Ariamis

Nerves In Carbonox Reforged: A Roll-Your-Own Giant Mecha Roleplay

<Snipped quote by Ariamis>

@Ariamis Oh! I will get that empty 5 spot deleted after I get up later, and apologies about that being there. I had been hoping to think of another fun fact or such, but couldn't and forgot to delete the empty spot in this case.

As for the MMORPG system, I thought it would be helpful in improving Framewerk performance in terms of its dodging and movement in general. Er....unless I got things wrong about the system.

My understanding was that it adjusts to the pilot's movements, becomes faster, self-improves over time, etc, sort of deal. And the kid has Awareness and Clairvoyance, so I thought it'd be neat if his foresight would be helpful alongside the MMORPG in improving his Framewerk's dodging capabilities in that sense. He reacts faster than normal due to foresight or such, the unit eventually gets some benefit from refining its movements to respond to him better.

Though if I managed to get all of that wrong or otherwise in that vein, ah, I can change out the secondary system to something I either asked about earlier or roll foor a new one off the existing table. Either way, all is good! ^^;

Or if he gets another weapoon eventually for his Framewerk, could always go with a laser blade or such for the full Gundam experience and keep the MMORPG system around for that in the future.

In any case, I'll wait for your response to see what I need to do to address the MMORPG system (just to be sure).

@Crusader Lord

If you only want the system for the enhanced agility, then that is fine. It just seems like a missed opportunity considering the unit's type as a Backliner, where the enhanced agility wouldn't be as important.

Nerves In Carbonox Reforged: A Roll-Your-Own Giant Mecha Roleplay

@Ariamis For a good while I've been trying to make a second (and female) pilot plus Framewerk to submit alongside this at the same time, which the custom secondary system I had proposed a bit ago would be used by, and that's been its own struggle to find a good appearance pic for her and a possible Framewerk. Otherwise I've been debating submitting this first app on its own in the first place. But...hey, why not! I need to do something more, so if that means once a week posting on a Sunday afternoon or something then so be it! Lol.

So here is my submission! Hopefully it all works out to be approved, but if I need to fix anything then just let me know!

Another Newbie Pilot

Lucius Dylan Sterling

Name: Lucius Dylan Sterling

Gender: Male

Appearance

Pilot Type: Gifted Pilot

Age: 19

Personality:

A generally polite, friendly, and warm sort of guy, yet someone who will bear the wounds he has silently and try to do what he can as best as he can due to thinking that bottling it up is 'the best choice' at this point in time. A diligent and hard-working soul with a good heart that desires to do good in the world and for others, and in this vein whose thoughts upon being set on course to become a Framewerk Pilot was to embrace it while also finding it to be problematic in his life in more ways than one at the same time. He likewise is a natural polymath of sorts, at least in effect, enjoying the taking up of and looking into how to do things like cooking, baking, tinkering with machines, and even repairing something like a broken coffee machine and learning what the components of it do and their importance to the whole of the coffee machine in question. At the same time, he is also someone who despite all the preparation he has been given has a notable fear of death he tends to bury deep down, and yet is trying to adopt a rather forced form of stoicism ahead of time to help himself counteract those stresses in his mind atop the discipline instilled by his initial training and such alike. To stop the Cruxi is to stop the flow of death into that conflict, at the very least, but in contrast taking a human life itself would be a rather big and hard thing to imagine swallowing all the same in his mind. That possible hard reality even he couldn’t and can't ignore by now. To an extent he is additionally someone who could be described as ‘ambivert’, both finding people ‘ok’ to be around yet being out of his depth as a fresh new pilot and preferring alone time and ‘time to think’ on his end despite at times enjoying the company of others perhaps.

Background:

The Backstory Until Present Times

The second of three children born to his parents, Lucius was born to what felt like a loving and whole family at first glance. A mother who was a Framewerk researcher working at a government-contracted company who was producing them, but seemed to try to always make time to be home, and a father who had been an engineer in the military before losing an arm and a leg and ultimately being sent home and working at a local mechanic shop to try to stay closer to his family. He and his older sister, Lira Sterling, were happy to spend time with their parents where they could as they all sought to make the best of things. Albeit they would begin with having to have babysitters for a while, for when both their parents were working, until Lira got old enough at the tentative age of thirteen that she was allowed to step in and take care of things instead (at least around the house). Yet it was also around this time that their mother, ultimately, would bear the third and final child of their marriage: Patrick Sterling.

This pregnancy, however, would also mark a stark change in things for their family overall. Their mother would suffer complications, being stuck in the hospital for longer stretches of time, and about the time she gave birth her job would refocus her and several others in their staff onto a new type of project aimed at new Framewerk developments of a ‘special’ sort. Where she had once been trying to avoid becoming a ‘workaholic’, and enjoyed the rare vacation with her children and husband, his mother seemed to ‘become possessed by something’ in their eyes. Something about her new area of investigation and research, or perhaps new project that she had been assigned to, seemed to garner her attention in more ways than one. Sometimes she’d stare at Lucius himself while quiet, sometimes glancing at Lira, and where she’d tentatively been there for Patrick she seemed to gloss over his existence more and more and put it off on her husband. More and more often she stayed at work, or slept as close to work as possible instead of coming home, and less and less she paid any attention to even her own husband (her last remaining warm link to her family as it would end up being). The money from her work kept the household running and lights on, that much remained certain for the time being at least, but where there had once been warmth things began to cool more and more until a once warm household became about as cold as ice as even their father became seemingly disconnected from her in kind.

When Lucius turned fifteen years old, or like a day before to be more precise, his mother would make a decision that would shake up their family more than not….she would sign up her children, without talking to her husband about the matter, to undergo ‘early testing for potential future Framewerk pilots’ in order to help fill the slots for a new and experimental early pilot-preparedness program (think some USA-like ROTC-type deal for potential future Framewerk pilots instead). A matter her work was incentivizing employees to do, as the government was beginning the start of such a program to ‘test pilot’ it on their homeworld, when agents suddenly showed after they had all gotten back from school it was certainly a surprise that led to them calling their father in the process. This led to a worried father scrambling home while the agents waited for him to arrive, which then turned into an argument back and forth and a few failed attempts to call their mother, which then led to their father being held overnight in the local police station while Lira had to lock up the house in a hurry before they were taken off to be tested.

And the results, as it would end up being, were strongest for Lucian, with Lira herself having the second best results to some extent and Patrick not having good results at all. All to the delight of the government and their mother, the fear and anger of their father, and the confusion of themselves in the middle of it all. It was enough to enroll Lucius, and Lira for a lesser time, into the so-called “Future Pilots Program” (FPP) while they remained in standard schooling. Lira, being older already, was only in the program a year before being allowed to stay home due to ‘family needs’, though she’d be placed on a ‘reserve pilot candidate list’, and this simultaneously came at the cost of Lucius volunteering essentially being guaranteed to serve as a military pilot after graduating from school and the program ‘due to having far greater potential’ and being seen as a more desirable candidate overall anyways compared to his older sister. Even so, the whole affair had his father fuming, arguing with their mother over the phone what few times he could get her on it, and more and more often coming home oddly later than normal….and sometimes with the smell of an unknown perfume clinging to his collar despite his attempts to get his clothes into the laundry as soon as possible after walking in the front door. Patrick had grown to become a more cold and uncaring person himself, perhaps to cope with what was going down, and Lira became the last ‘warm heart’ at the center of the family for herself and her siblings as best as she could manage in the meantime. Even their father became a bit more distant from them, though he also made even more efforts to ‘be there with us’ as Lucius would put it. This despite his own struggles and decline happening along the way as well.

