Liner in a Strange Land (Open)

[MKR]

The lethal, or in this case quite non lethal combination of Gunman and Headd caused quite the display as the two retreating units both were first sprayed with stone, dirt and whatever no longer remained of their feet before out of the new holes in the terrain black spikes formed cages like those one would consider home to birds and animals at the zoo. Or prisoners.

All in a grand display of what made the two machines outperform any other on this battlefield, and that. That stuck with the man in the Hector as his men took the Rafal's pilot e prisoner under threat of ripping out the cockpit if they had to a fate which would soon befall the other Jaegers a well. Still in this moment his attention was brought to that pair.
"Well that machine of yours certainly is unique. But we can talk more later about that."

The Hector turned towards the Gunman, as the leader of the enemies was liberated from his machine and his underlings were now surrounded he continued.
"We'll take them into custody if you don't mind, as mentioned before your aid is appreciated but I also cannot help myself but be curious at what a machine like that is doing all the way out here." There still was a reasonable chance this was a spy or otherwise information gathering operation by the beastmen so letting his guard down was out of the window.

 

[Kujo]

'Machine like that indeed.'

Aos sat back in his seat and sighed as the conflict drew to a close. 'How does that thing operate? It bends like it's alive- and those spikes... Is this some form of Diver power applied to a machine?'

The Headdliner mused to himself, meanwhile Bangdoll eyed the wrecks of the mobile weapons. The uncanny gaze of its humanoid orbs lingered over the delimbed Zaku as if it were admiring its work. "Io, dial the ezlaser down easy," said Aos as he flicked the switch to his cockpit hatch.

Bangdoll's chest folded out and the knight lifted himself up and onto the top of the cockpit. The sun dazzled across his armor plates and gleamed off the hilt of his coil blade while the plains wind lapped at his dark cloak. The fresh air hitting his previously smoke filled lungs caused a sudden but short cough.

'Strange, I feel... energetic.'

Aos turned to look at his Headd, the Bangdoll still slowly glancing around. He took note of the small creaks 9f the frame and the way the ezlaser "breathed". The knight was no meight, but he could tell that something seemed to be missing, a bit of that explosive energy that made the MH so devastating on the battlefields of Joker was gone and Aos could feel that difference. He looked down now to his hand and clenched it, flexing his arm in experimentation and frowned as he mused on his thoughts.

 

[xekuzwei]

Its pilot seemingly satisfied with her own handiwork, the Lazengann rolled its shoulders, the thin drills fracturing and coming loose of where they emerged from the machine's body. It turned back to the Hector before striding forth to meet it at a range more suited for holding a conversation. Those in attendance would be able to observe the ribbed plating that formed the upper portion of the gunman's cranium retract and the inhabitant clamber up to stand, feet set wide and arms crossed and sporting a cocky grin, to one side of the thing's horn.

"I am Adenine, daughter of the Spiral King!" Pride swelled in her voice, "I come representing the Beastmen Nation! This machine...is my Lazengann." As if on cue her steed came to a halt and folded its arms to assume the same stance as its rider. She turned her spiral pupils on each of the other friendly units in turn, only now taking the time to really observe the design of those that were not the Mortar Headd. Nothing out of the ordinary, but perhaps worth familiarizing oneself with regardless.

"And you are?" Blunt. There was no question of whose banner these men served under, but there was much more to learn about them than that. Especially after fighting alongside them albeit very briefly.

 

[MKR]

Daughter of the Spiral King? That was a surprise to be sure, not necessarily unwelcome but certainly one lacking prior notice. The general needed to be notified at once, fortunately their sniper could do that while he continued his job of being in charge. Mathis turned towards the machine, eying the woman atop it. One thing was for certain, that was a beastman alright.

"Apologies for my bluntness then your highness. Lieutenant Samuel Mathis of the 7th Erebonian Armored Division. Serving under General Vollan, I apologize for the unusual reception but it appears we've received no notice of your arrival." The Hector's mace planted into the dirt as the Drakkhens moved about, towards the prisoners. "Regardless, a transport is on the way which can carry all of us to Erebonia where you will be properly welcomed."

This day was just plain weird, a unusual Traveler with a never before seen transport vehicle and a unit equally unknown all while someone calling themselves princess of the Beastman nation appeared at the same time. Whether this was a good or bad omen was to be seen but it was something. Mathis just hoped that by hiring this man as a mercenary they hadn't invited the wrath of the League or any other faction whom he may have been running from.

