Futuristic At the Edge of the Apocalypse, an Eternal Principle

[SephirothSage]

Adeptus Evanglion, 2.5 Edition.


"Some people say, the world ended with Second Impact, when that blast shattered the world, tilted our orbit, and opened the Rift. Some people say that those of us who have remained are just stubbornly clinging to the last remains of a dead civilization, that humanity has reached it's peak, and fallen from it. That we tried and failed, and for our hubris are being punished."


"We here at NERV? We disagree. We fight on- because humanity is not finished. We will not die. The Angel's come to punish us? Then let us raise Demon's of Mortal Will to cast them down. We stand at the mouth of hell- or perhaps of a twisted heaven... and we will not back down. We will not fall. That is our eternal principle; to scream defiance at the end of our time, as we stand on the edge of apocalypse, in the aftermath of an unmaking. Here we are- here we stand... ready for battle."


-------------------------------------------------------: Let us Cling Together :----------------------------------------------------------

 

[SephirothSage]

The Beginning of the End



​

The sun shines down on Tokyo 3, as a heavy freighter pulls into port- under the baleful eye that is the tear in the sky known to most as the Rift. It's been a week, since NERV made it's public announcement to the world as a whole on the nature of it's existence. It's been three days since the first angel- a spider shaped monstrosity- attacked Tokyo 3... and caused excessive damage before finally being defeated by a single child in a machine- one who is just now recovering, just now able to walk again as she rests in the heavily fortified Geofront's hidden hospital- and a second child is arriving in town aboard that massive freighter. Shipped in from NERV France, Cassidy Anne Kelly- the Second Child- is arriving today... and for the first time, she beholds it in person; the hole in the sky, the malevolent rip in reality through which humanities enemies crawl and skitter, the hole that expands periodically.. only for seemingly, nothing to come of it. It's unusually large today, not that Cassidy can tell that it's anything but usual- the maw of hell itself, hanging in the sky off the coast. She's sailing right under it- her EVA Slumbering in the ships hold beneath her feet- as it twists... and she see's a single huge eye, staring back.


Meanwhile, the hospital is quiet today; little happening within the white walls, it would seem- as the nurses leave... and a figure in a black suit enters the recovering Pilot's room moments later, carrying a suitcase. He smiles at her- a warm smile mismatched by cold eyes that lack the same joy as the rest of his face, as the figure sits down in a chair across from her hospital bed.


"Good Evening, Ma'am." He says in a crisp, concise tone....


Even as Renee hears a knocking at her door- and a familiar german accent from the other side. "Fraulein, ve may be having a pattern blue readink- ve are unsure. Come vith me to the bridge, just in case, jah?" Gregortvitch von Stroheim, head scientist of NERV Tokyo HQ, and certifiable madman who can claim to be the leading expert on AT Field and Evanglion research; an impressive claim that proves his utter insanity.


And all around them- the world churns on. The people of the city go about their business, unknowing of the dangers about to descend upon their peaceful lives- ignorant of the hell that will soon resume; thinking themselves safe, after the brutal defeat that came upon the first Angel to attack.. unaware of the injured state of their pilot, who has barely recovered enough to pilot again...

 

[Bardiel]

Cassidy Kelly


He had walked through the door in UN naval battle dress onto the deck, first struck by the glimmering sight of the city, Tokyo-3, and then the brilliance of the azure sea leading to the harbour. Finally. We're here. There thoughts lingered upon the silent behemoth within the holds, the pride of the French Branch, and their father.


Despite the pleasant breeze and warm summer like sunshine, hairs stood up on the back of their neck. They could... feel it. Turning to face the sensation, an icy chill ran through them. The unnatural sight of the Rift was in the sky above. It is like some sort of eye of terror, filled with malice towards us. All of us. Of course I've seen the intelligence photographs, but still, in person, it is... scary. Swallowing hard, legs planted firmly, hands clenched at their sides, determination etched onto their face. But we'll do it. Together.





"Pilot!" Kelly turned to face the yeoman, saluting.


"Corporal."


"The harbour pilot is coming on board shortly. You are requested to return to your quarters for the docking procedure." The young man spoke hastily, also nervous of being drafted into action, after the recent attack.


"Of course. I am aware of the operational directive."


"Zut! That thing is..."


