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G4 and boardax fake!Ashlyn

You drone the bar.


Finally, the gate opens and in comes a young lady. She is definitely one of the diplomats, wearing a business jacket made from some grey-beige fabric with a cleavage showing white shirt underneath. She has a long skirt of the fabric matching the jacket. She is quite tall, and has robust hair that was cropped into a bowl-shaped cut. Her skin is quite dark, and as she approaches, you can see she has painted her nails black and has dark brown eyes.

"Hello!" She says with a chipper, high-pitched voice, and smiles, showing her white teeth, before taking a seat at the counter.

"I'm Axina Masa. I would like a Delta Serpentis Fruitshake." You know this mix from before, and take only a while to prepare it - a tank of Skinjuice with some Creme Blanco and Silkdrink, making a glass of limegreen fruitiness. You put the mix in front of Axina, who smiles again.

"Thank you, young man. Here's the chip." She pulls the credchip from somewhere about her hip - it's a piece of black plastic with elaborate sigil of several golden circles laid over a flower, also gold. You still scan it like any other. (+120c)

Today Earnings: 494c
Monthly Earnings: 6631.5c

Patron ID: Axina Masa
Occupation: Foreign Diplomat: 2nd Grade Negotiator, Ticardian Colony
Diplomatic Immunity Grant: 24FFD/1236
Conv.Style: AMENABLE
Liked drinks: fruity
Disliked drinks: spicy

Suddenly, the bartending console lists an alert.

SRC Legal Bureau Warning: This Patron has been declared a 'Foreign Diplomat' by the New Galactic Federation Foreign Relations Bureau, and is therefore equipped with full Diplomatic Immunity within the territory of New Galactic Federation. Synthetic Refueling Conglomerate Guard Personnel is therefore responsible for ensuring the private security of this Patron while they are on board of Synthetic Refueling Conglomerate Outposts and to accompany it to areas of high risk. In case of the Outpost not having any dedicated Guard Personnel, the aforementioned responsbility is moved onto any Civilian Personnel, including Managers, Bartenders, Waitresses, Janitors, Advertisers, Musicians et cetera. Failure to comply with this regulation will void any legal protections Synthetic Refueling Conglomerate bestows upon the Personnel in case they are accused of negligence by the New Galactic Federation's administration or the governing body of the spacefaring polity the Foreign Diplomat belongs to, as well as termination of employment contract between the negligent Personnel and Synthetic Refueling Conglomerate.

Nothing better to brighten your day than scary legal warnings, huh?

A) "Tiring trip?"
B) CHATTY: "I see you're a diplomat and I ought to care for you. You need anything?"
C) CHATTY: "Apologies but I haven't heard of Ticardian Colony, where is it?"
D) CHATTY: "May I ask about the ship you're traveling on? It's name and class are both the same."
E) FLIRTY: "You're a diplomat? Then, I'm ready to serve you, anything you want~"

"Hear ye! Hear ye! The Tournament of the Knights has begun! The impartial judges, by grace of the Gods and the Royals, have thusly established the table of proceedings of the Jousts through the sacred and infallible process of drawing of the lots! And so the calendar of the Days both Even and Odd has been decided upon!

1    2    6    5    4    7    3    8

14, 98, 1, 39

"And the Tournament shall be overseen and played through with the graces of the four Ladies of the Tournament! Lady Morgana of Avalon, Lady Rogerta of Rinul, Lady Bolba of Abago, and Lady Gerde of Erma are their names!"

Tails, no event

"By the grace of the Gods and Goddesses, today is a pristine and good Day for a Tournament to begin!

