Re: Episode 7: Mine
Elsewhere:
Arah seemed to listen, considering the request for support fire.
After a brief moment of thought however, she uncaringly prodded the volumetric "Denied" button that sat beside the "Approve" one - they were both something that Ged had so graciously provided in his humor. "It's great to see that they're doing better than we are," the AI's voice dryly remarked over the comms. The ship shook as a torpedo came far too close, pummeling the shields down even further as the motley collection of small ships pursued them doggedly.
The Captain simply reached over to disconnect a heavily insulated hose from a massive shell. Again, the ship briefly shook as a massive slug bounced off the wavering shield and hull, but she didn't give a care before floating over to the next, doing the same and ceasing the flow of positrons. It was one thing to be understaffed, but, entirely another to find that the inventory of ammunition didn't even have the customary small amount of 'ready ammo' available.
For the Frame Team, it was excusable, but the ship? Hardly. There was no support coming - the Atuan didn't even have enough filled shells for itself, and empty ones, while perfect for bombarding a planet...Both Arah and Ged agreed it was better they spent what womanpower they had to fill shells for anti-ship work, rather than waste time loading empties into the breech.
Plus, there was the consideration that the Atuan II was now weaving and dodging through one of Nassau's asteroid fields.
It was called being "Out of Range" perhaps.
*****
There-where:
Like troops storming a beach in some ancient movie, the Origin Frames were harassed by the massive shells which landed about them. Craters were blasted into the ground as the rounds bored into the cement before detonating, throwing obscuring dirt and hard debris up into the air. At the same time, deadly sharp fragments from the Zilants' shells peppered their shields.
"We're getting torn up out here!" one of the escorting Impulses yelled, "Hurry up and @#$% those knockoffs!" he yelled, diving into the sides of the street and what little cover he could find in the stores before another series of explosions cut him off. Taela's missiles were more effective than the thrown rifle - they had streaked in to the second pair of enemy frames, enveloping them with almost a hundred fiery blossoms.
But by now, momentum was carrying the HiGA Ashigar's forward!
They sprinted as fast as they could over the broken remains of their allies, weapons firing at the Frame team - their shields were being quickly worn down as the Ashigaru made advantage of the minor disarray amongst their enemy. Marching out, they brought their fire to bear and mindlessly closed in for hand to hand with the crew.
Their fire became more inaccurate as they charged in, wristblades extending from the free arm thanks to Victoria's efforts, but they rapidly closed in to fight - two of them aggressively slashed out at Taela from either side, which she barely managed to parry. One with the sword, the other with the barrel of one of her heavy guns, the weapon neatly bisected and ruined!
A pink blur came in and snapped out at the one to Taela's left - a six meter pair of claws slashed in, cleaving into the offending Ashigaru before the other pair savagely punched and tore away its bladed arm with the second set of her own zesuaium wristblades. "Don't stand there! Saw it up!" the Ex-Neko yelled at the Neko.
Another duo went for Mark's unit, his incessant "F* You!" remarks seemingly slowing them down, but not stopping their advance. Metal screeched as they got in close, the tip of the first just marring the chestplate as the DJ backed up firing, completley mauling the offender as the second tried to come in - *click-click*
Mark Ran Dry.
Silver flashed by as a five meter long wristblades slashed by - the Ashigaru came in close, but he managed to dodge! But as Mark yelled at Kelly, he was met only with silence. Complete, utter silence from the cockpit seat behind him. Kelly wasn't saying anything.
Something was wrong.
"Mark! Finish that one and give him
Niskord! The medkit's in there somewhere!" the Pink frame ordered, Zesuaium claws pulling out of the ruined Ashigaru. Though she had quickly dispatched one, the fight just kept on going!
The remaining pair had come right in on both Victoria and Lucien - the Abwehran found herself facing both as Lucien was slightly off focus. In the brief exchange before the man came to her aid, a blade's tip plunged into the head of her frame, destroying one of her eyes while a pair of fingers on the right hand fell to the ground!
And all at once, they were still being shelled.
"I'm buying you all time! Hurry up and go in there!" Yoshiko yelled, her frame dashing away at the three distant giants.
