View source for 819/Easy Pickings

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2014/10/17
|Location=Southern Urbania
|Synopsis=The Mariage lay a trap for Elites
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=42, 162, 320, 381, 401, 558, 560, 578, 596, 597
|Tinyplot=Power Games
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:558|Yagami Hayate (558)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>The research park is... silent, when people arrive. It's larger than expected, with four large buildings dominating the profile, one at each corner to mark the cardinal directions. A few smaller facilities dot the facility, which covers several city blocks. In the middle is a large, rounded dome that is now glowing with a bright yellow light, exactly identical to Fate's magical color. Various alerts are sounding, but it's kind of pointless. No sign of life is here, though various battle damage is, in the form of blasted holes and carved, sliced sections of walls. No life signs, for those capable of scanning, but numerous small energy signatures of various types.<br /><br />Those capable of reading such things will note that the dome is leaking high amounts of some kind of energy. Nanoha-verse will recognize it as mana, and everyone can recognize that it will reach dangerous levels very soon.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:162|Zephyr Windstar (162)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Zephyr arrives on scene. Likely the first Unionite at the area. "Dee, Area Search. Magic aspect." she commands her Device. The large twin-bladed axe chimes softly, before ejecting a sextet of dark purple orbs. They disseminate around the area, seeking out Magic or Energy based signatures.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The young woman is eying that dome warily however, and tunes back into her radio. "Anyone coming to the research area... we've got a massive Mana buildup in the central structure... I can't really tell, but it's growing to dangerous levels... no time frame on how long that'll take."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:596|Zwei (596)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Research stations are becoming a common place for Zwei to hit up, but that's all according to plan. It may have been advised to "go adventuring" several times by now, but that doesn't mean the adventuring can't involve places it already has a vested interest in. The transmission had indicated heavy combat, and so Asche is the unit dispatched to the battle zone, screeching over the skyline at several times the speed of sound. Angling into a steep dive, the massive Armiger's aerial combat configuration looks like something between a fighter jet and a wyvern, but it swiftly disappears as he returns to a terrestrial configuration before hitting the ground, which he does with an enormous crunch and a crater several meters across.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;No life signs, but energy readings, and an extremely large power density of an unknown signature coming from the facility in the middle, expressed only as photons in any sensible way. Despite having no face, Asche doesn't seem worried about any possibility of violent detonation as he begins to stride over the open field, leaving deep scars in the ground where he walks, charging his weapons with a steady whine.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:320|Flint Hawke (320)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Okay, the premise here is simple. The ship was fitted with a cargo hot drop for smuggling runs. It'll be faster than a shuttle and get us down to planet immediately," Flint is explaining to Signum and Vita as he steps into a large metal cube, "We use this to drop cargo onto planets from low orbit and then skim off. If I'm in the cube, we should live. You could also take a shuttle if you want, but where's the adventure?" <br /><br />Adjusting his hat and bracing himself inside the container, it would be sealed after it was determined whether or not Signum and Vita would be joining him on this trip. Then the crate would be unceremoniously dropped out of the cargo bay and hit with a magnetic pulse to send it streaking through orbit at approximately Dangerous Miles Per Hour. <br /><br />The huge metal container slams into the street, reinforced by black cracks and energy running through it before it skids to a stop. A moment later the steaming container's door creaks and falls open and out steps a toussled looking Flint, "Well that was a wild ride, eh then?" <br /><br />He looks up at the sky above, "Still. Always wanted to give it a ridey-ride. Seemed like the time."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:401|Testarossa Fate (401)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A crack of lightning splits the skies, thunder roaring a proclamation of the Confederate arrival.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fate Testarossa is feeling much better now.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Evident in the fact that she is well enough to manage a Dimensional Transfer now, a glimmering golden circle of Mid-Childan runes spreading beneath her boots and forming as a landing platform for the Confederates that choose to arrive with her. But as soon as arrival hits, Bardiche pings with a rattling click-crackle much akin to the hissing ticks of a geiger <span style="color:ounter.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;c#ffec8b">[SIR. MANA SATURATION IS GROWING DANGEROUS.]</span> The stoic and faithful Device notes.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yet Fate herself is more concerned with staring at the dome, scarlet eyes wide.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"That's..."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:578|Freya (578)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Freya arrived on scene coming in from a near by portal. Alarms are sounding Freya does her best to ingore them, looking around she noticing the battle damage and the yellow glowing dome. She assumes that's not normal and she has a feeling it going to boom soon as well. She sighs a bit hoping there would some suviours, hoping to act as a healer today but it doesn't look like that going to be the case.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:381|Takamachi Nanoha (381)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> "Ah... mana poisoning?" Nanoha sounds worried, flying out of the tear in reality that Fate opened up. The little wings on her ankles shimmer, then stabilize again. "Is that what this buildup is?" She looks to Raising Heart, the ruby-headed staff in her hand.<br /><br /> <span class=" bold_fg_m bg_n ++ hm">&lt;BUILDUP IS WITHIN ACCEPTABLE LEVELS BUT INCREASING.&gt;</span> The staff's chime is feminine and pleasant, but cautioning. Nanoha nods and stares at the various sorts coming in, but slowly lowers to the ground and shoots off a few globes. <span class=" bold_fg_m bg_n ++ hm">&lt;WIDE AREA SEARCH&gt;</span><br> <br>

:'''{{#var:560|Emiya Shirou (560)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shirou is quick to arrive. He barely had time to strap on some basic protective armor, so he's in his normal clothes with a black vest of some kind of futuristic material from the Union armory to protect his vitals strapped over it. he's not unarmed this time either. He bears an ornate sword of carved onyx, its blade subtly glowing a hot white. runes etched along the length in some forgotten Hydaelynian script glow faintly in the presence of high concentrations of ambient magical power - so they're pretty bright here.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Those familiar with such may spot similarities to Odin's blade, Zantetsuken, but that's not really important right now is it?<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He dashes straight for the central dome, where the damage seems the most severe. "What happened here?!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Even he can feel the power building here. It's not quite the same as the prana he's used to, but even a crappy magus can feel magical energy when it's THIS concentrated!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;SCIENCE is under attack! Of course Staren comes to check it out. He teleports in in his usual power armor (now with desc!), and his sensors confirm the mana buildup. He tries to reach out and feel it, to tell if it's possible to channel it at all -- but even if it is, there must be far too much for 'absorb it all and cast a lot of spells to burn it off' to be a viable plan.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then Staren realizes what the lack of life signs means. "What... they killed them /all/?!" He stares towards the facility in horror for a moment. Then starts searching for wireless networks. Maybe if he can get into some kind of security system he can see what happened inside.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:597|Material-D (597)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A new challenger appears! Or, an old one reappears. Six black wings spread behind her, Material-D enters through Fate's portal, frowning at the scene before her. "Hmn. How very strange. And we are not the only ones here." Asche and Freya themselves are pretty distinctive, and Hawke made quite an entrance as well. Yami shakes her head and stays in the air, as she doesn't fear mana poisoning herself, but she swoops in ahead of Fate. "We will handle the Barrier."