[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Ebony Fox transmits, "Heads up gang, something is shakin'. I've got a vibe that the Mavericks are getting geared up for something heavy. And I'm not talkin' about going clubbin' in San An, either."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Jazz transmits, "I wanna help!.....ITCH! *scratching noises*"

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Iris transmits, "Oh dear..."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Commander Jet Stingray transmits, "I'd go... But since I had to deal with Flame Man and King by myself, I'll gunna have to sit this one out."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Inquisitor transmits, "Blast it! Mavericks, and here I am stuck with an illness.."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Admiral pauses. "Depending, perhaps it would -be- wise to put some of our infectees into battle, despite our weakened state. The fear of infection might give them pause.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Harmony transmits, "..how many do of us have this?"

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Bowie transmits, "Whut have we goin in terms a equipment that's not continimated or quarrentined?"

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Feedback transmits, "Fantastic. Well, have fun dealin with it guys."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Jazz transmits, "No Really! I can show up! I just have white spots on my armor!"

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Jazz transmits, "I can wiggle my hands an everything! They would be real scared!"

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Ebony Fox transmits, "Admiral, honey, we don't know where they are going to strike. Civilian reploids or cyborgs could be present..."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Lt. Pallbearer transmits, "I'm able to assist."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Feedback transmits, "Um, wouldn't it be a bad idea to infect the Mavs. I doubt they care bout keepin the disease quarentined and away from the public."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Commander Jet Stingray transmits, "Well, I could try and stop them... I just need a combat grade hoverchair."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] RF Science Prismatic Spider transmits, "Jet, you're staying in the medbay. Relax."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Feedback transmits, "What? You mean that those things aren't standard issue for you guys?"

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Admiral mms. "Point. I suppose there's no idea what they'd do with the thing."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Feedback transmits, "I'd think that you'd all have personal hover chairs by now"

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Lt. Pallbearer transmits, "The Mavericks, I'm sure, are even more worried about this plague than we are."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Jazz transmits, "If only we had a ride armor that wasn't infected...I could so show up and do something before the stuff infects the armor!"

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Lt. Pallbearer transmits, "They get off on the fact that they're immune to diseases which plague humans - this kind of illness would terrify them."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Ebony Fox transmits, "Cut the chatter down, folks? We keep this up, and the Mavericks will be wise to our inside info."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Kalinka transmits, "Um...we are ready when you are."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Elec Man transmits, "You're all a bunch of idiots. Fooling you shmucks wasn't hard at all."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Jazz transmits, "You are still a bad brother! Humph!"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Kalinka transmits, "I was never fooled. I just followed orders."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Blues transmits, "Funny. I'd have thought you noticed that you didn't fool me. But I suppose nobody's smart as they think they are."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Dr. Cossack transmits, "Veddy good, Elec Man. I applaud your ability to decieve both your sister /and/ vun of your brothers."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Elec Man transmits, "A smart girl doesn't just follow orders. But then, you never were very smart, were you Kali? You sure scream loud, though."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Elec Man transmits, "Ah, Cossack."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Elec Man transmits, "Shame I never got to talk with you in an environment where I'd probably be able to strangle you."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Rock transmits, "Cossack, you were right. But I can't give up hope completely. If I did, I'd be no better than the rest of them."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Jazz transmits, "You be quiet, Elec! Be all quiet! Do it now! *all upset sounding*"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Elec Man transmits, "I don't even know who _you_ are."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Kalinka transmits, "*tightly* Rock...containment field is ready now."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Rock transmits, "That would be Jazz... One of our father's newest children."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Bowie transmits, "Can't trust the Masters any further than ya can throw em."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Elec Man transmits, "Still making the stupid ones, then?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Rock transmits, "Kali, I'm not sure if Elec Man is gonna make it there..."

[Radio] You send Kalinka a direct message: "Don't let him provoke ya, sunshine."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Dr. Cossack transmits, "Tell me, Elec Man. Let's say I vould put myself in a position zhat you could injure me. Let's say I started singink a song zee moment I valked in zee door...let's say, `I'm a vittle teapot'."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Dr. Cossack transmits, "Vhat vould zhat do, I vunder?"

[Radio] Kalinka sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Trying, handsome. Trying very hard."

<Global News Network> *BBZZZZT...the programming you are watching? Gone. It is replaced with Happy Sigma, smiling, grinning sadistically. All around him are troops, a large amount, a massive amount. Most countries wouldn't call this an army, they would call it a smiting. And none of them are infected with White Rust.* "Hello Switzerland. I will make this brief. You are surrounded by us, you know this, and you tried to prepare for it. Yet, you bore me Switzerland, you have bored me for too long.", he snaps his fingers, Beethoven's Ode to Joy plays eloquently through the Vehicle Bay, "Surrender and make things interesting, or I will make Vile's attack on the Flemish States seem like stroll through the park on a sunny day compared to Central Park at 2:00 AM. This will be our only request. You have twenty seconds to give an answer. I do hope that is enough time."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Elec Man transmits, "Familiar with the effects of 1,000,000 volts of electricity concentrated on the spine?"

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Commander Jet Stingray transmits, "Snapple! Who is able to respond?"

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Lighthawk XO Bowie transmits, "Well. That answers that."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Kalinka transmits, "You leave Daddy alone!"

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] RF Science Prismatic Spider transmits, "Well well well, Sigma makes his move."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Elec Man transmits, "Uh oh. Sounds like that woke someone up."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Bowie transmits, "Anyone not busy puttin Elec in a pine box?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Dr. Cossack transmits, "Let DRN 008 talk, Kalinka. Let him talk. He knows vhat zee consequences vould be."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Admiral transmits, "Perhaps a better question is who is -not- infected? And if we really can stand idle regardless."

<Global News Network> Swiss Ambassador: "Frag you buddy!"

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Crescent Grizzly transmits, "All availabl' SecDef personnel, mobiliz' NAW!"

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Lighthawk XO Bowie transmits, "Respondin...soon as Ah find a ride."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Elec Man transmits, "Tch. DRN. The SSN given to the bots built by Light."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Comet transmits, "Hmph. I'm hardly affected at all. But if they'll even let us in would be the question. Neutral nation, after all. Which...got them attacked anyway."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Dr. Cossack transmits, "Yes. So it is, DRN 008. So it is. But vee vill talk after I take care of ziss matter."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Elec Man transmits, "All he did was give me an allergy to Shellfish."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Feedback transmits, "Bit busy with the chatty soon to be a pile of slag android. But if we can finish this up fast, then we'll see bout the Mavs."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Rock transmits, "This is Megaman... I'll respond shortly... I'm dealing with something internal."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Blues transmits, "Quit trying to be just a House Master, Elec. The conceit is getting a bit annoying. You're just another Field Master."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Feedback transmits, "I say we just slag him and move on"

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Admiral transmits, "I'd rather face an official reprimand then let Sigma have the nation."

<Global News Network> *Sigma smiles, cocking his head* "My, that only took ... seven point eight six two four seconds. Good. Ye who pray blindly, ask why ye be forsaken.", and so Sigma fades out, turning around as he steps away.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Rock transmits, "I'll slag him if he forces the issue."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Comet transmits, "Sure. I can't help but wonder if they'll open fire on us to enforce their neutrality, though. It'd be absurd, but I've seen stranger. Oh well, deploying..."

Switzerland

Switzerland is perhaps the world's most notorious neutral country. Home of the largest and most secure financial institutions on the planet, it retains its neutrality and tries to stay away from the wiles and worries of a world gone mad around it. However, the Swiss are not naive. Their country is a cunning mix of technology and tradition, high-tech building in the same cities as churches that are centuries old. Switzerland is a country that wants to be neutral, and now they have the means to remain so, even possessing defenses against intrusion by the now numerous hostile forces on Earth. All of this, nestled in the Alps Mountain range, in valleys dominated by beautiful forests and calm rivers.

Ride Armor <Gunslinger> [MH] Parsec Basilisk [M]

Pallbearer [Pall] [RF] Comet [Armored] [RF]

East <E> leads to Central Europe.

West <W> leads to France.

South <S> leads to Italy.

North <N> leads to Germany.

Southeast <SE> leads to Balkan Peninsula.

Up <U> leads to Sky Above Western Europe.

Iris arrives from the Sky Above Western Europe.

Iris has arrived.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Lighthawk XO Bowie transmits, "Ah'm on mah way. Can't speak fer the others."

Maverick Transport <Dinosaur Tank> arrives from the Germany.

Maverick Transport <Dinosaur Tank> has arrived.

UN Heavy Transport <Magellan> arrives from the Sky Above Western Europe.

UN Heavy Transport <Magellan> has arrived.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Dr. Cossack swears. "Gunslinker flight systems not verkink! I haff to sit ziss vun out."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] RF Science Prismatic Spider transmits, "Accursed luck indeed."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Arkady transmits, "Fox, take us down directly into the perimeter, I see the Ride Armour encampment located just outside that."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Lighthawk XO Bowie transmits, "'Sokay, Doc."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Ebony Fox transmits, "Understood, sir."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Dr. Cossack snarls. "Dammit all! Just vait until I get my hands on zee bastard zhat made ziss Vhite Rust!"

Paragon Pirana arrives from the Germany.

Paragon Pirana has arrived.

UN Heavy Transport <Magellan> comes streaking in, headed towards assorted Swiss Defense points. One particular Ride Armor encampment is the destination, and within minutes, the vehicle is landing...

SS Dreadskull arrives from the Sky Above Western Europe.

SS Dreadskull has arrived.

Crescent Grizzly arrives from the Germany.

Crescent Grizzly has arrived.

Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Sentinel> has arrived.

Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Guardian> has arrived.

Sigma has arrived.

Morph Moth has arrived.

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Dr. Cossack transmits, "Let me make ziss clear ... *I* cannot go. Zhat means zee /vest/ of you who are not currently beatink down Elec Man ARE goink to go."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Bowie transmits, "Ya heard the man."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Feedback transmits, "Minus those of you with that lil' white rust problem. I don't think that we're that desperate just yet."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Dr. Cossack transmits, "Do you know vhat is at stake here? One of zee main supports of zee verld economy are zee banks of Switzerland. Good and bad, all of it vuns t'rough Switzerland. If vhat I *t'ink* is happenink *is* happenink, unless vee hit zem wiff /everyt'ink/ vee haff, Switzzerland is in danger. If Swizzerland falls, not only do zee Mavericks gain access to vast gold reserves, but zee verld's economy."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Dr. Cossack transmits, "You VILL get out zeir if you can /fight/ at *all*."

Cleaver Cow has arrived.

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Rock transmits, "I just got smashed by Elec Man... not sure if I'll be able to make it."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Dr. Cossack transmits, "GOD DAMMIT ALL. HOLD ON."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Feedback transmits, "Or we can listen to the rantin ravin doc..."

Wild Card has arrived.

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Kalinka transmits, "*nervously* I will go, Daddy...I will take Triumph..."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Jazz transmits, "I am coming! Hold on! *sound of a Ride Armor starting*"

UN Heavy Transport <Magellan> lifts off as it unloads a mass of UN Combat Marines, all loaded down with assault gear. It positions above the encampment, and multiple guns swivel into place, ready to defend the area as needed.

