Epitaph (Tack)

[Nemesis]

December 1st
Cape Town Outskirts Coastline

Why did the League always have to make everything such a hassle?

Along the sea-kissed beaches, the pristine, untouched wilderness, a blocky figure careened forward, Arkjet Engine howling under the spurring of its taskmaster, kicking up a spray of froth in its wake. An LEV was a rarity on Earth, and small wonder - the way its frame rattled treacherously under gravity implied it was anything but pleased to be here, pressed to the bosom of the blue planet.

"Ishida Akira...?"

Within the LEV's cockpit, Rowena Koenig crossed her legs as she re-read the strange request, letting Pharsti make the necessary adjustments to the thing's flight path as it made its way towards its destination. Granted, it had just been an excuse to move their resources from space to Earth, in preparation for Operation Harbinger... but still. The sight of all the discretely labeled, non-traceable crates and containers being unloaded near Cape Town, only to vanish into the wilderness was a sight she wasn't going to forget any time soon... especially if you knew what was in them.

"Pharsti, isn't that an Eleven name?" She said aloud, in a vain effort to distract herself from the thought.

"Yes, Lady Roen. My databanks indicate it refers to a classic anime character."

As they drew nearer to the location of the supposed shipwreck, she sighed and leaned forward, taking back control from the AI, who seemed a little too chipper for her own good. As she did, there was a clunk, and something went spiraling away in her rear view camera, landing in the ocean with a distant plop.

"...Was that important?" Said Rowena uncertainly after a moment, but Pharsti already had a cheerful response.

"Just a stabilizer!"

She sighed, and instead dedicated her energy to bringing the craft under control, slowing to cruising speed and surveying the surroundings, the LEV's head turning left and right as it began to scan for the crash site.

...Hero, huh?

 

[Tackle Jackie]

As Rowena made her way across the coastline, it would almost seem unnaturally quaint and peaceful. A ways away from major settlements, it was fairly direct route towards the supposed crash site. Maybe a few small fishing boats visible along the horizon at this point, but otherwise, all that surrounded her were sea, sand and mountains for the time being. Eventually, as she crossed one more range, her target became clear-



Smashed into the coastline was a mid sized civilian cargo vessel, the front smashed into the sands. It very clearly was not *intended* to be an atmospheric ship, so the fact that it was even as in tact as it was should have been strange. There were a good number of shipping crates tossed around the sand, spilled out from a gash in the side- A gash that looked a lot like it had been blown open from the inside…



To investigate anything more visually, they would need to get closer to the wreck- but what they could clearly pick up- Metatron.

 

[Nemesis]

"There it is... Just like they said. At least we know it wasn't a prank."

The LEV drew to a halt, Arkjet motor sputtering unceremoniously as it hovered just above the water, cradling its rifle protectively as it slowed, keeping its distance from the vessel. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the opening on its flank - shot from within?

"The message was sent approximately one half hour before the crash."

"So they knew...? Pharsti, please scan the area."

"Scanning now."

Rowena waited patiently. It was hard not to be lulled into a false sense of security by the waves, the sun, beautiful even in the wintertime. As there was a pleasant chime indicating the completion of the scan, her fingers flicked across the holographic screens that emerged, parsing the data presented - and hovered over one particularly relevant point.

"...Metatron?" She said out loud, the surprise dripping into her tone.

"Yes, ma'am. My sensors have confirmed it within an error margin of .05%. There are no signs of a struggle, and it seems as if we are the first to happen upon the vessel."

Rowena listened to the AI, without taking her eyes off the vessel. There was a vague sense of foreboding creeping up the back of her neck already. Who would be experimenting with Metatron out here, besides them? That alone was cause for alarm - and for her to be here. The headcases in BAHRAM believed the substance was sentient, that it was the voice of an angry God willing them to do its will...

Was it the will of Metatron that had drawn her here?

"Rowena?"

Pharsti's voice drew her back to reality, and she pinched the bridge of her nose, shaking off the uncomfortable thoughts that sometimes surfaced. It was part and parcel of piloting an Orbital Frame - even one as safe, allegedly, as this one.

"...Sorry." She said,

"Was just... distracted."

Her fingers tapped a diagram of the craft, indicating the location of its main cargo bay doors, circling it.

"We'll start here." She explained to Pharsti; "If it's a civilian model, we should be able to use emergency codes to open it. After we've verified the cargo, we'll retrieve the black box for analysis."

