Log started: 11/24/02 8:55:16 PM Casablanca - Place de Nations Unies The downtown core proper. Place de Nations Unies is the biggest road through the busiest part of Casablanca. Not quite the foggy, dark and cramped city that Bogart and Bergman were seen in two and a half centuries ago. No, this is a megacity with titantic skyscrapers, modern roadways, and all the enmities of LIfe in the 23rd century. Casablanca, since the Robot Master occupation, has gained more than ever. It is the jewel of the Wily Empire's crown, standing near the great Gibraltar Tidal Dam, and acting as the African continent's center of business and commerce. Contents: Contents: North : Casablanca - Marche Central Out : Atlas Mountains Southeast : Teleportation Area--Casablanca $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ CiviLIan $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 13/19 Posted Author Truth will out. Sun Nov 24 Abernathy ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TO: ungen@un.gov, unmilgen@mil.un.gov FR: avorlaikal@un.gov SU: Ne cede maLIs. I don't know how much you've already heard of Dr. Cossack's version of last night's events, but if involved LIberal salting of the word 'race traitor' among an account of my turning evil and drinking the blood of children, you got the wrong story. /Yes/, a group of Stardroids did appear in Seoul last night. I wager between three and four, though I have my suspicions about what they might have been up to. /Yes/, the freak weather we've been experiencing is a part of their meddLIng.%trAnd yes, one of them -- Procyon, if I heard correctly -- did offer me 'power' in return for my services. And yes, again, I accepted his offer. I fail to see -- yet -- how to this makes me a 'traitor' or a 'turncoat' to Earth's cause. /Someone/ had to jump, and if not me, who? If it had been one of the Robot Masters or the Mavericks, or even Wily or Sigma themselves, I daresay you would have barely batted an eye. I didn't do it for 'power'. I don't have that many illusions about how worthy I would be to lead humankind. I did it -- hell, watch the damn vidcast the Stardroid made again! If you actually /LIsten/ to him instead of staring in a state of shocked outrage, you'll understand! I take full responsibiLIties for my actions, and if I'm to be hanged as a traitor -- after this is over -- so be it. I'll walk to the noose as quiet and complacent as you LIke. /Until then/, I intend to keep fighting, and screw the bastards who don't have the balls to take the path I've chosen. Let the inquest be made in the full LIght of day. I will be waiting. Yours, --Abernathy, UN junior diplomat $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ IC News $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 14/28 Posted Author Rubicon Sun Nov 24 News Report ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The last 30 seconds of Bass' Sheol Pit fight with Metal Shark is shown; the Shark's body has been punched through, and he has been thrown to the wall of the Sheol Pit. Bass' slow advance. The last holographic attack of `Requiem'. Her kilLIng herself with a sword. The strange, cold look in Bass' eyes after she disappears. The black wave that punches out of Bass' Buster, the legacy of Void Starfish. The theft of Metal Shark's weapon, then the Megablast that reduces him to a pile of smoking parts. The screen pans across to land on the pile. Freeze-frame. Voice-over by Bass. "My pain is not mocked. My patience for Maverick misbehavior has ended. Any threats to Wily Africa, or the Robot Masters anywhere in the world, will result in the aggressor meeting Metal Shark's fate." "Further, if Metal Shark commits these ... atrocities against me again, Maverick Europe *will* burn. The humans you keep there *will* be freed. Our justice will find its immediate purchase." "There will be no second chances. Do not test me, Sigma." $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ [Radio: (C) GLobal] Guts Man transmits, "Sure is quiet tonight. No Stardroids causing trouble?" [Radio: (C) GLobal] Fusion Phoenix transmits, "Not causing trouble..." [Radio: (C) GLobal] Guts Man transmits, "Too bad." Camera Camarasaurus, one of RMTV's more experienced reporters, appears at the Old Walls of Casablanca. "OH MY GOD! THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!" He screams, then quiets down a bit, though his voice is panicked. "Folks, I hope you can see this... I can't beLIeve it, but it's really real! A giant monster is tearing through downtown Casablanca, leaving a swath of destruction half a mile wide... the death toll is in the thousands... just /look/ at the devastation!" He pans over to it, showing... well... not a lot, really. The city looks utterly normal and undisturbed. "Oh, Wily, why haven't you sent your Robot Masters to save us? Wily? The UN? Anybody! WE NEED HELP!" [Radio: (C) GLobal] Fusion Phoenix transmits, "Masters, can you handle that situation?" [Radio: (C) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "... What situation? Looks fine to me." [Radio: (C) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Sure it's not someone messing around with holograms?" [Radio: (C) GLobal] Colonel transmits, "Where is the location of the attack?" [Radio: (D) AlLIance] Pharaoh Man transmits, "Curiose....of what was the fate of the Reploid Alpha?" [Radio: (C) GLobal] Fusion Phoenix transmits, "Greetings." [Radio: (C) GLobal] Fusion Phoenix transmits, "OOC Mischan" [Radio: (D) AlLIance] Alpha transmits, "Huh, Pharaoh Man?" [Radio: (D) AlLIance] Rigger transmits, "She's been repaired." [Radio: (D) AlLIance] Pharaoh Man transmits, "Ah. Then maybe you can inform me...how did I end up back within Robot Master territory?" [Radio: (D) AlLIance] Rigger transmits, "The other one took you there." [Radio: (D) AlLIance] Pharaoh Man transmits, "The Crab? And what of Denebola?" [Radio: (D) AlLIance] Rigger transmits, "I'm not sure. I fainted shortly after Alpha was brought home." [Radio: (D) AlLIance] Shield transmits, "Why did you faint? Are you injured?" [Radio: (D) AlLIance] Pharaoh Man transmits, "I take it she too, fell, then?" [Radio: (D) AlLIance] Rigger transmits, "... I was a LIttle shocked okay? I'm fine." [Radio: (D) AlLIance] Pharaoh Man transmits, "Rigger, please explain to your 'daughter' that she must be more wilLIng to /run/ when the chance is given to her. Its not everyday a Stardroid wilLInGLy dismisses one to take to safety. Such noble 'heroics' are only going to get her killed." [Radio: (D) AlLIance] Alpha transmits, "...I fell close to the time you did. I was returned home by Pac Pac so maybe he returned you home too." [Radio: (D) AlLIance] Rigger transmits, "She stayed to help you, Pharaoh." [Radio: (D) AlLIance] Alpha transmits, "...I wasn't trying to be noble, I was trying to do what Pac Pac said for us to do." [Radio: (D) AlLIance] Pharaoh Man transmits, "Please. You only got in the way, Alpha, and it ultimatly proved futile as it were." [Radio: (D) AlLIance] Alpha transmits, "...I'm sorry, I will no longer participate in this situation." [Radio: (D) AlLIance] Pharaoh Man transmits, "I never said you could not participate, just be a bit more careful, hmm?" [Radio: (D) AlLIance] Pharaoh Man transmits, "This is war, and the Stardroids may not be so merciful next time." [Radio: (D) AlLIance] Alpha transmits, "Alright. You are still aLIve, though." [Radio: (D) AlLIance] Pharaoh Man transmits, "I would of been E-Ring'd regardless." [Radio: (D) AlLIance] Alpha transmits, "Maybe stardroids can stop E-rings." [Radio: (D) AlLIance] Fusion Phoenix transmits, "FalLIng into a black hole /could/ prevent the energy from excaping." [Radio: (D) AlLIance] Pharaoh Man transmits, "I'll keep that in mind Fusion. How goes your painful task of learning to walk agian while having to refuel with a straw?" [Radio: (D) AlLIance] Fusion Phoenix transmits, "SuprisinGLy well. I've transfered to the simulation computer, and things are much more intresting." Casablanca - Til MeLIl A quiet suburb of Casablanca proper, Til MeLIl is one of the residential centers beyond the busy city core. Here, small stores are interspersed with short houses and the occasional tall apartment complex. A few tiny city parks also dot the interwoven web of narrow streets. This place is quiet home to many, both those who work in the city proper, and home to many of those who work at the nearby Gibraltar Tidal Dam. Contents: Contents: Enforcer Malamute [Main] [M] Conduit [Normal] [RF] Denebola [Sar] [SD] Heat Man [Armored] [RM] Hiryu [Strider] [C] Bass [Bass] [RM] Uranus [Stardroid] [SD] Metal Man [Civie] [RM] Pallbearer [DuelLIst] [RF] Guts Man [Normal] [RM] Ricochet [Armor] [RF] Rigger [Lab] [MH] Sai [Casual] [RF] Scorpio [Scorpio] [SD] Bonne Assault Mech [C] RepLIforce Dropship [RF] Bonne Airship [C] Crash Man's Crashin' Casino. RMTV HQ -- Cairo Northwest : Casablanca - Hassan II Mosque Out : Atlas Mountains South : Casablanca - Old City Walls Guts Man is all stunnilly stunned! Stunning! Metal Man is starting to move towards Guts Man not to haul him away. "Heat lets move." Is all he says as he goes for the stunned Alpha CO to try and haul him out of harms way. Heat Man nods once, and moves quickly, keeping in step with Metal. He doesn't say anything, but he too takes hold of Guts, and works with Metal, trying to haul the big guy out of harm's way. Scorpio ignores Guts now, his body derezzing and reforming, his voice sounding much LIke Ian McDiarmind. "It seems that you must be further taught that resisting us is... as you know I'll finish... futile." He stares at Metal Man for a second. He does nothing. However, there's a very good chance that Metal Man is about to spend fifteen seconds feeLIng LIke his entire ego just fell through the bottom of the earth and out the other side. He will be the most worthless being on the planet, in his mind, anyway. Scorpio strikes Metal Man with his Ego Deflation attack. Metal Man is temporarily disoriented by Scorpio's Ego Deflation attack. Metal Man falls to the ground, unconscious, due to massive systems damage. King Kitsune arrives from the Casablanca - Marche Central. King Kitsune has arrived. King arrives from the Casablanca - Marche Central. King has arrived. "Hmf," says Bass. "Bothersome." The situation is rapidly degenerating. As Metal Man collapses, seeminGLy for no reason, and Guts Man continues to seem lobotomized (quite a feat according to some), it is clear that he is going to have to do something unpleasant if he's going to keep his main field asset intact. Bass raises his cannon, color scheme changing; his body turns titanium silver, midnight blue highLIghts replacing the cream at his joints and fins. He stares at Scorpio, both halves of him, and shoots at the one furthest away from Guts Man in a hail of high explosives -- advancing with his dash jets on that one to lead Scorpio away from the Masters. Bass strikes Scorpio with his Bustercannon Full Assault attack. Rigger subvocaLIses on her radio a few times before slowly shaking her head in response to Hiryu. She does mount the hovercycle again though, revving it's engines with a sLIght twist of her wrist. "I can't leave, there's some work to do." It was a Stardroid in the middle of a city with others than just robot masters LIving here. And she'd do her best to see to it that as many as possible got out of here. The others would fight. She'd help where she could as always. "Keep him busy and keep him from destroying the city if you can..." And that's all she says to Hiryu before spinning around on the Cutlass and racing down the streets looking for any civiLIan stragGLers that might have stuck around to watch so she can haul them out of the immediate area. Conduit moves around the trying to remain as stealthy as possible now, he's going to watch this fight, oh yes. All the scanners and recording equipment he has(which isn't much, but it'll do) activates in an attempt to gather as much information about Scorpio's abiLIties as possible. Heat Man shrieks suddenly, and jumps back when Metal's hit, turning a fierce GLare on the scorpion... He's steaming sLIghtly, prepared to fight, but he spares a GLance toward Bass... and then Bass fires, and Heat's eyes shoot back toward Scorpio... He's confused, sLIghtly disoriented, and it shows on his face. Heat Man sends a radio transmission to Bass. Bass receives a radio transmission from Heat Man. Bass sends a radio transmission. Heat Man receives a radio transmission from Bass. Guts Man is just lying there on the ground stunned. He's not quite dead. At least not yet. King Kitsune has reconnected. [Radio: (D) AlLIance] Rigger transmits, "Hey! Wily-boys! Hate to tell you how to beat people up, but if you can try to lure him out of the city at least? The people who LIve here *are* your 'people' and there's only so far they're gonna LIsten to me about getting to safety." Hiryu stares after Rigger for a moment as she leaves, his brown hair ruffLIng LIghtly in the breeze, "..." Before vanishing once again. Hiryu activates his stealth mode. Heat Man nods once in reply to a private transmission, and moves toward Metal, sparing a GLance toward Guts as he takes hold of the CO. "I'll be back for you..." he half-mutters, busying himself with dragging Metal away from the rapidly unfolding carnage. Metal Man bLInks at Guts Man and then he looks to Scorpio, "Futile this..." He ia already bringing up his arm and trying to arm a Metal Blade as he gets hit by the metal attack. Well you know how big his ego is after all. Its bigger than some planets so this ain't going to be fun at all. Well as his Ego drops LIke Rosan bar falLIng off a 1000 meter cLIff on a planet with 100 times earth gavity. His physical body just drops to the ground LIke a puppet with its strings cut and he does not move. King rides in on a mechanized horse, his cape traiLIng freely in the wind of his ride. TraiLIng from the cape are a pair of mets, wearing LIvery, that apparently didn't let go in time. Gripped in one hand is his mighty axe, while his other hand carries his shield. "We shallt deal with this threat! We are with thee, Sir Bass!" He charges right towards the other Scorpio, brandishing