"Its' why we are here, Corporal." He strode past the yeoman, heading towards the door. "Slainte."

 

[Sherwood]

Natalia looks up from her book as the stranger walks into her room. She squints a bit, trying to get used to the lack of her eye. Setting down her e-reader, she says, "I am hardly a ma'am; I'm only sixteen. But you obviously have a reason for being here." And whatever it is will help to distract me from the pain. "What can I do for you?"

 

[Random Word]

17th defense line breached.


42nd, 57th, and 81st Armoured report 78% reduction in operational capacity. Lost contact with 12th MLRS battalion.


Large scale armour breach in sector 12. Lost contact with primary and secondary power substations.


Egress Port 12 has lost hydraulic pressure. Lift is stalled on level 6. Falling back an auxiliary inductors. Revising time to L-122.


Renée allowed the reports of the dozen junior officers crammed around the projection table of her moderately but not extravagantly spacious office to wash over her. They were soothing, in a way. They kept her mind directed outwards, where it belonged. Contemplating the monsters out there. She wiggled the toes of her bare feet propped up against her desk, turning to peer over it through the haze of smoke at the blue hexagonal prism advancing through the city. "Too slow. Detonate reserve bolts on all EP12 plates. 7th HLS is to drop lines and lift Unit-00 to the surface. 8th through 11th MLRS are to lay down chaff and smoke along the axis of advance. 3rd SAW will deploy QSPA in coordination with full volleys from the 17th and 33rd to draw its attention," she ordered quietly, almost speaking to herself. The JGSDF Major in charge of the simulation turned briefly and bowed in polite deference. The complete silence which had greeted her decision to speak was immediately shattered by continued frenetic activity.


Aye sir. Bolts blown.


Chaff and smoke deployed. 7th HLS is in position, lines secured. Revising time to L-11.


Tango Blue is initiating orientation shift.


3rd SAW reports 92% loss in operational capacity. 17th Armoured reports 46% loss in operational capacity.


Lost contact with 17th Armoured.


Unit-00 has reached the surface. Time is L+2.


AT Field spread successful. SR holding steady at 72%.


The knock at the door barely drew so much as a curious glance from the assemblage. Renée smiled to herself, pleased with their focus. Her smile faltered as she heard the report from the door. She slipped her feet back into her shoes and rose, bracing her wrist against the table as she snuffed out her cigarette to avoid placing too much weight on her right leg. Her right arm grasped the hated walking stick they had prescribed her so many years ago and she set off at the quick but uneven gait she had developed. "Continue as you are. You will be informed if you are to resume your regular duties," she ordered as she stepped out into the hall.


"Monsieur," she addresses Gregorovich, wryly. "This is an inopportune time. What is the status of Unit-00? Can you launch Unit-01 from the harbour? What is the status of its battery?"

 

[SephirothSage]

The stranger smiles kindly, and nods as he rests back in his seat; dropping his suitcase to the floor casually.


"Indeed so. I'm here as a representative of the Charon Initiative, a company pioneering cybernetics research currently- and I'm here to ask if you'd like to have your eye back." He states rather calmly, as he lays in his seat with a gentle smile- his own eyes cold orbs of blue. They seem to glow, faintly, as he reclines in his chair casually- the camera's inactive by now, not that it's likely anyone can tell... as moments after he speaks- the Pattern Blue Alarms kick into gear- a red light flashing from lightbulbs in the corners of the room; an alarm pounding loudly.


And then, as Cassidy looks up... The Eye blinks. The purple and red rip in reality blinks like an eye, before twisting. The eye closes fully... and the rift pulses; a shockwave of energy being released, as the Pattern Blue Detectors are set off- the city beyond suddenly filled alarms and sirens, as civilians begin their evacuations. The ship shifts- as the rift seems sealed for a moment, swirling as it's energy begins to seethe; it has become active... and now it is merely a question of how long it will take the Angel to escape.


Gregorvitch sighs as the alarms begin to ring, interrupting him. The assorted soldiers participating in the Simulation salute but briefly as the Operations Director steps out of her office- Gregorvitch nodding slowly. "Vell, it seems zat ve shall have to head to the bridge quickly.. Ahh... Unit-00 is ready for Launch- but it's pilot is not, sadly... meanwhile, zere /is/ a cable feed ve can hook up to from ze ship- but it vould be at most a stalling gesture, unless ze new pilot can kill it /extremely/ fast, as zat cable lacks the full power of the headquarters.... Hrmph. Ve vill have to get Natalia back up here and into ze mecha." He says calmly, as he turns to lead the way- a gleam in his eyes and a chuckle. "I can't vait for the battle data!"


