Titanomachy - Phase Themys

[Kujo]

December 25, 7:56 AM
Lagrange Point 1
BFF Motherwill Container Colony

En watched as the target grew close. Visions rapidly filled his vision intermittently, accompanied by a shrill signal. A brief smile came across the rogue Coordinator's face. "No need to show me all that, I know what I'm going to do for now."


A deep red form streaked through the void of space. Jagged and angular, it sliced through the darkness like a dragon from Hell. "Time for our match, Epyon."

The form of the unit flipped and twisted, green light flared as cameras engaged, and a humanoid unit appeared bearing the hilt of a beam saber and a wicked, tail- like whip. This was unmistakably a Gundam, however one unlike almost any other- even compared to how it was first made. En had made off with the Epyon several years ago, the Gundam unit being an old prototype of CHORUS' from before they had settled their focus on quantum computer equipped Mobile Suits. In the time between its theft and now, the former OPERA had modified the Gundam to better suit him resulting in the exceedingly serrated appearance of the already draconic Mobile Suit.

A brief series of images flashed in En's head once more before he set Epyon bolting forward, beam saber bristling .

 

[MKR]

It was strange seeing the entirety of the walking wallets that were the league actually aligned on something aside from that they wanted to breathe. He preferred it when they weren't because it meant that there was ample work to be done for enough pay while continuing the stalemate ensuring future business for punching the league in the gut while paid by the league. This however, he wasn't complaining not at all.

They were desperate and he got to wedge in terms, of course the wallet armada wasn't pleased about his terms but with this payout he wasn't going to be caring about that for a while.
And now, what he was actually paid for if the league suffered a total collapse he would be fine but that in this case wasn't his interest.

A mobile suit, not one he knew but a voice piped up that did.
"NEXT White Glint." they told him, everyone always cared more about the machine than him even if it wasn't the same one as that one. "The MS has a 90... 85% match with the missing Gundam Epyon." that was a name he'd heard before. Customized or a copy? Likely the former. So he knew what he could do to be loaded enough for several lifetimes instead of just the one.

The blur of white launched forward, intercepting the draconian shape first a probing attack, those bricks known as gundams could take a beating so it was a simple plan to start. After all the 051ANNR was prided for both accuracy and damage, so he'd be aiming with it for the joints while the 063ANAR which was even more accurate was directed at the machines eyes, ready for the obvious dodge sideways in response to the prior shots.

Gundams had a relatively simple procedure to disable since they weren't walking nukes. Disable sensors, disable joints and then they'd be unable to see or move effectively. The only regret was not having a shock weapon on him. Knocking the pilot out was after all the easiest way to capture any unit.

Now, the trick was just actually doing it much easier said than done.

 

[Nemesis]

"I don't like this."

Compared to the Spartan, bare-metal interior of the GAE command center, the BFF suite was more... luxurious. Cultured. Tempered. Unlike those brutes, after all, they had a distinct style. Even if they were in the business of murder, it was important to look good while doing it. A wide couch, surrounded by screens, a collection of aides and engineers tasked with overseeing the colony clustered around one man, seated at the center, dressed in faded yellow fatigues.

Vice President Adalin Felenyed, a middle-aged cyborg, watched the Epyon's approach nervously. His cybernetic arm tapped out a steady staccato on the tea tray, and likewise his metallic left foot did the same to the floor below. He ran his fleshier, more comfortable hand through a wave of off-white hair. Who was responsible for this?




"First the Biolabs, and now this?" He groaned; "It's got to be some kind of plot."

Over his shoulder, a friendly aide leaned in, adding hopefully:

"White Glint is en route to intercept."

Adalin jabbed a metallic finger under her chin, as if the very name alone caused him physical pain to hear.

"He better be. The amount we shelled out..." He grit his teeth so hard, he thought they might shatter, - "We'll never recover from it."

Being hardballed by a mercenary - one hardly in his company's own pocket wasn't something he was taking lightly. There was a metallic pop, and a hip flask was yanked from its holster, Adalin downing a not insubstantial amount as he pondered the state of their checkbook, miserably. How was he going to explain this to Omer? Could this be their doing, trying to run them out of business? As he mulled over his future, or lack thereof, another, perhaps more level headed aide interjected gently:

"Most of our regular troops were sent along with the invasion force. However..."

The young man flicked through his handheld tablet, absentmindedly.

"...we do have those sitting in cold storage."

Adalin paused in mid-swig. A slow grin spread across his features. Yes... they did, didn't they? A little out of date to be certain, but they could hold their own against a Gundam. All he had to do was give the ok, and cut them loose. Cleaning up later would be a mess, yes, but what was he supposed to do when most of his forces had been appropriated for this insanity?

He sighed, and motioned to the aid, signing at the bottom of the tablet. In silence, the team began to get to work, as Adalin tramped off miserably towards the hangar. It'd been a hot minute since he'd used a NEXT - this was supposed to be a cushy, corporate retirement gig - but, even someone with low AMS ability could make use of that.

That he'd have to look to Rayleonard in his hour of need... If was a God, he thought, he had a sense of humor.