"Aye, ma'am. And if the door doesn't open?"

"Use the emergency release, or failing that, the cutter. Keep your eyes peeled."

She took the controls, and began to guide the Testament in closer, bringing it around the flank of the craft with a spray of ocean as the water below touched its dipping feet, moving into the shade of the cargo hold as it began to get to work.

And tried to shake the distinct sense that something was amiss.

 

[Tackle Jackie]

Rowena had a solid plan, investigating the vessel and attempting to investigate the cargo bay- Heck, the doors even opened up for her after she approached!



Like an old crt starting up, there was hiss to the air as dozens of pairs of red eyes filled the shadows of the bay, dozens of power signatures lighting up her sensors. She had awoken something, it seemed.



What had to be at least three dozen yellow “drones” erupted out of the cargo hold, swarming past the Testament, a few bouncing off of its field. None would attack the LEV yet, but that could probably be summed up to the disarray- More concerning at the moment might be the three bare bones Raptors that swarmed out past after the Batta-

 

[Nemesis]

As the doors ground before she'd even reached it, the LEV slowed and Rowena's brow creased. The flickering of red lights in the darkness caused her breathing to stop, eyes widening in primal fear - and the LEV instinctively thrust to its left as the tide of metal hurtled out of its confines, surging up into the air. Of course this was a trap! She thought, desperately - but, for who?

"BAHRAM's Orbital Frames...!" She gasped at the sight of the spindly Raptors as they soared into the sky.

How could I have been so careless? Thought the Frightener - but, her attention quickly shifted to the new foes, the gleaming golden insects, for lack of better word, with their little silver backpacks.

"Pharsti, what are those things?"
"No records in my database. Their size indicates they may be some form of anti-personnel drone. I am not detecting any life signs."

All unmanned units? ...Operating, she imagined, on their own programming. Had they been given orders beforehand, or was this just a reactive response? There wasn't any time to think.

"Send up a signal flare. Broadcast an SOS on emergency channels."
"The chances of timely intervention are slim. I recommend a tactical retreat."
"No. We're here to test the new model Animus, and that's just what we'll do. If we let these things go, they could target civilians. We hold them here as long as possible."
"Roger. Shifting to attack mode."

True to its word, a flare fired from the LEV's wrist, arcing up into the sky before detonating brightly with a coil of dark, acrid smelling smoke - a signal to any nearby that all was not well. In the meantime the LEV moved into cover behind the ship, laser rifle materializing in its hand.



With a burst of light and sound, the LEV fired over the lip of the vessel at the group above, a trio of shots targeting the backs of the Raptors in particular overhead - their escorts, for the moment, seemed to be lower on the threat scale.

Battle had been joined in earnest. Would she be able to hold out until help arrived?

 

[Tackle Jackie]

Three shots, two kills.

The Raptors should have been able to at least try and dodge the shots more effectively, but a curious thing happened. As one of the three had attempted to break away and avoid the shot, it had collided with one of the smaller yellow drones, but seemingly smacked into the air around it, leaving it completely vulnerable to the attack.

Whatever was going on, it couldn't have been good for the Testament, as the drones' attention were now firmly planted on the LEV. The air erupted into a hail of gunfire as about eight of the yellow nasties opened fire onto the testament from it's right flank, with one of the silver backed ones turning and now attempting to ram into the Testament's left- The rest of the drones seemed content to start circling the battle from a distance now.

 

[Nemesis]

"That's two-"

Rowena grit her teeth - and watched in shock as the third blast pinged away pathetically, as if it were light reflected off a mirror. Closer inspection revealed that standing in the way was one of those... smaller ones, the drones. That had stopped her shot? How?

"Pharsti, what was that?"
"Some form of barrier. Too small to be an I-field. Incoming."
"Tch!"

The drones swarmed down, and the LEV ducked down into cover as they did, shield coming up on its arm as it drew the Rusty Lancer, the weapon dropping out of its Vector Trap into its waiting grasp. The small arms fire plinked against her own shield as she let them approach, energy funneling into the solid blade rimmed with burning energy. When the moment was right, the LEV sprung forward, delivering a spinning Burst Slash into the center of the group, a sweeping circle of death aimed to wipe the whole lot at once.

But, the group's movements obscured behind her shield, she'd failed to account for the dropout. The drone accelerated towards the LEV, just as it completed its spin, causing Rowena's eyes to widen.