Even as the Rift begins to reopen... to be /pulled/ open.

 

[Bardiel]

Cassidy Kelly





"Dia ar neamh!" He gasps, looking to the sky. "Yeoman, get inside!" Pacing himself through the corridor in case of a shockwave, they begin to quickly descend the decks.


"Kelly, Pattern Blue detected-" His communicator crackles and hisses. That thing is causing a lot of interference. Direct feeds should be shielded. Are They tried to break our communication or is a side effect?


Cutting them off, Kelly spoke. "Sir, I'm already en route to the holds. Get the plugsuit ready... and the Unit." His heart begins to race with the fear and excitement. Finally! No, focus, dammit. You've covered this in simulation. Emergency Shipborne Launch, Variant 2. Power is going to be limited, but that's the least of my worries. If I'm not careful, I'll scuttle the ship if I launch; Variant 2 doesn't expect as heavy an Unit as my own.


Reaching the cavernous holds, the massive cargo was still under the tarpaulin. Maintenance crews skittered across the humanoid shape, additional generators chugged and began to whine as they spooled up, condensation vapour from the cryogenic supports began to gather across the deck, giving an ominous aura to the scene. It's like something from a Hammer horror, some beast awakening from within its' mausoleum...


Already begun to skip off the BDU as he enters and quickly finishing the rehearsed procedure, the attendants handed him the matching purple plugsuit. C. Kelly was emblazoned across the left breast, stirring a sense of pride, even if something was missing. With a press of the button, the plugsuit shrunk, accentuating their androgynous figure. Into their brunette pixie cut hair, he nestled the two A10 nerve clips. The attendants ran through the checklist for the plugsuit, their faces a mix of concern and diligence for this young person. From across the hold, the sound of the entry plug emerging could be made out.

 

[Random Word]

"Let's make sure we have a system left for you to analyze it on first, oui?" She smoothes her pant legs as she steps into the lift and pulls another cigarette from her pocket. She leans her walking stick against to wall and shifts her weight to her left leg before touching the cigarette to an electric lighter with a small solar panel on one side and a sunburst logo on the other. She takes a long draw, then blows out smoke with a heavy sigh, nearly obscuring the 'No Smoking' sign written out in ten languages. Another alarm won't be any more annoying.


"The backup cable from the ship will do. We will drop reserve batteries and support pylons as necessary, and the Unit should have no difficulty reaching a proper umbilical in time. Begin preparing both for launch." She pulls her phone from her pocket and texts the First Child's Section Two detachment as she speaks. Get the girl into the hangar ASAP. She pauses, then adds: Airlift is en route. She selects the vessel in harbour from a map of Tokyo-3 and selects 'broadcast' before putting the phone to her ear.


The loudspeakers in the ships hangar echo through the halls of the hull: "This is Lt. Col. Durant. Unit-01 is authorized for launch. Make best possible speed for the coast and stand by to receive reserve battery. All hands are to abandon ship once Unit-01 is within jumping distance of the shore. Unit-01 will make for Umbilical 7 immediately". She stops to think for several seconds, keeping the line open, then continues in french: "Bonjour, et bienvenue à Tokyo-3. We do not have time for a proper introduction, for that I apologize. You have a great responsibility today. Do not disappoint the school. You studied to vanquish. Now do it." She switches back to english, "Durant out."

 

[Bardiel]

Cassidy Kelly





"Merci, Commandant," he whispers to the voice. Flashing a smile and a thank you to the attendants, Kelly proceeds to jog across the deck to the waiting technicians, who help him up into the cockpit. They give each other a thumbs up as the hatch closes on the entry plug, plunging it into a word of darkness momentarily.


The faint sounds of pumps spinning fill the silence as the LCL began to fill entry plug. It was lukewarm, inviting, welcoming, but the urge to hold your breath was a difficult one to overcome, though the training made it easier to cope with. With a slight tingle, the electrolysing of LCL made it transparent, the cockpit now flooded with red light as the first steps were completed towards activation.


