...Man, I just want to get Umi a proper sword and get someone to spar with her.
And like...Hikari is clearly not doing well. She needs something to get her out of her funk. I wish we had a like, digital simulator or something. Give her a chance to pilot an actual super robot. The Knights are struggling to fit back into a world that hasn't changed while they themselves have changed.
They need something to meet them halfway, but I don't know what would be the best thing. Getting them out of thinking in circles is the first step, but moving forwards can be hard.
...And thinking about it a bit more, Hikari is unlikely to actually start moving forwards until she acknowledges why she isn't. And uhh... The part of her that knows that has split off and turned into a Yandere. But we don't know that.
We need that HOTBLOODED HERO energy. Hikari reacts well to that. I'm just not sure how to put that into words.
...And speaking of hotblooded, I have a feeling that Saotome is about to turn evil and cause problems. So we need to send something strong with the Getter team. I just... I think I might be sick, so I can't think about that right now.
I'm also uncertain on how the whole Stella situation relates, other than Mira feeling like absolute dogshit, binging magical girl cartoons and ice cream. Hikaru's having to deal with being summoned to kill a girl for falling in love. I think the plan tapdances around that core issue too much.
Instead...Mira is a soldier. Mira has had to kill, and has had to kill good men. I feel like Mira should try to help her come to terms with the fact that Hikaru was forced to kill a good person, but that doesn't make her a monster.
I don't believe Mira was put in a position to kill decent people who just so happened to be on the opposite side, so I don't think she can relate with Hikaru on that front. The Stella situation was mostly referenced because it left Mira in a very depressed state, so she knows how it feels to be like that, even if the reason why she became like that is different.
While I work on overhauling the Hikaru plan with what was discussed, can I get the thread's opinion on the Balm-Boaz write-ins?
[] Intercept and attempt to capture one of the supposed Jegan units.
-[] In case the capture attempt is successfull, interrogate the captured pilot about what he and his colleagues were trying to do.
--[] Try to have the interrogation broadcasted on an open channel that can be listened in by both Balm and Boaz forces.
OR
[] Intercept and attempt to capture one of the supposed Jegan units.
-[] In case the capture attempt is successfull, interrogate the captured pilot about what he and his colleagues were trying to do.
--[] Try to have the interrogation broadcasted on an open channel that can be listened in by both Balm and Boaz forces.
-[] At the same time, check and see if there are any available EWAC units. If EWAC units are available, try to spoof a Boazanian signal to the Balm forces if possible.
--[] If the Balm forces do open communications and the spoofing is possible, leak the intercepted Boazanian communication to the Balm forces.
--[] Otherwise, broadcast leak the intercepted Boazanian communication on a open channel so it can be heard by both sides.
Hm...I feel like mucking around too much might be to our disadvantage.
We're being subversive, yes, but we don't want to be seen as subversive. We shouldn't be too sneaky, lest they think it's a setup.
I think we should avoid spoofing the comms, and instead play it straight, although i'm uncertain about broadcasting it openly and not showcasing it to the Boazians first.
...By the way, where'd they get the Jegans? Captured units, or mockups? Did they get tips from the Devil Army?
[] Attempt to cheer Hikaru up and get her out of the funk she's in.
-[] Have Mira emphasize and relate with how Hikaru is feeling right now by remembering how she felt after Stella revealed what she knew about Mira's past and origin, while Lucia attempts to make use of what she learned during the attempts she and Mira's other two copilots made to get Mira out of the funk she was following the earlier discussed revelation.
-[] Reaffirm once more that the rest of the Solar Vanguard is there to help the Magic Knights in any way it can, be it during battles or to offer support support our guidance.
-[] Tell Hikaru that she shouldn't hate herself for the fact that she had no choice but to kill a good person. Use other known occasions of this happening to other pilots in order to prove this point.
-[] Remind Hikaru of the fact that her family and friends care for her and that, for their sake, she needs to accept whatever negative feelings dwell inside her, while, at the same time, not letting them dominate her.
--[] Offer her the cake basket made by Umi and reveal who was it who made the cakes and wanted to send it to Hikaru in order to prove the fact that Hikaru friends and family still very much care for her.
-[] Have Mira channel the Essence of a Brave and lean on that in an attempt to reignite Hikaru's hotbloodedness and get her out of the funk she's in.
