>>18673809
Pilot Stats:
Shelling: 5
Maneuver: 3
CRC: 2
Affinity: 3

Current Zoid
Molga
You currently have two chaff warheads stowed in the rear missile launcher. It's condition is excellent.

Your com comes back up, this time its Cody, the other participant in the adjacent hangar.
"Time to move, neighbor," he informs you. "The battle is at noon, but we need to head out now to reach the battleground."
You thank him, and rev up the Molga, wheeling it out of the ZBF Terminal's hangar, making for the mountains to the east. Vince is also heading there to act as your support team.
>Actions

>>18673880
Stay calm, get to the battlefield. Pull up the best map we can of the battlefield and make guesses as to where the enemies zoids are going to be.

You bring up the map again, and see that it has been updated.
The starting position of each competitor is shown, giving everyone at least five miles of breathing room. You are pleased to see your starting point is over soil that, while not as easily as sand, can be burrowed in rather effortlessly. You consider your options.

>Game Plan?

>>18674124
mutherfucker

>>18674135
Well, we're going to want to stay on the half of the map we're already on, at least for now. So head south towards the stealth viper. Let's not burrow yet, it slows us down, and we don't want them to know about the stealth yet, keep it a surprise.

>>18674124
Considering the positions we should probably go for the viper first (make sure she doesn't run into murder mccrazy-pants) dig in about half the distance towards her and see if we have visuals on any Zoids

>>18674135
Judging from positions I'm guessing the Guysack and Demantis are going to duke it out. The Godos is a bit of a wildcard concerning who it's going after but given that we're moving away from it we ought to be fine.

We'll want to lure them onto our battlefield so we can take full advantage of our burrowing, we ought to be able to surprise one or two of them with a Sand Shooter round from underneath them.

dig in.
Watch out for the guysack, it can also dig underground

(Chrome eats my post on refresh, how fix D:)
>>18674199
>>18674192
You run your plan by Vince over the radio.
"I'm seeing a small body of water in that area due south. It goes without saying you'd be at a disadvantage there. I advice not advancing to close, or they might try to hide and wait it out there."

Given the pilots personality, you doubt she'd hide that easily. Still, you thank Vince for the advice.

Looks like Sarah is your first opponent. You message Cody one last time, asking when the battle will begin.

"Battle begins soon as the Judge hits." he explains. Judges? What does he m-
You're shaken by a sudden impact near the center of the field.
(Cont)

>>18674384
The dust clears around a crater, and a metal capsule emerges. You've heard of these, they're the judge capsules that the ZBF started using last year. They've helped cut down injuries during battle by 60%, and fatalities by over 90% since they've been implemented. You weren't expecting them to be used in a D-class battle like this though.

The capsule opens up, and a robot comes into view. His robotic voice crackles over the com.

<Battle approved. Battle approved. The area within a 25 mile radius is now a designated Zoid Battlefield. This area is now restricted, all non combatants must leave the battlefield.
The battle will be held under Battle Mode 0892. This match will be a Battle Royal with no restrictions, all competitors may attack one another at any time. All other Battle Regulations are in affect.>

You suppose its because its a D-class competition, as the judge now goes over the basic rules that you already went over when you registered.
<1. Aiming at another competitor's cockpit is forbidden.
2. Once another competitor has ceased function or surrender, attacks on them must cease immediately.
3. All property of competitors must remain undisturbed after the battle.>

<Failure to comply with any of these regulation will result in an immediate suspension, and possible revocation, of Zoid Battle License.>

<Competiters ready.>
You tense up a bit, here it comes.
<Battlefield set. READY....>

You swallow nervously. The moments finally here.

<FIGHT!>

>What do?

>>18674644
Head south towards the viper, once we get closeish or it pings on our sensors burrow and continue to advance, keep an eye open for the Godos if it decides to come after us from behind.

>>18674644
Close the distance and try to snipe that Stealth Viper before she can get into trouble or cause any for us.

>>18674689
>>18674673

Seeing there's no time like the present, you head south. The terrains a bit rough, but thankfully doesn't hinder you. You'll have to remember to thank Eri for her work on your Driver wheels.

