The Buchenwald is almost defenseless now that Lucifer's this close.  His glowing Solar energy- does that have a faint green tinge to it?- ripples through the bulkheads of the Buchenwald.  He rips up a section of the hull with his sheer might, and a portion of the hull buckles and warps.  The Slaved Missile Barrage system suffers several detonations, revealing a hole in the side of the ship!

Jess in the meantime unloads a paltry attack on Viper 2.  The ships suffer egregious damage, made worse when Chupacabra loops around to unload on them, shouting obscenities in broken Spanish.  A good 70% of the fighters are shot down between the two, but they just push on past.

Charmer takes this opportunity to engage Mamba 1.  After a brief shootout she downs a few ships, but Mamba Wing is pretty talented.  She's not able to kill that many.

Axehead opens up on Buchenwald.  "All ships, Axehead in the clear. Supporting assault on the Buchenwald.  Focusing on the main guns."  His missiles look dead on the money but the Buchenwald's anti-missile defenses shoot them out of the air.

Mamba in the meantime makes straight for the Enterprise.  Only Mamba 2 engages the Living- chasing down Gyrfalcon.  "Taking hits!"  He shouts out of panic, but he loops around to blast a few of Mamba 2 out of space before making it towards the Enterprise. "Almost there!"

"We're ready to receive you, Gyrfalcon!"  Tomato reassures him.

The Queensguard chases after Mamba 2, blasting a few more ships out of space with elegant precision.

Diamonds engages Cobra 6, but with the dogfight ongoing all that they manage is to get blindsided by a different Cobra Squadron.

"HELP M-"  Diamonds 4 screams before his destruction.

Glaive and Halberd both manage to shoot through the screen of Viper Wing, blowing up a few ships as they pass.  "Glaive here, we and Halberd have made it through the fighter screen."

---

https://docs.google.com/docume...luE/edit?usp=sharing

Meanwhile, on the Odysseus...

The Imperator shudders as Endings tosses the cloak around it, binding it mostly in place and slashing off what must be half of its corpus.  But that's not enough to stop it from cycling the airlock.  The ghost finishes the last latch and rips out the controls, making the door snap open.  The Imperator seems unfazed by the rush of air, throwing a severely hampered counterpunch- that conceals a leg sweep and kick, aiming to destroy Grunt's footing and send him right out the airlock!

Both of you, make a Might Minor Action on your initiative to avoid getting sucked right out of the Odysseus.  Difficulty for this is 40.  Grunt, this is obviously not in the cards if you're thrown out of the airlock by this Knockback.  If you are, you're gonna need some help or to get creative.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:48, Mon 26 Sept 2016.

((Initiative roll: 10, 9, 5, 5, 5, 3, 3 & 2
using Vengeful Titan w/ Longinus (Ranged/Massive)
1 Chi to reduce Piloting penalties by 5
Float 5-5-5 to River
FoB: 48 (23+15+10) / 2 Chi
Initiative: 19 (19+10-10) ))

As the Buchenwald's previously impenetrable armor finally gives way to his rage and the missile system that so dared to spite him lies in shambles, the worst of Lucifer's fury is quelled. The Longinus spews superheated discharge all around as it processes the colossal expenditure of Lucifer's Essence, but this time it doesn't seem to do so at the expense of its weapons systems.

Lucifer's voice is steady over the comms, an undertone of satisfaction underneath - not smug, but giving hope for the mortals being massacred that the fight was not one-sided.

"Missile system shouldn't bother you as much anymore. Odysseus has reached the Buchenwald - Endings, Grunt, you're up!"

As he catches his breath and processes the situation, the enemy's strange tactics finally start hitting home for him.

"Admiral, the enemy's MO is different. They're ignoring the Exalts and going for maximum loss of life - coupled with trying to prevent getting them back in. I propose having all fighters who haven't breached the fighter screen make a tactical retreat toward the Enterprise, making a close perimeter inside the Parker Field to mitigate enemy numbers while the more damaged squadrons get in for repairs."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:19, Mon 26 Sept 2016.

((Initiative roll: 10, 9, 7, 6, 6, 6, 2 & 1
using Lead Arrow Rain w/ Shofar (Ranged/Massive)
Wash 9-9 from River
Flow 6-6-6 into River
2 Wood Chi + 2 Chi (Five Elements Supreme Combination) for +15 to Strike
2 Chi (Peerless Skill [Marking])
Marking [Cobra 5]: 39 (19+10+10)
Initiative: 17 (17+10-10) ))

This wasn't the time to lose hope. There were still plenty of survivors, both enemy and ally. Her options for gestures were somewhat limited, but she could at the very least start dropping the enemy formation.

