p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"For the next 2 weeks, Special Services Squad L runs a series of 14 missions in the span of 2 weeks. For every one supercomputer that they neutralize during these missions, another 2 are created by XANA. Almost all the information that they collect during these missions is useless, and does not help them to understand how XANA survived or how to finally defeat him. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"_/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""I have 2 on my tail and I can't shake them," Gauthier shouts as she enters a tight left handed turn to try to shake the 2 Kongres that are firing ruby red lasers at her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Come about heading 156 and I will take care of them for you!" Colonel Weitzler calls as he slams his throttle open and races into a vertical dive to try to help Gauthier. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Yes sir," Gauthier calls as she snaps into a sweeping right turn that brings her directly underneath Colonel Weitzler./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Once she passes his navskid, Colonel Weitzler lets loose a barrage of 4 torpedoes which slam into the Kongres, causing them to burst into a sea of orange flame. As they explode, the red digital sea reverts to its normal blue color. Colonel Weitzler and Gauthier then fly together back to the Skidbladnir, where they dock and then enter the spherical Replika in front of them./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"_/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""It looks like we are in the desert sector today," Aelita says, as the Skid emerges from the yellow digital style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe Skid shoots up from the digital sea and quickly docks at the passage tower. Weitzler, Gauthier, and Aelita are quickly transferred to the supercomputer, while Yumi and Ulrich remain on the Replika to guard the Skid from XANA's attacks./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"_/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"3 orbs of yellow energy form, and Colonel Weitzler, Gauthier, and Aelita drop from them. Surveying the scenery, all they can see is sweeping dunes of golden sand and mountains made of bright red rock. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Jeremie, it looks like we are in some sort of a desert. Where are we?" Gauthier calls./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""It looks like you are in the Negev Desert of Israel. If you turn around 180 degrees, behind the dune is an old abandoned IDF base. Inside that base is where XANA has set up a supercomputer," Jeremie's disembodied voice calls. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"The 3 warriors turn around and begin jogging up the dune. From the top, they can see an old, abandoned military base surrounded by an old, rusty fence that is riddled with holes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""General Van Zanten has been notified about the base's location, and the IDF reports that they left no traps behind in this base," Jeremie's voice says as the warriors approach the base's fence./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Roger that. How's everything looking on the Replika?" Weitzler asks./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Right now, everything is quiet," Jeremie replies, with a hint of concern in his voice./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"The 3 warriors enter the complex through a very large hole in the fence. Under jeremie's guidance, they enter an underground hangar and pass through a maze of tunnels. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""This is too easy. By now we should have had to fight past an army of XANA's creatures," Aelita says as they round a bend./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Maybe this is one of XANA's new facilities?" Gauthier asks./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Even then we should have seen some sort of defenses," Colonel Weitzler responds./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Emerging from the tunnel they take a sharp left and come into a high ceilinged, unguarded room filled with gently humming computer equipment./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Right, Aelita, do your stuff," Colonel Weitzler says as he and Gauthier take up guard positions in front of Aelita./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Aelita sits down at the computer terminal in the middle of the room and begins to access it. As she expertly sifts through the data, she finds several files labelled "Project Kthenio,", "Project Eruption,", and "Project Mongoose,"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Jeremie, I've found some interesting files that might be XANA's plans for future attacks. I'm going to upload them to you," Aelita calls./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Right. Stay on your toes. The Replika is all clear and I have a bad feeling about this," Jeremie says./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"As Jeremie finishes his sentence, 40 black and green figures drop down in a circle from the ceiling, surrounding the 3 warriors. From outside of the room, William and the blond man emerge as Weitzler ignites his lightsaber. