Prelude to Singspiel (Endymion)

GEAR

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August 28th
Armored Train "Pelegri"
West Siberian Plain
En route to Germany


The rattling of the traincar around them would have made anyone a little nauseous, but after a little while? It wasn't so bad. It was definitely a far sight better than the rattling the orbital forces were taking, so that was at least something to be grateful for. Row upon row of Mobile Weapon lay, concealed underneath a camouflaged exterior intended to prevent for as long as possible any detection by Terra Sentinel's Guardian Satellites, dust slowly collecting on their frames in the dull light as tech crews worked hurriedly to make requested adjustments by a deadline.

In ones and twos, pilots filtered into the command car, seating themselves on either side, or standing, gripping rings that dangled from the ceiling. Lunarian and Terran, segregating into their own private groups, each easily distinct by the manner of their grooming, the quality of their equipment, both eyeballing one another anxiously.

It was a reminder to Director Sullivan that there was still much work to be done. The Terran, Lunarian by blood, caught between the two worlds, stood at the head of the room, a large screen behind him. It displayed, at present, a map of Europe, as well as their projected route towards Berlin, the armored train's unstoppable advance through the region, a glowing dot of crimson in a sea of green and blue, inexorably inching forward towards the front lines.

"Thank you all for coming." Said Sullivan, eyes scanning the room as it filled to capacity. Holographic screens projected a mirror of his diagram into the center of the room, making it easier for those at the back to see - and most importantly - hear - what he had to say.

"For obvious reasons, we couldn't disclose the full nature of the operation until now."

He glanced aside - sure enough, Juliette was there, leaning against one of the walls, watching him intently. Her presence was reassuring, and set his own nerves at peace as he tapped through to the next slide, the map zooming in to show their destination: a map of the city Berlin, causing a mumbling to rise from the collected masses.

"On September fifth, we will deliver a decisive strike that will end this war, and bring the Directory remnants fully under our control. Queen Selene and I are in full agreement on this matter - and I will be spearheading the offensive alongside you, with Granteed."

More muttering. It wasn't exactly the fevered endorsement he had hoped for, but he was, after all, the outsider. The only way to win their trust would be to fight alongside them - Selene herself had been particular on this fact.

"For this, we have selected our best and brightest. You are the elite of the elite, and your strength is needed now more than ever before."

Still. Could he get the buy-in he needed? Or would he be left marching on the capital by himself? It would all depend on the next few minutes of his life - and whether or not there would be any interruptions.
 
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MKR

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For Johanna the train trip was more nostalgic then uncomfortable, brought her back to when she was taking the train to the military academy daily in a sense this wasn't very different. Granted back in those days she could play a game on her phone the whole way while currently that didn't really fly as she filed into the command cabin. Different priorities and all, those days had just been a boring ride now there was the constant threat of orbital bombardment to keep them up at night.

And here, the train had already split itself in tribal lines. Behind her, the ranks of the earthborn members of Endymion. On the other side the natives to the moon, with their really high percentage of people with white hair. She really needed to look into that, do people born on the moon just grey early or what? If that was a normal thing there, which it really seemed to be at this rate, then she had to wonder about people that moved there from earth and if their hair would turn white as well.

Putting that aside, she paid attention to the presentation itself. Going straight to Berlin itself huh, she kind of figured at this rate that they were doing that. A decisive blow they called that, after all no one had been able to claim Berlin as their territory since the Directory fell and the German machine, that oh so famous nickname for its industry and the speed at which it worked held true to this day. Take Berlin, you take Germany, take Germany and you've got one of the best production centers on the globe.

The muttering about Sullivan caused her to sigh internally. Personally she was grateful to the man as without him she would have been tossed in the brig or just forced to retire. Instead here she was, part of one of the most important operations in history and this time it was actually her doing it. Not some lousy double. Their Best and brightest... Familiar words those, very, very familiar. She remembered what happened the last time someone had called a group that, infiltration.

She had to stop herself from having a reaction as she instead closed her eyes for a moment to focus. It wasn't her intent to crush the Director's dream of taking Berlin with her reaction alone so she centered herself. Once that was done her eyes opened again, two brown pearls looking at the hologram.
"You can count on me Director." She finally spoke.
 

GEAR

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"Thank you, Sir D'Arcy, Miss Johanna... All of you."

A surprising round of reassuring voices went up as the Director scanned the room, causing him to bow his head in gratitude. There was a certain kind of... firmness to his voice, an underlying current of inflexible timbre that lent it a kind of strength to the ear. With genetic engineering how it was, there was a good chance it had been purchased at a price few in the room could comprehend.

"I promise... I won't let you down."

No matter what.

He had to wonder what Rodgers would say about that one, but kept his gaze from moving back to Juliette this time. He had to handle this on his own. Clearing his throat, Sullivan turned back to the matter at hand, gesturing to the screen once more, which showed a layout of different units. The red, beetle-shaped machine had been paired its aerial equal, likely not to the surprise of either pilot - in spite of their differing origins. Perhaps the Director was just that confident in their loyalty?

"Moving on, you'll find detailed platoon assignments in your-"

There was a sudden, metallic screech, and all present reflexively grabbed for support. Sullivan himself, caught unawares, was slammed back against the wall, momentarily losing his breath as more than a few of their number fell from their seats with a yell, the sound of the train's brakes being slammed on as hard as possible filling the room. As some began to climb back to their feet, the onboard loudspeaker crackled to life, as a somewhat uncertain voice spoke into the car:

"Attention all hands: Hostiles detected on the tracks ahead. Looks like there's been some kind of crash-"
The Director didn't even wait for a moment, raising his hand as he staggered to his feet:

"Fast response team, deploy! Intercept them before they reach the train - there's no time to lose!"

