Arratra here, reporting in for the latest chapter of Zoids: New Century Zero X
Zoids does not belong to me, nor do customised Zoids (mostly)
Blitz Team Hovercargo
"What is up with this?" Brad grumbled, staring up at the glowing sphere that contained the Shadow Fox, "TR-only exercise?"
"Battlemode 0739 was created specifically for exhibition matches like this," Jamie explained, leaning over the side of the Salamander Bombvern, "We're going up against a Class-A team, not a Class-S. But to get us into the groove, we're going up against a very large Class-A team."
"It's a Battlemode that places no restrictions of number of Zoids," Bit continued for Jamie; parts for the half-complete "Jet" armour were lying around the bay, "However, certain weapons aren't allowed to be used. That means Vega's charged particle gun is off-limits, and the opposing team's most powerful new Zoid purportedly isn't allowed, either; its weaponry is just too powerful. That, or it can't be switched to 'training mode' or otherwise dialled down enough."
"So just who are we up against?" Brad asked, idly leaning back against the leg of the Salamander.
"It's the Dragons Team," Jamie informed him, "They recently picked up four new pilots and six new machines, including an Energy Liger."
"Wait a minute, they found one of those?" Bit asked, banging his head on the inside of the wing unit he was working on as he tried to straighten.
"Yeah, I know," Jamie affirmed, "We're going to have to be extremely careful in the battle; several of the Dragons Team Zoids are flyers, and those that aren't tend to be quite potent."
"So how are we-?" Brad started, but was interrupted; the energy shell around the evolving Fox had suddenly dissipated, leaving behind a bone-and-ebony wolf where the Shadow Fox had been a few days earlier.
"A Konig Wolf!" Bit exclaimed, standing up, "Aw man, its beautiful!"
"It's still carrying the Shadow Fox's Vulcan," Jamie noted, surprised, "That's unusual."
"It'll be handy in the battle," Brad said with a smile, "I think I like it already."
Zoid Battlefield
2 days later
"Mobilising Orudios, Gunblaster, Battle Cougar," Timothy Finlay ordered the Battledragon; in response, the shoulder-mounted linear catapults launched the two flyers into the air, and the hidden cranes around the back-mounted heavy catapult lifted the Gunblaster over the Battledragon's head and slowly lowered it to the ground.
"You said a large team," Bit grumbled from the cockpit of the Liger Zero, "I didn't realise they would outnumber us."
"To be fair, it seems that they've kept the Redler back," Jamie interjected; for once he was in the cockpit of his Zoid, and not the Hovercargo, "It might need maintenance after their last battle with the Lightning Team. The standard fighting manoeuvre of the Redler is hard on both the pilot and the machine."
"Next wave's coming," the Doc reported, as the Zero rotated into position and onto the catapult. Since the Royal Cup a lot of effort had gone into reducing the Zero Panzer's weight, to eliminate the overloading and overheating problems that had been plaguing the armour. It had taken a lot of rewiring and internal work by the Doc and Bit, but they had done it. However, the Panzer was still prone to sinking into soft terrain such as sand, a problem Bit was hoping to bypass later with the "Breaker" unit, which was still in the design stage.
Bit winced despite himself as the Liger Zero Panzer landed, and skidded to a stop, but no alarms went off, and when he opened his eyes again, a quick check confirmed that there was virtually no strain on the legs.
"Bit, Leena, you're on Anti-air duty," Jamie explained his strategy, "That's why I decided you'd use the Panzer armour, Bit. Brad, you're focussing on ground targets, but if you get the chance, AA fire would be appreciated. Vega, Stoller, you protect Bit and Leena. You both have E-shields, so you can take the hits. Leonidas , Reshina, you take the Adamant Tiger on the offensive; take out that Gun Blaster if you can, but keep it on the defensive as much as possible. Leon, you take on the others; stick close to Brad. Naomi… you know what to do."
A chorus of affirmatives met the end of his speech, and the team fanned out.
"I take it you'll be providing close air support, Jamie?" Brad asked, as the Houndsoldier, Energy Liger, and a Shield Liger Mk. II landed, and fanned out. The shoulder hatches of the Battledragon closed, clearly indicating that all Zoids had been deployed… but there were still 15 Zoids on the opposing side, including another Konig Wolf, only this one carried only the dual sniper rifles, and a Gun Sniper with a Wild Weasel unit.
