Lion nodded towards Viper. "Good." He then turned to the rest of the crew. "I'm going to assume that Saw is going to give the order to jump soon so I suggest you prepare yourselves mentally and physically. That'll be all." He then walked into his room and locked the door.
While inside, he started gearing up.
(Hey guys, I'm making a Google slideshow of visual references for equipment and stuff, for now it's just for me but I'll share it with you if you want. Anyway, if you have pictures for your equipment, can I get links?
Dwan was mostly quiet throughout the entire meeting. He didn't really want to draw attention to himself, despite knowing that the LWA Endgame would be very effective in his hands. As soon as the meeting ended, Dwan himself left the armory and went back to the bar.
Lion sat down briefly inside his room. He sat down next to his workshop table and brough out the coin-like item he had had received from Dwan.
His eyes colored the coin blue as they let out two beams, scanning both sides of it.
The phrase was still the same, a riddle in ancient greek which Lion ahd managed to solve thanks to his onboard translation systems.
"The one who solves this riddle will speak with the coin's owner." He repeated quietly to himself while observing the coin.
He decided to scan it for any kind of signal, checking normal frequencies, ultra-low ones and even subspace frequencies but to no avail. It was quiet as it laid still in his hand. "How can you speak through a coin?" Lion asked himself.
He put it down at the table and started transmitting a ultra-low signal, hoping that the coin would somehow resonate it. Nothing.
"I hate riddles." He turned his back to the coin and started gearing up, putting on his own version of the KUAS alongside his many weapons.
A normal person would have a hard time moving at all with all that weight, but for Lion it was normal. He sat down again and opened up one of his thigh compartments.
In his hand were a dozen photos which he put down on the table next to the coin. The first photot was of Val. He smiled and stroked the photo gently. He moved and went through photos from deployments showing him and Reed, off-duty events, a picture of God's Refuge burning, another photo showing the Valley of Kings. He then stumbled on a photo of his parents. They looked proud and happy. Lion smiled.
The last photo was that of his father when he was a child, alongside Lion's grandfather who also looked very proud of his son. Next to them was a red booth with dozens of tiny windows. A sign above the lone door said "Phonebooth". Phonebooth.
The answer hit Lion like G-force hits a fighter pilot. He scanned the dimensions of the coin and found that it was almost the same as old Terran coins.
"Dwan you sly bastard." With a arsenal of tools at his disposal, Lion started assembling materials while making a schematic in his head. Piece by piece he started working on a small device, not larger than his own hand, which had a slot for the coin, a microphone, a speaker and a holotransmitter.
He put it together with renewed enthusiasm as the answer had become obvious to him. "Let's hope this works." He said to himself as the device powered up, using one of his experimental powercells. Finally he attached a bright red button next to the slot.
Lion inserted the coin and pressed the button.
Having returned to the bar, Dwan wondered what he was going to do next. Maybe he was going to start work on those mechs he mentioned to Saw. As he got behind the counter, however, Dwan noticed a slight tingle in his left hand. He looked at it and saw some of his blue flames on his palm. Someone was contacting him. He pondered who it could be; it couldn't be his mother, she had no reason to contact him. So, he realized what had happened.
He quickly rushed into his secret quarters. Having made sure no one watched him get in, he closed the door. He put his left hand to his mouth. "So, you figured it out, huh?", Dwan said into his hand.
"Why are you whispering?" Asked Lion loudly to the device. "Is it really that loud on the other end? And yes, I figured it out thanks to my grandfather. Don't ask."
He began adjusting the microphone controls to improve the sound output - if it was even possible.
"Is the connection limited or could we, in theory, talk forever?"
Dwan laughed into his hand. "I'm not whispering; I'm talking into my hand. I can currently hear you in my head, if you were wondering.", Dwan told Lion. "Yeah, we can talk forever. I've told you before that I can contact anyone with the same caldiur as me passively through my hand like a communicator. That coin gives you direct contact to me throughout the entire omniverse, and only me, as I was the one who generated it.", Dwan revealed.
