[center][img]https://i0.wp.com/blog.smartthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/tumblr_n1fqbfMefH1smapx8o1_500.gif?zoom=1.25&fit=683%2C405&ssl=1[/img][/center] [hr] [color=khaki]"Squad let's regroup- get back to my position."[/color] Galahad called out, his Aegis transmitting to the rest of the Barghests, [color=khaki]Asa found two: Zimmy and one other- sounds like that means this is supposed to be the diplomatic envoy from Vangar for the peace talks and prisoner exchange.[/color] The real question is why the ship was here, and not at Orestia- which was considerably closer to the border, and why it was already here when it wasn't supposed to be in Rassvett territory until the morning. Still feeling out with the Mist, Galahad looked for signs of life within his immediate vicinity- it wasn't great. There was nothing, or nothing he could detect with all the mist around them. It was like trying to find an ice cube in a blizzard, his senses were buffeted from all directions by the overwhelming sense of mist, and it would take some miracle for him to be able to detect anything within- [color=khaki]"I got something."[/color] Galahad said aloud into the Aegis, the surprise barely hidden in his voice. In the blazing miasma of the mist, Galahad had found a mist signature- a strong one. Not unlike that of a WARDEN. If Asa had found Zimmy, chances were there were other WARDENS out here too- maybe this was one of them? Opening his eyes, Galahad turned to the direction of the mist signature he had detected. in the middle of the wreckage, surrounded on three sides by the bent steel of ship superstructure looked like a life-pod. [color=khaki]"Found a life pod or an escape shuttle. One big mist signature inside. Get here fast, let's rally up and check it out together."[/color] Galahad wandered alone a bit further into the crater, looking for a relatively open spot clear of wreckage and mist spots for the rest of the squad to spot him. While he was used to being alone, standing amidst the rubble and the sound of crackling fire put him on edge. Something wasn't right- sure Rassvett and Vangar were enemies, but not even the most vindictive artilleryman would fire on a diplomatic ship, at least not before a more responsible captain would stop him. Even [i]if[/i] they had decided to fire on a diplomatic vessel, they would've tried to force it to land or board it- not bring it down in a fiery explosion less than a few clicks away from Rassvett civilians. The sound of crunching metal brought Galahad back to reality and he sprung back, blade materializing out of the mist instinctively as a huge metal hunk of [i]something[/i] fell out of a large pile of wreckage. Stepping forward, Galahad saw what looked like the beaten and battered remains of [url=https://imgur.com/s7w2LYp]some strange bipedal robot[/url]. A large, hulking 8 foot tall machine forged of some sort of dark blue metal alloy, its head set deep between its shoulders and layers of heavy armor, and a cannon the size of a 40mm grenade launcher attached to its arm. Was it one of the Vangar's new toys? They loved their powered armor- but this machine had sustained large amounts of damage. Across its torso were impact marks, scorches and dents from bullets, blades and spells scoring or ricocheting across its armor. Its left arm was missing and in its place was a tangle of wires and cords in patterns that didn't match typical Vangar synthetic muscle and stuck between its shoulder plates was what looked like the blade of a Vangar power-lance. [color=khaki]"What the hell...?"[/color] Galahad murmured as he pulled out his phone and snapped a picture of the strange machine.[hr] [center][img]http://orig07.deviantart.net/7646/f/2013/094/e/6/airship_by_terrylh-d60ffmw.jpg[/img] [sub][h3][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klPZIGQcrHA]Sarabande[/url][/h3][/sub][/center] [indent][i]IAF Envoy-class Cruiser Palatine[/i][/indent] [hr] [color=palegreen]“We land on the grounds of the royal place per our request beyond the reach of the public, from our landing point it's about twenty paces to the door.”[/color] Captain Rekks went over the plans yet another time. Only thirty five years of age, he looked at least ten years older from the stress. The only son of a minor noble in the inner territories who joined the military to go make a name for himself. Serving with distinction he was transferred to the Imperial Royal Guard and become captain three years earlier. [color=coral]“Captain. No offense but is this really all necessary?”