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She'll wait just a few more moments for stragglers(IE, Staren and others who haven't posed) and then lift her staff up. <span class=" bold_fg_w bg_n ++ hw">'TEMPORAL BARRIER,'</span> The sky darkens as everything takes on a strange, muted cast, the spell shifting the research park a half-second to the left and imprinting it on imaginary space. This carries with it any significant energy sources, as well, and isolates it from external interference... in or out.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:558|Yagami Hayate (558)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Here it goes! The Barrier goes up, and immediately there's strain on it. That reactor in the center is starting to break down the Barrier already, and if it goes critical it will be only somewhat constrained by the Barrier. Only Yami's significant magical energies are keeping it from breaking out already.<br /><br />From the cube, a small girl carrying a hammer, wearing a beret with a bunny decoration on it, steps out. Signum follows behind Vita, hand on her sword already. "Asche..." she says immediately to the Zwei unit, and then her eyes harden a bit at seeing Fate and Nanoha here as well. But she isn't here for conflict, at lea-<br /><br /><span class=" fg_m bg_n ++ m">&lt;WARNING! ETERNAL RING CONTROL NODE PRESENT! SUBDUE AND ASSIMILATE!&gt;</span> the book at Vita's side starts to scream out those words, but the hammerer just whaps it with her hand. "Not right now!"<br /><br />Staren can indeed access the wireless, but the network is a huge mess right now. It's all secured and has initiated auto-delete routines as a security measure, but he can get recent video feeds that show the researchers turning on one another. Or, more precisely: a masked female figure walks into one room, and suddenly one researcher turns and summons up magical power to blast another, all the while screaming for someone to stop him.<br /><br />Speaking of masked female figures, now that the barrier is up, some of those energy signatures move! And several of the moving ones are emerging from the buildings nearby. All identical, masked female figures, with their arms morphing into sharp blades.<br /><br />It's Signum who recognizes what happened, amongst the Wolkenritter. "Mariage... laying a trap?!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:162|Zephyr Windstar (162)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Looks like it's a party. Divine Wind!" calls Zephyr, as she draws magic into the blades of her Device. <span class=" fg_m bg_n ++ m">&lt;MANA FLOW SYSTEMS FLUCTUATING. SUGGEST RAPID RESOLUTION OF SITUATION.&gt;</span> suggests the Device. A warm, motherly tone coming from the rhomboid gemstone, tinged with caution. "Yeah, got it... lets just hope little miss cold shoulder doesn't try to take the glory for herself." she grouses, before kicking up from the floor.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Four purple 'pixie wings' erupt from her back, before she pivots and bursts forwards toward the closest Mariage, trailing purple energy from her axe head. <span class=" fg_m bg_n ++ m">&lt;TEMPEST SABER.&gt;</span> announces Divine Wind, as Zephyr pirouettes and brings that big axe around in a full roundhouse chop.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:596|Zwei (596)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As the procession of Elites, starts to gather within visual range, Asche takes a few milliseconds to note each of them in turn, though he only speaks to the four he already knows. "Captain Hawke. Shirou. Staren. Signum." It's more of a statement than an invitation to say anything back, and his voice still sounds like someone pitch shifting an afterburner. Zephyr and Nanoha get the largest degree of attention, in that Asche actually turns his head to look as the glowing orbs race through his field of vision, scanning the two of them for signs of the same type of energy signature building up in the giant dome. Just for completeness, he gives Fate the once over as well.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then the barrier happens as he arrives near one of the smaller buildings dotting the field, right before the dome. An event that significant actually causes him to stop, dedicating just about all of Zwei's processing power to analyzing the temporal/spatial anomaly that had just ocurred. Somewhere else, Weiss is pretty much motionless. "Preventing collateral damage to the surrounding area? Then this facility is already a lost cause. I will restrict my firepower only so much as is necessary to prevent annihilating the remaining civilian staff." His right wrist guard splits to reveal twin, stout looking gun barrels, suddenly spiking an enormous energy reading for anyone actively trying to detect them.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The word 'trap' and Zephyr's headlong charge make it obvious enough that the masked figures are enemies. Asche levels his arm at the nearest building Zephyr isn't already close to, aims down slightly to hit the ground in front of it, and begins rattling off a steady string of high velocity bolts of light, splitting along the entire visible colour spectrum as they streak across the field and individually detonate with the force of a quarter ton of TNT.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:320|Flint Hawke (320)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Really ladies? I seem to be running into you more and more. Don't you know, my heart belongs to another?" Flint says with a flourish of his hand as he slowly steps towards the Mariage. He might be stalling for time to let the others go on ahead of him as he slowly pulls off his gloves and flexes his hands, "Flint Hawke is a man of many loves. His heart belongs to the stars, his hand is promised to the wheel of his ship!" <br /><br />The Pirate Captain slowly reaches under his coat and pulls out a pair of what look to be metal blocks, "Also Signum, fine lass that she is! We're to be wed!" Wait what? <br /><br />Flint grins a bit and then steps towards them, twirling the two objects around his index fingers, "I'm afraid that if you can't take my no for an answer, I'm going to have to go to more..." <br /><br />The metal objects slide over his fingers, making them like brass knuckles. He taps his two fists together and there's a thundercrack of a power field, "Aggressive denial." <br /><br />He holds his hand up and waves them over, "Come ladies. Flint Hawke is man enough to handle the lot of ya and leave you tired and on the ground."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Barrier up! Staren sees the girl in red near the center, and readies his rifle. Is that the good one or the bad one?<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Once the network is hacked, Staren delegates searching it and downloading every file they can find to his support AI. He frowns as he reviews the video, and informs today's allies. And then...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Time to fight! The Mariage are apparently hostile, some kind of flesh golem to be destroyed, so... he raises his laser sniper rifle and starts shooting. If a single shot isn't enough to destroy them, he switches to bursts.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He /really/ hopes each one isn't elite-level by itself.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He'll see about helping with plans for disabling the reactor or other fancy things after the immediate threat is dealt with.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:578|Freya (578)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Uh-oh!", Freya says spotting the figures and there sharp blades. "They don't look freindly at all!", she eeps and she suddenly she alot taller! Oh well, she can deal with the masked figures better when she is like this. She walks foward and tires to stop on one making it flat like a pancake.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:401|Testarossa Fate (401)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fate has paled. Bardiche rattles lightly in her grasp, prompting a soft re-assuring ping from the black axe. Her composure seems shaken, and it's not by the Mariage; her gaze is lingering squarely on the domed facility. Thusly, any once-overs given Fate's way will show not the gravely and composed ice queen of norm, but a stunned child.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It takes her a second to even realize the Wolkenritter are present, and the sight of Signum makes the blonde cowboy back up. Fingers clenching around the haft of her Device in a white-knuckle grip, she somehow manages to put on a hard face of her own as she matches the flame knight's gaze. That rivalry is still burning strong in her chest, but right now she has other things on her mind.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Nanoha." Whispered as she already starts hustling for the main building.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'm... Going to try..."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She trails off and just suddenly blitzes.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She's going to ignore the Mariage and try and blaze her way inside.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:560|Emiya Shirou (560)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh hey it's Zwei's other unit! "Zwei!" Shirou blurts crudely, dashing over and joining up with Asche.