You zoom in on the somewhat visible Viper. There's plenty of slopes for it to use as cover, but you think you can tag her from here. She doesn't seem to notice you just yet.
Your main cannon is in range if you wish to attack.
>Actions(roll d10 for success,)

rolled 7 = 7

>>18674834

rolled 2 = 2

>>18674834
Snipe with main gun.

rolled 3 = 3

>>18674834
Shoot to cripple. Killing is against the rules.

rolled 10 = 10

>>18674834
Shoot for the legs.

rolled 2 = 2

>>18674855
You line up the targeting recitals and fire your 35mm. The shot flies true, and you even manage to get off a second shot. Both strike the Vipers flank, tearing away armor, but not striking any weapons.

"ARGH! You asshole!" You hear Sarah roar over the open channel as she jinks away. Your HUB beeps a warning that you've been targeted, and you make out one of the Vipers rear SRM's launching in your direction.

>Actions

rolled 2 = 2

>>18675000
Burrow.

rolled 2 = 2

>>18675000
DIVE, Get to ground!

>>18675000
Do what our Molga was built for. DIVE DIVE DIVE

>>18675014
>>18675018
oh gawd damnit

rolled 3 = 3

>>18675014
(heh, 2 vs 2, count yourselves lucky.)

You were a touch slow to react, but it seems she was the same way. You get through the ground just as the missile hits where your tail had been a moment later. You get a good shake, but the damage is otherwise non existent.

On the other hand, the tremors cause you to loose any trace of the Viper above ground. Your not picking up anything either.

>What do?

rolled 9 = 9

stelth then un borrow to fire more

>>18675168
Bide our time. Be the mook horror show. We'll find her again, and that's when we strike.

>>18675168
Bide our time, she's probably where she was when she started due to the lack of tremors or in the lake, advance underground towards last known position, cautious and keep a close eye on monitors.

rolled 5 = 5

>>18675217
>>18675215
You burrow a little deeper, creeping along ever so slowly. You take comfort in the fact that while a Stealth Viper can burrow in the sand, they aren't streamlined enough to do the same in regular soil.

After about a minute of creeping along, you get something on your seismic sensor. It's only a mile ahead of you.

>Surface now
>Circle East
Circle West
>others

>>18675342
Circle east.

rolled 10 = 10

>>18675342
Circle west.

>>18675342
Circle East. The more room we have to move around while underground, the better.

rolled 3 = 3

>>18675490
>>18675366
These guys are right. Changing my vote from >>18675373 to backing them

rolled 2 = 2

>>18675505
>>18675490
>>18675366

You circle east, keeping an eye on the sensor's location. You approach the surface and raise the periscope camera on your turret. You spot her over some rocks. She is no where near the sensor location, seems she used her vulcan to cause some tremors further away in an attempt to lure you out. Clever girl.

Not clever enough, though. You line your cannon up and fire. It hit's her remaining SRM, which goes up in a small explosion.

The Viper is rocked, and retreats west.
"Screw this, I'm not playing shadow games with you!" She's heading toward the bedrock.

>What do?

rolled 9 = 9

>>18675656
Take her out before she gets away, pull out the DAKKA.

rolled 9 = 9

>>18675656
Snipe her while she runs away.
If that doesn't work, taunt her. She's a hothead, so if we mock her long enough we should be able to lure her back into our domain.

rolled 8 = 8

>>18675656
Taunt her

rolled 10 = 10

>>18675678
>>18675692
You head after her, but find yourself out of range. However and idea occurs to you.
"Is the great Terror of the Plains running away?" you chime in on the radio. You see some hesitation in the Viper's retreat. You press on. "Well, I guess that's the best you'd expect from a 'GIRL'."

The Viper halts. She says nothing, but you're pretty certain you can hear her hair bristle. She brings the zoid around and it fires the head vulcan to bring up some dust. You nearly pick through it, but she's already veered around your flank and lets loose with both Heavy MG's and laser MG.

"You. Are. FUCKING. DEAD!"
>She mad? Yeah, she mad as hell.
>What do?

rolled 2 = 2

>>18675848
Burow under her and pound her bottom.

rolled 3 = 3

>>18675848
Ventilate the fool, nonlethally.

rolled 6 = 6

>>18675848
35mm to the upper tail we may as well take out her mobility.

