(ominous beat!)
It was then when the sky split apart, and a frame on silvery wings appeared. “Go, team Strawberry!” it said, as it shot a beam of magical rainbows to turn Shiva into a tiny rubber duck.

WHAT

Of course this was a masterplan by Lorenzo, who also appeared in his own frame, the Cruxi Fister. It was an outrageous Pink, the only reason why he had gotten mad at Pilot Duval was because he had stolen his paintjob.

(Okay, now seriously)

Serah and Atty slid across the ground as they just barely managed to swerve to the side after dodging the slag cannon, right behind Mother Goose’s now-deployed bastion. The girl clicked her tongue in frustration from having Shiva not follow her into the back line, and further, losing one of Atty’s wings in the process. She not only had nothing to show for her effort, but was now in a worse position than where she started. She needed to come up with another plan of action, and fast. Her screen was still lighting up red, too, nothing but garbled static coming through the long-range communications. Dragonfly was proving to be a problem with its jamming reaching this far back.

Then it hit Serah; if Electric Dragonfly’s jamming reached this far, didn’t that mean she was close by? It’s possible that Rhylaen was following her and Atty this whole time, cutting her communications off from the team. Even if that was so, though, that still didn’t tell Serah where Electric Dragonfly was hiding. Even if she went to look, she wasn’t going to be able to tell her team about it.

Stellan inside the Mother Goose winced, and twitched, as she brought her simulated hand to her face. Warning sensors were all over, analogues of pain seeping into the runtimes of her programming. The jamming was affecting her, like a fleshy being would feel pain by being stung by dozens of bees. Nevertheless, she winced, and tried to offer her best smile. Switching to short range communications, she managed to open a channel with Serah, using loudspeakers.

“Ge-ge-gene Serah, Pi-pilot. Are you alri-right?” Goose added as she positioned better to shield the damaged frame, Atty, and attempted to reach for one of Guinevere’s repair drones to begin emergency repairs on the fragile cracked frame. “Do you- Do you- want this-this unit to hunt do-down rivals?” She prompted, wincing. She really did want to react to Elora’s sorry state, abandon all the simulation, grab the poor girl and give her her best strawberry sweets, but Serah also needed her. She tried not to let it show how …difficult this was to her, as her childcare routines still commanded.

"...! Stella, I can hear you?!" she’d respond, slightly bewildered. Serah hadn’t thought about short-range communication still working from them being right next to each-other, Atty looking up at the towering Mother Goose. She watched as Goose tried to offer Atty a repair drone, but the wing was already beyond salvage, laying scrapped along the path she came from. "No- I’m okay! You sound like you’re in pain though… argh!"

Serah bit down on her finger in frustration, wracking her brain about what to do. Then, as Stella suggested hunting down ‘rivals’, an epiphany hit her. "...! That’s it! Stella, Goose, do you think you could throw Atty up as high up as you can? From in the sky, me and him can find where Dragonfly is! We can stop them from jamming us!”

Stella’s voiced cracked on static. “That-that-is not advisable. We-we-are in a fi-fight. Uppies can-can- wait. I’m fi-ne. This- this unit will-will perform her duties without trouble.” The voice sounded cracked, and severe. But firm.

"Its because we’re in a fight that I need your help!” she’d shout back, just as firm. Serah moved her hand to her chest, her frame mimicking her every movement. She and Atty were pleading now. "I promise I’ll come back safe! Me and Atty fight together as one, and I can feel his heartbeat. He wants to help as much as I do! And I’m not fighting alone,” she’d say, putting down the repair drone she’d been donated earlier on Atty’s shoulder. "Me, you and Sparks- we’ll all be fighting together! And… if it gets too dangerous, I trust you’ll be right behind me! So please, Stella!”

Stella’s voice cracked once more. “XO Lorenzo put-put sensors to a mi-minimum threshold. It-it will hu-hurt. Like-Like. Elora. Are-you-sure-about-this?” Stella would ask for a final confirmation.

Serah flinched. "You’re… worried about it hurting me?” she’d say, slightly bewildered. Then, she giggled. ”Ahaha… maybe, but I’ll be okay. I promise. And… it makes me happy you’re that worried. I’m counting on you, okay?!”

With that, Atty’s thrusters flared up as she moved in front of Goose(M15), Atty and her opening their arms to make it easier for them to be picked up.

Stella went silent for a moment, before Goose’s Massive arms grabbed delicatedly the diminute frame. “Uppies command re-received.” Serah could feel how the servos cracked and whirred as the [Ripping Fists] came to life, giving the arms new momentum. Then, a brutal G-Force shook Serah against the top of her cockpit, followed by another brutal shift, sinking Serah’s body to the bottom of the system. And then… lack of gravity, as Mother Goose launched the smaller frame high up at ridiculous speed.

"Ghh-!” Serah groaned as she was hoisted up, then tossed around in her control system like a ragdoll when she got flung through the air. This plan was, by all accounts, stupid. Orienting yourself mid-air, mid-flight, while also looking for a target on the ground would be too much for you average pilot. Serah was, however, not your average pilot. With a deep breath, time seemed to slow down for her. After all, her and Atty had [True Synchronicity]. If anyone could do it, these two could.

Casting a shadow over the ground as Atty blotted out a part of the sun, the frame and Serah spun around in the air, thrusters activated to keep the momentum going. From her vantage point, as she was mid-flight from (M15) to (S15), she could see almost the whole battlefield- including Dragonfly from the building she was hiding behind.

Serah’s breaths got ragged as the adrenaline coursed through her, muttering ”Found you…!” to herself. She almost lost her nerve for a second, but then remembered Astolfo’s speech from before the match. How he’d rallied Ava to lead them to victory. Serah smirked to herself.

”Ava, huh…?” she’d mutter again, smirking to herself as a competitive fire was lit inside of her. Atty’s blade flared with a [Core Charge], Serah superheating the system to make the sword rage wild. ”Are you looking at this, Bug?! I’ll show you what victory looks like!”

Serah wielded Atty’s remaining wing like a shield, occupying the length of the frame’s free arm as she spun around again in the air. From high up in the sky, Atty suddenly sped down at an alarming speed- as fast as its thrusters could carry it, plasma blade overheating from the sheer energy coursing through it. Straight at Electric Dragonfly(T15), ensuring it had nowhere to run.

"EAT THIS!!”

Goose would then grab her Bastion and plow forward, not caring about the building in the middle of her aggressive followup, followed by planting her Bastion once more.

[Move to P15 through the building, plant bastion again]

(Serah consumes the token for +1 movement in case Rhylaen flees)

...Why was the mech pink? Why did it turn pink in front of his very waking eyes? And why did it look like a giant cockro-

“W-What, how did it turn pink? Is the VR buggy?” She wondered with a tilt of her head and a concerned look, and then glanced at Argent Wings, blinking.
“Wait, it’s not advancing. Rather, it looks like it’s…Sweeping for me!”

He had heard over the Apple comms that Logic Driver had gone in too far, which likely meant this voice, the same who had messaged him, was the-...oh that wasn't good. Diving in like that was a bit of a foolish decision, risky business even based on his prior drilling and training, but even he was questioning what in the world was going on with the visuals there with that mech as well. Had the old man dropped some fruit peel in the machine or something? Yet as Lucius would turn his attention to do a quick check over the simulated Rex Artus' sensors, mostly to make sure, something hit the ground and let loose a shockwave that shook the Rex Artus and its drones.

"What in the-"

From his point of view, the Team Mango Framewerks then simply began letting loose attacks. Whatever that impact had been, it had managed to give them a target to go after. Or it had revealed one perhaps? He could see the attacks in any case, between the Marker Light rounds being fired, to the telltale glow of a three-turn charged Particle Cannon being unleashed, to the follow-up of rapid Gatling Gun fire lighting things up. Looking to the view of his corner-camping drone for a moment with a flick of his fingers, though admittedly it wasn't a recon drone so it was just a visual feed he was going to get in a lesser sense, a visage on the ground caught the younger pilot's eye.

“Mayday! Critical damage sustained!” Elora screamed into the comms

A legless Logic Driver, clutching its Battle Rifle and pointing it in the direction of enemies who were advancing towards it. A pained scream that he knew well enough from sim battles held during his training time. The synchronization with a unit sure had its upsides and downsides, and yet...

It was like something clicked inside of him at the scene, or a switch being flipped inside of his mind. His breathing changed pace, and his hands went to the controls in a practiced manner and renewed focus. Commands were given to drones and to the Framewerk itself, and without hesitation Lucius would take action at this point in time.

[The Attack Drone at R-25 is now moving out to quickly begin attacking the Argo from the front to defend Logic Driver]

[Another one of the Attack Drones with Lucius is moving to the top of the building at P-25 to begin firing downward at Argo, while the third one moves to get around to O-26 to fire upon the side of the Argo to assist the other two drones.]

[Lucius is simultaneously quickly stepping out from his cover into O-27, as quickly as he can at least, and will be firing the Energy Crowd Control round already loaded into his Moonbreaker Railgun at space K-24 trying to hit the Argent Wings.

At the same time, the last Attack Drone will be kept hidden and in reserve in the postion of Q-27 to defend the Rex Artus and try to hide it from enemy fire for this turn.]

With all the general S.O.S. going on two fronts, Ari then heard Seven's monotone voice.

"Situation critical. Dragonfly and Logic Diver require assistance. Divide suggested. Cadet Ari. Positions are closest. Requesting your target."

