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Dusk of Sentience

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SOCR Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Get out of here, STALKER
#1: Jul 11th 2011 at 9:10:43 PM

Signups. Discussion.

"Sir, we're getting those strange energy signatures again. Looks like she has a fresh batch"

The young sensor operator looked to the command chair in the center of the bridge. In it sat an aging man of Japanese descent, in a white admiral's uniform bearing many decorations. "That is the second, correct?" came the response, clear despite an obvious accent.

"Yes, sir."

The admiral leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers before his face. If the previous patterns were continued that means this would be the start of Round Forty-Two. Intelligence estimated that Round Fifty would be the final one, so their action had to be made soon. Perhaps with these additions they could make their move.

"Keep an eye on them."

The sensor officer nodded and returned to his station. The admiral remained where he was for several moments, before slowly standing and nodding to the XO. He left the bridge without another word, walking down the corridors to his office. They needed more men, they finally had the information and the plan of attack that could end this insane undertaking, but the cost had been so great. They had lost almost everything in the last attack. The admiral glanced down a side corridor where a memorial was bolted to the wall, "Long live the 45th" printed above a long list of names. His men were some of the first to have died in this fight.

Perhaps soon that would change- even down to two capital vessels and a motley assortment of fighter craft and ground units there was still enough to continue gathering steam. Depending on what this next cycle brought, they could enact their daring plan shortly. The coordination between the large number of disparate units had been difficult, at least until their cocooned friend had come along. Speaking of...

The admiral had reached his office, and pressed a button underneath the surface of his desk. A display flush with the tabletop turned black then displayed the image of a young girl, perhaps only fourteen or fifteen years of age. "Hey, Admiral! 'Been waiting on the call, I saw what's up. When do you want to move?"

Despite the situation the old man smiled; his elder's enthusiasm and good humor never failed to rub off on him. "Patience, patience. I know it's rough especially for someone like you, but we must bide our time for the right moment."

Despite the chastisement the girl's grin only grew. "A-yup! But just in case I'm telling them to ready The Surprise." Text appeared overlaid on the video feed, with the words 'The Surprise' flashing in bright neon colors before disappearing. "I don't know about you but I can't wait!"

"Of course not," came the slow, measured response. "I will give your partner the word when the time is right."

"Aww, you can always just talk to me!"

"Yes, but do not think he does not know of your clever interceptions, or is happy about it. I bet he's on his way right now to scold you."

Finally the image of the girl looked abashed. "Yes, Admiral." The communication cut off without dismissal.

The admiral cycled displays on the screen until he came to a map now very familiar; a thin circle of forest outlining a perfectly circular flat grassland area, separating it from a greater battlefield. The new arrivals should be waking up there shortly. Hopefully he will have the pleasure of seeing them in-person soon enough.


Leona jerked awake with a sharp intake of breath. She was still at the controls of her Shadow Cat, which was for some reason toppled on the ground instead of still standing. She hadn't just passed out then, as the neurohelmet would be able to continue tracking her balance. Either she was comatose, or the machine had lost power. Or both.

She had been on her way to a Trial. A Trial of Grievance, if she remembered correctly- apparently someone felt her cautious attitude had cost the Trinary some minor objective and wished to eliminate her from the command structure. Rather silly to lay the blame on the observational unit instead of the mainline combatants, but some people had egos to feed.

Hanging suspended from your command couch, however, was not a position suited to contemplation. Viridian Phantom had done a faceplant into the dirt, and she got about bringing the machine to an upright position. Once she had she realized with a start that the current terrain looked nothing like where she was a length of time she still swore was only a moment ago. She brought up her BAP unit to check records of the intermediate time, but it only confirmed her suspicions that the Omnimech had lost power during the interim. Whatever that bright light was, it was able to disable the machine faster than the joint interlocks could kick in, the devices that allowed a Battlemech to stand even when powered down.

She took several paces around her new area, testing mobility and systems while she tried to figure out what happened. Nothing came to her, not anything that would explain her change in location, besides sabotage of the Trial grounds. And at that point it would have been more likely she was dead, instead of still in her machine.

Well she had to do what she did best, then- scout around. She moved her machine to just inside the forest perimeter, and started following the edge around what appeared to be a giant arc. Time to look for answers.

How can you be in two places at once when you're not anywhere at all?
Fauxlosophe Since: Aug, 2010
#2: Jul 11th 2011 at 9:36:51 PM

"Well," Spinoza said shaking his head, and looking up at the controls of his Zaku and engaging the camera.

It wasn't where he was stationed.

