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"Begin, the operation!"
 Author
Join Date: Oct 2007
Age: 36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tormenk
Kicking this party off with the Akatsuki arc of StorieS 
Spoiler for Promises of Today part I:
It would have been safe to say there was a lovely sky today. Clear and blue as far as the naked eye could perceive.
Unfortunately there was hardly the luxury of observing the scenery right now. Signum, Sword Knight of the Wolkenritter, wasn't the type to give much thought about matters like this anyway. Right now, she had a much more pressing matter at hand.
"Karyuu Issen!"
A pair of voices resounded and their attack lashed out, marking a series of explosions against the horizon.
"Ha! Lousy chunks of scrap can hardly stand against our combined might! Take that!" That was Agito, Signum's partner currently in unison with her.
"That takes care of the second formation. Are you detecting any more incoming formations Agito?"
"None as far as I can tell. Not to worry, we'll just smash any more that comes our way. Bring it on!"
Putting the pixie's bravado aside, Signum turned to more immediate concerns.
"Lightning Two to Long Arch. Requesting status report on the other squads.”
Lucino was quick to sound her reply.
“Long Arch to Lightning Two. Captain Testarossa has secured Jail Scaglietti’s hideout. Lightning Three and Four are there as well.”
“Stars One and Two are still inside the Cradle. Commander Yagami entered shortly awhile ago but communications have been cut off for some time now. Stars Three and Four are en route to the Cradle to conduct a evacuation and rescue operation if necessary.”
“I see." A slight pause before Signum took her next inquiry. "What about the summoner? Lutecia Alpino?”
“She’s been taken into custody by a squad from the 108th battalion after being secured by Lightning Three and Lightning Four.”
“I shall proceed towards the Cradle then. They might still need my help there.”
“Roger. Long Arch out.”
“Let’s go Agito. We are needed elsewhere.”
“All right Signum! ”
***
Stirrings in the dead of the night. A pair of bleary red eyes slowly came to life as an unfamiliar sight greeted her.
The ceiling. Why though?
Realization slowly crept in. Lying on a bed certainly afforded her such a view though she was none the wiser why she was in a bed. A wrecking ache to came to her as she tried to recall events before. It was almost as if her body was protesting for her effort to remember, her head screaming the loudest in particular.
Grimacing, Lutecia blanked her mind. For now, she had to be content about her totally unknown position and the events as to how it happened.
Though the weight resting on her right side did erase enough of that contentment to let her take notice of her surroundings again.
Shifting her half-closed eyes to the side, she made a silent correction to herself. Weights, as there were a pair of figures on her bedside. A boy with flaming red hair and a girl with pink, both to be around her age and clothed in brown had shared her arm as a pillow and were fast asleep at her bedside.
Erio and Caro. Was that their names? She had fought them earlier on..but how early had that been? A day? Two maybe? She couldn't tell amidst her hazy mind though memories were slowly trickling in.
Slightly annoyed, she left her arm as it was. She had no intention of waking up the two, even if they might be able to answer her questions.
Moving her eyes in a slow arc from the sleeping pair, she noticed enough to note that the room had been arranged to instill a feeling of peace and tranquility, suiting for rest and comfort as she was enjoying now.
Lutecia would have pondered more but she was suddenly taken by how very worn out she was feeling.
Her body was wailing at her for rest even as her mind worked. It was a losing battle of course. Mentally sighing, Lutecia pushed her thoughts into a corner, that some of them would be addressed the next time she awakes. Without the accompanying headache.
Two flutter of eyelashes before Lutecia joined the two by her bedside in blissful sleep.
***
Morning came and the Saint Church was wrapped up in sunlight again, chasing away the cold lingers of the night. A steady stream of activity marked the arrival of visitors to the hospital, many who were here to visit a relative or friend who had gotten injured due to the incident, bringing some needed comfort and relief to their loved ones.
For one visitor, that was not the case.She had neither brought gifts nor cards of well-wishes with her. In fact, neither of that was on her mind as she pulled up her car. Although it seem her companion was more enthusiastic about the trip.
"I'll go on ahead Signum. Leave your dour face at the front door before going in though."
Signum offered no reply to the jab but her sight was directed over the horizon instead, seemingly distracted. An illusion that was quickly dispelled as Signum shut the door of her car and entered the hospital.
EDIT: Kinda cheap but hey I want this 20k get.
And not forgetting..