Arrish felt flooded with decisons all around him. He could stay there, like planned, and help protect Sleepy from the encroaching enemy, but then there was Elora... the crackle of her voice over the radio, and the pain of hearing the failure in her voice. It was just too much for a man of his standing to ignore.

Then, even worse, as he was about to make a decision, Atty had crash landed into Dragonfly. He wanted to hesitate, to freeze and roll up into a ball. He couldn't just ignore Atty's display like that, but if Elora went down then they would lose their comms... and on a battlefield, communication was everything.

"Roger that, Cadet Jake. Take on Atty and protect Electric Dragonfly, I'll go after Logic Driver." Horst looked towards Angel Zero, made a nod with it's 'head' before readying a position and leaping into the air.

Hyrdaulics crunched into the virtual pavement and steam vented from the framewerks legs before, a second time, a framewerk would take itself up into the skies above with a powerful leap.

Then another message from Seven as Angel Zero nodded back but the message seemed to hit close to home from Ari.

"Don't hesitate. Act then accept the consequences."

Arrish smiled at the comment, and felt half twisted by it. Had Jake known about his family's history? On the one hand, it was advice that he had desperately needed to hear and yet...
Well, it didn't matter now. Arrish was... maybe on his own. It depend if this Banana character was going to turn heel on Team Apple.

[Knight to T-23]

---

---

The framewerk came crashing down onto the virtual stone with a loud crash, and the mighty Horst would take its bastion with both hands and have it come slamming down just before what was left of Logic driver. Arrish spat, and mounted his Heavy Assault gun onto the newly formed wall and prepared to fire. "Elora, you darling girl, don't you think for a moment that I'm going to let anything happen to you. Keep those comms up, they're the only thing keeping Team Apple from going silent. Can your arms work? If they can, don't let up the pain."

Arrish swiveled the gun placement in front of him and took aim at the nearest target, Argo. Armor piercing shots rang from the cylinder of his Heavy Assault gun as it took aim onto the dangerous framewerk in front of him. Arrish spat his luck, did he just jump into the firing line? Well, at least there were pretty girls.

That didn't mean all his focus was on Argo, he decided on something else too. Lucius had just opened up a big place in his heart with how he opened up fire onto Team Mango, and he wasn't going to just let that go unrewarded. He opened up a channel, his heavy assault gun still firing and following Argo around. "Hey, Sterling, I just decided that you're on Team Apple now. If you can get all three of us out of this alive, than I'll treat you to lunch sometime, how about that for payment? No homo."

‘Merde’ Aurora cursed in the privacy of her thoughts as the comms were slowly overtaken by static and distortions. This was explicitly why she had warned Logic Diver away from going deep! The foolish girl had possibly destroyed one of the few advantages they had in this mission.

It burned at her. In the field this level of insubordination could mean death for far more than just one Pilot.

Regardless, she pulled back on Sleeping Thunder’s throttle. Full speed ahead wasn’t needed anymore, but she was far from just standing around as well. She hit the toggle next to the throttle as she set about adjusting some of Sleeping Thunder’s compression and suspension systems.

In response the lumbering behemoth slowed, but dozens of thrusters lit up along the underside of its legs. Newer Frames would have taken to the air with this system, hovering even as they crawled forward. But Sleeping Thuder was a bit too old, and a lot too heavy to have that level of supplementary propulsion.

[Spider Legs - Hover Move: (Z)15 -> (Y)15]

But that did not mean the Frame gained no benefits from the subsystem.

'Target acquired'

At the outer edge of Sleeping Thunder’s range sat a wounded and temporarily blinded target. One that neither Pilot nor Frame had any intention of letting slip out with such superficial wounds. And with the activation of ‘hover suspension’ there was no interference from the lumbering gait of the Frame to throw off their aim.

[Particle Cannon(Full Charge): Attacking Squid (Q17)]

The discharge of the cannon split the air with a roar as she restrained the urge to vent her frustrations alongside her Frame’s destructive salvo. And yet in the midst of her attack one of the many screens she had before her flashed an update at her.

'Priority Target in range - initializing Missile Lock'

Atty had blitzed inside their perimeter with startling ease. At least for a moment, until the smaller frames trajectory clicked.

“Did she really let herself get tossed!?” Aurora couldn’t help but ask, not seeing any other way outside of assistance from Mother Goose that Atty would have been able to come up and over like he was doing so.

The cannon discharge ended. And before Aurora could reorient Sleeping Thunder to unleash a hailstorm of bullets in Atty’s decent, regardless of Electric Dragonfly’s proximity. Angel Zero raced past, their destination clearly to assist Dragonfly. She discarded the idea of opening fire in that direction now. Atty for Dragonfly might have been viable, if only to curtail some of Mango’s speed, seeing as Dragonfly was soon to become as much a liability as an asset. But Dragonfly and Angel were not worth one Frame.

She returned her attention back to Squid. The targeting system installed into Sleeping Thunder having already lined up another shot.

[Automated Targeting System - Moonbreaker(AB-AP): Attacking Squid (Q17)]

Aurora couldn’t help but notice that Horst as well was moving out. Their intention also to assist. But she couldn’t help but feel it was a move born more out of chivalric pride, then tactical sense. Seeing as there was little to nothing that anyone on Apple could do to truly assist Logic Diver at this point.

She would be more upset at this if it didn’t create a reasonable line of scrimmage, what with how it seemed that the Pilot from team Banana choosing to pivot to Apple’s side for the time being.

But truly, little about how this mission had been playing out so far was how she had expected it to go. Much to her consternation.

[Dragon Wing Missile Launchers; Attempting Lock on to Atty. Cockroach, Guinevere, Argo priority targets upon entering range]
[Moonbreaker; Empty]
[Particle Cannon; Uncharged]
[Artillery Mortars; Artillery Mode, HYDRA Shell Loaded]

As a Tevranian, Rhylaen was used to keeping an eye on what was above her. Still it was rather a surprise to see a human thinking in three dimensions. "Am under attack! Is Atty!" With Logic Diver down, she was about to be a liability on the field. Her sensors picked up Angel Zero coming in from behind. Better make this count, she thought to herself. First a shot at the descending frame with her Arklight Thunder, to disable its energy shields, then a shot with her Marker Light in marking mode so that others would have a better chance of hitting the attacking frame. As she attacked, she reconfigured her Energy Wings and Shield Generator to better protect her front facing. She tried to dodge backwards, away from Atty and closer to Sleeping Thunder. If she could keep Atty busy long enough that the others could take Serah out, it would be a worthwhile trade.

((Firing with Arklight Thunder in projectile mode and Marker Light in marking mode; moving backwards to W15))

---

As the Dragonfly and its jamming field moved away, Sparks' Epsilon drone gave him a better view of the field. There were two main conflicts at the moment -- Serah and her target, and then the fight around the downed Logic Diver. Squid was also in trouble, but with the virtual ground shaking under Sleepy's barrage, he wasn't sure if he could do anything for Zel-Gin. Actually, if Elora tapped out, then maybe he could do something with the crippled frame -- using its Hyperwave Relay. It would all depend on how things played out. For the moment, he moved across the field, and Dancer moved Epsilon with him.

((dashing to M19, dashing drone 5 of 6 to O18))

---

Minerva felt a ping of satisfaction as she finally landed a hit on the surprisingly elusive Logic Driver. She thought her joining would be overkill but clearly she is wrong. She watched as the funny looking Framewerk tried to survive. A valiant effort but ultimately a futile one.

Activating her thrusters, Argo literally outran the bullets dashing for Logic Driver before she could readjust her aim. Using her Ripper Fist with support from her Marker Light, she literally tore apart Elora’s Framewerk, her attack being akin to a dog’s claws. That should take her down for good and fulfill the ‘mission’ Ava is asking her.

Minerva’s eyes would briefly turn towards the drone about to attack, crap she seems to be playing bait for others. How many systems are aiming at her right now? There is no way it is the only thing targeting right?

”That won’t be enough.”she declared on the public comms as a feral smile was drawn on her face, dashing to the nearby building to take cover before emerging at her top speed challenging everyone to try their best. Now it is her turn to show Elora how to deal with being targeted. She did this a lot of times, now is not the time she will disappoint.

Mema-Ka

Meme-Kun

He was already on his way towards team apple's eastern flank at Aurora's direction. Had the Logic Diver gotten too deep into the opposing territory? Soon enough he had heard Elora's mayday call over the comms, followed by a more difficult to decipher transmission from her. The Logic diver was heavily damaged, he wasn't certain if he would even make it in time to assist it, but he didn't know until he got there. His framewerk hunched down before pressing it's reverse jointed legs from the ground [Leaper], sending it up into the air, overlooking the area below him and to the east, like a true bird hunting for prey. The raptor dove right down with it's feet first, having spotted one frame moving from their side over towards it. He recognized it as the Horst, then there were another close. He identified it as the Argo.

"Obscure. Fruitpunch!" He quickly relayed over the comms, not knowing the Rex Artus having already engaged and chosen a side. There were a lot of things going on now, he had to prioritize. His drone lasers which were attached to his framewerk set aim at the Argo and then tried to shoot at it, Mema-Ka then had the Raptor point it's [Marker Light] in the same direction [Free Reaction Shot]. It's extra pair of arms stretching out from the orb-like backpack pieces. As the Argo made it's approach the Raptor would attempt to use it's [Rocket Anchors] located on it's waist to try distract the Argo from properly hitting Logic up close, it even tried to use it's [Leaper] to do a risky extended kick to the approaching speedy framewerk, providing there is opportunity to do these things.

