The Toad Empire (MK, Open)

[Franz_Korderos]

The sky above the open ocean was peaceful and bright blue, painting an impossibly serene and dauntingly vast image that has enchanted humanity from time immemorial. Below, lies something even more alien, where powerful men and women persist with their power play despite the incomprehensibly alien nature of the thing they inhabit.

And from the sky came a falling star, burning through the atmosphere, heading straight down towards the Orphan.

The star soon revealed itself, it was no star but steel shaped into the vague likeness of a bird.

And inside was a man who was grinning like a little boy once more.

"Oh this never fails to be exhilarating." He says, smoothing his silver hair as he rights his descent before plunging his mobile weapon into the water, something that it shouldn't have been able to be effective in. Yet the transformed mobile weapon--no, mobile suit--waded through the waves without much difficulty, slowly but surely going deeper and deeper.

He was sure in his coordinates and so the man from Celestial Being finally found himself some action after long long years of patience and silence.

"Let's show this world your mettle, partner." He gruffly says, smile dangling on his lips as he plunged downwards.

 

[Vicus Reginus]

The thick, whip-like tail of the creature lashed upwards to head off the knife wielding hand. With the differed in height the creature had the clear advantage against the upward strike. Wrapping around Dahlia's wrist, the tail quickly tightened heavily. However, something seemed to come over the creature and its grip let off before it reached a serious level. Crimson eyes stared into the pilot's, an almost imperceptible gentle and inquisitive look sending a silent question.

Connect new? What new?

Magnolia landed atop the creature, cooing as it nuzzled its head up to the being's feelers.

Connect! Connect!

Yes, young.

A quiet resonance rang out at as Magnolia's red eye and the structure above the large creature's stalks glowed. Looking back down at Dahlia, the insectoid released its grip slowly but suddenly its eyes darted back up behind the pilot in the direction of the hangar. The red structure behind its eyes slipped and Magnolia hopped back across the gap to Dahlia's arms as the large creature quickly turned tail and bolted away.

The distressed and battered people of Orphan were ready this time and fled from its path. The thing kept into one of the clear tubes and skittered up along the interior, much to the distress of those above and below it, and disappeared into the upper reaches.

 

[Nemesis]

Dahlia gasped as the thing gripped her, holding her fast. She could feel its strength. Sense the power in that limb, enough to snap her bones like twigs. The fear was paralyzing, overriding all else...

And yet... nothing happened. The thing simply looked at her... and she looked back. There was something calming... something gentle behind those eyes. She couldn't quite understand it. nor place the feeling. Her mouth moved, but no words came out, her throat too dry to form syllables. As the creature released her, she crumbled into a heap onto her knees, shivering. She watched it retreat into the distance, wide eyed, barely even reacting as Dr. Clint, who'd managed to pull himself over with the help of the Britannians, shook her shoulders.

(Connect...? Connect... what...?)

"Dahlia? DAHLIA!"

There was a sudden rush of footsteps from the direction of the hangar as more Reclaimers approached. From the sign of their tight-fitting Fluid Suits, they were Gran Cher pilots.

"Dr. Clint, we've got a problem!" The lead one yelled;

"There's an unknown contact approaching fast!"

Of all the times, Clint thought to himself, trying to ignore what was certainly more than a few broken ribs. He had to think clearly - for his sake, and that of the Princess. He tried to gesture to them, weakly, saying as he did:

"Don't just stand there... Go, intercept-"

To his surprise, they did nothing except exchange nervous glances. The lead pilot spoke once more, hesitantly.

"Sir... The Gran Chers won't move."

"What?"

---

Exterior

It was surprisingly quiet as the Wing Gundam dove into the sea, like a spear cast from the arm of an angry God, hurtling down through the depths towards Orphan. The lights on its surface pulsated in the dark, like a colossal treasure rising from the depths, catching the sparks of the sun to adorn itself with the planet's praise. No swarm of Antibodies emerged to challenge him - all was still and all was silent. As if Orphan itself were holding its breath.

But, why?

High, high above in the blue sky, not long after the Wing descended: a second form emerged among the clouds. With a flash of multicolored sparks, the Antibody appeared through the Vital Globe as easily and swiftly as if it had stepped off a bus...

And yet, it was unlike any of its kind that had ever been seen before.

