Mythril Aces Real Robot RP

Flavius replied without missing a beat. Without wasting time for formalities, he plowed on ahead with a summary. "My regiment was dispatched to cut off a nearby Fed supply line in an effort to blunt their offensive, but we found nothing when we arrived but the charred wreckage of a score of supply ships and two carriers, all Fed."

"Something was off, so I ordered a return to base, but we were ambushed by three unmarked frames. There might be a fourth, but I couldn't get a clear look, and they're invisible to our radars. Everyone's..." he paused, taking a breath to steady himself, "Everyone's dead except myself and Eighth Kleid. We managed to lose the enemy in the debris and are taking cover, but Kleid's too green; it's only a matter of time before he gives us away. I understand that you're probably heading toward a mission of your own, Lady Bannikberg, but we need backup over here, now. Please."

edited 22nd Mar '12 8:43:51 PM by darksidevoid

Sune sighed as she checked the systems on her frame. "Banshee reporting. Do you need some extra dirty fighting served with the terror mission, capn'?" She asked with a wry grin. She had done all this stuff her entire life, but supposedly seeing these lawful types in this kind of mission was a bit ironic.

"Fina-freakin-ly!" Varina exclaimed. She maneuvered her frame towards the catapult behind the others. "Lets get this show on the road and wreck something already!"

The Shark wasn't really suited for this kind of combat, but the Callistine was certain she could do some damage with her ball of a frame. She just needed to get out there.

— Natalie Romelia, Bridge —

"Just follow the plan, Banshee, take out the turrets and then disable the Targyn," was the only response from the Seraphim's acting captain, "All hands, Combat Status 1, all frames launch and commence operation."

"Roger that, Seraphim to all hands," Lt Lenstar began relaying, "Ship status changed to Combat Status 1, all Frames please approach the catapults in the designated launch order; deck crew, please open catapult doors for launch." All around the ship the status indicators went from green to red, indicating live combat. The bridge was bustling with sensor and communication officers identifying and relaying the situation to the necessary parties. "Captain, confirmed enemy Frame group en route to intercept."

"Alert the pilots to be prepared for Frame to Frame combat. Form up just ahead and below the Martian Sunset. Load CIWS with Strike Arrows, set to auto-intercept (1), keep enemy ordinance away from the both of us, but stay out of the Sunset's main firing arc. Particle field double front. (2)"

— Flight Deck —

"You heard her, get the damn doors open! And you, put on that helmet if you don't want your head to decompress!" Chief Vice barked at the deck hands. "Ya'll heard that right?" he asked the pilots as the catapults' doors opened, "Lemme know if you wanna switch armament for anti-frame combat."

The deck crew was hastily converting the catapults from Flow-tight conditions to combat readiness. "All right, good to go, Good luck out there, and come back alive." The deck chief saluted into the camera he was talking through as he gave his final sendoff, as the doors on all four catapults finished opening.

edited 5th Mar '12 7:06:20 PM by zzzdragon

Rohiko prepped her frame. She somehow enjoyed the feeling right before the battle started. The time between being nervously awaiting launch and furiously manipulating her controls, she always felt a soothing calm. Like her blood was cooling down.

Rohiko manouvered her frame into the launch catapult. She checked her weapons, flipped a few switches, and confirmed her status. "Callsign, prepped and ready for launch. Good luck everyone."

Julia Zalez was having a nightmare. Hector was standing in the middle of the bridge, sipping a cup of tea. Surrounding him was the Bannikberg Regiment, all dressed in gaudy tropical shirts and football helmets. The ship's displays were flashing red, distress calls coming from all points as the Confederacy burned.

"Don't worry about them Captain," Hector waved his hand lazily while a space octopus and a space cat floated through the air. "They don't drink the right kind of tea anyway."

She took a step forward to threaten him and realized to her horror that she too wore bright, floral patterned shirt.

Julia woke up in a cold sweat. There were voices in her bedroom, it took a moment to realize they were speaking over the communications network. A distress call had come in and automatically relayed to her quarters, as well as to Bannikberg from the sound of it. She grabbed her portable and cut in to the conversation.

"This is Capain Zalez, hang in there Fourth Knight. The Castellan is on its way to assist." She switched over to the bridge. "Helm, set a course for Capello's coordinates immediately."

Julia climbed out of bed and hurriedly dressed, shuddering again in memory of that awful dream.

Varina finished the last second preparations on her frame. She always hated the feeling right before the battle started. The time between being still awaiting launch and furiously manipulating her controls, she always felt a raging desire to thrash around. Like her blood was heating up.

