< @Xanxas >

Sergeant Gorgon raised an eyebrow. "You didn't ask me to install anything... Are you thinking of Mechanic Hushion? Rider Tyran, get your head on straight!"

As for the question of the Capital, he sighed. "I don't know. If it is still intact, leave it that way as much as possible."

OOC: If you choose to read this post, feel free to listen to that to set the mood. Game time!

"Aye Sergeant!" With that Kelley did an about face and left the briefing, but before that, Veronica shot a quick message to Morain.

[You too! We'll have a long talk after this, and I'll try to get Mr. Kelley to come too! Bye sis!]

Apparently Veronica and Morain had hit it off quite well after she managed to calm the girl down in the elevator, and with a long discussion of questions and answers have taken each other as sisters (they were equals though, not one older than the other, unlike Agalia and Freya), which made the both of them rather happy, as they both have not only a close friend now but someone else to often talk about their favorite subject, Loren Kelley.

The rider and his SOUL went quickly to near the holding bay for Void Riptide, where Kelley stepped into his rider anti chamber. As he walked forward, the steel room seemed bare. The rider stepped onto the two yellow footprints spaced apart using his exact shoulder width, and the room exploded into motion. More than twenty robotic limbs, large and small, began fitting the hundreds of individual pieces of Void Riptide's piloting armor on to Kelley's skin suit, each controlled with machine accuracy by Veronica. First the three pieces of the chest piece, then the shoulder pads, arm guards, and down from the top of Kelley's head to his toes were covered with metal, hard plastic and every other alloy imaginable. These were not only for protection, but to optimize the connectivity between the rider and his FRAME down to the last minor muscles.

Though complicated, the entire process took under two minutes under Veronica's precision. Kelley, now suited up, move forward towards his FRAME. Every step was taken with purpose as he made his way across the catwalk into the rider chamber of Void Riptide in its torso. Outside the mechanics crew oversaw the last of the refueling, rearming and resupplying in general of the FRAME, while several staff looked on from a control station nearby, double checking all last minute steps. The floor crew rushed around in order to move equipment and containers out of the way while the flashing lights above heralded the imminent rise and mobilization of the deadly FRAME inside the holding bay.

Within the confines of the rider's chamber however, things were relatively calm. The lights were on as Kelley stepped into the chamber, and Veronica waited for her rider to step into position. Once he stepped into the metal rectangles on the floor, magnetic locks engaged between the boots and the panels on the floor and additional physical locks flipped close as well. Metal connectors, not unlike the arms that had suited Kelley up moments ago came up from the floor around the rider's position as well as the ceiling, and began connecting themselves to Kelley's piloting armor. With a different SOUL this could be an unpleasant experience, but if you can say one thing about Veronica besides her love for her rider, was her precision in all things. The arms connected smoothly, some of them Kelley didn't even feel as they linked one of his muscles to the FRAME.

There are many things that a simulator can teach to a trainee rider in the academy. They can teach the weightlessness of space combat, the importance of moment to moment split second decision making, or the g-forces a rider would experience during particularly risky maneuvers. One of the things they can't replicate is what a rider feels as his FRAME comes alive. Kelley watched as not only screens began being brought up, but felt as the stabilizers held his metal arms, the weapons attached to each of those limbs, the power that with the slightest movement he can crush a tank under his feet. He could smell the slight hint of coolant and other life fuel of the FRAME as it pumped in artificial air into his armor, and from there into the rider's chamber. He could hear the clicking as tens of thousands of machinery parts clicked into place, allowing the FRAME to perform its function. He could taste the anticipation in the air as the holding bay's doors began to open to load his FRAME out for the mission. For all intents and purposes, in that moment, Kelley was Void Riptide.

Outside as the heavy double doors in front of the holding bay was opening, the FRAME readied itself, with massive parts shifting so that the armor provided maximum protection to hard points. Lights switched on then revealed themselves as metal slid back, indicating that the weapons were online, but not yet armed. The long visor on the head also lit up, as it shifted slightly with Kelley's, copying the rider's motion. The restraints for the FRAME began to disengaged, and one of the hands of Void Riptide curled into a fist. The last of the crew scurried away, looking like mouses from Kelley's viewpoint, and the control station gave a hail to open up a comms line with Kelley. He ignored it for now, wanting to savor the moment just a few seconds more.

Several screens flickered on in front of him, showing the layout of the FRAME as well as all other conditions. Everything was in the green zone. Veronica's face appeared on the corner of one of the screens. "Pre-launch check up completed, everything is optimal. Weapon system check up completed at a 100% each. Shielding system is in the green."

