5305/Brushfire

Brushfire
Date of Scene:	11 June 2017
Location:	Summer
Synopsis:	Sylvaria is a tiny country acquired by the Concord in a recent agreement. While most of the regular citizen population in the country's three cities have accepted the leadership change, the regular army has not. Calling themselves the Sylvarian Resistance Coalition, these rebels have dug out a fortification in the jungle and have been harassing Concord activities in the country. In order to solve this problem, the Concord upper brass have decided to test one of their latest acquisitions. Tanya Degurechaff has been placed in charge of the force assigned to eliminate the rebel stronghold.
Cast of Characters:	Tanya Degurechaff, 571, 1103, 368, 691, 265, 1106

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Tanya Degurechaff has posed:
    Cutting over the jungle of Sylvaria is a single, bulky military helicopter. A twin-rotor Chinook chosen for its cargo capacity, and not at all because it's the only thing the operation commander could recognize as an aerial military transport. Said commander, clad in a drab green bodysuit and harnass, can't be much more than ten years old. But her voice carries confidence and authority. She speaks while she affixes a cable from her hip unit to the boot on her right leg, "Your primary objective is to eliminate the anti-air artillery emplacement to the south of the complex, on the mountainside. Once that's eliminated, I will destroy the central complex myself. The pillbox should be caught in the blast, but if you feel a need to attack it, prioritize it /after/ the anti-air battery."

    Standing, she shoulders an ancient-looking Mauser rifle, eyes skimming the gathered force, "You're all new to me, but I'm new to you, too. So I trust we'll all make good on the Concord's investment in each of us."

    She glances up when the speaker sounds off overhead: "Major, we're entering enemy airspace."

    "You heard him. Deploy and complete your objective!" With one hand, Tanya pulls open the chinook's sliding side door, then tips herself out. Her eyes glow, mirrored by the accent marks on her flight gear, and she swiftly rolls into a defensive position beneath and ahead of the helicopter. Reaching, she places her free hand against the radio in her collar, "This is Pixie 01 to Hedgehog. Are you in position?"

    Hedgehog being the callsign for those who opted to start on the ground rather than in the air.

Alexis Maaka (571) has posed:
    "Pixie 01, Hedgehog 2, on-site and waiting for go-order." radios Maaka, as she hides in the brush. Her camouflage conceals her from the eyes of hostiles present. She's clutching a heavily customized AK-105 rifle, the weapon way too advanced for this time period, with rails, a light/laser that works both in visible and IR spectrums, muzzle brake, all manner of nice modifications both internal and external. The technology this cyborg warfighter brings to the table makes things almost too easy for her.

    She's currently waiting for others to radio before she advances, and is currently looking to get the lay of the land, maybe spot some tripwires or hidden enemies before they can get the drop on everyone.

Theurgus (1103) has posed:
    Theurgus probably looks the most out of place in a military transport aircraft. She watches Tanya curiously, and inclines her head at the orders. "Such dissent, in direct affront to the benevolent rule of our fellows cannot go unpunished." She lifts her right hand, splaying fingers across her face so only one eye can be seen. "I, Theurgus, The Mad Magician, shall lay waste to these ruffians. Their souls shall freeze in the endless abyss of Cocytus, and then burn within the mad fires of Inferno for their transgressions."

    Little bit melodramatic there, but oh well. She steps out of the helicoptor, one hand clasping her hat to her head from the wash of the rotors. The other, extends out as if grasping something, a long, black pole with a ridged block of metal at the cap, inset with a large smooth cut round jewel of some kind, appears in it as it resolves from a surge of data fragments and code spools. She then strides placidly towards the objective, and makes as big a target of herself as possible. "Sylvarian Resistance Coalition! You shall come to know me as Theurgus, The Mad Magician before your pitiful lives end. You will fear to face me, but know that your destruction is nigh!" her voice projecting as if she were using a megaphone.

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
    If there is one nice thing about a jungle, it's that it provides plenty of it's own cover. The thick overgrowth and foliage is enough to hide even a rather large instrument of destruction tromping through it. The quadropedic transit mode was good for this environment even if it was a little slower, with better tracking and stability. Not to mention the almost plow-shaped nature of its horned head was perfect for pushing through the brush without disrupting it too much. A few trees are going to end up pushed at angles as the machine stomps through, but nothing mother nature won't eventually right herself once the operation has passed. In a few years the jungle would reclaim its own and you'd never know this once hid a military installation. Or the charred remains of one afterwards.

