Frutti Di Mare Per Due (MK, Verus)

Nemesis

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#21
The Einerad dropped from the shaft, bouncing twice before it finally glided to a stop, even the Coordinator needing to pause to catch his breath after that. A short, hurried conversation at the fork had tilted them in the direction of danger - he was thrilled about that, genuinely, but the scene that was playing out before him? The Combat Coordinator's eyes narrowed, the Gedlav rolling back lazily as a beam scythed viciously past it, melting apart a chunk of the back of the room.

"You mean to tell me you drag-asses haven't finished this thing off yet?" He said, in disbelief.

It exchanged a glance with the Kampfer, knowingly tapping the side of where its "nose" would have been, in a subtle gesture. The meaning was evident - suspicious.

Still, the titan before him would at least offer a measure of the excitement he had come demanding to experience. He'd hold his reservations regarding the Crimson-whatever for when the immediate threat was dealt with.

"Looks like we gotta show 'em how it's done." He said to Barnabus with a chuckle, the wheel of the Einerad already spinning up as it rocketed up into the air, tire slamming into the roof as it trundled forward, upside down, towards the colossal form of the Praetorian. Wolfgang could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins, sharpening every moment, every second as vivid as it could be as he depressed the trigger.

The on-board missile launcher and beam cannons opened fire in the direction of the Mk-II's head unit, spraying it with fire as the smaller machine advanced, beam shields glowing at its sides as the center of the gigantic wheel creaked open, affording the Gedlav within just enough of a view to see any incoming attacks from the titan... and, just slightly out of sight, the movements of their erstwhile "allies".

Something didn't feel right in the pit of his stomach, and he was going to find out what.
 

MKR

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#22
That was certainly a thing they could agree on, this was suspicious and they were being slow. The MS Hunters seemed to dodge more then attack and as such as Wolfgang scolded the Hunters he took the time to appreciate the monstrous Mobile Armor, it had been turned into an emplacement platform which was new and unique. Only half as useful for the purposes of salvage but to someone like him it was a riddle, the Praetorians had their reasons, and there was a reason this one was on a platform instead of offering it mobility which was the default. Given their surroundings it certainly wasn't a lack of resources which could force such a choice.

What a puzzle.

"Keep an eye on them." The brother conveyed to the sister in the meanwhile. Using their mental avenue of communication for simplicity.

"Was planning to anyways, didn't trust them above, not going to begin to trust them now." A smirk on the woman's face "But if they want the thing dealt with... I can do that."

The Hashmal's mouth opened, revealing a lone weapon within. Energy signatures building up quickly as light amassed within the 'beak'. Inside the cockpit of the Kampfer Barnabas knew exactly what was going to happen and with it he knew he had to put a brake on his sister.

"Woah woah woah sis sis sis, not that one yet, no no no. I don't feel like swimming the way back!"

The Hashmal's mouth closed carefully, energy signal dropping as the beams that pelted it cascaded off it. Before the Einrad ran off its passenger had elected to move from the side seat to standing under the cover of the Hashmal and its Nanolaminate armor, protecting the Kampfer from beams. Regina sighed at the situation, she really wanted to blast that damn thing but fine, maybe if they wanted to loot the place it was not so handy quite yet to do so.

So instead the tail swished and swung aggressively once more, the Mobile Armor approaching its peer as it did so and once within range the tail would move horizontally from left to right across the torso of the emplaced MA and back again. Regina rolling her eyes inside the cockpit, she loved firing the main cannon but nooo.

Meanwhile the Kampfer stuck to the shadows of the thing that provided it cover against the assault so far, its pistol still in rifle move Barnabas took the time to aim, seeing that Wolfgang was laying the hurt on the head he got an idea, angling it slightly up and joining the assault from below with his rifle.
 

Fenrir367

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#23
As the three of them entered the room, the eyes of the Praetorian flashed red, the final door behind them closing and sealing them in the chamber of death for good. Energy signatures were building up from the enemy machine, as the devices on the walls and columns seemingly ‘deployed’, three panel-like appendages folding out of each. The several orifices glowed briefly before unleashing countless streams of beams from each of its beam cannons, though seemingly not targeted at any mobile suit in particular. One might first see it as a fluke, but there was more to it than just that.