Lady Morgana of Avalon: Heads
Lady Rogerta of Rinul: Heads
Lady Bolba of Abago: Tails
Lady Gerde of Erma: Tails

Ulfric of Feneris: Roll 6, +2 from Renown = 8
Sir Tai of Nelynia: Roll 3, +2 from Renown = 5
Ser Vindler of Wuria: Roll 4, +0 from Renown = 4
Eric Bloodhand of Kuram: Roll 6, +0 from Renown = 6
Zark of Zah: Roll 2, +0 from Renown = 2
Lady Nessan of Arara: Roll 2, +0 from Renown = 2
Lady Applepie of Saliona: Roll 5, +0 from Renown = 5
Percival Languedoc of Panona: Roll 2, +0 from Renown = 2

Sir Tai of Nelynia: Roll 5, +2 from Renown = 7
Ser Vindler of Wuria: Roll 2, +0 from Renown = 2
Eric Bloodhand of Kuram: Roll 1, +0 from Renown = 1
Zark of Zah: Roll 3, +0 from Renown = 3
Lady Nessan of Arara: Roll 1, +0 from Renown = 1
Lady Applepie of Saliona: Roll 1, +0 from Renown = 1
Percival Languedoc of Panona: Roll 6, +0 from Renown = 6

"Two of the fair Maidens of the Tournament have already decided upon their favorites. And so it is thusly proclaimed that Lady Morgana of Avalon favors brave Ulfric of Feneris, and Lady Rogerta of Rinul favors Sir Tai of Nelynia! In the meantimes Lady Bolba of Abago and Lady Gerde of Erma have thusly declined to choose a Favorite, leaving their deliberations and decisions for another Day!"


Ready for the spectacle, the people in the crowd start betting their coins!

Crowd Size: 5 (base 3, +1 Renown (Ulfric of Feneris), +1 Renown (Sir Tai of Nelynia))
Bets on Ulfric of Feneris' victory: (base 3, +1 from Renown): 9, 9, 4, 6 = 28
Bets on Sir Tai of Nelynia's victory: (base 3, +1 from Renown): 7, 10, 7, 7 = 31

For the two Knights to participate in the Joust are clear favorites of two of the Maidens of the Tournament! The crowd cheers and chants the names of the fabled Knights, while the Maidens wave their handkerchiefs as a blessing of good luck and fortitude!

With the arriving Knight led by their squires to the opposite ends of the Arena, the Chief Judge of Tournaments prepares his black-and-white flag, raising it aloft!...

flazeo25 and Megam0nkey, choose Stance for your Knights!

---

Participating Knights:Maidens and Their Favorites:
Lady Morgana of Avalon: Ulfric of Feneris (flazeo25)
Lady Rogerta of Rinul: Sir Tai of Nelynia (Megam0nkey)
Lady Bolba of Abago: none yet
Lady Gerde of Erma: none yet

You go for the sensors and check who's approaching.

Sensors Station Alert! IFF beacon translation in progress...

Done!

"Conquest", Conquest-class military vessel, approaching from direction of Madagascar Jump Gate.

Standard docking and refueling request received.

Navigation request received and forwarded to Galactic Federation Police Headquarters in Poseidonis System.

Fuel Pump assigned: #2 (authority: Automated Refueling AI)

Estimated arrival time: 16 minutes.

You wonder what's up with the navigation request, that's new.

A) Hail them!
B) Suspicious people get no drinks!

The deployed Pilots salute and leave for their quarters without anything else to add.


Chief Secretary presents one datapad.

Maia Sanders: Commander, Subcommanders, here we have engineering crew's report regarding damage sustained by our units during Operation Teal Toes. After medical checkup, all Pilots have been cleared for duty.

VanZer998Plus-001 has lost 1 HP and therefore requires 5 days of repairs.
VanZer998Plus-003 has lost 1 HP and therefore requires 5 days of repairs.

Then she presents another datapad.


Maia Sanders: And here we have a request for assitance from Kyrilsk Krai, Ivanian Mega-Republic. The situation is as follows:

At 2220 hours yesterday, the Prymilsk City Administration has issued a Mu invasion alert, and begun evacuation of miners and their families from the Iron Mine and the adjacent City of Prymilsk. As per part of Coastal Demilitarization Treaty, Kyrilsk Krai has no standing forces and its police department has no Mecha units to combat the Mu threat. The neighbouring Sokolov Krai is sending a unit of GunBlades via cargo bullet-train but they would arrive until about 0300 hours today. Therefore Kyrilsk Krai government is requesting our Pilots to help contain and combat the Mu threat until the Ivanian GunBlades arrive.