"Logic! I will relocate you to our backline! Horst! Please provide covering fire!" Mema-Ka relayed over towards Horst, not sure if his messages would get through to either of them or the Rex Artus. If the Horst would be able to provide him with cover, he could likely carry the heavily damaged Logic Diver back to their backline. But first they had to fight off the ones in front of them.

He could also see the Argent Wings further back, and behind it were a pink framewerk. Another unknown? He didn't recall one like that on the opposing team. Having the Horst nearby was reassuring, but would the defenses on their western and frontline be enough to hold back the others in the Mango team? He had taken some shots at his younger brother moments earlier, but to his genuine surprise his laser drones had managed to hit. What in the world had gone wrong with the Squid? Had the Electric Dragonfly done that?

His brother was not the kind of person who took losses well, as rare as they would happen. For him loss equaled death. Failure was not an option. Having put his brother on the opposing team was dangerous. Who else could reign him in if he lost it? It all spelled extra work for the older twin. He wouldn't even be able to physically hold him back from choking someone out, would he go into that state of mind... again.

There were also the possibility of him going catatonic or apathic to the tasks further ahead. Or casting aside his frame altogether. Momentarily Mema-Ka considered allowing himself to be shot down by his younger twin just to appease the beast that possibly could get loose.

Raptor moving to [S-24]

Griff

It had been difficult to parry the incoming attack, but even more so to resist his urge to chase after Atty after shooting at it. That opposing framewerk were akin to how a flying frisbee were to a dog. And he was a dog who loved to chase frisbees. But he wouldn't get any treat if he chased after it, more like yelling from the others, especially Arrish he suspected. He had done his best to listen to the plan, even if he couldn't remember most parts of it, he recalled it wasn't as bad a plan as he had expected. He wanted to give his new team the benefit of the doubt. He knew he had to try hold himself back and stick somewhat close to Sleeping Thunder. That big bulky but slow as hell frame. He had respect for it, that one was packing some heavy gear. Like a bodybuilder with a really big backpack… with weapons and alot of legs. For having so many legs, that framewerk had clearly skipped leg day.

Atty had performed really well in attacking, blocking and evading his attacks. He didn't know 'that kid' was that skilled at piloting. She didn't seem that muscular or old like himself… he was twentyfive… and she was probably like 10 years younger. Then again he wasn't great with numbers or kids. Knowing how to make the right protein drink however... Still he was fond of the Atty framewerk, it was a speedy and aggressive little bee. A frisbee!

"Not bad! But the Griffman is a blackbelt at kicking names and taking ass! No wait!" He said aloud in his framewerk followed by a wide grin.

Then he had heard another buzzing noise in his ear, it was Arrish. His whole body recoiled at the voice as he had been using a megaphone.

"Hey! Who are you calling Goldilocks?! I know the plan! I am all about the plan! Kick some ass, stick around Sleepy, try not to get ass kicked!" Griff yelled back into the team comms to Arrish, after hearing his message.

'Where is Argent Wing and Argo?' He blinked momentarily. Well they were not over where he had been at, and the western flank looked all clear. That shameful sparkles fellow were probably hiding out there somewhere, but he would have to deal with that later. Arrish had a point, he had to go and find Minerva and her Argo, or he would never be able to sleep. Just the possibility of Minerva somehow winning AGAIN was too horrible a thought to linger on.

'If they aren't to the west or in the middle of the battlefield near that big duck that means they must be in the east! So I should head east? But won't that leave Sleepy unguarded?' He shook his head, this wasn't the time to think it was to act. He knew Goose and Atty were by the middle, and judging by the light someone else were also nearby. It was in that moment that he heard Elora over the comms with her mayday call.

"Elora?! Hold on! I am coming!" Griff called out loud over the comms. She was in serious trouble, he had to move out, the static message soon followed. A memory made itself known to the blond.

He recalled the last messages of his fallen friends.

"Under fire! Gaa-!"

"Where are they?! I cannot track-"

"GRIFFITH!"

Griff's facial expression changed, his eyes widening, he felt the sweat all over his face and body, his breathing becoming hastily, his arms shaking slightly and his eyes darting from side to side, up and down. "Enlai! Lohann! Everyone! No! NOT AGAIN!" He screamed out to no one, moving out quickly from behind the building with his Shiva, his teeth gritted and his eyes quickly darting around.

'I won't fail again! I definitely save you this time!' His eyes landed on the Electric Dragonfly and seeing the blurry thing coming towards it, it was the Atty but he didn't even register who it were, it was a threat to his ally. Who he at moments past, on several occasions had labeled an untrusty alien. But she were on his team. The two impossibilities becoming one made his entire brain pound. He moved towards [T-15] seeking to make a stand there in that very square. He attempted to get shots off with his [Slag Cannon] and his [Marker Light] if possible before getting there, making a stabbing motion with the [Multiform Rod: Spear] as it moved closer up to place it's bigger frame over the Electric Dragonfly. It's extra pair of arms raising up to try [Parry] the incoming attack shining fingers lit. Sweat trickling down Griff's face, using the shining fingers in a battle were always a strain. He didn't care if he had to give up his extra pair of arms to repel the attacker, he was willing to make that trade. He had to save his friends, his comerades... Elora.

Finally the Shiva raised it's [Carbonox/Trillium blade] in an uppercutting motion, hoping to land a hit and protect itself using the wrist mounted but otherwise mundane shield.

"I WONT LET YOU! RAAAAGHHH!"

[No Supporter Reaction taken]

Zel-Ghin

"Eyy! Tch!" Zel-Ghin gritted his teeth as he looked away to avoid the blinding light provided by Electric Dragonfly, then two large impacts hit his frame in short succession. The horst had taken the opportunity to fire upon him while he was blinded by whatever was to his right. Then a second impact had come from a dark framewerk which had been hidden. Both shots passed through the Stargazer system and damaged his framewerk, then to add insult to injury, a set of smaller laserbeams hit him aswell from none other than his brother whose white framewerk were standing behind a building. Four of them at the same time? It irritated him. That blinding light had interfered with his ability to defend himself with the Stargazer system. Someone would have to pay dearly for this later, but for now the most logical choice was to fall back. As far as he saw it, the framewerk had failed him.

'Perhaps I should let you die for this failure on your end?' He thought as he withdrew the Squid, but the building he had planned to use for cover had been destroyed by the absolute unit that was the Goose. His mobility was reduced, the stargazer system felt off, weaponry had been damaged. There were only one logical choice now, to get behind the wall that the Goose were offering and deploy the repair drones, he didn't bother deactivating the stargazer system, all he needed was to repair his framewerk and restore some of it's mobility then he could move out and fire his particle cannon [Charging for turn 3], sending someone possibly to kingdom come. But he also spotted how the Atty had moved up to intercept whomever were hiding behind the small building, the underhanded one who had blinded him. 'Good. Go kill that little rat, kittycat.'

This was meant to be a fun cat and mouse chase, or a farming simulator... this wasn't it. He felt annoyed. So very, very annoyed. In the corner of his eye he could see what he believed were the Logic Diver downed. Perhaps there were some justice left in the world after all?

Move to [P-16] behind Goose's bastion and activate [Repair drones] on Squid while keeping the half-way functioning [Stargazer system] on.

@Digmata@shylarah@Ravion the Red@Crusader Lord@Randomguy

Bug grimaced upon seeing Elora twisting at the last moment, not fully evading the shot. "Sloppy finish. Damn." He cursed under his breath as he sighed and opened the comms. "Alright, I'll be going to the other side-GUN!" He said, yelling for Wings to scramble. He knew the little Cruxi dropping would try something funny. And what better than a young pilot crippled at the mercy of opponents. Still, that was not the only of his worries.

Argo had gone in deep, trying to snatch her first kill. That girl's frame was suited for attack and speed, but that didn't mean she couldn't get in a crossfire for what? A double tap. Bug confessed it'd be nice to have completed the silencing of the Logic Diver, but what he had done had crippled it and compromised its functionality.

To a degree it was rattling everyone else in the vicinity, and he knew Team Apple wouldn't let such a first winding punch stand by. He spotted a blur. The Horst, jumping and trying to shield Elora.

Great, now everyone's answering Elora's pain whimpers. And my frame's still pink! I bet that Andersen is trying to get back at me for the Duvallian folly! I'll get cut to ribbons if I dive in! Bug thought as he kept strafing to behind the building.

There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must not be attacked, towns which must not be besieged, positions which must not be contested, commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed. He repeated to himself.

Wait. If people are coming here. The left flank... Bug thought for a second, as he gave a last farewell.

"Au revoir, Arrish, mon amour." He offered a last mock kiss to the arriving frame before darting in an opposite direction.

"Reinforcing the left flank. Heavies incoming on your side, Wings. Argo might not be salvageable at this rate." He cursed under his breath as he sped up, charging his gun once more, and sliding behind yet another building.

It was when he saw Guinevere running in the opposite direction, drones escorting him. As if some choreography was being put in place, they both ended behind the sides of the same building. What had possesed him to go to where everyone was? Oh. Elora. The Hyper Relay. It clicked. Guinevere must have had a similar flash of inspiration as himself. In fact he probably was a better techhead than anyone else given his frame's specifications.