“It’s coming…”

Einn and the three others began to shift their position, readying evasive maneuvers.

The beams hit the devices on the walls, each beam reflecting off and hitting another, creating an almost laser tripwire-looking scene of beams, before they all eventually aimed themselves at the intruders. From in front, behind, above, below, no area was safe from the ensuing madness. Gedlav’s missiles were intercepted by the redirected beams, and Hashmal would provide little cover for the Kampfer behind it, as beams came at their sides and back. To intercept Hashmal's tail, the right arm from the Psycho Gundam was launched and rocketed itself at the tail, crashing into the appendage and knocking it off its course. Kampfer’s rifle seemed to strike the head, though the shots did little to truly damage the head, scaffing and singeing the outer armor

Once the beams had subsided, Crimson Winds moved to a rotating formation, taking consecutive shots at the Mk.II with their long beam rifles, aiming at the machine’s beam cannon orifices.

Warnings would flash on all seven machine’s radar, as from above out of the vents, Plumas began flooding into the room by the tens, with at least twenty coming at the seven of them at once, railguns charged and firing on sight.

Would our heroes be consumed by the onslaught of beams and flood of drones? Or would they emerge triumphant from this encounter and stand victorious on their corpses. Only they could decide.
 

Nemesis

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#24
The Gedlav careened forward, spitting up chunks of the ceiling under its advance, peeking through the center of the Einrad as flares from the beam cannons suddenly lit up the room. Instinctually, Wolfgang jerked the controls - causing a beam to slingshot past the rolling wheel of death, even the power of that grazing blow sending it spinning across the roof, flames and sparks firing from the inner mechanisms of the Subflight System as its pilot fought for control - and survival.

"Playing hard to get, eh?" He snarled through grit teeth as the G-forces ripped at his body. Coordinator or not, keeping all the blood from rushing to his head was anything but easy.

"Fine by me!"

One side of the beam shield deactivated as the mobile suit jammed a foot out, slamming it into the floor as another beam hurtled past it, the Einerad spinning in place with a scream of its tires as it resumed its previous path - this time trundling over an outstretched emitter, pulverizing it into pieces as it resumed. Still, Wolfgang noted - the treacherous rattling from within the Einerad indicated it couldn't take another hit like that.

With a final burst of speed, the wheeled terror closed the remaining gap between itself and the Psyco Mk-II, beams slicing into the roof about it as it danced crazily between the unorthodox angles of fire. As if on cue, its thrusters flared - and sent it straight down, right behind the head of the lumbering behemoth. The beam shield on the Gedlav's left arm deactivated as it extended its beam saber, the bright light illuminating its features as its eyes went wide, revealing two crimson orbs that seemed all too eager to share in their master's bloodlust.

"BYE-BYE!"

The luminous blade was brought crashing down the back of the Psyco's head, slamming up to the hilt as the Einerad accelerated, dragging it down with all the force it could muster through the head, and down across the neck, aiming to decapitate the Praetorian in a furious slice that would silence the monster for good.
 

MKR

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#25
Seeing the incoming shots and the associated movements of the Crimson Winds made Barnabas suspicious of what was coming, and as such as the beam was about to hit the wall realization struck, the Kampfer held its arm where it was about to be hit, the Anti-Beam coating on it absorbing this first blow as he swiftly moved out of the way of the rest heading his way, not eager to test exactly how much it could handle in such a setting. Still the man inside rolled his eyes at the warning lights, "I'll handle the backups sis, you keep focusing on the big boy."

The first of the binders opened up, a rocket launcher contained within which the Kampfer Amazing promptly put on its shoulder "Adios stupid bugs." He calmly remarked as the first of up to four rockets fired at the cluster of incoming Pluma and the vents they were to use to get in, intending to cut off the reinforcements at their source. Dumb things were wanting to get into the action when the only interesting machine to be fought here was the emplacement above. So they better stay out if they had any sense of self-preservation, oh who was he kidding they were Praetorians those damned things would throw themselves on a pyre for a potshot at them.

