Battle Suit Utopia

[Master_Archon]

((Finally, you posted Shana! I'll have my test run post edited in a little later then. ))

[Shana]

((We're just waiting on you Archon ))

[Ping]

((We're just waiting on you Archon ))

 

((He must be busy, as he hasn't been logged on in about two days, according to his profile.))

[Master_Archon]

((Yes, I am a bit 'busy' you could say. Didn't have access to my computer for a couple days, then I got sidetracked when I did have access. But! I promise, I will be posting within the next 24 hours -At least from the time I post this post that is [3:45 p.m. - My time]. I do apologise though for making you people wait, but life is life, and there's not much you can do about it *shrugs*. Gomennasai!))

 

((Alrighty Than! I've finally gotten around to posting!))

 

"Why thank you Roman, glad to hear that, and I'm sure you're just being modest," Haruka said to Roman, he in turn smiled shyly and replied.

 

"Modesty is something I'm good at, but honesty is too. My grace in a early-type model like Lævateinn 2 is minimal, at best."

 

After Roman had congratulated Xaiver, Haruka turned to him as he stood next to her, saying, "It's your turn Roman, gambate ne?"

 

Roman turned to Haruka with a smile, and bowed slightly, replying in Japanese, "Ganbarimasu." (Which is 'I will do my best', or 'I will try hard' in Japanese.)

 

He swiftly left the observation room, heading to where he could change into his pilot jumpsuit.

 

Sme time later Roman was dressed, it had taken him longer than the others due to his jumpsuit's more archaic design than the others.

 

Roman took his seat in the chest of the Lævateinn 2, the older cockpit design flashing to life as he began flipping switches. Roman reached up, and retrieved a small free floating visor, which was attached to two bulkier holding arms. He slipped the visor over his helmet, and latched it into sockets in his helmet.

 

Everything was dark, the world around him was only the hum of his suit's console, his hands running seamlessly over the intricate controls, knowing each button's location, each switch's use, even if he couldn't see them. His fingers were bare, the jumpsuit's fingers being tailored off, as he needed his own skin's nerves to know where things were. He'd trained months just to know how to use the older suit's controls, and trained years to use the visor, all while having to use touch, and memory to use the controls, and after awhile everything just became hardwired, like swimming, or even moving, it became a thoughtless process.

 

Roman's head swiveled up as he heard the white noise of his suit's console interrupted.

 

"Lævateinn 2 test underway, prepare for launch countdown."

 

Roman flipped a switch, a set of large cords punching into the back of his helmet, and the visor activating. Roman's world was brighter now, as he blinked a few times to adjust his eyes, he looked around.

 

Outside one could see the Lævateinn 2 suddenly jerk to life, the cycloptic eye lighting up, and swiveling about as it seemed to be looking around, almost like the suit were alive. Then the head moved. Inside Roman was too moving his head, as the holding arms moved with his head motions the suit's head moved with his own, a part of the visor's purpose was to allow for full control of the suit's head, and visionary systems, allowing a very strange experience of almost being one's suit, or at least seeing from the suit's perspective. The visor was a new design for early-type models, like the Lævateinn 2, since a lot of late-type models were having their cockpits put in the head now. A very strategically unintelligent move, Roman thought, as chest cockpit suits had more protection, or at least, his did.

 

"10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1... launch!"

 

Roman's hands flashed across Lævateinn 2's console, the suit lifting it's weight up in a more ready posture, and stepping forward ponderously. Once they were out in the test run facility, Roman looked around, his suit mimicing his head's motions, and the cycloptic eye roving about menacingly. It was a virtual environment, urban, one of the Lævateinn 2's specialties. Too bad the 'environment' wasn't real, or else he be able to use the buildings, and surroundings to his advantage, like he normally would; but blowing up the support structures for the virtual buildings in here wouldn't allow him to crush the real unmanned Battle Suits.

 

He'd just have to do some fast hit-and-run activity.