Where he was stationed was presently, or formerly, but to the last of his memory regardless under intense bombardment from various Feddie units. You think they'd have given up on the Sahara, but no. Apparently it's worth their time.

Personally, Spinoza blamed their schooling.

Either way, that was the past, or perhaps present, but judging by the trees, either they either really over did the anti-Global warming stuff or else he was probably a decent distance from his original post.

"That was an... eventful nap. I suppose it's a tad calmer here than Morocco. Cooler too."

He paused looking around the area, engaging his zoom to scout for other Suits, "And no Jimmies trying to kill me."

He paused for a moment and after some contemplation said,

"I think, in time, I could grow to like this place."

edited 11th Jul '11 9:46:23 PM by Fauxlosophe

Strigon Planet-Killer Since: Jul, 2010
Planet-Killer
#3: Jul 11th 2011 at 9:43:28 PM

Phil Hanes, Pilot of Nineball and Irregular raven wakes up inside his AC, his head hurting like hell.

"Mmmnngg... That's the last time I'll drink that much Rum in one sitting..."

The raven motions for the first aid kit to the side of his seat and grabs the aspirin bottle inside.

"Bottom's up."

The Raven downs a pair of pills and opens the cockpit of his AC, The sight he saw is not one he was expecting.

"This is not the AC garage, There can only be one explanation for this... Some fucktard aliens abducted me for their sick game."

Shameless Self-promotion ho!
Fusionman Since: Nov, 2009
#4: Jul 11th 2011 at 9:53:25 PM

A relatively tall, bearded man walks into SHIELD headquarters. "So, Fury? What is it this..."

Tony Stark looks around and sees that the room looks nothing like a SHIELD room. "Well hot damn! I thought that was a small beer... I knew I shouldn't have had Natasha hand me one."

GIG Forever livid from Where I want to be Since: Feb, 2010
Forever livid
#5: Jul 11th 2011 at 9:57:56 PM

Sitting cross-legged on the ground, William Gunther sighed. Today was shaping up not to be good day.

"Ya' know, when I woke up this morning, I thought that I was going to have a normal day." He turned to his tank, "That's all I wanted, really."

The tank, a small commando tank designated "SV-001", but most often called a "Metal Slug" sat silently. Will preferred to think it was agreeing with him.

"Hell, when Marco and Filo ordered me to meet up with them for a patrol, I thought to myself, 'Self, looks like we got ourselves an average day. Ain't no way nothing spectacular going to be happening today.' So then I set out, blasting away at some Rebels, finding a Heavy Machine Gun here and there to wreck stuff with, and wouldn't you know it, I run into you!"

The Metal Slug stood silent. Will guessed it was remembering the moment.

"So, me being the vehicle guy for the Peregrine Falcons, I thought, 'Self, wouldn't Marco be impressed if you showed up for the patrol with a freaking Metal Slug? Especially if you stole one back that the Rebels took?'" Will hopped onto the tank and continued.

"And I agreed with myself, so I took you with me. So, I take you for a spin. And wouldn't you believe it, I'm about to crest the hill, and the BOOM! Flash of light shows up and wake up off in this foresty place and I have no clue where the Hell I am. Don't you hate when that happens?"

The tank was silent. Will could only imagine it was agreeing with him.

Suddenly, the ground started to shake. Will took out his pistol. "Something big is walking around here, and I don't think it's a Slug Spider..."

SOCR Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Get out of here, STALKER
#6: Jul 11th 2011 at 10:10:09 PM

Quadrant II Command.

"Greetings Mr. Stark."

The artificial but definitely feminine voice spoke from nowhere in particular, but in the middle of what appeared to be a command center was a large holographic table. A female figure stood on it, delightfully vague in appearance. She seemed to be standing on top of a small landscape; a circular flat area ringed by fores. Various blue icons were stationed around the forest perimeter, some in motion, while others were not. Small displays listed a couple statistics above each one. One labeled "IRON MAN - TONY STARK" was in the dead center of the geography.

"It is good to see you have awoken. Your teammates are doing so now. Eventually they will find there way here, but in the meantime, why don't you relax? You will find a pilot's lounge down the hall, along with your quarters. Please deposit your armor in your quarters for inspection."

A door on the opposite side of the large command room opened. Beyond was a dimly-lit hallway, with numerous doors lining the way to another at the end. One door in the series of side exits opened, as did the door at the end, revealing a well-appointed den.

edited 11th Jul '11 10:10:35 PM by SOCR

How can you be in two places at once when you're not anywhere at all?
Fauxlosophe Since: Aug, 2010
#7: Jul 11th 2011 at 10:10:21 PM

"Huh," Spinoza said, walking up to the small unit he caught out of the corner of his sensor, "It's an interesting model of handgun, but were I a betting man, I'm afraid my money would be on the Suit."

