Winning Votes:
[X] Nina
[X] Mount Asama
-[X] A bladed gauntlet
-[X] Plug the holes
[X] Careful Communication Preparations
November UE 0083
Above NERV HQ
You fire the Dark Lance at a group of Matareal's spider spawn, which fall easily to your weapon. In the distance, you see the Gundam Epyon smash groups of the arachnid creatures to pieces with its heat rod.
"We still can't reestablish contact with NERV HQ?" You ask Murrue.
"Affirmative. We're sending a team of Sutherlands along with Dragonar-3 into the complex to try and find out what's going on. Worst comes to worst, the Sutherlands have physical comm relays that they can place." Murrue explains.
"Well, I hope they can get things back on track, we're just in a holding action at this point." You grouse.
"Agreed. Stay safe, but don't hesitate to kill the Angel if you see an opportunity to do so somehow." Murrue says.
You nod before ending the call.
You are Light Newman, and you are accompanying a group of five Sutherland Knightmares to try and reestablish contact with NERV HQ. The six of you are currently in front of an emergency service hatch. You had been airlifted from Mount Asama back to Tokyo in a hurry.
"What if the code NERV gave us doesn't work?" One of the Sutherland devicers asks.
"That's why we got the torches before coming down here. Now get down there and try to open this door!" The leader of the Sutherland squad orders.
One of the Sutherland devicers takes his machine up to the side of the door and gets out of his machine, opening a panel and tapping a concealed keypad. After only a few seconds, the devicer throws his hands up in frustration before getting back into his Sutherland.
"No dice, the keypad wouldn't even turn on." The devicer explains.
"Nothing for it then. Good thing we brought torches." The leader of the Sutherland squad says.
Two Sutherlands sidle up to the door and ignite cutting torches, carving a large hole in it. Although it's plenty big enough for the Sutherlands, Dragonar-3 has to bend down to fit through, though thankfully the passageway beyond is more than large enough to accommodate it; you suspect it's big enough that a Psycho Gundam could traverse the passage without trouble. One of the Sutherlands deploys its comm relay outside of the tunnel, connecting a cable to another relay one of its squad mates is carrying.
"Dragonar-3, you reading the relay?" A Sutherland pilot asks.
You check your instruments before responding in the affirmative.
As the six of you go deeper into the complex, it becomes clear that this section of the facility is in some kind of blackout, as there are no lights, the service lifts aren't working, and you still can't raise NERV HQ, even with Dragonar-3's advanced comm equipment. Thankfully, the comm relays the Sutherlands brought are perfectly functional, and as you enter the Geofront itself, you realize the blackout isn't isolated; ALL of NERV HQ is without power. Upon realizing this, all of you make double time toward Central Dogma. As the Sutherlands set up the last comm relay just outside of Central Dogma, you see someone running toward your group. As the Sutherlands shine their lights on the figure, you realize it's Captain Katsuragi.
"Oh thank god you guys realized something was wrong!" Misato says as she waves at all of you.
"Captain Katsuragi, what's going on?" The leader of the Sutherlands asks.
Misato sighs before pinching the bridge of her nose.
"As you can tell, NERV HQ is in the middle of blackout which shouldn't be possible." She says.
"What do you mean by that?" You ask while Dragonar-3 quizzically tilts its head slightly.
Misato holds up three fingers.
"NERV HQ has three backup systems that are never supposed to be able to fail simultaneously. What you're looking at isn't a fluke, it's sabotage." She explains.
Dragonar-3 and the Sutherlands seem to share an uneasy glance as you process what you just heard.
"Sabotage? Who would want to sabotage NERV?" A Sutherland pilot asks in confusion. Misato throws her hands up in frustration.
"Hell if I know! Fuyutsuki thinks that someone's trying to figure out the layout of the facility from how power is restored. Ritsuko's working on a dummy program to keep anyone watching from getting what they want, and we're working on launching Unit 00 manually as we speak." She says.
"Good thing we brought the comm relays. The one here should have a phone that you can use to get in touch with the ships topside. It's not the sexiest way to do so, but..." You say.
"At this point, I'll take what I can get." Misato deadpans as she walks over the comm relay.