"Imperators are down, and the Buchenwald is wounded. Until more company shows up, I'm making a promise that an undamaged squadron of enemy fighters will disappear each time Shofar speaks."

It takes less energy to efficiently fire upon the ants, but Jess' concentration is still strained, forcing her to burn a little energy just locking onto the right targets. She couldn't take any chances. Her audience deserved a proper show.

She sends the laser lights far across the battlefield, painting the exposed bodies of the riders in shifting colors. There was no communication equipment to transmit into, but Shofar's unique sound transmission made sure the Cobra 5 pilots heard her proclamation of their demise. And so the music started back up.

"Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel
Their horns were black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel"

(R1 Defense: 9, 8, 8, 3, 2, 2 & 1
Knockback: 50 - 28 - 10 (Awareness) - 5 (Sight) - 5 (Laughs at Complexity) = 2 - 10 (Action Bonus) = Miss
Strike: 20 - 22 = miss

Shadow Catching with Saber
9, 5, 3, 2, 2, 2 & 2
Might : 42
Init: 19 + 10 = 29)

Among the things that his training had emphasized was that the simple beat the complicated. Between the solidity of his stance and strong visual acuity, Grunt wasn't much bothered by the distraction. The follow through attack meant even less, although he did have to scramble for a handhold.

Grunt draws a single edged knife whose design would have been familiar to several older generations of Marines as he caught the edge of the shuttle wall with his other hand.

"This is Grunt, bastard opened the airlock."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:41, Thu 29 Sept 2016.

((Initiative 8, 7, 6, 5, 3, 2, 1 :/
Initiative 33 (18+5+10)
))

As the airlock opens, Iapetus is too close to it to be able to react, and flies straight out.
"I am out, Grunt seems to be okay inside."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:55, Fri 30 Sept 2016.

(( Initiative: 10, 10, 8, 7, 6, 6, 6 & 5
Using Murderous Shadows (pilot) w/ Benisuzume (unarmed+saber)
Float 6-6-6
Cover Ground:67(17+15+5+10+20)
Ride Wave to fling Grunt & Endings inside the Buchenwald: 40(20+10+10)
FoB: 40(15+15+10) /2 chi
Initiative:53(18+25+10)

All attacks against Buchenwald
Attack roll: 10, 7, 7, 6, 4, 3, 3 & 2
Lashing Flurry 1 chi+ 1 solar chi
Reincarnating Nine Brothers 5 chi

Strike: 76(16+20+10+5+25) better dodged
Secondary Strike: 58(23+20+10+5) better dodged
Burn: 47(27+10+10)
Disrupt Strike: 44(14+20+10)
Break Wave: 71 (flowed 36+25(Strike)+10)
))

The blinding light shining from Lucifer colours the empty space and almost everything around it, not Benisuzume though. Benisuzume seems to turn into even darker shade of black than everything else. Upon hearing of problems within the Odysseys, the ships veil of shadows drops a little, revealing the bluetinted shade of the ship when Lyla turns it around.

"Iapetus, Grunt, release if you are holding onto the Odysseys. I'll toss you indoors. Also Grunt, get a hold of the laptop."

Benisuzume does a seemingly unnecessary spin around, and the hook with a cable spins out towards Endings. The accuracy of the hook would seem normal if it was thrown by hand. The cable tugs at Iapetus and wraps around him, but it doesn't stop there, instead it flings itself within the Odysseys and grabs a hold of Grunt. Lyla slams down the reeling in button and spins her ship around to gain momentum. Soon the two are flinged into the Buchenwald from the hole that Lucifer managed to make.

"Lucifer, I'm heading back to help with the pests," she reports. "After giving this thing another bruise. Take care over here!"

With the momentum given by the spinning she rams her plasmacutters to the side of the Buchenwald. The shadows from Benisuzume appear more like flames bursting into the vast space. The cutters spin ruthlessly and lace the surface with cuts. The Buchenwald is preparing for something, but from her point of view it's really hard to tell what it is exactly...so any wire or opening gets showered with hits just incase. She pushes her thrusters to the limit and scrapes along the side of the enemy ship as speeding to join the others.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:18, Thu 29 Sept 2016.

Blue Fox manages to hook Grunt and Endings with her trailing cables- no mean feat, even for one of the Exalted.  They're snagged and duly thrown into the crevice where the Slaved Missile System once was.

"Great shot, Lyla! We've got confirmation the Odysseus's crew has entered the Buchenwald!"    Five Days Darkness all but lets out a whoop of exultation, only to go silent as Blue Fox strafes the huge ship before taking off.  Though it puts up the Void Prana Shield again, the hull's taken such a battering that every little blow is telling.

Crimson loops around, playing another deadly blast of dubstep punctuated with exploding green flame and shots from her ship's weapons.  An entire Cobra squadron is turned to space dust.