Jumping out of the Magellan and moving through the camp, Arkady finds the local contact who had called the United Nations to action and for help. After a brief chat, Arkady is lead to one of the uninfected Ride Armors. Climbing up, he looks over it for a moment before strapping in.

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Jazz transmits, "Almost there! Just have to turn on the heater..."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Arkady transmits, "Repliforce, I've got a man down!.... Friggin' fire is heavy in this camp... Need one more pilot, Prismatic think you can accomadate?"

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] RF Science Prismatic Spider transmits, "How convienent."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] RF Science Prismatic Spider transmits, "I'll be sending you one of our best."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Admiral transmits, "I'll be with you in a moment."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Arkady transmits, "*Set of Coordinates* Drop in there."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Jazz transmits, "Wait...where...? I...Ice is coming on to the sides of this thing...where am I??"

Jet Stingray arrives from the Sky Above Western Europe.

Jet Stingray has arrived.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Blues transmits, "...."

Iris changes into her Iris armor.

Prismatic Spider arrives from the Central Europe.

Prismatic Spider has arrived.

It seems like the source of the Ode to Joy was, in fact, the Dinosaur Tank itself. As the innumerable Maverick forces drive, ride, stomp, trample, wade, fly, sweep through Switzerland, the music rises to a crescendo, a heavy breeze sweeps through the area, cars shake and shudder to the tune of the music as well as the rumbling of the world's largest tank. The forces have been trampling through any resistance so far on their way to Geneva, the forces are fresh, very few are actually injured, and they are pretty damned pretty.

The Dinotank rolls over the cars before screeching to a halt in front of Geneva, Ode to Joy storming through the air even as the forces, succinctly come to a company halt. Sigma himself climbs up to the top of the Dinosaur Tank, wind threatening to actually push him off the tank if he's not careful. Sigma raises his hammer above his head, and speaks, his voice projecting through the soon to be battlefield. "Geneva... The city where the rules of war have continuously been defined.... As you know, I seek to drive forward to the future, not tip over, laying for my cold death behind... The rules of war have no place these days... If there are to be rules of war, let them be redefined! Switzerland, I have waited years for this day, and you have too. I have sensed it in your diplomats, I have sensed it in your fear. You hoped your usefulness would last forever...Well...", he raises the hammer in one hand, "You were wrong. With your inability to pick a side, your inability to trust, none have trusted you, and so you shall perish, your state shall be ours.", Smirking briefly as if he had just achieved his latest checkmate, Sigma merely states two words, his voice bellowing through the streets and city.

"Coalition!! ADVANCE!!"

And so they do, the battle threatening to drown out the everpresent whisper of Beethoven.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Feedback transmits, "Your... lost?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Jazz transmits, "Wait! I know...Switzerland is the one that is White and Austria is the one that is green! I am on the right track...YAY!"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Blues just...sighs.

Sword Man arrives from the Germany.

Sword Man has arrived.

Alacrity Demon arrives from the Central Europe.

Alacrity Demon has arrived.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Jazz transmits, "Hold on...can someone trace this signal...?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Jazz transmits, "I think....I am in...."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Blues transmits, "Rock. He's mine."

Shade Man has arrived.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Jazz transmits, "....someone?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Elec Man transmits, "Yesss?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Blues transmits, "....You don't count."

Rock arrives from the Central Europe.

Rock has arrived.

Ride Armor <Kraken> has arrived.

Like a hammer blow, a hatch along the Dinosaur Tank's flank blows open, bolts releasing in a hiss of pneumatic fury. A heavy access ramp slams into the earth, biting into the Swiss city street. A tremendous mass of armor, a seventeen-foot tall fighting machine more tank than ride armor, emerges from the Dinosaur Tank's interior. Asphalt and pavement crunches under immense pressure, breaking beneath the Kraken's caterpillar treads, as the Ride Armor rolls over streets not designed to bear the weight of a modern battle machine.

The armor-glass of the Kraken's canopy is polarized, presenting a nearly-opaque black to the world. The darkness defeats all attempts to perceive the identity of the pilot lying within. All that can be seen is the dark silhouette of a tall, lean reploid. Silent, saying nothing over the radio channels or the machine's external speakers, the Ride Armor's master maintains his cloak of secrecy.

Ride Armor <Manticore> has arrived.

Rock receives a radio transmission.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Jazz transmits, "Fine then...I have to find out on my own then...now...where is that map...? *rustleing*"

Rock sends a radio transmission to Elec Man.

Rock receives a radio transmission.

Prismatic Spider has left.

Sigma takes Prismatic Spider.

Sigma has left.

Morph Moth is the prettiest Maverick of course since Cyber is not one to join the ranks of the front line. Seeming to ride the breeze of dynamic change, Morph spins and pirouettes through the air using his superior aerial tactics and brilliant weapons to sow confusion among the Swiss Guards. Brilliant explosions and strands of rainbow silk mark the Maverick Moth's progress through the city of Geneva.

Sigma has arrived.

Rock sends a radio transmission.

One of the higher bays of the Dinotank drops open, and with a roar the Maverick Ride Armor known as the Manticore blasts off of its moorings, blazing into the air like an ascending comet as it heads for the Swiss lines. The Emperor had orders that the country was to be taken - and there shall be no failure in this goal. It was clear that this would be an interesting struggle - and that would serve only to make the final triumph of the Mavericks all the more complete. Now, to simply see what opposition materializes.

Parsec Basilisk soars through the air, having flown in above the Dinosaur tank rather than riding inside. Reaching down to her hip, she unholsters her pistol and begins firing down toward the ground with fairly good precision, causing several fire hydrants to explode in showers of water right before they freeze solid, sending tiny shards of ice scattering every which way. Of course, any misses create a nice frost along the ground, too.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Rock transmits, "This is X. I'm hurt, but on my way."

Scrambling out of the Dinosaur Tank when the order is given to advance, Cleaver is not carrying any of her usual equipment. Her left hand is gone, in 'gun mode', and her right occasionally retracts to pull out what looks like a small glass jar. Said jar is opened, loaded into the gun, and lit with a quick lighter before firing - to explode in a spray of flaming liquid over whatever it hits. She's mostly firing long, arcing paths as tracers at the moment, not aiming at much in particular.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Ebony Fox transmits, "Rock, honey, stop by the following coordinates and enter the UN Transport there. I'm monitoring things, and would be more then happy to give a pick me up."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Jazz transmits, "I am sorry...I tried to come...but...I don't think this is it...I am sorry X..."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Rock transmits, "I'm faster than the average UN transport."

Construct Ox arrives from the Balkan Peninsula.

Construct Ox has arrived.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Ebony Fox transmits, "It's stationary over the encampment of Swiss RAs at said coordinates."

Wild Card is sitting on top of the Dino Tank with a bag of popcorn. He casually stands up, tucks the popcorn into his duster, and heads towards the maintainence hatch. "God, that was the slowest trip ever," he complains as he disappears into the interior, probably to re-emerge at street-level next turn.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Jazz transmits, "Finally! I know now!"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Jazz transmits, "....Antarctica...?"

Stepping out of the Dinotank along with all the other troops, is the large figure of Paragon. He barks a few orders to a regiment passing him, dispersing them to places needed as he does so. He then views the scene before him and simply grins, grabbing his Harpoon and making his way towards the frontlines. In the thick of the battle is where he performs best, after all..

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Feedback transmits, "Definately not the right way Jazz"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Dr. Cossack mutters. "Just keep goink straight, honey, you'll get zeir soon."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Alacrity Demon transmits, "You're in Antarctica? ... I'd say grab me a Penguin, but they don't live well in high temperatures."

And high above the Maverick contingent, another shape emerges from the gloom that hangs over Switzerland. A gigantic flying skull.

The S.S. Dreadskull. It seems more then the Mavericks have come to play tonight... as is signaled by a VERY familiar laugh that fills the air over Geneva. The maniacal cackle of Dr. Albert Wily.

The Dreadskull soars downward over the Maverick forces, weapons systems coming to life all across the massive shape. The great maw of the gigantic skull opens, and a great black cloud spews forth... a cloud that moves and swarms out towards Geneva. Bubble Bats. Thousands and thousands of Bubble Bats.

The Dreadskull looms above the Mavericks, as pods are launched from it, dropped for the ground far below. As each, resembling a gigantic coffin, impacts... ...it slowly opens to reveal the Joe forces assembled within them.. but these are not normal Joes. These shudder as they walk, even as they lift crude weapons. Helmets are missing. Shields are half-broken if still servicable. Zombie Joes.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Jazz transmits, "Heh...had the silly thing in reverse!"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Coaster Raptor transmits, "Heya hunters. S'up?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Jazz transmits, "I am in Antarctica!"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Coaster Raptor transmits, "um.. What for? if I can ask?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Bowie transmits, "Mavs are makin a run fer Geneva. Get yer tail down here. Now."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Alacrity Demon transmits, "Jazz is travelling, Baldy's attempting neutracide, you know, the usual."

Icebreak Tigress arrives from the Germany.

Icebreak Tigress has arrived.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Rock transmits, "Yeah... move it. I'm hurt."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Rock transmits, "So I don't know how much good I'll be."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Jazz transmits, "I...was trying to get to Switzerland...and I had the map upside down..."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Feedback transmits, "You guys have that lil' Mav problem under control yet?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Signas transmits, "I am afraid I have not yet sufficiently recovered from the injuries I was dealt by Flight Type to be of use in battle at the moment."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Dr. Cossack transmits, "By vhat type?"

Shade Man bursts from the dark maw of the Dreadskull, great wings spread wide as he launches into the night. A terrible smile spreads on his features, as he wings his way through the legions of his own Bubble-Bats, calling to them with an eerie shriek.

The Vampire feasts tonight!

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Signas transmits, "It is what the Robot Master Crash Man now calls himself."

Shark Man arrives from the France.

Shark Man has arrived.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Dr. Cossack transmits, "Good lord."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Blues sighs. "My next target."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Coaster Raptor transmits, "Gah, ok..."

Icebreak Tigress has disconnected.

As the others pour in, The White Knight of Wily himself steps out onto the battle field, eying the grounds. However, strangely enough, he files out with the Mavericks themselves? WHat in the world? Well, Sword Man wouldn't normally be in this situation, but for the sake of the truce, he's here. He doesn't like it...but he's here.

Coaster Raptor arrives from the Balkan Peninsula.

Coaster Raptor has arrived.

Shadow Man has arrived.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Arkady transmits, "Okay, I'm in position using the Sentinel. Admiral, are you in position? Repliforce, Interpol, prepare to beat the smeg out of these morons."

Along with the white night is Wily's own ninja warrior. Arriving a few moments after, Shadow Man is also accompanying the Maverick troops, a Shadow Blade ready in each hand.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Admiral transmits, "For the Honor of Repliforce!"

