Jess allows herself a small smile upon seeing the others run with her metaphor. She does supress the giggle she nearly lets out hearing Lucifer talk about stealing diaries, though.

"Both the Plague Doctors and Machina Guild would give their sack for the data that we might aquire today. Now I feel like I'm just the setup for rhe real payoff." she says, flashing a grin. "Of course, we all know how the public like their flashy explosions."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:11, Fri 16 Sept 2016.

The hangar is packed... in a sense.

There's only about 55 or so ships in the hangar, lining up at the exit:  interceptors first, bombers last.  The wings of all the ships are folded up to make more space.  Under the hollows made by the ships the crews are sitting, talking to each other, performing maintenance checks, making out with pilots, or scurrying around loading the weapons systems.

Most pilots have their own rituals.  Axehead's group goes over battle strategy over and over, reviewing the specs of enemy ships and patterns.  Charmer's group mostly plays cards for the ubiquitous cameras.

Chupacabra's apparently involves fried chicken wings.  He can be found with 14 of his fellow pilots under the wing of his interceptor, Cuauhipiltin, decorated prominently with an eagle eating a snake while perched on a cactus.

"Hey, anyone who wants some come over here!" Chupacabra calls out over the din, sitting on the floor with his squadron leaders.  "Everyone, gather around.  Drumsticks and flats for everyone but leave one for the survivor with the biggest kill count!"

The Red Queen is already in her ship, playing a soft instrumental beat over her loudspeakers.  Her four dragon-blooded pilots are acting as her crew, lovingly tending to their goddess's ship's every need.

At the very back of the hangar is a small ship labeled the Odysseus.  This little shuttle is obviously where Grunt and Endings are supposed to go.  To their (probable) horror they may note that there's no guns and the damn thing looks like it's made of tissue paper.  It's a good thing that Endings' armor doubles as a spacesuit; Grunt will definitely want a thicker suit for himself, because the first time that thing gets shot it'll vent what little atmosphere it has.

Daniel has managed to get a shower during prep time, but that seems to be about it. He shows up in the hangar later than most, still dressed in regular clothing. There is no pit crew bustling over his ship - largely because there's no ship to be found.

He walks through the hangar without hurry, stopping here and there to bless someone's weaponry or personal memento for protection and offering rousing, if zealous, words of encouragement to those whose nerves seem to be getting the better of them.

As he's passing by Chupacabra's fried chicken station he halts, the greasy smell reminding him that he's once again forgone eating for quite some time. He stops to grab a handful of wings and starts consuming them after a quick thank you.

As he eats, he notices the Odysseus. There's a slight pause in his chewing before he resumes, shaking his head and sighing.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:30, Sat 17 Sept 2016.

"I don't need a full suit, I can generate enough air to keep myself going if I have to," Grunt said when he saw the shuttle, "But I'm not flying in that thing without something to isolate me from vacuum if a rivet pops."

Lyla follows her crew finishing the check up's on her Benisuzume, a name which was given by one of the crew members kids after an anime she watched. Apparently she is as fast as the said figure. The name always amuses Lyla.

Her nerves are so far not getting to her. She takes refuge in the sight of people still acting normal and talking with each other and being all buddy. It's something that one can remind herself when the panic starts to settle in. They're there for the people.

She does take part in Chupacabra's chicken wing ritual, while scribbling a note of her own. Or rather a few of them. She flops down on the floor near her interceptor, and folds the notes neatly, after which she pulls out her lighter and burns them. No good bye letters or testaments, she'd come back for sure.

There was no visual ritual for Jess Maraud. She walked around, delivering niceties, being friendly, eating a bit of the fried chicken, chatting a bit with Lyla, and spending some extra time with Axhead's group, going over the battle in a bit more detail. She listened to each and every one of them, getting a feel for where their hearts were in the battle, even lingering near enough to Red Queen to get a feel for the rhythm that suited her mindset on that particular day. Jess needed to understand the performance she was about to take part in, and most importantly, her place in it. There was a music to each battle that she felt for. Heck, she was going to release it as a track after everything was over.

Once she got the beat down, she did the next part, putting on her brightest, warmest smile as she mentally ran through her long list of failures, both large and small, burying them one by one in the deepest parts of her mind. Jess let Sol's power flow into that smile, reinforcing the Idea she'd worked so hard to manufacture. She couldn't win the battle, but she knew that Jess could. She ponders getting a wing of her own. Time for that later.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:01, Sat 17 Sept 2016.