"I need to adjust my volume settings on this little thing then, stand by." Lion began adjusting the audio while also connecting the device to his internal radio. "Now I can hear you in my head as well."
Lion looked around his room. "This might not be of my concern but I noticed a stream of data, inbound and outbound from the ship a few hours ago which I traced to you. Anyone in particular you've been speaking to?"
Varn gave back Iska's knife. "When this is over, I hope I can commission something similar from you as a memento."
He exited the armory and went to his quarters. He took out the small yellow box that the kanads had inspected earlier on the station. He looked around to make sure no-one else was around. Better be safe than sorry. He opened the box and the [URL="http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/6/69951/1567447-star1.gif"]cromin spider[/URL] jumped on his arm. "Hey, hey. Don't get too exited. It's feeding time, but I'm not the food. Not yet at least." He reached into his belt and pulled out a small container with dried meat and threw it in the box. The spider followed. "You missed out on a brand new home some time ago. Would have been in a nice little kanad skull. Don't worry tho. Papa Varn will find a nice little hovel for you, just like he did for your brothers and sisters." He closed the box and put it back with his belongings. "After all, I found my way back home."
Dwan squinted. "Yeah... I spoke to Yanim.", Dwan said to Lion. "Well, it wasn't really a talk. I sent a message, she replied back and then I replied to that. That's it.", he told him. "When I was speaking to Saw, I brought up the entire situation with Yanim. I tried to convince him to give her the payment she deserved for all her hard work on the crew, but he saw her as a quitter and said no. I sent a message to her, telling her what has happened since she left, as well as try to get her to stop thinking that we were traitors. I sent her a check for 50 million credits, as I don't really have a need for money. In her reply, I found out that not only had she changed her name, but also founded her own group with whom she travels with now. They're apparently here at Termina too. They said that they couldn't accept my gift without repaying me in kindness. They sent me their location and invited me to come visit them. I politely declined the offer and told them that they didn't need to thank me for the cash.", Dwan revealed to Lion.
[I'm starting tomorrow, do what you need to do today.]
Lion sighed. "I wish Yanim would still be here, I wish that she wouldn't see us cowards or traitors. If you decide to visit her, don't go alone. Notify me or someone else. Speaking of which, what's her new name?" He asked curiously.
"I'm not gonna visit her. The tone in the reply they sent seemed hostile. From what I guessed, she has the surname Terika now.", Dwan told Lion.
"Huh. In any case, good choice. I just hope she won't shoot us in the back on Zeruel." Lion sighed. "I'm going to continue gearing up, you should do the same. Out." Lion then removed the coin.
"Damnit!" Pippin yelped as the blade of his knife cut into his skin. "Shit!". He needed to be more careful with his left hand.
Dwan watched as the blue flames went off. He cracked his fingers. "I guess it is time to get to work.", Dwan said to himself, as he opened a portal back to his pad.
---
Returning to his pad, he used his powers to expand the size of his underground bunker pad. Realizing he'd need a lot of space for mechs, he used the available materials on the planet he was on to create a speed elevator from his pad to the surface. Once he finished it, he rode the elevator to the top. Before he left it, he remembered that the atmosphere of this planet wasn't like the atmosphere of Terra, so he quickly constructed a temporary atmosphere in which he could breath in.
He left the elevator and quickly constructed a workshop of sorts using the planet's natural resources. He went within and started formulating his plans; he would first need materials for constructing mechs, which he could easily get from stealing materials from multiple universes; then, he would need blueprints. He planned to copy as many mech blueprints as he could and use their designs in the creation of his mechs. Maybe he could ask Lion for a few ideas. Nevertheless, he got to work. He would spend the next 2 hours collecting materials for construction.
Iska was on her out of the door to go back to the hangar, when she heard Pippin.
She turned around to notice that he had cut himself. Iska shook her head and left.
Well down in the hangar she put on her KUAS, with addition to her own battlebelt and with her personal eye-scanner instead of the helmet. After this she sat down in the workshop and went over the tank schematics. She looked over to Yanim's seat which now was empty and let out a deep sigh.