Announcing to themselves clearly Kelly begins to work through their check-list. "Monitored Target Subject within EVA-01 Entry Plug: Pilot Cassidy Kelly. Status: Locking Down Interior Array. Switch to Language Mode: French."


Tiny lights scintillated around them, the nerve connections forming. A HUD sprang up, displaying the ongoing processes. "Heart and physiological monitor active. Neurological Link-up Preliminaries Processing. Temporal Lobe: Check! Amygdala: Check! Hippocampus: Check! Parietal Lobe: Check! Motor Cortex: Check! A-10 pathway open. Verifying Neurological Link-up: Calculating Synchronisation Rate." Drawing their breath, hands clenching the controls, Cassidy was determined. "Début de la synchronisation. Activer. Allons-y!"

 

[Sherwood]

Natalia Romanova


At the stranger's offer of a new eye, her hand reaches up to touch the eyepatch and artificial skin that covers her most visible injury. To be whole again. But at what cost? She opens up her mouth to ask a question, and the alarms kick in. She spouts off in Russian, "Chert! ne seychas! I have to get to my Eva!" She throws the blanket off of her legs and rises up out of bed, her hand now clutching her side from the flash of pain she feels. Going to the closet, she snatches her clothes up and she then steps into the bathroom to dress.


Finally done, she grabs her cell phone from her purse and makes a call to the NERV headquarters. "This is Natalia Romanova. Get my Eva prepped for launch! I'm on my way!" She disconnects before they have any chance to argue with her. Looking over at the man from the Charon group, she says, "I assume you have a car outside? You can drive me while we talk about what it will cost me to get my eye back."

 

[SephirothSage]

The man smiles softly at Natalia, and nods as he grabs his briefcase. He chuckles softly, tilting his head to the side before nodding. "Sure. After all- the whole reason your being extended this offer, is because it is in our best interests- and indeed the best interests of humanity as a whole- for the pilots to all be... at maximum functionality, is it not? Mrm... But I suppose your right- all things have a cost." He idly muses while she changes. As she walks out- he leads the way to a small black car- even as the rest of the city is folding away into the ground around them, he calmly slides into the drivers seat.


"So. I suppose a good place to start the bidding, is to ask what your willing to give, isn't it..?" He muses softly- as he begins to drive you away- the buildings falling away into the ground unveiling it for you- the Eye, fluxing just like before.. save that instead of chitinous spiderlimbs pulling open that awful rip, it is two pale white hands- almost human in shape- peeling it open, widening it by the second; even as she see's the familiar silhouette of an Evanglion- rising like a Titan of old from the ship that had just docked with the port... and letting out it's primal cry of rage, as it rises....


As Natalia stares on from her car, on the ship Cassidy see's the coming monster so much more personally from her Evanglion- as the Synchronization begins, and her senses meld with those of the god-machine he pilots. He surfaces- even as orders rally through his mind, and the human crew of the vessel that brought this engine of apocalyptic destruction to this shore, begin to bail into lifeboats and /flee/, fully aware that the Evanglion disembarking the boat..... Will totally destroy the frail human vessel.... even as two more arms pull free of the hole in reality- and a scream answers the God Machine's roar- a scream of chilling hate and disgust; a purely inhuman sound- and one that psychically carries through the entire city, ringing through the AT Fields of all the mortal Lilim within the city- even into the core of the geofront; and thus perfectly personifying the sheer hate and malice of the abomination- as it's head begins to become visible.


White, lifeless. A single burning eye, above a white mask that curls around it's entire head. The skin beneath that is black, oily and /wrong/. The core is not yet visible- as countless emplaced weapons open fire as soon as it is visible.. only to strike and explode upon a red hexagonal field that is forming around it, as that head begins to be atop a long, spindly neck.. the being not fully through yet- but already, destabilizing reality around itself.. as the Evanglion is freed of it's bounds- linked to a temporary cable, and allowed to run for the power supply at the shore....