A high, ridged head like a mountaintop, peered over a slit, glowing visor-like face, sharp and pointed forward as it slowly surveyed the area. Pearlescent white armor made it shine in the light, flecked with splashes of verdant, vibrant green across its wide shoulders, about which drooped rows of thick, pointed tentacles, swaying gently in the breeze, as if it were a general that wore a long jacket draped about his shoulders.

A muscular claw flexed in anticipation of the hunt. Its essence flooded the world, and it drank in the ferocious richness of the life that surrounded it, Organic Energy pulsating through its being as it drank deep of the richness of life.

The Baronz was home.

Without a moment to spare, it was gone - blinking down, skipping through the vital net on rainbow-hued pulses that spread from its feet, kicking itself down into the water as it began to track the falling Mobile Suit...

 

[MKR]

There was the threshold where excess excitement poured over into pure, undiluted, stress. The creature despite its retreat was already meeting that quota for the poor Princess sent to oversee this transition. It and Magnolia seemed to not hold relation of predator and prey, was it a pet to the larger creature or was some other relationship going on. She wasn't a biologist and at this point she just wanted it done with.

Everyone was safe, that was the important part and then, the announcement of a 'problem' however got the Princess to just.. Pause for a moment. An exhale came as the princess motioned towards one of her knights.
"Glen, let Cyrus know to stand by if the unknown gets too close and the Gran Chers do not intercept it instead."

"Yes your highness." Immediately the knight stepped to the side, speaking into a communications device.

The Princess inhaled once more, and exhaled. Stepping back towards the rest of the group.
"I hope not every day is as exciting as this one here Dr. Clint." She said, a weary smile "One of my knights is on standby should the unknown proceed too far but I would prefer if the Gran Chers dealt with this threat themselves." If part of the point was to improve the public image of the Gran Chers then this was not helping.

"Your highness?" Glen called out "What appears to be a Gran Cher is engaging with the unknown."
She turned back to the knight, then to the Doctor and the pilot before turning back to the knight.
"How do you mean, 'appears to be'?" Her tone was approaching frustration, she wanted definite answers now not beating around the bush.

"Sir Cyrus had visual on an almost regal looking white Gran Cher with a 'mohawk' for a short moment after it appeared before it dove after the intruder."

She turned back to the main group properly.
"That I would say is gladdening to hear. Though I don't recall seeing a Gran Cher with a mohawk but it appears one of the men's Gran Cher still functions, a patrol I take it?" This fortunately meant that if the pilots returned to their Gran Chers they should be moments away from deploying as well, which would let their day continue without further interruptions.

 

[Vicus Reginus]

Though the great biological vessel seemed to still itself, its insides still tossed and turned. Through the zigzagging folds and wafers of Orphan, the intruder kicked and slithered about until with a quick groan the walls closed in around it and all at once began to shoot it forward.

A thin hole opened along the golden shell of Orphan below the ocean's surface and a burst of bubbles erupted out, followed by the disc-like shape of the green creature getting launched, or perhaps coughed up in this case. The thing sailed through the water, happening to pass the mobile weapons diving in the opposite direction. If they were observant they might note the quickly moving red gleams in the creature's eyes.

Complete connect, She will be pleased.

New quiet, young continue listening.

Aimo.

Meanwhile in the interior, Magnolia's eye lit up once again. It fluffed itself up and pushed itself into Dahlia, cooing as if to comfort her.

 

[Franz_Korderos]

"You've got incoming."

The silver-haired pilot perked up at that, eye darting to the Wing's powerful sonar. What he saw made the formerly calm and eager man frown. They expected an attack but not like this. It would've come from below not from above.

"Thoughts?"

"Abort." He sighed at the response. His backup was the pragmatic sort and the terseness of his tone was worrying.

"Alright." Deftly and carefully, he starts to pull up, righting the transformed mobile suit towards the surface, warily eyeing the sonar and the cameras for any sort of attack from the bogey approaching him at worrying speeds.

Above the vast sea, high above the surface, hiding in the cloud was a mobile weapon that had no right flying. It idled in its position, blocky and white, cataloguing the strange thing that plunged to the seas after his comrade. It was quick but the image she got was worrying enough.

"I'm in position." He says, checking the status of the GN particles.

"Gotcha." The reckless old man that was his superior replied. At least there was a tinge of worry in his usually blithe tone.

Their little interruption didn't go as planned. Instead of baiting several fishes, they only got one.

And this might just be more than they could handle.