Now just what, he had to wonder, could they be up against? What power would be mad enough to challenge them here, in their own territory?

They were about find out.






There was a soft, wet crunch as the Enders Blade came free from the cockpit of its latest victim, the silver giant framed against the flames of the burning Tausendfuessler class behind it. One foot came out, lazily compacting the chest of a Huckebein Mk-IIM as it admired the crimson sheen now splattered across the weapon's length.

"Slayer Two. Cleanup operations have been completed."

There was a fluttering, a sound of movement, and the Ascalon reflexively turned, bringing the weapon to bear - but found only its mirror image, landing nearby. It relaxed - but only slightly, keeping the sword to its brethren's neck. The second Nemesis regarded the first in its own chilly silence, before the first finally responded, a tinny, raspy voice masked by the full-body pilot suit they wore distorting their words:

"Slayer Three: Acknowledged. Go for the high score?"

The urge was there. The need to butcher and slay. When all other variables had been eliminated, would they turn on one another, as they had the others? Or were there still beasts in need of slaying? A chirp on the HUD of one caused both to turn their heads in synch. The distant form of the train as it ground to a halt, like a gigantic caterpillar inching across the horizon.

"Negative. New target detected."

"How many?" Said the second, raising its blade in anticipation. This, at last, seemed to solicit a cold laugh from its partner, as their wings folded forward about their waists, both Specials exploding forward towards the new arrivals.

"Enough."
 

Hitura Rael

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#4
It was different, being on earth. The gravity was very different, yet so similar. But that was the only thing semi familiar. The air was different, clean and fresh with the natural smells of the land, now subdued by the smell of the train. The scenery passed by so quickly, but slow enough to enjoy everything briefly enough. And enjoy it James did, probably a little more than the others. Ok, a lot more than everyone else. It was something he had dreamed of for so long. To see earth first hand... it was worth being on this mission, dangerous as it was. He stayed in a front car rather than with the rest of the troops, purely for the view. He leaned against the window, marveling at each river, steam, and tree. REAL ones!

"Hey, time for the briefing." Merida tapped James on the shoulder as she made her way to the back car. It didn't even register in James' mind. Not until she came back in to grab him by the ear and drag him toward the back. He sheepishly sat down with the terrans once she let go. He muttered an apology for being late while rubbing his sore ear. The distraction, if he had caused one, didn't last long.

The screech of the breaks was accompanied by the jolt forward at the sudden stop. He managed to keep himself upright in his chair, though it was a big effort. Merida was lucky enough to have the aid of the knights around her to keep her from kissing the floor. James frowned and made his way up to the front of the car. He stopped only briefly to address Sullivan, "If they can keep them busy for a few minutes, we can get clear enough to summon Genion and lend a hand." He glanced back to the faces gathered in the car, scrambling to their stations, "Be careful out there everyone."
 

MKR

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#5
Johanna's eyes passed over the late arrivals, a Lunarian sitting down with the earthlings. How curious, even moreso once realization struck how fortunate. Then despite being among the standing she had managed to stay upright, years of experience helped when it came to that. Enemies on their path, her mind wandered as her body began motion towards her unit. Genion.

There were things she wanted to do so so badly, barely keeping her impulses in check as she seated herself inside the Abend. Inside its confines she inhaled, exhaled. And laughter filled the inside of the Abend, unheard to those outside and courtesy of boot up still being in progress kindly removed from military channels. A moment purely to herself. She could hardly contain herself, the best and brightest indeed. To think the Quarrelling Twins had made their way to her!

Oh she just had to see it in action, she had to gauge that man and his machine. Whether to talk to him or try to pry that thing from his clutches. Her curiosity could barely be contained but she calmed herself, a hand running through her hair as boot up finished, almost live. She cleared her throat, eased her thought. First and foremost she had to observe, she was an observer and a contestant. Not one over the other. Genion would summon itself, she merely had to sit back and watch.
By the time the Weissritter launched she was practically giddy.

"Ensign Johanna van den Berg, launching." She managed to calmly announce, the Weissritter Abend shooting off into the distance, keeping a bit away from the main action. Below her, a familiar red brick. How it ended up here of all places she didn't know but she did know who wasn't inside it. Still today was a strange day becoming ever stranger with these things.

The Weissritter hung in the air above the tracks, looking down upon the trio of enemies as it held its rifle at the ready.
"Confirmed visual, two unknowns." She could see the blood already on the one's 'boot'. What would she pry their defenses with, well the Alteisen dealt only in physical projectiles and its stake. So the energy variant should do to gather as much information as she could. The rifle was flipped to E mode, D'Arcy made his declaration at this time...

What was the harm in waiting for an answer, the rifle was ready and should they make any offensive maneuver. A most likely event, she would fire upon the blood stained one without any further delay. But until then, what was the worst that could happen from giving the knight his stage and letting his question decorate the air. It helped fill the time until the main course was here.
 

GEAR

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Within the train, Sullivan nodded at James. For now, he needed to depend on Selene's brother, and the strength of the Sphere-wielder. To say that the arcane relic made him uneasy would have been an understatement, but at least for the time being he didn't have any choice.

Were it only that such things weren't necessary for peace.

Meanwhile-

"Did you hear that?"

The two Ascalons continued their approach, slowing only slightly as the two Personal Troopers emerged to greet them. To the Psychodriver, and to Johanna... each foe radiated an eerie feeling. like an aura of intense coldness that numbed the edges of their fingers, dropping the internal temperature of the cockpit such that it resembled a walk-in freezer, as the lead unit turned its head slightly to the one beside it, which kept its stony gaze facing forward.

"These insects can talk."