"THIS! IS! OUTER CADIA!!!!!!!!!!"
"ORE TACHI WO, DARE DA TO OMOTTE YAGARU?!" |
I'm getting this harem vibe from that little bit, but not matter, it was a good write XD. Nice 20k post.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LoweGear
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That was not Low Key  . But it's fitting.
Lowe: It's not time to go home yet, is it? I'm still a little to red in the face.
Kagerou: That's alright, we'll just say you were shot down and are missing in action.
USB: *laughs* That's pretty harsh, Kagerou.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightengale
20,000... BREAK.
500... BREAK.
And yet the road is still infinite.
Spoiler for OVER 20,000!!!!!!!!:
Gods of Altra Space : This is not a realm possible for you people. Turn back, Outer Cadians.
Nighty: You are not Chaos! He was banned, for our sake!
Kha: How many people do think have 'moved on' for us to come this far!?
USB: Don't underestimate us!
Keroko: Despite disbelief, despite suffering, despite moments of blues, despite sacrifices...
Tormenk: we have came this far, kicking reason to the curb, being off-topic and scaring 'some' mods!
Kagerou: We have our differences, our views, but our heart is one.
Goose: The power of us Cadians is not so weak that'd we...
Aaron: LOSE TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!
Liingo: WHO ARE WE!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
ALL: OUTER CADIANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
~~~
Liingo: We have done it... breaking 20,000... and 500.
OC: Dream... An Hero...Wibbles... haiz...Pure... Kaiser...Flame...
Nighty: and Chaos.
Nighty: We've lost many important comrades... one only temporary though.
OC: We will live on, and survive. Towards S4 and beyond! Our path is opened... btw, we welcome those watching us on the sidelines as well. We know you're there.
Btw, preview for Blank of 6 Months I.
Spoiler:
His eyes glanced as his image in the darkness started to clear itself before my eyes, which was previously clouded with fear, now awakened to the sight of the legends.
Wearing a simple outfit of black, he turned to me as he knelled, asking me “Are you okay?” in strong, manly voice.
He was a man in his late 20s, oriental features chiseled on his face; he had the look of a veteran despite his reasonable youth. Possessing noticeable black hair, slightly messy with sharp eyes just as they are deep, penetrative into ones soul with a knitted brow and a tight-lipped mouth.
“What’s so interesting? It sounds like a regular description for any novel.”
Rein only nodded in accordance to Aurion’s interjector.
“Don’t you think the description sounds awfully like Ojii-chan?”
~~~
Though the 67th Ground Forces Branch Forces were credited to the quick and effective handling of the incident before it escalated into a large-scale incident that might’ve required the assistance of the Air Force or even the Navy, there were rumors that persisted the existence of a faction that was the true reason for the incident to not go into Class B-classification, and was resolved at 2nd Level C.
…”Ala Altra.”
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Enjoyable at the least. Both pieces of writing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Keroko
Sometimes the curse turns out to be a blessing in disguise. I had forgotten the infecting abillity the flood part of the spawn had, but with Neltharion's corruption litterally burning away the infection, I can safely say "hell yes!"
Ultralisks may be tough, but they're no match for someone who took on a Bio-Titan.
Although she's aready out for a few weeks in doing so. >_< Ah well, that's Keroko for you. At least she has very able bodyguards watching over her. |
Indeed . Keroko may be beat up, but she'll get better and kick more ass.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Keroko
My gripe with Power Armors is not the plate, as we know Signum wears plated protectors, Hayate has plate sideguards, Vivio and Keroko have plate covering their stomach and sides and so on and so on, my problem with power armor is the gizmos and wires inside the armor that, basically, makes them robots on their own.
Why?
We already know that normal mages not wearing Power Armor can do pretty much everything someone with Power Armor can do, and then some. Why do they need a bulky armor with all sorts of chips that allow it to move more freely then it should, when a mage without it can do the exact same thing? It doesn't give any advantages. If anything, all the technollogy only makes it more receptive to breaking down during a fight. And we know that mages can match a similar performance just fine, so why do we need masses of mages wielding Power Armor for any other reason then 'it's cool?'
To answer your question of having one ellement, and throwing the other away... I do disagree that as a justification for Power Armors. We have two elements in Nanoha, fantasy and sci-fi. The fantasy element is provided with things such as magic, familiars and dragons. The sci-fi ellement is provided with things such as dimensional spaceships, cyborgs, clones and devices.