[] Intercept and attempt to capture one of the supposed Jegan units.
-[] In case the capture attempt is successfull, interrogate the captured pilot about what he and his colleagues were trying to do.
--[] Try to have the interrogation broadcasted on an open channel that can be listened in by both Balm and Boaz forces.
-[] At the same time, attempt to broadcast the intercepted Boazanian communication on a open channel so it can be heard by both sides.
Ok, made the changes. How do the write-ins look now? (I want the thread to give them one last lookover before we vote for them, since they are important).
[] Intercept and attempt to capture one of the supposed Jegan units.
-[] In case the capture attempt is successfull, interrogate the captured pilot about what he and his colleagues were trying to do.
--[] Try to have the interrogation broadcasted on an open channel that can be listened in by both Balm and Boaz forces.
-[] At the same time, attempt to broadcast the intercepted Boazanian communication on a open channel so it can be heard by both sides.
OR
[] Intercept and attempt to capture one of the supposed Jegan units.
-[] In case the capture attempt is successfull, interrogate the captured pilot about what he and his colleagues were trying to do.
--[] Try to have the interrogation broadcasted on an open channel that can be listened in by both Balm and Boaz forces.
-[] At the same time, attempt to broadcast the intercepted Boazanian communication to the Boazanian forces.
I put a version of the Balm-Boaz plan that broadcasts the intercepted Boazanian communication only to the Boazanians. That said, it is in our interest to make sure Balm and Boaz do not ally with one another, so I still feel like letting both sides know about the intercepted communication is a better idea.
Well, honestly my logic is more that the Balm are going to call it complete bullshit, but the Boaz are more likely to believe it.
I dunno, I just think the Balm will try and muddy the waters if we do it, but if the Boazians confront them instead, they're more likely to cut and run.
Although there are definite benefits to broadcasting to both, more in that it might inspire some thoughts in a few Balmian heads about how eerily familiar this is.
[X] Plan Don't Lose Heart, Magic Knight
-[X] Attempt to cheer Hikaru up and get her out of the funk she's in.
--[X] Have Mira emphasize and relate with how Hikaru is feeling right now by remembering how she felt after Stella revealed what she knew about Mira's past and origin, while Lucia attempts to make use of what she learned during the attempts she and Mira's other two copilots made to get Mira out of the funk she was following the earlier discussed revelation.
--[X] Reaffirm once more that the rest of the Solar Vanguard is there to help the Magic Knights in any way it can, be it during battles or to offer support support our guidance.
--[X] Tell Hikaru that she shouldn't hate herself for the fact that she had no choice but to kill a good person. Use other known occasions of this happening to other pilots in order to prove this point.
--[X] Remind Hikaru of the fact that her family and friends care for her and that, for their sake, she needs to accept whatever negative feelings dwell inside her, while, at the same time, not letting them dominate her.
---[X] Offer her the cake basket made by Umi and reveal who was it who made the cakes and wanted to send it to Hikaru in order to prove the fact that Hikaru friends and family still very much care for her.
--[X] Have Mira channel the Essence of a Brave and lean on that in an attempt to reignite Hikaru's hotbloodedness and get her out of the funk she's in.
[X] Plan Two-Pronged Revelation
-[X] Intercept and attempt to capture one of the supposed Jegan units.
--[X] In case the capture attempt is successfull, interrogate the captured pilot about what he and his colleagues were trying to do.
---[X] Try to have the interrogation broadcasted on an open channel that can be listened in by both Balm and Boaz forces.
--[X] At the same time, attempt to broadcast the intercepted Boazanian communication on a open channel so it can be heard by both sides.
[] Plan Two-Pronged Revelation, Boaz Focus
-[] Intercept and attempt to capture one of the supposed Jegan units.
--[] In case the capture attempt is successfull, interrogate the captured pilot about what he and his colleagues were trying to do.
---[] Try to have the interrogation broadcasted on an open channel that can be listened in by both Balm and Boaz forces.
--[] At the same time, attempt to broadcast the intercepted Boazanian communication to the Boazanian forces.
[X] Serpent x18
[X] M9 x21
[X] Akatsuki x19
I gave some names to the write-ins in case I have to make more modifications to them (if you want to vote for them, just vote the plan name, not the entire thing).