 

[Sherwood]

Natalia Romanova


As they approach the first of the many checkpoints that lead to the mecha bay, Natalia flashes her NERV Id to get them past the guards. "You ask me what I have to offer. The answer is, simply, not much. I'm only a teenager that has the good fortune to be able to meld with my Eva. I don't have a rich family or a vast pile of rubles that I inherited, but somehow I feel that you know that much about me already. The question is, what are you going to ask of me? I will tell you this much: I will not betray my country or NERV in any way, so if you had some plan to get me to spy for you, it won't happen. Pull up here, and if you have card, give it to me so I can contact you after this fight. Security probably won't let you any farther, and I have to get to Unit-00's bay as fast as I can. She will be waiting for me."


Assuming that the stranger offers her his contact information, Nat takes it and runs as fast as she can for the entrance to the base despite her injuries. "Pilot Romanova reporting in! Is my Eva prepped yet? Where is my plugsuit?"

 

[Random Word]

Renée's phone vibrates in her hand and she glances down, her eyes narrowing. "Durant here. What?" she snarls, her knuckles whitening around the phone, "She's an injured teenager. How the fuck did you 'lose' her? In a car? Whose? Did you get the plates? Yes I fucking want you to tail it! If the car deviates from the route and looks to be going anywhere else, take it out immediately," she screams before hanging up. She enters the license into her phone and scans the dossier on her screen. Chiron company car. She pulls up a traffic camera feed and grabs the driver's face before putting it through a facial recognition system in the background. At least the stupid girl is still alive. Who gets into a car with a stranger in the middle of an Angel attack?


Renée glares at Grigorovich, "Merde! Remind me again why you designed them to be piloted by teenagers?" she demands for the hundredth time. She makes a note to have the First Child's Section Two detail replaced and investigated, with special emphasis on connections to Chiron.


Before he can reply she dials another number which immediately picks up. "This is Durant. I need one of your birds. Yes, Major, I am aware you're scrambling. Redirect someone to grid reference Hotel-Kilo twelve and overwatch a black sedan. Photos, plates, and predicted route attached. Yes, this is more important than the Angel. The First Child is in the car. You don't need to know why. You are authorized to use lethal force in preventing anything from delaying that car, or in preventing the car from deviating," she commands brusquely before hanging up.


The lift doors open onto the bridge and she shoves her phone into her pocket, grabs her walking stick, and storms out, tossing her cigarette into the wastebin as she passes. She glances briefly up at the massive image of the Angel on the forward displays before turning to her staff, "Contact the JGSDF. I need a cordon straight down Akatsuki avenue clear to the base. This car cannot be allowed the be caught in the evacuation. Inform the base security commander to have a team intercept the car at the gate and get that girl into the hangar, with orders to shoot if the driver looks like he might harm her. Bring the driver in for questioning. Politely inquire with Chiron whether this is in fact one of their people. Revise upwards the launch timer for Unit-00 by five minutes," she barks in quick succession. "Status report!" she demands, her eyes returning to the emerging Angel, finally settling in to begin her real job.

 

[Bardiel]

Cassidy Kelly





Patching into the ships' intercom, Kelly hears the command to scuttle and cuts the feed. There is a moment of silence once again in the cockpit, the facade falling away as they merge with the Evangelion. Atop this Throne of the Soul, I am Naked once again...


The holds' door open to the sky, Kelly willing the Unit forward, upwards, dragging the tarpaulin with it. Evangelion Unit-01 rose, the shifting weight buckling the deck underneath, its' hulking frame flexing beneath the tarp. Grabbing it in its' hand, Cassidy flings the tarpaulin away, revealing the neon and purple pride of Second Branch, her Evangelion. Witnessing the arms prying opening the rent in reality, they roar in defiance to the invader.


The piercing scream of the Angel is heard, but not quite felt in the same way. Already, the AT Field is protecting me. The point defenses and other weapons, everything phalanxes to AGM-84s streamed towards the target, impacting against the Angel's own AT Field. Stalin's orchestra, that's what it reminds me of. Cassidy mused for a moment, before she pushed forwards on the controls. The Evangelion leapt onto the pier, the cargo ships holds rupturing with the effort, seawater rushing in. They said there was an Umbilical Cable at UC-7. The solid pier cracked with the landing, but held fast: it was intend for importing E-Type materials. It should be within a few hundred meters, at the harbor master's building, go!





"Unit-01 proceeding to checkpoint UC-7, over!" The behemoth began to build up momentum, accelerating to a run, concrete smashing under each terrible footfall. It is disgusting, that thing. I'll snap that spindly neck of your's yet!