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yeah. Just don't hit the central building... it's like a nuclear meltdown in there. If we can keep the Mariage off their backs, I hope they can stop it."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;no time to worry about it, really. Or worry about the consequences of what fighting beings like these are going to be. They're not that strong in his opinion, but it's hard to be sure...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Trace, on." He's already grasping at a forming illuion, wrought from golden light. An ancient black longsword of japanese legend appears in his grasp. A blade wrested from the tail of a dread eight-headed serpent by a god, granted to the sun goddess as a gift, and passed down to a fabled ruler - the Kusanagi, grasscutter sword.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Zwei might notice this weapon is a bit different from the others he's seen him project. Hard to say how, but if anything - there's a strange air around it.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;After all, it is the crystallization of a legend.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Mariage are simply dolls, so Shirou doesn't feel bad about cutting loose on them. "Out of my way!" Raising the sword of heavenly storms, he focuses some of his prana into it. Wind rages around it, and with one slash... a mighty wind tears across the lawn, right for the mariage!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:597|Material-D (597)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Zwei claims to be handling the buildings, and there are plenty of fighters here. After some thought, Yami lowers herself toward the ground and the protection of the others. To Signum and Vita, she states, "Your Mistress, in another world, was used as the template to create Our body. We are a construct like yourselves in all other respects. Of course, We can walk as well. But for the others..."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Material flips open the Book of Darkness at her side(still wearing a fake moustache... sigh), and pages through it with a telekinetic motion of the pages. <span class=" bold_fg_w bg_n ++ hw">'ENERGY SHIELD,'</span> the staff intones, and blazing light scatters from the Material all over the area, seeking out the various Elites present. It suffuses them in a glowing barrier that shields them from the mana radiating from the reactor, at least for a while.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"This will do little against the Mariage," Yami states, "And some of you no doubt need it less, but the humans amongst you have some protection from the reactor now. It will not survive detonation, We must admit."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:381|Takamachi Nanoha (381)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Nanoha arms her Device... and Fate rushes off toward the reactor. "Ah! FATE! Wait!" Being kind of uh... still a preteen girl, at heart, she immediately races after her friend, leaving behind a streak of pink light as she bursts toward the reactor. She's way slower than Fate, however, and could be caught if someone follows. Maybe. Nanoha isn't slow, she just isn't a speedster like Fate is.<br /><br />But she does have a way to help her friend! <span class=" bold_fg_m bg_n ++ hm">&lt;DIVINE BUSTER&gt;</span> Raising Heart chimes, a circle of mystical runes surrounding the tip. A massive blast streaks past the young blonde ahead of her, aiming to open up a hole in the side of the facility so Fate doesn't need to search for an entrance.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:558|Yagami Hayate (558)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Zephyr goes straight toward a Mariage, and it's a good thing they are weak, because Zephyr's axe can slice right through one arm! The sword arm goes spinning off, bleeding black ichor, but the arm melts in midair and combusts before it even hits the ground. Undaunted despite the injury, the zombielike creature shows surprising speed in whipping its remaining arm around for a hard, powerful punch toward Zephyr's midriff.<br /><br />Zwei opens up at a building, which begins to collapse as the foundations are blast apart. This immediately crushes the exiting Mariage between the explosions and the collapsing building, but another one just pushes some rubble off, looking battered and half-crushed but moving, and then levels its arm at Zwei. Swift, powerful bullets begin to rattle from the projectile its arm shifts into, not really strong enough to threaten major damage but much, much more capable than an 'improvised' firearm(heh) has any right to be.<br /><br />Several of the drones leap toward Flint, but Signum and Vita are already there. Vita's hammer slams down, crushing one into the ground, but it's already struggling to get back up. She lifts her hammer to cause it to whine, rockets firing on the back. "Gh..." She grunts, stepping back at a sudden slash from another one. Looks like she could use the help, but she's not going to ask for it. Signum is in motion too, and has already split one down the middle, but has to parry another. They're in the thick of it, and for good reason: the Mariage are making a beeline for Vita's Book of Darkness simalcrum, so those three are collecting the brunt of the attack already, leaving Flint with two 'swordbabes' diving at him silently.<br /><br />Unfortunately, it looks like several are swarming toward Material-D as well. Someone had better do something about that, because they're going for HER Book of Darkness as well!<br /><br />Staren opens fire and blows a shoulder out, but another one just rises up behind the first. It's here that Staren will feel an invisible grasp trying to sieze his body and yank the barrel of the gun to the side, to shoot at Shirou instead. The Mariage aren't used to dealing with threats of this caliber, though, so the effect probably won't work.<br /><br />A few are going after Staren, but Shirou can probably hold them off if he's careful. Those slashing blades arc toward the magus a hair slower than normal... and one of them is reaching for him, attempting to lay hands on him so they can pry out some of that delicious, delicious prana.<br /><br />Nanoha's blast opens up a hole in the research center, but she will have to contend with the same thing Fate does: two Controllers, not one, suddenly blasting shots at the two in an anti-aircraft spread, filling the air with mass driver shots. They're not excellent shots or anything, so if the two aren't impulsive they can probably weave between.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:558|Yagami Hayate (558)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Freya... STEPS ON ONE! The Mariage goes 'squish' in a strange, crunching motion, but the blade it carries still slices in toward the foot /deeply/ as it 'goes down.' Of more concern is that it is crushed into some black goop... which then explodes violently.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:162|Zephyr Windstar (162)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That's the one problem with headlong charges without a plan. "OOF!" slam goes that punch into her midsection, sending the already airborne mage spinning and skipping along the ground. Her defense isn't very tight, but she's a stubborn little thing.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Momentum carries her until she manages to plant a hand, dig in a knee and launch herself upwards, landing ungracefully near to Vita and Signum. "Great... out of the frying pan..." as she grumbles, she catches a blade arm with the haft of her axe. "Alright enough playing around. Divine Wind, Drive Ignition." There's a deep thrum from her Device as it glows from within, the form shifting in the mage's grasp. <span class=" fg_m bg_n ++ m">&lt;DRIVE IGNITION. MISTRAL TEMPEST SYSTEM ONLINE. MISTRAL FORM. SET.&gt;</span> She stares down the Mariage as her Device shifts into a one-handed, much more aggressive seeming form. A pair of little spinning propeller blade drones(Literally propeller or turbine blades) launch from the trailing edge of her Device, where the second blade used to be.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class=" fg_m bg_n ++ m">&lt;MISTRAL SQUALL. AREA MODE.&gt;</span> intones the Device, causing the drones to zip out. The air itself begins to move oddly, trying to slow or disrupt the Mariage nearby, while also attempting to assist the two Knights and anyone else within 150m, give or take. The young woman then blurrs out of focus for a moment, reappearing behind her opponent and hacking into the zombie's body with a surge of mana. <span class=" fg_m bg_n ++ m">&lt;BLITZ DRIVE. MISTRAL CUTTER&gt;</span><br> <br>