A garbled, humorless chuckle came from one, almost as unfeeling as a burst of static. This was, after all, what they had signed up for. Was it better from the filth that they had left behind? The poverty, the desperation? She seemed to think so.

"Funny-"

Slayer One's eye glimmered - and the leading Ascalon sent a bolt of power spearing up at the flying Weissritter, thrusters fluttering as it flew into the air, already grasping its swords in anticipation as it accelerated, the weapons being pulled free with a spray of sparks. Its grin seemed to gleam even brighter in the sunshine, as if it had been waiting to sink its teeth into something all day long. The Abend's barrel lit up- and the Nemesis' wings flared in response, the energy blast thundering so close to its paint job that it made the quicksilver-like surface hiss, melt and bubble, blackened stains now mixing with dried blood.

"I didn't hear anything."

"Commence destruction."

Slayer Two, the following unit, ducked under its lunging comrade, going straight for the bright red form of the Alt Eisen. It towered over the hulking beetle-like frame, almost twice its overall height as it extended one long, blood-splatted claw in D'Arcy's direction. Near the wrist, a barrel blazed, sending heavy machinegun rounds lancing in his direction, aimed to pepper the Alt and keep it it one place until the Special had closed to its preferred range.

Seven would be pleased.
 
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MKR

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In a sense it was almost cute, to hear vile beasts describe them as insects. She could almost feel the cold they exuded in her cockpit, still she inhaled through her nose. It was time to get on the move, sitting still would allow that beam to strike her. Flicking her rifle back as her foe advanced, the small bit at the end attaching itself to one of the split missile pods upon her back. The first of a dozen thrown right between her and the charging beast. With her free hand she levelled the triple beam cannon at the pod and the machine behind it, firing once.

Right as the split missiles did as their namesake implied, split, she fired at the core. This trick had always been a favorite of hers, a nice chain explosion in the middle of the air. A minefield on demand and in cases like this a smoke screen to force her enemy to guess where she would be heading next. In this case she decided her own right was the correct choice so after a moment of movement. Firing twice, through the smoke a blue beam pierced aiming straight for the head of the attacker. And firing thrice, that would now be two beams aimed for the thing's head through the field of explosions. Now, that was all nice and good but none of this solved the issue of pursuit permanently. A wild goose chase, as long as she was quicker then her foe, was however equally valid.

And in her case, not many things could outspeed her. She was curious really, how would this adversary close that distance and prevent her from simply shooting its wings down like Icarus approaching the sun with a well places shot she could melt or break that delicate machinery forcing her foe to eat dirt. But even more curious, why had the air gone thick once more. Her breath flowed as easy as ever but on the other side. It was like that time, was it perhaps because of what was coming? No answers presented themselves so for now it was experiencing the question.
 

Hitura Rael

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The familiar sound of a chaotic battlefield filled the air. On the other side of the train, James had little vantage of it, but rather a nice open space with no enemies in sight. Yet... he felt uneasy, vulnerable... Something was wrong. It felt like... He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. While parsing that feeling through, he snapped his fingers. Darkness seemed to fall behind the train. Perse trails of energy spread in massive arcs before James, tracing a massive circle of arcane design above the ground. The completed summoning circle spewed amethyst and dark light from it's core, a pinpoint of light sillhouetting a figure as it rose from the depths.

1625925823394.png

The circle exploded in broken motes of light, the Azure machine bathed in the light of the sun. As one, James and Merida took to the cockpit. Proximity to the machine alone was comforting, like greeting a friend that hadn't been seen for a long time. Merida took her place in the copilot's chair, her fingers dancing across the controlls to bring the Genion online and the weapons systems to full bear. James settled into the pilot's seat and gripped the controls. A verdant flash emited from the oculars as the machine came fully online.

Her thrusters activated as she jumped, giving her a boost over the train to put the Genion between the combatants and the train. "Genion fully online, We'll defend the train." James paused, scanning the battlefield once more, "Be on your guard, I've got a bad feeling... Like someone's watching." There was no need to interfere with the others fighting. He'd only get in the way. If someone started to struggle... he'd jump in of course. But for now, he'd defend this train.
 

GEAR

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Slayer Two closed the gap on wings of fire. The Alt slowed, and much as D'Arcy suspected - its database registered it as little more than a customized Gespenst - Well within expected parameters. The pilot couldn't help but smirk - that red coloring, sadly, would hide the blood from its pilot being splattered all over their cockpit, but the resulting spray on the field around it could be impressive. The machinegun rounds had likely crippled it, causing it to grind to a halt.

Now all that was left was the execution. The Special, as soon as it came into range, made zero hesistation in bringing the right Ender Blade around in a sweeping, scything strike aimed to cleave the Alt in two at the waist, immediately followed by the silver giant's form twisting - and bringing the second down from its left in a murderous overhead swing with its entire momentum behind it, a crushing coup-de-grace that was more like the fall of a hammer than a guillotine, aimed to crush the Alt from its head into its soles like a Russian accordian.

Slayer One, airborne, faired worse than its sister unit. Its arm machineguns lit up at full bore, chattering as it blasted the Split Missiles out of the air. Smoke filled the pilot's vision as it continued to build speed. Where? Where had it-

Light.

Blinding. Painful light.

One blast smashed home, punching a hole clear through the Ascalon's head. It tilted back, giving a howling, unearthly, static flecked scream of pain as its torso tilted back. Bright red energy gathered in its chest, a reflexive counterattack- and the skies turned crimson, as the Celestial Buster was released, pouring death into the sky after Johanna's Weissritter. The machine's arms filed wildly beside it, filling the air with machinegunfire - though it hardly seemed purposeful, and almost as if the pilot was now holding the triggers in a death-grip, unable to release them.

What on earth were they fighting?



Meanwhile-

It was... quiet.