 

[Nemesis]

At length, the Reclaimer and Britannian congregation made its way to a room that resembled a command center. Dr. Clint watched the scene unfolding before him with unbelieving eyes as his fingers moved across a keyboard. A medic hurriedly tried to bandage his chest in the meantime, but given such a spectacle, it seemed as though the older man had recovered ten years of his youth in energy. The interior of the room was full primarily of research equipment constantly monitoring and collecting information on Orphan's every breath - somewhere between a military briefing room and a laboratory, but doubtlessly poor compared to what the Britannians were likely used to.

"That's a Gran Cher, certainly." Said Dr. Clint thoughtfully; "But, this reading... It's absolutely off the charts. I've never seen anything like it."

He shook his head, but continued his work, gathering every scrap of data he possibly could. Today had provided him with enough material for a dozen books and a hundred papers - he'd never need to worry about running out of research material for the rest of his life.

Dahlia, after being pulled to her feet, had regained some of her function along the way, and until now had simply remained at the back of the group, shivering silently and tending to Magnolia. She stared at the white Antibody wildly, uncertainly, as if hearing some unheard call.

"Orphan... has called a guardian to protect us." She said, quietly.

Clint raised his eyebrows at this in surprise, regarding the Princess as he did so.

"For now, my lady... Let us watch and see how things unfold. Unless you would suggest any other course of action?"

---

"...Gundam."

A transmission - a voice, scratchy and tinny, wiry and mechanical, as though it had been run through a dozen filters, interrupted the Wing Gundam's own communications as it turned in the depths and began its ascent. The ocean was cold and dark, and save for the voice now speaking to him, silent save for the rhythmic, guttural churning of his machine's thrusters against the the depths.

"You trespass on sacred ground."

Movement, to his right. At first, he could have been forgiven for thinking of them as remotes - albeit none that had ever been wrought by the hands of man could ever have cut through the abyss with such terrifying speed. Cruel spikes swept out of the blackness toward his flank, aimed to pierce the rising Wing's body - but not only that. The ribbon-like extensions snaking out of their backs ensnared it, looping around limbs, forming a bandage-like binding.

"Your corpse will make a fine example to others of your kind..."

If he were so fortunate as to avoid the first volley, a second would have emerged momentarily from his left, another full eight Fins snaking towards him at breakneck speed, pointed tips glowing with Organic Energy like vipers in the gloom, aiming to do the same to his left flank - or catch him in his evasive maneuvers. These too, aimed with unnerving, almost prescient precision - would ensnare and trap him in a spider's web of organic metalflesh if he were so unfortunate.

It was as if the pilot was already fully aware of the capabilities of a lone Mobile Suit, trapped and without support, in the ocean depths.

Lastly, the Antibody itself, standing stock still yet still somehow in motion, loomed up ahead of him in the gloom, tentacles writhing and whipping about its shoulders as it raised a hand before it, veins of neon-green power surging across its body as it gathered energy in preparation to slay the captive target where it stood, Chakra Light illuminating its features before him.

"...as the ravens tear apart its flesh..."

 

[MKR]

The princess took the moment of rest to observe the screens, a room like this she had been familiarized with plenty though it was always one of her elder siblings giving the orders then instead of her but that too was fine as at the time she was visiting them. Dahlia's words caught her attention, a guardian that was called for? In that case the reason the Gran Chers would not move was unrelated, or even in spite of, Orphan's desires.

"I say we observe. I would wish to see what the intruder and the guardian both have in mind." Had that intruder followed them or was this coincidence? If it was the latter she didn't want to show any Britannian presence on the ocean bound megafauna in case that would spark more of them to attack. This so called guardian however, she could see why Cyrus had referred to it as he did. Without knowing better it was one of Orphan's existing troops.

"Dr. Clint, I should ask does this equipment allow for recording footage? If so, please secure anything you can about this duel." Be it teaching about a new enemy or propaganda, this footage was valuable. Though who did the other machine work for, the design looked tailored towards space more than atmospheric combat. The league perhaps? Or one of the ample terrorist organizations hiding amidst the space dust.

And amidst this group, did Dahlia have a special connection to Orphan's machines, or was this merely hopeful blabbering?

 

[Franz_Korderos]

There was a reason why he decided to be the one to undergo this mission. Out of all the factions currently imbedded in humanity's cradle, the ones piloting the mysterious Brains and Gran Chers worried them the most. No, actually several others worry them equally but this one just happened to have a meeting with the most imperialistic of factions; the Holy Britannian Empire.

And out of all of the pilots, he is the one with the least to lose, the one with the least to live for.

