Phantasm
Night, a pure black and near suffocating cloak that covers the earth with every cycle. A pure darkness that stirs rest and fatigue in some, but action in others. In the scatters hills of Aspina, it's colony within was no different. Its skyline cut a jagged line across the sky, even the full moon above was would be hard pressed to out shine the city below. But as you move away from its center, the circuit like streets that revealed grid enclosed builds begins to fade. Out unto the hills, miles and miles away. Hills that mark the beginning of a Kojima stained wasteland. The only souls that brave outskirts of the clean cut colony are the engineers who journey to Aspina's renowned research facility.
Cybernetics, Aerospace, Kojima, it is one of the pinnacles of human ingenuity and progress. A beacon of advancement, model of efficiency, symbol of hope, tool of treachery...
The blackened hills of nightfall were cut in half as a crimson machine was propelled by a wave of light green light. It bobbed and bounced over the terrain, gliding at speeds close to Mach 2, its destination ever closer. But unlike the city it was headed towards, the mech itself had seen better days. Its red paint job was faded and chipped. Joints creaked, panels exposed, boosters of a not so new quality, but as an AALIYAH framed NEXT it still held an air a power and performance that could not be bested.
And as for its pilot, he too would never consider using a different machine. For mouths, and without the help of his masters, he scavenged depots, warehouses, and bases for his NEXT's two MOTORCOBRAs. He was disappointed when he could only get his hands on an Omer laser for his machine's back weapon, but he knew the tide of battle can change on a whim, he would improvise.
Inside the illuminated cockpit, the rouge Lynx scoffed. Improvise? As glorious as Rayleonard's ultimate machine was, a top notch pilot such as himself would still have a bit of trouble piloting this thing.
A soft beep cut the Lynx from his thoughts, it was followed by another more frantic chime that coupled with the visible HUB update: "Incoming Transmission"
Near the bottom left of the display the labels NR1 and NR2 appeared, each accompanied by its own sound analyzer.
"Greetings and salutations." said the playful yet masculine voice of NR1.
"We are currently in position, are we to assume you are within a 25 minute range?" the voice of NR2 spoke with a commanding and charismatic tone.
"Affirmative." the AALIYAH Lynx relied.
"Do not let our failure at Carpals be the under tone for this mission." NR2 growled in frustration.
"Come now, it wasn't a complete waste." NR1 chided. "Sure our ambush didn't exactly work, but we can be rest assured that Riasia won't be stepping foot in a NEXT for quite awhile.
"That does not erase the fact that we miscalculated the level of response we would receive from ARCH's leader." NR2 replied.
"What's done is done, in moments we will have another task ahead of us and we will complete it without flaw." NR1's voice rose slightly insinuating that his word was the end of the conversation.
"Of course." NR2 deadpanned. The NR1 icon disappeared moments later.
"Be aware that we currently do not have the resources to repair any drastic damage to Krasnaya if the need should arise. Complete your mission with minimal confrontation. Do not fail us." NR2 commanded.
"You will not be disappointed sir." the Lynx's gruff voice replied.
The NR2 icon vanished from sight leaving the pilot to his thoughts again. Destroying the shuttle would be easy enough, but it had been years since the pilot and been near Aspina. The improvements to their defenses should be astronomical; the quality of their Normal squadrons should be top notch. He had been informed that Aspina's only remaining Lynx had fallen in combat some four years ago in the infamous battle at Line Ark. But who's to say another wasn't another lying in wait? No wonder his masters lost Carpals, those fools are so worried about the bigger picture they don't even bother to check the details.
The Lynx grumbled, if this mission is to succeed perhaps a stealthier approach needs to be taken into consider-
The Side Boosters exploded sending the machine away from the white hot rifle rounds being sent its way. Its Over Booster disengaged, the AALIYAH frame glided to the nearest hill, leaving a wave of mangled earth in its wake as it landed. Even with a subpar FCS, the multi-eyed head of the Rayleonard's masterpiece found it's assailant within moments.
Under the blanket of moonlight, the eerie glow of crimson reverse leg hung suspended in the air. Its Boosters illuminated a black color scheme underneath the classic Algebra red palette.
The craft and its pilot were unmistakable.
"Cabracan." the rouge Lynx growled. There was a moment of silence, before a private channel opened itself.
"I can see by your lack luster firewalls that your NEXT has seen better days." elderly Lynx chuckled, apparently amused at how easy it had been to hack the AALIYAH's transmissions.
This was not a fact the Lynx was fond of.
"How did you spot me?" the AALIYAH pilot growled, "Even if this machine isn't up to spec, its radar jammers should have made it undetectable."
"Hm, well I saw you Over Boost exhaust, if you want me to be specific." Islam answered.
The Irregular trembled, as he fought back an old urge. He had to keep his cool, even if Cabracan didn't seem to be in fighting mood, he knew better. Of the two NEXTs here in the jagged, Kojima covered lands of Aspina, only one will live to see morning. This conflict was not avoidable...