 

[SephirothSage]

The Man chuckles at Natalia's questions- as Renee's pursuits tail their car silently, as camera's watch and observe- and see no one in the drivers seat, just a car driving itself. Human operatives on the ground report seeing him; but monitoring equipment of all kinds comes up blank as to his existence, even as the car makes suprisingly good time... in a line straight for one of NERV's entry elevator's. He chuckles as they skid to a halt- and he pulls out something from his coat; handing Natalia a business card in a deft motion.


"Hide that, if you would. I think I'm about to be arrested for giving you a ride." He teases lightly as he steps out of the car- and faces a pair of Section Two agents that Natalia can actually somewhat recognize- K and J, as they called themselves when she first met them. They seem to be part of her security assignment at all times; and are usually reasonably friendly when they can be found; but right now, both are grim faced as they detain the Chiron executive with the winning smile.


Even as Natalia runs past this event, into the elevator- and Renee hears her simple questions over coms right away- even as Gregorvitch is chuckling beside her at her choice of question. "Zu zink ze machines pilot preferences where intentional? Mein Gott, voman- no, no... zis is simply... I vould say fate." He muses softly, as he watches the monitor from beside her- a strange gleam in the mans bright blue eyes even as a certain man in a glass room above them all.. frowns slightly.


Outside, in the port- the God Machine sprints for the harbor building, and is soon hooked to it's umbilical power supply by the deft movements of human engineers and workers, even as it's comrade and twin is in the bay below yet- completely ready to be launched beside it. Yet- as Cassidy feels the rush of power surging through her second body, through the titanic skin she wears... she also see's the Angel, pulling half of it's body free; it's long, thin form unveiling yet more, as it reaches a point where the beginings of a huge red crystal orb are visible.... an orb which pulses with light- as it turns that baleful eye towards one of the emplaced guns, and does something that the first Angel couldn't.


The bolts suddenly begin to be able to crack it's barrier, almost visibly leaving cracks on the altered space around it's form, which seem to hang in midair... before the light that shines from it's eye burns forth as a directed beam at one of the emplacements- a beam which scythes out and detonates... leaving nothing in it's wake but a crater, as the light explodes into the shape of a cross- burning in the air as one of the bunkers created by NERV for defensive screens is detonated for daring to fire upon an Angel... even as the Barrier regenerates it's full integrity as soon as it's done firing it's laser.


And so it begins.

 

[Bardiel]

Cassidy Kelly





"UC Connect Confirmed." Kelly reports into Command. "Requesting deployment of a Pallet Gun." Better make some distance between UC-7... The Angel will retaliate, and I don't want to have to run on battery. Using the emplacement's covering fire, Cassidy moves Unti-01 away from the Harbor Master's office block, readying to receive the pallet gun and act on orders.


Witnessing the emplacement's destruction, she is feels a flash of doubt. This is really happening. Follow the training: Locate the enemy, acquire the weapon, aim and fire, perform defensive manoeuver or press the advantage.

Spoiler

[dice]7927[/dice]


Unit-01 AG adds +2


Initiative: 11

 

[SephirothSage]

Even as you pull forth the Pallet Rifle- it pulls yet more of itself out. It's core fully revealing itself as it's strong, almost apelike legs come into view- that birdlike mask glowing with the ethereal energy that forms it's field, as it switches from the offensive strike that leveled an emplacement; to simply strengthening it's barrier; declaring the light of it's soul, as it lets out a ping to feel all others- and you feel that, washing over you as it /finds you/....


And that single, cyclopean eye turns to stare at you- as it screams again- and the AT Field of your EVA translates it's meaning....


"Your flesh is tainted, betrayer! Fall before me!"





It cries- seeming to adress the EVA, rather than you... as it seems to be spreading it's legs to brace them on something within the dimension it is leaving...


 
Meanwhile- as that cry roars out, as it rips the world, and the air ripple saround it.... The MAGI pings loudly- and Gregorvitch pulls out it's report, and begins to read for Renee's benefit.


