April 22nd, 2006

 

<Global News Network> Eurasian GNN reporters aim their cameras out the windows at the space elevator. What looks like a huge old-school flying saucer is melting out of the darkness into existence nearby the space elevator. It is apparently oriented upside down relative to the saucer, and the faded logo of Dr. Wily is seen etched across the bottom of the craft. This probably looks like trouble.

 

<Global News Network> The "Wily Saucer", as the press is calling it, stabilizes over the space elevator. It begins to turn slowly over it, a weird violet glow emanating from the center portion of the craft where the 'bubble' is. Power readings are slowly, but steadily, increasing from the ship. This probably means `giant gun', according to Chopper Dave. Panic has begun to spread back across the central US.

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Sigma can be heard muttering something under his breath.

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Volt Catfish transmits, "W-w... woooooooooow."

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Magna Centipede mutters something, as well.

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Hunter 332 transmits, "I hate Chopper Dave."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Sigma transmits, "ALL units prepare battlestations. We are moving into higher orbit of the moon, but we are continuing a holding pattern. I want continuous updates on the situation. I am making arrangements for a live video feed of our own."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Tactical Raccoon transmits, "Acknowledged."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Volt Catfish transmits, "Y-yes, siiiiiir!"

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Magna Centipede transmits, "Your will be done."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Hunter 332 transmits, "Yessir."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Sigma transmits, "This was NOT what I wanted to do, but there may be no choice. Still, I will not play my hand prematurely. We will not move until we know beyond a doubt the situation."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Vile transmits, "Anyone who wants to find out what the hell's going on and how we can turn this to our advantage, meet me on the flight deck. I'm leaving in 1 minute. Hurry."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Hunter 332 transmits, "Yessir!" (again)

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Volt Catfish transmits, "I'm c-comming!"

 

Earth (Orbit)

 

             If God lived on Earth, people would break his windows.            

                                                  -- Jewish proverb

 

The planet Earth is a planet which is primarily blue with green splotchy patches. White clouds sweep across the planet regularly. Portions of the planet have more of a grey cast, having been overrun by the great megacities. When parts of the planet rotate away from the sun, large portions of it glow with intense points of white light. Increasingly, large portions of the planet have become darkened as large-scale warfare annihilates critical infrastructure.

 

The orbit of Earth is full of machinery of various sorts. Of particular interest is an area in the L4 region of space between the Earth and the Sol system. In that area, a large space station called "Eurasia" has been established.

 

 Contents:                               Contents:                     

 Guts Man [Hardhat] [RM]                 Bomb Man [Ansi] [RM]                  

 Steel Massimo [Steel] [H]               Sclera [Phalanx] [I]                  

 Setsulo Swanson [I]                     Max Armour [Power Armor] [S]          

 Leo [] [SD]                             Flora Man [RG]                        

 Cryogenic Man [RG]                      Riot [STARS] [S]                      

 Magma Dragoon [Normal] [H]              Icewater Narwhal [H]                  

 Volt Catfish [M]                        Dataphage [Standard] [I]              

 Hunter 332 [M]                          Ton Pooh [Ton_pooh] [C]               

 Sigma [Neo Sigma] [M]

 Hunter Interceptor <Gyrfalcon> [H]      Repliforce Variable Armor <Kingfisher>

 Teddy Zach                              Wily Ark                              

 Wilysaucer [RM]                         POTC                                  

 NA Multienvironmental Transport <Metzil Repliforce Station - Basilisk [RF]    

 Space Colony <Eurasia>                  Moon                                  

 

 

 Deep Space <DS>:          Sol System

 Space Elevator <SE>:      Space Elevator - The Big Plate

 Eastern Hemisphere <EH>:  Sky Above Eastern Hemisphere

 Western Hemisphere <WH>:  Sky Above Western Hemisphere

 

Wily Ark

 

A large, oval-shaped ship with a large clear bubble-shaped prominence in the middle. It looks like an old-style flying saucer scaled up to a large degree. A faded Doctor Wily symbol is on the bottom of the ship but appears to have suffered from time and exposure to the elements.

 

There are /two/ Wily Saucers in orbit. One of which is huge, ominous and from space, under the control of the Destroyer. It is the Wily Ark.

            The Other, much smaller Wilysaucer, is gold and blue, and is commonly known as the Wilysaucer. Currently, the Wilysaucer is CRAMPED. Dr. Wily is in there, as well as an undisclosed amount of Robot Masters. Dr. Wily is pissed. People keep misusing his creations. Stupid Nihilists.

            The Wilysaucer makes it's approach from the base of the elevator, where it promptly picked up something, making use of the fact that people are actively fleeing the immenent destruction. Is Dr. Wily such a base villain that he would steal some aluminum while everyone was distracted with the appearence of the Destroyer?

Oh hell yes.

            Weeeoooooeeeeoooooeeeeeoooooeeeeeeoooo... in the upper atmosphere, no one can hear you Wilysaucer. But you assume the noise is there.

 

DOUBLE | MISSILE | OPTION | LASER | SPEED UP

            ...nah.

            GATLING GUN | CLAYMORE | MISSILE | SABER

            That's better.

            Launched from the Basilisk under its own power, mostly because it doesn't want to hurtle off into space, ZIKOMO Ade is on the move. It rarely, if ever, gets to use its zero-g abilities. Max rarely likes to.

            However, now he has no choice.

            With its two thrusters burning at the back, ZIKOMO Ade takes off from Basilisk. It's taking no chances. It's already carrying the Electron Saber and has full intent to use it. Max doesn't have option drones or funnels, but what he does have is JUSTICE. And that's better.

 

Sclera is enveloped by a golden halo of light and rises a few feet off the ground. From the cloud of energy, his limbs and torso suddenly become clad in powerful armor. As the glow dissipates, his Phalanx Ride Armor shines for a moment as it becomes active.

 

Dataphage has entered himself into a pod, rather roomy thanks to his own size. He buckles himself, as appropriate, and taps the controls in order to launch. It starts to rattle slightly.

            Before he does, though, a white cat head pops up next to the virus, with a container in one of its extended paws. It squeaks, "Here, mister!" Yes ... this cat is immensely long, stretched all the way from Kansas City all the way through the atmosphere and almost at orbit. It doesn't seem tired, either.

            That's why they call him Stretch Longcat, after all. It makes a :3 face, salutes, and then jerks itself back down. Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.

            Dataphage, unperturbed, clutches the container and shuts all hatches, launching off into orbit.

 

A faint red dot appears just above the Central American continent. It slowly begins to glow brighter until it begins to enter the area. It's the Neo Arcadian all-terrain ship, the Metzili. The green hull pieces of the ship glow brightly as exit velocity is reached.

            The large, silent behemoth enters the Earth's orbit finally slowing down to approach the Wily Saucer look alike. Thirty or fourty members of the Pantheon army reside with the recesses of the ship, decked out in the AGAR space suits, designed by Dr. Orion Corth. They alll wait for the order to enter the vaccuum of space.

            The ship attempts to establish a local broadband with all the other ships in the area, except the Wily Ark.

 

        Sclera is already here. Do not question it.

        No mistake should be made, he is ver nervous. There behind the the controls of the Phalanx, but he does what he must. Through fear, with a little luck, he can find strength enough to make a difference.

        The respectfully sized Ride Armor chugs along towards the Wily Ark, its footjets shooting him along at a respectable pace.

 

Magma Dragoon has waited long enough for a fight, and when the chance comes, he's all over it. He waits for Icewater Narwhal to get halfway on before he begins launch sequences for one of the elevator's shuttles, the doors snapping shut just a few seconds after his fellow hunter gets on board. He then launches and heads for the saucer. The big one.

Icewater Narwhal buckles up as he gets in the pod with magma. He's mighty nervous, but keeps it down since it'd get in the way if the time to fight ever comes. But he hopes not. "If this /is/ the Destroyer...how'd he get something of Wily's? Was it on Mars, you think?" he asks Magma, as they launch.

 

There's an Olive Supermarine quickly climbing through the atmosphere to space. It is a merely serviceable space transport with no clear factional markings. In reality, this is - or was - a discreet transport for moving up supplies from Earth to space.

            It climbs altitudes high and fast towards Earth's orbit. Inside, a number of individuals have their curiosity (and orders) to fulfill in the light of very suspicious events. Those on the Olive Submarine are probably friends on board, but let's not press the silly references any further.

            "W-WE'RE APP-APPROACHING TH-THE UPPER A-AT-ATMOSPHEEEEEERE!" The turbulence is more responsible for Volt Catfish's stuttering than her own typical habit of doing so. She's at the piloting controls. The Mavericks must have been short on good pilots for the operation.

 

Dr. Wily certainly doesn't carelessly leave objects on the Moons of Mars.

        The Robot Gentlemen, being 'good' seemingly couldn't bum a ride from many. Well, its very simple. That Sub they had escaped a good time ago, seemed to had changed.

            This is evident as it breaks orbit, a yellow submarine heading towards space to see what all the hub bub is about. This is truly Yellow Sub - Flight type. Flora Man had some extra time to fool around with stuff.

            Cryogenic Man however pilots it, since he's the head of the group. Flora is the technician. "Well chap, I wonder what this is all about?" Cryogenic asks Flora as he goes.

 

Someone is missing.

            Except he's already here. Who is it, you ask? Just a shadow. A simple shadow that had to use the Space Elevator clandestinly and then jack himself some sort of transportation. Like a jetpack he took from some poor trooper.

            Unfortunately, it might not be enough to support completly the weight of the large Setsulo Swanson, in space-ninja gear. Good thing this is in Zero-G.

 

"Sir, unidentified pod launch!" A comms tech reports.

            "Who's in it?" The officer on duty questions.

            "Unknown... security cameras haven't picked up a thing." The tech replies.

            "Damn... just let it go, we have enough problems right now."

            Inside the pod, Ton Pooh folds her legs, closes her eyes, and runs through her meditation exercises to settle her stomach from the turbulance.

 

Hunter 332 is strapped into a seat in the Supermachine. She seems to be OK with the bumpy ride.

            Every now and then, she laughs in a rather hoarse fashion, usually after a particularly harsh thump. She doesn't have a window to look out of.

 

Vile is tiring of these alien shenanigans. The last thing the world needs is another round of everyone banding together to fight the good fight against the evil(er) invaders. Therefore, Vile is leading a squad not necessarily to help, but rather to do whatever it takes to turn this into the Coalition's advantage. Sitting in the co-pilot's seat of the Olive Supermarine, Vile seems content to make Volt Catfish do all the tedious work of taxiing the Mavericks to the scene of the incident. Through the ship's front view screen the Kansas City Space Elevator can be made out.

        As Volt reports on the progress, Vile shakes his head at the catfish's nervousness. Idiot. Over his shoulder, he addresses the rest of the Mavericks. "Our mission is to observe, learn, destroy if needed, and acquire if possible. Keep your optics out on the big picture. If this turns into a standard gang beating, we want to be the ones walking away. Anyone stupid enough to get lost should expect to be left behind for dead." He looks back forward, having given his rousing speech.

 

Those who say that there is no rest for the wicked, didn't say that the just got any either. Prismatic Spider arrives, streaking at ridiculous speeds through air and space, the Kingfisher's weapon systems priming as he gathers information on the threat. "Mars continues to come back to haunt us. This really is all your fault, Doctor Wily." He sighs, flicking switches and watching his HUD.

         Indeed Flora Man did. Perhaps it was in-between the random times he went out and about, but Flora Man, deciding that they may be hunted at one point, did indeed modify the submarine. A bit. There were enough supplies in the wreckages around the world from battle after all.

 

         Working the technical side, making sure everything stays in the green and a-ok, Flora Man now and then runs a few tests. "Aye. But thaht's why we are in this yellow submarine. Ta' find out whaht be goin' on!"

 

The various shuttles, pods, Longcats, and ships leave from the Earth and head toward the large ship hovering overhead the end of the space elevator. The space elevator's defenses are firing upon the ship, but so far only appear to be refracting off some kind of rainbow-sheened force field harmlessly into space. The forcefield is not totally surrounding the ship, however, which allows for entrance into the ship's hangar bay.

            Perhaps Ra Moon doesn't find you enough of a threat to block out. Perhaps there's some other reason. In either event, you have a brief opening to board the ship, and it's probably best you took it.

        If there was sound in space, you'd be hearing the theme to Top Gun playing on the loud speakers of the Gyrfalcon as it flies up from the Earth below. The thing is like a slingshot out of orbit as it spins and twists; the pilot quite obviously enjoying the use of this rarely seen Hunter machine.

 

The Wilysaucer has nothing to say to the filthy Repliforce Spaceship!

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Volt Catfish transmits, "Wh-where are we parkiiiiing?1"

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Sigma transmits, "I want analysis of that ship's defenses as well. It appears one-sided."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Vile transmits, "Inside, Catfish."

 

Dataphage looks around, making sure that nobody's with him (not paranoid). Then ... he slowly slides back, shaking his crystalline head and typing at his datapad. It might be hard to establish tightbeam radio connections here, but he works anyway, occasionally looking out of the transparisteel window where he can see everyone else ... and the Great Ark.

            *click*

            << "Testing ..." >>

            He uses one of his boots to nudge the levers, and then the other to tap at controls to send the pod toward the opening.

 

A short radio conversation later, Volt Catfish's maw drops wide open. This is not really viewable by anybody except the co-pilot Vile. In THERE?! She has a sense of foreboding, but, Sigma be her guide (or angry Vile glare, whichever's more practical), she steers the Olive Supermarine into the opening she has.

            She half-expects to be blasted out of the sky. Hopefully the other half has been spent on preparing the landing gear. Maybe?

 

Magma Dragoon shakes his head, "Who knows. It could be Scott's. Hang on tight...I'm going in hot, and we may wind up sideswiping some of these other ships. I haven't had that much practice flying these things...didn't think I'd need it." He then guns the engines, as much as the shuttle will allow, and dives into the hangar bay of the saucer.

The Wilysaucer knows /exactly/ how to board the Ark. After all... Dr. Wily built both. The Saucer quickly putters towards the much larger saucer, and it soars towards the entrance, the hangar bay. Wily has unfinished business... and an Ark to reclaim!

 

        The moment that the pilot of the Gyrfalcon catches sight of the approaching Wilysaucer, Blues pushes the throttle to get in close behind Wily's ship to piggy-back his way in behind him.

 

Cryogenic Man nods, steering the ship towards the opening in the WilyArk, the larger ship with a forcefield around it, save for the one, little spot which happens to be the hangar bay. "Well, Flora Man. We'll be finding out shortly, wot?" Cryogenic Man eases on the thruster, pushing the yellow submarine forwards, the little rotor spinning gently before a blazing flame erupts from the back.

            This, of course, sends the ship on a straight course towards ships bay, the periscope looking around ominously.

 

Setsulo Swanson does not have much choices. You see, where action goes, Setsulo has to go. Specialy since there is likely /money/ in the plate right now.

            Thus, Sumo and poor puttering rocket pack makes it's way toward that TERRIBLE OPENING of the Wily Ark!

 

Mac isn't happy with the situation, but he's totally in the ship with the other Hunters.

            He looks to Fret, scowling.

            "Thou should be able to do this, feathered friend!"

 

The Spider Scientist's readings show the amount of energy fowing through that outer forcefield. "What the hell. Where do they get such wonderful toys?" With a snort, knowing quite well where he stole that line from, Prismatic banks the Kingfisher, streaking towards the open hangar with the others. It'd be far easier to blow this thing up from inside than out, to his logic.

 

The Metzili suddenly stops its approach to the Ark. It wants to stay out of range of the Space Elevator guns, and possibly, any of the guns the Wily Ark may have. Several ports open up on the sides and launch out a group of people. Leading this group is a relatively human sized being, wearing bone white armor and a golden helmet. Its jet pack moves at full speed, towards the Ark.

            " << WE ARE BOARDING! Be ready for the worst. >> "

 

Guts Man idly plays with his head while inside of the Wily Saucer, he's expecting some hot space on space action, that is until the Wily Saucer boards the Wily Ark. He decides that it might be best to reattach his head to his shoulders before opening a can of destruction in the name of Dr. Wily.

 

Guts Man either screws his head back on or his extra body parts vanish back to whence they came from, leaving him in his original mode.

 

Massimo is totally on the Gyrfalcon, slowly stroking a rabbit for good luck. He will need like ten times the good luck.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Volt Catfish transmits, "O-okaaaaay... WE'RE G-GOING IN!!"

 

ZIKOMO Ade sees the entrance area to the Wily Ark. He really feels like he's about to enter Starhaven's evil cousin they keep locked up in the attic and feed fish, metaphorically speaking. The PA grips the haft of its sword tightly, as Max clenches his fist within the trace system. He seems to think, as many do, that this is so Wily's fault. Let's hope we don't get attacked by the other fifty odd Gentlemen.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Vile transmits, "Follow the Wilysaucer."

 

         As Cryogeni Man steers towards it, Flora Man nods. "Aye. It best we find out." As the thrusters pushed it closely, Flora Man watches the speed go up a bit and a few of the stresses take hold. Oh well. It should hold for now. The vacuum of space is something he was in for awhile, even if only on Mars.

         He had a slight knowledge in it at least. "An, in we go. Wonder whaht it could be."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Sigma transmits, "Continuous updates. I have the command center."

 

Opening her eyes as a warning klaxxon starts to go off, Ton Pooh examines her course trojectory. Collision imminant. "Hell." She pulls a helmet down over her head and punches the ejection seat code, hurtling out of the craft through the thin atmo.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Volt Catfish transmits, "Y-yes sir... *brr*"

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Hunter 332 transmits, "I can hear a sorta hum thing, I think it's from that shield thing?"

Teddy Zach goes home.

 

Wily Ark

 

A large, oval-shaped ship with a large clear bubble-shaped prominence in the middle. It looks like an old-style flying saucer scaled up to a large degree. A faded Doctor Wily symbol is on the bottom of the ship but appears to have suffered from time and exposure to the elements.

 

Wily Ark - Humidor

 

The docking bay for the Wily Ark is a rectangular space designed for the deployment of odd-shaped Wily vehicles. It has plenty of room for just about anything as a result. The walls and floor are plain grey metal, and the area is lit brightly by inlaid light discs.

 

Everything appears normal.

 

 Contents:                               Contents:                     

 Riot [STARS] [S]                        Ton Pooh [Ton_pooh] [C]               

 Josef Holznecht [NA]                    Orion Corth [Hazard] [NA]             

 Flora Man [RG]                          Cryogenic Man [RG]                    

 Max Armour [Power Armor] [S]            Steel Massimo [Steel] [H]             

 Dataphage [Standard] [I]                Elpizo [Xolotl] [NA]                  

 Mac [Armor] [H]                         Setsulo Swanson [I]                    

 Hunter 332 [M]                          Volt Catfish [M]                      

 Icewater Narwhal [H]                    Magma Dragoon [Normal] [H]

 Repliforce Variable Armor <Kingfisher>  Wilysaucer [RM]                       

 Hunter Interceptor <Gyrfalcon> [H]

 

 North <N>:                Wily Ark - Filler

 

<Global News Network> OOC: The scene will be played on Live News. Caution: very spammy.

<Global News Network> OOC: As usual, this is not IC knowledge.

 

The various ships dock inside the Wily Ark's docking bay. It is a relatively ordinary space, flat and mostly uninteresting. It is brightly lit and has the usual accoutriments: large Doctor Wily symbols, Mets toddling along the floor, and so on.

            As the last ship enters, the docking bay doors close with a resounding *whud*. Atmosphere, after a fashion, is automatically restored to this section of the ship. It's uncomfortably warm and humid for those who have the sensors (or senses) to notice.

            Reavers start to pour into the area, led off by a large group of Zakobon. Their interest is straightforward enough. You're probably going to have to deal with them.

 

Vile directs Volt Catfish to take the Olive Supermarine into the Wily Ark, following the Wilysaucer. Indeed, this should be no surprise that this is all probably Wily's fault. Vile can't help but admire the man just a bit for his sheer ability to cause chaotic things to happen. Vile coldly watches as the Wily Ark's hangar slowly gets larger and larger. This had damn well better not be a trap, he muses. All the world's heroes rush in, place explodes, Ra Moon laughs himself silly. No matter, Vile isn't about to chicken out. "Set us down near the exit, Catfish," Vile orders. "If we have to make a run for it, I want us to be the first ones out."

 

The forces of Earth seem to arrive en masse.

            The docking bay of the Wily Ark is suddenly filled with men wearing the Pantheon suits, clicking and whirring as they usually are ought to do. A man wearing a bone white suit detaches his jet pack and lets it clatter to the ground. After testing the atmosphere, several clicks issue from the mask. It's Pantheonic Morse Code, if anyone decides to translate, "## Keep close, we cannot spread very far apart as this is unknown territory. Trust no one, unless you are notified prior to such a situation. We are here to press Ra Moon back from our planet. Move out! ##"

            It is apparent that the man leading this group is President Elpizo from Neo Arcadia. Two other men stand behind him, one large, one not so large.

            As the Reavers enter the ship, Elpizo grabs his rapier and pulls it out of the sheath. The golden glow of his sword shines off his helmet, "Oh, and try not to die," Without the Pantheon clicking.

            The President rushes off to the crowd of reavers, hoping to cleave a way through the Reavers. His sword also has a sonic vibration to its energy like bite.

 

Weeeeooooeeeeooooeeeeeoooo! The Wilysaucer hovers through the doors. The Blue Canopy rises a bit, revealing Dr. Wily, flanked on both sides by Guts Man and Bomb Man! The Doctor gives a stunning Wilybrow to all present. "Metools! I command you to assail those Reavers! You will do this because I am Dr. Wily!" Two large blades pop out of the lower part of the Wilysaucer and begin spinning around, making the saucer a very large buzzsaw. Dr. Wily proceeds to driver right through the foolish Reavers that would oppose them. "Robot Masters, Deploy!" Dr. Wily cackles.

            Inwardly, he is quite pissed off at the Reavers, Destroyer, and pretty much everyone.

 

        Mac leaves the Hunter transport and raises an eyebrow.

        "I... I don't like this place," He comments, looking around. "It is far too warm."

        Stepping forwards a few paces, Reavers suddenly pour into the area. Fret arrives next to Mac and looks at him sorrowfully.

        "Yeah, I know, Fret. This doesn't look good. Feel up to merging?"

        Fret looks at Mac as if he was crazy. Or maybe he is, he's talking to a dog after all.

        "Didn't think so. I, um, emergency plan B!" Both of his hands morph into Mac Busters, a corona of energy collecting into both. Take this as you will.

        "We are unafraid!"

 

Magma Dragoon would grin if he could as he opens the door to the shuttlepod, heat shimmer already beginning to envelope him as his weapons begin to charge. He hits the ground, looks over his shoulder once to see that Mac and Icewater are climbing out behind him, then he starts to run, slowly enough that the others can keep up, gouts of flame blasting outwards and ahead, incinerating or at least melting any Reavers he hits.

 

Under Vile's... effective tutelage, Volt Catfish lands the Olive Supermarine close towards whence they came, a ways behind the Wilysaucer. As soon as she parks, she can already see things moving outside. Metools. And... wait, the reaver things! She's seen some of the data on them, they have to be!

            "WE HAVE R-REEEEEAVEEEEERS!!" Volt Catfish finds it appropriate to yell this at the top of her vocoder's capabilities as she hops right out the seat, almost blind-siding Vile with her tail. The battery on her back crackles like it tends to when she's excited, threatened, or otherwise being herself. A door from the Supermarine opens from its side to allow the Mavericks out. Volt, strangely enough, is the first one to fall out in a flop on her belly. She might make a nice step.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Volt Catfish transmits, "WE HAVE R-REEEEEAVEEEEERS!!" *thud* "I-Inside the s-saucer!""

 

Icewater Narwhal jumps out of the pod with Magma, and sees the Reavers. Finally, in person, and not just some photo. He unfortunately has no sonic weapons, and will just have to use his water and ice powers, as in his name. He forms two balls of unstable ice in his hands which retract into the arms for cannon mode. He fires them at the reavers, and the balls shatter into smaller shards, striking the other hourglass-shaped Zakobon.

Icewater Narwhal also runs right behind Magma as he fires.

 

Dataphage's pod slides in through the door; after a moment, it closes behind him, shutting off entry to any others. For a brief moment, a pang of /something/ goes through the virus' head, like he shouldn't have gone in and would be better outside where he can't get blown up. He works the controls busily to allow the pod to land with a *clack* on the floor.

            Hisss.

            The door swings open. Dataphage, after deliberating a moment, scuttles out in his usual crab-like fashion only to see the Reavers start pouring in. The purple reploid shakes his head rapidly and propells himself on top of the pod -- he's not good at defending himself, and he /must/ collect samples at least.

            A Zakobon is headed right at him. Data rears back, frowning with his eyes, and lands on top of the thing with a *CLANK*. Immediately, not wanting to waste time, he jabs himself into it - *shunk!* - one of his tiny drones is inserted and should hopefully detonate.

 

Time for the rocking fight sequence. And oppurtunity for everyone to look awesome. ZIKOMO Ade is no exception.

            As it stomps with a serious vengeance towards the Zabokon hordes, the panels on its shoulders open up. As it reaches the enemy lines, Max executes the avalanche claymores, unleashing a hailstorm of shrapnel into the enemy ranks. The immense burst of metal will shred the initial surge in his forward tunnel to bits, allowing him to seriously wade in. From there, it's time to get ready for some serious metal storm action. The Zabokon swarm and leap, and the colossal saber will cut them apart four or five at a time. ZIKOMO's no master of blades like Elpizo, but it knows how to destroy.

 

Ton Pooh's ejection seat skids along the bay floor. The Strider leaps off of it, allowing it to careen forward towards the incoming Zakobun. Rolling away, she ditches the helmet (its an ugly helmet, anyway), and takes cover behind the landed Gryfalcon. Waiting for everyone to distract the Reavers by engaging them as they are a violent lot, she starts to move quickly but quietly along the outskirts of the docking bay. She plans on avoiding the Reavers altogather.

 

Ton Pooh activates her stealth mode.

 

Josef Holznecht, expectedly, is the large one. He's not wearing anything nearly as sweet-looking as Elpizo, just a stock AGAR suit modified for both his size and his immense right arm. He wheels this arm as Elpizo sets off, and sticks close behind him.

            "Ho! For Earth ahnd humanity!" His right arm doesn't quite have that cool sonic thing to it, but the sheer size and power of the Austrian is likely enough to knock offending Zabokon away from himself and Elpizo.

 

OH ho hohohohohoho! Bomb Man, at the orders of the AMAZING WILY BROW, hops out of the Wily Saucer, landing with a thump on the ground. Of course, he doesn't arrive alone, oh no. No, he's armed with the amazing power of.../a bag of golf clubs/.

            The Robot Master pulls out a small box and balances it on a conveninetly placed Met, then carefully puts on his Golfing Hat. And, with that, starts whacking golf-clubs into the crowd of Reavers And Or Other Miscelaneous Things That Have Annoyed Wily.

            Of course, being Bomb Man, the golf-balls explode. Mostly in a very pretty orange and red, but some purple and green here and there as well.

            And, before he forgets his manners...

            "FORE!"

 

Hunter 332 steps out and onto Volt Catfish. "Sorry, ma'am," she says, matter of factly. She steps some distance away, testing the gravity with a little hop.

            Her weathered face looks up as Reavers vector towards them. "Sorry, ma'am," she says again, before raising up one foot and stomping it down, -hard-, onto the ground, sending enough oof a quaver through the local material to knock the ground-bound ones off their limbs.

            One flies up near her; she punches it, suddenly.

 

Massimo forms the magnificent Massive Lance in his hand, summoning it from subspace. He watches Magma Dragoon for a moment, but he doesn't trust him further than h-...uh...than Mac could throw him. Massimo pulls out an Item 1 emitter and one for Mac, tossing it towards him. "Catch!" He produces a hover platform in front of him and begins to leap up on each one to climb up over the Reaver horde.

 

Wilysaucer drops Guts Man.

 

Dr. Wily has to eject Guts Man forcibly from the saucer.

 

Repliforce Variable Armor <Kingfisher> changes into its Aquatic armor.

 

*frrrrptphtphtphtph-frrrrrttphtphtpthtp.*

            Such are the noises that the poor overworked Jetpack is whining out as it's gives out it's mechanicaly life just when the large Setsulo Swanson arrives onboard the Ark, drawing out his Tsunami Cipher in one quick move. Ahhh....first time he has meet thoses 'Reavers', and hopefully the last.

            Facinating. Seems like he'll have to fight through this mass.

            Or...simply do what Striders must do: Remains quiet, hidden, and let the other more responsible tanks do the work.

 

        Following Elpizo is Orion Corth. His AGAR suit is nowhere near as stylized as Elpizo's, but it seems a bit more stylized than that of his giant-sized protege. Orion knocks off his AGAR jetpack, whipping out a scanning device. He quickly assesses the quickly and curiously generated atmosphere, considering its composition before he turns his attention to the fleeing president and Austrian bodyguard. Corth grunts, returning his scanner to its storage place on his belt. In its stead, he draws his knives and proceeds to chase after Elpizo and Josef, mostly stabbing and smashing things out of his way.

