M.A.D: Migrate, Adapt, Duel -- a Yu-Gi-Oh! RP

The year is 2055. Israel's eighty-year-long war with the Palestinians has ended seven years ago with the 'Ottamna Accords.
Wait, wrong one. Ho-hum.
The year is 2015. Israel's sixty-seven-year-long war with the Palestinians is still very much going on. In fact, it got a lot more complicated.
Over the last few weeks, there had been reports of odd phenomena occurring all over Israel. At first, those were dismissed by the authorities, but when such a phenomenon — apparently a gaseous sort of entity — appeared within Rabin Camp, even the most sceptic of IDF officers was convinced. When said entity proceeded to put three soldiers in a coma, it was shot at by military police and the camp's guard, to no effect. The entity then vanished.
When another, similar entity struck at a platoon of Shayetet 13 warriors that were training off the shore near their garrison of Atlit, heavier ordnance was employed after the warriors were evacuated, including Mark IV Gabriel anti-ship missiles and bombardment by an AH-64D Saraph helicopter, but to no avail.
The IDF seemed to be stumped until a soldier in the IDF's Military Intelligence Directorate's Research Department noticed the entities' similarity to a certain, not-so-popular children's card game. After thinking about it for a while (because, quite frankly, he didn't want his peers to ridicule him forevermore), he talked with his commander.
Seeing no other choice as the entities continued to attack, the IDF divested a small amount of funds toward the experiment the researcher proposed. It was a success, and the IDF decided to create a small, classified unit to combat that strange threat. It was officially numbered Unit 196 and called Tsanlakh, which was the Hebrew acronym for 'Incorporeal Entity Neutralisation Unit', but was nicknamed 'The Madmen' for its less-than-orthodox methods and silly, high-embarrassment-factor premise.

---

Captain Eyal, the officer supposed to serve as the Madmen's liaison to the various civilian counsellors the IDF contracted, tugged at the collar of his uniform. He wondered how a bunch of civvies would take to military life. Well, at least one was a Shin Bet operative another was on loan from the USAF, and another served in the Intelligence Corps according to their files, so hopefully he won't be over his head.
He looked at the counsellors, seated on a semi-circle of chairs around him in an out-of-the-way room in one of the Intelligence Corps' out-of-the-way bases. He cleaned his throat to gain their attention. “Hrum, hoom. I am captain Eyal,” he said by the way of introduction, neglecting to mention a last name. “I will be your liaison with the rest of the IDF. I trust that all of you know what you are doing here, its importance to the safety of Israel, and the reason for secrecy.” He couldn't help but chuckle at this point as he still couldn't quite believe what he was doing. “While you serve in this unit, you will live here in this base.” He almost started explaining about the base's various facilities when a telephone rang on the table behind him. He answered it and frowned. “Well, no time for explanations, we're jumping. An entity — corresponding to a card called 'Galaxy Queen' if I'm getting this right — has appeared at some random gas station in the south and started terrorising the passer-by.”

---

The counsellors were herded by Eyal out of the room, taken to a parking lot and into a white, unmarked Chevrolet Express. As soon as they were all seated, the driver floored the pedal.
“Your 'Duel Disks' are in the car's trunk,” he said. “We had the area cordoned off to limit civilian casualties, and the police evacuated the workers, so you're going to have that thing all for yourself.”
They arrived after about an hour's trip at the gas station, discovering it to stand in the middle of nowhere, with just a piece of highway to keep it company in normal days. Now, however, there were quite a few military and police vehicles around. A soldier wearing a white peaked cap and a white armband that proclaimed 'מ”צ'*

Mem Tsadi, which is the acronym for military police

in large blue letters◊ approached the group, saluting. She started talking very quickly in Hebrew, and Eyal replied in kinda before turning back to the team.
“Okay, guys,” he said, “we seem to have two manifestations, not one. Frank, Celeste and Derek, you're going to that side of the station with me.” He pointed at the far side of the building before continuing. “Major Dyson, Killian, Set and Gabriel, you're going to the closer side.”

---

The first team would soon encounter a trio of what seemed to be ghosts in the desolate convenience store. Their comms went quiet all of a sudden, and their Duel Disks activated themselves.
The second team would find themselves in a similar position. Obviously both teams had no choice but to duel.

edited 4th Jul '13 2:04:56 PM by desdendelle

The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground

Derek had dealt with some crazy shit when he did shock troop deployment back in the day, but this stuff was giving him goosebumps. "Stick to the plan, guys," he said, facing his specific ghost challenger. "Kick ass and find the Queen. Today her fate is to lose."

"Evii is right though" -Saturn "I didn't know you were a bitch Evii." -Lior Val

Gabriel let out a discontented grunt as the small metal wings of his duel disk unfolded.

"I preferred the smoke and mirrors. But there's no choice now. Only duty."

The operative allowed himself a quiet sigh. "If subtlety is not an option, then what remains?"

As his Disk unfolded in front of him, he did his best to intimidate the apparition on front of him. "You have made a grave error in forcing my hand. Now, begone!"

