(3/30/02-4/6/02)
Outside> Kitsune (Gear) - A grenade lands on the Jasper's top, bouncing across it before exploding. Hovering above the Jasper is the gear 'Kitsune', holding a gear launcher in it's arm, with two other Dark Yggdrasil gears flogging it. "Yggdrasil, please respond! What are you doing?!" comes a voice from the intercom within. Sigh, some people just don't know an obvious sign of attack these days.
Outside> OllDauchi (Gear) - What do these people want, a formal declaration of malicious intent to be delivered neatly right into their hands? Hmph. It's bad enough that their first assignment in goodness knows how long is just to have them serve as decoys. Sigh. Life is.. So desperately unfair. Dirah keeps the OllDauchi level, behind and aside the Kitsune, keeping its own grenade launcher steady. Hey, the JNK wasn't equipped with the sort of depth and variety to be a true military force, after all. And Dirah simply aims and lets fire at some of the dazed Gears protecting the Fort, murmering simply, "You'd think they'd care a -little- more about the damages, and less about the details.." Bah. Politics.
Outside> Kitsune (Gear) - A sigh comes through the Kitsune's radio, as Tifa responds, "Well, if they're going to be this dense, we might as well give them a more obvious example," the gear waves it's arms, and an order comes through the radio to the other Kislev gears, "Attack it, but only work to disable enemy gears, DO NOT hurt the pilots! They aren't our target!" she then launches another grenade at one of the defending gears. The intercom then sounds, "Treaty or no treaty, if you will not cease and desist, then we will have to counter attack!"
Outside> OllDauchi (Gear) - And, to that? Dirah gives a gentle chuckle, "Not the brightest crayons in the box, are they? Don't worry, I think they might get the hint. Although at this rate there might not be much left of their patrol to -get- that hint." The other Kislev Gears are quick to react, driving forward to continue their assault on the guarding Gears of the Fort, their orders dear in hand. The OllDauchi, however, simply keeps near Kitsune. It'd be mistaken as a protective gesture were it anyone but Dirah. She just is, ahem, too important to put herself at true risk. Right. Especially when she can fire from here. Levelling her gun at yet another Gear, aiming low enough to hit the lower part of the Gear and not the cockpit if her aim holds true, she lets off another shot. "Although they are making it easy for us, aren't they?"
Outside> Kitsune (Gear) - "I don't understand how these people could so lax on defenses! There are people here! Do they really think this will be enough to protect them?" Tifa shakes her head in disgust, as one of the enemy gears begins to fire at her, and she swerves to dodge. "Maybe this will serve as an example to bring up their defenses," the only thing Tifa is forgetting, is that she's not quite on their side :P. But it's no problem. A casual talk while firing a grenade to destroy the boosters of another gear is always nice.
Outside> OllDauchi (Gear) - Casual converation while blowing up people? Charming! And the OllDauchi sides out of range of the counterattack as almost a second thought, simply releasing fire back at the person who shot at her. "I wouldn't be too hurt if they -didn't- learn their lesson from this, really.. Although it'd be kind of depressing on their part." It -was- a small patrol. But then again, they were likely still recovering from the stun of 'The Yggdrasil' attacking them. Either way, this was making it a horribly sad little excuse for an 'assault'. "At best, they're far too trusting. -I- would never be so dense to let a fully armed force near -my- stronghold, ally or not. But they'd really be in trouble if we were serious about this, wouldn't they?"
Outside> Kitsune (Gear) - "Perhaps. That's why this is so alarming!" Tifa replies, all the while disabling that same gear's legs with another grenade, and leaving the pilot to disembark it while fleeing into the fortress. Kitsune then lowers the launcher, and the radar scans the area. "...I can't see them on the radar yet. Just like the Yggdrasil to let this go on without so much as a word in retribution."