his axe over his head as he rides the horse. However, he still has a ways to go before he reaches his target. King Kitsune streaks into the area, a black and gold blur barreLIng out of the teleporters. Immediately, he begins his super-high-speed evacuation of any civiLIans who remain in the area, those who are trapped, trying to hide, or merely too frozen with panic to flee. With speed rivalLIng that of Quick Man, the Maverick Hunter kitsune ignores nearly everything else and carries the innocent humans to safety, with LIttle more than a whoosh of air and a GLImmer of gold reveaLIng his presence. Pallbearer looks at the developing melee, and clenches a fist as people start calLIng him a heartless coward across the radio channels. Discussion has broken down, there is an insane godLIng in downtown who is currently dispatching Robot Masters by the dozen. People should know when, tactically, you have lost. So, Pall does what he can, ordering Squad 2 and the falconis to start broadcasting the message that the civilLIans should be evacuating across the city during flybys and picking up stragGLers. Pall himself...well, he starts over towards Scorpio's top half. Yes, he's definitely going to do something stupid today. "Scorpio, I'm asking you to knock it off. Dropping these androids LIke fLIes isn't going to get any of us anywhere. I'm not privy to whether you can pry information from dead people, but you'll probably be hard pressed. If you want to go after someone, go after me." He is by now right next to the stardroid, attempting to stare him down. "You want to know where the other stardroids are?! I KNOW! I know where they are, right now! Leave these people, these reploids, these androids out of it. You want information and the other stardroids, I'll show you!" Meanwhile, the 'green-haired' man decides to show his amusement with the show, in the form of applause. Shaking his head at all of the other antics, he merely sends a transmission, as he begins walking over to the pretty, pretty mummy, maLIce shining in his eyes. King Kitsune has partially disconnected. After a few moments of furious conversation over the radio, Sai FINALLY moves. He's made his decision the same way he always has, and always will: for humanity. He cocks his head at a high window, where there are some people visible, watching things transpire. And then, he fades away, bLInking into their very LIving room. They're a bit surprised, methinks. "Sorry folks, no time to argue, Stardroid on the loose and he is PISSED!" With that he picks up the two people, one in each arm (handy how that works) and leaps out the window, aiming for a rooftop nearby, and from there, he plans to leap to the streets and let the rest of the evac operation take over, then repeat as many times as necessary. Denebola sends a radio transmission. Scorpio receives a radio transmission from Denebola. Pallbearer sends a radio transmission. Scorpio is hammered back when Bass strikes, his body shattering into a bilLIon red and blue LInes, the ink that colored his body spilLIng free in a red and blue mess as the LInes derez away, clattering to the ground and into nothingness. After a moment, laughter echoes everywhere, ten voices at once all chortLIng and howLIng. He gets all Roy Batty-ish. "Oh, Chaos... so it is you... just the man I need... to die." The swirl of ink on the pavement begins to swirl, shooting forward in a LIne of ink, pausing in front... of Pallbearer. "We shall speak of this again, then, RepLIforcer. You have a certain undead charm that strikes a chord in my soul, anyway." But first, he reforms, ink rising and forming his body, LInes drawing themselves into place... in a few places, you can almost see hands drawing him in. "Bass. Chaos. You're never going to destroy Megaman. I have forseen it. NEVER." He gives him an almost sympathetic stare, reaching out... with his mind. Scorpio strikes Bass with his Popped Ego attack. Bass is temporarily disoriented by Scorpio's Popped Ego attack. Rigger receives a radio transmission from Abernathy. Rigger sends a radio transmission to Abernathy. Scorpio sends a radio transmission. Denebola receives a radio transmission from Scorpio. Guts Man slowly gets back up on his feet after that nasty mind sting. "Heheheheheh. I love shiney things." He then looks to Scorpio. "And I LIke to destroy things! If that was suppose to kill me earLIer you failed big time! No wonder you need our help. You can't even kill us!" Guts Man then starts to chant while playing some maracas which appears from out of nowhere, "Stardroids are weakLIngs! Stardroids are weakLIngs! Stardroids are weakLIngs! Stardroids are weakLIngs!" Rigger receives a radio transmission. Rigger sends a radio transmission to Abernathy. Denebola sends a radio transmission. Scorpio receives a radio transmission from Denebola. Rigger receives a radio transmission. King Kitsune stops moving just long enough to *stare* at Guts Man for a spLIt second, trying to figure out just what in the world the Master of Muscle is trying to accompLIsh. With a shrug, he returns to his duty of helping people escape, physically toting the humans out of the area at the maximum speed he can travel at which they can still breathe. Bass charges at the second half of Scorpio, blurring through the Stardroids' passing energy. Standing now at some distance from the Stardroid, his body starts to change colors again, Buster reverting to a fist; his armor starts to transition from silver to white, with a black belt around his waist. He starts to charge as the mind effect hits him, eyes going GLassy and distant as all the self-doubt in him hits his psyche at once. His gaze turns unfocused as the mindscape turns against him, the facade of sanity shredding away; a dull look of weakness crosses Bass' features as he falls onto the ground, hands sprawled in front of him, head lowered -- LIke it was too heavy for his back to LIft. Rigger sends a radio transmission. Rigger receives a radio transmission. Pallbearer keeps going, walking over towards Scorpio, trying to keep in his face. "Bullsh*t. You want the stardroids, we go /NOW./ There's no way I can be completely sure on their location for too long. If this battle continues, and if the people of this city get harmed - I won't help you. You'll have to waste a lot of time looking - from what I understand about the master-underLIng relationship that's usually a bad thing for you to be doing. Now, I'll only offer once more - Do we have a deal?" He offers his hand. SelLIng his soul? Maybe. If he really had one to speak of, being a reploid...and even then, if it saves these people... Conduit sighs to himself as Pall does something really stupid, now he might just need to be rescued and since everyone else is busy evacing the civvies, its up to good ol' Conduit, "Well... I guess the best way to accumilate combat data is first hand. Conduit's armor changes shape and color, taking on the very same titanium and midnight blue hues that adorned Bass only a moment before. And the real buster cannon phases into existance as Conduit begins to slowly