A mysterious figure emerges from the smoking ruins of an enemy fortress, a rifle slung across his back and the wind catching his hair, it is Mercenary Pen. Hi folks!
Firstly, to my loyal reviewer, steam detective, and his trusty sidekick knuckles, or is it my loyal reviewer knuckles and his trusty sidekick steam detective, well thanks for the criticism, I've carefully gone and improved chapters 2 to 6 since then, and also, as you pointed out, the optical stealth system is in principle illegal in the majority of official zoid battles, although since they upgraded the judge capsules a handful of battle modes have been developed to accommodate stealth equipped zoids, but this does not really matter because last chapter saw an unsanctioned zoid battle anyway, with the judge capsule having been taken over by means of a computer virus, also I have addressed the majority of your criticism, but possibly not all of it, so keep up the good work please, and given as you didn't get the John Doe reference last chapter, what I'll have to do is explain it to you, John Doe, or Jane Doe in the case of a woman, is the name given for the purposes of records to unidentifiable bodies at the morgue/ coroners office, thereafter expanding to become an all purpose term for someone whose name you don't know. Finally on the explanations front, evolution may not have been seen during the NC0 series of zoids but that does not mean that no-one knew about it, because documents on subjects such as this varying from lab reports to just about anything have ths way of randomly surviving the centuries. Moreover, as an explanation of why and how the Redlers of the Dragons team began the process of evolution during the last chapter, despite the team's lack of organoids, they had done some work of their own towards the creation of an integrated organoid system, only managing to create by this stage, a system that increased the evolutionary potential of their zoids, and that's that, no more complaints about evolution please, the first was, I suppose, well founded, but just you wait until the big two zoid warriors of NC0 get their evolved zoids...whoops I've said too much.
Okay everybody, lets get underway. But, before we do, I'd like to introduce everyone to our professional zoid battle commentator, Irvine.
(Irvine) Hey folks.
Now Irvine, how does it feel to be watching zoid battles set almost 175 years after your death?
(Irvine) A little disconcerting, but I reckon it's worth it just to see some of the technological advances. Overall, before you ask, I reckon that the Paladin team has the best selection of zoids of any team without huge amounts of money on their side cough cough Harry champ cough and their pilots have the potential to defeat even the much vaunted Blitz team. Now MP, are you going to get on and write the rest of the story or am I going to have to chase you in my Lightning Saix first?
Okay, okay, I'll get on and write the thing, I hope you guys enjoy this.
Chapter seven: A Legitimate Rivalry.
Baron Friedrik Danthorn was late, he had been due to attend this meeting of the council of chaos with a view to their plans to revive the sentiment that the Backdraft organisation had tapped with their unsanctioned, unrefereed battles. But that had been almost an hour ago now.
A crisis had arisen since then with an unsanctioned battle against the Paladin going well and truly awry and Baron Danthorn, as head of intelligence for the Chaos Storm organisation had taken it upon himself to make a study of the recordings from the zoids involved in the battle. Now he was rushing to the council chamber, a plan to defeat the Paladin team in hand, ready for the approval of the other council members.
Finally, flinging the doors wide, he entered, striding straight to his seat where he sat down, as if his behaviour was only to be expected.
"How good of you to join us," remarked the chairman as the previous matter of discussion was closed, "I believe that we all know why you have not been part of our discussions this last hour so may we take it that you have a solution to propose for the problem that the Paladin team may turn out to be."
"Indeed," began the Baron, "the issue at hand is likely to be a challenge for all of us. The Paladin team possesses four powerful zoids, which I shall cover so that we are all conversant with these mighty machines: Fist we have the Liger Zero, a zoid with which some of our earlier members, such as Commander Altyle on my right, are already conversant, now in their battle against Squadron Phobos the Paladin's used a new modification armour for this zoid which our research units have tentatively identified as the Liger Zero Mirage variant, which appears to possess an optical stealth system as well as a specialist weapon that permits it to jam all non-visual sensor systems with interference." "The Liger Zero is an incredibly rare zoid," remarked the chairman, "where did the Paladin team acquire theirs?"
"An excellent question my lord, and one I have already asked. It turns out that the Liger Zero pilot is the daughter of the engineer who does heavy maintenance and construction of spare parts for the Liger Zero, the rest of the story is clear to see. Meanwhile the second zoid of the Paladin team appears to be a hybrid zoid, containing a synthesis of the arsenals of both the Rev Raptor and the Gunsniper; this zoid has proved that, although it is powerful and has a well-designed armament, it cannot get back upright if knocked onto its side and has a command system that is prone to freezing at the slightest hint of serious trouble. The third zoid is perhaps one of the most unusual zoids yet developed and is a brand new zoid known as the Ursazerk. This zoid possesses the form of a black bear and is in some ways similar to the Iron Kong, notably in the facts that it does most of its movement on all four legs, but can in battle raise itself up on its rear legs, using the Strike Laser Claw equipped front legs as a close combat weapon. Its arsenal is completed by a pair of heavy beam cannons mounted on the back of the zoid and a variable angle rocket launcher mounted in the zoid's belly compartment, as well as an energy shield which can withstand all but the deadliest of assaults."