    The heavy locomotion pauses as the battery comes into range of it's tactical long-range sensors. Optics beneath the thick mechanical brow gleam as it adjusts slightly, head pushing some of the foliage aside. So the large weapon on it's back can poke through without exposing itself.

    Coming to a stop next to Shardcore, Telsa Armadia tapped her comm with two fingers. Not that the gesture was necessary with her technopathy, it was just conserving her energy. "Hedgehog 3 in position."

    Shardcore dug its thick tail into the ground behind the saurian frame as an additiona support, as the weapon locked in on it's target. Recoil compensating vents opened at the back.

    Tesla smirked to herself as she synced up with her war machine and the same tactical scans started filtering across her visor. "Fire support ready to engage on your mark."

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
Arms crossed, and legs as well, Yari Takane takes her orders. The tiny, green-clad commander at first struck her as a child. The exact kind of person she wants out of a war. But she knows the voice of a leader, as well as that of a commander in the field. And so the ninja finally took her orders as such. The Concord, and indeed the Confederacy before it, had such youthful commanders.

Yari lets out a slightly pained sigh, just as she pushes her body against a tree. She had gained entry to the jungle, and nearby landing sight for the copter some hours ago. The ninja draws up her hand, peering at the area they're all deemed to assault not long from now. Shuriken sit in her knuckles, as she surveys the area on the groud, eye gazing, lurking in the shadows. She touches to her ear.

"Hedgehog 4, also in position. Awaiting your command." Comes the lizard girl's voice, huddling against the side of the tall jungle tree.

Rabby (265) has posed:
Meanwhile, up in the chinook, Rabby stands attentively, listening to the briefing at hand. Her stance and facial expression indicate she's definitely in one of her 'no-nonsense' moods like she usually is. She pays close attention to the briefing at hand, and when the order to move out is given, Rabby salutes. "Roger that!"

Shortly after the chinook's door opens, Rabby jumps out with her rifle in her hands, pointing it this way and that to survey the general area before looking to the others and saying, "No more play time! Let's go!" Before moving out quickly.

Tamamo no Mae (1106) has posed:
    Speaking of out of place people, the fox-eared, pink haired, bushy tailed, provocative looking fox /woman/, Tamamo no Mae, is riding in said transport helicopter, leaning back against something to try and get some manner of comfort in this horrendous vehicle. She does look upon the child-like 'commander' for the mission with a curious gaze, "You're kinda cute for being a military commander. she mutters, listening to the requests in kind.

    It's here that Tamamo summons her Noble Phantasm, her Mirror, and.... she dives right out of the now open side, using magic to slow her descent and land in the zone properly, siding next to the lizard girl. A look at everyone present gives the fox girl some concern but....

    "Isn't Hedgehog a strange name to use? This is Hedgehog 01~, my magic levels are at peak and we're awaiting permission to go." a pause, "Though, Tamamo would like to go now, you know... make this a part of my empire~"

Tanya Degurechaff has posed:
    Tanya lifts a hand to her earpiece, listening intently as each volunteer member sounds off their position. Her other hand pushes out, and a blast of flak slams into a blue-tinged magical barrier. The source: An artillery camp up the mountainside from a camouflaged facility tucked at the base. She ascends, placing herself between the battery and the helicopter, which is already turning away.

    "Good. Hedgehog, commence at your discretion. Pixie and Raven will keep their attention."

    The artillery camp is busy with activity, large-bore guns sounding off with flashes of flame and smoke, directed at the two most prominant airborne targets: The chinook helicopter and the small blonde protecting it. She darts around the slower helicopter, intercepting incoming fire with a definitely magical barrier.

    On the ground, there's little attention given to the jungle. The guards and soldiers are all distracted by the fireworks show going on around the helicopter. Even the pillbox officer, squinting at the jungle's mysteriously shuffling trees through his binoculars. Not catching sight of Shardcore, he's soon distracted by Theurgus' more bombastic introduction. A whistle is blown, and men in the pillbox's concrete confines scramble to their positions.

Alexis Maaka (571) has posed:
    "Roger that." Maaka messages back, before she advances through the jungle. She uses the trees and brushes as cover while she moves swiftly and quietly. Her cloak might help her get from A to B without anybody noticing her with the naked eye, beyond some brief rummaging and waving of branches. One could mistake her for just an abnormally large animal if they were so inclined.