Though as Lucius neared the end of the program and his graduation from it and school alike, his father seemed to take Lira or Patrick aside more and kept him somewhat more at a distance. It all would culminate in Lucius’ graduation from school and the program being briefly attended by his father and siblings, before they left early and, well, he never saw them again. Because at the ripe age of eighteen, freshly graduated, and having been prepped to leave for the military the next day already, he arrived home to find his father, older sister, and younger brother having disappeared alongside the family vehicle and a fair amount of their things. Only his room remained untouched, left behind, save for a note that Lira had slipped under his pillow and seemingly wrote down alike amidst a fair bit of rushing and haste.

His father had fled, fled to another planet, one his older sister couldn’t divulge in her note at their father’s behest, to set up a life with Lira and Patrick far from their mother and the chances that Lira would be taken ‘also’ as a pilot. Lucius? Lucius, as it were, was the sacrificial lamb of the whole affair whom they couldn’t bring along without causing more trouble. Lucius didn’t much question it, or perhaps it was better to say that he perhaps has some instinctual suspicions but had kept it at arm’s length to try to enjoy what good time he had left with his father and siblings…maybe some tiny sliver of him hoping that something like this wouldn’t have happened. Yet even so, it was what it was and Lucius was taken in by the military the next day as he locked up the now-abandoned house behind him and told them what had happened. Not like his mother, whom he’d actually go to meet as well a few days later, thought on the matter. Albeit she frankly had news to share, much of which was nothing to her but was news to Lucius. She already divorced his father, a thing he hadn’t told Lucius at least, two months prior over long-distance. But she had hoped to get Lira in the piloting program, much to her actual frustration, and paid no mind to Patrick who had produced no results during the prior testing years ago. Likewise his father had taken a good chunk of her bank account in the divorce as well, it seemed, before she had gotten him off of it. That money itself was more of a bother to her than anything else at this venture, and the warmth she seemed to give Lucius was due to ‘his potential’ and his becoming a pilot.

Because as it turned out, not that Lucius is supposed to officially know despite hearing his mother talking in the background by chance to one of the military escorts who had taken him to see his mother (at least), his mother had been for years now working on technology that ‘worked alongside those bearing humanity’s true potential’ so that ‘we can finally, hopefully, see the end of this war’ in her own words. As his mother had lost her parents to the Cruxi, and his father lost a brother to them, it did make some sense to his mind….but even so he kept his mouth shut in this case. He was then escorted out, the last he’s seen his own mother even by now, and for a year thereafter he was put into general training, simulations, sparring matches with other new recruits, and such things to try to ‘gather useful data’ from him (likely for his mother and her government-contracted employer to also use in part for all he knew) before moving him to the Framewerk Program proper.

And thus, perhaps a touch late, he is being transferred finally to the Fortress Ship Solaire alongside his new Framewerk unit.

Missing People: Maternal grandparents he never got to know, and a paternal uncle that he did actually get to know a little bit before he died to a Cruxi attack on another world. None of it was as personal as losing everything to them....though....

Some Truths

Yet it can be said the Cruxi in some manner took his mother from him and his family, by giving her the (unknown to him) silent and hidden obsession with the Cruxi’s defeat that led her into years of struggling therapy as well as military-grade R&D work with a company contracted with the Galactic Federation’s government. An obsession that, while better managed than not due to her therapy, when she came to be turned toward research development aimed at ‘people like Lucius’ brought her to see her own children in a new light and into the realm of her obsession. The obsession had then turned into an addiction, one where she felt something along the lines of: “I can help stop them….and now, now two of my children could do so as well at least. We can end this. Help end this. Do SOMETHING rather than nothing.”

Thus her mental filter and now blossoming obsession overrode maternal instinct, all while her employers only intervened as far as ‘it ensured she doesn’t work herself to death or such things for her own good’ as they’d claim, and her husband struggled to ‘ground her back again’ alongside her therapist. Yet her therapist’s home network would be silently ‘unapproved from the company list of mental health services they use for their employees’, being changed alongside other policies, which left the work on ‘grounding her back on her own two feet’ to her husband and kids alone….and her husband bore the brunt of that, a brunt that led even him to break and try to cope underneath it all while seeking to at least ‘be there’ for his own kids.

Ultimately, Lucius’ father decided that his wife had ‘become someone else totally’, seeing ‘the warm and human part of her, one that we’d both fought to ground and maintain and help thrive, die out almost overnight’ in his eyes. He divorced her in secret, which she didn’t care about at the time so ‘sure’ was her response, and planned to take Lira and Patrick and ‘hide far, far from military eyes’ to avoid Lira being taken as a pilot. Fake names, a new bank account, everything he could do to get away from his wife and ‘what she did to us’ even at the cost of Lucius. Because in the end ‘Lucius was a cost worth sacrificing to save the family’ in his eyes….and something he did despite initially struggling for months about the matter and Lira trying to get him to bring Lucius along before he graduated. Yet the boy’s graduation, and the military wanting him much more than they did Lira, it was the perfect time to flee.

So Lucius’ older sister, ill-adjusted younger brother, and struggling father abandoned him while the military didn’t have eyes on them. Took the best they could, ran with a chunk of their mother’s formerly-shared bank account that had been taken out just after sending in the divorce papers and before she removed his father from the account, and only Lira had cared to leave behind even a hasty note trying to explain anything about what was going on in some capacity at least. Lucius’ mother currently solely owns the house, his father’s name being taken off of it by now, and he technically can still live there as far as she is concerned…Lira too, if she ever happens to pop up again that is, as far as his mother is concerned.

Further, the moment it was confirmed that her second oldest child wasn’t ‘mentally ill’, Lucius’ mother celebrated his and Lira’s discovery as ‘special people’. Both to celebrate their status as ‘the next step in humanity’ and in terms of her work regarding them, and, well, in some small sliver of a part as a mother who was glad for the fact her kids were ok and didn’t have ‘other problems’ as had been feared prior to this point. Not that she ever voiced it aloud, or even realized it even actually registered in her mind for a moment deep in her state of Cruxi-obsession fueling her at work and otherwise by now. Indeed...perhaps some sliver of his mother remains in there, though could anyone be certain of that for sure? Or would that be simply another tragedy of the whole situation?

Keyword and Definitions/Some Flavoring

Background Potentials:

1 ) Awareness - You possess an uncanny sense for danger, and can react to situations faster than others. Your actions always happen first during an event. You also receive a chance to avoid invisible attacks or attacks from ambushes, and gain improved dodging equivalent to a single level of lower weight class. However, you are also more jumpy as a result, sometimes shifting your eyes to scan for dark shadow or fleeting glimpses of movement.

