Reincarnation (MK)

As the Voltekka failed to destroy the Cradle enough Gladius furrowed her brow, it was expected given the other Voltekka had caused it to sink rather than explode outright but all the same she had hoped for more. Such however was the result and she had to live with it, with the call for another wave of BETA she readied her spear once more but before she could move out to fight the inbound aliens she got the request to stay away.

As such the Tekkaman sat back and watched, taking the moment offered to recover from the prior use of Voltekka, the eyes barely visible through the 'exosuit' turning into slits as Valentin did his own trump card in return, a more omnidirectional attack than her own but one which seemed to have even worse repercussions as well as the machine was reduced to a sitting duck. Still, it was an impressive display to see.

"Understood." She called out to the 'request' to defend the demolition crew behind her. Even if Miss Voltekka was not a nickname that felt nice to have, sure she had done that attack but she was more than just the armor of a Tekkaman.
She wondered how long this tech had been in use, as as far as she knew it wasn't there when she was around. Then again Rayleonard was Rayleonard, some more esoteric technology was to be expected. This could well be the only machine with such a feature. The more important part however, was stopping the BETA from getting to the demolitions team. So when the monstrosities came rushing forwards she was prepared for them.

Even with the relatively diminutive size of the Warrior class BETA she was by far the smallest combatant here, the bisected albino elephants still having half a meter over her at minimum. But, unfortunately for them their main advantage over anything else had been surpassed, the same went for the almost scorpion like monstrosities that came with. That little voice in her that nagged to fight, it knew that the claws of these monsters were the worst target one could pick and their 'head' was not an actual head.

The Javelin spun in her hand as she began her own advance on them, aiming to use her superior mobility and far superior power to outmaneuver and out speed them at every turn, the weapon would be aimed at the center of the Grapplers as she aimed to stay out of their frontal arc whereas the Warriors would receive indiscriminate assaults when it came to direction.

But most importantly, she would not let them approach the Cradle freely.

Were Otilla without the blessing of her Tekkaman Armor, she would surely become a splat on the ground facing these grapplers and warrior BETA, but with it, she was more than a force to be reckoned with in facing them. The Warriors were dispatched easily enough, her javelin piercing and slashing through their soft flesh, though Grapplers were more of an issue, their size making them quite literal giants to the relatively small woman. That said, her speed was enough to bob and weave through their hardened forearms, her strikes finding purchase on their softer areas.

Were it simply a one vs. one battle, Otilla certainly had the upper hand by a longshot, though the problem lay in their sheer numbers; what felt like a never-ending swarm of BETA, it would certainly become tiring after a certain point, but she wouldn’t be fighting this battle alone.

Roughly six seconds had passed since Valentin had used the Assault Armor, the Kojima Particles finally beginning to normalize in the machine, as it was once again able to move, resurrected from its deadly attack. It was only a prototype after all. Its offensive power was impressive, though the drawback was deadly, especially if he was by himself. He wished they had the capability to perfect the design and complete the machine, though the scientists and researchers who worked on the machine were a bunch of turncoats and traitors who sided with the other Corporations shortly before Alternative V was carried out.


But it was a new feeling for him, having someone to rely on in combat. Up until this point everyone had always been relying on him to defend and support the survivors of Rayleonard and Exavil. Being put in the back seat for once was surprisingly pleasant for him.

Not that he’d slack off though. He still had his duty to fulfill.

The Armored Core turned back to Otilla taking aim with its Railguns and shooting at the backs of unsuspecting BETA, the shells piercing through flesh with ease, many even striking multiple.

“Thanks. Let’s clear out the remai-”

Valentin was cut off by alarms and his HUD flashing red reading

Moments later, a lance of blue energy pierced through the air from the distance, the AC boosting to the side to evade and turning to face the new threat. Valentin took a closer look at the incoming enemy and took a sigh.

“Can’t catch a break today, huh.”

