RP: YSS Miharu Mission 5, Part 1: Amaya's Gate

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

Nyton listened to Kotori's orders and smiled ruefully. "Roger that your highness." he replied with a bit of a grunt, moreso from the pain than any remorse. At that moment the specter of Death rose up from the shadows and wrapped it's arm around his shoulder. This time Nyton just shook his head and chuckled. "Alright shade. Let's take this ride together. Only this time I'm bringing someone with me. I think you'll like her."

Opening up the port for the capacitor Nyton went ahead and plugged it in. "It's all or nothing now Telemachus. We're going in for the final blow. Whether your tamper protocols want to resist or not we won't be around long enough to find out." he said, beginning to walk out in preparation to make his move. His movements stumbled a little but he gradually coaxed his body to move.


"Yeah, same here." Nyton rasped while he activated one more final preparation. His memory recorder system uploaded a compressed data file with every memory he had up to five seconds ago. It was a function he had never thought he would have to use but had kept ready just in case. It was not an ST but rather a simple data file that he had tailored within his recorder to be compressed and easily transmitted via an Armor's mental interface. Simply put, Nyton downloaded his memory recorder through Telemachus and into the Hoshi. With his authority there would not be much issue with allowing it to be uploaded to the MEGAMI. Unfortunately if Eve had already overwhelmed the ship's computer than there would be nowhere to download it. But then it wouldn't matter.

"Awaiting your mark, Kotori-sama."

I am your sword.

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

"Ha ha ha! Fuck Yes!" yelped the Malifarian cheerily as he and Shikaku spun around one good time to celebrate the death of another one of the Black Mindys. The soldier zoomed around for a moment, and then stopped next to Kyou to spank her armored bottom one good time.

"Man, did that feel good or what? Even if that was juss'an assist n'shit, we still tore her to particles!" went Asher, still visibly excited until he received the congratulating message from their Taisa.

Gunshin, Westwood: Well done.

Unfortunately, you're both out of teleport charges and 30 000 kilometers away: you won't be able to come back anytime soon with a top speed of 100 kph. I've asked Mara to board a Mindy and get you two newly-charged shoulder capacitors to restore one charge each.

Until then, you'll have to sit tight.

Click to expand...

"Aw, fuck..." sighed Asher in childish disappointment, his arms going limp of excitement in the weightless vacuum.

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

Kai acknowledged his newest order silently, Inspecting his plasma rifle for function before he would do so. Luckily, though the armature was well-charred and fairly melted, all the moving parts seemed to move properly, and the barrel was in decent condition. Looking around the room he was in for another opening that gave him decent cover, he found a good spot and popped his head out the hull, followed by the plasma rifle, which he trained on Vermillion, and then opened up as much as he could- Hopefully the plasma fire would help bring down the barrier faster, or, at best, someone could bring down the Mech's shielding with an SDM missile and his shots would actually do something.

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

Cold sweat ran down the back of Tom's neck as his plan payed off: Eve had prioritized defense first and left the Raltean with his hide in one piece. He had expected another attack, but then, inexplicably, Eve turned away to attack Kotori's crippled Akuma.

Then Kotori's orders came in... and Tom pieced the puzzle together. Desperation hung heavily in the air.

No... The calculations raced through his head. Would Kotori really play that card to win the battle? And even if Kotori's plan worked, wouldn't the explosion consume her as well?

His cheeks burned as memories of the Taisa flashed through his mind. Everything he disliked about her, that ever-growing chasm between their personalities, her stoic belief in the mission and the betterment of the empire... his stubborn idealism... it came to a he--

Kotori said:

"Being an imperial princess is about bringing hope to those I work for - not rule over, work for. I should order, but only to promote their well being, only to provide the guidance they have empowered me to give them. With my hands, with my voice, I must engineer the ideas, tools and initiative needed for their prosperity."

"Eventually, they will look up to me to lead them... and I will be no different from Eve if I do things only for my own sake and my own sensibilities."