Target Area is in distant Ivanian Mega-Republic and is therefore classified as International. Our Chiron-402 can take off and reach the destination within fifty-five minutes, and has capacity of 4.

Range of Operation: INTERNATIONAL
Commencing Threat Level: Medium _{(-1 Skill Check penalty)}
Goals:
1. Help contain and eliminate Mu Threat until the arrival of Ivanian GunBlades.
2. Assist Prymilsk City Administration in evacuation of civilians.
Skills most likely needed:
1. Interpersonal Skills
2. Crowd Control

Maia Sanders: I do believe that third time's the charm, Commander Shiek. It will be still dark when our Pilots arrive, though, so it might pose some difficulties for them.

I will get to it tomorrow then

You connect to the bartending Net and search for some interesting trivia to kill time with.


It takes a while and you don't find anything interesting - however, the main gate opens and Louise returns.

Again, without Simon at her side.

"We've had another, less volatile discussion about his behavior." She explains as she sits down at the counter.

"And?" The cyborg girl lets out a thoughtful hum.

"I am not sure... The results seem inconclusive. I wish to believe he will change his mind, and, hm, find someone else to get attracted to. To facilitate that, I will consider finding him a different ship to serve on, or perhaps an outpost where he can work and live when I am jumping stars in the area." She pauses briefly.

Then she looks at you.

And you look at her.

A) "Sorry, this is one-drone outpost, I'm afraid."
B) "I can't hire him, but I can forward his personal information to SRC Headquarters on Zanzibar, if you want."

Maia Sanders: Right away, Commander Shiek. Operation Teal Toes begins now, I will notify the Chiron of its new destination and alert the Pilots.


The tactical screen shows the arrival of Chiron-402 in the operation area, touching down on a flat, sandy area used as parking lot by forest-goers, now obviously empty of any vehicles. The fusion engines die off as the cargoplane turns around its own axis to point its cargo doors in direction of the forest. Searchlights and lamps on the underside of the Chiron light up. It's cargo doors open and a ramp extends downwards, allowing the four Mecha to leave the vehicle. Soon enough the camera feeds inside the Pilots' cockpits come online as well.

When they do, the fusion engines ignite and the ramp starts to rise.

Chiron Captain: This is the Chiron. We will take off and circle the operation area to look for Mu signatures from above. As the Chiron takes off, the Mecha turn on their armor lights as well as the searchlights, sweeping the otherwise dark forest, illuminating tall, white, leafy trees that make majority of its area.

Carla Whiteforest: I'm still salty over this. You know, you get a call for help from people in need, and then a bureaucrat, a pen-pusher turns you back?

Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: Talk about a messy situation...

Carla Whiteforest: Didn't you say that last time? There's a brief pause.

Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: ...I do feel a bit of deja vu, yeah.

Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Does this happen often?

Carla Whiteforest: Being turned back by officials?

Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Er, no, I meant the deja vu feelings.

Menetfer Newy: I'm all up for some nice chatter but shouldn't we focus now?

Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: Newy is right. Let's concentrate on the task at hand.

Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Scanners on.

Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: 2 from Roll, +2 from Tracking, -1 from Night-time Penalty = 3

Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Some noise at the edge of the scanner. Could that be the Mu- no wait, it just went away.

Carla Whiteforest: Yeah, we won't get it like this. We really do best if we link up our scanners, and split into pairs-

Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: Ugh, splitting the team again.

Carla Whiteforest: I know how it usually goes, but otherwise we will be here until sunrise.

Menetfer Newy: I could go with Baumgartner.

Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: No, you will be going with me, or wait, no. From what I've seen from our training simulations, you both, I mean you and Erika, your Tracking skills, well... you go with Carla. I mean Whiteforest.

Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Alrighty. Newy, go with Whiteforest, I will go with Langrisser.

Menetfer Newy: Alright.