"A kamikaze?!"
"Warning: Spatial distortion detected. Brace for impact."
"-!"

WHUNCH!

The scream of tearing metal filled the air as the drone collided with the LEV's exposed upper body. The Distortion Field crushed the alloy plates beneath it, ripping and warping them, as though a giant corkscrew had been shoved into the larger machine's chest and wrenched. The uncanny amount of force threw the LEV back, its body slamming into the side of the ship. Thrusters fluttering, it began to sink, legs dipping into the water as one hand weakly grasped the vessel's side.

Chunks of shattered metal dripped from its chest into the water below, lit by the dim glow of Metatron, like glowing blood from a wounded God.

 

[Tackle Jackie]

A score of their number smashed in a single blow, the Testaments ability would immediately raise it's priority within the ranks of the drones. As the handful of supressing drones were demolished and cleaved, fifty two pairs of glowing red eyes locked onto the injured beast with murderous intent. There was a horrifying hiss as shells on all of the plain drones opened, rapidly filling the air with scores of missiles, filling the air between them and the LEV.

The silverbacks weren't sitting out either, with four of their units charging in with reckless intent, distortion fields humming as they sought to smash into the very limbs of the Testament and cripple it further.

 

[Nemesis]

"Arkjet engine critically damaged. Chobham armor plating: crippled."

Rowena's eyes opened groggily to the sound of whining alarms. Had she lost consciousness for a moment? Her hand went to her head, and felt warm, stickiness on the side of it, accompanied by a pulsing headache. Warm blood was between her fingers, and she regarded it wearily as Pharsi spoke, urgency in her tone as much as it were possible for an AI as the swarm regrouped overhead.

"Our chances of survival are falling fast. The situation can be remedied if you lift my limiter."

"...But we haven't tested it yet." Said the Frightener, tersely.

"There's no telling what could happen. Don't you remember the first prototype? We could both-"

"Rowena. You have a destiny to fulfill. The blood of greatness - along with the echoed curse of Mars' revolutionaries - flows through your veins. Is that not what you told me?"

"..."

"Even if it would release you from the responsibility you have chosen to shoulder, you should not choose to die here."

"...Pharsti..."

"Please."

There was a whine of warning klaxons on the HUD, as the cloud of missiles was released overhead. Rowena blinked slowly... and sighed. There was no other choice. Her fingers gripped the controls once again, and she raised her voice.

"Animus Project, activation. Code... Testament."

"Acknowledged. L Mode disabled. Limiter off. Shifting main power from Ark Jet to Antiproton Reactor. Outer defense mechanism: Purging."
​

From above, the missiles rained down, all at once in a cacophany of explosions that swallowed the helpless LEV whole, vanishing it entirely beneath a hail of death. The charging silverbacks found purchase as chunks of heavy armor barred their way, being batted and thrown aside with contemptuous ease. Perhaps... a little too much ease.

There was a roar of thrusters, one far greater than what had been detected before - and with it, the sensors of the remaining Raptor would have flared as it sensed its own kind, something that had been hiding carefully from view. A shape burst from the explosive cloud, straight up into the air with dizzying speed as it shed the last chunks of its crude disguise, the helmet that hid its features now falling away.

Veins of power crisscrossed the Orbital Frame's body. The light of Metatron, the fury of the stars, carved into its body as the Tear Bullet re-materialized in its grasp.

"Let's do it, Pharsti!"
"Roger."


​

The wings on the Testament's back lit up - and it shot forward, raining a hail of laser-rifle fire down on the drones below. This time however, it was accompanied by something else - the OF's fingers lit up, sending the Nail Lasers shrieking after its more conventional fire, curving, homing blasts aimed to carved into the underbellies of the unknowns as they sought to gain altitude to deal with the new threat.

 

[Tackle Jackie]

One could call the sudden display of agility and firepower beautiful. The automated drones were almost convinced that they had eliminated the target and could proceed with their primary objective. Those plans were quickly shattered as the Testament shot above them, raining down a fire of laser fire, visibly knocking around a few of the non silvered drones. While the Silverbacked units seemed to be mostly unharmed, the fields on three of the normal drones did eventually give way to the two pronged attack.


It still wasn’t enough to take them out though, as all of the drones began charging now, a wall of yellow bastards coming to hammer the blue blur of the Testament out of existence- And a single, lost looking Raptor, now just hovering where it was after the armor was lost.