As he was clearly about to Duel, "Frank" drew his first five cards.

And so, this is it. I've been practising on the online networks, but for real? Well, if I lose, at least this being may have the decency to avoid referring to me as a 'n00b' before it destroys me.

Curse the ill fortune that led you to me.

"Goddamned piece of junk," Max said as his Duel Disk activated. "Where's the button for the - how in the hell- there we go. Thing's more fickle than a Mr. Coffee. Now let's get this duel over with, show these ghosts who's boss, and see if we can get the keys to that Saraph."

As he encountered the ghosts and started up his Duel Disk, Killian frowned in slight confusion. These didn't look like any of the cards related to the Galaxy Queen (not that he really had any idea of what spirits were related to each other). Still, hopefully dueling them would clear stuff up.

"I'll take the first move! Draw!" Fanning his six cards out, he internally frowned. Not the greatest, not the worst.

"I'll start by activating Machine Assembly Line!" A machine resembling an assembly line (what else?) appeared behind him, humming.

"Finally, I'll set one monster and 3 other cards!" The four set cards appeared in front of him. "Your turn, whatever you are."

• Killian LP: 8000
• Monsters: One Set Monster
• Spell/Traps: Machine Assembly Line, 3 face-downs

edited 4th Jul '13 4:03:18 PM by Krika

"Very well. Then I will take my move."

As he looked down at the first six cards he had, all he could see was the most turgid pile of shit he had ever seen in the time he had been playing. Still. He had to make a move if nothing else.

"Face down. Two of them."

• Frank's Field
  • Monsters: None.
  • S/T: 2, Face-down.

edited 4th Jul '13 4:26:46 PM by Plumbum

Curse the ill fortune that led you to me.

Derek stared down his ghostly opposition, drawing his starting hand. He had enjoyed passing some time with Duel Monsters but this was serious business. Not only did he have to protect those here, he had a reputation to uphold. "I'll show you the strength of the Hero of Destiny! Let's rock!"

Looking at his opening hand, Derek frowned. This was not the best thing he could've hoped for. "I start my turn by summoning Destiny HERO - Diamond Dude in Attack Mode!" A bizarre man in a cloak rose up from the shadows, with half of his body being encrusted with enormous crystalline diamonds. "Now time to fulfill my destined fate! Diamond Dude's effect activates, allowing me to reveal the top card of my deck! If it's a Normal Spell Card, I send it to the Graveyard and can activate its effect during my next Main Phase. If not, I return it to the bottom of my deck. Let's go, Destined Revelation!"

"Evii is right though" -Saturn "I didn't know you were a bitch Evii." -Lior Val

A huge block of transparent diamond emerged from the ground in front of Diamond Dude, an image of Destiny HERO - Dogma was visible inside.

"Why does everything have to loop back to YGO?" -Guy who ruined YGO

Derek sighed. "Seems Fate is waiting for a better time to reveal itself... I set a card face-down and end my turn."

• DEREK'S LP: 8000
• MONSTERS: Destiny HERO - Diamond Dude (1400ATK)
• SPELLS/TRAPS: Face-Down

edited 4th Jul '13 4:29:13 PM by EviIPaladin

"Evii is right though" -Saturn "I didn't know you were a bitch Evii." -Lior Val

Seems this ghost was playing defensively as well. Hopefully he'd be able to break through that this turn....

He snapped a card off of his disk, and frowned. Not what I'm looking for.

"I'll pass my turn."

Nothing? Fine, this makes it my chance to capitalise and-

He drew his next card and glared at it.

-do nothing. "I'll pass it."

Curse the ill fortune that led you to me.

Max gave a salute. "My apologies, but today, a hero dies."

He pulled up his duel disk, and drew a card. "To start with, I set one card face-down, and play Lemuria, the Forgotten City. Next, I normal summon a Wind-Up Shark, Special Summon a Shark Stickers, activate Wind-Up Shark's ability to lower its level to three, and Xyz summon...."

He flipped through a representation of his extra deck. He was pretty sure he had a level 3 Xyz card. Yup, there it was. Wait, what was that next to it?

"Then Lemuria activates, making them both level five to let me summon.... Shark Fortress! And this son of a bitch detaches a material to activate its ability on itself and attacks your Diamond Dude. Goddamn hippie."

The rapid approach of sharks brought a vague sense of fear to Derek. The attack came flying through, with the enormous shark-based ship slamming through both Diamond Dude and into Derek.

• DEREK'S LP: 8000 -> 7000

"Evii is right though" -Saturn "I didn't know you were a bitch Evii." -Lior Val

"Hit him again, SHARK FORTRESS!" Max said. "Show him what 2400 points of muscle can do!"

edited 4th Jul '13 5:00:37 PM by nman

Well, it certainly seemed like they both were having bad luck here. He grabbed another card off of his deck, and grinned a little. Now, I can work with this.

"First, I'll flip up my face-down Genex Ally Changer, and then summon out Genex Ally Chemister!" Two robots appeared on the field, a small one wielding two tanks of what appeared to be paint canisters, and the other looking much more sleek and combat ready.