 

Cryogenic Man lands the Yellow Submarine, only because that's the only vehicle they had, inside, and as bay opens up, huddles on out. The others won't mind if the submarine was stolen. And in fact, this submarine was much cooler than Volt Catfish'es superMarine, only because its yellow.

            "Well, we got a bloody mess here, don't we Flora? Lets help clean it up, wot?" He states as he hustles out from the ship, heading towards the waves and waves of reavers. He waves towards the WilySaucer and other Wilycreation, as well as all the heroes. But Wily first, only because he's a WilyBot too. A good one.

            Cryogenic Man focused his hands forwards, a small sized Snowball being created. Cryogenic Man rolls with it, it getting larger and larger as he pushes, his own grasp creating a larger ball. And as it does, the snowball turns into a snow boulder, which Cryogenic Man rolls forward towards the reavers, hoping to bowl them out of the way, and grasp them inside of the ball.

            "Nice to be working with you chaps again!" He calls out to no one in particular.

 

Guts Man lands on his rump with a loud thud, he salutes upwards to the Wily Saucer, "Yes sir!" He pushes himself back up onto his feet while staring at the enemies, he looks over to Bomb Man, "It's destruction time!"

 

The hatch for the Gyrfalcon snaps open with a hiss of pressurized air being released. Jumping out of the cockpit is Blues, his scarf fluttering in front of his body from the air release from the ship. He transmits something over his radio message as he watches people move forward without doing anything himself yet.

 

The Kingfisher hits the brakes figuratively as it reaches the bay, and with a shifting of metal and servo, the sleek aerospace fighter transforms into the standing, aquatic form of the Ride Armor. Someone might notice that the Ride Armor had a box on a cable attatched to it, which is summarily released. Catches and seals on the large box are released as well, as Prismatic comments, "Well, that makes things easier. I like this configuration better anyway. Come on guys, let's save the world." Charging forward, the Kingfisher leaps into the air of the hangar, launching missiles at the Zakobon from the outspread wings of the mecha as he works on clearing a path.

         Odd enough, upon landing with the others, Flora Man lands in the yellow Submarine with Cryogenic Man, undoing the top hatch, standing on it and looking out. "Now thaht jes' be unfortunate." As Cryogenic Man speaks to him, this just gets another response. "Aye. Aye. This be one 'o the worst messes. Aye. And ta' think those thin's were once on our side. Well. Thin's happen."

 

         Flora Man waves to the Wilysaucer also. "Now then. Whaht be your.." As Cryogenic Man creates a mini-snowball, Flora Man shrugs. "Aye then! Be too long since we 'ad a bit o' the ultra violence!" The buster is brought towards a few of the reavers before he lets loose, rather sharp blades being fired towards them, those blades leaves which float back and forth until they imbed themselves into the reavers.

         They aren't particularily painful though.

 

Jet Stingray bursts out of the box, holding a massive gun and slinging it over his shoulder like some uber powerful Jet in a Box. "Just gotta face my fears," the Stingray of Justice replies. Last time he almost got erased out of existance. Hopefully, this time he will fare better. He doesn't climb out of the box, instead using its ultra hard shell in order as cover as he blasts the Reavers.

 

Vile is about to smack Volt Catfish one (to calm her down, you see), but instead he finds himself having to block her tail as she gets up, a bit too excited. The ex-Maverick General makes a note to beat the hell out of her sometime, but that will have to wait for now. Stepping out of the transport and onto the docking bay deck (like Hunter, using Volt as a stepladder, but unlike Hunter, not apologizing), Vile watches as the swarms of Reavers begin their attack. Glad that he made sure to pick the parking spot as close to the exit as possible, he says in his loud, steady tone, "Let these fools-" he gestures at the non-Mavericks, "-take the brunt of the Reaver attack. If any of them get too close to our position, destroy them." Vile does assist with the destruction of the Reaverbots, sending cannon and missiles arcing in their direction, but he seems quite content to let the others get ripped apart in return.

 

The forces of Earth strike out at the Reavers. The sonic weapons are, as always, extremely effective; the other attacks are also effective, but don't put the Reavers down as quickly. They aren't invincible -- there's just a LOT of them.

            Wily's commands do have an impact here. Once Guts Man appears, the Metools snap out of their trances! With single-minded determination, they obey their maker and start to attack the Reavers, having previously ignored the alien horde. Apparently Metools, being among the simplest creatures, were below Ra Moon's notice to reprogram. The drones fight alongside the forces of Earth, helping to the best of their limited abilities.

            The Reavers keep coming. Foo-roo fly in behind the Zakobon to reinforce them, soaring through the air to slash at the enemy. While Hunter knocks down several of them, they are persistent menaces. Weird propeller-like Reavers follow behind them, sweeping through the air and attempting to hack into people with their razor-sharp blades.

            People begin to push forward into the ship. It gets to be more humid the closer one gets to the exit. It's a tight fit for ride armors and Guts Man, but as the ship was designed to accommodate the Yellow Devil, it's doable.

            The docking bay doors start to open. Atmosphere begins to void from this chamber. Simultaneously, the doors deeper into the ship begin to close. Better hustle.

 

Dataphage randomly selects someone in this room. Blues is picked.

 

Reavers seem to be easily cut down from Elpizo's unique blades. The President's golden blade dances around hypnotically cutting in and out. He seems to be cutting a path through the thick of the reavers towards the doors.

            Elpizo's hair trails behind him as he pushes through the closing doors.

 

        Mac grins to Massimo, grabbing the device he threw to him and summoning a Item One before him. Fret jumps on it and scoots away.

        "I, you-- ohh! That pup!"

        Emitting another, Mac throws his belly onto it and floats away, firing pot shots at Reavers that dare to get too close to him.

        It does little but annoy them enough to choose another target, not really even scratching them.

 

Magma Dragoon growls as he stoms on one of the reavers. Having heavily armored and reinforced legs does have its advantages, and it allows him to run through those Reavers that don't get out of the way fast enough. And then, he bolts through the doors, grabbing Icewater and pulling him through if he needs the assistance.

 

Dr. Wily frowns, and slams the canopy down! Even in space he will survive. He begins dispatching orders in Nerp to the Mets to continue their assault but attempt to restore control of the ship to Wily. Who knows, they might succeed. The Saucer veers into a couple of spin blade reavers and bounces off them, but eventually the doctor pinballs off various reavers and the Saucer moves deeper into the ship.

 

The Zakobon bursts, releasing a pair of new drones assembled from the metal. Then they, too, start burrowing into other Reavers, popping them, more spilling out, and the process repeats. Dataphage is glad that they can replicate in this manner, but ... not as quickly as the Reavers seem to be coming. In any case; he's stuck a chunk of metal and part of the internal crystal into his jar, which is shut with a pressured HISS.

 

More flood in. One manages to strike his crystal, and it pings off but cracks it.

            The Irregular darts his gaze around -- the closest person whom he can view is Proto Man coming out of his ride armor; therefore, he scuttles toward the Hunter. "..."

            Icewater Narwhal can start to feel the atmosphere change when the dock doors start to open. He tries to run, but Magma helps by pulling him along. "Whoa!"

 

ZIKOMO Ade reaches its goal through one thing alone. Overwhelming firepower and absolute violence. The Zombie Intelligent Knight was, after all, Optimised for Massive Ordinance. And it uses that massive ordinance as it plows forward. It scythes through Zabokon. The avalanche claymores belch at the Foo-roo, and the missiles streaking out at them blast at anything that survives. ZIKOMO wades through the machines, tearing through to the next room, crushing everything with its weapons. Electricity surrounds it, angrily removing anything that clings to it. Max will not be fooled twice.

 

Ton Pooh waits and watches. As the doors ahead start to close, she reacts quick as lightning. The Strider dashes forwards, leaping up and running along the wall for several paces in direct defiance of gravity. She leaps off, plants both feet firmly on a Foo-Roo and flips forwards, plunging into the heart of the Reaver hoard. She runs forwards, low to the ground, darting left and right around the Reavers in her path.

 

 

Steel Massimo grunts. Okay, so the platform thing isn't working. Massimo shifts his emitter and nods to Mac. "Item 2!" He shouts. Luckily, he packed up at the labs before he came. The last platform disappears and Massimo produces a rocket sled underneath him. He braces against it carefully, pulling his lance around him.

 

He grunts, feeling the attack slash against him, trying to set his lance set against the flying reavers as they attack against his advance.

 

Cryogenic Man continued to push the boulder forward, running forward at a quick pace until the ball itself sucks up what it can, rolling forwards when Cryogenic Man stops rolling it, and instead breaks off at a quick pass towards the closing door. "Aye, no time to get concentrated on the radio; Flora!" Cryogenic calls backwards as he hustles, trying to escape the hoards as well as move around them. He's just running inwards, freezing any reavers that get too close.

 

Smoking Pose Tracker <POT>

============================= Wily Ark - Humidor =============================

 Name             Idle    Last Pose     Last Action

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

 Cryogenic Man    21s       21s        

 Ton Pooh         45s       45s        

 Dataphage         1m        1m        

 Leo               2m        5m        

 Vile              0s        5m        

 Jet Stingray      6m        6m        

 Flora Man         4m        8m        

 Repliforce Vari  N/A       10m        

 Blues             3m       12m        

 Guts Man          6m       14m        

 Orion Corth       2m       14m        

 Setsulo Swanson  19s       15m        

 Hunter 332        2m       17m        

 Bomb Man          8m       17m        

 Josef Holznecht   8m       17m        

 Volt Catfish      5m       19m        

 LiveNews Camera  N/A       27m        

 Riot             19s       None       

=========================== Use +pot/help for Help ===========================

 

At one point in his dash, Josef becomes Troubled. A sudden swell of reavers surges around him, halting his progress and being quite the threat. Within his transparent helmet, Josef scowls hard, roaring and punching the floor. Blue energy pours out and into both the ground and the air around him, creating a powerful, if short-range, shockwave. It doesn't particularly damage the Reavers, but it does scatter them hard enough for Josef to break through and catch up with his President.

 

        Closing doors and voiding atmosphere? Orion decides that this is a decidedly unhealthy situation. He stabs and whirlwind blades his way through the Reavers as quickly as he can, but there are... There are a lot. Corth finally takes the situation to another step, eyes narrowing behind his helmet. He springs onto the ground-bound Reavers and simply starts sprinting across their heads toward the doors, leaping beyond as he finally clears the bladed Reavers and their comrades, his suit showing signs of severe wear in a number of places.

 

Volt Catfish leaps up with arms flailing as soon as Hunter 332 steps off of her. "D-D-DON'T WALK ON TOP OF MEEEEE!!!" She takes being walked all over by stinky humans as a grave insult, even as said stinky human is doing the bulk of the fighting against Reavers (and practically saved Volt's life by nailing that one out of the sky). Screaming less intelligible swears, she dashes on through the lines of beaten-up reavers (and a couple of metools - the metools may discriminate, but SHE DOES NOT! She's bigger than 'em, too, which helps).

            As she comes closer to the deeper parts of the ship, they seem to be more and more... humid. WET. WATERY. She freezes up at the thought. If this was the Destroyer, he knows her weakness! She whimpers at the thought until others pass her and the realization comes that others are running in deeper and the atmosphere is quickly thinning. She's not made to work in outer space!

            Against her better judgment (or for?), she dashes in further. Electricity continues to build and crackle on her back along with her anxiety and panic attacks.

 

The Kingfisher stomps on a Zakobon, before a Foo-Roo cuts into a shoulder and three more Zakobon attack. Standard swarm tactics, and the Ride Armor's pilot isn't enjoying the situation. With a swipe of a claw, the Zakobonars smashed aside while the third rebounds off of the armor plating with a dent. The Foo-Roo gets blasted with an acid round and smashed aside... And then Prismatic notices the problem. "Oh crap. MOVE MOVE MOVE MOVE!" Turning, Prismatic lunges for the door, the Kingfisher wedging through quickly before he gets to be reintroduced to vaccuum. That would suck.

 

Bomb Man grins as he glances over at Guts Man. "Damn straight it is! I suggest we make 'em into little bits and pieces. Possibly with explosions."

            Hmmmm. Need a Bigger Boom. The Bomb Man snaps a finger at the Metool.

            "Caddy, start dispensing /the red ones/."

            The Metool sighs, and a series of normal sized red bombs with 'golf ball' written on them. And then punts them at the enemy. BOOOOOOOOOM.

            Bomb Man sniffs happily. "I love the smell of formula T-31 incinerating things in the morning."

            Annnnd then the docking bay doors open. Bomb Man glances back, then turns and sighs.

            "Guts Man, next time you have an amazingly good plan? Tell it to Dr. Wily first. In the meanwhile, Charge!" Annnnd, with his Caddy Metool at his heels, Bomb Man charges onwards, occasionally detonating or clubbing a Reaver that gets int he way. The many uses of Golf Clubs and Explosives, mmmyes.

 

Jet Stingray merely climbs out of the box as the warriors of Earth work together for their advance, just letting his jet systems roar to life and allow him to fly through the air and after the rest of the heroes. "You can do this, Jet," the Repliforcer offers to himself as he flies through some of the flying Reavers, though considering that he uses the Kingfisher to clear the way for him, it's a lot easier for him.

 

Vile unfortunately doesn't have much in the way of sonic weaponry. He tends to favour the more conventional style of guns. Worse, the Coalition has been so heavily focused on building their big giant secret spaceship that they don't have some of the resources that other factions may have. "Keep moving, keep moving!" he shouts at his fellow Mavericks. "Let the others get killed, but don't let them get too far ahead. If there's something to be stolen I want -us- to be the ones to do it." Vile concentrates on the Reavers that get too close to his position, taking potshots with the Vile Cannon. In his hands, a magnetic scatter blaster appears, and he sprays bullets into the Reaver ranks. By chance, none of our heroes happen to get in the way. Too bad.

 

You head toward the outer ring of the ship.

 

Wily Ark - Filler

 

The outer ring of the ship is expansive, originally having enough room for materials needed to restart civilization on another world. The cavern-like passageways wrap through the oval-shaped ship, with numerous sub-branches off for specific types of goods. Wilybots have an intuitive understanding of Dr. Wily's seemingly random filing system, while everyone else no doubt feels lost.

 

Adding to the confusion is that the entire outer ring of the ship is all but unlit. The main sources of lighting come from spears of crystalline material that protrude from the walls, floor and ceiling at random points, glowing with weird runes.

 

The environmental systems on the ship must be broken. The air is thick and heavy, filled with humidity. It is distressingly warm as well, making it uncomfortable for humans and various types of robots. There is also a higher-than-average carbon dioxide level in the chamber, but nothing that would be immediately dangerous to an organic.

 

The metal floor radiates soft banging noises with every step, which echo off the curved walls in curious ways. Once in a while, a subsystem of some sort will pop in a puff of sparks and smoke, casting a sudden, alarming shadow across those present.

 

 Contents:                               Contents:                     

 Blues [Casual] [H]                      Leo [] [SD]                           

 Riot [STARS] [S]                        Dataphage [Standard] [I]              

 Ton Pooh [Ton_pooh] [C]                 Guts Man [Guts Man] [RM]              

 Setsulo Swanson [I]                     Flora Man [RG]                        

 Jet Stingray [RF]                       Cryogenic Man [RG]                    

 Bomb Man [Ansi] [RM]                    Hunter 332 [M]                        

 Volt Catfish [M]                        Orion Corth [Hazard] [NA]             

 Josef Holznecht [NA]                    Steel Massimo [Steel] [H]             

 Max Armour [Power Armor] [S]            Icewater Narwhal [H]                  

 Magma Dragoon [Normal] [H]              Mac [Armor] [H]                       

 Elpizo [Xolotl] [NA]

 LiveNews Camera                         Smoking Pose Tracker <POT>            

 Repliforce Variable Armor <Kingfisher>  Wilysaucer [RM]                       

 

 

 North <N>:                Wily Ark - Binder

 South <S>:                Wily Ark - Humidor

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Vile transmits, "Blasted humidity. We should have brought a scientist along."

 

Hunter 332 slams her forearms together as a reaver flies straight for her face. As it twitches and collapses, she grins, her face lit by Vile's assault weapons.

            She hears his orders and obeys; as others start moving towards the innards of the ship, she follows, slamming fists like piledrivers into stray reavers as she goes. Being cut off could be a bad thing. She hopes they won't eat the ship or the pilot.

 

Smoking Pose Tracker <POT>

============================= Wily Ark - Filler ==============================

 Name             Idle    Last Pose     Last Action

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

 LiveNews Camera  N/A        0s        

 Leo               0s        2s        

 Bomb Man         49s       None        

 Cryogenic Man    43s       None       

 Dataphage        51s       None       

 Elpizo            1m       None       

 Flora Man         2m       None       

 Guts Man         58s       None       

 Hunter 332        2m       None       

 Icewater Narwha  40s       None       

 Jet Stingray      3m       None       

 Josef Holznecht   5m       None       

 Mac               6s       None       

 Magma Dragoon     1m       None       

 Max Armour        4m       None       

 Orion Corth       2m       None       

 Riot             28s       None       

 Setsulo Swanson   2m       None       

 Steel Massimo     1m       None       

 Ton Pooh          1m       None       

 Vile              0s       None       

 Volt Catfish      1m       None       

=========================== Use +pot/help for Help ===========================

 

As the last person narrowly squeezes through the closing doors, they slam shut with a *kathunk*. Guts Man probably nearly got his foot caught in it, but Guts Man is mightier than any mere door. The Reavers still inside the hangar are ejected out into space, and burn up in the atmosphere as they plunge back toward the earth. It was a tough fight getting by them, but the forces of Earth narrowly prevailed.

            The interior of the ship is damp, humid and unpleasantly warm. Apparently there's plenty of air left in the Ark. It's huge. There is an unpleasant, dirty odor in the air. It smells /dirty/ in here, like something rotting. Perhaps the food supplies have spoiled.

            Mets are fanning out through the ship, trying to re-establish control of the ship through their various machinations. However, with the radical changes that have taken place, this may be easier said than done.

            Reavers continue to operate in this area, but they aren't as concentrated. The fighting with them is sporadic, as if Ra Moon were merely testing your defenses at this stage.

 

Icewater Narwhal is starting to hate the humidity in this place, as it becomes more oppressive...choking. The ice that usually lightly coats him is melting, and water drips behind him at each step. "I wish Zero didn't whine so much. I think he has some tangles in his hair," he comments to the other Hunters. He fires a water ball at a nearby worm-like reaver.

 

Vile can't help but find it remarkable that the true soldier among his comrades here is the human, while the other Reploid is a frightened ninny that's still around only because she has some useful electrical and medical talents. This doesn't say much for Reploid superiority, Vile notes grimly as he lets another spray of magnetically charged bullets fly. He's trying in a half-assed way to make sure he doesn't accidentally shoot a non-Reaver, but so far it's still just luck that it hasn't happened yet. Looking over his shoulder in annoyance as the door shuts, Vile can't shake the feeling that this could be a very nasty trap. Also listening to the radio, Vile makes a note: This is why badasses shouldn't talk on global when they do badass things. It makes them less badass.

 

The Wilysaucer comes with minty fresh air sanitizers and is closed. Take that, Dank!

            TAKE THAT, DANK!

            Dr. Wily continues driving the saucer through any reavers in his way. He knows /exactly/ where he's going and he knows /exactly/ what needs to be done. He grins, glad that he made this ship big enough for saucer maneuvering. He makes a beeline for the central control station. He'll show that sassy Moon who runs barter town.

 

Magma Dragoon nods, "When we get back, we can shave him bald. Right now, let's focus." The heat isn't bothering him that much, but then again, he's been known to walk through lava. He glances around to spot Massimo and Mac, nodding. "It's too quiet in here. I don't like it. Keep alert."

 

Elpizo seems to have an idea of the situation. He motions to Orion and Josef, "Stay close. I do not want to lose any officers, on this ship!" The President grips the hilt of his sword a little tighter before he presses forward again. Any Reaver that happens to get in his way, happens to get impaled with a sword.

            Several Neo Arcadian Pantheon's could not make it through the door, and are probably burning in the atmosphere. Elpizo does not waste time worrying about them, they know what they got in to. The President moves forward trying to press through the Reaver forces and deeper into the ship. He wants to see this 'Destroyer' for himself.

            Human hubris is always a stronger force.

 

ZIKOMO Ade continues to walk forward. The hi-beams on its one large eye and one small eye light the place up as best they can, and Max scans the area using the ZIKOMO Ade's not-enhanced-but-alright sensors. He continues to fight Reavers, lightning arcs exploding them as the massive subsystems reload. "Higher levels of carbon dioxide here. Heat levels rising. Very humid." The power armour stomps slowly, recharging its energy systems. Max considers powering up a forcefield.

 

Steel Massimo tries to throw down another item, but he seems to be out. He flicks his emitter over and sets down an item 3. That will have to do. He grabs onto it as it climbs up one of the walls, shooting another one at the wall, then another. He climbs a short distance along the wall but runs out of the item. He watches Magma. "Don't stand around! Press forward!" Massimo throws himself away from the wall, arms out and lance forward, diving right into the middle of a reaver squad.

 

Ton Pooh bursts forwards out of the cloud of Reavers, a thick sheen of sweat appearing on her brow. She ignores the Zakobun that turn around to give chase, they're very soon located on the other side of the blast door and thus, unimportant. The Strider then darts down a side-passage and vanishes from sight again.

 

        "Well that was--" Mac begins, before being taken down by a Reaver literally tackling him out of the air and onto the ground. "Why you, I should-- I should. Arg!" With a flick of the wrist Mac whips out and activates a sword. Its no ordinary sword, though! A sharp eye would notice it is actually a Z-Saber, which Mac plainly has no idea how to use.

        "Have at you, villain!" The purple Hero yells, holding out the sword towards the Reaver. "I will not."

        The thing, apparently unaware of Mac's ability to talk and talk, throws its claw out, raking it accross his chest.

        "I, no... Thats..." Whilst Mac is bitching, Fret -- doing something useful for once -- emits a small glob of purple energy from his mouth and directly at the Reaverbot. The thing, annoyed, turns around and takes swips at the small robotic dog still on the Item One. In his moment of distraction, Mac uses the Z-Saber and plunged it right into the back of the Reaver killing it outright.

        With a hearty guffaw, Mac summons another Item One. "This swordplay is easy!" Then uses it to advance to the next area.

 

Yes...well...at a time like this, there isn't much to do in a situation like this but FOLLOW THAT SAUCER! Bomb Man trots along after, his Caddy wandering along, occasionally whacking a Reaver on the head with his golf-club. Failing that, he simply chucks a bomb at 'em, but he's more or less leaving the Reavers alone as he continues his mighty quest to follow and protect Doctor Wily!

            And blow stuff up.

            With luck, he'll be accomplishing both tasks at once!

 

The delicate Dataphage is unaffected by the humidity of the interior -- the crystals with the runes, however, interest him. He moves away from Proto Man and scuttles up the wall, plodding with his suctioned feet up onto the ceiling upside down. The outer surface of his glassy head is getting very fogged up; the occasional golden bleam or soft green flash is still seen through the haze.

            He starts cutting a piece off the refractive substance -- if his hypothesis is correct, maybe this is the same crystal that powers the Reavers.

            Afterward, he flies along the ceiling, avoiding any nearby Reavers while moving toward those nearest to him. That is, the Mavericks.

            This is getting tricky.

 

Hunter 332 gets a shoulder dinged by a stray Vile-round; it leaves nothing but a dink. A Reaver left a worse one on her arm, but it's not bad yet.

            She shoves her fist into the eye of one Reaver, twisting, grabbing, and yanking out with a screech of shattering crystal. She's grinning, although not very well.

 

 

 

Pugilation Man was here the whole time.

 

Guts Man is one of the last people to make it into this part of the Ark, he towers over almost everyone save a few people. He feels like pushing all those smaller than him out of his way, this is like a fire drill where you're stuck in the back and feel like shouting, "Move it people!" Only in this case he actually shouts that out.

 

Volt Catfish is closer towards the back, though she may have been here prior to some of the others. "S-so... s-so weeeeet," she repeats several times over. She was lucky when it came to getting through the first hordes - Hunter saved her (she won't own up to this) and she found a nice path to run through. She could be curling up and simply waiting to die, what with how WET it feels.

            A reaver pokes her at the side. "GAAAAAAAAH!!" Her body takes on a blue hue as electricity pours out, her whiskers standing on end while electricity courses through the air towards the one deathly close to her and several others.

            Now she's actively contributing for once!

 

Jet Stingray continues shooting from time to time, landing once he's caught up with the rest of the pack. Saying to anyone that will listen. "This isn't like the last time we fought them!" He pauses to let stingray missles surround him in a halo before letting them seek out and explode their Reaver targets. "...Not sure if that's a good or a bad thing at this point of the race."

 

        Dank, humid air you say? Orion Corth still hasn't disengaged his AGAR suit's onboard air supply or its rebreather systems. He just has to deal with reprocessed Orion-smell. He nods calmly to Elpizo, "Understood, sir," he replies, voice distorted in a terribly Stormtrooperish fashion. He moves forward after Elpizo and Josef, employing a very simple strategy of stabbing Reavers that get too close and then booting them as far from his person as is possible.

 

Josef Holznecht always has a sheen of sweat on his face, most times - he exercises almost constantly. Here, however, the sweat is not the good sweat of a workout, but the slightly gritty, opressive sweat of it slowly getting too damn hot in this suit. He still lets off a crisp "Jawohl!" in response to Elpizo's order, and takes a step closer. A reaver suddenly surges at him, latching onto his right shoulder and scrabbling about. If it weren't for his robot arm, that would likely have completely compromised his suit. The big man responds to this attack by barrelling shoulder first into the floor, totalling the thing under his own weight and momentum. He rolls back to his feet, warier than before.

 

Setsulo Swanson is moving on ahead--pretty quickly now that a fat man like him should be able too! Still, he seems to find more important to eat his sushi than actualy fighting, currently.

            Or at least, until he barely dodged an shot from a foolish reaver. The Strider's reaction is immediate: the large shadow quickly charges the alien robot, bringing down his watery blade and slice apart the offender. Cleanly, efficiently.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Volt Catfish transmits, "W-w-we're DEEPER IIIIIN." She sounds strained. It's very staticy. "IT'S W-WET!!!""

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Hunter 332 transmits, "Yeah, it smells like ass in here."

 

        From point to point, Protoman teleports from the entryway to where Mac is. Firing off a few shots with his buster toward the Reavers, he looks over his shoulder to Mac himself. Blues shakes his head sadly at Mac over his usual 'flare' when in the middle of something like this, but so far he's not managed to get himself killed.

 

Cryogenic Man continues to hurry, even as the battles begin to erupt around. Cryogenic Man looks and smirks, "Alright Flora, Pugilation. Let's show this reaver's that we mean business! Gentlemen, assembleee!" Cryogenic Man calls out as he runs forward, creating his own sword as he goes, a small crystal of ice being formed before a frozen sword is melded in his grasp.

            "Charrgee!" Cryogenic Man calls out as he lurches forwards, starting to slash and swipe at Reavers as he goes, leaving a cut and an icy tingle wherever the blade moved, even a hint of ice trickling from it.

            "Aye, this sword play is sort of enjoyable, blokes!" Slash slash swipe slash thrust swipe cut.

 

Pugilation Man arrives from the outer portion of the Ark. The doorframe of the sub appears to be stuck around his waist, having been torn away from the rest of the sub, explaining why he has been missing all this time. With reckless abandon he throws himself into the oncoming reavers -- whirling like a dervish out of nowhere as he lays out punches. He looks quite jolly about it.

        "Sorry it took so long, wot? A little stuck."

 

Repliforce Variable Armor <Kingfisher> stomps forth, firing at Reavers as they appear. Missiles and acid splatter out, raining down death upon the mechanical invaders. Meanwhile, Prismatic is hooking his datapad into the Armor's sensor systems and taking readings - And recordings. This might be important later on. The runes, of course, are immediately checked against his Martian data.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Sigma transmits, "Continue to update on any particular items of interest. I want to know the purpose to this."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Hunter 332 transmits, "Yessir."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Hunter 332 transmits, "Uh... there's less reavers in here. We're hanging near the back of the group of idiots. President Mexico just left some of his guys outside."

 

         Well. There's nothing wrong with a bit of warmth, especially humidity. He actually enjoys it a bit. "Now thaht be somethin' ye don't always smell. Perhaps it'd be better if we didn't agaihn. Aye?" Following Cryogenic and Pugilation Man, Flora Man, by far the most delicate of the Robot Gentlemen, stays behind them.

         The eyebrows and elfin face are just prominent features. As Cryogenic calls out though, he changes his mind. Raising his buster it changes quickly to another hand, a leaf, a rather large and sharp heart shaped one, being used as a smaller axe.

         "Aye! JEs' good ta' 'ahve you 'ere Pugilation Mahn. Fer' the gentlemahn way!" He slashes a few times, advancing, focusing on quick movements of the leaf instead of power. He did look just a bit elfish. Slightly. If only in the face.