Otilla would soon see it too, a machine that looked similar to Valentin’s, though roughly half the size. Upon closer inspection, it was almost a strange abomination of Metal and flesh combined, recognizable in a similar hue to that of the BETA.

“BETA have evolved; adapted. They’re evidently capable of reverse-engineering human technology should they get their hands on it. That ‘machine’ you see there is the prime example. Things are different from thirty years ago.”

It was a monologue directed to Otilia, giving her a brief update to the times, and the BETA threat that is still present, and stronger than ever before.

“Those Faux Cores are always sent after the initial waves, trying to catch me when I’m most exhausted. They’re not just harvesters anymore. They’re beginning to understand war, and all that goes into one.”

Another laser beam, launched to Otilia this time, was fired from the BETA Core.

“Demo Team, what’s your status?”

Valentin spoke on the comms.

“We’ve reached the Reactor area. Interior movement appears difficult so we’re going to set the reactor remotely!”

“How much time do you need?”

“Two minutes.”

“Roger that.”

Valentin honed his focus to the newcomer, the mimic that bastardized human technology.

“You heard them Otilia. If we can hold out for two minutes, this will all be over. Can you handle it?”

The thrusters lifted the armored core off the ground, taking flight just above, dropping its railguns to the ground and brandishing its two 08-XMOONLIGHT energy blades. The machine blasted forward to engage the enemy, the laser energy emitting out from the blades in an almost uncontrolled stream of light, the machine swung and slashed at the BETA, but its smaller size was able to boost and evade the initial strikes. As Valentin turned his attention to the BETA AC, the surrounding BETA shifted their attention, turning to collapse and encircle Valentin; perhaps a tactic unusual to Otilia, given the rather straightforward nature she was likely used to.

“Otilia, let’s take this bastard down!”

He called to his partner.

The Tekkaman followed after as the declaration of assault was made, there was a lot to take in between the BETA now having 'Armored Cores' of their own and the sudden shift in tactics performed by them. Like watching a swarm of ants rush to protect their queen in a moment of desperation, or perhaps ire was the better cause. All the same, it was an uncanny sight. Two minutes to kill this thing, that was less lenient than the seven minutes she had left on her own end but if this resolved the other timer she would gladly take it.

Though a ride back with the demolition crew would be appreciated all the same.
"I've still got more than two minutes left in me, so lets do this." the Tek Lancer was readied as she dashed past the BETA, it seemed that this monstrosity had the speed advantage on the larger Armored Core. However in that regard she was an ideal compliment as her speed would outmatch it. And if it spent all its time dodging her, well that left those two colossal blades Valentin was throwing around uncontested.

She tried to cut away the Beta she reasonably could in her advance but her focus was on the enemy specifically called out. For that purpose she readied her off hand and when she came near the creature at last the Tek Wires shot out, aiming to lasso the Beta monstrosity's leg and restrain it as Otilia moved to flank the creature. If things had gone as poorly as she grasped from what had been told to her, they weren't understanding War just yet. They grasped battle, perhaps even more specifically duels if this man had been the only thing in their path here.

So it was up to them to flip the script on that.
"What else do they usually try around this time? Anything we can exploit against them?" She called out, she was not the person with the intel here for once so she applied the lesson she had learned from all those who had asked her the very same question deployment after deployment, 'what all do you have on them'.

The Beta Core managed to keep pace with both Otilla and Valentin, whatever was controlling it seemingly capable enough of handling combat when outnumbered; at least, its reactions and reflexes were enough to be able to dodge out of the way of both their combined efforts, taking shots with its kinetic rifle in between it all.

“The difficulty in this situation… as it has always been…”

The kinetic shots were met with the resistance of Valentin’s Kojima field, reducing any damage from it to the bare minimum. The black machine’s thrusters blasted, shifting and twisting the machine around backwards, as it launched a pair of missiles from its shoulder pods, the initial projectile scattering in mid-air into smaller missiles that homed in on the rears of several destroyer BETA who were making a charge for the demolitions team.