"That's what the Salamander is designed for," affirmed Jamie, "Yeah. That's why I was so adamant that we needed AA cover; the Salamander has no truly effective air to air weaponry. Naomi, be careful. They've got snipers of their own."
The Judge landed a moment later, and the rumble of its motors punctuated the faint growls of the various Zoids.
"All Zoids have been deployed," it began, "Dragons Team, Redler is not on the battlefield. Is there a problem?"
"The Redler is in for maintenance," Tim replied, backing the Battledragon off as Doc Toros did the same with the Hovercargo, "The last battle put strain on the wing joints and they're being checked out for metal fatigue."
"Very well then. Battle Approved, Battle Approved. Area scanned, battlefield set up. The Blitz Team versus the Dragons team. Battlemode 0739; special exhibition match. Ready! Fight!"
The Dragons Team scattered, although the Genos and Shield and Blade ligers stayed close to the Gunblaster. Storms of red and blue paintballs flew between the two teams, and the Dragons Team did surprisingly well; the Houndsoldier got close to the Zero early in the battle, and smashed Bit's Zoid over the head with the Cross Lances. It didn't do any actual damage, but Bit's Liger had two paint stripes plastered across the armoured plating of the cockpit… which also left two striped across the view, and Bit was forced to drop out. The Liger theatrically collapsed in response, and Bit groaned.
"Be serious, Liger!"
Naomi managed to eliminate the blue Geno Saurer from the battle before she was taken out herself; a counter-sniping shot from the opposing Gun Sniper splattered the jaw of her Zoid, and she was forced to drop out…
And then the battle was interrupted.
A black streak slammed into the ground near the official Judge, forcing both sides to jump away.
"This battle has been taken over by the Backdraft," the Dark Judge stated the instant it opened, "As such, the Battlemode has been cancelled."
"Fall back to transports and re-arm!" the official Judge ordered, "Battle cancelled! Battle-!"
It was cut off by a giant black ball plummeting from the sky and crushing it.
"Incoming enemy Whale King!" the Houndsoldier's pilot reported, "Fall back to transports and re-arm with live ammo! Van, Fiona, Xavier, Kirsty, Reese, readjust energy output from your beam guns. Go live! I repeat, go live!"
"Battledragon, activating weapons," reported another voice, and the Battledragon started to move forwards. The high-output laser cannon in its mouth unleashed its beam at the ball, punching straight through it in less than a second. The weapon exploded, causing the Dark Judge to cover its head.
"Hey!" it complained, "the Transporter is not permitted to enter battle!"
"You said it yourself," Bit growled; he had just emerged from the Hovercargo in the Schneider armour, "The Battlemode is cancelled. That means no rules."
Ben gritted his teeth as his Zoid descended into the Battledragon's spacious internal hangar.
"Dad, it'll be quicker for me to switch machines than to re-arm," he said over the COM, moving to his restraints, "Sorry, Houndsoldier. Looks like the Gil Vader-."
"No, Ben!" Hayden shouted, causing Ben to freeze before he could actually hit the quick-release button, "We must not let them know we have that Zoid."
"Re-arming Houndsoldier, Gairyuki, Gun Sniper," Tim reported, as the robotic arms reached in and opened the ammunition panels, before pulling out the boxes of paintball ammunition, and replacing them with live rounds. As they then moved to the catapults, Tim reported again, "Moving Houndsoldier, Gairyuki, and Gun Sniper to catapults! Geno Breaker, Konig Wolf and Orudios to the maintenance deck!"
It was over almost before the first trio got back out; the Zabats were almost laughably easy for the Battle Cougar to shoot down, and the Whale King was forced to retreat as well.
"That was almost too easy," Xavier murmured as he landed, "Hey, Ben, you think they were testing us?"
"If they were, they got almost nothing. You took them all out on your own," Ben replied, although he sounded concerned, "But why deploy such ineffective Zoids against the Battle Cougar? Even a swarm of them can't take it down; it's too well armoured and armed to be overwhelmed even by massive numbers. What were they trying to do?"