Pugilation Man begins covering Flora Man.

 

The heat and humidity is unpleasant. It has a physical presence, an inky, miserable weight. The foul odor, a rotten smell, is oppressive. What IS that stench?

            Elpizo steps through a pool of dirty water on the ground. The Zikomo's high-beams see that black-grey mold has colonized a large part of the ship, growing across the walls, the ceiling, and across the floor in irregular tendril-like growths. It has a porous, spongy consistency which is unpleasant to the touch. Cold, clammy. Deathlike.

 

The Reavers start to die off, perhaps pulling back to rally at another part of the ship. Many of the direct paths to the control center have been obstructed by blast doors or large crystalline growths. It's a maze-like task to find one's way around. The Mets do what they can to help by firing on Reavers or lighting the way of different people intermittently. The light bounces around a lot, coming out of their eyes.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Magna Centipede transmits, "Can you eliminate them?"

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Hunter 332 transmits, "Workin' on it, sir, I think the General's trying to get us past."

 

Repliforce Variable Armor <Kingfisher> flips a coin in the air and it comes down tails.

Dr. Wily has no problem with the maze... until the mold starts getting in his way. The Wilysaucer turns, goes down side corridors, and occasionally has to buzzsaw through some particularly large debris. The saucer is moving slow enough to follow, perhaps because of all the turns it has to make. The reavers are all but gone now, although Wily has to drive the buzzsaws through some particularly large ones. When those don't work, there are Lasers. Wily falls eerily quiet within his protected saucer.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Hunter 332 transmits, "Yeah, uh, there's some kind of screwed up mould here."

 

Max Armour does not like the mould. And so, ZIKOMO Ade actually attempts to tiptoe through it. The colossal PA continually voxes "ew ew ew ew" as it walks. It could definitely use the electron saber to try and cut through blast doors or crystal growths if it finds them, and Max will do so if he finds it absolutely necessary. The power armour can light its own path, and doesn't need to use the Mets, and as such it presses on at its own pace.

 

Magma Dragoon growls at Massimo and half-debates firing on him as a "warning shot". He doesn't though, and he was moving. Just talking at the same time. He has the brainpower to do both. He continues moving deeper, eyeing the mold warily. No telling WHAT that's going to do. He blasts some of the larger mold colonies with flame, removing the threat, if any, and testing just how flammable it is.

 

Dataphage keeps along on the ceiling with the Mavericks; they don't appear to notice him, which is good, as he sort of got into trouble with them a while ago. His shining self blends in quite well with the massive crystal growths, and occasionally he plods against a patch of mold. Mold ... there must be some life in here, then, and conditions that allow for it.

            Eventually he probes into a tunnel where the Neo Arcadians happen to be going through. Data lowers himself until he sticks out horizontally and runs along the side walls. He joins up next to the suited Josef but says nothing.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Vile transmits, "We'll get past. Volt, take a sample of the mold."

 

Icewater Narwhal rubs his forehead. It's wet. "Dritsekk Destroyer and his humidity..." he mutters. "We know where we're going? This place is a maze," he comments to the others. A flying reaver dives at him, but suddenly retreats. "I can maybe freeze these doors off..."

            Splash.

 

Elpizo looks down at the pool of water. He brings his hob-toed foot back only briefly. He cannot waste much time, because he is supposed to follow Wily, "Despite my better judgement, Josef, we're following Wily." Elpizo looks up and ignites his dash jets. The human lifts into the air and bounds off the walls with ease, trying to avoid the slippery mold. Elpizo lands a few feet behind the Wily Saucer. The President's Death face shows no emotion as he stares out blankly.

            Elpizo presses a button on the right side of his helmet, activating some device within. The golden glow of Elpizo's sword shines down the hallway, helping the others.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Vile waits to see if Volt dies from doing so.

 

Massimo hears the radio conversation. Okay, FINE. He moves along with Wily, as Elpizo suggested. He doesn't like this, but there is safety in numbers. He waves to the other Hunters to form up behind him and he aids the Wilysaucer in keeping forces off from him. He doesn't wait for Magma to follow, but he motions for Mac and Icewater to follow. "Come on. He says he know where he is going."

 

        "What /is/ this place?" Mac asks, rhetorically.

        "I mean, I know its a spaceship." Or maybe not. "But what /exactly/ is it? Or this stuff, specifically?" Touching some of the growth, Mac shudders, opting to take the Z-Saber to it instead, liberally hacking away at what he considers a violation of some unwritten rule of how creepy something should be.

 

Vile can't believe that the drop in Reavers is a Ra Moon test. How many times does this guy need to 'test Earth's defenses!' before he's had enough? Vile is reminded of the sort of people that, whenever they lose, make up a BS story about how they weren't really trying. The ex-Maverick General glares at the mold on the walls and the puddles on the ground. He avoids stepping in them. "The 'great and mighty Ra Moon'... keeps his place a sewer?" Vile asks rhetorically even as he's forced to duck a flying Reaver that made it through the other Defenders to attack him. A quick shot from the scatter blaster and the Reaver is down. The conditions of the fight here are rapidly becoming worse.

 

Repliforce Variable Armor <Kingfisher> stops for a moment when it reaches the mold. "Unusual." He considers for a moment, wishing he had the time and tools to take a sample. Instead, he fires acidic gouts towards the mold, trying to burn it away. The idea that the Destroyer might attempt a biological scourging via imported Martian flora crosses his mind, but he shudders, and shakes his head, simply working his way forward. Blocking crystal growths are broken when possible, hoping that he can keep up and get through this mazelike place. Time is ticking by, and the Space Elevator is in danger.

Learning a new dislike for Wily-Designed buildings, Ton Pooh slips in and out of side corridors. One particularly confusing branch somehow leaves her back on the other side of the hallway. Somehow. But the lighting is getting lower, this means progress of a sort. She slips on a small night-vision visor and then decideds to trail Wily's saucer at a distance. Better then blundering around blind.

 

        As the going becomes more difficult in the dark, Corth turns on his suit's running lamps. At the sight of mold, Orion's eyes twitch a little, going wide with scientific curiosity. With the Reavers starting to dwindle in numbers, he sheathes one knife, pulling a sample container from about his waist. Just a small petri dish really. With time-tested skill, Orion opens the dish just a little bit and attempts to scrape a mold sample into the dish before springing after the others.

 

        "Who knows Mac, whatever it is, it's housin' the freak who nearly killed X." The whine of Protoman's buster charges again as he fires off a larger blast to cut through a larger swatch of Reavers. "So we kill them, then move on to offing Ra Moon for good. Because I'm getting tired of us having to shoot this guy in the face."

 

Hunter 332's feeling it, a little. Her flesh has been given a metallizing layer that allows her to look so ghoulishly embalmed, so her face is not actually rotting off. It still hurts her eyes, a little.

            She starts swinging her foot towards a Metool until she sees it shoot at a Reaver. She swerves out of the way, looking disappointed, and presses on to stay near the Maverick General.

 

Volt Catfish's electrical storm dies down for the moment, though there's still the matter of it being wet. She hears the splash and immediately begins to cower. What if this whole hallway was to become a whole swimming pool?! It's... unlikely, but you never know with destroyers and the meek that foolishly try to continue inward despite knowing better.

            Coming up to some of the mold, the order comes in by Vile to try and collect some of the mold. "O-o-ooooo... kaaaay...." She reaches out with one of her hands and tries to touch the black mold on one of the walls. She draws it back immediately in a yelp because of its consistency, but it is drawn back to it moments later. Just mold. Just mold. NOT WATER.

 

Yes...well...Bomb Man's just cheerfully following along behind the Wilysaucer. Really, he's actually having a bit of fun. I mean, he hasn't seen anything particularly threatening yet, he's gotten to explode some stuff...what more could any self-respecting Robot Master want? As such, he trots along, although...the Mold /is/ a bit worrying. Which is why, of course, some patches are solved. With explosions. EXPLOSIONS AND FIRE.

            And Bomb Man continues along!

 

Guts Man slowly pushes his way through, he looks around the ship and asks, "I forget, did we install spike pits inside this thing? Or moving platforms? Or any other of those awesomely annoying traps?"

 

Vile watches Volt intently as she reaches out to touch the mold. He waits to see if she dies from it or anything.

 

Pugilation Man continues plowing his way through hordes of reavers -- taking particular care to eliminate any that threaten others, his friends. It is a rather odd sensation to be smashing up hordes of your own former drones, but he does so anyways; crushing them into pancake-sized sheets of metal. As they start to die off he is able to move to catch up with the rest of the Gentlemen, and does so.

        He notices the smell, but is too polite to say anything about it.

 

Water. Setsulo would have VASTLY preffered if this was...merly /water/. But mold? That's worrysom indeed. The large Strider continues his way, but threads carefully, his footing light.

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Sigma transmits, "This Destroyer seems in the habit of scavening many things to serve his own needs. Curious."

 

Foul smells? Random water? Mold? Josef didn't think that the Wily Ark would have a locker room. While others are busy being revolted, Josef is fondly remembering his marathon workout session the day before finally taking Mr. Universe gold. Ah, nostalgia.

            Back to more important matters. Firstly, Josef noticed Dataphage immediately, due to his being extra-wary right now. With reflexes that he simply shouldn't have, he reaches down before he gets /too/ near, seizing him by the the crystal-thing atop his head and hoisting him right up off the ground. "Ha! You'll naht sneak up on me, Reaver!"

            It is at this time that Elpizo picks up his pace. Josef, without awesome dash jets, must simply plod through the mold and stagnant puddles to catch up.

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Triple Voice Action Bolero transmits, "For an almost omnipotent Destroyer of Worlds, it sure subscribes to guerilla tactics awfully well."

 

Croygenic Man pushes forwards still, even at the sight of the mold doesn't flinch. He does however take note not to try and step in it, but he goes forward. "Flora Man you might be wanting to take a bit of the sludge or slime; you do know most about plants!"

            Cryogenic Man fixes his weapon, the sword melting slightly before freezing into a staff, making it easier to knock the crystaline in front out of the path of the other gentlemen, as well pushing forwards past pesky reaver bots that get in the way. "Now chaps, sorry if any of these little bugger get on you!" The water like mold is an after thought, as Cryogenic Man could have well frozen it as he moved over it. Cryogenic Man doesn't say any thing either about the smell. He was a Wily too, once.

 

         Walking along, Flora Man doesn't go out ahead, instead he keeps Cryogenic and Pugilation Man in his view. It's best for him after all. As they move farther, Flora Man notices the water. 'Ow fortunate! Brining his buster towards it, Flora Man fires a few bulbs towards the water. With any luck he'll have a few drones at his disposal. Water lily bases, incredibly fast build time, and less for fighting but more for safety. If the water proves able to withstain life for even a brief moment.

         The heat is getting to him and the humidity proves he's not a plant for warm temperatures, just wet ones. "It be gettin' a bit o' stuffy, aye?" Black grey mold... 'ow fortunate! So life can be sustained! Until he reaches out to touch it, the cold chill causing him to pull himself back and go back to behind Pugilation and Cryogenic. This isn't right at all.

 

Icewater Narwhal also, is sticking with Magma, after some radio convo.

 

Jet doesn't really complain about the stink that much. Sadly, being an aquatic reploid that fights well on land meant that he fought in places that had a lot of both. Like bogs and swamps, which were always 'fun'. Except not really. Making his way foward, he figures that Prism is taking this all in. "So, what are your thoughts so far, if you got any?"

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Sigma transmits, "Even the Stardroids had their own equipment. Yes."

 

The mold can be collected. It appears to be /Stachybotrys chartarum/, a type of mold native to the Earth, but apparently modified. Normally it only grows on wood or paper, but it's all over the place in here. It would be odd for Ra Moon to have that available to him, since none of it could probably survive on Mars. It is destroyed easily enough by burning it or blowing it up, as the Wily Ark was designed to tolerate the likes of Crash Man and Bomb Man having drunken brawls.

            Something is moving through the darkness. It's nearby, whatever it is, and it doesn't sound mechanical. It isn't breathing. The acoustics in here make it impossible to figure out what direction it's coming from. Back? Forward? Side? Above? Below?

            Abruptly, the Mets get some control of the ship's doors back. Blast doors randomly open and close, changing the morphology of the maze. Roughly half the group is separated from the other half of the group. However, half the group has a clearer shot to advance toward the command center. Unfortunately, Doctor Wily is not presently in that half. Mets aren't very smart, but they are still Wilycoded.

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Triple Voice Action Bolero transmits, "They also did not tend to lure us into trap-style situations."

 

Smoking Pose Tracker <POT>

============================= Wily Ark - Filler ==============================

 Name             Idle    Last Pose     Last Action

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

 Leo               6s       14s        

 Jet Stingray      2m        2m        

 Icewater Narwha   1m        2m         

 Flora Man         2m        2m        

 Cryogenic Man     3m        3m        

 Josef Holznecht   1m        3m        

 Setsulo Swanson   5m        5m        

 Pugilation Man    2m        5m        

 Vile              0s        5m        

 Guts Man          2m        6m        

 Bomb Man          6m        6m        

 Volt Catfish      6m        6m        

 Hunter 332        6m        6m        

 Blues            12s        6m        

 Orion Corth       1m        7m        

 Ton Pooh          7m        7m        

 Repliforce Vari  N/A        8m        

 Mac               1m        8m        

 Steel Massimo     1m        8m        

 Elpizo            1m        9m        

 Dataphage        59s        9m        

 Magma Dragoon     2m       10m        

 Max Armour        1m       10m        

 Wilysaucer       N/A       11m        

 LiveNews Camera  N/A       27m        

 Riot              2m       None       

=========================== Use +pot/help for Help ===========================

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Hunter 332 transmits, "Orders, sir?"

 

Dataphage pauses to lean down and siphon out a sample of the mold into his container; he manages to get a little, even if that is uncomfortable. But then he's grabbed by Josef. His legs wiggle around like a trapped insect, and he shakes his head. "I ... am .. not a Reaver, but an Earth reploid."

            He wiggles some more and concentrates enough so that he holds the jar up to eye-level and examines it. His mind flies through all of the species of molds and algae he has sorted through before in the biolabs he worked in. ... Hmmm, this is definately familiar.

 

Ton Pooh ditches Wily when she realises that he's leading the group in circles. She sighs and strikes out on her own. She heads towards where the humidity grows and the darkness thickens.

 

Dr. Wily rues. Those damned Mets... they spoil everything! Here he had a solid mental map of the place... and they went and ruined it. A sigh emits from the saucer, and Dr. Wily pulls out his old maps. "Now let's see here... the Mets probably activated these door switches... argh." Dr. Wily fumes. Blasted Mets. He grumbles a bit and begins redrawing the map as how he assumes it will look now based on his intricate knowledge of the ship.

            "It's going to take us a bit longer." Path closed in front of them, Dr. Wily moves the ship down a longer side corridor. Hopefully, they'll get to move further on.

 

Vile watches Volt. She's still alive. The mold can't be /that/ bad. The analysis and discovery of it being Stachybotrys chartarum will have to be done later. Vile's attention is suddenly drawn away from the mold as blast doors begin opening and closing. But there is also something else. The single red optic behind Vile's T-visored helmet dulls as he listens. What... is that? It doesn't sound like one of our 'heroes'. It's straight ahead... no... below... Vile frowns behind his helmet. It's to the left... frustrated, Vile steps forward, "Hunter! Get over here. We're moving out." Vile dives forward through the darkness, timing his jump just as a blast door slides open and then slams shut. Hopefully Hunter can make the same leap. If not, well, maybe the next human cyborg will be a little bit quicker.

 

Wily Ark - Binder

 

At the center of the ship is a spherical area designed, as needed, to break away from the ship as an emergency escape pod for Wily himself. It is spacious, having almost a cathedral-like feeling to it. The air is dry and cool, as this chamber is sealed off from the outer area of the ship by airlocks.

 

The roof of the chamber is made out of a clear material that allows the faint lights of space to penetrate the chamber. However, most of the lighting comes from crystalline spires that have been force-grown through the floor and walls and wrap through the chamber in twisted, jagged pillars. The crystals thrum with power and are covered with runes that glow in seemingly random sequences.

 

The control center for the ship is near the far end of the chamber, and has been overgrown by crystals that jut out from the consoles like thin, narrow spikes. Holographic displays flicker around the control area intermittently, displaying data in some long-forgotten tongue.

 

Reavers normally mill around this area, either idle or accomplishing an arcane maintanence task.

 

 Contents:                               Contents:                     

 Pugilation Man [RG]                     Bomb Man [Ansi] [RM]                  

 Guts Man [Guts Man] [RM]                Jet Stingray [RF]                     

 Josef Holznecht [NA]                    Setsulo Swanson [I]                   

 Cryogenic Man [RG]                      Hunter 332 [M]                        

 Ton Pooh [Ton_pooh] [C]                 Ra Moon [Ra Moon] [?]

 POTC                                    LiveNews2 Camera

 

 South <S>:                Wily Ark - Filler

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Sigma transmits, "Continue the exploration."

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Boomer Kuwanger transmits, "So I hear everybody's covered in fungus."

 

 

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Volt Catfish transmits, "Wh-where did you gooooo?!?! WHERE D-DID YOU GO?!?!"

 

<Global News Network> OOC: Second feed will start on Live News 2.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Vile transmits, "We've ditched you. Try to survive. If you manage to, congratulations, you're not a total failure."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Hunter 332 stifles a laugh. Barely. "Good luck, ma'am."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Volt Catfish transmits, "Gkk!!"

 

All doors lead to the control room. Eventually, that is.

            The monolithic chamber is filled with a horrifying buzzing noise -- one that many would recognize from previous encounters with Ra Moon. It saturates the area, as if there were more of it than should fit in the chamber, if that makes sense.

            Several reavers, all low-class drones that do not pose much of a threat unless massed, go about on geometric patrol routes for a moment before unceremoniously filing out of the room, ignoring the Earth forces as they enter.

            The buzzing increases and begins to vary wildly in pitch, until a voice emerges from it: the voice of Ra Moon.

            "What do you expect to achieve?"

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Sigma transmits, "Report."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Vile transmits, "Found him."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Boomer Kuwanger transmits, "We're out of sardines, Sir. How are things where everybody else is?"

 

Huh. Well. This is...well..hmm. Sounds like bugs. And, like most problems, Bomb Man has a simple solution for bugs. Explosives. Still. The Robot Master glances uaround, looking for the voice that needs to be shot, and then shrugs as he glances at Guts Man.

            "So...huh. Find 'em and choke 'em? Or what?"

            That's right, Guts Man is being consulted on tactics. This may not bode well.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Sigma is apparently in a 'mood'. "I am not in the mood right now, Boomer Kuwanger. You found the Destroyer? Outline what you have located."

 

Guts Man steps into the control room after opening a door, he can't help but look around as he takes in the sights and sounds. As a voice asks a question he replies, "Whatever Dr. Wily commands me to do. That's what I expect to achieve you dumbaft." He looks back to his brother in a bid to answer his question, "That sounds about right."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Volt Catfish transmits, "S-s-something... TH-THERE'S SOMETHING H-HEEEERE! It it it it it it it it it (thirty 'its' later)... it it it... it r-r-retired s-someone so... so..." Mumbling. "AIIIEEE!!""

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Vile transmits, "Busy. Hunter, relay the information Sigma wants."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Hunter 332 transmits, "I'ts some kind of control room, he's buzzing. There's these reavers, but they're losers, he's saying like, 'What do you expect to achieve?'"

 

Ton Pooh does not walk into the room like a moron. Instead she presses her back to the door that she herself has come to. She waits calmly. The others will distract the Destroyer. Then she will act. She takes out a small compact flip-top mirror and edges it up to the doorway so that she can see inside without revealing herself.

 

Racing in through the doors, Jet Stingray finds himself running and running. Wondering where the heck he is, he stops when he comes to final room, the buzzing making him skid to a stop. Walking in slowly, he readies his big gun, though he doesn't aim it for Ra Moon. He knows that this will likely end in a fight. Ra Moon wanted to kill the group from Earth before, he is sure this time is little exception.

            Gripped with a massive amount of fear from the last battle, Jet merely gulps before regaining his usual confidence. "I could ask you the same thing, Ra Moon! We've fought invaders before, we can do it again!" He pauses as he hears another voice and looks to see Guts Man and Bomb Man. "Guts... Why is it we are on opposite sides, yet we seem to team up more often than fight one another?" As he speaks, he is scanning the room, waiting for Ra Moon to appear.

 

Vile tucks and rolls as the blast door slams shut behind him. He glances over his shoulder to see that, yes, Hunter 332 is still both alive and with him. Vile was pretty confident that she'd be able to do it. "Keep moving," he mutters to her, frying one of the last Reavers that are still with them. The pair traverse through the dark halls and navigate past malfunctioning blast doors until - the massive control chamber. Vile rises up to his full height, about to blast the low level Reavers present. But, as they begin filing out, he barely refrains from pulling the trigger. And then, the voice. Vile listens, and Vile responds after Guts does.

        "You've dared to threaten our planet, Ra Moon. You've been found out that Earth is stronger than you thought. We've been warring with each other for some time, and we're stronger than ever for it!" This may be stupid to yell back at it, but Ra Moon asked a question, and Vile is merely answering. "I expect that either we'll kill you or you'll kill us. Whoever's stronger will win, and I intend for that to be us."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Sigma transmits, "-Pretend- that I am not actually there, and have no clue as to what is going on. You have found the Destroyer? He has retired someone?"

 

And lo, they have arrived at the core of the Ark. What they see is...evidently, nothing too pleasant to witness.

            The fat Strider holdes the Tsunami Cipher to the side, his half-way masked face merly showing two eyes squinted at the masses of reavers. Evantualy he answers the buzzing, booming voice.

            "What we are doing here, you ask?" The Sumo calls out, focusing the ambient humidity into his weapon. "I'd think that it would be obivious to you, actualy. But after what you have been spourting on the radio...Somehow, I doubt it! I am here because I /want to eat my freaking sushi in peace without some oddball aliens freaks coming in and try to destroy all life again /FOR ONE MONTH.//!"

            And oh god he's the only Irregular here.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Hunter 332 transmits, "I dunno, nobody's dead yet."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Hunter 332 adds, "Sir."

 

Vile then mutters something about needy commanders wanting a play-by-play. Thankfully Hunter's the one that has to worry about it.

 

Cryogenic Man watches as he enters, looking around at first, noticing the familiar look of a cockpit, or at least, where crew would be. He gets ready to strike at the reavers as they come, but instead, they walk right by. "Hmmm.. that's different..." He intones, looking back up towards the room.

            He barely moves when the terrible buzzing noise comes filtering into the radio, and through the ears of the gentlemen.

            His vision darts around, looking for the figure which doesn't show itself. "Ra Moon... we can only expect to contest you in your own conquest to destroy the planet. It might be constantly contested, and it isn't a cup of tea like Mars; but that doesn't matter. You shouldn't be doing this, no one should be given the right to destroy other planets!"

            "It's just... just... ungentlemen like!"

 

Hunter runs towards the side of the control room. She says nothing, although this does confirm she's alive. She mutters faintly, mostly into the radio.

            Is she trying to flank Ra Moon? Maybe.

 

Josef Holznecht comes in as well, which is the in thing to do, really. There's a significant, worrying lack of Neo Arcadian presence here, but then, what better way to prove yourself as perfection than to stand alone, do all that you can and excel beside these robots (and a fatty)? Josef lifts his right arm up, clenching his fist solemnly. The heavy metal bar locks loudly over his fingers, saying all that he intends to. The buzzing doesn't seem to bother him too much, it may be being filtered somewhat by his helmet.

 

        Through the twisting corridors. Pugilation Man does not know the ship, but he knows the source -- that buzzing sound that, if pressed, he would admit was 'a bloody nuisance'. Into the main room he goes, and is prepared to lay out another fierce punch when he realizes the Reavers are filing out quietly, without fighting.

        Does not bode well.

        There is no one in the room other than those forces revealing themselves. No Ra Moon, no Destroyer, no great foe to punch. And so, with a pensive frown and a tug of his moustache, Pugilation Man steps into the room rather quietly, and says nothing for the moment.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Sigma transmits, "Enough of this."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Sigma transmits, "All systems are undergoing final checks. We are preparing to move out from our holding pattern. This is as good a day as any."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Fianait transmits, "--yessir."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Vile transmits, "If you're planning on annihilating the Wily Ark, at least give us time to get the hell out."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Sigma transmits, "Yes well we are...warming up. You have time. Some time."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Boomer Kuwanger transmits, "I'll be in my room. (I'd stay and help out, but RL calls, you know.)"

 

Shhhnnk. Shhhnnk. Shhhnnk.

            The door on the opposite side of the room opens, allowing Ra Moon to join the impending melee. It is dragging behind him a large knife, larger than he is, that crackles with eldritch energy. The weapon shrieks at every movement, dragging along the metal floor and cutting a thin line despite the incredibly durable construction of the Wily Ark.

            It glances from warrior to warrior, noting each position with a chilly casualness. Then, with ease that contradicts the apparent necessity of dragging the knife, Ra Moon swings it in a brilliant arc, unleashing its edge across the room. Defying logic, the weapon strikes even those who are very clearly out of its range, which should be everyone.

 

Ra Moon misses Jet Stingray with its Plasma Great Knife attack.

Ra Moon strikes Cryogenic Man with its Plasma Great Knife attack.

Ra Moon strikes Pugilation Man with its Plasma Great Knife attack.

Ra Moon strikes you with a minor hit from its Plasma Great Knife attack for 11 units of damage.

Ra Moon strikes Hunter 332 with its Plasma Great Knife attack.

Ra Moon strikes Setsulo Swanson with its Plasma Great Knife attack.

Ra Moon strikes Josef Holznecht with its Plasma Great Knife attack.

Ra Moon strikes Guts Man with its Plasma Great Knife attack.

Ra Moon strikes Bomb Man with its Plasma Great Knife attack.

Lumine changes into its Paradise armor.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Hunter 332 reports, after a sizzling noise, "It's got a sword that shoots stuff."

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Sigma transmits, "Engines online. Moving away from lunar orbit. ETA...oh blast it all. I'll let you know."

 

....Hey...That /hurt/. That actually hurt! Bomb Man looks annoyed and flexes his arm, eyeing the large gouge in his armor. And then glaring up at Ra Moon.

            "Y'know...that really hurt. I think it's time for you to hear one of my patented jokes. Possibly number T-34x. Caddy. My nine iron, please."

            And, with that, Bomb Man pulls a very large golf club out of the bag on his back (current one being sliced in half by the MYSTERIOUS ELDRITCH ENERGY WEAPON)...and then uses it whack a honkin' great bomb at Ra Moon's face. Said bomb splitting open before impact and scattering a series of Bomb Man's Newly Patented Explosive Golf Balls at 'em.

 

Bomb Man strikes Ra Moon with his Mini Bombs attack.

 

        Still hiding in the doorway, Ton Pooh slowly undoes the sash at her waist as the life or death melee starts to break out. She takes the red swath of cloth and wraps it across the lower half of her face, from the bridge of her nose down. She ties it off in back of her head and allows her scarf to flutter down behind her.

        It is time to kill.

        Things have begun and that means that chaos has ensued. Ton Pooh slips into the room quietly and sticks to the edges of the room. She darts around the edges, staying low and using what little cover she can. She's trying to get to the main control panel.

 

Vile is almost a bit disappointed that Ra Moon doesn't reply to the answer he gave. No matter, action always speaks louder than words. The single red optic glares at the oversized knife, and Vile tenses, ready for everything. Everything except for that. The flying edge, or force that is expelled from the sword, or /whatever/ it was - Vile really isn't certain /what/ it was that hit him - slams into Vile and knocks him backwards. The purple Maverick hits the wall and bounces off, slumping to the ground. Rising and holding his head in pain, Vile shouts, "If you have a sonic weapon to use, you idiots, use it!" Vile feels he's in command even if most of the people here aren't Mavericks. Vile, meanwhile, begins slowly and stealthily working his way towards the control center part of the massive chamber. He wants to see if he can take control of the Wily Ark despite the crystals growing out of it. He keeps his weapons trained and charging on Ra Moon, though, just in case the bastard still goes for him.

 

Ra Moon's knife slash slices right through the suit whose acronym I forgot, cutting deep and painfully, but simultanously cauterizing the wound so there is little blood. "Ha... ha!" Josef's eyes are pinched with pain, but his mouth is set in a fierce grin. The integrity clearly shot, Josef pulls off the top half of the suit, leaving the helmet and oxygen, and discards it behind him. Now it's a real fight, because now there are gleaming pectoral muscles.

 

And now, he wastes no time. The immense man surges forward, leaping over anything in his way, swinging his right fist at the Destroyer. An arc of blue energy hangs in the air.

 

Josef Holznecht strikes Ra Moon with his Universe Arc attack.