[/color] Colette questioned after holding her tongue for the last hour or so of the security briefing. [color=palegreen]“Necessary? Of course it is! The Imperial Majesty entrusts me with your continued safety and we are going into heart of enemy territory here.”[/color] The captain insisted. [color=coral]“Yes and my father is a very smart man for that,”[/color] Colette started,[color=coral] “but this isn’t a military operation captain. We are an envoy of peace are we not?” [/color] [color=coral]"How will I convince an entire nation that peace is opportune if I can’t even convince my own soldiers?"[/color] Colette questioned aloud as the disbelief began to form over the Rekks features. He attempted to speak mouth forming words but without sound. Finally he seemed satisfied and swallowed a handful of air before he spoke. [color=palegreen]“With all do respect my lady. These people are savages and brigands. I wouldn't even blink an eye if they decided to try and attack us. Peace will only come once we crush them beneath our heels.”[/color] he asserted. Colette opened her mouth to respond but the sound of instruments and navigation equipment blaring filled the the bridge of the Palatine. “Captain you should see this.” A slightly panicked voice of the navigation officer called out. Rekks give Colette a curt bow before turning around and walking quickly towards the navigation officers post. She was working at a tense and deliberate speed cycling through different commands and panels on her console. She gestured at the display ahead of her. A map displaying the Mist currents in the air, vital as to not disturb the reactor which powers the great airship. “Look.” Colette remained where the captain had left her but shifted to the side to peer at the console. A large concentration of Mist colored an angry red upon the map moving straight towards them. A Mist storm. Mist storms were not an unheard occurrence the large deposits of arcane energy sometimes gathered into powerful destructive vacuums of energy that could alter the very fabric of reality around them. Though this was odd, such storms usually occurred in the wilds and untamed lands far beyond the reaches of civilization where such mist levels could be reached. [color=palegreen]“Brace for impact!”[/color] Rekks shouted over the roar of the instruments as Colette turned her head toward the viewports gripping the table ahead of her. Per the nature of the Mist such storms were nearly invisible unless you knew what to look for. Colette in her extensive studies had learned some of the signs. She watched closely as the sky outside the viewpoint began to shimmer ever so slightly like a pebble had just been dropped into a lake. The shimmer grew in intensity faster and harder until the entire outside world became unrecognizable blur. The ship rumbled and shook and then it all stopped. The ship made it through the ‘otherside’. The fading sunset cast sky had been replaced with a shining sea of stars. The land below looked completely different even as the bridge crew frantically tried to regain control of the situation. [color=coral]"Were We teleported?"[/color] Colette wondered though her thoughts were cut short and color drained from her face. [color=coral]“Captain...”[/color] She voiced. [color=palegreen]“I see it.”[/color] A large military like vessel hovered in front of them. Dark as the sky around them the entire vessel seemed to shimmer in and out of view as if the light was bending around it. Plated with deep blue armor and bristling with weapons like a porcupine, it wasn’t nearly as large as the Palatine but unlike the diplomatic cruiser this ship was obviously meant for battle. [color=palegreen]“Is it from Rassvet?”[/color] Rekks called aloud, clutching at the gunblade at his hilt as if it would do something. “Not that we know of sir.” [color=palegreen]“What in the spirit's name is going on.”[/color] Almost as if it was answering his question, the mysterious ship began to open fire on the Palatine. A sea of fire was released from the ship as heavy cannons tore into the Palatine. Warning sirens began to blare as multiple consoles on the bridge began to glow red. Colette almost fell to the ground from the force of the impact if it were not for Albriech next to her who gently held her up. She looked towards him, his face stern even as his eyes casted his unease plain and clear. [color=palegreen]“Get the princess to the escape craft now!”