"Hahaha..." The Lynx's dark laugh was like a powerful tremor. Avoiding conflict? Stealthy approaches? Had he been out of the game that long?
"Listen to me, I need you to return to where ever it was you came. Aspina is one of the few safe havens left on the surface, a place where those who suffered through the Cradle's falling can call home. An escalation so close to the colony would be devastating to its people."
Islam waited. But he was met only with silence, a silence so heavy not even the sound of their Generators could break it.
Only the fantastic weapons of ten meter war machines could snuff out the long, stifling calm.
Like an enraged pinball, the red AALIYAH ricocheted through hilly wastelands toward the heart of Aspina. It's twin MOTORCOBRAs spewing stream after stream of bullets toward its reverse legged pursuer.
The pilot eyed the various warning lights and hazard labels that had begun to pop up around his HUD. But he only smirked, his hand me down mech was irrelevant...this groove, this flow, this fight.
The euphoric feeling of battle, the pressure of failure, the weight of death. Oh how this Irregular had missed the madness of war.
Every change in direction broke the sound barrier, every bullet fired hit Primal Armor. The landscape around them was left in shambles as they drew ever closer to the city limits of Aspina.
The AALIYAH Lynx had to admit, despite the old man's age, his rank didn't lie. If it wasn't for a bit of luck, and sheer willpower, Islam would have finished this battle multiple times over. The Lynx couldn't get enough of it. But there was an objective that had to be completed, and time was running short.
Once that shuttle reached the cloud line, it would be impossible to intercept, even for a NEXT. The longer this fight continues the closer Islam will be to figuring out the rouge pilot's true target.
Cabracan must be defeated before reaching the research facility, that spacecraft must be destroyed.
Need an opening….
There, Cabracan's movements are beginning to falter; his age is beginning to show. But he knows his own weakness better than anyone, trying to wait it out could prove deadly.
His light SOLUH Cored reverse leg is quick; its aerial prowess is unmatched. With his SAPLA grenade launcher and scatter missiles expended, the movements of the NEXT itself had begun to blur.
The impatient Lynx grumbled as his machine bounded from hill top to hill top, weighing his options. This generator won't be able to sustain combat spec Kojima levels if this fight draws any longer. It will only be a matter of time before that quick firing rifle hits something vital, and with the current FCS the O300 laser cannon has been utterly useless.
"Damn it!" the Irregular growled. He could not continue waiting for an opening, or something of happenstance. He had tossed out patience...
The AALIYAH dropped like rock as its pilot killed the generator, plummeting quickly into the shadows. Disappearing from Cabracan's cross-hairs.
The Algebra mech hung in the air for a hot second before slowly descending down in pursuit.
"Clever, but I have seen such a tactic used. Please give up, it will be moments before Ereshkigal's radar has recalibrated itself to find non-Kojima signatures." Islam spoke.
The Lynx had no doubt about that, the neural based optics of a NEXT may have bought him a few seconds but it will mere seconds before his enemy's radar catches wind of him again.
There was a creak of strained metal and the light patter of rocks falling. The MOTORCOBRAs the rogue Lynx had dug into the cliff side would only hold for so long. But he had to stay suspended in the shadows for just a little longer, Islam's NEXT was so close he almost smell the exhaust of its Main Boosters.
"You know what they used to say, Cabracan?" the Lynx low voice snarled.
"Hm, well that is a pretty vague questi-"
With a sharp explosion of rocks, the AALIYAH sprang forward, its internal batteries rerouted to movement only. It's wing like arms grasped hold of the EKHAZAR legs. The Algerbra's booster flared, trying to pump out more propulsion to compensate for the extra weight.
The Lynx heard uncharacteristic growl come from the elderly Lynx as his machine began to climb skyward.
"You can't teach an old dog..." the Irregular laughed.
"New tricks." Islam finished as he pointed his arm weapons toward Krasnaya.
The Primal Armor of the SOLUH core wisped around with its distinct wave of green particles. Particles that were helpless to stop the Omer laser cannon from deploying within them. Particles that ebbed and flowed, made of a radioactive substance that had brought ruin to the world. They swayed like grass in the wind, undeterred by the right arm of Ereshkigal as it fell to the earth. It's joint red hot, and still glowing from the impact of the laser bolt.
"Die!" The AALIYAH Lynx shouted having deployed the laser blade from Krasnaya's storage unit, he rammed it the underside of Islam's machine again and again. Frenzied, manic, unhinged, the blade found its way into the legs and Core of Cabracan's machine until its boosters failed.
The fast approaching ground brought the Lynx back to reality as he frantically restarted the generator.
The vertical Boosters exploded, sparks shot from it armor as the AALIYAH frame hugged the ground. The earth behind him shook as the remains of Islam's NEXT impacted the ground forming a mushroom shaped plume of dust that crawled skyward.