:'''{{#var:596|Zwei (596)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The part where the red glow is brightest sweeps back and forth along the length of Asche's slit visor as his black armour strobes with the flash of gunfire. Zephyr is flying. Her weapon seems to be using the same unfamiliar energy signature as he keeps reading from the dome up ahead, and seems to be cleaving apart enemies with ease. Document and research later. Flint intends to take on multiple enemies in melee combat once again, and will likely be exhibiting his anomalous physical abilities again. Document and research later. Freya is suddenly so large she should be collapsing under her own weight judging by her gravity signature. Document and research later.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fate and Nanoha are also both flying, the former far faster than realistic propulsion should allow, and the latter while discharging a level of firepower that is considerably impressive for how small the only complex part of her device is. Document and research later. Shirou is openly using his weapon summoning ability and managing to eliminate targets with wind pressure of all things rather than a more efficient directed energy attack. Document and research later. Yami has just put up some sort of screen that seems to have cut out most readings of the radiation emenating from what Zwei can only presume is a reactor of some kind. Document and research later.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There are so many bizarre abilities on display here with no obvious explanation for how they work that Asche is dividing possibly a dangerous amount of attention to recording and scanning them all. An whining crack sounds out as he rail launches a pair of recon drones from a gap in his shoulder plates, hovering hundreds of meters up in the air where they begin relaying back data using the entire electromagnetic spectrum. The launch completes just in time for him to notice the mariage firing back on him, allowing him to engage his point defense system just before any bullets connect. The slugs simply stop in mid air a few feet away from him and harmlessly tumble to the ground as Asche's defensive software individually targets, entangles, and then hits the projectiles with precise amounts of counter kinetic energy.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Perhaps deciding that the level of firepower he's using isn't enough to take out the buildings while the swift moving mariage are still inside of them, the plates of his wristguard close up, only to be obscured as complex machinery rapidly phases into existence around it, as if disintegrating in reverse. The parts layer on top of one another until something like an oversized, anti-materiel rifle is attached to his arm, the barrel of which he braces with his other hand. "Stand back." Everything flashes like a split second stroke of lightning had gone off, and the next instant, one of the larger, corner buildings goes up in a towering, monolithic fireball. A solid wall of pressure explodes outwards, arriving at the same time as the catastrophic boom, and carrying a storm of dust and debris.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren doesn't shoot Shirou -- even if he did aim at Shirou and fire, there are safeties on the weapon. His arm is jerked slightly aside though. Surprised, he stops firing for a second or so, then switches to controlling his armor mentally and ignoring his body's input. This would be cumbersome for regular movement, but for aiming and shooting, it will work.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Still, he hopes someone takes down that 'Controller' before the Mariage get close to him...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For now, he takes advantage of how some of the mariage are choosing to swarm towards his allies. His shoulder missile launchers raise into position, and some of the missiles seek out those swarms that haven't surrounded people yet and detonate in massive plasma fireballs.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:401|Testarossa Fate (401)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That's the thing. Fate IS being impulsive. A complete deviation from the norm of her reserved and cautious self, as soon as Nanoha smashes an entry for her with that blast, she leaps in- right into the midst of the Controllers and their fire. A sudden downward jink and she throws herself to the floor with a grunt and a gasp of pain, as the dark fabric of her Barrier Jacket grows sticky and damp from the bloom of liquid crimson from her shoulder.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&lt;&lt;N-Nanoha. Two inside.&gt;&gt; She warns in a telepathic blip, but doesn't try to put them down herself. The burst of golden light emanating from her hand is more intended to sear eyes and blind as she tries to shove by, ignoring pain and injury as Bardiche sends a string of encrypted communications back home to Precia and Linith.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The response that pings back is rapid and detailed. A series of old maps and schematics-- which she forwards to Nanoha and anyone else making way into the facility.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:578|Freya (578)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Ow. ow. ow. That wasn't a good idea as the blade cuts deeply into her foot and the explsion on her foot does help either She winces a bit doing her best to try to ignore the pain, she defintly not going to do that again. She hops closer to the main building try to block the way from any more of the Marriage being to get inside, she rips off a peice of the roof an tosses it at one of the Marriage beings.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:320|Flint Hawke (320)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Flint Hawke steps back, dodging around the dives and strikes from the Sword Babes. He hops back and then tries to parry sword strikes with his hands, energy fields crackling as they move to parry and draw back energy. He strikes back with a rather straight set of punches, trying to clear himself space. <br /><br />His greater concern is that Vita is being swarmed on, as is Signum. The Pirate Captain then steps back and takes off his jacket, tossing it to the ground as he flexes his hands, "Alright, time to play my card. If only two of you will pay attention to me, I'll make the others." <br /><br />"Raphael..." Flint says seriously, rolling up the sleeves of the white shirt he wears under it to expose his arms, "Prepare my Shift." He commands, mostly a formality since his heart knows what to do anyway, "Inscribe survival on my very being!" <br /><br />There's a massive PULSE that emanates from Flint as the heart beating in his chest unlocks conceptual power. Black lines pulse and run throughout his arms, like veins. They cover his entire body as Flint's systems go into overdrive. His shirt grows tight on him as he bulks up, and he flexes his hands again. Around his arms, hands, neck and face, those black veins all slowly crawl. <br /><br />The expanded concept of Survival now seeks to create a Fight or Flight Scenario. A conceptual beacon on the field, Flint is now actively trying to pull the aggression of everything within a good range, trying to cause it all to focus on him to maximize the benefits of his Pure.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:560|Emiya Shirou (560)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The screaming winds from Kusanagi aren't going to be enough. And Shirou's own body is screaming at him, as always, the instant he ends up getting in hand to hand with the Mariage. His projected weapon and real one are crossed to catch the blade with all his might and turn it away. He follows through by lunging forward with a knee to the gut and leaping back. Dual wielding does somewhat suit him, but his stance is pretty clumsy and his weapons are mismatched... that's never gonna work out for the best.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"There's way too many... ! --GH!" And who is that lanky fellow over there who's being all flirty with the... "Gah!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;One of the Mariage DOES get a grip on him, but only for a moment. He's quick to panic and thrust the onyx blade right through their skull. It's gonna be messy. probably goopy.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The weird weapon does have some properties for turning enemy life force/magical energy into his own, but given these weird Mariage - who knows what that's gonna do, if ANYTHING.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shirou'd honestly probably rather not draw anything from these things, really. bad enough it was a skeleton, last time...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Worse, the redhead misjudged the Mariage now that they've gone hand to hand. he's being forced back by the small group that's assaulting him. He ducks, weaves, but takes grazing blow after grazing blow. It's a wonder this simple human is keeping up though, considering the enemies!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All thanks to Bedivere's training. He's been repeatedly thwacked so hard that his body's gotten used to reacting before he can really think about it. But the only net result is he's getting slowly cut to bits while parrying every blow for his vitals. Yeah, that's not going to do.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Or will it? Clank, clank, CLANG.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The more he's cut into, the less the barrage of attacks seems to be doing to him. His arms are cut up, but the wounds gleam like metal. The strikes are failing to pierce very deep into his skin. Clank, clank, clank. It's like...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"My body is made of swords," the redhead chants deeply. Immediately, Kusanagi's wavering form regains substance and he uses it for a riposte. "You're not breaking me before I can stop this explosion!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shirou pours determination into his agonized, bleeding body, and presses forward. Clang, clang, clang. The tide of battle's turning around. Though he's grabbed several times, he responds with a furious slash from Kusanagi and the onyx blade. Offending arms might end up altogether severed!