"Hey, Ro," she radioed her friend, "My first time with this squad, you got my back right?"

Rohiko gripped her controls and smiled. Just like old times. "Of course. And I'll be the first to shoot it when you look away. Heh."

Silence seemed to inundate the room after the Captain's announcement. Issac wasn't entirely sure how the 127th Ossetian had handled unexpected matters like this in the past, but his CO's lack of response was a little worrying. Unable to hold his peace any longer, he decided to take the direct route. "...Lorraine?" he asked pointedly, "Are you sure this is wise?"

The light went green. Varina was first up in catapult 3.

"Lets get moving! Skydive, launching!"

The catapult hurled her frame out of the ship, pushing back Varina's body against the seat. With seconds she was out in space. Stars, planets in view. And so was the enemy.

Earl had been with the Regiment for some time now. Not that long but long enough to see many others come and go. In this time, he had learnt that Issac might as well be asking the same to an avalanche. When someone's life was on the line, the Regiment unquestionably went regardless of the long term gain.

Personally, Earl didn't dread it too greatly this time. It spared him from the thought that Centauri technology hadn't progressed passed net guns, although something about this mission seemed strange. For all his talk of a green recruit, it was the commander who was sending what was presumably a broad frequency SOS. Even if it was restricted to Centauri channels, those were still a lot of channels for a Federation Pilot to scan or even stumble on. Honestly, he didn't see the point of interviening in a lost battle in the first place as by all odds if they were to eject, the Federation would simply detain them however the possibility of pirates or some third faction did factor in.

Overall, Earl suspected a trap. Quite possibly the self-styled Liberators, there were four after all, trying to lure them combat early. Though in that case it would be a welcome chance to earn some notability from downing them.

Still, moving in to save them seemed an inevitability to him and a not all together unwelcome one.

Flint positioned his Frame on a launch catapult, the spirited behavior of his teammates amplifying his own. "Right behind you! Wrench, launching!" He blasted off into open space, checking his radar for any enemy response. "Everyone here?"

“November, launching.” Hobbes felt the force of the catapult tug at the corners of his mouth, his Frame shooting into space.

Seconds later, the others of squad joined him, holding pace with the Seraphim.

The vastness of the void gave way to the battlefield... Enemy frames were visible, scrambling from the defensive station. Smaller satellites were moving into defensive formations already. Ahead, the Targyn's lights outlined it against the planet's dark silhouette.

It appears that the enemy Frames are using the defensive satellites for cover...

TURN ONE

ENEMIES

• Station Group
  • Dauston-4 Targyn-class Defensive Station (1300%)
    • Visible Subsystems:
      • Armor Bulge A (???%)
      • Armor Bulge C (???%)
      • Armor Bulge C (???%)
      • Sensors A (15%)
      • Sensors B (15%)
    • Heavy Beam Cannon A (100%)
    • Heavy Beam Cannon B (100%)
    • Beam Turret A (50%)
    • Beam Turret B (50%)
    • Beam Turret C (50%)
    • Beam Turret D (50%)
    • Anti-Missile Guns (50%)
  • Invoke A (125%)
  • Invoke B (125%)
  • Niot A (100%)
  • Clarent A (100%)
  • Clarent B (100%)

• Sentinel Group 1
  • Sentinel A (185%)
  • Sentinel B (185%)
  • Spitfire A (75%)
  • Clarent C (100%)

• Sentinel Group 2
  • Sentinel C (185%)
  • Sentinel D (185%)
  • Spitfire B (75%)
  • Spitfire C (75%)

• Sentinel Group 3
  • Sentinel E (185%)
  • Sentinel F (185%)
  • Clarent D (100%)
  • Clarent E (100%)

ALLIES

• Martian Sunset Group
  • Martian Sunset, Cassiterite-class Medium Carrier (3320%)
    • Heavy Railgun (100%)
    • IU-Mortimer Gun A (75%)
    • IU-Mortimer Gun B (75%)
    • IU-Mortimer Gun C (75%)
    • PD Gun A (50%)
    • PD Gun B (50%)
    • PD Gun C (50%)
    • PD Gun D (50%)
    • PD Gun E (50%)
  • Shaolin (150%)
  • Stringer (170%)
  • Sijet (200%)
  • Frau Cinders (220%)
  • Skeleton Dog (290%)
  • Render (250%)
  • Drake A (100%)
  • Magellan A (75%)
  • Magellan B (75%)
  • Magellan C (75%)