    Maaka doesn't feel like it's such a good idea to push her luck, so she begins to move carefully and quietly as she gets close, searching for the AA guns. Seeking to maintain stealth, Maaka draws a suppressed .45 when she reaches the base, hunting for guards to deal with on her way to her objective.

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
Yari's head tilts just a bit. Her tail flicks, even as her normal eye peers out to survey their target. She might seem to be ignoring the fox woman at first, but finally she speaks up quietly, her words a whisper on the wind.

"An Empire? Interesting. Mmm. Those animals easily infiltrait areas that many can't reach. You should be proud, being compared to them. No matter the aetherial power one might possess, tactical usage of that power can make the weakest of mages into a true force to be reckoned with." Pause. Her head tilts the other way, and tail flicks in time.

"Or at least, that's my opinion, Miss." Ends Yari. Her body flexes like a spring, ready to launch at the compound of rebels.

And launch she does. Rather than worry about the pillbox, it's the camp itself that Yari focuses as her source of dismay. Flitting from tree to tree as a shadow, she maneuvers a wide angle around most of the soldiers currently taking aim at the chanook. Instead, she closes in on those trying to launch artillery fire against their commander and the chopper they're trying to shoot down. She pauses, just outside of the area where one of those guns fires, and falls flat beneath a bit of brush. Hands make seals, and then she's concentrating on those reloading and firing the gun.

An illusion of a soldier stumbling into the area, bleeding, tumbles to the ground. It's only momentary, and the illusion points to the exit near where one would find the ammo for the massive gun.

A momentary distraction aimed for the soldiers, as a single kunai is tossed from Yari's hidden position. There's a burning tag attached, and soon, it explodes! The ninja aims to take out at least those manning the large bore gun, if not the gun itself from her position outside!

Theurgus (1103) has posed:
    Theurgus' eyes shift from the artillery position, to the pillbox as the whistle sounds and the occupants begin preparing their emplaced weapons. "Est melius ad certavi et mortuus est et vixit, ut ignavum nominare." she says, smiling sweetly at the pillbox, before she summons a thin metal rod that she quickly throws into the brush nearby. "Grimoire, if you please."

    The jungle surrounding the Mad Magician erupts in a gust of sudden wind as the air is displaced, and a pillar of bright white light engulfs the blue-haired woman. Code fragments surround the shaft, before it shatters, revealing the transformed Diamond Soul, bearing her magitech-like Processors. The back piece's wings flaring out with a distinct clickwhirr. "Your souls shall freeze! Cocytus!" the staff in her hand, the head now a confusing, non-Euclidian fractal pattern with the jewel suspended within, flares a bright blue-white, before she thrusts it forwards, a cone of near absolute zero cold blasting against the front of the pillbox, icing up the view ports and seeping in, icy fingers seeking out the warmth of life.

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
    Looking through both Shardcore's sensors and her own Tesla watchs as the artillery placements activate and move to try and take down the helicopter. In one corner of her HUD a meter lights up bar after bar, showing the charge building in the weapon. Even though it isn't technically an energy weapon there is still some ominous krackle snapping about the barrel due to the electromagnetic conductors within.

    Tesla holds one hand up and moves it slightly, the weapon shifting in sync as she adjusts the aim slightly. Until the little + in her view locks onto the batteries trying to shoot the chanook and flashes twice. "Fire," Tesla simply states, dropping her hand forward sheerly for dramatic effect.

    Shardcore isn't going to go unnoticed for much long, not with the thunderous roar the railcannon makes when it fires, hypervelocity slug screaming towards the AA batteries with no remorse. If the sound isn't enough to make the war machine noticable, the plumes of exhaust gysering out of the trees from the recoil compensators/cooling systems certainly will.

    Yet for Tesla, this was just another day on the job, with the casualality she draws her own blaster. "Hedgehog 3 has fired. Standing by to deal with the response." Shardcore only emits a mechanical rumble of agreement as the railcannon retracts its cooling barrel and locks back into standby position on its backside so it's other weapons can be used.

