09: Land Battleship no Longer! Dai-Gurren Takes to the Skies!!! (But can still walk and stuff)

[gurrenbrigbonded]

[Post "The Four Generals"]

[1] [Open to All]

http://www.gurren-lagann.net/mecha/images/daigurren.gif

In the aftermath of the great battle against the Beastmen and their Four Generals (which wound up being really good for Earthrace/Moonrace relations), the wreckage of Do Ten Kai Zen fell to earth, save for a single intact piece of machinery, a gleaming sphere that rose from the wreckage of the infuriating Cytomander's component flagship...and caught by the grasping arms of Dai-Gurren.

After a bit of analysis, headscratching, and desperate guess-work, Dai-Gurren has been powered down... so that a team of technicians and assistants can attach the Levisphere to Dai-Gurren's frame and grant it the power of flight!

A day or so into the process, Matthew takes a break to escort a small gaggle of guests (most notably, some Naval Officers from Clan Goliath Scorpion) through the hallways of Dai-Gurren, showing off both the ship and the installation process.

"...there are many facets to this Beastmen-built ship, particularly the small tunnels, that still elude comprehension. Nevertheless, Dai-Gurren, today and tomorrow, shall continue to be a fearsome weapons for justice and life on earth..."

But what are Simon, Rossiu, and the rest of the Gurren Brigade doing while Matthew waves the tourist flag about? Who else has decided to check things out with the tour group, or even help out with the Levisphere installation process?

[2] [Closed to Gurren Brigade/people with CR to Gurren Brigade Members.]

After a lot of sweat, the installation is complete. All that remains is to see if the darn thing works.

On the bridge, Matthew, looking exhausted, takes a step back and to the right, standing at military attention as his seniors enter.

"Commander Simon, Vice Commander Rossiu...the Dai-Gurren is ready for liftoff."

[Music for flavor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E8wHTX5nac ]

Comments

1

[littleshortforanelemental]

Star Commodore Vikra, who was just twiddling her thumbs up on Serket, was silent for a long time, though there was the occassional attentive nod. Then:

"I am sure the Spheroids are too hobbled by their frivolous morality to tell you this. This ship is shaped like a penis, and with that platform you extended from the bottom, it now has testicles."

Completely straight face. No snickering. Just the facts, Khan.

[Image by rennerei.tumblr.com]

Re: 1

[gurrenbrigbonded]

[Damn that is a badass image.]

Matthew sadly nods. "Aff. It is even worse than that. The huge prow is also a melee weapon which can be rammed into enemy ships, a maneuver that mimes the act of copulation."

"Not that I have been tainted by Spheroid notions of prudery." He amends hastily. "It is just...tacky."

[littleshortforanelemental]

Nikolai, who is remarkably stealthy for an elemental, comes up and slaps them both on the back, a move that has to have been calculated to annoy. "Then you shall have to turn the supposed weakness into a strength! Perhaps a pink and purple paint job, quiaff?"

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"GALAXY COMMANDER OR NO I STILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO BOOT YOU OFF THIS SHIP–"

Matthew inhales, then exhales.

"Now, let us take a look at the Levisphere installation process, quiaff? It is an upgrade which will give Land Battleship Dai-Gurren true dominance on Land, Air, and Sea!" He says with carefully cultivated cheer.

[littleshortforanelemental]

"You are right, you have the right to boot me and the rest of the Goliath Scorpions off this ship." Which would mean he didn't get the experienced naval personell he needed. Vikra thought the same thing and narrowed her eyes at both of them. She didn't want this to get blown for her and end up back on Serket, in charge of a crippled vessel. Nikolai, for his part, didn't really want to do that either, as trolling Matthew was one of his few distractions from the monotony of command. "What speeds are you expecting it to reach? Will it be able to leave the gravity well?"

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Oh, he's cool with the rest of Clan Goliath Scorpion. He'd just toss you off.

"Based on projections from combat data of the Beastmen General's flying craft, the Dai-Gurren should be able to match the altitude and speed of the the White Chalice in an air enviornment." Matthew explains, ushering them over to a gantry where technicians are in the process of welding and bolting a geodesic sphere filled with gleaming machinery to the Dai-Gurren's fuselage.

"It is unknown whether the Levisphere interacts with the electromagnetic field of the earth or 'tacks' on quantum gravity. Further experimentation is required. More pertinently, the Dai-Gurren's hull is not sealed for a vacuum environment."