As James spoke, there was no response. Nobody seemed to hear him either. It was as if, all of a sudden... He was alone. Yet, the train was nearby - he could at least be certain of that, his sensors weren't failing him quite that badly. All the while... the sense of menace, of unease he had felt in the air was growing, crawling up the back of his neck like a lonesome tarantula.

A strange, golden fog seemed to be rolling in, though from where it was uncertain, starting to obscure his line of sight. Already, he couldn't see the attackers up ahead anymore.

1626091211218.png

The Genion's sensors, puzzled, automatically flicked through its various ECM suites, trying to find some kind of match for the phenomenon before it. Until then, James was left, seemingly alone... to ponder.
 

MKR

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That trick never got old, through the grating noise in her ears she could do without. Though there was little time to bask in her favorite party trick when the sky grew red. Even a blind enemy would still aim in the rough direction of its adversary and so the Weissritter quickly ducked down, dropping quickly as the rifle was steadied on the target she had had in her sights. A switch to B mode made during the drop as the Celestial Buster passed overhead basking the top of the white and red unit in an even more infernal hue.

And as it came to a sudden mid air stop the trigger was pulled, one bullet coursing through the solemn skies, followed by another as the trigger was pulled once more and a third, final shot. Each successively aimed along the projected path of the enemy, the first aiming for the head once more and the last two at the torso. Methodically aimed to fully disable her foe, but still during all this time she sat anxiously in her seat, at this rate these enemies would be dead before the twins arrived so where was it.

Despite the enemy right in front of her she couldn't help but look back for any sign or sight of the ally she had wanted to see in action, only to be greeted with a golden mist. The Weissritter Abend pausing in mid air to behold the sight.

It was just like back then.

That fateful day on the Irish island, the day which set the path she had fallen down and climbed through.
Over the public comms a nervous laughter came, she couldn't help herself. Her sensors were showing nothing but then again that made sense. Too much sense. She flicked her speakers on as the last of the laughter came through.
"To those hearing this, either flee or launch everything." She spoke in unnerving calm "Arriving in this location in the monster which destroyed Belfast singlehandedly. Shiseiten and its kin."


The rifle was flung over her unit's shoulder as she floated closer to the fog.
"I was wondering about the silence, but that's your doing is it not- Pontiff Cassilda." Oh she remembered her, too well. Emmissary of the monster which lived in her nightmares, the voice of the many mawed monster. The past six months there hadn't been a night where she hadn't heard that voice once. The silver visage of the inhuman human. The Weissritter hung in front of the fog, a small distance away. In all likelihood the Genion was in there as was the train, she wondered if they could even hear her through the stillness within.

A grin had forced itself on her features in spite of herself, she was still terrified out of her mind but that terror was being pumped into something else. Forcefully shut off. Directed to something to call it over, the second that beast reared its head she was ready for it.
"Have you another warning? Or have the planets aligned, your favorite foe is not here however so what point is there to this."

The rifle was spun, that annoyance behind her- should it have survived her assault, best not interrupt her at this moment.
 

Hitura Rael

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James froze entirely, still like a deer in the line of sight of a predator. The feeling grew stronger, something was definitely watching them. Bathed in the golden fog, his own voice sounding distant and distorted. Had they even heard him? Or was something wrong with his ears? He glanced back up at Merida, watching her mouth move but no sound coming out. The tanned woman was pale, eyes wide with terror. Damnit, what was going on? He tapped his ears, then shook his head.

Whatever this was, it was going to make this more complicated. He took a deep breath, pushing down the fear working its way up his spine. He couldn't panic, not if he was going to protect everyone. First things first, the train was vulnerable. The Genion put her hand on the top of the cars and moved relatively slowly (for the Genion at least) down the line until he reached the back end. Should anyone see him, the Genion made a pushing motion before firmly planting her palms on the back of the train and giving it all she had, fighting the breaks if necessary. It's not like they could tell the crew to flip the breaks off or get moving or anything at this point.
 

GEAR

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As James started to make his way towards the back of the train, he would have been reassured as there was a silent clunk under his feet. The train was starting to move - and quickly, as it started to pick up speed. The reason was immediately apparent, as the world seemed to grow darker. The ochre-tinted horizon flickered and wavered in his vision, phantom spires and twinkling lights materializing in the skies, like a ghostly citadel from a fantasy novel was in the distance.

Something impossibly vast loomed over him as the train careened forward, briefly, and it would have felt as though a cold finger had been run up the nape of his neck - perhaps a reaction from the Sphere, channeled through his body.

A warning.

A large hand grasped the side of the train right next to the Genion - but, likely to the young man's relief, the form of the Granteed would have materialized through the fog. Sullivan's MW gave him what amounted to a weary wave, the proud Super Robot's surface covered with gashes and dents. Had he been fighting off the interlopers alone until now?

There were shapes advancing on them now through the fog - bulbous, golden, metallic carapaces gleaming as they began to descend, at least three in total. There was something about how they advanced that seemed unusual, only becoming more clear the closer they came - and as one pulled right overhead, it shifted from its sideways advance, legs and claws unfolding with a spray of sparks as a single, malevolent eye peered down at the Genion. One massive, hammer-like crab-claw was raised - and came crashing down as the creature fell, aiming to crush the Genion instantly with its size and weight, as the other two zoomed closer, attempting to grasp onto the train itself.




"WHAT?!"

Slayer Two's eyes widened within the cockpit - but only briefly as the hail of claymore rounds detonated in the Ascalon's face. The force behind the weapons alone was significant, slamming into the Ascalon's body as if it had been punched by something of comparable size, causing its swings to go wide as it flailed in response. Row after row of the kinetic weapons pulverized the Special's slender body - and sent it toppling back, its face now little more than a mangled, crumbled sphere of metal, and its upper chest severely dented.