"But," another comb stroke. "Winning and ensuring victory carries a harsh price. I do what I can, think up what I believe are clever ruses, make what I believe are calculated risks and I struggle to make sacrifices I feel will be worth it, for a cause I have faith people will be able to sacrifice as much as I do. I-"

The comb froze. "Don't die inside like that, Tom. We do all of this so that what we care for will live. Seeing you rationalize this makes me feel that you have no faith in what we are doing after all. I know I have faith in you, and I know you respect me, but I do not know if you have faith in me. If you don't, after all this time..." she shook her head. "Can't you show me that you are happy we've come this far in our journey? Can't you show me that this is worth it?"

Click to expand...

Tom's eyes narrowed. He realized just now how badly he had missed the Taisa's point in the bridge. But there was no time to think about that now. There was only time to try to make things better.

I can't allow you to suffer like this, Taisa.

The plan shot out of his lips as he acted. It didn't matter that he was overstepping his rank.

His integrity demanded he try his best to save Nyton.

"Everyone, coordinate your attacks! Ichigo and me on Eve's shields! Nakamura follow up with heavy fire! Kurohoshi hit it with everything you got!"

With that, he unloaded a volley of 3 anti-shield missiles, and then followed up with fire from his rifle as he withdrew slowly.

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

Kyou's response to Asher's spank was in no way delayed by her astonishment that he still hadn't learned better, reflexively moving to slap him on the back of his armored head with the flat of her closed saber. "Dammit, keep it in your pants, Asher." Despite her words, she wasn't all that angry; she just felt that now was not the time for anything like that.

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

"What? That didn' mean nothin'! That wass'a congratulatory spank! I wasn' tryin' t'make no moves or nothin'!" defended Asher, before using his jets to stop his spinning, caused by Kyou's displinary smack. He held his helmet for the moment and looked up at Kyou, who now had a good view of his feet, just as he had a good view of hers. He crossed his arms and legs, overemphasizing his sarcastic disapproval. "Seriously, Gunny, you gotta dirty mind."

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

If they weren't helmeted, Asher would clearly be able to see Kyou's eyebrow rising. "And what part of your actions should imply that? Ogling your superiors when they're entering their armor, the continual sexual comments... actually, I'm not sure what else those could mean."

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

Masako grimaced at one particular order, but knew this was hardly the time to protest. Especially not in such a desperate situation. Instead, Masako used her inertial flight to boost out of cover and towards Nimura's unconscious body. She grasped for the other Neko's Plasma Rifle and aimed it at EVE, instead of detaching from Nimura's batteries. Pulling the trigger, the Warrant Officer unleashed a torrent of plasma at the NH-23.

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

"I ain't eva' oggled a woman in my life! I only appreciate tha' female form! Seriously, you really expect me to not look at all tha' ass just walkin' around!?" exclaimed the stranded soldier, holding out his arms for emphasis as he slowly rotated himself in an upright position compared to her. Despite how lecherous he often acted, he either was lying like he had said it before, or genuinely believed this. "There ain't a single woman in this military that ain't as hot as a leakin' aether engine, n'thass' you included, Gunny."

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

Kyou's eyebrow was staying plenty up there, regardless of whether Asher could see her, or whether she appreciated the comment. "I agree, but all the other men seem to quite able to contain themselves. Even the single ones." She shrugged. "I will admit, it did feel good." She paused, before continuing, "Taking her down, that is."

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

"C'mon, cut me slack! I'm not the nicest guy in tha' world, y'know. Women are sorta' a weakness, n'a buff, f'me. N'anyway I'm probably dead after this mission is over, so I might as well appreciate while I can, right?" Asher shrugged in a nonchalant fashion, disregarding any secrecy. Then, he waved his hand, as if to wave that subject off, "But yeah, y'see? Iss' good to finally a'killed that neko. Shame we're stuck out her for a bit, n'I wouldn't mind bein' back in tha' fight, but hey, we vaporized a bitch."

