Winning Vote:
[X] Hi-Nu Gundam
[X] Mazinkaiser
ZZ and Zeta Gundam tied
Coin flip: tails
[X] Zeta Gundam
January UE 0084
Izanagi Shore, Orb
The Freedom and Justice land on the tarmac 20 paces from each other, their pilots disembarking. Everyone watching tenses up as Kira and Athrun walk toward each other.
As the two friends turned enemies turned allies of circumstance walk toward each other, each reflect on their past, the circumstances that led to their separation, and the friends of the other that they killed.
It's a somber, heavy moment as the two of them get within arms length of each other.
"Birdy!"
A green, robotic bird swoops in and perches itself on Kira's shoulder. Kira smiles as Birdy settles in.
"Hi, Athrun." Kira says.
"Kira..." Athrun says.
"Y-You guys!" Cagalli yells as she runs forward and grabs the two pilots in an embrace. "You idiots!"
"C-Cagalli!" Kira yelps in surprise.
And like that, the tension is gone.
Morgenroete Hangar Bay
As you walk into the hangar bay, the girls join you.
"Is the Rose ready for the next attack?" You ask.
"As ready as it's going to be." Lucia says as she hands you a thermos. You open it up to find it's been filled with herbal tea.
"Thanks." You say as you take a sip.
"Well, that's got to be one of the most awkward seats in the house right now." Nina says as she gestures to where the Freedom and Justice are berthed. More specifically, at their feet, where Kira and Athrun are sitting on a pair of crates.
As the four of you draw closer, you see that a bit of a crowd has gathered around them-Murrue and Mu are off to side closer to where the Archangel is docked, Miriallia is on the other side of the pylon where Kira and Athrun are sitting, joined a second later by Dearka, and Cagalli is across from the two of them leaning against a pylon.
You're now close enough to hear Kira and Athrun's conversation.
"I killed a comrade of yours, a close personal friend. But I never knew him, and it's not like I wanted to kill him. You killed Tolle." Kira says. Miriallia and Dearka gasp.
"But you never knew Tolle. And it's not as if you wanted to kill him, was it?" Kira continues.
Yukari and Nina almost instinctively clasp their hands together.
"No...! But, I tried to kill you..." Athrun says.
"Same here. Athrun. It would be great if we could live in a world where we didn't have to fight. If only we could live forever in such a world." Kira looks up wistfully at the ceiling while Mu puts his arm over Murrue's shoulder. "But this war continues to spread. Therefore, I've decided to fight."
"Kira..." Athrun says in surprise.
"Because, although it was to protect others, I've already pulled the trigger. Besides, even if I chose not the fight, the Council of the Veil is coming for all of us, and to choose not to fight them would be the same as putting a gun to your own head and pulling the trigger." Kira says.
Athrun goes silent and stares at the ground in contemplation for a bit.
As Kira gets up to leave, Athrun stops him.
"Wait, Kira. The Freedom is equipped with a Neutron Jammer Canceller. What will you do if that data..." Athrun asks.
"If anyone tries to get it from me, I'll shoot them myself." Kira replies.
Kira walks off.
You see Athrun collapse back onto his crate while everyone else goes off in different directions.
Battle of Orb, Phase 2
Allied Assets
Orb Defense Force
M1 Astray x163
Kuraomikami-class destroyer x18
Aegis-class cruiser x16
Autocannon Bunker x5 (static defense)
Linear Gun Tank x46
Linear Gun Howitzer x38
Heli VTOL x10
Savage x52
Shadow x49
Tieren x60
Gun Ru x20
Stark Jegan x5
Jegan x20
ReZEL x20
GM III x30
Leo x88
Aries x80
Tragos x20
Serpent x12
VF-171 x30
VF-19 x20
VF-25 x10
Blue Cosmos Assets
Strike Dagger x768
F-7D Spearhead fighter x88
Spengler-class aircraft carrier x18
Des Moines-class cruiser x40
Arkansas-class destroyer x45
Fraser-class destroyer x45
Opposed Rolls-Each side rolls 1d100 with modifiers added for unit composition
Orb/IRC force roll
Roll 1d100 + 8 (Tactical Forecaster) + 6 (M1 Astrays) + 3 (Wet Navy) + 1 (Heli VTOLs) + 3 (Conventional forces) + 1 (Static Defenses) + 2 (HRL Forces) + 6 (EFF Shock Package) + 7 (OZ Reinforcements Package) + 8 (N.U.N.S. Relief Force) + 8 (Celestial Being) + 8 (Londo Bell) + 6 (Dragonar Team) + 7 (Photon Power Labs) + 6 (Nadesico et al)
Roll 62
62 + 8 + 6 + 3 + 1 + 3 +1 + 2 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 6 + 7 + 6 = 142
Blue Cosmos Roll
Roll 1d100 + 6 (Strike Daggers) + 2 (Spearheads) + 5 (Wet Navy) + 24 (Raider, Forbidden, and Calamity Gundams) + 40 (Numerical Superiority)
Roll 9
9 + 6 + 2 + 5 + 24 + 40 = 86
Council Forces Deploy!
Unit Composition:
Fishbowl x400
CQC Machine x200
Artillery Mech x150
Big Horn x40
Graffiti Robot 2.0
Tentacle Robot
New Units!
