The Harbinger of Fate (Shane, Open)

[ShadowVigilante1]

September 7th OE 102
Nepal, The Himalayas
10:24 a.m

Somewhere near the lower peaks of the deadly mountain range, a lone red Personal Trooper flew over head scanning for its objective. Which the mission briefing said… what did it say again? The pilot slowly moved to pick up the journal sitting in his overhead compartment, he slowly picked through each page as the Wurger flew on auto pilot. “Where was it? Which page… oh right. The end page of this 3rd journal.” He flipped through the pages so quickly he was as if they were a stack of cards being shuffled by a poker dealer. Each page seemingly filled with scribbles and notes, all describing certain events and jobs, some seemingly even mundane things such as ‘I took ibuprofen last night before bed.’ It was like someone trying to record history, both succeeding at said job and at the same time being quite miserable for the fact he had to log everything himself everyday. His memory wasn’t getting any better.

Finally, the last page. And it seemed empty, of course it was. Half this book wasn’t filled either, that was journal 4 which was filled to the brim. And this was journal 6. With a relaxed sigh, the pilot called out to his coworker to find out what exactly they were doing again. “Hey uhh, I hate to bother you but what was our objective again? Was it like, finding some vehicle? Finding a person? Finding a base?”

 

[GrimmShane]

And along the personal trooper and its amnesiac pilot, came a Special Unit whose pilot was unable to forget; the Arm Arcus Finis' gray silhouette visibly sepparating into shadows - with them returning shortly after - every few seconds. It almost seemed like a routine check of their surroundings, the question being posed carefully being given answer by the oddly mild-mannered pilot of the sharp unit

"Our Assigned task is to locate Directory remnants at a local mine; please... note it down, radar is not catching anything just yet"

Seele's voice came through almost quiet, slow and mild-mannered as if she had been lacking sleep, and yet her piloting skills didn't seem to ever falter at all; the Arcus having remained on course to the inhumanly accurate degree she was mildly renowned for as a Mercenary. Inside the cockpit itself though, her expression was a bit softer yet: eyelids halfway closing as the shadows came and went like physical radar pulses, a metallic toothpick of sorts hanging from her mouth - quietly rolling over her lips from left to right, giving nothing but a light crackle every few shifts.

"Hands on the controls, however; we're getting closer, it'd be most disastrous for either of us to get hit without seeing the attacker"

 

[ShadowVigilante1]

With a look of realization on his face, Arkann nodded and jotted down their objective on a blank page. Well, only thing to bear with now was boredom between now and getting to their location. This was going to be a drag, even with the special Tesla Drive on the Wurger.

”Right right, my eyes are wide open. Don’t worry, I won’t miss a thing.“

He sighed as he looked at the snowy approach, he was able to just barely make out the outline of an entrance to some facility. Looks like they’d be arriving sooner than expected. Good, he needs to stretch his reflexes a bit.

 

[GrimmShane]

As the duo came into sight of the facility itself they'd find it... Guarded, not exactly heavily but most definitely guarded enough to be distinct proof of the Directory's presence on the location - or at the very least remnants of it, holding out in an otherwise abandoned resource extraction Facility. As far as Seele was concerned, this was going to be a tricky thing to clear out - little to no data in her personal database to handle those standing in their way.

"Hostiles sighted, Get ready-!"

The Special Unit's pilot's voice cut out suddenly, almost as if she had fallen unconscious in the middle of a sentence, the Arm Arcus continuing to speed through the mountain range before diving down into the designated combat zone - Seele's voice coming in a couple moments afterwards with a noticeably more aggressive tone, active and more than cocky with a set of loud chuckles that signaled the proper start of conflict

"ALRIGHT! Let's take a swing at the motherfuckers!"

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With the distant pips in their radars becoming clear figures, the soldiers crowding the entrance became fully aware of the tide of shit that was falling upon them - should they not give their all to keep their business going; within the location rested a trio of mass produced Hückebein Mk.2s already visibly scratched up and (to a degree) lacking maintenance.

Alongside the trio of Hückebeins rose a much older machine, a Guarlion Custom painted red and black (with a couple blue accents to make the red more noticeable). The Guarlion was clearly more maintained than the huckies, its armor and weapons in tip top shape, as if it'd just been pulled out of a storage facility after lying in wait for situations like this one.

"Alright Buckos, burst fire and an eye on ammo, those mass production units are still costly to maintain!"

With "orders" given, the soldiers boarded their machines, their weapons trained on the incoming targets, an initial volley of Photon Rifle fire coming from the Hückebeins as the Guarlion took flight, speeding up to intercept.