Iska then remembered that she had wired the PA system in the hangar and went over to turn on some music. On her way over to the comms she ran into Isaacs, who suggested The Trooper by Iron maiden. After turning it on and it echoed in the hangar, Iska went with Isaacs to look over som malfunction in the engine compartment.
The crew of the Belladonna wasn't quite sure whether they should be alarmed or if they should laugh. Yanim had ordered them to take off suddenly, but Neasha wasn't even at the helm. Their boss was red in the face, and her throat was sore from all the yelling. After a long silence, Virin finally spoke up.
"So I'm assuming there won't be a second date?"
Rask sneered and nodded, impressed with his comrade's bravery. Neasha shook her head nervously at them both and started to speak, only to be interrupted by Gataska's delayed reaction. She laughed harder than Rask. Yanim put her head in her hands and sighed, cracking a smile.
"Kadaren, I think it's clear by now that I don't always make good decisions," she said. "Did anyone pick up that pistol?"
"Keh, yeah. Right here, boss." Yanim didn't immediately take the gun back from him.
"You know, I took this pistol because I wanted to hurt people, but it's more complicated than that. When I've worked up enough anger to kill, everything reasonable, everything [I]right[/i] just seems like a waste of time. And then I hurt the wrong people. When I cool off, I hate the things that made me feel good just before." The others looked on, confused. "Next time I pull this gun out of its holster, I want you all to promise me that there'll be someone close who deserves killing."
"...And how's that supposed to work?" Virin demanded. Neasha shifted uncomfortably while Rask simply rolled his eyes.
"Rask," Yanim said as she caught sight of his annoyance, "I remember your 'perspective.' You said remorse doesn't mean shit in the killing business. That's because you've only ever taken orders. It's been your job, but for me this is my life. And life is just a bunch of choices when you get down to it."
"<So just avoid pissing you off until we need the scary Yanim?>" Gataska interjected, trying to clarify the earlier point.
"Well, no shit. I've got enough anger as it is," Yanim added. "The real bastards are out there. Let's hurt them instead, shall we?"
---
The Belladonna lurched out into space after navigating out of the landing areas onboard Termina Central. Its five crewmembers looked out the windows at the vast array of stars ahead of them and knew that their chance was coming. They were desperate, broke, wanted, and didn't even all speak the same languages. But they knew that opportunities were close. A long contact list was uploaded into the ship's computer, with the exact type of work which could support and foster them. If they could survive the coming battle and prove themselves ready, a new chapter of their lives would surely unfold.
The door to Lion's workshop room and quarters quietly opened up. Out came Lion who looked more like a walking weapon carrier rather than a elite soldier.
Aside from his built-in armor plates, Lion had added protection in the form of his KUAS. Including a chestrig with dozens of ammunition and utility pockets, he also wore two pauldrons, a reinforced neckguard, forearm plates, a groin pad and a pair of shinguards.
Armed with enough weapons to fight a war by himself, Lion carried the Lionclaws inside his thighs, the Reed AR and Val were positioned on the right and left side of his built in rear cargo unit which had the same function as a backpack.
On his left hip was his vibrosword in its sheet while on the right hip he carried the leather holster for the LWA Spacehawk which was already loaded with a shot in its chamber.
In his hands was the LWA Last Stand LMG, barrels spinning. Finally the Madman's Vision had been rigged in place below his rear cargo unit.
He looked around the armory and walked out.
Seth had returned to the captain's cabin on the Fang. He was waiting for Noble to turn up with a status report so they could begin to move in position. The doors swung open and Noble came through.
"Everyone is ready sir. We just need the order from Saw to move out."
"And our group of bumblers?"
"The group that came with the Orka? We scanned the area for State Sec ships, but we didn't pick up anything. We did find some kanads on a small scavenger ship, but the chances of them being the culprit that made Kanzin shit his pants are small."
"Alright then. This is what we'll do. Once the assault starts, I want the Talon to follow the Archius from a safe distance to indicate that we're friendlies. The contract was dissolved, but we still owe that crew something for the part they played. Plus Varn is on that ship and he still owes me money."