 

With his quick evaluation Roman sped off in the Lævateinn 2, activating it's high-end thrusters, it moved amazingly fast across the battlefield, heading towards the awaiting heavy drones, the Lævateinn 2 hurled it's arm forward, the long chain of mines in the arm snapping forward, the first two mines on the chain detaching, and flying toward the drones.

 

The Lævateinn 2's jet propulsion systems activated in it's shoulders, sending the suit off at breakneck speed, sideways, down a street amongst the buldings, an explosion erupting moments later as the mines went off, decimating the heavy drones. Roman's hands flicked across his suit's console, moving he suit in a very realistic manner.

 

The Lævateinn 2 turned, noticing two Battle Suits coming towards him, he released two more mines in front of him, on the ground, quite obviously, but unmanned suits were easy to fight, they were relatively stupid pretty much. Roman launched the Lævateinn 2 forward, between the two suits, and past them, turning around on a dime with it's jets, Roman made his suit push the other two forward, as they had reacted quite fast to his fly-by, but were unprepared for his actions, they stumbled back, one stepping on the active mines, the other mine erupting, and the two suits being engulfed in the explosions, the Lævateinn 2 speeding backwards with it's propulsion systems.

 

Roman made the Lævateinn 2 release the rest of the mines from the chain, and replace the handle on the suit. He pulled out his Durandal Light Shotgun, turning, and blowing away a Battle Suit with it, he deactivated his thrusters, the suit landing quite heavily, but well. He pumped the shotgun, as drones, and suits closed in, he fired, another suit down; pump, fire; three suits; pump, fire; one drone; pump, turn sharply, fire; four suits down; jab back with elbow; turn; smash suit's head with bottom of shotgun handle; pump, fire; two drones down; turn back to damaged suit, beat one more time with shotgun handle, knocking it to the ground; smash head with foot; five suits down.

 

Normally Roman would take the time to reload his shotgun, but he knew that this was a test run, and all he needed to do was perform well, and end the run on good time. His life wasn't necessarily at stake. So he replaced the shotgun, and got out his Fission Axe, the archaic weapon activating it's conduction system, and the blade beginning to glow, as it began super-heating, the combination of these two systems allowed for the axe to sever through almost anything, giving it it's name.

 

He activated his thrusters once more, the suit jumping up suddenly as it lifted from the ground ever-so-slightly, and the Lævateinn 2 sped forward, virtual dust kicking up behind it. Once more entered the streets of the fake city, seeking out the remaining drones, and suits, knowing full well he wouldn't need to use all of his armaments.

 

As he came into contact with single units he easily cut through them, but something bothered him, the lack of numbers. As Roman rounded a bend in the street, he came across a mediocratively large group, the remaining number of suits, and drones. They turned, and the few with armaments opened fire, Roman launching to the side out of the way down a street with his propulsion systems.

 

He waited, the suits, and drones pursuing, he drew them forward, methodically, exiting the fake city, he then suddenly sped away, only a few of the faster drones following as he went into moderate flight. One got too close as he was retreating, and with a swift barrel roll, he sliced the drone in two, kicking the other as it got near his leg, it losing control and slamming into the ground.

 

He reached the far edge of the test run facility, on a virtual hill overlooking the fake city. Roman's hands flashed across his console, wirelessly requesting one of Haruka's custom weapons that he's noticed, and procured before he'd entered his suit. The facility wall opened, like a large shelf, the Lævateinn 2 reached in, and grabbed the weapon inside. It was a large Gauss AM Sniper Cannon (The AM standing for Anti-Material). Roman looked down the scope, the suits and drones were still following him, but slowly, as they reached a familiar spot strewn with shredded Battle Suits, and drones, he zeroed in n a small metallic disc on the ground near the outside of the circle of dead suits.

 

Roman being trained in the use of firearms held his breath, though he didn't need to, it was instinctive, and the reality of his visor often lead him to forget he was not the one doing the things he saw, only controlling them. The Lævateinn 2 pulled the trigger, the gun firing. A moderate 'Jjjnnnn' sound could be heard as the weapon quickly activated, and fired, and only milliseconds afterwards a minor 'thunnnnn', as the shell the cannon fired, broke the sound barrier near instantly from it's exit from the barrel of the gun.

