Transcendance (Sess)

MKR · Jan 28, 2022

December 2nd
Castrum Acervus, Narbranth Mountain Range Garlemald
11:15 AM Local time

Ah Garlemald, modern continuation of the ancient traditions set forth by Allag and its wanton disregard for human life, or specifically its technology. A young man rubbed his hands together, looking over the distant construct hidden away from unwanted guests like him. The cold of the mountain range's peaks pushed him to put his hand together for heat. A rotation of the wrist, ah the time had come. His 'accomplice' would be setting things inside in motion now.

So it was time for him to play the role he had envisioned for himself here, a self declared distraction. A snap of his fingers was all it took for the shadow of something larger to appear behind him, a machine standing ten times as tall as he, or in close enough approximation thereof. Two rings slowly rotated around the almost winglike appendages hanging off the machine's head, each turning in an opposite direction.

It hovered there, above the mountains. Giving just enough time for the Garleans to spot it until-
"Fire."

The machine's chest opened, a purple sphere unveiled underneath the white armor. It mounted energy until a beam suddenly erupted forth. Tearing across the landscape and the mountains, striking the side of Castrum Acervus. That would capture the attention of the facility's guardians. But for added measure, the machine pointed a finger forward Aether coalesced as a shard of ice manifested. Rocketing forward and lodging itself in the damaged walls, slowly beginning to grow as if attempting to pry open the very walls themselves with its tumorous expansion. Thus their self declared adversary hovering idly where it first fired its assault from.

A detonation outside, but boots were already in motion. A researcher heading inwards, towards the sanctum where the prototypes for the WEAPON project were kept for just that, research. For the Glory of Garlemald of course, as any man or woman inside these walls would proclaim or at least should proclaim. But what those others did not know was that this stride served another purpose. A different purpose than Garlemald's, an ID identification card shown to a terminal, all green.

And so it advanced down the halls, towards the sanctum where the WEAPONs were kept.

Hitura Rael · Jan 29, 2022

Castrum Acervus had been nestled deep in that mountain range, following some of the most difficult terrain the empire could find. The train networks deep underground could eventually lead you there, if you had luck and timing on your side. Being stationed there, though, was considered the worst possible luck you could have. It was cold, far colder than in the capital itself, as cold as being on the Magna Glacias completely unprepared. Given the bitter cold in these mountains, being outside was reserved for patrols along the precarious trail.

The presence of someone crazy enough to stand out in the frigid weather was enough to give pause. The sudden appearance of the white winged machine, however, breathed life into the icy fortress. Patrols radiod back to the castrum and made good their retreat. There was no way for foot soldiers to take on the airborn goliath. Not outside at least. The alarum blared to life. The castrum stirred to life, like a hornest nest that had been kicked. Metal gates groaned and grated as they slid open, the magitek field a layer below deactivated, and the lifts that held the anti aircraft canons emerge from the rocky mountain side. Shot after shot rained heavy artillary shells upon the invader.

Pilots scrambled, heading to the airships. Magitek Gunships were quickly boarded and prepped for launch, the first five filtered out of the mountain one by one, the slow moving ships heading straight for the massive intruder. To the white mech, they'd be no bigger than insects to swat away. But they packed a punch still, between their own artilery and missile loads.

Others made their way to the war ship, preparing for launch to assist with their own canonades. But the massive transport would take much longer to prepare than the smaller gunships. The Garleans lacked the machinery to deal with such a massive threat... save for one thing. Researchers scurried through the halls of the mountain base, down deep into the bowels. By the time the unknown intruder reached the mountain depths, the volitile Ultima prototype was already being prepared for launch. The hapless souls fused to it's frame stirred from their blissful slumber in an echoing chorus of pained groans.

Not far from it, the wreckage of several other WEAPONs each had their own platform. The intruder would have his choice of failures, not all of them were re-used to create the current weapons.

The many iterations of Sapphire were mostly dismantled, their plating salvaged for the current version as well as sent deeper for new prototypes to be assembled and hopefully mass produced. Two were repaired and fit for study; both lacking the toxic tanks the current Sapphire sported. A single in tact Ruby sat, compacted in on itself with it's long limbs wrapped around it's frame. Likewise, a singular Emerald survived testing enough- though it lacked some weaponry and somehow was even SLOWER than the current iteration, which was already a meandering pace when compared to the vaunted Diamond WEAPON. Two of those remained, one lacked the armor, the "flesh" bubbled and scorched from overheating, the other... an abandoned iteration which tested the oversoul systems. The soul of the pilot lingered in that one, making it volitile... and the perfect target for a new classified experiment.