Tomato has stayed still this entire time, simply rotating her ship as if acting like a turret.  This time she abruptly swivels to spray some of the Mamba squadrons trying to break through the Parker Field, blasting the remains of Mamba 1 to pieces.

"HAH, got 'em!"

The Buchenwald is crippled.  Though the Supermassive Void Cannon is still working, Five Days Darkness is better able to apportion the Enterprise's shields.  The void cannon just splashes against hardened essence, though a few streamers of necromantic energy impact the hull and cause electrical failures.  Even though the missile launcher looks like it should be out of action, a missile emerges from the hole in the side and claims another life.

"That's not possible!" Halberd 5 sounds incredulous, unwilling to face his own death.

Though plagued with electrical failure, the Enterprise's gunners are right on the money.  Accurate fire claims some of Mamba 2 and forces it back against elements of Cobra.

"You heard him, pilots.  All squadrons, return back to the Enterprise and reenter the hangar.  While waiting your turn stay within the Parker field."
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:12, Thu 29 Sept 2016.

((Attack roll: 9, 7, 7, 4, 4, 2, 1 & 1.
1 Metal Chi, 1 Solar Chi on Black Tigers Hunting
2 Chi on Pinning Shot
Flood 5 to ignore Armor, reduce max Chi Aura by 1

Strike: 87 (27 Roll +20 External +20 Internal +10 AB +10 Longinus). Better dodged (-10 from Massive).
Disrupt Damage (Might): 59 (24+20+10+5)
Disrupt Dodge (Might): 51 (21+20+10) ))

"Copy that, Blue Fox - give 'em Hell. Same goes for you, Grunt and Endings."

Before the Buchenwald has a proper chance to recover from Lyla's attack, Lucifer presses the assault further. Since its weapons systems can't manage another assault quite like the previous one right away, the Longinus resorts to a more primitive approach instead - taking long, heavy strides along the massive black tumor's surface, ripping free whatever comes loose and riveting it with bursts of angry Solar judgment.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:51, Thu 29 Sept 2016.

((Attack roll: 10, 9, 9, 9, 8, 7, 4 & 2
4 Chi on Glowing Cloud of Heaven
Flood 6 from river to extend attack to Cobra 5
Strike: 89 (39 roll+ 20 base +15 Internal+ 5 Marked+ 10 Action Bonus) better Dodged (-10 if Blocked)
Target receives -5 Penalty to Dodge from being Marked
Target receives -5 Penalty to Dodge from GCoH
Counts as an Area Attack for the purposes of damaging Minions
Secondary Strike: 76 (26 roll+ 20 base +15 Internal+ 5 Marked+ 10 Action Bonus) better Dodged (-10 if Blocked)
Target receives -5 Penalty to Dodge from being Marked
Target receives -5 Penalty to Dodge from GcoH
Counts as an Area Attack for the purposes of damaging Minions ))

Having momentarily considered going after a Mamba squadron, Jes had decides to keep her lock on the sure thing. Better to build up anyways. She was going to show an effortless destruction.

"Enemy designation Cobra 5 has been destroyed."

She charges Shofar's reactor to capacity, tracing each and every escape from far across the field of battle. Their shields couldn't stop it, and if they tried to escape...

The lights dancing on the enemy craft begin to pulse brighter and brighter, expanding ever outward to fill the space with a strobe like lightshow that she was going to use a whole lot more over the course of the battle. It was best to get out of the way, but it was going to be very hard not to run into more, or each other for that matter.

The slow, folksy lines begin to pick up a psychedelic warbling as she turns the volume up.

"Yippie yi ooh
Yippie yi yay
Ghost riders in the sky"

Shofar's voice rings out once more, and trails of gaudy light surge through the battlefield.

Forte's weapons scream.  It's perhaps a blessing that she can't hear the ghosts' screams of horror as she lights them up.  Cobra 5 goes up in pink flame, as if agreeing with Forte's early prediction of their demise.

Chupacabra chases down Viper 2, vaporizing the remaining fighters in that squadron.  Charmer unfortunately has less luck, tangling with Mamba 2 and only removing a few of them from the equation.  Axehead fires more torpedoes at the Buchenwald, but these are shot right out by the anti-missile defense systems.

Queensguard and Mamba 3 tangle with each other as Queensguard tries to make it to the safety of the Enterprise's Parker Field.  One of their fighters has obviously taken too much.

"Queensguard 3, too much damage, ejecting!"  He pulls his beacon, confirming his survival after ejection.  It takes more than a few basic Neverborn fighters to kill a Dragon-Blooded!

Gyrfalcon 3 has almost escaped.  Queensguard Squadron's sudden appearance buys the pilot enough time to squeeze through the enemy fighters, but not before opening fire on Mamba 3 on the way.  Several of Mamba 3 go up in flames and then Gyrfalcon 3 has made it to the Enterprise's hangar!