[Verified enemies: Mass Production Hückebein Mk.2 x3, Guarlion Custom x1]

 

[ShadowVigilante1]

As a few blips appeared on the radar, the Wurger raised its M90 Machine Gun to a readied position. It was finally time, this’ll at the very least be a bit more challenging. After all, what does he have to lose?

”Oh there they are. You’re quite fired up, aren’t you? Just be careful out there, especially with that Guarlion.“

Well… despite the pristine stallion standing watch at the base, he wasn’t too worried. After all, he can play that game better than it can after all. What was the term for it? Well, there was no time to dilly dally on such thoughts for the warnings blared in the cockpit of the Wurger of incoming shots headed their way.

“Whoops. Almost got me there.”

He moved the Wurger to the side, avoiding the volley of photon shots with ease, made even easier by the powerful Tesla Driver of the unit. It soon returned fire, shooting directly at the Guarlion Custom in the distance. Taunting it into an engagement with its supposedly superior speed to any PT.

”Just get over here already, I’m tired of waiting.”

 

[GrimmShane]

At first glance it would look like Seele's Arcus had gotten caught in the remaining shots of the photon volley, a shot making contact as another two merely "passed through it" - hitting the ground and lifting a cloud of dust on the downhill slope; this cloud however, gave the android pilot the perfect chance to execute a rather devastating counterattack as several figures simillar to the Arm Arcus Finis itself sped out of the dustcloud - slashing through the side of the Huckebein that'd been particularly lucky to hit the very first decoy the Edelweiss fighter left in her wake, practically disabling its right leg and shooting arm. (the "Copies" dissappearing in the various pilots' blind spots)

"Think You're funny eh you damn molerats? I'll send ya to Hell for scratching my paint!"

Miss Lorem's voice blasted through with a tone only describable as unrelenting violence as the real Arcus shot downhill at full speed, deftly jumping over the firing squad using the slight uphill of the valley as a ramp; a golden energy ring tearing the Huckebein's arm appart, another fully severing the leg before the two projectiles returned and completely tore it apart like a pair of energy buzzsaws.

[One Huckebein Down]
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"Sir, We're taking damage! Number 3 is down! I repeat, Number 3 is down!"

The Ace pilot's comms would be getting blasted by the utter panick of the goobers he'd been left with to pilot those huckebeins, though of course said goobers didn't just sit down and take the hits as they came; a pair of them putting away their photon rifles in favor of their beam swords, attacking the Arcus from two sides and forcing Seele to lock blades with them upon landing, their vulcan pods opening fire immedeatly to capitalize on both the knowledge of this being the real one and their close proximity.

"Ya want me over there? Granted!"

That left the Guarlion open to answer the Wurger's open challenge, its engines kicking into high gear in what felt like a split second - by the time its pilot's voice could be heard from the speakers, the machine would already be closing into melee range with the Red painted bird; and so, wielding a pair of pre-revved up assault blades, the fastest machine these remains had access to threw its coin into the well.

With a quick zigzag to dodge the incoming fire, the Guarlion Custom would rapidly swing both blades in rapid succession - the left blade going diagonally down (trying to slash down from the Wurger's shoulder to its hip), with the right blade following shortly after with a horizontal slice from right to left which would leave the Guarlion turning around while boosting aside; its pilot having tried to make the second slice deeper than the first by accompanying the blade with a sudden change in direction.

 

[ShadowVigilante1]

"Yep, right there!"

As the Guarlion closed in, Arkann aimed the grenade on his rifle right at the Guarlion's right arm, looking to neutralize the sonic weapons in its shoulders, and to disable its arm as well while he was at it. He fired, but only when the Guarlion entered near point blank range. Once he had it right where he wanted, he boosted away, avoiding the first strike from the left blade. Should the right arm still function, Arkann still had another trick up his sleeve, or rather on the Wurger's right arm. The crushing blades of the weapon on his right arm opened like the mandibles of an insect, ready to bite down on whatever threatened the wild bruiser.

"This yours, captain fatso?"

The Wurger quickly threw the half empty M90 Rifle, right at the Guarlion's head before quickly closing the distance. It brought up its left arm to block the incoming horizontal slash with the sword attached to it. The jaws on his right quickly moved forward, the sharp blades surrounding the right forearm of the Guarlion. Suddenly, they clamped down, moving to attempt and crush plates of metal between them. Their metallic mandibles hungry for more than a bite.