 

Lumine is a little late. Lumine is a little late because he was walking along the cooridors of the R2, taking a look around like a good boy, when he tripped over a piece of steel that was sticking out and scuffed his knee plating. Lumine was so upset by his kneeplating getting scuffed that he howled for Gate. Gate said that he could make his kneeplating better and less prone to scuffing. Lumine didn't believe him.

            Gate promptly took Lumine to his secret lair and proceeded to polish his entire body, run intensive scans, and redrew some schematics. He then gave Lumine something for his kneeplating scuff. Lumine complained about how he was going to be late for battle, but Gate assured him that if he used this mighty tool, he'd make it to the battle before it ended.

            So Lumine applied Enker Wax. The Shine was so great he flew straight towards the Wily Ark at about twice the speed he can normally fly (after jumping out an airlock of some civilian transport) and flew straight through the docking bay, dodging lasers and the like, even as he crashes through various deathrays as he flings himself right for the Adversary. Ra Moon made fun of him, like, twice. Lumine doesn't like him very much.

            "YOUR NAME IS PATHETIC!" Lumine shrieks, as if he had any room to talk. Somewhere around the word 'pathetic' there is a loud thud. Hopefully not into a wall. Regardless, he quickly swoops back out of the way, not wanting to get hit by the Firepower of Planet Earth (okay, about half of planet Earth).

            <So how was my time?> Lumine transmits to Gate.

            Enker Wax: So Good, It's Outlawed.

 

Lumine strikes Ra Moon with its Wild Wing Rampage attack.

 

The plasma knife digs deep, but instead of hitting JET STINGRAY, Stingray of Justice, the attack slashes through most of the big gun which Jet used to parry the powerful attack. Of course, he casts the gun aside, letting it explode down a corridor. Well, there goes the special weapon he had made to deal with the big bad. Best to resort to the odd fashioned Jet tatics. Pulling out a knife from his belt, he tosses it right for Ra Moon. He doesn't say anything at all. It is so tempting to just turn tail and run, but Jet isn't a coward. Winners don't run. Hopefully, tonight, winners don't die either.

 

Jet Stingray misses Ra Moon with his Diving Knife attack.

 

Hunter 332 is knocked down by the swung sword. This stops her from trying to circle about the Destroyer.

            She is not deeply hurt, but the foreplate of her armored body steams faintly as she pulls herself back up along one of Wily's cup holders, sadly empty for now.

            She rips it out of its mooring. She spreads her arms as she is engulfed by a faint orange glow of light, and then throws the cup holder and half of the chair's arm rest at Ra Moon.

 

Hunter 332 brings her reflect system online.

 

Hunter 332 strikes Ra Moon with her Throwing Something Small attack.

 

Guts Man tries to jump back as the great knife is swung towards the group, it's no use, the plasma blade slashes across his chest, leaving a huge gash in the process, "Ugh, that does it. Bomb Man, let's show this turkey what we Robot Masters can do!" In situations where the Earth is in peril Guts Man tends to rush against his opponents head first, that's what he does best, this situation is no different as he attempts to shove Ra Moon with a big meaty fist, "Out of the way wuss!"

That hurts.

 

Guts Man misses Ra Moon with his Shove attack.

 

Even with his Strider suit, this hurt as bloody heck for the Sumo fighter. And he din't even had time to dodge around it! How hulmiating.

            Recovering from the hit, Setsulo Swanson hold the Tsunami Cipher tightly in his hands, his eyes focused and narrowed at the large...Being. Thing. /WHATEVER IT IS/ that is assaulting them -- and the rest of the world! "YOU IMPUDENT WORLD-CRUSHING MONSTER!" Setsulo screams as he charges with heavy, but quick steps toward Ra Moon, swinging the gathered humidity on the way and unleashing an large cutting-sharp arc of water!

 

Setsulo Swanson misses Ra Moon with his Aqua Edge attack.

 

Cryogenic Man isn't given much of a notice. Until the sword begins to screech across the ground, the horrible buzzing making it almost impossible hear anything from the radio but static, or at least, muffled under static. He doesn't even say a word, its just a quick slice towards the form of Cryogenic Man, the Plasma great knife cutting into him as he toddles back as quick as he can. That hurt a great deal, but he'll get over it, even if a large patch on his parka had been removed forcibly, a thin stream of black mechafluid starting to flow already.

            "Now that's a little un-gentlemen like!" Cryogenic Man calls out after the initial grunt. "Well bloke, chap, whatever you prefer. We're going to have to fight back, no matter how you fight." Cryogenic Man pulls his hands together before making his own knife, well, great knife, being almost as big as he is too. Then again, Cryogenic Man is small. Lurching towards Ra Moon, he tries to slice with his own great knife, a frozen one.

Cryogenic Man strikes Ra Moon with his Frozen Great Knife attack.

 

        The slash goes right through Pugilation Man's thick armour with impossible ease, leaving a burning scar. The Gentleman's breath is taken away for a few seconds -- it happened so -quickly-. The Pug looks down at his armour in bewilderment, for a few seconds, and then back up to the knife-wielding devil.

        His brow furrows slowly.

        The hand raises. He points at Ra Moon.

        "THAT! IS! AGAINST! THE! RULES!"

 

Pugilation Man strikes Ra Moon with his Vigorous Recitation Of The Queensbury Rules attack.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Vile transmits, "I'm going for the control panels."

 

The knife disappears as Ra Moon finishes swinging it, leaving the starspawn standing alone. Almost immediately, several explosive golf balls splatter against its armor, causing the occasional jerk backwards due to kinetic force. It does not seem concerned.

            Ton Pooh is out of luck, sadly -- Ra Moon sees all and knows all. It files away her position for later use. It ignores her and Vile's attempts to reach the console. Should they get there, they'd find that it has apparently been completely reprogrammed and now displays an alien language.

            The Destroyer straightens its back, only to have a massive, meaty fist impact its face. It's like punching Protoman's shield, only there's no Protoman behind it to back up. A knife flies through the monster's head (hitting nothing, apparently) as it glares malevolently at Josef, and then glides forward, floating straight through the Neo Arcadian. Guts Man's hands (and, thusly, Guts Man himself) get the same treatment, going right through Ra Moon.

            The invincibility ceases when Cryogenic Man's knife shatters loudly against the Destroyer's shoulder, causing him to shift its weight to its opposite foot. It grimaces, a resonating sound filling the room briefly, and then raises its hand to counter -- only to be bodily picked up and rammed to an opposite wall by Lumine.

            Ra Moon, surprised, stares at the purple-haired Maverick as it slides down the wall from the dent it formed. It then very quickly disappears, reforming in the center of the room. The buzzing increases once more, a multihued radiance filling the room.

 

Ra Moon brings its reflect system online.

 

Vile watches as Ra Moon vanishes and reappears. Good. The monster doesn't seem to have noticed Vile. Or if he /has/ noticed Vile, doesn't seem him worthy enough to pay attention to him. Perhaps Ra Moon simply believes that his far reaching 360 attacks will be enough to stop him. Or, just perhaps, Ra Moon knows that the ship can't be controlled from the control panels anymore. Still worth finding out. The Vile Shield is out protectively, and the ex-Maverick General continues to creep towards the control panels defensively. If he has to he'll radio Wily and yell at him until he finds out how to pilot this damn thing.

 

...Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. Bomb Man glares at Ra Moon.

            "Hey! Emo-Kid! Stop dodging Guts' attacks. Intangibility...That's cheatin', ya know. Still, I guess you should know...ya appear to have a twinkle in yer eye! Get it? Bhahahahahahha!"

            And, with that, the Mighty Golf Club of Justice is used to attempt to 'serve' Ra Moon a big ol' heapin' of Bomb Man Humor. Namely, another, inconsequential little golf ball. However, right before this one would impact with the annoying Ra Moon...there's a loud 'POP', accompanied by a big ol' flash of purple and orange light right at face level. You Know Bomb Man's had too much time on his hands if he's figured out how to make golf ball versions of most of his ordinance.

            ...That, or he's just hitting normal bombs with a golf-club and declaring them golf balls. Take your pick!

 

Bomb Man misses Ra Moon with his Flash Bomb attack.

 

Josef Holznecht inhales very sharply as Ra Moon just kinda goes /through/ him. It felt like millions of freezing needles sliding through the pores of his skin and out the other direction, all without actually puncturing anything. He stands, completely off-balance for a moment, then gets ahold of himself and whirls back around.

            He's off again, moving for the center of the room where he's reappeared. It's not his place to think of alternate methods, or move with caution. Josef takes it to his opponent jumping up at the Destroyer and stomping down hard with a mighty leg.

 

Josef Holznecht strikes Ra Moon with his Perfect Kick attack.

 

        Ton Pooh reaches the control console first, running her hands over the keys... what's left of the keys, at least, and the strange alien crystals that have seemingly grown out of the paneling. She swears mentally, tapping at this... that... a display pops up. She can't read it, nor can she even begin to make sense of it. She taps more 'buttons'. The new display is even more alien then the last.

        Ton Pooh deposits a sonic bomb on the control panel and lets it sit there. It isn't an impressive thing... just a little round ball. She walks up to Vile, using the Maverick as cover as she plans her assault on Ra Moon. "They converted it from metric to Martian." She states to Vile.

 

The General's on a mission. That means Hunter 332 has to get the attention off of him.

            "Hey, asshole!" she shouts, before leaping forwards and pressing both hands together, folding her fingers into a single unit and swinging it down like a club towards the convienently-centralized Destroyer. She wonders, about nine tenths of the way through this, if she's going to explode when her active defense field hits that strange glow.

Hunter 332 strikes Ra Moon with her Haymaker attack.

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Sigma transmits, "We are en route. Engines are now at maximum burn."

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Vile transmits, "ETA?"

 

Guts Man can't help but blink as his fist goes through Ra Moon, "What the hell?" He looks at his fist, then back to Ra Moon, then back to his fist, "Crap, we're battling a freaking hologram with solid holographic weapons. Where's Gemini Man when you need them?" Then the buzzing sound begins to get louder, Guts Man grits his jaw, he hates the sound, it's starting to anger him and when the Guts Man gets angry, his strength grows!

 

Guts Man forfeits a turn to charge WE.

 

Cryogenic Man kept going after the initial strike, landing behind Ra Moon. He looks towards his back as he flicks away the remaining pieces of his knife. That was until Ra Moon was taken and smashed into another wall. And then disappeared to reform in the center. Cryogenic Man's optics were taking a beating, and it only continues as the buzzing did, as well as the raindbowish radiance shined out.

            "Well, chaps. It looks like he's done talking for a while." Cryogenic Man formed a small dagger in his hand, the back elongated however; like an arrow feather. "But.. I guess its time for a little of the ultra violence. For Earth and Mars! For Tsunami and Galactic, you will be defeated!" Cryogenic Man calls, throwing the small frozen knife shard he formed from the broken pieces, hoping to cut or at least poke him.

 

Cryogenic Man strikes Ra Moon with his Icicle Kunai attack.

 

Ra Moon successfully reflects Icicle Kunai.

 

It's mocking them, now. Not like it din't do it earlier -- just now it's more apparent. Setsulo Swanson, when his Aqua Edge misses rather radicaly, stops rushing and takes a few steps back and away from the monstruosity, assessing the situation for now while he gather more humnidity and water into his Tsunami Cipher. Mind over battle...!

 

Lumine never understood the term. Ex-Maverick General. Vile was never Maverick! Maybe Maverick Ex-General, but does that sound too clunky? Is it not pleasing to the ear? Is it too technical? Lumine isn't thinking these things, he's only thinking 'I'm in a bad mood because nobody invites me to their robot parties'. He doesn't continue his assault, apparently happy to have just Super-tackled him for the time being. He does, however, notice Hunter 332 at this point in time and wipes a tear. He doesn't actually wipe a tear, he isn't crying, but he makes a show of wiping a tear. "I sprayed her feet with water once," Lumine says proudly, "I saw her shoot Layer too. I remember when she first said the word asshole as if it were yesterday."

            He charges his weapons.

 

Setsulo Swanson forfeits a turn to charge WE.

 

Lumine forfeits a turn to charge WE.

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Sigma transmits, "If history is any indication, likely the moment when the worst of the shooting has finished."

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Sigma is so totally serious.

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Lumine transmits, "Mavericks change history!"

 

Pugilation Man has no concern for such petty things as control panels and crystals. Lumine's entrance gets a blink of surprise, as does Setsulo's overpowering yelling -- and then of course there's no more time to pay much attention to detail, as people are screaming and throwing bombs and knives and it's a great big mess. And all he can do is punch things. The Gentleman is momentarily taken aback -- he knows, flat out, that attacking this monster head on will not likely destroy it. After all, if that is all that it took, the ancient martian civilization would certainly have figured that out beforehand.

        But perhaps they can delay fate just a little longer. Pugilation Man steps forward quite brazenly, pounding to the centre of the room and hauling out as best he can while trying to avoid the myriad of attacks around him. -Something- must be done.

 

Pugilation Man misses Ra Moon with his Glorious Charge attack.

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Lumine transmits, "Sometimes retroactively."

 

Jet Stingray tries to stay out of harm's way, merely keeping his distance. It might not do much, but he remembers when Ra Moon focused on him... It was pretty messy. He just takes a torpedo, letting it slide out of his arm cannon and into his hand. "God, please give the me the arm and aim of every QB that ever lived all made into one awesome shot." And with that, he gives a powerful long bomb, hopefully nailing Ra Moon in the head or chest.

 

Jet Stingray strikes Ra Moon with his Torpedo attack.

 

POTC

============================= Wily Ark - Binder ==============================

 Name             Idle    Last Pose     Last Action

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

 Jet Stingray      1m        1m         Hit Ra Moon w/ Torpedo.

 Pugilation Man    1m        1m         Missed Ra Moon w/ Glorious Charge.

 Lumine            1m        2m         Generated Weapon Energy.

 Setsulo Swanson   2m        2m         Generated Weapon Energy.

 Cryogenic Man     2m        2m         Hit Ra Moon w/ Icicle Kunai.

 Guts Man          1m        3m         Generated Weapon Energy.

 Hunter 332        4m        4m         Hit Ra Moon w/ Haymaker.

 Ton Pooh          1m        4m        

 Josef Holznecht   6m        6m         Hit Ra Moon w/ Perfect Kick.

 Bomb Man          1m        7m         Missed Ra Moon w/ Flash Bomb.

 Vile              0s        8m        

 Ra Moon           9m       13m         Reflect brought online.

 LiveNews2 Camer  N/A       48m        

=========================== Use +pot/help for Help ===========================

 

The flash appears to do nothing to Ra Moon. The remains of the flash bomb go flying across the room by telekinetic force, but thankfully it does not hit anyone. Cryogenic Man's knife, however, comes flying back at him at high speeds.

            Josef's foot penetrates the wildly shifting light at the same moment that Hunter 332's fists do. They are rewarded with two loud clangs, but very little reaction from the alien construct otherwise. It takes a missile to cause the starspawn to backpedal, and backpedal it does. Pugilation Man, on the other hand, charges through the radiance. Apparently Ra Moon is not there right now.

            The color floats upwards, to the center of the room, glowing brighter and brighter. It only takes a few moments for rays of it to shoot outwards, scorching and melting the walls, floor and ceiling. It will be a short amount of time until they start to seek out less impassive targets.

 

Ra Moon strikes Jet Stingray with its Death Beam attack.

Ra Moon strikes Ton Pooh with its Death Beam attack.

Ra Moon misses Cryogenic Man with its Death Beam attack.

Ra Moon strikes Pugilation Man with its Death Beam attack.

Ra Moon strikes you with a minor hit from its Death Beam attack for 18 units of damage.

Ra Moon strikes Lumine with its Death Beam attack.

Ra Moon strikes Hunter 332 with its Death Beam attack.

Ra Moon strikes Setsulo Swanson with its Death Beam attack.

Ra Moon strikes Josef Holznecht with its Death Beam attack.

Ra Moon strikes Guts Man with its Death Beam attack.

Ra Moon misses Bomb Man with its Death Beam attack.

 

Hmmmmm. Death Beams. Most Disturbing! Bomb Man blinks, and does the natural thing when confronted with rays of flying death.

            Namely, he grabs his Caddy and uses it as a shield while hiding behind a large console. The result is one untoasted Bomb Man, one annoyed metool, and a wrecked console. One for the win column, if Bomb Man has anything to say about it. Still. Time to play with the nice annoying World Destroyer. Hmmm. The Mini Bombs didn't phase 'em too much...let's see...Oh ho. That'll work. There's a click, and then, from somewhere, Bomb Man pulls out a decent sized bomb, which is pulled back and chucked for Ra Moon's leg. With luck?

            Fire. All over his pants. Burning Evil World Destroyer P-Head Pants.

 

Bomb Man strikes Ra Moon with his Fire Bomb attack.

Ra Moon successfully reflects Fire Bomb.

 

Jet Stingray gives a "Yes!" as the torpedo hits, but when he doesn't see the onslaught doing much to Ra Moon, his cheer soon turns into a curse as he sees that not only is Ra Moon not seriously harmed, but the laser takes off the arm that had the arm cannon on it. Curses. Man, being stuck with Prism didn't seem like that bad an idea. After all, being the first wave makes for a lot of pain, that's for sure. Hopefully, he can make it out of here in one piece.

            Waiting for a break in the ranged weapons, Jet tries his own melee attack, this time, charging for him head on, hoping to give Ra Moon a high speed flying tackle. He's on the edge of giving in to the fear, but he won't. He can't. "We've beat you once, Ra Moon, we can do it again!" After all, courage isn't a lack of fear, but rather acting in spite of it.

 

Jet Stingray strikes Ra Moon with his Torpedo Slam attack.

 

Ra Moon successfully reflects Torpedo Slam.

 

        The laser strikes Ton Pooh in the chest, sending the Strider flying backwards with a loud shriek. Vile does not make effective cover. Ton Pooh slams into a wall and rebounds, falling to the ground but managing a three point landing. She 'hrmps' and rushes forwards. Leaping up and using Vile's shoulder as a launch pad without his permission, Ton Pooh sails across the room, passing over Ra Moon easily. She drops a cluster of small sonic pulse grenades as she flies. Landing on the other side of the chamber, she turns to face Ra Moon again and falls into a ready stance.

 

Ton Pooh brings her reflect system online.

 

Ton Pooh misses Ra Moon with her Storm Cloud Scroll attack.

 

What a man can do against the might of DEATH LASERS? Not much, and not even the might of Sumo can defend him against the annoying beams weapons! The Strider is starting to get wounded, here -- but he do not lose his hope, and high spirits! "OOOOOOOOHOHOHOHO! YOU PERSISTENT LITTLE /TWERP!/" Mind you, it's not a twerp, it--"PREPARE TO FEEL THE WRATH OF SETSULO SWANSON!"

            With a blurr, the Ninja is at Ra Moon, seeking to grab one leg of the monstruousity, screaming at the top of his lungs, channeling all the SUMO MIGHT he can muster and /BRING DOWN/ the Alien over his shoulder!

 

Setsulo Swanson misses Ra Moon with his Tawara Nage attack.

 

The beam hits 332 in the abdomen. Fortunately, there isn't a great deal there. It leaves a deep, steaming crater in her midsection with some exposed, half-fused wiring as she slams back into Magnet Man's Super Action Weapons Control station, hard enough to crush the joysticks.

 

Hunter 332 strikes Ra Moon with her Operant 61 attack.

 

Ra Moon successfully reflects Operant 61.

 

She pulls herself up, still steaming in the humid air. She takes a few deep breaths, and holds her fists out in front of her. They blossom in blue-tinted light, and she charges towards Ra Moon once more, bringing both back and slamming them forwards, simultaneously, at the destroyer.

Vile's attempts to remain unseen and unheard are fruitless, it seems, as the rays of death beams shoot out of the floating ball of colour. One of them strikes Vile square in the chest, blowing past his shield and piercing his violet armour. Vile gasps and stumbles backwards, crashing into one of the control panels that he was trying to get to. Reaching up with a hand, he grabs one of the panels and pulls himself back up to his feet. Glaring at the monitors, he begins tapping in commands, trying to send the Wily Ark into a dive to burn up in the atmosphere. The idea of the Mavericks bailing and leaving the heroes to die in reentry is a very nice one. Vile presses the button that would make this so.

        Nothing happens.

        He slams his fist down on the panel in frustration. "Blast!" he shouts. "No response." The purple Maverick whirls around, glaring and watching the fight unfold. The battle goes poorly. Thankfully Sigma still has his polan. Venting his anger, Vile fires a swarm of missiles in Ra Moon's direction, almost as an afterthought.

 

You strike Ra Moon with a glancing hit from your Flechette Minimissile attack.

 

Ra Moon successfully reflects Flechette Minimissile, hitting you with 6 points of damage.

 

Guts Man's anger keeps rising as the battle rages on, the death beams only intensify the anger he's feeling right now. As the beams hit his steel frame, they cause parts of it to melt off. He's about to leap towards the space monster but his systems need to recalibrate themselves, all of the damage is already taking its toll on Guts Man and he's yet to lay a hand on his opponent.

 

Guts Man forfeits a turn to charge WE.

 

"Umph!" Cryogenic Man calls out as the blunt side of the knife crashes into his forehead, causing him to back pedal, and eventually fall back on his fanny, the death beam breaking off and carving across the area a small distance above Cryogenic Man, the eskimo staring upwards, giving no second thought to jumping up and fighting again after he was spared by an off course knife. Right after the beam passes over...

            And its gone, leaving Cryogenic Man to rise from the ground. His hands caress a small round snowball, only growing, growing and growing as it slowly reaches down towards the ground, chain link after chain link, clattering against the ground. "Well then, best be tying to up before we be taking you down; even if you won't be gone for good!" The chain link is raised and thrown, hurling towards the figure of Ra Moon.

 

Cryogenic Man strikes Ra Moon with his Frozen Chain attack.

 

Ra Moon successfully reflects Frozen Chain.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Vile, angrily, "Blast! No response from the control panels. Sigma, that damned ship of yours better be as good as you've been saying it is."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Sigma transmits, "Have you tried blasting them?"

 

        A death beam? Pugilation Man defies death beams! He charges right through Ra Moon, and it takes a bit of time for him to actually stop and turn around due to sheer mass; the beam shoots right into his back and then through half of his massive bulk, causing one or two minor internal explosions and a lot of mess.

        He looks to be doing okay other than that.

        The Gentleman cracks his knuckles, with another irritated, haughty sniff -- such flagrant disregard for the Rules! -- and turns back to the futile exercise of attempting to destroy Ra Moon. He does this by charging and punching again. It is all he knows how to do. That and yelling.

        "GIVE 'EM BLOOD'N'VINEGAR, CHAPS!"

 

Pugilation Man strikes Ra Moon with his Pummel attack.

 

Ra Moon successfully reflects Pummel.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Vile transmits, "Ra Moon's already blasted just about everything here."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Sigma transmits, "Or infecting them...this is Wily built technology, not martian based."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Vile transmits, "Not my department."

 

Lumine looks at Guts Man.

            "I swear, if you purple nurple him..." The threat is left unsaid because, really, Lumine has no idea what he'll do. He'll probably just be passive aggressive about it.

            He does have to laugh though, because Elpizo is giving orders. This isn't good because it keeps him from paying attention to the death beams. Never take your attention off the death beams. He's hit in the chest, goes down like a sack of bricks, and smokes for a moment.

            And then fires a small burst of plasma fom his buster towards Ra Moon.

 

Lumine strikes Ra Moon with its Generic Ranged attack.

 

Ra Moon successfully reflects Generic Ranged.

 

Josef backflips handily off of Ra Moon's momentarily solid bits, landing in a perfect Badass Kneel. He grins with confidence as he stands tall, already preparing his next move. Blue light blossoms from the 'veins' of his robot arm, the Universe Engine pumping out energy at an explosive pace. He grits his teeth, taking a steady stance and preparing to slam forward, when the beams come.

            Josef bellows in pain and rage as a beam rakes across his chiseled back, raising horrible blisters, some of which fill with blood, the epicenter of the beam simply charring him up. Blood and fluids run down his back as he falls to a knee, and stubbornly rises back up. "I will naht be stopped! HUMANITY will naht be stopped! We will reach perfection!"

            While all that horrible beaming was going on, Josef's arm was reaching critical mass. It shakes slightly as he draws it back, and then roars his defiance. He jumps upward, then slams his fist forward, blue energy erupting in a spiral around him.

            The Arcadian surges forward on the tremendous momentum of the blow, right for Ra Moon. Loose objects near him get pushed away. Faint, warm pulses of diffuse blue energy fill the room briefly.

 

Josef Holznecht strikes Ra Moon with his Universe Crusher attack.

 

Ra Moon successfully reflects Universe Crusher.

 

Bomb Man's bomb hurtles into the light. One explosion later, shards of it, carried by telekinesis, come flying back like a shotgun blast. Jet gets the same treatment, as he is flung back towards a wall even as he crashes into the starspawn. Setsulo gets a much easier time as he simply passes through Ra Moon, neatly avoiding immediate retribution. The flechette blasts, shards of ice, blasts of energy, the kinetic force of Pugilation's fists -- they all bounce right back to their points of origin.

            Luckily, they appear to be doing at least some damage to Ra Moon, however little.

            It is Josef's mighty fist that brings the starspawn down to the floor, the sheer mass behind the attack driving it down. Ra Moon roughly plants its feet on the floor, and then Josef goes flying away by the might of telekinesis.

            "What are you trying to do?" it calls out to Vile, sounding curious. It raises its hand, and an invisible force floats towards the purple maverick. Should he not move very, very quickly, he would be rent asunder by corrosive energy and pure blunt trauma from an invisible hand.

            Meanwhile, the light spreads through the room, albeit at a softer intensity. The buzzing reaches a crescendo --and then thousands of tiny reavers, no larger than locusts, fill the room. They are hungry.

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Sigma transmits, "We are clearing the moon now. Sensors are working fine. We have a clear view of the Earth, the saucer contact is being scanned for as we approach."

 

Ra Moon strikes you with a major hit from its Obliteration attack for 40 units of damage.

Ra Moon misses Jet Stingray with its Plague Of Insects attack.

Ra Moon strikes Ton Pooh with its Plague Of Insects attack.

Ra Moon strikes Cryogenic Man with its Plague Of Insects attack.

Ra Moon strikes Pugilation Man with its Plague Of Insects attack.

Ra Moon misses Lumine with its Plague Of Insects attack.

Ra Moon misses Hunter 332 with its Plague Of Insects attack.

Ra Moon strikes Setsulo Swanson with its Plague Of Insects attack.

Ra Moon misses Josef Holznecht with its Plague Of Insects attack.

Ra Moon strikes Guts Man with its Plague Of Insects attack.

Ra Moon strikes Bomb Man with its Plague Of Insects attack.

 

        A very large flash of energy pops into existence right behind Guts Man and Bomb Man; as Blues brings not just himself but the Wilysaucer (with Doctor Wily Action Figure within) as well. The moment the energy dissipates Protoman curses under his breathe, his systems are taxed from the weapon overload earlier and this just further aggravated it. "Get to work Wily."

 

Dataphage had slipped through the open door, skittering down the hallway until, finally, he emerged from the tunnel into the main control chamber ...

            ... which is positively FILLED with chaos. And reavers. But mostly reavers. The buzz is about unbearable as it fills every frequency that the virus can capture, radio or sonic. He inclines himself, bowing forward while slipping behind a wall of crystals. His eyes, however, are on Ra Moon. "The Destroyer ..."

            He glances back at Wily and Proto Man.

 

Behold the Wilysaucer! Appearing in a fit of blink energy! Full of hatred and Wily! It has come to finish the job others have started. It hovers over the the control panel where Vile and a spherical bomb sit.

            "Out of the way, Vile! I built this thing, and if anyone can make it go again, it's me!" Octopus tentacles emerge from the side of the saucer as sawblades retract, and they begin tapping away at the controls, attempting to re-establish control of the ship. Inside the Saucer, Dr. Wily eyes the sphere curiously. He doesn't like the look of it!

 

Oh! Crap! Tiny bugs! Bomb Man's in trouble! I mean, he's got all these small bugs swarming him, and there's ever so much of him to slap at so they'll go out, and he's in trouble and then...BLAM!

            A series of bits of shrapnel come flying, and scour more of the bugs off! Granted, that also scours off a bit of Bomb Man's armor, but, eh, he's fine. He's done worse to himself with his AMAZING BOMBS.

            Oh! Hey! It's the boss! And Blues. Bomb Man waves cheerfully to the Hunter, then trots after Wily. Hmmmmm. That hurt. And there's still bugs. But! Ra Moon has turned around! Obviously, there's only one thing to do.

            That's right. Attack him in the back.

            And, with that, Bomb Man pulls out a rather large bomb, taps it for luck, then lights a fuse and chucks it at Ra Moon's back one-handed, posing dramatically. Somehow, he's also wearing a Wrestling Mask, pulled from the golf-bag no doubt.

            "ARIBA! I AM EL BOMBER MAGNIFICO! FEAR MY SUPREMO BOMBO!"

             Yes, despite his many skills, Bomb Man doesn't know Spanish.