Rabby (265) has posed:
While there are those who have stealth capabilities, Rabby does not have that skill. Instead, she goes in guns blazing when she sees that Theurgus has launched some ice cold magic towards the pillbox and Yari has used some ninja skills to heat things up a bit. With those distractions in place, Rabby decides to use that to shoot up anyone who might be remaining.

Tamamo no Mae (1106) has posed:
    Just another day, just another enemy empire needing overthrowing and... oh Yari's talking to her. "Perhaps, but they're undiginfied, unlike foxes and us kitsune." she smirks, not even facing the lizard woman as she waits. There's people already going at it and the scent of magic in the air lets a satisifed sigh escape her lips. She shrugs a bit and walks towards the opened area, mirror at the fore, "Well, Tamamo should get involved now..." she smirks, dashing in while her mirror floats around her.

    Shards of ice, blasts of lightning and fire erupt out of her mirror and fingers as she starts a magical barrage towards the ground forces... she was told to ignore the pillboxes and focus on the anti air battery... but she can't burn the jungle, which would have helped lay waste to this empire... so smaller spells concentrated on the hunks of metal they call guns~ "Hihi, your Queen is here, now bow down to me Servants from another Empire, Tamamo's taking this land for herself!"

    There's a pregnant pause there, "And for my allies, of course."

Tanya Degurechaff has posed:
    Chaos promptly erupts in the anti-air battery. Maaka approaches from one side with a focus on soldiers acting as guards, observing the artillery action, while Yari comes from the opposite side and fixates on the gun handling crews. Bullets and a sudden explosion prompts the guards into action, sweeping for the culprits. One of them panics, unleashing a spray of fully automatic fire wildly into the trees. Panic is contagious, and several others join in. One of the five guns is out of commission, the side of its barrel blown out.


    Rabby and Theurgus take on the pillbox, an entrenched and hardened installation built to oppose infantry. Their gunfire is focused on the Mad Magician, at least, so this gives Rabby the chance to attack from the side, prompting men to duck behind cover and train their guns in her direction. Just then, the installation is bombarded with ice. Gun ports ice over and men retreat further inside, fleeing frostbite. This is a jungle, when did it become Russia in January!
    And that's when Shardcore fires. The heavy hypervelocity slug slams into one of the guns, punching right through it with enough force that it actually explodes against the gun stationed next to it, showering the gun crews with red-hot metal shards. An ammunition crate sizzles, erupting into a geyser of flames but thankfully not outright exploding.

    Tamamo throws her magic into the mix on the artillery encampment, which is already descending into chaos just from the damage caused by Yari and Shardcore. As one of the remaining cannons traverses towards the source of that rail cannon slug, the elemental mixture of ice and then fire warps the remaining cannon barrels. Just as it fires, the shell lodges inside and blasts the barrel apart, its remains sailing down the mountainside.

    The Chinook, undamaged thanks to Tanya's actions, banks away. A terrified pilot flashes a shaking thumbs-up on his way to rendesvous for pickup.

    Tanya herself ascends, unslinging her rifle. She murmurs, and her radio picks it up-- broadcasting her voice on an open channel.

    "Have Faith in the Lord's blessings. His miracles are great and His generosity is boundless."

Alexis Maaka (571) has posed:
    Maaka creeps up on some of the rebels, before she takes aim with her pistol. THe USP kicks in her hand as she sends a .45 ACP round into the head of one of the rebels, aiming for the one nearest to him with immediate speed and scary reaction time.

    Soon, things go from quiet to chaotic as engagement ensues, with explosions about and such. Maaka transitions to her rifle while she flanks the rebels firing at the trees fruitlessly, while she smirks. Priming a frag grenade, she tosses it at their feet before she moves on, opening fire upon additional guards with her AK.

Theurgus (1103) has posed:
    Bullets whizz past, and punch through the DCC, leaving fractured, angry red marks in her outer layer, spider-web cracks showing the damaged code. Some bullet simply shatter against blue hexagonal barriers. She smirks as the soldiers flee under the assault from her ice spell, and the gunfire of her ally... then the radio picks up the, to her, obvious incantation.

    "The entrenched position is neutralized. Retreating to safe distance." she affirms, turning to pick up the little pole, while detransforming. She puts it back into her inventory, then turns her back on the base, walking away from what is likely going to be an awesome explosion.

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
Yari takes a puff of her pipe, just before snuffing it out and blinking. She considers the foxess' words.