"And the final zoid?" prompted Commander Altyle.
"The final zoid is like nothing we have seen before. Referred to as the Dragowing, this zoid takes the form of a dragon. Indeed, our analysts have suggested that this zoid may be one of the legendary Panzer Dragons, dragon- type zoids which have undergone streamlined evolutions to remove from their ZNA the codes for any useless technology, thus making them incredibly deadly when in their element, but reduces the adaptability of the Zoid to virtually nil. In analysis the Dragowing can be said to have power, speed, manoeuvrability and endurance lacked by most of the more versatile zoids, with the ability to disrupt the shielding of a zoid as well as the capacity for strafing, bombing and dogfighting in equal measure. This is by far the deadliest zoid that the Paladin team has, and as such our plans must be designed to put it at the greatest possible disadvantage."
"Agreed," spoke a new voice, that of Sean O'Harris, Chief Executive of a major betting corporation, "if we are to rig this match against the Paladin team, we must covertly disadvantage their star players before they can use their strengths to take control of the battle, and also we must arrange this in such a way that they could not, under any circumstances, suspect us of foul play."
"I have it," remarked yet another voice within the darkened room, that of Ambassador Paxton of the Helic Republic, "how about using one of the zoid battle teams which we have influence with, leading to a victory for us right under the noses of the Zoid Battle Commission. Such a team would be given exactly the right zoids for the task, we would dictate the battle mode and location and that would be the end of the Paladin Team as opposition."
There, that wasn't too bad now, was it? (Irvine) I quit! From now on you can tell your own stories without my help. The agreement was that I sat in any time that the Paladins got into a zoid battle, not that I sat through various plots to obliterate them. Aims rifle at MP's head
Oh no you don't Irvine. Have you heard the phrase "the pen is mightier than the sword?" Pulls pen out of jacket pocket. Well let's see, I say that the pen is mightier than you, your rifle and your zoid all put together...starts writing.
Suddenly, Irvine is wearing a clown costume, hopping on the spot and juggling hand grenades. His Lightning Saix has a bow of fluorescent green ribbon tied around its neck.
Don't try this at home folks, Mercenary Pen signing off.
Firstly, to my loyal reviewer, steam detective, and his trusty sidekick knuckles, or is it my loyal reviewer knuckles and his trusty sidekick steam detective, well thanks for the criticism, I've carefully gone and improved chapters 2 to 6 since then, and also, as you pointed out, the optical stealth system is in principle illegal in the majority of official zoid battles, although since they upgraded the judge capsules a handful of battle modes have been developed to accommodate stealth equipped zoids, but this does not really matter because last chapter saw an unsanctioned zoid battle anyway, with the judge capsule having been taken over by means of a computer virus, also I have addressed the majority of your criticism, but possibly not all of it, so keep up the good work please, and given as you didn't get the John Doe reference last chapter, what I'll have to do is explain it to you, John Doe, or Jane Doe in the case of a woman, is the name given for the purposes of records to unidentifiable bodies at the morgue/ coroners office, thereafter expanding to become an all purpose term for someone whose name you don't know. Finally on the explanations front, evolution may not have been seen during the NC0 series of zoids but that does not mean that no-one knew about it, because documents on subjects such as this varying from lab reports to just about anything have ths way of randomly surviving the centuries. Moreover, as an explanation of why and how the Redlers of the Dragons team began the process of evolution during the last chapter, despite the team's lack of organoids, they had done some work of their own towards the creation of an integrated organoid system, only managing to create by this stage, a system that increased the evolutionary potential of their zoids, and that's that, no more complaints about evolution please, the first was, I suppose, well founded, but just you wait until the big two zoid warriors of NC0 get their evolved zoids...whoops I've said too much.
Okay everybody, lets get underway. But, before we do, I'd like to introduce everyone to our professional zoid battle commentator, Irvine.
(Irvine) Hey folks.
Now Irvine, how does it feel to be watching zoid battles set almost 175 years after your death?
(Irvine) A little disconcerting, but I reckon it's worth it just to see some of the technological advances. Overall, before you ask, I reckon that the Paladin team has the best selection of zoids of any team without huge amounts of money on their side cough cough Harry champ cough and their pilots have the potential to defeat even the much vaunted Blitz team. Now MP, are you going to get on and write the rest of the story or am I going to have to chase you in my Lightning Saix first?
Okay, okay, I'll get on and write the thing, I hope you guys enjoy this.
Chapter seven: A Legitimate Rivalry.