Thinking about it...the benefits and doubts sown outweigh the possibility of more assuredly tearing the enemy alliance apart.
[X] Serpent x18
[X] M9 x21
[X] Akatsuki x19
Physical weaponry is...generally, better against Invaders, although honestly it's more of a "least bad" option, here. None of our generics truly match up on physical strength to things like Gett2r D2s or MP Mazingers...except... maybe the GN-XIII? What were the stats on those, again? Might replace the M9s with them.
Regardless, Beams are kinda the bread and butter of most of our MPs, and much like the Jovians, those aren't as effective here.
Maybe we should look into MP electrical weapons? Pretty sure we could get away with a short-ranged shockgun or electrical blade. I know the Gouf, Hambrabi, and Doven Wolf had some electroshock weapons, so they do exist, although the latter would be very difficult to implement.
Qm did ask us to not vote in plan, so, but otherwise I am fine with these.
[X] Attempt to cheer Hikaru up and get her out of the funk she's in.
--[X] Have Mira emphasize and relate with how Hikaru is feeling right now by remembering how she felt after Stella revealed what she knew about Mira's past and origin, while Lucia attempts to make use of what she learned during the attempts she and Mira's other two copilots made to get Mira out of the funk she was following the earlier discussed revelation.
--[X] Reaffirm once more that the rest of the Solar Vanguard is there to help the Magic Knights in any way it can, be it during battles or to offer support support our guidance.
--[X] Tell Hikaru that she shouldn't hate herself for the fact that she had no choice but to kill a good person. Use other known occasions of this happening to other pilots in order to prove this point.
--[X] Remind Hikaru of the fact that her family and friends care for her and that, for their sake, she needs to accept whatever negative feelings dwell inside her, while, at the same time, not letting them dominate her.
---[X] Offer her the cake basket made by Umi and reveal who was it who made the cakes and wanted to send it to Hikaru in order to prove the fact that Hikaru friends and family still very much care for her.
--[X] Have Mira channel the Essence of a Brave and lean on that in an attempt to reignite Hikaru's hotbloodedness and get her out of the funk she's in.
--------
[X] Intercept and attempt to capture one of the supposed Jegan units.
--[X] In case the capture attempt is successfull, interrogate the captured pilot about what he and his colleagues were trying to do.
---[X] Try to have the interrogation broadcasted on an open channel that can be listened in by both Balm and Boaz forces.
--[X] At the same time, attempt to broadcast the intercepted Boazanian communication on a open channel so it can be heard by both sides.
[X] Attempt to cheer Hikaru up and get her out of the funk she's in.
--[X] Reaffirm once more that the rest of the Solar Vanguard is there to help the Magic Knights in any way it can, be it during battles or to offer support support our guidance.
--[X] Tell Hikaru that she shouldn't hate herself for the fact that she had no choice but to kill a good person. Use other known occasions of this happening to other pilots in order to prove this point.
--[X] Remind Hikaru of the fact that her family and friends care for her and that, for their sake, she needs to accept whatever negative feelings dwell inside her, while, at the same time, not letting them dominate her.
---[X] Offer her the cake basket made by Umi and reveal who was it who made the cakes and wanted to send it to Hikaru in order to prove the fact that Hikaru friends and family still very much care for her.
--[X] Have Mira channel the Essence of a Brave and lean on that in an attempt to reignite Hikaru's hotbloodedness and get her out of the funk she's in.
--------
[X] Intercept and attempt to capture one of the supposed Jegan units.
--[X] In case the capture attempt is successfull, interrogate the captured pilot about what he and his colleagues were trying to do.
---[X] Try to have the interrogation broadcasted on an open channel that can be listened in by both Balm and Boaz forces.
--[X] At the same time, attempt to broadcast the intercepted Boazanian communication on a open channel so it can be heard by both sides.
Speaking of potential improvements for mook units... maybe we can combine UC's Shot Lancers (if we get access to them at some point) with the lances used by the GN-XIII, so that GN-XIII units do have the ability to use the tips of their lance as a ranged weapon that would more physical than most of its other potential ranged weapons (and to differentiate ourselves some more from the GN Tau Drive units deployed by Ribbons and Giganos).