 

The shell made contact with the disc, causing all the other discs to explode, catching the remaining group of suits, and drones in the explosion, one suit blowing apart, catching other suits, and drones in a hail of shrapnel, sending more shrapnel out from those suits, causing a chain. Soon, there were no more opponents, and all of the events that had occurred, and been unfolding happening within minutes of time.

 

Roman looked down at the Gauss Sniper, and studied it for a minute before smiling, he finally spoke for the firs time since entering the Lævateinn 2 over the comm, "Nice Haruka, as good as I'd said." Roman complimented Haruka's work in the design of the weapon he'd used.

 

Roman returned to the hangar in the Lævateinn 2, exiting the suit he patted it's outer shell with a smile, as he looked up at the suit's big optics eye.

 

Roman returned to the observation room, still in his jumpsuit, only with the helmet removed, he smiled, opening his arms wide, and said quite jubilantly, "Is the Lævateinn 2 impressive, or not!?"

 

He walked up to where he'd been standing next to Haruka, before he'd left, and looked down at her with a smile, saying, "I told you, no grace, simply hit-and-run tactics. Although, everyone seems to think that the Lævateinn 2 can't handle groups, since that's a hit-and-run unit's weakness, but I've gotten so used to similar tests pitting me against pack-tactics Battle Suits that I've turned my guerrilla warfare fighting style's weakness into a strength. I have more trouble with melee units than I do groups now."

 

Roman laughed, and paused, his smile fading somewhat, "anyway, enough with the boring talk. So, how'd I do!? Did I impress you as much as you did me? Although..."

 

Roman chuckled and shook his head as he thought this over for a second, "....I highly doubt I could have come close to impressing you, as much as you did me, Miss Haruka!"

 

((Meh, not one of my best fighting performances, but it'll have to do.))

[Ping]

Zhao watched Roman battle throughout the training exercise. He was impressed, but he got the feeling Roman was either holding back, or simply had untapped potential. For someone who could fight so professionally and effectively - and in an old model, too - Zhao considered the combat methods to be so....ordinary.

 

"Is the Lævateinn 2 impressive, or not!?"

 

"I am very impressed," Zhao responded. "But tell me, were you holding back? It seems you have so much potential, and while I am impressed, at the same time, your combat maneuvers and methods felt so ordinary to me."

 

Zhao then looked over to Katsu. "I think you've had more than enough time to mentally prepare yourself. How about you go ahead and show off your skills to us?"

[Cyborg Ninja]

Xaiver clapped for his friend as he got ready for his test. He watched intently as Roman preformed his test. He was slowly piecing together the three tests in his head to get a feel for the team.

 

"....I highly doubt I could have come close to impressing you, as much as you did me, Miss Haruka!"

 

Xaiver chuckled and added in, "Yeah and I highly doubt you could have come close to impressing me, as I did to you Roman."

 

Xaiver walked over to Roman and patted him on the back again.

 

"You looked like a total BA out there Roman, and don't worry about those pesky melee units. While Haruka serves as our Guardian Angel in the sky I got you covered down low. Just make sure those pesky distance fighters don't take me out, after all when you're as awesome as me you don't have time for death." Xaiver said to Roman, giving him a thumbs up with his right hand.

[Shana]

Haruka grinned as she saw Roman in action, she really wanted to see what his battle suit could do and it fulfilled all her expectations. The synchronization between Roman and his suit were almost perfect and so their performance was indeed something remarkable to watch.

 

"Nice Haruka, as good as I'd said."

 

Haruka grinned as Roman used her rifle. She was particularly proud of her creations, not exactly because they were tools of war but rather because they were her babies.