"Last dance it is ..." He mutters, spotting the tentacular weapons spearing at him and instinctively dodging away from the grasping weaponry, lighting the Wing's saber in a deft motion and cutting apart the fins approaching on the Wing's other flank. It was only a maneuver made possible because of the Wing's extensively mobile backpack unit but it wasn't enough.

He groans as the cockpit shuddered, alerts flashing on the monitor as he instinctively thrashed around. Idly, he noticed the output of power. It was worrying. It almost seemed as powerful as the higher outputs of the Wing's own buster rifle.

"Well, shit ..."

Then he grinned, lackadaisical and resigned.

Despite not being the fish they sought to catch, this one would do. Time for his younger companion to show what he can do.

A suit with the Virtue's weight would sink frightfully fast under the waves and it was a fact that the tense pilot made use of, lessening the lift provided by the GN drive to the bare minimum and allowing the bulky Gundam to go deeper and deeper, then pushing downwards with an acceleration assisted by the ever-mysterious GN particles.

He found them in mere minutes.

"What is that thing?"

Without hesitation, he immediately fired several torpedoes at the strange and menacing machine who got the other Gundam in its tentacular grip.

 

[Nemesis]

"Y-yes, of course."

Dr. Clint adjusted his glasses and resumed his madcap typing, making sure every aspect of the battle was recorded. Dahlia continued to watch in haunting silence, her features pale. Were the Princess to look around the room, those wearing the form-fitting Fluid Suits - devices that were supposed to maximize the flow of organic energy through the pilot to the Antibody - looked similarly ill, yet transfixed with the development that was unfolding on screen.

There would be much to explain the princess later on, thought Clint wearily. Things that seemed normal to him would be seen as strange by the outsiders. Perhaps he'd spent too much time down here after all?

---

(My Baronz... You know what to do. Grant my wish, and my life is yours.)

The Virtue's ponderous approach was impossible to miss. The Baronz's head tilted up lazily in its direction, as if acknowledging its existence. The shots from the torpedo launcher pulsed out, storms of noise compared to the swift, silent Antibody.

There was zero hesitation it its reaction. With infinite grace, the Baronz's body turned into a standing backflip, feet touching off an invisible surface as it turned its body, maximizing torque - it was akin to dancers' leap, only as it did so, the Fins coiled about the Wing's body also tightened - and he was being flung through the vacuum, through the abyss.

The twin torpedoes struck the Wing's exposed back - and in a shattering explosion that rippled through the water, splintered it into a hundred thousand pieces. The detonation rippled out in all directions, a fountain of froth, oil, and steel that swallowed everything in its path.

"Is this what the name Gundam has fallen to? Children, playing at terrorists?"

With a shff, of vital energy the Baronz stepped back and away from the detonation, watching the Wing's remains sink into the depths with disdain. Its fins were blackened and charred, the majority being marred beyond recognition - but it accepted the pain. Orphan was here. Orphan was watching. It would drink deep of its power, to fulfill its mission. The Baronz waited, interposing itself between Orphan and the Virtue, head tilting up as it waited patiently to see if this one was foolish enough to press its assault... and join its comrade in the murky depths.

"Children... should listen to their parents."

 

[MKR]

The princess brought a hand up on her lips, watching in contemplation. One of the knights leaned down, whispering something in her ear. Informing her that all the pilots in the room were looking pale, transfixed and ill. She held up a hand waving him away for now after a short nod affirming she had heard him. A question to ask later be it to one of them or Clint. Her theory however, this seemed like a pecking order.

Currently her eyes were on the second unit.
"A Gundam?" Actually, on that note the other unit had looked rather like one of the experimental transforming Gundams as well, yes these were certainly spacenoids then. At least their units were made for use out there and if they descended from the skies well. Two and two still made four.
"Have any Gundams appeared here before?" She asked calmly, her eyes still tracking the battle. The Gran Cher seemed all but victorious at this point which was good for them even with the second unit coming down unless it could outperform the Guardian considerably this battle was already won. Sinking below the waves was a death sentence for these sorts of machines.

 

[Franz_Korderos]

"Boss!"

The voice was full of sudden anguish. He was helpless as he saw the venerable Wing vanish into the depths, its vaunted gundanium alloy dented and broken. If he was in a more agile machine ...

He grimaced, gnashing his teeth as he eyed this jump-upped Gran Cher warily. Even with a faster mobile suit, that thing can still chase him down. It was intimidating before, it was genuinely horrifying now. It was foolish of them to believe that their little excursion couldn't go wrong in the worst way possible and this thing is exactly the reason why they should've worried.