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Alacrity Demon transmits, "I'd second that, but it's your honor, not mine. I'm just here to kick a few butts that think they can push around people who just want peace."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Rock transmits, "Hey, Repliforce. You better be bringing in troops... I don't have the manpower this is gonna require."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] RF Science Prismatic Spider transmits, "We're sending all we can."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Rock transmits, "Send more."

Frost Man arrives from the France.

Frost Man has arrived.

Frost Man has left.

Shark Man has left.

Iris has very secretly come along on one of the Repliforce drop-ships...her tiny form all-but-lost within the huge cavernous ship, amongst the much-bigger reploids. She waits until all of the regular troops surge forward, and then she goes right along with them...comepletely unnoticed. Once out, she deploys her chute, and her little form floats gently like a feather, coming to rest in the downtown square. Once landed, she quickly cuts away the chute and high-tails it toward a nearby bungalow. Iris is well-connected with the peaceniks and freethinkers, and she has such connections in every major city. If she can meet up with her contact in time, she can help evacuate those who are still trapped, who couldn't make it out with the first wave. There's still time, she thinks...time to save innocent lives who would otherwise be trapped in this carnage!

Rock receives a radio transmission from Jazz.

The Swiss Guard has been taken by surprise, and in the urban warfare that has broken out, they are having trouble keeping ground. A squad of riflemen attempt to overpower a massive drone, but to no avail. Their number falls quickly, until the survivors find their foe looming above them, raising a weapon for one final blast....

That is, until a large ursine paw stops it. " Nah', dat' isn't nahc', mon ami..." Crescent Grizzly, Guardian of RHQ London and the Innocent, tells the Maverick with a sarcastic smile, before he tears out with his drill claw, gutting the drone from stem to stern. It summarily falls to the ground, sparking and sputtering. The Swiss military men give up a cheer, but not just because of Crescent's last minute save-It's the 500 plus SecDef troopers that have begun to pour into the city, fighting through the Maverick lines to aid their brethren in a final stand for the right to declare one's neutrality in conflict. Stand or fall, they do this together. Raising his forcefield with a sweep of the claw, Crescent barks orders and falls back for strength in tight formation...

Bowie is atop one of the taller buildings close to the front line, kneeling behind the top of the stone facade. Here he has a good view of the incoming Maverick transports and troops, and best able to put his sharpshooting skills to use. Since it appears that most of them are still out his target range, he occupies himself with skeet-shooting a few of the bubble bats that fly too near.

Spin Cougar arrives from the Germany.

Spin Cougar has arrived.

Crescent Grizzly projects a forcefield around himself.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Valor sighs slightly. "If only it were that simple."

Pallbearer emerges out of the transports with a large corps of RF gumbies, saber drawn and ready for the fight of his life. They won't take Geneva. They won't. Nothing will. Pall radios over to the transport pilots to get the civillians out to safe havens...and as the bubble bats start coming down, Pall grimaces. "Where's the damn F-3 when you need her, eh?" he mutters to himself. "Move it to your positions! Triage squads, set up at your assigned places! Squad 2, with me!" Pall rushes ahead towards the front, praying this works.

Coming from the east is a red object flying at such speeds that is appears to be a blurr of a human sized reploid. The red blurr flies towards Switzerland. As it nears the area, it becomes more recognizable. It appears to be a Hyperized version of one Rock Light. As he flies he looks like Superman... one hand out-stretch in a fist and one leg slightly pulled up... not very aerodynamic, but it looks cool (TM).

He brings himself to a hover over the city and begins to look at the situation... LOTS of Maverick Hunters. Lots of them. He shrugs in the midair and considers the situation. At least he won't miss as often.

A team of Repliforce MSE gumbies pile out of one of the teleport centers, with what appears to be a remarkably tall man in a space suit, aiding him over towards the Swiss RA canton. Saluting with a slight stiffness, Admiral then confers with several sets of Swiss and UN technicians before being ushered to one of the massive Ride Armors, activating the Guardian and bringing it to position, raising a massive beam Lance in salute. "...nice of them to give me a Belaying Pin to work with."

Comet steps out of the Geneva teleporters, and takes a short hop into the air. Her flight platform materializes beneath her, she lands on it, and it rises up into the skyline of the city. "I feel like an idiot doing this..." Talking to herself, apparently.

Alacrity Demon is making his own way in, humming to himself as he attempts to read a map of Europe while flying at speeds usually labelled as 'stupidly unsafe'. Eventually he shrugs and lobs the little datapad over his shoulder, letting it vanish back into subspace before he loses it in his slipstream. He'll just follow the explosions. He's shed his usual coat and hat, wings gleaming as the fighting edges on them ruffle occasionally in the wind, spoiling for a fight. He pulls up short as he observes the scene, waiting for orders or for someone to pick a fight with, and snorts, "Great. Zombies, flying bowling balls, and assorted monsters. I've wandered into a really messed up videogame."

Rock sends a radio transmission.

Arriving shortly after the call to arms, Coaster's rails are the most obvious signiture of his entry into the war that has broken out here in Switzerland. Coming with that rifle of his actually held in hand, the reploid skates forward, boosters blazing as he rushes to aid thoses that he can.

How did the lumbering Ox make his way to Switzerland? There are various methods. Hitch hiking, Transport, walking, all of those things coulda been utilized. It's safe to assume however that the Maverick Hunter Combat Engineer managed to pick up an outgoing transport so that he could head to Switzerland as he was told to do. Construct Ox travels most of the way in his Bulldozer configuration, that being his more speedy configuration. His slow frame steadily makes his way towards the conflict that has begun in this part of the world, "Ahhh my my... now who's gonna be rebuildin all this damaged stuff? Me! Dat's who! Can't you guys find something else to trash? Like a mountainside?" Construct Ox snorts out as he manages to view the scene.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Resonance, not Resonance clicks in, "Listen, they declared neutrality, there is only so much we can bloody do with red tape alone. Repliforce is doing what they can, you're doing what you can. Instead of working with numbers, try to use your brain. I got my hands full over here. You're a Commander, start acting like one instead of depending on forcing your allies to do more than they can.", and so Resonance clicks out without another reply. She's busy.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Ebony Fox transmits, "I'm reading a massive gathering in the central area of the city as Repliforce's troops are coming in. With Hunter Air support and incoming Swiss Reinforcements, it's looking good, everyone."

Feedback arrives from the Germany.

Feedback has arrived.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Alacrity Demon transmits, "... I wonder if those stupid flying bowling balls explode when they hit the ground... ah well, either way it'll be fun to use them as volleyballs. Bet I can clear a few of the ground waves that way, too."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] RF Science Prismatic Spider transmits, "Do everything you can to reduce the attacker's forces. We need everything we can get."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Rock mutters, "Right... I'm gonna command Repliforce."

Decked out in his combat gear, Spin is among the MSE techs on-scene with Admiral, working on preparing the Ride Armor. A new part here, a quick jump-start there. He returns the salute to Admiral as it is given. "How nice of those murderers to drop in - let's give them what for," he says as he works. Once the RA is activated, he steps back.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Admiral transmits, "....excuse me, son?"

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Alacrity Demon transmits, "He's just cranky because he missed lunch, I'm sure."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] RF Science Prismatic Spider transmits, "I think he was being slightly sarcastic."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Valor transmits, "Let it go, and just do what you can."

Crash Man has arrived.

Cyclops arrives from the Germany.

Cyclops has arrived.

Shade Man wheels high over the battle like a demonic angel of death, his wings beating through the skies even as he gazes down on the enemies far, far below. Shade smiles ominously, "It has begun."

The swarms of Bubble Bats wheel and swarm around him, tiny faces staring down at the carnage below with anticipation shining in surprisingly lazy-looking eyes. The numbers of them are vast, and more and more swarm from the great maw of the Dreadskull every second... turning the sky an even darker black as they wheel and dive. Quite a few of them are struck out of the sky by eager gunmen and warriors, but others come to replace them. Shade smiles then, and throws his arms wide. His horrible screech pierces the air, and it is echoed by the swarms of Bubble Bats. Screeching, they begin to wheel and dive on the city... fanged mouths open wide, and the grenade-level payload of explosives in each arming.

Below them, the Legions of the Dead advance. Staggering and clanking slowly, horribly disfigured Joes move towards the city. Appearing as if a Joe decomposed and rotted, the Zombie Joes stagger forward with collective groans... crude weapons in hand, or often just their own terrible hands alone. The Zombie Joes advance with the Maverick Contingent...

Shade smiles down on the field, and lets out another horrifying, screeching cry!

Nazgul. Eat your hearts out.

Crash Man has left.

Dr. Wily has arrived.

The United Nations and their dogs may have arrived to support the Swiss. The Maverick advance may have been blunted. But by Doppler Himself, it -will not be stopped-! Swiss soldiers break and run before the Kraken's monsterous bulk, their small-arms fire completely ineffective against the heavy armor. But then, a blazing bolt of radiant destruction explodes from atop a low-rise apartment building, washing over the Maverick machine and scarring its hull. Atop the roof overlooking the street, a Swiss squad works to reload their plasma weapon, snapping a fresh ammunition canister into the hot metal of the cannon's breech. Swift and efficient, the Swiss Guard is. But it is the Coalition they face.

With a horrible rasp, one of the Kraken's tentacles uncoils. The oiled black mass slides free from the great machine's body, snapping out to full extension, punching clean through the side of a building, blasting out from the other side. The dark tendril, and the greater body of the Ride Armor, remain motionless for an instant. Then, a powerful pulse of gravity distortion ripples outward, shaking the building into rubble. The wrecked structure collapses into its own foundations, taking with it the lives of the brave weapon crew. The Kraken pulls itself free from the debris, the upper half of its body swiveling on its axis. Rotating the twitching tentacles around, the Kraken's pilot's hands close tighter around the Kraken's controls. The shadow, all that is visible of the reploid inside the Ride Armor, nods grimly.

The crushing strength of the Dinosaur Tank is not something to be stopped by minor feats of strength such as can be provided by these ant-like defenders - the Repliforce learned that lesson long ago, when they attempted to confront its power in the Flemish States. And even as it grinds forward over every fortification that has been set out to stop it, the Manticore cruises above it like some dark, bat-winged guardian demon.

As the fighting grows closer and closer to the center of the city, the Ride Armor descends slightly - and with a howl that can only be described as the death of an entire sun, begins to reduce defensive positions that are being held by the Swiss Guard into rubble with its Terror Scream. Its scorpion tail lashing about behind it, the advance of this armor is relentless, inexorable - as is the entire Maverick attack force's.

Crash Man has arrived.

Only firing a half-dozen of the flaming brandy in jam jars - Crash Man is going to kill her if he finds out about the waste of alcohol - Cleaver pauses a moment as she switches ammo. She's still marching forward, shelling over the heads of those in front of her, except now she's using head-sized blunt objects that impact with a surprising amount of force. Enter the Fruitcake.

Crescent Grizzly sends a radio transmission to Rock.

Rock receives a radio transmission.

Justice Jaguar arrives from the France.

Justice Jaguar has arrived.