Carla Whiteforest: Let's go!

Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: 4 from Roll, +4 from Tracking, -1 from Night-time Penalty = 7
Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: 2 from Roll, +2 from Tracking, -1 from Night-time Penalty = 3
Final result: 5

There's a flash of a beep on the scanner output of the two girls.

Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: South-southwest.

Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Keep your eyes open, everyone...

Menetfer Newy: 4 from Roll, +2 from Tracking, -1 from Night-time Penalty = 5
Carla Whiteforest: 2 from Roll, +3 from Tracking, -1 from Night-time Penalty = 4
Final result: (4.5 =>) 4

There's another ping on the scanners of the other two mecha.

Menetfer Newy: Are you sure? We're reading west on our scanners.

Carla Whiteforest: Northwest, even.

Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: It's might be power lines, or a second Mu, or some background noise...

Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Let us follow the pings. Keep the comms open, keep distance between us short, and keep searching for Mu particle readout spikes.


A new sweep of the area, with all four Mecha spread out like a fan, give a solid, triangulated reading of Mu particles - to the southwest.

Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: There it is!

Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: 5 from Roll, +2 from Tracking, -1 from Night-time Penalty = 6

Erika manages to pinpoint the location and the reading, but it starts to move around the scanner range at great speeds.

Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: That's real fast.

Carla Whiteforest: Definitely one of the fastest Mu I've seen on readings, at the very least.

In the command center, a new dot appears on the screen, coming from northwest, along the regional highway. A new signature is added to both the map and the radio comms.

Maglev: This is Maglev crew, carrying Coutebleu and Istafan. We will arrive in operation area within eight minutes.

Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Got it, Maglev. Two new signatures were added to comms seconds later.

Asrael Istafan: Hello. Astafan is reserved, but Coutebleu basically jumps in her seat.

Marie Coutebleu: Hey! You all haven't found that Mu yet, right?

Menetfer Newy: Heyy, you two~ and no, we are pursuing but haven't found 'that Mu' yet. It's real fast.

Marie Coutebleu: Wait for us!

Carla Whiteforest: Sorry! No promises.

Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: 5 from Roll, +4 from Tracking, -1 Rapid Movements, -1 from Night-time Penalty = 7
Menetfer Newy: 5 from Roll, +2 from Tracking, -1 Rapid Movements, -1 from Night-time Penalty = 5
Final result: 6

The four hunters, led by signature lock-on doubly coordinated by Newy and Langrisser, head straight for the Mu particle readout, which is moving south-southeast - almost parallel to the curve of the regional highway.

And then-

Comes a second signature. Half-strength of Mu particle radiation than before, flicking in and out.

Chiron Captain: This is Chiron, reading second Mu particle reading in operation area.

Maglev: Maglev here! Requiring confirmation of the supposed location of the pursued target?

Menetfer Newy: We have it on scanners. It's currently going parallel to you, and away from us. The impartial reading gets solid enough - and it is headed southwest, straight for the Maglev.

The readouts coming from Pilots' cockpits suddenly drop by almost a half.

Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: What?!

Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: There's two of them!!

Goals:
1. Find and destroy the large Mu.
>Update: Destroy both Supreme Lifeform Mu's: (0/2 dead)

Maglev: Maglev here! We do not have any sufficient firepower to repel the Mu threat, and it is too dangerous to stop and drop our Pilots. There's no magnetic channel in the road and thus we're forced to use electric engines. We're continuing along the highway for now! The signature going for the Maglev reaches the highway and turns to pursue it. The Maglev crew turns on the cameras and the searchlight mounted above the Mecha exit - illuminating an unholy creature of nightmares. It is as if an house-sized bovine mutant was shaped into the body of a spider and given a set of six slim, but athletic legs of a horse, complete with hooves, which themselves were star-shaped like claws. It was matching the speed of the Maglev by some sort of alien miracle.

The other signature suddenly turns around and makes a dash for the hunting group.

Carla Whiteforest: It's coming for us! Prepare for combat everyone!