For a moment, the Ascalon was still - before its torso rose slightly off the ground, shakily directing one arm towards the Alt- and another torrent of bullets fired from its machinegun, aimed to shred the Personal Trooper before it could deliver a killing blow to a crippled adversary.

Meanwhile, the deadly crimson beam swept after the Weiss, so close it scorched the paint on its back. As Jo loosed her rounds, her blinded foe didn't even have the time to cry out, as the beams pierced first its mangled head - and then its chest. With a howl of atomic fury, the Celestial Reactor in its chest went critical, the Ascalon detonating in midair like an enormous bomb that saw its legs and arms flying off in all directions, a shower of metal and flaming pieces of flesh splattering down on the Weiss's surface.

She faced the cloud, her words echoing out into the surroundings. All was quiet. All was still.

Until, as before... A voice sang out, echoing across the minds of all present.

The moon shines whitely; I shall take
My silk umbrella, lest the moon
Too warmly fall upon the lake

And cause my bridal flowers to swoon.

Sure enough, it was just like back then.

The jutting spires of Lost Carcosa, materialized through the clouds like half-glimpsed mirages, growing more real with every moment, yet never quite passing the threshold of "substance", as if it were content to merely linger on the edge of reality. Dark stars twinkled above, and an unfamiliar, cracked moon now hung in the sky overhead.

The sparrow’s sorrow is in vain,
And so does he his bride forget.
I wed the long grass and the rain,

And seven sailors dripping wet.

The fog roiled, as something vast emerged, straining through teeth that could have torn the throats of gods, filtering around a mountain of bone and flesh that glided through the air, as silent as death itself. Twin pincer-like structures twitched, as if grasping at invisible prey, over five colossal skulls of beasts that were not of this earth, predators of realm so far removed from imagination that it might as well have been the depths of Hell itself, surveying the souls before it with countless eyeless sockets.
And shall not you and shall not I
Keep tryst beside this silent stream,
Who thought that we should rather die

Than wed the peacock’s amber dream?

Shiseiten loomed over the battlefield, now undeniably real. Nothing remained of the wounds they had inflicted upon it previously, as if that brief victory had been nothing but a mirage, a trick of their own deluded minds.

The moon shines whitely; I shall take
My silk umbrella, lest the moon
Too coldly fall upon the lake

And chill my bridal flowers too soon.

At length, the incantation faded - and several shapes were visible, arrayed before the Shiseiten. Their forms were instantly recognizeable - Shimeisou, the thing's bastard offspring, clad in their armored forms. One in particular stood at the forefront, its carapace a jet black compared to those of its peers, directly under the chin of the nightmare.

Within the cockpit, Pontiff Cassilda opened her eyes. Her bangles jingled silently about her arms, as she lifted them in welcome towards Johanna and her companions.

"Rejoice, child." She said, smoothly.

"The Reactor of the Silent Crab, Pallid Mask, has in his inestimable benevolence, seen fit to grant you the blessing of Lasfitot's Peace."

A dozen bolts of black flame plumed into being above the monstrosity, each easily over twenty meters in height alone. Cassilda gave a smile that was as warm and welcoming as the jagged lip of an iceberg, as she whispered:

"Do not resist."

With a grinding roar, the blasts rained down on the assembled group - a cacophonous rain of fire that seared flesh, earth, and soul, tearing great chunks of of the grassland below as it turned the entire plain into a raging inferno. The Shimeisous, five in total, began to advance towards Johanna as well, flying sideways as was their custom unhurriedly. Time, after all, was on their side.
 
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MKR

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#13
The singing, so the pontiff saw fit to respond in her own way. Very well, that was enough confirmation for her. Heat scorched her back as the explosion took place. The Abend calmly raising its left arm skywards and mocking the snap of a finger, no sound came from the gesture but this was not due to the presence of the Shiseiten but rather a fundamental structural flaw in trying to make the fingers of a mech snap.

Nevertheless, it was the gesture which mattered most. A portal opening up in the space besides the Abend, a black void showing itself with blue flames surrounding it. The pontiff had given her ample time to get her business in order, and now she could still reach out to it. It floated through the black void making its presence known, a mimicry of the Abend besides it in a way. It always amused Johanna how alike the two had been in external appearance, but that was where the similarities ended. She closed her eyes and inhaled, the second Weissritter turning to the Abend as the spires were made manifest.



And in one swift motion punched a clawed arm through the chest of the Abend, reaching inside. Inside the cockpit of the abend Johanna stood up. The machine's second arm now punching through the upper torso of the Abend, tearing it open, exposing it to the fresh air. She simply stepped into its open palm.
A pressure made itself known at this moment, as Johanna opened her eyes once more. Instead of the prior brown two red pearls now gazed out to the sickly yellow sky. Any psychodriver in the area, should they not be inside the stillness of the mist could sense the inherent... wrongness radiate off her like a lamp radiated light. The green flesh of the second Weissritter opened up allowing her passage into its confines and at this moment, another pressure radiated off her felt by those who themselves held a sphere. A pressure she had suppressed herself, her nature as the reactor of the Curious Goat.

The Abend began to slump, with no one at its controls it was like a doll upon a chair, held aloft by the arm sticking through its gut and the thrusters upon its back, weakening by the second.
From the confines of her new cockpit she finally responded.
"Yes I can indeed hear you." She spoke calmly as her 'new' machine gutted her 'old' machine a grey goop dripping from its abdomen "You may want to hurry. Use whatever tools at your disposal."

The second hand reached back over to the Abend, tearing the Partizan launcher out of the Abend's lifeless hand and then the first hand pulled- something coming loose from the confines of the machine's chest. It was a pearl of sorts, but only many many times larger. The Weissritter beheld it for a moment. For something that was no sphere, this would more than suffice.