Magnus frowned and bit the inside of his lip. The communication had come in moments ago, but it weighed heavily on him. Even the fastest ships they had were out of range. He'd hate to have the base detonated, research lost... but it was the only option. "Order the evacuation... prepare the base to self destruct."

"Your eminence!" The young woman at his side broke in with an indignant tone, "I beg your pardon sir but is that really necessary? Diamond can reach them in time!"

Magnus glanced to the woman, his daughter, with a long suffering glare, "It is too dangerous, we have no intel on them-"

"So you'd rather give up?!"

Magnus clenched his fists and closed his eyes. This child ever tested his patience. She enjoyed the benefits of being his child far too much and pushed the boundaries. Still, she had a point. He was never one to give up, but the prototypes could not be compromised. But it was more than that. He knew full well Diamond could make it. But the pilot was... He opened his eyes to stare at his child, his precious daughter. How could he send her into combat knowing full well she might not come home? Their technology was lacking in the face of the war machina outsiders held. They would need to remedy that as soon as possible.

It broke his heart, looking upon her face, eager to prove herself. Just as he had been when he was her age. He wondered, had his father felt this same anguish when he was of age to be deployed to the field. He sighed, givign in. How could he deny her the opportunities he had been given? He could not shelter her forever. "Very well. Prepare to deploy. Ready Emerald and Ruby as backup, you'll have to hold your own until they arrive."

Mila's face brightened, the greatful smile on her face a knife to his heart. "You won't regret this Sire."

MKR · Jan 29, 2022

The defenses had awoken, airships and turrets. Nothing particularly interesting so far from a veritable vault. Inside the cockpit of the white machine the young man sat, now comfortably heated by its confines his eyes parsed the surroundings and their incoming assaults. Calmly it moved, gently even like a dancer upon a stage as the music started, two hands aimed forward in what would not be an embrace but rather seemed to reach out to the five incoming machines.

Their barrages shot forward, impacting and erupting in black smoke. But that was when the smoke suddenly gained two holes in its cloud, circles of energy pulsing forwards as a blue sheen was unveiled around the mysterious machina a same sheen around both the rings behind it, rotating swifter now. Pulses of Aether came with the circles it fired in retaliation, growing in size as they became distant from the source atop the mountain. Still the power of these was not to be underestimated, were it not for the entirely different nature the Garleans may have confused the thing for a primal with its strength, but it did not sup on the land or the soul.

The remains of the smoke cloud were destroyed as it suddenly and swiftly dashed out of the right side of it, the barrage of artillery passing through the space it occupied. The man inside pondered, some theatrics were in order. Thus it pointed its finger upwards, dark clouds forming and fuming forth from it as they began to hang over the castrum. Thunder rumbled within the newly formed storm as winds began to pick up. At the same time, the ice lodged in the wall continued to grow at an astonishing rate, metal creaking as it was forcibly pushed apart by the expansion.

The gaze of the accomplice fell upon the Ultima weapon, only for it to lose its interest immediately afterwards. It scanned the area around it, ascertaining each of the various WEAPONs only for its gaze to rest on the Diamond weapon not boiling in its own hide, its advance continued in a straight line towards the Diamond Weapon. As it continued through the mighty hall laced with failures and prototypes, away from the crowd gathered around the would be defender it mumbled to itself.

"Acquire... Oversoul..." It was a plethora of voices, in unison like a whisper across the floor. Whether someone heard was an entirely different question. But at the same time it spoke the appearance it held shed like leaves to the wind, the coat of a researcher, a pair of spectacles blowing off it and vanishing into naught a black helmet with a white coat instead marched upon the inactive Diamond Weapon prototype as the Servitor M advanced.

Hitura Rael · Jan 31, 2022

The gunships did their best to handle the white mech, though severely outclassed. The pulses were little problem for the gunships. Some deft maneuvering put them outside the edges of the pulses, even as they grew. The quadret of machines continued their onslaught, peppering the intruder with their heavily artillary. Below, the larger anti aircraft mortars were reloaded as quickly as they could. The smaller, more easier to load ones fired off again, a barage of low yeild explosives to keep the white machine occupied.

Inside the WEAPON bay, the Ultima prototype approached the hangar door, waiting.

"Data upload commenced, sixty seconds until complete."

"All readings normal."

"Replicant heart within normal parameters."

"Vitals on pilots normal."

"AI programs at optimal operation."

"Thirty seconds until upload complete."

The tech leads read off green lights one after another. The shambling researcher went unnoticed until they drew closer to the wreckages. The technician working to secure the wrecks moved to intercept, mouth open to speak, then stared in horror as they changed. She screamed and moved out of the way, offering no opposition to the Diamond prototype. Secutors moved to intercept at the sound of the terrified scream, too slow to catch on foot, too dangerous to sling spells about in the confines of the research bay. Perhaps crazy, perhaps desperate... The lone medico of the group quickly cast Aero, wrapping the Servitor in the ever swirling, biting winds, followed up quickly with a barrage of earthen stone torn from a far wall.