2

[foreheadboy]

Alright. I'd say we take this slow, make sure the thing at least works first... and then see how far we can push it.

[...Wait.]

Preferably without breaking it.

Re: 2

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"A sound suggestion, Rossiu. Being a gradual power-up, if you please, Eilena."



"Aff. Disengaging Reactor Safeties."

A slow thrumming builds. "Is this adversely affecting other systems, Chandra?"



"Neg. Everything is within tolerance. Power flow to weapons is uninhibited."

"How goes the Helm, Tynall?"



"The controls are integrated with the Sphere's input circuitry. We can throttle it up at any time."

Matthew nods. "All that remains...is for your orders, Commander Simon."

[started_from_the_bottom]

So... the Dai-Gurren can fly now?

For how long?

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"As long as the Beastmen Flagship was able to." Matthew clarifies. "Of course, you destroyed it before we could measure it's flight patterns...but that is what this test flight shall clarify!"

He stiffens to military attention and bows slightly.

"We only await your command to launch Dai-Gurren...Simon the Digger."

[started_from_the_bottom]

Ahh... Sorry about that... I guess I got carried away.

Right then. Dai-Gurren... Launch!

[gurrenbrigbonded]

With that, the bridge crew bends to their tasks with a passion, hands flying over keys, and Tynall Vickers spinning the nautical steering wheel with gritted teeth.

A rumbling and shaking builds throughout the entire ship, setting everyone's teeth to shattering. There is the groan of metal suddenly being strained, and the howl of the Levipshere motor running on max from below.

The floor shifts, and through the windows, bit by bit, you can see the ground drop away. The view is quite awesome:

http://www.animeshinobi.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/tengen-toppa-gurren-lagann-6.jpg

"Commander Simon..." Tynall says after a moment. "We are in flight."

[started_from_the_bottom]

[[Sure, Simon's been on the Chalice a while, but to see his own ship flying... he runs over to a window and looks out in awe.]

Wow... we're... flying! That's awesome! [[Easily impressed now that he's not depressed!]]

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew leans against a wall and smiles at the cheeriness of Simon.

"Aff." He replies.

[started_from_the_bottom]

"So... can we take this up into space too? Is that possible... uh...Helmsman?"

Because he's totally gotta get used to the whole 'I'm the captain' thing here.

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"We still do not have a full understanding of how the Levisphere works beyond the atmosphere, Commander." Helmsman Vickers replies. "More pertinently, the hull of Dai-Gurren is not pressurized for a vacuum enviornment."

She frowns in thought for a moment. "Although, perhaps if we all wore vacuum suits, we could make an attempt..."

[started_from_the_bottom]

Then that's what we'll do! We'll start working on making the Dai-Gurren space capable like the White Chalice!

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Must we keep doing the work of lowly techs..." Tynall begins to mutter.

Matthew gives her a stern look.

"Aff, Commander Simon! We shall begin work promptly!" Tynall says loudly.

As the bridge crew set themselves to their tasks with a passion, Matthew walks up to Simon.

"Permission to talk of a strategic matter, Commander?" He asks.

[started_from_the_bottom]

"You don't have to, you know. I mean... doing the maintenance... you can't do that and fly the ship at the same time, can you?" Hey, he gives fucks... He's allowed to give Tynall a break.

"Uhm... sure, go ahead."

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Tynall looks relieved. "My thanks, Commander Simon!"

Matthew, meanwhile, pulls out a tablet. "During the Levisphere installation, we reprogramed the main flight computer, and accidentally triggered a data dump."

He calls up a three-dimensional map of a stretch of arid terrain, with a blinking icon in the center.

"We will need to run an in-depth terrain search to determine where in the world this is...but I believe this is the capital of the Beastmen."

[started_from_the_bottom]

"Their capitol. That's where the Spiral King is..."

That face... that's the DETERMINATOR face. "We need to find that. Soon."

[gurrenbrigbonded]

That face is getting Matthew pumped up!

"Aff, Commander Simon!" He declares. "And while we search, we must plan our strategy for the attack upon the Beastman's Capital! Should we assault it full on, or besiege it? Should we seek out allies and provisions for the attack, or is moving quickly a more important concern? How shall we defeat the Beastmen with cunning as well as strength?"