He flagged a private channel to Guinevere."Gwen, how's this side coming along? Where are Squid and Atty?" He said, before correcting himself. Maybe both were taken out. In that kind of dampening field, it was impossible to know who was still alive, and only the looming figure trailing forward through a building was the only thing he could see. "...Shit. You've been hit rough. I apologize for the delay, I was making sure Logic Diver was a non-factor. But it's now calling unintentionally a bunch of knights ready to defend the downed frame. Argo also wants a piece of the downed frame. So i'm afraid the Hyper Relay is unobtainable for now." Bug gritted his teeth.

"I'm not even sure if team leader will be able to pull Argo or herself back, but I gotta reach Sleeping Thunder, and go after that big lunk and inside the jamming zone." He added, pointing with his rifle the advancing Goose. He gritted his teeth. He had to be sharper yet. He had to push on further. He had sacrificed one of his drones already, and the looming weapons platform cast a heavy shadow. Plus while his side could have speed... and had support and repair drones, it rarely traduced itself into damage. If only they could... hack at their pleasure. But he had a pitiful range, and Gwen was limited in how far his drones reached.

On the ground of intersecting highways, join hands with your allies. Bug though as he swallowed.

"I want you inside me, Sparks...wait I voiced that wrong.[Machine Mind] I can offer you a proxy install through a secure channel so my own frame becomes a proxy and a repeater of your drones. Downside is that I have to essentially admit that you can override and control my frame at any moment. But it's sink or swim. It might not be the Hyper relay, but two hackers can go further than one." He then pulled a keyboard."That'll help overcome our disparity in firepower and ranges. They won't be expecting it."

Secure Connection Request. Y/N. The screen blinked in front of Sparks.

[Dash from J24 to J21, then diagonally to M18, charging Particle Beam, attempting to connect with Sparks]

Seven
_______

It's not often that Jake had to "motivate" someone to make a decision...but in war, hesitation can lead to disaster.

Don't hesitate. Act then accept the consequence...one of his earliest lessons he had learned.

Reactivation the "Visual Cloak" of the "Cloaking Wings MK.2", Jake "Dashed" alongside the framewerks Electric Dragonfly and Sleeping Thunder as one of them fired an attack at the framewerk Atty. He waited for the attack to pass by before cutting in front of them.

Then, he noted the framewerk Shiva committing to what looked like a desperate attack on the Atty.

"Dragonfly. Thunder. Shiva. Moving to zone U15. Mind your fire", Jake droned on the com link.

Jake couldn't attack due to dashing into his position plus, due to perhaps Cadet Griff's attack, Jake couldn't risk friendly fire. Jake had to wait and see if the Shiva could take on the framewerk Atty.

But Jake knew the spec's of the framewerks in this division. He was studying it during his transfer to Lorenzo's division since he needed to know about the team he was being assigned to thanks to Admiral Cain. During the flight, he had looked the data over.

And he knew that the "Phase Shift", while experimental, could allow it to phase through Griff's attack if Atty was paying attention...so it'd be up to Jake to respond if that were the case...

---

Ava had to restrain herself from asking if Elora was okay the moment she saw her crippled frame.

She had heard that the girl had an exceptional degree of synchronicity with her framewerk. As someone who also had high synchronicity, Ava could imagine the pain that would come from such damage to one's framewerk.

Still, that was simply that 'exchange' one needed to accept to pilot a framewerk with such a high degree of synchronicity. It would do her well to get used to the pain before they hit the actual battlefield.

The more pressing issue was that members of Team Apple started to converge on Logic Diver's position, leaving Argo pinned down.

An unfortunate situation. An assessment that Bugs appeared to have shared. Well, given Argo's speed, Ava wouldn't write her off just yet, but it was probably best if she provided some support.

@AtomicNut"Argent to Cockroach. Go back to the original plan and take down Thunder. That remained a primary objective—"

As long as Sleeping Thunder was taken down, victory remained possible, especially if they managed to conserve Mother Goose on their side as a heavy hitter.

"—I'll go ahead and support Arg—"

The rest of Ava's order was interrupted, as she was forced to make an evasive manoeuvre, attempting to evade an energy round shot by Rex Artus.

Fortunately, given that Argent Wings' stealth system was still operational and that Logic Diver's analysis had been compromised, the shot would be made purely through biological vision, greatly reducing accuracy. Given her framewerk's speed and her quick reflexes due to her rate of synchronisation, Ava was somewhat confident that she would be able to dodge it.

However...from her experience, she knew that nothing in the battlefield was absolute, and she prepared to repel the shot with the shining fingers installed on Argent Wings.

She then would close the distance toward Rex Artus, his position being given away after making the shot, before engaging it in close quarters with the Argent Wings' main weapon, the vibroblade.

At the same time, with a brief flash, three holographic duplicates were deployed through the Cloaking Wings, as the now seemingly four Argent Wings moved in a dazzling manner, shifting around with great speed. using the holographic images as decoys and confusing the target to create an opening for a decisive strike.

Despite the struggle of communicating through loudspeakers within a battlefield full of noise like bullets ,energy blasts and explosions, Serah and Stella found themselves coming up with a daring plan: the mighty Mother Goose tossed Atty like a Frame-shaped javelin, followed by stomping through a building as if it were a mere sandcastle in its way, crumbling it to pieces. The small Frame bravely launched across the sky after being thrown. It’s target: Electric Dragonfly. In response, Atty was struck with a thunderbolt from the latter’s Arklight Thunder system, eliminating the last Energy Wing as it fell out of the sky like a clipped wing. But even without wings, the red Frame started on a downward curve, it’s plasma blade held as energy began coursing through it in bright light. As Atty was locked on by Sleeping Thunder, it dodged the Markerlight shots from Dragon, and even the Slag Cannon shot from Griff’s Shiva as he charged into defend the Tevranian: Serah had achieved a level of synchronization never seen before from True Synchnorizity, as she flipped and spun through enemy fire like an acrobat.

But then, Atty was hit by Shiva’s Markerlight. Atty barely managed to dodge the spear thrust that came alongside the shots, but it carved a line across Atty’s side. In doing so, she was unable to dodge the final attack: Shiva’s Trillium Blade swung upwards, bisecting Atty vertically. However, even then, it was too late for Electric Dragonfly, as the half of Serah and Atty still holding the energy blade, inspired by Astolfo’s words to push beyond the impossible, penetrated through Shiva’s Shining Fingers, the intense energy of the raging plasma blade cutting past the parry, already strained by a parry from the last turn. This resulted in the Shining Fingers malfunctioning, the energy now blinking like a dying lightbulb. Then, Atty passed the imposing Frame, and stabbed the plasma blade right through Electric Dragonfly’s chest, followed by a detonation of pure plasma from Atty’s unstable core from the violent impact: in the crater that ensued, only smoldering remains of both Atty, and Electric Dragonfly, were left.

[Serah disconnected]
[Rhylaen disconnected]

Shiva and Angel Zero, due to proximity, also incurred minor damage, melting and bleaching the bright red front armor of the former Framewerk white. It also destroyed the cloaking system of the latter as plasma energy overloaded the cloak matrix, resulting in the black Framewerk coming to view amidst blue arcs of harmless electricity due to the malfunctioning system.

Sleeping Thunder received a bit of bleaching on it’s front legs, but the colossus had enough distance not to receive structural damage from the detonation. It set it’s aim towards Zel-Ghin and his Squid, and there was a reckoning: Zel was able to partially redirect the Moonbreaker shot upwards, and it created a groove on the ceiling of the Frame as it cut through the armor, managing to avoid destruction. The pilot attempted to flee behind the Bastion. But what little hope the arrogant pilot had left of surviving, as the crippled Frame struggled to turn with partially broken legs, was dashed as the battlefield once again shook from the unforgettable sound of a Particle Cannon being shot: the shot, even with upwards curving from the Stargazer, was still large enough in volume that it punched through the center of the Frame, instantly killing Zel-Ghin and causing the Frame to explode in a spectacular display, and the pilot with it.

[Zel-Ghin disconnected]

As Electric Dragon fell, so did the jamming field from the battlefield, and team Mango’s communications came live. So did Guinevere’s drone’s allowing Sparks to properly survey the battlefield and make his next move, taking cover towards the east. There, he was met with Cockroach, and given an offer. If Sparks were to accept, he would be able to control his drones even if Guinevere was out of range if Cockroach was in range instead.

On the eastern front, the situation was coming to a head, as the battle revolved around a lone Elora and his crippled Frame. Despite her attempts to deter Minerva from approaching, the Olympian cared little for her weak bullets, the Argo charging in like greased lightning, the golden claw of the goddess held forward, ready to rip and tear.

Elora closed her eyes as tears drifted down, ready to accept her virtual death, when suddenly, she saw the battlefield transform: in an instant, Frames had congregated to rescue her, and even team Banana had decided to join their cause, his Combat Drones having taken positions to pour a barrage of lasers on Argo. However, the Frame dodged and weaved through the red rain, and the shots that connected were either intercepted by the Hornet Nest Point Defense System, or failed to melt through the very heavy-esque armor on their own. Still, with three drones shooting, it had delivered minor damage to the armor plating, melting it at some spots.