 

Bomb Man strikes Ra Moon with his Hyper Bomb attack.

 

Ra Moon successfully reflects Hyper Bomb.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Volt Catfish transmits, "H-h-heeeeeey yooooou GUUUUUUYS!!!" (Someone get her a Baby Routh!) "I-I-I'm comiiiiing!""

 

The Stingray of Justice is pushed to the ground, grunting as Ra Moon's reflect systems seem to be working rather well. Too well. He gets back up to try and resume the counter offensive, but before he does, he has a small matter of MICRO REAVERS to deal with. They flood toward him, trying to consume him. He bettter do something to prevent getting eaten.

            "Time for a Stingray Special Move! STINGRAY SPIN!" With that, Jet just spins in place, his fins and tail taking out most of the Reavers that tried to attack him. Landing on the ground once more, Jet just lets his tail grow to about three times it's normal length, trying to give Ra a cut with his powerful stinger before retracting it back to its normal length. Hopefully help will get here soon. Or Prism with that Ride Armor. Having a large Ride Armor shield would be nice about now, that's for sure.

 

Jet Stingray misses Ra Moon with his Tail Whip attack.

 

"What am I trying to do?" Vile shouts back, still frustrated that Ra Moon seems to have them right where he wants them. "What am I trying to do?! I'm trying to pilot this damned ship into the ground!" No sense lying about it. "I'm trying to make sure you die! Vile angles himself so that both the cannon on his right shoulder and the rack of minimissiles on his left are pointing at Ra Moon, "And I'm going to make sure th-" Vile is suddenly cut off as Ra Moon raises its hand and projects... /something/ at him.

        The invisible force grabs onto Vile and lifts him up into the air. The former General of the Coalition's limbs are suddenly pulled each every way violently. Vile tries to resist, but it's far too strong for him. There's the gutrenching sound of metal tearing. Vile throws his head back as his right arm and left leg are completely torn off his body, exposing wires and circuitry in the severed limbs and stump. Vile falls to the ground with a metal ~clank~, bleeding but still defiant. "Nngh..." he reaches with his remaining hand, pulling himself away from the control panel. He doesn't bother dignifying Wily's shouts. Grabbing onto the Vile Shield, the Maverick criminal plays defense for now.

 

Guts Man begins to swat the tiny reavers as they swarm him, it's no use, there's too many of the critters to destroy at once, they feast on his body and the anger factor continues to rise. "Must smash everything!" However he does manage to swats some tiny Reavers towards Ra Moon's general direction.

 

Guts Man misses Ra Moon with his Generic Melee attack.

 

        Miniature reavers -- everywhere. They flood over Pugilation Man's wounded form and begin feasting on him. The notable problem with this attack is that there is a lot of Pugilation Man to be eaten. It stings, and causes him to stop for a moment as he crushes the few that land on him, but he's still on his feet, if a little splattered-looking.

        All their attacks seem thus far to be nearly fruitless. Pugilation Man draws himself up again, with a wince. He readjusts his monocle, and steps headlong towards Ra Moon again, fighting directly as he always has. There is, truly, only one way to defeat this monster.

        SCIENCE!

        (And by science we mean punching.)

 

Pugilation Man strikes Ra Moon with his The Sweet Science attack.

 

Josef Holznecht is sent hurtling away by the telekinesis, but he manages to bunch up in the air, align himself masterfully, and land feet-first on a thankfully /not/ foot-cutting spire of crystal. It breaks off under him, but also breaks his flight. He lands roughly on the ground after that, smacking his fist into the floor to send out enough of a pulse to clear the locusts away from him.

            Josef is looking pretty horrible. He's bruised from the initial telekinetic push, the cauterized wound on his chest looks like it could infect at any minute, and there is a line of horrific blisters and char along his back. But still, the human pushes on, despite all the pain. He returns to his feet, intersposing his arm between himself and the Destroyer, blue energy rebuilding after that huge output.

 

Josef Holznecht forfeits a turn to charge WE.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Vile transmits, "Get over here right now, Catfish, and fix me."

 

Hunter 332 smirks as the buglike reavers die on her active defense field. "Loser," she says, wiping some blackish mechfluid from her grey lips and flicking it aside. Maybe the virus fragments in it will do something useful.

            She wades forwards, through the bugs, and crouches slightly; then she leaps up, towards the Destroyer.

            She aims for his shoulders, trying to steer through the eye-aching light. She's already seeing after images; maybe they'll need replacing after that. She sees fins, and aims to land briefly on his shoulders, reach down to those fins projecting from the side of his head, and bend them up until they touch.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Vile transmits, "The faster you move the less likely I'll crush you when we get back."

 

Hunter 332 misses Ra Moon with her Bending attack.

 

BUGS!!

            Lumine shifts, YOU WATCHING VOLT CATFISH, THIS IS FOR YOU!, colors to Dark Purple and Lime Green. He doesn't fire immediately, but reavers are drones, and these drones are even smaller than normal. He raises his buster upwards, then reconsiders and points it downwards. This is an issue of timing rather than reflexes. He approaches Ra Moon, getting a little closer as the reavers close in on Lumine. Then, he fires. Electricity blasts out in several directions, vaporizing the closest Reavers and damaging the ones farther away taking a circle spread away from his body. Coincidentally, some of the electricity crashes for Ra Moon's frame, but the Reavers appear to be getting the brunt of the damage. It's not a full assault, but Lumine might be thinking a tempered rate of fire is more efficient and effective than hitting him with, say, Paradise Lost again.

 

Lumine strikes Ra Moon with its Triad Thunder attack.

 

What!? How can this be!? The Might of Sumo has failed Setsulo Swanson!? This is an outrage! An insult! Not realising the luck the 'Strider' is in at not being harmed in his attack, his vision goes red. Angry. Angered. /Pure hate/. "YOU CREEEEEEEEP! I'LL CUTE YOUR LITTLE ARMS AND HANG THEM OVER MY OVEN AND EAT YOUR EYES /OUT/!" Never mind the thing don't probably /have/ eyes at all, but the statments is irrevelent compared to what Swanson is about to do -- he grab his Cipher with both hands, channeling violently water and humidity around. Quickly, the Strider Blade is covered by an large sheet of razor sharp waters -- trashing around the blade like the ocean itself. Then? Then he leaps and, with a last scream, verily attemps to /slice the damn monster in half on the way down/.

 

Setsulo Swanson strikes Ra Moon with his Tsunami Cipher attack.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Volt Catfish transmits, "Y-y-yes siiiir!"

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission: Dr. Wily says, "The /ground/?!?!?! Come on Vile, what kind of thinking is that... we've gotta pilot this baby into the /SUN/."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Sigma transmits, "Status report."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission to Dr. Wily: Vile just mutters something about the ground being quicker and therefore giving the so-called heroes less time to bail to freedom.

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission: Dr. Wily says, "Yeah I know, it's a solid plan, but the sun is more likely to kill him/them for good."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission to Dr. Wily: You say, "Unless he bails out on his own."

 

"My word!" Cryogenic Man wash decked by his own weapon again, but instead of helping him evade, he's thrown into the sea of chittering and buzzing reaver bots. The strike and push and prod cryogenic Man, knocking him around like he's a frozen Eskimo pop while crushing inwards upon him, the eskimo could only do one think, and for now, that was throwing himself back, vaulting off two different reaverbots, stopping with his back to the wall. Micro reavers are easy to deal with, more or less.

 

Still, to get rid of a few, Croygenic Man aims with his arms towards the amass of floating Ra Moon, the area around him getting colder and colder as he does, a swirl of ice circulation out from the gentlemen's arms as it moves, trying to envelop Ra Moon in a cold, icy strike. Its really, really cold.

 

Cryogenic Man strikes Ra Moon with his Cryogenic Wave attack.

 

Ra Moon successfully reflects Cryogenic Wave.

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission: Dr. Wily says, "That's why we have all these nice distractions here to stop him!"

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Vile says, pained, "Waves of so-called heroes... waves of tiny reavers."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Sigma tsks. "That will never do."

 

        Ton Pooh waits for Setulo to move. As he starts his attack Ton Pooh runs into position. She rolls through a cloud of tiny Reavers, ignoring them as they chew and tear at her flesh. She has a job to do. She runs forwards and leaps at... Setsulo. She grabs the Tsunami Cipher and wrests it out of the large Striders hands. "I must borrow this... I will return it. If I do not survive... tell Hiryu that..." The statement is completed by Speaking Without Words, only Setsulo will understand the secret Strider body language. Ton Pooh rebounds off of Setsulo...

        She flies through the air, drawing her own Cipher, the East Wind. The two blades clash as they cross, both become enveloped in a white-hot fire. The Strider lands in front of Ra Moon with her back to the Destroyer. She stabs backwards with both burning blades blindly. She twists around, leaping and slashing upwards like a tornado, flame trailing behind her weapons. She lands at Ra Moon's flank and leaps backwards. At the apex of her leap she swings, the fire leaping off both blades and zeroing in on Ra Moon's body. As she lands she backflips upwards and rebounds off the wall. She swings both blades on last time. The precision causes the air to ripple and distort across the distance, the sonic pulse making the flames around Ra Moon explode in a fiery breeze.

 

Ton Pooh strikes Ra Moon with her Festival Of The Damned attack.

 

Ra Moon successfully reflects Festival Of The Damned.

 

Just as suddenly as they came, the bugs disappear. Perhaps they were some sort of illusion on Ra Moon's part, or maybe there is some unknowable reason for their behavior. The ones that Guts Man flicked sadly disappear as well.

            Even Ra Moon's back is dangerous. The bomb explodes across the starspawn's shoulders, but then the shards of the casing stop and, sure enough, hurtle back to Bomb Man. The capricious intangibility takes effect once more, allowing Stingrays's tail to whip through nothing, and Hunter to go flying across the room. Shards of ice, as per usual, come flying back.

            Mercifully, Ra Moon seems to be feeling the attacks more and more. It buckles under the weight of Setsulo's cipher (though no cut occurs), and then lets out a thin, keening shriek when sprayed with thunder. Ton Pooh is the final straw, the screeching sonic pulse of her attack amplified a thousandfold and causing Ra Moon to fall to its knees. The starspawn promptly disappears, reappearing further away from the knot of fighters. It then takes a moment to assess the new arrivals.

            Specifically, Protoman.

            Without a word, Ra Moon lurches forward on weightless feet, raises its hands. Blue lightning crackles out like a living thing, reaching and groping for Blues -- and for his neural net.

            "Kneel before me, Protoman!"

 

The brilliance the fills the rest of the room suddenly becomes very, very cold. And sad, somehow. As if something was being stolen, something very dear. At least, a part of it.

 

Ra Moon strikes Jet Stingray with its Soul Thief attack.

Ra Moon drains energy from Jet Stingray.

Ra Moon strikes Ton Pooh with its Soul Thief attack.

Ton Pooh successfully reflects Soul Thief.

Ra Moon drains energy from Ton Pooh.

Ra Moon strikes Dataphage with its Soul Thief attack.

Ra Moon drains energy from Dataphage.

Ra Moon strikes Cryogenic Man with its Soul Thief attack.

Ra Moon drains energy from Cryogenic Man.

Ra Moon strikes Pugilation Man with its Soul Thief attack.

Ra Moon drains energy from Pugilation Man.

You deflect Soul Thief from Ra Moon.

Ra Moon strikes Lumine with its Soul Thief attack.

Ra Moon drains energy from Lumine.

Ra Moon strikes Hunter 332 with its Soul Thief attack.

Ra Moon drains energy from Hunter 332.

Ra Moon misses Setsulo Swanson with its Soul Thief attack.

Ra Moon strikes Josef Holznecht with its Soul Thief attack.

Ra Moon drains energy from Josef Holznecht.

Ra Moon strikes Guts Man with its Soul Thief attack.

Ra Moon drains energy from Guts Man.

Ra Moon misses Bomb Man with its Soul Thief attack.

Ra Moon strikes Blues with its Blue Lightning attack.

Blues falls to the ground, unconscious, due to massive systems damage.

 

        The effect of the attack is perhaps minimal for others, but being the one the fury was directed to the most has it's disadvantages. Protoman was not that bad off upon entering the foray here, a few bumps and a burn mark across his armor he was looking almost pristine for most fights he's been in lately.

        That changes when Ra Moon catches his arrival and sends the full force of a lightning strike against him that likewise strikes out at those here.

        "Fracking hell..."

        The words come out before the lightning strike tears through Protoman's chest and sends him spiralling backward to land near the control center where Wily is now. And he's not getting back up.

 

You all laughed when Dr. Wily installed a Soul Shield in his Wilysaucer forcefield. You laughed and said he was crazy! Who's crazy now! I guess you're crazy for not having one, EH!?!?!?

            The robo arms continue frantically working at the controls. Dr. Wily will admit one thing about Martian OS's, they're a pain in the butt to understand, and a pain in the butt to uninstall. Dr. Wily begins tinkering with the insides of the panel, hoping to replace a hard drive with an ark drive he stashed in his own saucer before leaving. Perhaps one of the many tools he brought will help him. He's still hidden away in his saucer, but the robo arms begin work.

            And then... Protoman falls. And the arms stop. The Wilysaucer hovers towards the fallen form of the android, the arms scoop him up, and drop him through a canopy airlock. Say what you will about Dr. Wily, he pays his debts. OR DOES HE?!?!?!

            If you'd like to stop Dr. Wily from Taking the Protoman, now would be a good time to do so.

 

Is it just him, or did the flash suddenly slow things down?

            Dataphage is caught within it, as is everyone else, and slams backward. Moving his legs results only in them flailing about clumsily; he feels less energetic than usual, less able to do what he needs to do. The reploid clatters backward onto his back -- or what passes for it.

            At the same time, the flash manifests itself as a small field rippling around Dataphage's crystal ... it wavers, as if deciding.

            Then ... *SHRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!* An enormous laser of rapidly flashing white light lances toward Ra Moon, the size of it ridiculous - it's even bigger than the virus himself. Since the Irregular's still down, it may have been automatic.

 

Dataphage strikes Ra Moon with his Giant Laser attack.

 

Luckily, Bomb Man's Useful Caddy is still handy. That's why the damaged Bomb Man is able to chuck it at the light, resulting in one emogoth Metool and one untouched Bomb Man. Well, relatively. Besides the shrapnel (Bomb Man takes a moment to curse whoever came up with a reflect system) there's also the fact that, well, pulling that Hyper Bomb was a bit...stressful on Bomb Man. Who grumbles as he flexes an arm, a bit of fluid hissing from it.

            "Ow. That really freakin' hurts."

            Well, Bomb Man breaks out the 'low key' stuff for a moment, and chucks a simple bomb made of leftover explosives experiments at the stupid Emo Destroyer. It's not very explosive, really. But it IS fairly caustic!

            ...And explosive. Mmmmbombs.

 

Bomb Man strikes Ra Moon with his Bio Bomb attack.

 

'South Thief'. This is not likely to ever work against Vile. He continues to crawl with one leg and one hand, grabbing onto his Vile Shield along the way. He feels the room suddenly get cold, and sad, as if something was being stolen. Vile -welcomes- this feeling. He is grinning behind his T-visored mask, unafraid of losing whatever Ra Moon is trying to take from him. The cruel mech does not stop, not for this feeling of dread and not for the lightning that is crackling around. Though whether he's crawling to escape or to regroup and keep fighting despite his injuries is up for debate. All he knows is either way he's going to have to rely on, ugh, Catfish.

 

Volt Catfish rushes in, right out of the fire and into... well, maybe not the frying pan, but possibly much, much worse. Something there isn't an appropriate analogy for, regardless of the current train of thought applying to a robotic catfish with a giant chemical battery cell on its back.

            She walks right into a brilliant chill. A brilliant chill she is mesmerized by, her optics going wide at the unnatural phenomenon. Though she was no victim of the full brunt of it, even she feels something... empty... then her foot nudges something, which almost snaps her back into reality.

            "Wh-wh... oh no!!" It's Vile! He's not looking too well! But she can't draw her eyes away from it. It's like a trainwreck of universal proportions, this very sight before her. Her head droops lower and lower in awe and shock. Shock and awe. So much, it's hard to see who or what else is there at the moment.

            One of her whiskers gets itself inside of Vile's back. It gets caught on something. Yank yank yank yank yank. Incidentally, through this jostling around, Vile might get some power back in some of his systems as something may be clicked back in place. This would be an uncanny accident of a curious whisker going places it should not.

 

Volt Catfish effects some minor repair work on Vile.

 

Hunter 332 shivers. She hasn't done that since she came into being.

            She ducks behind a still-remaining chair, this one apparently sized for Centaur Man, based on its status as more of a stool. She is still glowing lightly, so this doesn't hide her very well, but it gives her a moment to reroute to system B, and the chair might get wrecked instead of her.

 

Hunter 332 forfeits a turn to charge WE.

 

         This is a surprise for Setsulo, having his Cipher tugged away that suddenly by a complete stranger. In his case -- in his own personal tradition, the Cipher is his own weapon, something that is not borrowed terribly easily. Specialy not to non-striders. "What!? Stop this you--!" The large man bellows at first, then...stops. His eyes, his vision turns back to normal as he witness Ton speaking, hearing the message she says. But most importantly: the Secret Body Language.

            The large man stares for what seems to be a few minute in his perceptive. "I shall. But do not be so pessimistic about your life, young one. This abomination shall be destroyed!" Swanson, getting back up and, not even bothering to grab his Cipher back, charges with a blurr toward Ra Moon and /THURST/ a vicious palm strike at the monster from behind. Or whatever might be considered that in this case.

 

Setsulo Swanson strikes Ra Moon with his Palm Strike attack.

 

Ra Moon successfully reflects Palm Strike.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Volt Catfish transmits, "....Ooooh."

 

Josef Holznecht roars in defiance as he feels the pull. Being human, he feels the drain of the life energy possibly a bit more keenly than the others - or maybe something just pissed him off even more. He pays no mind to Protoman's fall, instead coming to his feet and racing for Ra Moon once more. A blue flash emits from Josef's shielding plates, and the energy channels along them empty out in preparation for this. Again he cries out, "FOR HUMANITY!" This is coming dangerously close to a last stand.

            Once again, Josef slams his right hand toward Ra Moon, the bar locked across his fingers. This time, at the point of impact, the heavy shielding plates collapse forward in an eyeblink, like a piston. His fist suddenly gets a whole lot of momentum, very quickly.

        Cast in the name of humanity -

 

Josef Holznecht misses Ra Moon with his Ye Not Guilty attack.

 

Magma Dragoon charges through the newly pried open door, his entire body shimmering with his heat output. He's damaged, with some of his armor blown off, but he's still far from out of the fight. He holds out one hand, charging a fireball and then throwing it at Ra Moon. He doesn't even make some sort of hero remark. Just a very angry roar.

 

Magma Dragoon strikes Ra Moon with his Fireball attack.

 

Lumine shifts positions, moving towards Hunter 332 to protect her from further assault. This may just be practicality, or maybe deep down cares for her safety. Or maybe, just maybe, he wants people to see his own levels of priority differ from the common mold, whether they actually do or not. It's probably a mixture of a few things, really. Lumine thinks back to the original battle and tries to estimate how much more damage this guy can take. What he did to Blues is worrisome, but Lumine allows himself a small smile at Protoman's troubles. He hates Protoman SO MUCH. Hate Hate Hate Hate Hate. He fans his wings protectively before firing his charged shot towards Ra Moon's visage.

            Lumine's soul is mildly stolen, but Lumine doesn't seem to notice. Then again, maybe it's just his hitpoint total. His armor is looking a little clunkier afterwards.

            Lumine's player is listening to Big O battle music right now.

 

Lumine misses Ra Moon with its L-buster attack.

 

Lumine begins covering Hunter 332.

 

Guts Man can feel his very essence being drained out of his body, yet he continues trying to resist Ra Moon. "Can't quit now, must continue fighting the good fight!" He notices a piece of armor on the ground and decides to kick it towards Ra Moon.

 

Guts Man misses Ra Moon with his Kick attack.

 

        Ton Pooh screams as she's taken off her feet by the attack. She lashes out somewhat blindly, sending fire back at the Destroyer. But in the blast, she loses not only her Cipher, but Setsulo's as well.

        The Tsunami Cipher and the East Wind Cipher thud into the ground next to Setsulo, blades embedded in the deck.

        Ton Pooh's body is engulped in a blast of smoke. When it clears, she's gone. She re-appears in a similar blast of smoke behind Ra Moon's back. She reaches out and tries to pull the creature off of it's balance. Should it work and her hands not phase through it, she'll reach up to snap it's neck then bury a kunai knife in it's 'throat'.

 

Ton Pooh strikes Ra Moon with her Jute Burial attack.

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Vile transmits, "You really didn't have to warn them, Sigma."

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Sigma transmits, "Believe me Vile, I was tempted."

 

POTC

============================= Wily Ark - Binder ==============================

 Name             Idle    Last Pose     Last Action

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

 Ton Pooh         34s        1m         Hit Ra Moon w/ Jute Burial.

 Guts Man          1m        1m         Missed Ra Moon w/ Kick.

 Lumine            1m        1m         Missed Ra Moon w/ L-buster.

 Magma Dragoon     2m        2m         Hit Ra Moon w/ Fireball.

 Josef Holznecht  34s        2m         Missed Ra Moon w/ Ye Not Guilty.

 Setsulo Swanson   9s        3m         Hit Ra Moon w/ Palm Strike.

 Hunter 332        4m        4m         Generated Weapon Energy.

 Volt Catfish      3m        5m         Jury-Rigged Vile.

 Vile              0s        5m         Hit Ra Moon w/ Flechette Minimissile.

 Bomb Man          2m        6m         Hit Ra Moon w/ Bio Bomb.

 Wilysaucer       N/A        7m        

 Dataphage         3m        7m         Hit Ra Moon w/ Giant Laser.

 Blues            42s        8m         Knocked Out.

 Ra Moon          10m       12m         Missed (deflect) Vile w/ Soul Thief.

 Repliforce Vari  N/A       20m        

 Cryogenic Man     6m       22m         Hit Ra Moon w/ Cryogenic Wave.

 Pugilation Man    4m       24m         Hit Ra Moon w/ The Sweet Science.

 Jet Stingray      1m       25m         Missed Ra Moon w/ Tail Whip.

 LiveNews2 Camer  N/A        1h        

=========================== Use +pot/help for Help ===========================

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Sigma transmits, "So very tempted. But...they have a habit of surviving at the last second, and I'd never hear the end of it."

 

And behind the others, the Kingfisher arrives, the pilot full of anger. The anger turns to icy fear as he observes the monster that is the Destroyer. This is the thing that wants to annihilate the world. This is the thing that's been thrown back twice already. This is the thing that has wrought so much damage to the world and it's people, and it hasn't even really ARRIVED yet. The Martians could only lock it away, and they were just as advanced as they were. What could /he/ do?

            He frowns, and punches the controls. He knows what to do. The only thing he can do. His best. Strafing around the crystal pillars around the edge of the room, the Kingfisher launches several potshots at the Destroyer, building a charge and preparing ammunition for a heavier assault.

 

Repliforce Variable Armor <Kingfisher> strikes Ra Moon with its Generic Ranged attack.

 

Cryogenic Man gets struck one more, and by his own attack, once more. Except this really hurt, much of the ice coming back towards him, clattering across his form, ripping open the parka and much much more, puncturing him, and even cooling him more than he should be. "Umph...." Well, that's the rest of it, right? No. The 'soul thief', as it were, struck Cryogenic Man directly on, his own systems seemingly seizing up as the energy within him starts to be sucked out in quick succession, leaving him some what breathless. Cryogenic Man was looking worse for ware. If this continues any longer, he might be kicking the bucket as they say.

            A few second later though, Cryogenic Man breatehs deep. "My word! It felt like my own essence was being sucked out." The gentlemen exclaims as he forms a wall a short distance away from Ra Moon, it quickly forming from the ice hurling from Cryogenic Man's ice system. A wall made of ice finished an then in turn, kicked forward by Cryogenic Man, hoping to slide it into the destroyer and break upon him. Maybe not even fly back towards Cryogenic Man.

 

Jet Stingray blinks as he gets hit with the powerful attack. He drops to the ground, grunting in pain. He doesn't know WHAT Ra Moon did, but it felt bad and clearly, Ra Moon is still standing. This is not good. Not good at all. Still, he has a fight to continue, and he knows that everything that he feels... The people of Earth will feel if he fails. That thought in mind, he waits for a split second lull in the fighting before he charges right for Ra Moon yet again, hoping to gut him from behind... Or at least cut him, with his fin.

 

Jet Stingray strikes Ra Moon with his Fin Slash attack.

 

Ra Moon successfully reflects Fin Slash.

 

Cryogenic Man strikes Ra Moon with his Glacial Wall attack.

 

Pugilation Man feels the chill, the sharp drain. It gives him pause. He does not look horrified -- very few things indeed frighten the brave Gentleman, although Ra Moon certainly pushes the limits of his courage -- but the feeling of slight sadness, of inevitability, makes him stop for a moment in repose.

        Then he punches again.

        Simple man, simple pleasures.

 

Pugilation Man strikes Ra Moon with his Thrust attack.

 

Ra Moon turns, triumphant as Blues slumps behind it. However, a bevy of problems are ready for it.

 

The laser engulfs the Destroyer entirely, but most of it misses as it staggers out of its path with its arms raised. The biological warfare from Bomb Man is enough to send it reeling back into the beam, which neatly fries off the sludge but has the nasty side effect of bathing Ra Moon in energy. It emerges from the other side, and is then thrust once more into the beam by Setsulo's palm strike (which causes the sumo to fly backwards by telekinetic force, naturally). Finally, the beam disappears. Unfortunately a fireball takes its place, the heat washing over the starspawn. This gives Ton Pooh enough time to sneak up behind it and bury a kunai in its neck, prompting a ray of light pouring out from the wound that quickly dissolves the knife. Energy splatters against its torso courtesy of the Kingfisher. The starspawn, disoriented, staggers forward and is rocked backwards several steps by Cryogenic's icy wall to where it started. Jet's fin slices its arm, causing the Destroyer to jerk to the side where Pugilation punches him.

            "Enough!"

            That is where the success stops. Lumine's charged shot whistles through Ra Moon's torso, as does the piece of armor kicked by Guts Man. The starspawn raises its arms, and then lets out a breath, if one could call it that.

            The ground and, apparently, air around it turn a darker tint. The darkness spreads like a sickness, creeping along the floor and ceiling, tendrils of it snaking through the room. There's so much of it that it would be nigh impossible to avoid touching at least a little bit. And when one touches it, bad things happen. The neural net was not made to endure the pain of coming in contact with the darkness.

 

Lumine successfully covers Hunter 332.

Ra Moon strikes Jet Stingray with its The Darkness Comes attack.

Ra Moon strikes Magma Dragoon with its The Darkness Comes attack.

Magma Dragoon falls to the ground, unconscious, due to massive systems damage.

Ra Moon strikes Ton Pooh with its The Darkness Comes attack.

Ton Pooh falls to the ground, unconscious, due to massive systems damage.

Ra Moon strikes Dataphage with its The Darkness Comes attack.

Dataphage falls to the ground, unconscious, due to massive systems damage.

Ra Moon strikes Cryogenic Man with its The Darkness Comes attack.

Ra Moon strikes Pugilation Man with its The Darkness Comes attack.

Pugilation Man falls to the ground, unconscious, due to massive systems damage.

Ra Moon strikes you with a major hit from its The Darkness Comes attack for 27 units of damage.

Ra Moon strikes Lumine with its The Darkness Comes attack.

Ra Moon strikes Lumine with its The Darkness Comes attack.

Ra Moon strikes Setsulo Swanson with its The Darkness Comes attack.

Setsulo Swanson falls to the ground, unconscious, due to massive systems damage.

Ra Moon misses Josef Holznecht with its The Darkness Comes attack.

Ra Moon misses Bomb Man with its The Darkness Comes attack.

Ra Moon strikes Volt Catfish with its The Darkness Comes attack.

Ra Moon misses Wilysaucer with its The Darkness Comes attack.

 

POTC

============================= Wily Ark - Binder ==============================

 Name             Idle    Last Pose     Last Action

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

 Ra Moon          16s       45s         Area. Hit 11/14 w/ The Darkness Comes.

 Pugilation Man    2m        6m         Knocked Out.

 Cryogenic Man     4m        7m         Hit Ra Moon w/ Glacial Wall.

 Jet Stingray      4m        7m         Hit Ra Moon w/ Fin Slash.

 Repliforce Vari  N/A        8m         Hit Ra Moon w/ Generic Ranged.

 Ton Pooh          2m       10m         Knocked Out.

 Guts Man         41s       10m         Missed Ra Moon w/ Kick.

 Lumine            5s       11m         Missed Ra Moon w/ L-buster.

 Magma Dragoon     3m       11m         Knocked Out.

 Josef Holznecht   2m       11m         Missed Ra Moon w/ Ye Not Guilty.

 Setsulo Swanson  38s       12m         Knocked Out.

 Hunter 332       13m       13m         Generated Weapon Energy.