"Ah- Zis is... an interestink analysis. Ze Angel.... has a veaker AT field zan ze first vone did- and yet... it is physically, far more durable and intense- more important, it's AT Field has been channeled... into zat cross-shaped blast. From vat ve have observed of it's destructive capacity, it would almost certainly sever ze umbilical if a blow was landed on the Evanglion vith zat... veapon, ve vill term it for now- though it is more of a feat of AT Field Reality warping than a conventional veapon- very interesting, ve should find a vay to replicate zat.... Mrm. As I was saying- as before, the 'Core', the red orb, is ze weak spot. This Angel has been codenamed "Samael"... unt it should not be too difficult to subdue, as long as it's ranged attack is avoided."

 

[Bardiel]

Cassidy Kelly


You know nothing of the flesh, you vile invader. We'll send you back to Hell yet! "Unit-01, deploying AT Field!" Letting the inner Light shine forth, the air shimmer as the expression of her will pressed forwards. "Attempting to Neutralise the Angel's AT Field." I reject you, I reject your presence in this world, my world!

Spoiler

Sync Ratio is 50, which equates to 5 ATS and 5 Deflection.


Spend 5 ATS to Neutralise.

 

[Random Word]

Renée examines the projection table and forward screens as she listens to the MAGI report and the status reports from her staff, then stares up at Samael and smiles grimly.


"Major Kagura, manoeuvre your group to deploy massed countermeasures for Unit-01. Prevent Unit-01 from being effectively engaged at all costs. Unit-01, neutralize Samael's AT field. All armoured assets load DP rounds. Hornets close and synchronize fire control systems. All units prepare to fire once Unit-01 reports neutralization."


The comm system around Natalia comes to life, "Romanova. Unit-01 is already engaged. Unit-00 is prepared for launch. Waste no more time in deploying. We will discuss your behaviour today after Samael has been destroyed. You will be briefed in the lift," she instructs coldly.

Spoiler

Rolling Initiative:


[dice]7939[/dice]


Armoured units are delaying until Neutralization, then they'll fire Depleted Uranium rounds at whatever Unit-01 targets. [Angel -2 AP, all areas]


Dragonflies are dropping flares and chaff around Unit-01. [-20 Angel BS when firing at Unit-01]


Hornets are closing and using the Spotter talent on Unit-01, allowing him to use their range modifier. They're delaying their fire until Neutralization, then firing on Unit-01's target. [1d5+3 Dam]

 

[Sherwood]

Natalia Romanova


As the plugsuit forms around her, Natalia goes pale as it presses up against her and staggers. Ugh! Pain lets you know you are still alive. Embrace the pain. With a few quick breaths, she gets control of herself once more just as a pair of technicians come up to her, concern on their faces. "I-I'm fine. Just get me to Unit-00."


"Do you want something to ease the pain?"


"No. It will just dull my reflexes. I'll get through this without any meds. Spasibo."


"This is Romanova. Beginning synchronization. Unit-00 coming on line. What do we know about the target?" She raises up her MAS rifle and flips off the safety as the massive Eva is lifted up to ground level, granting Natalia her first look at the Angel coming into view.


[dice]7947[/dice]

 

[SephirothSage]

And even as her reinforcements are inbound- Cassidy finally gazes upon the angels full, awful form as it finally launches itself free of the rift- and plunges into the water for but a moment; but in that instant between it emerging from the portal, and it hitting the water... she beholds it.


It is quadrapedal; it's entire body made of that strange, sickly white skin as it descends into the waves. It has a matching pair of four arms- it's main body almost trunk like, with each foot being four-toed; and each of those toes being claws. It's arms are long and spindly, and seem to rotate upon it's amorphous flesh- each ending in long, thin, clawlike fingers that are almost like extended razors, as it claws it's way down into the waves... giving you a narrow moment in which to shoot at it before it is beneath the waves, hiding for the moment.

 

[Random Word]

The command and control network is a constant hum of command and confirmation around her.


Be advised, relay towers deployed and CCC network online. Compensation for AT jamming effect confirmed.


Confirming DP rounds loaded. Synchronizing FCS. All companies reporting ready to engage. Echo company to fire, Foxtrot and Hotel to leapfrog.


Sound off the alphabet with me, ladies and gents. Alpha wing leads, weapons free. Alternate left-right breaks. Keep your targeting arrays on the ugly sonovabitch, and pipe it to Unit-00.


Round an' round she goes - hit the TZ, fire flares and eject all chaff, hit navpoint delta, weapons free on tango one, RTB and reload after each pass. Don't bother slowing down to aim - the fucking thing is the size of a skyscraper and if you can't hit it, you're a disgrace to the UN.