Get a mobility kill on her.

rolled 6 = 6

>>18675848
Taunt her some more. She may become so cross that she makes a mistake.

rolled 1 = 1

>>18675882
>>18675863
You attempt the same tactic from earlier, but before you can even begin to burrow, fire rakes over you, rocking you in your seat. Damages warnings pop up all around your hub, no single major hit but the armor is worse for wear. You instinctively return fire with your own turret and manage to tag the main block, but it doesn't stop her as she circles around some more.
Maybe this wasn't the best idea you've had.

>What do?

rolled 4 = 4

>>18675993
Fill her with laser holes, if those don't do enough damage go invisible and get some distance.

rolled 3 = 3

>>18676034
You hit the throttle and drift away from fire. You open up with your turret's laser machine guns. You strafe each other, but she can't manage any more hits, while you successfully rake her with you pass.

Using the distraction caused by the dust, and taking advantage of where she's facing, you pull your trump card. The Stealth shield activates, and you completely vanish just as you pass behind a hill.

Sarah brings the Viper around, but seems confused. Its speed lowers as it cautiously weaves around the slopes, head slightly raised, to increase her field of vision.

>Actions?

rolled 9 = 9

>>18676182
Nail her tail with the 35mm

rolled 3 = 3

>>18676182
Get behind her and close to her and blow her to kingdom come, nonlethally of course.

rolled 1 = 1

>>18676203
You circle around carefully and target here rear, carefully aiming to find the most vulnerable point in her armor. You fire, and nail the Viper's tail, earning a rather girlish scream from its pilot.

["What!?"] The Viper's head looks back and forth, trying to find the source. ["It can't be...Judge!"]

You raise an eyebrow. She's calling for the Judge?

<'Combatant Sarah, what is your query?'>
["This guy's using a cloak! That can't be legal!"]
Whoops. You kinda forgot to check if that was against the rules.
<'Deliberating...'>
["Hah!"] she jeers triumphantly. ["Serves you right! Consider your ass disqu-"]
<'Combatant complaint rejected.'>

There's a pause, as you breath a sigh of relief.
["What!? But-"]
<'There are no restrictions on equipment for this battle.'> The Judge cuts off
<'Further more, stealth and camo equipment are not banned by the Zoid Battle Commission. Your complaint is invalid.'>

Sarah is rendered speechless. The situation is spelled out for her, her Viper is badly damaged, and you have the drop on her from an unseen location.

["...I surrender..."] She finally says bitterly.
<'Affirmative. Combatant Sarah has retired. Please power down your Zoid's combat systems.'>

>What do?

>>18676447
Take care kiddo. Old age and treachery beats youth and skill every time, never expect anyone to fight fair or follow your rules.

Uncloak, we don't want everyone else to know about the cloak, or to burn power. Find somewhere high up and see if we can observe the rest of the battle and choose who to go after next.

rolled 10 = 10

>>18676447
Circle around north in the general direction of the ruins, see if we can pick someone off.

rolled 4 = 4

>>18676447
"You're good kid, but you need to reign in that temper. All it took was one insult and you went nuts. That's the kind of thing that gets people killed, and it's why your uncle was worried about you. He cares, and he wants what's best for you, believe it or not. Take care of yourself."
Then power down the cloak (it's our ace in the hole) and go find other victi- I mean opponents.

This: >>18676535
Followed by this: >>18676501

rolled 2 = 2

>>18676535
>>18676501
["Sh-shut up!"] the girls barks between sobs. ["I don't need your pity!"]

You sigh a bit, hoping the lessons stick. You head north some what before you disengage the cloak. You head further north to the ruins. You just barely spot the Godos sticking out from inside, you can't really see how its fared from here.

["Gerald, on your left!"] Vince shouts through the com, and you quickly look, finding a rather interesting spectacle.

The Demantis is strafing the Guysack. The former has its boosters engaged, effortlessly pinning the later down with its Gattling cannon.

The Guysack returns fire, but the Demantis simply rolls in midair to evade, in one instance kicking off a rock with its legs to alter its course.

Finally it veers toward the grounded zoid and lands in close range. They engage in melee, and although the Guysack moves well, the Demantis pilot reads him at every turn, batting away its pincers every time they strike.