195TH

• Seraphim Group
  • Seraphim Battle Carrier (5170%)
    • Subsystems: Main engines (175%), Nacelle Engines x2 (100%ea), Bridge Sensors (50%), Launch Catapults x5 (100%ea), Bridge (200%), Generator Armor x6 (150%ea), Generator x6 (40%ea), Radiator (100%), Shield Generator (120%), Wing Armor x2 (150%), Frontal Armor (150%) Will only be displayed if damaged after this.
    • CIWS x14 (700%)
    • Torpedo Launcher A (75%)
    • Torpedo Launcher B (75%)
    • Torpedo Launcher C (75%)
    • Torpedo Launcher D (75%)
    • Positron Emitters (200%)
  • Banshee (150%)
  • November (170%)
  • Scrap (170%)
  • Wrench (150%)
  • Bravo Juliet (150%)
  • Skydive (150%)
  • Callsign (200%)
  • Green Pine (200%)
  • Knell (200%)
  • Nitro (250%)
  • Dakka (250%)

The room was silent for a moment as Lorraine considered their options. It would, of course, be breach of orders- Direct orders, from the Chevalier, no less- to go after this distress call.

But there was no doubt in her mind. To abandon fellow Knights to certain death... Not while a Bannikberg was in charge of this regiment. “Fourth Knight Cappello, send us your location. We'll bail you out of there.”

edited 15th Mar '12 3:33:48 PM by Hydrall

Jerry looked around, feeling a familiar tenseness and nervous energy seep into his body. Hopefully, his jamming would help to alleviate the danger posed by the array of Frames and defensive weaponry.

Of course, he'd have to activate it first. Flipping a few switches, Jerry tried to bring the Bolt Breaker jammer online and also attempted to power up his weapons. Once that was dealt with, he turned his attention to other matters, such as positioning.

Actions: Switch on jammer [1], get into an advantageous position [2]. Power up Zweihander railguns [3].

edited 15th Mar '12 4:19:00 PM by Flanker66

Time to go...

"Callsign, launching." Rohiko flipped the switch and felt the G force rippling her cheeks as soon the catapult launched. Within a moment, she was out of the ship and in deep space. Frame to frame combat, eh?

"Callsign here. I'll take care of the first Sentinel group."

Rohiko targetted the closest enemy Clarent in the group with her rifle, firing a full clip at it (1) before switching to her pistol and diving down below the plane of the battle (2). Then, she emptied pistol shots into the same Clarent (3) or some other target if Clarent is dead.

edited 16th Mar '12 12:37:30 PM by neobowman

"Wrench here. This thing's sensors look like an easy target, so I'll just take care of those."

He took aim at Sensors A (1) and fired his laser rifle at it (2). Repeat for Sensors B if A is destroyed, otherwise use actions on Sensors A.

Take out enough of the defenders, then shut down the Targyn. Flint was already going towards the station. "Wrench! Don't get too close, those guns are hot and we still got bad guys in front and around!"

Varina saw Rohiko was taking on the first Sentinel group. Jerry was charging.

"Green Pine, back me up! I'm taking on the second Sentinel group."

Varina pushed it full throttle. The enemy frames were using a satellite to keep cover, which was pretty hard to find in space, as her own experience with the Shark had taught her. She grinned as she neared her target. "Hello, boys!"

She cleared the distance [1] and activated the Grappling Claw, yanking at the satellite [2]. If this worked she would pull the satellite away from the enemy while using it to sling shot back around. If successful then Rippers [3], [4], on Spitfire B

"Hmph, using satellites as cover. Amateurs." Sune said as she flicked the switches on her cockpit. She smiled in a devious smile. "Satellites make up for the most of the space trash shrapnel, you know. Banshee, engaging second group."

(1) Aim at Satellite Thrusters/Fuel Tanks covering Spit Fire A (2)Shoot the Tanks. If successful (3) Aim at the Spitfire A (4) Shoot The Spitfire A

If unsuccesful (3) Activate Jammer and (4) Evasive Maneuvers.

A mere fifteen minutes later, the Castellan dropped out of Flow at the coordinates Flavius had specified. The sight that greeted them was straight out of a Captain's nightmare, or a war-scarred veteran's memory.