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

"Nah, you'll make it just fine. And it's not like we have any real reason to worry about after this, right? Hell, we survive this, I think we might be able to take anything on and win." Kyou shrugged. "After all, these psychic guys are just somethin' else."

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

"Well, yeah! A'course I'm gunna' make it. Asher Orkin Westwood ain't nobodies bitch in battle." nodded the cloned Santo-Hei before taking a look out to the empty space of the vacuum. "The more I think about it, the more I want t'get back to the fight! Y'know, killin' and doin' stuff. I juss' wish we'd have somethin' else t'fight... I ain't ready for this battle t'get done yet."

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

"I wish we could get back too, though for a different reason. Like I said, these psychics are something else, and I don't know if they can finish the job." She paused, turning her head towards Asher, reminiscent of a glance. "After all, the two of us have accounted for most of the kills in some way."

JP: ON

"Aw, ain't no question, Gunny." nodded Asher, lifting a finger up in the air to indicate his point. "I'm pretty sure I've killed enough out here t'be considered 'mos dangerous'. N'hell, I juss' a fuckin' Santo Hei!" The Malifarian let loose chuckle before tilting his head, "N'you, you ain't been hit once so far, have ya?"

Kyou laughed out loud at that one. "You kidding? First thing those kuroneko's did last time was rip my side open. Guess they figured us for the most dangerous to start with, huh? After all, Eve seemed to be enjoying tossing you around a bit more than was necessary."

"Hey, I'll have y'know I took out some quality kitchen utilities durin' all that. Those count f'kills, of tha' mechanical variety! Sides, I saved Clay-boss, which is tha' second time I saved'm mind you, which makes f'more assists." responded Asher spinning his own saber. "Though, y'gotta point. All this psychic shit we been fightin' so far is pretty bullshit. Eve wass' pretty much knowin' exactly where I wass' gunna' be, knew right where she was gunna' throw me. Makes you wonda' how she didn't see this shit comin'." gestured Asher to what little remained of Mani.

"True, true. Maybe it has a range limit or somethin'? I mean, she didn't see far enough ahead to beat us in the space fight either, so it's gotta have some limits." Kyou paused, thinking. "Maybe that's what the Taisa was counting on, sending us out here? Get us outta range?" She shrugged.

"C'mon, Koto-boss is good, but she ain't that good. You'd need more than Yui's experience to pull shit like that, and tha' Taisa wass' sittin unda' Eve's foot last I checked. I'm pretty sure we were a quick ditch juss' t'kill Mani." Asher also shrugged, "'Sides, tha' biggest threat iss' still about a world away. N'wit'out us, they're pretty much fucked, right? Heh heh heh."

Kyou shook her head. "Nah, the Taisa wasn't all that worried about Mani, remember? She wouldn't send us outta the fight with Eve unless it had a good purpose, or to test something." She tapped her sabre against her leg. "Maybe that's what it was? She wasn't sure how far Eve's trick works, and she wanted to test it? I can't think of any other reason. I'd bet they can use all of the firepower they can get, so there has to have been something more than just killing her off."

"Are you tryin' t'say there's more to killin' tha' enemy than juss' killin' tha enemy?" Asher tilted his head in a sort of canine-like confusion.

Kyou shrugged. "Almost has to be, or there's no reason for her to stick us out here like this. I mean, sure, we killed Mani, but she wasn't doing that much damage from out here anyway, whereas Eve was still busy fuckin' everything in sight up back there. She must've had some sort of reason."

Asher tacked Kyou's helmet with the tip of his own Aether Saber, "Tch!" He hadn't hit her hard to make her spin, but it was enough to be an annoying knock.

Kyou only winced a little, thinking it might be retaliation for the slaps she'd been delivering for a while. "Hey, I dunno. Just sayin', it doesn't make sense any other way."

"Tch!" Asher hit her helmet again.