 

[GrimmShane]

The android would find herself in a...Mildly sticky situation, pinned down between the two Huckebeins' blades and given more than enough time to ponder her next move as they so... Mindlessly tried to push the Arcus' guard down; like, it might be a mass produced model, but that does not diminish its power - it is afterall, the Final Version cooked up by Those Who Record All Knowledge.
And so Seele crossed her arms inside the cockpit, breathing in and out for a couple seconds before coming to a simple solution that would sadly cut the fight a bit too short one, could say.

"Aye, you rookies are no fun at all! people like you I've seen a hundred times already"

And so the Arcus twisted its wrists, snapping the Huckie's weapons out of their hands as it pressed the tips of both blades against the poorly maintained machines, absentmindedly counting on the loudspeaker - starting on 10 - her general demeanor remaining Severely hostile; but good god if it didn't seem like they had a chance, They almost did!
right?

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"What the fuck is it doing now?!"

"I have no fucking idea Bro, let's uh, Let's just RUN yes?"

"Y-yeah that works!"

Thus the Hückebeins took their chance to make a "tactical retreat" separating from the goddamn Ninja machine that their egotistical captain had sent them towards, it killed number 3 so easily, it was almost just a show to it! and now its pilot was absentmindedly counting down as if this was all just some weird-ass game!
Oh god it was almost like that fat guy in yellow, Oh No, oh nonono-
Regardless of mental conundrums and annoyance,.
#1 quickly stepped aside and begun heading towards the Wurger as well in an attempt to come in aid of its boss, who was also infact getting mollywopped by a machine absurdly more powerful than it - man, poor destiny hated these goobers, the fat guy could go die for all they really cared. - Pulling out his Plasma rifle and unloading a short volley towards the Red machine.

#2 instead just begun retreating and making use of the broken grounds to take some amount of cover, frantically scanning the enviroment for any chance to cut and run while reloading whatever weapons he had left.

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

"You wound me. I am in way better form than most of my ilk"

That spent rifle visibly just bounced off the Guarlion's head almost comically as the kid charged forwards; its poor right arm was pretty muchu useless - the sonic weapons in the shoulders having been fully exposed, its covers having been blown off (pieces of shrapnel messing with their functions, stabbed into the very emmiters themselves); regardless, the Ace lifted up its mech's legs, turning it practically horizontal and turning off its saw to GRASP at the claw in the process of crushing its remaining arm.

It was desperate and absolutely insane, feet pressing against the wurger's torso as it just violently begun kneeing its right elbow in an attempt to either destabilize it or dislocate the joint in some way that'd allow it to escape.

 

[ShadowVigilante1]

“And there goes your arms. You really are sluggish”

Arkann said as he watched the Guarlion simply sliding its arm into the right place. Well, this was just too easy. As it desperately tried to kick the Wurger, the Tesla Drive pulled the machine away slightly, ensuring no joint will be kicked out of place. But it still caused the Wurger to be kicked back as the machine tore away the remainder of the Guarlion’s left arm. This guy was just really dumb, wasn’t he? He was losing to an amnesiac of all things.

”Well you say that, but you’re losing horribly to a guy who has to remind himself what his name is everyday.”

The Wurger reached for the steel blade that rested on its left arm. The sound of the keen blade scratching against the mount that held it in place rang out as it was drawn, the cold steel shining in the blue Himalayan skies. The Wurger raised its left arm, pointing it forwards as it fired the triple gatling guns on it, this time looking to hit the main sensors on the Guarlion’s head. It charged in as well, the blade held ready at its side, ready to slash right for the cockpit block in a single well timed strike.

”Let’s make this quick.”

 

[GrimmShane]

"Running away? really?"

Seele's light snickering thankfully didn't escape the Arm Arcus' cockpit this time - keeping the pilot's playful countdown going instead; it was almost a guessing game for the poor grunts - and mister armless over there - on what she was gonna do, arms still outstretched as energy coalesced around the weapons' forward tips.
Golden sparks going from the handle and guard all through to the end, a carefully measured gauss stairway forming up - it was Ready.

"FINISHING MOVE!"

The Arm Arcus Finis would open up, a trio of cannons unfolding over its shoulders - and between its legs - not aimed at the actual grunts running away from her, but directly down the mineshaft they seemed to have been guarding instead; and before a moment could pass, the buzzing of beam after beam would break out and into the mountain itself

"Totem Sclopetum! FIRE"

And finally the blades' own shots would be released, a gigantic, singular blast, opening a hole through the mountain range, obliterating practically Anything in its general direction. It wouldn't matter if the grunts, or even their captain survived this scuffle; anyone and anything else they were guarding? Gone. Reduced to nothing, if not entombed under the collapsing remains of the mine.