The two already balance eachother out as they are, if anything, Power Armor would be the one which would throw away the fantasy side in exchange for the sci-fi.
Barrier Jackets are the main form of armor in Nanoha, they can take on any shape the user desires, from skirts to swimsuits to knight armor, and they all do the same thing: Protect and support the user. Why would you need an armor with all that technojunk? Just create a plate barrier jacket! Same results, much cheaper, more sturdy, the list goes on and on.
You asked 'Where are the knights in shiny machine armor on robot battle chargers?' the answer is simple: They don't exist. In fact, they don't exist for the same reason shiny machine armors don't exist: Why would they have them? By the time magic became the main practice, they long since had bikes, cars and helies, why would they make a robotic horse? Just stick a mage on a bike and you're done.
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Good argument. I still propose that Power Armor is useful in limited amounts, but overall, I believe that your standard Barrier Jacket/Knight Armor is still just as useful.
IMO Powered Armor should be used when you need a little edge in some area. The OFM are primarily BlackOps operatives with a stealth penchant, and some Enforcers need to sneak in an area - and not everyone knows illusion spells. Hence the Ghost Armor.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tormenk
Well Nelthy is a double-edge sword after all so this is one of the times he's proving helpful. 
Nasty and threatening for something like the Spawn. Melikes  |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tormenk
So Vita's not a virgin?  |
...WHAT ARE YOU INSINUATING ABOUT MY- *hammer'd*
Vita (blushing): "U-Urusai! A-and I haven't d-done anything like that!"
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryand-Smith
Kagerou
This story reminds me why I lurk the internets. This has that hard feeling of a spec-ops group, and yet keeps the focus on the man, not their machines. It helps introduce a new reader to why the group has weapons, and it combines the feel of CIA blackops, with the personal feelings of our characters. I like how you addressed hotblood in a real fashion, and the reference to the CC, Fate. This story is somehow, uplifting. I can read the character's emotions and development quite well. Is there more of this @verse? |
Yeah, I have about another twenty-five chapters after I finish up Chapter One , not to mention all the little random extras that might show up in between. The OFM shorts before this one kind of give a clue on how things so, though I usually write ones heavy on the action while Goose writes the more proper ones XD.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryand-Smith
I still do not get going from hard Magic, to some of the best fluff lovey-dobey [EDIT NOTE I LIKE THAT STUFF SUE ME] writing, is one of those talents that never ceases to amaze me. The interactions are nice and cute, yet don't feel like the character's ages are too young for me. The end paragraphs made me feel a slight happiness inside, and that clinched it for me. This is a great job! |
I'm not really used to writing "harder" stuff, just "easy" sci-fi/fantasy/etc. Fluff and WAFF come a bit more naturally to me than angst and crack do. Thanks for the compliments though .
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wild Goose
As part of Prelude to Alpha, I present Last One Standing.
It is canon as regards to Alpha. Yes, that's who it yes. Yes, there's hot blood.
Spoiler for Last One Standing:
Prelude to Alpha: Last One Standing
MC 078
Southern continent, Mid-Childa
"C'mon you! You guys wanna live forever?"
Training ground 1A, Order of Freelance Mages base complex
"I bet two hundred that Master Chief's gonna get the flag!"
The OFM Assault Company soldier gritted his teeth as he heard the taunting yells and ducked as a savage salvo of beams slammed into the ground right in front of him; he missed being hit by the magical discharges only because he ducked into the trench and hit the dirt. Rolling onto his back and bringing up his BR55 battle rifle, he tracked the pair of Air Wing mages who flew above, banking and manuvering like human-shaped fighters.
"Alpha 1-4, Alpha 2-1, report your squad's status, over," called a voice on his radio - the Platoon Sergeant, the 2nd in command of Alpha platoon.
"The Lieutenant's down," reported 1-4, his voice shaky yet determined. "I think I'm the only survivor."
"Understood, 1-4. We're trying to get back to the hill to reinforce you, but there's heavy resistance. Hold the flag as long as you can."
"C-copy."
* * * * *
Two years earlier, the Assault Company had been a mere Assault Platoon, only ten men strong, before its expansion to 15 men. As the Order's workload increased, and as its mages began encountering the Spawn more and more, Colonel Erick von Long managed to secure approval to expand his unit. The Assault Platoon, under 2nd Lieutenant Franz Jaeger, were the primary beneficiaries of this expansion: from 15 men in three squads of five men, the Platoon expanded to 36 men in three "Platoons" of twelve, forming the Assault Company.