---

The general listened in, in matters like this the nobility liked the involve themselves despite what was best. Their involvement was usually not preferred when dealing with the beastmen except in matters of commerce. Still even if the local courts caught wind of the beastman royalty, it would first need to be proven she was in fact that and not just an escapee shouting that for preferential treatment. That Lazengann however, that had his attention. A prototype of sorts to be sure but was it the precursor or successor of the Grapearl. Given the... defensive nature of that nation it was always hard to tell.

And with their unique traits an outsider was always easy to spot making espionage something less than worth the effort.

 

[xekuzwei]

The wolf-woman shook her head dismissively, "Don't worry about all that formal stuff, I'm not as sensitive as those mamby-pamby noble types. 'Sides, I'm only thirteenth in line for dad's spot when that old bastard finally gets bored of being king." Clearly the beastmen didn't treat their royalty with the same reverence most others did - or at least interpersonal relations within the ruling family were a lot more openly casual. "I didn't come alone, either. My friends oughta be catching up aaany second now." Her timing couldn't have been better if she'd intended it; coming from the same direction the Lazengann had approached the group would catch sight of what appeared for all intents and purposes to be a small building cresting the terrain.

It would rapidly become apparent that it was in fact the conning tower mounted on a colossal insectoid gunman, itself undulating over the rough ground on a multitude of spindly legs. Much like the Lazengann itself the alloys comprising its frame seemed to flex and morph organically with little respect for traditional metallurgy, though some may have found the effect rather more unsettling given its size and inhuman shape.

"You guys seem like you know how to put up a pretty good fight though, so I think we're gonna get along just fine."

 

[Kujo]

Aos gave a quick laugh as he heard the beastman's declaration. Even in this system there's nobles gallivanting around with nothing better to do than partake in the Joust. The Headdliner stared on, musing on having heard of houses of old with such expansive royal families. However, even as he listened to these "locals" he couldn't keep his eyes off the points at the top of the heiress' head. Joker certainly had its dens of eccentricity and cultural divergence, but in his few trespasses into these places he'd never seen anyone don the accoutrements of beasts.

The rumbling over the hilly horizon alerted Aos. If the beastman didn't mark it as her entourage, the ferocious face and biological movement of the great machine certainly marked it regardless. At this, Io had dropped down from the MH head's interior and peered out at the strange machines on display, her dark, hooded figure craning out from Bangdoll's hollow neck.

Aos looked to his Fatima as she emerged. "Not exactly what I imagined out of exile," he said. "But I suppose it beats roughing it in the wilderness."

 

[MKR]

It was at this point that the Lieutenant was glad for prior ignorance, as human gunmen moving like they were mech sized men made them close enough to the likes of Panzer Soldats or Knightmare Frames that they were close enough to not quite dabble in the uncanny valley so much. Sure they were strange but a sort of strange that had been accepted and thus become normal. The giant insectoid... ship? in the distance moving like an insect however that sent a chill down his spine.

"I'm afraid I can't quite extend the same courtesy of a ride on the transport." He spoke, trying to ease his nerves and look away from the thing. "If you intend for them to move through Erebonia it will be good to speak to the general so that everyone is aware that it is intended and no misinterpretation of this journey could be had."

"Now regardless of your feelings towards the courtesy consider this an off the records warning that those selfsame noble types will soon be lining up to make your acquaintance." Foreign policy with the beastmen nation was rarely a discussed subject. Let them be and don't bother them was a go to but to have them arrive, well.

With that handled he could see the transport arrive in the distance, closing the gap between them rapidly.
"Speaking of, Mr. Llan, if any preparations need to be made for your Dorrey to be transported now is a good time."

 

[Kujo]

Aos looked beyond Bangdoll's back at his Dorrey, the black smoke drifting over the windswept plains having shifted to grey. The knight dropped down into his cockpit and got on the comms. "I'll have to do a check and reset the flight systems, but as long as the engine bypass has cooled from critical levels I should be able to ease it out of here," said Aos. He rubbed his chin and regarded the beastmen and commented, "unless that big bug of yours does free rides."

The less stress on the ezlasers and their systems while out in this system the better, Aos thought, and that centipede certainly looked like it could do some lifting.