And if such was their intent he would be eager to give them a match to light it with, in fact. Another rocket at another vent aught to do the trick. Well and truly amazing.

As her brother was finding his enjoyment in this battle Regina had her machine's tail knocked back by the fist, thankfully her brother was kind enough to handle all the bugs in this bed and so she could focus on tearing the Psyco apart bit♩ by bit♩. As such the tail recoiled and recovered quickly, Hashmal itself sliding forward as the arm came, the Superhard Wire Blade already moving again to cut the arm off of the Gundam.
"You know, nothing was stopping you guys from saying anything about the mirrors." She called out to the Crimson Winds. "Would've been really grand to know ahead of time." The sarcasm and annoyance were evident in her tone as Hashmal arrived below the plateau, at which point the claws it held for its legs would plant themselves into the wall as it began to climb towards the emplacement who couldn't run from her.

Its 'eye' peering at the Gundam with murderous intent, as if the Hashmal could show any other emotion.
 

Fenrir367

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#26
As Einn maneuvered around the incoming attacks, she kept her eyes on the three ‘allies’, almost as if she was analyzing them… making mental notes of how they fought and the patterns of their movements. For what reason she was doing so, well, only she knew. That said neither she nor her companions were slacking off, as they provided ample support from the rear, keeping the Psycho emplacement focused on them to let the others do their thing.

“You all seem more than capable of dealing with it. Especially with that bird.”

She spoke in a way that seemed to mimic Regina’s tone and attitude.

Hashmal was the apex predator against beam-focused machines like the Psycho Gundam. This was common knowledge amongst all of the MS Hunters; but perhaps the most peculiar thing was exactly how they got their hands on it and working with a pilot. It was suspicious, to say the least.

Gedlav’s efforts would find some success as it came crashing down, narrowly avoiding an incoming beam projectile, and bringing down its beam saber alike a sword of justice smiting down a heathen. However, even with that, the Psycho Gundam ceased to move. The machine had no pilot of course, so perhaps it was foolish to assume that the head was the control point of the mobile armor. But perhaps by that logic, did the machine itself have its ‘control unit’ in it? Did it even need its head? For more or less it was just an emplacement in this facility, though more and more seeming like a hastily constructed device rather than any kind of cutting-edge machine. Surely a control room somewhere existed that handled the AI of the Praetorians here.

Such possibilities, however, were out of the picture by this point, as the seven were locked in this chamber of death with the mobile armor and the swarm of Plumas that continued coming through the vents of the room. Kampfer’s shots struck true at the incoming crab-like machines, but it was hardly enough to stop them, as they pushed and clawed their way over the corpses of their fellow machines. They first went for the Einrad, as it was the closest to them, railguns charged and firing at the coupled machines.

As the first arm recoiled and redocked itself back, it shot out its second arm, once again to intercept Hashmal’s tail, the two seemingly locked in a back-and-forth clash of detachable appendages. At the very least it kept it from using its beam cannons in its fingers.
 

MKR

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#27
"You know what lady-" Regina replied, the Hashmal's tail coiling back from the collision, the bird itself almost 'side eyeing' the TR-6 as she spoke. "With you acting more like luggage and less like an actual fighting force we kinda have to." Frustration was evident, she was also curious why those doors hadn't been sealed on the prior fight until the three of them arrived. If this room was a death trap it was a rather slow one. "If you wanna sit down for an afternoon chat with the killer robots do your thing, but we're not here for socializing. If you wanna step up and actually fight, better carry your own weight!"