Outside> OllDauchi (Gear) - Dirah pauses a little at that, the OllDauchi ceasing it's firing to cast a quick look back towards the city of Nisan. "You'd think they -want- us to ruin their little treaty here. But I'd absolutely hate to waste all this ammunition for nothing." Well, okay, so it wouldn't be nothing. It'd mar the treaty, which it wouldn't if the real Ygg showed up. But the Shevvites would inevitably be displeased, and just request another attempt to get Bart and his crew out. Sigh. Swiftly turning her attention back to the battle just soon enough to dodge a few bullets shot her way, the
Outside> Kitsune (Gear) - Intently scanning the area, Tifa shakes her head. "It's such a disappointment too," she responds with a sigh. "I suppose I still thought there was a chance they actually cared, I guess." She then pauses, as the radar actually picks up a signal. Several signals. "...!!" the gear raises it's launcher, and turns to face the east intently.
Outside> OllDauchi (Gear) - "Hm?" The OllDauchi pauses, lowering it's launcher somewhat as it backs away swiftly, hoping to get out of range of those firing on her as she turns to glance off eastward. Wondering where that incessantly obnoxious beeping noise is coming from, she finally locates her radar--And gives a healthy frown, "Did they actually decide to get off their rears and do something? This had -better- not just be Solarian backup or I'll be sincerely disapointed."
Outside> Kitsune (Gear) - Watching as the gears come into the distance, Tifa smiles and replies, "It's not Solarian backup. I think it's actually them. Then everything's going as planned. Do we have everything ready? Must remember to make this hostage ordeal believable." The Kitsune backs up further into the Fortress as the other Kislevi gears finish disabling the last of the immediate wave of defenses.
Outside> OllDauchi (Gear) - Dirah smiles mildly at that, amusement written across the touches of her expressions as she drifts the OllDauchi to the side and a bit back of Kitsune. "Well, better late than never, as they say. Although they're hardly fashionably so." Any later and Dirah would have run out of ammuntion.. Or at the very least, become terribly bored and request another approach. She drifts off to silence for a moment before adding, "Remember, lead them on for a little bit. If we out and blurt about a hostage, they'll be sure to suspect something. Flaunt it a little. It'll be fun to see them squirm in confusion." And, in all hope, believe it. After all, The JNK had proved before how it was more than capable of taking hostages if needed.
Outside> Vasuki (Gear) -It's been a while since he had been in this gear. Guardianship did not make for much gear time, after all, but Sigurd's mind feels its way through the memories of controls without a pause as the machine comes to a hover over the verdant plains west of Nisan. Gears did not respond well when the mind was upset, however, and Sigurd clears it. All the better for empathy to begin to come into play, after all. A single blue eye narrows against the glare of polarized light as a deft hand rests on the smooth panel before its owner. "Hmph. It's been too long since I've done this."
Outside> Duermod-"Hydra" (Gear) follows Vasuki into the scene, sword and shield drawn. The beam rifle lay holstered across its back, LCD lights indicating the gun was fully charged and ready (though the safety was on [wouldn't want it misfiring and leaving a nasty gash across the Gear's backside]). Ryukumu was still sure that this was not a difficult operation; if the previous encounter with Kitsune was any indicator, a REAL Omnigear alone could make short work of the imposters. With all of its modifications, Hydra is now a formidible Gear, and even though the base chasis is still that of a Duermod-type it alone nearly destroyed the Kitsune.
Outside> Vasuki (Gear) falls asleep.
Outside> Andvari (Gear) flys forward almost impatiently. It may be hard for a machine to do anything impatiently, but somehow, the omnigear manages it. What else is to be expected, with Prince Bart flying it? In its cockpit, irritably glancing from display to display, the pirate prince inwardly stews. Flicking on the radio, he opens a channel to Ryukumu's gear. "Ryu...ready?" For what...Bart isn't exactly sure. He didn't exactly have a concrete plan for dealing with these guys...but he'll get it done. After all, he has the Andvari.