Diamonds and Clubs scream through the melee as well, with Clubs managing to down a bit more of Mamba 3.  All of them make it to the Parker Field except for the Queensguard.  This leaves a large number of Neverborn ships buzzing around the periphery of the Parker Field, trying to get at the sweet juicy capital ship within.

Glaive, Halberd, and Billhook make towards the Buchenwald.

"Good news.  Gyrfalcon 3 has made it back safely!"

"Hangar here, Gyrfalcon 3 is suffering a seizure!"

"Quarantine immediately.  Keep me appraised."

"Uhh... sir.... this isn't a seizure.  You should come down and help-"

"No need.  Get me another ship. Requesting new callsign:  Kumiho."  Gyrfalcon 3's voice comes up on the comms, filled with a thrill of power and confidence the Exalts know oh so very well.

"Granted, Kumiho.  Make Luna proud."

"Forte, Kumiho here.  I've got an idea about how to handle these fighters-"

Her idea is cut short.  Their comms are interrupted by a harsh squeal of necrotic energy as rips in space and time open across the battlefield.  Two groups of five Nanking-class cruisers jump into the battlefield, with one... oddly familiar vessel leading the others.  Lucifer knows a Warstrider when he sees one, but he's never seen the Abyssals field any.

"NEW CONTACTS!"  They hear over the comms as the interference fades away, "We have two groups, one anti-capital and one anti-fighter!  Anti-Capital is labeled as Judas, Brutus, Cassius, Ephialtes, Quisling!  Anti-Fighter is labeled as Gein, Dahmer, Chikatillo, Bathory, Bundy!  Enemy warstrider is-"

Five Days Darkness's tactical summary is cut short like a hot knife through butter by a smooth, modulated voice.

"You can just call me by my name.  Project Thanatos here.  Hello, Lucifer.  It's been a long time."

https://docs.google.com/docume...kak/edit?usp=sharing
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:10, Sat 01 Oct 2016.

(Posting Initiative. Text to come later)

((Initiative roll: 10, 9, 9, 6, 3, 2, 2 & 2
using Lead Arrow Rain w/ Shofar (Ranged/Massive)
Flow 2-2-2 into River
Spending 1 Chivalrous Joss
2 Wood Chi + 4 Chi (Five Elements Supreme Combination) for +15 to Block and +15 to Toughness +15 Strike
Focus on Breath: 59 (29+20+10)
Initiative: 16 (16+10-10) ))

((Roll: 10, 7, 7, 7, 6, 5, 5 & 2
using Vengeful Titan w/ Longinus (Ranged/Massive)
1 Chi to reduce Piloting penalties by 5
Waning Metal Protection Spell: 62 (37+15+10)
FoB: 50 (25+15+10) / 2 Chi
Initiative: 16 (16+10-10) ))

A silent pride swells in Lucifer as he follows a new Exalt being born. "Welcome back, Kumiho. Teach the Dead their place."

The sudden appearance of ten Cruisers, while certainly alarming for the safety of the Enterprise and his comrades, doesn't get a strong reaction out of him - merely a narrowing of his eyes and a deepened sense of grim determination as he starts formulating their destruction. He knew it couldn't have been this easy.

The same can't be said for the interruption to Five Days Darkness's tactical summary, though. The comms are silent a few critical seconds more than normal. As he speaks, a tone of menacing determination permeates his words.

"...Thanatos. You're in worse company than I left you."

The necrotic burst of the Cruisers' appearance had snuffed out the protective platinum shimmer from the Longinus, but it quickly starts forming itself anew.

"No matter. I've wrested you from Yama's grasp once and i'll do it again."

(( Initiative: 10, 9, 5, 5, 4, 3, 3 & 1.
Using Murderous Shadows (pilot) w/ Benisuzume (unarmed+saber)
Floating 5-5
Cover Ground:64(14+15+5+10+20)
Ghostly presence:53(23+20+10)
FoB: 44(19+15+10) /2 chi
Initiative:46(11+25+10)
))

"You are just what we needed in this all, Kumiho," Lyla remarks with joy though her attention is quickly turned to the new state of events.

Once again the pitch black shadows envelop her ship, and haze out the view to the ship. Upon looked at, it is certain that the ship must be there, even if it doesn't seem like it. The shadows have a tinge of blue flame of fury in them when they get new unwanted company to the battlefield.

Lyla shares a swear word or two with herself.

"Listen-"  Kumiho's voice crackles through the comms, "Set them up!  Herd them close and let Axehead or Forte or Crimson just blow up all of them at once!"