It forced the pearl into its own abdomen, the Abend's eyes now ceasing to give off light and its thrusters stopped. Its power source had been robbed from it. It plummeted down to the earth below, falling atop the train tracks and bouncing to the side immediately. Clearing the way for the train but giving a full view for all those within of the gutted machine where it lay in a swiftly forming pool of its own cooling liquids.
Ah she had to thank Juliette after this- that much was certain.

The Rein Weissritter held both rifles within its hands as the spell finished, the beast well within vision. Her pupils dilated, she was utterly and horribly terrified she wished to flee once more. But the last time she had rushed the beast against her better knowledge, this time she would stand against it against her better knowledge. Foolishness harnessed by power, not wisdom.

A transmission over open frequencies, not voiced but typed. The last time, it wasn't able to stop that with its fog.
"ARE YOU ALIVE - HANG IN THERE"

Now, her attention came down upon the demon spawn and the Pontiff within it. Red eyes bearing down upon the source of her fears- she could kill them with the right tools. While the Goat may not be able to speak to her due to them to confirm her theory she could kill them she was sure of it. She just needed the tools.
"I- The Reactor of the Curious Goat who has conquered the Sorrowful Maiden. Johanna van den Berg. Refuse." If she had to guess they were watching Gragios' library and noticed her entry. That had to be how they knew. Or perhaps the pressure that one time was their gaze.
Oh how curious.

Worshippers of a false god, aiming for the destruction of everything and to do what, make 'nothing' in its place? That in and of itself showed they had no true conception of the machinations of the universe. A sad reality but she wouldn't inform them. Not yet, that was for later. She gazed down at the arm in which the Sorrowful Maiden rested, that despair- would feed her connection.

But for now she flew upwards, staying a distance away from the horde of putrid children.
"Pallid Mask- I will return your benevolence with my own as I promise to repay you for the despair I felt at Belfast in equal measure."
 

Hitura Rael

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#14
Thankfully, the train moved. Glorious day! Pushing that thing was going to be annoying as all f- "HOLYFUCKINGHELLDONTDOTHAT!" James jumped in his seat at the sudden appearance of a hand through the fog, his reaction coupled with the danger sense tickling at the back of his neck. His face lit up like a christmas tree- if all the lights were red- embarassed at being startled by the Granteed. Startled- NOT scared. He glanced back and sure enough, Merida was laughing at him, though he couldn't hear her. Great... The Genion turned it's back to the train, hoping it would keep moving and get the hell out of here.

He frowned at the approach of the shadows in the fog. Great. Just great. Why did it always have to be monsters in the fog? Why couldn't it be friendly puppies or something? The genion took a ready stance, similar to a boxer. The plating shifted, the silver painted over the white vanishing under the blue plates as it shifted to GAI mode. The enemy resolved itself into... crabs. Well, they did say everything eventually evolved into crabs... That feeling again though- He glanced up in time to catch the shadow above him, like a creepy ceiling crab staring down at him- Oh that wasn't good. The Genion wrapped her arms around the Granteed and threw herself to the side, thrusters burning through the fog to account for the extra weight of the other machine as the crab came crashing down.

The Genion released the Granteed and spun around to face the creature after narrowly avoiding becoming a pancake. Or... would that be a crab cake? Crab pancake? Damnit this silence sucked! His jokes always sounded shitty in his head. Another chill ran up his spine. Merida's foot tapped his shoulder, a small window popping up on his screen to display what he was too afraid to turn to see, lest he lose sight of the crab. Well. He'd have sight of another crab. A bigger, worse crab that looked like it was shat out by someone playing with a randomized generator WAY too much. He shuddered at the sight of the Shiseiten in the same way as someone seeing a spider or maybe touching some wet old food floating around in dishwater in the sink. The Genion raised it's hand, snapping it's fingers, the coalation of dimensional energy directed at the crab that tried to squash him. Once that one was handled he could go for the pair grabbing at the train if the Granteed didn't finish them first.

Merida's attention directed itself to the texted message. Clever, she grinned. "WE ARE ALIVE- THERE ARE SMALL CRABS IN HERE TRYING FOR THE TRAIN. WHAT IS THAT THING?"
 
Nov 12, 2018
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#15
As the massive crabs attempted to grab at the train, the other fog covered mechs might have noticed a blue dot of light, rapidly shooting up behind the two crustaceans like an emergency flare. A strange, sparking blue sphere of light- that soon illuminated two massive pairs of arms that wrapped their digits around the legs of the mechanical beasties.

Indigo at this point, had thought she had overcome the whole shock that came with fighting off bandits and other nasties that found themselves falling into Russia. She had been training on whatever she could fight in the wastes while Millie took over the investigating with local towns and villages. But the rapid fire series of reveals that came after she had rushed out her after thinking she had sensed another sphere reactor? That was enough to drive a giant robot to drink.

With a mighty heave, the ninety meter Chojin Zest swung the crabs over her head, smashing them together like a pair of cymbals. She took a step back from the train as she did so, letting out a laugh, regardless of whether or not anyone could hear her. Three other sphere reactors. Four other spheres. Where else could she have gotten into a mess like this other than where all her troubles on Earth began?

A quick text transmission, like the first-

"HERE 2 HELP GOAT. 4NOW"
 
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GEAR

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Jun 15, 2018
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#16
The Genion's fingers snapped, evidently much to the confusion of the crustacean before it - yet, that was only short lived, as a burst of pure Dimensional Power erupted in the creature's face, blackening and twisting its armor as it fell back, claws waving furiously, until it was out of sight of the train. Sullivan grappled with his own foe at James' back, one fist hurtling through the air to knock aside a groping claw as he raced forward, delivering a kick to the body of yet another that had attempted to grasp the train as they picked up speed.