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He's keeping them off of Staren, but damn, Shirou's looking pretty messy...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:381|Takamachi Nanoha (381)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span><span class=" bold_fg_m bg_n ++ hm">&lt;PROTECTION POWERED,&gt;</span> Raising Heart chimes, setting up a defensive screen around Nanoha. The bullets showering her still manage to shatter it, but they give her enough time to dart aside, meaning one of them opens up a shallow graze in her side but she isn't shot down. "AH!" That causes her to stagger in midair, but she rights herself and...<br /><br />"Cover her, Raising Heart!" Nanoha calls, darting back and forth to try to keep out of most of the line of fire. Her real focus is on helping Fate though:<br /><br /><span class=" bold_fg_m bg_n ++ hm">&lt;ACCEL SHOOTER&gt;</span> Raising Heart states. The shots aren't very strong, but the numerous little globes that burst out zip forward, blasting toward the Mariage... and intercepting incoming shots aimed at herself or Fate, like a point defense laser of her own.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:597|Material-D (597)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Tch," Yami snarls, feeling one of the Mariage close in and a slash opening up along one of her arms. She doesn't bleed, which may give some confusing readings from Asche's scans, but she does feel pain. The quick smack of the staff swats the creature away before she shoots up into the sky, Book of Darkness flipping upen. "You wish to have some of the Book of Darkness? Very well. We will give you what you desire."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Approach from beyond, mistletoe branches, become spears of the silver moon, shoot and pierce! Petrifying spears, Mistilteinn!" The girl shouts out loudly, and her staff glows in a dark purple.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class=" fg_m bg_n ++ m">'MISTILTEINN!'</span> The incantation comes with affirmation from the Device, a cartridge loading with a loud *whrrr-CLUNK!* This is immediately followed by spears of brilliant purple showering down, lancing toward the growing crowd of Mariage. Each spear does little damage, but has one added effect, temporary though it may be:<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Petrification.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:558|Yagami Hayate (558)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Setting up a Mistral Squall is a great idea, because it's something that the Mariage are unfamiliar with, and it disrupts the ranged weapons as well. This allows Zephyr to take advantage of their confusion and get behind one... and though the Mariage have proven pretty tough, they do need to guard. Zephyr slices one right in half, before it can react, and down it goes easily. She can probably take one or two more out before they adapt enough to fight back, too. Like the others, it melts and combusts.<br /><br />Vita frowns and smashes the head in of another.which also melts. "That's a weird style. Not Mid-Childan at all, but the weapon is some kind of basis on Mid-Childan design."<br /><br />Signum hacks another in half, moving to defend Vita. With her help, the two are pretty secure if nothing else happens. "Likely a splinter. We can ask later," she says curtly. "Or a new development."<br /><br />Zwei explodes a building. Several energy signatures wink out, putting an end to some of the Mariage right away. By now, some of the Controllers have recognized the heavily-armed synthetic as something of a threat, and thus several of the drones rush at once, with sharp blades on their arms humming with magic. THIS might cause a bit more of a problem for Asche, though it will likely not result in anything fatal. Unless Asche hasn't been observing that when killed, these things melt and explode, but that's unlikely.<br /><br />Starens missiles blast into a cluster, causing the rest to scatter out. Intelligently, apparently. There are enough controllers here that they can keep tactical for a while yet, but no more are attacking Staren due to factors.<br /><br />One of those factors is Flint, who is now getting the attenton of numerous ones. They swarm toward him with a pulsing rush, and this time Signum and Vita, busy with their own and somewhat affected by the aura, aren't defending him. That could be a problem...<br /><br />Except that Yami just petrified half of them, causing the others to slam into the wall of stoned Mariage. This puts their attack in staggered disarray, making it easier to fend off.<br /><br />Some of them ARE heading for the main building, but in a stroke of tactical insight, Freya has just smashed the front row and blocked off the entrance. This leaves only the ones inside to deal with!<br /><br />Shirou holds off the Mariage valiantly! Fortunately all the other things that were just done cause a slight reprieve, enough that he can find an opening in the ones remaining. The blade gets a small trickle of power from each, but it feels... wrong. Twisted. Fortunately he isn't getting much from them.<br /><br />Nanoha cover fires for Fate, keeping the Controllers occupied. With all the rest of the chaos going on, the Controllers have to pause. An opening!<br /><br />Finally, Fate has made it inside, injured but past the Controllers. The reactor is there, but thanks to Yami's shield she's still safe! All she has to deal with is the... dozen Mariage inside. They appear to be operating in shifts, absorbing power from the reactor and moving back to let others collect more. All are Drones, though, so she might be able to figure out a way past them and into the control center to shut down the reactor.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren fires another missile at the group heading for Asche... and then suddenly his instincts scream that /Flint/ is the enemy that he needs to destroy to be safe. Even after the warning, he swings his rifle around the point at the pure-wielder and barely stops himself from pulling the trigger. "...Damn it..."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He has to focus on something else. Why must there be so many enemies? He needs a way to attack so many targets at once...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The controllers...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;...Didn't someone say the ones with the guns are the controllers? That's right! If he can take out the controllers...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren takes a deep breath and forces his attention away from Flint. Find Mariage with guns. Then strike before they can realize what he's doing. He picks out one, two, three, half a dozen if there are that many in range, then raises his arms -- six smaller missiles launch out of the armor in his arms, flying high up into the air near the eadge of the barrier, then turning around to rain down on the Controllers. Unlike the plasma missiles, these are designed to ram into the target at high speed and explode inside -- dealing penetrating damage to a single target, instead of to a wide area, although adjacent Mariage might get caught in the blast too.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:320|Flint Hawke (320)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Flint is being overwhelmed by Mariage, that much is clear. Even after a huge number of them are petrified, the sheer number of them is more than he can manage by himself. They're cutting under his strikes and they're getting past his dodging and defenses. They're drawing heavy cuts that shred shirt and flesh, causing black and red blood to stain down his sides as they tick up more and more damage against him with their assault. <br /><br />And right now that's exactly what he wants. Every cut causes a pulse in his chest. Every slice beats another angry breath. Every wound is another brick in the wall. And soon enough, the Pure has exactly what it wants: An escalated threat to respond to conceptually. <br /><br />And then Flint explodes in violence. His first move is a haymaker straight towards one of the mariage with enough force to shatter concrete. He ducks under another sword strike and delivers a jackhammer uppercut to try to behead one. A blade embeds in his back, right through his spine, and it should be a kill. Instead of spins around and flat-hand chops at the neck, trying to behead the Mariage with a smooth maneuver. <br /><br />"Aye, yes, ladies. There's enough for all of you!" He grins widely. Violence begets violence, and Flint's Pure has enough hatred and retribution for every single one of the Mariage that wants to attack him. <br /><br />The funnier and more aloof Flint is gone, this one is a brawler. A fighter who is meant to survive against impossible odds through sheer ferocity and denial of falling down when he should. The blade embedded in his back is pulled out and he crushes it in his hand before turning back to his fight. <br /><br />The Shift has proven its goal: Create a Fight or Flight in which Flight is not an option. Force Flint to fight for his life to unlock his maximum potential. His Aura is strong, but resistable with willpower. He also seems to have no personal control over it.