END

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

Vermillion's barrier flickered as Kai, Masako, Tom and Ichigo rained plasma bolts over Eve's machine. This time, Eve paid no mind to evading their blows, which leads to Tom and Ichigo's subspace collapsing mini-missiles successfully connect against the Akuma's energy barrier, at long last bringing it down.

The red juggernaut crashed into its black-and-gold counterpart and immediately began tearing at it. One claw swipe tore open Surtur's left shoulder to veer off an attempted counter-attack from Kotori and Vermillion then used both its flaming-hot aetheric claws to fiercely dig into Surtur's upper torso armor.

As the red metal demon wrenched left and right, its armor suffered under the attacks, the plasma bolts causing Vermillion's armored hide to spontaneously evaporate on each impact, with the residual heat sufficient to liquify the armor around the impact points. Streams of molten armor sluiced off its flank and dorsal armor, dripped down its arms and the armor protection's proved insufficient over the left wing as the teleport module there exploded to pieces.

Vermillion weathered this, still intent on Surtur. With one claw hooked at the base of Surtur shoulder for leverage, the other dug under the armored cowl to seize its opponent's head and - gripping it with crushing strength - it slowly but inexorably pulled it out.

Shrieks of metal sounded through the wardroom as Surtur's head was laboriously dislodged, with its skull equivalent crushed inbetween Vermillion's aether-limned talons, it's lower jaw dangling macabrely, with bits of mechanical spinal column equivalents trailing down, swaying strands of artificial muscle fiber and drooping cables sparking.

Surtur, for its part, sagged down to the ground, looking blind and helpless. Eve seemed intent on next striking through the head's now empty cavity - where the armor was extremely thin - to get at the pilot within... but Kotori never gave her that chance. Surtur's remaining double-kneed leg, covertly gathered up during the melee, pumped out, smashing hard against Vermillion's chest and sending the enemy Akuma reeling a dozen meters back; the constant rain of hits made it sluggish in regaining its balance, allowing Surtur some much needed breathing room.

"Surtur, reactivate barrier!" Kotori commanded her Akuma's AIES. Her Akuma's barrier field system had recently recovered from the subspace missile hit she had taken early in the fight, and she had hoarded her barrier for that moment.

This was their opening. She forced the words out of her mouth. "Nyton, now!"

"Yes, your Highness!" Without hesitation, the Nepleslian's Super Phalanx burst from under the cover of the wrecked buffet and flew at Vermillion, its gravimetric drive sending him hurtling toward it like a speeding bullet!

...and the bullet turned to lead. The Super Phalanx's propulsion gave out and it crashlanded down over the ragged carpet, the impact sending tinges of molten pain across Nyton's already wounded body. Being dead would have hurt a lot less!

The attacks stopped. Aside from the protesting sparks of severed power cables, the crackling fire raging in the public bath's changing room, the low buzz of the atmospheric retention barriers and the hissing of superheated metal... silence seemed to reign by contrast of the battle that had been waged moments before.

The Black Knights' power armors seemed frozen as their limbs had stiffened, effectively paralyzing them. They couldn't so much as twitch their fingers or turn their heads. Their AIES had become unresponsive, denying them anykind of control or interaction. Worse, their life support system had been shutdown: they only had the air in their helmets and since they were immobilized, they couldn't even use their hands to pull their headgear off!

Whatever had happened, their onboard quantum computers had never even had the time to muster resistance. Kai's precautions appeared to have been insufficient to avert his unit being taken over. Telemachus' anti-tampering protocols had been hacked through and stopped cold, the unit no longer prone to self-destructing.

Elsewhere around Miharu, other power armors froze. Consoles and displays were locked out, 'access denied' messages popping up on any command entry. New forcefield barriers buzzed to life, corralling the crew in the rooms they occupied.

"You're too late," Eve coldly declared, Vermillion standing straight and tall as King of their battlefield.