A slight vibration underneath - and the last of the attackers pulled itself into view on top of the train, glaring at James with a cycloptic stare full of manic hatred for all things that enjoyed butter, garlic, and half-off coupons. Yet, before it could react-

The arms of Chojin Zest swooped down, and closed about it and its companion. They wiggled and writhed helplessly in its grasp before being slammed together overhead, detonating into a pair of fireballs. Sullivan stared up at the newcomer, Granteed poised to fight if need be - but when no retribution rained from the skies, James HUD would have beeped with an incoming message from Sullivan:

Friend of yours?

As they thundered along, more and more shapes were appearing in the mists around them. The train was accelerating, and their efforts seemed to be holding the foe at bay - but for how long?




The only response to D'Arcy's taunt was a static-flecked scream of hatred as the stake drove home - the resounding BANG of metal practically deafening in volume, even as the smothering fog rolled in. The silver giant, now little more than an overtly-expensive paperweight, lay in smoldering ruin... but what had replaced it was far, far worse.

At the edge of the Alt Eisen's vision, it would have begun to register additional contacts. Distinct, towering forms striding, swaying towards it in the distance on a curious, three-legged gait as they flowed through the misty surroundings, beckoned forth by their master. Getting an exact reading on their number was all but impossible - but they appeared on all fronts, perambulating unhurriedly towards him and the others, surrounding them on all sides.

Well... almost all.

One Trikera happened to materialize squarely in the path of the military train, which thundered along at a breakneck pace, keeping just ahead of the fog as a signal flare went up - a brilliant red, signalling retreat - as it smashed through the outstretched leg of one of the cult Masoukis, causing it to clatter unceremoniously on its side, two remaining limbs waving feebly in the air.




As Johanna announced her challenge, Cassilda advanced wordlessly, a thin, sadistic smile playing on her lips. The black Shimeisou's claws opened wide - and bolts of dark flame, Dimensional Force, issued forth in her direction. On its own, it wasn't a threat but-

The skies overhead darkened. A thunderous blossom of black flame erupted overhead, fired cannon-like from the back of the Shiseiten as it burst over the battlefield. It was the very same maneuver that had laid Johanna low in Belfast - an apocalyptic rain of fury, a hundred thousand arrows loosed from the quivers of demons, turning the air around the Weissritter into a killing zone.

As if receiving silent instructions, the four remaining Shimeisous peeled off in the direction of the new arrival. If Pallid Mask had any reaction to the giant's arrival, it was characteristically obscured - but its presence did not go unnoticed. The great beast began to turn in place slowly, ponderously, as if with great thought. Unknown to any watching, the Sphere of the Silent Crab pulsed under the fingertips of its taskmaster, sensing the presence of its fellows as it slowed. With a silent growl, the three heads at the front started to yawn open, baleful fires running over its skeletal jaws as it readied yet another course of suffering for those that called themselves its peers.
 

MKR

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Aug 19, 2018
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#17
As the pearl was incorporated into the Rein Weissritter's systems the raw energy spike was beyond even Johanna's wildest expectations, how wonderful. Truly truly wonderful and to be in the perfect test environment for it as well, a sharp inhale when the Archer made itself known. Followed by pleasant surprise when they actually knew how to prioritize targets.
So much too handle, during her ascent she began typing in response to the Genion.

"SHISEITEN, DESTROYED BELFAST"

She wanted to give more but the incoming hail of fire forced her to be quick on her feet. Fortunately for her it fell into a repetition of the before, unfortunately for it both her and her machine had gained something of an upgrade in the meanwhile. The new burst of energy was put to good use as the thrusters flared up in their green hues, between that and her match with the Pleiades Taura she had gotten quite a lot better at dealing with artillery fire upon her location. As the dark rain came down she accelerated, shooting between the bolts of darkness as the rifles were readied. The heat of their proximity scorching the green flesh of the Rein but the silence dulling the pain.

What did she remember from the last encounter, how was it felled. A single killing blow against its visage which forced the massed energies into its gut, and then detonate. That then caused a retreat, but what could she do beyond that. Yes she wanted vengeance for what happened at Belfast and the best way to inflict that was by inflicting upon them the pain she felt then but the maiden did not react to her as she hoped so doing that the easy way was not in the works.

As dark rain came down around her she pondered on her options. There was one way for her to yield the results she wanted when it came to raw power, but it was not an appealing idea to her. So for now it was shelved. Instead her attentions went to the options that the others provided. This is where the silence became rather obnoxious, actually. Perhaps...

"ARCHER. USE YOUR PRIZE TO LIE SILENCE AWAY"

It was a shot in the dark, but hopefully after six months the Archer could do that much. That, at least was the hope. For now she would put this energy reserve to good use. The two rifles were levelled, the Weissritter accelerating further beams beginning to fire from both weapons which just like the machine itself began to pick up in pace rapidly. Red beams from the Partizan launcher and green ones from the Howling Launcher moved side by side on their approach towards the Shiseiten. Twin beams aiming for the squishy insides of the parted jaws. Both packing a notable punch more than the crab had endured before, especially with the extra power source assisting.

Halfway through however as the Howling Launcher continued to hail down on the Crab the Partizan launcher flicked around, barrel staring down the black Shimeisou as Johanna, with a grin upon her features, fired a parting shot straight down the monster's eye. Aiming for the woman behind and beneath.
 
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Hitura Rael

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#18
Well that was an amusing way to flip a crab. Maybe he should find a real crab later and see if that's what they did when knocked on their back... No that was mean. Besides he could probably find it on Viewtube. And then like an angel from the heavens, a giant woman. There was a song for this... he could swear. But damn this silence. James messaged Sullivan back, 'Nope. Never met her, but she looks fun.'