((Between this, his “Master of Directions” perk, and his “Clairvoyance”, it is flavored overall as him having a proper ‘sixth sense’ or ESP of sorts. Albeit one he has to learn to better focus upon and will be honing to a fine edge in battle and outside of it moving forwards, but a peculiar sort of one which works even passively for him at times alongside his subconscious and which he just seems to ‘roll with’ as he ever has. Not that he didn't get medically looked at due to his 'visions' and peculiarness when he was younger, or that his sister Lira wasn't at some point in the past as well, either.

However, his passiveness about the matter of this 'ESP' of his is, for him, just how he’s adjusted to it all over time as its always 'been a part of me' in his eyes. As natural as breathing. Yet while doctors once debated alongside his parents privately giving him medications for his ‘visions’, when they became more frequent and vivid for a time when he actually told his parents about them, before his therapist settled the matter by noting that ‘he is a growing boy, it is most likely his imagination, a healthy one at that, going off a bit’. Not that it also didn’t help with him stopping talking about the visions to his parents, though Lira would admit to him in private later that she had less frequent episodes of the same things but had always kept quiet about them usually thinking they were ‘nothing but dreams’ and a small incident involving one when she was even younger.

It was the sort of thing his mother came to increasingly think back on, though, when her research turned to ‘people like him’. Along with the government providing more information and evidence of their actual existence, then, and her mind going back more and more to her second oldest child…it finally convinced her inside of her own mind to sign him and his siblings up to be tested to see if any of them were truly ‘special people’. If they were the ones that she’d been focusing her work toward developing Framewerk tech for more and more so over the years. If they were ‘the next step in human evolution’ as it spread across the stars, so one theory about such people might have spelled it out, and it turns out…her instincts were right on the money with Lucius, and partly so with Lira to boot in a secondary sense. Not so much with Patrick though.))

2 ) Clairvoyance - Sometimes you have what you could only describe as visions. Most of the time they make no sense, but rarely you might learn about something that has happened, is happening right now, or could happen in the future. You possess the ability to sometimes see glimpses, the contents of which are determined by GM. Also, you may automatically dodge any attack that can be physically avoided, explained as foreseeing the attack before it happens. The chance to dodge reduces the more times the ability is used in a single battle, resetting after a proper rest. You also tend to see things that aren't there. You might become more nervous and paranoid, or become chatty about them, such as spoiling the twist of a movie others haven't seen.

3 ) Humanity’s Potential - You are special, even among Gifted Pilots, and capable of something extraordinary. A caveman would simply call it magic, but a learned scholar might theorize it to be a visible manifestation of a theoretical concept invisible to the naked eye, but able to be manipulated by the select few. You're capable of performing actions that defy the known laws of physics when invoking the ability. However, these actions and their results are determined by the GM, with the pilot unable to control how it exactly occurs. Also, the effect diminishes the more times it is used in a single battle, replenishing after a proper rest.

Perks:

1 ) Master of Directions - You gain a supernatural sense of direction towards an object or person you have seen before, and will have better chances of finding locations you know about.

2 ) Creative - You're innovative, and capable of making all sorts of things, from cooking soup and baking cakes to inventing smaller inventions to impress your fellow pilots. You could even add tiny little modifications to your Framewerk, though not to the same extent as a Machine Mind. If you have both, you can make two modifications per event.

Additional information:

1 ) His siblings also have middle names, I just have to think of them eventually.

2 ) Is there a chance to run into his father and runaway siblings? Perhaps. His father wanted to flee to deeper, even safer space, but also wanted to flee to avoid the military’s attention. Fake/new names, etc, the whole nine yards within what he can manage to do to keep Lira from becoming a potential pilot and so forth.

3 ) His favorite desserts are actually fruit tarts, admittedly, and things like chocolate-dipped berries and banana splits and fruit-preserve-filled pies or chocolates and such things that also incorporate fruits into them. But ancient Earth’s idea of fruitcake from centuries ago? Well-....w-wait, he even likes that too?!

4 ) He is, as taken from one of the Perk descriptions: “[C]apable of making all sorts of things, from cooking soup and baking cakes to inventing smaller inventions to impress your fellow pilots. [He] could even add tiny little modifications to [his] Framewerk over time, though not to the same extent as a Metal Mind [could].” His skills range from video games to computers, to tinkering with and repairing machines (exposure to his father’s mundane work also helped this), to cooking and baking, to drawing, to even reading and skills like welding. This is the general breadth of his polymath-grade skills, however, not meant to be a “he pulls ‘X’ skill out of his arse whenever it is needed at all possible occasions” type of deal.

5 )

The New Unit

“Rex Artus”

Framewerk Name: Rex Artus, aka “Rex”

((Official Technical Model/Title: The GFX-17-2 “Newtype” Framewerk

It is also the successor Framewerk developed from the GFX-J-17-1 “Special Pilot Innovations Testing” Unit, aka: “SPIT-U”, or as it is most colloquially and affectionately best known to the engineering team that it works alongside back 'home'- “Spit”.))

Appearance

Weight Class: Heavy

Framewerk Type: Backliner (Has improved dodging capability equal to Medium weight class units)

Primary Weapon Systems:

1 ) Moonbreaker Railgun ((A high-powered long-range weapon. The weapon does not give a big energy signature due to primarily firing physical projectiles with electromagnetism, making it suitable for sniping. Capable of piercing even thick armor. The weapon can fire specialized projectiles that are either Anti-Battleship Armor Piercing (Kinetic) or High Explosive Crowd Control projectiles (Energy). The weapon's projectile can be accelerated to increase both range and power to a safety limit. Charging the weapon past its safety limits further empowers the shot considerably, but risks melting the weapon. The weapon also has a slow firing rate, and is not suited for close combat.))

Secondary Systems:

1 ) Muscle Memory Operations Recall Precision Generator (MMORPG) - ((An augmentation system based on an onboard computer then saves and stores data on maneuvers, and calculates variations on maneuvers as well. These are triggered when the pilot begins a maneuver, removing latency and allowing the Framewerk to move far faster than should be feasible. Observers might mistakenly think that the Framewerk itself possesses reflexes. Because of the importance of reading the pilot's intentions, there is a complex control system within the Framewerk that gives the pilot 'free' movement, though still restrained by a harness system. The actions of the pilot internally are replicated by the Framewerk, with internal shock sensors that prevent the pilot being thrown around during maneuvers and combat. The system self-improves through simulation and repetition, which allows it to gather more data on the same movement pattern ahead of time to the point of master-like precision.

OOC Note for the GM;Please Read

This system was also installed into the Rex, ultimately, to allow it to "adapt to the pilot’s enhanced awareness and dodging capabilities/reflexes" (Awareness + Clairvoyance), and thus to improve the Framewerk’s ability to dodge even more so than a standard use of the MMORPG system in the long-term as it becomes better and better acclimated to the pilot. Then again, naturally the GM gets to determine if this ‘improved dodging over time’ thing actually happens, or indeed how much better the dodging gets over the long-term, in the end. Etc, etc. Just want to be on the same page, but thought the idea was cool in theory at least to suggest it here iff nothing else.