Charging faster and faster towards the ascending Testament, the Impact was imminent- Before it would detect a massive spatial distortion between them.




A huge robot would materialize between the drones and Rowena, laying horizontally between the two, quickly engulfed in the same field that protected the drones. A good few of their the drones would slam into the goliath’s field, torn apart by the more powerful unit’s before the swarm would start to scatter partially, vulnerable in their confusion for the time being.

“Gah- My apologies for the delay, Earthling!”

 

[Nemesis]

"Here they come."
"Charge ready. It's death or glory-"

The Testament drew the Rusty Lancer, energy already flowing down the blade's length as it was charged with energy. The swarm rose up like a giant hand preparing to engulf her... but, she was ready. Even if this was the end, it would be a hero's death, one worthy of Leos Klein's legacy. That was what she thought.

"Detecting spatial anomaly. Emergency stop."

Thrusters screamed as something truly massive suddenly interposed itself between her and the metallic swarm. The Testament's gaze first met its navel, then traveled slowly up its colossal frame, Rowena's jaw practically dropping to the floor as it did, the sun above peeking over the back of... the... Super Robot's head. She'd heard of them - the legendary titans of Mars, who'd fended off the Invaders, who'd crushed the Dinosaur Empire.

Getter... Robo?

"S-S-Super Robot? How? Why?" She sputtered, nigh incoherently, unable to shake her gaze from the machine's back. There was a tentative pause, before both she and Pharsti exclaimed at once, pointing at the newcomer with its index finger.

"DAICHI AKIRA?"
"Daichi Akira?"

 

[Tackle Jackie]

"Hah! You must be the hero that accepted my summons! FANTASTICO!"

The voice on the other end of the line sounded old and tired, but the energy and excitement that came through with it was genuinely uplifting. He sounded just like what you'd hope a hero would sound like, jovial and warm in the face of danger-

"Now, young hero of Earth!" To bring the attention back to the swarm, there was still just a general disarray to most of the units, although a few were starting to head back towards the pair. "Now, I should be able to at least temporarily disable their Distortion Fields, but I'm going to need you to move fast and take out what you can! I'm banking on them not recognizing these codes as coming from the one that just saved you!"

For a moment, there was the sound of hurried typing, and then- Pop-

The Fields surrounding the drones fizzled out, the spatial distortions fading-

"Now! GEKIGAN BEAAAAMMU"

The mouth of the goliath would fire off a singular beam from it's head, sweeping through a good dozen nine of the remaining number as they began to reassemble.

 

[Nemesis]

"Geki... gan?"

The Frightener watched in awe as the Super Robot did its work, true to its heroic roots. It felt... nostalgic, somehow. As if she had seen something very similar, a long time ago, when she was very small. When she'd dreamed of heroes and heroines, of the struggle between good and evil, justice and wickedness. The world had seemed so much simpler, then. Her thoughts were interrupted by Pharsti.

"Rowena? Something wrong?"
"I-It's nothing. Let's go!"

Following the Super Robot's lead, the Testament sprang into action. A tremendous hail of Nail Lasers was unleashed from above, as power flowed into the Tear Shooter. The OF came to a stop overhead, twin laser sights beaming down from the barrel of its gun, finding the center of the mass as a sphere of energy pulsed into being at its tip, ballooning in size as its light lit up the Testament's features.

"This ends it! RAY DISASTER!"



The sphere was launched forward, with enough force the recoil shook the entire LEV - and bounded down towards its targets like a bowling ball from Hell. Upon striking one, it would detonate into a massive ball of plasma, the riproaring explosion hopefully swallowing the remainder of the foes in one fell swoop.

She hoisted the rifle in the aftermath, barrel glowing from the first use of its Burst attack, surveying her work.

"...You didn't have to shout it, you know." Said Pharsti, with as much snark as an AI could muster in its voice, causing Rowena's features to turn bright red.

"O-oh, really? I was just..."

"Getting into it?"

"Y-yeah. Let's... go with that."

 

[Tackle Jackie]

It was an entirely impressive display as the pair's attack tore through the remaining drones. The beam tore through those on the edges, all exploding in a display of pyrotechnics, while the Ray Disaster swept up the rest. Everything that was left of the mobile weapons were swallowed up in the explosion, scattering bits and pieces all over the place.