The Hashmal opened its beak, purple light contained within.
"Sis what are you doing!" Her brother mentally called to her. He could feel her frustration mounting, the fury within and he agreed with it conceptually yet to fire that thing in here it- "I'm getting us out of this damn place!" Came the response the bird's beak first angled against the emplacement until she glanced down, a smile pursing itself upon her lips. Energy signals skyrocketed, the Hashmal's Ahab Reactor put to work in earnest for the first time since its appearance on Europa.
"HEY! Speedster!" She called out, to their wheeler dealer of a 'boss'. "Front and center, don't be there!"

The bird opened its beak... And sang.


Purple energy spouted forward, a beam that raced in a straight line not at the headless Psycho but instead under it towards the one place in this room where there was no shine upon the walls, the distant door that had barred their progress. The Mobile Armor's beam striking against it with intent to force itself through the armored plates. Whatever it was made to withstand, a beam weapon of such power likely was not in the list of things it was planning to encounter. In the meanwhile the tail continued to coil swiping at Plumas that dared get close as its pilot kept an eye on the centerpiece that really tied the room together.

The Kampfer Amazing covered its monoeye from the light with its free arm while it aimed the rocket at the next point of entry from the Plumas, intending to stem the flow of them even further as the second of four projectiles it could fire raced across the sky and towards its goal. He wasted no time, jumping on the top of the Mobile Armor, using it as a platform as it looked over the battlefield.
"Well that's one solution." He remarked to his sister. "You're just mad you didn't think of it first."

"That's not the issue here."
Barnabas huffed, the monoeye looking at the Hunters that arrived in this room first, seeing how they'd react to this development.
 

Nemesis

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#28
The Gedlav slammed into the ground, pulverizing a pack of Plumas beneath its wheels as it careened away, Wolfgang giving the now headless mobile armor an incredulous look. If the control unit had been removed, then it had to be being rigged along by somewhere else in this God-forsaken place.

"...Still movin'?"

As tantalizing as the thought of going up in a thermonuclear explosion was, he couldn't disappoint his angel like that. After all, he had an important role to play in what was to come - she'd promised. The notion alone that he might never see her beautiful face again was enough to move him to tears. The clack-a-lack of railgun rounds impacting his beam shields drew him back to reality, the armored wheel turning and moving back in the direction of its erstwhile allies, who seemed to have concocted some kind of plan.

Blazing glory would have to wait, it seemed.

The Hashmal's beak-beam fired out with a screech that sent chills up his spine, scything into a doorway, into which the bird and the Kampfer hurried through even as the metal was still blazing hot. Not one to be left behind, Wolfgang floored the acceleration, the Einerad screaming to life under his feet, sparks firing from its exterior as it spun about, now speeding backwards into the tunnel as the Gedlav spat returning fire from its beam rifle, driving back any that dared come close to the opening. Very little thought was spared to the others - either they would make it across the finish line before he did, or they could stay to keep the hordes at bay for a little while longer - either was fine to him.

"Nice one!"

With that growled compliment, the flying wheel tilted back as it crossed the threshold - and let its built in missile launcher fly, a flurry of detonations across the roof, causing the metal and rubble of the artificial island to collapse inward in an avalanche of material. Out of the dust cloud, the Einerad appeared, following behind the other two, now with a grimy patina of of dirt and dust adorning its body. Headlights flickered on as it slowed its pace, the Coordinator's hands moving rapidly over the controls as he took an assessment of the machine, keeping his eyes on the monitor to see where their path would take them...
 

Fenrir367

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#29
The Hashmal’s beam shot forth into the door below the guardian of the room, the energy impacting against the blast door and causing the entire facility to shudder. It was met with tough resistance, the beam taking several seconds to completely melt through the door, though surridly breaking through by the end. The melted alloy compound dripped from the top of the doorway, but the opening was just enough for the Hashmal to squeeze through.

“Hmm…”

Einn hummed to herself at their momentary ally’s actions, followed by the four members of the Crimson Winds. She had no reaction to Regina’s words against her, such emotions were unnecessary, unimportant on the field of battle. With their exit from the death trap, their truce would come to an end anyways, so perhaps it was best to not waste words on them. This would likely be the last time they would meet anyways.

Perhaps.

