Ravion the Red

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

Arrish & Seven

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]

---

Arrish Duval

𝓓𝓸 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓫𝓮𝓵𝓲𝓮𝓿𝓮 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓫𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓶, 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷 𝓸𝓷 𝓪 𝓫𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓵𝓮𝓯𝓲𝓮𝓵𝓭?

---

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."

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

Horst was surprised to see Zel's framewerk walk right up into sight and in range. His first instinct was to bring up his heavy assault gun and take careful aim, but before he could make the shot Rhylaen's little dragonfly had popped up and blinded the little squidly creep. He took aim again, making note of the Dragonfly's Marker "Thank you, RyRy" She just made his life a lot easier, and he wouldn't have to waste time making the perfect shot. He unleashed APFSDS-A shells into the heavy framewerk while making an advance forward into cover.

"This is Horst to Sleepy, advancing now." Knight to X-20

It was right around this time that a little game Arrish had been playing outside the theater of battle had been about to pay off. It took a little Networking to find the right guy to do it. His name was Gary Goodman; One of the laboratory tech rats that had the right skills to pull off this stunt and a whole track of guilt and shame to do it despite the risks. Apparently, he got entangled with the wrong girl and owed a crime boss a whole lot of money for 'accidentally' selling some precarious photos of the mobster's precious daughter to the wrong person. Arrish had even seen the photos of the woman, and didn't really think Scyllian's were all that much to look at but didn't deny that they would have made Gary a rich man... if only it wasn't the daughter of someone rich and powerful.

But hey, Money speaks loud, and Gary was just desperate enough to take his chance despite the real risk to his career. I mean, turning Buggati's framework hot pink? There was barely any advantage to be had, but Arrish wanted to prove a point... not to Buggati, fuck that guy. He wanted to make a point to Lorenzo who would no doubt notice the change quickly, if not exactly when it happened.

Arrish would play the game. He wouldn't just put his body in the way of danger, but he would bite, cheat and swindle his way to killing those damn Cruxi until there was nothing left. He might not have been as degenerate as someone like bug, but they shared the same Indomitable Will and would do anything to reach for the top. If Arrish could change the game, even a little, by using his family's money and his network of informants, companions and clientele, then he would do it. If Lorenzo couldn't get that much out of turning the Cockroach pink, then the man wasn't the person Arrish thought he was, and he had been wasting his time.

He pulled his thoughts back into the present. He had gotten enough of a view to see what had happened to Griff. If the warrior went flying off the handle and began chasing Atty everywhere that would be a problem. "Hey Goldilocks, keep your eyes on the prize. Remember the plan and ask yourself, 'Where is Argent Wing? Where is Argos?' They're scheming something, be ready."

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

"My bunk. Tonight. I will wear lace. <3"

Arrish smiled at the reply and was tempted to shoot something back but with the sound of Horst's engines revving there wasn't any more time to be playing around. He pulled himself together and settled his hands on the horsts controls and pushed his mind back onto the battlefield. The enemy would be on them soon so they only had moments to get themselves into position.

While the framewerks of team apple spread out, Horst would lag behind for just a couple minutes as it prepared to get into position. Somewhere he could reach the frontline if need, and more likely, somewhere that would let him jump and protect sleepy. He mentally pictured a game from his youth, a sort of multiplayer online battle arena, or MOBA. Some hapless player was trying to get his team together under the guise of a strategy called 'protect the president' and this moment was sort of like that. If they could slow the enemy's advance enough, maybe, just maybe, Sleepy could do all the work for them.

There was a mental image of Sleeping Thunder running for president, and he quickly swiped that thought away as it turned towards the useless 'how would a framewerk wear pants' and the even more unimportant 'how would an eight-legged framewerk wear pants?' This was a serious battle here, and he needed to focus. This wasn't the time for errant thoughts or memories of old video games, I meant what was he, Griff???

The Horst's massive footsteps crushed through the digital ground as she hustled towards the nearest building. Knight to X-17 Stopping with a kneeling slide as she arrived, the whirring of her gears and heavy metal colliding together as she brought up her assault rifle to aim in the direction of the enemy. Arrish wouldn't fire just yet, not that he would be given the time to properly aim, but Arrish needed to get a look at what was going to quickly be coming his way. He breathed softly, slowly, keeping his thoughts focused and in check.