The melted and blackened ruins of close to a dozen ships floated lazily in an enormous sphere. Some entity of incredible mass must have been at its center once, for the debris spun about a central point that was itself conspicuously clear of any stray bits of metal. By far the worst part of the gruesome presentation, however, was only revealed on a slightly closer examination. Twirling among the wreckage were the remains of what must have been the Knights, Aces, and crew of the downed vessels. Scores of frames, hundreds of bodies; all equal in death, Sol and Centauri's colors sacrificed without discrimination to the uncaring void.

"H-holy shit!" A tech's quiet exclamation of disbelief punctured the relative silence of the Castellan's bridge. "What the hell... what the hell kind of monsters did this?"

"They're here! They're here, Sir! Oh God! We'll be saved!" Reed sobbed over the comm to his superior.

Several dozen meters away, hiding in the husk of a different ship, Flavius narrowed his eyes. "Don't make any rash moves, Kleid. The enemy is still lurking somewhere out there." After a moment of hesitation, he opened a line to the bridge once more.

"Castellan? This is Fourth Cappello. I'm afraid we've lost sight of the enemy. I hate to ask, but we're going to need an escort to your hanger."

"Father, I have detected a January-class vessel dropping from Flow into normal space in our vicinity. An analysis concludes that there is a .8 probability they are reinforcements for the remainder of the Second Altair Regiment."

"Good... good. Cease the search," an aged, gravelly voice rumbled, "We will wait for our opportunity to present itself."

"But Father... you said only thirty minutes ago that, quote, "it would be my head," if we truncated our sweep without finding the targets."

"What, that? That was just a bit of yelling over the open channel to intimidate the vermin. Don't concern yourself with it, my dear."

"Yes, Father." Somehow, even in the otherwise completely cool tone of the young woman, a small note of relief managed to slip in. "Then, I will prepare for the possibility of a counter-offensive by the enemy reinforcements."

Gabe grinned as the Castellan exited the Flow, seated comfortably in the cockpit of his Gladiator. He had practically jumped at the opportunity to volunteer once he had been told the victims would need an escort, before racing to the hanger. He thought some others might be coming too, but he'd been far too focused on getting to his Frame to pay any attention once the call went out.

His hands snapped to his controls and he booted up his Frame, eyes bright with anticipation. "Finally." He said to himself, licking his lips. They'd warned him to be careful and not to take any risks, but he was secretly hoping that there were still some of the attackers for him to fight. Sure, he'd done trial run and war games with his Frame, but he had yet to truly take an enemy down.

Gabe truly hoped that day was today.

He signaled to the hanger crew to open the launch doors and switched on his communicator as the machine rumbled to life. "Steel Phoenix, launching!" He called eagerly through the communication line, not bothering to wait for orders. With a surge of excitement, he drew his rifle and launched himself into the void.

His eagerness evaporated like rain before the desert sun.

Almost a dozen blasted and battered hunks of metal sat on his screen, drifting lazily in the void of space. Former ships, Fed and Cent alike. Their former crews filled the blackness between them, like so much dust, gruesomely spinning slowly back and forth. There was little glory or honor to be found in this graveyard. Death, on the other hand, was much more common.

Gabriel's eyes widened and he gulped. His eyes flickered nervously across the scene, his former desire for battle dead and gone, replaced only by a sick feeling in his stomach. He eyed the bodies as he began to move towards the wreckage.

He said a short prayer in his mind, and hoped feverishly that they had died before being spaced, and moved close to the steel graveyard.

The cockpit of the Erebus was completely silent save for the sound of Issac's slow, rhythmic breathing. Having gotten to his frame before any of the others, he'd been quietly meditating in preparation for the upcoming mission. The glow of his singular cybernetic eye provided the only illumination, casting the edges of nearby objects in sharp relief with an eerie, orange-yellow sheen. The Praetorian neither saw nor heard any of this however, staring into space and feeling nothing but the solid weight of the small reminder against his sternum as he allowed everything else to fade away. Finally reaching a sufficiently clear and empty state of mind, he began a silent mantra.

Target in the center. Pull the trigger. Target in the center. Pull the trigger. Target in the center. Pull the trigger... Flow like water from one target to the next. Strike from the unseen, retreat to the unknown. I am dead. I am dead. I am dead. I am a shadow. I am a ghost. I am d-

"Steel Phoenix, launching!"

Son of a bitch!

Biting back several more curses, Issac flipped the settings of his catapult to manual and quickly triggered his launch. "Sorry, Commander. I'm going ahead. Pale Specter, launching." Stupid rookie! Don't go charging some place where I can't see you!