Marie Coutebleu: 1 from Roll, +6 from Battling, -2 from Supreme Lifeform Twin-Mu, -1 from Night-time Penalty, -1 from Mistress Inertia = 3
Asrael Istafan: 2 from Roll, +3 from Battling, -2 from Supreme Lifeform Twin-Mu, -1 from Night-time Penalty, -1 from Mistress Inertia = 1
Final result: 2

Asrael Istafan: Open the doors!

Marie Coutebleu: What?

Asrael Istafan: If it is unable to catch us, we can shoot it down from inside the Maglev!

Maglev: You will have to leave the harnesses, it is dangerous to do so while the vehicle is in motion!

Marie Coutebleu: No, that's a good idea! Open the mecha bay doors! We can make it work!!

Maglev: Opening mecha bay doors now. With a hiss, the doors slowly open outwardly, but the ramp is not extended of course. Coutebleu and Istafan undo the belts and leave the harnesses - Istafan losing his balance because of lack of support, but he manges to join Coutebleu at the exit.

Marie Coutebleu: We hafta shoot together - one, two-! And the duo starts shooting. The demonic spider Mu, in great leaps, bolts from one side of the road to the other, dodging the blasts as they fly past or into surrounding scenery. Occasional road sign is melted down or a young tree cleaved - at one point a larger tree gets part of its crown blasted and the part of the trunk crashes onto the road. That's of course when the blasts do not strike the road itself, exploding small craters in the asphalt and pavement layers, sending pieces of the road everywhere.

Marie Coutebleu: I said together, Istafan!!

Asrael Istafan: That's what I am doing, yes?!

Carla Whiteforest: 5 from Roll, +3 from Battling, +1 from Mecha Model (Vanzer998Plus), -2 from Supreme Lifeform Twin-Mu, -1 from Night-time Penalty = 6
Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: 1 from Roll, +2 from Battling, +1 from Mecha Model (Vanzer998Plus), -2 from Supreme Lifeform Twin-Mu, -1 from Night-time Penalty = 1
Final result (3.5 =>) 3

Meanwhile, the other Mu giant - of near exact shape and size - bursts from between the trees, its hulking shape barreling towards Carla's mecha.

Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Fire!! The two girls level their dual-blasters and shoot, but while Carla manages to singe its furry carapace, it does not lose speed - but the ungodly shriek it releases confirms that it got it agitated and extra angry as it targets Carla's mecha.

Carla Whiteforest: Fuck off you- She barely has time to avoid the ramming, and only thanks to the model's stabilizers does she manage to avoid a direct hit, turning it into a glancing one.

It nonetheless tosses her Mecha aside, with yellow and red lights flashing on her Mecha's status monitor.

VanZer998Plus-001: 2/3 Hitpoints left!

Carla Whiteforest: Dangit, already!? Come on!! Carla picks herself up from the ground as the Mu continues on, rushing towards Eva and Menetfer in the front of the hunting group.

Marie Coutebleu: 2 from Roll, +6 from Battling, -2 from Supreme Lifeform Twin-Mu, -1 from Night-time Penalty, -1 from Mistress Inertia = 4
Asrael Istafan: 2 from Roll, +3 from Battling, -2 from Supreme Lifeform Twin-Mu, -1 from Night-time Penalty, -1 from Mistress Inertia = 1
Final result: (2.5 =>) 2

Marie Coutebleu: 1 from Roll, +6 from Battling, -2 from Supreme Lifeform Twin-Mu, -1 from Night-time Penalty, -1 from Mistress Inertia = 3
Asrael Istafan: 4 from Roll, +3 from Battling, -2 from Supreme Lifeform Twin-Mu, -1 from Night-time Penalty, -1 from Mistress Inertia = 3
Final result: 3

Meanwhile, the barrage of laser rifle blasts continues to pepper the road, the side trees, the grass and everything but the Mu.

Marie Coutebleu: For the love of- Hey! Do we jump and melee it?!

Asrael Istafan: WHAT- no!! Are you insane!?

Marie Coutebleu: But I can't get a lock with all this inertia and its hellish maneuvering!