Telemetry from first missile strikes is in, MAGI estimate 60% neutralization from backscatter spectra.


Unit-01 is in the shaft, L-15.





As Samael fully emerges from the rift, Renée barks a single order, "Mark!" Tanks roll from behind barrier plates in loose formation, each company in turn pausing to fire a single volley of depleted plutonium rounds to degrade the Angel's armour as the others continue to manoeuvre. Hundreds of missiles are disgorged from pods on Hornets and Dragonflies, detonating uselessly against the still active AT field. The area around Unit-01 is completely saturated with brilliant red and yellow multispectral flares casting strange flickering reflections amidst thick clouds of several varieties of smoke and chaff. It completely obscures Unit-01's vision of the Angel, but the direct telemetry from the 42nd Assault Air Group as it strafes Samael is fed into Unit-01's fire control systems, giving it a perfect picture of the target in augmented reality.


"Romanova, Angel designate Samael is effectively a mobile heavy artillery platform. Evasive manoeuvres are a priority. Assist Unit-01 in neutralizing its AT field and engage at range until it reaches the shore, then close to halt its advance at all costs."

 

[Bardiel]

Cassidy Kelly


That shade of white, it's disgusting! Cassidy thinks as she sees the Angel fall from the Rift and the UN forces bathe Unit-01 in countermeasures. Commandant, you are the pride of Saint-Cyr, buiochas le Dia! With a press of a button, the cockpit's blacked view switches over the AR feed. The targeting reticle matches with the descent of Samael, the FCS trying to calculate a solution from the laser and microwave rangefinders, the Evangelion's and pallet gun's gyroscopes and the 42nd AAG's telemetry despite all the visual and ECM being deployed about the Unit.


The electronic ping sounds, and Cassidy pulls the trigger, feeling the shuddering of the Evangelion as the pallet gun fires. The cases, the size of a small car, spring from the breach raining down on the ground about their feet. The rounds stream in concert with the coordinated strike on the Angel. I'm going to need Unit-00 to help take out that AT Field for good, though that bastard is going to use the water for cover.


 

Spoiler

Unit-01 BS


[dice]8010[/dice]


Unit-01 Pallet Gun


[dice]8020[/dice]


[dice]8025[/dice]


Inverted by OD Fate Point to 08


[dice]8026[/dice]


[dice]8021[/dice]


[dice]8022[/dice]


Magnitude 3 Tanks: 17th Armoured Battalion


[dice]8017[/dice]


Magnitude 3 Hornets: 42nd Air Assault Group


[dice]8018[/dice]


Magnitude 3 Dragonflies: 4th Special Air Group


[dice]8019[/dice]

 

[Random Word]

"Lt. Col! The MAGI are -" Renée's eyes flick from the main screen view of the largely ineffectual assault of the 42nd AAG to a nearby holo display showing the MAGI's best attempt at a 3D manifold of the multidimensional shape of Samael's AT Field. She doesn't need the Lieutenant to finish her report, she can see it for herself. For some inscrutable reason the Angel is attempting to change the shape of its AT Field, and it has left a small but perceptible structural weakness which she will not hesitate to exploit. Perhaps it doesn't realize Unit-01 can still see it through the obscuring smoke - if so, it's in for an unpleasant surprise. Her grim smile widens predatorily.


"Unit-01, fire on my new target, now! Unload everything!" she demands, highlighting the weakness on Cassidy's HUD.

Spoiler

Using Tactical Genius to spend two Fate Points on Cassidy. One to grant +2 DoS as per Resourceful. The second to reverse the 80 on the Righteous Fury to an 08 as per Better Lucky than Good.


1 Standard Fate Point remaining, 1 Driven Point, and one Ingenious Point.

 

[Bardiel]

Cassidy Kelly


"Aye, Commandant!" Cassidy followed the direction to the highlighted spot on the HUD, the world outside appearing in an AR monochrome, as she continued to fire on full automatic. To the world outside, the subtle change in the direction of fire could not be observed, other than flashes of light illuminating the smokescreen, reminiscent to the discharges within a thunderstorm cell. The sound could be heard, like rolling thunder, as the spent shells smashed into the side of a small office block on the way down, showering the street in glass and broken concrete.