Beyond the blast door was a corridor that was pitch black, only growing darker as they continued on, the distant light of the previous room growing dimmer and dimmer. Perhaps the electricity wasn’t running to this area as there were no notable lights or other electronics in the vicinity. Another problem was as they proceeded further, Minovsky Particle interference began to rapidly increase, the density far beyond what was normal on a battlefield or what one would expect from an abandoned facility. The group eventually reached a drop point; perhaps an elevator was meant to be built, or a lift of some sort was once here, though such a convenient device was nowhere in sight. Scanning down the descent, it was at least a kilometer to the very bottom, and Minovsky Particle Interference was even higher below than where they were now. Were they to descend, communication would become scant impossible save for direct contact. Radar and the like were shot, which meant they were truly delving blindly, were they to proceed. Little awaited them but the pitch darkness of the unknown, and what loneliness accompanied it.

Einn’s Mobile suit came up to the Gedlav and placed its hand on its shoulder.

“This is where we part ways. Good luck, if that’s what you say.”

She hardly waited for a reply, as the four machines descended down into the shaft.

Now it was once again, the motley bunch, left alone and with a decision. It was likely they could turn back and blow a hole in the entrance to the Psyco Gundam room, or they could delve deeper, and follow their greed to what treasures may, or may not await them.

One way or another they would make their descent down the shaft, plunging deeper and deeper into the unknown. It became dark enough that one couldn’t even see a meter in front of them, a dark darkness that did little more than to stir the nerves of those who entered. After a long fall, they would arrive at the bottom floor of the facility, well over a kilometer under the sea of Europa. Silence filled the hallways, save for the occasional, yet ever-present wrenching sound of what sounded like the infrastructure being assailed by the pressure of the water above. It seemed whatever support systems that were once in place to reduce the pressure on the metal were now ineffective, and little more than the walls of metal alloy separated the inhabitants from the crushing pressure of the ocean. The walls did seem to hold against the water, if but to the bare minimum.

It probably wouldn’t take much to change that, though.

Were they to have any lights, their shine would likely only extend out as far as twenty meters, before it would become once again consumed by the darkness.

...Carbon-Based Lifeforms Detected…
...Identities: Unknown…
...System: EXUVIA Engaged...
...Initializing: Protocol Gamma…

A robotic voice was heard resounding through the halls. Somewhere in the distance, the sound of metal hitting metal was heard, echoing off the walls. Perhaps something akin to footsteps were heard consistently some ways away, yet it seemed to draw closer with each step. Though the question of ‘where’ exactly it was coming from. It was hard to gauge the size of these corridors in the darkness, and whether there were branching paths or not was another issue in itself.

Caution was perhaps the best move forward, though in a situation such as this, paranoia was certainly bound to set in.
 
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Nemesis

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#30
"System Exuvia?"

The Gedlav had trundled its way at a moderate pace down the shaft, Wolfgang perhaps having exhausted his thirst for thrillseeking with the prior deathtrap. He had stayed remarkably quiet for a man so eager to gallavant, as though he had been absorbing the surroundings in silence... or, perhaps simply tracking their progress of his own accord.

"Ring a bell to you?" He asked conversationally to his accomplices, the wheeled Mobile Suit turning on the spot as its insectoid eyes went wide, showering the room around them with red light. Infra-red cameras engaged, and murky forms began to take shape before the Coordinator's eyes. There was something, at least. They weren't completely blind, but they'd have to map this place out themselves, given its conspicuous absence on the one he'd been given prior. Was this some sort of trap, he wondered?

What had they managed to stumble upon?

"Some kind of heat source in the distance, impossible to tell if it's a structure of some kind, or a Mobile Suit." He said, the Gedlav pointing in the direction of its findings. As it did, it replaced its beam rifle on the wheel's weapon rack, as if to deny itself the temptation, letting a beam saber rest in its palm instead, the blade igniting to light up the surroundings.

"Either way... Don't think we should be shooting down here."
 

