Maia Sanders: Of course, Commander Shiek. Operation Honest Freedoms is a go. I will notify the Pilots of their deployment.22nd Early Spring 1002
OPERATION 8: HONEST FREEDOMS
One hour later
The tactical screen shows the arrival of Chiron-402 in the operation area, touching down on a small runway of the local airport, guided by ground lights and directed by Ivanian radio operator. The Chiron's fusion engines soon die off, and the ramp is lowered and extended, allowing the four Mecha inside to leave.
Soon enough the camera feeds inside the Pilots' cockpits come online as well.
Chiron Captain: The airport administration has allowed us to remain on the runway until we conclude the operation, Pilots. Once you're done, return here for a trip home.Ostfalk takes a look-around with his mecha.
Johann Eduard Ostfalk: Hmm, no snow?Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: Snow? Why snow?Johann Eduard Ostfalk: Just saying, most of media depict Ivania full of mountains, trees, and snow. And, uh, there's decidedly none of all three in here.Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: First, this is the south of the country, and we're quite close to the equator, all things considered.Menetfer Newy: I think you've had too much stereotypical media lately, Ostfalk. The two female Pilots giggle while Ostfalk just shrugs.
Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Okay, let's get to work. Do we have any particular requests from the Ivanians, Chiron?Chiron Captain: We were about to inform you about that, yes. You're being asked to go past the local cargo train station and eradicate Mu lifeforms there, as next civilian train to help with evacuation is scheduled to arrive in thirty minutes.Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Got it. Let's get moving, guys!22nd Early Spring 1002
OPERATION 8: HONEST FREEDOMS
Ten minutes later
As the Pilots cross the railtracks, there comes faint signatures on their scanners - which soon begin to get higher in Mu particle scale and the amount of pings increases.
Menetfer Newy: Ah~ here they come.Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: 1 from Roll, +3 from Crowd Control, -1 from Threat Level, -1 from Night-time Penalty = 2
Menetfer Newy: 5 from Roll, +3 from Crowd Control, -1 from Threat Level, -1 from Night-time Penalty = 6
Final result: 4
Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: 5 from Roll, +1 from Crowd Control, +1 from Mecha Model (Vanzer998Plus), -1 from Threat Level, -1 from Night-time Penalty = 5
Johann Eduard Ostfalk: 2 from Roll, +1 from Crowd Control, +1 from Mecha Model (Vanzer998Plus), -1 from Threat Level, -1 from Night-time Penalty = 2
Final result: (3.5 =>) 3
The small and nimble Mu came in large numbers; thanks to their small profiles even searclights and bio-sensors weren't enough to give the Pilots accurate readings on them all! The laser bolts and fist punches did quite well to perforate, crush and otherwise eliminate incoming little nightmares, but--
Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: On your six, Ostfalk! Even with the warning, Ostfalk wasn't fast enough to prevent the Mu swarming his mecha. Shooting and stomping, Ostfalk had to be helped by Baumgartner to get rid of them all.
In the end, his console still started to flash a small yellow warning, pointing to his spinal structure.
Johann Eduard Ostfalk: Scheisse...VanZer998Plus-002: Servo damage! Engineering will be penalized until fixed!Nonetheless, the Mu particle readings for this area slump down to near-zero.
Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Baumgartner to Chiron, we removed the Mu in the area. Any new requests?Chiron Captain: Negative. Sit tight for now, pilots. We will inform you if anything comes up. Chiron out. While Ostfalk is typing away at his console, hoping and failing to mitigate the spinal servo damage, the other seem a bit restless.
Menetfer Newy: Compared to previous one, this one seems a bit--Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Boring?Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: Trust me on something, okay? Don't call a mission 'boring' or 'easy' or anything of the kind, it can blow up in your face any moment.Menetfer Newy: Eh, I hoped for something excitable after being woken up just when I fell asleep, you see.Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Shush, now.Menetfer Newy: Fine, fine. Newy crosses his arms and closes his eyes, while Baumgartner and Langrisser idly check their maintenance systems to pass the time, staring at the bright screens and their colorful lights. All this is sometimes interspersed by Ostfalk's agitated, under-the-breath cursing.
22nd Early Spring 1002
OPERATION 8: HONEST FREEDOMS
Thirteen minutes later
Chiron Captain: Chiron to Pilots.Menetfer Newy: Finally.Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: What is it?Chiron Captain: The newest evacuation convoy from the Stalskaya District is unable to proceed because accompanying police vans have detected Mu signatures on the road to the train station. They're asking for assistance. We're patching you the convoy's location and the signature readings to your scanners now.Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: It's not that far, this will take a minute.After a minute of walk, Mu readings fluctuate and begin to spike up, many of them dispersed over large area. They colorful dots on the Pilots' scanners turn and begin a straight-path interception towards the Mecha after a short time.