Maglev: We can slow down, provided you can shoot it down before it reaches us and does any damage?

Marie Coutebleu: Well... we try again, then!

Menetfer Newy: 4 from Roll, +3 from Battling, +1 from Mecha Model (Vanzer998Plus), -2 from Supreme Lifeform Twin-Mu, -1 from Night-time Penalty = 5
Menetfer Newy: 3 from Roll, +3 from Piloting, +1 from Mecha Model (Vanzer998Plus), -2 from Supreme Lifeform Twin-Mu, -1 from Night-time Penalty = 4

When the demonic spider engaging the hunters rushes towards Newy, the desert twink, as he was infamously once called, has the audacity to wait until it gets really close, before going for simultaneous evade and point-blank shot.

Something which he manages to pull off in the last moment, blowing open part of its head while avoiding its wide open maw full of teeth. The beast releases a shriek and momentarily loses control of itself, smashing against a tree, bouncing off it, and dazingly going in direction away from those that hurt it.

Menetfer Newy: It's trying to escape!

Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: After it!

Marie Coutebleu: 5 from Roll, +6 from Battling, -2 from Supreme Lifeform Twin-Mu, -1 from Night-time Penalty, -1 from Mistress Inertia = 7
Asrael Istafan: 6 from Roll, +3 from Battling, -2 from Supreme Lifeform Twin-Mu, -1 from Night-time Penalty, -1 from Mistress Inertia = 5
Final result: 6

Marie Coutebleu: On my mark!! One! Two! THREE! And they both shoot, in near perfect synchronization, in nearly perfect straight shot, the aim undisturbed by the inertia, right into the head of the Mu.

The double-shot in its face leaves it shrieking, tumbling over its own claw-hooves, and then doing an undignified, appendage-twisting roll across the ground.

Marie Coutebleu: We jump!! Coutebleu does not wait for Istafan and jumps her Mecha off the Maglev, and tumbles over. Istafan jumps off few seconds later, and has to gently kneel his Mecha to maintain balance, only to get into a run moments afterwards, the Maglev coming to a screeching halt behind him, sending smoke from its tires.

Asrael Istafan: Quick, while it's still on the ground!!

He runs past Coutebleu just as she gets her Mecha off the ground and into a sprint towards the hulking mass of corrupted muscle and flesh a hundred or so meters away.

Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: 5 from Roll, +2 from Tracking, -1 from Supreme Lifeform Twin-Mu (Wounded), -1 from Night-time Penalty = 5

The signature caught by Erika soon gets transmitted to other Pilots, and its position is triangulated - and confirmed by a shambling silhouette coming their way.

Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: It's that way! Move it!

Marie Coutebleu: 1 from Roll, +6 from Battling, -0 from Supreme Lifeform Twin-Mu (Greviously Wounded!), -1 from Night-time Penalty = 6
Asrael Istafan: 3 from Roll, +3 from Battling, -0 from Supreme Lifeform Twin-Mu (Greviously Wounded!), -1 from Night-time Penalty = 5
Final result: (5.5 =>) 5

The Maglev Mecha run up to the prone, bleeding and wobbling Mu as it lets out a defiant shriek.

Marie Coutebleu: Have a nice death, piece of Mu shit!! Coutebleu pulls the trigger, riddling the front of the Mu with laser blasts, soon joined by Istafan. The alien's hulking shape soon starts exploding in gore, sending splatters of corrupted flesh and black blood everywhere.

Asrael Istafan: Uh- I- I think it's dead already. Coutebleu stops shooting for a second, and then sends just one more laser blast in the Mu's skull at near point-blank range, exploding it in shower of gore.

Marie Coutebleu: Heh, sorry, just making sure, you know. She says with a toothy grin, something that makes Istafan eye roll in displeasure.