The rapid expansion had proven to be tricky, however. The new recruits all needed time to settle into the Order and to learn to do things the OFM way (or their own platoon way, each platoon bearing the fingerprints of its leader). Bravo Platoon, lead by the Master Chief, the Jolly Green Demon of the TSAB (though the only person who'd called him that to his face had been Command Sergant Major Ivanovich, and NOBODY fucked with Ivanovich - mentioning his name to veterans of the War of Subjugation was the surest way to send a TSAB Enforcer into apopoleptic fits) were disciplined attackers who melded sniping attacks with flanking and rush tactics; snipers pinning down enemies while their comrades flanked and rushed them. Delta Platoon, 2nd Lieutenant Leo "Veri" Kozlov's unit, were the stealth and ranged combat specialists, fighting at range with battle rifles and sniper rifles, while sneaking up to the enemy and knifing them in their sleep. And Alpha Platoon?
"Is that all you got?!" roared a hot blooded voice - the only OFM mage who was not wearing a helmet. His short black hair was developing streaks of gray, but his aim was sure and his hands were steady as he fired his MA5C, eliciting a yelled curse as he nailed another two mages from Bravo Platoon.
2nd Lieutenant Franz Jaeger, Assault Company Commander and Alpha Platoon Leader, had taken care to staff his platoon with like-minded men, all of whom had a penchant for extreme (what they and Erick called "hot blooded") moments. Franz was proving that now as he became a one-man bullet delivery machine, firing bullets and tossing grenades like they were going out of fashion, charging across the pock-marked hill and diving into the trench beside 1-4, just as an icy blast of magic slammed into the ground behind him.
"Having fun yet, 1-4?" he yelled cheerfully and fiercely, and 1-4 merely sat there, stunned, his mind going over the objectives of the day. Alpha was supposed to defend a hill and their flag from Bravo and Lance Flight, who would be working together to destroy them. Franz hadn't filled his platoon with confidence when he calmly stated that they'd be safer far away from him, as Lance Flight's XO "...really has it in for me. She hates me."
For an instant, 1-4 wished that Franz had gone somewhere else.
"How's your ammo?" asked Franz, slapping a fresh clip into his MA5C assault rifle, lovingly running a gloved hand over his well-used rifle, a rifle that had been with him for 16 years. "You good?"
"Yes sir," replied 1-4, reloading his rifle the way he was taught. "You, sir?"
"Sunglasses," replied Franz, grinning, tapping the side of his sunglasses. "Infinite ammo."
"...huh?"
"I'll explain later," he laughed, becoming serious as he pulled out a mirror from a pocket and raised it above the lip of the trench, taking a quick peek around. "Alright, we've got 4 Air Wing girls coming in from the west. Get ready. When they appear, nail them."
"That's going to be hard..." said 1-4. "And I'm not sure I can bind them at this range."
"Just do your best," said Franz, patting him on the shoulder. "No soldier can do too wrong if he shoots at the enemy. Here they come."
1-4 had heard stories of how Franz Jaeger wasn't really a master mage. He had been supposed to finish his training 20 years ago, but had never gotten around to doing so. He'd been a 2nd Lieutenant for 17 years and A-ranked for an equal amount of time, never bothering about his career or mage rank progression. He'd also heard about how the older man had apparently been more hotblooded and reckless in his youth, supposedly challenging an un-Limited Takamachi Nanoha with nothing more than the barest of skills, hot blood and determination; how both his devices had been broken by Subaru Nakajima and Vita Yagami. But looking at him now...
As Franz peered through the MA5C's intergrated reflex sight/HUD, it was like a change had come over him. His eye tracked the four mages as they appeared in a wedge formation, his hands moving his rifle in perfect coordination, as if the weapon were a part of his body, his breathing steady and time seemingly slowing...
"Contact."
Repeated crisp squeezes of the trigger, three steady sharp barks - BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! - and the appearance of a gout of flame as three 7.62mm Tranquilizer Training Rounds fired and flew forth, impacting the leftmost mage, forming splotches of red over the front of her Ghost Armor; he didn't need to be omniscient to know that she was cursing him. He aimed and sighted in, squeezing the trigger in a controlled burst, nailing another mage with a headshot, as 1-4's battle rifle rounds ran home into another mage, leaving only Lance Flight's XO as the survivor of her element.