The Guysack fires its beam cannon at point blank range. You look closely, and marvel at what you see. The Demantis intercept the shat with its sturdy front claws. Remarkable precision. It then shoots off the barrel of the tail with its chest vulcans.

["...Please surrender."]
!!!
You recognize that voice. It's the girl you met back at the ZBF office.
["No.'] the other pilot states. ["Never!"] The Guysack leaps at the Demantis in a desperate attack, However, the other zoid merely latchs both its pincers around the Guysacks arms and lifts it up. There's an audible strain, and then both the scorpions arms are torn off, its body fallig limply to the ground.
[I'm sorry..."]

>What do?

rolled 4 = 4

>>18676786
Snipe the Demantis. She's a nice girl, but old age and treachery, and all that.

rolled 5 = 5

>>18676786
Take a few potshots at the demantis, lure her out to the sand. She's got very little for ranged weaponry so she'll either take cover which leads her right to the Godos, assuming he's still functioning, or come at us where we can play FUCK YOU I CAN BURROW.

rolled 6 = 6

>>18676835
You'll need to move closer to fire on her. Do you want to?

rolled 9 = 9

>>18676786
Try for a surprise attack from below. If that doesn't work then lure her towards the Godos.

>>18676887

Not if it takes off the soil. Too risky.

rolled 7 = 7

>>18676887
Yeah, though remain cautious of the Godos, when she advances on us lure her out to the sand. Hell her path to us will lead her right past him.

rolled 8 = 8

You get as close as you dare, and unleash a volley on her. The shots graze her at first, but she begins ducking them, then fires her rocket and zips out of the way. You got her attention at least.

Where do you go now?
>North
>South
>East
>Wes-ahaha, just kidding,

>>18676969
East, give us the most dirt to play around in. Is the Godos doing anything?

>>18676969
South-East while still taking shots at her. We want to try and weaken her enough to let the Godos finish the job, without making it too easy for him.

>>18676969
East. We need dirt to do our "fuck you I'm underground" thing.

rolled 1 = 1

You veer east and gun it for all your Molga's worth. However she quickly catches up to you, not suprising since her top speed's nearly a hundred kileters above yours.

She tests the water with some front vulcan fire, while you pressure her with your laser mg as best you can. You have some minor cover, but once she's on you that will be moot.

>She's in range, what do?

rolled 2 = 2

>>18677115
We're in dirt, right?
So we BURROW!
We burrow as if our victory depended on it.
Then we harass her from underground.

>>18677115

DIVE DIVE DIVE DIVE DIVE! And shoot if we can. But mostly dive.

>>18677115
Kileters?

rolled 42 = 42

>>18677115
Take a pot shot at her, then Burrow. Maybe we can pull off a Sand Shooter from under her.

>>18676969
Let's head North-east, see if we can't get her to cross the Godos' line of fire.

rolled 5 = 5

You take a few shots at her, and launch one of the chaff warheads before diving into the earth. She zooms past, turning upside down and firing her Gatling cannon. You are shaken by some glancing blows before you are submerged, and follow her with your recitals, your heat sensor making her easy to spot. She coming around for another pass.

>Open fire.
>Dive

rolled 5 = 5

>>18677150
kilometers

rolled 8 = 8

>>18677230
SAND SHOOTER

rolled 10 = 10

>>18677230
SANDO!
SHOOT-TAAAAAAA!

>>18677230

Dive, move a short distance away, cloak, pop up for another go.

rolled 3 = 3

>>18677230
Dive.
We saw what she did to that Guysack.
We need to use our one advantage.

rolled 9 = 9

>>18677243
You aim and fire, precision in every motion you make. She must not have been expecting you to fire through the ground, as the shell slams into the Demantis' torso. It sputters in the air, and falls to the ground, tumbling a bit from the momentum.

You call out to her over the com in a panick, and after an excruciating 10 seconds she replies.
["I-I'm ok."] she sputters shakily. ["I'm not bleedin or anything."]

You exhale deeply. After a quick check of the battle monitoring, you confirm her system has frozen.
One more to go.
>What do?

rolled 7 = 7

>>18677311
"Come into my parlor" said the Molga to the Godos.

rolled 6 = 6

>>18677311
Joy, he's on Bedrock. Insult his mother over comms, tell him that he's just too scared to actually fight.