Outside> Kitsune (Gear) - A smirk crosses Tifa's face, as the radio rings, "Ah, finally. The cavalry. I was wondering when you'd arrive!" the Kitsune holds the grenade launcher up to point it at them. "You're so late! But that doesen't matter now," the two generic Kislevi gears return to flank her. Coming on Dirah's radio, Tifa quickly asks, "We have a voice clip to use, don't we?"
Outside> OllDauchi (Gear) - Excellent. It's barely a moment later before Dirah levels her gun on the approaching Gears as well, letting Tifa have the grace of greeting them. All the while, Dirah herself keeps simply a soft smile to her face--Amused, undeniably so--Before she speaks as well. And it's disconcerting in that way that only a 'Dark Yggdrasil' member can be when she speaks, her voice low and androgynous. One easily passed for Sigurd's, if one didn't listen very, very hard. And while it's not necessary for her to do so.. Well. Intimidation of the enemy. "Well, well. It's about time. I'm afraid this is a little too little too late, however." A pause, then, before she switches her radio to the private connection to Tifa's, granting a lighter, "Yeah, the Shevs were bright enough as to provide us with a few. Use it wisely, Tif. I wouldn't trust these people to be -completely- dull minded."
Outside> Duermod-"Hydra" (Gear) calmly secures its sword then draws the rifle, quickly drawing a bead aimed directly at Kitsune's center of mass. "Stop bluffing." With a flick of the Gear's thumb, the safety on the rifle is switched off. The rifle is fully armed and ready to fire, with a clean shot lined up on Kitsune. (Though if the Gear were to move, Hydra would have to adjust its aim and would most likely miss from this range. This gesture is more of a threat than an actual prompt to attack). Ryukumu radios privately to Bart and Brighton, "'Too late'? What, does Solaris already think we're behind this?"
Outside> Andvari (Gear) slows, but doesn't stop its approach. "Just surrender now...it'll go easier on ya." Bart's sweating inside his cockpit...something was up. Flipping back to a closed channel to the Hydra, he sighs. "I don't know...but I think it'll be something bad. Keep your guard up, ok?"
Outside> Nomad (Gear) enters the area as quietly as a Nomad Fixbot can. This gear was not made to battle, in fact, it's pilot is probably being very stupid by coming this close to the battle. But Kyle Brighton was never the brightest of people. Flipping on the secure channel, he says to Hydra and Andvari, "I'm here guys. I'll do my best to support you in any way, but these fixbots aren't really made for combat."
Outside> Kitsune (Gear) - A laugh comes from Tifa at Ryu's comment, "I'm sure this is doing nothing more than confusing the Solarians. No, no," the grenade launcher points upward, and the Kislevi gears back up a bit. "I think i'll lead them on a bit more, first," comes her voice on the OllDauchi's radio. The Jasper's intercom, meanwhile, is blaring out, "What is going on?!" As the Kitsune fires a grenade up in the air, and the two Kislevi gears start to fire. By the time it reaches the group, if they don't disperse, it will explode right in the middle of them.
Outside> OllDauchi (Gear) - Tif better know what she's doing, because Dirah is, for the moment, just a touch confused. Eh, lead them on, toy with their little minds... It's all fun and good in the end. And so Dirah lets Tifa do her thing, simply hanging back for tormenting value. Yes. Quite. As she responds to the lot of them in that same disconcerting low and Sigurd-esque voice with a rather amused chime of, "I don't think you should be throwing threats -quite- yet, my friends. You haven't seen the wonderful little surprise that we have planned for you yet, after all." Taunt and torment... But eh, she's just filling time. Trust Dirah to press her luck. And often, a bit too much.
Outside> Duermod-"Hydra" (Gear) quickly tried to lock in a solid shot on the grenade to detonate it in mid-air. While Ryukumu is a pretty good shot with a rifle, he's not THAT good, and Hydra's computer was never fully tuned up with the rifle for that kind of accuracy. As a result, when Hydra squeezes the trigger, the beam shot misses its target, though fortunately it does not hit any bystanders. "Surprise, huh?" He radios to Bart, "What do you think Cap'n, do we hear them out? I really doubt these clowns have anything."