 Volt Catfish      3s       14m         Jury-Rigged Vile.

 Vile              0s       14m         Hit Ra Moon w/ Flechette Minimissile.

 Bomb Man         35s       16m         Hit Ra Moon w/ Bio Bomb.

 Wilysaucer       N/A       16m        

 Dataphage         5s       16m         Knocked Out.

 Blues             1m       17m         Knocked Out.

 LiveNews2 Camer  N/A        1h        

=========================== Use +pot/help for Help ===========================

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Vile transmits, "We're getting out of here. Mavericks, full retreat! Let Sigma shoot this damned thing down. Hopefully some heroes won't be able to make it out."

 

...Hmmmmmmm. That does look nasty. I mean, giant ball of touching evil death and stuff. Well, only one thing to do. It's a strategy that's served Bomb Man well in this fight.

            That's right.

            He throws his Caddy at the incoming attack as a shield. The Metool sighs gloomily and starts nerping bad poetry, afore flailing it's little feet and whatnot as the tendrils start making it hurt. Luckily it's an Emometool now, due to having it's soul sucked out. Oh well. It's only a metool.

            Still...Bomb Man figures he'd better do something about that stupid thing. It's getting annoying. Hmmmm. What to do, what to do...Ah! Yes! Well, chemicals worked pretty well last time...sooo... Bomb Man pulls a nasty looking green bomb out of wherever he keeps those things and chucks it in the general direction of Ra Moon. Go Go Acid Bomber Man!

 

Bomb Man misses Ra Moon with his Acid Bomb attack.

 

And you all called Dr. Wily crazy when he installed a Darkness shield in his forcefield. Who's crazy now, EH? YOU! YOU! The Wilysaucer returns to it's important business: Putting this ship out of operations. Clearly, you are the crazy ones for not having a darkness shield! Man. Dr. Wily thinks of everything.

            "Alright, any techies still alive, new game plan! Control of the ship is irrelevant! Behold!" Dr. Wily rips open a wall panel. "The shield generator! Frag it!" The Wilysaucer begins firing blasts of lasers at it. "Frag it, and once it's fragged, well, we'll discuss the second part of that." The Wilysaucer wails on the generator, cutting out useful parts and hitting it with everything it's got.

 

The Darkness has choked him.

            Dataphage is sent forward, clattering to the ground, sliding down the wall of the enormous space of the central chamber. His crystal has shattered from the force; smoke spews out of his form, but his form has been swallowed up ..

            ... just like that.

            All that is left is his neural net, the white brain no longer pulsing golden streams. All that information in there ... unconscious.

 

        Ton Pooh backflips rapidly away from Ra Moon, picking up her Cipher. She holds it defensively. But when the darkness rises up, she stares at it.

        "Is this where my sins catch up to me?"

        And then the A Class Strider is lost in the darkness.

 

         Then, the darkness come.

            Setsulo has only one thing to do before he is engurlfed as well -- snag a spare sushi from his pockets...and swallows it whole.

            "I'm not going to go down that easly."

            Then, he is too, lost.

 

Pugilation Man draws himself upright, with a little shakiness evident in his frame. His midsection has been charred and eaten away. He is scarred and splattered with mechfluid; his knuckles are starting to hurt. He knows how futile of an exercise this is -- but he will not surrender! Not until his debt to the earth is repaid in full. He shall give his life if so necessary, for that is the duty of a Gentleman.

        The tendrils of darkness curl over Pugilation Man's bulky form. With a sudden, strained gasp, he writhes and struggles with it. How do you fight off darkness? The simple answer -- you can't, not if your sole purpose in life is to punch things. He can see his end coming, quite rapidly, and recognizes it for what it is. A single hand raises up out of the darkness; Pugilation Man adjusts his monocle.

        "My word," he says, quietly.

        Then he is gone.

 

Magma Dragoon has the satisfaction of at least getting one hit in on Ra Moon, before he comes in contact with the darkness, howling in agony. He's been beat up, half-torn apart, frozen, fried, electrocuted, acid-burned and everything else you can imagine, but none of it...NONE of it, hurt quite as much as this. And then he's unconscious, shut down from overload to his neural net.

 

        The darkness swells throughout the entire room, and Josef is no exception. As it comes over him, he drops to his knees, hands pressed to his helmet. Agony threatens to consume the human, but through pure denial, through pure /confidence/ that he will defeat this, he pushes the darkness back, away from him. "No! This will naht... stop me!" He fights to his feet, reaching to his oxygen backpack. It's the only part of his suit that they were able to customize before he was sent out.

 

A very large one-handed gun is pulled forward, coming out of storage mode and aligning up into some kind of missile pistol. It looks like a shrunken-down version of an anti-air battery, but still far too big for any normal human to wield. Josef, however, has it one-handed with his right arm. "You will not STOP ME!" Three missiles are launched from the weapon, spiraling toward Ra Moon.

        Others are gone, but Josef stands.

 

Josef Holznecht strikes Ra Moon with his Stinger Strike attack.

 

Ra Moon successfully reflects Stinger Strike.

 

Vile's plan is to get out of here with his Mavericks, let Sigma shoot the damned Ark down, and let the heroes die a horrible death. It's really too bad that Sigma took the time to actually /warn/ the good guys of the plan. Ah well, that just means more work in the future. Vile finally angrily waves the Catfish away. The bleeding has stopped, even if he's missing a pair of limbs. Hobbling for the exit and using his hand to grip rails and panels, Vile seeks to escape. Not nearly quick enough to avoid the darkness, Vile stumbles as his innards feel like they're being pulled inside out. The pain is overwhelming. Vile has felt pain many times, but this is a whole new level. At the exit, Vile pauses just long enough to look over his shoulder at the battle still raging. "Only idiots fight to the death," he mutters before vanishing. He still has to make it out of here alive, of course.

 

Vile retreats from the area swiftly, leaving him open to pursuit or parting shots from Flora Man, Cryogenic Man, Hunter 332, Repliforce Variable Armor <Kingfisher>, and Wilysaucer.

 

The darkness comes and engulfs Volt Catfish, as it does so many others. Her neural net becomes subject to a flood of intense feedback. Her mouth hangs wide open, though there is no screaming. The twitching and movements that follow are deliberate, shifting and striking at thin air. Electricity shoots out from her back towards the ceiling, but this comes to an end as the swallowing darkness continues to have her way with her.

            When it subsides, there is something left of her, lying on her belly with the same wide-eyed gaze as she came in with, her mouth wide open. Her body seems to have held up, externally. Internally?

            Try 'mentally' to get the extent of it. Volt Catfish currently thinks that she's drowning, or has drowned, in a gruesome death by electrocution. For a while, no additional feedback is registered throughout her body. She seems still, but not at peace.

            Because she's still alive, if the optic twitch is any indication! Just like that, she leaps almost a good fifteen feet into the air "N-N-NOOOOOOOO!!! I W-W-WON'T DIIIIIEEEEEE!!! I D-D-DON'T WAAAAAANT TO! NO NO NO NO NO N-N-NOOOOOO!!!"

 

She runs back whence she came, leaving the true heroes and survivors to do the dying instead. The feedback that didn't flow to her due to the DoS of pain has returned full force and she's making her way out post-haste.

 

Volt Catfish retreats from the area swiftly, leaving her open to pursuit or parting shots from Jet Stingray, Magma Dragoon, Ra Moon, Dataphage, Flora Man, Cryogenic Man, Lumine, Repliforce Variable Armor <Kingfisher>, Wilysaucer, and Setsulo Swanson.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Volt Catfish is screaming something a bit too loud and staticy for the radio to register, but was probably nothing important.

 

The dying woes of Nemesis could perhaps be heard in the recesses of the maze beyond. A loud explosion comes from behind and the echoes of a beast that should not be living. There is silence to be had for a few moments, before dash jets can be heard coming from one of the many blast doors.

            The President of Neo Arcadia bursts out into the open and archs into the air. His long sword shines with its golden hue.. only marred by a purple ichor of some creature. Elpizo's once bright blonde mane is matted thick with an ichor that shouldn't be in his hair. Elpizo's mask is scuffed and burned, but still functional.

            Xolotl lands in the room and grips both of his swords, surveying the situation.

 

Cryogenic Man is touched by the tentacle, the darkness coming towards him, becoming engulfed with the darkness itself, fighting his way out of it but barely, wheezing terribly as he clatters to the ground. He's losing hope, his strong will kept him up for now, but when that melts away, Cryogenic Man is just like Ice Man, a coward at times of need, scared of many. But none when one of his team mates bites the bullet. Its an extremely painful thing to watch as unlike others, Pugilation Man might still E-Ring. And he disappears.

            Cryogenic Man takes no shot at Ra Moon. He just clatters to the ground twisting and crawling to where Pugilation Man fell, a battered Eskimo internally and externally as he scrambled for Pugilation Man's E-ringing' pieces uselessly. When he cannot grab them, he thrusts his battered fist against the ground. "Damn him. Tsunami Man, ...Galactic Man, and now Pugilation Man... how long will we keep fighting until we become extinct. No longer existing, merely ghosts." Cryogenic Man winces as he shakes from over strain.

            "He would have wanted to go like this... Pugilation Man... I'm glad he did."

 

<Global News Network> OOC: Live News feed is off. Coverage continues on Live News 2.

 

An eye is upon us. An eye ready to blink. The Spider Scientist watches the darkness seep outwards, and launches away from it, watching it soak through column after column as he works, trying to keep away from the consuming destruction. Eveneually, the Kingfisher ignites movement jets, barreling up into the air and smashing through a crystal column, Prismatic screaming as he watches allies both true and of the moment fall, devoured. "Devourer! Eclipse! Ra Moon! Nature abhors a vacuum, and you are nothing but a vacuum of existence! You will not be allowed to continue your crimes against reality!" With a slamming motion, Prismatic forces a claw to swing out, raking towards Ra Moon as he sails past... and coincidentally heading in the direction of the Earth-tech control panel.

 

Repliforce Variable Armor <Kingfisher> misses Ra Moon with its Generic Melee attack.

 

Guts Man can only watch as people begin to go down, bits of debris seem to be flying around the room as a result of so many people getting hurt, all he can do is punch any incoming debris out of his way towards Ra Moon.

 

Guts Man strikes Ra Moon with his Punch attack.

 

Lumine isn't Sigma, he isn't going to, you know, use Hunter 332 as a shield. Instead, Lumine picks up Hunter 332 bodily, possibly against her will but, really, she probably will end up preferring this. The Tendrils crawl up Lumine's legs and he grits his teeth in pain, refusing to scream out. It goes up his torso and up his back and stomach, but Lumine manages to keep Hunter 332 from getting eaten. And when he can't hold her up anymore he chucks her away, out of the darkness. Is this heroic? Well, Lumine has gotten in a habit of 'heroics' as he followed a pathos of protecting his comrades to earn their loyalty.

            Lumine hears the order to retreat, but he really can't, and he thinks this is a lame time to retreat. He has philisophical reasons for not doing so. That and his legs aren't working very well. Or, you know, at all.

            Lumine, ever the joker, says, "I'm not afraid of the Darkness." And since one outdated popular culture reference isn't enough, he guides his buster towards Ra Moon's body, grinding his teeth as he does so. His buster charging to its max level (or so it should be), Lumine adds, "And besides, Kingdom Hearts is a fully powered Buster Cannon firing plasma through your thick skull."

            The explosion of plasma and light piercing through the darkness is impressive, and it may strike through to Ra Moon. But will it be enough? Probably not.

 

Lumine strikes Ra Moon with its L-buster 3 attack.

 

Ra Moon successfully reflects L-buster 3.

 

Lumine falls to the ground, unconscious, due to massive systems damage.

 

Falling to the ground, Jet isn't lost in the darkness. Not in the disappear you die way. He is on the ground, his optics wide as mech fluid dips to the ground. He is barely alive, but he is alive. And terrorified. "I'm sorry, but I have to go... Got to go now..." he offers and repeats in a voice that's over and over again like most crazy people are prone to do. It looks like almost being killed by Ra Moon twice in his rather 'unique' is not exactly good for poor Jet's sanity. Either way, Jet is able to keep it together just enough to fly away from harm, doing all that he can to get the heck out of Dodge, even pushing his own teammates out of the way if necessary. Where is he going? The Box he came in. Just sealing back up the box and hope that Spider will be around to take him home. If not... It might just suck to be Jet.

 

Jet Stingray retreats from the area swiftly, leaving him open to pursuit or parting shots from Magma Dragoon and Wilysaucer.

 

         Running in, fresh from the fall of the Nemesis, Flora Man makes it known he's here. Vines flailing in after him, tools being pulled out already. Looking about, Flora Man looks for a rather large Hard Man like robot with a handlebar mustache. It's important. Very.

         Upon seeing him, or well, not exactly, the darkness swallowing Pugilation Man, Flora Man runs in. He can still see the form of Cryogenic, and while Cryogenic might not see him, he plans to act on it. Tools pulled out, Flora Man leaps into the darkness, trading off a shot at Ra Moon to repair Cryogenic Man, tools working heavily.

         "Stahy with me Cryogenic. Don't ye be goin' there too. Jes' wait...." He briefly stops as he finishes watching the e-ring of Pugilation Man disappear as he just focuses on the task at hand. How many damn good deeds and good men will they lose before those bloody bastards finally understood this is pointless?! Flora Man just continues to talk to Cryogenic Man, and also focus on keeping himself a bit sane as well.

 

Flora Man effects some minor repair work on Cryogenic Man.

 

Lumine soon vanishes in the darkness almost entirely, his hand stretching out even as his body shuts down.

 

Hunter 332's brain has deliberately stifled pain reception. It is also not made out of computer parts, but rather two chunks of a brain that, with some creative editing, made one full unit. This is perhaps why she does not collapse; that, and Lumine's strange concern.

            Then the strange androgyne fires. The energy reflects, and he (she?) falls. "Uh," she says, before ducking forwards to hoist up Lumine's body. She makes a mental note to NOT call him a sissy for liking Disney Universe crap.

            Then she runs off, in the direction that Vile and Volt went.

 

Hunter 332 retreats from the area swiftly, leaving her open to pursuit or parting shots from Jet Stingray, Magma Dragoon, Zero, Ra Moon, Elpizo, Flora Man, Cryogenic Man, Vile, Lumine, Repliforce Variable Armor <Kingfisher>, Wilysaucer, and Volt Catfish.

 

From the south, fairly quickly after Elpizo, Zero blazes forth, dash jets burning like there is no tomorrow. (Really, there may not be if Ra Moon wins) Strangely, the berserker's hair is now purple, likely due to goo explosions. With a thought, the Hunter kills his dash jets, and he skids to a stop next to Elpizo. "That didn't take long. See? Let's get this done, though. I need a beer."

            Zero's left arm snaps open and ejects a saber hilt into his palm with a pneumatic hiss before it snaps closed. With a flick of a thumb, the second blade ignites, illuminating the darkness as much as it can.

 

Ra Moon lowers its arms, but not before gesturing viciously and causing Bomb Man's projectile to abruptly change directions and miss him. Josef's missiles catch him along the back, prompting an annoyed grunt of pain before another gesture sends the fragments flying back like shrapnel. It subtly alters the trajectory of the Kingfisher, causing the ride armor to miss it just barely. Guts Man slugs the starspawn solidly across the face, promptly Ra Moon to tiredly shove the Robot Master backwards with telekinetic force.

            It ignores those that are running from it. It ignores those that have fallen to its power. There were very few that remained that could stop it from completing-- its train of thought is interrupted by Lumine's magnificent blast of energy, the force of it sending Ra Moon sprawling along the ground. The Destroyer is up in a flash, and with an angry shriek it raises its hands, commanding the darkness to swallow the purple-haired maverick entirely.

            Ra Moon stands, but it looks like a puppet that has had most of its strings cut. It seethes fury; outright indignation at the defiance it has been faced with. The room begins to rattle as loose pieces of armor and scenery float into the air. Dents are pounded into the walls and floor. There is a palpable feeling of anger and of otherworldly force.

 

Ra Moon strikes Zero with its Telekinetic Mosh Pit attack.

Ra Moon misses Elpizo with its Telekinetic Mosh Pit attack.

Ra Moon strikes Flora Man with its Telekinetic Mosh Pit attack.

Ra Moon strikes Cryogenic Man with its Telekinetic Mosh Pit attack.

Ra Moon strikes Josef Holznecht with its Telekinetic Mosh Pit attack.

Josef Holznecht falls to the ground, unconscious, due to massive systems damage.

Ra Moon misses Wilysaucer with its Telekinetic Mosh Pit attack.

Ra Moon strikes Repliforce Variable Armor <Kingfisher> with its Telekinetic Mosh Pit attack.

 

Ra Moon brings its reflect system offline.

 

POTC

============================= Wily Ark - Binder ==============================

 Name             Idle    Last Pose     Last Action

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

 Ra Moon           6s       53s         Area. Hit 4/5 w/ Telekinetic Mosh Pit.

 Mac               1m        2m        

 Zero              4m        5m        

 Hunter 332        3m        6m         Retreated from the area.

 Lumine            4m        7m         Knocked Out.

 Flora Man         1m        8m         Jury-Rigged Cryogenic Man.

 Jet Stingray      8m        9m         Retreated from the area.

 Guts Man          4m        9m         Hit Ra Moon w/ Punch.

 Orion Corth       4s        9m        

 Repliforce Vari  N/A       10m         Missed Ra Moon w/ Generic Melee.

 Cryogenic Man     6m       11m         Hit Ra Moon w/ Glacial Wall.

 Elpizo            1m       11m        

 Volt Catfish      1m       16m         Retreated from the area.

 Vile              0s       17m         Retreated from the area.

 Josef Holznecht   1m       17m         Knocked Out.

 Magma Dragoon     1m       18m         Knocked Out.

 Pugilation Man    5m       18m         Knocked Out.

 Setsulo Swanson   8m       21m         Knocked Out.

 Wilysaucer       N/A       22m        

 Ton Pooh          6m       22m         Knocked Out.

 Dataphage         5m       22m         Knocked Out.

 Bomb Man          1m       23m         Missed Ra Moon w/ Acid Bomb.

 LiveNews2 Camer  N/A        2h        

=========================== Use +pot/help for Help ===========================

 

Through the blasted, moldy hallways, Volt Catfish continues to flee in complete and utter terror of what terrible things she bore witness to. The darkness did not swallow much beyond her resolve. She's, if nothing else, leading the way for the fleeing Mavericks and continuing to look even worse compared to the mighty Bender, also known as Hunter 332.

            Sigma sure knows how to choose 'em, huh.

            That aside, hopefully she'll be able to reach the hangars - and maybe there'll be a semblance of atmosphere in there so that they all don't get sucked into the void.

            Lumine is rescued by Hunter 332, smiling because he is totally hilarious and awesomer. Probably awesomer than you. Yes you. But not you. You...are equally awesome.

Dr. Wily's forcefield glows with the sheer force of it's unstoppable might. Foolish Destroyer! Did you think you could really best Dr. Wily? NO! INCONCEIVABLE! YOU ARE RUBBISH TO HIM! While Dr. Wily and his saucer hammer away at what seems to be an inconsequential device in the wall, completely below Ra Moon's understanding or acknowledgement, a terrible war is waged!

 

The Wilysaucer seems more frantic in attacking the device, as if operating under some unseen time limit that he's being deliberately evasive about.

            With his Robot Arms. Which hold screwdrivers.

 

You keep using that word, Dr. Wily.

 

Pugilation Man does not think it means what you think it means.

 

They said there was no use for a honking huge helmet. They made fun of it because of its large encompassing nature. They called him egg head, and noggin brain. Oh, they'll be in for it, now. As the telekinetic waves come crashing in, Elpizo blinks for just a moment, inside his helmet. Elpizo turns his helmet around glancing around, "<< Why is everyone in pain? >>" Then, Elpizo realizes for a moment, before he brings up both of his blades.

            The President leaps into the air and uses his dash jets to close the distance between himself and Ra Moon, "You said you were the destroyer of worlds? My world, particulary. Call it hubris, but I do think you are sadly, VERY sadly mistaken."

            Energy flashes as the sonic drives in both of the hilts activate. It is time to play with the Destroyer himself. Elpizo leaps into the air and descends upon the beast with a vengence in a corkscrew.

 

Elpizo strikes Ra Moon with his Rapid Saber Thrust attack.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Hunter 332 transmits, "Hey, Catfish," respectful tone, "Ma'am," normal tone, "Fix the Lieutenant when we get to the ship, huh?"

 

        Roughly in the middle of Ra Moon's telekinetic mosh pit assault, Orion Corth comes sprinting into the 'Binder'. He skids to a halt amidst the chaos, dropping to the ground to avoid getting slugged with some of the larger bodies getting slung around and battered. Orion growls lowly, crab-lifting himself back to his feet and drawing his knives as he rights himself fully. He remains lowly, eyes narrowed as he surveys the room, considering the situation. He asks one question in his radio, circling rapidly around Ra Moon, looking for a vulnerable point... Or any opening at all.

 

Crushing otherworldly force? Oh. Ow. Fresh repairs go by the wayside as the Destroyer uses its ridiculous powers to crush everything present. Even so, Zero stands firm, standing unbent, unbowed and unbroken under Ra Moon's power.

            "I killed you once, Destroyer! Ra Moon, whatever you want to be called. I'll kill you again! You're not going to destroy earth, not while I still function!"

            Twin sabers blaze in the darkness, and in a strange mirror of Elpizo, Zero leaps into the air with the aid of dash boosters, arcing through the space and lashing out with his left hand.

            Just think if they were real allies instead of ones of convenience.

 

Zero strikes Ra Moon with his Feral Pounce attack.

 

Vile is slowly hobbling his way through the ship. Unlike Volt, who is running around frantically, Vile remembered the route he took to get here and is navigating back the same way. At least the opening and closing blast doors aren't such a pain to deal with anymore once you get used to them. Somewhere behind his helmet, Vile is gritting his mechanical teeth at the pain Ra Moon dealt to him.

 

Guts Man has had enough of Ra Moon at this point, he simply wants to destroy him by giving him one heckuva headache. The best way to do this is by becoming a Frankenmaster. As he becomes such a monstrous robot, he lifts his huge claw arm, the claw itself spins several times before it ceases. He then smashes the claw into the ground and like Capcom magic a large block appears before him. Where did it come from? How did it get here? Why don't the laws of physic or nature apply to the Robot Masters? Those are all very good questions and the answer is the following: Shaddup.

            Guts Man slides the huge rock towards Ra Moon, make sure to steer clear of its path or you too may become block pizza.

 

Guts Man strikes Ra Moon with his Rock Slide attack.

 

        A choir of Japanese school children appear from out of nowhere as Guts Man floats in the air. Anime lines can visibly be seen in the background as he rotates in place. Extra pieces of armor start flying in from out of nowhere attaching themselves to Guts Man 's frame while the children attempt to sing in english.

        /~Thought, exactly that it is not possible to be brought up more strongly than him, time! The person furthermore the internal organs of power comes here! The internal organs which go go the person! They are our heros! The internal organs which go go the person! Zero is destroyed! See because of that enormous nail! Like the straw it crushes that exactly! Look at the treaded feet because of that! As for them the meat which is liked tenderize! The person of the splendid internal organs where he with him... now when is not the person of the internal organs which are not fair!!!~

        Once the children are done with their singing, the last of the extra parts are attached to Guts Man, the anime lines in the background fade away and Guts Man no longer hovers several feet off the ground, instead he falls on the ground with a loud thud as Great Guts Man.

 

        Josef continues to fire missiles even as the telekinetic fury slams into his chest, ribs crackling under the force. The missiles spiral out wildly, and once Josef impacts the wall the stinger 'pistol' drops out of his hand. Jagged crystal stabs into his back, bursting blisters and just causing other assorting wounding. His blood stains the wall behind him, as he falls away and onto his knees.

        He weakly lifts his right arm, firing off a few unfocused blasts of plasma from a steadily-unclenching fist, before collapsing to the side. Still he tries to get up, even as his field of vision fades. "Humanity will still stahnd..." Then he collapses.

 

Landing behind Ra Moon, the Kingfisher turns, only to get bashed back and forth with Vader Power. Systems spark, coolant lines rupture, and damage guagues begin redlining. "This... Really sucks." Prismatic mutters, four hands rerouting internal systems while two jerk the increasingly sluggish Kingfisher to face the Destroyer... And then he smiles, entering a series of overrides and commands. If it's time to go, go for the gold. The Kingfisher hisses as crystal hunks and errant computer bits rebound off the mecha, steam roiling about him... And then it steps forward, attempting to grab onto the Destroyer. From each hand, a hissing spray emanates, streaming outwards in deadly gouts of corroding and consuming chemicals. Ra Moon may not be entirely solid, but he certainly should be solid enough... for this.

Repliforce Variable Armor <Kingfisher> strikes Ra Moon with its Chemical Breakdown Spray attack.

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Sigma transmits, "Look on the bright side. We're close enough now you don't have far to go home."

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Well...The thing tends to seem to avoid the whole 'bombs' thing with it's amazingly mighty shifty trick...and the telekinesis. That's annoying. Hmmmm. Well, heck. Only one thing for a self-respectin' Robot Master to do.

 

And that, of course, is to try and cheat. The Bomb Man pulls out another 'reject' bomb. It worked pretyt well last time, and, well, he's running out of energy at the moment. And his other tricks tend to be...well...a bit...indiscriminate. And he doesn't want to hit his ally GREAT GUTSO MAN! OH NO!

            As such, the bomb full of explosives, sludge, and possibly Bomb Man's cooking is chucked for Ra Moon's face.

 

Bomb Man strikes Ra Moon with his Bio Bomb attack.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Volt Catfish, belatedly in between bursts of panic, seems to agree with the idea because the transmission ends abruptly with something that phonetically sounds like "ey."

 

Hunter 332 presses forwards. She lowers her active defense field, perhaps so as not to risk damaging Lumine further. She sees Vile in the distance and follows after him.

 

Hunter 332 brings her reflect system offline.

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Fianait transmits, "Lab's up and running. Don't you track a mess in here."

 

         As the pieces of armor, some even Pugs, some Cryogenics, and other the fallen, Flora Man is slammed around by such debris, but he keeps working until finally being pried off, a tool left on Cryogenic Man as he lays there for a moment, petals drooping. One is even serrated, the wily brow focuses on Ra Moon as Flora Man stands.

 

         The barrier around him, comes into existence. Flora Man stares towards Ra Moon, furrowing slightly. "Ye BRUTE. Ye come 'ere. Ye tell us death be better, but ye' actively seek ta' give pain ta' us and the others.. and.. AND THEN YE GO AN' GET RID O' PUGILATION MAHN! Don't ye no 'ow 'ard it is with 'im? And now you killed another o' us! By the end o' this day, 'ah will either not exist, or it will be yu 'who doesn't!"

 

         The barrier spinning about him, of petals, if flung towards Ra Moon. "FLORRRA BARRIER!" Hopefully the path with still stay true, and slash across the Destroyer's form. This is the first time he actively assaulted the destroyer, and plans to again if it isn't enough.

 

Flora Man strikes Ra Moon with his Flora Barrier attack.

 

Ra Moon falls to the ground, unconscious, due to massive systems damage.

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Hunter 332 transmits, "Yeah, uh, we'll try."

 

Cryogenic Man was thrown up and smashed into a piece of rubbish, thrown around, and crushed here and there. He wasn't feeling very well, dented, bruised, destroyed. Much of him was repaired though by Flora Man, but before he could even respond he was being thrown around like a mosh pit, crashing and bashing into thing after thing. After all that he still stands. Cryogenic Man, as well, does too. Raising himself up from the ground, Cryogenic Man answers Flora Man. "No, I'm not giving up. Not when all our cohorts have given so much!"

            And then, Flora Man took the beast down. Cryogenic Man still seethes, hoping for Ra Moon never to rise again. He's quiet for now.

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Vile transmits, "I'm making a jump for it, Sigma. Do you have someone there to retrieve us?"

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Sigma transmits, "Retrieval drones can make the distance easily at this range."

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Vile transmits, "Good."

 

The telekinetic assault stops as soon as Elpizo drives its blades into Ra Moon. It staggers backwards, multihued color streaming from its wounds, the blades easily pulled away without any resistance. Zero only adds insult to injury, as do the twin chemical attacks of the Kingfisher and Bomb Man. The smoking, burning, form of Ra Moon is then buried under the titanic form of Great Guts Man.

            Somehow, it pushes Guts Man off, managing to phase to its feet. Its arms hang limply; in fact, its entire body floats slightly above the ground as if suspended by a single thread. Every last string has been cut but the last.

            The Destroyer raises its arm with achingly slow deliberation. It is about to turn the bladed barrier aside, but there is just no energy left. It is powerless as a thousand cuts riddle its black form.

            Ra Moon hangs there, suspended in air for a single long second, and then falls to the ground. The buzzing sound peaks, and with a blinding flash of light, it is gone once more.

            As the Destroyer breathes his last, Dr. Wily and his amazing Technocolor Saucer finish off the device... the shield generator! A loud *WHOOOM* sound is heard, indicating the sound of the shields going down.