In the hangar, Iapetus heads directly to the Odysseus and starts inspecting it. After a few moments of checking that the vessel is as good as it can be, he seeks a quiet spot near it, sits down and does a systems check to his own armor and weapons, laying his nano-weave cloak and sword to the ground. When finally content, he dons his cloak and sheaths his sword and remains sitting in the relatively quiet spot alone.

Grunt is duly brought an armored suit that'll protect him from the worst of vacuum.  He's still given air, just in case; by now they'd all learned to go ahead with triple redundancy.  The Odysseus is hooked up to a heavy tow cable, the better for Lucifer to grab once he's ready to catapult out of the hangar.

"HEAR NOW.  HEAR NOW.  FIFTEEN MINUTES TO JUMP.  PILOTS, IN YOUR CRAFT!  HEAR NOW, HEAR NOW!  FIFTEEN MINUTES TO JUMP!"

The Red Queen's music starts to rise over the hubbub of the hangar.

"All flights, all flights, radio check!  Radio check!"  Chupacabra calls out. "Alpha Wing, Interceptors, check in!  This is Chupacabra, checking in!"

"Peregrine 2, check."  "Peregrine 3, check big daddy!"  "Peregrine 4, we read."  "Peregrine 5, ready."  "Kestrel Leader, here."  "Kestrel 2, engines hot."  "Kestrel 3, love you mom."  "Kestrel 4, officially stoked to fly with Blue Fox."  "Kestrel 5, all set."  "Gyrfalcon Leader, comms open."  "Gyrfalcon 2, ready for that chicken."  "Gyrfalcon 3, let's smoke some Marlboros."  "Gyrfalcon 4, prep set lock."  "Gyrfalcon 5, roger dodger."

"This is Crimson.  Crimson Wing, report in." The Red Queen has turned down her music for the comm check.

"Queensguard 1, Fire reporting."  "Queensguard 2, Earth reporting."  "Queensguard 3, Air reporting." "Queensguard 4, Water reporting."  "Queensguard 5, Wood reporting."

"Radio check.  Alpha Wing, Fighters, check in!"  Charmer takes the comm, "This is Charmer, checking in!"

"Hearts 2, check."  "Hearts 3, check."  "Hearts 4, check."  "Hearts 5, let's do this!"  "Clubs Leader here.  Keep it professional, Clubs."  "Clubs 2, check."  "Clubs 3, check."  "Clubs 4, check." "Clubs 5, check."  "Diamond Leader reporting."  "Diamond 2, got your back."  "Diamond 3, you're in good hands."  "Diamond 4, Lucifer, be with us."  "Diamond 5, comm open."

"Radio check.  Alpha Wing, Bombers, check in."  Axehead's voice is cool and emotionless, "This is Axehead.  All bombers, report in."

"Glaive 2, reporting."  "Glaive 3, accounted for."  "Glaive 4, ready to light the fire."  "Glaive 5, weapons hot."  "Halberd Leader, I read."  "Halberd 2, ready to crack some skulls."  "Halberd 3, for my family."  "Halberd 4, happy to have your back Forte."  "Halberd 5, we won't let you down."  "Billhook Leader, locked and loaded."  "Billhook 2, dinner tonight at my place."  "Billhook 3, DEUS FUCKING VULT."  "Billhook 4, for Luna." "Billhook 5, let's take us down a flag ship."

"Tomato reporting.  Comms are coming in crystal clear.  Journeys reports 5 minutes to jump.  Repeat, 5 minutes to jump!"  Pacifica's voice can only barely be heard over all the Essence engines revving.

Grunt suited up and took his place in the shuttle, laptop resting across his knees as he buckled in. He ran the pre-jump checks with the care and thoroughness of someone who only recently was given the task.

Hearing the announcement, Daniel quickly finishes his meal and makes his way toward the Odysseus at a brisk pace while wiping his hands clean. Step by step his expression, while intense even at rest, deepens into a menacing focus.

Finally he stands ahead of the Odysseus and takes a deep breath, closing his eyes. Slowly he widens and lowers his stance, driving his foot to the ground with a resounding thud. The air around him starts rippling as that of the desert.

"Hear me, Gods of the Enterprise! Hear me, Elementals of Steel and thunder! Lucifer calls for his panoply!"