"Maybe. But the advantages of each and every race can't be ignored. Dignified or not, a proper Empire holds in high regard the abilities of those talented people within it. Taking and conquering each and every single ability a land might possess, then leading them all to prosperity...that is how the leader of an Empire should behave in my opinion."

Yari ducks back behind the cover of the well-tree'd jungle, body all but flat as bullets whisk past her position. One hand pushes her to her knees, and then she's flipping bakc amidst shadows to avoid any more incoming fire. Her previous cover is made into swiss cheese, and she wipes sweat from her brow as fire stabalizes. Her radio is tapped.

Wiping away the blood on her arm where she was grazed, and trying to straighten her tactical kimono, she calls out on the radio.

"Acknowledged. Retreating to optimal position. Covering magic in three...two...one...KATON!"

Handseals fly, and then, those soldiers firing where the foxess was last positioned would find a fireball incoming from out of the tops of the heavy foliage, Yari's feet clung with magic upside down amidst the leaves.

Tamamo no Mae (1106) has posed:
    Tamamo smirks, the magic thrown into the mix along with everyone else causing chaos, panic and beautiful explosions for the fox woman. She halts her advance, flicks her tail in dominance and smiles, "Tamamo hopes you may have learned your lesson but..." she starts prepping another magic spell, but when she hears the Fairy... she gives an idle shrug. "Looks like my ally has other plans." she smiled, turning around and dashing with agility towards the trees.

    Tamamo quickly hides behind one of the trees, eyes peeled on the camp with a curious glint... "What is going on then? Why would she order us /away/ from the camp? Unless..." She moves to sit /in front/ of the tree, to watch whatever is going to happen..

Rabby (265) has posed:
"Have faith in the Lord?" Rabby shakes her head in disbelief. "What the hell is she talking about?" Then Rabby realizes it's the person in charge so she tries to brush off that train of thought. "Stay focused," She tells herself.

Besides, she's got more important things to worry about, like dodging those guns that are pointed at her. Using agility and dodging skills, Rabby avoids being shot while firing back on those that are trying to shoot her. "Trying to shoot a woman? I'll teach you!" (OK, so Rabby's technically a Solnoid, but who cares?)

After shooting at the enemies, she attempts to find a cover to hide behind while she reloads her rifle.

Tanya Degurechaff has posed:
    As Tanya speaks, she sweeps her hand to one side, producing a screen of colored lines. Objects scatter, then converge to lock on the buildings below. She raises her rifle, seeming to adopt that same deified color along its edges and seams.

    "Lead thyself a good life and He shall meet thee at the golden gate."

    Her blue eyes wash out to a bright, vibrant gold. As she speaks, a similar glow begins to eminate above her heart and she places her free hand over it. Clasping her fingers into a fist, the girl thrusts her hand upward, shattering her 'screen' in the process. Her rifle is raised, then lowered so she can sight along the barrel. The weapon's own seams seem to leak deific light, such an intense gold that it breaks into rainbow hues.

    "At the end of our long road, what awaits is only Paradise."

    Squeezing the trigger, Tanya fires a single round. The bullet, aglow with intense magic, is easily tracked on its way down, until it quite suddenly explodes right above the rebel facility. The eruption, sudden, sounds like a much larger-caliber cannon shell going off, followed by an ominous rumble. Smoke from the initial blast reacts violently to the in-rush of oxygen, followed by the epicenter detonating a second time and flattening the trees around it. The building is completely engulfed.

    Still blazing, the fireball floats downward from its initial detonation point, engulfing the pillbox and a good portion of the mountainside as well. It doesn't quite reach up to the burning anti-air encampment, giving those there front-row seats to the handiwork of the White Silver. Stunned by the blast consuming their base, the remaining soldiers throw down their weapons.

    But what was Tanya's order, again..?

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
    "And people wonder how you got your designation," Tesla remarks with amusement while watching the hot debris scatter from the batteries going up. Sounds like Theurgus and Rabby have the pillbox pinned down, delaying any potential infantry interference. Excellent.

"Switch to infantry mode and lets wrap this up while the ground forces are still indisposed." The response is the hiss of various joints and pneumatics as Shardcore hefts its bulk up into a more bipedal stance. Internal mechanics lock into place to stablize, and a tree gets toppled as its tail swings a few times to readjust balance for the alternate stance. Optics steady in their green hew, the cold gaze of a mechanical, unfeeling engine of destruction under the command of its technopath creator. A massive foot lifts, and crushes brush as it steps forward. Followed by it's match, a lumbering but undeniable powerful gait. A few pounding steps and the war machine of gleaming black with glowing green undertones tromps out of the edge of the jungle. At the safe edge of the destruction being laid upon the resistance.