Goals:
1. Find and destroy the large Mu.
>Update: Destroy both Supreme Lifeform Mu's: (1/2 dead)

Carla Whiteforest: 2 from Roll, +3 from Battling, +1 from Mecha Model (Vanzer998Plus), -1 from Supreme Lifeform Twin-Mu (Wounded), -1 from Night-time Penalty = 4
Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: 1 from Roll, +2 from Battling, +1 from Mecha Model (Vanzer998Plus), -1 from Supreme Lifeform Twin-Mu (Wounded), -1 from Night-time Penalty = 2
Final result: 3

Carla Whiteforest: I'm right behind, Baumgartner!

Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Great, let's-! A pained shriek makes Erika concentrate on the running behemoth, which has regained some of its speed and ferocity despite half of its head missing. It barrels into Erika as she and Carla both start riddling it with holes.

Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Gyaah! Erika loses control of her Mecha for a brief moment when the hulking behemoth slams into her and pins her against a tall, robust tree. The status screen starts listing damage to armor plates and exceeding of stress limits for some structural elements underneath.

VanZer998Plus-003: 2/3 Hitpoints left!

Both the alien and the Mecha come to a rest as the tree's trunk cracks, tips, and starts falling sideways - right towards Carla's mecha!

Carla Whiteforest: 2 from Roll, +0 from Piloting, +1 from Mecha Model (Vanzer998Plus), +1 from Slowly Toppling Timber = 4

She scrambles into a run perpendicular to avoid it, getting her Mecha out of the harm's way with maybe a second to spare. The fallen trunk slams to the ground with awful lot of noise.

Then there's silence.

Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Are you alright?

Carla Whiteforest: Are you alright?

Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Yeah. Erika then pulls her Mecha off the tree and then pushes the corpse of the giant Mu off herself, regaining freedom of movement. Some minor damage. The Mu particle readouts flatten out and stop at zero.

Chiron Captain: Chiron here. Mu particle readings in operation area now at zero.

Maglev: Maglev here. Zero-readings confirmed. Mission accomplished, Pilots.

Goals:
1. Find and destroy the large Mu.
>Update: Destroy both Supreme Lifeform Mu's: (2/2 dead)
*MU THREAT EXTERMINATED
*VICTORY TO MAIANS

Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: Good job!

Menetfer Newy: Glad to hear you girls were successful, that Mu was quite something. Newy and Langrisser finally bring their Mecha to the area, and Carla scowls.

Carla Whiteforest: Oh, here comes the daredevil. Was that thing you did necessary to get a clear shot?

Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: Yeah, I'm wondering too, I was about to yell at you to get out of there, Newy.

Menetfer Newy: Aaah... maybe not really, but hey, it worked, riiight~?

Carla Whiteforest: Tch, show-off...

Asrael Istafan: We got ours dead, too! Coutebleu chimes in.

Marie Coutebleu: My first dead Mu - WOOOO!!

Eva Wilhelmina Langrisser: Now that's enthusiasm I like to hear!

Chiron Captain: Chiron here - we will be returning to the landing area shortly, Pilots. Return to specified coordinates and we will touch-down to pick you up. In the meanwhile, the Maglev starts slowly backing up, all the way to Coutebleu and Istafan.

Maglev: We've sent a notification to local government that the Mu have been eliminated and clean-up is required, too.

Erika Hildegard Baumgartner: Good job everyone, if I may say so. We shall see each other at the base! There's an outburst of cheering and commentary amongst the other five Pilots that cannot get sorted by the communications channels.


As the Chiron-deployed Pilots leave their Mecha one by one, there's a beeping warning as the Maglev enters the Mecha Bay as well to drop off its Pilots.

Engineering team starts examining the damage to the 998Plus models, not looking very concerned about the extent of it, as the six Pilots involved in Teal Toes exchange some chatter. Erika and Carla also managed to escape any injury despite the high-velocity impacts against their Mecha.

They get themselves all lined up when the door opens, revealing their Subcommanders arriving for debriefing. Newy salutes and the other five follow suit.

Menetfer Newy: Hnwy, for our Corps returned from a mission completed successfully! All six of the Pilots look quite happy and satisfied.

Subcommanders IAI, Scarlet and Gaine can now debrief their Pilots!