Mission 1: The Alliance
The small shuttle flew through the series of asteroids as the Rogues often spared a glance to the mechanical being, Shayne and Aurox doing it more as Reyna explained the situation while Pendles handled flying with Toby doing his best to keep the makeshift vessel from crashing too much. "We need to defuse this issue quickly before the Rogues start to break down as well, we already have issues with the UPR's own battles and their failed methods along with the LLC."
"Yeah, like they could do a lot worse than what Captain Ghalt had to surrender for the Battleborn." Whiskey Foxtrot mused as his revealed eye stared about the members. "But, I have got to admit, I didn't think we were going to use the Trench to get in on a rebel Rogue."
"Neither did I, but Maw's paranoia has been the bane of all the Rogues before Rendain's little attempt, now he has free range to try a number of dangerous methods." Reyna shook her head as she caught the pair's daily glances at the individual. "Yeah, I know, the guy is not worth joining us, but this request came on such short notice and, if he doesn't help out, then you are free to throw him to the airlock or to Aurox, whatever." The creature growled while the teen huffed with crossed arms as Pendles spoke.
"We've coming up on the outpost, get your knacks together and get ready for action!" Most of them nodded as they primed up and Pendles quickly got his kamas out as the ship made a sharp turn and came to a screeching halt as rounds pounded into the hull and the Rogues quickly unloaded into the fray, bashing their way through the ranks of Rogues that followed Maw's interests with the mech merely cleaning up the mess before they soon arrived to the midway when they had to protect a security node from incoming forces of Rogues and Minions that were somehow taken and reprogramed to fight for them. The Battleborn Rogues soon dashed in, before finding themselves in a trap as the Maw spoke.
"Welcome, great leader or should I say 'former' leader?!"
"Maw, you get down here and take your punishment like an actual Rogue!" The ways closed as a burly Rogue, armed with a empowered battle-axe leapt down and gave a dead look at the band. "You coward!"
"Better to see the great commander fall before my greatest champion!" The intercoms boomed the gnarly voice around them as Shayne and Aurox tried to fight the brute, succeeding in besting the brute for the best of time when Aurox quickly tried to cover his ears with Shayne doing the same in pain with a strange sound ringing out across the whole place, the brute delivering a heel-kick into the teen, causing her to cough up blood as she skid across the rocky ground. "You are powerless without your precious monster, whelp, let's see how it breaks!" Aurox was quickly snatched up and the effect was angst for both mentor and monster as Aurox's body was started to get pulled, cracks webbing out as Shayne tried to stifle her newfound pain as the others were quickly overwhelmed by more goons, tears actually falling as Shayne cried out.
"Someone, save Aurox!" The mech tossed its band of thugs and stomped straight for the brute before delivering a devastating uppercut, breaking the hold on the monster and letting it return to Shayne as she fainted from the pain with Aurox trying to cover her as best as he could as the mech spoke.
"Hands off the creature, they are beings as well."
"Time to break little toy then!" The brute tried to grip the mech frame when he quickly withdrew from some form of intense heat, but not fast enough as the machine grabbed the thug's head and it's eyes stared into the man's soul.
"You best pray that whatever god capable to bring people back is willing, I am not so lenient!" The warning came too late as fire scorched the thug's head in a pyre of flames before being released with a lack of it before the figure looked up, its lens turning orange as the being sneered. "Coward to leave his own to fight a battle so easily, that is NO commander I would follow." The bottoms of the feet extended out and the being had half the mind to give chase before they returned to normal and it dashed over to the pair and lifted Shayne up, Aurox resting on the shoulder plating as the mech spoke. "I'll get Shayne to the shuttle, we are going to wait on you Rogues to get it done!"
"No can do, big guy, I am not leaving you alone with my crew... not yet, any way." Reyna quickly turned to Toby and the Finisci Aviant nodded as the two were taken into Berg's arms and the mech headed back to the ship as Reyna walked up to the individual and pointed a finger. "I don't trust you yet, so you are lucky that I still have need of your skills, otherwise I would have rejected the idea of Ghalt letting you on."