"Upload complete!"

"Ultima weapon, deploy!"

The metal doors creaked and groaned in protest, shifting only slightly before catching on the expanding ice. But that would not impeede the silver garlean mecha. Ultima stepped forward, dug its claws in the blast doors, and pushed against the ice, sliding them open with the ear splitting cry of metal being sheared.

MKR · Jan 31, 2022

A pleasant surprised, he'd expected the chaff to succumb to the first attack. Then again their initial force was likely those actually capable of defending the facility in these things. Like as not he would have to waste some more time and energy on the gunships. Not much though. The hand of the unknown attacker once more engaged in rapid motion, gusts of wind flew into the gunships rushing forwards. Harsh enough to scalp off the armor and as for the missiles, they fared not much better. While their smaller forms prevented the wind from striking it up front and slowing it down the arcane nature allowed for them to be pushed into one another.

At the same time, lightning struck. Aiming to pierce the gunships one after another, perhaps to instill terror as they saw their peers fall by the hand of the thing Garleans could not have, magicks. The minor shots began to pepper the machine causing all this as the man within rolled his eyes. The damage sustained was minor at best but still, there was a frustration for having been hit.

The pulse of Aether in the meanwhile, continued onwards. The Castrum itself being subject to it now, and while those inside the walls could claim safety with naught but minor malfunctions and flickering lights. The same could not be said for the ammunition now so gracefully loaded into the turrets, imbued with the destabilizing spark of Aether passing through it.

The Servitor continued apace, leaving the screaming technician in its wake and the thumping of boots. It offered not even a glance of recognition towards its pursuers as it gazed upon the Diamond weapon, tilting its head as if to ascertain something.
"Negative response..." Its gaze turned to the nearby console as winds picked up around it. At which point it finally peered backwards towards those who would impede it, impede its mission. In an almost uncanny motion, like a puppet being jerked to life its arm swung upwards, a gun manifesting in its grasp as it did so. A lone bullet then pierced the air in a silent bang. Aimed straight for the head in perhaps a mix of mercy and brutality both.

Rocks pelted its form, but it did not budge. At the same time it paused in front of the terminal, out of its pocket it procured a small item which seemed akin to a tomestone. Which perfectly slotted into the machine.
Lights began to emit from the prototype, dim as a half closed eye.
"Repurposing... Rewriting... Obtaining..." The servitor spoke.

Besides it, the Diamond weapon began to... twitch.
A hollow scream came through, perhaps one heard more often by the scientists as the 'ghost' had woken up but even in that which was already wrong things were wrong, its screams of pain intensified as if it relived a moment it never wished, one so ingrained in its memory that it would ripple in the Aether for a long, long time.

The ghost, was in a degree of pain it had never suffered before.

"Eliminate... Interference..."

Hitura Rael · Feb 4, 2022

The Gunships crashed and ground into each other, corralled by the gale force winds, contained for the moment within the vortex. The storm above roiled and rumbled. The air crackled, the faint smell of ozone mounted, hairs raised on end, and finally, the storm above birthed bolt after bolt of deadly levin. The hulls of the gunships scortched and bubbled, delicate electrical equipment within popped and sizzled. If any pilots survived the strikes, they would like not be so lucky as to survive the fall once the wind wall released them.

The aether pulse struck the Castrum, shook the walls, and swallowed the mortars. Electricul pulses ran along the missiles within, the sharp tang of ceruleum and melted plastic the only warning the bombadiers had before the munitions detonated within the mortars. Deadly fragments of shorn metals peppered those unlucky enough to be caught in the shrapnel's path.

Finally, the bay door gave way. The Ceruleum fuel line fell away from the Ultima prototype, lost like an umbilical cord dropped from a puppy. The reptilian tauride machine strode forward, fixated on the target. It raised a clawed hand, heedless of anything and anyone in it's path and unleased a quick cutting laser of verdant energy. The ground in it's path exploded in a cascade of fire and earth.

The Medico fell to the ground in a crumpled heap, blood trickling from the new found hole between the eyes. The Signifer stared in shock and horror at the fallen member of the cohort. In a rage, uncaring of the destruction that could be caused in a chain reaction within these confines, they began casting. With a deft motion of their staff, a large fireball coalesced and launched at the Servitor, or rather... the terminal in which it operated. All the while, the Centurios closed in on the Servitor.