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:162|Zephyr Windstar (162)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Zephyr zips around, moving at a speed that might put her on par with Fate in velocity, but nowhere near in grace. She just flashes around, trying to get the ones Signum and Vita don't see, either because they're currently smashing or slicing up another one... or they're ignoring them for some reason or other. She then gets nicked by a lucky shot from a Controller, wincing as blood seeps up through her Barrier Jacket. "Damn it... Burst Driver. Mistral Shooter, Cascade shift." comes the young Mage's order.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class=" fg_m bg_n ++ m">&lt;YES! MISTRAL SHOOTER. CASCADE SHIFT. BURST DRIVER. GEAR UP.&gt;</span> Shooting-type motes form around the girl as she comes to rest on a Marchian platform. It's rhombus shaped, four circles linked by flowing Kanji script and lines, drawn in deep purple. The Drones also gather energy inside of the small hole at their center, angling to aim at the Controllers nearby. "SHOOT!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Much like Nanoha's Accel Shooter, the motes angle and jink around, coming in from all sides to try and disrupt and catch any dodges in a hailing crossfire. The drones, however, fire streams of unguided projectiles, like magical machineguns as they rotate around the Area they're proje<span class=" bg_m fg_n ++ ting.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;cm">&lt;MANA FLOW SYSTEM STABLE. USABLE MANA AT 85. ALL SYSTEMS GREEN.&gt;</span> That's when Flint's little effect washes over her. Zephyr winces, glancing at the pirate and almost breaks her formation. "No. Bigger fish." she reigns herself in with. As said earlier. Stubborn little thing.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:401|Testarossa Fate (401)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That is a lot of Mariage.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fate can try to shoot them all but she pauses. Vesta sounds like she's a little far off. Though Fate wouldn't mind if she shows up, she's already this far ahead and this close. The magical undead are wildly attracted to large sources of mana... The controls are right there. This must be the most dangerous, stupid idea Fate has ever had.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She shifts out of her Barrier Jacket. Just an ordinary girl in a casual frilly black dress now, Bardiche pings a <span style="color:#ffec8b">[???]</span> as she orders him back into standby form.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This is excessively dangerous as she tries to walk AROUND the Mariage towards the controls, with no protection, and her Linker Core still recovering from being drained.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's like being invisible. Right?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:578|Freya (578)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I think that all of them out here .", she can't really do much else right now. She too big to into the building and her adrenalin is running high so she can't go back to a normal human size. She looks into the main building thought the holes in the roof to see what going on size up the situation (pardon the pun) and if she can help somehow.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:596|Zwei (596)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Zephyr's transforming weaponry. Staren's plasma missiles. Freya's ridiculous physical strength. Emiya's swordsmanship gradually surpassing human limits. Nanoha's magical barriers and point defense fire. Yami's seemingly orbital barrage. Flint's completely inexplicable surge of power. Is this what 'Elite' means? Zwei is hungrily absorbing data almost too fast to keep up with, calculating the force behind every blow, the speed behind every reaction, and even going so far as to try and monitor the pulse and respiration of the combatants to see who's struggling and to what degree. It's all so new, and it's all so very, very interesting. Especially the fact that, though Asche can't do anything to detect Flint's conceptual manipulation, he /feels/ its effects anyways. Without thinking, the combat Armiger's left arm snaps towards him, aiming via one of the drones rather than looking, and snap shooting a raiser bolt from the wrist mounted PDW. He manages to correct it within milliseconds of firing, moving just enough that the cohesive, amplified photon bolt flies just about the captain's head rather than hitting him straight in the chest. Unfortunately, the momentary distraction gives the mariage just enough time to close with him, and within moments, magic blades are carving along his heavy armour.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;His attention fully restored to the problem at hand, Asche purges the rifle mounted on his arm, and suddenly takes a frankly ridiculous leap back, launching three tonnes of metal a twenty meters into the air. It's still not far enough for him to safely fire anything but his small arms, but that doesn't seem to be the plan. The air begins to violently swirl as the Transience drive kicks in and summons another piece of his arsenal to him. His hand reaches out for something, and grasps the hilt of a sword. What appears to be (appropriately) some sort of futuristic, carbon black zweihander materializes in his grip. The five meter long blade shines bright, bloody red along the edges, which actually extend a few inches further than is visible to the naked eye. Gripping it in both hands, he brings the weapon over his shoulder in a classic 'vom tag' flourish, waits just long enough for the vicious drones to get within reach, and then sweeps it along the ground so fast that the air snaps with a miniature sonic boomb. The sheer force of the supersonic strike should hopefully hurl their bodies far, far away, where they wont explode against him.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:381|Takamachi Nanoha (381)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Taking out the controllers...?<br /><br />Nanoha pants softly as she eases up on the attack. "Mn. Is that...?" An opening! The shots have paused! Nanoha knows that Fate is in there, so she's not going to blow up the building... but she can take care of those two! "Raising Heart, please!"<br /><br /><span class=" bold_fg_m bg_n ++ hm">&lt;OF COURSE, MY MASTER. LOAD CARTRIDGE,&gt;</span> the Device chimes. A klunking noise of the cartridge loading sounds out, and then Raising Heart adds, <span class=" bold_fg_m bg_n ++ hm">&lt;DIVINE BULLET.&gt;</span><br /><br />A stream of high-velocity, dense energy pellets blasts toward the two Mariage as Nanoha uses her version of Precia's spell, intending to chew them to pieces where they stand and eliminate the thread.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:597|Material-D (597)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yami is also affected, though she largely shrugs off the effect of 'aggro.' Unfortunately, she's also kind of a bitch, so she doesn't fight it that hard. It just means she doesn't target Flint specifically! "Hmph. Your Mistress has so much potential. You only saw a sample of what We can do, and she has the same potential. Allow Us to show you more."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Another cartridge slams into place as Yami turns her staff down toward the cluster of Mariage mobbing Flint.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class=" fg_m bg_n ++ m">'STUN MODE ENGAGED. MAJESTY OF THE LORD,'</span> Yersinea Kreuz announces. A billowing purple blast wave roars toward Flint and the Mariage, aiming to flatten them all with stun power.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"This is Our Book of Darkness: the Tome of the Purple Sky!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:560|Emiya Shirou (560)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There's a sudden pressure on Shirou, thanks to Flint's sudden unleashing of strange conceptual energies. It's not a proper magic, and he can't defend against it too well. On the other hand, it's not magic, so his magic defense isn't necessary to do so.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He wobbles and stumbles, but is forced to focus on the Mariage for several more blows until he's finally broken their advance and exposed a moment of opportunity. But his attention wavers, drawn in a strange panic towards Flint. Breath quickens, muscles tense, but Shirou clamps down on the half-yell he starts. Is Flint suddenly turning foe on them...?<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Well, he seemed like a weird friend to begin with...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then words said over the radio sink in and his will fully reasserts itself.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He's surrounded by such incredible magic though! All of it's so far beyond his level. Can any magus he's even remotely heard about from Kiritsugu even manage this kind of output? It's insane. He has seen several girls who couldn't be toooo much older - and some maybe younger - than he pulling this off. Wowzer.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yeah, he's way out of his league. But he's not stopping just from that. Others having so much more power can't be helped, but his own will to fight is his own problem. It won't waver that easily!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He rushes in, slashes through a few marriage and dashes past before their explosion can catch him. But Kusanagi shatters in his grasp and Shirou flinches, wincing in pain for but a moment.