 

"And now, you meddlesome meddlers, I tie up this loose end! I would suggest you all depart! Ha ha ha!" The Wilysaucer scoops up both Bomb Man and Great Guts Man with it's robot tendrils, and flies back down the corridors from whece it came, at high velocity!

            Apparently Wily knows something you don't.

 

Righto! That's it! Bombero Hombre W throws a dramatic pose, his amazing food having helped dispose of the interloper, and then is scooped up by the Wilysaucer.

            Masters! RETREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAT!

 

And you'll never guess who he took with him, unless you were paying close attention earlier.

 

Which you totally weren't.

 

Vile is unaware of what is transpiring in the massive chamber. He is only aware that the Raptor II is preparing to blast the Wily Ark into a million pieces. This is why he left a long, long time ago. And finally the Maverick criminal has made it to one of the hatchways leading out of the ship. The Olive Supermarine will be a loss unless Volt manages to run all the way back. Blowing a whole in the hatch with the Vile Cannon, the violet Maverick is exposed to the rigors of space. He can see the twinkling stars, he can see the beautiful planet Earth, and he can see the Raptor II making its approach. Taking a leap of faith, Vile jumps out head first, using momentum and the lack of gravity to carry him towards the Raptor II.

 

The Destroyer falls, and it disappears. Now, it is time to leave. Elpizo puts away both of his swords and does NOT turn to leave. The President leaps over where Ra Moon used to be located over to Josef's body lies, "CORTH! GET OUT OF HERE!" The President leans over and picks up Josef's fairly large form. He adjusts the large body mass expertly, before he gets off at a slow jog. Much slower than he was coming in.

            It is time to leave.

 

Dataphage's braincase is still laying around. It is shiny and bright.

 

Josef Holznecht's blisters look nasty, try not to get any of those popped on you.

 

Ton Pooh lays on the ground, a pool of blood slowly expanding outwards from her body.

 

        Orion doesn't get the chance to act upon all of his pent up killing instincts. He sighs and rumbles to himself, turning to sprint rapidly back the way he came. RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN! Must get the ship. Must get the ship.

Zero isn't one to lag behind. When the Destroyer falls, Zero starts to gloat, but when the Old Man does his thing. Well. Zero takes his maker's suggestion. He starts off, running towards the exit at a great rate of speed, but he stops.

 

"Dammit, Rock. You've rubbed off on me."

            Starting back, Zero moves to help Elpizo with Josef's body, thereby making the escape a bit quicker for the president.

            Blues will punch him later, but he'd like to think Rock would approve.

 

Volt Catfish is still running about until she spies Vile blasting open a wall. "W-waaait! I-i-if you dooo tha--!!" She runs towards him just as Vile takes his leap of faith towards the Raptor II. Volt Catfish's followup, running far too fast to stop before it's too late, trips over some of the remaining part of the wall and is sucked out towards space.

            It's a flop of faith!

 

Guts Man is quickly scooped up by Dr. Wily after Ra Moon goes down. He doesn't even have time to protest thanks to the robotic tendrils.

 

As Elpizo runs out with Josef, he pauses as Zero gets ahold of the massive vody, "Take him to the exit, I will get one other person," Elpizo quickly jumps down and scoops up the much smaller form of Ton Pooh in his embrace. Then he helps Zero with Josef, "MOVE!"

 

Hunter 332 knows what to do when you see space and no window. You exhale.

            She is drawn out into space as well. A little emergency oxygen reserve starts pumping into her blood to maintain brain health. She holds onto Lumine and tries to blink.

            Crap, she thinks. My eyes froze.

 

OK you can go ahead and get Josef's blister fluid all over you, Zero, he would laugh about it.

 

The Kingfisher is on it's last legs. It's obvious what's going on as it turns, sparking and hissing.

            It almost looks at the system longingly, and grimaces. Prismatic was hoping to get time to stufy the corruption engenderd by Ra Moon, but there's no time. With a protesting shriek of steel, the Kingfisher begins movin, tromping like a Battlemech gone bad as claws reach over to pick several people up. He moves quickly and efficiently despite the fact that the Ride Armor is almost falling apart. The Ride Armor then moves, slowly gaining speed until it reaches the exit, whereupon it stick those people into the Box with Jet that he towed the ally in with, and connecting the tow cable.

            And then a slow transformation occurs, the Kingfisher converting back to Awerospace fighter form, the engines spluttering for a second before they light... And get himself and those he rescued out of the apparently doomed craft.

 

Repliforce Variable Armor <Kingfisher> changes into its Aerospace armor.

 

Cryogenic Man knows even if the group defeated Ra Moon, even for now, it wouldn't bring back Pugilation Man. He walks over to where Pugilation Man fell, slowly crafting a sword out of ice itself, only to thrust it into the ground itself where Pugilation Man had fallen, crafting into the sword 'Here the remains of Pugilation Man. Rest in Peace, good friend.'

            Moving over towards the figure of Dataphage, Cryogenic Man gives a bow before disturbing the dead, picking him up, and heading towards the doors. "Flora Man. Grab whoever has fallen, or at least, as much as you are able to, and let us be off."

            He says this of course with a Dataphage over his figure. It may be kind of a bacteria, but even bacteria has feelings.

 

         The barrier is flung, Flora Man landing as it connects.. and then Ra Moon falls to the ground, the body gone with a blinding flash of light, the buzzing sound having stopped. Looking at it for a moment, Flora Man looks back where Pugilation Man might have been. It was hard to tell with all the debris and parts. "Thaht be fer' ye, Pugilation Mahn." Surveying the area, the body of Setsulo Swanson is noted and the vines, hanging to him still, are extended out, hauling the large Man to him as he picks him up and begins to flee. "Aye. 'Ah believe this be all 'ah cahn 'old fer now. Let's get movin', aye! We 'ahve ta' live now more fer' Pug an the others. This jes' be gettin' worse 'an worse."

 

Well. Swanson is in good hands at least.

            Setsulo Swanson is also a very large Swanson to carry. Good thing Floar is strong!

 

Indeed! He is barely able to as it is!

 

Wilysaucer heads out to the outer ring of the ship.

 

Orion Corth keeps running. He has only one job today and that is to be the group healer. Oh and he's also the group transporter. Can't forget about that. Does this make him a monk now?

 

*** TRAVEL SPAM ***

 

Earth (Orbit)

 

             If God lived on Earth, people would break his windows.            

                                                  -- Jewish proverb

 

The planet Earth is a planet which is primarily blue with green splotchy patches. White clouds sweep across the planet regularly. Portions of the planet have more of a grey cast, having been overrun by the great megacities. When parts of the planet rotate away from the sun, large portions of it glow with intense points of white light. Increasingly, large portions of the planet have become darkened as large-scale warfare annihilates critical infrastructure.

 

The orbit of Earth is full of machinery of various sorts. Of particular interest is an area in the L4 region of space between the Earth and the Sol system. In that area, a large space station called "Eurasia" has been established.

 

 Contents:                               Contents:                     

 Cryogenic Man [RG]                      Flora Man [RG]                        

 Leo [Nemesis redux] [SD]                Lumine [Paradise] [M]                 

 Ra Moon [Ra Moon] [?]                   Pugilation Man [RG]                   

 Volt Catfish [M]                        Hunter 332 [M]                        

 Dataphage [Standard] [I]

 LiveNews Camera                         Hunter Interceptor <Gyrfalcon> [H]    

 Repliforce Variable Armor <Kingfisher>  Wilysaucer [RM]                       

 Raptor II <R2> [M]                      Wily Ark                              

 NA Multienvironmental Transport <Metzil Repliforce Station - Basilisk [RF]    

 Space Colony <Eurasia>                  Moon                                  

 

 

 Deep Space <DS>:          Sol System

 Space Elevator <SE>:      Space Elevator - The Big Plate

 Eastern Hemisphere <EH>:  Sky Above Eastern Hemisphere

 Western Hemisphere <WH>:  Sky Above Western Hemisphere

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Fianait transmits, "Please fasten your seatbelts."

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Automated systems says, "Target range verified. All weapons charged. All hands prepare for barrage!"

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Fianait transmits, "And return all chairs and tray tables to an upright and locked position."

Lumine arrives from The Big Plate.

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Fianait transmits, "In the event of an emergency put your head between your knees and kiss your (*# goodbye."

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Toxic Seahorse transmits, "They're all -that- flexible?.."

 

The Metzili turns and leaves.

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Hunter 332 doesn't say anything, what with the space.

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Volt Catfish is mercifully silent. FOR NOW.

 

Vile is currently flying without the ability to fly. Is he abusing the exit locks? No, he's just leapt from the Wily Ark towards the Raptor II arm first. Vile, unlike the so-called heroes, was smart enough to get off the ship before getting himself knocked out. Why die when there's someone else around to do it for you? Regardless, the Maverick criminal is soon picked up by a pair of space-capable Maverick drones and taken out of the Raptor II's firing arc. Looking over his shoulder, Vile can see that, yet again, Volt has managed to survive. Vile is surprised at this. Maybe she'll die next time. Her luck can't continue forever.

 

<Global News Network> OOC: Main Live News channel for the thrilling conclusion.

 

Hunter 332, and her officer baggage, are collected. Actually, they get Lumine first, but for some reason there are enough drones to go around today.

            This makes her happy, more or less. She tries to blink again; it doesn't work.

            The Wily Ark is almost done with its insideous work.

 

The space elevator has been turned into a gigantic resonating chamber through the arcane powers of Martian technology. The ground at the base of the elevator is only experiencing small quakes, as the real damage is occuring deep down near the center of the planet. If it is allowed to continue this way much longer, Bad Things will happen -- like the Earth being ripped into two, if you happen to believe Ra Moon.

            But there is a shred of hope: the shields of the Wily Ark visibly flicker, and then die. Countless reavers within the ship suddenly turn and head to the nearest console, all of them combining their computing power in an attempt to raise the defense grid once more.

            There is a very thin window here. But who will be able to capitalize on it?

 

Lumine is collected for repairz. He'd probably say something Caesarian like 'oh no help Bendy first' but he's not in a position to do so. Foiled again!

 

Volt Catfish is perhaps effectively immortal, despite the best efforts of her own fears and her own flighty self. She's spiraling through space just a ways behind Vile until she is caught by another pair of Maverick drones that save her from being fried by the vacuum of space (beyond what it does to her now) and hot superweapon death that's sure to come.

            She is mercilessly hurled against the ground upon landing, lying on her side with optics still wide open. She never wants to look into the face of what she did ever again.

 

Cold, dark, space. Quiet as well. From out here, if one sat and simply watched the Wily Ark, they wouldn't know about the horrendous battle taking place aboard. No real signs of it from out here. As if everything were detached and peaceful. That's about to change. From the direction of the moon, another form began to grow larger with each moment that passed by. As there were those who fought and died aboard the craft, those aboard this other craft approaching were quiet, brooding, thoughtful. Deep within, Sigma sat at the command chair, hands in front of him, staring at the viewscreen.

            For the first time, the Raptor II reveals herself to the world, soaring in like a night predator descending on her chosen prey. For the first time, the mighty Maverick warship bears her talons, not on a target of the Earth as most expected, but on the floating form of the Ark, of Ra Moon's latest refuge, all weapon ports open, power surging to energy chambers, even as the frame of the ship-long laser running along the spine elevates into position. Swarms of delta-winged drones flank the ship to either side, moving like flocks of birds protecting a much larger one.

            "Wipe that blot from the sky. I don't want even fragments left." The command comes, even as the Warlord sits up straighter, eyes narrowed, hands settling onto the armrests of his chair. A split second after his command, the entire ship shudders. The underslung ion cannons unleash in twin, massive beams that fire for several seconds, before cooling down for a moment, then firing again, and again and again. Like a thousand angry hornets, swarms of missiles erupt from the undercarriage, streaking like starlights in their own right towards their target. Finally, the entire ship flashes like a supernova, even as the laser upon the back, along its entire spine unleashes in an eye-piercing crimson light, stabbing out like a great carving beam, fueled by the Raptor's mighty force metal drive engines. All of this firepower, blasting, again and again as the ship roars in on her prey like a massive Condor.

            All of it focused onto the Wily Ark with its shields down.

            It can be seen from everywhere. Anyone with a telescope, satellites turned to observe. Earth gets a ringside view of the Raptor II unleashing her fury for the very first time, hers weapons cutting forward like a deafening shriek of rage.

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Triple Voice Action Bolero transmits, "By the fact that the sky just turned crimson, I'm going to assume the particle accelerator worked more than adequately for its task, sir?"

 

The Wilysaucer hovers out of range, watching the laser cannon. Will it work? Can it work? WE MUST SUCCEED!

 

The reavers make quick progress. Between the hundreds or so of them, the shields of the Wily Ark flicker back on.

            Suddenly, a giant Wily head appears on every screen available on the ship. It laughs in a monotone voice as a skull pattern scroll in the background. Simultaneously, every reaver on the ship jacked into the central control system experiences massive sonic overload and explodes. Such is the price of using technology that Wily knows how to screw around with.

            The shields go down once again, just in time for the first salvo of blasts to carve a quarter of the ship off. They fire again, one beam completely melting the sheared off section of the Ark while the other punches a hole through the larger chunk. The vacuum of space pulls the contents of the ship out, and then the Earth itself strikes back against the Martians by pulling the castaway reavers into its atmosphere, causing them to burn up.

            The final blast clips the slightly revolving Ark, causing it to acclerate at a terrifying speed. It spins wildly out of control -- and towards the planet.

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Sigma transmits, "Track that trajectory!"

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Fianait transmits, "I'm on it."

 

Raptor II <R2>

 

        The second vessel to bear the name, the Raptor II is a small, fast vessel, a ship meant to be maneuverable and able to avoid the massive weapons of the Repliforce flagship, Fortress V. Made from parts stolen from all over the world, the ship looks a bit clunky, but its construction is solid, the chunky angles and exposed weapons bubbles hiding a large amount of armor, enough to take a moderate to severe beating and stay in the air. Longer than it is tall, the vessel is maybe eighteen hundred feet from nose to tail, the spine of the ship fitted with a powerful laser cannon, capable of carving an impressive swath into anything in front of the ship. Lightly armed otherwise, this is clearly the new home of the Mavericks, capable of travelling over land, under the sea, and even in outer space.

 

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Sigma transmits, "Oh my. What an utter -shame- if that piece were to hit somewhere with lots of humans. Tragic."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Fianait transmits, "Estimating... this is #(*$ing hard..."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Fianait transmits, "It looks like the US."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Fianait transmits, "Eastern, maybe midwest."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Sigma transmits, "Oh, very nice. Yes, very nice indeed."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Fianait transmits, "Orders, sir?"

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Sigma sighs, "I suppose we should be sporting and tell them that much at least. And see how they handle it."

 

        Orion, half AGAR suited still, sets around lunging around within the Metzili. He flicks switches, re-routes power to systems, and turns on the targeting software. It's unfortunate that Hector didn't design this primarily as a warbird. Corth is half sure that Elpizo will have him rebuild this baby bigger, badder, and more absurdly dangerous than before. This, however, is of little concern. The trio of laser cannons power up, a soft glow forming in the barrel of each cannon. Orion looks at Elpizo and intones, "We've got as much power as I'm going to be able to feed the lasers... We need to carve though. We don't have the raw power to blast through."

 

Vile continues to look over his shoulder even as the drones drag him back to the Raptor II. He nods as the Wily Ark begins to plunge towards the planet. Good riddance. Maybe it can take out a city while it's at it. Wouldn't that make this day complete. The drones safely get the Maverick criminal back on board the Raptor II. However damaged he may be, he plans on hobbling up to the bridge to watch the rest of the fireworks.

 

Raptor II <R2> banks hard to one side after the barrage, clearing any streaming debris as it moves to get away from the immediate blast radius. Weapons continue to chop away at a few errant pieces coming towards it, but otherwise, the huge barrage is now a thing of the past. That last chunk floating away...is all but ignored. Uh oh.

            Dutifully, retrieval drones that have moved to grab the drifting Mavericks are starting to bring them home. Even as the mighty new Raptor continues to roar past the drama, heading towards orbit...somewhere over Earth. That's a big chunk of sky. They could hide -anywhere-.

 

Winnebago of Justice arrives from the Sky Above Western Hemisphere.

 

Hunter Interceptor <Gyrfalcon> screams around from where the Ark /used/ to be. In the pilots seat is Zero, flipping switched, priming weapons systems and praying to whatever god exists that he can pull this off. The interceptor, greatly lacking in planet-killer destroying ordinance will do its best, but it may not be enough.

            Yanking on the stick, Zero levers the ship into a strafing run, opening up with chainguns, lasers and missiles. The fighter streaks across the face of the ship remains at ridiculous speeds, unloading its payload of arms at the remains.

            Every little bit helps, right?

 

Dr. Wily sighs within his Wilysaucer. "Guts Man. Bomb Man. This is going to suck... but I'm going to throw you both into the ocean and pick you up later so that I can save the world from this comet. I guess it's really not your day." Wilybrow.

            Great Guts Man and Bomb Man are both thrown entirely uneremoniously towards the pacific ocean.

            The Wilysaucer retracts it's arms... and begins building up speed. As the ship falls it begins soaring circles around it, until finally it rams right into the Wily Ark, hoping to knock it into an ocean (Poor Guts and Bomb) or at least cripple it's structural integrity!

            Shortly thereafter, the Wilysaucer falls unceremoniously towards the earth, running on fumes. One does not crash through spaceships without injury.

 

Alpha isn't about to let a space rock hit Earth! Earth is cool, it's where she keeps all her stuff! That and while she's sure Seers technology is totally awesome, she isn't sure she can leave it up to it alone. She flies towards the falling rock and several blobs gouge off her body, sending weapons fire (largely energy bursts and explosive rams) and fires repeatedly at the space rock with everything she has right at the get go.

            And then, because she's a Hunter, she gets to firing with everything she has again. Hunters get inf_ammo. She probably arrived via jumping out the Basilisk Station.

            Related, one of Alpha's eyes has been pulled out and is looking behind her, blinking every so often. It's still attached by a wire.

 

MEANWHILE, in Neo Arcadia!!

            Several hundred feet below the surface of a deep valley in the Mexican wilderness, a scientist receives an order that he did not expect to receive. Power the lasers.

            Contracts with Gimialla and Ulfat pay off, now. Silos begin to open up, allowing several laser towers to raise up from beneath. As power reaches the systems, a radio message is sent out, " << Sir! The FM lasers are ready, for deployment. We have Umbrella personel ready to initiate the process, on your command. >>"

 

Hunter 332 realizes, around this time, that her frozen eyes can still see perfectly well.

            And this means she gets an incredible seat to the devastation of the world.

            Her lips move, carbon dioxide snow glistening on them. She says, without sound, 'awesome'.

 

The seriously damaged Kingfisher turns from the annihilated Wily Ark, and charges weapons. Power and coolant systems leak, and the ride in the Box is probably very unpleasant. However, the fall of the Ark becomes more of a priority, and Prismatic does what he can. Slowly, the generators build a charge. Interlocks hiss and clamp together. A low hum would emanate from the craft, but in space, no one can hear you charging a deathbeam.

            "You can't depend on the Mavericks to do /anything/ right. Damn you, Sigma." With a growl, Prismatic aims the ship, and enters a command code. All power on the Kingfisher... Stops, rerouted into the weapon about to fire. A brilliant beam begins to coealsce in the front of the craft, growing bright as a Buster... Until a lance of annihilating force fires out, the coruscating blast searing across the remains of the Wily Ark in an attempt to cut it into more manageable sizes. The Wave Motion Cannon has been deployed.

            And now, the Kingfisher floats, powerless, in orbit. At least for the moment.

 

Inside the Metzili:

        Corth drops himself into a piloting chair. He grits his teeth and straps himself in, "EVERYONE IN THEIR SEATS, STRAPPED DOWN!" Orion pilots in as hardcore a fashion as he can, directing the Metzili's laser batteries (limited as they are) toward the falling Wily Ark. The point is to start carving the Ark into smaller chunks. He's aware of the effects of friction. They just need to cut the oversized tub into smaller chunks and it will burn away. Orion keeps his teeth gritted, growling lowly, keeping himself out of the projected firing lanes.

 

The pieces of the ship continue to tumble toward the Earth, still dangerously large. The firepower of the Repliforce, the Maverick Hunters, and even the Robot Masters have been aligned against the large debris. There is a lot of ship to go around. Personal firepower isn't going to cut it. Even the Wilysaucer is only good to break up large pieces into medium-sized pieces. Perhaps this won't be an extinction level event, but it's still looking pretty bad.

            10 seconds until President Seers' countermeasures kick in. Aztlan has its own weapons aimed up at space. Between them, it might just be enough, but if it isn't--

 

Volt Catfish remains still on her hard-earned(?) front seat to almost certain oblivion for Earth. Good thing she's not on that ball of dirt and WATER. She hated the world enough to go Maverick anyway.

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Sigma transmits, "Well Vile. You may yet get a lightshow out of it."

 

The Ark, bathed in fire, hurtles towards the planet at increasing speed. The stress causes it to break up into several chunks, but the difference is only the Earth getting hit by a cannonball or a shotgun.

            One piece is nudged by the incredibly vast Wilysaucer with enough force to alter its course into the ocean.

            Several smaller chunks are vaporized by the quick actions of Alpha, who prevents a daycare, a hospital, and a kennel from being struck by stray debris.

            The last-ditch blast of the Kingfisher cuts a large part of the main Ark off, which is then cut into several very small pieces by the Arcadians. Those pieces soon burn away in the atmosphere as Orion predicted.

            But one last piece, incidentally the largest, continues on unmolested. The very center of the Ark, where Ra Moon did battle with the combined forces of Earth, is heading straight for the Tower of Light.

            And it looks like no one's going to be there to stop it.

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Vile transmits, "We can hope."

 

The yellow submarine floats around in space ominously. There will be no huge cannon coming out to destroy it because this is a submarine.

            It hovers around still.

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Sigma transmits, "Ahh one piece to the ocean. I wonder if it will make tidal waves."

 

Alpha saves a kennel, a daycare, and a -kennel-. Well, that's pretty awesome, but Alpha isn't willing to just save one daycare, or even one hospital. Not even a kennel is enough to satiate Alpha's lust for saving lives through large amounts of firepower. She keeps firing. If she can't save the Tower of Light, then maybe she can help confine the damage -to- the Tower of Light. Some of her weapons detonate inside her body because that's what WE burn stands for, but she keeps firing

all the same.

 

Vile finally hobbles/crawls his way up to the bridge. Good thing this ship is relatively small. The Maverick criminal, assisted by the drones that carried him in, is brought up next to Sigma so he can get a good look at the view screen. With each flicker of light that snuffs out a piece of the Wily Ark, Vile silently curses. There is still that last piece, the most important one, that has a chance to make all of this worthwhile. Vile does not move. He does not say anything. He only glares at the view screen, watching intently.

sorry, hospital, daycare, ect.

 

Hunter Interceptor <Gyrfalcon> unloads everything it has. Every capacitor attached to a beam weapon, every bullet in a chaingun and every missile in its payload. All this fire is centered on the center of the Ark, the huge salvo streaking downwards at the ship. Zero locks the Gyrfalcon in step behind the plummeting fragment, continuing to jam on buttons and pulling the trigger long after all the ammuniition is gone.

 

Sigma is on the bridge, of course. Which is a flurry of activity, even as the mighty Maverick warship is making her exit stage-left, the viewscreens are all alight with the drama. As Vile silently curses at each piece vaporized, Sigma sits quietly, hands steepled under his chin, arching an eyebrow slowly. "A pity, Vile. While there would no doubt have been mass damage...a post-holocaust world would have done wonders to thin out the organic population in favor of one better suited to mechanical lifeforms. Ah well....there's still that last piece maybe..."

 

The Wilysaucer tried it's best to dispose of the ship... but one last piece is soaring right towards the Tower of Light! Ordinarily, you'd think Wily would revel in this, and cackle, but it seems not. The Wilysaucer plunges down, parallel to the ship piece, firing lasers at it like there's no tomorrow. He has to stop that ship!

 

The top of the Yellow Submarine opens, Cryogenic Man popping out.

            Forming two torpedo's of ice, he chucks them towards the last piece.

            The torpedo's hurl themselves towards the last piece.

            "For Pugilation Man!"

 

        From the nearby station of Basilisk Station comes a decent-sized shuttlecraft zooming through from the lunar surface towards the burning shell threatening to doom Earth. The pilot, Colonel, can't help but think of the dinosaurs. His teeth grits as he corrects his telemetry for the falling ship, looking back to his co-pilot Shellfish.

            "Lieutenant, arm that C-4, then let's eject." he snarls, keeping his eyes on the prize. Colonel programs the computer to continue on its current course, before turning to his eject key. "Time to bodyguard the world, Shield. Let's do it." Colonel ejects into deep space, with Shell hopefully following suit.

 

        The Neo Arcadians have triumphed over quite a lot of debris. There is, however, one piece that remains on course for Earth. Much as Orion and many other Arcadians would love the delicious, delicious death of the Tower of Light, such an impact would likely vaporize entirely too much of the breadbasket to be safe. Orion peels the Metzili away from the atmosphere, screaming commands into his tactical radio as the ground crews in Aztlan aim and align Project Tiamat's multiple laser installations. Finally, with their lock-ons confirmed, the large scale laser cannons open fire.

        Well, laser cannon is incorrect. These are Death Rays. Anyone with proper scanners will recognize the energy signatures and scales as distinctly rooted in Force Metal. These are not just lasers. No. These are Force Metal Death Rays. The Fortress V and the Raptor II get capital ship guns. Orion Corth has made Aztlan into the cannon valley of a freaking Death Star. This should put on quite the light show. Quite the light show indeed.

            Artistic hyperbole possibly included.

 

Vile would look forward to the mass deaths that would occur. Sure it would wipe out a bunch of Reploids as well, but Vile has rarely been concerned with this. He remains focused on that last piece. He doesn't bother replying to Sigma, but the Maverick Leader can probably guess that he agrees with what he is saying. Ra Moon has been defeated despite his best attempts to remove Vile from existence. This is, certainly, not a bad day. But it can always get better.

 

Prismatic, wrapped in the silence and chill of space, watches the Wily Ark fall. He doesn't have enough power. He might get the Kingfisher back to Earth... but how much will be left, if the Ark lands? Not enough. Hands work in darkness and silence, rerouting power and replacing cockpit conduits, hoping to coax something out of the burned-out Ride Armor.

            There is a spark, a flash of light, and slowly, the craft restarts, red-lined HUDs scrolling across the cockpit. But there isn't anything left. The Kingfisher was too wounded in the fight with the Destroyer. And Prismatic's own weapons aren't large enough sca...

            Wait.

            Reaching down, Prismatic opens some catches on his own armor, and opens up his chest area. Pulling some conduits, he pulls them towards his internals, and begins hooking the power lines into his own systems. Quietly, he mentally turns off all internal systems he can, funneling his own power into the ship. It's not nearly as powerful as the high-grade generator inside, but it just might be enough, with the lowered output present there. His body crackles as he pushes his own reactor to the limit, increasing output just like he did when he helped to fell Hibou and the giant Reaverbot... And the Wave Motion Cannon begins to engage and charge again.

            With the twin power sources, Prismatic compensates, ignoring the feedback as he puts everything he can into it. The Cannon begins growing and charging once more, and Prismatic reaches out to grab the control stick, smiling. "This... Is going to suck." He pulls the trigger.

            The cannon fires again, not at the same intensity, but it does fire towards the remaining massive piece. At the same time, Prismatic screams, arching backwards from the power draw as it ravages his systems, detonating servos and melting conduits. Finally, he falls back in blessed unconsciousness as the flow of power ends, and the Kingfisher goes dormant once more. Not for lack of power, sinc the generator is still functional, but due to lack of pilot consciousness.

 

Volt Catfish, after moments of intense watching of even more intense lase lights and explosions, finally loses interest after being desensitized (for the moment) to all that's happened only minutes prior. She shuffles away, though shaking, from the view. She'll be missing the really really good parts in favor of being called to the repair bay for duty.

Shield Shellfish stands in the back of the Repliforce shuttle. A simple C4 explosive is armed and set -- neglecting the fact that this is actually just part of the ship's armament. The rest? Small amounts of force metal. The laser that the Arcadians have set, combined with what they could spare, should create a decently sized explosion -- and one of enough heat to hopefully incinerate most of the debris it would cause. With a nod, the bodyguard finalizes the preparations and then moves to the doorway of the shuttle, as it opens and depressurizes. There is a brief pause.

 

        Shield Shellfish has neglected to mention that she is not Batman, and cannot breathe in space. A skintight layer of energy forcefield will sustain her for a bit, as well her airtight shell-halves and thick armour... but probably not long enough. Oh, well. Win some, lose some.

        Shield Shellfish turns away from the main entrance, towards the scant weapons system in the back of the shuttle. With solemn preparation, the bodyguard pulls on a cowboy hat, complete with cut-out holes for the horns on her helmet.