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

Arrish Duval

"This hand of mine is burning red! It's loud roar tells me to grasp victory!"

---

Arrish leaned back in a chair and swirled around a glass of red wine in one of his hands. His thoughts had been of the upcoming battle and whether he was truly prepared for it. They had talked plans and strengths vs weaknesses but nothing could ever compare to being out there on the field of battle. It tested the strength of their spears, and the willingness to push through even when odds turned against them. Everyone would be at their best out there and without anything to hold them back save their own reservations or doubts. He considered his opponents, what would they stop at to win, and what standards would they be willing to break if it meant victory? Did he see those same odds in team apple? He downed the last of his wine and stood up, dressing himself and his mind for battle.

---

"This is the Horst Mark 7 online, weapons are hot and guns primed." The Horst held her multiform rod by her side and did the salute with her other hand before positioning herself into a posture that was meant for battle instead of parade marches. Arrish fanned over the image that had popped up on his screen and let out a barking laugh, thankful that he had managed to turn off his comms before guffawing at the edited image that bug had produced. He couldn't help himself, after all he had something very similiar to show off.

"Bug, I love the work you did there but you don't have to be so shy. Everyone knows what the real OTP is." He hit a few buttons on the console and produced an equally edited image, this time it had been Arrish and Astolfo wearing their noble duds in the middle of a dance, Bugatti had been dipped over like the true princess he was with Arrish's mouth hovering over his. If this was the game that Bug wanted to play, then the noble was all for it. Arrish didn't mind the reputation it had earned him because well, it wasn't true, but it did earn him a lot of attention and attraction from the ladies outside of his squad and seeing those flustered and floundering faces did wonders for his ego.

He paused a moment longer before replying over comms. "Now that the disinfo is over we should focus on adjusting our plan to the environment. I'm no thinking it needs to change much but those buildings are going to be in the way of our guns, and we'll have to look out for surprise charges" he paused before adding."I want to get on one of those buildings too, if you think they'll hold up my framewerk, and take some pot shots at our enemy before they really get into range of our guns. Thoughts anyone?"

This is where we'll learn what our team mates are like on the battlefield, he added as he thought, but not where we'll really be tested. That's going to be when we're deep in a mission and things start going wrong. Who we really are, and what we're willing to do to win will really begin to shine. Still, his thoughts trailed on, everyone's going to show their best and I'm not going to stand down until I'm beaten battered and broken.

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

He kept his tongue bit down as everyone talked. He wasn't really done talking with Griff but it sounded like the young man had enough talking. "I had a younger brother who died, my twin actually, younger only by a few minutes." Arrish turned to look at Aurora while he continued talking, not wanting to keep his gaze focused on Griff."I'll keep it brief, but I just want to remind you that everyone's lost someone here. My attitude? It's not because I'm noble; It's because I can't stand to watch someone get attacked, especially when they can't or won't protect themselves."

He pushed up his sunglasses a bit more and looked away from both of them, directing his focus somewhere on a nearby wall where he didn't have to be around those prying eyes. Mentally he cursed himself for getting emotional during a meeting. He had already done all his crying over his brother and that was years ago. He steeled himself and focused back on the words Aurora had said after his initial talk with Griff.

"Your plan sounds solid, Aurora. I've gone over some of the general strengths and weaknesses already so instead I'll remind everyone that this is a full team vs team skirmish, we're not out until each and every one of us is down unless Lorenzo makes the call. This means even if Sleepy goes down in the fight we haven't lost, and the same goes for Shiva. The Cruxi won't stop until every single one of us is dead or we make a tactical retreat. We should assume that the same will go for Team Mango."

He paused for a moment before adding. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm not really planning on giving Team Mango an easy time. We give them hell and we'll go down fighting to the very last. Hoorah!"

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

There were a lot of words that Arrish wanted to shout down Griff's throat. He wanted to correct him on the word peer because it meant equal, not the damn fruit. He wanted to yell and scream that his defense of Rhylaen came from being quiet before, because he had given Griff the benefit of the doubt. He wanted to bite and scratch and hiss at Griff for bringing up Arrish's heritage as a noble, because that had nothing to do with why he was shouting at the blonde right now and everything to do with how Griff wasn't taking things seriously.