 

[Kujo]

The trilling pitch of the Gundam's systems alerted En of his first adversary. Immediately Epyon's Search Eye began to transmit any and all data it could to the Epyon System. Even as the NEXT simply raised its rifle the system calculated the speed of its actuators and estimated the rifle's trajectory and velocity. This Gundam had turned combat into less of a hectic scramble and more into a game of chess; Epyon would present its moves based on the "board state" and all the Coordinator had to do was follow through.

En exhaled sharply in a mocking laugh as he threw the Gundam forward, reeling from the thruster output but loving every moment of it. "Sorry, but I'm not interested in playing with Dolls." Epyon held out its offhand as electricity arced across its body from one arm to the other. The solid rounds curved and deflected off the Gundam's Planet Defensor field as the wicked Mobile Suit continued to dart forward at the NEXT, looking to swipe with its thick beam saber as it passed to continue en route to the colony.

'I hear NEXTs are fast, let's just see about that.'

 

[MKR]

Shield bits? That made things more troublesome but tricks are to be expected at this point and thus this was the perfect time to probe what other tools the machine had to defend itself with now that they were busy with bullets. The shoulders of the White Glint clicked open, the sound silenced by the void of space where they had come to fight.

"Dolls huh?" He spoke up, the boosters firing up as the blade came down, as the NEXT quickboosted backwards leaving the blade behind while remaining between the Gundam and its target "Bold choice of words from the one with the action figure here." Both SALINE05 canisters unleashed their payload. Up close and personal the target was a nice lock for the FS-JUDITH targeting system the Glint was running and now the Gundam was faced with a veritable swarm of missiles right in front of it, strong and agile but lacking in speed. The perfect weapon to force upon an advancing enemy where they could choose to eat the swarms of highly powerful spread missiles or retreat to escape them.
"But if you don't want to play, I'll make this quick."

The 063ANAR in the White Glint's left arm never stopped firing but with a flick was aimed for the cables leading to the blade. If he couldn't blind it easily, then he would neuter it that weapon looked damn big for a energy blade so all the better to take it out. The speed the Epyon's pilot pondered was proven as the NEXT began zipping around, the blue light of its head dancing across the cosmos like a star, not eager to sit still for any possible ranged assault while also keeping the angle on the shots from its gun at the cables leading to the Beam Saber. The only 'downside' was that it needed to be in front of the Epyon, the colony at its back however proved that this was where he was being paid to be.

To his benefit the White Glint excelled at aerial speed, maneuverability and upkeep and what was space if not air with even less friction. Why yes he was perfectly aware a Gundam was even more finetuned for this sort of environ than his unit but he would take the benefits of the unit's make he could get.

 

[Nemesis]

In the distance, the form of the Spirit of Motherwill loomed overhead. All through its frame, crews scrambled to bring it to life, the ancient, ponderous Arms Fort creaking under the weight of rust. Regardless, its distinct silhouette was like an immense moth of some kind, wings spread wide, casting shade over the combatants below, whose initial clash sent booms of thunder echoing through the interior.

Atop the Arms Fort, a pair of forms had been hurriedly dragged onto its deck. Emergency maintenance crews worked as fast as they could, pulling free fueling cables, and making final adjustments to BFF's oft-maligned trump cards. Adalin chewed the inside of his cheek anxiously as two triangular heads nodded to life, skeletal wing-like appendages shuddering as they flexed in anticipation. The AI updates would be substantial enough... he hoped. You never knew until you tried when it came to Rayleonard.

"Alright... Get in there!" He yelled over the rising roar of their thrusters, hands clamped firmly over his ears.

With a roar of plasma and Kojima particles, the prototype 002-Bs dove over the lip of the deck, surging towards the combatants below, systems scanning for the hostile, heads twitching irritably like crows in search of their next meal...

 

[Kujo]

More explosions, more bullets, more targets, more data. En could see everything falling into place.

The field arcing around the Gundam faded as the miniature wings on its arms cut their draw from Epyon's reactor to cool and recharge, the rifle fire going from sailing away to slapping against the Mobile Suits nearly insurmountable armor. The thick, bristling beam saber began to grow in intensity as the power once allotted to the Sturm und Drang flowed through the cable attached to the saber's hilt.

"I've already seen you try that 7 times!"

Epyon drew its beam saber across and to its side while maneuvering with its immense boost above its opponent and thrusting the broad blade of plasma straight for the NEXT repeatedly, the clear and rehearsed movement of countless hours and likely countless "deaths" causing the power cable hooked up to the saber to dance wildly. Each stab saw the blade grow longer and wider with more energy, though Epyon would maintain the same intense chase downwards with each lunge before bringing the blade up for what appeared to be a greater cleave with the giant blade. Thrusters flared as Epyon flung itself end over end at the NEXT, the oversized beam saber leaving a trail of light like a great burning wheel as it rapidly sped down; the closing micro missiles were clipped by the radiant energy of the immense blade of plasma.

Hardly skipping a beat, the Gundam carried its momentum into flipping itself over and transforming into the draconic cruising mode once more and hurtled forward once more; the gleaming gold claws on the forms forelimbs unfurled and its tail glew bright red. The cruiser sped forward with little care as to an effective strike, however, aiming more as a faint to cause a dodge in order to make more headway towards the colony and its new defenders.