"But they're not going to stay around for long, because Chemister is a tuner monster! So now I'll tune my level 3 Changer to my level 2 Chemister!" The two robots burst apart, the smaller forming two rings that surrounded the three stars the other had become, before being surrounded in a pillar of light. "Spirits align to upgrade into a new form, the ultimate weapon of the Healing Darkness!" (2 + 3 = 5) "Boot up, Ally of Justice Catastor!" A large four-legged robot with a white and gold color scheme, and a gold face-plate over a single eye landed on the ground. (Catastor ATK: 2200 + 200 = 2400)

"What do you have to say to that, huh?"

• Killian LP: 8000
• Killian Monsters: Ally of Justice Catastor
• Killian S/T: Machine Assembly Line, 3 Face-Downs

edited 4th Jul '13 5:07:59 PM by Krika

"So, now it begins does it? Fine. Before you tune those two, I'll reveal something for you - Macro Cosmos! I hope you didn't need those in the grave, because they're going to be banished. As will every card that goes to the grave whilst this card is on the field."

He didn't have to wait long for the Synchro either. A Synchro he used himself no less. "Hmm. It almost feels like killing an ally. Nevertheless, to the void with it, Bottomless Trap Hole!"

edited 4th Jul '13 5:18:41 PM by Plumbum

Curse the ill fortune that led you to me.

"It looks like I don't have a choice," Celeste said upon seeing her duel disk unfolding. "Well, I hope you don't mind because I'll take the first move."

The young woman looked down at the six cards she held in her right hand. "I've had better opening hands."

"I'll set three cards face-down and end my turn."

• LP : 8000
• Monsters : None.
• S/T : 3 face-downs.

edited 4th Jul '13 5:24:06 PM by PhantomBladewing

Killian growled as his monster collapsed into a suddenly-appearing hold in the ground. Behind him, the machinery shuddered to work, dumping pieces of scrap into the bin. (Machine Assembly Line Counters: 2)

"Well...yah got me there."

He waved, signaling the end of his turn.

edited 4th Jul '13 5:26:06 PM by Krika

Derek braced himself as the attack came flying at him, devouring a nice big chunk of his lifepoints.

DEREK'S LP: 7000 -> 4600

"Evii is right though" -Saturn "I didn't know you were a bitch Evii." -Lior Val

"Don't worry, Casper, this'll be over soon," Max said, "And you can go back to hell soon enough."

He pressed the button on his duel disk's holo interface to end his turn.

• Max's Stuff:
  • LP: 8000
  • Front Row: SHARK FORTRESS! (Attack Mode)
  • Back: One Face Down
  • Chillin' Out and Shit: Lemuria

edited 4th Jul '13 8:29:53 PM by nman

Set smiled as he activated his duel disk. He’s up against a ghost; there is definitely something interesting going on here.

“I'll start. I set one monster down in defense mode and one card in the back row, and I end my turn.”

Two cards appeared face down on the field.

“Now come, and show me your secrets.”

• Set's LP: 8000
• Set's monsters: 1 set
• Sets backrow: 1 card

edited 5th Jul '13 1:15:50 AM by luckybreak91

TV Tropes Powers. Activate!!!!!

"Well then. No monsters but some face-downs. Wonder what they'll be."

Gabriel removed six cards from the pouch on his deck and examined them.

"Hmm...Well then, I guess I'll start with two face downs of my own."

Gabriel placed two cards face down in the spell/trap zones.

"And then I'll bring in some architecture."

Valhalla Hall of the Fallen

"Now, apparently for some reason the place where all the dead Vikings get drunk is good for the little faeries. So this guy can come out."

Gabriel placed a monster card into one of the slots.

"And of course, this one could come out anyway but I'm putting it face down."

Gabriel took another of his cards and deposited it in the slot.

Airknight Parshath [[1900 ATK]]

? [[DEF]]

"And I guess that'll do for now."

LP:8000 Monsters: Airknight Parshath (1900 ATK), Face-down (? DEF) S/T: 2 face-down.

As his Duel Disk activated itself, Eyal nearly panicked. Nearly. He caught himself, however, and when the ghost he faced set a monster and a backrow card, he took the opportunity and breathed deeply.
“I draw,” he announced. He looked at his cards. Oh, well, one does what one must, he thought.
“I Summon Mecha Phantom Beast Tetherwolf,” he said, placing the card in his disk. The sound of a heli's rotors could be heard as one with a lupine-looking cockpit and two tether lines trailing behind it appeared.
“When it is Normal Summoned, it Special Summons a Mecha Phantom Beast Token to my side of the field.” A hologram of the helicopter appeared.

The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground

Frank stared in disbelief. Yet more that he couldn't really use. Still, he set one more backrow, the same card he had just drawn, and nodded at the ghost to indicate the end of his turn.

Frank's field:

• No frontrow
• Backrow: Macro Cosmos, one set.

Curse the ill fortune that led you to me.