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Welcome my old friends," the blond man says with a smirk on his face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""I just can't have you finding out what those plans are before I've implemented them," the blond man continues as Weitzler and Gauthier move in a slow circle around Aelia, as she continues sifting through the data and preparing to upload it./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""XANA's attacking the Skid. He sent some sort of new creature, and Ulrich and Yumi are overwhelmed. Hurry up," Jeremie says./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Jeremie, we seem to have a little bit of a problem here!" Aelita calls as she finishes preparing the data for upload./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""I'm afraid that I cannot allow you to take those files," The blond man says./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Ninjas, KRAYt," he calls./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"The green and black Ninjas all pull out 2 sickly green swords and begin to sway slightly. After a few seconds, they charge, and Weitzler begins to duel with 3 of them at once, causing the 4 to be surrounded by a blur of green and yellow light. On the other side of the circle, Gauthier shoots 6 icicles at the Ninjas, which they easily deflect with their swords. As they begin to charge her, she forms her water into 2 dagger-like icicles and she begins to engage them in hand to hand combat. She is quickly overwhelmed and her body shimmers into nothing as ten of them stab her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Right as Aelita is about to begin transmitting the data, one of the Ninjas grabs her by the arm and yanks it away from the keyboard. He then tosses her to the other side of the room, where 4 of his comrades descend on her and send her back to the Replika, leaving Weitzler as the only one in the room. As he is surrounded, he moves his lightsaber into his right hand as he sticks out his left and concentrates, sending the Ninjas flying away from him. As he moves towards the computer terminal, the Ninjas rise up and charge at him from all sides. Before he can press the enter button, they all stab him, causing him to pixelate and disappear./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""It's time to accelerate our plans. Begin Project Eruption," the blond man says as he sticks out his hand and launches a program on the supercomputer./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"_/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Back on the Replika, 40 Ninjas have shown up and devirtualized Yumi and Ulrich. As Weitzler joins Aelita and Gauthier in their faltering defense of the Skid, they are quickly overwhelmed and devirtualized. The Ninjas all ascend the tower and hop onto the top of the Skid, stabbing their green swords into the bright blue circle on its top. The Skid's shields flarespan style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanbright turquoise, but after a few seconds they dim and then disappear. The Ninjas then stab their swords into the same spot on the Skid, causing it to vanish into a white scaffold./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"_/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""What were those things?" Ulrich says./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""I'm more concerned about what was in those 3 files. They could be plans for XANA's attacks and if he has more new weapons like those creatures that attacked us we could be in serious trouble," Colonel Weitzler says./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Worst of all we lost the Skid. That could take weeks to reprogram," Yumi says/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Actually, because of how Aelita and I programmed it this time, we can have it restored in 2 days, but if we don't have a way to neutralize those Ninjas it will be pointless," Jeremie responds, looking down at the floor./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Colonel Weitzler, We have a BIG problem!" Hand says as he hands Weitzler a style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"After listening to the report on the phone, Weitzler responds, "Mobilize all squads at once. We need to lay a trap before it can get to Defender Command Paris or the computer facility. Deploy all but 2 squads to Rue Pierre Charon near the Arc de Triomphe. I will join them to personally lead the counterattack. I want one squad to remain at the computer facility to protect it in case we fail, and I want one squad to evacuate L Squad," Weitzler orders as he hangs up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""A massive volcanoid creature is heading towards the facility and is leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. I need you guys to evacuate the facility and take any backups that you have," Colonel Weitzler orders./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""How did XANA manage to materialize the Kolossus to Earth?!" Jeremie exclaims in shock./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""But we want to stay and fight. Paris is our home," Ulrich says./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""It is more important that you survive to continue fighting XANA on the network than it is that you help us to repel this beast," Colonel Weitzler says calmly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""But what about you Colonel? You are hardly in fighting condition," Gauthier says./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""My joints might be stiff and I might get winded easily, but in an emergency like this, every hand helps," Colonel Weitzler replies as he pops a Motrin and stiffly stands up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Jeremie and Aelita quickly grab their backups and join the other L squad members in a waiting helicopter which quickly ushers L Squad to safety./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"_/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""It's Colonel Weitzler, he's here to lead us!" A young Seargent exclaims as he sees the Colonel run at full speed towards the amassed Defenders./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Colonel, The Kolossus is approximately 1 KM away. The Paris Police have evacuated everyone from his expected path but thousands of people have already died," Captain L'hopital said as he brings the Colonel up to speed about their forces. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Right, I want everyone up on the roofs of the buildings lining this avenue and the one behind it. On my signal, we will all open fire on the Kolossus with our anti-armor lasers to try to bring it down. Remember, we have little intelligence about our enemy's plans and capabilities, so be prepared to have to reposition for additional assaults quickly,"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"After a few minutes and lots of fancy jumping by the Defenders all the assembled Defenders are in position on top of the buildings lining the lush green avenue below. From the top of the roof, Colonel Weitzler can see a 40 meter tall, massive, jet black figure slowly making its way through Paris, demolishing every building in its path. In set intervals across the figure's body and in place of a rib cage are strips of bright orange magma, and its feet look like 2 mini volcanos. Instead of a left hand, it has a sword with veins of red magma and dotted with many eyes of XANA. Its head is bright white with a massive eye of XANA, and with a series of black rocks sticking out of it like hair. Clinging onto the black hair is William./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""That is one big hombre," A rookie Defender says in shock next to Colonel Weitzler./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Do not fire before I give the order. If anyone fires prematurely we will lose the element of surprise," Colonel Weitzler says calmly but sternly into the microphone./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"As the Kolossus approaches the nearby Arc de Triomphe, it smashes its sword through the Arc de triomphe, levelling it. From his vantage point at the top of the building he is standing on, Colonel Weitzler can see that in front of the Kolossus is a triangle of Silvery Megatanks interspersed with those green style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Steady, Steady," Colonel Weitzler calls as the Kolossus begins to pound his way down the avenue that the Defenders are standing on./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Prepare to engage," Weitzler calls as the Kolossus marches ever closer./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""On my mark," Weitzler continues/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Fire!" Weitzler calls./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"On his signal, 100 bright blue anti-armor lasers rake across the Kolossus's chest, legs, arms, and sword. It slows down slightly as the anti-armor lasers make contact with the eyes of XANA on the sword but the Kolossus continues its slow march down the avenue. As it marches, the Ninjas break formation and enter some of the buildings that the Defenders are on top of./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""All units, this is Colonel Weitzler. I think we need to hit both eyes of XANA at the same time. Paris Squad 1, we need to jump onto the beast and fight our way to the head and the sword and simultaneously fire at both. Captain L'hopital, I need you to slow down the Kolossus so it doesn't destroy any more of Paris. All units be advised that those Ninjas are highly dangerous and have entered some of the buildings," Colonel Weitzler orders./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Once all squad leaders have acknowledged, Colonel Weitzler breaks into a dead sprint as he starts jumping onto roofs of the neighboring buildings. As he approaches a central building near where the Kolossus is standing, he rendezvouses with Paris Squad 1 and with a massive jump they all land on the rough, rocky surface of the Kolossus's arm. The other Defenders jump down off the buildings, engaging with XANA's vanguard and stalling the Kolossus's progress in a blur of blue and red lasers and acrid black smoke./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"The Defenders quickly climb up the arm, and emerge on the creature's shoulder. From the sky, they can see a swarm of 10 Hornets bearing down on them, with their angry red lasers charged and ready to fire. In front of them, a cloud of black smoke comes shooting down the head, quickly materializing into William./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"" Is that all you've got XANA? A few measly Hornets and a handful of Ninjas and Megatanks," Colonel Weitzler snears at William as he breathes heavily./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""I'll handle pretty boy. 1,2,3, get into position on the top of the left arm and prepare to shoot at the biggest eye of XANA. 4,5,6,make for the head and prepare to fire on the eye. 7,8,9, keep these Hornets busy," Colonel Weitzler whispers so quietly that only the other Defenders can hear him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Once all the other units have acknowledged, Weitzler charges at William. As Wiliam swings his zweihander at Weitzler, Weitzler moves to the inside of William and twists his wrist sending the zweihander flying off the back