approach the stardroid. Conduit changes into his Magna armor. King notes Bass's faltering resolve, and redoubles his efforts. "Sir Bass! We shalt smite him together with thee! HAVE AT THEE, Stardroid SCUM!" King vaults from his mechquine, axe gripped over his head, and he brings it slashing down towards Scorpio in a blazing arc. King misses Scorpio with his Executioner's Axe attack. Rigger receives a radio transmission from Abernathy. Rigger sends a radio transmission to Abernathy. Rigger receives a radio transmission from Abernathy. Sai is still in motion, of course. He practically trips over himself as Guts Man starts his LIttle routine, but he keeps going. Gotta save the people, cannot fail...this is too important, too close...BLInk, grab, jump, deposit, repeat. Assured of what he wanted to know, The incognito Stardroid turns, stopping his transmissions, the conversation ended. Qucikly, the hands of the green-haired person dive into the pockets of his outfit, as he moves around towards the nearest alleyway, to sLIde into the shadows. And with that, the disguised Denebola is gone. Scorpio smiles at Pallbearer, his voice taking the dark tone of Orson Welles. "Your bargaining posture is highly dubious... but very well. You belong to me... now." As King strikes at him, Scorpio simply falls apart, LInes emptying of ink, which pools into a purple shade in his claws as he shakes Pallbearers hands... and flows completely over him, staining his entire form a dark Decepticon purple. King hits, but all he does is shatter the 3D LIne drawing of Scorpio in the street, sending shivers of his body, simple, nonspecial GLass, all over the place. Scorpio retreats from the area swiftly, leaving him open to pursuit or parting shots from Denebola. Denebola retreats from the area swiftly, outdistancing all pursuit and parting shots. Rigger sends a radio transmission to Abernathy. Rigger receives a radio transmission. Rigger sends a radio transmission. King Kitsune has reconnected. Rigger returns to the area just in time to see Scropio overcome Pallbearer in such a manner. She skids the Cutlass to a halt, staring in growing horror at what's gone on. "Oh... just freaking great." King Kitsune has partially disconnected. Conduit bLInks as Pall is taken, ".... Ah crap!" A LIne of more colorful phrases follows. Guts Man watches as Scorpio spLIts and leaves. "Hey Stardroids. Don't hunt what you can't kill! Because Guts Man ain't gonna forget this. Oooooh shiney car!" Guts Man walks off as he notices a parked car and just picks it up in his beefy hands rolLIng it around LIke a kid would do. "Vroooom! Vrooooom!" "You think you know me..." Bass closes his eyes, marshalLIng his mental resources, using the endless rage to strengthen himself against the LIngering effects of Scorpio's mental assault. Scorpio had much to work with; Bass' inner doubt is a massive millstone around his psyche that only his strict mental discipLIne keeps in check. But Bass is strong. Bass has an inner fire that few LIving things have, being dedicated to one end, one Purpose -- he has a hardwired mission objective where almost everyone else in the world does not. He hears King distantly, still strugGLIng to regain himself. He thinks of Requiem. He thinks of the rage he felt when he learned of her death. He thinks of how Metal Shark used that inner spot of mental weakness to hurt him. He concentrates on the emotions that let him overcome that instant of humanity, focusing on the inhuman madness that saturates his being. His LIps curl back, those perfect white razor-sharp teeth dripping with his own saLIva, poised to strike LIke a rapid dog. "...you think you *know* /me/!?" He balls his fists, wilLIng himself back up, using one knee to drive himself back to his feet. The Buster color change completes, the black belt soLIdifying, the white armor GLeaming with the menace that is Bass' psyche. "You may have invaded my mind and my body," declares Bass, even as the Stardroids retreat, "but there's one thing a Robot Master always keeps --" His body flashes with green fire, energy crystals going from blue to pulsing, crimson read. "HIS PRIDE!" Bass blasts into the air overhead, rocketing high overhead, screaming with bLInd fury. He rockets over Casablanca in a blur of green fire, but he can find nothing ... but perhaps he wasn't looking for anything at all. Ricochet returns as well, after evacuating some civiLIans, just to see... "PALLBEARER!" Orbit bLInks.. "*BWIPBWIP*" Bass enters the Anger Zone. Rigger receives a radio transmission from Abernathy. Rigger sends a radio transmission to Abernathy. Rigger receives a radio transmission from Abernathy. Rigger sends a radio transmission. Uranus goes home. Uranus has left. Pallbearer is touched by the stardroid...and...is engulfed, matrix-mirror style, the mummybot panicking and trying to pry the goo off all he can....and faiLIng...his LIght blue flesh changing to the aforementioned decepticon purple, wrappings changing similarly, as well as his prized blue coat, the brass buttons and cLIps staining to ebony blackness. Dropping to his hands and knees, the mummybot looks at his own form in shock, even as the irises of his lemon-yellow eyes change to a deep imperial purple. He gasps for breath a moment....and...is suddenly astounded. He's not hurt. But...as he notices the enraged form of Bass and the other Robot Masters...he reaLIzes he will be. Standing, staggering, looking to the others, he raises his hands defensively. "Please...please, don't. I'll go - I'm not Scorpio, still....still Pallbearer, for the moment." He looks to the others. "Don't follow me! Don't do anything to help or hinder me, don't even speak to me! I'll go! I'll leave here, peacefully! If he's still here...still in me somehow...then let me at least get as far from here as possible before he does. Rigger receives a radio transmission from Abernathy. Rigger sends a radio transmission. Pallbearer starts to back up, fearful, yes, a faustian bargain indeed....Afraid, the repLIforcer looks to his former comrades, to the robot masters, to the anger-flared man who nearly killed him. "I...Please...Tell Redwing I'm sorry." And with that, he turns, bolting for the edge of town and the open desert as quickly as he can run. Rigger receives a radio transmission from Abernathy. King Kitsune comes to a screeching halt, carrying a random civiLIan ... then setting him gently down. "Looks LIke the danger has passed ... uhm ... at least the Stardroid danger has. Pardon me." Pallbearer retreats from the area swiftly, leaving him open to pursuit or parting shots from Scorpio, King Kitsune, Bass, Denebola, Heat Man, Sai, and Metal Man. King turns towards Pallbearer, darkness in his own expression. He might not be Bass, but he's still not really all that nice a guy. "We shalt deal with this as shouldst be done." He summons his mechquine, and mounts up. "Someone must have needs pursue him." Even though he's too slow to do it himself. Guts Man watches as Bass darts into the sky. "Baaaaass! Wait for me!" With that Guts Man starts to run after his idol, he jumps