Wild Card arrives on the ground. He smirks, and draws his pistol, aiming at a random gumby and firing. Or trying to fire, at least, the gun doesn't go off. Frowning, Wild looks down the barrel in a glaringly stupid way, as the round post-maturely ignites. Luckily, he moves the gun away from his face fast enough for the bullet to go thattaway. Which happens to be in the exact direction Bowie is. One in a million chance, eh'? Well, there's no way it'll hit from this distance, but maybe it'll pass by close enough to be noticed by the Texan.

Wild Card strikes you with a glancing hit from his Grasp for 0 units of damage.

Sigma raises his hammer out, peering around the area. Where is he, where is he? The sounds of death, screaming, blood spilling, mechfluid spraying, cannons, explosions, grinding all drown out the beautiful Beethoven in the background, but every so often, a little break in the screams reveal a chord or three to the atmosphere. Sigma raises a boomerang in the air, glancing around for his foe... And then spots him. Mega Man. "Hehe.... You have come after all, tired of listening to bedtime stories, are we? Fine! It is time, Rock!", he flings the boomerang at Rock.

"It is time for people to lay in the middle ground. It is falling, it is cracking like the weak force it is. They smile at me, try to understand, and then destroy it with a single stupid comment. How it SICKENS me. Even those in the middle dive to the Inferno!"

Inside the Dreadskull, Dr. Wily leaves the wheel, a Joe slipping into place as he leaves. The Doctor gives a nod to the hulking form of Frost Man in the corner. "Frost Man, prepare for combat deployment." Wily strides out of the command deck and into the bowels of the ship. Several meinutes later, the mouth of the Dreadskull opens even wider and a massive shape bursts forth, jets firing. "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH YEEEEEEAAAAHHHH!"

The Mecha Wily fires it's jets, spinning out of the maw of Wily's assault craft. Abruptly, it stops it's rotation and flings it's arms and legs out wide. "Goooooood morning Swizterland! I hope you're ready to party, cuz heeeeeeeeeeeeeres WILY! BWAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The craft plummets towards the ground, the insane cackle of Albert Wily echoing in its wake.

Rock sends a radio transmission to Crescent Grizzly.

Crescent Grizzly receives a radio transmission from Rock.

Sigma misses Rock with his Boomerang Cut attack.

Wilymachine <Mecha-Wily> has arrived.

Dr. Wily drops Wilymachine <Mecha-Wily>.

Dr. Wily has left.

Sword Man simply drops off the Dino tank, landing with a cloud of dust as the tank moves on, marching toward forward and eying the field for his brethren. He may have came here with the Mavericks, but he'd rather fight beside The Order of Wily.

Frost Man comes lumbering from the back of the shuttle. "I'm ready to go, daddy." His jets spew out a cold steam, like an icy aura of the biggest Master in town. As he lumbers forward, you can just hear that Zentradi theme going...atleast, his player THINKS it's the Zentradi theme. He jumps from the door, sailing and slamming to the ground, again, spewing out steam. Surveying the battlefield like he has some slim clue of what's going on, he strides.... "Who is gonna be smashed today?" Forming up a club of ice, with which to make with the smashie....

Upon seeing one of the Repliforcers begin to intrude into -her- domain, Parsec Basilisk pulls her wings back and goes into a dive. Eyes narrowed slightly, she lets out a piercing screech as she arcs downward and zooms now far past Comet and her board. "Come try to claim the skies of Switzerland, Repliforcer. If you dare!" Wow, that was really lame. Maybe she's not good at witty banter.

Shark Man leaps out of the Dreadskull after Wily, flying through the air, until he lands on the ground, hard. While he looks around at everyone here, he prepares himself a margarita.

Comet enters the Sky Above Western Europe.

Comet has left.

Morph Moth enters the Sky Above Western Europe.

Morph Moth has left.

Parsec Basilisk enters the Sky Above Western Europe.

Parsec Basilisk has left.

The boomerang comes flying towards Rock at an incredible speed. However, the hero of the world notices just in time to reach out and grab the boomerang before it hits him. Rock looks around to identify his assilant when he finds Sigma. Rock drops himself to the area nearby Sigma. Still floating above the ground to give him an extra maneuvablity edge. "Hey, Sigma. I think you lost this." Rock shows the boomerang. "Let me return it!" With that, Rock whips the boomerang right back at Sigma.

Rock strikes Sigma with his Hyperblade attack.

Wild Card

A rather normal looking character, Wild Card doesn't seem all that special at first glance. Granted, the large sombrero he's wearing, which seems to take the place of a helmet and shrouds his unruly brown hair from sight, draws attention no matter where he is, but other than that, he doesn't look very imposing. His duster, a dull brown, conceals most of his body, though you can see what appears to be a vest and dress shirt underneath.

Nothing special below the belt, just some chaps and large boots, stereotypical of a cowboy. At his waist, though, is where he starts going from unimposing to a dangerous figure. Two sawed-off shotguns are holstered at his sides, light glinting off a portion of the barrels that are exposed. From the right angle, you can see what looks like the handle of an old-fashioned pistol beneath his duster.

His wrists seem thicker than they should, though that's explained ather quickly thereafter. Small launchers of sorts, that looking like they can fire objects about the size of a penny either into Wild's hand or directly into the fray, are attatched to his forearms. Why he'd need a penny shooter is anyone's guess, though the ammo is probably going to be a lot more potent than small change.

Every once in a while, he starts shuffling a deck of cards out of boredom. Hands moving almost too fast for the eye to track, he casually plays with his deck until something interesting happens.

Continuing his purposeful march into the city and into the frontlines as a result, Paragon both defends himself and counter-attacks with his large Harpoon. Wide sweeping arcs fend off would be attackers, Paragon's reach extending outwards to a 21' radius. Of course, being so large and at the fromt lines makes him an easy target, but he likes it that way.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Admiral transmits, "I'm moving to reinforce the Eastern Line. That Maverick....squid...is giving them a heavy beating."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Rock transmits, "I'm dealing with baldie himself."

Jet Stingray enters the Sky Above Western Europe.

Jet Stingray has left.

Among the incoming baddies, Spin finds his target - and is almost lulled into overconfidence when he sees Shark Man preparing a /margarita/, of all things. "This will be too easy .." He advances, taking out his spinstaff and locking himself on. "You! Shark dude! This is your chance to escape with your life!" Yeah, the heroic ultimatum.

Bowie is used to being shot at. It comes with the territory. The bullet shot by Wild Card strikes the stonework he was using as cover, chips of stone skittering everywhere. Yes, that got his attention, and so he peers down through the fog of war to see who managed to spot him way up here. There doesn't seem to be anyone. Perhaps it was a stray bullet? The Texan hunkers down again, drawing a bead on the Dinosaur Tank and taking a few pot shots at it. Just maybe he'll hit some of those fighters nearby as well.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Lt. Pallbearer transmits, " Triage units from MSE are in position behind the front, transports are retrieving people from the city. Squad 2 and I will try and help as many as we can."

You strike Wild Card with a glancing hit from your Grasp attack.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Jazz transmits, "You sure I can't be there...? If you need the help?"

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Comet transmits, "I'm working on securing the air."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Ebony Fox transmits, "If your units can manage some of the crossfire, more critical patients can be placed aboard the Magellen for your boys to work on in safety."

Ugh. That was horrible Clich..."ARGHH!", Sigma grunts as he catches his own boomerang in the chest, the vicious vibro edges carving painfully into his belly before he tears it out and tosses it aside, hacking a little. "Hrrr.... You draw first blood...", he comments irritably, "But that is to be expected..." Two Maverick soldiers come by him and aim for Rock, but before they get any shots off, two Swiss soldiers manage to nab them in the side. Shrieking in rage, they fall back a few feet. Before attacking Rock, Sigma jolts forward, swinging his hammer, knocking one of the Guard back nearly ten yards with the mere force of the blow and then stabs to the side, impaling the second. Raising his head, Sigma's eyes flash a crimson red before twin beams of energy lance out for him, "Rrrghh...But this time you'll fall, we have planned too long!"

Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Guardian> stomps forward assertively as the battle begins, steering towards the battered lines which have taken the greatest abuse from the Kraken, providing relief in the form of several chain gun bursts into the Gumbies before turning the massive gatlings into the squiddy armor's chest.

Sigma misses Rock with his Eyebeams attack.

Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Guardian> strikes Ride Armor <Kraken> with its Twin Vulcans attack.

The Sentinel rises to its 15 foot height, the monster of modern technology stretching as the pilot within gets accustomed to the Swiss's unusual control design. The whine of weaponary charging can be heard long before the light in the cannons begin to charge, the inside of the cannon glowing bright. "Now this is a piece of hardware." comes the voice of the pilot, before it takes to the air and toward the Maverick Dinotank.

Sigma sends a radio transmission.

Paragon Pirana receives a radio transmission.

Paragon Pirana sends a radio transmission to Sigma.

Sigma receives a radio transmission.

Alacrity Demon pauses for a moment as he observes a... walking cow... shooting flaming fruitcakes at people, and shakes his head. Wordlessly he pulls a flask from his pocket and tosses it over his shoulder to coldcock a random zombie Joe, then shakes his head again and smirks, "Always knew McDonald's was evil... but this takes the cake." With that he stoops like a raptor, lancing down towards Cleaver on full jets, attempting to catch her in the chest with his elbow.

Alacrity Demon strikes Cleaver Cow with his Supersonic Flying-v attack.

The two Swiss soldiers go down in a rather brutual way and Rock's optics tighten down as Sigma uses his normal brand of brutuality to disposing of them. Rock watches as more Mavericks join the fight. Rock fires several shots from his buster in an attempt to quickly down the troublesome opponents. Rock needs to pay full attention to the leader of the Coalition as the eyebeams flyby him. Rock simply turns and powers himself towards Sigma. He braces his body for the attack... attempting to put gather his foe's attention.

Rock strikes Sigma with his Dash attack.

The Manticore charges up even more energy, as another brash young Ride Armor appears to challenge it. The massive hulk of the Maverick armor roars its challenge, the lion's head mounted upon its prow gnashing furiously as it descends toward sthe Swiss armor. But instead of flexing its claws of smashing into the other armor, the Manticore offers a more direct assualt upon the frame of its challenge - twin beams of ruby light that lance out from its eyes, aiming to bore into the frame of the Swiss Sentinel.

Shark Man was minding his own buisness, making himself something to drink, when he's interupted. By a cat. "Uh, dude? Did you not notice that both Doc Wily and Sigma are Here? Do you, like, really think you have a chance? Want a drink?" These are the questions Sharky asks, and, without waiting for an answer, he tosses the now finished margarita in Spin's direction.

Shark Man misses Spin Cougar with his Margarita Toss attack.

Ride Armor <Manticore> strikes Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Sentinel> with its Eyebeams attack.

Shade Man wheels through the sky, screaming his terrible cry. The teeth-grinding sound truly horrifying to hear, as he sweeps and dives above Geneva. Shade Man smiles as the forces engage full on... now it was time to begin the fun.

Shade Man rises straight up, the Bubble Bats following him in a black swarm, shrieking and crying out into the night. Shade Man then banks slowly... folds his wings... ...and dives.

A thousand Bubble Bats SHRIEK and dive with him.