    Soldiers, once fighting, but now throughing their weapons down and surrendering. Their resistance, now broken. Did these men now seek mercy, or simply to save their own skins?

    And they would get neither.

The engine of destruction did not care. The gatling gun deploys over Shardcore's left shoulder, already spinning up to speed. It turns on one group of soldiers....

    There is no resent or remorse in the robot's optics, only the gold gaze of a killing machine as the muzzle flare from the six spinning barrels reflect across them.

Alexis Maaka (571) has posed:
    Then the magic happens.

    Maaka stares at the -explosion- that was advised to keep away from, as the pillbox just disappears completely. To say the show is impressively terrifying is an understatement, as the dust settles and very few rebels are left alive after the blast.

    Maaka's HUD glitches and reboots itself in the aftermath, sensors reporting errors in data acquisition and such, before she gets ahold of her faculties again. Magic always plays merry hell with her software, especially when her headaches include her internal neural drives going fuzzy.

    The remaining rebels surrender, but Maaka didn't forget the orders given.

    She'd hoped she was past the point of committing war crimes, and she finds only a few gravely wounded soldiers while she searches the base.
    These boys aren't gonna survive the night with their injuries.

    "Nothing personal." is all she has to say. "This might be quicker anyways." Her rifle fires two rounds to the chest for each, and one round in the head. Euthanizing these men is the best she can offer over letting them bleed out.

    Then again, she rarely leaves survivors herself. Those men from before ought to have died quickly from fragmentation or bullets.

Theurgus (1103) has posed:
    Theurgus can't keep her eyes away from the handiwork of the new addition. Blue eyes track the screen, the sigils and markers, then the bullet at is streaks down. She doesn't even flinch as it explodes, then explode again, engulfing the base in flame and death.

    Then she's told there's some stragglers hanging around, and she pulls the brim of her hat down. "Ah, stragglers? Then let us finish what we started." she says, striding back towards the base, and with a twirl of her staff, summons a red flaming sphere to her side. "Ashes and Dust, Blood and Bone. Ghosts and Revenants, Man and Swine. All shall burn in the mad fire. Your end is now." her eye remain shaded by the brim of her hat, as she gestures towards the surrendered soldiers. The sphere lifts upwards, flits over top of a group.. and then spews liquid flame down amongst them.

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
The religious banter from their assault leader might cause the ninja to squeeze her tail around a branch, but she lets it go. Tanya might be a barbarian in her eyes, but she quickly shows her talents. A massive explosion, and there goes the compound. Yari holds up her arms, ducking down just to keep herself safe from the backblast.

Another sigh, and she's waving her natural arm even as she light another pipe. Legs clench, and then she's amongst those fleeing as she recalls her orders.

She sighs, and then, there's a needle into the spine of those trying to flee from her. Luckily, Yari is a merciful assassin. Every needle is coated with a paralytic poison, slowly send those soldiers to a final sleep as she makes as a ghost amidst the burning shrubs that she claims as cover. One last soldier lashes out, right towards her. The right shoulder of her kimono is lashed, armor and all, only for her to slam the young man to the ground. A silenced pistol plinks in the shadows, and one final breath exits the man.

"Enemies neutralized here."

Rabby (265) has posed:
Meanwhile, Rabby has reloaded and resumed firing on her enemies. Then it's all over and she runs away quickly, knowing an explosion is coming. "Gotta get outta here fast!" She thinks to herself.

Tanya Degurechaff has posed:
    The main facility is incinerated, its protective pillbox emplacement destroyed. Up the hillside, the elite volunteers readily mop up the men who tried to surrender. Some even protest, but are cut down mercilessly per the Major's orders. Given they had attempted to surrender, for whatever the individual motivations might have been, there's no fighting back. Even when the rebel force had been at full strength, this many elite fighters, with such advanced powers and technology, was just too much for them to deal with.