"If Epyon can see your moves just like that then you really are just a Doll!"

 

[MKR]

The hell! Moroder thought to himself as his actions were read like a book, clearly the guy opposite of him knew how that gundam worked but that wasn't all. That remark caused a frown from the Lynx. He really hoped that was a bluff instead of actually having to fight a combat soothsayer. Because one thing was for certain, he hadn't tried that seven times. Now however it was the White Glint's turn to dance once more as the blade perused it.

Backwards and up, keeping up the pace as his mind raced, how do you deal with the asshole who knows what your next move is and moves accordingly. Wait, if he knew his next move exactly than why could he dodge at all there was more than enough bloodlust aimed at him and this was no time to play around with motherwills engines turning on.

The thrusters on the back of the attacking machine flared, the blade came. If he wanted to escape it he needed to move now. The 063ANAR was moved to the back of the machine as Moroder braced himself, he didn't quite grasp the gimmick yet but this was no true future sight so his actions weren't being read as he decided on them.

So what if he did something stupid. The 051ANNR flared, bullets aiming at the eyes of the machine again. That should cover as distraction while he dashed backwards, the tip of the blade causing the primal armor to sizzle, the White Glint could take a hit head on but he'd really rather not take the brunt of the blow, especially with the absolute idiocy of what he had in mind. The now free hand lunged forwards as the White Glint lunged for the tail, kojima particles being released by the second as the heated whip tail burnt through the primal armor.

This was the stupid part, as its thrusters flared forwards, entering a state of tug of war instead of actually fighting.
Should the Epyon slip his grasp somehow that momentum would be the key to flanking it at least.

 

[Nemesis]

As the Epyon and White Glint clashed, the two Proto-NEXTs closed in on twin plumes of white fury, bodies gleaming under the interior lights. The two dogfighting units danced before their visors as their AI locked on to the intruder. Taking care to avoid friendly fire, their Kojima rifles flared to life, sending a spray of fire in the Gundam's direction, aiming to blow it out of the sky in a fashion not unlike an oversized clay pigeon.

It wouldn't be long before they were in range to join the fracas.

Meanwhile, Adalin waved his hands frantically to the various deck crews, having now acquired for himself some protective earwear, his fatigues fluttering in the wind. Row upon row of menacing barrels were beginning to swivel in the direction of the group, as beneath his feet Motherwill began to come to life. Sure, firing weapons of this caliber within the Colony was unwise, but - he reasoned - he could explain that to the executives.

Less so managing to lose Motherwill altogether. Creaking and ancient as it was, the AF had something vaguely approaching sentimental value to his superiors - and it wasn't his job to question as such.

Coordinates began to be transmitted to White Glint, signaling a pending broadside from the spider-like hulk of metal he had been tasked with protecting...

 

[Kujo]

"So the Doll can think, hah! But it's no use thinking when you haven't got a brain!"

As White Glint grasped the red hot heat whip serving as Epyon's faux tail, the assembly decoupled from the Gundam. Like a lizard shedding its tail, the draconic Mobile Suit left its pursuer with naught but a burning chain stuck to a shield.

"Here I come you damn Naturals!"

Epyon rocketed forward, twirling away from one blast of Kojima particles but getting caught by the next as it transformed back into its humanoid form; the caustic mass stripping away a chunks from the surface of the Gundam's armor.

"Just lay down and die!"

Not wasting time, Epyon gripped its beam saber with both hands. The Planet Defensor fins attached to its arms pulsed and attached themselves to the handle before folding out into a disproportionately long cross guard, that is, until the blade emerged. The bristling green blade of Epyon's reactor powered beam saber erupted into a furious pillar of plasma that rapidly grew within seconds. Several magnitudes longer than any blade had the reason or right to be, absolutely dwarfing its wielder and all unfortunate enough to be within its remote reach, the mass of energy was merely waved towards the approaching unmanned units before Epyon rocketed forward once more with the intent to spear the Arms Fort and the colony with it.

 

[MKR]

So gripping the tail yielded nothing but a small disarmament, that was fine. The speed that was acquired remained after all and speed was something his Armored Core more than excelled at, the transmitted coordinates shone through the idea was obvious but if this man had predictive capabilities like he indicated a boast reinforced by his blatant racism against 'naturals'.

Well, the question was whether it had any chance at landing that strike. Still, what it would allow him to do was obvious.

The two SALINE-05s White Glint had at its disposal opened up once more. Firing in a pattern that seemed strange but had a practical purpose, the White Glint was aiming where the Arms Fort wasn't. A direct hit from Motherwill would be more than enough to down a machine like that, but several hits like the minefield he had just conjured and was currently firing out of his shoulders. They were missiles who excelled in homing but lacked speed, perfect tools to capitalize on a dodging foe.

As icing on the cake, the heated whip was flung to cover one of the gaps left in the barrage of sixteen missiles. The continuing fire of the 051ANNR covering another. Those two with actual empty heads better cover any other gaps left behind.