2 ) Multiple Fire Control System - ((A suite of comprehensive software and hardware, and sensor arrays. Able to acquire targets using RADAR, LADAR, Infrared and traditional optical target acquisition. The Framewerk is able to freely and easily distribute power from its energy cells to the first three detection modes, allowing for great flexibility on the battlefield. If necessary, the modular nature of the system makes it possible to install active/passive sonar for marine warfare in less than five hours in a standard Framewerk berth.

The system also sports highly advanced target tracking and firing solution computation abilities owing to a specialized logic core that runs synchronously to Framewerk's own computer chipset. In proper conditions, only a few types of enemies may outgun the Framewerk within medium range owing to the constant effective firepower provided by the system. In addition, the system may compile esoteric data on-the-fly into the standard communication packet format for transmission to any applicable friendly networks for their use and perusal in real-time. When activated, the user may make a weapon attack against as many targets in a single action as they can reach in medium range.))

3 ) Attack Drones X-Type Variant 2 - ((A relatively new type of drone of which these are an experimental subtype, 4 of these are housed and maintained within the Framewerk's upper back. These drones are armed with a medium particle cannon for greater firepower, instead of a small laser and melee-range laser dagger, and are fitted with both bladeless propulsion for in-atmopshere movement and a set of several smaller Microburst Monopropellant Thrusters for improved maneuverability and dodging capabilities when moving in zero-g. They further have an equipped plasma reactor, and are capable of attacking in synchronized teamwork. These drones can fully operate at medium range. When out of range of the Framewerk, they will enter standby mode and partially power down until either an emergency 'recall' function is activated (a one way recall to bring them back to dock with the unit specifically, not just bringing them back into range) or they otherwise return to being within range of the Framewerk itself. If given an override command the pilot can cause their reactors to overload, resulting in a detonation with high destructive power.))

@Crusader Lord

There seems to be a missing number 5 spot in additional information section. Also, I find it odd that you would pick MMORPG without any sort of close-range weapon.

Nerves In Carbonox Reforged: A Roll-Your-Own Giant Mecha Roleplay

Elora sighed in relief after she was released, a bit of a blush having remained on her cheeks from the embarrassing moment. She lightly shook her head as Aurora checked in, asking about her health. "I'm fine."
When Stella mentioned that she would bake her favorite food, her eyes sparkled, and her mouth was open in surprise. "Really? That would be like a dream come true, Stella!"
Her enthusiasm quickly faded as Jake then approached their group: she was wary of the masked man, unsure what to make of him yet. He seemed polite enough when addressing Lorenzo according to protocol, but that didn't tell her much about him as a person. Aurora quickly greeted him as she gave the order for them to relocate, and Elora followed her team as they shifted to another meeting room. She seated herself next to Aurora, and gave a polite nod to Mema-Ka as he took a seat at the corner. However, her smile failed to deliver on the same courtesy, marred as it was by a frown, as memories of the encounter with his twin brother still plagued her.

She passively listened as the group made plans, nodding along as Aurora, Arrish, and Mema-Ka engaged in a fruitful and constructive debate about their team composition, strengths and weaknesses, and tactics to handle units of team Mango. When Jake introduced himself, she nodded, and took out her personal device to read through the data he had uploaded to the team roster.

"Um, based on the data that mister Twilight's Framewerk Angel Zero has, he seems to fit a flanking position for this mission," Elora began explaining, finding some footing in her words despite the pressure of a listening crowd, relying on her experience at intelligence processing.
"Not only does he possess stealth capability akin to Logic Diver, the Rapid Execution Adaptation Processor allows him to quickly adapt to a changing battlefield and grab enemy weaponry to use as his own. Therefore, our attacks should prioritize disarming enemy units whenever Angel Zero is nearby if there is an opportunity to do so." A small hologram emitted from the top of the device, showing various models of Framewerks.
"As for Logic Diver itself, I believe it is also best situated in a flanking position. Placing it in the front lines would risk it being discovered prematurely, before I can form a sufficient database with the Combat Analyzer."

She showed Cockroach in the hologram. "Despite it's unassuming appearance, mister Bugatti's Cockroach possesses a Particle Cannon, which can cause serious damage if left to their own devices. I will try to locate them and pinpoint their location as soon as possible for Sleepy and the rest of the team to target."
Elora then paused, as if unsure about her next words. "However, my request..." She took in a deep breath, gathering her courage as she glanced over at Mema-Ka, and then, in an eerily cold tone, her eyes devoid of emotion, spoke:

"I want mister Zel-Ghin and his Squid eliminated...No matter what it takes."

March of the White Rabbit: A Roll-Your-Own Magical Girl Roleplay

The Cheshire Cat seemed happy as Alicia, Penny, and the others acquiesced to the peace agreement she proposed, causing her to smile a wide cat smile, and for the Super Map to have shifted her color into that of an ally. “Nyajestic! I’m so glad to hear that!” However, she then blinked as Alex brought up Alice, and Mariette’s connection to the name.
“Oh, Princess Alice…Is it Alice not then?” She asked, tilting her head in confusion.

Rachel was the one to speak up.

”I do remember there having been a magical girl by the name of Alice who operated in the UK back in the Victorian age,” she explained. “And they died under mysterious circumstances. Based on her motifs and obsession, it seems the Queen of Hearts was originally her mother, and Mariette is her reincarnation…Or she is so delusional that she thinks Mariette is Alice anyway. I don’t think we’ll ever know the truth.”

Cheshire Cat managed a slight smile. “Well, Alice or Mariette, my stance has not changed: the adorable princess nyads a maid!”

”But even if Mariette is Alice, she’s still in danger!” Lily finally entered the conversation, looking concerned at Cheshire Cat.
”I’ll agree to your conditions, but you’ll need to help us!”

“Of course!” The whimsical feline magical girl answered.

Justine nodded, and glanced over to Caroline who also nodded.
”Excellent. First, let’s go to the Bastion to drop off the wounded.”

“You got it!” The Cheshire Cat swept her bushy cat tail behind her in a wide arc, and magically created a large door resembling a cat flap. As they did, Lily looked back to see Mayra suddenly grab the Mermaid Princess and fly off: the piscine royal flailed in her arms.

“Ahh?! I have been dragonnapped!” She cast one last spell to enchant the merman army with a puddle of mobile water. “Help mee!”

“Your Highness!” The merman army then started chasing after Mayra, hoping to rescue the Princess from her claws.

Lily’s mouth turned wavy at the sight.
”Uh, shouldn’t we-”

But Nefer stopped her. “Don’t worry: I have a feeling this Mayra cutie won’t be too rough with a pretty princess cutie like her, so relax~”

Lily’s face scrunched up, but she nodded.

And so, the group traversed through the magical cat flap, which led to the meeting room in Penny’s Bastion.

Rachel immediately contacted Elora upon arrival, having carried Brittany with her over her shoulder.

“What’s the situation?” She asked without so much as a greeting. Elora's answer was equally quick, causing Rachel's eyes to widen, and her expression to turn grim.