    The fireball from Tanya's spell begins to fade, dispersing smoke through the jungle and revealing the smooth-walled crater left behind, its bottom still glowing with heated bedrock. Floating above it is a small blonde girl, her eyes glowing an intense gold, a wicked wide smile on her soot-smudged face. She swings her rifle aside, then lifts it and hangs it by its strap once more. The expression fades to a more neutral one, glowering down at the ruin she (either directly or by extension) has caused. A hand raises to her collar radio.

    "The battle is over. The Sylvanian Resistance Coalition has been neutralized. We formally recognize your rights as prisoners under the Treaty of Worms."

    Oh wait, but there's no one left for that treaty to apply to, is there?

    She waves away wisps of black smoke, coughing lightly, and then lowers her altitude until she's above the encampment's ruins. Eyes skim over the carnage and destruction, as if tallying up the messy work performed by Shardcore, Maaka, Tamamo, and Yari. Turning, her eyes wander down the hillside to the remains of the half-destroyed pillbox, neutralized by Theurgus and Rabby.

    Turning back, she spreads her hands, "Excellent work. The artillery position has been destroyed, all enemy soldiers have been killed, and the SRC headquarters has been erased." Hands lowering to her sides, the floating Major adds, "All objectives have been completed. This should be the end of rebel activity in this country. The Concord is fortunate to have such resources on hand."

Alexis Maaka (571) has posed:
    Mopping up the remaining rebels wasn't exactly something Maaka's proud of, but hostile military assets are hostile military assets, therefore fair game. She approaches Tanya as she regards the diminutive officer. She knew listening to her the other day that she was young but didn't expect a goddamn 10 year old.

    Cocking an eyebrow behind her helmet, the death mask hiding her befuddled expression, Maaka just tilts her head before she lets the confusion go for now. No point being yet -another- person to be like 'but you're a little kid how are you this scary'.

    In her experience, kids tend to be no more or less scary than adults when it comes to Elites, and Tanya's something else when it comes to sheer power. They didn't make her a Major for nothing, seems like. "Just another day at work, nothing to it." She says modestly.

Rabby (265) has posed:
Rabby nods to Tanya but says nothing. The praise is nice, but Rabby knows she was just doing her job. She stands attentively, listening for further possible instructions, while knowing that the enemy may still be there and they may not know it. Hence her slightly paranoid look.

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
A small huff as the smoke clears, and their commander speaks. A shake of her head. Once again, her tail squeezes, then relaxes. Conquered, but traitors...is Tanya right to slaughter them all. Yari's gaze turns to the sky, mind spinning. Are those rebelling against a superior nation taking dominion truly enemies, or misguided citizens? Yari doesn't have an answer. She leans back against a tree, and her tail reaches up to snatch a fruit.

Peel, and sharp teeth tear at it. A single pipe-filled hand rises, and then back to her lips as she tears up the flesh of the fruit.

"Glory and honor to the Concord." Her voice is just slightly less enthusiastic than normal, just before taking a swig of her canteen.

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
    The whrr-whrr-whrr slowly tapers off and dies as the gatling gun spins down to a stop. Smoke is still wafting from the barrels even as it slides back and retracts to the mecha-ceratops' backside. "Objective: Complete. Termination: Aboslute." It's the most Shardcare has actually spoken all night, in the type of mechanical monotone one would expect of a machine.

    "Our pleasure to assist." It's solely for formalities that Tesla give a quick salute in Tanya's direction. "After this display of power any farther resistance would be a foolish waste of..." She pauses. Then lips part into her own wicked little grin, revealing the animal-like fangs amongst her otherwise human teeth. ".. Oh that's right, there is nothing left of them to waste. Heh heh heh. If the civilian populance didn't both admire and fear us, they certainly shall now."

    And that's the real mission success.

Tamamo no Mae (1106) has posed:
    As the area settles down, the Caster-class servant wanders over... "Y'know. This wasn't expected to have someone so short and young but... that's okay... reminds me of a certain dragon tailed little girl back during the Holy Grail War. She was only useful as a maid though." she mutters, looking around, "Oh well. That was actively enjoyable, I'm glad I came along." she smirks, "So you'll be running more operations, yes? Tamamo would like to get some more in..."

    Tamamo's tail swishes a bit curiously, looking around, "Good thing my Master isn't here, she'd complain for killing people...."

Theurgus (1103) has posed:
    There's a sound.

    It isn't a /pleasant/ sound. Nor is it horrible either.