MKR

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#31
"Can't say I have." Barnabas replied, though he had to admit it sounded interesting. Something he'd like to pull apart and look at when it wouldn't be busy killing him, that kind of thing. Regina also chimed in with her own remark.
"What's an 'Exuvia' anyways? That seems like the best way to get a clue." She shrugged inside the machine.

While his sister spoke the Kampfer's eye moved back and forth, trying to see what it could in the area. The structural integrity or lack thereof was noticeable, and with it the more destructive bazooka was placed back into its binder in the stead of a beam saber. A much less likely cause of backfire and drowning in this situation, being crushed by water was not on his to-do list.
"Oh yeah, you might wanna see if the lady gave you a present Bossman." Regina continued "Not sure about you but I don't like her and I wouldn't put it beyond her to give you a little bug as a tagalong."

At the mention of the heat source the Hashmal turned to the direction, tail coiling behind it as Regina finally paid attention to the situation they were in. A response to Wolfgang's statement afterwards.
"Well hopefully for you the bots have some self preservation and don't try to drown us all with themselves."

"Very reassuring sis."

"You can always huddle in my shadow again~" She taunted her brother.

"How about that shadow of yours gets moving so we have a appropriate shield." A smug smile came upon Regina's face, she hadn't been disproven but nonetheless, better to get a move on all the same. Almost soundless the Hashmal moved along, or rather above, the floor. Gliding into the direction of the heat source.
 

Fenrir367

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#32
The infrared produced a few things of note, namely the one signature in the distance, as well as four other signatures in the opposite direction. It seemed that at the base of the lift the path did in fact split. Maybe the Crimson Winds’ objective was opposite to their own, perhaps both a blessing and a curse. While they could proceed unimpeded by other MS Hunters to their possible objective, they would lack the aid of the other four mercenaries, to whatever extent they wished to provide.

Whatever thoughts they did have though, would be interrupted by the echoing sound of the robotic voice once more.

...Threats: Identified…
...ZM-S24G Gedlav + Einrad: One…
...Hashmal: One…
...PPMS-18E Kampfer Amazing: One…

...Dispersing Countermeasures…

Loud sounds of metal could be heard clanging and banging in the distance, but as to why exactly, they couldn’t be sure. What was noticeable though was the rising heat signature, while still distant, growing in intensity. It was hard to gain a good measure though, as the temperature inside the corridors were well below freezing, with no climate control deep beneath the ocean, the ambient temperature did wonders to mute thermal readings, especially if it wasn’t in direct line of sight.

For a few minutes, the signature remained motionless, though once the group had taken another step forward, the robotic voice returned.

...Engaging…
...Primary Threat: Hashmal…


The seemingly distant shape began to move, and as it moved to appear directly straight ahead of them, they would first question, was there a wall between them? But it was in this moment of doubt that a second, faster signature now came barreling at them at an extremely rapid pace. In front of all their eyes, a blinding explosion, that while seemingly lacking an actual explosive element, radiated out in a blinding thermal flare that sought to both blind onlookers and well as overload any infrared sights. Were they to recover their sight in a posthaste manner, the residual light would give sight of a singular, black machine that darted through the halls at breakneck speed, on a drive-by strike at Hashmal. It raised up its gun in its right arm, and let fire a spewing blast of molten lead and metal, a shotgun-like weapon that could outright shred through the Nanolaminate Armor. As it flew by the group, its blackened silhouette began to be difficult to see, though if by some saving grace, the glowing red eyes and horns of the machine gave away its otherwise murky position.

It was fast.

The glowing lights became lines in the darkness as it strafed now behind them, as if it was now waiting for their next move.
 

Nemesis

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#33
"You know, there were some other signals back there. Probably those Crimson-whatever guys." Said Wolfgang conversationally as the group rolled ahead, his discomfort minimized by the toasty AC coursing through his MS. He tapped away at the Quantum Computer, distributing coolant to ensure nothing on the Gedlav or Einerad would freeze up at an inopportune moment.