An invisible force hoists Daniel upwards as three magnificent pairs of platinum wings, their feathers stained with crimson, erupt from his back. A blazing golden crown manifests a foot above his brow, shining bright enough to blind those caught unaware and painting the hangar in the brilliant hues of the midday sun. His hands go through complicated mudras at a rapid pace, tracing shining symbols in the air. His voice gains an echo as it rises in volume, reverberating through the hangar as the metal and hardware near him starts trembling violently.

"Drape the belt of truth around my waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place. Fit my feet with readiness, bid me take up the shield of faith, with which to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the Evil Ones. Grant me the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is My Word. Bring me Longinus!"

A swirl of energy and debris surrounds the floating figure. With each word, more hunks of metal materialize and interlock with each other, gradually forming giant pieces of armor that take the shape of a Warstrider around him, containing the blaze of Lucifer's Anima Banner within.

Finally the maelstrom of steel and radiance settles and a bulky Warstrider stands where mere moments ago there was only a man. A deep voice crackles into being through the comms.

"The Morning Star rises. Lucifer is with you."

Jess dramatically races to Shofar, the cockpit opening automatically at her approach as she feels the war god's aura of power mingle with her own. It's comfortable here, every part of the seat and gear wrapping intimately around her, every digital display feeling like just another natural part of her eyes.

"Forte reporting. Radio is good. Let's put fear back in the dead." she says as Shofar's blue eye opens to peer back at her. The ship starts up track (https://youtu.be/-n6msbewXQg), the guns resonating with the beat as they warm up. She keeps it low during the call check as well, but lets it gradually build to a rumble.

She listens to Lucifer's speech, holding in her power, and whispers to the loyal god. "Once more, my love, to Jericho."

Patching her comms into the general channel for the Last Refuge, Jess addresses any portion of the populace that happens to be listening.

"Today we ride into the stars to carry your wishes to your foes, to strike a blow against them that they will never forget. Your voices are not unheard. Your will is not without purchase! They have driven us so far from our home, but today we strike back. Pray! Pray, and we will carry your wrath with us into this dark place, leaving together victorious against the wretched things that have hunted us!"

She takes a deep breath and borrows from Daniel's example.

"May those who die be remembered! May those who live be Exalted! Glory to the Living Fleet!"

There were others have a flare for drama, Lyla is quite the opposite. She thanks ger crew and calmly jumps into Benisuzume. The pitch black cockpit is lit up in shades of blue as she pours herself into the interceptor and the different buttons light up.

"Blue Fox here, hearing you loud and clear. Maybe too loud," she jests accompanied by a rare chuckle. "Kestrel 4, drinks are on me after this."

She listens to the epic monologues given by her comrades, and silently nods in agreement. Slowly while listening she lets her essence flow freely, shadows flickering around the ship like flames. Eventually it's her turn to crowd the comms with an epic speech that would bring hope and joy to all, and inflame their hearts with courage and certainty.

She smirks and lights a cigarette. The last one for this trip.
"Once this is all done, it'll be the party of the century. Start getting prepared," her tone is playful."Race you all there!"

The dramatics finished, Jess sends a message through the bomber squad's private channel. "Copy that, Halberd 4, trusting you to defend my rear."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:02, Sat 17 Sept 2016.

Iapetus settles in the Odysseus and follows the comms chatter trough the devices in his helmet.
"This is Odysseus, Endings and Grunt ready for departure, radio loud and clear."
After the speeches of Lucifer and Jess, Iapetus' voice rises in the comms, his modulated voice slightly less menacing than normally, and the frame of Odysseus took a slight purple hue.
"There once was a maiden,
safeguarding our world.
The world was from us taken,
the takers with laughter curled.
But today to those, a message needs sending:
Laugh as you will, there's always an ending."

Map here:  https://app.roll20.net/join/1481183/WuFMSg  Please use RPOL for rolls.  Also note that multiple ships can fit on the same zone.

"Man, Forte, check your prejudice before I wreck you with this!"  Chupacabra jokes over the public comm, "Don't be jinxing us!"

"HEAR THIS, HEAR THIS!  JUMP IN FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE---"

And then they jump.  The crews have long since evacuated and the hangar essence-fields are active, keeping in the air.  The moment they see stars the interceptors take off, then the fighters, then the bombers, with Lucifer and his cargo catapulted out last.

They see the Buchenwald ahead of them, and all of a sudden little black points that occlude the stars boil out of every point of the flagship.  At first they look like larger ships, but then they realize they're swarms of smaller fighters.