"What about when we land?"
"I want you to cover them with what ever support they need. Air-runs, artillery, covering and suppressing fire, whatever they need, we provide."
"Seems to much for just one small crew."
"Like I said, we owe them. And were gonna repay them the only way we can. Unless you want to tell me something, you're dismissed"
Noble exited the captains quarters, leaving Seth alone again. He poured himself a glass of old Terran whiskey and lid a cigar.
Pippin saw Lion and whistled. "Guys, I don't think we'll really be needing tom do much anyway..."
Lion chuckled. "Let's hope that those gearheads thinks the same and surrender."
After the meeting, Viper retreated to it's private quarters to fortify itself mentally for it's next mission, while not it's first planetary strike or large scale invasion before but with everyone else putting everything they have on the line, their security captain couldn't let them down at this crucial point of there adventure.
Viper's mind was filled with thoughts about what the future will hold for the crew of the Archius as more sinister organizations take advantage of chaotic situation that the galaxy has landed itself into.
Viper then begins to think what of it's old comrades that are or were, servicing within the UGC Peacekeeping forces, what are they going to do? The damage has been done and the time of an united UGC is gone.
The northern and eastern squadrons hold the banner of the being the "official" and "true" UGC, they have become little more than hired guns for the Kanad Collective as their "sponsors" have ordered them to sit idly or even outright abandon colonies in the face of newly fuel revival of galactic piracy and slavery to concentrate their efforts to reinforce Collective's outer rims in the face of the Sanghvi state's insurgency within the it's surrounding sectors, the Sanghvi's unbelievable progress has put even the black fleet on the defensive, something that it has never done in years.
The western squadrons has seemly disappeared, their fate is uncertain as they have always been underequipped and understaffed as the Elysium sector has only grown stronger and better organized in it's absence, it wouldn't be surprising if most of the squadrons either deserted or surrendered towards the newly formed Alexander Combine and if the reports of suspicious Argos activity are to be believed, then that sector will only be getting more and more interesting in the following months.
The southern squadrons seem to be the only ones left operating independently but how long they will last is up to debate as they have refused to recognize the official UGC union that the northern and eastern squadrons make up, thus lacking any real support as most states that were part of the UGC have withdrawn their support almost entirely with much of the Peacekeepers either returning back to their home states to protect their colonies and trade routes themselves.
Eventually, after several hours in absolute solitude, Viper was ready to pick itself back up and head out towards the armory.
Viper looked over man and woman that was serving on the Archius as it walk through the long hallways and steel corridors. Everything from their heath status to their available history, every face was burned in the Sanghvi's mind to solidify it's goal of their survival.
Viper gave a quick look over everything available within the endless rows and stocks in the armory. First mounting the LWA Solari upon it's frame and configuring them to same frequency as it's implant to not impede with it's talons along with ensuring the weapon's accuracy.
Then Viper attached duel auto loading, canister launchers above it's claws shoulders with an belt of smoke and smart flash 20mm canisters for each launcher along adding additional nano steel plating to it's torso and head.
After prepping itself, Viper took an moment to give one last overlook of the Talon through it's implant. Making sure all of the countermeasures and newly added "Last breath" protocol were online and functioning at full capacity.
Viper then proceeded to leave the armory, finding Lion and Pippin waiting just outside the door in the hallway.
"Fully equipped and ready for combat Sir." Viper said as it saw Lion.
Varn made sure every last bit of the Nomad was fully functional. Gabriel displayed all the systems and modifications he had made over these past several months as fully active and ready for combat.
He armed himself with the LWA Boombox, his handgun that had served him during Duroma, and a combat knife. The blade in his armor and the power fist were working properly. Adding a few incendiary and high explosive grenades to his arsenal made sure that he was dressed to kill rather than capture..
He exited his quarters and made his way down to the hangar to wait.
Soon enough, Dwan had collected enough materials that it covered a quarter of the planet's surface. Having done that, he spent a few more hours chasing down mech blueprints and schematics, getting over 5000 of them.
