[center][sup]Answer the Rain, Forgive Yourself...[/sup][/center][hr] [i]Rain...[/i] Endless rain... The rainforests of New Zealand were taken to a literal level, as this dark and stormy night was, at a glance, no different than any other night. While thrown off by the spontaneous near-constant rain, a Morepork bird sat perched in a tree, its feathers drenched but unperturbed otherwise. The Owl creature watched the forests it claimed as its home and was at peace... A massive explosion vibrated through the rainforest, causing the bird - and many others - to fly away. [url=https://i.imgur.com/UQPNYdb.jpg]A Shell[/url], the IOR's standard "footsoldier" design, quickboosted backward through the treeline - knocking the whole damn thing over like it was dominoes. He got about three rounds off from his rifle, as [url=https://i.imgur.com/UYqhzFe.png][i]another[/i] Shell[/url] that many would recognize as the infamous Grim Reaper quick boosted directly at him. "What the-?" He tried to escape, but The Grim Reaper had closed the gap and blasted him point-blank with the shotgun. Shredding the poor Shell to bits, he crashed into the ground as a firey ruin. The Grim Reaper quickly turned to see two more IOR Footsoldier Shells flying towards him, firing away with their assault rifle. A round hit him on the shoulder, another round hit him dead center, and he quickly boosted into the treeline for cover. The two Shells split up, and one chased The Grim Reaper, fired into the treeline, and attempted to hit him. However, his barrage was interrupted by a round from the Grim Reaper's shoulder-mounted cannons, which hit him directly in the shoulder. Staggering him, then the Grim Reaper moved in to deliver the kill... "... Oh no, you don't, you bastard!" The female pilot of the other IOR Shell shouted as she charged in, firing wildly as a hip compartment in her Shell opened up - revealing a knife. She reached for it and dived, releasing a savage, animalistic battlecry. She raised the knife above her head and tried to dive in to impale the Grim Reaper. The infamous Death God stopped dead in his tracks and quickly used his other shotgun to stop the attack. Causing a brief stalemate... "Got you now, bastard!" The Shell that the Grim Reaper had dead to rights charged in, firing away at Abel and hitting him several times - chipping away at the Grim Reaper's armor. "... [i]Do you now?[/i]" The pilot of the Grim Reaper said as his shoulder cannons aimed for the one that had him pinned down and blasted her with both point blank. They dug massive holes through her Shell's armor, sending it staggering backward. "... [i]HE'S GOT MY GRAVITY MATRIX![/i]" She shouted as the Shell fell over, and she ejected before the thing could collapse... her mini-escape pod flew out, deployed the parachute, and let out a sigh of relief... before she looked down the barrel of the Grim Reaper's shotgun. She made silent peace with her deity... "... Ceasefire, ceasefire, ceasefire, ceasefire, [i][b]ceasefire![/b][/i]" Radiated through the comms as [i]another[/i] [url=https://i.imgur.com/lVWDcuW.jpg]IOR Shell[/url] made a sudden landing off to the side. He knelt on impact, stood tall, facing the infamous Grim Reaper, and spoke, "My word, [i]you[/i] Pups..." "Commander Fox," The Grim Reaper told him, turning around to face the IOR Shell, sheets of rain dripping down the Grim Reaper. "It's about time you showed up...." "You know, there is a more constructive way to gain my attention than killing my men and women," Commander Fox answered. "I gave you a [i]direct[/i] link to contact me, you know?" "... But, this way speaks volumes louder," The operator of the Death God Unit, Tabitha Crest, the Eclipse, butt in. "So, you [i]finally[/i] decided to hear out my offer?" Commander Fox said. "Well, I guess we can excuse the Patrol Group you just slaughtered for absolutely no reason at all... all [i]is[/i] fair in love and war, after all." He followed that with a chuckle. "You seek a world free from the Ruling Corporation's malfeasance..." Tabitha said, "... Perhaps this is a vision we both share. However, Abel here is not going to follow [i]anyone[/i] blindly..." The Grim Reaper aimed one shotgun at Commander Fox... "... He wants to see just [i]how[/i] serious you are."' The Grim Reaper boosted toward Commander Fox, and the man could only [i]laugh[/i] over the comms. [i]"... Then I will show you."[/i] [center][hr][hr][hr][hr][img]https://i.imgur.com/HrB4Zef.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/0Aghpdo.png[/img][hr][hr][hr][hr][/center] "... Vultures, I have a job for you." Ava spoke through the radio as The Nest approached New Zealand; the rain pounded against its exterior. "We're approaching New Zealand, making our way to Modal-Auckland. However, before we're allowed into Modal-Auckland, Paragon United wants us to complete a job first." She paused, and on the screen was an image of a massive Murakumo robotics airship escorted by fighters, helicopters, and other aircraft. "Murakumo Robotics has sent a forward party to establish a foothold on New Zealand for them to invade as well, and being Paragon United [i]premier[/i] enemy, they have... strongly [i]requested[/i] that we eliminate them. Then we can move onto Modal-Auckland and get briefed on whatever insane operation Paragon has cooked up." There was another pause. "Their armaments seem very light; they thought they were being sneaky, and they didn't bring any firepower that would trouble a team of Shells. However, [i]don't[/i] underestimate them; they could very well have their own team of Shells aboard. "They will arrive in twenty minutes, so I will leave it up to you all to decide to handle this... I suggest an ambush, but you're not WOLFHOUND's best for [i]nothing[/i], after all." The Nest made landfall and descended closer to the beach, covered in debris from previous battles, and on the other side of the beach of a thick rainforest. "Paragon is enforcing a [i]strict[/i] guidance on usage of codenames only until they lift it, so unless you want us to miss out on a [i]lot[/i] of money, I suggest you all stick to it. I will be hands-off this time and let you know about any developments. Remember, complete the mission, get paid for the mission, and then you all can go waste your money in the brothels, bars, and casinos..." The Shells were deployed from the Nest, and their flying fortress drifted away from the combat zone. "... [i]Wings of fortune. And let that bird fly high.[/i]" [hr][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/gTXBdjL.png[/img][/center][right][b]Interactions:[/b] None.[/right][right][b][code]The Beach[/code][/b][/right][hr] [i][color=E623AB]"... System checks complete, combat mode is engaged."[/color][/i] The very feminine voice of Magpie spoke through the radios, as it was the procedure in the WOLFHOUND world to inform your teammates about your Shell's status. Keeping everyone in the loop was important, especially to Magpie. Though she was a bit annoyed that Ava railroaded them into a mission before they so much as stepped foot in New Zealand, she knew that this was work for the[i] other[/i] Shells teams like the Vanguard... but, such is the life of a WOLFHOUND. It was easy money, and as long as she had money, she could not complain. When it was time, Magpie dropped from the Nest and watched as it flew off. The endless rain hit against her armor, reducing visibility, which could work [i]both[/i] ways for the team. However, she scanned her environment and saw all the Shell ruins... all the pilots that were once strong and mighty, just like them, cut down and became nothing but scrap for the junkies to salvage. She shrugged it off and spoke through the radios, [color=E623AB]"I'm going to follow ya'll lead, but an ambush is our best option here."[/color]