 

"I told you, no grace, simply hit-and-run tactics. Although, everyone seems to think that the Lævateinn 2 can't handle groups, since that's a hit-and-run unit's weakness, but I've gotten so used to similar tests pitting me against pack-tactics Battle Suits that I've turned my guerrilla warfare fighting style's weakness into a strength. I have more trouble with melee units than I do groups now."

 

Roman laughed, and paused, his smile fading somewhat, "anyway, enough with the boring talk. So, how'd I do!? Did I impress you as much as you did me? Although..."

 

Roman chuckled and shook his head as he thought this over for a second, "....I highly doubt I could have come close to impressing you, as much as you did me, Miss Haruka!"

 

"Actually it was quite impressive, I was right about you and your suit, the synchronization that you achieve lets you do some pretty impressive performances. I think we can all rest safe knowing we got the Lævateinn 2 watching our backs", Haruka said as she glanced over to Takahashi who gave her a thumbs up and she winked at him with a smile. "We got a few more tests to do and we're done with the exersize, so who's next?"

[Ping]

"We got a few more tests to do and we're done with the exersize, so who's next?"

 

"I believe I will go," Zhao said, impatient to pilot his mech. "Unless, of course, Katsu or Kurt wants to test before me?" He glanced at both Katsu and Kurt to see their answer. While he did want to pilot ASAP, he figured being polite to the others couldn't hurt too much.

[Chevron 7 locke]

"We got a few more tests to do and we're done with the exersize, so who's next?"

 

Katsu looked over Haruka once before speaking up.

 

"I believe that I am up next. Rest assured I will do my best."

 

Katsu then left the observation room so he could change into his black pilot jumpsuit. After doing so, he slowly climbed up into the Vegas's command center.

 

Even as he strapped himself in he could feel the familiar sensations as the various systems of the Vegas began to power up. A series of cables plugged into the back of his helmet as he stared down at the controls.

 

Thrusters are online. Weapons systems are online. All other systems are online. Good. The sooner this gets done the better.

 

"Vegas test underway, prepare for launch countdown."

 

Katsu leaned back in the pilot's chair and frowned as one of the controls turned a bright red registering a slight malfunction in one of the thrusters. Katsu quickly hit some controls and the red light vanished.

 

I guess they didn't manage to catch all the issues. It looks like this thing was never properly repaired after the last time it saw combat.

 

"10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1... launch!"

 

Katsu smiled brightly for the first time in a long time as the Vegas slowly stepped into the test run facility and he watched carefully as the enviorment reshaped around him and turned into an urban enviorment.

 

He looked down at his controls and watched as the radar on his suit detected three incoming enemy battle suits. He quickly armed his battle suit's Jericho missle system and launched three of them.

 

He watched with satisfaction as two mobile suits took direct shots to the head without even seeing them coming and quickly exploded while the third attempted to dodge the missle and ended up taking most of the blast to the chest and then it quickly exploded as well.

 

Destroying the automated mobile suits was bringing back very unplesant memories. Memories of the ambush that had destroyed his unit and had left him without a family.

 

He stopped moving as memories rose to the surface of his head and his heart and blood pressure began to go through the roof as the memories of the ambush rose to the very top of his head.

 

Katsu! We're under attack, get to the Vegas now!

 

Look! Up in the enemy battle suit! It's Torv! Torv has turned against us! Katsu! You need to stop him before he wipes us all out!

 

I'm the last one left...He killed everyone else...butchered them. Wiped them out. They're all gone...the only real family I ever had.

 

The vegas stood still with it's head bowed down to the ground even as the last four remaining enemy battle suits headed toward him.

 

katsu slowly looked back up with his eyes half-closed and the Vegas's head rose as well. Katsu quietly engaged the battle suit's energy sword and sliced at the first battle suit and sliced it's head clean off.

 

He then engaged the thrusters and was in among the enemy before they even had a chance to know he was there. He slammed the sword into the chest of another one of the battle suits and then brought it up, slicing the enemy battle suit in two.

 

He then turned to the last two who were now slowly backing away to get futher away so they could used their ranged weapons.

 

Katsu didn't intend to give them that chance.