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With another *sizzle-clank* and a flash of golden light, he arms himself with a different Noble Phantasm. A radiant silver and crimson longsword suitable for a knight or perhaps a king. In his hands, Mordred's stolen Clarent is used for justice! Shirou tears forwards--<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"UUUUUUUAAAAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;LOUDLY.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Onyx blade isn't being used for much besides parrying. Instead, he focuses his power into Clarent. Crimson energy trails along with each blow. Though quite flimsy compared to the original wielder's skill and output, tiny amounts of prana flow through the weapon and propel it with greater force. For Shirou though, the benefits are marginal at best...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But the savage and no-holds-barred fighting style he whips out with is WAY too much for his body. With every savage swing he grunts and gasps. his poor lungs are denied breath time and again, but he's aiming to tear through whatever Mariage he can. He must buy time for the others to stop that explosion!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:558|Yagami Hayate (558)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Fate sheds her magic and just... walks past the Drones. It's a huge gamble, because if one turns around and regards her as a threat, it's all over. Yet... they move! Only to shuffle forward and swap on which Drone is absorbing that leaking reactor energy. One tilts her head, probably because Yami's shielding is crackling under load, but it isn't enough compared to the reactor leak to bring their full attention to bear. No Controller is there to realize Fate is walking into the control room.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:401|Testarossa Fate (401)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Every step of the way has Fate's heart racing as she makes her way across the chamber, scarlet eyes darting from figure to figure as she makes her way to the control center, doing her level best to not attract attention when one tilts head at her...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then she's in.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Heart pounding in her chest, ignoring the fact that she's wearing a pretty dress in a zone with dangerously high potential mana levels, Fate halts in front of the controls.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She's shaking.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Visions, distant and blurred flit through her mind, like old memories in sepia tones. Far away and still right there; flashbacks of another little girl's memories dancing in her mind.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Standing on a balcony watching a similar domed building off in the distance. Knowing that after the day's test, mother will come home to her as promised. That she'll have a vacation and they can go on a picnic...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A bright light in the sky, spreading from the reactor and engulfing everything- getting closer, too fast to run away.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Huddling in fear with a cat in her arms.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Darkness.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Scarlet eyes flicker as she pulls herself from Alicia's memories, rattling hands suddenly darting over controls as hologram screens pop up at her side, Bardice relatiying detailed instructions from Precia on how to reinstate safety protocols.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:558|Yagami Hayate (558)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Let us condense Staren, Flint, and Signum and Vita down to just saying that limbs are flying and the Drones are erupting from being shattered or cloven. Now that they're disorganized and the group knows how to deal with them, they're... well, they aren't going down EASY, exactly, but they're easier to fight off. Especially when Yami's spell comes down and blasts a crater into the ground around all of them, at the very least hurling some away, and outright flattening others, which just makes them melt even though it's a stun spell.<br /><br />Zephyr, and Staren's other shots, are slamming into the Controllers. One of them goes down, but they're tougher than the Drones. The remaining, injured one says in a strained and damaged voice, "Miscalculation..."<br /><br />Asche is able to handle his assailants for the time being. Without a Controller handling them, the Drones are easy to keep at bay now that their attack patterns are known. The blast causes a few to disintegrate and combust, again, and any that manage to get near are rapidly cut down.<br /><br />Nanoha's attack rips through the Controllers there, giving her some breathing room as well. Good! This means that everyone has some space, which may be needed in a moment. Freya also has little to do for the moment... for now.<br /><br />Finally, Shirou too gets a breather, managing to cut down the last nearby Drone. A few more are vaguely stirring in his direction, but they look uncoordinated. The Controllers lost several at once, so they're unable to control all the Drones on the field currently, or perhaps are too busy getting killed.<br /><br />And then, abruptly...<br /><br />The yellow glow fades, and the reactor shuts down. Unfortunately this means the Drones are starting to pay attention to Fate... but Freya can see this happening through the hole in the roof.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren takes potshots with his rifle. It takes a moment for him to realize that the Mariage are switching to simpler patterns. He smirks, puts away his rifle, activates his twin beam sabers, and then finds his gaze drawn back to Flint. He shakes his head, tries to focus on the Mariage, and prepares to fly into the horde cutting them down...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When allies announce over the radio that they're ready to level the place. Relieved, Staren's energy wings manifest (orange, like stylized's insects', for those who haven't seen them before) and he flies over towards Nanoha to watch the fireworks.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:578|Freya (578)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Look out!", Freya shouts at Fate and reaches down a grabs her pulling her out of the room throught the hole in the room. She looks at the yellow hair girl in her hand. "You allright?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:320|Flint Hawke (320)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With the fight starting to wind down and Yami throwing out a powerful stun blast, Flint is sent tumbling. He skids along the ground a bit and then starts to push himself to his feet, looking around angrily for who hit him, instinct starting to take over again after the stun. But he's able to slowly push it down, and the lines across his body recede, drawing back into his chest and eventually vanishing. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He takes a deep breath and seems to calm himself down. He walks through the carnage of the battlefield to pick up his dirty jacket and hat. His shirt is in tatters from the fight and those are kind of falling off of him. But the jacket and hat are back on. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Aura is also gone! <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He lifts a hand skyward and waves, "Oi! Vita and Signum, will one of you lovely ladies give me a lift? I can't exactly fly on my own prowess." Note to self: Install rockets in Jacket later.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:558|Yagami Hayate (558)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Signum and Vita look at one another. They look at Flint. Sigh. "Sure sure," says the little red-clad girl, suddenly darting down and swooping in toward Flint. The tiny girl grabs at the pirate, heaving him over her shoulder and blasting upward to make a streak of red in the sky, carrying him like a sack of potatoes. Or potatos. Whichever is right this week.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:401|Testarossa Fate (401)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's probably a good thing Freya had a good view into the control room. Busy as she was in shutting down the overload, Fate was somewhat too pre-occupied to pay any attention to the Mariage beginning to turn their focus on her her. As the reactor shuts down, Fate crumples to her knees, panting before a GIANT HAND reaches in and plucks her out with a small gasp.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In an instant her composure is back, and she's standing on Freya's palm, Barrier Jacket manifesting in a flash of gold light, cloak unfurling from nowhere. Turning her back so no one can see that her eyes are a little damp, she gives her reply.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'm fine."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:162|Zephyr Windstar (162)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Shirou needs an out... Divine Wind, lets go." states Zephyr. Her Device chimes resonantly. <span class=" fg_m bg_n ++ m">&lt;BLITZ DRIVE. GEAR SECOND. MISTRAL SQUALL. EMPOWERMENT MODE.&gt;</span> states the Device in response. The two Bits suddenly streak inwards, their energy bullets fading out. Instead they move to hover over the girl's back, the original four 'Pixie Wings' turning into two large white flame-like jets. The Bits rapidly spin on their axis, quickening until they're blurrs of motion.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Zephyr then vanishes, a sonic boom marking her departure from one end of the facility, to right behind Shirou. "Hold on to your everything." she states, giving him maybe a full second, before her arms are around his midsection and a glowing purple barrier forming around them both, the entire assembly blurrs out, aiming in the general direction of 'Away'.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class=" fg_m bg_n ++ m">&lt;BLITZ DRIVE OFFLINE. GEAR DOWN.&gt;</span><br> <br>