I think that reffered to making a plan that included all of the votables under a single group. And I wanted names for the first two write-ins to not complicate voting too much if I wanted to make some more changes to any of the write-ins.
[X] Plan Don't Lose Heart, Magic Knight
-[X] Attempt to cheer Hikaru up and get her out of the funk she's in.
--[X] Have Mira emphasize and relate with how Hikaru is feeling right now by remembering how she felt after Stella revealed what she knew about Mira's past and origin, while Lucia attempts to make use of what she learned during the attempts she and Mira's other two copilots made to get Mira out of the funk she was following the earlier discussed revelation.
--[X] Reaffirm once more that the rest of the Solar Vanguard is there to help the Magic Knights in any way it can, be it during battles or to offer support support our guidance.
--[X] Tell Hikaru that she shouldn't hate herself for the fact that she had no choice but to kill a good person. Use other known occasions of this happening to other pilots in order to prove this point.
--[X] Remind Hikaru of the fact that her family and friends care for her and that, for their sake, she needs to accept whatever negative feelings dwell inside her, while, at the same time, not letting them dominate her.
---[X] Offer her the cake basket made by Umi and reveal who was it who made the cakes and wanted to send it to Hikaru in order to prove the fact that Hikaru friends and family still very much care for her.
--[X] Have Mira channel the Essence of a Brave and lean on that in an attempt to reignite Hikaru's hotbloodedness and get her out of the funk she's in.
[X] Plan Two-Pronged Revelation
-[X] Intercept and attempt to capture one of the supposed Jegan units.
--[X] In case the capture attempt is successfull, interrogate the captured pilot about what he and his colleagues were trying to do.
---[X] Try to have the interrogation broadcasted on an open channel that can be listened in by both Balm and Boaz forces.
--[X] At the same time, attempt to broadcast the intercepted Boazanian communication on a open channel so it can be heard by both sides.
[X] Intercept and attempt to capture one of the supposed Jegan units.
--[X] In case the capture attempt is successfull, interrogate the captured pilot about what he and his colleagues were trying to do.
---[X] Try to have the interrogation broadcasted on an open channel that can be listened in by both Balm and Boaz forces.
--[X] At the same time, attempt to broadcast the intercepted Boazanian communication on a open channel so it can be heard by both sides.
[X] Attempt to cheer Hikaru up and get her out of the funk she's in.
--[X] Have Mira emphasize and relate with how Hikaru is feeling right now by remembering how she felt after Stella revealed what she knew about Mira's past and origin, while Lucia attempts to make use of what she learned during the attempts she and Mira's other two copilots made to get Mira out of the funk she was following the earlier discussed revelation.
--[X] Reaffirm once more that the rest of the Solar Vanguard is there to help the Magic Knights in any way it can, be it during battles or to offer support support our guidance.
--[X] Tell Hikaru that she shouldn't hate herself for the fact that she had no choice but to kill a good person. Use other known occasions of this happening to other pilots in order to prove this point.
--[X] Remind Hikaru of the fact that her family and friends care for her and that, for their sake, she needs to accept whatever negative feelings dwell inside her, while, at the same time, not letting them dominate her.
---[X] Offer her the cake basket made by Umi and reveal who was it who made the cakes and wanted to send it to Hikaru in order to prove the fact that Hikaru friends and family still very much care for her.
--[X] Have Mira channel the Essence of a Brave and lean on that in an attempt to reignite Hikaru's hotbloodedness and get her out of the funk she's in.
[X] Attempt to cheer Hikaru up and get her out of the funk she's in.
--[X] Reaffirm once more that the rest of the Solar Vanguard is there to help the Magic Knights in any way it can, be it during battles or to offer support support our guidance.
--[X] Tell Hikaru that she shouldn't hate herself for the fact that she had no choice but to kill a good person. Use other known occasions of this happening to other pilots in order to prove this point.
--[X] Remind Hikaru of the fact that her family and friends care for her and that, for their sake, she needs to accept whatever negative feelings dwell inside her, while, at the same time, not letting them dominate her.
---[X] Offer her the cake basket made by Umi and reveal who was it who made the cakes and wanted to send it to Hikaru in order to prove the fact that Hikaru friends and family still very much care for her.