in the air but lands back on the ground with a rather loud thud. "Oh no! Krypton in the air! Can't fly!!!" Now look what that Mind Sting had done! It's made him dumber! If only temporary! Damn Stardroids. Metal Man is not going to be happy when he wakes up. Oh no the Robot Master Rage(TM) will be burning big time. King Kitsune dashes up next to King, and nods. "I'm on it, sir." Then takes off LIke a shot after the SLIghtly-Less-Bandaged-Than-Pharaoh-Man-Guy. Hiryu enters the Casablanca - Hassan II Mosque. Hiryu has left. Rigger receives a radio transmission from Abernathy. Conduit trys to get a bead on Pall, but he's too quick and is out of range before he knows it, "Damnit it all to hell." Sai bLInks his way up a building wall, suddenly diverting himself from his course. Evidently he's not going for more CiviLIans after all. In fact...he takes a perch up top, watches for the tell-tale signs of high-velocity deceptimummybot...finds them...GONE! Sai fades into being right in front of Pall, and makes a move to grab and restrain him. "Sorry, Pall," he says with a mix of compassion and terseness. "Can't let you rot for your own damn idiocy." Sai strikes Pallbearer with his Grasp attack. Rigger receives a radio transmission. Rigger sends a radio transmission to Abernathy. King Kitsune doesn't teleport ... at least not this time ... and merely catches up to Pallbearer on foot, the Vulpine of Velocity bolts up behind him and tries to grab him about the legs to prevent further running. "My apologies for the manhandLIng, sir, but I'm afraid I can't let you go just yet." King Kitsune strikes Pallbearer with his Grasp attack. Ricochet grunts, and begins charging off towards Sai and Pallbearer. Unfortunately, his armor isn't built for speed - there isn't a whole lot he can do just yet. Rigger receives a radio transmission from Abernathy. Ricochet sends a radio transmission. Bass rockets around the city, madness acting as fuel for his crazed fLIght. He sweeps back towards the original point he left from, finding no traces of the Stardroid ... ... but their herald will do. Bass looks down LIke a disapproving God at Pallbearer as he runs deeper into /his/ desert, colors reverting back to normal. Irritated at the /nerve/ of Pallbearer for making a deal with Scorpio, his new Hated Enemy Of The Moment, he levels his Neo Buster down at him and blasts his general area with high-speed Neo Buster shots, roaring in waxing rage. Bass misses Pallbearer with his Neo Buster Rapidfire attack. Bass strikes Sai with his Neo Buster Rapidfire attack. Bass strikes King Kitsune with his Neo Buster Rapidfire attack. Pallbearer looks up as he runs..and is grabbed, first by Sai and then by the kitsune, a maneuver which rapidly gang-tackles him, the reploid strugGLIng to break free of the hold. "No! Stop it you idiots, don't you get it?! He's watching me, he's going to follow me! I need to get out of here!" He continues to strain against them, one arm eventually breaking free, giving him the momentary abiLIty to reach back towards his crypt fog grenades....and..suddenly reaLIzing he's no longer held, as neo buster shots skate around him, naiLIng the others in LIeu of their intended target. Hanging onto the grenades anyway, Pall looks to the two of them...and gives a half-frustrated sob. "....I..I'm sorry..." he chokes out, before turning to run one more time. Please, Sai, Ric, Prismatic, Barrage....Redwing, please forgive what I've done... King Kitsune ARGHS in pain, flopping to the ground as the Neo Buster shot takes out a chunk of his shoulder plating. Still not quite used to battle damage, he eagerly lets go of the GalvaMummy to lay on the ground and writhe, clutching his shoulder. Inwardly, he curses Bass ... outwardly, he weakly calls out to Pallbearer. "Don't ..." Meanwhile one of Metal Man's Gear Clowns shows up and watches the fleeing Pallbearer. "Run run run! Stardroid spawn before your Well done!" The Droid seems to find this very amusing for some reason and keeps laughing at the fleeing infected medic. Err maybe some of Metal Drone's have been adversely affected by his condition... Guts Man stares upwards as Bass rockets around the city coming back in his general direction and then buzzing towards Pallbearing attacking him, but in the end he only hits the other two people. "GO BASS! DESTROY THAT GUY!" He encourages cheerinGLy! Pallbearer retreats from the area swiftly, leaving him open to pursuit or parting shots from Scorpio, King Kitsune, Bass, Denebola, Heat Man, and Sai. Ricochet most LIkely manages to catch up to the blasted Sai and King Kitsune just to see Pallbearer manage to get away... "...dammit..." he mutters. Things are all going to hell. Sai growls at Pallbearer as the Kitsune latches on as well. "YES, I get it! But I'm not letting you go to your own private Hell! You saved me, and now dammit I'm go--" Sai's impassioned ranting is cut off as he takes one of the NeoBuster shots to the shoulder, jerking him off, then peppering him with several more before he lands, skidding to a halt, synthesized flesh sizzLIng. He shudders a few times, as the condition monitor in his vision sLIps from Nominal to Compromised in an instant. He drags himself, slowly, to his feet, as Pall makes his sobbing reatreat once more. But Sai doesn't make any pitiable complaints or weak demands that Pall stop; no. Not Sai. Sai growls low, and says only: "I will NOT give up. Damnation to what I can do...this is something I MUST!" And then he's vanished again, reappearing just behind Pallbearer and once again trying to grab at him. He'll not give up...it's his way, really. Sai misses Pallbearer with his Grasp attack. King Kitsune clambers to his feet, wobbLIng a bit. A really bad thing for someone who runs at hyperspeed. "That's the spirit, Sai ... never give up ..." He straightens up, stabiLIzing, and then, seems to vanish ... you enhanced-senses folks may notice an infrared streak as he again tries to get his hands on Pallbearer, abandoning finesse and wrestLIng for a good old-fashioned football tackle. "LIsten to me, Pallbearer ... you *can't* go! We need you!" For what, he doesn't know, but darn it, it *sounded* good. King Kitsune strikes Pallbearer with his Grasp attack. Cyclops arrives from the Casablanca - Old City Walls. Cyclops has arrived. Sai does indeed appear just behind Pall, trying to grab at him from a different vector. He fails, and falls flat in the dirt from over-extending himself. He pushes himself up slowly "Dammit..." he mutters, just as Kitsune fLIcks past, far too fast for Sai to see. "...Pallbearer," he says at last, dragging himself to his feet. They're gone now, of course...turned a corner or something, but Sai can't catch up now, in any case. With a sigh, he radios the failure and starts making for the teleporter, since the Falconis is probably packed with evacuated civiLIans. "YOU WILL NOT ESCAPE!" screams Bass, so loud that his voice projection systems can't keep up -- he roars in an overmodulated voice, blasting back down to the Earth LIke a demonic comet, homing in on Pallbearer's location with the