A flash of that old man's lazy grin flickered through his mind and he growls.

The Virtue's eyes flashed ... and then it slowly floated back up to the surface, never once removing his eyes away from the white Gran Cher. The young pilot's grip on the controls were white-knuckled, a part of him just screaming to avenge his fallen comrade with everything at the Virtue's disposal but logic prevailed. The mothership could have more of these, aside from the Gran Chers it probably has.

One Gundam is lost, it would be foolish to lose another, no matter how much he may want to tear that self-assured monster a new one.

 

[Nemesis]

"No. Gundams are a rare sight these days... Not since Mars have they been seen in any greater capacity. Why now, then, would they choose to return?" Said Clint in response to the Princess' inquiry, folding his arms as he mulled the question over. Could it be, he thought, that the disturbances in Organic Energy were causing even greater rippled effects?

The Baronz watched the Virtue leave in haunting silence. Once it was out of sight, it turned its gaze below, perhaps contemplating the now vanished form of the Wing Gundam before hopping and skipping through space in the direction of Orphan.

"Dr. Clint, the antibody is approaching. What do we do?"

In the command center, Clint adjusted his glasses thoughtfully.

"The only thing we can. Be gracious hosts."

---

It wasn't long before the individual in question had been escorted to the "bridge". In the intervening twenty minutes or so, the Gran Cher pilots seemed to have recovered, and were sitting around eating snacks or drinking water, suffering symptoms of dehydration. Dahlia herself was seated at a console, gnawing on the edge of some condensed fruit bar half-mindedly as she watched the entrance. At lengths, the doors parted - and the scratchy, digitized voice rose in greeting.

"Salutations, Reclaimers."

There were parts to Dr. Clint that seemed all too familiar - the lines across the body, the material - yet others that were clearly of League make. In fact, the figure before him, clad in a form-fitting suit, starkly resembled a draft he'd seen years ago at a UN meeting, when his research had been getting underway. A draft design for a Fluid Suit. The newcomer looked slowly around the room, as though noting the looks of surprise on the others' features.

"My name is Baron Corvo. The will of Orphan called to me from across space." Said the Baron, with no hint of irony whatsoever in her voice.

"Baron... Corvo." Said Dr. Clint slowly, still trying to process what was before him.

"And your Antibody-"

"The evolved Gran Cher, the Baronz. Conduct whatever tests you deem necessary. That child has been waiting to return home for a long time."

Clint nodded, grasping for his next words, but the Baron seemed to already be aware of what he was trying to ask, saying:

"...This is a prototype Fluid Suit developed by the League. They promised to extend my life... and in exchange, by cybernetic body was infused with these components. It both gives me life... and is my prison."

As if to demonstrate, the Baron flicked her wrist - and an access panel snapped out, showing a variety of mechanical and biological components beneath. The sight was enough to make some recoil in disgust, but Clint stood his ground.

"While we appreciate your assistance... What is it you want with us, Baron Corvo?"

Lights flickered across the surface of the Baron's suit, as if in mirth - flecks of Organic Energy, Clint noted, not unlike that which he'd seen in antibody cockpits. She gave a humble bow as she spoke.

"I humbly request that I be allowed to join your ranks. I have heard much of your exploits... and believe in your cause."

Clint stoked his chin at this, mulling it over. The chance to study the Baronz up close, well... how could he possibly pass on that? But, just to be certain:

"Princess," - He said suddenly, turning aside to their new benefactor - "What do you think?"

 

[MKR]

With the battle concluded the Reclaimers returned to normalcy in turn. A shift not gone unnoticed by the Britannians during the twenty minutes that passed. The Princess observing quietly, Gundams weren't seen by them often which meant today was a unique event. She expected it to be in response to their presence aboard in all likelihood but frankly there was no way to tell. The quiet aftermath however, was welcomed by the delegation.

Still, the events of the day were not open and the... Unique woman stepped inside. For a while she was content to listen along with the woman, with this self proclaimed Baron but once mention of the league came about the Princess. Had her gaze firmly on the woman.
"This, prison of yours." She commented taking a moment to choose her words wisely "Are the keys yours or does it belong to the one who made it."

The last thing they wanted was a league spy, let along insurgent in an influential position. And while the Baron was a newcomer to Orphan by sheer virtue of having the Baronz they would be held in high acclaim if not revered by their peers.
"If the league holds your strings, I cannot in good faith permit you to remain here. Otherwise it is certainly up for debate, regardless you have my thanks for your actions here today and I would not wish to see you go unrewarded for them."