As the Ripper Claw came closer, Elora saw as Raptor swooped in. Mema-Ka shot the Rocket Anchors in an attempt to strike Argo, only for them to be deflected by the Hornet Nest Point Defense System. As a result, Raptor missed the flying kick, Argo having ducked under it while only slightly slowing the momentum for the killing blow.

But just as the goddess of the hunt was to claim its quarry, Horst had slammed an L-shaped Bastion Wall right in front of her with an earth-shaking slam, providing a few quick shots of the Heavy Assault Gun, missing. But even against a barrier made of the sturdiest alloy in the galaxy, the Ripper Claw managed to punch it’s long golden claws through the thick material. But in doing so, it lost enough power to puncture Logic Diver, only the very tip of the longest claw having dented the armor. Pulling away, two claws scraped an X-shaped scar over Logic Diver’s front before Argo took a tactical retreat behind the building.

As the incident passed, so did Elora’s moment of confusion, and Logic Diver used it’s body-mounted thrusters, managing to turn upright, and readying a reaction shot with the Automatic Battle Rifle resting on the broken Bastion.

“Thank you!” Her voice could be heard over the comms, no longer scrambled by jamming. “You came to save me! Arrish, Mema-Ka…And Banana too!”

However, unbeknownst to Elora, Lucius, a rookie pilot, was about to receive a reminder of what it meant to face a veteran like Ava.

Lucius took aim, and the Moonbreaker sang, it’s deadly song launched towards Argent Wings. Ava Lane, using her Synchronized Agility, dodged the shot. But then, Lucius realized that something strange had happened [Humanity’s Potential]: he was again in the moment of aiming the shot, the Argent Wings having somehow gone back to where he originally took the shot, as if time itself had wound back a couple of seconds itself. Was it a bug in the VR, a vision of a failed alternate timeline, or something else? Lucius had no time to ponder such questions, and shot again, this time knowing how Argent Wings would dodge. As a result, Ava was forced to parry the shot using Argent’s Shining Fingers.

By the time the parry was made, Ava had already closed the distance to Rex Artus, and swung with the Vibroblade, ignoring the Combat Drone that now shot at the Frame, partially damaging the Cloaking System in the process. Lucius then felt strange again, as [Clairvoyance] now showed him a future where he was bisected in half, and dodged to the side. But then, Ava saw as time slowed down for her [Humanity’s Potential]: she saw the direction Lucius would be dodging, and from years of experience adjusted the trajectory of the blade, delivering a bisecting blow that separated from right shoulder to left hip…And the Black Frame was destroyed in twin explosions killing Lucius in the virtual space.

[Lucius disconnected]

The pilots who had disconnected woke up in their assigned VR seats, the helmets having been automatically lifted off. Lorenzo was there, his hand resting on his walking cane, accompanied by Liisa.
“First blood, huh…As punishment for dying earlier in the mission, you will now observe the rest of the battle. Perhaps you’ll learn something by watching how other pilots fight,” he spoke, and then resumed watching from the large display screen installed on the central pillar of the VR chamber. In the distance, they could hear Ritsu angrily ranting to some hapless scientist, and could only sigh in relief that they were not the recipient.

The battlefield was like a blur to Serah. She dashed and weaved through the air with startling ease, fully working together with her frame to react faster than any person should be able to. Having already seen Griff's slag cannon in action she breezed past it on her descent, only to violently clash with him once down on the ground. He came in to parry her blow, and for the briefest of miliseconds Griff's arms managed to stop her sword in its tracks. The pain from Atty's side being cut didn't even register to her yet, even as she instinctively grit her teeth.

"I'm not... losing... to you!” Serah screamed from within her frame as her blade cut right through Griff's shining fingers, before her own frame was sliced in half. Her entire body tensed up as the searing pain shot through her, the entire left side of her body suddenly going numb. Serah didn't even have time to scream it out as her consciousness flickered, but gritting her teeth and with what little lucidity she managed to hold onto, she and Atty dashed right past Shiva. Coming to a halt in front of Dragonfly, Atty's flickering and unstable plasma blade was shoved right to its chest. Everything flashed red in her cockpit as the sim was dangerously close to disconnecting her from the neural feedback, Serah's own thoughts growing hazy and dim.

'Stella... I couldn't keep my promise... the rest is up to...'

Atty's core pulsed. With a violent, bright explosion, the world briefly went dark for him and Serah both.

---

Serah reeled as she disconnected from the VR sim, drenched in sweat as her body coursed adrenaline through her. Physically she was fine, but the feedback from her synchronicity with Atty still left her shaking and about to throw up from the pain. Her entire body was on fire, feeling like it'd been burnt to a crisp- nevermind the searing pain shooting through the middle of her body as she tried getting up. Only when experiencing the sheer level of this pain does it begin to dawn on her what kind of suffering she must have put Atty through. She winced at the thought, already feeling a sense of crushing guilt. 'Atty... I'll make it up to you, I promise...' she thought to herself, the pain slowly fading from her body as she tried sitting upright.

She looked around the room, seeing several other pilots waking up alongside her. Rhylaen and the green-haired boy from her team, as well as just one more figure- someone she didn't recognize at all. A young boy, maybe around her age but distinctly different from Zel-Ghin. That... was probably Banana. She felt a little pity for him, since Lorenzo was pretty clear his objective was to survive.

Lorenzo who, at that point in time, looked over all the pilots and firmly reprimanded them for dying so early. But his 'punishment' was merely for each pilot to watch the remaining battle. She didn't think he was too sincere about it at all, when phrased like that.

Shaky and unsteady Serah got to her feet, the pain from her virtual wounds mostly having faded along with her adrenaline only for an extreme soreness to follow suit. Her body was still protesting her stunt, but all she could do was grit her teeth and bear it as she stumbled over to watch the remaining battle. She looked for Rhylaen in the room and walked over to her with a sheepish and apologetic smile.

"Ahaha... sorry about that one, Rhylaen. I think I got a little carried away...”

---

“Lucky.” Minerva’s voice spoke as looked at the Bastion, she knew the wall killed her momentum to take down Logic Diver that moment, recognizing that she was outnumbered, she fell back and hid. Taking a small breath she looked at the battlefield map and it was… something.

They lost Serah and in exchange they got their comms, not bad but she also expected more on her, well no use crying over spilt milk. She briefly considered her options, she could perform a blitz and take down Sleeping Thunder right here, right now. She might die but that will secure their victory.

[Squid Down]
[Rex Artus Down]

A much more viable course of action is before her however, Team Apple might successfully pull their rescue but they made themselves locked down as a result. They must be feeling very safe behind that little wall of theirs.

No they are not safe and it’s time to peel that delusion away.

With the help of her boosters, she made a move between the buildings while everyone was still busy celebrating their ‘miraculous’ rescue. Turning to the left she made a dash from the trio of Framewerks unloading her gatling on their unaware backs. After all, when is the best time to snuff but the moment they think they succeeded?

A memory of hers surfaced on her mind, she thought it was over that they won and she could stop now. Then she felt Argo being pushed away and Hera’s framewerk blowing up.

”We are not done just yet!” a near insane voice boomed out at the general communications as gun fire showered the group. Flee, scatter, hold or strike, she doesn’t care what they do.

This is the end of their line!

Rhylaen bit back a cry of pain as she disconnected. She took a moment to reorient herself as her helmet came off, shaking her head to clear it. Then she clambered out of her pod, and made her way over to where Serah was doing the same. She offered the young woman a hand to shake. "You did good," she said, with no evident animosity over the events of the fight.

---

Astolfo's request got an eyeroll and a huff of laughter at how he initially phrased it. "You're a little young for me, but I'll take a hacking backdoor anyday. Dancer! Spin up Zeta and transfer it, Gamma, and Delta over to the Cockroach." Sparks quickly agreed to the secure connection request.

"Greetings, Cadet Bugatti." The warm, feminine voice came over his comms. "Hold a moment while the drones connect, please." There were two sets of muffled thunking noises as Gamma and Delta latched onto Cockroach, followed belatedly by a third thunk that indicated Zeta's arrival as well. "Drones attached."

"Alright, you're good to go, Astolfo. I'll keep an eye out for likely targets to hack. Also it seems Atty took down Dragonfly, so we don't have to worry about the jamming field anymore."

((attaching drones 3, 4, and 6 of 6 to Cockroach))

@shylarah

Astolfo sighed, as he heard Sparks recap, flicking through the messages on his cockpit. "I guess I should invite that gutsy girl to a proper dinner, not just some sweets. That was one hell of a move she pulled." He offered a small wry smile. "Aut viam inveniam aut faciam." He muttered to himself, as he fidgetted. The communications were clearing, and therefore the tide could shift in their favour. Ava had also managed to execute team Banana for some reason, and while Elora was still in game, the clutter and the distraction, helped by a stubborn Minerva held.

Maybe it had been a good thing to coax that woman out of herself. Maybe she'd appreciate it eventually, that gorgeous redhead.

Still, there was no time to ponder, for even if the Alps had been crossed, Rome still had to be brought to heel and-

A voice screeched, rife with screeches and electronic distortion, blaring through both the general channel and the team channel. The voice of a Lilim in extreme mode, showing what their kind probably assimilated as grief.
Stupid ass malfunctioning clanker. Now of all times! Astolfo thought. But then again...Lilim can form strong attachments. He shuddered, as he was momentarily transported to another place, another moment.

---

The tea felt stale and tepid on the cup, as it clanked with the saucer. Well, there was little way they could procure decent tea in such a run down hut they had been cornered to was slim to none. Astolfo let a drawn out sigh. He was hungry and thirsty, and the brew could do so much. He had not bathed in days.