Fusionman Since: Nov, 2009
#8: Jul 11th 2011 at 10:16:02 PM

Tony chuckles. "OK Nick very funny. I admit this is fancy but... female voice? Teammates instead of Avengers? And inspecting the armor? The one you know is inside me? Wow, you must have finally gone senile you old fart!"

GIG Forever livid from Where I want to be Since: Feb, 2010
Forever livid
#9: Jul 11th 2011 at 10:16:43 PM

Will gulped as he looked up at the machine. He was right, it was both big and not a Spider Slug.

Damn. If I jump in the Slug, he'd have the fist shot. And I don't think I could take him on foot, not even if I had a Enemy Chaser. Clearly, there is only one option.

Will dropped his pistol and threw his hands in the air. "I surrender! Don't hurt me!"

Fauxlosophe Since: Aug, 2010
#10: Jul 11th 2011 at 10:21:18 PM

"I suppose it's been said that bravery is a myth, and all that truly exists is degrees of fear," Spinoza tilted his head, "You've done a commendable job of proving that Jimmy. Care for a ride?"

He extended the hand of his Zaku towards the Federation soldier.

Strigon Planet-Killer Since: Jul, 2010
Planet-Killer
#11: Jul 11th 2011 at 10:23:27 PM

Phil closes the hatch and activates his AC.

Main System, Engaging Combat mode.

"These alien bastards abducted the wrong Raven!"

The Nineball's eyes flare to life then it boosts towards the building where Iron Man is, not knowing that it was there.

edited 11th Jul '11 10:24:28 PM by Strigon

Shameless Self-promotion ho!
Oni-Lord Since: May, 2010
#12: Jul 11th 2011 at 10:25:28 PM

"We're not tools of the government or anyone else. Fighting was the only thing... the only thing I was good at, but... at least I always fought for what I believed in. Snake... farewell..."


Frank Jaeger was suddenly aware that he was in some sort of field, laying down in the grass. This was rather jarring since he was previously in the middle of a base, being crushed to death. It would seem that even now, his soul is not allowed rest. With a flourish of movement Frank jumped to his feet and looked around. There seemed to be several large machines in the vicinity, not a good sign.

A moment later Frank was gone, activating his stealth camouflage. This would require some scouting before he came to any conclusions. It was better to err on the side of caution though and sneak around, not making a noise.

Colonial1.1 Purveyor of Obscurity from The Marvelous River City (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Purveyor of Obscurity
#13: Jul 11th 2011 at 10:27:15 PM

My name is Roger Smith. I perform a much needed job in this city of amnesia...

Through the grey and grimy streets of that City, the large black sedan bearing a Griffon rolled, past the incredulous eyes of men who lived on a half-dollar a day, who had, maybe, once seen better days. The crumbling City itself could be described the same way.

The driver of this gleaming automobile paid them no heed on the surface, his eyes hidden by thick shades unnecessary in this gloom, but useful on the job.

Roger Smith, young, affluent, and professional, was a Negotiator, the best in town. And the case he had been put on should have been like any other. Just a routine exchange of funds for an industrialist's kidnapped daughter from some small-time crooks, that was all. He would go home, another client satisfied, and for once be in time for his dinner.

Or so he thought.

As he closed in on the dingy, rotting hanger with the yellow ribbon up top, he peered into the gloom inside. He thought he glimpsed a car towards the back... Then the darkness seemed to flow out of the hanger in bizarre, pixellated waves over his car, noises no man on Earth had ever heard before assaulting his ears.

Faces, in their hundreds, rushed past his vision, some frowning, some smiling, some screaming, and some laughing. Many of them he had never seen before, though nearly all of them seemed to know him.—

"Isn't the knight in shining armour going to save his damsel in distress?"

"Got you now, Crowboy!"

"Call me... Angel."

"Master Roger, sah..."

"HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAH! YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A MANGY DOG! ON THE CITY'S LEASH!"

— The Negotiator's eyes went wide in bewilderment. Who ARE all these people? What IS this?!

He found that he couldn't move his arms to steer away, or his feet to depress the pedals. He couldn't even open his mouth to invoke...

And then a ghostly pale, expressionless, yet coldly beautiful face framed by dark red hair appeared to him, staying in front of his visage.—

"I would like you to protect me."

— Somehow, that unlocked his jaw, and his arm, which held a strange wrist watch. He raised it to his lips, took a deep breath, then brought voice to the glorious words. —

"BIG O! IT'S SHOWTIME!"