 

He quickly brought up his rifle up directly in the face of one of the battle suits and fired, dropping the enemy battle suit to the ground. He then turned his attention to the last remaining enemy mobile suit.

 

Katsu's heart and blood pressure continued rising even as he shot the enemy battle suit directly through the chest and then turned back toward the entrance.

 

More battle suits detected. Affiliation: Unknown. Treat as hostile.

 

Katsu armed the last of his missles and emotionlessly reloaded his rifle as he prepared to fire on the new mobile suits that he had detected.

[Shana]

He stopped moving as memories rose to the surface of his head and his heart and blood pressure began to go through the roof as the memories of the ambush rose to the very top of his head.

 

Katsu! We're under attack, get to the Vegas now!

 

Look! Up in the enemy battle suit! It's Torv! Torv has turned against us! Katsu! You need to stop him before he wipes us all out!

 

I'm the last one left...He killed everyone else...butchered them. Wiped them out. They're all gone...the only real family I ever had.

 

The vegas stood still with it's head bowed down to the ground even as the last four remaining enemy battle suits headed toward him.

 

katsu slowly looked back up with his eyes half-closed and the Vegas's head rose as well. Katsu quietly engaged the battle suit's energy sword and sliced at the first battle suit and sliced it's head clean off.

 

He then engaged the thrusters and was in among the enemy before they even had a chance to know he was there. He slammed the sword into the chest of another one of the battle suits and then brought it up, slicing the enemy battle suit in two.

 

He then turned to the last two who were now slowly backing away to get futher away so they could used their ranged weapons.

 

Katsu didn't intend to give them that chance.

 

Haruka watched intently with a small grin just showing it to Takahashi who was standing next to her. Nobody else could spot this fact. Takahashi on the other hand seemed pretty worried about what was going on, it seemed off but just by glancing at Haruka, he immediately knew she had to be in on the details.

 

"Haruka, this is strange, are we stopping this?", Takahashi asked but Haruka simply moved her finger saying no.

 

He quickly brought up his rifle up directly in the face of one of the battle suits and fired, dropping the enemy battle suit to the ground. He then turned his attention to the last remaining enemy mobile suit.

 

Katsu's heart and blood pressure continued rising even as he shot the enemy battle suit directly through the chest and then turned back toward the entrance.

 

More battle suits detected. Affiliation: Unknown. Treat as hostile.

 

Katsu armed the last of his missles and emotionlessly reloaded his rifle as he prepared to fire on the new mobile suits that he had detected.

 

Takahashi this time tried to go for a button but Haruka stopped him.

 

"We have security measures to deal with this kind of situation, let my babies work", Haruka said as she opened the com to the training crew. "Shut down all main power grids and stand by for unit leeches".

 

Suddenly in the training room all the lights were out except for some low light emergency power lights. Haruka turned to Roman, Xaivier, Zhao and the others.

 

"Unit Leeches are nanomachines that cover the suit leeching all power to disable them. We only use them for training drones that have gone haywire but we also use them when stuff like this goes on. Don't worry about Katsu or his suit, he'll be unharmed, once the suit begins to read the lifesupport systems are going down it will automatically eject the pilot", Haruka said and moved to fire the leeches. Three small missiles fired in towards the Vegas. "Even if he destroys the missiles the nanomachines will just spread over him".

[Ping]

"Unit Leeches are nanomachines that cover the suit leeching all power to disable them. We only use them for training drones that have gone haywire but we also use them when stuff like this goes on. Don't worry about Katsu or his suit, he'll be unharmed, once the suit begins to read the lifesupport systems are going down it will automatically eject the pilot", Haruka said and moved to fire the leeches. Three small missiles fired in towards the Vegas. "Even if he destroys the missiles the nanomachines will just spread over him".

 

Zhao felt relieved. He felt a little tense when he learned the emergency power went on. "While I have no doubt that the nanomachines will work, don't you believe it would have been better if you just sent security or one of us against those things? It would get rid of those...anomalies a bit more efficiently." Zhao paused for a second, then gave a small grin, just to show he was being polite. "But then again, I don't believe I've ever seen nanomachines work."