--[X] Have Mira channel the Essence of a Brave and lean on that in an attempt to reignite Hikaru's hotbloodedness and get her out of the funk she's in.
[X] Serpent x18
[X] M9 x21
[X] Akatsuki x19
[X] Plan Don't Lose Heart, Magic Knight
-[X] Attempt to cheer Hikaru up and get her out of the funk she's in.
--[X] Have Mira emphasize and relate with how Hikaru is feeling right now by remembering how she felt after Stella revealed what she knew about Mira's past and origin, while Lucia attempts to make use of what she learned during the attempts she and Mira's other two copilots made to get Mira out of the funk she was following the earlier discussed revelation.
--[X] Reaffirm once more that the rest of the Solar Vanguard is there to help the Magic Knights in any way it can, be it during battles or to offer support support our guidance.
--[X] Tell Hikaru that she shouldn't hate herself for the fact that she had no choice but to kill a good person. Use other known occasions of this happening to other pilots in order to prove this point.
--[X] Remind Hikaru of the fact that her family and friends care for her and that, for their sake, she needs to accept whatever negative feelings dwell inside her, while, at the same time, not letting them dominate her.
---[X] Offer her the cake basket made by Umi and reveal who was it who made the cakes and wanted to send it to Hikaru in order to prove the fact that Hikaru friends and family still very much care for her.
--[X] Have Mira channel the Essence of a Brave and lean on that in an attempt to reignite Hikaru's hotbloodedness and get her out of the funk she's in.
[X] Plan Two-Pronged Revelation
-[X] Intercept and attempt to capture one of the supposed Jegan units.
--[X] In case the capture attempt is successfull, interrogate the captured pilot about what he and his colleagues were trying to do.
---[X] Try to have the interrogation broadcasted on an open channel that can be listened in by both Balm and Boaz forces.
--[X] At the same time, attempt to broadcast the intercepted Boazanian communication on a open channel so it can be heard by both sides.
[X] Plan RE: The Children (and Dr Saotome) Aren't Alright -[X] Mandatory (does not count against action count): New Year's party!
--[X] Archangel crew and pilots
-[X] Check in with the EVA pilots
-[X] Check on the Magic Knights
--[X] Lucia
-[X] Unholy Alliance -> Unholy Matrimony
-[X] Retroactive Thesis
-[X] Patchwork Amalgam
-[X] Second Advent
Mandatory End of Turn Event: Decisive Fire
January UE 0084
Shidou Family Kendo Dojo, Tokyo
As you and Lucia approach the dojo, the front door opens, and a white dog runs out with a young man chasing after it.
"Hikari, get back here!" The young man yells.
The dog heels and turns back toward the young man, who you note has some familial resemblance to Hikaru. You were told she has three older brothers...
"Sorry, about that, I'm Kakeru Shidou. Nice to meet you." Kakeru extends his hand, and you shake it, Lucia doing the same.
"We're here about your little sister." You say.
Kakeru's face twists into a mixture of anger and relief.
"She's in the dojo, practice floor on the right, you can't miss the door." He says.
With that, and a quick bow, Kakeru puts Hikari on a leash before taking the dog for a walk.
The two of you find Hikaru clad in a kendo gi going through the motions of some kendo technique with a boken, but even your untrained eye can tell that she's not really...into it. Her motions, while not overly stiff, seem utterly passionless, and her eyes look incredibly dull.
Lucia raps on the side of the doorframe to get Hikaru's attention, which works a little too well judging by the way Hikaru jolts before she turns to face you.
"Oh, hello Mira, and...Lucia, was it?" Hikaru smiles, but it's utterly devoid of any joy or happiness.
"We wanted to see how you were doing, given what...happened...in Cephiro." You say.
Hikaru frowns and walks over to a bench on the far side of the room. You and Lucia follow and sit down on opposite sides of her.
"I...still feel horrible about what we did...what I did..." Hikaru says quietly.
Lucia wraps an arm around the poor girl's shoulder. Hikaru doesn't object, and leans against her.
"Hikaru, you're not the only one in the world who's been in this kind of position before." You say.
"What do you mean?" Hikaru asks.