Cast In The Name Of God ____Ye Not Guilty

— FWASH—


— Roger Smith awakened in the red-lit chamber which he knew so well, the systems of a God cast in steel humming in sure contentment. He peered around, noting that everything was exactly as it had been on the last sortie, save for a pounding headache and an opaque glass shell in front of him. He blinked, and the glass was clearer. What lay beyond it befuddled him. A vast plain of grass under a blue sky...

"I can't be under one of the domes, I don't see any projector panels. So where am I?"

—The Negotiator unlatched the radar screen from the right side of the cavernous cockpit, and keyed it to detect any transmission sources. Several blinked back at him. —

"Hmmmm. Best to go north, even without a compass. Maybe the natives are friendly... but knowing my luck, they're not."

— His feet worked the pedals, and many tonnes worth of steel, glass, and plastic rumbled into motion beneath him. —

"He could not know it. For it was not all a joke."
GIG Forever livid from Where I want to be Since: Feb, 2010
Forever livid
#14: Jul 11th 2011 at 10:27:21 PM

"Hey, who you calling Jimmy!" Will jerked his thumb towards himself proudly. "My name is Corporal William Gunther of the Regular Army. And I'll have you know: I'm a member of the Peregrine Falcons Squad."

"And why would I need a ride anyway?" Will said, confused. "I have a perfectly good Metal Slug right here."

Fauxlosophe Since: Aug, 2010
#15: Jul 11th 2011 at 10:30:09 PM

"Traditionally Prisonners aren't allowed to ride in their weapons," Spinoza shrugged, "Suit yourself though, Jimmy. I don't really care much about the specifics of Fed army division."

Ominae Since: Jul, 2010
#16: Jul 11th 2011 at 10:33:59 PM

"Everyone! Get ready!"

1st Lieutenant Belfangan Clouseau, ex-Australian SAS operative and current commanding officer of the Special Reaction Team contingent based in MITHRIL's Pacific division, was seated in the cockpit of his M9D Falke Arm Slave. He had been seated there for half and hour after his own Sikorsky MH-67 Pave Mare chopper took off from the TDD-1, stationed somewhere near Philippine waters and Palawan after reports of a terrorist group were hidden in the Spratly Islands.

"I want all Urzu units to be on your guard. Don't get caught off guard just because we got better Arm Slaves than them. Understood?!" Belfangan spoke on an encrypted channel minutes before being told of his deployment to the islands.

"Yes sir!" came the reply from all the SRT operatives on the other line.

"Ready for deployment, Lieutenant Clouseau!" Belfangan heard the pilot on another frequency after he ended communication with his SRT subordinates.

"All SRT units, deploy!" Belfangan shouted before his own Arm Slave was deployed from underneath the Pave Mare.

"Good hunting, Lieutenant." The co-pilot told Belfangan as his M9D had been detached from underneath the Pave Mare, the unit deployed for action.

Here goes nothing.

Belfangan sighed and concentrated as his Arm Slave was plummeting down towards the islands. However, the console reported something unknown was in the area.

"What the?" Belfangan murmured as the last thing he saw was a bright flash of light engulfing him and the M9D.


When the ex-Australian SAS veteran opened his eyes, he saw that he was about to deploy towards a forested area.

And he was almost near optimal distance for deployment.

"Ah shit!" Belfangan cursed, getting some commands in to deploy the parachute. So far, it worked as it eased the Arm Slave down on the forest.

"Where the goddamn heck am I?" The Muslim SRT operative murmured. He then decided to make a few inquiries while moving before activating ECS to be on the safe side without arming himself for the meantime.

"This is Urzu-1 making contacting with Ansuz and Perth. I repeat this... Urzu-1 making contact with Ansuz and Perth. Do you read me, over?"

edited 12th Jul '11 10:46:24 AM by Ominae

GIG Forever livid from Where I want to be Since: Feb, 2010
Forever livid
#17: Jul 11th 2011 at 10:34:35 PM

"Fed army? It's called the Regular Army! Ya' know, the army that all those governments put together a while ago?" Will eyes narrowed, "You wouldn't happen to one of Morden's men, would you?"

edited 11th Jul '11 10:40:17 PM by GIG

Colonial1.1 Purveyor of Obscurity from The Marvelous River City (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Purveyor of Obscurity
#18: Jul 11th 2011 at 10:41:08 PM

BOOOOOMBwank—- BOOOOOMBwank—-BOOOOOMBwank

—Those outside would hear, with increasing volume, before the ornate titan of black steel and orange armor-glass thundered into view in the distance, shaking the earth with His footfalls. —

edited 11th Jul '11 10:45:34 PM by Colonial1.1

"He could not know it. For it was not all a joke."
Fauxlosophe Since: Aug, 2010
#19: Jul 11th 2011 at 10:41:11 PM