"You heard her, pilots," Five Days Darkness instructs, "Axehead, Charmer, Chupacabra, Crimson; get the enemy fighters close and then let someone with area-effect weaponry blast them to pieces!  Lucifer and Forte, engage the anti-capital ships and defend the Enterprise!  Blue Fox, engage targets of opportunity!" 

"Negative, following original plan.  Engaging Abyssal."  Crimson rockets towards Project Thanatos, engines pushed to the limit as she tries to catch up.  Project Thanatos ignores her, instead focusing on Lucifer.

"Are you so certain?"  Project Thanatos's voice purrs over his comm and then there's a squeal of feedback inside of his cockpit.  His systems start to go haywire as they arc with purple and orange energy, interfering with his protective shield and his targeting sights!  Then she lines up two long, thin spines on her Voidstrider.  They shimmer and she's surrounded by a black disc that fires a wide, high-intensity orange beam at Longinus.

This is, of course, when Crimson rushes in.  But Project Thanatos is certainly not defenseless.  The voidstrider is far more agile than the Longinus and she's able to quickly juke out of the way of Crimson's explosive gatling cannons.  Small lasers spit out energy blasts at Crimson as she flies past, scarring the side of the Infernal's ship.

The mid-battle Exalation was an interesting development, and Jess cues up her ship's recordings of the events leading up to it. Many different display windows pop up, set to loop as she peers over the data. The Lunars had a fascinating-

Shofar's screens all short out for a moment, immediately after she was sure Kumiho was about to say something that would give her a window into the previously familiar pilot's mindset. Her momentary annoyance vanishes as she looks out to see ten cruisers pop into view.

When she hears the voice of Thanatos, Jess has to shut off her comms to keep from embarrassing herself.

"Oh... yes! Perfect! Absolutely perfect!"

Nearly ecstatic as she grins ear to ear, Jess can't believe the development. A celebrity guest star had showed up! No one even knew the name of the Abyssal they'd already blown up, but Thanatos of all "people" making an appearance? It was more than she'd ever hoped. Nevermind the Cruisers, all of which looked capable of at least putting a dent in her. Of course, if the damn things never bothered to fire at her...

She opens a channel to the new Lunar.

"Forte here. Good plan Kumiho. Picking off the flies one by one is pretty pointless. If you can tell me where planning to stack them all before you do it, that'd be even better." she says, trying to sound suitably concerned over the developments while adding in a soft note of respect.

She also sends out a general transmission, aimed mostly towards the Cruisers that had appropriately been named after cannibal serial killers, but wide enough that anyone listening could pick it up.

"Attention Anti-Fighter variant Cruisers Gein, Dahmer, Chikatillo, Bathory, and Bundy. This is Forte, aka Jess Maraud, and I'm about to shoot your boss as hard as I can. If you've got any intelligence on me, I imagine you know why that's bad."

Feeding a generous amount of her power into the reactor, the ship glows hot pink, flames like those that cooked the Cobra squadron beginning to dance on its hull as she shines like a beacon in the blackness of space. She chooses against taking aim, and instead spends the time building firmer her mask of divinity, draining away all her self-doubts and letting her body's reserves restore themselves.

"Well you're a real tough cookie with a long history
Of breaking little hearts like the one in me"

Shields up. Shofar groans at her, but she shushes him.

"That's okay, let's see how you do it
Put up you dukes, let's get down to it"

Armor reinforced. Firing turrets optimized for accuracy over penetration. Jess leans back in her cockpit and smiles.

"Hit me with your best shot
Why don't you hit me with your best shot
Hit me with your best shot
Fire away"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:31, Sat 01 Oct 2016.

((Attack roll: 10, 7, 6, 3, 3, 2, 1 & 1
all attacks against Thanatos
Lashing Flurry 1 chi+ 1 solar chi
Reincarnating Nine Brothers 5 chi

Strike: 86 (flowed 26+20+10+5+25) better blocked
Secondary Strike: 58(23+20+10+5) better blocked
Burn: 41(21+10+10)
Disrupt Strike: 47(17+20+10)
))

As the surprise fades away, and steel hard determination sets in, Lyla radios:"Copy that."

Benisuzume glides within the shadows, and soon is next to Thanatos the plasma cutters appearing from the darkness blazing. They are fast and precise, aimed to stop and paralyze. Though the other ships were roaring with anger, Benisuzume only hums, the sound of the engine dampened by the out pouring essence. The cutters are masked by the out lashing blueish figures, resembling the tails of a fox.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:33, Sat 01 Oct 2016.

((Defense roll: 9, 9, 9, 6, 5, 4, 3 & 1
1 Solar Chi on Swinging Bell Defense
Resist Disrupt (Wu Wei): 64 (39+15+10)
Block Strike: 56 (16+20+10+10+5-5) ))

Lucifer grunts as his systems suddenly arc with hostile energies, dissipating his protective barrier before it can recover. After the initial shock he quickly grasps the controls again, growling as he focuses his Anima to flush out the intruding force.