Oh yeah, she's pissed he thought wryly. "Not bad for a couple of groundpounders, but we won't be able to pull it off again for a few months. 1-4, I'll go and draw that last girl's fire. You're to stay here and hold the flag until 2-1 gets here with Second Squad. Damn, I made a mistake of dispersing us," he said. "Good luck, 1-4. You're gonna need it."
1-4 had watched, wide-eyed, as Franz took off running, scrambling acros the hill, narrowly avoiding magical blasts and SMG fire, ducking and weaving as he ran, rolling forward and coming up in a crouch, firing his MA5C as Lance Flight's XO went wild on her attack run.
When the dust settled, Lance 5 was down on one knee, covered in red splotches, breathing heavily, while Franz was nonchalantly lying back on the ground, looking at the sky. It was apparent that both had "neutarlized" the other.
1-4 peeked out of his trench and looked at the rapidly advancing Bravo Platoon members, sighted his battle rifle and opened fire, trading fire with Bravo Platoon... and becoming frantic at the ease with which Master Chief merely sidestepped each and every shot.
"Alpha 1-4, Alpha 2-1, report your squad's status, over," called a voice on his radio - the Platoon Sergeant, the 2nd in command of Alpha platoon.
"The Lieutenant's down," reported 1-4, his voice shaky yet determined. "I think I'm the only survivor."
"Understood, 1-4. We're trying to get back to the hill to reinforce you, but there's heavy resistance. Hold the flag as long as you can."
Not two minutes later was another transmission: "Sorry, 1-4. They got us. You're on your own."
1-4's eyes nearly bugged out as he heard the news and looked at the Bravo Platoon remnants advanced uphill onto the flag, Master Chief in the lead, as one of them yelled, "Alpha Platoon! Give us your flag!"
At that moment, inside 1-4, something snapped.
"COME AND TAKE IT!" he yelled wildly, popping up and firing his battle rifle, tossing simulation grenades like they were going out of style, managing to take out a pair of Bravo designated marksmen with battle rifles. "Who do you think I am? This is not madness! THIS! IS! ALPHA PLATOOOOOOOOOOOOONN!!!!!!!!!"
For a moment, it was as if Bravo Platoon's advance faltered under the sudden onslaught of hot blood...and then Master Chief surged forward, sprinting at full speed, weaving left and right. 1-4 yelled wordlessly and fired with his right had, thrusting a Chain Bind from his left hand, using it it as an improvised whip. Against anyone else, the novel usage of a bog-standard binding spell would have taken them offguard. Unfortunately, Chief had spent his entire life being unfazed by anything, and approached the attack in a straightforward, rational manner.
He jumped above 1-4, activating his AMF as he soared, aligning his body as the last Alpha man stood his ground. "WHO DO YOU THINK I AM?!" yelled Alpha 1-4, and John sighed mentally, tuning out Cortana's annoyed ranting. He landed on the ground in a crouch, darting forward and ducking under Alpha 1-4's gunfire as the latter tried to draw a bead on Master Chief, both bringing their weapons up at the same time... before Chief dropped in a spin kick that sent Alpha 1-4 flying back to hit the wall of the trench; completing his spin, without even bothering to aim, Chief squeezed the trigger of his rifle.
BLAM!
His shot was true and Alpha 1-4 slumped to the ground weakly, gazing at the red splotch on his barrier jacket in disbelief... and then a siren rang and a computerised voice announced, "Excercise complete. Bravo Platoon Victory." Alpha 1-4 took off his helmet and wiped the sweat away from his forehead and his glasses, running a shaking hand through his blonde hair as a smiling Franz aproached him, flanked by Remington Smith and Colt Wesson. Chief helped 1-4 to his feet, and Franz smiled and shook 1-4's hand, clapping him on the shoulder, as the hot blooded men of Alpha Platoon welcomed their newest member.
"Welcome to Alpha Platoon," grinned Franz. "You're gonna fit in real well with us."
With the effects of his adrenalin and hot blood receeding, Yuuno Scrya, Alpha 1-4, began to wonder if it was too late to ask for a transfer.
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Oh dear god... you wrote it... and you didn't dive too far into crack like I thought you would. Excellent job!
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Kagerou - Generic Universal Rage Producing System
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