The rogue Lynx exhaled a breathe he didn't know he had been holding as he walked his machine toward the wreckage. The red and yellow warnings across his HUD nearly obscured his vision. But he had to deal with it for know, the reserve batteries were near depletion and he knew his mech's fail safes wouldn't let him do anything until the generators had charged them back up.
Ereshkigal was in shambles and still glowing from where the laser blade had pierced its hull. The Irregular instinctively gripped his controls when he heard the static filled and muffle cough of the Ranked Lynx.
"Towards the west, look." the elderly Lynx struggled to say.
The multi-eyed head of the Krasnaya turned toward Aspina. The Lynx gritted his teeth as he spotted it: a bright twinkling star being pushed upward by a thin pillar of clouds.
And just ask quickly as the Lynx spotted it, the shuttle disappeared, slipping behind the hazy clouds that only the moon could penetrate.
"Shit." the Lynx muttered to himself.
"New tricks aren't always good tricks." Islam chuckled before coughing violently.
The screech of metal on metal echoed throughout the hills as the AALIYAH's hand dug into the SOLUH Core. The enraged Irregular yanked the damage mech up and slammed it down again.
"You pay for this you old bastard! There won't even be remains left to recognize when I'm done here!" the Lynx barked.
"Heh, that's just fine, no one going to miss an old man that's past his prime." Islam replied.
There was an incomprehensible growl from the Lynx as he raised the fist of his machine, ready to deal the finishing blow. But he stopped.
What was the point? The adrenaline had worn off, the thrill had subsided. With out doubt the SOLUH's life support was failing, Kojima Particles were pouring in to the damaged Core, Islam would inevitably die here.
But that didn't change the fact that the Irregular pilot had failed.
"Astrophysicists, aeronautics engineers, spaceship pilots, everyone on that shuttle are those you would expect to heading into space. All except one." Islam said, his voice was audibly getting weaker.
The rouge pilot didn't move, he didn't act. As black as his heart was, as evil as his intentions now and in future. He won't do a thing, he will stand and listen. He will respect a man's dying words.
"This is a dark path you and your comrades tread. You seek to obtain a power only nature should control. I'm not going to convince you that your actions are wrong. But be aware of the consequences, whatever this plan, the goal that this New Rayleonard is trying to achieve. For you, your allies and the world, turmoil and suffering will be the only result. Beware young Lynx, resurrection of a single soul is effortless, but there will be no such miracle when it comes time to rebuild humanity."
Islam broke into fit of coughs, but gathered his breathe one last time.
"So...you like idioms, hmmm? Be sure to share this one with your comrades...a phrase that has, and will always withstand...the test of time. Be careful what you wish for son, you...might very well...get...it..."
Static filled the Irregular's cockpit. Wise advice from an old man, or pity for mankind's future? The Lynx wasn't sure which, and it's safe to say that such a concern was of little importance to the pilot at this point.
The AALIYAH Lynx was far too preoccupied with finding a way around his masters' impending dissatisfaction. As he was retrieving the machine guns he left lodges in the rock wall, "Incoming Transmission" flashed across his HUD.
"We both saw the shuttle escape, care to explain what happened?" NR2's voice was heavy and coarse, full of rage that was struggling to be kept down.
"Yes, I would love to hear this excuse as well." NR1 added, sounding not so much angry but instead quite interested.
"Forgive my failure. I was forced to engage Islam Cabracan before I could destroy the target." the Lynx replied.
"Cabracan? To think Aspina would go to such measures...do you suppose information got leaked somewhere?" NR2 reasoned.
"Nope, I don't think Aspina did anything at all. Islam's a clever man, he probably took a very educated guess at what we were doing." NR1 explained.
"It would seem." NR2 replied, "What is Islam's status? We need to analyze any data you have should we need to fight him again."
"Deceased sir. I was able to kill Cabracan in combat." the Lynx answered.
"My, my, you managed to kill Universal's Rank 8 in that machine?" NR1 asked.
"Affirmative, I'm sending you the optical footage now." the Irregular said.
"Impressive." was NR2's only response.
"Impressive indeed, perhaps we need to rethink the failure of your mission." NR1 mused.
"Regardless, the one scientist we wanted dead has survived, that cannot be over looked." NR2 argued.
"Easy now, don't be so critical. As one door closes, another is opened. Our current plans may be delayed, but Islam's death will help accelerate our second phase. This will definitely bode well for future operations. I say this has been a job well done." NR1 explained.
"True, Omer's last significant asset is Vyacheslav, but what about the information we need now? With Dr. Aki still alive, his files will be impossible to find." NR2 shot back.
"Patience, counter measures are already in progress, in fact you should be seeing to that as we speak." NR1 commanded, his voice was low and aggressive.
NR2's voice analyzer fluctuated from a soft growl of frustration before its icon disappeared.
"Again, please forgive my failure." the Irregular said.
"There is no need for pardon, for we have multiple ways of making our ultimate plans come to fruition. You've done good work today." NR1 replied.
"Thank you sir. You have my word I will complete my next mission to the letter."
"For that I have no doubt, Aaybe."