MKR · Feb 4, 2022

It appeared there was no time to relax as the hangar doors opened, a second wave of reinforcements no doubt. As it unveiled something interesting however the man within the machine smiled. With the previous adversaries crashing and burning the clouds quieted, yet the dark overcast remained grimly adorning the sky still and showing no sign of vanishing. In contrast, the winds did however.

Thus the air was still, or relatively so at least with the fire and stone cast into it by the Ultima Weapon Prototype, their attacker ducked to the side and accelerated upwards. Aiming to escape the immediate range of its foe to ascertain its additional options. Thus did it hold both its arms together and pointed them downwards, sending a hail of ice shards down upon the Ultima Prototype.

"One of the Oversoul prototypes? Though it looks primitive and advanced." The man within spoke to himself, "A measuring stick regardless. Lets see how well they use Allagan technology in a pinch."
His eyes ventured momentarily to the larger ice shard, now peeling the side of the Castrum Open as it continued its growth, soon he could use it for an alternative means to its original purpose as well, that was good.

The Servitor fully turned around as the Aether of the fireball mounted, the gun in its hand suddenly shivering in its grasp as it formed and malformed into something else. A circular shield very much like those of the Garleans themselves soon adorned its grip instead of the weapon it held before and with a simple push onto the ground it held firm the flames striking the shield as the monstrous intruder interposed itself between the attack and the terminal.

Flames bellowed backwards as the shield was struck, a few licking at the twitching Diamond weapon behind it as they spread outwards across the floor, into the air and to the sides. The Servitor, were it capable of showing facial expressions to these conscripts perhaps it would be able to be described as sufficiently annoyed at this maneuver if it was capable of anything as such.

Its clothing was singed, the flames upon which lingered in the moment as smoke rose and it stood tall again. Behind it, covered in smoke was the Diamond Weapon Prototype which all of a sudden intensified in its screams. A howling that rendered the sky, One suddenly becoming a cacophony, echoing through the chamber. Countless voices crying out in pain and suffering from the lone ghost and the warmachina it inhabited as its limbs flimsily danced across the plateau it was placed on.

Until suddenly, silence. The twitching ceased, the screaming stopped.

The red hued eyes of the Diamond Weapon shifted into blue.
"Overwrite... Complete... We... Hear... Obey..." the cacophony echoed over the Diamond Weapon's speakers, the servitor beneath turned around at this message, raising the shield it had bore in protection of the terminal mere moments ago and crashing it down upon it. Metal was cleaved and cut from the edge of the protective item, carving into the terminal and rendering it useless for anyone.

Simultaneously anyone with a less direct connection would be able to see it sever any such thing, no longer could its status be read, the unit likewise was incapable of receiving orders of any variety not even limited to self destruct ones.

"Sixty Seconds... Until Activation..."
Its limited reserves began to funnel their energy towards activation, even as it remained perfectly still its gaze now rested upon the squadron approaching and attacking the smaller being below with the same voice it was preparing to activate.

The Servitor below turned back to the incoming Centurios holding its shield at the ready as the last flames went out silence was the only answer from it currently still it sought to defend itself all the same.

Hitura Rael · Feb 10, 2022

Several small winged orbs deployed from the prototype. Insect like claws unfurled at the bottom, giving each a mosquito like appearance. Yet while they looked like mere insects, they were anything but. The bits zipped into formation and fired at the white machine. Meanwhile, the Ultima prototype rose onto it's haunches, gathering energy into it's chest.

A new alarm blared through the complex. Scientists and security alike disengaged, making their way to the exits as blast doors began to shift and lower. The stubborn Signifier would have stopped to fight to the bitter end, had a Roegadyn Centurion not bodily lifted him and ran. By the time the Diamond prototype was overridden, most of the room had evacuated, stragglers making it for the last of the exits before the blast doors slammed shut. The sheilding bulkheads blocked the three exits out of the room as well as the launch bay door. The intact WEAPONs around the room, save for the overtaken Diamond, began to glow at the seams, burning red like superheated metal.

MKR · Feb 10, 2022

As the man looked down he could only consider himself impressed, of all the things he had expected from the replication the one thing he had not expected to carry over was the magicks contained within the Heart of Sabik itself. He had underestimated this adversary, a WEAPON that could genuinely pose a threat, thus credit where it was due he should match that ancient magick that even the Allagans could not master with his own bag of tricks.

The rings on the machine began to shift as it hung still in the air, the bits and their covering fire were thus ensured to not bother him for the next moment. His machine bringing its hands together. It was time to see how the replica held up against something greater.
"Behold the wave of destruction! Almagest!"