"See that's the problem. The delulu clanker won't stop at anything, sister. She already ground us down. We have to get out of here." Astolfo said, as he eyed the figure across the table, fair and exotic in equal measure. Besides her, a large, curvy Lilim with aesthetically pleasing features stood by her chair.

"Oh brother. Lilim do have feelings, don't you know? Like my retainer here. They do get attached to us, they can't really help it, as we're kin to their creators. My BDK over here would risk destruction at a single order of mine. You should've brought some proper backup, and not waste time being a basement bug playing with machines. Make real contacts." The woman said, a mocking smile on her face.

"Lucrezia, you're in the same situation as me." Astolfo replied. "Neither our approaches were right."

His elder sister looked at her nails. "Oh, is that so?"

It was then when something odd...happened. Tingling, numbness, difficult to breathe. "Poison...why you...how?"

"It wasn't easy. But a few components here and there, and the poison is brewed on the spot as you are served tea. Me, of course, I have also drank the stuff, but the poison will not work unless all ingredients are there... sooo... I was lying I was on a diet and was cutting off the sugar." The face of his sister giggled wickedly. "You really fell for it, little brother. Now then, stay where you are so Orlando can pick you up. He promised me to leave me alone if I brought you."

"B-bitch." Astolfo gasped, as his eyelids became heavier. There were more words, but they felt as if underwater. Until the sounds of clashing, and battle, woke him up once more. The sounds of a Lilim being torn apart.

"Nooo! My BDK! We had a deal, you stupid clank-hey! Let me go! I'll tear you apart!" The figure of Lucrezia wiggled and contorted as a tall humanoid frame stood in front, her boots firmly planted the barely functioning scrap that had been Lucrezia's assistant.

"Yes. We will leave you, alone. Lilim retainers do not count." The voice, the mocking voice of Durandal was heard. "You are valuable. As a token, as a breeding mare. I wish I could have one of those. Wombs you know? That way, my lord, my king, my God...would have children worth of his greatness." The deranged automaton leant forward, as Lucrezia whimpered. "Maybe I should tear yours apart, hm? Claim it was an accident..."

Astolfo rolled from his chair, gasping for air. He saw his backpack. And the face of the brutalized Frame, wide agape, staring at him. It moved and whirred, as she produced a vial, her hand rolling it towards Astolfo. An antidote. He saw the BDK model vocalize slowly, even if the sound didn't work.

"Keep...master...safe." The machine gasped, before a heel crushed her cranium for good. Astolfo greedily snatched the antidote on his teeth, before drinking it, and grabbing the contains of the backpack.

"And what's the little shit of a fourth prince doin- GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!" The screams of Durandal were heard as she spasmed and contorted.

Astolfo struggled to his feet, a laptop in his hand. "Talos Nail. The Anti-Lilim payload. You're not getting up anytime soon." He grunted, as he eyed a bewildered Lucrezia before grasping her hand. "We have to go."

"But my BDK!" She yelled, before Astolfo's hand lost restraint and slapped his elder sister across her face.

"She gave me the antidote, staking her life, for your *damn* safety, and I will drag you to safety even If I die. I don't renegue on these deals." Astolfo's voice was authoritatian. "I'll get you to a safe route."

"And then?" Lucrezia's eyes were full of poison.

"And then I'll take that Framewerk Grendel prototype. And END THIS!" Astolfo replied, his eyes full of determination and fury.

---

Astolfo winced. That...Lilim, was in anguish. She probably considered Elora and Serah her daughters. And she probably had been tricked into believing Serah could be tossed safely. Like a dim-witted mother hen. In some aspects it was pitiable. If only he had someone like her... perhaps Durandal would not have wrecked his life. He saw the dots align as he peered out of the corner. He breathed deep and opened a direct channel to the anguished female artificial pilot.

[Silver Tongued Devil] "Hey! Listen to me! Serah is safe! She's just on the other side. She's probably watching you as we speak! Get the act together! And by that I don't mean you should not go on a rampage. Quite on the contrary. RIP AND TEAR UNTIL YOU ARE DONE. But keep in mind. Target them. You don't like Griff, do you? It's fine if you trample him. But don't lose sight on what's important. Serah would've probably wanted you to finish what she started. So Steel yourself! And bring your most exquisite fury. Trample the enemy team, and bring Sleeping Thunder down as the grand finale!"

Deep inside the Mother Goose, Stella's wailing ceased. "I-input acknowledged." Stella said. "Activating enhanced movement protocol. This unit shall not fail! This unit will bake a strawberry cake for Elora! And comfort Serah! No more holding back!" The frame's lights glowed an ominous red, as it prepared itself.

And it ran. It ran so fast Bug was almost overwhelmed in trying to keep track of it. Stella would then clobber her way forward with the Bastion, unloading her primary payloads along the way, with one final objective in mind. Sleeping Thunder. Once she reached Serah's crash site, she planted the bastion once more, as she launched all of her shoulder missiles at mid range at a certain overwhelmingly large frame, Sleeping Thunder.

Bug for the most part, cranked yet another charge of the Particle Beam, and followed the ensuing charge from a safe distance, ready to intervene with a reaction shot if someone tried to gain Goose's back.

[Silver Tongued Devil used on Stella]
[Bugatti Token consumed on Stella]
[Enhanced Movement Activated]
[Stella charges with Bastion from P15 to V15, utilizing Shotguns, Ripper Fists and Hammer all the way if opponents are present.]
[Stella plants Bastion again at V15 and fires Missiles at Sleeping Thunder]
[Bug moves to O15, readies reaction shot/keeps charging, deploys Gwen's drone.]

Zel-Ghin

Darkness. Like at the end and beginning of all things.

The simulation had ended for the younger of the two twins, and the voice of Lorenzo was heard.

Zel-Ghin's eyes were narrowed, his eyebrows furrowed. He wanted to wrap his hands around something and choke the lifeforce out of it. The system was flawed. Either the simulation had calculated wrong or the stargazer system were faulty. He had not even been able to fire a single one of his weapons, there were no heads to bring back as trophies, no chase, no slow dismantling of an enemy, no winning kiss, no gloating. Nothing. Even prior to the simulation, it had all been a colossal waste of time to him.

'Is this the feeling all weaklings feel all the time? This should have been a breeze with my superior genes. Clearly some mechanical malfunction in the simulation. Unless you are at fault Squid. If you are… then I will let you die for this and become scrap metal. Failure is death you know.' He thought to himself before giving off a sound of objection in the form of a huff.

'What could I possibly learn by watching my brother playing with all those NPC's? Old man.' He shook his head and crossed his arms, then after awhile rose from the seat and walked over to a nearby pillar, leaning on it and taking out a lolipop from his leatherjacket, sticking it into his mouth after literally tearing the wrapper off in an exceedingly aggressive manner.

His narrowed eyes moving to the other pilots which had seemingly also been thrown out of the simulation. Serah. The other kittycat. Then his eyes set of Rhylaen. 'The pilot of the framewerk which blinded me? You stole my victory and tried to make a fool out of me. I will get you for this. The greatest humiliation imaginable for attempting to scarring me.' He gritted his teeth under his lips, his purple eyes glaring at her, his hands tightening into fists inside of his pockets. But that meant Serah had taken that one out. At least that deserved a lolipop. Then his gaze landed on Lucius.

'That must be the banana...' He thought and wrinkled his nose in disapproval, then called for Serah after adjusting his pose and demeanor.

"Hey! Catch!" He threw an apple tasting lolipop to her. For a moment he considered throwing one to Lorenzo, imagining the old man breaking a tooth on it sent a momentary tinge of amusement. This wasn't the end of it. They would all come to know Zel-Ghin. The wargod.

---

Arrish cursed himself for not taking an Aimed shot at Minerva before she darted away and out of sight. He could still feel the memory of it as though it had all happened in slow motion. The heft of his spear and the line up of it straight into her body, but before he could even make a swing she was gone, darted off to the side.

Arrish didn’t hesitate. Instead he pulled up his comms and messaged Mema-ka right away ”For the duration of this battle, I’m making you my honorary knight. You first quest? Heh, let's just say we’re going hunting for the hound of the battlefield.”

"I read you. King Arthur. Relocating the holy grail south. Argo may be attempting to flank our position! Explosion to the north! Keep your guard up." Mema-Ka replied swiftly with a seldom shown moment of amusement, having seen Argo dash around the buildings, not knowing where it would appear next, the explosion to the north-east of their position also was telling that someone just got blown up. But who? That was a concern for later.

Mema-Ka moved his raptor on top of the Logic Diver, extending its extra pair of arms to pick it up, placing the egg-shaped framewerk against its back, like an oval backpack. Moving to [S-23] using extra arms to lift up Logic Diver, reducing movement, so the Raptor made a smaller jump to make as much distance as it could. [S-23] to [U-23]. It then peeked around the corner with its [Marker Light] seeking to hit the Argo if possible, and readied its [Free Reaction Shot] with the same weapon, expecting to see movement from the north, either behind the building where an explosion was felt or further north. The other team had framewerks that were able to conceal themselves. He wasn't the kind of person to leave any loose end.

”Better keep it to Lord Arrish, My knight. We wouldn’t want to start an international incident. He kept the amusement out of his tone, very serious stuff, but he had a smile on his face he couldn’t keep away.