Mount Asama
Tentacle Management-Opposed rolls: each side rolls 1d10 and adds situational modifiers
Sandalphon rolls
1d10 + 2 (quantity of tentacles)
Roll 9
9 + 2 = 11
Solar Vanguard rolls
1d10 + 2 (Super Robots) + 2 (Explosives)
Roll 10
10 + 2 + 2 = 14
Result: Most of the tentacles directly threatening the lifting equipment and coolant pumps are buried and no longer a threat...for the moment
EVA-02 vs Sandalphon
Due to being submerged in lava, neither combatant can generate an AT Field
Sandalphon attacks EVA-02
vs
Armor DC 17 = 7 Ability + 7 Armor + 1 (6 Will) + 2 (Type-D Equipment)
Roll 1d10 + 7 Ability + 2 (adapted to environment)
Roll 10
10 + 7 + 2 = 19
EVA-02 attacks Sandalphon
vs
Armor DC 18 = 7 Ability + 9 Armor + 2 (adapted to environment)
Roll 1d10 + 7 Ability + 1 (6 Will) + 2 (Bladed Gauntlet)
Roll 2
2 + 7 + 1 + 2 = 12
Results: EVA-02's Type-D equipment takes 2000 damage (3000/5000 HP, EVA-02 itself 6000/6000 HP) and has 4 coolant lines and 3 lifting cables severed (16 coolant lines remaining, 18 lifting cables remaining). EVA-02 fails to damage Sandalphon
You are Heero Yuy, and you observe the fracas below you with what you like to think is a professional air.
"Freezing Beam!" Kouji yells as he blasts a tentacle with a chilling beam. It freezes over and is withdrawn into its hole, Kouji eagerly taking the opportunity to smash the hole, caving in the passage that the tentacle made for itself.
You fire one of Wing Zero's Buster Rifles at a tentacle about to swing at the coolant tanks, causing it to recoil in pain. A VF-25 bombards it with missiles, forcing it back down into its hole. A Jegan with a bazooka fires at the lip of the hole in question, blocking it with rubble.
"Well, that takes of all the tentacles threatening the lifting equipment and coolant rig. How long do you think they'll stay buried?" Kaine Wakaba asks.
"Hopefully long enough for Soryu to kill Sandalphon." You say. Judging from ZERO's calculations, that's not a lot of time, but you'll have to take what you can get.
You are Asuka Langley Soryu, and fighting the Angel is harder than you'd anticipated, although you'd never admit it.
"Verdammt, just die already!" You screech as you jab at Sandalphon with your Progressive Knife and the bladed gauntlet that First threw down to you. All of your attacks bounce off of Sandalphon's extremely tough hide.
You should have seen this coming, an Angel within an active volcano would obviously have adapted its body to withstand the inhospitable conditions there.
Sandalphon strikes, lashing out with tentacles and a pair of pincers on its front.
"Schiesse!" You curse as you attempt to put up EVA-02's guard-dodging is impossible while submerged in lava like this, as is generating an AT Field, you'll just have to hope the Type-D equipment holds.
Sandalphon's pincers crash into EVA-02, and you curse as the readouts tell you that parts of the arms and torso on the Type-D equipment have been severely damaged.
Wait, where are the tentacles? You realize.
You receive an answer for that question a split second later, as you get alerts that some of the coolant lines and lifting cables have been severed.
"Oh you little shit! Playing dirty, huh?!" You shout in frustration.
"Asuka, how are you doing?" Oh great, it's First. Why does he sound like he's in a tizzy?
"Just fine, the bastard's hide is tougher than expected is all. Why are you asking?" You put on an air of confidence.
"Please hurry, Asuka! A Boazanian Skullrook just dropped off a lot of Beast Fighters, it looks like they're after Voltes V! Some of them are also trying to interfere with us, too." You hear Shinji grunt after he finishes his last sentence. It sound like he's struggling with something up top.
For once, genuine anxiety creeps into your mind as you turn your attention back to Sandalphon.
Above NERV HQ
"Oh come on, what the hell is this?!" Kenji yells.
You share his sentiment, as a Balmian transport just dropped off a number of Balm Battle Beasts.
"Kazuya! Today, Daimos will fall, and with it, you! The corruption you inflicted on my sister shall be cleansed!" Richter yells over both the transport's external speakers and an open comm freq.
"Uh, not to be the bearer of bad news in an already bad situation, Mira, but, uh..." Nina says apologetically as she points to the side of the battlefield opposite of where the Balmian Battle Beasts have deployed.
You curse as you see Dimensional Distortions that herald the arrival of Council forces.