Her tone was firm, decided on the matter beforehand it seemed. As soon as the league was mentioned her mind was made up and there could be no doubt.
"As such, if what you seek is to join the newly christened Area 12's reclaimers then I would welcome you as your reward. But should it be determined you are an agent for the league, that will have to be addressed first."
If the suit was holding her hostage, by the reactions of those here they seemed familiar with it somewhat and her gratitude was enough to do so.

"Which will it be, Baron Corvo."

 

[Nemesis]

"All those who held my leash are dead. An act of providence."

Baron Corvo looked unblinkingly at the Princess. It was impossible to tell the expression on her features, save for the occasional flicker of organic energy that slipped between its armored plates, pulsating like a heartbeat.

"...who better to see that the League and its sycophants meet their ends than Britannia?"

"You think that's good enough?"

It was Dahlia who spoke up, rising from her chair as she leered at the newcomer, who regarded her levelly. Setting aside her meal, Dahlia advanced on the small group, standing across from the Baron, and pulling herself up to her full height.

"It wouldn't be the first time the League's tried to send a spy among our ranks. What proof do you have of your loyalty?"

"Hmph."

The Baron gave a low, static-riddled laugh, causing the Reclaimer's brow to furrow. Was she being mocked? No, rather it seemed as if the newcomer was... pleased.

"Dahlia Lycoris. You live up to your reputation." Said the Baron, adjusting something on her wrist as she turned to the Doctor.

"Gustav?"

There was a short, sharp hiss of escaping air, and something dropped into his hand from a compartment in the Baron's wrist, whisps of some kind of gas emnating for the briefest of moments. Dr. Clint looked confused for a moment, before examining what rested in his palm... and then blanched, the color draining from his features.

"...This is...!"

His eyes flicked up to the Baron, and there was the distinct sense that whoever was behind the mask was staring holes into his forehead. A hand was extended, and Clint shakily replaced the small, clear object the Baron had given him.

"I trust the matter is settled?"

"Y-Yes." Muttered Clint. as if partially to himself as he fidgeted, Dahlia's expression morphing into one of surprise as he did so.

"I should think so."

"By your leave, then."

Corvo turned to leave - but before doing so, looked back over her shoulder at the Princess, saying as if an afterthought:

"The will of Orphan smiles upon you, your highness. I hope you'll live up to its expectations."

...And like that she was gone, retreating into the innards of the organism, leaving Clint to sink back into his seat, looking as if he'd just run a marathon. His own thoughts were nothing short of a mess: the first question was how? The second, he thought, was who? Some things boomeranged back to you at the worst possible times...

 

[MKR]

The princess listened with the explanation, seemingly satisfied for now. However the conclusion of the exchange raised more questions than it answered as the baron delivered an item to Clint. Whatever it was seemed to shake the Doctor to his core and unconditionally affirm the woman's freedom. Frankly though, she was done for today. That would be a question for another time. The final statement from the Baron however caused some interest, the will of Orphan favored her it seemed. How curious.

"We will be returning to the mainland for the remainder of the day to conclude the final steps for proper integration into the Empire. Come tomorrow I will be arriving early in the morning to take up a permanent position as Viceroy of Area 12." The princess addressed those in the room calmly "I expect to hear then, Dr. Clint what it was that confirmed her loyalties." Her gaze passed over the man, sunken in his chair as he was.

"Now then, while the day has proven to be exciting in different ways then what I assume we all predicted I still thank you for the warm welcome when I arrived here and once again welcome you to the Britannian Empire." She offered a short bow. "Now I bid you rest, recover and of course take care of Magnolia." She smiled towards Dahlia with that last remark before returning to neutrality. She turned towards the door that had served as exit to the Baron moments prior, the parts of her Entourage still with her now following in her shadow once more.

Still she wondered, favored by Orphan's will. What did that mean?

 

[Vicus Reginus]

Magnolia poked its head out from behind the short drape of hair at the back of Dahlia's head where it has huddled to weather the events of the Gundams' attack. The little thing seemed to tweet softly as it peered about until the one calling themselves "Baron" appeared. During the whole interaction Magnolia never seemed to take its gaze off the odd cybernetic saviour, and at she turned to leave the creatures red eye blinked with light.

Connect?

Old?

... Dahlia.