With that word declared as such, there was a wave of white. Bursting outwards, enveloping the environment in delicate embrace and erupting to choke the life out of it. It lasted but for a moment, but the intent was clear. At the latest this would collide with the oncoming cast of Ultima and a test of strength would ensue but otherwise, otherwise the Ultima Weapon would be caught at its most vulnerable. Still, he hoped that it compared. At that point there was reason for a repeat visit, to let the Garlean's fester and then take their prize. Oh the ideas he had for that device.

Meanwhile in the depths, as the Garlean conscripts fled the scene the Servitor turned its back to them, leaping onto the plateau as it acknowledged the oncoming disaster in this room. The Diamond Weapon rose to its feet, the cockpit opening. Fortunately for the Garlean soldiers they had already vacated the room or were in the middle of doing so thus unless they looked back they would not see the thing melded into the chair. It was flesh and body, spread thin across the environ that decorated the inside of the Diamond Weapon yet equally machine as well. The Core of the Diamond Weapon Prototype had once been a man, now however not even his ghost remained.

The Servitor cared little about the utterly reviling seat it had been offered, instead opting to sit in it.
"Destruction... Imminent... Energy... Low..." The Diamond Weapon spoke to it, there was not even a moment of contemplation. The answer was clear.

"Partake..."

Energy surged, the Diamond Weapon suddenly rushing forwards. Blue light illuminated forth through the frostbitten metal, peeled open by Ultima's exit and now with the blast door down the surprisingly powered Diamond Weapon placed one claw on the split metal and began to pull down. It may not have its conventional weaponry but that didn't mean a literal disarming.

Now it was merely the question of using the existing structural damage to the Castrum to make a door.

Hitura Rael · Feb 21, 2022

Motes of blue-green energies gathered around the prototype, drawn into the glass eye like structures mounted upon it's chest. The energy shifted colors to a burning orange-red, an orb of this energy rose from the maw like structure on the machine's belly, a burning light surrounded by sphere of wavering antilight and the crackle of electrical energy along the plasma field before the red hot light within suddenly burst forward, exploding like a small sun. The energy engulfed the prototype first before spreading rapidly. The wave of energy scorched the earth in it's path, burning away everything in it's wake in it's blinding brilliance.

Burning orange clashed with the brilliant white of Almagest. The waves collided with each other, fed each other, and rose in the air in an even greater arc doubled in size from each individual force before it crashed back down to earth, each wave continuing on with lesser intensity. The white wave smashed against the barrier generated by the Ultima weapon and spent it's energy upon it, bringing the barrier down before carying on toward the castrum.

When the light, visible across Ilsabard, finally faded, Ultima still stood. The prototype's form slumped forward, smoke curled from the joints and billowed from the open maw design in it's abdomen. The forms merged into the frame hung limp, lifeless, and hollow. The land burned, molten slag at the point of impact between the two forces, the air wavered with the force of it's heat.

The blast doors rocked and shook against the impact of Ultima. The outside of the door burned red, superheated by the force of the blast. It did not remain standing once Almagest crashed against it. The stolen Diamond weapon would not find it difficult to shove aside the remaining scraps of molten metal and rock. The mountain shook and shuddered around it, threatening to collapse upon the prototype if they dallied.

"Self destruct in 10... 9... 8..."

The countdown continued, despite the damage to the castrum. The molten reds shifted and burned to brilliant white hot before one by one, each of the remaining prototypes detonated, the hearts within forced to critical levels with such volitile blood as Cerulium. The explosions rocked the mountain once more, triggering the shift and collapse that threatened Diamond.

MKR · Feb 21, 2022

When the two waves of energy struck one another the rings adorning the unknown machine began spinning, inside the eye of the storm that was Almagest it was like a dark cosmos dotted around him, the décor playing out like the tapestry of space vast and filled with manifold lights. Forcing itself through this spectacle was the remainder of Ultima, which crashed through the starlight like a tidal wave.

The rings spun, a barrier erected between the wave and its target. Like the sound of a thousand shattering shards of glass it did not last long, but what it did do was absorb the vast bulk of the assault. The machine lowering itself afterwards as its front was now scorched black. Inside, the young man inhaled and exhaled. The duplicate did not match the original, alas a shame but expected and in turn the replica Heart of Sabik was rendered useless by virtue of its destruction. Now, what was keeping the Servitor?

The wall peeled open before his eyes, the last chunks of frost not annihilated by Ultima or Almagest melting off it as it was being peeled both by heat and something within. Its claws covered in burn wounds the Usurped Diamond Weapon leapt through the damaged wall, a gout of flame following shortly after as the almost beastly machine took cover from the explosion.