Arrish bit down his tongue and put his arms to his sides and just stared at Griff while trying to find the words while listening to Griff's story about his friends, and how a plan of theirs fell apart at the first sign of battle.

His features softened though his eyes remained hard. He got it. He really did, everyone here had stories of people they were missing and friends they couldn't see anymore. The war had taken its toll onto everyone. That didn't mean he was okay with watching Griff ignore half of everything that was being said and mistreating Rhylaen. He lowered his eyes and finally he spoke in a much quieter tone."Your friends, what were their names?"

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

Arrish found himself glaring at Griff after that proclamation and half-assed apology sent towards Rhylaen. The noble pushed back his seat and stood up from his seat.

"Griffith Burnhardt!" His voice took on a tone of authority and he found himself walking, almost stomping towards where the blonde had been standing."You are a full member of this squad and a peer of Team Apple. He wrenched a fist on Griff's collar."You were brought here because of your capability in combat and your potential as a soldier. Not because you can play around on your phone or be racist to equal members of our squad. You are required to focus on the mission parameters, and treat every member of our squad equal measures of respect.

He released Griff and straightened out his back "I need you to focus on our plans, Griffith, and not treat it as a video game. Some day soon people are going to be relying on you, and if you don't pay attention or miss an important detail those people may die. Furthermore, I'm sick of you mistreating Rhylaen. She is your peer and an equal member of this squad. She is deserving of your full respect and shouldn't be compared to a Cruxi in any order of magnitude. Do you understand me?

Arrish clenched and un-clenched his fists and could feel his teeth grinding together. He had given Griff the benefit of the doubt twice now, and wouldn't suffer a third.

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

Arrish

---

Arrish quietly listened as Aurora went over the basic battle plan and positioning. For the most part it was a sound strategy that didn't take any unnecessary risks and played to the strengths of their frames. What would be best to include was known threats and weaknesses. "I'm sure the enemy is just as aware that Sleepy is going to be a key foundation to our success, and because of that they're going to either focus on taking it down quickly or diverting resources to focus on it. Placing me in the center will allow the horst to quickly assist Sleepy if you do come under fire. That being said, if the enemy does make a charge for sleepy they're going to underestimate our frontline."

"While I haven't seen Griff in combat, his Shiva is backing up some serious firepower. Supported I believe he could tear through their supports before we focus on their main combative force." he paused before continuing. "Other than our strengths, I would say my main concern is mother goose. Together we could take it down if it were alone, but I wouldn't want any of our framework's to go toe to toe with a machine that large and with a rocket hammer no less. Other than taking down key targets, or executing damaged frameworks, I think it would be best if Sleepy focused its fire on Stella."

He drummed his fingers on the table while in thought. There was also the matter of their supports. I haven't gotten a good look at most of their systems, but if any of their smaller frames has repair drones then we're going to be in trouble. We have the advantage of having heavier armor overall, but that advantage is going to be lost if they can keep up on the repairs. That's why I think we should take down their smaller frames first, knock out any supports to put us on even footing in combat and avoid a battle of attrition that we simply cannot win."

Arrish thought things were looking to be in their favor, which only meant that he wasn't considering hidden threats. What else was there?"I believe we have good chances if we can knock out their supports and destroy mother goose before she can get in melee range against sleepy. He frowned. He wished he had more time to talk to some of the others before this test. He only ever got a good read on Minerva, and other than some history with Bugatti, he didn't really know what to make of the other pilots. The only other thing I would worry about is some unknowables. We can always take a look at the frames but I've only had some experience with some of the pilots. I know Minerva will do anything to win the mission, even if it means throwing her life away, and on the opposite spectrum, Astolfo will do anything to keep himself from losing even if that means keeping his distance and taking shots at range. We shouldn't underestimate the resolve of those two."

It bothered him that he didn't know the other pilots personally. There was an old earth book that said if you knew yourself, and knew your enemy, you would win every battle. He barely knew most of the squad that was with him, and even less about his fellow pilots that he was going to face. He wondered if that meant they were fated to lose. Arrish didn't like that thought. "I would say Serah, Sparks, and Ava are a mystery to me. Stella seems straightforward but I'll admit that I don't know anything about her either." He motioned towards Mema-ka. "Otherwise, Mema-ka can tell us about his brother. If anyone else has anything to say about our fellow pilots and opponents then now would be a good time to share." Maybe someone else on his team would know something about their opponents. At the very least Mema-ka could warn the team about his brother, but then, that meant Zel-Ghin had that same advantage. He could only hope that they had the smarter of the pair. Arrish rubbed at his jaw from talking so much. Maybe the less said was the better, but then again, the could never know enough.