    It's a laugh. One filled with a barely contained level of insanity, mixed with true mirth. "Kukukukuku... WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

    Theurgus throws her head back, cawing to the heavens for a few long moments, before she settles, merely chuckling as she places a hand over her face, fingertips digging slightly into her forehead. "Burn them. Incinerate them down to their very souls and more. Bury them all in ice and blow their ashes away on the winds." She seems to be having some issues, but manages, after some more mumbling, to bring herself back under control, putting her neutral mask back on.

    A gesture, and a stylized red can of some kind of beverage appears. She cracks the ring pull, and sips daintily.

Tanya Degurechaff has posed:
    "We are soldiers," Tanya states in response to Alexis' comment, "The brass tells us to do something and we do it." She lowers to the ground, disengaging her flight unit. Giving her head a shake, she stands at her tallest which is still quite short, hand resting on the strap for her rifle. She glances Tamamo's way, an eyebrow lowered, "I assure you I'm more than capable, as you've just seen. I'd appreciate your respect as, if nothing else, an equal."

    She glances Tesla's way next, somehow avoiding the typical little kid response to an awesome robot dinosaur, "With this cell destroyed, the civilian population will see us as saviors. According to my intel the Concord's seen quite favorably by the citizenry of this country, and this group was seen as a menace. It's more than fear and respect. We're now officially heroes." Eyes closing, she permits a little smugness as she says that.

    And then Theurgus laughs.

    Tanya's reaction is immediate, a wide-eyed, full-body tensing with a little "Ghe..!" That's a laugh she's uncomfortably familiar with. Twisting in place, she shoots a wide-eyed, uncomfortable look towards the Mad Magician. When she doesn't see who she was probably expecting, though, she relaxes with a sigh. Eyes closed, she waves it off, "Don't surprise me like that."

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
Yari, as Tanya speaks, seems to slump and frown a little. "Heroes, is it? How annoying."

She turns away from the 'girl', looking up. "Heroes don't exist. There's only rulers, soldiers, and the conquered. Anything else is just a title people give to justify their actions in war. Pathetic." And then she's walking to the extraction point.

Alexis Maaka (571) has posed:
    "Right." Maaka nods in understanding. More and more she's beginning to expect this kid as they interact. The fact she reacts so casually to Shardcore, a goddamn robot dinosaur tank, says that Tanya's...not a young lady to be pandered to. Best not to talk down to her.

    "Guess I can live with wiping these arseholes out the-"

    Sudden laughter derails her train of thought as Theurgus cackles like a madwoman, and she offers Tanya just a shrug. She follows Yari, slinging her rifle as her helmet unfolds by itself, revealing blood-red hair in a pixie cut and golden, cybernetic eyes.

    She produces a cigar and lights it, smoke exhaling from her lips as she and the au'ra walk.

Tamamo no Mae (1106) has posed:
    Tamamo listens to Tanya curiously, and she nods, "Of course of course, Tamamo recognizes ability! You definitely have my respect as a capable Caster, you'd be welcome amongst my ranks when I start trying to take over Saber's lands..." she smiled brightly, her mirror dissapearing as she looks around...

    "Perhaps we should rest in an area that's more... inclined to heal our spirits, especially for you, Miss Magician?"

Tanya Degurechaff has posed:
    Yari's comment has Tanya following the lizard girl with her eyes. She doesn't say anything in response, though. Her gaze shifts to Maaka, again with no response. She doesn't even seem to breathe until the red-haired woman passes her and the smoke from the cigar disperses. Only then does Tanya let out a light breath, closing her eyes. Straightening, she finally speaks up, "You're all dismissed."

    Crouching slightly, Tanya springs up into the air, that faint blue glow lighting up her eyes as she soars out over the battlefield towards where the Chinook has landed itself.

Theurgus (1103) has posed:
    Theurgus blinks, looking at all those staring at her. "Hmm? Do I have something on my face?" she asks, half-hiding behind her drink can. She eyes Tamamo curiously as the fox-woman speaks to her, but then turns her attention to Tanya as she lifts off and flies away. "I suppose a respite would be in order..."

    Theurgus pulls a small marble-like thing out of her coat pocket, and speaks into it. "Grimoire, I will have to leave Locus' administration in your capable hands for a while longer." There's an exasperated sigh in response, before a begrudged >Very well, Lady Diamond Soul. I shall maintain the city until your return.<