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#1, the Grunt that'd headed for the Wurger in an attempt to provide support and save his boss, would finally arrive in position, pressing his nerves more than the machine itself - what a man does for promised benefits huh. And... technically ideology, but at this point? what'd it matter, that gods-damned Jimmy owed him 5 bucks and was as much of a bygone dream as unit 3.

Regardless, the Grunt would do himself a favor and leave this mortal coil; jumping in the way of Arkann's blade and letting it cleanly pierce through the Huckie's engine. Failing servos holding its plasma rifle towards the Tesla drive using menace, it opened fire one final time, getting some Minimal extra time for the big man behind him.

"Eat Shit Fatman. These pieces of junk... were not worth the drills."

And thus, #1 was shot down in full, a wall between its commander and someone only comparable to an "ace" by these fools metrics. #2 still hiding behind cover, at the very least hoping to get away with his life.

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"Well Damn son, who told you memory has anything to do with instincts - and specs."

The Guarlion ace would carefully regain its upright position, grumbling at the loss of what he was supposed to protect, and the witless idiots he had to whip into shape with their junkyard mechs; his weaponry had pretty much been reduced to nothing; what could he even do really? Give up? for what. death again? He'd already gone all in with this failing army, and fail with the army he would.

Mister Fatso would allow his machine to land for a moment, leaning down and hopping back up with the sonic emmitters thrown as high as they'd go - the very action causing them to smoke almost immedeatly infact; a final charge at the occupied Wurger, trying to either push it down to the ground with its own weight - or maybe just take off that pesky knife and machinegun combo that #1 had taken like a champ.

"Had we met like this a couple months ago, and I would've smoked you myself champ. Yer lucky there ain't no budget 'ere."

Gloating. Definitely Gloating.

[Mass Produced Hückebein Mk.2 #1 down.]

 

[ShadowVigilante1]

As the Arm Arcus let off a massive beam right into the mineshaft, dirt and stone rushed right out of it, indicating the mineshaft’s destruction. Well… that was what it was like for a while. As the dust from the explosion began to settle, a blue light emerged from the clouds of dirt surrounding the mineshaft’s entrance. If anything was a bad omen, it was an unknown light stemming from a pile of rubble.

Arkann completely ignored the Huckebein which he ran his sword through, the photon rifle shot damaging a chunk of the Wurger’s Jacket Armor on the shoulder. They really were a bunch of idiots huh? He was expecting people to desert, not to throw themselves in front of Cap Fatso. Oh well, they’re just delaying the inevitable anyways. The cold blade was pulled out cleanly from the Huckebein’s engine, ready to strike at the Guarlion’s sonic emitters, all it was going to take was a simple drag with the blade and Fatso’s plan was histo-

BOOM!

​

The mountain where the mineshaft was located suddenly erupted in a blue light, something both bright and scalding, yet gentle and warm. The tremendous blast managed to cause the snow of every other mountain around it to begin cascading downwards in multiple avalanches, that’s not even mentioning the massive shockwave which was enough to throw all Mobile Weapons off balance.

The Wurger was tossed about by this quite easily, though what this shockwave brought forth something more unpleasant to him. Memories of… someone or something. Arkann was clutching his head as he felt the rush of emotions and new thoughts entering his mind without permission. He never consented to this, and weren’t they supposed to retake the mine and not blow the whole damn thing up?

 

[GrimmShane]

As the entire location exploded under their feet, the Arm Arcus carefully poised itself on a nearby peak, its feet anchoring to the ground as the various overhung cannons retreated into the machine's back; it almost seemed like it was laughing, the machine's visor lighting up with a sharp glint - reflecting the blue light from the explosions beneath.
Within the cockpit things were... Rather different, the hotblooded chuckling giving way to the cold and calculating voice of a computer

<Combat operations halted.
Hostiles eliminated.
Initiating data transfer to Deceiver unit code S3-L0.....
.............................................
.............................................
[Error] No Response From Personal Server
Halting data transfer..........Data Transfer Halted
Initiating recovery mode....
No Response From Great Library
Rebooting....>

With a soft heave, Seele seemed to fall asleep on her seat for a second before once more leaning forwards on the controls; with the objective Technically completed, it was imperative to do a status check on her comrade! Afterall, with the collapsing mountainscape, god knows what her flying teammate could be suffering; by the time Arkann heard the super robot pilot's voice again, the tone was off, almost lethargic - as if she'd exhausted every bit of energy in her body with that last gambit of a shot.

"Arcus to Würger, are you still alive?"