[Chevron 7 locke]

Katsu watched as the missles came closer and closer to him. He didn't intend to give the missles a chance to hit him. Even if he shot them out of the air the shockwaves from the explosions could possibly hurt him.

 

Evade the missles.

 

The Vegas fired its thrusters and managed to get out of the way of the three missles and then turned around and waited until he thought they were far enough away and then blasted them out of the sky.

 

Even as he turned back toward the entrance he could feel that something was wrong with the Vegas. There was a slight power drain on all of the systems and he was getting strange readings from the ejection system.

 

Something was inside the missles when they detonated. Some sort of new weapon.

 

Katsu looked down at the controls and noticed something that nearly made his heart stop cold. The ejection system was in flux and was going offline and then coming back online at random intervals.

 

It must be that new weapon.

 

He turned his attention back to the battle suits and was about to fire the last of his missles when a sudden, urgent thought came to mind.

 

I can't do this...it would hurt the others...It would hurt all those innocents inside the base.

 

Katsu began to take deep, unsteady breaths as his blood pressure and heartrate finally got to high for him to handle. His eyes completley closed as he lost consciousness.

 

The Vegas's head bowed down toward the ground as it's pilot lost consciousness. It stood there completley still as it's systems went offline.

[Shana]

"While I have no doubt that the nanomachines will work, don't you believe it would have been better if you just sent security or one of us against those things? It would get rid of those...anomalies a bit more efficiently." Zhao paused for a second, then gave a small grin, just to show he was being polite. "But then again, I don't believe I've ever seen nanomachines work."

 

Haruka looked over at Zhao with a small smile.

 

"While I agree that sending one of you out would be efficient, it also costs more to repair your suits if the become damaged in any way, our security defenses are built with materials we have obtained through deals with the manufacturing countries and we pay them with protection, which is a small enough cost for such a high profile detail like us", Haruka said.

 

The Vegas's head bowed down toward the ground as it's pilot lost consciousness. It stood there completley still as it's systems went offline.

 

"And it seems that's that", Haruka said as she motioned the rescue teams to the Vegas. Haruka then turned to the others. "Please don't think anything bad of Katsu, if you've read his profile like I have, you'd realize he's had a pretty rough time. He's seen nightmares we can only imagine, some scars aren't easy to heal. But he's trying, and we want him in this unit for that very reason. His determination", Haruka said.

[Shana]

(I think it's time to move this along guys, if none of the remaining people do their trial runs I'm moving it along with the people still interested in keeping this alive)

[Ping]

(I think it's time to move this along guys, if none of the remaining people do their trial runs I'm moving it along with the people still interested in keeping this alive)

 

((Oh, I didn't realize you were waiting on the rest of us. I thought Chev still had to get out of the training area. Since I think my character was next for the trial runs, I'll get it out of the way soon, if that's okay with everyone. ))

[Master_Archon]

((Yeah, in many ways I've been waiting on Chev too, but then again, since I no longer have to do my test run I could've posted any time. I'm just lazy, I guess. ))

[Shana]

(Well considering Chev's character is out cold, there isn't much he can do at this point. So the next character to do his test should step onto the plate)

[Ping]

(Well considering Chev's character is out cold, there isn't much he can do at this point. So the next character to do his test should step onto the plate)

 

((That means I'm up. Here's the write-up: ))

 

Zhao stayed looking at the Vegas unit, and once he was sure that Katsu could do nothing, he decided to go to his mech.

 

"Katsu is obviously out. Guess that means I should go," he said, and without waiting for a response, he changed into his pilot suit, and went down to the hangar, and setup his mech for the training. He absolutely loved his Aero 8 unit - cold, black, streamlined, and efficient. It was, he did admit a bit old, but it still got the job done. Zhao got into the cockpit in the head of the mech and braced himself for the launch. He would show the others that "Demon" wasn't just a callsign.