Kelley tapped one of the screens "Thrusters?"

"Readied, I triple checked." Kelley gave a smile and said right before he flicked the comms open.

"A good rider always checks with his SOUL himself." Then he hit a button. Mechanic Hushion's face appeared.

"All systems green sir, we're ready when you are." Kelley nodded.

"Then let us go." The Void Riptide took its first steps out of the holding bay, then a second, and before long cleared the area which it had resided in since Kelley was transferred aboard the supercarrier.

Kyras turned and marched down the halls at a breakneck pace. This, this would be his first battle since...his grin became wider and wider until it looked as if there was more fang than flesh upon his face. He hurried down the catwalk, eager to see his pride and joy once more. And a sight it was, tower over even the tall rider like the titan was, silver and blue body covered in many a scratch but still standing strong, a sign of man hard fought victories.

The SCARAB Seryu had been projecting out of quickly flew back to the unit and stored itself while the SOUL herself resumed command of its innermost workings.. He quickly shot out both his limbs as Seryu blitzed on his spiky armor, piece by piece. First the leggings clicked into place, then the bracers, and then the torso piece connecting them all. The headpiece most resembled a deathmask, something Kyras approved of. To kill another, in battle or not, was murder. No matter who or why he did, not even the PRAETORIANS rider would escape his sins. Thus, he knew better than to go into battle not expecting to be killed himself.

The remaining SCARABs flew out one by one and provided a pseudo staircase for Kyras to walk up. Despite their size being that of half beachball, they were easily able to lift the weight of an immense primate armored in a synaptic suit that would leave dents in pavement. He always liked this part of the sequence, it gave him this feel of pomp and ceremony that made him even more proud to have been selected for this program. He quickly ascended until his vision was completely taken up by the Ankh that marked his cockpit, and waited a second. The chest opened in full like the maw of some ancient beast and Kyras stepped into the familiar chamber, his true home

The chest slowly closed with a hiss as it pressurized itself. It simply would not do if he was taken out by the void of space or poisons. The inside's insulated surface had a very few monitors or any such equipment. No, the true controlling capabilities came from the dozen or so wires hanging from the ceiling like the great machine's entrails. One by one, they entered specific points in the rider's hardsuit and connected him to the great machine in a way few had ever truly had the privilege to experience. It hurt like a bitch sure, but whenever he was like this was when he felt the most alive.

His body fell backwards into a chair like a puppet with its strings cut. Controlling two complex platforms like that was complex, and during a live fire mission he really didn't need to be distracted. Many bands clicked into place around the sack of meat, assuring its lack of movement. The inside of the cockpit then lit up with a baleful green, and a deep thrumming was suddenly heard as if a heart had started beating. With its power core at last online, the FRAME was finally awake.

It shrugged of the restraints and stepped forward, stretching like an organic would and looking around. Seeing his comrade himself was ready, he switched his focus for a second. "Seryu?" "All systems are a go~" His HUD finally popped up "All right then. Time to wage war"

Enyo did a quick salute and bolted off to his frame. The years of combat still never prepared himself for the 'Calm before the storm'. Already his hands were shaking and he could feel sweat travel down his back torso. Maybe he was still a little nervous for the first time of combat in his FRAME, but the concept was mostly the same as they were on the ground...except he was now moving a thousand miles per hour and he had the arsenal of a whole army.

Enyo ran right past Star Catcher, before he stopped so suddenly he slid on the floor, quickly flailing his arms around and rashly running up the cat walk platform to enter the Head of his FRAME. After falling into the main seat, he connected his hands and feet into the appropriate slots and put on his battle helm to connect with the MainFRAME.

A quick jolt of pain was felt right in the back of his head as Enyo synced to Star Catcher. Unlike the last time, no bleeding had occurred, yet. Enyo let out a long breath to relieve himself and Beta appeared, to greet him. "Welcome back Sergeant Enyo Or-"

"Call me Sergeant, Dammit!" Enyo snapped, the distorted voice of Beta pissing him off more than scarring him.

"Recognized, Sergeant. I have already been updated by what our mission objectives will hold, but please next time bring my transfer unit to the Briefings. We are ready to take off. Optimizing FRAME designated: Star Catcher, for FRAME vs Ship combat.... Optimized. This FRAME and its SOUL are at 100% efficiency." Beta said before disappearing. He would be back soon enough.

"Right, well lets get her out of the hangar then!"

A series of locked chains, cables, and tubes unhooked from the mech and fell on the floor, some more harshly than others. The space where the mech was being held began to throw out sirens and flash alternating colors of red and blue. The mechanics quickly cleared out as the Mech was going to make it's first real walk with its Rider.