Johann Eduard Ostfalk: Here they come!Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: 5 from Roll, +1 from Crowd Control, +1 from Mecha Model (Vanzer998Plus), -1 from Threat Level, -1 from Night-time Penalty = 5
Menetfer Newy: 2 from Roll, +3 from Crowd Control, -1 from Threat Level, -1 from Night-time Penalty = 3
Final result: 4
This time the horde is much smaller and only two Pilots have opportunity to engage truly.
However, perhaps in ways of karma, the Mu do get touchy with Newy's suit. He has to resort to the brutal meleeing just like Ostfalk, but unlike Ostfalk, the grotesque, spiny, scrawny aliens don't do any damage to him except perhaps some chipping on the paint.
Once again, after the last small Mu falls to the ground with a smoking hole on its face, the particle readings drop down to negligible values.
Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: You were saying, Newy?Menetfer Newy: Bah! I blame my suit, it's an old model.Johann Eduard Ostfalk: Right. Ostfalk rolls his eyes while Baumgartner stiffles a giggle. On the scanners, the dot marked as convoy starts moving down the road. Shortly afterwards, another wave of Mu signatures comes on the scanners as well.
Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: Wait, this isn't good. Don't they see the Mu signatures?Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: That or they feel secure enough to risk it. Ostfalk, Langrisser, take the Mu here while I and Newy move up towards the convoy and make sure nothing happens to it.Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: Alright.Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: 1 from Roll, +5 from Interpersonal Skills, -2 from Lost in Translation, -1 from Threat Level = 3
As Baumgartner and Newy approch the convoy, the former adjusts her communications.
Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: I know some simple words and phrases in Ivanian. I think I can make them stop for a while. She opens her comms and says something to the convoy - which is not stopping.
Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: ...Why aren't they stopping? I told them to stop the convoy.Menetfer Newy: You sure it was in Ivanian?Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: 3 from Roll, +3 from Crowd Control, -1 from Threat Level, -1 from Night-time Penalty = 4
Johann Eduard Ostfalk: 6 from Roll, +1 from Crowd Control, +1 from Mecha Model (Vanzer998Plus), -1 from Threat Level, -1 from Night-time Penalty = 6
Final result: 5
The wave of Mu comes and attacks both Eva's and Johann's Suits, but the duo handles them quite well.
But the Mu particle readings do not flatten outright, and one particular marking on the edge of scanners seems quite strong.
Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: Hey, you see this?Johann Eduard Ostfalk: Yeah... might be one of those big Mu.Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: Let's go after it before it gets closer to the convoy.Johann Eduard Ostfalk: Sounds good to me.Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: 1 from Roll, +5 from Interpersonal Skills, -2 from Lost in Translation, -1 from Threat Level = 3
Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: I will try again!Baumgartner sends the voice message over to the convoy, but when it doesn't respond, she stomps the ground with her Suit's left foot and then taps away at her console.
Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Okay, I had enough.Menetfer Newy: What are you planning? Erika takes her Mecha up the road, to face the convoy, and pushes some buttons on her console.
Menetfer Newy: Baumgartner, what are you doing?The tactical screen shows that her laser rifle's charge generator went offline, but the laser sight and flashlight have been kept online. Erika then points her rifle at the bus in the front of the convoy, its laser sight pointing at the engine.
The targeted bus suddenly brakes, causing a domino effect across the entire fifteen-car convoy as it comes to a stop.
Menetfer Newy: A bit rash. And illegal, I think.Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Hmph! They can complain if they want, we're trying to save their asses here and they're putting themselves in danger! Chief Secretary back at the base takes her datapad and opens its writing software, tapping away.
Maia Sanders: I will take extra care to point out in the mission report to Ivanian government that you've tried twice to order the convoy to temporarily halt its advance, Pilot Baumgartner. Your pointing of a gun, active or not, at civilians will still be noted in your performance log, however.Johann Eduard Ostfalk: 5 from Roll, +2 from Battling, +1 from Mecha Model (Vanzer998Plus), -1 from Threat Level, -1 from Spindly Behemoth, -1 from Night-time Penalty = 5
The large Mu spotted by Ostfalk and Langrisser suddenly picks up the speed and heads straight for Ostfalk's Suit, at the angle that prohibits Langrisser from taking a clear shot!
Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: Watch out! Johann turns his searchlights at the Mu the moment it comes to almost point-blank range. Leaning his Mecha so that he can dodge if needed, he then discharges a salvo of laser blasts at the Mu.
Three in three, and the strange combination of a centipede and a lizard flops over itself, trashing about before it expires and comes to a rest in the dark.
Johann Eduard Ostfalk: Got it.Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: Nice! It is then that the Mu readings for the area drop down to that foreboding, but negligible, background radiation.
Chiron Captain: Chiron here, Mu activity in your area basically zero. We will ask the city administration if your assistance is required elsewhere.For the next two minutes, nothing of note happens. Erika steps her Mecha off the road and the convoy restarts its drive, with Newy keeping watch over the proceedings. Few seconds later the cars start passing by Ostfalk and Langrisser who returned to vicinity of the road as well.
Chiron Captain: Chiron here again. No pending requests by city administration. Also we've received ETA on the GunBlade train arrival, about 25 minutes from now.It's when the last car passes them a minute later that the Pilots get chatty again.
Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: Erika - you pointed a rifle at them??Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Hey! Their fault. They should've listened to me.Menetfer Newy: She acted to prevent possible entry of civilians into combat area. Hey, for me, that's validates her actions.Johann Eduard Ostfalk: Hopefully nothing major will come out of it.Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: I'm sure it won't. Baumgartner states, before tapping away at her console, re-powering her main weapon.
Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: Let's, I dunno, have a walk somewhere to get our minds off this issue, okay?22nd Early Spring 1002
OPERATION 8: HONEST FREEDOMS
Ten minutes later
The tactical screen suddenly shows Chiron gaining latitude - something that is noticed by Newy, who was busy leaning away in his seat after the group decided to stop walking and just wait somewhere quiet.
He straightens in his seat and reaches for the console, but before the Wasetian can open the comms, the cargoplane's captain does it first.
Chiron Captain: Chiron here, airport scanners are picking Mu particle signatures in vicinity. We've taken off to prevent potential damage to our transport. Airport chief is asking for your assistance, Pilots. Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Okay everyone, let's move!As the tactical shows Chiron starting to circle the city area, the Pilots quickly march towards the airport.
22nd Early Spring 1002
OPERATION 8: HONEST FREEDOMS
Four minutes later
The moment the Pilots get their Mecha on the airport grounds, bio-scanners start beeping away signatures at the end of the longest runway.
Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Well... Erika looks around briefly at the hangars and storage buildings. All are brightly lit by numerous different light sources.
Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: This area is brightly lit, so it's better if Newy and Langrisser head for the other side. You two have better reflexes against multiple targets in the dark than me or Ostfalk.Menetfer Newy: Alright~Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: Got it. The two Mecha march along the runway while Baumgartner and Ostfalk level their rifles and go back-to-back, ready to act against anything that might pounce at them despite their scanners at max.
Menetfer Newy: 6 from Roll, +3 from Crowd Control, -1 from Threat Level, -1 from Night-time Penalty = 7!
Newy reaches the end of the runway first - just as the Mu signatures take in his presence and move en masse to intercept him. Staring at the bio-scanner, and then at his gunsights, he starts sending regular, singular blasts into the dark, taking measured steps backwards, picking off signatures one by one.
Until the final and eleventh one perishes the moment Langrisser gets ready for action.
Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: Wow. Okay, I see how it is.Menetfer Newy: I got there first, that's all.Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: Show-off. On the Tactical, a chain of signatures is recorded as approaching Prymilsk City along the local maglev train rail.
Menetfer Newy: Ivanian Suits? Chiron Captain cuts into comms as the cargoplane slows down over the airport.
Chiron Captain: Negative, it's still about eight minutes away. This one is the civilian evacuation train.Menetfer Newy: I see. The Pilots reconvene as the Chiron touches down on the runway, and turns off its fusion engines.
Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Alright, next stop?Chiron Captain: Hold on, we shall ask the city authorities if you're needed elsewhere. Chiron out.Menetfer Newy: Tch- It's gonna be more waiting.Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: Bet you a box Choco-Stix it won't? Newy grins widely and chuckles inside his Mecha.
Menetfer Newy: Oh, I'm all up for free sweets. Deal.Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Uh, come on, you two. Really?Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: Hey, he stole my kills. I just wanna get back at him. There's a beep as another voice line rejoins the group comms.