"...That is fine..." Reyna paused as the individual spoke. "I don't exactly want redemption, I have been on the edge for a bit and likely to still be on the edge, I want my skills used as they are seen, to strike and bring things down before they get too dangerous for the others, if I can't earn that trust, then I would never have a place among rogues of systems." Reyna withdrew her finger and turned as she scoffed.
"I don't know about you, cap, but my money's on the mech suit over Maw's rubbish ideas." Pendles smirked as Whiskey was silent as they charged further into the compound before they arrived to a large arena when the Maw's anger boiled over.
"You think you know what's the best course, Valkyrie, but here, YOU play by MY rules, and I will start with your pitiful toy soldier!" Suddenly, a large mech suit dropped from the top, the Maw inside it, his gnarled bread only matched with insanity-driven eyes. "Time to send the trash packing!" A mal-created fist pulled back and took a swing, only for the UPR armor to sidestep and grip the arm as it used an unbelievable amount of strength to hold the bruiser tight while the main weapon, a large gatling cannon starting to ready up, as the individual spoke, the difference in size not turning his tone.
"You are a low-born, moronic, waste of space, you think that you can just turn your back on your commanding officer, I don't care what the Rogues do in their chain of command." With such force, the Rogue mech was thrown overhead and slammed to the ground as the individual spoke. "I have dealt with renegade elements before, you make my standards drop SO much lower, now bring your taunts and get ready to BACK! THEM! UP!" What followed was a clash of mechanical armor as the gun soon came up, but was quickly forced down as the UPR armor wrestled for control, something impossible as the Rogue mech outweighed, outgun, and outsize him by all standards, but that did not turn him way as the bullets soon followed to impact into the large-scale shield that was quickly used as a ram, buckling the left knee as Maw scowled.
"Get out of my way, weakling!" A swing nearly sent the armor flying, but it did not budge as it's jet thrusters were soon used and started to topple the mech, another hit knocking the armor off as he shouted. "I am not done!" Makeshift shield generators emerged from the flooring and the Rogues quickly took action as they started to channel their energy to him.
"Get those generators, Rogues!" Whiskey fired and destroyed one with his burst fire while Pendles and Orendi destroyed another with the last one exposed to the fireball-rounds from the mech, the protective shielding disrupted as the Maw roared.
"ENOUGH OF THIS, I WILL END THIS NOW!" Hastily converting the power that it managed to collect, the front of the mech opened up and Reyna's eye widened as she started to channel her protective power.
"Nobody's dying today!" The violet hue of the barrier shield glowed as the core discharge beam drilled into the barrier as both sides stared at each other before the armor mech asked the obvious question.
"So what did you use for the core discharge or did you forget that specific modifications are the difference between life and death?" Maw's face slowly twisted to fear as the beam, initially using a orange flare of color with its power, slowly turned to green as the being inside smiled. "A corrupted Yuelian core, saw that from a mile away, suitable for long-term combat, but is liable to explode when used in a core discharge, its effects an acidic substance that can easily melt through titanium armor."
"Son of a Vaselsi Srav..." The explosion filled the arena as the barrier protected them for the longest time as the smoke started to clear and they all looked to see the body, or better the skeleton, of Maw trapped in the now-devastated frame, its parts still burning with acid. Reyna sighed as the barrier faded away.
"One of my greatest competitors and he dies without even feeling my wrath." The commander turned to the mech as she inquired. "So, how did you know that the core was no good?"
"I have dealt with Yuelian cores and other types of cores during my time before sleeping." The mech wheeled its arm as it continued. "The most common use for Yuelian cores are classified as tank and heavy battery gun cells, it is a lesser use to use in a bipedal mech, but the REAL cons is if you try to use a Yuelian in a core discharge, the core can't take that kind of stress and will explode, though the effects could have been a LOT worse, trust me on that." Reyna rolled her eyes as she motioned everyone back to the ship, with the Maw's death and his forces shattered, the Rogues quickly reformed back up as the Battleborn headed back to the ship...
