Winning Vote:
[X] Push for an alliance
April UE 0084
Wilderness of the Philippines
Prince Heinel stares at the ground in a mixture of shock and resigned acceptance.
After a few minutes, Kenichi decides to break the silence.
"So, what are you going to do now?" Kenichi asks.
"I...I'm not sure." Heinel admits.
"My Lord, please tell me you're not considering contacting Emperor Zambajil to verify this! He would only use it as an excuse to accelerate whatever plans he has to get rid of you!" Katherine points out.
"I was wondering why he hadn't bothered to contact me or respond to my reports as of late..." Heinel muses.
"Hey, if Zambajil's trying to get rid of you, why not join forces with us?" Kenichi proposes.
"You cannot be serious!" Jangal protests.
"No...no...He has a point." Heinel interjects.
"I mean, you should probably take some time to think it over, I don't want to push you into doing something you don't want to." Kenichi says.
"No, if what you say is true-" Heinel glances at Lozaria's dagger in Professor Go's hands. "Then I have few, if any friends back on Boazan. I might as well help you...brother."
"If that is your decision, my lord, then we shall abide by it." Katherine says, bowing her head in deference to Heinel, Jangal and the guards accompanying them doing the same.
"Thank you, Katherine, Jangal." Heinel says humbly.
"Shall we go back to the base and write up a formal agreement, then?" Professor Go suggests.
"Very well. Lead the way...father." Heinel says.
NERV HQ, Tokyo
Shinji Ikari, Asuka Langley Soryu, Rei Ayanami, and Toji Suzuhara collapse onto chairs, sofas, and cushions in a breakroom reserved for the EVA pilots, ruminating on results of an exhausting meeting with Ritsuko Akagi concerning their Synch Rates.
Asuka in particular is pouting, as according to Dr. Akagi's analysis, her Synch Rate seems to have plateaued-it hasn't gotten any worse, but there also haven't been any notable improvements lately.
"Don't feel too bad about it. Maybe it's just a fluke?" Shinji tries to console Asuka.
Asuka mumbles something unintelligible, but seems to cheer up slightly at Shinji's words.
"Why the heck do we even care about this 'Synch Rate'?" Toji asks.
"The Synch Rate is a measurement of our ability to control our EVA units. If we don't pass the minimum threshold, we won't even be able to activate them." Rei explains to him.
"That, and the higher the Synch Rate, the better our EVAs can perform." Shinji adds.
Toji nods in understanding.
"So why's Asuka so upset?" He asks bluntly.
"Because I'm not getting any better at this." Asuka grumbles. "Heck, you got a better Synch Rate than me when I started piloting EVA-02."
"Hey, maybe Shinji's right, and it's just-"
Toji is interrupted by an alarm going off.
"Blood Pattern Blue detected, all personnel to combat stations! EVA pilots, report to the EVA cages!" Misato's voice comes over the PA system.
All four pilots get up and sprint down the halls to the EVA cages.
Central Dogma
"Give me a sit rep, now!" Misato demands.
"Angel detected off the coast, and it's approaching fast!" Aoba reports.
"The Solar Vanguard is sending reinforcements to aid us, although current ETA puts their arrival after the Angel gets into the city!" Hyuga says.
"Evacuation orders have been sent out, and all garrison forces are moving to defensive positions." Ibuki says.
"New contacts...they're...Boazanian Beast Fighters, and IFF says they're friendly?" Aoba says in confusion.
"Received a message from the Solar Vanguard, ma'am!" Ibuki says.
A note is printed out and handed to Misato, who hastily reads it.
"Huh. Okay, tell the garrison forces topside to stand down. Prince Heinel has agreed to an alliance with the Solar Vanguard, for some reason. Apparently these Beast Fighters have been sent over as a show of good faith." Misato says.
"Receiving another communication from the Solar Vanguard, ma'am! One of their Super Robots is already standing by in the city!" Hyuga reports.
"Good, damn good. If what the MAGI said is to be trusted, we'll need everything we can get to beat this Angel. How are the EVAs?" Misato asks.
"The pilots have reported to the cages and are starting them up. Any specific orders for their initial loadout?" Aoba says.
"Hm..." Misato purses her lips as she looks at the approaching Angel contact on the screen.
VOTE BY PLAN
What Super Robot is currently in Tokyo?
[ ] Pick ONE Super Robot from the following: Combattler V, Voltes V, Daimos, Dancouga, Dancouga Nova, Kenji's Grungust, or Noriko's Grungust
What does Misato order the EVAs to be initially armed with?
[ ] Melee loadout
[ ] Ranged loadout
[ ] By pilot preference
[ ] Write-in
-Use this if you want to micromanage the loadout of each individual EVA unit. Currently, you have EVA-00, EVA-01, EVA-02, and EVA-03.
Who is the Solar Vanguard sending as reinforcements? Mira is deploying, regardless of other selections.
[ ] Pick 25 pilots and their machines and four ships from anywhere on the allied pilot list except Gundam Seed, in addition to Mira's copilot.
Other things of note
NERV has an N2 mine in reserve.
Britannia sent over a FLEIJA warhead as a show of goodwill to NERV.
ZERUEL APPROACHES
CHOOSE WISELY
A/N: And so, the battle against the 14th Angel commences. Going to warn you now, this fight is going to be nasty. Please vote, discuss, and critique!