Ooh a zoids quest.

And we' re..driving a caterpiller. Mh okay cool, seems like the burrowing ability is handy. Have we tried trapping others in holes we dig or collapsing the ground their on and preying on them while their trapped?

>>18677315
Seconding this. And if he says no, remind him that it could be fun. Or something along those lines.

rolled 3 = 3

Not just bedrock, in the actual ruins.

You make your way toward the ruins, challenging Cody to come out and fight. He chuckles over the com.
"I think not," he says rather calmly. "I got a good look at that exchange just now, I think I'll stay right where I am."

Curses! Childish taunting has failed you.
Seems he's not going to budge from the ruins.

>What do

>>18677371
It's only the second fight. First one was rather brief too.

rolled 6 = 6

>>18677384
Stealth time.
Activate stealth, roll right up behind him, and ram our Sand Shooter up his ass.

rolled 2 = 2

>>18677384
How stable are those ruins, what is the time limit on the match, and with some time could we destabilize the foundation?

>>18677384

We'll have to approach. Let's make good use of that cloak. If we have any reason to think he's got visual on us make sure we break that first.

rolled 3 = 3

>>18677407
Stable enough.
There's no time limit, although the Judge will default the battle if the sun sets. which is in 7 hours. your good.

theres no way to tunnel into the ruins either, unfortunately.

rolled 8 = 8

>>18677437
Shame, drop out of his sight, go stealth modo, find the wall he's on the other side of and shoot the Sand Shoota through it, or use our laser cutter to drop a wall on him, or just sneak up behind him and unleash all of the dakka if those aren't options.

rolled 1 = 1

>>18677401
You make sure your somewhere he can't see and bring the Stealth shield online. You make your way up to the an entrance. You go inside. Time for some cat and caterpillar.
>Go left
>Go right

rolled 5 = 5

>>18677486
Go left.

rolled 8 = 8

>>18677486
Go left, try to find his location, if we can shoot him through a wall so much the better.

>>18677486
I wonder if he has some way to make a trap. Maybe he's hiding IN one of the buildings.

Ah, well. go left.

Could we have dug under the ruins or are they deeper then miles allotted for zoid battle?

rolled 7 = 7

>>18677493
>>18677497
You take a left and head toward an inner road the fort used in its day. You look around and spot a building or two that would be large enough to hide the Godos.

>Circle around
>Bring the house down

>>18677518
see>>18677437

No way to tunnel into the ruins, so even if we dug under them we'd still have no way to get inside them.

>>18677551
Always circle around.

rolled 3 = 3

>>18677551
Check our sensors first, then circle around, very carefully.

>>18677566
Sensors are a good idea. So is circling.

For digging underground do we have scanners or something in order to avoid bedrock or metal deposits? Can we use that to pick to locate the metal armor that makes up the godos?

rolled 8 = 8

>>18677561
Checking you sensors, you get no sign of movement, and no noticable heat signatures, thanks to the blasted noon sun. Whatever, you slowly circle around and start making your way to the oposite end of the fort. You make a turn andHOLYCRAP THERE HE IS!

He's facing away slightly, keeping an eye on the crossing paths. Your literally under his nose, almost. If you rushed him you could unload with all your weapons. He doesn't appear very damaged, this could be a one in a thousand chance.

>Charge!
>Fall back and flank

rolled 2 = 2

>>18677631
Fall back and flank.
We're in a Molga.
He's in a Godos.
In a standing fight, he wins.
So we have to fight dirty.

rolled 8 = 8

>>18677631
Fall back and flank, we're good but this has a chance of failure, if we fall back and flank we can get a more certain kill.

Is he standing with his back to a wall by any chance?

rolled 5 = 5

>>18677631

Charge in, let's see if we can't one-shot this guy.

>>18677631
This seems a little convienant..itsa trap!

>>18677658
Isn't there some kind of hologram decoy in the zoids universe?

So if we're a caterpiller zoid..will we evolve into a metapod zoid and the a butterfree zoid?

Because that would be awesome.

