excel at remaining off the radar, at least while it was alone. Now, with the arrival of additions to this environ it stirred. What could be interpreted as malicious intent glared at the machines through the darkness.

This gaze, which had rested on the Great Axion for so long calmly moved between those that entered the area and those who moved around as to not be detected itself. The time to act was here, that much was clear and so it began to move ever so slowly to avoid the notice of all those mobilized for battle. Creeping up the way the Capra went but not towards it instead moving closer to the Great Axion itself.

Still, that was not the only thing that had been interesting to see amongst the various machines present. Whilst it had been the most interesting the Capra and its companion were intriguing as well, that was why this had been so patient an approach and even in the new arrivals there were points of intrigue. The threat was transmitted, a call to surrender to the arrivals.

Moments passed after, enough to give a response violent or not before...

The air shook, the crystal trees ringing in response to this vibration. It almost seemed like a dimension quake, but those hadn't happened properly in months. Even so if anywhere here made the most sense... But no, to a trained eye this was not one Dimensional Quake but instead a more local phenomenon. Like glass the sky shattered revealing not a technicolor void behind it but instead one colored in vile purple, like a miasma that permeated a swamp.


Then another window shattered open, and another, two clawed hands moving to either side of the gateways as smaller DAMON leapt through them, falling down to the ground below. Standing in contrast to Cuddles their crystals too were not all colors under the rainbow but instead the same purple as the windows they fell through. A small army of them rained down like a storm between the confrontation and the Axion before three Dino DAMON, the sources of these windows finally went through themselves. Landing and roaring as they turned their gazes upon the surrounding machines.