He regains control just in time to see Thanatos charging her beam attack. Thinking quickly, he grabs a huge piece of the Buchenwald's hull armor floating nearby due to his previous attack and interposes it between the beam and himself! The beam slices through the scrap but weakens it enough for the Longinus's outstretched hand, crackling with energy, to cleave the beam in half without considerable damage.

"I'll do it or die trying." The intensity of Lucifer's gaze can be felt through the metal of both Warstriders as he replies to Thanatos's taunt. "And you know how killing me tends to work out."

Blue Fox swoops in for a silent kill.  Thanatos cannot be more prepared.  A powerful essence shield erupts right in the way of Blue Fox's fire, deflecting all but a single grazing shot.  As Blue Fox passes by, Thanatos's Voidstrider lets loose another quick burst of dark energy, marking Benisuzume's hull.

"No.  They'll die as you try,"  Thanatos's voice comes over everyone's comm, "Ah, they're online now."

Tomato swoops in to take out the rest of Mamba 3.  Thus she's there for a front row seat when the Neverborn cruisers advance, their massive beam cannons lancing out at the Enterprise one by one.  Five Days Darkness puts up a stellar defense, rotating energy fields and maneuvering the Enterprise so they can't manage to do more than scar the hull.  The Buchenwald's Supermassive Void Cannon also comes into play, but a last-ditch reapportioning of resources saves the Enterprise from a hull breach.  The Enterprise is still taking a battering, the shots overloading the cruiser's systems.

"We need those cruisers out ASAP!"

The others aren't so lucky.  While the main guns of the five anti-capital cruisers rip across the Enterprise, their other guns join in against the fighters limping towards the Enterprise's hangar.  Though they're not equipped specifically to work against fighters, Diamonds and Clubs are overwhelmed by the crossfire.  Soon they're joined in with more inaccurate missiles from the Buchenwald.  Diamonds and Clubs are torn to pieces.

"ALMOST THERE-" Diamonds Leader never makes it back to the hangar.

"EJECTING!  THANK GOD I MADE IT-" Diamonds 2 is hit by a stray shot, annihilated just above his fighter.

"URGH!"  Diamonds 5 sounds like she's in the midst of throwing up when her comm is cut short.

"This is the end."  Clubs Leader is resigned to his fate.

"Too much crossfire!  Evade!" Clubs 2 can't maneuver out of the way in time.

"AVENGE ME!"  Clubs 3 calls out to anyone who'll listen.

"ABORT ABOT ABGWG-"  Clubs 4 gurgles away her life.

"Reactor critical.  Sorry..."  Silence and then an explosion and Club 5 ceases to be.

The anti-fighter cruisers all focus in on Forte.  One by one they open up with withering crossfire, all of it computer-assisted to focus on Forte's armor.  The slower bombers are vulnerable, and Forte is a well-known target; the Neverborn know how she fights by now.  Their weaponry hits hard, rattling Forte inside of the Shofar like a marble in a tin can.

The Enterprise is too hard-pressed to really mount much of a counterattack.  Mamba 2 manages to avoid its fire, but the Enterprise at least manages to herd some of Viper and Adder into the same area.

[To Prevent a wall of text, here is a Google Doc. 5 Serial Killer Cannibal Attacks a round is a lot: https://docs.google.com/docume...tVg/edit?usp=sharing]

Jess watches with hungry eyes as she sees the five enormous vessels ignore every other craft on the battlefield and devote all their attention to her. She knows she can't dodge. She doesn't even want to. She can take all five of them at once.

Each impact strikes against Shofar's shields dramatically, each carefully placed projectile making a powerful impact. Of course, anything that coordinated can't be random. There's a pattern to that sort of relentless, unstoppable assault. There's always a rhythm.

She surrenders to its flow, letting the thumping bass dictate where she focused her attentions, strengthening and weakening her defenses according to the pattern. It was incredibly fast, and it shook her, but it didn't shake her apart. She let it flow onto her, and then away from her, her instincts naturally guiding the rotation of the ship's sensitive components away from more directed attacks when Dahmner and Bathory tried to be cute.

The onslaught ended, Jess is tired, but utterly undamaged.

"THAT'S NOT ENOUGH!" she outright yells at the Cruisers, not caring if her transmission is actually being read by the ghostly pilots. "If you can't hit me, then don't get me excited! Once more, with feeling!" she commands them.

She sends a message out. "Kumiho, like your idea, but I've gotta focus on those Traitors.