Dwan went into his little work hut and began analyzing each and every single one of the papers, looking for patterns and the best designs he could implement into his designs. He already had some ideas going through his head; mechs filled with explosives, but are designed to look like manned mechs in order to bait the troops of the Crimson Son to invade them (and then, after they reach the "head" or a certain amount of them enter, the mechs explode [but they can be repurposed as kamikaze mechs if they don't take the bait]), as well as mechs that have something akin to jackhammers on their arms, allowing them to do rapid-fire fistcuffing. Generic mechs built with the best designs pulled from the documents, as well.
But, as he drew up designs for his mechs, he thought about asking Lion for some input. Being a robot himself, he would surely have some mech ideas.
Lion nodded to Viper. "Glad to hear." He was about to continue chat with Viper when he noted that Dwan's signature was out of range from the ship sensors. Quickly, Lion began projecting a fake signal.
"What are you up to Dwan?" He thought to himself. Lion glanced at Viper and Pippin. "I suggest you go and get some rest now before the battle. I'll be in my quarters." Said Lion before excusing himself.
As the door locked behind him he inserted the coin into the device he had made for it. "Dwan, report."
As he was drawing up designs, Dwan noticed that Lion was trying to contact him. He put his left hand up to his mouth. "Oh, hey, I was just thinking about you.", Dwan said into his hand. "I'm working on something special for the upcoming battle; mechs! I'm at the designing bit of making the mechs, as I managed to get enough materials for about 150 of them. I've already got 2 to 3 designs in the works. You want to hear them? Also, you got any ideas for mechs?", Dwan asked Lion.
"Roger sir, we Sanghvi don't rest quite the same way you soft-carbon tend to do but perhaps we can meet sometime later then." Viper said before turning to face Pippin.
"So soft-carbon, if you mind me asking. Have you decided what to do after this operation? " Viper asked him.
[QUOTE=Damian0358;48866995]As he was drawing up designs, Dwan noticed that Lion was trying to contact him. He put his left hand up to his mouth. "Oh, hey, I was just thinking about you.", Dwan said into his hand. "I'm working on something special for the upcoming battle; mechs! I'm at the designing bit of making the mechs, as I managed to get enough materials for about 150 of them. I've already got 2 to 3 designs in the works. You want to hear them? Also, you got any ideas for mechs?", Dwan asked Lion.[/QUOTE]
"You what? Mechs?" Lion shook his head. "The thing about mechs is that most military forces that have ever tried fielding one usually forgets several key weaknesses. I can safely say that I've only encountered one people which managed to design a flawless mech and that was because they based the design on their native giant bugs."
He sat down at the table. "Some key things you need to keep in mind is weight distribution, full articulation, reserve power supply and even armor points. Your instincts might tell you to focus on frontal armor but I can tell you that when a mech trips and falls forwards and gets stuck in ravine for three hours because the eggheads miscalculated the recoil you're gonna wish that the armor had been evened out instead.
Trust me, I'd know. Oh and don't forget to add some gyros, without stabilization you'd might as well build the mech out of paper because of the recoil."
"I see. I've found quite a few designs from other universes that seem to follow with what you're saying. I've been making sure to note those specific things; though, I will admit, I didn't think of adding a reserve power supply. I'll write that down.", Dwan said, as he used his right hand to note down what Lion said.
"I've got three mech designs at the moment; the first is a heavy hitter, one that has something akin to jackhammers for arms, allowing it to rapid-fire punches. The second is a bit of a baiter; it looks like it is piloted from the inside, but it isn't, instead it has a substitute for a being within its 'head'. The mech itself is filled with tons of explosives. The intent is to lure the Crimson Son into infiltrating these mechs by breaking in and taking them over; but once enough of them enter or they reach the heavily fortified head, the entire thing blows up. If the baiting plan doesn't work, the mechs can be reconfigured into becoming kamikazes, shooting their explosive-filled parts into the Son. And the third design is basically an amalgamation of all the best designs from all the universes to create the greatest generic mech in existence.", Dwan told Lion his designs. "What do you think, and as I asked earlier, you got any mech ideas?", Dwan asked.
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