Super Robot Wars CS, A Quest

Rean Schwarzer genuinely doesn't know what to make of today. The first field exercises for the New Class 7 were not supposed to throw him and his new students into a battle with Orouborous, and especially not after revealing the truth of Hamel. Said revelation - that the Empire had launched a false flag attack on Hamel to incite war with Liberl, surprises him less than he thought it would. He still hasn't had time to process a final confirmation of what he had suspected since the conclusion of the Civil War- the Erebonian Empire was under the control of sinister forces. In fact, it might have been created specifically to serve those forces. To top it all off, an Aion, a machine that had wiped out an entire armored division of the Empire's best soldiers, was even now fighting him and his charges. A machine, that by all known understanding of physics and magic, should not be functional. All in all, the last few days had been a whirlwind of chaos and strife that could not have been a worse start to his teaching career.

And then there's the OTHER robot.

Moments earlier, a new machine had appeared on the battlefield in a titanic blur of blue-green light. Somehow even taller than the hulking Aion, the strange mech was nothing Rean recognized. It has obviously seen better days, though. Its armor was scored and pockmarked, with a giant gash across its waist region. It holds some sort of small ball in its hands, and stands frozen for a brief moment before spinning its head to stare at the ongoing melee.

And then, lumbering step after step, it begins to charge.

———

You gingerly put the escape pod down, not even bothering to admonish Char to stay put. He's not going to listen to you anyways, whether he stays or flees is up to him. Focusing on your hulking, unmanned foe, you slam the Nu into a run. While originally designed for combat in outer space, the Nu Gundam is perfectly capable of a degree of atmospheric action. As you gradually pick up speed, you lock onto the enemy machine and open fire with what little Vulcan ammunition you have left. The rapid fire autocannons hum, sending high explosive rounds down range on command. Normally, Vulcans are basically useless against a mobile suit-sized foe and its armor, but you've long since mastered using every weapon at your disposal, and the Vulcan fire slams into what you hope are your foe's joints and sensors with pinpoint precision.


The enemy mech flinches away from the impact in a surprisingly human manner for a non-sentient machine. Several of its sensors shatter, and one of its arm mounted turrets hangs useless at its side before your Vulcans run dry. The machine, partially blinded and weakened, shows no signs of retreat. Instead, it raises one giant arm, pulling back and launching a titanic punch into your charge. A lesser pilot wouldn't have time to evade, finding their entire upper torso crushed by the force.

You, of course, are Amuro Ray.

Your newtype senses, honed by a decade and a half of experience, let you read the incoming punch like an open book. You adjust your gait, leaning forwards and ducking under the blow with ease. Now inside the enemy's guard, you translate your momentum into a single massive blow. A Luna Titanium fist crashes into the enemy machine's face, sending the enemy reeling backwards towards the edge of the nearby cliff.

For a brief moment, it seems like the machine will regain its balance in time, and you ready yourself for more. But then, in a movement so fast you almost can't see it, one of the smaller machines you're aiding dashes in and slices the enemy's leg with its blade. The strike is passionate, precise, but a little uncontrolled. A skilled pilot, for sure, but one lacking refinement and experience. The slash cuts the leg in two, sending the enemy machine staggering even further backwards. Bereft of balance, it stumbles off the cliff, crashing to the ground below with an earth-shaking thud.

Moments pass, dragging on for a seeming eternity, and the hostile robot does not stir. Before you can relax, your instincts scream in warning, and you barely turn and raise your guard in time for a blade to slice into the Gundam's arms. The Luna Titanium armor protects your mech's vitals, but only barely. Another hit like that and you'll be in serious trouble.

An ethereal purple mech stands before you. It's cut from the same cloth as your newfound ally, all fantastical and sharp-edged. It wields a massive greatsword, ready to attack at any moment. As you focus in on the pilot, a wave of cold, dispassionate pressure washes over you. Whoever's in that machine views war as simply a way to make a living, and loves what they do. Memories of blue MS in the Gryps War dancing through your mind, you tense.

"Well, you weren't part of the plan," a deep voice drawls out of the purple mech's speakers. "Care to tell us who exactly you're working for?"

Before you can decide how to respond, a diminutive white-haired girl standing on the sidelines gasps, "DAD?"

Warmth creeping into his voice, your opponent responds, "Hey there, Fie. It's been a while. Sorry we won't have time to spar today."

"But-how? You're dead, I saw it. We made a grave and everything."

"It's a long story, I wish I could tell you more. But suffice it to say this is why Zephyr was working with the nobles in the Civil War- following orders from our true employer."

A whirring noise from the tree line interrupts any further conversation, and you turn to see a bulky, green mech round a bend in a nearby path. A squad of irregular infantry follows behind it, and a voice booms out, "Rean, I came as soon as - what the hell?"

"Hey, big bro!" A redheaded girl pipes up from near the wrecked blue machine. "Sorry, we won't have time to fight today, the test's over!" You aren't even fazed at this point by the level of family drama occurring, this is positively normal by your standards.

"Indeed," one of the redhead's companions, some sort of knight with a winged helmet, confirms. "Despite certain unexpected developments, our mission here has concluded successfully, and it's time to say our goodbyes. Don't forget, though, Ouroborous' reclamation of the Phantasmal Blaze plan has only just begun." She makes a strange gesture, and a flash of light whisks her and the rest of your opponents away.

"They're gone," one of the infantry on the ground gasps. "Some sort of transportation art."

The pilot of the newly arrived green mech points his massive halberd at your Gundam and asks warily, "Now who in Adios' name are you?"

You sigh. This is going to be a long talk.

What is your strategy going into this conversation? How honest are you going to be about your origins, and what will you keep hidden if anything?


[X] Play it close to the vest. You're Amuro, you're from far away, and you don't know what happened. This'll cut down on the explaining necessary and seem less outlandish, but you're going to be even more suspicious. You also don't know nearly enough about where you are to convincingly make up a cover story, so you'll have to gamble that this world is low tech enough that intercontinental trade and communication isn't a major thing. It'll also be harder to get help in containing Char.

[X] Tell the truth. You're Amuro Ray, an officer of the Earth Federation Forces Londo Bell Team, and you were teleported here during a battle for the fate of your world. Hold nothing back. This will require a lot more explanation and might be harder to believe, but you get the sense these people have already experienced some outlandish events. Being open from the start will forge a better relationship, but might involve you in this world's troubles even more.

[X] Write-In

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