The man's eyes moved to the facility, or what remained of it. It was somewhat of a pity that he wouldn't be able to return for more but he would only need the one anyways for his plans. It wasn't like Garlemald was lacking in experiments to take from them, but most for lack of a better term were boring at best. A hand manipulated a screen, diagnostics on the Diamond Weapon appearing, low energy but the systems were intact still. After a short period of recovery it would be good to depart. With the facility like this any reinforcements were likely called off anyways.

"Recharge energy to nominal levels before extraction."

"Understood..." Two cacophonies replied in unison.

He leaned back in his chair, enlarging the systems diagnostics on the Diamond Weapon displayed before him, there it was. Oversoul. His eyes fell upon it like buzzards on a carcass. He may as well spend his time well during this wait.

Hitura Rael · Feb 22, 2022

The length of the trip was agony. Every minute that ticked by, more lives could be lost. Countrymen killed by an unknown who would dare attempt to invade Garlean soil. While many lamented the lot their people had been given, forced to flee to this barren snowy hell, the Deus house saw it as a blessing. What people were forged in the gentle summer heat, after all? Strength was forged in the fires of trial and tribulation, and the Garlean people thrived upon it. It was an unavoidable fact that their technology paled in comparison to the other worlds', but that did not cheapen the fact that they were the most technologically advanced civilization in their own little bubble of the universe. They had flourished with technology and could even assimilate the lost technology of Allag into their repertoire.

So why... Why would anyone try to take their primitive by comparison technology? The question ate at Mila just as painfully as the anxiety for those trapped under assault with little support. They had relied too much on being behind in technology to protect the prototype facilities. Was it Eorzea, hiring mercenaries outside the realm to capture prototypes and attempt to engineer their own? She shook her head, banishing the thought from her mind. No, she had to keep an open mind. There had to be a channel to make peace with Eorzea and her allies.

Ten agonizing minutes ticked by, each slower than the last. Though the land beneath Diamond blurred with it's speed, it was not enough. The massive pearlescent war machina slowed as it neared Castrum Acervus and stalled to a hover within her airspace. Below, the portion of the facility that should have been visible lay buried in the rubble of the mountain. The rock and scarce plant life surrounding burned red, quickly cooling to black. The cursed Ultima prototype stood alone, slumped forward and lifeless. Mila's heart sank to her stomach. She was too late to stop them from destroying the Castrum.

But not too late to catch the culprits. All of that for a failed prototype? Mila's hands gripped the controls. She drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly, breathing away the anger that had gripped her. Now was not the time to jump to aggression. She was out gunned if this infiltrator managed to take out Ultima, steal a prototype, and destroy the place. She had to bide her time. The Aetites would be there soon, the rest of the team backing her up. Emerald would be a boon here with it's aerial support.

The Diamond weapon lowered itself slowly, making it's presence known. Mila conducted herself with all the regality befitting her station as the child of the Emperor and the only diplomatic link they would have. "Unidentified war machina, explain yourself."

MKR · Feb 22, 2022

A blip on a radar, so not all had given up hope on the Castrum. The screen displaying the internals of the Diamond Weapon shrunk, now filled with observations and anecdotes as the blackened machine turned towards the true Diamond Weapon that had arrived. At the same time the stolen prototype slinked behind, its gaze onto its mirror image. Still, the artificial eyes upon its exoskeleton like chassis stared at the Princess' machine in an unnatural way, there was something completely wrong about it. Uncanny even compared to the already uncanny nature of the Weapons.

"The environ should speak for itself." Came a reply, "Though should you wish for a detailed recollection it can be provided. What I am more interested in however is why you bothered to come at all after the self destruction, had the prototype not been retrieved your donation would be most kind but I have no need for another." His tone turned dismissive, barring Ultima the Diamond Weapon packed little of interest to him aside from its system.

Even with the facility destroyed the continued existence of the Weapons themselves should inspire progress in the Garleans, that was good. The pilot carried themselves in a way that made them seem important, all the more reason for the manufacturers to keep at it and improve it. But for now he had his own Diamond Weapon to think about.
"That reminds me, status on recharge."

"Recharge nearly... completed..." The Diamond Weapon spoke to its master, the echoing voices of a dozen flowing out of it in unison "Preparing... for transport..."
How fortunate for the arrival, he sparsely had time to test the differences with his schedule being as it was. The bizarre Rune God turned to the Diamond Weapon again, placing it between the two machines and next to the Ultima Weapon it had slain minutes prior.

Hitura Rael · Apr 27, 2022

"I do not speak of what happened here and you know it," Mila bit back the annoyance and anger from her tone, the strain of it leaked into her voice, a hint of the annoyance and anger tinting her words. "Why did you attack the base to steal a prototype?" She glanced to the Weapon. It looked... wrong. It sounded wrong.