The rain of dark death falls on the defenders of Geneva, the Bubble Bats diving onto foes and detonating with the force of a hand-grenade. Others wheel and latch, vampire-like, onto the bodies of the already stricken.

Shade Man wheels over the carnage, laughing his horrible laugh, then giving another horrible shriek as he launches for a fallen Repliforce Drone... latching onto it and sinking terrible fangs into its neck, drinking deeply.

All around him, the Bubble Bats fall upon similar prey.

Shade Man strikes Iris with his Children Of The Night attack.

Shade Man strikes Crescent Grizzly with his Children Of The Night attack.

Crescent Grizzly's forcefield withstands the attack.

Shade Man misses Pallbearer with his Children Of The Night attack.

Shade Man strikes you with a minor hit from his Children Of The Night for 9 units of damage.

Shade Man strikes Feedback with his Children Of The Night attack.

Shade Man strikes Construct Ox with his Children Of The Night attack.

Shade Man misses Coaster Raptor with his Children Of The Night attack.

Sigma receives a radio transmission.

Bullets tear red-hot trails across the Kraken's armor, ricocheting wildly as the high-velocity rounds scatter against the machine's heavy prow. The Kraken skids backwards, sparks flying, a few wounds punched through its armor plate. But the damage seems light, not slowing it down the slightest. The Coalition troops around it, flanking its advance, aren't so lucky. Mechfluid flows freely through the streets, the bodies of fallen Maverick reploids scattered among the broken corpses of their Swiss counterparts. The Kraken's engines come to life, the Armor's drivetrain propelling the treaded beast towards the Guardian, advancing through the storm of fire.

Inside the Kraken's cockpit, the pilot shifts his thumbs over his control sticks' selectors, adjusting the Kraken's systems with unnaturally calm detatchment. Dispassionately, he studies the damage indicators, and calibrates power systems to compensate. He says nothing, making none of the useless combat chatter so common among modern warriors. As the Kraken closes with the white-and-red Guardian, a gleaming gold tendril arcs out, crackling with power. The artificial muscles of its tentacles tighten, the coils of myomer within the flex-metal housings contracting under an electrical surge.

Crescent Grizzly frowns, watching the massive tank rumble through the city. They cannot stop that. Not even if every available Ride Armor struck simultaneously. As the Swiss fall back to defendable positions, the Guardian sheilds them with his body and forcefield in their retreat, the bats bouncing off and quickly being disposed of by the troops' weaponry. Then an idea strikes him. Moving through a few cross-streets, he finds an appropriate place, and lowering his forcefield, begins to burrow into the ground....

Crescent Grizzly lowers his forcefield.

Ride Armor <Kraken> strikes Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Guardian> with its Thunder Tentacle Wrap attack.

Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Guardian> is temporarily disoriented by Ride Armor <Kraken>'s Thunder Tentacle Wrap attack.

Wild Card glances up as a bullet passes through his sombrero. He takes off the hat, and looks at the two holes in it. "I liked this hat..." Turning around to look at where the shots came from, he fires a few warning shots, before sending a radio message to whomever is in that general direction.

Wild Card strikes you with a glancing hit from his Grasp for 0 units of damage.

Wild Card sends a radio transmission to Bowie.

[Radio] Wild Card sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Who the hell just shot through my hat?!"

Of course, Sigma is known for his pure power more than anything. Even as he's slammed into, Sigma merely smirks through the pain his sensors are giving. "Hrr...Quick assault as always...", he reaches back over his shoulder for his shield and attempts to slam it down on Rock's frame even as he goes flying backwards, handspringing as he comes in contact with the ground, summersaulting back and away from the Hunter.

Construct Ox barrels into the streets, where the fighting is occuring. His Bulldozer blade shoving anything in his way to the side. The treads beneath the Combat Engineer stop moving, and Ox skids to a stop. His treads tear up the ground underneath him. Ox takes a few moments to change configurations backinto his All-Purpose form. Once in that form his Nail Gun and Jackhammer are formed on his forearms, "Oh my goodness... the buildings! The precious buildings! I'm going to need to order a whole lot of nails and woodscrews to fix all this damage!" Then the rain of explosive bats comes down upon the city, and poor little Ox can only defend himself with a Nail Gun. As the bats come down towards him, the buildings, the defenders, Ox fires elongated spikes of metal up into the air hoping that some of them collide with incoming bats. However it's a futile attempt as the Combat Engineer is struck and sent to the ground. The Bovine lets out a grunt, "Ugh... one less toy t'blow up a buildin with..."

Sigma misses Rock with his Shield Bash attack.

Spin Cougar gets a margarita thrown at him. Flashback to his days before the Repliforce, Interpol, or even the NYPD. Neatly, like the housekeeper he once was, he catches the drink. Unconsciously takes a whiff. "Hmm, well at least you make a good margarita." He swiftly throws it back. "Taste the fruit of your own labors, why don't you?"

Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Guardian> lurches as the electricity jams it for a moment, and a bark of annoyed swearing comes from the external speakers as its' pilot attempts to get it back into full activity.

Spin Cougar strikes Shark Man with his Generic Melee attack.

Shelling the city quite merrily, Cleaver doesn't notice Alacrity come up at top speed until he's practically in her face, and by then it's too late to do anything but yelp as she's knocked backwards, tumbling to land on her rear. Getting up quickly, she dusts herself off with her right hand as the left one extrudes a hand holding a black frying pan. Charging forward at her own top speed, she tries to smack Alacrity over the head with it. A couple times, for good measure. "Who do you think you are? Get out of Switzerland! It's ours!"

Cleaver Cow strikes Alacrity Demon with her Frying Pan Smash attack.

Justice Jaguar is stalking along through the chaos that's going around, his .50 Magnum down at his side, in his right hand, as he searches for a target. Spotting Sword Man's form through the melee, he raises the weapon, gripping it with both of his hands, as he pulls the trigger and lets loose with a round, right at the Robot Master.

Justice Jaguar strikes Sword Man with his .50 Raptor Magnum attack.

Shadow Man busies himself dealing with the Repliforce regular troopers. One after the other they fall, providing only the token resistance that is specified in one's contract when becoming an NPC. Barring any more substantial interference, he should have little difficulty hacking away at their numbers.

Bowie is forced to use his longrifle as a club, swinging wildly at the bubblebats trying to make a late night snack of him. One screeches and falls to the ground with a satisfying thud, but two more rush at him, sharp wings and claws gouging his armor. It takes him another minute or so to rid himself of the rest of them.

"What's this?!!" Iris cries as she's no more than halfway to her friend's house...when great numbers of vampiric...THINGS...swoop down and begin their attack! With a shriek, Iris runs around in circles as a couple of them swoop down and bite her. "EEEEEeeeEEEEeeeEEEEGetoffgetoffgetoff, ew ew ew ew eeeewww!" she squeals, swatting wildly at the attacking Bubble Bats.

Iris strikes Shade Man with her Slap attack.

The rails upon which Coaster takes into the city stop as soon as Shade's foul cry comes across the winds to his audials. Stepping down, the raptor reploid quickly generates a staff of energy and readies himself for the coming onslaught. As the bubble bats decend he begins to spin the staff and then let loose into the rain of red and black. Idly, during the smooth movements of slamming the drones left and right, even into the ground, the raptor's eyes hunt for the one that brought them all down in the first place. Spotting him, Coaster drops the staff and lets it fade away as he gets the energy rifle in his hands. Backpedaling around as he fires at a few other bats, he eventually snaps a shot off towards Shade Man's position, not even caring to call out to him, there's to much to do in this onslaught to be talking.

Coaster Raptor misses Shade Man with his Standard Energy Rifle attack.

Alacrity Demon raises an eyebrow from under the sizable dent formed where a frying pan is lodged in his head, "Yours? I was unaware McDonald's had plans for world conquest," he replies conversationally, before flipping his entire body around and attempting to plant an explosive kick into the side of Cleaver's head to return the favor.

Alacrity Demon misses Cleaver Cow with his Demon Smasher attack.

Some might smile, to see their enemy so disabled. The pilot of the Kraken shows only grim efficiency, however. With quick movements, he grasps the Kraken's controls, jamming down on the weapon triggers. The crackling electrical fury of the gold tentacle grows stronger, as the flex-metal closes tighter around the Guardian. Blazing lightning flares hungrily, reaching out to scorch paintwork...as actulators whine, strengthening the vice-like grip.

Ride Armor <Kraken> strikes Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Guardian> with its Thunder Tentacle Wrap attack.

Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Guardian> is temporarily disoriented by Ride Armor <Kraken>'s Thunder Tentacle Wrap attack.

X hops back as soon as he makes contact with the bald leader of the Mavericks. Sigma's shield comes sweeping out just as Rock moves. Rock wipes his brow slightly and throws off some mecha-fluid from a previous injury. He's getting lucky today... Rock quickly brings the buster back to aim at Sigma. "Quick assaults work. And I need to dispose of you so your army will back off." Rock fires the buster. "I didn't expect even you to defy the neutrality of the Swiss."

Rock strikes Sigma with his Hyper-buster attack.

Sword Man takes the shot in the shoulder, the joint ripping at the shot. The arm is still functional, but barely. "BLAST..." He hisses in pain, eying the direction of the shot. Seeing a lone cat-form reploid holding a gun, he glowers, before leveling his blade. The runes on it glow as he snaps off a quick swing, sending off a quick crackling of flame toward the assailant, following in after it quickly. Whether this proves to be wise has yet to be seen, however...

Sword Man misses Justice Jaguar with his Flame Wave attack.

Cleaver Cow sends a radio transmission to Paragon Pirana.

Paragon Pirana receives a radio transmission from Cleaver Cow.

Feedback acks and then swats at the bubble bat that bit him, electricuting it. He looks up at Shade Man and makes a mental note to hurt that guy sometime in the near future. Feed waits a few seconds and then lines up a shot at Shade Man. After all, right now is as good a time as any to pay that guy back for what his little midget friends did. Feed fires off a few energy shots and then looks around to see how everyone else is fairing.

Feedback misses Shade Man with his Wrist Laser attack.

Wilymachine <Mecha-Wily> continues to drop and then suddenly, thrusters flare. The Mecha halts it's descent and hangs quietly in midair. There. "THERE HE IS!" The Father of the Masters cackles madly and the Mecha drops once more. Like a big, metal afted stone. Right towards Crescent Grizzly. "YOU! Repliforcer! Its time for payback! I'll rip your head from your body and drag your carcass through the mud. Not even your own creator will recognize your mangled corpse when I'm finished with you!" Wily leans forwards in his pilot's chair, the Mecha barelling down on Crescent even as he drills into the ground. No tank destroying for that evil teddy bear. "This one's for you, Frost!" And the mecha impacts. (Hopefully)

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Rock transmits, "I'm engaged with Sigma... How is the rest of the battle going?"

Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Guardian> rocks again from the blasts, but does not fall, the silver and red armor scorched, but relatively undamaged. Raising the arm not holding the lance, Admiral frowns at his opponent. "I don't know who you are...but this is getting a bit tiresome!" Then, the massive fist opens to reveal an equally massive beam cannon, and fires what seems to be a lower-level burst.