"Well, it turns out I'm not technically native to this dimension, and the person who told me...didn't break it to me in the gentlest way. Needless to say, I didn't take it well, and spent a good while cooped up in my room doing nothing but eat ice cream and watch old magical girl anime. It took Lucia and the other girls to snap me out of that funk." You explain. Lucia rolls her eyes slightly, but says nothing.
"The Solar Vanguard is always here for you, you know." Lucia says gently as she strokes Hikaru's hair. "And not just in battles. If you need someone to talk to, there'll always be someone willing to listen. Some of us might even be able to inspire you! Others, well...at least you'll get a good laugh out them."
"Am I even worth the effort though?" Hikaru asks as tears well up in her eyes.
"Whoa whoa whoa, stop that line of thinking right now." Lucia says forcefully. "You'll only make things worse for yourself if you have a mindset like that."
"You shouldn't hate yourself because you were forced to kill a good person." You say as you wipe away Hikaru's tears. "I take it Amuro told you about Lalah Sune, and Kouji told you about Minerva X?"
Hikaru nods.
"You also met Banagher Links the second time we went over to Cephiro, right?" You ask. Hikaru nods again.
"Well, Banagher gave me permission to tell about how he accidentally killed a good man. Gilboa Sant was his name, and when Banagher accidentally shot him, his Newtype senses told him practically everything about him as he died. Banagher didn't really get over that for a while, but he still did." You say.
"And you have an even better excuse, you were tricked! Bamboozled! Sucked into enforcing a system you only knew enough about to draw you in! If something like that happened to me, I'd be pissed!" Lucia interjects.
Hikaru stutters, but is ultimately unable to rebut either of your points. You'll take that as a good sign.
You reach down and bring up the basket of cakes that Umi wanted you to give to Hikaru.
"Your family and friends still care for you, Hikaru. Umi wanted you to have these. Would a complete monster warrant the time and effort to have such delicious cake made for them?" You ask rhetorically.
HIkaru opens the basket and reaches in, taking out a slice of cake. She takes a bite, and then another, before speeding up slightly and finishing the slice. She stares down at her hands before starting to cry.
You and Lucia embrace her from opposite sides.
"There there...let it all out." You say gently. Lucia takes out a packet of tissues and starts wiping away Hikaru's tears.
After a bit, Hikaru calms down. You're suddenly struck by a flash of inspiration, as images of a cyborg in golden armor, a young boy standing astride a police themed Super Robot, and a young man piloting a transforming train pop into your head.
"Hikaru, do you consider yourself to be brave?" You ask.
Hikaru says nothing, but her look of confusion tells you you have her attention.
"Not a lot of people would be willing to stick their neck out for a world they were essentially abducted to. Even fewer would be able to go through what you and the other Magic Knights endured and come out of the other end intact." You say as you point at her forehead. "So, do you think you're brave?"
Hikaru ponders your question for a bit before taking a deep breath.
"I..." Hikaru hesitates.
"Hands off of Hikaru!" A female voice yells.
You immediately reach into your purse and draw a handgun, while Lucia draws a knife she'd hidden up her sleeve. The three of you cover your eyes as there is a flash of light, and when it fades, there's a young woman with long pink hair, brown eyes, pointed ears, and wearing what looks like Cephiran armor. She's also brandishing a sword.
"Who the hell are you?!" You ask as you stand up.
"Me? I'm Nova, Hikaru's one true love. And I won't let anyone get in the way of that!" Nova yells as she charges at you.
In a flash of red light, Hikaru's kendo gi fades away and is replaced with her Magic Knight outfit, and she interposes herself between you and Nova.
"Ah, Hikaru! If only we were alone, I could show my love for you, but I suppose I'll have to settle for destroying everything else you care about so you can only think about me!" Nova yells as the two of them clash.
You aim and fire five rounds at Nova, who cuts your bullets out of the air.
"Don't interfere, spoilsport!" Nova screeches.
Lucia reaches into one of her pockets and pulls out a miniature flashbang designed by Mithril. As Nove and Hikaru swordfight, you take aime and fire again.
"You think I don't know what you're up to?!" Nova says incredulously as she dashes forward, cutting both your bullets and the flashbang in half after Lucia throws it, momentarily blinding both of you.
When your vision clears, you see Nova has pinned Hikaru against a wall with her arm.