It was a proper finishing attack, through and through.

"Haha! That did it! A fantasic display if I may say so!" Daichi laughed over the open commns, with the oversized super robot disappearing out of view and then reappearing on the sands of the beach, standing at rest now.

"Ah, it's such a relief to find such youths on Earth. It makes this all worth it." There was a muffled cough, and then a sigh of relief. "Was beginning to think I'd made a mistake. Ah... Oh, I'm such a fool- Tell me, hero, what's your name?"

 

[Nemesis]

The Testament similarly lowered itself to the beach. Although still weary, the cockpit opened, and the dark-haired young woman within stood up, once again awed at the sheer scale of the Super Robot before her. Investigating the remainder of the vessel could wait a little bit - the fresh air felt good on her face after all that. She was just grateful no more nightmares issued forth from the container.

"...Rowena. Rowena Koenig." She said, with a small smile.

"I'm... a government operative for the Large scale Corporation Council. Thank you for your assistance, Mr. Akira."

She paused, looking down as her features hardened, her tone becoming more serious, as if stating her role had called her back to reality. As she contemplated her future dourly, Pharsti worked away, collecting as much data as she could on the past half hour's events - as well as the machine standing before them.

"I can't say... I deserve to be called a hero."

Not... with what I have to do.

In the distance, she could see the approaching shapes of more LEVs, responding to her emergency flare. A tapped-out communique ensured they wouldn't open fire on the new "hero" at least.

"...You said in your request that you'd explain further. Well... Now's your chance."

 

[Tackle Jackie]

“Bah.”

“Heroes are the people that stand in the path of overwhelming forces. Whether they do it out of selflessness or selfishness, in the end they fought to protect. You can do it for money, honor, or because you just hate the bad guy so much you’d rather see them fail than rule with them.”

The head atop the Super Robot hissed open, revealing her new friend. He was a mountain of a man, broad shouldered and generally imposing. Using a grappel line to descend from his cockpit all the way down took a good minute, with the man touching down with a sigh of relief.

"Ah, damn. I forgot the rest of what I was going to say about heroes... Eh, that can wait!" He laughed once more, flashing a smile at Rowena. "I also don't know what that Council thing means, but I'm impressed anyways!"

"And my apologies for taking so long to intercede. I uh, went to the wrong beach."

Yet another chuckle as he rubbed at the back of his neck, glance over the Testament, smiling. "Well, I'm glad to see someone using these Orbital Frames for good." Daichi looked defeated for his inability to stall any longer.

"My name is Daichi Akira, pilot of the Denjin, and I come from Jupiter with news of treachery. I... I believe my people have been tricked into believing that we must destroy or conquer the Earth by the nefarious Kyo'akk Empire..."

 

[Nemesis]

"Kyo'akk Empire?"

...Why did all of this seem so familiar? Rowena listened, as her brow creased more and more in surprise... and disbelief. Eventually, when he mentioned that name... something went click. Of course. How could she ever have forgotten? Sitting on her grandfather's knee as he'd shown it to her, on that cloudy old drive of his. Of the one that had started it all.

"...Wait. Wait just one damn..." She muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose... before suddenly exploding, one leg coming up triumphantly to stand on the lip of the Testament's cockpit as she jabbed an accusing finger at Akira.

"GEKIGANGER? That's Gekiganger 3 you're talking about!" She yelled, practically tripping over her own words; "That cheesy old... Your clothes! And your robot, that Denjin even- Is this some kind of practical joke?!"

"I don't detect any hidden cameras-" Said Pharsti helpfully, only to receive a kick to its screen.

"You shut up!"

">_< Yes ma'am."

"The Kyo'akk empire isn't real! It's made up! It's anime! But... still... Wait."

She paused in mid-wrathful tirade for a moment, the rest of the man's speech falling into place in her tired brain. He said he was from where?

"Your people? But... there are no colonists by Jupiter, right?"

More League propaganda, then?

 

[Tackle Jackie]

"Yes, Gekiganger 3."

The old man looked sternly back up at Rowena, crossing his arms and keeping his face neutral. This had to have been a joke, it must.

"Nearly four hundred year ago, my people fled a great cataclysm on Earth, escaping to the stars. We fled past the Asteroid Belt to Jupiter. There we found the secret truths to Gekiganger Rays- Or, well. We found a factory."