"Sensors are reading an Abyssal with three Imperators leading 11, repeat, 11 wings of Marlboro-class fighters-"  Journeys radios, which is an unnervingly large amount of the things, about 660 ships; "- separated into three major flight groups and one minor.  Major flight Groups are designated Adder, Viper, Cobra.  Minor is attached to the Abyssal and designated Group Mamba.  Buchenwald is charging up weapons."

"What's that saying about the valley of death, pilots!?"  Chupacabra calls out via his radio.

"We will fear no evil!"  His squadrons chant back.

"Why's that, pilots?!"

"WE ALREADY OUTRAN EVIL'S FAT ASS!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:23, Sun 18 Sept 2016.

((Initiative roll: 9, 8, 8, 7, 7, 7, 4 & 3
using Vengeful Titan w/ Longinus (Ranged/Massive)
1 Chi to reduce Piloting penalties by 5
1 Metal Chi on Grand Horse Tramples Rice (CG+15)
Float 7-7-7 to River
Cover Ground: 53 (28+10+15)
Initiative: 19 (19+10-10)
))

While the Longinus hurtles forward in the middle of the formation with the Odysseus in tow, Lucifer surveys the opposition as it blots the stars from view ahead of them.

A smirk can be heard in his voice. "Soon enough it'll be them running."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:13, Mon 19 Sept 2016.

((Initiative roll: 10, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 & 4
Using Murderous Shadows (pilot) w/ Benisuzume (unarmed+saber)
Cover Ground: 67(17+15+5+10+20)
Ghostly presence: 54 (24+20+10)
FoB: 40(15+15+10) /2 chi
Initiative: 53 (18+25+10)
Float 10-10 to river
))

While the enemy is keen on blotting out the stars, Benisuzume more or less blends in with them. The whole ship seems to teem with energy, ready to burst out into action when need be.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:52, Mon 19 Sept 2016.

((Initiative roll: 7, 4, 4, 3, 3, 2, 2 & 2
Using Lead Arrow Rain (pilot) w/ Shofar (Ranged/Massive)
Activating Lightfoot for 2 normal Chi
Cover Ground: 44 (24+15+10+10-15)
Mark Your Target [Navarino]: 43 (23+10+10)
Initiative: 17 (17+10-10)
Float 2-2-2 to River
Activating
))

Jess grins at the banter as she surveys the battlefield. The Dresden is a good target, but it's going to take a bit of work to wear down. No, the Navarino was the better ship to engage with. She didn't need to do too much damage yet, though. Just needed to mark it.

((Everyone, for NPC attacks and all that, check here:  https://docs.google.com/docume...2_CjNra3_29qP4Q/edit  this is to avoid WALL OF TEXT))


The action starts faster than they expect.

All the Neverborn start burning right for the Enterprise, some faster than others; they move in a giant horde, uncaring about trivialities like 'formations' or 'good order'.  But the Abyssal at the front?  First he's there, then he's GONE.

Then he's in their midst.  The interceptor shadowweaves into the space between Lucifer, the Odysseus, Axehead, and Glaive Squadron.  The weapons charge and it opens fire on Longinus, peppering it with shots of black necromantic energy.  Though the Longinus is well armored, the shots are extremely heavy, robbing Longinus of movement.  Lucifer's stuck!

Lucifer gets a defense, then Lyla's got the next action.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:37, Mon 19 Sept 2016.

((Defense roll: 10, 9, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 & 5
1 Metal Chi on Swinging Bell Defense
Block: 69 vs 67 (29 Roll +20 External/Internal +10 Action bonus +10 Longinus) ))

Lucifer crosses his arms to block the incoming barrage. The armored shell of the Longinus glows golden amid the black bolts, and as the salvo ends the Longinus stands unscathed - although stuck from the attack's unnatural gravity.

"Ngh! You're a sneaky bastard, I'll give you that. But you'll have to do better to hurt me."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:13, Mon 19 Sept 2016.

((Attack roll: 10, 9, 6, 6, 5, 4, 3 & 2
Reincarnating nine brothers 3 chi + 1 solar chi
Lashing Flurry 3 chi

All are done against Abyssal Navarino

Strike: 79(19+25+25+10) better blocked
Secondary Strike: 65(Flowed 30+25+10) better blocked
Burn: 46(26+10+10)
Disrupt strike, using stealth: 45(15+20+10)
))

"Oh come on, what a bunch of cheaters.." Lyla mumbles with a tone of acceptance, as it all was kinda expected.