"It's a shame I have to cut thing short, but needs must. I do look forward to our next encounter in Cephiro, Hikaru dearest." Nove says before leaning in. At first it seems like she means to kiss Hikaru on the lips, but at the last moment seems to change her mind and instead gives Hikaru a passionate kiss on the cheek. After that, she lets Hikaru go, and, with a cheeky wave, disappears in a flash of magic.
"Well, that was a thing that happened." You note out loud.
At least the dojo wasn't really damaged... The Korean wilderness
You are Ryoma Nagare, and you watch uneasily as Professor Saotome waits alongside his security escort in a clearing in the woods. The accompanying Serpents, Akatsukis, and M9s have scattered throughout the surrounding area to keep watch. So far they've reported nothing unusual.
Suddenly, two individuals emerge from the tree line on the other side of the clearing. Stinger and Cohen appear just as Professor Saotome described them: Stinger is a lanky, thin man with a face that almost looks polygonal, while Cohen is heavyset and chubby. Both of them are wearing lab coats.
"Saotome, old friend! Is the hazmat suit necessary around colleagues?" Stinger says jovially.
"It is when my 'colleagues' have been assimilated by Invaders. Drop the act." Saotome says coldly.
"Ah, you wound us, old friend! No matter, we can still have a civil discussion." Cohen says.
"What do you want?" Saotome asks in irritation.
"Why, for you to join us, of course!" Stinger says.
"And why the hell would I do that?" Saotome asks in bafflement.
"Ah, you see, we Invaders desire nothing but to evolve. And what better way to evolve than through use of Getter Rays? Alas, our latest project has hit a bit of a stumbling block, and we require your intellect to complete it." Cohen explains.
"What mad 'project' would I ever be willing to work with Invaders on!?" Saotome exclaims.
Stinger and Cohen laugh in unision.
"Don't tell me you forgot all about Shin Dragon!" Stinger says smugly.
You can't see Professor Saotome's face from within Shin Getter Robo, but by the way he moves, it seems that response caught him off guard.
"Go to hell!" Saotome yells as he draws a Getter Ray pistol and fires it at his former colleagues.
Cohen dodges out of the way before Invaders swarm the clearing from his side of the tree line. The security team retaliates with shock batons, flamethrowers loaded with napalm, white phosphorous grenades, and liquid nitrogen cannons.
You key all the squad freqs.
"Get your asses over here now!" You yell as Shin Getter 1 fires a Getter Beam at a Metal Beast.
A pair of Serpents is the first to get over to the combat zone, one armed with a double gatling cannon, the other with a bazooka. They both fire at an incoming metal beast, pulverizing its body and forcing it back.
"Protect Professor Saotome!" Someone yells as an M9 picks up the professor in its palm and makes a run for it, an Akatuski laying suppressive fire with its machinegun.
"Change, Shin Getter 2!" Hayato yells.
Hayato proceeds to impale an Invader on Shin Getter 2's drill and reduce it to paste.
You see an M9 empty a shotgun into an Invader before sprinting back toward the extraction zone.
At the very least, none of the Invaders seem to be following the M9 that has Professor Saotome.
You all somehow manage to make it back to the extraction zone and escape without anyone being killed or compromised. L2 region
You are Nanai Miguel, and as you watch your Geara Zulus approach the group of Jegans on the monitor, you spare a glance back at the Balm and Boazanian ships. There hasn't really been any change in either ship's behavior, and in fact negotiations have stalled if your comm officer is reading the mood correctly. Perhaps one of the ships is in a holding pattern? If so, what would they be waiting for?
"Suspicious Jegans in sight, engaging!" The voice of one of your Geara Zulu pilots breaks you out of your musings.
"Hey, were Jegans always that fat?" Another Geara Zulu pilot asks.
Video feeds from your Geara Zulus show a surprisingly one-sided engagement, as your own mobile suits dismantle the clearly fake Jegans one by one, trying to leave them all as intact as possible, though one of your pilots gets overzealous and cores one of the enemy units with his bazooka.
Eventually, out of the eight 'Jegans' initially detected on sensors, two remain. One of them is dismembered limb-by-limb, courtesy of a Geara Zulu's beam tomahawk. The other is decapitated by another Geara Zulu and grabbed from behind.