        MISSILE LAUNCH

 

The space elevator hangs in the void. Most of the immediate area around it has been evacuated. There were two reasons for that. The first was because of the imminent space-borne attack, and has been carried out with great efficiency. The second is because of a contingency created when the space elevator was first constructed.

            The elevator ... moves. It begins to list slightly to one side, lining up against one of the larger pieces. Aztlan's lasers make this doable without overloading the reactors. For never doing a test run, this is a big risk.

            The elevator systems void out, cars flattening out against the walls of the structure. The magrail systems that run the structure start to warm up, glowing first red, then white, then going almost outside of the visual spectrum to purple.

            Many things were looted from Black SHIELD when it fell. Among them were the plans for a tower that would stretch to the stars to supply future colonies with goods. It was designed in the last days of the first Stardroid visitation to do that and something else -- put down alien threats.

            The base of the tower opens up, a gigantic mechanism decloaking in the empty space beneath it. A gravity sheath forms up along the length of the tower, voiding air out from the tower hard enough to split the clouds around Kansas City. Rings of metal about the thickness of trucks ascend quickly up its length, forming a stabilizing layer.

            The Force Metal reactors buried several miles below Kansas City fire up to 25. The ground rumbles from the power coming up through the tower. When it reaches the maximum power available, the space elevator discharges a blast of plasma bright enough to create a second dawn across the central part of the continent.

            The power surges up at relativistic speeds, pounding out through the end of the tower and carving through the last, largest piece. Because of the difficult and dangerous work of Repliforce's suicide strike, and the hella crazy super-blast from the Kingfisher, the elevator's blast is sufficient to finally pulverize it like balsa wood -- Aztlan's lasers prevent any large pieces from forming. The blast dissipates afterward, being just enough to get the job done. Any more juice and it probably would have vaporized Eurasia and part of the Moon. (Maybe Shield Shellfish dodged.)

            And so, NOW, the day is saved. The actions of the forces of good have prevented Ra Moon from splitting the planet in half, and have prevented the Mavericks from dropping massive stellar debris across America and Aztlan. It was a narrow, tough victory, but a victory nevertheless. But will the world be ready for Ra Moon's next gambit? What other peril awaits the people of the Earth? Tune in next time...

 

CLEAR!

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Fianait transmits, "We shouldn't have warned them."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Fianait transmits, "We should have /let them die/."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Tactical Raccoon transmits, "It would have been difficult to miss."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Tactical Raccoon transmits, "I recommend we move the ship."

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Sigma transmits, "We are already underway, Tactical Raccoon. We are not going to linger here."

 

Vile watches silently. He watches Prismatic, still in the burned out Kingfisher, reconfigures his own internal circuitry to fire off a potent blast powerful enough that it very well might kill him from the exertion. He watches as the Neo Arcadian science, in the form of force metal powered Death Rays, target the final, largest piece of the Wily Ark and fires. And he watches as the Repliforce shuttle - having listened to global, he has guessed who is aboard - streaks towards the Wily Ark. And he watches as the space elevator realigns itself and fires a plasma blast that lights up the night sky. The light dies down, and the hope of destroying the Hunter's home is gone. Silently, Vile turns and hobbles off of the bridge.

 

[Radio: (B) Secure] Hunter 332 has clearly been recovered, because she said, "That was awesome."

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Sigma transmits, "As for letting them die...it is true. They likely would have noticed. But at the same time...we are not vicious animals. Particularly with reploid lives in the balance. I have my doubts that was the end of this..Ra Moon, and I much prefer the majority of the work...and casualties dealing with him fall upon -their- shoulders. And not ours."

 

Colonel sees Shell's ride into the ship, and curses. His beam sabre sparks to life, and swings a beam of electricity out for the missle the Lieutenant is riding. As the lightning strikes the bomb, it combusts, the C-4 sending Shell away from the massive dreadnaught instead of towards.

            Just like the Colonel planned.

            The Colonel opens his arms and catches the flying Shell by the scruff of her neck, pulling her into an iron embrace as the shockwave approaches. His body begins to phase out, and with it Shellfish's by her own blink engine as the burning radiation comes streaking their way.

            "Not today, Lieutenant. We'll wait to die until its worth it."

            Blink.

 

<Global News Network> *Admist the numberous news reports about the destroyed space ship -- there is quite a few that actualy cares at just where the debrits lands. Wickedly, the vast majority of it seems to be directly falling toward the Rocky Mountain, in the American parts of it. Of course, it's not /all/ of it, but the vast majority.

            Even more finer reporters with good audio/video receptors on their camera will be able to relay the unmistakable scream of horror and pain of an 'innocent' android with scissors on his head as it's tries to deseperatedly evade the numberous crashing remains of the Wily Ark--and succeeds!

            Until a large pillar squish him down without mercy.

            Poor Cut Man.

 

The Wilysaucer, having aided in the averted disaster, returns to the Earth below, hiding itself somewhere. Dr. Wily has work to do... work to do indeed.

            Plus, someone's gotta go grab those two seaborne Masters. And no doubt Cut Man got crushed by this thing.

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Sigma transmits, "We will initiate entry-procedures shortly, and find somewhere to lay low. The Raptor has performed wonderfully, we must make sure that everything is still functioning and iron out any last glitches."

 

[Radio: (A) Chat] Volt Catfish transmits, "Yes, s-siiiir."

 

Sigma silently watches as Vile storms off the bridge, before turning to look back at the spectacle before him. By now, the Raptor has moved well away from the scene, discretion the better part of valor for now as they move to be swallowed up by the vastness of Earth's great form. He watches in silence, the image reflected in the orbs of his eyes.

            And he smiles.

 

The yellow submarine heads back towards Planet Earth.

            GO TEAM GENTLEMEN GO.

 

Despite the jaw-dropping, eye-searing display of firepower, the pilot of the Metzili turns the craft toward the Earth and plunges into the atmosphere, spiralling slowly toward Aztlanian space. Where it can be safe. And people can get healed up and decontaminated properly.

 

*** TRAVEL SPAM ***

 

You enter the Engineering.

 

Raptor II - Engineering

 

        A combination of research lab, medbay, and engineering station, Mavericks are tended to here in the same place where their weapons are built and projects tested. Sterility being of no concern here, there are only a few clean rooms, tucked away and out of sight. Maverick technicians heal the wounded here, and the medbay is well-equipped, if rather bare-bones, the most valuable supplies kept under lock and key and held safe for utmost need. Human armies march on their stomachs, but the Mavericks march on spare parts, and these are strictly rationed. In the rear of the deck, access to the main reactor is available, and engineers constantly monitor it, making sure that the ship's engine is in good working order.

 

 

 Contents:                               Contents:                     

 Hunter 332 [M]                          Volt Catfish [M]                      

 Overclock [Standard] [M]                Fianait [Ban Sidhe] [M]

 Spike's Laboratory <SL>                 Fianait's Lab <FL>                    

 Overclock's Clean Room <OCR>

 

 Fore <F>:                 Raptor II - Training Sim

 Aft <A>:                  Raptor II - Storage/Brig

 Sub Deck <S>:             Raptor II - Service Access

 

Overclock is in here already. He's also moved in a ton of equipment from his personal labs, which is not totally organized yet, especially since a LOT of injured are going to be coming in and, in some cases, already being drug in. He doesn't look frazzled about this, but then again, his face isn't very visible. He has no idea what happened out there: none at all, and is waiting to hear news.

 

Tactical Raccoon is present. After the Raptor II is out of danger, the General wanted to come down to inspect the condition of the brave Mavericks who had fought against the alien menace today.

 

Volt Catfish has plenty idea of what happened out there, plenty for all, and she doesn't want to talk about it. Her optics still bear a glazed-over look and her steps are very shaky. Externally speaking, she doesn't appear too terribly injured, but, to be fair she's almost kind of always like this, usually with more noise and whimsy.

 

Despite the slight setbacks near the end of the mission - the failure to achieve the bonus result - Vile has been greatly enjoying his return to field Commander duties. That said, the Maverick criminal is not in a good mood. Even though he stood up defiantly against the very best that The Destroyer had to offer and survived, Vile is disappointed that only one hero fell in the battle. The Maverick criminal hobbles into engineering, using a pair of floating space-capable drones to support himself. Vile is missing a leg below the knee and his right arm at the shoulder. Volt Catfish took care of the basics to stop the bleeding, but beyond this Vile is in terrible shape. He doesn't appear uncomfortable with his battered state, though. "Overclock," he mutters as he enters and leans against a medical table. "Get over here."

 

Hunter 332 has been blown up pretty good but is basically intact. She has also had space exposure. Despite this, she seems more or less happy as she stumbles into the medbay, perhaps because of getting to see GIANT LASERS up close.

 

Lumine was pretty okay aside from some death laser blasts to his frame, but the damage of the darkness of ones' heart, or something, has done quite a number of him. It's as if he took enough darkness of his heart damage for two!

 

Fianait is here to help out with the small stuff. Overclock will likely need the extra hands around what with the explosions and the destruction and the terrible secret of space. Besides, she needs practice, and this qualifies.

        She is rather silent about the whole thing, though; just kind of wandering in and moving next to Overclock with a questioning look on what to do.

 

Overclock looks at the people coming in...and does quick triage, pointing the various medical Preons to lead the injured to different sides of engineering bay. Hunter isn't given a second glance at all before she's pointed toward the small area of the medical bay, the only spot set up to work cyborgs in the first place. He then responds to Vile's summon, since it would be a bad call to say no to Vile. He grabs a medical scanner and passes it over him to check his condition. "So. What happened out there." It's a question, but falls flat at the end almost as if it were an order.

 

Vile has demanded first dibs because he is Vile and everyone else is not. He is more important than they are. The violet Maverick glances over in Lumine's direction at that thought. Soon, maybe, that might change in Lumine's case. But not today. Shoving away the pair of Maverick drones that he no longer needs, Vile holds his wounded stump of a shoulder as if to make sure that the arm's still missing. "Ra Moon learned that the past two decades of war on this planet has made us incredibly strong," he replies to Overclock. He doesn't elaborate, figuring his point is clear.

 

Overclock takes out a medical scanner and scans Vile.

 

Overclock takes out a medical scanner and scans Lumine.

 

Overclock nods to Vile, and points Fianait in the direction of Lumine. Lumine seems pretty off too, and at least he needs SOME care before Overclock gets to him personally. He flips up his visor to look at the other Maverick, giving him an almost apologetic look about not being able to get to him right away. He walks over to parts storage. "I don't know if I have replacement limbs for you, Vile. I'll get a stock one in your size and re-mount the armor."

Hunter 332 shuffles roughly towards the cyborg section. She isn't in a hurry, really, because she's still grinning like an idiot.

 

Volt is the last one to be directed to any help, mostly because she only looks fine from the outside. She ambles only vaguely towards the General's direction, past him towards the wall. She reaches out and touches it with her left hand. "It's d-dry."

 

Lumine doesn't seem to mind, but then again, he can't mind anything at the moment. Deep down metaphysically he rejoices, however.

 

Tactical Raccoon heads over to look at Lumine. "Lieutenant. Good evening. What have you learned of our enemy from your battle today?" It's not like Vile's going to say anything else but `hit it with bigger guns'.

 

Fianait picks up some equipment and a scanner and heads over to Lumine. There's a good reason for her silence; she's fuming mad and trying not to show it. It was a mistake to warn the earth. Maybe they would have discovered the trajectory eventually, but maybe they /wouldn't/ have. Too late to know now, and who knows when another such opportunity for destruction would arise -- if ever? She scans Lumine, in the meantime, and only after estimating the damage actually really /looks/ at him, peering closely.

        "You look like you've been hit by a death laser," she notes.

 

Fianait takes out a medical scanner and scans Lumine.

 

"Whatever it takes," Vile mutters back to Overclock. Stock armour? Well at least with the Raptor II fully built the Coalition can spend some time getting regular supplies again. Vile dislikes having to let medics poke and prod at him to repair him, but there's not much he can do about it right now. If Vile minds that Tactical went to Lumine rather than him, he doesn't show it. Also, for what's it's worth, Vile wouldn't have warned the world either.

 

"It'll all match right back up when I'm done," Overclock says, trying to be reassuring. The part he pulls out of storage is just the barest skeleton of a new arm. He puts it on a nearby bench and makes a few measurements to make sure it's the right size for Vile's socket. "You're all a real talkative bunch. Find out anything interesting?"

 

"I-I saw... a l-l-light." Volt whispers, which might not even be in earshot of anybody. "Th-then sh-shadoooow. W-wet, wet, shadow." She's still rubbing her hand up and down one of the walls, thankful to be in a more or less dry setting.

"Yeah, aliens are punks," Hunter offers as she settles down on a bench.

 

Sigma arrives in Engineering. What more can be said? Stepping in through the access corridors, he is not clad in his robes, this time around. Instead, the green armor visible for the world to see, the clanking of the metal floor under his feet heard long before he becomes visible.

            "Ahh yes, post-chaos fixups. But no permanent casualties."

 

Vile remains still as Overclock performs his measurements on the stock pieces to see if they'll fit. They better fit. "Yes. Ra Moon is very willing to use other people's technology even though his own tends to be far superior. He was able to screw around with the Wily Ark's computer systems enough that I couldn't control the ship. Wily could, though, so apparently it wasn't completely FUBARed. The interior of that ship was heavily altered. Mold, dampness, crystals... I'm curious as to how Ra Moon did it." He'll leave that to a scientist. "The sonic weaponry hypothesis is still holding up. Maybe Ra Moon is unwilling or unable to do anything about this weakness of his Reavers." Vile pauses. "Also, we need to find out exactly what happens to Ra Moon when we defeat him. He tends to just blink out when seriously hurt. Have to find a way to stop that so we can kill him for good." Vile pauses, apparently done.

        "And we found out that Catfish isn't a -total- failure."

 

Lumine is, well, kind of out cold, but Tactical Raccoon's words seem to cause a response. Perhaps he is gay for Plush. Or he just wasn't totally out but didn't feel like getting up, but is willing to do so for his General! He opens his mouth and shuts it a couple times. What did he learn about Ra Moon?

            "Telekinetic capability, some weapon systems that don't seem to make sense. Can attack us in our head as well, it feels like. Direct assaults are frequently somewhat repelled by some sort of reflect system, seems to work better than others I've seen. Don't stand still when darkness is trying to eat you."

 

Tactical can always tell a light sleeper. It's a talent he has. He listens to the report, nodding. The news is horrifying. The creature is clearly a power on par with the Stardroids, perhaps even worse; but he must take this news in stride. Every piece of information can help. "I imagine it is beginning to adapt to conventional tactics," he says. "What would you recommend for future encounters?"

 

Fianait looks over the death laser blasts some more -- the easiest parts to fix, after all -- and sets to removing some of Lumine's armour plating and the simpler parts of his internals. She works, and listens. You learn things that way.

 

Fianait effects some minor repair work on Lumine.

 

Fianait takes out a medical scanner and scans Lumine.

 

The comment about Volt herself seems to go over her neural net. She's still whispering things to herself. "S-s-so much... s-so much hate..."

 

Overclock seems satisfied with the arm-skeleton, as he walks over and flips out his internal welding equipment from his wrist in preparation to attach it. One of his auxiliary arms rises up from his shoulder, and, set to clamp mode, picks up a small wire-cutter. Those arms move strangely, super-smoothly, the hand striking almost like a snake before perching slowly back onto Overclock's shoulder with an oily motion.

            "He can't do anything about the weakness. It's the way his brain is designed: ground-up." He's looking at the mess of Vile's shoulder, but notices Sigma coming in, so continues on that thread. "With your permission, Sigma, I'd like to begin construction on a large sonic-based mechaniloid, something like a noise machine. In case we have any more fun like this." The secondary arm snakes over toward the stump on Vile's shoulder, as if waiting for him to remove his hand.

 

Hunter 332 thinks: God, shut up, Volt, stop complaining like you did the ENTIRE TIME.

            She doesn't say anything, but she does rub the bridge of her nose.

 

Sigma almost seems distracted at first, perhaps at something on his radio. Or maybe something on the wall looks really interested. But Overclock's question does register a moment later.

            "Hrm? Oh, yes. Proceed." He waves his hand in a half dismissive motion at first before adding. "In fact, when you design it, take into account the Reaver tactics. Not just to use sonic weapons, but specialize it. Make the machine a Reaver-killer in all senses. Whether it's ineffective outside of this role dosen't matter. But the next time we see masses of these reavers, I want to see something go through them like a hot knife."

 

Vile takes his hand away so Overclock can perform surgery on it. "He can't, hmm?" Vile muses, "Good." The idea of a giant mechiloid sounds fine to Vile so long as the Mavericks can spare the parts and supplies. After Sigma's piece, Vile suggests, "Concentrate on rapid fire sonic blasts or wide-spread vibrations. Forget about the big cannons. The Reavers aren't tough - there's just too damned many of them." Vile doesn't seem too affected by having surgery performed on him while he sits up on the medical table.

 

Volt wouldn't listen to Hunter and her icky human brain anyway, but she is a bit quieter still. She doodles something with one of her fingers against the wall, but the pattern or sign she's making isn't really anything recognizable as anything communicative.

 

Overclock sort of figured Vile was too much of a man to care about anything that might hurt; and he's the sort of surgeon that doesn't worry a whole heck of a lot about causing pain in a patient as long as they aren't complaining so much that it interferes with his work. The cutter in his upper arm begins snipping away frayed and damaged ends of wiring, while he stabilizes the new arm-frame and gets it ready to attach to the remaining stump. His eyes zoom in a bit as he focuses on this task. "I can definitely build to those parameters, Sigma."

 

"Good." Sigma intones then, with a half nod. "It is inevitable that anywhere he goes, masses of the main fighters will have to deal with this Destroyer on a personal level. It's getting tiresome having to wade through these cannon fodder. It is time to exploit their weakness and show that that is truly all they are. Cannon fodder." He then trails off, turning to look towards Tactical Raccoon, arms crossing over his chest. "You wished to speak to me of something I recall?"

 

Lumine doesn't seem to mind Fianait's work, or notice even. He's rather badly damaged. He glances over Hunter's way but the complexion on his face doesn't change. He turns his head back to Tactical Raccoon. "Don't know for sure. Few ideas. There's the life equation, it used to be called the destroyer, maybe further research in that will wield results. If not, then looking into his abilities of destruction and turning them on him. Fire with fire. Obviously just assaulting him isn't working, barely won this time. Adapting, I think. Will be tougher next time."

 

Vile and Overclock are clearly a doctor-patient match made in heaven. Vile idly glares at Volt and whatever the hell she's doing. He couldn't care less if she's stressed out, but who knows, maybe Ra Moon somehow mucked with her brain. Vile remains quiet for now, though he's also been wondering if Ra Moon is getting more or less powerful with each passing battle. Or staying the same. He'll have to add this one to his research.

 

"Very well," Tactical says. "Thank you for your insight, Lieutenant. It is good to get an outside opinion on a situation from a competent layman."

 

        Major plating replaced; Fianait moves on to other large-piece metalwork, leaving the wiring and hydraulics for Overclock. Fianait's knowledge of repairs is based solely on whatever she's managed to get broken on herself in the past, and while that's enough for basic repairs, someone like Lumine is a little too different for her to get much work done on.

        She works, and listens, and doesn't say a word. Nice change, isn't it?

 

"I've already found every possible reference to him in the book I have," Overclock says, when Lumine mentions the Destroyer. "It was terrible, blah blah, it was sealed. Lots of dire emotional portent. Nothing really specific. In particular, nothing specific about how they sealed it up, which, yeah, I'd damn well like to know." He slips the new arm frame in to place, and start attaching it, using the heat-welder on his arm to make a preliminary seal before attacking the motion rotors.

 

If the things that came out of Volt's mouth and gestures were reflective of what her brain consisted of, well, it wouldn't be much different. Now she's streaking a long line with one of her fingers off towards the left. Stops. Then seems to rub it though no marking nor scratches are even made to begin with while the competent and presumably far more intelligent talk amongst one another.

 

Vile peers in Tactical's direction. Is that foolish Raccoon trying to be snide Vile? The Maverick criminal had thought Tactical far smarter than that. Clearly Tactical just misspoke. It is the only explanation. At any rate, there's not much Vile can do right now, since he needs to get his medical needs addressed as soon as possible. Either way, Vile is momentarily distracted from watching Volt and her crazy gestures.

 

After patting Lumine on the shoulder, Tac turns his attention to Sigma. He comes to attention, salutes for a moment, and shifts to at-ease as is his custom. "Yes, sir; on the previous occasion, I gained intelligence indicating that the alien appears to be primarily energy-based. Perhaps we could devise some type of battery or grounding mechanism to snare him when he is between physical forms."

            As for Vile, Tac and Vile have never gotten along and probably never will.

 

Lumine says, "I'm still thinking about it," He's been thinking about it since before he revealed himself. Of course, some of those thoughts weren't very productive, "Must be a reason why they wouldn't put it in there," He offers. He doesn't believe in the phrase 'hindsight is 20/20.'.

            Lumine does not like pie.

 

Well to say that proposal got Sigma's attention would be an understatement, his arms unfolding from his chest, one hand raising to rub at his chin slowly. "Capture or contain him you mean?" He asks, as if for some measure of clarification.

            And it leads toanother thought in fact.

            "What about the prison that he was contained within for all that time? Were there any in depth investigations done of it during the Mars expedition?"

 

"I do not believe so," Tac responds. "The last phase of Mars operations was -- harried. If any of the operatives on-site made additional notations, I am not familiar with them. However, the existence of such indicates that it is a scientific possibility."

 

"I... d-don't know." She's rubbing furiously where she had doodled with her hand previously. "Wh-what to m-m-make of any of iiiit." She looks back to the rest, her optics still as wide as they were when she first came onto the Raptor II.

"And I suppose in the wake of the activities on Mars, there is nothing left to investigate. This is a certainty?" Apparently Sigma is still going along that train of thought. If Ra Moon could be captured and contained...

            ...what would be -done- with him then is another matter. But that's a bridge to be crossed if it's approached.

            Hunter 332 sniffles a little. She frowns, and rubs at her nose. Crap, she thinks, it went numb.

            Beyond this, she listens.

 

        Eventually, there is only so much that Fianait can actually do to /fix/ Lumine. The rest of it -- pre-op work, cleaning things up to make work easier for Overclock or whoever gets around to fixing the Gatebot next, and to make it a little more comfortable on Lumine.

 

"Unclear," Tac says. "Our sensors are unable to find the original site, but that does not mean it does not exist."

 

Overclock makes additional attachments in silent, since this is a more challenging part of the work. After he's got a few things fused together, he says, to Vile, "Move your fingers."

 

Sigma is silent for another long few moments, narrowing his eyes again after he seems to process these thoughts.

 

"This warrants further investigation. Perhaps another expedition to Mars is in order, and perhaps, if we still are unable to locate the site, the sensors of the Raptor may be sufficient to find what we seek. While the others of the earth are busy fighting Ra Moon and his forces, we could perhaps continue to find the telling information that leads to his ultimate defeat." He smirks just slightly. "Afterall, it was -Maverick- intelligence that discovered tthe Reaver's weaknesses and their properties." It's probably as close as Overclock may get to having his accomplishments bragged about.

 

Vile has gone back to watching Volt and her craziness. At Overclock's request, however, he goes ahead and moves them, one by one. Each seem to work properly. Finally he clenches the hand into a fist, holds it, and finally relaxes. "What were you doing, Catfish?" Vile suddenly snaps in Volt's direction.

 

Lumine says, "...There was a box or something, if you give me a second I can recall the image.", even if his player doesn't remember.

 

Volt would normally jump and shriek at any given Maverick superior snapping at her. Instead she simply says at a higher-than-average-but-not-quite-usual-Volt-panic volume, "Th-th-thiiiinking!!" She heads off in yet another direction, towards the storage/brig area. "All th-that light! Th-that... um... I d-don't knoooooow."

Fianait packs up and hangs out in the background because holy crap does the player need sleep.

 

Vile's red optic dulls as he peers at Volt. He is trying to decipher whether Volt is A) Nucking futs, B) just about to whip out some kind of brilliant theory about something, or C) reveal that Ra Moon screwed with her mind somehow. He weighs each option carefully. Times like this he almost wishes he paid attention to the crap Mavericks we have around more often. Almost.

 

"It's a start," Tac says to Lumine. Returning his attention to Sigma: "I will put the science division on this. Time is clearly a concern."

 

Overclock nods at the motion. It's working all right. So, it would still take some time; he had to reinforce the internal structure, add skin and armor (provided Vile wanted the skin, anyway), and various other touchups. He steps away, then comes back with a few more wires and some protective layering. He hooks up a few more connections, to make sure the arm is reinforced at Vile's proper strength, then starts covering up his work. "Thank you, Sigma," he says at the small compliment.

 

"Yes..." Comes Sigma's response, with another slow nod, a moment later. "I shall leave you to relay the orders then. A team will be organized and sent out on our interstellar transport to search for the prison, and anything else of interest. If it is deemed necessary, the Raptor will perform a jump and join them. Otherwise we will continue to hold here."

 

"'scuse me, Overclock, sir," Hunter 332 says, from her seat. "Where's the dispenser at?" She is getting thirsty; even if protein-goo isn't universally accepted, most people like to drink a little water now and then.

            Maybe she wants to dump it on Volt.

 

"Check the supply fridge," Overclock says to Hunter. "I brought some stuff up earlier today before you all came in. Get me something too; just electrolytes is enough for right now."

 

Vile doesn't get skin. He just gets the armour over his metallic skeleton and motor servos. Pavel may have given him skin ages ago, but he no longer needs it. He's grown beyond it. As for the mission back to Mars, Vile supports it. Every so often Sigma gets a good idea about how to kill or capture someone, and investigating the prison is one of them. It's why we keep him around!

 

Lumine makes a vague affirmative noise before closing his eyes again.

 

Volt is too caught up in herself to really think much about another trip to Mars, but hey, Earth has water, Mars does not! This would make her happy had she not already stared in the face of certain doom and only barely lived to babble about something almost completely different.

            She's pacing back and forth close to Hunter 332 now. The optics are still wide, wide open.

 

"Sir," Tac says, with a nod. "It will be done."

 

"See to it then." Sigma states, performing a nod as he turns, probably about to depart. Though something else catches his attention for those few seconds before...

            "Volt Catfish." The voice of Sigma suddenly comes, strong, perhaps meant to directly invade her train of thought, as if in no shape or form is he ever to be denied one's complete and utter attention.

            Indeed, he's now staring directly at her. "Before you return to active duty you will submit to a...neural scan to ensure that Ra Moon did not leave you with any...anomalies." The way it is worded of course makes it clear it's not a suggestion.

 

Hunter 332 gets up and walks over towards the fridge. She crouches and winces slightly at the 'hey you're damaged, stupid' signal that isn't quite pain. She reaches inside, drawing out the recycled bottle of faintly yellowish liquid that has electrolyte compounds. She turns slightly, and tosses it towards Overclock after whistling briefly, to get his attention.

 

Sigma's voice makes Volt jump! The gaze of Sigma is very mighty, the words ones that aren't easy to phase out. "Y-y-yes sir," the response not quite as vigorous, "I wiiiill." She's, coincidentally, already in the best area in which for such a thing to take place!

            When it's her turn. Whenever that is! She continues to pace.

 

Overclock double-checks Vile's current blueprints, confirming the absense of skin in that area. This is great because it definitely saves him a step. He comes back from the computer after a second with a final-layer of armor to place over everything. The gauntlet isn't painted the right color, but that's just a detail.

 

Overclock effects some repair work on Vile.

 

Vile glances down at the new, incorrectly painted gauntlet. It is a light camouflage green. Hmm, Vile thinks. That's actually not a terrible colour. He still needs his new leg, of course, as well as a bunch of internal circuitry replaced.

 

Knowing this from his scan, Overclock gestures for Vile to lay back slightly while he replaces the damaged stuff on the inside. He stands up over him, looming a bit, as he picks through the damage on his leg. "This'll take a while. Gonna check on everyone else's work for a sec, then finish up here."

 

Vile stops admiring his green armoured arm and lays back as per Overclock's request. "Fine," he mutters as OC says he has to make sure others don't die. Sometimes Vile is just too nice to his soldiers...

 

Overclock almost doesn't hear Hunter's whistle...but catches the bottle in time before he's beaned with it. "Thanks. How's your damage?" He hadn't checked up on the cyborg much yet.

 

Hunter 332 has been shot twice in the chest by some kind of heavy lasers, and most of the armor plating there is shot if still intact. She's sparking a bit now and then as she moves around, but it isn't severe. She seems content with a thing of distilled water as she straightens up for inspection. "It sucks," she says, calmly enough. "I think one of my eyes is going out. Probably the space."

 

Vile waits not-so-patiently as Overclock works to make sure the cyborg's eyes aren't going to pop out or anything. Vile is going to have to stick around the medbay for a while anyway. The red optic fades and finally goes out, signalling that

Vile is in a recovery mode. He's dreamin' of green armour.