“Inquisitor, the situation has just turned a whole lot worse.”

---

The Queen of Hearts munched on her biscuit, her eyes intently observing the exchange between Mariette and Mikayla, her other hand impatiently tapping fingers on the pommel of her Storyslayer, ready to intervene the moment hostilities would begin. But to the eyepatched girl’s credit, she successfully negotiated with Asengav’s top champion, and thus obtain the final piece of the puzzle…The Black Mirror itself.

“Yes, yes…YES! O-hoh-hoh-hoh-hooo!” The queen laughed like a noblewoman with the back of her hand to her mouth, and placed a reassuring hand on Mariette’s shoulder.
“All the letters are forming up on the page, the black ink spelling out a new, wonderful future for us, my dear Alice. But…Hmm…” She squinted her eyes as she caressed the frame of the Black Mirror. “Something…is missing. This needs one last salvo of mana…But where could we get it…Let’s see…” She brought up the Storyslayer, pointed it towards the Black Mirror…And her purple eye began to glow. As it did, Mariette saw as the Queen’s magic was channelled into the Black Mirror, and a new view was opened on its onyx-glass surface: they were snapshots of Penrose, of its streets full of battles between monsters, of buildings and rooftops where more monsters and also Mahou were running around…Until it settled on the imposing view of Covington Tower.

“There…We shall conclude this tale. This tower holds mana unceasing…It is the location of the Nexus,” she spoke, letting her words hang in the air.

She raised her free hand up, and a massive red rose portal opened up. From its frame, green, thorny vines slowly extended, wrapping around the Black Mirror as it was lifted and slowly drawn through the Queen’s mirror: it ended up on the roof of Covington tower, at the exact center. She followed through the portal herself to the rooftop, her attention entirely on Asengav’s artifact.

She checked that the Mirror made the transition, and nodded.

“Yes…I can already feel the proximity of the Nexus…Of the promise of the Quill and the Inkwell…Of the power…Of an Author itself!” She lifted the Storyslayer, and a flame of crimson red could be faintly seen shimmering around it.

“Now, time to give those meddlers something to meddle in,” she spoke coldly, and opened another portal: this led directly to the site of Wonderland’s army, who were stuck outside Nykannis’ barrier.

She lifted the blade with a maniacal grin. “You can close off a Chapter from another, but you cannot prevent me from reaching the back cover!"

She gathered power in her sword-

"LINE BREAK!”

She swung her sword, and cut a massive hole into the barrier the size of a city block.

“Now go, and secure this city!” She commanded her troops with a point of her finger, and the faceless forces began to advance through the aperture in a menacing march, the queen laughing as they did.

---

Tsuki gripped her staff tighter when Chloe gave a short explanation of her actions, scoffing indignantly with an upturned chin. “Saving Penrose, huh? Swarming the city with undead monstrosities is a strange way of doing so,” she verbally jabbed, though Hudie lifted a hand to stop Tsuki as the Pennybots gave their report. She nodded at the confirmation of the sites. “Understood. Contact Elora and share the data with her. We’ll start our search at these locations,” she noted, pointing out the spots the Pennybots had shown with their hologram.
Tsuki’s cheeks puffed, and she glanced at Chloe and her request.

“...Fine,” she responded, causing Hudie to slightly tilt her head. “But only because we want you to co-operate. And I’ll decide what burgers we’re getting, got it? Let’s go, Hudie!” She then leapt away with the other Ascendancy girl towards the hot spots.

Nerves In Carbonox Reforged: A Roll-Your-Own Giant Mecha Roleplay

Elora gave a little wave of her hand in greeting to Serah as she approached her, Aurora, and Arrish. Though she had warmed up to her since their initial talk and had spent time with her since, the shy girl had kept a bit of a distance from her due to her nightmare. Fortunately, it seemed the bubbly girl wasn’t upset, and instead encouraged her upcoming opponents. Elora gave a mildly friendly smile back.
“I-I know I will, Serah. Good luck in the coming battle…” She added, and watched as the girl left to join her own team.

Serah…I wonder if we will cross paths during the battle…

The moment Arrish took her hand, it was wrenched away by an overly affectionate Stella, who proceeded to trap Elora in her loving embrace.

“Bwmhmmh?”

She struggled weakly in a vain attempt to escape, and then hung limply, her face pushed into the Lilim’s armored but curved chassis.

“Mphff!”

Her muffled voice tried to exclaim that she was suffocating, but her words were unintelligible. Just as she was about to pass out, however, Ritsu suddenly exclaimed: she received a message, and quickly showed it to Lorenzo, who nodded, stroking his beard in contemplation. This disruption gave enough pause for Stella that Elora wiggled her face to the side and drew in a breath of life.

“Well now…Cain, you sly fox…” Lorenzo muttered, and then pointed his finger at the door, looking at Ritsu.

“Lieutenant, it seems Team Apple has now received mystery reinforcements,” he spoke, his voice intentionally loud enough that the pilots heard.
“Why don’t you bring him in here, so he gets to see the faces of those he will murder…virtually, of course, ha ha!”

Soon enough, Jake was brought in, the Lieutenant having given him a crash course on the project details and training schedule, before hurrying to add Angel Zero to the Team Apple participants on the projector presentation. Lorenzo walked up to the gloomy young man, and lightly poked him in the chest with his walking stick.
“Hmm...seems Cain decided to pick one for me after all,” he spoke, and leaned his head, looking at him with his single eye.
“...Not a completely awful choice. Rejoice, laddie, for you are taking your first steps to humanity’s future. Now, go have a chat with your fellow apples. I look forward to seeing how you will fare in the simulation.”

As Lorenzo spoke to Jake, Elora listened as Ava made a convincing argument for why the intelligence specialist should be allowed to fight. The trapped pilot found herself nodding along.
“I don’t mind fighting you, Stella, but not because I dislike you. I…I want to prove myself capable of fighting, so that I can be there to fight Cruxi alongside you, and everyone. Please, Stella…” She pleaded, uncannily happening to resemble a lost puppy with her eyes.

Nerves In Carbonox Reforged: A Roll-Your-Own Giant Mecha Roleplay

<Snipped quote by Ariamis>

Yeah should have listed it specifically. By default the Heavy Assault Gun and Laser Blade are the standard if no other weapons are currently available since both appear to be the most versatile outside of sniping it seems.

@DarkRecon

Oh, I did not catch that in the description, I just thought they were examples of compatible weapons. In that case the Frame sheet is acceptable as well.

Nerves In Carbonox Reforged: A Roll-Your-Own Giant Mecha Roleplay

Well...here's the rest of it. @Ariamis, I think I went too far with the framewerk but take a look at it though and tell me what you think. I also updated the personality part to perhaps make him more interactive so hope that works. But ugh, was hoping the A.I. generator I found could give Wing Zero Custom a black paint job but the results I got were crap so just using the original Wing Zero Custom as the base for this:

Name: Jake Twilight (Real name unknown)
Callsign: Seven
Gender: Male
Appearance:
Pilot Type: Skilled
Age: 25
Background Potentials:
Awareness
Stealthy

Perks:
Athletic
Academic
Networking

Weakness:
Suicidal Behavior (Custom) - Despite being well trained, educated and having connections with other "Recon" divisions of the military as shown, it comes with a downside. Being born and raised in a batllefield all his life, death itself doesn't scare Jake at all. If anything, there are those that say he's just "looking for a place to get killed". While he won't follow an order to "shoot himself", he will follow an order that may have very little odds of success to none whatsoever or perhaps throw himself in front of a bullet if it means "protecting a mission objective" without any prep time. Similar to "Death or Glory" but with no upside, Jake suffers 'reduced chance to dodge equivalent to two levels of higher weight class until the start of your next turn' when near an objective or other pending circumstances...