Soaring forth into space, the sniper engaged his camouflage, the image of his frame melting near-perfectly into the backdrop of stars. "Steel Phoenix, what are you doing?" he demanded, miraculously managing to keep his voice inflection-free, "Orders were for simultaneous launch. We don't need you becoming another sitting duck for the enemy to take potshots at. They already have two."

edited 27th Mar '12 8:48:48 PM by darksidevoid

Earl saw the other two launching ahead. The plans were already chaos. Personally, he'd typically prefer to sit and watch them learn the hard way. He took deep breath and considered his options.

It's not as though they were going to do an ordered launch at this point. A reckless rookie disrupted the lines and it was unlikely that even his commander would hold them now.

He let out the breath in a deep sigh before tensing over the controls.

This move might have cost them. Not the whole war but a perhaps many lives, yet he knew there was no point in fighting against it. Sentimentality like this was brought on by short term thinking and was detrimental. But whenever an SOS was fired off and one soldiers was in danger, he could see it with others; a million became a statistic, far away from them and their loved ones, that meant nothing. A footnote in the history books as they were being written.

"Bronze Centurion preparing for launch."

A million was a statistic.

But so was one.

edited 28th Mar '12 7:21:15 AM by Fauxlosophe

Gabe blinked a few times before answering, still slightly stunned at the devastation before him. He swallowed audibly before opening his mouth to stutter out a reply.

" Uh, y-y-y-yes s-s-ir, s-sorry sir." Gabe stammered to Pale Spectre, unsure of exactly how to justify his behavior to the Praetorian. He fell back slightly to regroup with Spectre and Centurion.

He took another shuddering look at the twisted hunks of metal that were once ships and shivered, feeling the sudden urge to gag.

"Di-didn't expect to see... th-th-this." He stuttered nervously.

"It is a battlefield... Or it was," Earl said into the microphone, "Good hiding spot for pirates, deserters, Federation commandos. Just keep a clear head so that you can avoid ending up a part of the scenery for the next victims."

edited 26th Apr '12 12:51:50 PM by Fauxlosophe

Nearby, concealed in the field of debris, a sinister voice began to cackle. "So, you've come-"

"Father."

"Alicia! You know better than to interrupt my introduction!"

"Forgive me, Father, but I do not believe the enemy has finished deploying yet."

"...Oh. They, uh, didn't hear that just now, did they?"

"''No, Father, they did not. I took the liberty of temporarily shutting off our access to the open channel, based on past incidents."

"I see. Ahem! Thank you, my dear."

"You are welcome, Father."

Lorraine and Alexei launched after a few short moments, settling into a simple battle line between Gabe and Earl.

Before anyone could comment more on the irregular deployment, however, a white blur rocketed up out of the wreckage, trailing bits of metal as it slowly turned to face the Regiment. The unknown frame gripped a longsword in each hand, body looking something like a Frankensteinian cross between a Quicksilver and Excalibur. "So, you've come," its pilot crowed with obvious relish, "like moths to a flame!"

Lorraine clenched the controls, watching the frame. “State your name and rank, unknown Frame!”

The only reply was a low, unhinged chuckle as the old man began to recite a time-worn verse:

"And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, 'Come and see' ! And I saw, and behold! A white horse! And he that sat on him had a bow, and a crown was given unto him, and he went forth conquering, And. To. Conquer!"

As he howled out the last word, the deranged old man and his frame shot forward, blades raised and thirsting for blood.

"Beneath" him, two more enemies emerged from the debris field, identifiable only as heavily modified variants of a Clarent and Magnetite, respectively.

"Beginning preliminary enemy analysis."

ENEMIES

• Conquest (320%)
• Valkyrie A (190%)
• Valkyrie B (260%)

KNIGHTS

• Castellan
  • Lorraine (170%)
  • Alexei (150%)
  • Earl (250%)
  • Gabe (200%)
  • Issac (150%)

Map Note

Lorraine shook her head, then shot her Frame to the side. “Bannikbergs, with me! There aren't many of them, but don't get cocky! Keep alive and take the enemy down! Castellan, any support you can give, much oblidged!” She then raised her sniper rifle and took aim at Conquest. “Let's see how tough your armor is, then...”

Evasive maneuvers [1], take aim at Conquest and fire[2][3], fire at Conquest [4].

Alexei smiled slightly, moving his frame on an interception course with Conquest. “A swordsman, huh? Let's see if you can keep up with Ubekon's finest.”

Charge at Conquest, attack thrice.

edited 1st May '12 12:29:18 PM by darksidevoid