As the Odysseys mission is interupted rather too early, and Longinus stuck, she decides to take the harassing close and personal as well. Benisuzumes movement can be noticed by the shine of the stars suddenly settling right and distorting in another place. The cutters seem to appear from pitch black space, as the attacking interceptor is caught by surprise from behind.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:45, Mon 19 Sept 2016.

((Attack roll: 10, 9, 9, 8, 6, 5, 3 & 1
1 Metal Chi, 1 Solar Chi on Black Tigers Hunting
1 Metal Chi, 3 Chi on Iron Buddha's Disapproval
2 Chi on Pinning Shot
Flood 7 River to ignore Armor, reduce max Chi Aura by 1
Flood 7 to extend attack to Buchenwald

Strike: 89 (29 Roll +20 External +20 Internal +10 AB +10 Longinus). Better dodged (-10 from Massive). ))

Seeing the encroaching Abyssal getting torn to shreds by his comrades, Lucifer turns his attention away from the assailant and toward the titanic capitol ship in the distance. That was his mission, after all.

"Let's see what you're made of, then."

A scorching glow gathers in the palm of the Longinus, gaining intensity until for a moment it seems there's a new Sun in the middle of the battlefield. In the next instant the energy is released as a brilliant, massive projectile streaking toward the Buchenwald.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:06, Tue 20 Sept 2016.

The Abyssal jukes and weaves as Blue Fox comes in after it, expending a ludicrous amount of Essence to try to avoid her shots.  All of this is for naught- he takes a few well-placed shots to the engines, causing his interceptor to sputter.  Tomato opens up from afar with a superlative display of skill with her twin laser cannons, winging the abyssal's reactor.

Then Crimson swoops in with Throne.  The Infernal places two perfect shots- one up the tailpipe, another an explosive bolt of green fire to the cockpit.  The Abyssal fighter explodes, peppering the area with shrapnel, but not before shimmering pitch-black.  The Abyssal has been returned to the Buchenwald.

"Excellent shot, Crimson!  That's a confirmed kill for Crimson, with an assist to Blue Fox and Tomato,"  Five Days Darkness radios out.

Then, his forward motion stymied, Lucifer opens fire on the Buchenwald.  The Abyssal flagship's shields shimmer and it vents a ludicrous amount of Abyssal energy through its dorsal vents.  The combination of its shields and movement is enough for Lucifer's shot to merely blow a piece of exterior armor plating off.  The flagship is still in excellent condition.

"Targeting the Stalingrad,"  Five Days Darkness announces.  A flurry of long-distance shots later and the Imperator Stalingrad is floundering, trying just to stay functional.  The Enterprise even manages a solid hit or two.

Then the Buchenwald opens fire.  All that energy it spent avoiding Lucifer's attack does them quite a bit of good.  The Supermassive Void Cannon only clips the Enterprise's shields instead of overpowers them.  A shot of the Buchenwald's many cannons, aimed angrily at Crimson's ship in retaliation, is easily dodged.  But the cascade of the many micromissiles aren't so easily discounted.  Axehead and Crimson are quite capable, avoiding the missiles entirely, but Squadrons Gyrfalcon, Kestrel, and Glaive are all tagged by the micromissiles- and some come right for Blue Fox and Lucifer!

"AGGH!"  Glaive 4's death cry echoes through the comms.

"NO GOD N-" Kestrel 3's pleas are cut short.

"I'M HIT!  I'M HIT!" Are the last things they hear from Gyrfalcon 2.

Lucifer, Lyla, make a Defense roll vs difficulty 43.  Also go ahead, Forte.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:15, Tue 20 Sept 2016.

(( Defense roll: 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 3, 2 & 1
Block: 47 (Flowed 27 +10AB +10 Longinus) ))

Frustrated by scoring no more than a glancing blow at the Buchenwald, Lucifer angrily swats away the missiles headed for him like flies.

"I'm stalled! Can someone give me a boost?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:35, Tue 20 Sept 2016.

Grunt kept his eyes on the display. The vessel he shared with the Sidereal didn't have anything to say in these ship to ship battles. So instead he tracked the less impressive fighters. They'd be the problem when it came time to get off the Buchenwald after all. Assuming things went well enough to get that far.

(Init, Blossom Harvest and Unarmed. Assume the Odysseus can't take combat actions
10, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6 & 2
Tactics: Assessment: Quality: Adders (not sure if you want them as a group or individual): 20 + 15 + 10 = 45, will take Interesting Times if offered)