"Good job, Reyna, The Ring is in your debt and seem to be forming back up, though I am surprised that you didn't try to take Maw in, he could have been useful... in a demented way."
The Rogue leader shook her head as she returned the chat, the mech being worked on in a separate room. "As much as they could have happened, I wasn't the one who was dealing out the damage, the mech guy that you sent with us has quite the detailed influence, it knew the type of core and how to strike with extreme disarmament in mind, without him, we could have lost Aurox."
"Great, another crazy fool to our cause." Kleese slumped in his seat as Mellka glared at him before speaking.
"Ghalt said that he said some things during Deande's little session, Deande can also testify to that fact, any idea on his words?" Reyna glanced to the side before she looked back to the group.
"He's smart, I'll give him that, but he is also a bit of a hothead, he looked ready to fight the Maw one-on-one if he didn't have the self-restraint to help out, he also seems cocky in his mech, like he can't be touched."
"He must then rely on a persona for both sides." Deande said as she spoke in thought with the other members of their small council. "He is meek, fearful, but highly willing to express his intelligence on a level that we can all understand him on as well as his own wit and thought without the armor; in the exo-suit, he is bold, confident, is more than willing to fight, but understands that he is not some bullet magnet we can throw..."
"So far, looking at his weaponry in the brief times he has either engaged us or with us, he has been using flamethrowers that could be used until they need to vent or blast fire bolts and get a pause of flames before the next ones." Ghalt thought about it as the rest listened. "Armor plating along both arms appear to be able to extend out like shields, but that has yet to be tested, but further more, I had noticed the jets that were grafted into the leg structure of the exoframe, it could easily close the gap or quickly withdraw with ease and sections of the armor has some sort of reflective material, perhaps it is meant to be additional armor that can be activated, like an overshield." Ghalt paused as he spoke. "If anything else, I'd say that the kid has a long way to go, but he has the guts and belief to fill in the gaps, we just need to keep an eye on him... for now..."
The youth worked on his exo-suit as he detailed several things, going over the parts and components with ease. "The Gamma-Type IV 'Purger' frame surpassed all close-combat tests in strength, mobility, and firepower, unconfirmed ability against Varelsi targets, may require trial run to ensure full ability." The youth entered the frame and it locked up behind him as he moved the mech. "This is still functional, lower joint of the leg is not geared properly from rogue club to joint, need to repair." He set it up again in the rig before stepping out, it opening and closing again as the youth breathed in his rebreather as he returned to the clipboard. "'Promethium' Flame Casters still operating at eighty percent, still valid for full usage of frame and weapons, however, 'Mag-Grad' jet-propulsion lifts unused in latest mission, must correct and adjust based on performance given chance." He went about correcting some more measures and the countermeasures before the door slid open to the duo of Rogues, Shayne walking over with hands in her pockets while Aurox just hovered with some bandages before they posed several feet from the working mechanic, but before Shayne could say something, the door opened once more to the ship's Jennerit doctor who calmly walked over, past the duo, with a creepy grin before she spoke.
"So, how is your new parts and filters?" The youth stopped short before putting the wrench down and glancing to Beatrix.
"Operation fully mobile and capable, thanks in order for..." The youth shook his head before he spoke again. "Sorry, technical mode has a way of screwing up my speech and wording, I am doing a lot better now, I thank you... if you are the doctor who performed the life-saving surgery on me."
"Oh, don't be so dramatic, after all..." Beatrix rested on a hand on the youth's face, something Shayne wasn't taking too well, as a finger slid down to the throat. "It would not be right if I were to miss out on the murder of my AUNT'S attacker..." Silence filled the armory as the Rogues prepared to fight, to stop Beatrix from killing the guy, but he slowly took the mechanical hand and straightened up, Beatrix's demeanor waiving as the young man spoke.