of the Kolossus. He then body slams William against the Kolossus's neck, causing him to briefly fall down unconscious. Weitlzer pivots on his right leg while aiming his left leg for the sky. He lets off 3 quick bursts of blue anti-armor laser, downing 3 of the Hornets. Completing his turn, he then levels his anti-armor laser at William, letting off a quick burst of bright blue anti-armor laser. Before the laser can strike William, he summons his zweihander and immediately blocks the burst of bright blue laser. William then charges at Colonel Weitzler, and Weitlzer gently rolls to the left, allowing himself to fall off the Kolossus before landing on top of one of the magma filled ribs. William jumps down and Weitlzer curls his fingers into firing position as he releases thin blue beams of cutting laser at William./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Colonel, We have defeated the vanguard, but the Kolossus has started to move," Captain L'hopital informs as the Kolossus begins to move again as the Defenders below jump out of the way of its feet. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Head team is in position. Sword team is also in position," Colonel Weitzler hears over the radio. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Roger, All Defenders on the ground, fall back. Head team, Sword team, fire at will," Colonel Weitzler orders betweens pants as he grimaces in pain and grips onto William's Zweihander and shoves the young man off the ledge that he's on./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Above, the Defenders open fire at the eyes of XANA. The Kolossus lets out a monstrous roar in pain as it waves its sword and hands around, destroying many of the buildings surrounding it. After a few seconds it grows silent and slowly begins to tumble down. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""All units. GET CLEAR!" Colonel Weitzler shouts as he locks his targeting mechanism on the rubble of a nearby building and jumps. As he lands on the rubble, he immediately jumps again onto a ledge on a nearby building, where he watches as the Kolossus slams to the ground with a deep, resonating groan. After a few seconds, its orange magma begins to solidify from bottom to top with explosive clicks./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Colonel Weitzler, this is Captain L'hopital, What is your status!" The Colonel hears over the radio./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""This is Colonel Weitzler, I am clear. All squad leaders, account of all your Defenders and report back. Once done, all available medics will tend to our injured and then assist the Parisian SAMU units with the injured civilians," Colonel Weitzler says between pants into his radio./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"After receiving confirmation that all Defenders were accounted for and that there were minimal casualties, Colonel Weitzler and the other medics go to assist the SAMU units while the other Defenders return to secure the base. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"_/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""I have 2 on my tail and I can't shake them," Gauthier shouts as she enters a tight left handed turn to try to shake the 2 Kongres that are firing ruby red lasers at her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Come about heading 156 and I will take care of them for you!" Colonel Weitzler calls as he slams his throttle open and races into a vertical dive to try to help Gauthier. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Yes sir," Gauthier calls as she snaps into a sweeping right turn that brings her directly underneath Colonel Weitzler./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Once she passes his navskid, Colonel Weitzler lets loose a barrage of 4 torpedoes which slam into the Kongres, causing them to burst into a sea of orange flame. As they explode, the red digital sea reverts to its normal blue color. Colonel Weitzler and Gauthier then fly together back to the Skidbladnir, where they dock and then enter the spherical Replika in front of them./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"_/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""It looks like we are in the desert sector today," Aelita says, as the Skid emerges from the yellow digital style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe Skid shoots up from the digital sea and quickly docks at the passage tower. Weitzler, Gauthier, and Aelita are quickly transferred to the supercomputer, while Yumi and Ulrich remain on the Replika to guard the Skid from XANA's attacks./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"_/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"3 orbs of yellow energy form, and Colonel Weitzler, Gauthier, and Aelita drop from them. Surveying the scenery, all they can see is sweeping dunes of golden sand and mountains made of bright red rock. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Jeremie, it looks like we are in some sort of a desert. Where are we?" Gauthier calls./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""It looks like you are in the Negev Desert of Israel. If you turn around 180 degrees, behind the dune is an old abandoned IDF base. Inside that base is where XANA has set up a supercomputer," Jeremie's disembodied voice calls. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"The 3 warriors turn around and begin jogging up the dune. From the top, they can see an old, abandoned military base surrounded by an old, rusty fence that is riddled with holes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""General Van Zanten has been notified about the base's location, and the IDF reports that they left no traps behind in this base," Jeremie's voice says as the warriors approach the base's fence./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Roger that. How's everything looking on the Replika?" Weitzler asks./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Right now, everything is quiet," Jeremie replies, with a hint of concern in his voice./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"The 3 warriors enter the complex through a very large hole in the fence. Under jeremie's guidance, they enter an underground hangar and pass through a maze of tunnels. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""This is too easy. By now we should have had to fight past an army of XANA's creatures," Aelita says as they round a bend./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Maybe this is one of XANA's new facilities?" Gauthier asks./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Even then we should have seen some sort of defenses," Colonel Weitzler responds./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Emerging from the tunnel they take a sharp left and come into a high ceilinged, unguarded room filled with gently humming computer equipment./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Right, Aelita, do your stuff," Colonel Weitzler says as he and Gauthier take up guard positions in front of Aelita./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Aelita sits down at the computer terminal in the middle of the room and begins to access it. As she expertly sifts through the data, she finds several files labelled "Project Kthenio,", "Project Eruption,", and "Project Mongoose,"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Jeremie, I've found some interesting files that might be XANA's plans for future attacks. I'm going to upload them to you," Aelita calls./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Right. Stay on your toes. The Replika is all clear and I have a bad feeling about this," Jeremie says./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"As Jeremie finishes his sentence, 40 black and green figures drop down in a circle from the ceiling, surrounding the 3 warriors. From outside of the room, William and the blond man emerge as Weitzler ignites his lightsaber. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Welcome my old friends," the blond man says with a smirk on his face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""I just can't have you finding out what those plans are before I've implemented them," the blond man continues as Weitzler and Gauthier move in a slow circle around Aelia, as she continues sifting through the data and preparing to upload it./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""XANA's attacking the Skid. He sent some sort of new creature, and Ulrich and Yumi are overwhelmed. Hurry up," Jeremie says./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Jeremie, we seem to have a little bit of a problem here!" Aelita calls as she finishes preparing the data for upload./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""I'm afraid that I cannot allow you to take those files," The blond man says./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Ninjas, KRAYt," he calls./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"The green and black Ninjas all pull out 2 sickly green swords and begin to sway slightly. After a few seconds, they charge, and Weitzler begins to duel with 3 of them at once, causing the 4 to be surrounded by a blur of green and yellow light. On the other side of the circle, Gauthier shoots 6 icicles at the Ninjas, which they easily deflect with their swords. As they begin to charge her, she forms her water into 2 dagger-like icicles and she begins to engage them in hand to hand combat. She is quickly overwhelmed and her body shimmers into nothing as ten of them stab her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Right as Aelita is about to begin transmitting the data, one of the Ninjas grabs her by the arm and yanks it away from the keyboard. He then tosses her to the other side of the room, where 4 of his comrades descend on her and send her back to the Replika, leaving Weitzler as the only one in the room. As he is surrounded, he moves his lightsaber into his right hand as he sticks out his left and concentrates, sending the Ninjas flying away from him. As he moves towards the computer terminal, the Ninjas rise up and charge at him from all sides. Before he can press the enter button, they all stab him, causing him to pixelate and disappear./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""It's time to accelerate our plans. Begin Project Eruption," the blond man says as he sticks out his hand and launches a program on the supercomputer./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"_/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Back on the Replika, 40 Ninjas have shown up and devirtualized Yumi and Ulrich. As Weitzler joins Aelita and Gauthier in their faltering defense of the Skid, they are quickly overwhelmed and devirtualized. The Ninjas all ascend the tower and hop onto the top of the Skid, stabbing their green swords into the bright blue circle on its top. The Skid's shields flarespan style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanbright turquoise, but after a few seconds they dim and then disappear. The Ninjas then stab their swords into the same spot on the Skid, causing it to vanish into a white scaffold./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"_/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""What