"We could probably even double back and tail 'em, see what they're up-"

The flashbang burst before his eyes, no warning, nothing. The blinding light caused the Gedlav to reflexively wheel back, Einerad grinding furiously against the floor as it bit deep to find traction, Wolfgang growling as he blinked, unable to see. The beam shield came up - but it was not the intended target, and the shotgun slugs burst towards the Hashmal. Hearing it land nearby, the yellow suit slashed out haphazardly with its beam saber, aiming to try and catch the suit's leg as it passed - but it was hastily aimed, and not helped by the Coordinator only half-glimpsing it through the stars that now dotted his vision.

Instead it opened its remaining beam shield, crouched behind it as it waited, eyes flickering as it tried to restore functionality. How many were there? Just the one? He'd have to rely on the other two now - there was no other choice.
 

MKR

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#34
"Signal inco- AGH!" Barnabas yelped as the flash went off, his eyes hurt by the sensors going too hard, his sister however had the 'fortune' of lacking such sensors in her machine yet their link still caused her to recoil in pain, the massive Mobile Armor sliding to the side in response right before hot lead was fired, the right 'wing' and leg being struck by the weapon. Its contents resting on and burning through the nanolaminate.

The tail whipped in response, striking at the passing enemy. "STUPID R--RAAAGH!" The Mobile Armor slid to face the two under its watch preparing to position itself between offender and charge, molten metal mixed with nanolaminate dripping down and sliding off the machine as it did so revealing what lay underneath both as the upper leg and right shoulder now had the beginnings of a massive hole in their forms. Too many hits like those and the skeletal frame underneath would unveil itself.

"Okay, wanna play dirty you damn bot? Lets play dirty." The tail coiled, the two claws almost raking over the ground as one rose high, the machine tilting 45 degrees as it moved over its peers. "You stupid thing so-"

"Coool!"
Her brother interjected as he finally recovered from the light, echoes of it still dancing in his vision, but he could see the faint silhouette of the enemy, and it told him that this was not something anyone else had seen before. Well that and their database.

"NOT NOW!"

"Oh come on Sis. I mean how often do you see such a weapon?"

The Kampfer Amazing beam saber in hand stepped up behind the Hashmal. Noting the areas affected by the heat to still persist.
"And its been nice enough to show us the floor is sturdy." A malicious smile appeared on his face. "Hey sis, we're going to take this thing apart piece by piece. I want to know exactly how it all fits together~ Because that thing knows what no one else is supposed to know~"

The childlike innocence with which he mentioned it, like a toddler tearing apart a fly to learn. Except this fly had a shotgun filled with flaming metal. Still with one simple leap the Kampfer found itself atop the Hashmal. "Hey Wolf, the floor can take a hit or two without killing us all so aim down when shooting and none of us drown." The Amazing Rifle once again presented itself. A vantage point atop the Hashmal and a slight angle down on the gun itself as to not break the walls.

Barnabas noted that it had come from behind them and perhaps that was what it was guarding.
"Oh and until it shows a longer range weapon, how about we try to find out where it came from slowly but surely."
 
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Fenrir367

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#35
...Beam Weaponry Detected…
...Preparing Countermeasures…
...Protocol: Gamma Operating at: 50%...

...Reassessing Combat Data...

While before the robotic voice echoed off the walls and made it hard to tell if it was the machine speaking or some sort of PA system built into the facility, with the machine right before their eyes, it was clear it came from it. After it spoke, distant sounds of metal clanging and what sounded like heavy machinery beginning to move.

Barnabas would be able to take note that the binders of his machine were just short of skimming and scraping against the ceiling of the corridor, something he would need to be wary of should he wish to remain perched atop Hashmal. But perhaps it was a poor move, as grouping up so tightly was only beneficial to the Praetorian, who dashed into the group, moving in a zig-zag pattern that was beyond human in acceleration and manipulation of vectors. The thrusters on the machine’s wing binders flared in massive bursts to shift the movement of the machine, and once it got close enough, it took aim center-of-mass at Hashmal and fired its shotgun, the spread and peppering of the buckshot of burning metal seeking to turn both hashmal and the Kampfer atop it into swiss cheese. After firing twice, it backed out once more at full speed, hugging the right-side of the corridor’s wall as it moved back to gain distance.