Jess really didn't like burning this much energy so quickly, but the Enterprise could potentially be destroyed in a matter of moments if she didn't go all out. Maybe even if she did, come to think of it. Oh well.

((Attack roll: 9, 9, 8, 7, 6, 6, 4, 3, 1 & 1
4 Chi on Glowing Cloud of Heaven
Flood 2 from river to extend attack to Brutus [Targeting Beam Cannon]
Strike: 71 (26 roll+20 base +15 Internal+10 AB) better Dodged (-10 if Blocked)
Target receives -5 Penalty to Dodge from GCoH
Counts as an Area Attack for the purposes of damaging Minions
Damage: +30
Secondary Strike: 66 (21 roll+ 20 base +15 Internal+10 Action Bonus) better Dodged (-10 if Blocked)
Target receives -5 Penalty to Dodge from GCoH
Counts as an Area Attack for the purposes of damaging Minions
Damage: +30
Disrupt Strike: 54 (29+15 Inspire+10 AB) ))

She thinks regretfully about not getting to blow up that pile of enemy fighters, as she knows how certain the results would be. But 5DD gave her a mission, and well, after all, it was good to be needed.

"You're gonna wish your friends could shoot for shit, Brutus." she transmits full power to the huge ship. "You just try aiming while I'm raining hell down upon you, knowing every moment that I'm tearing you apart, piece by piece."

Forte punctuates her point with the firing of her her secondary missile systems, waiting until just before the swarm of secondary flashbangs collides with the Brutus before she lets loose with the main gun. The rainbow shaft of light quickly catches up, filling the area with deadly rays of color only slightly easier to dodge than catch with your bare hands.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:02, Sun 02 Oct 2016.

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

Strike: 86 (26 Roll +20 External +20 Internal +10 AB +10 Longinus). Better dodged (-10 from Massive).
Disrupt Strike (or Toughness if Forte's Disrupt succeeded) (Inspire): 66 (21 Roll +15 Inspire +5 Fear Specialty +5 Internal +10 AB +10 MD) ))

Thanatos's taunt evokes a sneer out of Lucifer. The death cries of pilots fill his comms once more, causing his Anima Banner to erupt into being once more as mortal souls cry for vengeance.

He breaks free a long girder from the side of the Buchenwald and raises it to the ephemeral crown burning atop the Longinus's head, lighting it with Solar hatred before lobbing it toward Brutus.

As the improvised missile draws closer, it brings with it an ever-deepening sense of doom. At the moment of impact there is a brilliant flash and a hateful, unnatural whisper flooding the comms.

"FILTH."

The Killers' fire brackets Forte pretty well.  Though they don't deal her any damage- her Essence shields help there- the damage is going to pile up.

"A fine display of shield modulation,"  Thanatos's voice praises Forte, "Of course, I did hear something very interesting coming from your ship just a few moments ago.  Perhaps I should play it so everyone can hear."

"Switching channels." Axehead sounds bored.

"Oh no, no you don't,"  Thanatos laughs right back at the pilot, "I'm plugged into every band.  Do you like my Voidwalker, Lucifer?  I call it the Jaglavak.  Of course, it's only the prototype."

"Ignore the Abyssal,"  Axehead radios Charmer as Chupacabra takes apart the last survivors of Mamba Wing, "Engage the Brutus."

Forte and Lucifer open up on the Brutus, but the cruiser just keeps plowing for the Enterprise.  But it can't ignore their fire like the Buchenwald did- Lucifer manages to deal considerable minor damage with his flaming girder, while Forte and Charmer combined manage to dent up the Massive Beam Cannon.  Axehead also fires a missile at the reactor, damaging the ship's defensive shields a tad.

In the meantime, the ubiquitous Neverborn fighters crowd around the Enterprise's Parker Field.  Queensguard Squadron squirts through before they can be fired upon and enters the hangar, all too aware of what happened to Clubs and Diamonds as they tried to escape.

Billhook, Glaive, and Halberd reverse and try to make for the Brutus.  Only Billhook gets close, but the volleys of fire are too intense for Billhook to get any good shots in on the ship.

"Billhook 2 here.  Enterprise, this is looking too hairy for you.  And we're not going to make it through that fighter screen."

"I don't think we'll make it through another firing cycle,"  Five Days Darkness says grimly, "We can attempt to pull back now and bring back reinforcements or try to hold out a bit longer.  Either one's too long for you, Billhook."

"We'll smash ourselves against their fucking hull before they shoot us down," Billhook 3's voice comes through.

"All pilots, hear this!  We are making a hot retreat!  Any pilot that can return should do so!  Anyone who can't, retreat to the other side of the Buchenwald and get it in between you and the enemy cruisers!  Blue Fox- I need you, especially, to stay as undamaged and capable as possible to extract the crew of the Odysseus!" Five Days Darkness barks, "We will return with more of the fleet to pick you up soon!"