[/color] Rekks yelled towards Albriech who nodded, already dragging Colette by the hand out of the bridge most of the security team following them. Personally rushed frantically around them as they moved towards their battle stations. All the while the mysterious ship continued its bombardment. As the made there way down a hallway the outer wall exploded. Albriech threw his hand up reflexively a barrier appearing and halting the shrapnel in mid-air. The cold wind whipped into the ship along with smell of smoke. Something came flying through the now opened access point. Smashing into the wall. Everyone froze as it slowly began to untangle itself and pull its way off of the wall. Standing so tall it brushed against the ceiling as its eyes glowed to life- four icey blue lights in a crab like head deep within its torso. One of the large arms raising its arm mounted cannon. The royal guards rushed past them to engage the new foe. Without thinking Albriech pulled her down a connecting side passageway as behind them was a short mechanical whine, followed by a blast and screams. A voice came over the intercom speaker distorted more static than anything else. [color=palegreen]“I-rud-rs h-ve boarded - ship. Rep-t intruders -ve b-ded the ship.”[/color] The wall to the left of them exploded as one of the robots was thrown through- it a giant spike of ice protruding from his chest as it crashed into the far wall. Out from the hole that was punched through the door one of the Imperial mages stepped outwards, staff still glowing. A cadre of soldiers pouring outward around her. She looked at Albriech and nodded. “Do you know what’s happening sir?” the mage asked. [color=lightgray]“Not the faintest idea.”[/color] It was at this point that the robot eyes began to glow again and with surprisingly quick speed it grabbed the soldier closest to it and easily crushed him in its hands as it rose upward. “Run!” The mage commanded as she turned away from the pair muttered underneath her breath as her staff began to glow once more. Albriech and Colette made there way through the ship with speed avoiding contact with the many assailants continually being launched into the ship. They made their way down to the shuttle bay. Off from the main hangar it was used primarily in situations such as these to allow for VIPs and others to be able to escape if the Palatine was ever compromised- not that the engineers ever imagined such a day would come. As they made their way across the catwalk connecting to the shuttle the ceiling above them buckled and burst open and two of the robots landed in front of them. [color=lightgray]“Stand back.”[/color] Albriech command as he drew his blade from its sheath. [color=coral]“I can fight.”[/color] Protested Colette but he just shook his head slowly never losing eye contact with the machines. Body in a easy defense stance he watched and waited. One of the machines raised its arm- cannon cannon crackling with blue energy and fired. Albriech flicked his hands creating the same barrier that he had made before catching the blue bolt in midair. Rather than letting them drop as he had earlier with a simple flick of his hands they shot back at the robot at twice the velocity slamming hard into its shoulder. The bolt hit the robot with enough force to tear off its arm and send the robot careening off the edge and tumbling through the open sky below. The other moved quickly rushing forward Albriech dodged out of the way as the fist punching through the flimsy catwalk, with still enough force to throw Albriech from his feet. He looked up at the robot that towered over him and began to mutter a spell as it raised its fist to crush him. Yet before the spell could be released an arrow slammed into the the glowing eyes of the robot and upon impact released a brilliant blast of light knocked the machine off its feet. Seizing the opportunity Albriech rose and with a flick of his hands used a blast of mist to send it flying off the catwalk. He looked towards Colette the bow that she had materialized in her hand already vanishing into dust. She gave him a small grin. [color=coral]“If you didn’t want me to fight. You shouldn't of taught me.”[/color] Despite the situation Albriech chuckled. [color=lightgray]“Get in.”[/color] Colette made her way around the whole in the catwalk and into the shuttle where she began the startup sequence. As Albriech turned to follow her the floor rumbled again as several more robots punched through the outer hull of the ship, throwing them all to the ground. [color=coral]“Albriech?”[/color] was all Collette managed before Albriech slammed a button on the console with the mist, sealing Collette in the darkness as the shuttle's blast doors closed, struggling to his feet with his weapon drawn. [color=coral]"Albriech!"[/color]