>>18677721
If only things worked like that.

rolled 3 = 3

>>18677651
You still your bloodlust and back away slowly. As you back up behind cover, a window comes up on your HUB.
>System error. Stealth Shield shutting down.

Shit, must have been the hits you took from the Viper, the delicate system finaly shorted out from your rough maneuvers. Oh well, you know where he is now at least.
You can try to get behind him, or attempt something else.
>What do?

rolled 7 = 7

>>18677726
If he's leaning against a building use our mining laser to drop it on him or shoot him through it with Sand Shooter, if that's a possibility. Otherwise get behind him and bring the pain.

>>18677726
If we do flank him, we should take out his legs first. He can out manuever us and tag us from behind.

rolled 4 = 4

>>18677776
You eye the crumbled building separating you. Its close enough. Its close enough.
You line yourself up and engage the laser cutter. You put the pedal and your driver wheels propel you forward. With a loud crash, the structure shudders, and begins to fall.

["The Degunning hell!?"] Cody cries in dismay. Though more algile than you, the Godos is significantly slower. While he does manage to get slightly clear, the build crashes down on his shoulder, and knocks him over. You crash through the rubble with a classic entrance shout, gunpoint at his chest.

You offer him parley. He cracks up after getting his bearings.
"You got me, man. I give up."

The judge robot comes on the air.
<'Battle Over. Battle Over. The winner is combatant Gerald DeFlynn.'>

You feel a great weight off your shoulders. You did it. You really did it. You won your first battle.

["Not bad, kid, not bad."] Vince praises you over the radio.
["WOO! ALRIGHT G-MAN!"] Rob chimes in.
["Stop. Doing. That!"]

You have won.
>What do?

rolled 6 = 6

>>18677941
>its big enough
blah! I'm tired

>>18677941
I'd say have our Zoid do a heroic victory pose but, you know, molga.

Guess first we should help Cody out of the rubble if he needs it.

>>18677941
Laugh maniacally. You were prepared for a conventional attack from any angle, but you failed to take into account that BUILDINGS ARE WEAPONS!!!

Sorry, mad genius comes out sometimes, seriously great fight. Help clear the rubble off of him and I'd say give him a hand up if we weren't a caterpillar. Make sure the rest of the combatants are ok, help the Demantis if need be and wander on home to collect our winnings.

Help Cody out the the rubble. He's a decent guy.

You know something after this, you might get a target on you. By being a sneaky sombitch in the arena, your opponents might want to take you out first so they don't get backstabbed.

>>18677976
You push the rubble off the Godos' side, and with some effort, Cody rights himself.
"Just how did you get in here without me knowing?"

You tell how you took a Helcat's cloak and slapped in on your Molga, cause your ghetto like that. He chuckles a bit.
"Guess I'm not cut out for competitions like this" he shrugs. "I'll head out. Anything you need to do before going to the hangar?"

>Check on the Demantis pilot
>Check on Sarah
>others

rolled 9 = 9

>>18678025
Check on Sarah.
She looked to be in pretty rough emotional shape before.

>>18678068

Second.

rolled 6 = 6

>>18678025
Check on the Demantis, Sarah has her uncle for emotional support and we can talk to her later, we might not get another chance for the Demantis.

>>18678068
>>18678089
You sure we shouldn't check on the demantis first? We did shoot it out of the sky.

rolled 7 = 7

>>18678106
>>18678116

Point, actually. We *know* she's okay, let's check on the demantis

rolled 7 = 7

>>18678025
Lets go tow out the other zoids. Maybe we could also score battle strategies or more tech to jury rig. Our cloaking works wondera, but Im betting better teams will have stuff like..infrared or something.

Demantis. Sarah got taken out first, so she's probably alright if slightly emotionally shaken.

>>18678116
>>18678106
>>18678089
>>18678068
(Screw it, we'll do both)
You bid Rob of farewell and head south. You find the Stealth Viper limping its way to the wall's exit. You hail her on a direct com.

["What do you want?"] she grumbles. You ask her how she's feeling. ["What's it to you, Mr bigshot. Come to talk down on me cause you won?"]

You ask if she rather have lost to someone who the immediately lost afterwards. ["...yeah ok, I see what you mean."] she grudgingly acknowledges.