Sniper Model-Headhunter x80
Elite MP Model-Crest Head x40
Council Roll-1d100 + 20 (Surprise Attack) + 20 + (New Models)
Roll 21
21 + 20 + 20 = 61
Result: Allied forces are able to repel the bulk of the Blue Cosmos forces, but the deployment of Council forces alongside new models results in Orb forces being blindsided, resulting in disproportionate losses among them
You are Kira Yamato, and as you disable two dozen Strike Daggers in rapid succession, you're forced to dodge a pair of beam rounds that come at you from the sea. You turn to see the Calamity Gundam riding atop the Raider Gundam's Mobile Armor form.
You're forced to dodge a barrage of beam rounds and railgun slugs coming in from all directions as the Forbidden fires a beam weapon at you that can curve its shot. As you fire back, a beam boomerang and railgun shot force the Forbidden and Raider back.
"Athrun?" You ask, stunned, turning to see the Justice and the Buster in the distance. The Buster turns to provide cover for the Archangel while the Justice moves beside the Freedom.
"We understood what you meant! There are certain things one must fight to protect!" Athrun elaborates.
"Good enough! I'll try to keep the Forbidden off of you two!" Amuro says as the Hi-Nu Gundam joins you.
Amuro vs Shani
Amuro uses Fin Funnels
vs
Mobility DC 24 = 7 Mobility + 10 Ability + 4 (Boosted Man) + 3 (Gamma Glipheptin)
Roll 1d10 + 12 Ability + 2 (7 Will) + 5 (Newtype 5) - 2 (Funnels under Earth's Gravity)
Roll 5
5 + 12 + 2 + 5 - 2 = 22
Shani fires the Forbidden's Hresvelgr Plasma Induction Cannon
vs
Mobility DC 29 = 10 Mobility + 12 Ability + 2 (7 Will) + 5 (Newtype 5)
Roll 1d10 + 10 Ability + 4 (Boosted Man) + 3 (Gamma Glipheptin) + 2 (Magnetic Field Generators)
Roll 4
4 + 10 + 4 + 3 + 2 = 23
Result: Neither the Hi-Nu nor the Forbidden take any damage
As you and Athrun double-team the Raider Gundam while dodging shots from the Calamity, you see Amuro unleash the Hi-Nu Gundam's Fin Funnels on the Forbidden Gundam. Unfortunately, a problem immediately makes itself apparent: Funnels of any kind don't work very well in Earth's gravity. As a result, Amuro is forced to fire with the Fin Funnels that get into range of the Forbidden first, with the Forbidden able to turn and deflect those beam rounds with its beam deflection system that you encountered yesterday. As Amuro recalls the Hi-Nu's Fin Funnels, the Forbidden fires its curving beam cannon, but Amuro is easily able to dodge it, with the beam only grazing the edge of the Hi-Nu's shield.
You turn your attention back to the Raider, drawing a beam saber and going in for close combat.
As you and Yukari smash a Strike Dagger apart with the Rose's Energy Whip, your sensors alert you to a massive number of Dimensional Distortions forming.
"Oh, here we go..." You say in a resigned tone. Yukari takes a moment to pat you on the shoulder.
The Distortions clear, and in their place is a massive army from the Council. Most of it is comprised of the usual suspects-Fishbowls, CQC Machines, and the like, but there are two new models.
The first is some kind of long-range sniper unit about the size of a Heavygun, with the right arm being replaced by a large beam cannon and a high-tech looking assembly of sensor equipment on the machine's head. The second is a larger machine, about the size of a Gustav Karl, with a large beam rifle in one hand and a handheld shield in the other. Each of the second type of machine have a large plate on top of the front of the head with a massive crest emblazoned on it.
To cap things off, the entire army is led by what looks like an upgraded version of the Graffiti Robot and his tentacled companion.
At the same time, a trio of new Dimensional Distortions manifests, and when they disappear, there are three new arrivals.
The first is a small red Super Robot along with a crane assembly.
The second is a large number of relatively tiny mobile weapons, even smaller than a Knightmare Frame. There are 60 of them, and they're all small, rotund, and ugly.
The third emerges in midair, and it's a jet-black Gundam with a thruster unit on its back, an enormous beam cannon in its right hand, a railgun in its left, cluster missile launchers on its back, and a beam cannon on each shoulder.
The Council forces don't take the intrusion of Samsara's reinforcements very well, and a large number of enemies charge forward, led by the upgraded Graffiti Robot.
Direct Opposition
Fishbowl x20
CQC Mech x15
Headhunter x5
Crest Head x3
Big Horn x5
Graffiti Robot 2.0
Friendlies
Rose
Mazinkaiser
Zeta Gundam
Dai-Guard
Scopedog Escort (60 remaining)
Gundam Superior
Things of note:
Headhunters always target Mobility
Crest Heads are high threat enemies
Samsara reinforcements will prioritize protecting Mira and thus will not take orders
What do you do?
[ ] React Instinctively
-Mazinkaiser and the Rose will take on the upgraded Graffiti Robot. Zeta Gundam will go after Crest Heads.
[ ] Write-in
A/N: I wanted to make this longer, but I'm tired now and wanted to get this out before midnight local time. Please vote, discuss, and critique!