were those things?" Ulrich says./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""I'm more concerned about what was in those 3 files. They could be plans for XANA's attacks and if he has more new weapons like those creatures that attacked us we could be in serious trouble," Colonel Weitzler says./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Worst of all we lost the Skid. That could take weeks to reprogram," Yumi says/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Actually, because of how Aelita and I programmed it this time, we can have it restored in 2 days, but if we don't have a way to neutralize those Ninjas it will be pointless," Jeremie responds, looking down at the floor./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Colonel Weitzler, We have a BIG problem!" Hand says as he hands Weitzler a style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"After listening to the report on the phone, Weitzler responds, "Mobilize all squads at once. We need to lay a trap before it can get to Defender Command Paris or the computer facility. Deploy all but 2 squads to Rue Pierre Charon near the Arc de Triomphe. I will join them to personally lead the counterattack. I want one squad to remain at the computer facility to protect it in case we fail, and I want one squad to evacuate L Squad," Weitzler orders as he hangs up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""A massive volcanoid creature is heading towards the facility and is leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. I need you guys to evacuate the facility and take any backups that you have," Colonel Weitzler orders./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""How did XANA manage to materialize the Kolossus to Earth?!" Jeremie exclaims in shock./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""But we want to stay and fight. Paris is our home," Ulrich says./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""It is more important that you survive to continue fighting XANA on the network than it is that you help us to repel this beast," Colonel Weitzler says calmly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""But what about you Colonel? You are hardly in fighting condition," Gauthier says./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""My joints might be stiff and I might get winded easily, but in an emergency like this, every hand helps," Colonel Weitzler replies as he pops a Motrin and stiffly stands up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Jeremie and Aelita quickly grab their backups and join the other L squad members in a waiting helicopter which quickly ushers L Squad to safety./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"_/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""It's Colonel Weitzler, he's here to lead us!" A young Seargent exclaims as he sees the Colonel run at full speed towards the amassed Defenders./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Colonel, The Kolossus is approximately 1 KM away. The Paris Police have evacuated everyone from his expected path but thousands of people have already died," Captain L'hopital said as he brings the Colonel up to speed about their forces. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Right, I want everyone up on the roofs of the buildings lining this avenue and the one behind it. On my signal, we will all open fire on the Kolossus with our anti-armor lasers to try to bring it down. Remember, we have little intelligence about our enemy's plans and capabilities, so be prepared to have to reposition for additional assaults quickly,"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"After a few minutes and lots of fancy jumping by the Defenders all the assembled Defenders are in position on top of the buildings lining the lush green avenue below. From the top of the roof, Colonel Weitzler can see a 40 meter tall, massive, jet black figure slowly making its way through Paris, demolishing every building in its path. In set intervals across the figure's body and in place of a rib cage are strips of bright orange magma, and its feet look like 2 mini volcanos. Instead of a left hand, it has a sword with veins of red magma and dotted with many eyes of XANA. Its head is bright white with a massive eye of XANA, and with a series of black rocks sticking out of it like hair. Clinging onto the black hair is William./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""That is one big hombre," A rookie Defender says in shock next to Colonel Weitzler./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Do not fire before I give the order. If anyone fires prematurely we will lose the element of surprise," Colonel Weitzler says calmly but sternly into the microphone./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"As the Kolossus approaches the nearby Arc de Triomphe, it smashes its sword through the Arc de triomphe, levelling it. From his vantage point at the top of the building he is standing on, Colonel Weitzler can see that in front of the Kolossus is a triangle of Silvery Megatanks interspersed with those green style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Steady, Steady," Colonel Weitzler calls as the Kolossus begins to pound his way down the avenue that the Defenders are standing on./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Prepare to engage," Weitzler calls as the Kolossus marches ever closer./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""On my mark," Weitzler continues/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Fire!" Weitzler calls./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"On