 

"10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1... launch!"

 

Zhao felt his Aero unit go forward, and he found himself in an urban environment. Immediately, he took out his energy pike and charged forward at an enemy mech directly in front of him, causing the enemy to be impaled on his pike. Drawing the pike out of the enemy mech, he then took out his assault rifle and shot a half-dozen units moving in to attack him. When Zhao turned his Aero unit around, another mech was about to attack him with an energy sword. Zhao barely had time to react as he activated the shield Haruka had let him use on this run. The shield was able to deflect the sword's blow, and gave Zhao enough time to grab the other mech by the wrist and fling the sword away. Zhao then grabbed the mech's head with his left hand, and smashed it against a nearby building with such force, it caused an impact crater in the side of the virtual structure. Then, with his right hand, Zhao took out his assault rifle and opened fire at point-blank range on the mech's body, attempting to control the gun's recoil as it bounced around in his mech's hand. He realized that he was just fighting AI, but Zhao figured he would treat the enemies as humans. He would, in fact, do the same thing to a human opponent, as his cold, cynical views bordered on misanthropy. Zhao then armed himself with the Plasma rifle he had borrowed, turned around, and opened fire on another wave of enemy units racing towards him. After emptying the rifle, he then took out two fully sized MGs, holding one in each hand, and walked down the virtual street warily. As he turned a corner, he opened fire on another large group of mechs, mowing them down mercilessly. Zhao heard movement behind him, and saw mechs armed with shields and swords. He then decided to take out his pike - no use using bullets on shields - and ran forward into the group of units. He was able to use the momentum from running forward to impale a unit through the head, and then, having only a short time to react, turned to his left to spike another unit, though as the pike was still going through the mech he had just impaled, the head portion ended up being ripped off. The pike, however, simply glanced off the enemy's shield. Realizing he might not have an easy time, Zhao took out one of his high explosive bombs, and threw it against a nearby building, causing an explosion large enough to bring down the building and crush the remaining mechs. Zhao saw two last powerful-looking enemies come up to face him. Remembering that the mech's head was still on his pike, Zhao slid it off the long spear and tossed it toward one of the mechs. The head bounced off and did not do any damage to the enemy, but it did distract it for a few seconds, which was all the time Zhao needed. He activated the jetpack on the back of his mech and charged forward, pike out in front. He ended up spearing the other mech with so much force that it slid halfway down the pike. Zhao then stabbed the ground with the spear, and, in an act most would consider barbarous, he stomped on top of the still-impaled mech's head, decapitating it. Zhao figured that was probably how he got his callsign - he would kill enemies in rather brutal ways. Ripping off the rest of the mech's body off the spear, Zhao turned to face the other mech, and saw it begin to go up into the air. Zhao wasted no time. He stuck the spear in the ground so the pointy end was facing up - he figured the pike was too unwieldy to use in mid-air - and activated his mech's jetpack to reach the last mech in mid-air. Both Zhao and the enemy threw punches and kicks, but vitually no progress was made by either. It was then Zhao got an idea. He activated some boosters on the jetpack that made him charge quickly towards the enemy unit. Catching the enemy off-guard, he was able to grab it under the crook of his mech's arm. He then faced towards the ground, and went towards it at an alarming speed. Then, when he came close to his energy pike Zhao threw the enemy unit on the long spear, with such force that it slid down to the very bottom, and would have kept going if there was no ground beneath the pike.

 

Zhao returned to the hangar and got out of his Aero 8. He changed back to his regular clothes and returned to the observation room. He said nothing as he sat down in his original seat. He figured he had defeated some of the units brutally enough that nobody would want to even interact with him.

 

But they aren't like everyone back there, he felt his conscience tell him.

 

Perhaps, Zhao thought. But I have, and always will be, a loner. Besides, who wants to be associated with a sadistic and brutal person? Society is a cruel, unforgiving place, that only accepts those that conform to the majority's beliefs.