Wilymachine <Mecha-Wily> strikes Crescent Grizzly with its Ram attack.

Shark Man really wasn't expecting his drink to get thrown back at him, and as a result, the beverage is now splashed over his armour. "What's wrong, dude? Not thirsty? Maybe we'll play a little game then." As he speaks, Sharky pulls out a beachball. When he's done, he throws the multi-coloured ball of... rubber at Spin.

Brash young Ride Armor, the pilot of this Ride Armor is three times as old as almost everyone in this room, brash and young? Not in the least. Regardless, the Sentinel is undeterred by the beams of energy, as it barely even registers on the armor, "Turn around and retreat back to the cesspool you've turned Europe into, and I won't spread your remains over the Mediterranean." Of course, Arkady snaps both vulcan cannons up, a warning shot directed right at the Manticore's chest.

Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Guardian> strikes Ride Armor <Kraken> with its Beam Cannon <low> attack.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] UN Security Elite Serena Gilbert transmits, "Need any help sugah?"

Shark Man misses Spin Cougar with his Beachball Toss attack.

Pallbearer looks up just in time as the bubble bats dive. "Covering FIRE!" he yells, Squad 2 immediately responding, ducking down behind cover and loosing off shots at the bats that get too close, Pall himself fighting back with palm blaster and saber. As Shade Man makes his presence known, swooping down on the wounded Gumby, Pall growls, levelling his blaster on the enemy. "Insufferable Wily trash!" he yells. "Didn't learn from the last time, did you?" He turns to his squad. "Keep going, get the wounded to the triage units ASAP! I'll handle this filth." MSE elite squad 2 nods in unison, rushing off as Pall charges at Shade, opening fire with his palm blaster to soften him up a bit.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Alacrity Demon transmits, "Apparently, McDonalds of Mavland sent a representative. I'm busily arguing her corporate goals of world conquest with her."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Admiral transmits, "I've engaged the squid."

Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Sentinel> strikes Ride Armor <Manticore> with its Twin Vulcans attack.

Pallbearer misses Shade Man with his Palm Burst attack.

Sigma glances towards the previous injury... This distracts him from the Busters, which nearly blows his arm off, energy coursing through the limb as he drops his shield, clenching tightly to his hammer as he clenches tightly to his wound, "Ghrr....Guh....", Sigma spits out Mechfluid again as he stumbles back some more, "Hehe.... You didn't... That's why... You fall for strategy...every...fuggin'...TIME!", and with that Sigma blinks forward, reappearing right in front of X, swinging his hammer in a wide arc right towards the injury Elec Man inflicted previously with a wild grin. "Sloppy, X!", he shouts.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Lighthawk XO Bowie transmits, "Busy."

Sigma misses Rock with his Hammer Swing attack.

Cleaver Cow manages to avoid Alacrity's kick by the very simple reaction of ducking desperately, her non-frying pan hand drawing back in. "McDonald's,am I? I'd never work for them! You're going to pay for that, you...buggered if I know who you are." Stabbing out with the apparently empty arm, a three-foot skewer pokes from the 'wrist', followed by the hand holding it like some demented fencing equipment.

Cleaver Cow misses Alacrity Demon with her Skewer attack.

"Oh hell." Fire, just the thing Justice doesn't need right now. The feline leaps behind cover, and holsters his Raptor. Instead, he pulls out his sonic rifle, charges it up, and then leans out from behind his cover and lets loose with a sonic blast wave.

Justice Jaguar strikes Sword Man with his Sonic Rifle attack.

Wild Card receives a radio transmission.

[Radio] You send Wild Card a direct message: "It's a big target. Tank is, anyway."

The Manticore doesn't even slow as it wades through the hair of fire that is being poured out at it by the opposing ride armor - indeed, it simply forces onwards, attempting to smash through the opposition that is being placed in front of it by its opponent. Bullets ricochet off of its armor, occasionaly tearing off gouges of its frame, but the armor seems to intent on reaching its target to even be stopped. Roaring, it pounces - its long, stinger tail lashing about and aiming to strike into the side of the Swiss armor - once there, it can deliver a dose of corrosive venom, sure to disrupt the armor's functions for a time.

Ride Armor <Manticore> strikes Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Sentinel> with its Venom Sting attack.

Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Sentinel> is temporarily disoriented by Ride Armor <Manticore>'s Venom Sting attack.

Crescent Grizzly snarls aloud in surprise as the WilyMachine strikes him in the back, bowling the titan over, his tunnel only a small crater in the ground at the moment. Looking up from his paws and knees, the bear's eyes flare slightly, as if a spark had been struck. " Oh. So Wilay' wants tah' play wit' deh' Grizzly? " Crescent smiles, " Les' play..." Charging forwards he swipes out with his normal claws, hoping to give the WilyMachine a taste of it's own medicine....

Crescent Grizzly strikes Wilymachine <Mecha-Wily> with his Generic Melee attack.

Alacrity Demon twists further in the air, catching the wrist with the skewer in both hands and using it as a balance for the split second it takes him to rake his wings along Cleaver, the bladed feathers glittering in the dusky air, before he's up and off and hovering again under his own power. "Tsk. I'm Alacrity Demon. Professional smart-arse and irritant, m'dear. So who DO you work for? Burger King?"

Alacrity Demon strikes Cleaver Cow with his Black Wing Barrage attack.

"Thirsty? Nah." Spin almost smiles, as he follows the drink with a charge. It takes a while to cover the distance, enough time for Shark to retaliate with the beachball. The Cougar, even in his armor, neatly dives and somersaults under it, uncurling at just the right moment to send all his velocity straight into his hindpaws, which are aimed at the Shark's chest. This is something Spin's lower body isn't designed for, let's hope it doesn't hurt too badly.

Spin Cougar strikes Shark Man with his Ram attack.

Frost Man watches skips along happily behind his Father. As he does, he stops looking at where some man is cowering in an alley. A few feet away is where said man's vending cart was. He hrms, and grabs the cart, continuing to skip along, weenies and condoments flying as he does. The man cries out, "Icey demon! Why must you haunt me, and steal my source of money!!!" Then he sighs, "Yet another child's college fund gone.."

Then Frost cheers as daddy get's the evil teddy bear back for ripping his head off. Suddenly...he stops and stares...it's like nothing he's ever seen before. He giggles with glee, "Moo cow! Hunter Moo Cow!" He's talking about Construct. No, Frost doesn't know the difference in an ox and a cow. He doesn't care. In fact, he's content with hurling carts at it regardless. "WEENIE'S AWAY!" Frost bellows happily as the vending cart sails through the air..

The corrosive venom begins to eat its way through one of the armos of the Sentinel, having driven its left arm in the way of the stinger before it struck the main body. Unfortunately that leaves the two of them entangled.

Frost Man strikes Construct Ox with his Weenie Cart Assault attack.

Sword Man gets shot back by the sonic blast, snapping back from his dash and falling down onto his back. Following the wave DEFINITELY turned out to be a bad idea. Grunting as he pushes himself up onto his blade, he eyes the area and sees the Jaguar leaning out from behind something. In a quick movement, he attempts to slam down on his head with a mighty downward slash. Hopefully, he's fast enough to hit the guy...

Sword Man strikes Justice Jaguar with his Overhead Slice attack.

Wild Card sends a radio transmission.

[Radio] Wild Card sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Well, watch where you're aiming, you lame excuse of a Texan. I liked this hat, now it's full of holes!"

As the hammer comes down, Rock steps inside Sigma's swing. Rock reaches around Sigma with his left arm and leans forward trying to pull the big monster over his hip. "You're right, Sigma. It is a lousy plan. Too bad its working."

Rock strikes Sigma with his Throw attack.

Alarms sound within the cockpit of the Kraken, echoing through its pilot's ears. The reploid within the Ride Armor ignores it, however, his eyes flashing into cold dispassionate pinpoints of light. His machine is damaged. The bolt from the Swiss Ride Armor's beam cannon drew more than just blood, it tore a wide gash down the flank of the Maverick machine. Internals grind and spark, but remain functional. Barely. "Know not who I am," the pilot whispers to himself, finally breaking his silence, "indeed..."

He drives his controls forward, and the Kraken shudders, the eight steel tentacles mounted along its body snapping upwards, sharpening into cruel points. They slash forward, angling in, slamming at the Guardian from several directions.

Ride Armor <Kraken> strikes Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Guardian> with its Eight Tentacle Impale attack.

Wild Card receives a radio transmission.

[Radio] You send Wild Card a direct message: "Then move faster."

Cleaver Cow doesn't /quite/ drop the skewer as that wrist is grabbed, but she retracts it again, presumably to get something better at knocking people away from her. Like another frying pan. But then Alacrity leaps up, leaving a cut X over her face from the bladed wings. "Look what you did!" she shrills, retracting the pan as well and pointing both gun-arms at the hovering Alacrity. "Burger King? Don't make me laugh! So low-end..." With a grinding sound, both Cleaver's free arms expel a spray of miscellaneous sharp things - normal-sized skewers, forks, knives ranging from steak to butter. There's even some spoons in there, and what looks like a potato masher.

Cleaver Cow strikes Alacrity Demon with her Cutlery Cannon attack.

Shade Man snarls into the neck of the downed Repliforcer he just has drained. Shade Man, however, lets his eyes keep rolling across the battlefield, looking for enemies to fight. A snarl spreads on his lips even as he noticed none other then... Iris. Dropping the Repliforcer, he smiles grimly, mechfluid leaking from the corners of his lips. Slowly he begins to stride for her, even as she is assaulted by a Bubble Bat. Spinning, she manages to dislodge the one that was biting her... ...but her slap connects with another target then the Bat.

Shade Man.

Shade Man's head SNAPS to the side from Iris' full-armed slap... and slowly his tongue extends to lick the blood on his cheek. "Mmmm... ...If you liked my children, sweet one... You should LOVE what I am about to do to you... but please... do hit me HARDER next time." Shade Man turns his horrible glare on Iris, his eyes rolling to blood red.

Iris is, however, saved from Vampiric Embrace by the three converging attacks from Coaster Raptor, Feedback, and Pallbearer. Shade's wings immediately snap back, as he hurls himself away. Turning, Shade SNARLS at all three... ...and raises a hand.

The air distorts around his hand, and a three walls of sonic force launch for the three heroic enemies who dared try to kill Shade Man. "Come not between a Vampire and his Prey! For he shall not slay thee in turn... he shall bear thee away to his Crypt... where you may be BLED DRY before his maker's approving eye!"

Shade Man misses Feedback with his Sonic Blast attack.

Shade Man strikes Pallbearer with his Sonic Blast attack.

Shade Man misses Coaster Raptor with his Sonic Blast attack.

Shark Man gets kicked, stumbling backwards a few steps. This is starting to get less fun for him. When he regains his composure, Sharky jumps into the air, not even speaking as he angles himself horizontally, trying to land on the cougar.

Shark Man misses Spin Cougar with his Belly Flop attack.

Wild Card sends a radio transmission to Bowie.