“...Is their numbers. While the enemy machine is strong enough in its own right to threaten any pilot, you also have the remaining number of enemies to worry about. Especially if you need to protect something else.”

Valentin shifted back to the enemy AC, swinging its blade sideways to cut through and melt a bullet that was aimed at him.

“Though they are beginning to evolve, they are still in the realm of simple-minded creatures and their original purpose still remains; this additional threat simply adds several layers of difficulty to an already difficult problem.”

The two of them needed to pay attention not only to the enemy AC, but the BETA that sought to tear them apart, as well as the ones that held true to their main objective of taking the Cradle, and annihilating the demolition team in the process. A three-pronged problem that would normally be near impossible by oneself, though with two of them there, there was a chance to come out of this encounter with everyone alive.

“Given your mobility and size, take the Vanguard position and focus on the armored core. I’ll work as the Interceptor and watch your back, as well as deal with any BETA that tries to break through.”

The machine shifted back, its laser blades extending out as it carved lines through the alien creatures’ offensive line, swathes of peach and purple guts being splattered into the air and on the ground.

The Enemy AC seemingly took the challenge, focusing its attention to Otilla, the two in more similar size that Valentin stood to either of them. With kinetic rifle in one hand, and a curved blade-like weapon in its other, it moved to skirt the offensive perimeter of Otilla’s reach, playing a somewhat deadly game of keepaway with its foe. Any BETA that tried to attack the Tekkaman would be quickly met with an end as Valentin managed to dash in-and-out of melee, clearing Otilla’s flanks for her.

So the Beta thought itself quick enough to dodge her, a sentiment she profoundly disagreed with and would momentarily do her best to prove as such. After all, if it took these things the promised twenty years to adapt to Armored Cores they had been fighting since arrival how ready could they be for the likes of her? As the man behind her spoke she was reminded of the incident just moments prior before she was so gracelessly cast down from the sky.

Where she offered her assistance to one of her green 'peers', only to turn on him for her own safety. It would be a lie to say such thoughts did not creep in her head again, the skittering part of her decried she could not be accepted by those fellows who were truly human. Tainted as she was by the touch of the Radam she sat not adjacent in life to those she lived amongst before. Every fight she participated in she would be a danger to them, one conflict that lasted too long and she just knew- knew that it would be her blade at her throats or her head on a platter.

So she could cut and run. Hide on her own. But what would she accomplish there, the Tekkamen would kill her for her impurity or worse make her their version of 'pure'. Undoubtedly humanity, what she so desperately clung onto still being for herself, was preferable. Besides, how else would she escape this rock if all she had been told was true and Mars was well and truly lost.

"I'll come and help you clean up once I'm done with this then." She replied, despite the doubts that plagued her inside she remained firm in voice. It helped that she could treat this as just a usual day at the office. Where even plagued by doubts or beset by fear, none of that may be heard during a briefing if only for the purposes of morale but especially for the likes of surprise suicide missions.

With the faux Armored Core playing coy with her strikes she narrowed her gaze, all existential questions about her own humanity and whether or not she would be condemned to be an exile from society for all her life could wait until this other hybrid between man and invading species was put in its place, the green lights that trailed her grew. Exploded around her like the tip of a spear as her weapon vanished from her grip.

Like such she accelerated immensely, the already fast Tekkaman gaining a burst of speed like what was demonstrated before against the first wave of the Beta attackers. She rushed towards the hand with the rifle, aiming to destroy the arm it was attached to with the impact of her body and more importantly the energies that surrounded it burning like an atmospheric comet as she followed up by then going for the faker's legs and as such its backwards mobility. If it wanted to test her just outside her range she would test its endurance within her range.

For what she lacked were weapons with range outside of the already used Voltekka but in a close quarters fight. She would have to see whether it even could survive a minute.