The Sergeant and his FRAME began to take steps towards the exit port for the mechs. The mech moving smoothly with his slight muscle movements of his legs. The slots easily transferring the data of his intended movement with his FRAME. It may be as hard as Enyo thought. Thinking...

OOC: Since you mentioned the correct terminology in the last interest post, I'm going to refer all FRAME sized mobile suits as "mecha."

As Void Riptide moved into the standby area with the rest of the planet team, Kelley opened a comms channel to command. "This is Loren Kelley of the planet team, requesting permission to utilize the mecha launch catapult for rapid deployment for my team."

< @Xanxas >

As Kyras left the hanger, Bannoi appeared on his comms "Rider Tyran, the teleporter you requested has been installed and is operational, but the power draw is enormous. It will take time to recharge, and may burn out if used too much. Beyond that, It won't take you that far... maybe 20 meters. Good Hunting."

< Everyone >

The StarRunner jumped out of Star-Space into a grand Melee of ships and FRAMEs. 5 UTC Frigates, probably the ones assigned to guard the colony, were facing off against 8 Corvettes, 2 Frigates and a Destroyer. Beyond that, there were a large amount of Troopers and a few FRAMEs. Again the Splinter showed their ability to bring an amount of Firepower equal to large UTC Battlegroups.

"Riders, launch!" That was the voice of Koloi, the Leader of the armed forces. Alongside them, four squads of Troopers as well as a troop transport came out of their own hangars. One quarter of the Troopers and the transport rendezvoused with Kelley, the rest forming about Sergeant Gorgon and his team.

< @WanderingJester ; @Xanxas >

Lieutenant Bill Moren answered Kelley's request: "Request Acknowledged and approved... Please wait for the street sweeper before you proceed."

At the moment afterwards, Lieutenant Desero issued some orders: "All light gunners, Clear our planet-bound Riders a path!" Morain roared over comms, as all the flak guns with a angle turned as one towards the planet below. "FIRE!" and they did, blowing a wall of troopers apart, leaving a way down to the capitol. "Road's open, go and get the Bastards!"

Moren again spoke to Kelley. "Transmission from Capitol inbound, Rider Kelley. Patching it in."
* Oh thank god! This is UTC Agent Jorkan. We have enemy FRAMEs approaching from the east, and we have troops advancing inside the Main complex. We don't have forces enough to hold them back much longer!*

Dunni was first to go down, using his thrusters to add speed to the catapult, breaking atmosphere before gliding to a stop above some plains outside the Capitol. Kalei was next, using her shields to slow her decent and protect herself from incoming fire, stopping in formation next to Dunni. "Orders, Kelley?"

When Kelley and Kyras got in-atmosphere, They would see three squads of troopers and two FRAMEs. One was equipped with a basic sword and shield, the other Held a Railgun with cannons on the shoulders

[ 30 Riflemen, 30 Bladesmen, Sword FRAME and Gun FRAME]
[ @WanderingJester - Enter atmosphere and allocate orders to 10 Bladesmen, 10 Riflemen, a troop transport, Kyras, Yalei and Dunni]
[ @Xanxas - Enter Atmosphere and Do what Kelley tells you to.]

"Request Acknowledged and approved... Please wait for the street sweeper before you proceed."

"Copy, Planet team moving out." Kelley shifted his FRAME to the launch catapults. Stepping forward, Void Riptide crouched on one of the launch pads, which then locked his FRAME onto the catapult. A red light came on, and Kelley watched the others on his team got on similar platforms. He looked up, and saw a series of guns firing to clear them a path. Suddenly Lieutenant Moren spoke again.

"Road's open, go and get the Bastards!" The light flipped green.

Instantly the catapult released its tensions and propelled Void Riptide straight at the planet below. Behind Kelley, A squad of Riflemen, Bladesmen and a troop transport launched after Void Riptide. He couldn't see the Praetorian, but he assumed the talkative rider was with the group. Kelley flipped the comms open to all members of the team as they breached low orbit.

"Push full thrusters as you descend, use the speed of reentry to your advantage. It might get a bit hot, but the enemy will have trouble targeting you with all that speed. Whatever you do, do not fight gravity and slow down." Just after Lieutenant Moren's face appeared again.

"Transmission from Capitol inbound, Rider Kelley. Patching it in." His screen was replaced with a wild faced soldier.