James frowned at the shapes in the mist, his eyes flicking back to messages on the screen. This thing... was the creature at Belfast? He vaguely remembered Sullivan's men talking about it. It was a cluster fuck... And there were a hell of a lot more people then. He grit his teeth, tapping his finger impatiently as he watched the track pass by, the battle field inching away.

He was presented with two options here... Torn between duty to protect the train and what was right to wipe that danger from the face of the Earth. On the one hand... duty... on the other... This thing would keep coming back. It was watching them earlier, and he could sense the damn power source. He took a deep breath, Genion making the move toward the edge of the perch on the train before he realized he was doing it. Duty was not always right. And sometimes... sometimes you had a duty to a higher calling. The train was important... but if he let this thing continue to rampage, more than the people on board would be lost.

'See you in Berlin. Don't die.' The Genion gave a little salute to the Granteed, then jumped off the train, thrusters burning to regain the ground lost from the others holding back the monstrous crab.
 
Nov 12, 2018
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#19
"Wait, what silence?"

Lying about a concept was certainly an interesting idea- But it wasn't as hard as she expected, considering that she had breached the "Silence" or whatever it was the fog was doing that the Goat was talking about. Talking a deep breath, the giant glanced from side to side, shrugging down at the Genion speeding back into the action. "Any clue what she's talking about, we can talk and hear just fine, right?"

Zest began running back in towards the battle as well, throwing up her arms as rainbow filled chakrams formed in her palms. "How about some crab rangoon? Gonna need lot of cream cheese-" With a laugh, still pushing against the silence by just lying her ass off through it, the giant flung the giant spectrum discs right through the group of Shimeisou heading towards her- And with any luck, through some of the Shimeisou.

"Oh, I almost forgot- I am the Standing Archer, Chojin Zest! Nice to meet you!"
 

GEAR

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Jun 15, 2018
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#20
"-MES!"

The Granteed vanished into the fog, arm outstretched as the train careened away from the Genion. Sullivan watched, open mouthed, as the young Knight dropped away from his view, his own shout echoing in his ears as they left the field imposed by the Silent Crab. The fog had become all but impenetrable now... but he couldn't stop. Couldn't slow his pace.

He and D'Arcy would continue on to Berlin. They couldn't afford to waste the gift they had been given. As the vessel slowed slightly, he bent his arm, scooping up the Alt onto the roof, the two of them the only witness to the massive, ochre storm that filled the world they had just left.

"Come back alive." He whispered, in spite of knowing full well they couldn't hear him. The Cytron - perhaps, part of him hoped it could carry his wishes to them, offer them some measure of guidance in that damning silence. The draconic Super Robot closed its fist, slowly. So this was what it meant to lead from the front - what Rodgers had told him nothing would prepare him for.

The old man, as always, had been right.

"...All of you."




Chojin Zest's thunderous foosteps now echoed across the battlefield, causing strange and unpleasant ripples to appear across the surface of the increasingly solid looking city that loomed overhead, distorting it, twisting it in ways that were offensive to the eye, as though Lasfitot itself were wincing at the sudden and unexpected din. Even Shiseiten itself seemed to pause, as if uncharacteristically surprised by the sudden turn of events - but still, it uttered not a word of protest, if it had any at all, not even as it registered the new-and-improved Weissritter having successfully navigated its murderous anti-air assault.

True to form, the thrown discs, their size and weight alone sufficient, slammed home into another pair of Shimeisous that had been approaching it, embedding themselves in their gleaming shells as they tumbled pathetically out of the air, claws still waving feebly in their death throes.

All around the edges of the battlefield, now, the Trikeras stood. Occasionally one or another would emerge to fill a gap, but otherwise they had formed almost a complete circle around the combatants. Not a single shell had been fired - rather, they seemed almost as if silent observers, watching as a battle of titans played out before them.

The Partizan Launcher's shots snapped out - once, twice, quick and sharp like a viper, the reassuring crack of ammunition on the air like a victorious chorus. They drove home into the beast's yawning maw, and Johanna was rewarded with a pair of distant booms - but not quite enough, it seemed, to forestall the Silent Crab's offensive.

Deep within, housed at the heart of the beast... a hooded figure turned a page on an ancient manuscript, unhurriedly, lit by an array of hovering, yellowed candles that matched the coloration of the shroud which covered it. A gnarled, bandage-wrapped hand, scrawled with words of terrible strength from millenia ago, rested gently on the fleshy throne that made up Shiseiten's seat of power.

A silent communion, sharing the pain of the beast.

1627552958467.png

"..."​

Patience came second nature to the Pallid Mask. For eons it had bided its time in preparation for this moment, when the Spheres sang to one another. Haste had undone Volkruss... but Rasumno Lasfitot's wisdom was with them.

A few moments more would hardly be imposing.

As James jogged into view, the triple-headed apparition's jaws burst - and colossal gouts of black flame roared towards all three Sphere Reactors, each easily as large as the Shiseiten itself, carving half-moon troughs of glass in their wake as they surged forward. A punishing rain of spear-like jets followed in its wake, a squall of shotgun-like blasts from the heavens directed at all three - this time seemingly randomized, further complicating the Rein's defensive maneuvers - if it was fortunate enough to escape.

"You insolent-"

Speaking of, Cassilda's Shimeisou trundled doggedly after the target of its ire, rifle shots plinking off its reinforced surface as it shielded its face with one massive claw - but the arrival of the Chojin Zest seemed to deeply incense the Pontiff, causing her to veer away in the direction of the giantess, claws spitting bolts of Dimensional Power at the throat of the star-faring warrior, giving Johanna a reprieve - however brief it may have been.