"For centuries, we have survived in the deep of space, training and preparing to save the world from the Great Cataclysm that our ancestors survived- But you see... That was all a lie."

Now pacing around in between the two of them, Daichi started to grumble, shaking his head like he was trying to violently dislodge a thought.

"Our "leader" has been in cohoots with the damnable Kyo'akk Empire from the very beginning! He had never actually discovered the secret to immortality, but he had discovered how to trick us all into believing he had- He'd clone himself using a machine he had found within the factory to duplicate himself for years, eventually building his Board of Executives around him, all to serve the Kyo'akk..."

"He had the gall to use Gekiganger's name to trick our people into believing that we were fighting to save the Earth, but it's all been just lies. He killed Joe and Ken to keep them from telling me the truth, but oh no- He couldn't fool me..."

 

[Nemesis]

"A deep space factory... a Great Cataclysm... immortality..." Said Rowena thoughtfully, as she absorbed the old man's words.

Before she could respond in earnest with another tongue lashing, Pharsti once more piped up - albeit quietly, so that only she could hear, catching her attention.

"Lady Rowena. It's possible he may be suffering from oxygen deprivation. A medical examination would be well advised."

"But it all sounds-"

"His words concerning the drones were correct. It's not impossible what he says could be true as well. First, he should be attended to. Play along, for now."

She sighed. Play along, huh? ...Just like when she was little. When her Grandad had shown her how a hero truly behaved. How a hero spoke, not to the mind, but to the heart, swelling all the most noble emotions of mankind along with it. Could she do it, she wondered? Did she still have that noble soul within her?

Just do it. Do it...

Like Gekiganger.

She opened her eyes... and reached inward, grasping those faded memories, letting them well from her chest, into her throat, and out of her mouth.

"...Daichi Akira. You've made the right choice. Our people - and yours - will be forever grateful for your selfless act of heroism. You have my word... We will defeat the evil Kyo'akk Empire, and free your leader in the name of justice."

In the background, the LEVs were approaching slowly, cautiously. Clearly they weren't entirely sure what to make of the situation - but at least, she thought, they seemed to trust in her decision making.

"For now... Please rest. You have had a long and difficult journey. I ask that you please allow our doctors to examine you, to ensure you acclimate well to Earth's environment."

She clasped her hands together, the very picture of the vulnerable, effete heroine. What was her name again? Miss Nanako. The flow of femininity, something to be valued, cherished... and whose place was not on the battlefield, but to be protected by men.

"When you are ready, I would like to introduce you to our national assembly, so that your story can reach every corner of the planet. Is this acceptable?"

 

[ShadowVigilante1]

As the two were getting along swimmingly. There would be a loud thud coming from the ship. It seemed to have caused a dent next to the bridge area of the ship. Curious seeing as it didn’t seem like there was much left in the way of resistance from inside the ship. And then a knife-like blade came through the metal, tearing through it to create a small fissure, until…

The irritable sound of metal creaking and snapping could be heard all at once before a black silhouette emerged from the wrecked ship. It was a most unusual looking mecha, it looked like an angelic being covered in black tar with nothing but it’s head remaining to give away what it possibly might have been in a past life. But that was irrelevant to the current moment as a seemingly unimpressed and monotonous voice came forth from the unsettling form.



”So… it seems you have survived, barely it seems.”

It would seem like the mecha would cross its arms in disappointment, with a familiar signal emanating from it which Pharsti would immediately pick up on. Traces of Metatron, but not more than what was usually in a normal Raptor unit.

“With you holding back in such a manner, I’m afraid it will only be a matter of time before you succumb to the wrath of my master when they come for your head. Your little LCC is unworthy of wielding such technology after all, it was you who allowed Omer to carry out their… unsavory plans is it not?”

The black silhouette would continue to hover in place, soon lowering its arms down to hang by its sides. The angelic statue on its seemingly judging the two pilots who were conversing.

“Without another, you are simply naught but another pawn in this game, but I digress. Explaining that to someone such as you would be a waste of my time and that of my colleagues‘. So I will be brief. We, BAHRAM have become allies with what this man refers to as the colonists of Jupiter. Or whatever other name he wishes to refer his people by. Either way, the name does not matter at the moment, only our motives do. That of course being the weakening of this planet we all once called home…“

The mech’s arms would stretch out to the sides as it made its proclamation.

”Earth.”​