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

There had been dissolution in the room when the mission parameters were given out and already some of the familiar faces had disappointed looks. He wondered why? This was an opportunity for everyone to show what they could do and what better opponents than the rest of the squad? An AI 'might' be able to convey strengths and weaknesses, but an ally on the field could bolster you, enchance your strenghts and even fill in for your weaknesses. If they were fighting Cruxi, they wouldn't always have time to look at one another, but a human opponent got a very real and very good look at what you could and couldn't do.

His thoughts were shattered when a soft voice spoke up to him, and the woman that was standing beside him. Aurora answered before he had gotten a word out, and then stepped away to turn and announce sharply to the room.

Attention! Strike Force Apple! Form up!"

He found himself frowning as she continued to speak. That was it then? Play with the frames and forget all the names, but when its time to do business that's when you demand attention? He didn't know if she was a noble, and in fact, nothing he looked up suggested she was a noble, but Aurora certainly reminded him of some nobles. Alright, if she wanted to play ball then it was in her court. Let her lead for now, he thought to himself.

He turned to talk to Elora while the members of Team Apple gathered around and took her hands in his. "Of course, Elora. I'm willing to hear your request now if—

Arrish watched in horror as the young girl was stolen before him, lifted up into the metal arms of the lilim from Team Mango. His mouth was agape at first, unable to process what had happened for a few seconds, and then curled into a grin. Let's play ball indeed.

He turned to Aurora and spoke. "Well, boss, looks like you've got your first real challenge here. Since our time is limited, I'll gather up the rest of the squad and meet you in one of the nearby meeting rooms for a war council. I don't imagine it should take you long to handle this, since you're so personable and good with people" There was a teasing, albeit chiding, tone to his voice. He wondered if Aurora couldhandle something like this. It certainly would be a good example of her authority."Looks like you've got a little help too, from the other team."

It was a test, he figured, if Aurora could handle this before it became a problem than maybe she would be a good squad leader. All in all, he could see this as an advantage for Team Mango too. He wondered if someone had put Stella up to this or if this was one of those 'lucky opportunities'.

He paused before moving, waiting to see how Aurora would react.
@Shifter_Master

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

@Dezuel@AtomicNut
Arrish took a long deep sigh and looked up briefly towards the ceiling as they walked along and he listened to the two of them prattle between one another. If someone like Griff could annoy Bug that easily then there must have really been karmic justice in the world. "Mostly it was a lecture going over the different types of Cruxi we're going to have to face. I'm sure you won't mind a refresher, bug, and I need to make sure Griff here understands what we're going to be facing. I'm sure you've both heard of the Cruxi War Machines, the poster child of our enemy, but what you really should known is how dangerous the hunter-assassin's can be—"

Arrish would then go on to talk about each of the different types of Cruxi, everything he had known about them and what was explained during the lecture, up to and including the seduction tactics of the hunter-assassins. He made sure to ask questions, and make sure the two of them were also asking questions and paying attention. Any time Griff's mind started to wander Arrish would try and get him to refocuse, and to really think about the creatures they were going to have to fight. By the end of it, he hoped he got through to Griff and maybe Bug would have gotten something out of it too. Finally, as they were nearing the Green Room, he told them about the Video.

"Lorezno said it was was classified, and I've certainly never seen it before and I've been had the privilege of knowing things most people do not. It was a video from a citizen's phone, Cruxi roaming the streets and from the loudspeaker a human voice could be heard." Arrish mocked a shuddering motion to imply how horrifying the scene really was."It was something like '"Supplication immediate, configuration lifelessness.Supplication immediate, configuration lifelessness.' over and over again, in a dull and almost sleepy sort of voice. A human voice. Lorenzo thinks it could be mind control"

He looked between the two men that he was walking along with. He tried to get a grasp on their feelings on the matter. Griff was the type to show his feelings, and often his thoughts, on his sleeve. Astolfo was more like Arrish. He kept his true feelings hidden and tucked away for later. Maybe he could read between the lines between them both and get a real measure of how grim their situation really was.