Eleventh Contract

[lastfeather]

[Ryou had been gone quite a while. Apparently the Raven's Ark needed him back home for a while due to a situation that was purely their business and not that of the Chalice.]

[The Nevermore did eventually return... but it was quite a spectacle as the severely mangled machine literally crashed into the hangar. That was several hours ago. Now Ryou was currently lying on a gurney with a hand thrown over his face and was completely and utterly wiped from exhaustion.]

Uugh.... Never doing that again. Ever.

The next person who asks me to go into an underground facility is getting his head punched.

Comments

[the_innocent_blade]

To be fair the last last one was an allied underground facility.

[lastfeather]

Still getting punched either way. Nothing good ever comes from going underground.

Especially if there are suicidal idiots more concerned with profit than anything else involved.

[the_innocent_blade]

Here I thought the Ravens were trying to end that system.

[lastfeather]

We are...

[Ryou facepalms tiredly.]

I got sent with two other guys to go check what was going on with a corporation research facility close to the Ark.

Apparently, the corporation in charge of that place found some kind of massive Pre-Impact AI air assault weapon and decided in a moment of genius to turn it on.

[The mercenary removed his hand from his face and had a most flat expression of unenthusiasm.]

It went like you'd expect. Killed everyone, tried to draw power from the facility so it can tear out of there like a bat out of hell and go on a rampage.

[the_innocent_blade]

That's oddly convenient. Still, you dealt with it. It could have gone a lot worse.

[lastfeather]

Heh... Point taken. Still, I don't think it beats what you probably go through on a daily basis.

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Hail and well met, Rebellious Merc!"

You remove that hand over your face to see everyone's favorite Ex-Jade Falcon grinning over you...and wearing a scarf and winter jacket.

"How has your week been?"

[lastfeather]

Terrible to say the least. Idiots turning on AI Operated weapons, Jack getting paranoid about the idea that Kairos Aspida might poke their noses in to Ark business, and then there's you visiting me. I think that's the worst part. Right there.

[His tone was more mildly sarcastic than actually insulting.]

You look ridiculous by the way.

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"It is my regret to inform you that until recently, I was stranded in Siberia behind Jade Falcon lines, and thus cannot conceivably look ridiculous for wearing the appropriate." Matthew grumbles.

He looks up at the damaged Armored Core. "It is not entirely unpleasing to have you back with us." He says be grudgingly at last. "Was it one of those AI weapons that damaged your A.C. so?"

[lastfeather]

More or less. The beam turrets that the facility had were slaved to the thing as well. They didn't do THAT much but they made the fight distracting...

[As in a singular weapon? Wow, that must be pretty sad to have taken all that damage from one opponent.]

...Pre-Impact weaponry? Its no joke. at least five times more size on my AC and a lot more firepower as well.

One of the Ravens with me? Got too close and got crushed to death by one of the huge claw arms. The other one got vaporized by plasma.

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew does some quick calculations based on Ryou's AC to visualize what the size of the claw arm must have been.

"Stravag." He says finally. "Do you think you would like to employ orbital bombardment next time you tangle with this thing?"

[lastfeather]

Not a concern anymore... scrapped the damn thing before it could drain the power out of the facility it was in and fly out of there. Blew up the place behind me for good measure.

... Though... if there's more of them...

[Ryou's expression became very strained indeed.]

How much ordnance are we talking with the bombardment? Precision targeting? Worst case scenario... can it take down airborne targets?

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Depends on the level of ECM blanketing the area." Matthew clarifies. "And whether the enemy is engaging in random evasive maneuvers. If the ECM is minimal, and the target held in one place for a few seconds..."

He rubs the back of his head. "But you probably should talk to the Star Captain or the Galaxy Commander about that."

[not_the_deer]

What the hell happened...?

[lastfeather]

[Ryou grunted as he sat up a little, regarding Tobia tiredly.]

Do you want the long story or the short one?

[not_the_deer]

The one that covers all the important points!

[lastfeather]

Okay.. lets see now.

Jack sent me and two other Ravens to check out a Corporation Research Bunker. Then we found out everyone inside was dead and the security system was haywire.

THEN we found out the geniuses activated a massive Pre-Impact weapon that was trying to drain the facility's power to get back to 100% so it can flatten everything it sees.

So I blew it up, then blew up the bunker as well. It wasn't easy obviously, and the others died as well.

[not_the_deer]

Oh shit. That sounds really bad! Why would anyone do this? At least make sure it doesn't blow up in your face if something goes wrong!

Sorry for the other guys...