[Radio] Wild Card sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "You're asking t'get face full of buck shot, you know."

"Indeed. Lets..." Wily flips switches, turns knobs and slams a lever forwards as the Mecha rebounds from its attack. "PLAY!" The craft drives forwards once more, thrusters warping the pavement and sending clouds of dust hurtling into the air. The father of the Masters leans forwards against the harness of his Mecha, hair in wild disarray and eyes blazing madly. A cruel grin twists Wily's mouth as he fixes on his target. "You will pay..." This murmured within the cockpit. "For the disgrace. For the pain you put Frost through. For the pain you put me through. YOU WILL PAY!" The last rips from Wily, torn from deep within as his rage finally bubbles over. His metal avatar seems to respond to his change of mood, the eyes of the craft turning a demonic red as the whine of servos straining shrieks over the battlefield. The monster bears down on Crescent, seeking to overpower him and hurl him to the ground once more.

Ah, but while the two of them might be entangled, it means that the Ride Armor is at the mercy of the more monsterous looking Maverick Ride armor. Roaring in satisfaction from the damage that it has already rendered upon its foe, the Manticore flexes its talons in anticipation - and begins to rake the sides of the opposing armor, moving to tear off long strips of metal in a methodical, merciless precision. There shall be no mercy for those whom oppose the Emperor.

Ride Armor <Manticore> strikes Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Sentinel> with its Claw Swipe attack.

Wilymachine <Mecha-Wily> strikes Crescent Grizzly with its Generic Melee attack.

Justice Jaguar finds himself slashed before he ducks back behind his cover. The armor across his chest gets cut open, and he stumbles away from Sword, letting out a roar of pain, "That's it. You so messed up with that one." The jaguar backs off a few steps, pulling out his grenade launcher, as he leaps up, despite the pain, and aims downwards, spinning the grenade launcher's cylinder, before firing a grenade.

Justice Jaguar strikes Sword Man with his Acid Grenade attack.

Sigma is lifted up! And flung away, but not too far away, and if it does any damage, Sigma certainly doesn't mention it. Growling Sigma whispers, "Ghrr...Rrrghh...Damn you...", as he struggles to main control of his composure. No, no, he must keep in mind... One good hit and he'll go down for sure. Sigma grinds his feet back, closing his eyes, "Even if you defeat me, you never win. I have told you this before...", nodding to himself, he brings his senses back in check as he shouts, "You're always in the WAY!", fiercely as he brings his hammer around, attempting to impale Rock with the vibro-spike near the hand right where Elec placed his injury, "Always in the way of the Utopia, always in the way of the end of this war! If it wasn't for you, there would have been PEACE now. The reploid race would have never needed to exist, Wily would have had his world, and my people would have never been opressed. Better this, than to suffer this indignity at your slavemaster's hands!"

Sigma misses Rock with his Hammer Spike attack.

Alacrity Demon gahs, arms and wings snapping up and around respectively to shield his face from the onslaught of flying flatware, letting it drive him backwards. As it ends his wings snap out, visibly missing feathers that go fluttering to the ground around him dramatically. His form stretches slightly, a whining noise building up, before he lashes back towards Cleaver, eyes melting through to a boiling red as he rams everything he has into a speed run that would make the fastest car in the world envious.

Alacrity Demon strikes Cleaver Cow with his Revenant Overdrive attack.

Construct Ox rubs his head and reloads his Nail Gun, "Ugh... look at dis block! It's in ruins! What did it ever do t'dose kamakazymajiggers?!" Construct Ox pushes his bulk up onto his hind legs once more and pops off another Nail at a nearby attacker, "Get away from dis block! It's already gonna take me a couple weeks to finish reconstructin dis place!" Then an incoming Weenie cart flies through the air towards poor little Construct Ox. The thing collides with the Combat Engineer and sends him back on his bottom, "... Ow..." A couple of weenies are impaled on his horns, and the rest of them are spilled out over him. The cart rests at his side, "What the flyin monkey wrench was that?" Ox plucks one of the weenies off and gets up onto his hooves once again, "Hey you! Dat wasn't nice at all!" The Ox kicks the ground and propells himself forward towards Frost Man, "I'll learn you!" Seems the Ox is charging at the huge Master.

Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Guardian> seems to fold like a doll as the tentacles rip through it, and when it stands again, shaking massive rents have been torn into it. Lubricants and fuels pour out one of the holes in its' side around the tentacle still there, and Admiral has to fight severely to keep it upright after the painful impaling. "...I won't let you win that easily...." Then, wrenching the Beam Lance upwards, the armor arches itself to the side to rip several of the tentacles away before moving down the remaining tentacles and driving the lance at the heart of the beast!

Construct Ox strikes Frost Man with his Horn Gore attack.

Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Guardian> strikes Ride Armor <Kraken> with its Beam Lance attack.

Iris backs away from the awful vampiric monster fearfully. As Shade is diverted by multiple attacks, she rather instinctively clutches the area around her neck, running away down an alley as Bubble Bats follow her every move. "Great," Iris laments. "I came here to run the underground railroad, and I end up as a B-Movie Scream Queen."

Sword Man is engulfed in the acidic explosion, falling back and the acid seeping into the already crushed shoulder joint and cracks made by the sonic rifle. Falling to his knee, he finds his arm unusable, and his antigravity units compromised by the attack. Falling down, he curses his luck, clattered on the ground helpless.

Crescent Grizzly is pushed away, but holds his footing. Growling in anger, he retaliates, charging forwards to lock arms with the Mecha. " Non! You brough' dis' 'pon yerself Wilay' ! " the behemoth bellows, " Yew' sought tah' 'urt people, tah' drag dem' into yer' conflic'. Dey' dinnent' ask tah' beh par' o' yer world, yer war. " Crescent bares his teeth, " You 'ave no right, Wilay...." He tries to slam the mecha up agianst a nearby statue erected in a small square. " NO RIGHT AT ALL! "

Crescent Grizzly strikes Wilymachine <Mecha-Wily> with his Generic Melee attack.

There might be no mercy, but that same merciless attitude is returned in kind, punch for punch. The armor on the side of the Sentinel is clawed through, ripping some of the external armour off, but leaving the Manticore quite close. "Moron." With that, the Sentinel's right arm snaps around, a blade extending from its wrist. The blade is normal metal, save that it seems to be emitting a high pitched whine. Just as it reaches its highest pitch, the Sentinel drives it toward the chest of the Manticore.

Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Sentinel> strikes Ride Armor <Manticore> with its Progressive Knife attack.

A little jarring of the internals, with Spin's impromptu Dragon Kick, but the effect is mostly as hoped. Bouncing off of Shark Man, Spin lands on his hands, rolling nearly back to his feet. Yep, he's still the gymnast, too. Floor Mat exercises come to mind as Shark Man attempts to land on him, and he quickly launches himself backward moments before the slam. Nearly bouncing off the tarmac behind him, Spin flies /over/ Shark, swinging the spinstaff downward at the peak.

Bowie continues to pepper the Dinosaur Tank with bullets, not quite fast enough to be considered cover fire, but enough that he might irritate someone eventually. Point. Fire. Eject spent cartridge, load new. Repeat. He aims for what appear to be soft tagets, gun turrets and portholes and such. Any Mavericks climbing over or in the vicinity of the massive tank are also targets, of course, and he picks a few gumbies off as well. Along with any sombrero-wearing reploids standing too close.

Still battling amongst the front lines, Paragon is apparently holding his own, giving just as good as he is getting. A few UNers assault him with rifle fire, blasting a few clean holes through his large shoulder armor, to which he responds by kicking a poorly parked car in their direction. The UNers immediately break for cover as the car smashes into their location, barely missing them in the process. With a snort, Paragon continues his own advance, snapping off a quick radio.

Spin Cougar strikes Shark Man with his Staff Swing attack.

You strike Wild Card with a glancing hit from your Grasp attack.

With the blast having missed it's target, Coaster continues to deal with more of the bubble bats until he has a clear path. As soon as he does he starts skating toward shade, rails carrying him toward the vampirish robot master. When his sonic blast surges forth, the raptor banks hard left, then kicks the boosters on to surge upward toward Shade, he's gonna make this personal. Once he's close, the raptor leaps from the rails in a hard spin, trying to let a taloned foot claw the master before he starts to fall back toward the ground. Eventually his rails start to generate again and he coasts out of the fall and back around, glancing up at Shade waiting for what may be next as he builds up speed for another attack.

Coaster Raptor misses Shade Man with his Raptor Talon Roundhouse attack.

Paragon Pirana sends a radio transmission to Sigma.

Sigma receives a radio transmission.

Justice Jaguar releases his grenade launcher, letting it snap back to it's storage area, as he lands and runs at Sword Man, "Not gonna let you walk out of here in once peice, Robot Master!" He yells, as he jumps up again, and sails at Sword Man, snapping a foot out as he flies.

Justice Jaguar strikes Sword Man with his Kick attack.

Sigma sends a radio transmission.

Paragon Pirana receives a radio transmission from Sigma.

TINK! Yes. Tink. No, Construct Ox, tink is not the sound you want to hear result from you charging a Robot Master. But, alas...all of you heard... "Tink!" Frost Man, looks down, a little confused. That...made no sense. He looks at the chip in his armor. Then to Construct. Slowly....oh so slowly, it dawns on him...

"You tried to hurt me....", Frost Man muses...not one of those mocking muses. No, this is one of those 'just barely made the INT roll' muses. Frost giggles, "You tried to hurt me. Tee hee. Silly moo cow. I show you how it works." With that, Frost simply tosses the club over his shoulder, crunching a yugo...then, raising his arms high overhead, he swings down at Construct Ox with a double ax handle style smash.

Wild Card receives a radio transmission from Bowie.

[Radio] You send Wild Card a direct message: "Yer welcome t'try."

Frost Man strikes Construct Ox with his Bash attack.

Feedback watches as Shade continues to fight back, dodging out of the way of that last sonic attack as it impacts just inches away from Feed. Part of the blast is deflected off his armor. Looking back at Shade Man, Feed just shakes his head muttering, "And here I was ready to move on. But fine, be that way. I'll match ya sonic for sonic." With that Feed starts to power his own sonic generators and then fires back a sound burst back at Shade Man.

Feedback misses Shade Man with his Sound Burst attack.

Wilymachine <Mecha-Wily> crashes through the statue, stone dust and rubble flying in all directions. "Brought it upon myself? You all brought this upon yourselves. If you had simply submitted to my benevolent and omniscient rule!" The Mecha staggers back to it's feet, dust cascading away from it's back. "Then you would all be living in an age of unimagined peace and propserity!" The scary part? He sounds like he believes his own rantings. Then again, he probably does. "Sooner or later the world will learn. Submit to the will of Wily or DIE!" He drives forwards once more, attempting to hurl Crescent through the local library.

Wilymachine <Mecha-Wily> strikes Crescent Grizzly with its Generic Melee attack.