Personality:
To say that Jake is your typical "stoic" soldier would be the best way to describle him. Rarely showing any sort of emotion, he talks when spoken to but has some quirks that make you think he's still human. When ordered to be "at ease" or simply to take down time, he can be seen either training, studying or perhaps things more normal like playing video games or other kinds of games to reading. His "muse is music" though it seems as he's seen never without some form of a headset.

Jake rarely goes out of his way to "mingle" or talk to anyone casually unless it has to do with a "mission" or duing a combat senario. Though there were reports that state that there WERE times where he did small talk with a person or two at times and perhaps even more so when he was in The Numbers division...

By the end of the day though, there are those that say Jake means well. He sadly was just forced to grow up too quickly...

Background:
Not much is known of the early origins of the pilot known as Jake "Seven" Twilight. The name itself given to him by a scientist when he was drafted into his framewerk program.

Jake seemed like a "ghost" in today's society even all the way in the depths of space. Even when he eventually found his way into the military, blood testing and other forms of medical identification couldn't properly I.D. him. But they say that he was found as an infant among the corpses of other dead humans after a Cruxi attack and was found by unknown civilians. Afterwards, records and eyewitness accounts having him "bouncing" as he once put it from one space colony to another just trying to make ends meet. Never saying a word...never stating his mind or his desires.

There are many that say that Jake is your typical war victim and shows just how cruel the war was even back then.

However, what we do know is, despite his dry personality, he was considered one of their best and brightest but again, his lack of emotion seemed counter-productive to those training to be a framewerk pilot. Despite this, early "military" records show him at around age 18 him piloting what is known as "Subwerks" or framewerks not as advanced as the ones seen recently. Despite being old school mechas, Jake showed excellent skill in piloting such machinery despite the disadvantage of no "sync" system as seen in todays mechs.

Then, four years ago from the present time, he was transfered to a private framewerk division that simply went by the codename "The Numbers". Said to be a specilized unit, it was actually a division similar to what perhaps Lorenzo is doing now in the present time. However, there were stories of the group being a "black ops" team said to do the "dirty work" that other pilots wouldn't be able to handle. That included fighting and even killing targets that weren't Cruxi...

The leader was also an old man who simply went by the code name "Cauldron". With Jake, the team consisted of Seven pilots with Jake being the seventh, hence his callsign "Seven". Despite the stories around the group, it's said that Cauldron did care about pilot "quality" but had misgivings about other "methods" that were being used to fight the war with the Cruxi. While it isn't clear what he didn't agree on it was clear that there was friction brewing between his old group and the general military.

What Jake did during those four years with The Numbers is classified but it's said that Cauldron suffered health complications that prevented him from continuing leadership. However, due to Cauldron's misgivings with other methods of producing pilots, higher ranking military leaders were quick to disband the division. Perhaps seeing them as possible "threats" even.

What exactly happened to Cauldron and the six other pilots is either classified or unknown entirely but Jake was an exception due to his skills and experience. Thus he received a late transfer order to Lorenzo's division.

Missing People: Jake doesn't remember his past or his origins so his only missing people seems to be the six other pilots of his old division but perhaps Cauldron himself is someone he actually care about for a time....

Framewerk Name: Angel Zero
Appearance:
https://gundam.fandom.com/wiki/XXXG-00W0_Wing_Gundam_Zero_EW?file=Wing+gundam+zero+EW+front.png
Weight Class: Medium
Framewerk Type: Specialist

Primary Weapon Systems:
"Rapid Execution Adaptation Processor" or REAP is Angel Zero's unique system. Put in simple terms, it allows the framewerk to wield any weapon it can equip to maximum skill level so long as said weapon doesn't require any sort of advanced installation. If Angel Zero can pick it up, it can be weaponized. Though it can only hold two weapons at a time which usually includes a firearm and a melee weapon. Examples of compatible weapons are the Heavy Assault Gun, Laser Blade, Moonbreaker Railgun, Multiform Rod, Marker Light and Vibroblade to name ones pilot Seven has used.

Secondary Systems:
Another unique trait of the Angel Zero is it's wings. More specific, the "Cloaking Wings MK.2". It's the exact same as the original Cloaking Wings but with the added benefit of "visual cloaking". It can literally turn invisible though the visual cloaking part of the system isn't perfect. It can easily be deactivated by either taking any sort of damage, firing a weapon or certain kinds of jammers even if said jammer doesn't shut down the normal functions of the Cloaking Wings. A good pilot can even see the "shimmer" of the framewerk when it moves so the invisibility isn't perfect. Still, the cloak provides extra chance to evade attacks or perhaps even stealth tactics to avoid detection. Though with the addition of the "Multiple Fire Control System" and "Air Recon Drones (5)", the Angel Zero is truly a jack-of-all-trades but with a slight lean on reconnaissance, stealth and versatile combat options.

@DarkRecon

The pilot sheet is now better. REAP is an interesting system, but it seems to rely on obtaining other weapon systems. Does Angel Zero have a default weapon to use with the system if there are no other weapons available to grab?

Nerves In Carbonox Reforged: A Roll-Your-Own Giant Mecha Roleplay

Three people had gathered in the War room of Fortress Ship Solaire, the darkened chamber illuminated by the light from a hologram of the galaxy that was projected from the center of a round table. Various textboxes of starships, planets, and other cosmic entities flashed by as the hologram slowly rotated.

"Have the Cadets settled into their new squad yet?" An imposing man wearing a fleet commander's uniform asked, sitting across from Ritsu and Lorenzo.

"Yes. They have passed the initial requirements in terms of both physical and Framewerk handling skills. However, some of them are...problematic," she admitted.

Meanwhile, Lorenzo was typing away on a computer: instead of using a hologram interface, he resorted to manual clacking of a keyboard. He was responding to an email he had received the other day:

Email from Astolfo to Lorenzo

Subject: Cruxi Logistics.

Dear Professor,

I will be brief since even wasting a minute of your time could set back the Cruxi war. I have seen the video. Two things. Cruxi seem to understand the concept of terror and intimidation. Is there any way their troops can be inflicted with it? Two. It seems they are keen on harvesting resources. Is there any kind of resource chokepoint to delay their advance?.

Regards,

Astolfo Bugatti.