["I lost pitifully,"] she sighs. ["I even tried to complain to the judge, uncle will send me home for sure."]
You tell her that may not be the case, telling her what Vlad had said to you earlier.

["He WANTED me to loose?"] You explain that that may not have been exactly it, but he wanted her to learn a lesson in this battle.
["Yeah, ok. I know what I did wrong back there..."]

Her viper breaks away. ["I'm fine,"] she insists as she heads toward the exit.
["...Thanks."] she closes the com, and leaves your sight.
(cont)

You make your way to where the mantis went down. To your surprise, something runs past you before you reach the spot.

You don't quite recognize what it is, but its fast. The battle's over, so you gather non combatants are allowed in now.

When the crash site comes into view, the other zoid has already stopped, its pilot having climbed out.

You park your Molga and get out yourself. You recognize the man from earlier, the girls 'guardian', as he put it. You open up your own cockpit to get a better look.

"Audrey? AUDRY?! Can you here me?" he seems a bit panicked, he seems genuinely concerned at least.
The cockpit of the Demantis stirs, and the girl gets out, a bit shaky on her feet.
"Audrey!" the man say, elated. "Are you hurt?"

The girl shakes her head.
"I'm fine."
Kai, if you remember right, breathes a sigh of relief.
"That's good. Come on, I'll give you a ride back." he gestures for her to come over to him. She stands still for a brief period, before breaking the silence.

"No." she says firmly. Kai seems shocked.
"What?"
"I'm not going back." Audrey says, shaking her head. "I don't want to go there anymore. I'd rather-"

A shot rings out, you spring to attention, eyes locking on Kai. He has a handgun he had hidden who knows where. You quickly look back at the girl, who's now wide eyed in fright.

"Audrey," Kai says slowly. "You know I don't like threatening you. Come on, just get down from there and I'll take you home."

>What do?

>>18678383
Are we armed?

>>18678395
(You're in your zoid, for one thing. you also have a pistol handy)

>>18678406
The weapons in our Zoid are too imprecise so...
Hop out, walk up behind him, *click* hello.

rolled 23 = 23

>>18678383
"Hey there partner, mighty fine piece you are carrying. What model is that? Oh, shit, my molga seems to be malfunctioning."

Proceed to bump the shit out of the mech while he is standing out of the cockpit under the premise of, oh, well it is a shitty molga after all, hand me downs and all that jazz, by the time he recovers and is possibly not really injured from the fall, we will be long gone with girl in tow.

>>18678383
Are you sure it's the cleverest plan to be threatening a girl when there is an honorable man in a giant robot right next to you with a large pile of guns pointed at your face.

I suggest you throw the gun to the ground and start walking away, you get get your Zoid back after we've left.

rolled 4 = 4

>>18678383
Use the mobile controller device, we have for the molgo to crush this fool.

Oh wait we dont have that. Lets kick this guy's ass and take his gun.

rolled 16 = 16

that is, if he is standing in the cockpit of his zoid, granted you said he stepped out so he probably isn't but if he is, I'd like to see him recover from about a three story fall with a large mech landing next to him

>>18678413

Wait, don't do this if Kai is standing on the demantis.

rolled 11 = 11

>>18678457
was saying if he was standing on his zoid, not hers, but yeah, I just figured he pulled up in his, opened his cockpit and "stepped out" of it onto his zoids head or something

rolled 53 = 53

holy shit I'm rolling low as hell today

rolled 4 = 4

We should draft this girl onto our team. She seems resistant to go back, and we may as well start building a strong power base.

>>18678468
Actually that brings up an interesting question, namely "how close together are those two zoids. We could just roll our molga in between the two of them. A handgun isn't going to do a thing to our armor, we could just grab the girl and burrow.

You jump out, gun in hand, and dash over to the Mantis. Tell him to put his hands up. He looks at you, then your Molga. His eyes go wide with realization.
"You..." he trails of. "And what are you trying to do?"

You tell him you are going to protect the girl. He chuckles. Then laughs.
"You? Protect her?" he says in a mockingly. "Do you even have any idea what you're protecting her from?"

He falls, no dives, down the zoid and rushes you. You fire on him, but he was too close and ducks under you, burying his fist in your chest. As the air leaves your lungs, he grabs you by your collar.
"You think you can protect her better than me?" he says coldly.