Chiron Captain: Chiron here. Currently there's no immediate need for your assistance, Pilots. Stay put for now. Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: Oh scheisse my credits.Chiron Captain: What was that, Langrisser?Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: Nothing, Chiron.Chiron Captain: Roger that. Chiron out. The quartet then goes quiet, although Newy makes sure to look extra smug and happy towards his Suit's camera feed.
22nd Early Spring 1002
OPERATION 8: HONEST FREEDOMS
Eight minutes later
Another chain of signatures comes running from edge of the tactical area, alongside the maglev railway, just like the previous one.
Johann Eduard Ostfalk: Well, Ivanians are here.Chiron Captain: That's correct. Once we receive confirmation from Prymilsk City adminsitration that the situation is being turned over to the GunBlades, we will be clear for departure.Johann Eduard Ostfalk: And then back to bed we go. The four Suits turn to watch the approach of the maglev train, which, dotted with red lights on its bi-level coaches, has its silhouette distorted by hulking shapes of Suits carried by it.
Menetfer Newy: I wonder... Newy lets out a hum, then switches over his scanner display to long range, visual-mode with throttled zoom.
Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: What are you doing? Checking out their Suits?Menetfer Newy: Yeah. I'm kinda curious what they're wearing. Let's see... eight wagons, four mecha per side of a wagon, these are some big hulls... Ostfalk does the same with his scanner and squints, trying to make out the shapes.
Johann Eduard Ostfalk: I'm not that much into model catalogues to recognize these. Newy?Menetfer Newy: Megaliths, I think. He unzooms and zooms with his display as the train slows down on its approach to Prymilsk Train Station.
Menetfer Newy: Definitely Megaliths.Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: Those are the big, bulky ones, aren't they?Menetfer Newy: Correct. Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Sixty-four Megaliths for this little town? That's some scary firepower. The local mines must be more improtant than I thought. Johann Eduard Ostfalk: I was thinking the same right now. The Pilots stare into the distance, and soon enough Newy switches his scanner back to bio-sign mode.
Within a minute, the maglev in question stops at the train station and the hulking Mechas activate their armor LEDs and searchlights.
Ostfalk starts idly tapping at his console's case, while Newy leans away in his seat, placing his hands behind his head. The two female pilots are much more calmer in their waiting.
Finally there's a buzz that grabs the attention of them all.
Chiron Captain: Chiron here. We've just received confirmation from Prymilsk City administration that Sokolov Krai 7th and 9th GunBlades have deployed and have officially taken control over the operation. We've green light to return home. The Ivanian governor is sending his thanks for your assistance, Pilots, mission complete. The Chiron lights up its thrusters, preparing to take off, as the ramp is extended, allowing the Pilots guide their suits into the vehicle.
Goals:
1. Help contain and eliminate Mu Threat until the arrival of Ivanian GunBlades.
*Completed.
2. Assist Prymilsk City Administration in evacuation of civilians.
*Completed.
Menetfer Newy: If someone wakes me up for another sortie tonight, I'm not going.Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: You're always this whiny at night, Newy? Menetfer Newy: Ooonly when someone interrupts my beauty sleep. The other Pilots groan as Newy shrugs and loads his Mecha onto the Chiron, being the last one to do so.
The Pilots secure their Suits to the harnesses, and the camera feeds are turned off as the Chiron cargoplane raises its cargo ramp.
Half a minute later, it is raising into the night-sky, taking up a southernly heading.
22nd Early Spring 1002
OPERATION 8: HONEST FREEDOMS COMPLETE!
One hour five minutes later
As the Chiron parks itself inside the Hangar at SMC Amanotsugi base and switches off its fusion engines, its ramp descends.
The four Mechas leave the cargoplane one by one, and after moving it to the Mecha Bay, the Pilots open their cockpits and leave their Suits. All four look quite sleepy, with Newy barely keeping quiet a massive yawn. Meanwhile, several members of Engineering and Maintenance crews approach the damaged 998Plus model to start a more thorough damage report of it.
Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Would you stop? Yawning is contagious. Menetfer Newy: Can't help it, usually at this hour ammshhhlyyy- There comes another big yawn from Newy, and it indeed jumps over to infect Ostfalk, and then Baumgartner, with yawns of their own.
Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: Keep it together, people. It's gonna be few more minutes at worst. They all shape up when the Mecha Bay door opens and out of the corridor come out their superiors.
The four succesful Pilots salute one after another - but a moment later something pops up in Baumgartner's mind, apparently, because she steps forward and puts herself a little bit in front of the others, still saluting.
Subcommanders Scarlet and Gaine can now debrief their Pilots!
Author
Topic: RTD Starlight Mechanized Corps (Read 18486 times)