"Hey, that's not a Minovksy reactor! Isn't this Balm tech?" A Geara Zulu pilot says in surprise as he examines the wreck of one of the fake Jegans.
As your Geara Zulus drag everything back to the ship, you decide on a plan of action.
Out of the eight pilots of the fake Jegans, five survived, and as the are interrogated, you broadcast what's happening on an open frequency to both the Balm and Boazanian ship. At the same time, you transmit the intercepted Boazanian transmission to both ships.
Do cooler heads prevail?
DC 9 for negotiations not to break down
1d10 + 3 (perceived racial superiority) - 2 (Boazanian Xenophobia) - 2 (Balm Xenophobia)
Roll 5
5 + 3 - 2 - 2 = 4
Result: Negotiations break down as tempers flare
"Ma'am, the Balm and Boazanian ships are firing on each other!" The sensor technician reports.
"Well, at least we won't have to worry about an alliance between them for now. Set a course for home." You command.
The two alien ships are still shooting at each other when they fall out of sensor range. A/N: No vote this time. Please discuss and critique!
Not surprised considering their hostile history especially when both Balm and Boazan are responsible of killing the parents of a certain Victory Five main antagonist who has wings of a Balmian and horns of a Boazanian.
Well... I still have a bad feeling about the Doc, but it is seems that things are moving along.
note to all of us. The next time that we get a chance, we need to find some anime involving Yanderes, and show them to Hikaru. She needs to be aware of the danger that she has found herself in.
I'm not sure if poking Rayearth here was a good idea here, since we may have triggered its Season 2 plot early (on the other hand, maybe it's best that we did check on the Magic Knights if Nova was about to become a thing, since we at least are aware of her IC).
Things with Saotome went well. Otherwise, nothing much to say, aside from the fact that even our non-aces are capable pilots who are of great help to our efforts.
While the Balm-Boaz talks broke down on their own, we still contributed to the talks breaking down by stopping the Balm false flag attack involving units of theirs that were made to look like Jegans. If the attack succeeded, the talks might not have broken down. This might also get us to reinvestigate why the peace talks with Balm failed and who killed the leader of Balm and Marshall Noventa (after all, if Balm tried to false flag its talk with Boaz, who's to say they didn't do the same thing to the talks with Earth...). Also, nice confirmation that we did indeed flip Zeon into an allied faction, giving us 1 more group that has an easier time acting in space.
And now we wait for the next event to show itself, be it Ribbons-Giganos or Amalgam (the Blue Cosmos siege of Orb is likely going to happen after those two events finish).
Think that was when Blue cosmos new gundams also deployed, or at least they deployed during that mission on SRW W.
So we will need some aces there is we want to avoid some of the tragedies.
Amalgam should at least also be more doable considering we invested on the Lambda driver investigation at an early update.
We can also hope Ribbons is till suffering from losing one of his aces, on the other hand if he did ally with Giganos I fear that the blue falcon of giganos may pilot a gundam.
Giganos is unlikely to get anything other than GN-X units and derivatives of those, since Ribbons shouldn't be able to make Gundams that easily (even in canon Gundam 00, he only made the Reborns pretty late, and that was one of two Gundam-type unit fielded by his side, the other being the Arche, which shouldn't be something he gets to deploy, since the remains of the Throne Zwei are in our custody; if anything, if the Arche is going to be a thing, it is going to be developed by us; at the very least, we could theoretically see the appearance of the Arche Gundam Drei as unit we get to use). Even if he could, he's too proud to arm those he perceives as beneath him with Gundams unless he perceives them as being tied very closely to his faction (like the deceased Ali al-Saachez was). We will see in time the situation between the Innovators and Giganos, but I doubt the latter is going to get Gundams from the former.
I'm not sure if poking Rayearth here was a good idea here, since we may have triggered its Season 2 plot early (on the other hand, maybe it's best that we did check on the Magic Knights if Nova was about to become a thing, since we at least are aware of her IC).
Rayearth may have triggered early, maybe. Honestly, going by canon, it triggered really late.
But we didn't preempt anything, given Nova seems to already be serving Debonair.
...Maybe? We don't actually get a proper description on what Nova's wearing. For all we know, Nova's acting alone right now which is...much better than canon.
Debonair's a pretty big reason as to how twisted Nova actually acted.