:'''{{#var:578|Freya (578)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Freya smiles at Fate or would be if she could see her. "I'm glad.", she just let Fate regain her composure, she doesn't know her all that well so she just lets her be.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:560|Emiya Shirou (560)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And the reactor dies. This is a huge relief to Shirou! The boy staggers, short of breath. He's been splashed by several exploding Mirage, caught in the edges despite his best efforts. He's not gotten away scott-free from this. He's covered in cuts and gashes, though strangely... NONE of them seem to be all that bad. In ffact, they're already healing... slowly, but visibly. Not much bloodloss, either. It just looks bad at a glance!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;However he IS short of breath, cannot fly, and is down to a third of his prana...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"There's no end to these incidents!" He blurts irritably. How will they stop this problem at its root?<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He doesn't have much time to worry about it because... HERE COMES ZEPHYR. "WHAT--" WHUMPF. He's grabbed, eyes bugging out wackily before he's forced to hooooold on tight for his very life. He lets go of Clarent, but hangs on to the onyx sword... "A little warning next time!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:597|Material-D (597)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"We call upon the unstoppable Beast, the Monster that rampages destruction. JUGGERNAUT!" Yami's announcement is loud and thunderous and of course, megalomaniacally dramatic. Yet it does come with a gathering of power, a roaring manifestation of mana that forms around the massive triangle of purple that bursts into being.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With a thunderous SCREECH the spell blooms into a massive wave, crashing down with all the power that Yami can muster right now... which is a lot. It's still in the Barrier, so no need to worry about the 'real' place.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:381|Takamachi Nanoha (381)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"E-eh? Me too?" Nanoha looks confused for a second, and then she realizes that Material-D knows all her tricks. Well, not all of them, but the important ones. Namely, Starlight Breaker and how it works. "Oh! Right! Ready!" She shoots up into the air to join Yami and near Asche, prepping her own spell. She does this... by singing.<br /><br />"Gather, oh light of the stars, become the light that pierces everything!" Those are the only lyrics that can be made out, said in a drawn out and musical voice. They work in her native language, sounding pleasant and flowing. The musical singing almost seems to have backing behind it...<br /><br /><span class=" bold_fg_m bg_n ++ hm">&lt;STARLIGHT BREAKER&gt;</span> Raising Heart announces, a swirling collection of pink particles coming in toward her Device. Asche can probably detect this by now: she's gathering all the ambient energy from the reactor leak toward her spell, though the excessive amount means she probably doesn't gather literally /all/ of it. It's still a huge amount more than she should be able to handle...<br /><br />All sent out on a blazing pink beam that cascades down toward the facility and the Mariage within.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:596|Zwei (596)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Against all odds, Fate seems to have succeeded. That's actually more than Zwei was expecting, even given the overall exceptional combat prowess of everyone assembled. Zephyr, Nanoha, Fate, Signum, Vita and Yami have contributed so much combined data, and all of it is so self consistent, that learning about their particular world's magic is suddenly shifted to just about the priority list of activities Zwei has built over the last few days. Shirou is also a candidate for cataloguing due to his expenditure of a frankly impossible amount of energy and apparent access to an entire arsenal of magic weapons, as is most definitely Flint for the fact that his 'shift' hadn't released anything on any detectable spectrum whatsoever, and yet had empowered him to such an extreme extent that he was able to take on a horde of mariage at once. Staren is obviously an experienced combatant, and is using a level of technology that implies his world must be getting close to the singularity, which is something to monitor. Even Freya has some scientific value in the fact that she'd suddenly gained several tons of mass while still apparently being made of normal flesh and blood. Zwei is already sorting them into convenient directories under one of its core memory partitions, not sparing a single detail recorded by the scanner drones during the fight.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Business is business however. Yami had requested that Asche participate in demolishing the facility, and he has no real reason to turn her down. There's no telling what kind of futuristic materials the facility may be made of, and Yami's shields are protecting everyone from radiation anyways, so the choice of armament for this job is obvious. The sword drops, and in the same fashion as it was summoned, something reminescent of most hardcore vehicle mounted machine gun imaginable forms in his hands, all black, jutting angles, and fixed with a toroidal particle accelerator loop around the open grip. Digging in his heels and levelling the weapon straight ahead, Asche braces it against his shoulder, erects his forcefield, and begins measuring the distance of all other Elites until they have cleared the danger zone of the expected blast.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A steady, rumbling, electronic while rattles the windows of the still standing buildings, before swiftly reaching the ultrasonic range and vanishing beyond human hearing. A set of red lights mounted on the weapon spin up like the barrel assembly of a gatling gun, marking that the accelerator is at full charge. Scanning the dome structure ahead and preempetively simulating the effects of detonation, Asche sights for just under the dead center of the reactor core, and proverbially pulls the trigger. Despite the deafening bang, the actual projectile is invisible, save for where the concrete suddenly sprouts a gaping hole. A split second later, the dome suddenly emits a light exponentially more intense than the yellow glow that had emenated from it previously. The ground shatters and collapses as an invisible sphere of force rips through it, compressing the air into a visible, rippling shockwave, distorting the sight of an utterly colossal fireball shooting up into the sky as the atmosphere breaks down into raw, boiling plasma. The flash happens almost exactly concurrent with Nanoha's and Yami's spells, but the sound of the explosion is delayed a moment after the blastwave, by which point the superheated gasses have already risen into a looming, incandescent mushroom cloud. Between the two mages and that, there's probably nothing left.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:558|Yagami Hayate (558)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Everyone is getting out, which is good.<br /><br />The Barrier was straining from the reactor leak, but as soon as Fate shut it down, the Barrier snapped back into position. Now, the reactor won't even be damaged... probably. Maybe<br /><br />The uncertainty is because when the trio of attacks thunders down, it sends a MASSIVE shockwave through the facility. Nanoha's Starlight Breaker is specifically /meant/ to punch through Barriers, too, so the effect that this causes is... kind of odd.<br /><br />All three hit, and in a brilliant flash and a mushroom cloud of an eruption, the facility is blasted away, and the Mariage disintegrated... largely. Perhaps some survived? But if so, they'd be crippled pretty badly and forced to retreat anyway.<br /><br />It's hard to say, because so much power at once causes the Barrier to shatter and splinter, and all at once everyone is back in the 'real world' above a largely undamaged facility. Energy readings show a slightly higher than normal level of mana radiation from the leakage earlier, but the reactor is shut down, the facility is intact... and all those little energy readings that were apparently Mariage are gone now.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:578|Freya (578)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Freya was the of pretty flashing lights and explosions from a safe distance. Better than fireworks. She sighs to herself feeling a bit jealous she can't do anything like that and she doupts she will ever be able to. Oh well it as pretty cool to see thought. She wishes she brought a camera.<br> <br>
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