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

Kyou started to respond to Asher for the second tap, then froze as her entire armor shut down.She tried, uncertainly at first, then with increasing worry to access something, anything at all, to no avail. As she started to think, figure out how hard she was going to beat Asher when she got her suit unlocked, Eve's voice came through her comm, quickly dispelling any thoughts about it being his fault, thinking quickly, Kyou made contact with Asher, just in case. "Asher, you still have power, or are you as screwed as I seem to be?"

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

Before Asher could explain why exactly he had took his saber to Kyou's head, he suddenly felt his armor become unresponsive to his movements. Not only that, his communications were shot as well. The entirety of his armor had completely shut down! What the fuck!? growled Asher in his mind, not very happy for this development. Then, especially not happy when Eve spoke up.

"Asher, you still have power, or are you as screwed as I seem to be?"

Click to expand...

The Malifarian thought for a moment, thinking of how they were stuck in a remote place. Not only that, anyone who may have been coming out to assist them would've also been locked down. For once, it was hard to look up in this situation.

"Yeah, I think we're both pretty much fucked."

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

After a few moments of futile struggling, Tom stopped, more as an effort to conserve oxygen than anything else. His helmet was already fogging up.

A long sigh escaped his lips.

He was in a situation not unlike the one he experienced on the gate hours ago: helpless and at the mercy of his enemy.

But instead of terror or rage, Tom just felt empty. He had been so close to getting through these years of sacrifice, compromise and revelation... and now it was all snatched away.

The defeat just made him realize how tired he truly felt.

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

Life did not flash before Nyton's eyes. Instead the single goal of achieving victory occupied his mind. They were going to win and he was going to kill Eve.

Then Telamachus seemed to stall out. The crash agitated Nyton's battered body to the point of sheer agony again and it took a few moments before he could think straight enough to regain his bearings. At first he believed that was what happened until he realized that there was not just no response from the combat computer. There was no combat computer at all. He was alone inside an unresponsive metal shell.

With no life support running Nyton determined that Eve had managed to successfully hack into the system and had now overrode them. It was frustrating, especially given the amount of pain he was in, but he had to keep himself in check. With oxygen levels thinning he had to stay in control. He held no delusions about the situation. They had lost. Unless some miracle occurred they were all going to die. The question now was a matter of when.

Death seemed to chuckle at Nyton before leaving his side. I should have known you were being too accommodating. See you soon. he thought while he began trying to even his breathing. In order to maximize his oxygen he began to perform a meditative exercise his grandfather taught him. Again, one more thing he never thought he would be using for an asphyxiation emergency.

Nyton efficiently and evenly managed his breathing to slow down his heart rate and gather his strength. He was determined to be ready for any chance to protect Kotori and stop Eve. Whether it be a miracle or death, he would stare it down one more time.

I'm sorry Kotori. I think your sword may be broken beyond what it can handle. Nyton thought to himself as he rested. A bit more regretfully though he lamented not being able to prevent Hoshi from being taken over. Sorry Hinoto. I suppose we won't have a chance to discuss things. And right when I decided not to kill you after all.

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

Kai continued to follow Eve as she began to move, first toward Kotori, and even after the Tasia had beat her back. but then, suddenly, the concentrating Yamataian realized he wasn't firing anymore. He was locked into the same pose, as if he would be firing, leaned against a bit of cover where he wouldn't fall over.

The Hell? The Yamataian thought, quickly realizing that his AIES had been taken over, despite his previous efforts to tell the computer to disconnect itself from the Hoshi in case an intrusion happened. Quickly, Kai calmed himself, knowing that he was suddenly stuck in this suit, at least for a little while. He steadied his breathing, calmed his mind, and relaxed,

"Stupid shitty Yamataian equipment," Kai lamented to himself, knowing that Eve would have had a much harder time if she hadn't been so compatible with the systems. If he managed to get out of this, Kai would be sure to buy his own equipment to make sure a takeover like this was at the least more difficult.