Council deployment rolls
Boss unit-Roll 1d4
1|'Mobile Suit' tentacle abomination
2-3|Bodybuilder looking Super Robot
4|The bastard child of a Variable Fighter and an AS
Roll 3
Main Forces-Roll 2d20
1-8|20 Fishbowl squads
9-12|The above plus 8 CQC squads
13-17|The above plus 4 Artillery mech squads
18-20|The above plus 2 Big Horns
Roll 14, 10
As the Dimensional Distortions resolve, you the usual suspects among their standard forces-Fishbowls, CQC specialists, and artillery mechs. No Big Horns this time, for whatever reason. However, they're lead by a Super Robot you haven't seen before, and it is ugly.
The Super Robot is slightly taller than Getter Robo, and has a white chest piece that oddly reminds you of an exercise tank top. There are blue gauntlets on each of its arms, and an armored waistline resembling a speedo. What makes the Council machine so aesthetically unpleasant is the fact that every section not covered in armor, which around 70% of it, is sculpted to look like flexing muscles, except the head, which is rounded to resemble a bald head. You hear Nina retch.
"Ugh, if I had a hint of bisexuality in me, that Super Robot's look just killed it." Nina says.
Whatever you had to say to console Nina is lost as the pilot of the Body Builder Robot speaks on an open freq.
"Well well well, look at the Fugitive, playing at being a hero! Sorry, hun, but you're gonna have to come back with us." The pilot's voice fits every stereotype of an unpleasant gym bro you can think of. What makes things worse is the Body Builder Robot cracking its neck in preparation for combat.
"You wish!" Stella yells in rage before charging at the Council forces with her Destiny Gundam.
"Shit, cover Loussier!" Noin yells as she shifts her Taurus to Mobile Armor form to go help.
You draw the Rose's Crystal Sword and Energy Whip before charging into the fray as well. You just hope that EVA-00 will launch soon, and be able to handle Matareal by itself.
Tactical Information
Mount Asama
Sandalphon's tentacles around the lifting rig and coolant setup have been temporarily buried-they pose no threat at the moment, although this is not expected to last
Asuka is struggling with Sandalphon, as its adaptations to survive within the volcano have made it incredibly tough
Boazanian Beast Fighters and the Skullrook are focusing on attacking Voltes V and the lifting rig/coolant setup
The identity of the Boazanian commander is currently not known
Opposing forces:
Skullrook x1 (flagship)
Boazanian Beast Fighter x30
Boazanian Saucer Fighter x40
NERV HQ
Council and Balm forces have appeared to interfere
Council forces appear to be focused on attacking the Rose, Balm forces are focusing on attacking Daimos
Matareal is shifting position. Communication with NERV has lead you to believe that it is moving toward the shaft EVA-00 is going to deploy from
Matareal's spiders are attacking all combatants
Stella is charging Council forces in a rage-she will not take orders at this point
NERV HQ should be able to restore power at some point during the next round
Dragonar-3 and the 5 Sutherlands sent down are staying within NERV HQ to protect the comm relays
Opposing forces:
Council forces
40 Fishbowl squads
16 CQC squads
4 Artillery squads
Bodybuilder Robot
Balm forces
Balmian Battle Robot x40
Other tactical information
Although the Angel projected to appear in low Earth orbit has not appeared yet, the N.U.N.S. fleet has reported something approaching the planet at high speed from an odd angle...
The Sutherland pilots within NERV HQ report hearing noises from another section...
Mount Asama options
[ ] Decapitation strike
-Commit Wing Zero, Maznikaiser, Voltes V, and Getter Robo to attacking the Skullrook
-Everyone else will either ward off Boazanian forces or keep watch for reemergence of Sandalphon's tentacles
[ ] Holding Action
-Focus on defending the lifting equipment and coolant rig from Boazanian forces while keeping watch for Sandalphon's tentacles
[ ] Write-in
NERV HQ options
[ ] Enemy of my enemy
-Have Daimos advance toward the Council forces in an attempt to lure the Balmian forces over and make them start fighting each other
-Friendly forces will take advantage of the ensuing chaos to inflict as much damage as possible
-Will ignore Matareal aside from defending from its spawn
[ ] Sorry, you're not as pressing of an issue right now
-Have Daimos and generic forces ward off the Balmian forces while everyone else fights Council forces
-Will ignore Matareal aside from defending from its spawn
[ ] Write-in
A/N: So I noticed that Dragonar-3 had been committed to Mount Asama instead of NERV HQ, but only after I had finished writing the part where Light and the Sutherlands go into NERV HQ. I'll let it slide this time because I was able to handwave it, but I will not allow such a thing in the future when forces are split. Please vote, discuss, and critique.