"Yeah, the Federation," Spinoza shrugged, "I can't say I've ever really cared much about politics to worry about nitpicking that sort of thing over what they specifically call their armies now. Though I suppose you could say I'm a recent transfer to the region, Morden's the local Zeke commander?"

edited 11th Jul '11 10:42:07 PM by Fauxlosophe

Strigon Planet-Killer Since: Jul, 2010
Planet-Killer
#20: Jul 11th 2011 at 10:43:24 PM

Phil eventually gets a visual on the building, stopping a few hundred meters from it.

"A building? What's it doing here?"

A beat.

"Silly me. It belongs to those aliens! I could destroy it, but looting it and using their gear against them is gonna hurt them more than blowing it up."

Nineball then walks towards the building, only to abruptly stop upon it's pilot hearing the giant footsteps.

"Wha-What the?!"

Nineball turns it's head towards the source and Phil's jaw dropped upon seeing the Big-O.

"That's the biggest MT I've ever seen..."

edited 11th Jul '11 10:46:06 PM by Strigon

Shameless Self-promotion ho!
Fusionman Since: Nov, 2009
#21: Jul 11th 2011 at 10:48:14 PM

Tony sighs. Start charging unibeams. "So who made this one? Ultimo got bigger again? Or maybe it's Fin Fang Foom. I admit Nick I thought SHIELD had a good defense squad at this point. Instead you're all wearing red and scream whenever any super-villain appears."

GIG Forever livid from Where I want to be Since: Feb, 2010
Forever livid
#22: Jul 11th 2011 at 10:50:24 PM

"Zeke? What's a Zeke?" Will looked up at the mecha in confusion until a moment of realization hit him.

"I get it, you're a new bad guy!" Will shouted as he dramatically pointed at what he now deemed the Slugdam. "That's why Marco and Filo needed me! We were going after a new threat, they just didn't want to tell me yet!"

Opening the hatch of his Metal Slug with a smirk on his face, Will reached in. "Looks like I'll be the one takin' you down!" After a few moments, his smirk turned into a frown. Didn't I have a Heavy Machine Gun in here? Confused, Will looked into the tank, his legs flailing outside of the hatch.

edited 11th Jul '11 10:52:38 PM by GIG

Ominae Since: Jul, 2010
#23: Jul 11th 2011 at 10:50:48 PM

Belfangan had the Falke run at its maximum speed before getting rid of the deployed parachute.

"Attention to any Urzu units in the vicinity. Can you copy? This is Urzu-1, over?"

I wonder if anyone's gonna pick up this call?

As the Canadian made the Falke run fast, he visually saw what looked like a building from a distance while still in ECS mode.

edited 12th Jul '11 12:17:01 AM by Ominae

SOCR Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Get out of here, STALKER
#24: Jul 11th 2011 at 10:51:16 PM

The trip would be quite a long one for Hanes, considering the distances involved. The blue icon representing his position dutifully moved towards the center of the holographic display at a snail's pace.

"I apologize, Mr. Stark, but this unit is not addressed as 'Nick'. You have been separated from your previous comrades for the duration of these tests. As you can see, you have been integrated into a new unit to test your combat effectiveness. Your armor is needed for baseline analysis, and to activate your virtual uplink to this facility's systems."

The only reason Tony could hear the Big O's approach is because one of the indicators above that particular unit was a seismic scanner, and suddenly in front of the AI's holographic form sprang a video feed of its approach.

"We will have company inside the hour."


Leona had been moving around the forest's perimeter for several minutes under MASC power. She saw the colossal black titan moving in the field, and quickly throttled down to get a better look through the last fer meters of forest.

"This is Urzu-1 making contacting with Ansuz and Perth. I repeat this Urzu-1 making contact with Ansuz and Perth. Do you read me, over?"

Her attention snapped to her comm channels. She had it set to a general hailing frequency once she entered the Circle of Equals, this had not changed. She debated responding, before finally deciding that it would be safe, considering the only unit she currently had visual on was not paying attention to her.

"This is Star Commander Leona, Clan Jade Falcon. Identify name and rank, Urzu-1"

How can you be in two places at once when you're not anywhere at all?
Fauxlosophe Since: Aug, 2010
#25: Jul 11th 2011 at 10:51:27 PM

"Am I supposed to just sit here and wait?" Spinoza yawned, "Aren't prisonners supposed to be less bothersome?"

edited 11th Jul '11 10:52:15 PM by Fauxlosophe


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