As it got close and the burning metal brought some light to the room, more details about the machine could be made of note. It honestly was quite simple-looking, and fairly skeletal in design. On first glance it looked fragile, but looks were often deceiving. Two wing binders connected to the back of the machine gave it a sort of demonic look, coupled with the long red horns. Only once it was within close proximity, would its model name become visible as a blip on their radars.

-X-LPGX/a-
 

MKR

Member
Mar 31, 2019
412
0
16
#36
"Its coming... Two...." Barnabas counted as the machine approached, zig zag movements making it hard to hit on the approach so he didn't try, no instead one of the Amazing Machine Guns shot up out of the binder into the hand of the machine. A smile worming its way onto his features as the Rifle extension dropped to the ground clattering as it did so.

"One..."
Regina was in the starting block eying its movements, waiting for the next slug to fire and then, the moment of truth.

"NOW!" In unison they cried out, the weapon binder that contained one of the machine guns no more firing forward, colliding with the shell at an angle sending the vile payload scattering. Not once but twice as the foe fired in rapid succession. The grim red light of the heated shells illuminating the Mobile Armor from below, casting its shadow across the halls of the facility. Perhaps less intimidating but still noteworthy was the monoeyed machine sitting perched atop, gazing down on the foe whose assault was now splashed across the hallway rather than collide with any of the two in a meaningful manner.

And so in one swift move the Hashmal rushed forward. Perched atop it, crouching as to not scrape the ceiling the Kampfer aimed its weapons ahead of the swift foe. The binder coated in superheated metal colliding with the ground as Hashmal moved past it, passing over its remains.

And without a moment's delay the hail of fire began, from both the beam pistol and machine gun Barnabas fired not at the target but ahead of it all aimed at the floor now found to be sturdy enough to endure such heat, which meant their foe had two main options.
One: Eat the beam hail.
Two: Face the coiling tail of the machine that slid ever so swiftly in pursuit. Sure the Mobile Armor was not as fast as the thing it pursued, but by no means was it to be considered 'slow'.

There was of course revealing any hidden tricks it had, but- Then they'd know for the next round. The Hashmal looming ever near. If their foe elected to move into the center of the corridor, why that just left an opportune charge lane for the Einrad right between the legs of the Mobile Armor. A duo working in perfect sync, the power of 'Failures', the bird pecked the parasites out of the crocodile's mouth and in turn its massive lumbering form would provide shelter against all who would seek to devour it.

"Seems the rustbucket wants to play at being a demon."

"Lets see how it fares against an angel then~ Hey bossman!" Regina called out. "You got any tricks to break this thing's legs with?"

And should this crocodile in the shape of a bird reach its prey, then its tail would slash and coil, aiming to tear its foe apart limb from limb, legs first then its arms before plucking the demon of its wings.
 

Nemesis

Administrator
Staff member
Feb 2, 2019
492
1
18
#37
The Gedlav, huddled furtively behind the advancing Hashmal, seemed to recover as its eyes returned to life. Wolfgang flipped the switches over his head irritably, already scanning the surroundings anew. Even with the updated Quantum Computer, evidently some old tricks never went out of style. Still, at least his erstwhile allies had been able to cover for him - and now, they were tightening the net. After a mental note not to put them on his enemies list, he gave a low whistle in response to their inquiry.

"Just the one."

Wheel churning, the smaller machine rolled to the side, flanking the Hashmal as the three suits collectively formed an advancing wall, one that would either force the enemy to break through - or be forced back.

"Here, catch!"

The missile pod atop the Gedlav flared, sending a spray of explosives out across the projected path of the enemy, striking near the floor as sparsely as it could to avoid any serious damage - but still more than enough to trim the bird's wings if it stumbled into their range. Meanwhile the tires of the Einerad began to wind up, gathering speed as it prepared to launch itself forward and begin its usual accelerated assault if the foe were so unfortunate enough to survive.