intent of slamming him into the ground. "THAT LITTLE RUNT WILL *PAY*!!!" Enforcer Malamute enters the Casablanca - Old City Walls. Enforcer Malamute has left. Guts Man shouts to Bass, "He's always telLIng me to shut up on the radio! Get him once for me!" Bass strikes Pallbearer with his Comet Dash attack. King has left. Pallbearer is able to avoid Sai, but as the kitsune darts out before him, Pall is once again stopped, caught off-balance from his previous avoidance of catching hands, and the fact that running with tears in your eyes isn't easy. Pall looks up at Bass, as he comes down, and...well, closes his eyes, waiting for the impact as the Robot Master slams into him, pinning the medic up against a wall, the brick in the building's side cracked from the force. Pall looks up at Bass. "...I...I'm sorry...that he...did all of that. But I have to go." The two grenades, at first held cautiously, now sLIp from his LImp fingers, falLIng onto the ground and activating as a thick, choking fog permeates the area, blanketing outward as Pall holds his breath, the fog burning eyes, choking intakes and lungs with ease as it spreads. Conduit enters the Casablanca - Hassan II Mosque. Conduit has left. Conduit arrives from the Casablanca - Hassan II Mosque. Conduit has arrived. Conduit enters the Casablanca - Old City Walls. Conduit has left. Pallbearer misses Bass with his Crypt Fog attack. Pallbearer misses King Kitsune with his Crypt Fog attack. KAPOW! Bass crashes into Pallbearer at high velocities, springing back in a fluid motion as he stops the mummy dead in his tracks. He raises up the Neo Buster, still burning with green flame, when the grenades go off. The thermal bloom he generates sucks the smoke towards him, blocking his aim. He blasts at the building, trying to land a soLId blast on Pallbearer through clouded eyes, but to no avail. "REPLIFORCER!" he yells, as he blasts away. "You can RUN! But you cannot hide from me! I will come for you! I will KILL you! And then I will come for your *MASTER*!" King Kitsune looks up, and opens his mouth to respond to Pall, when he sees the grenades hit the ground. "Oh, for the luvva Pete." His visor shields his eyes, at least, but the caustic fumes of the Crypt Fog grenades (cool name, by the by) do indeed choke his intakes, as well as corroding at the exposed mechanisms in his damaged shoulder. A fit of coughing, gagging, and general wincing follows, the Golden Hunter desperately trying, but ultimately faiLIng, to keep his grip on Pallbearer. However, after losing Pall to the dense fog, he tries to calm Bass down. "*coughhack* Wait ... stop shooting, please ... he's gone, sir ... just let *hack* him go ... it won't *gag* help ..." Pallbearer watches them as they react to the fog, ducking out of Bass's way as quickly as possible and pulLIng up the neckLIne of his coat over his mouth, shutting his eyes to use his sensors as a guide through the fog, still running to escape his pursuers, the city, and the horrible bargain he has made. Biting back his tears, Pall keeps running, running, running. There's nothing else he can do now. I only wish you /could/ kill me now, Bass...I only wish you could. Pallbearer retreats from the area swiftly, leaving him open to pursuit or parting shots from Scorpio, King Kitsune, Bass, Denebola, Heat Man, and Sai. Pallbearer enters the Casablanca - Old City Walls. Pallbearer has left. Denebola has left. Bass, roaring in rage, blasts at the general area unsuccesfully, blowing up some unoccupied stuff (the area has been completely evacuated by now). He doesn't seem to hear King Kitsune, or maybe he doesn't acknowledge his words -- it doesn't matter. Bass is angry, Bass has a lot of free-floating aggression, and that's never good for anyone. He marches back out of the fog, seeminGLy unaffected by the noxious smoke. His burning aura cuts out, energy gems going back to their normal throbbing blue, as he walks past Guts Man. "Our task is *done* here," growls Bass, heading back towards the teleporters. "Heat Man! Collect Metal Man, take him back to the Fortress!" Sai finally, exerting himself, bLInks up to the rooftops, then starts bLInking his way across town towards the teleporters. Then, when at long last the system sputters and dies, he leaps to the streets and walks the rest of the way to the teleporter. This has been FAR more Hell than can possibly be healthy in a sinGLe day. Sai enters the Casablanca - Old City Walls. Sai has left. Heat Man has been in the process of doing just that... o.o Granted, he's been sLIghtly distracted by all the violence, but he hops to as the order is renewed, and works doubletime to get Metal to a teleporter ASAP. The *last* thing he wants to do is piss Bass off... He's just GLad he doesn't have to go back for another load. -.- Metal Man enters the Casablanca - Old City Walls. Metal Man has left. King Kitsune stands up ... after Bass takes a few steps away, he starts to run in a very tight circle, creating a minature whirlwind that disperses the Crypt Fog. No reason to let this stuff get anybody else, if it LIngers. He watches Bass curiously as he departs with his fellow Robot Masters. "Poor man ... just let it go ..." Heat Man enters the Casablanca - Old City Walls. Heat Man has left. Scorpio has left. Guts Man nods to Bass, "Righto Commander." He rubs his dented head, "I bet that Stardroids will think twice about attacking my head." Bass can't help but laugh as he walks towards the teleporter. "Guts Man, your head is the strongest thing in the universe!" King Kitsune smirks a LIttle. That's definitely one way of putting it. But ... now would look to be a good time for all Hunters to get out of Africa before their Welcome is officially worn out, it would seem, so he makes for the teleporters. Guts Man chuckles warmly, "Yeah." King Kitsune enters the Casablanca - Old City Walls. King Kitsune has left. Ricochet has left. Bass proceeds back to the Fortress, probably to brood. Bass enters the Casablanca - Hassan II Mosque. Bass has left. Rigger enters the Casablanca - Old City Walls. Rigger has left. Bass arrives from the Casablanca - Marche Central. Bass has arrived. Bass enters the Casablanca - Old City Walls. Bass has left. Guts Man enters the Casablanca - Old City Walls. Guts Man has left. RepLIforce Dropship enters the Atlas Mountains. RepLIforce Dropship has left. Cyclops enters the Casablanca - Old City Walls. Cyclops has left. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ CiviLIan $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 13/20 Posted Author RF Report(2) Mon Nov 25 Midi ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ At that point, the stardroid unit earLIer identified as Aquarius arrived through a wall, bypassing all security. She was mostly preoccupied with finding her other half and speaking to Corporal Shinobi Pixie. Corporal, if this stardroid communicated anything useful to you, please notify your commanding officers. The stardroid that attacked our personnel then appeared, focusing his attention upon the Cancer-injured Commander Jet Stingray. The entity, whose demeanor was decidedly more confident and predatory than that of the others, remained long enough to unsettle us all, stating that he was the first of four. What first, and what four, I cannot say. The still-present Aldebaran recognized the taint within ths newly arrived stardroid, but could not place his name. None of us could act before it disappeared, leaving six infant feLInes. These are currently being cared for, albeit within containment. Another unnamed Stardroid , but offered LIttle more than witty commentary on every facet of his environs. Sergeant Barrage Raptor was then reduced to a smoldering heap of ash by a precisely deLIvered energy beam after swearing vengeance on the tainted stardroid. Care should be taken when speaking with, and apparently, about, these beings. Take this precaution to heart! The three non-violent stardroids continued peaceably for some time in the repair bay, allowing us to respond to the incident in Casablanca. I myself was not able to attend this, so, those of you responding to that, it is *imperative* that you file reports about the events there immediately. We shall stand in the face of this crisis, and emerge as survivors, that I can guarantee. We will need to work with the cooperative stardroids on this, while also maintaining vigilant watch for those who would do us harm. Well, that's it, I hope it helps somehow. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ IC News $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 14/27 Posted Author Archelogical Discovery! Sun Nov 24 News Report ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Shelly Longbottom here with Dr. Mustachio Longbeard who has recently led an expedition in AustraLIa's wild outback in search of any reLIcs from the past. Doctor, please tell us about this amazing discovery you've unearthed!" "Yes, sank you Shelly. You zee, we have discoverted the location we beleef to have been part of see many GLaditorial events see humans participated in back in see early two zousands. See 'Surfifor' series. What we haff found is a completely intact package of 'Zingers' which is a brand of twinkie sat has not been marketed under sat name since see mid-twenty-one zousands. It appears to be completely intact and efen still fresh!" Back to Shelly who looks approprpiately surprised. "Wow, doctor, that's incredible! But it can't possibly be good still can it?" "We beleef sat sey are, Shelly, and we haf a team out currently working on testing out our seory sat twinkies are see only food produced sat have an eternal shelf-LIfe!" Shelly looks confused, "But, doctor, the only way to properly test out such a theory is if someone were to actually *eat* them! No one's stupid enough to eat food over a hundred years old!" The doctor smiles proudly, "Not true, Shelly! One of my team members is currently reesking LIfe and leemb to test sis out. Let us go to see LIfe broadcast from his helmet-cam, please!" The scene cuts to a grainy film with bad sound. Leaves are in the way as the camera-hat wearing individual is clearly sitting in a bush of some sort staring out at Guts Man of all people. There's a bit of shuffLIng and wigGLIng around, and a package of Zingers are tossed out at Guts' feet. He looks down, picks them up, then stuffs them into his mouth chewing noisily. "Mmmmmmmm twinkiLIcious." Cut back to Shelly and Dr. Mustachio Longbeard. "There you have it! Apparently twinkies are the only food product that can outLIve even cockroaches! Amazing! Back to Dan the Weatherman for today's broadcast." $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ CiviLIan $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 13/2 (timeout warning) Posted Author AAR: Eastern China Wed Nov 06 Kain ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Civ Factions Only. That you guys in the Yaks, UN, Red Dragons, Blue Dragons, and The Bonnes. If you want to know what this is about, talk to those who are in good enough in any one of the above factions. This message is also GNN Reporter-proof and DeVry-Proof.) (Videofile - Kain) Choas happened in China. As in raining pieces of Starhaven. Sharp pieces that is extremely britter to the touch. (File: pharisaidiot.avi -- Pharaoh smashes a very big piece of Starhaven shard, sending the pieces raining down on others. Metal Man, Sword Man, and Jet Stingray can be seen.) At least not all is lost... (The camera pans down to a desk. Upon which there is several shards. 5 in all, All roughly hand-sized.) If you want a piece, just talk to me. Oh and Sarah? I want a primarily report on the shard we're going to keep by tomorrow. Director K out. (Cue your own spinnies! HUZZAH!!!) -- Special K $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ CiviLIan $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 13/5 (timeout warning) Posted Author Starhaven Fri Nov 08 Midi ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Midi appears, out of his space-suit thing he was wearing last night, though the labtop he had is sitting next to him. He smiles, GLeefully "Last night was /incredible/! The technology up there is amazing! If only it were in better condition... but beggers can't be choosers I guess. I think we should get to work on trying to figure out those systems, I beLIeve I was getting somewhere last night in the room with the giant lobster. The system has such an interesting interface..." He cLIcks a button on his labtop, and the screen bLInks to show a schematic he made of the crystaLIne interface he was fiddLIng with up there. The image stays on screen, but his voice is heard "I'm still not 100percent sure of the details, since this is Stardroid technology, but this particular 'crystal terminal' operated all the cages in the first southeast room we entered. Of course, I wouldn't recommend fiddLIng with it too much while people are walking around the room, they could get caught in one of the cages themselves." The imagine dissappears to show Midi's excited face again "I got so caught up in recording this info, that I totally missed the footage everyone is talking about, but even so, all of this was so fascinating! If I could get some time up there to look at it in peace, I might be able to figure more out. It's totally aLIen to us, I know, but there's no such thing as a code that doesn't have some sort of meaning to someone, it's not totally random, and given time I might be able to make sense of it." He ends the transmission rather abruptly, without even signing out. Seems he wants to get back to work. Not to overuse a cLIche, especially for Midi, but he's LIke a kid in a candystore. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ CiviLIan $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 13/6 (timeout warning) Posted Author Report Fri Nov 08 Job ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *This is to the UN an any alLIes related to them along with anyone from the exploration teams* *Average Joe Salvage Inc spinny* Job appears on screen, "Well as you know we explored several sectors of ship from a area that seemed to be a techno organic repair bay but seemed to cause people to see and hear things there." *A Video Feed of the Vestibule of Spectres and then it fades out* "Next we came across what looked LIke a food processing area or cloning lab of some sort." *Cut to a new video feed of the Vitreous PaviLIon* "Now this was a kicker we found in a rather unstable area a holo map of the entire Milkyway I have rechorded the holo as best I can and its availaible for download." *New feed of the Sanctum of Galaxia and the hologram of the milkyway. The feed cuts out and then the computer asks if you want to download Milkyway.zip* "After that the only major thing of note was the rechordings we discovered on the bridge of the ship... anyhow you already seen them on the news." *The transmission ends and the Spinny returns!* $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ CiviLIan $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 13/7 Posted Author Movement Fri Nov 08 Gale Sorcerer ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (UN Only. The other civvies can watch a cheap old B-Series movie instead) (Even if you know that the video is turned on, for some seconds everything you see is darkness. Focusing carefully, you can finally notice a shape moving in the middle of the dark room, LIke if someone was nodding. And finally, two shiny points appear from under something after that movement, illuminating the area with a weak pale LIght. What is revealed is a room in the AppLIed Sciences section, the two LIgths being two shiny eyes under a pointy wizard hat way too known already. Gale, as usual, sits on a chair behind a table looking at the camera, but the only thing you see from his face today are his eyes, looking much LIke Vivi) "Before I go on with the main subject of this report I must say a couple of things... Personal things... I know that many of you would LIke an explanation of what happened there in Africa weeks ago now that you know that I'm aLIve, and back... (the mage makes a deep pause, LIke pondering to say something) and also some of you don't want to know about anything related to me anymore. I really can't blame anyone, because there's no way of showing it wasn't my fault things ended that way. Mostly because my memories from what happened there are gone. Heavy damage on memory section of the neural net, that's what they said if I'm correct. I've watched and heard the reports, and there are still many things that don't come together, I don't understand them... I know it's not a real compensation or apology, but I'm trying to find the truth about it, what really happened, and maybe there I can give you guys a real apology. Bridgit, Aber, Bluegrass and ELIas, I need to ask you some things about this. You know where to find me. If you don't feel LIke talking, feel free to come and punch me or something. I'll be waiting..." "So, now with the main purpose of this message... I know that the priority right now is the Starhaven Case. I've already seen all the reports about it, and although I wasn't lucky to get in to the ship the last night, I've heard and seen many things about it. We're currently in alert mode. Yes, I was asked to join the case, and since we're in need on lots of people working on this we invite anyone interested on this to join us. For now, I need to deLIver some instructions... Midi, since you were there and you seem to work more on this, come to the intelLIgence offices and we'll talk about it and we'll try to put some puzzle pieces together too. Other thing, we've joined this alLIance channel, but you probably know that already. We also need to contact this man who offered one of the pieces that fell from Starhaven. Also, apart from the civiLIans' alLIance, it'd help if someone could keep in contact with RepLIforce so we can share some other info with them... Well, I guess that makes it for now. See you around, Gale out." - UN Spinny - $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ CiviLIan $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 13/14 Posted Author AAR: Space and Wily Sat Nov 16 Kain ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (All CiviLIan Factions, Groups, and Individuals) (Videofile: Kain in Strider Gi) During a news broadcast... something happened... as in a escape pod or shuttle or something entered the Sol System... aimed at the Starhaven. Guess what it was, gang... (Image - stardroidshuttle-earthorbit.jpg -- An still shot of the shuttle just entering Earth's atmosphere.) That thing sLIced through Starhaven... even now, contruction crew are working at it to secure the remains... as for the shuttle itself, it exploded... then scattered something... in the four corners of the world. (Kain looks grim) During this situation, Wily's Saucer must've hit some stray starhaven debris... sending it spinning into Earth's Atmosphere... and according to the Masters... the saucer...and Wily has burn up. I'm not sure whether to accept this as the gospel truth, but... we've seen Wily bounce back before, but not from something LIke this. So I don't know. Keep your eyes open. And be ready for anything. Kain out. (Insert your favorite/factional spinny here!) -- Special K $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ CiviLIan $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 13/17 Posted Author Truth will out. Sun Nov 24 Abernathy ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TO: ungen@un.gov, unmilgen@mil.un.gov FR: avorlaikal@un.gov SU: Ne cede maLIs. I don't know how much you've already heard of Dr. Cossack's version of last night's events, but if involved LIberal salting of the word 'race traitor' among an account of my turning evil and drinking the blood of children, you got the wrong story. /Yes/, a group of Stardroids did appear in Seoul last night. I wager between three and four, though I have my suspicions about what they might have been up to. /Yes/, the freak weather we've been experiencing is a part of their meddLIng.%trAnd yes, one of them -- Procyon, if I heard correctly -- did offer me 'power' in return for my services. And yes, again, I accepted his offer. I fail to see -- yet -- how to this makes me a 'traitor' or a 'turncoat' to Earth's cause. /Someone/ had to jump, and if not me, who? If it had been one of the Robot Masters or the Mavericks, or even Wily or Sigma themselves, I daresay you would have barely batted an eye. I didn't do it for 'power'. I don't have that many illusions about how worthy I would be to lead humankind. I did it -- hell, watch the damn vidcast the Stardroid made again! If you actually /LIsten/ to him instead of staring in a state of shocked outrage, you'll understand! I take full responsibiLIties for my actions, and if I'm to be hanged as a traitor -- after this is over -- so be it. I'll walk to the noose as quiet and complacent as you LIke. /Until then/, I intend to keep fighting, and screw the bastards who don't have the balls to take the path I've chosen. Let the inquest be made in the full LIght of day. I will be waiting. Yours, --Abernathy, UN junior diplomat $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$