* Oh thank god! This is UTC Agent Jorkan. We have enemy FRAMEs approaching from the east, and we have troops advancing inside the Main complex. We don't have forces enough to hold them back much longer!*

The screen then got cut. As Dunni and Yalei went ahead during the atmospheric descent, the shields began to glow red from the heat of reentry. Before long anti air fire had reached them and the sky began exploding and shells and beam projectiles zipped past Kelley. Veronica's voice was heard.

"Terminal velocity reached sir."

"Thrusters. Now." The back thrusters blasted, pushing the Void Riptide even faster towards the ground. Ahead he could see Iron Shield and Supernova slow down and Rider Yalei's voice came over the comms.

"Orders, Kelley?" He flipped a switch activating the comms for all units of the planet team.

"Troop transport, head straight for Jorkan's position and reinforce them. Take 5 riflemen and 5 bladesmen with you to complete the task. Yalei, Dunni, take the rest of the troops and hunt down all enemy forces in the main complex and the capital. Kyras and I will take the FRAMEs." With that Void Riptide flew straight at the troops escort around the two FRAMEs, specifically the Riflemen. "Kyras take the one with the Railgun and whoever else is near you. Give me some privacy with the close combat one."

At a speed nearly twice terminal velocity, Void Riptide unsheathe his whip sword as a straight sword and plunged it through a Rifleman completely into the ground beneath, causing a massive shockwave/explosion that consumed 10 other Riflemen near it. When the dust settled, Void Riptide got up from one knee at the bottom of a good size crater and looked at the Sword and Shield Frame at the edge, which stared back at him.

OOC: RESULTS: 11 Riflemen destroyed on impact.

If he was honest, this was easily hi favorite part of deployment. The sudden surge of movement, the feeling of weightlessness, and most importantly, the world itself. It was like a marble of brilliant color shining in the only blackness of the void. It always managed to make him feel small, no matter how many times he did it.

"Orders received bossman!" Kyras acknowledged. He quickly readjusted his entry path and aimed himself for the enemy bladesman. He crashed down on one of them with a cry of "DYNAMIC ENTRY" and fired his rod at the rifle group while his shoulder canons shot at the Railgun FRAME, scything through more bladesmen on the way. The crash had caused a shockwave that nicked over but did not kill some other troopers. He quickly teleported and hopped back, now being stared down by thirty something troops and a FRAME. "Outnumbered, no cover" he paused for a second before taking a breath "why did I get out of bed today?

[6 blade users, 5 rifleman]

< @WanderingJester >

"Acknowledged, Rider Kelley" Came the response from both The troop transport and the escort assigned to it Unfortunately, some of the Troopers with lesser nerves slowed on reentry, and were shot down by the destroyer FRAME. Those who survived held the line as a full half of the Splinter forces charged them, proving that numbers does not equal might. The Riflemen took precise shots, dismantling the incoming enemies while the Bladesmen engaged any who got too close.

"Roger, Kelley. Dunni, Troopers, on me! " Yalei said into comms, taking the position of second in command. As one, the UTC forces disengaged, moving into the Capitol to head off any other Splinter forces.

At the same time, the FRAME in front of Kelley jumped a little at both the sight and actions of this new enemy. Soon enough it straightened, Pointing it's sword at Kelley, a voice came through the speakers: "I am Ioren Kilat, Rider of the Splinter..." Somthing in his voice sounded... off. "and I challenge you to a duel! Enguarde!"

< @Xanxas >

As the ranks of the enemies shifted, Kyras was charged by a group of bladesmen and beset by a barrage of uncoordinated Rifle fire, which caused some of the Bladesmen to be felled by their own squadmates. Beyond that, the Railgunner leveled his gun and blasted a shot right by Kyras' head. "That... was a warning shot." A dark, gravelly voice stated simply.

"And you, Kyras!" A voice came through the comms. It was Yalei "You'd better come back alive!"

[ 5 Riflemen , 7 Bladesmen, Ioren (Boss) , Railgunner (Boss)
[ @WanderingJester - One-on-One with Ioren, feel free to toss in some assists to Kyras if you want]
[ @Xanxas - Destroy up to 5 Enemies, or 3 while striking at Railgunner. 3 turns for teleporter cooldown]

Kyras huffed "I hate being tarpitted" he muttered to himself. "Look at it this way" Seryu exclaimed "we are now surrounded by plenty of evildoers to punish!" "True, but I would have liked it more if I had more crowd control. Oh well"

His path was clear. Whenever in a boss battle, you should ALWAYS take out the mooks first, or you would be swarmed and killed. Accordingly, he immediately started firing on the Bladesmen, taking out 3 with a RoTC blast and two more with the canons. Hopefully, the oh so skilled riflemen would give him some more support. Still, that railgun frame was worrisome.

[5 bladesmen]