Arrish’s thoughts slowed down and he thought about the small details that had happened so fast; There was what happened to Lucius, even if Arrish had been too busy to see what happened to rex artus, the radio silence was enough to cue him that something had gone wrong and the damaged frame had been within his line of sight.

Then there was that cute little display Bugatti had given him; What the hell was that? Arrish gritted his teeth and wondered if it was bait or if someone had pulled the wool over his head. Unless… Astolfo was… He shook his head and dismissed the thought. Head back in the game, Arrish. Don’t dawdle. Don’t hesitate.

”Something is wrong, mema-ka. That damn cockroach is up to something and I’m going to find out. Stay with Elora and reconnect with Aurora, my knight. I’m trusting her safety in your many hands. Arrish pulled his bastion back out of the virtual stone and brought his multi-form rod back into his hand, transforming it into the greater piercing spear. The hydraulics in horst’s legs clicked into place before launching herself forward in a horizontal leap from building to building.

[Marquess to Q-27]

"A bit too early for that, no?" He had replied to Arrish's mention of starting an international incident. The forest-green haired man allowed his hair to momentarily cast shadow over the top part of his face, a soft smile shaping on his lips for a brief moment, but vanishing almost as quickly as it appeared. There was a time for words and a time for action, right now they were in the latter. Sentences were to be kept brief... after all.

"Very well." Mema-Ka replied swiftly to Arrish's latter words. It was after all what he had planned all along to do. He couldn't help but scoff slightly on hearing Arrish insisting on calling him a knight. He was no knight. He was a bishop, and the last rites were going to be given. For how many? Time would tell. Which team would come out on top? Did it even matter in the long run?

"This is Raptor! Returning to base with damaged Logic." He relayed over the team comms.

Arrish’s brow tightened the moment he saw the flicker of Argent WIng through the Horst’s optics. ”So, that’s how it is, aye?.” He hefted his heavy assault gun and began to fire into Argent Wing’s position. He had been aware that one of Mango’s best tactics would have been to launch a sneak attack on Sleepy’s position, what he wasn’t expecting was to run into the hornet’s nest

Argo and Cockroach had been among the list of potential threats to Sleepy, was Argent Wing on that list too? He cursed himself for putting Horst near the center of it and without knowing Cockroach’s position he wondered if he somehow had placed himself into a death trap.

Still, something bothered him. These were the people he was going to be fighting against, and in an ambush attack they had placed their fastest in the same spot. If they were going for stealth, wouldn’t a two or three pronged attack have been their best bet for going unnoticed? Maybe Team Mango hadn’t been as glued together as thought.

’Or maybe, I’m underestimating them’ Together they had nearly taken down Elora, and he didn’t need a reminder about what happened to Lucius. Argo had slipped away without taking much of a strike, and Ava was basically unscathed. Maybe they didn’t [i] need to take down Sleepy to win. Maybe they just needed to play to their speed, and pull idiots like himself into their own little deathtrap.

Horst landed with and leveled her gun to where Ava had been at. ”So, you’re the one who took down Lucius, Ava? Well, you’re about to find I’m a much better dance partner.”

Griff & Seven

To the west Griff was blinking and coming to terms what had just happened. There had been a pair of explosions around him.

The enemy had been destroyed? His comerade? Both framewerks had been destroyed, leaving only the Angel Zero behind him which he had not even known were there, it had too gotten caught up in the explosions. Griff felt the sweat all over his face and body and he allowed himself a few breaths.

'Atty? Little... bug thing?' He blinked as he came to the realization the one he had struck had been the Atty and the other one were the Electric Dragonfly.

He tightened his grip on his controls. It wasn't real. Nothing in here was real. He had been caught up in the moment and forgotten. This was all a simulation. None of it had happened. Elora was still okay. All of them were still okay. The blond blew some air through his nose. He had never been in a simulation like this one before, this was unlike the others. It felt more real. Eerily so. With that in mind he gathered his thoughts and moved out, if Elora were still okay, regardless of simulation or not, he was going to get her. Damned be the results.

"Oi! Angel Hero! Zero! Helmet dude! Whatever! I am gonna go get Logic, hold my protein drink and guard Sleepyboy until I come back with victory! ALLRIGHT?! You only need hands and feet to kick ass!" Griff yelled out to Jake, in a manner which was more stressed and forced out, than the cool speeches he knew some wrestlers would do after their victories over their opponents. He wasn't a leader type, but someone had to be on guard duty, and he was himself way to worked up to be sitting still. He was going to get Elora and then they would win and eat something tasty! Just like the plan. Well. His plan. He felt a sense of worry. What if she wasn't into steak? What if she were vegan? No. That was a matter for later. If that was the case he could probably 'fix' her.

But there were likely incoming from the north. That monster. Movement [T-16] -> [T-17] -> [U-17] -> [U-18] and then finally [U-19]. The Shiva took aim for the Mother Goose with it's [Slag Cannon] and it's [Marker Light]. "Godjira my ass! God damn knockoff!" He yelled out and moved further east away from Sleepy and the approaching Goose.

He readied his [Marker Light] to take a [Free Reaction Shot] would Goose somehow come to try flank him, his [Trillium blade] and [Multiform Rod: Spear] would try to hit the passing by Argo if such were possible. Piloting the Shiva always felt like a chore, like a challenge, like lifting a ton. A part of him felt like it might be the death of him.

Meanwhile, Jake droned over the line.

"Cadet Jake here. Orders received Cadet Griff. Be advised: Primary Target Mother Goose but will provide cover fire for Argo."

It was time to start taking some chances after the losses that just took place. For one, his movement. In general, his overall goal was to get to zone "R16" to commece a "double attack" on both the Mother Goose and the Argo if at all possible.

First: Jake launched all of his recon drones and ordered them to follow above him to add to his "awareness" and maybe in some way his "stealth" since his Cloaking Wings were down. Then using the "REAP" system, Angel Zero quickly picked up the Atty's "Plasma Blade" while tossing aside it's "Laser Blade". If he needed a weapon for the Goose's armor, Plasma was better than Laser.

Then, he moved into his assigned zone...and using the "Multiple Fire Control System", he first fired "APFSDS-A" at Argo even if it wasn't within range. But then switched ammo type and then fired "SMOKE" at the Mother Goose to blind the framewerk.

Griff felt a tinge of pride, he was taking command and showing his potential to be like. What was that short guy's name again on a horse? That great short ancient emperor? The one with the fancy hat. Shit. He couldn't remember. Maybe he had a natural knack for leading people, like funneling all the cool people to listen to him? If there were one cool guy on their team, it had to be the mysterious guy with the helmet right? But then Griff felt conflicted. He didn't want Ritsu or the old geezer to know of his latent commandering skills. That way he would be put into officer training, and that was just a layer lower in hell than being a cadet. Hopefully he was safe and some nerdy looking one would get it instead.

He had a bodybuilding tough guy image to uphold after all. Jake was going to target Goose and Argo as well. Everything was coming up Griffman style.

He had regardless replied back to Jake. "Gotcha Jackie! But don't get too close to big ducky! See that hammer? Don't let it hit ya! Sleepy is counting on ya!" He said and then switched to Aurora to give a message to her.

"Oi! Foureyes! What are you doing? Helmet-man is moving up to duckhunt! Move your ass! I wanna see Sleepy roast that duck! Qwack! Qwack! I am gonna go get Elora and then I will show you both some tips of how to work that fat off!" Griff's loud voice yelled into the comms, then gave a wide grin and drew his own arm under his nose.

“Squid is confirmed terminated.” Aurora called through the comms with a grimace on her face. A threat had been taken care of and so had Elora’s request. But the loss of Dragonfly from the blitz from Atty had performed was not a good thing. At the very least Atty had paid for it as well.

She spared a moment to analyze the flow of thing on the eastern front. Horst and Raptor had Logic in hand for the moment it seemed. But Aurora would be hard pressed to say it was going smoothly. Argo had slipped past the front lines and was in perfect position to harass them as they moved to regroup with the rest of Apple. Not to mention it seemed like Argent wings was over there as well if the wreckage of team Banana was anything to go by.

“Sleeping Thunder moving to-“ Aurora’s words were lost, drowned out by the electronic wail from Mother Goose’s Lilim pilot.

And then the other colossus on the field began its charge. And it was easy to guess the target; Sleeping Thunder. And if it was just that, it would be fine. Even with its speed being so shocking.

But then Horst dove further away. Hunting Argent and leaving Raptor and Logic alone to deal with Argo, and placing him too far to assist with Mother Goose.

Angel and Shiva stayed, for a moment at least. But Aurora watched in detached disbelief as Shiva disengaged from close combat, not a bad idea all in all, but then they kept going. Hunting Argo if the trajectory was any indication. And then so too did Angel, diving deeper into Mango’s controlled territory. For no reason that she could readily parse.

Both of them only giving passing fire support. Leaving her and Sleepy to face down Mother Goose. Alone.

It stung, this blatant abandonment. The seeming open disregard for the loose plan they had discussed. The roles that people had agreed to. The only one following that still was Raptor.

She shoved the boiling mess of her emotions to the side as she refocused on the problem before her. Forced herself to run the numbers as Goose continued to barrel down on her and Sleeping Thunder.

Plans came and went as Aurora put her years of experience and not inconsequential intellect on the problem.

But in the end it was clear. ‘We can’t run; they outpace us. We can’t grind away at them; they outmatch us in durability.’

