(no subject)

[littleshortforanelemental]

[1/Video]
I am in agreement with the plan of attack against the Falcons. There is one drawback, however: when we attack that way, they will no longer be bound by Zelbriggen, the system of dueling generally practiced among the Clans. Thus we can expect them to freely use 'dishonorable' tactics, such as concentrated fire and physical attacks with mechs. Do not expect we will be able to limit the battle's extent by calling their commanders to a Circle Of Equals, as we have before.

If I may ask a favor: please do not say my bloodname if you speak with the Falcons.

[2/Action]

The Goliath Scorpion mechs and elemental armor are being repainted. The black and gold of their Beta Galaxy is being replaced with the tan and stylized dire wolf's head of Clan Wolf's Alpha Galaxy.

Naturally the Scorpions are looking uncomfortable. Not necessarily because they dislike deceiving the Falcons, but because it's the Wolf colors they'll be masquerading in. Like most of their Clan, the Heartvenom Cluster looks up to the Wolves with all the starry eyed admiration of a schoolgirl hoping sempai will notice her. Some of them might even be...Yes, a few of these genetically engineered super soldiers are blushing.

This seems to amuse Nikolai.

Comments

2

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"..."

Matthew, for once has nothing to say.

As the prep work begins for intercepting the Warship, and stopping the incoming Dropship flotilla, the young Mechwarrior can be seen sitting on a crate to the side, morosely regarding two objects in his lap:

The red cloth he wore on his wrist, the symbol of his place in the Gurren Brigade, and his Neurohelmet, with the Jade Falcon emblem still stenciled on it's side.

Talk to him?

[littleshortforanelemental]

Now there's someone who looks like he could use a hug. Not that Nikolai's gonna give him one. But maybe he could use someone to talk to.

"Wondering whether someone you know might be on those warships, quiaff?"

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Possibly." Matthew says, nodding slowly. "Is it strange, quiaff? If I was fighting a fellow Jade Falcon in a Circle of Equals, or if I had become an Abtakha to Clan Wolf back then, I would not feel the slightest moral quandary. But as a free warrior, not bound by any pledge of honor..."

He looks up. And blinks in surprise.

"Why are your Elementals painting their armor in Alpha Galaxy colors?"

[littleshortforanelemental]

He puts a large hand on Matthew's shoulder. If the Falcons can succesfully get under his skin (and he has no doubt, despite their talk of honor in all things, that they will try), it could spell the end of him.

"You fear judgement. They will see you as fallen from grace." Boudicae Schaffer, blushing dark red, looks away when she overhears Matthew's question as they put the final pieces of paint on her armor. "Because the Wolves are abjured and I do not wish to tip our hand in the Great Council yet. We are not prepared for an exodus ourselves...However their situation may be instructive for you. The Wolves left the homeworlds because the ilKhan believed they could blend the best of Clan and Inner Sphere traditions. The concept is called hybrid vigor. Ask a geneticist about it. Are you less than them, quineg? Or do you think you can show your old trothkin what hybrid vigor can accomplish?"

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew ponders the challenge Nikolai has set forth to him, and lifts visibly out of his funk.

"I could." He says softly. "Aff, I could! I could not only show them the strength of a warrior who has unlocked the passion of his blazing soul..."

He smacks a fist into his palm.

"...but also show them a better way! A way in which the golden age of humanity need not be forged anew with the barrel of a gun!"

1

[hobo_lantern]

Why is that, do you have some poker debt with them?

[littleshortforanelemental]

You know I have never run from a poker debt. Which is to say that I have never accumulated a large one, unlike certain adventurers I know...Neg, they do not know we are here yet. If they know of our presence it could make things...complicated in the Grand Council.

[hobo_lantern]

Really? Why is that? And what is this Grand Council anyway?

[littleshortforanelemental]

An old recording I uncovered in my travels summarizes it best: "You've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, know when to run".

The Grand Council is the regular meeting of the Khans of every Clan, to discuss and vote on issues that effect all of us. When the Wolves left Clan space, they were Abjured. This means, essentially, that they were officially cast out and considered no longer Clan, though they would themselves beg to differ, of course. If it were found out that the Wolves were sheltering my unit, it would give the more hardline Clans justification to move against us.

[hobo_lantern]

What's wrong with sheltering your unit?

[azure_savior]

So we'll have a dirty fight. And by Clanner standards the sounds like it's no more different or difficult than what everyone else has to deal with.

[littleshortforanelemental]

Aff, a dirty fight. It is not my intent to diminish your victories, but White Chalice has only ever fought the Falcons with zelbriggen in effect. I simply do not want us to go in expecting one kind of fight and getting another.

[azure_savior]

I appreciate the concern. We should be fine though, or at least not be taken by surprise.

What about you guys though? I know you usually try to shoot for following the... "Zelbriggen" was it- even when we're fighting other guys, like the De Metrio people.

You gonna be okay out there?

[littleshortforanelemental]

I spent a decade as a Seeker in the Periphery and it taught me to fight dirty. My clanmates however...Well, I can only hope that the lessons I have tried to impart to them have sunk in.

[azure_savior]

I suppose the easiest way to test that is to see if they can bring themselves to kick each other in the balls in sparring matches.

[1]

[tookthepill]

Hey, don't worry about it. We've handled worse!

[littleshortforanelemental]

I have no doubt. I simply do not want you to expect a series of duels, as you have experienced with the Jade Falcons in the past.

[tookthepill]

Y-Yeah, well... we can take them! They can't be worse than those Inspector guys!

[ Inspectors being the last enemies he fought in an actual mission. ]

[littleshortforanelemental]

Not worse or better. Only different. We must be as adaptable as water if we are to win.

[tookthepill]

Eheh... yeah... n-no problem... water.

1

[over_under_being]

So we fight an enemy that stops at nothing to win and will do everything they can even if it's something vile.

How is that different from normal?

[littleshortforanelemental]

It is far different from normal for our interactions with the Falcons. What do you know of our way of warfare?

[over_under_being]

"Our"? You mean as humans or as your clan?

[littleshortforanelemental]

The Clans in general. There are eighteen of us.

[over_under_being]

Not really. How different is it from normal human combat?