Outside> Andvari (Gear) shoots away as the grenade is launched. "You're going to regret that, whoever you are." Switching the radio once more, the pirate sighs. "I don't want to...but..." If Sigurd or Citan was here, the 'but' would be pointed out. With their absence, Bart is VERY tempted to just attack...still..."I guess it'd be a better idea. Brighton...thanks for showing up, but be careful. Wouldn't want you getting blasted just because you showed up to give us a hand."
Outside> Nomad (Gear) quickly moves out of the way of the grenade's blast radius. On the secure channel, Kyle says, "Geeze, skipper, where'd they get the grenade launchers from?" The fixbot retreats a bit further, so it will be out of the way of the fighting and stands there, watching. "Like I said, skipper," Kyle says on the secure channel, "Just call me when you need me...I'll be over here."
Outside> Kitsune (Gear) - Diving to the right to dodge the blast from Andvari, Kitsune holds it's hand up to stop the Kislevi Gears' fire. Tifa's voice then calls out, "Watch where you're pointing that thing! You could...hurt somebody!" a smirk crosses her face as she pushes the button on the recorder and playing it into the radio. Loud and clear, Margie's voice rings, "Bart! Please, help me!"
Outside> OllDauchi (Gear) - Dirah startles a little as the Hydra fires, the OllDauchi withdrawing just a touch back as it focuses it's gun neatly on the Hydra. Not threateningly, mind you--Mostly because she's nearly completely out of ammo as it is anyway--But simply guardingly. As she grants a quiet chuckle in response, "Careful there. Don't want to damage our precious little cargo now, do you?" Dirah, Dirah... One of these days, your boasting lies and little prods are going to dig you into a hole too deep to crawl out of. But as that certainly isn't her fate for the moment, she just.. Apparently, seems to be enjoying herself entirely.
Outside> Duermod-"Hydra" (Gear) lowers its rifle after hearing the transmission of "Margie's" voice. With an annoyed and slightly disheartened tone he says, "...crap..." ...but immediately radios to Brighton and Bart in a tone that's just plain annoyed, "That's gotta be as fake as a 3G coin. ...or so I'd like to say... It sounds exactly like her. Then again, both these imposters look and sound exactly like you and Sig... I dunno what to say. Your call, Bart." Though the rifle is lowered, the safety is still off and and the LCD panels along the side indicate that it has plenty of ammunition (after all, it only fired off one round). Just give the word and it's back into the fray.
Outside> Andvari (Gear) stops its abrupt charge, and floats in the air for a moment. "...I want to wreck these idiots...but if that -is- Margie..." Gah. The pirate can't risk it. Too much at risk if he did. "...Well...what else can we do? Hold your fire. Let 'em talk, for now..."
Outside> Nomad (Gear) just stands there and watches while it's pilot sweatdrops. Margie's in one of those gears? Not good. Kyle flips on the secure channel and says, "Skipper, is that real?" This bodes not well.
Outside> Kitsune (Gear) - "Of course," comes the voice from the Kitsune's radio, "She'd say anything more, but she's a bit held up in other things right now," Kitsune motions towards the OllDauchi, a sign that they better get going. Here's hoping they give chase now. "We just wanted to let you know. Want her back? Come get her!" leaves start swirling around the gear.
Outside> OllDauchi (Gear) - Ha! That was sudden. And while OllDauchi hesitates for just a moment, she takes off flying after Kitsune as swiftly as she can, gun still at the ready in case they decide to shoot them down. Which, er, hopefully they wouldn't do, not knowing which Gear 'Margie' is in. Ha. But even if Olldauchi has basically no attack power to speak of, it's certainly painfully -fast-. And with that grace aside, she leaves but a quiet, but nonetheless pompous little chuckle across the radios as she follows fast behind. And grants but a bright, "'Ta!"