@Ariamis

@AtomicNut

The Cruxi rank-and-file have been identified as possessing an unnatural drive for combat, likely because of modifications to their cognitive perception, and as a result resist most normal attempts at intimidation. However, they are known to rout when faced with certain defeat. Overwhelming them with dread by slaughtering their kind has also been reported as possible. As for your second question, several Cruxi-manned orbital outposts have been spotted where the Cruxi fleets both prepare for invasion of star systems as well as bring in prisoners for what I can only assume to be processing and distribution. Intelligence on these outposts are limited, so do focus your efforts on capturing any Cruxi commanders you encounter for interrogation.

He pressed the enter key with a crooked finger, and shifted his single eye to glance at Admiral Cain, who was looking at him with a dour expression. "Professor Lorenzo, your selection of candidates for this project has been...eccentric," he spoke. "Some of them seem emotionally unstable if not outright hostile to each other, and I have received reports of several incidents that have caused unwanted attention from the rest of Solaire's staff. There is even a Tevranian, and an outdated Lilim. What possible reason could there be for bringing such an eclectic sampling of Framewerk pilots together?"

Lorenzo cackled in return. "You don't understand, Cain. If we are to unlock the mysteries of humanity, we need to give the necessary keys to our bright-eyed door-openers. And that requires a variable pool of potential candidates to stimulate their wills, and the collective unconsciousness by proxy."

The admiral Cain. "I'm afraid your explanation is lost on me. But in other words, you see that the project can proceed like this, despite the mounting tensions? How are they meant to fight as a single unit when they are already fighting among themselves?"

"Also, we need to discuss on the parameters of the training mission to evaluate the most fitting squad leader," Ritsu interjected.
"For example, Cadet Lane, with the previous rank of Second Lieutenant I might add, has given the following proposal."

She swiped her hand on the holographic interface, and her message enlarged on the central screen:

@Ariamis

Ava's proposal

Subject: DECISION - Proposal for battle simulation to choose Squad Leader

1st Lieutenant Ritsu Kaname,

I would like to submit a proposal for the battle simulation to choose the squad leader of Project XJ9.

I think that simple combat simulations against the Cruxi are inadequate to choose a squad leader. I have attached my proposal that I think would assess leadership quality better. Please review at your convenience. Thank you.

[Attached is a proposal of a simulated battle scenario based on real battles that the Federation had in its records, where a hard decision needed to be made. For example, Ava gave several examples of battles where the squad leader needed to pick how to deploy their squads between two vital objectives/targets. The proposals outlined that each pilot should take the role of the leader in the simulation, with AI simulating their squad members to be commanded by the leader. Everyone should be given the same scenarios so they can be judged objectively by Ritsu based on a given scenario.]

@Randomguy

"I think this is an excellent idea," Admiral Cain spoke after skimming through the proposal. "Given the chance to perform their role separate from any possible bias from fellow pilots, we see their capability for the role."

"BAH!" Lorenzo slammed a fist on the table, causing Ritsu to adjust her glasses in mild surprise. "What a sterile, and more importantly, soulless way of evaluation! As advanced as AI has become, nothing can match the experience of real people as they rush headlong into plasma fire! I refuse!"

Ritsu sighed. "Very well then. What do you propose then, Executive Officer?"

Lorenzo smiled in a sinister fashion. "This." He clacked on his keyboard, and the two saw another proposal. Cain slowly nodded. "I understand now. Well then, I suppose that would be as proper test as any."

Ritsu was not as convinced, but she knew better than to protest. "Very well. We shall proceed then as suggested." She stood up from her seat, and saluted Cain, who saluted back. Lorenzo, however, was focused on something on his screen...

---

The week had passed, and so a message was sent to the pilots of Project XJ9 to report to the briefing room for their virtual training mission. Once there, Ritsu saluted the pilots, and began the debriefing, with Lorenzo standing on the sidelines alongside Liisa.

"The parameters for the training mission have been decided," she announced, and opened the projector. It showed an image that immediately conveyed the type of mission they would partake in:

"The mission is to eliminate all members of the opposing team."

The projector image showed two Framewerks, similar to sock-em rock-em robots, in a boxing match.

"You will be split into two teams, and given an hour to prepare for the mission before you enter the VR training room and enter the prepared virtual reality space. When your Framewerk takes enough damage, or you consciously forfeit, you will be automatically rejected from the VR session, as per usual VR training guidelines. The Framewerks and their systems will be connected to the VR mainframe, and will be perfectly replicated. There is no intelligence regarding the environment the mission is to take place in," she added, as if expecting questions.

She changed the projector image, and it listed the two teams: Team Apple, and Team Mango.

"I was hungry," Lorenzo added in with a grin. Ritsu continued with a roll of her eyes.

"Members of each team will be listed by their Framewerk callsigns. Note that in addition to the regular general and squad communication channels, a separate communication channel has been created for each team."

Members of Team Apple were listed as:

-Horst
-Sleeping Thunder
-Logic Diver
-R4-PT0 Type R
-Shiva
-Electric Dragonfly

And members of Team Mango were listed as:

-Argent Wings
-Cockroach
-AA-XOTRY
-Argo
-Mother Goose
-Guinevere
-5Q-U1 Type D

Elora started visibly trembling as she realized the mission was going to pit half the squad against the other. It was a harrowing thought, and one she had not expected, nor was prepared for.

I'm going to fight...My squad-mates?

A part of her wanted to refuse, that she wanted to fight with them instead of against them. Yet, a certain part of her, deep inside, welcomed the opportunity, though she wasn't fully conscious of the reason. She glanced over at the others, wondering if they were as surprised about this as she was.

Ritsu spoke up before the various inevitable voices could reach an uproar. "Make any preparations you deem necessary. Dismissed," Ritsu concluded with a salute, while Lorenzo rubbed his hands together, looking pleased at the looks of confusion and eventual dismay with the pilots.

"Umm..." Elora approached the closest teammates of Apple team, which happened to be Aurora and Arrish. "We should discuss tactics somewhere private. Also, I...I have a request, if you don't mind."

Nerves In Carbonox Reforged: A Roll-Your-Own Giant Mecha Roleplay

@Ariamis Another question, ah, if that is ok to ask I mean!

So I have an idea of sorts for a Secondary System for a Framewerk, an idea basically taken from a Gundam anime but trying to tweak the details of it a little to change it from being a 100% pure 1-1 (hopefully). In that vein I wanted to ask:

Could a pilot have a special Secondary System for their Framewerk, one that involves them recieving a special set of cybernetic implants but not becoming a full Cyborg. These implants would be the pilot-side part of a system installed in the Framewerk that effectively gives the pilot a somewhat stronger/deeper form of Synchronized Agility, literally operating the Framewerk and its systems as if it were their own body, but at the cost of taking up a whole Secondary System slot. It would also come with some EMP vulnerability and such, not as much as a Cyborg would have to worry about it at least....but more than a standard pilot has to worry about.

Would such a thing be potentially acceptable? Or would it be too OP or such? Suggestions for potential weaknesses if it needs more of those?

Overall I just wanted to test the waters and ask about it all at least. ^^;

@Crusader Lord

Yes, that is a possible system to have. It will function similarly to the Synchronized Agility Background Potential, with the additional drawbacks you have listed.