She could not resort to violence, not yet. If there was still a chance to talk it out, she had to take it. At least to stall until the other three were on scene. She just had to stall, if not talk them down. Surely they could work out proper recompense for lost assets and lives. "I've no intention of fighting if we can avoid it. Let's just talk this out."

MKR · Apr 27, 2022

"Lets deconstruct that shall we?" the voice responded "Why did I attack this base to steal a prototype? The alternative was assaulting a more prepared stronghold preparing weapons for actual use but once more that's not your question now is it. But I will not answer the deeper question besides 'personal interest', after all here in the ashes my reasons matter very little now do they? Not after they blew themselves to bits anyways."

He could barely contain his chuckle at her final remark. What was there to 'talk out', he had already won and they had imploded by their own volition. Declaring they still had a say in the proceedings was a hopeful thing. Then again, nothing less was expected from the Garleans.
"I am intent on leaving, if you do not wish to fight then you may simply wait over there for me to do so." The rune god gestured faintly in her direction, if they didn't intend to fight why show up at all really. Such an unbelievable statement that. Were his situation less comfortable, perhaps if that Ultima Weapon were still operational there was no doubt in his mind that like a hound they would have struck, aiming for his jugular.

"Any other questions before we depart?"

Hitura Rael · Apr 27, 2022

Mila's expression shifted from schooled calm, to anger, to a stone faced deadpan. All of this for his own amusement. Or was it something deeper? Hidden. "I find it hard to believe you had any interest in technology that is primitive to your own. Who are you allied with?" Her eyes darted from the Rune god to the prototype. A pale image in comparison to the fully loaded out Diamond she piloted. She could not allow him to take the protoype.

She waited until he began to answer her to kick into action. "Purge," she muttered. Diamond's red eyes glinted, the command registered. Pearlescent light glowed at the seams of its armor. Energy gathered beneath the plates before bursting forth. The armor reconfigured itself into several bits. Diamond weapon itself remained crouched upon a large silver orb of condensed aether. The course plotted, several other orbs generated in two rows on either side of the enemy mech and prototype. With blinding speed, Diamond charged, bolting to the right, then left behind the enemy, going straight for a strike at Proto Diamond.

MKR · Apr 27, 2022

A click of the tongue, always the same tale. The same repetitive tale. A two bit part rehearsed into oblivion not by choice or chance but the annoying predictability of human nature. Those declaring they simply wish to talk, were oft first to draw steel. The Rune God extended a hand forwards as the Diamond Weapon wound up, the high performance mode he had seen in the analysis.

"What was this about not fighting if you could avoid it?" He pelted her own words back as the outstretched arm balled into a fist. "Protect!" He declared as the speedster bolted by, pebbles and dislodged mountain sent far astray as magicks began to form. There was the thunderous crash like a bull in a china shop sending many, many pieces of porcelain into the stratosphere as the white demon clashed with the newly conjured magicks. Breaking through barrier after barrier until grinding to a halt.

"Primitive technology you say, the terrors of Allag were far ahead of their time enough to be relevant in this day and age. Revived by desperate pleas and a desire for protection not unlike the primals of other nations." He almost spit at the notion. "Use your imagination girl, of all things you offer and returns from the long buried state they were best left in- What could I possibly want, then I hardly need to tell you now do I?"

The Rune God turned to look at her, turning 120 degrees to its right so its foe was in its view properly. Frustration almost got the better of him there, time to put a lid on that some. "Why would you do such a thing, who are you with. Do you not think for yourself, does every detail need to be spoon-fed to you?" His tone turned to the mocking instead of frustrated.

The fist raised upwards, the ground shaking as spikes of stone ruptured the glassed surface aiming to impale the limbs of the Diamond Weapon.
"I'll give you some time to think on it in a hospital bed!" And with that it slammed down, hazardous winds encroaching from above as the spikes did below, aiming to turn the obvious escape route into a minefield and crush the unarmored machine beneath the weight of winds.

Hitura Rael · Apr 27, 2022

"Attempts to flee with a stolen prototype are unacceptable and render avoidance of conflict unavoidable." Diamond slammed into the protective shield, a wave of sheer heat washing over it in a violent flash. Diamond kicked back off and found purchase on a magitech generated platform from the barrier emitters. A growl like sound emanated from the throat of the beastial mech, a crouched mess of flesh, sinew, and metal. It's tail swung back and forth, thrashing like an angry cat.

"Primitive in comparison to others out there. You cannot deny that Garlemald is vastly behind even with the Allag technology." She sneered at him, the comment likening the machine to a primal a low blow. "If you wanted it, it would have been far easier to ASK! Strike an alliance, benefit us mutually!"