You decide that your forehead can give the best rebuttal, and crack his nose. He rears back, and you bring your gun up. He's fast to recover though, and does the same. He now are standing next to each other, guns at each others head.

The wind blows, and you both stare each other in the eye, not backing down. You don't get him. You see sorrow in his eyes, yet, he acts so violently.

"Kai, please stop!" Audrey breaks the silence. "Don't do this, your not a bad person. You always," she stiffles a sob. "You always comforted me when I was sad. You brought me candy when they wouldn't give me food. Please!"

You both continue locked in your standoff. When you here the sound of a jeep.
"Gerald!" you hear Vince's voice cry out. Kai seems disturbed, but doesn't let his guard down.

Vince jumps out of the jeep, leaving Rob to panickly reach for the wheel. He levels his own gun. "Drop it." he orders. The tension builds in the air, as Kai eyes both of you. He abruptly raises his arms, and sighs.

"Alright, I know when I'm beat." he walks away from you and drops his gun.
(cont)

Audrey jumps down and runs to you. "Are you ok, mister?"

Kai eyes you both, wearing a look of defeat. Vince comes up to you. "You ok?" You nod. "Good." he says, relieved. "Now for this- HEY!"

Kai has made a break for it and lept back into his zoid. It raises up, and his voice comes down from the speakers.
"Boy," he says sternly. "I was told to kill you if you did something like this. I'm committing two afronts by doing this." The zoid turns away. "I won't hold back when we meet again. Be ready."
The feline zoid takes off in a sprint. Vince throws his gun down in irritation.

>How feel?

>>18678683
Guns at each others heads?
Vaguely related wallpaper time!

>>18678698
Well, that was exciting. I'm just fine, having some asshole hellbent on killing you just makes life sweeter.

Audrey, given that you probably don't have a place to stay, would you like to come crash at our hanger, it's not fancy but the food's good and the beds are pretty nice.

We might even be able to help you fix up your Demantis.

need to wrap the thread up soon, got to go to work in 6 hours.
I regret nothing.

>>18678698
I think this would be a mix of adrenaline rush, a slight tinge of suprise, and a dose of "What the hell?"

Now, talk to the girl that was just saved, see why Kai, if that's his name, didn't shoot, and what these orders were, if we can?

>>18678763
You too? (4 hours for me. Tried to go to sleep a while back and my bed just said "Fuck you.")

>>18678698
>>18678698
I'm just a little disturbed that somebody somewhere has given an order to kill us if we help a little girl.

>>18678776
You tell Aubrey your ok, and ask her what is going on.
"Red Sand." she says quietly. Vince catches his breath, staring at her. "What do you know about that?"
He seems rather worked up. Audrey shakes her head. "That's all I heard, at the place I was being kept. Kai always looked after me, I never really talked to anyone else there."
Vince looks pissed off, but he quickly regained his composure. "We need to leave." he says with authority. "It's not safe to stay here much longer."

"Can," Audrey speaks up nervously, "could I go with you?"
Both of you looked at her, then each other. He bends over to level his eyes with hers.
"You pull your own weight around us, understand?" he says warmly.

Her eyes light up, and she smiles, for the first time since you've met her, a real, genuine smile.
"Yes! I'll do my best!"

You and Aubrey get in the Molga, as Rob wheels the jeep around. "Not cool, bro! What am I, an auto pilot?"
"Your excess baggage." Vince says dryly, flicking his forhead.

You set off, towing the Demantis with your Molga. As you clear the battleground wall, the sun hangs in the horizon, giving all before you. Audrey holds onto your hand tightly, seems she's still nervous.

You head off to the hangar you all will call home, eager to beat the sunset.

End of thread.
Rewards and stuff come this friday.

>>18678899
Cue music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hden_PTSXu4&fmt=18
Or in instrumental, if you prefer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07cNDoNinww

>enter cheesy jpop ending theme song here.

>credits rolling as we watch the crew walk into the distance

>cut to a shot of Gerald sitting in the cockpit, staring ahead with a determined smile.

>>18678919
hah! well played, good sir

oh god, my prose is a mess. I over indulged in the duurama, too.
Still have a ways to go