"Your aunt wouldn't happen to be Claudia Ambralia Divia, would she?" Both parties winced, no one EVER says Ambra's full name in risk of her coming straight for them and roasting them for some time. Beatrix nodded as the young man released her hand and nodded. "Then that makes you Beatrix F. Lucavi, creator of the Thralls, and a skilled physician to meet." Without warning, the young man went about Beatrix's being like a vulture. "Jennerit-model 'Twilight' cybernetic augmentations to see here, but not the best in the long run as some of these replacements and changes could easily render an member quite strained from ill-proper alignments, fixes, and it is deadly to use with the 'Incistyx' Injector fitted like this." Within seconds of talking and detailing, he had successful dismantled the Injector straight from Beatrix's right shoulder and started to work on a replacement arm for her as the Injector shut down and went silent. "Operational exchange possible, given proper amount of time, materials, and cooperation for mechanical operation for full fit and repair to mend both mind and soul in long term, projected timeframe for project is..." Beatrix, without any word, swung her remaining left arm and clubbed the young man in the head, thudding into the worktable and sending things flying as he shook his head again and spoke. "Thanks, I needed that..."
Beatrix posed her hand on her hip as she glared the young man down. "What gives you the right to touch my gear, let alone me!?"
"Sorry, my fault, I get too into machines and tech that I lose myself in trying to get things together properly so that no injures or pain can surge from the work and operation." He shook his head as he stood back up, having slid down to the floor from the impact. "Sorry for doing that to you without permission, most people don't really care about what I do with their gear."
The point of Beatrix's visit was forgotten as she strode right up to the young man, speaking inches from his face. "But that is a custom weapon that I have long used in the field, it is not just an idle toy to trifle with!"
"So... you're say that you were not initially enduring surges of pain from the arms and legs from the Twilight parts interfering with your own body's growth and/or development?" Beatrix stopped in amuse as the young man turned back around, working on a mirror image of the left arm. "I thought as much, the Twilight model's predecessor, the 'Eclipse' cybernetic parts, are quite remembered to drive victims and patients mad from bouts of pain and anger from ill-fitted repairs, the fall of Penarch only helped phase out the Eclipse for better frames, but only a few know of the parts."
"...Where have you been all my life..." Shayne couldn't take it anymore as she crossed the threshold and pulled Beatrix away.
"Listen up, Bea, I came here to talk and I am not going to let you flirt your way into his heart, are we clear!?"
"Shayne, please..." Beatrix mused with her smile once more. "I can flirt, as you so nicely said, all I want, I just mean to be a lot closer than what you were wanting in a relationship, you still have a crush on the penguin, remember?" Aurox sighed as he floated over and watched the young man work as Beatrix continued. "I'd say you and Miss Orendi have a long way to go before you can call anyone your 'significant other'." Shayne started to growl as Beatrix returned it with a displeased hum before the work complete and the young man walked on over and, splitting the two apart with ease, tampered with Beatrix's mechanical parts and fixed the arm into place.
"There, now you have two arms and hands to work your operations with, but for now, I suggest that you move along and tell Miss Ambra that I wish to formally apologize for my behavior, there is no denying that I had attacked without valid reason, could you?" Beatrix was perplexed as she raised a finger to speak, repeated the action several times before grabbing her Injector and heading back to the medical bay as the young man turned to Shayne. "Miss Shayne, if you would be so kindly, not intervene on matters like that, I am responsible for my own actions and I have need to mend such things before they spiral out of control, it is not going to be easy for I am... anti-social to say the least, but it is well deserved before we can proceed with other endeavors... Also, I am not looking for romance... my lungs are not quite that strong for any uncovered contact." Within those words, Shayne and Aurox were either forced out or sent out as the door shut again, both raising a brow before Aurox spoke.
"Quite the colorful character that one is..." Shayne sighed as they leave the place alone for the time being, clearly nothing to gain from just watching some guy work on his suit...