"Below." A voice whispered from within the cockpit.

"And above," She muttered to the sacrificial lamb nestled within the secondary chamber, somewhere within Diamond. Her attentions drew back to the pink and white mech, "I do not need details spoon fed. Do you not think assumptions are dangerous? If left to my own devices I would assume you wish to destroy us with our own technology, a mocking downfall so to speak. Perhaps you want the replicated heart, perhaps you want the biomechanical structures, or perhaps you want oversoul. There are endless variables and only fools make assumptions!"

Diamond waited until the cage moved too close for comfort. The platform disappeared as emitters cleared away, bits moving out of range as well. The skeletal reptilian creature curled in on itself, heat around it rising. "WARNING: OVERHEATING" blinked across the diagnostic screens, temperatures inside and outside rising. The air shimmered and wavered around Diamond until-

A bright flash detonated from around the Diamond weapon. Unbearable heat radiated outward in a pyroclastic flash, contained mostly by the would be gaol. Molten earth rained down, spattering across the ground in thick drops. Diamond hung listless for a moment, hunched forward as if exhausted, seams of muscle and metal burning red. Bits and emitters returned, surrounded the machine, and reconfigured into the hulking armor. Steam hissed out as each piece locked into place. It's eyes flashed once more and flexed. "ALL SYSTEMS OPERATIONAL"

Mila wiped sweat from her face and tugged at her shirt to unstick it from flesh. "You okay?"

"..." Two knocks resonated from the creature's core.

She could imagine the prisoner expression. If he survived near boiling alive. Hell, if SHE survived near boiling alive. It would be a moment before weapon systems were operational once more. "Stick around and we can talk, work out an alliance... or try to flee again and we'll have to go right back to blows."

MKR · Apr 27, 2022

Self proclaimed underdogs, those Garleans. It at least indicated to him that a true believer in their cause lurked beneath that frame and not just some conscript. Death machines like that were either given to the zealous or the doomed after all, those who would not hesitate to draw upon its reviled powers.
"If I wanted it yes. If." Emphasis returned to the final word, a repetition of the first.

Long term they didn't offer him anything he had particular interest in and should that change he could perform such a 'request' then.
"You may assume as you wish, if you wish to conjure up a fancy tale for a simple act you may do so. The only danger there is your own mind." As earth and rock encroached on the Diamond Weapon the man within prepared mentally for what may follow, this was not the end that was for certain. His hunch proved right as molten stone began to rain, burning into the white frame of the Rune God in pinpricks.

"Do you presume me blind girl? Your machine is melting beneath your fingertips and you think you can levy threats." The ship on the horizon caught his attention, "Ah I see." The machine finished its turn, stepping past the Diamond Weapon to its 'brother' even as the finished product panted like a dog expelling heat. "Your use of again bothers me, I was preparing to depart when you arrived and nothing changed."

The other Diamond Weapon stepped forth, not even acknowledging its peer. "So let us do away with distractions." Magicks began flowing through the air, their nature simple enough to understand.

Teleportation.

"I can finish up why I came here before your reinforcements arrive, and then you can get my undivided attention. Should you still consider the fight worthwhile with my prize secured." A ring of symbols appeared beneath the other Diamond Weapon, energy being drawn from the machine about to be transported and environ both, Aether flowing like wine or water, whichever one preferred for their allegory.

A wall of flame rose behind the Rune God, a ward to keep the other Diamond Weapon from approaching, lest it wish to once more reach critical temperatures.

Hitura Rael · Apr 28, 2022

She was near enough a sitting duck. Steam continued to billow and his, escaping the strategically placed open vents within the machine's armor. The heat poured out, temperatures dropped at a steady pace, but not fast enough. Diamond could move at half it's normal speed and had no weapon system until temperatures normalized. Mila could not stop him from escaping with the prototype, nor defend herself.

It was a daunting thing to face. She had failed, lives had been lost in vain, research destroyed, precious prototypes lost. Would she be punished if she returned? Knowing that she made it in time to stop the theft of the last surviving failure and bungled it up so spectacularly. The Aetites loomed in the distance, drawing ever nearer at it's top speeds. Roroto must have been pushing her hard to make it in time. Koharu and Kaien would be preparing to launch any moment now. Haldgybet would move into position to support from atop the ship.

And yet with support so near, yet so far... She sighed. She was no good to the empire dead. The battle was lost, Diamond was incapacitated for the moment. Her life and the continued existence of Diamond were worth more than the prototype. Vengeance could be taken at a later date. "Go," she said dismissively, the bitter taste of defeat lingered in her tone. "I know when I'm beat." A devastating blow to her pride to admit it out loud.

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