his signal, 100 bright blue anti-armor lasers rake across the Kolossus's chest, legs, arms, and sword. It slows down slightly as the anti-armor lasers make contact with the eyes of XANA on the sword but the Kolossus continues its slow march down the avenue. As it marches, the Ninjas break formation and enter some of the buildings that the Defenders are on top of./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""All units, this is Colonel Weitzler. I think we need to hit both eyes of XANA at the same time. Paris Squad 1, we need to jump onto the beast and fight our way to the head and the sword and simultaneously fire at both. Captain L'hopital, I need you to slow down the Kolossus so it doesn't destroy any more of Paris. All units be advised that those Ninjas are highly dangerous and have entered some of the buildings," Colonel Weitzler orders./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Once all squad leaders have acknowledged, Colonel Weitzler breaks into a dead sprint as he starts jumping onto roofs of the neighboring buildings. As he approaches a central building near where the Kolossus is standing, he rendezvouses with Paris Squad 1 and with a massive jump they all land on the rough, rocky surface of the Kolossus's arm. The other Defenders jump down off the buildings, engaging with XANA's vanguard and stalling the Kolossus's progress in a blur of blue and red lasers and acrid black smoke./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"The Defenders quickly climb up the arm, and emerge on the creature's shoulder. From the sky, they can see a swarm of 10 Hornets bearing down on them, with their angry red lasers charged and ready to fire. In front of them, a cloud of black smoke comes shooting down the head, quickly materializing into William./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"" Is that all you've got XANA? A few measly Hornets and a handful of Ninjas and Megatanks," Colonel Weitzler snears at William as he breathes heavily./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""I'll handle pretty boy. 1,2,3, get into position on the top of the left arm and prepare to shoot at the biggest eye of XANA. 4,5,6,make for the head and prepare to fire on the eye. 7,8,9, keep these Hornets busy," Colonel Weitzler whispers so quietly that only the other Defenders can hear him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Once all the other units have acknowledged, Weitzler charges at William. As Wiliam swings his zweihander at Weitzler, Weitzler moves to the inside of William and twists his wrist sending the zweihander flying off the back of the Kolossus. He then body slams William against the Kolossus's neck, causing him to briefly fall down unconscious. Weitlzer pivots on his right leg while aiming his left leg for the sky. He lets off 3 quick bursts of blue anti-armor laser, downing 3 of the Hornets. Completing his turn, he then levels his anti-armor laser at William, letting off a quick burst of bright blue anti-armor laser. Before the laser can strike William, he summons his zweihander and immediately blocks the burst of bright blue laser. William then charges at Colonel Weitzler, and Weitlzer gently rolls to the left, allowing himself to fall off the Kolossus before landing on top of one of the magma filled ribs. William jumps down and Weitlzer curls his fingers into firing position as he releases thin blue beams of cutting laser at William./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Colonel, We have defeated the vanguard, but the Kolossus has started to move," Captain L'hopital informs as the Kolossus begins to move again as the Defenders below jump out of the way of its feet. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Head team is in position. Sword team is also in position," Colonel Weitzler hears over the radio. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Roger, All Defenders on the ground, fall back. Head team, Sword team, fire at will," Colonel Weitzler orders betweens pants as he grimaces in pain and grips onto William's Zweihander and shoves the young man off the ledge that he's on./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"Above, the Defenders open fire at the eyes of XANA. The Kolossus lets out a monstrous roar in pain as it waves its sword and hands around, destroying many of the buildings surrounding it. After a few seconds it grows silent and slowly begins to tumble down. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""All units. GET CLEAR!" Colonel Weitzler shouts as he locks his targeting mechanism on the rubble of a nearby building and jumps. As he lands on the rubble, he immediately jumps again onto a ledge on a nearby building, where he watches as the Kolossus slams to the ground with a deep, resonating groan. After a few seconds, its orange magma begins to solidify from bottom to top with explosive clicks./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""Colonel Weitzler, this is Captain L'hopital, What is your status!" The Colonel hears over the radio./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN""This is Colonel Weitzler, I am clear. All squad leaders, account of all your Defenders and report back. Once done, all available medics will tend to our injured and then assist the Parisian SAMU units with the injured civilians," Colonel Weitzler says between pants into his radio./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN"After receiving confirmation that all Defenders were accounted for and that there were minimal casualties, Colonel Weitzler and the other medics go to assist the SAMU units while the other Defenders return to secure the base. /span/p