Nerves In Carbonox Reforged: A Roll-Your-Own Giant Mecha Roleplay

Maternal Mnemosis

Stella’s routines scanners picked up something. She had allotted the necessary ingredients for the task that Ritsu Kaname, Lieutenant had requested of her. However her calculations about the presence and ingestion of food from the cadets were showing a remarkable anomaly. Cadet Liu’un was failing to maintain calorie upkeep and socialize. Possible causes were weight-consciousness, depression, death, viriasis and distress. Stella ruled out death, because that was a priority hazard that would have been informed promptly. Packing up some concoction in the form of denaturalized avian protein in a suspension, or as humans called it, chicken soup, Stella set forth to find and diagnose the root cause and offer a solution. Elora Liu’un was a child under the criteria of ages from 0 to 80 and therefore a cause of concern for unit 456.

Chicken soup was also a cure all through placebo effect at times, so it was an acceptable risk free compromise of prompt treatment. Stella stood in front of the door of Elora unblinking and immobile, as she used a wireless communication to stimulate the door intercom.

“Elora Liu’un, cadet. Are you okay? Do you have any viral symptoms or distressful thoughts? This unit 456 has brought chicken soup to start treatment.”

The door soon opened, and Elora stood on the other side: she looked tired, and looked up at the tall Lilim, only to blink in surprise.
“Oh, umm…You're Stella, right?” She noticed the chicken soup she was carrying,and further opened the door for her. “Oh, thank you. I’m not sick, but I suppose I could eat something…” She said half-heartedly, gesturing for Stella to enter before she closed the door again.
“I’m sorry if I worried you,” she said as she went over to stand by the small desk each cabin was furnished with. “I just…didn’t feel like eating…at all.”

Stella walked, unblinkingly, before leaving the food secured next to the desk. “Stella. Shorthand for 456. Identity confirmed. This unit is programmed to notice deviations in patterns of children for ages 0 to 80.” Stella stated as a matter of fact, as she knelt before Elora.

“Distress and depression most likely options. Initiating hug protocol.” She said as she moved forward. Stella’s calculations had suggested to wear an ABT skin suit instead of plates for interaction, as well as running the heartbeat sim module. The soft, squishy almost-like flesh substance pressed against Elora, while the soft thum of the subsonic emitter simulated real heartbeat and heat, mimicking a motherly hug.

“There, there. Good girl.” Stella droned, as she carefully tried to comfort the young pilot.

“H-hug protocol?” Elora had seen Lilims a few times before. However, she wouldn’t have recognized Stella immediately as one because of her very intricate ABT. There was something cold about them…But this one was very affectionate. As Elora was given the warm hug, she was surprised at first, but then slowly accepted it…and a couple of tears ran down her face. She removed herself after a short moment, and wiped her tears. “S-Sorry…I didn’t mean to cry,” she apologized again. “I’ve been feeling awful lately, and the hug reminded me of home, and my parents…If it wasn’t for Zel-Ghin…”

Stella’s unblinking face moved for a moment, as servos came to life, offering an awkward smile due to the limitations of the hardware. “This unit is a Hestia series, Steel Raven model. Commissioned for childcare. It feels its purpose fulfilled as parent substitute for children who are in no situation to rely on parents. Acuous discharge is not uncommon among distressed children neither adults and it stabilizes the limbic system. Tears leave little residue and are easy to clean. Your apology is unnecessary.” Stella droned.

“This unit’s power has been reduced drastically with the deployment of ABT addon, still it can operate a hug protocol for six days, four hours and seven minutes.” She continued. “Would Elora, Liu’un, pilot like to continue?” She lifted her arms, inviting.

“Zel-Ghin, Pilot. Registered. Possible source of distress. Tentative Inquiry. May I know more?”

Elora’s gloomy demeanor began to recover as she found herself intrigued by Stella’s explanation of herself, and how devoted she was to taking care of others.
However, she gave a polite smile and slowly shook her head. “I’m okay now, but thank you for the offer. It helped me a lot more than I thought.”

Then came the question about that pilot and Elora averted her eyes in regret. “Uh I didn’t mean to mention him, um…” She was silent for a moment, as she thought about the situation. “I…I can trust you, right?” She never was a tattletale back at the academy…But this was something she couldn’t stay silent about.
“I was in the rec room when Zel-Ghin arrived. Once his brother Mema-Ka left us alone, I thought he wanted to play Holo games or something. Instead, he…he was creepy. Like, super creepy. I was so uncomfortable, I had to leave. And I…I’m kind of afraid that he’s going to stalk me,” she finally admitted, hugging herself. “I thought about telling Ritsu, but I don’t want to cause a scene…So I’m at a loss at what to do.”

Stella blinked ever so slightly. One could hear the computations racing in her brains as for a few seconds one could hear the computations. She dove deeper and deeper into the databanks.

A stranger appearing in the enclosure. Coming closer to the children. Unclean. Distressful. Disgusting. Sweaty, with hormonal spikes similar of animals in rut. It had to be neutralized and taken into custody. Back then, Stella had a very basic module. Years of programs, and operations later would give her more options.

Stella’s eyes glowed menacingly red, as she stared at Elora. “Information classified as confidential, to be disclosed to Elora only or her superiors in case of life risk towards Elora. Black Ops protocol initiated. Reproductive ability not required for piloting ability. Let-us-castrate-a-pig.”

Stella said, as her servos strained under the surges that her central processor ordered, flexing her hand several times.

Elora’s eyes widened in fright, and she waved her arms before her in a mild panic. “D-Don’t hurt him! He was creepy, but he doesn’t deserve castration!” Her lower lip slightly trembled. “M-Maybe we could…talk to him some time, and he could…uh…say he’s sorry? I’d be fine with just that.”
She hoped she didn’t accidentally set off some kind of murderous switch off in the Lilim, as she had read about the tumultuous, violent history of early Lilims.

“Distress detected. Protocol deactivated.” Stella’s eyes returned to normal, although one could wager there a hint of worry and sadness in her otherwise unfeeling face. “Guardian protocol activated.” Stella said, as she took a hand to her hip, as a tiny compartment opened with a soft click, producing a definitedly ancient device. “Elora, Liu’un. Assigning last panic button. Advised care. Steel Raven panic buttons discontinued 60 years and 2 months ago.”

As Stella handed the panic button to Elora, she held her hands out in awe, as if receiving an ancient relic from a bygone era. “You’re…s-sure? If it’s your last one and all…” However, she could tell from the venerable Lilim’s affectionate eyes that she had intended to hold onto it, and she brought it close to her chest, closing her eyes in gratitude.

“Thank you…With this, even if Zel starts stalking me…I won’t be afraid. Because I can call you.” After putting the precious gift in her pocket, Elora stepped up to Stella, and hugged her. “You might be really old, and probably malfunctional…But I’m so glad I met you. Stella. You’re like a second mother to me.”

Stella stood for a second still. Programs ran wild, as her voice synthetizer stuttered. “I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I.” She went silent soon after. Maybe it was a trick of the light, but the ancient Lilim instead flashed a near human smile, as she eyed Elora and carefully parted the young lady’s locks from her face.

“I feel fulfilled… young master Lorenzo.” The unit said with joy.