“You’ve killed me and Sleepy.” She muttered to herself as she confronted the truth of it. Muting Griff as he started spouting nonsense at her. She muted everyone. She didn’t care right now, not in the face of all this.

“Fine then. But not before I extract my pound of flesh.” She growled to no one.

Just as Goose slammed down its Bastion, Aurora threw the throttle forward and Sleeping Thunder lurched into motion again.

[Spider Legs - Hover Move: (Y)15 -> (X)15]

“Attention Apple.” She would broadcast to her 'Team' as she set about adjusting settings. Opening capacitor banks, circumventing safeties, bypassing system limitations.

“Goose has breached our lines and contact is inevitable. Raptor is designated second in command.” Her voice was crisp and clinical, not an ounce of her anger leaked through. “Guinevere is still unaccounted for. Be on watch for Drone Hacks.”

“Home base is compromised, if not lost. Regroup at grid point; Xray, Twenty Seven.” With her message done she clicked off her comms and buried the venom she wanted to unleash. It was strange being the more vitriolic of the two. She mused, normally it was her calming Sleepy down. But here and now the frame was calm, almost apathetic, no Cruxi to kill and no real danger to fear.

She would laugh were she in a better mood.

Instead Aurora pulled the trigger on one of Sleeping Thunders many weapon systems and around the titanic frame and a corona of lightning surged into existence. It was crude, but it should provide them some defense against the salvo of missiles inbound, as she finished her preparations.

For any who knew the specs of Sleeping Thunder the lightning was much dimmer then they might expect.

[Arklight Thunder (Tesla Field)[Creative+Flash in the Dark]: Attacking inbound Missiles]

As Aurora had been busy preparing more than just a final message. [Flash in the Dark+Metal Mind] She had rerouted two thirds of her Arklight’s normal output into the Particle Cannon’s capacitor bank. It was a risky move at the best of times. But with Goose staring her down she had limited options.

Still she could feel the minor jolts of numbness and pain as she pushed systems in ways they were not built to go.
It was fine, she had deal with worse before.

Her finger hovered over a button as she looked down at her map display. The targets selected and firing angles locked in. Win or lose, she would not go quietly. She hit the button.

‘Thunder Fall Activated’

She pulled the trigger.

Sleeping Thunder woke up. Roaring it’s defiance to the heavens.

[Flash In The Dark – All Out Attack: Arklight Thunder(Tesla Field) Attacking Mother Goose (V17)]
[Flash In The Dark – All Out Attack: Gatling Guns Attacking Mother Goose (V17)]
[Flash In The Dark – All Out Attack: MoonBreaker (AB-AP) Attacking Mother Goose (V17)]
[Flash In The Dark – All Out Attack: Particle Cannon(Charge unknown) Attacking Mother Goose (V17)]
[Flash In The Dark – All Out Attack: Dragon Wing Missiles x4 (armor-piercing) Attacking Mother Goose (V17)]
[Flash In The Dark – All Out Attack: Dragon Wing Missiles x4 (armor-piercing) Attacking Argo (V21)]
[Flash In The Dark – All Out Attack: Dragon Wing Missiles x4 (high-explosive) Attacking Argo (V21)]
[Flash In The Dark – All Out Attack: Dragon Wing Missiles x4 (high-explosive) Attacking Cockroach (O15)]
[Flash In The Dark – All Out Attack: Artillery Mortars (HYDRA Shell) Attacking Cockroach (O15)]

The Frame unleashed hell. A swarm of missiles flew out from their pods trailing a thick cloud of smoke. A hailstorm of metal was spewed forth as the Gatling guns rang out with a hateful Brrrrt, the sharp echoing retort of the Moonbreaker overlapping them for a moment. Ground shaking booms could be felt as the Artillery Mortars fired off their devastating payload. And the harsh snap and cracking of lightning overflowed as the Arklight Thunder’s Tesla Field was pushed to its absolute limit and beyond, flooding the area with unconstrained energy.

And all the while Aurora kept the trigger pulled, unleashing more and more devastation. Even as shocks of pain and numbness rocked her body. The systems of the Frame pushed well beyond their limits as she finally let loose her own roar of frustration and hurt in the isolation of her cockpit.

[Flash in the Dark – Overcharging, Overloading, and Overclocking Everything]

The pain was hot, searing, and yet so swift his brain had little time to recognize it as the Rex Artus was bisected in glorious fashion within the bounds of the simulation. Before that, though-....it had been a peculiar blur. As if time had wound back to show him who would be where, and even then his visions and notable Awareness....hmm. A mystefying set of events to be sure, and yet his opponent had seemingly been just as on-point as he had. Were they also-? Ah, that didn't matter much in the heat of the moment at the very least. He was, after all, dead as a doornail and kicked out of the simulation after failing to adhere to his bare minimum given goal in the simulation. Yet with what he had felt go through his head...it was still worth it to enough of an extent. That much he knew in his gut for a surety.

That being said, as the VR helmet lifted automatiically off of his head the black-clad pilot-suited Lucius would be greeted by the face of one grumpy old fruit bat and his cane alongside-...a Lilim? Hmm. Given the older man's age, she'd likely be a caretaker for him is he had to place a first guess. Not that he needed clairvoyance to hear what came next-

“First blood, huh…As punishment for dying earlier in the mission, you will now observe the rest of the battle. Perhaps you’ll learn something by watching how other pilots fight.”

He had no arguments or retorts for that. He'd gotten killed, and now he needed to watch and learn from the others. In that vein, it was much like the simulations back home that he'd been put through all over again. Yet right before doing that the younger man would cast his eyes about himself as he got out of the VR chair and looked to see who else had been booted out of the simulation. If anyone else that is.

The first thing he noticed was a head of rather distinctive blue hair, a bit messy looking yet bound up with a pink bow that reminded him a touch of his older sister from old photos he'd likely never see again. In that sense it was a touch endearing as much as it was....well, he'd not dwell on such matters for now. Said girl seemed unsteadier on her feet, not that his own simulation feedback didn't feel rather fresh on the mind and body alike, but was moving over to talk to a peculiarly alien woman with wings of some sort. Wings? Seemed familiar to pictures he'd seen in the news at some point or another, but she was certainly an alien from the looks of it. He couldn't put a word to the physiology, though, which brought a sheepish feeling to mind as he made a note to 'look up the species name' to at least mayne not look stupid before talking to that person at least.

Not that he'd ever seen an alien in the flesh before, so that much was still rather new.

"Ahaha... sorry about that one, Rhylaen. I think I got a little carried away...”

"You did good."

While those two seemed amicable enough, the other man who woke up along with them seemed to (to his eyes) simply shout out to the blue-haired girl to toss something at her-...eh? Was that candy? Candy was good, but he'd left his chocolate bar stored away safely rather than hide it on his person for the simulation. Who wanted sweaty chocolate half-melted against your pilot suit and body, after all?

It was then his eyes glanced back at the old man and Lilim, and then off at the sounds of Ritsu shouting at a technician or scientist it would seem. Poor guy. What'd he do to get the earful from a superior? Eh, that was also less important in the heat of the moment really. Because ultiumately the brown-haired man would silently turn his attention up to the same central pillar of the VR chamber to watch what unfolded as well as finally get a view of the wider battle for once. That much would be invaluable, given he'd had little access to anything but comms back there.



Logic Driver seemed to have been evacuated in good enough time, so his efforts hadn't been totally in vain in trying to save her in that vein at least. Whew. Yet...ah. He hadn't been the only one to rush in over there, though he did recall a comms message he'd been unable to respond to before getting jolted from the simulation from elsewhere on Team Apple, but between the deployed Bastion and two team members there it had depleted some of the Team Apple numbers over to the right. His killer was also still in that general area of the map, and likewise the enemy who had charged in toward Logic Driver was on their left. A bad positioning for the clustered Apple members, that much was for certain.

Yet one person was moving to try to get to where his killer was, and another was carrying Logic Driver while retreating slightly farther back. Good moves to intercept possible problems, and someone was moving to U-18 without trying to intercept the titanic Team Mango mech that was walking toward Team Apple's backlines-....never mind, blitzing into Team Apple's backliner from the looks of it. And another was positioning themselves between the Argo and the Goose for some reason? They needed more people to protect the rear, and another person was moving to go help-

Oh. That wasn't good overall by any means. Their backliner was a giant weapons platform, from what he'd observed prior, and if that was hit that'd leave them without backline fire support. And given two of the Mango mechs were placed partly behind cover, and how big that towering enemy mech was, it would spell disaster from the looks of it. Yet even so, the backliner that had seeingly been left to their doom opened up with a move that drew his rapt attention. An overloaded barrage of fire, laid out to level half the map and what Team Mango members it could reach before potentially getting smooshed by its immediate opponent. A brilliant flash of light, fire, sound, and fury, signifying a lot more than mere 'nothing' as something inside of his gut was indicating to him.

Indeed, now it was hard to imagine pulling his eyes off of the action to come even as his right index finger came to his chin in and his eyes would remain glued to witessing the ongoing events with care. Of course this went beyond simply coming an entertainment perspective, but to see how the teams' strategies either panned out or fell apart at this stage alike. Well, if they still had any remaining strategies going on at this venture that is. He hadn't been privy to things for obvious reasons anywho, and reasonably so of course.

@Dezuel@shylarah@Ammokkx@Ariamis