Round 6 Init:
https://docs.google.com/docume...evY/edit?usp=sharing

(( Initiative: 10, 8, 7, 4, 3, 3, 3 & 2.
Using Murderous Shadows (pilot) w/ Benisuzume (unarmed+saber)
Cover Ground:64(14+15+5+10+20)
Ghostly presence:63(33+20+10)
FoB: 42(17+15+10) /2 chi
Initiative: 53(18+25+10)
))

The situation looks rather bleak. Despite all of their efforts, the battle has now come to the point where the enterprise has to retreat. Then again in Lyla's mind, that is the best option, no matter what would happen to them after that. They already lost Sol and numerous lives before, that is not something they'd want to repeat.

The shadows around Benisuzume are shaken by the sudden reply, but quickly recover to hide the dent made by the hit. She squeezes the steering systems rod with her hand, as she radios to all friendly units:

"Alright, you heard the admiral. Those who won't retreat, group up and focus fire to hold up the fort. There is no reason to solo this through. There is no honor or glory in a battle that is lost, because you had to engage a famous target to show everybody how much of a diva you are. This is not a stage and this is not your show."

She never really loses her temper, she never really raises her voice, but that line was crossed as her emotions heaten up.

"It is OUR show, and TOGETHER we can do this, despite what that sneaky bitch whispers into our ears!" she rallies. "I'll be with YOU, who will be with ME?!"

Benisuzume's engine revs softly through her headphones, when the whole ship seems to tense up.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:16, Mon 03 Oct 2016.

((Major Wound on Brutus: Wrecked targeting systems; -15 Action Penalty when shooting further than 2 Zones away

Initiative: 10, 10, 10, 8, 4, 3, 2 & 2
using Vengeful Titan w/ Longinus (Ranged/Massive)
1 Chi to reduce Piloting penalties by 5
Float 0-0-0 to River
Waning Metal Protection Spell: 47 (22+15+10)
FoB: 43 (18+15+10) / 2 Chi
Initiative: 14 (19+10-10) ))

The girder's impact damage may be minor... But as the piece of metal lodges itself in the prow of the Brutus, the Solar energy embedded within flares up! With a violent flash the girder disintegrates, frying the Cruiser's targeting systems beyond repair and no doubt causing the unfortunate ghost pilot excruciating pain.

"Jaglavak? How modest", he replies to Thanatos. "I assume once I tear it apart you intend to progress from Prince to King and call the next version Beelzebub?"

He nods to himself as Five Days Darkness makes the decision to retreat; it meant less easy targets for the enemy. When Lyla rallies the troops, he's actually a bit surprised at the outburst but joins in with a firm shout as the Longinus once more starts harmonizing with his Anima.

"Hear, hear! The Living stand as one!"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:25, Mon 03 Oct 2016.

(Rolls now. Description later.)

((Initiative roll: 10, 8, 7, 7, 7, 5, 4, 4 & 1
using Lead Arrow Rain w/ Shofar (Ranged/Massive)
Spending 1 Chivalrous Joss
2 Wood Chi + 4 Chi (Five Elements Supreme Combination) for +15 to Block and +15 to Toughness +15 Strike
Focus on Breath: 54 (24+20+10)
Cover Ground: 52 (37+15+10-10)
Initiative: 18 (18+10-10) ))

"Every wound upon me is one not born by those I serve." she says, speaking more formally, concentrating on purifying her essence. "Surely one like you can understand the joy in fulfilling their creator's intent?"

Jess silently thanks Axehead for dismissing Thanatos' comments. When she hears that the Enterprise is leaving, she follows orders and accelerates towards the other side of the Buchenwald.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:01, Tue 04 Oct 2016.

"Very modest," Project Thanatos responds to Lucifer, "Save your flagship if you wish.  I won't interfere.  I have... other priorities."

The Jaglavak suit starts burning with green pyreflame, all the fire bursting out of the back of the suit.  She's preparing to move!

"I'm low," Crimson mutters over the comm, "But I'm going to try to buy the Enterprise more time.  Catch me if you can, bitch."

She rockets away from Thanatos, trying to bait the Abyssal after her.  As she goes it's obvious she's running out of Essence; she opens fire on the Brutus in an effort to bring it down further, but she only manages to slightly damage the reactor further.

Thanatos ignores her.  Instead the Abyssal burns towards Lucifer with mobility that Longinus would kill for, raising that long-barreled beam cannon.  Once again Lucifer feels his HUD scramble as Thanatos infests his network with her technosorcery and cancels his spell, recovering just in time to see her open up with her high-intensity beam cannon almost at point-blank range.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:02, Tue 04 Oct 2016.