 

((Sorry for the wall of text, but oh well. Guess I got a little too imaginative. ))

[Cyborg Ninja]

Xavier looked over at Haruka after watching Katsu's test. He waited for her to speak before he did.

 

"I don't want to come off as Mr. Negative here but is he the best choice for this team? I have nothing against Katsu, all I'm saying is that his little freak out he had back there could jeopardize the rest of us."

 

He suddenly found himself glued to Zhao's test when it was announced. He watched Zhao decimate the mechs and couldn't help but let out a small chuckle.

 

"I take my statement back, Zhao could probably watch over him."

 

He watched Zhao enter the room and sit down like nothing had happened.

 

"Nice work out there Rambo, I didn't know I was gonna have competition in the brutal department; but I do know a Demon and a Psycho are gonna cause all kinds of hell for the enemy."

[Ping]

Nice work out there Rambo, I didn't know I was gonna have competition in the brutal department; but I do know a Demon and a Psycho are gonna cause all kinds of hell for the enemy."

 

Zhao allowed himself a grin. Seems as if that voice inside of him was right. He actually didn't mind being called "Rambo."

 

"Maybe just the two of us would be able to win the war by ourselves," Zhao replied humorously. "We'd probably just be able to scare them into surrendering," he said, this time with a chuckle.

[Shana]

Haruka looked over at Xaivier and grinned.

 

"He'll do fine. No one else would give him the chance to face his trauma and try to overcome it. The fact that he's here, means he's willing to try", Haruka said.

 

As they watched Zhao's new performance, Haruka knew the team was almost ready for everything. This was her handpicked unit. These were the ones to conform the most unstoppable force in the world.

 

"That was an impressive display Zhao, your talents are more than welcomed in this group", Haruka said giving him a small grin. She then turned to look at the monitors with Takahashi, they were examining the data collected.

 

(I think it's CQ's turn but I don't know if he's still around)

[Ping]

"That was an impressive display Zhao, your talents are more than welcomed in this group"

 

Zhao's small grin became a full-fledged smile when Haruka complimented him.

 

"That's the happiest thing I've heard in a while. Thanks." Zhao, for the first time, felt accepted, though he still held on to his cynical views. He felt as if he could open up to his teammates now, though he decided to still be wary; he still didn't fully trust everyone he met.

 

((CQ's profile says he hasn't been on in about two weeks. We could wait a day or two, though I have my doubt's he'll be coming on soon.))

[Shana]

Haruka gave Zhao a smile, she knew he had had it rough during his upbringing, the last thing he needed was a discriminating environment, and she knew he would function much better if he knew he was accepted by the group no matter what. Haruka then went over to the door and turned to face them.

 

"I will go check on Katsu, he might not remember where he is when he wakes up, so a friendly face might help him relax. General Ramirez will brief us all shortly so I advice you all to do your preparations", Haruka said and went on her way to the med bay.

 

Katsu had been brought into a big room not much different to any hospital room. Haruka sat down beside the bed awaiting his return to consciousness.

[Chevron 7 locke]

Katsu slowly opened his eyes and found himself in an unfamiliar enviorment. Stale enviorment, funny smell. it must be some sort of hospital room.

 

My head hurts, and why can't I remember the past few minutes? The last thing I remember is...launching the Vegas on it's test run...

 

He looked over to see Haruka sitting next to him and he had to supress a very slight frown.

 

"Is there any particular reason that I'm stuck in a hospital bed? The last thing I remember is launching the Vegas on it's training run."

 

He gave Haruka a look over and smiled very slightly.

 

"And if I may ask...why are you down here with me? Shouldn't you be with the others?"

[Shana]

"I kinda thought I had to be here to offer you some kind of familiar feeling", Haruka said and stood up beside his bed. "You really don't remember what happened?"

 

Haruka put a finger to her chin.

 

"Well, you kinda went ballistic on us on the test run. Is there something you'd like to share with me?", Haruka said and sat down beside him. "I know it may be hard to trust someone so easily, especially after we've just met, but believe me, I wouldn't be here if I didn't believe in you and your talents".