Baron Friedrik Danthorn was late, he had been due to attend this meeting of the council of chaos with a view to their plans to revive the sentiment that the Backdraft organisation had tapped with their unsanctioned, unrefereed battles. But that had been almost an hour ago now.
A crisis had arisen since then with an unsanctioned battle against the Paladin going well and truly awry and Baron Danthorn, as head of intelligence for the Chaos Storm organisation had taken it upon himself to make a study of the recordings from the zoids involved in the battle. Now he was rushing to the council chamber, a plan to defeat the Paladin team in hand, ready for the approval of the other council members.
Finally, flinging the doors wide, he entered, striding straight to his seat where he sat down, as if his behaviour was only to be expected.
"How good of you to join us," remarked the chairman as the previous matter of discussion was closed, "I believe that we all know why you have not been part of our discussions this last hour so may we take it that you have a solution to propose for the problem that the Paladin team may turn out to be."
"Indeed," began the Baron, "the issue at hand is likely to be a challenge for all of us. The Paladin team possesses four powerful zoids, which I shall cover so that we are all conversant with these mighty machines: Fist we have the Liger Zero, a zoid with which some of our earlier members, such as Commander Altyle on my right, are already conversant, now in their battle against Squadron Phobos the Paladin's used a new modification armour for this zoid which our research units have tentatively identified as the Liger Zero Mirage variant, which appears to possess an optical stealth system as well as a specialist weapon that permits it to jam all non-visual sensor systems with interference." "The Liger Zero is an incredibly rare zoid," remarked the chairman, "where did the Paladin team acquire theirs?"
"An excellent question my lord, and one I have already asked. It turns out that the Liger Zero pilot is the daughter of the engineer who does heavy maintenance and construction of spare parts for the Liger Zero, the rest of the story is clear to see. Meanwhile the second zoid of the Paladin team appears to be a hybrid zoid, containing a synthesis of the arsenals of both the Rev Raptor and the Gunsniper; this zoid has proved that, although it is powerful and has a well-designed armament, it cannot get back upright if knocked onto its side and has a command system that is prone to freezing at the slightest hint of serious trouble. The third zoid is perhaps one of the most unusual zoids yet developed and is a brand new zoid known as the Ursazerk. This zoid possesses the form of a black bear and is in some ways similar to the Iron Kong, notably in the facts that it does most of its movement on all four legs, but can in battle raise itself up on its rear legs, using the Strike Laser Claw equipped front legs as a close combat weapon. Its arsenal is completed by a pair of heavy beam cannons mounted on the back of the zoid and a variable angle rocket launcher mounted in the zoid's belly compartment, as well as an energy shield which can withstand all but the deadliest of assaults."
"And the final zoid?" prompted Commander Altyle.
"The final zoid is like nothing we have seen before. Referred to as the Dragowing, this zoid takes the form of a dragon. Indeed, our analysts have suggested that this zoid may be one of the legendary Panzer Dragons, dragon- type zoids which have undergone streamlined evolutions to remove from their ZNA the codes for any useless technology, thus making them incredibly deadly when in their element, but reduces the adaptability of the Zoid to virtually nil. In analysis the Dragowing can be said to have power, speed, manoeuvrability and endurance lacked by most of the more versatile zoids, with the ability to disrupt the shielding of a zoid as well as the capacity for strafing, bombing and dogfighting in equal measure. This is by far the deadliest zoid that the Paladin team has, and as such our plans must be designed to put it at the greatest possible disadvantage."
"Agreed," spoke a new voice, that of Sean O'Harris, Chief Executive of a major betting corporation, "if we are to rig this match against the Paladin team, we must covertly disadvantage their star players before they can use their strengths to take control of the battle, and also we must arrange this in such a way that they could not, under any circumstances, suspect us of foul play."
"I have it," remarked yet another voice within the darkened room, that of Ambassador Paxton of the Helic Republic, "how about using one of the zoid battle teams which we have influence with, leading to a victory for us right under the noses of the Zoid Battle Commission. Such a team would be given exactly the right zoids for the task, we would dictate the battle mode and location and that would be the end of the Paladin Team as opposition."
There, that wasn't too bad now, was it? (Irvine) I quit! From now on you can tell your own stories without my help. The agreement was that I sat in any time that the Paladins got into a zoid battle, not that I sat through various plots to obliterate them. Aims rifle at MP's head
Oh no you don't Irvine. Have you heard the phrase "the pen is mightier than the sword?" Pulls pen out of jacket pocket. Well let's see, I say that the pen is mightier than you, your rifle and your zoid all put together...starts writing.
Suddenly, Irvine is wearing a clown costume, hopping on the spot and juggling hand grenades. His Lightning Saix has a bow of fluorescent green ribbon tied around its neck.
Don't try this at home folks, Mercenary Pen signing off.