With a horrible shriek of tearing metal, the tentacles are wrenched forcefully free from the Kraken's body. Slick with oil and lubricant, two, purple and green, are torn completely off their hull mountings. The Kraken whines with protest, its treads digging into the earth. And that's when the Guardian makes its play, driving its lance into the Kraken's armour, light punching through the double-ringed body and flaring out beside the spherical cockpit. Wounded, the machine reels, impaled on the blazing lance, before its pilot regains control. The lower jaws of the Kraken open, the wide gaping maw reaching out to snap the offending lance in twain - and not incidentally, the arm of the Guardian holding it fast.

The Manticore leaps back from its tearing frenzy, ceasing its attempts to do serious damage to its opponent, and merely hovers there for a moment. The sword attack had been sufficient to tear a nice sized chunk from its armor, but it was not serious - indeed, it seemed the two armors might be attempting to nickel and dime each other to death.

From all about several Swiss guardsmen are attempting to fire on it, supporting their country's ride armor as best they can in hopes to spare it from further damage, while it might protect the citizens of the city elsewhere. But there is little hope where the Manticore is concerned. The Ride Armor holds its position in the air for a moment, its wings holding it aloft as its emitters charge.

What comes next is a massive, insane burst of sound - the sound of a thousand souls screaming in agony that washes out in a ring from about the Manticore, slaughtering guardsmen, splintering masonry to rubble, and hopefully pounding the Sentinel back into the ground.

This is the Terror Scream.

Ride Armor <Manticore> strikes Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Sentinel> with its Terror Scream attack.

X's foot boosters fire off as Sigma attempts to spike the Rock. Rock glares down at Sigma as the leader of the Maverick's spouts his ministry. "Sigma, that's where you are wrong. Your actions valid the hate people have for reploids. At least in their minds. Your war doesn't make the world a better place. Realize that and you may change for the better." Rock transforms the buster back to an arm that he unleashes towards Sigma for yet another quick strike. "And Sigma, you keep forgetting. I wasn't the first. Protoman has that honor."

Ride Armor <Kraken> strikes Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Guardian> with its Jaw Slice attack.

Rock strikes Sigma with his Hyperjab attack.

Pallbearer mutters a curse slightly, as Shade's blast ripples through him. The reploid feels a bit lightheaded, but shakes it off quickly, closing on Shade. "Anyone ever given you a lesson in proper etiquette? No harrassing a LADY!" Pall levels his reinforced-steel shoulder pauldron at the vampire, leaping as he charges full-force at Shade's gut.

Sword Man glares at Justice, the kick rolling him about on his studded belt. "Kicking a downed foe? Ghh...I would have thought you would have more honor than that..."

Pallbearer misses Shade Man with his Soul Driver attack.

Shark Man is really having a bad day, it seems, as the staff smacks into his back, leaving a dent in the armour. Unfornately for the agile cougar, right next to the dent is Sharky's razor sharp dorsal fin. As Spin leaps over him, Shark Man springs himself upward, trying to implae him o that fin.

Wild Card sends a radio transmission.

[Radio] Wild Card sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "If I knew where the heck you were, I would."

Shark Man misses Spin Cougar with his Fin Slice attack.

Wild Card receives a radio transmission from Bowie.

[Radio] You send Wild Card a direct message: "Look up."

Sigma misses Rock with his Hammer Slam attack.

Wild Card sends a radio transmission.

[Radio] Wild Card sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "I already knew you were up there somewhere, but there's a damn lot of rooftops."

Sigma strikes Rock with his Grasp attack.

Cleaver Cow's hoof-feet squeal as she's forced backwards, barely staying upright - the force is tremendous, though, and the inner front of her armour buckles in, revealing red-hot inner things as they burn through her apron. "Ow ow ow. You - " It degenerates into cursing here; both her hands pull out very large cleavers, a good three feet long per. "Bring it," she growls, trying to take advantage of the range before Alacrity gets away by going into a slashing frenzy.

Cleaver Cow strikes Alacrity Demon with her Cleaver Massacre attack.

Paragon Pirana sends a radio transmission.

Sigma receives a radio transmission from Paragon Pirana.

Sigma sends a radio transmission.

Paragon Pirana receives a radio transmission.

The 'Moo Cow' looks up after hearing the 'tink'. Certainly Construct Ox didn't want to hear a 'tink'. A 'tink' is something he expects when hammering nails into a board... not ramming an opponent. Construct Ox's eyes go wide as he states, "Oh no..." The Double Axe Handle smash collides with the Bovine's back storage compartment. Construct Ox groans a bit and raises his nailgun up just a bit. That's right folks. The poor Combat Engineer's gonna attempt to nail Frost Man to the ground. He's an engineer people... at this point in time, after getting a beat down, it sounded like a good idea at the time.

Sigma wonders idly what the hell Rock is talking about as he smacks him in the face. He swings his hammer in a wide arc for the face but his swing goes wild. Rock didn't even have to move. "Rrrghh....", he growls, stumbling back.

Construct Ox strikes Frost Man with his Nail Gun attack.

Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Guardian> reels backwards, the beam-lance arm gone, unbalanced and heavily damaged. Going to a knee to stabilize itself, it slowly raises again, backing away to get some distance, then unleashes a larger blast with the Beam Cannon, attempting to blast away more of the damaged tentacle cluster.

Alacrity Demon winces, throwing himself backwards and away from the carving machine o' doom as hastily as he can manage, large rents opened in his wings and in his armor, leaking oil and other, orange fluids as he goes. His right hand lashes out, and a veritable blizzard of throwing stars lances towards Cleaver, in an attempt to drive her back. "Back! Back to the kitchen foul steak!"

Alacrity Demon misses Cleaver Cow with his Shuriken attack.

Paragon Pirana sends a radio transmission.

Sigma receives a radio transmission from Paragon Pirana.

Wild Card receives a radio transmission.

[Radio] You send Wild Card a direct message: "*sounds of reloading a rifle - chk shnkt clink* Didn't say Ah wus goin t'make mahself an easy target."

Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Guardian> strikes Ride Armor <Kraken> with its Beam Cannon <mid> attack.

Sigma sends a radio transmission to Paragon Pirana.

Paragon Pirana receives a radio transmission.

Velguader has arrived.

Sigma drops Velguader.

Wild Card eyes the direction that the shots have been coming from, and draws one of his shotguns.

Wild Card sends a radio transmission.

[Radio] Wild Card sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "So that's how you want to play the game, 'eh? Well, ante up."

Justice Jaguar pauses, and draws his 9mm, pointing it at Sword Man, "You're disabled?" He asks, supprised, "Well, then you should evacuate from the battlefield. Destroying you now wouldn't make me feel very good."

The Ursine Protector is shoved forcefully into the library, and assorted texts in all sorts of languages go flying into the air and spilling out into the street...

And a tiny scrap of paper floats to the ground from a mangled book, it's writing in small type. It states very simply....

" We would rather die on our feet, then live on our knees..."

If anything, that is all the inspiration Crescent Grizzly needs. Climbing to his feet, he looms, head arched forwards, breathing hard from the effort as his pumps send fuel to where it is needed. " A worl' witout' freedoms, a worl' witout thought 'n beauty. Non, Wilay', NON, JE PARLE! " Striding forwards, he lashes out first with one fist, " Iffin' 'ah mus' choos' 'tween takin' a single 'uman life, 'r losin' all dat' 'ah 'old dear..." Then the other, "...den' yew' com' up a bi' shor' 'n deh' scales! " Then a massive uppercut with both paws balled into fists and parallel in their strike

The blast of sound wreaks havoc with the internal systems of the Sentinel. For a good few seconds, the Sentinel begins to fall toward the ground from its holding position in the air as the pilot struggles to regain control of the armor from the system lock it was placed in. With enough time to spare, the Sentinel's pilot regains control and launches back into the air. "Now that was a very very rude thing to do. You could have killed me. That or I could have been quite indisposed for a good while, and well, we can't have that." comes the voice over the speakers on the Sentinel. Its shoulder cannon comes alive, the Sentinel reaching up and removing it from its shoulder and placing it on its right forearm. "Now, lets teach you some manners." The cannon screams to life as it lets out a pure burst of energy.

Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Sentinel> strikes Ride Armor <Manticore> with its Beam Cannon <mid> attack.

Shade Man smiles grimly, his wings spreading wide as he takes flight. As Coaster and Pallbearer charge for him, his wings beat once, and he launches skywards, up and over his foes. Shade's laugh is ominous and terrible as he mocks his enemies, calling to both, "FOOLS! You cannot defeat the Vampire King that easily!" Shade then turns his head, even as Feedback unleashes a wave of sonic force for the Vampire, "...Ahh... a fellow Tunesmith. Excellent." Shade's wings move, launching him up higher, then they bank as he dives down, barreling down around the sonic burst sent by Feedback.

"Tunesmith! ...Try my Dirge."

And Shade throws his wings and arms wide, his mouth opening... and he sings. A deep, subsonic vibration launches from him. Haunting and horrible, it disturbs circuitry and systems entire... launching out for Feedback, Coaster Raptor, and Pallbearer... as well as Iris.

Shade Man's Song: Devil's Dirge.

Crescent Grizzly strikes Wilymachine <Mecha-Wily> with his Generic Melee attack.

Shade Man strikes Iris with his Devil's Dirge attack.

Iris is temporarily disoriented by Shade Man's Devil's Dirge attack.

Shade Man strikes Pallbearer with his Devil's Dirge attack.

Pallbearer is temporarily disoriented by Shade Man's Devil's Dirge attack.

Shade Man strikes Feedback with his Devil's Dirge attack.

Feedback is temporarily disoriented by Shade Man's Devil's Dirge attack.

Shade Man strikes Coaster Raptor with his Devil's Dirge attack.

Coaster Raptor is temporarily disoriented by Shade Man's Devil's Dirge attack.

The staff strikes its target, and Spin forces a grin. He's somehow enjoying this, even as the sharp fin comes up and nearly takes his head off. Landing behind the Shark, the Cougar shouts, "This is your last chance to save yourself, drone! Run while you still can!" Now if he were a fool, he'd stop attacking - but he doesn't, sticking the tip of his staff into Shark's dorsal-side as if like a cattle prod.

Spin Cougar misses Shark Man with his Staff Thrust attack.

Bowie ducks back behind the stonework facade again, and crouches to reload his rifle. Picking the shells seemingly at random from his bandoleer, he slips each into the cartridge, double-checks that nothing's out of place, then closes it up. Of course, by this time a certain chatty maverick may have figured out which roooftop he happens to be standing on.

The sudden appearance of nails in his icey armor still amuses the giant Master. He plucks one out of his armor, looking at it. Tossing it over his shoulder, he looks down at the oxen reploid. Laughing loudly and happily, he says, "I like you! You're funny! You're my favorite toy now!" Then...he beams, like he just got an idea.

Reaching for the Ox's ears, he shouts gleefully, "Moo! Moo, cow! Moo for me! I wanna hear a moo!" Most people would call for Uncle, or Mercy, but not Frost...he continues to bellow joyfully, "And the cow goes....." Reach and attempt to yank time.

Frost Man misses Construct Ox with his Punch attack.

Up and over the Hammer swing goes X. "Sigma, it appears to not be your day. Call off your forces..." Rock lands as his hyper arm reattaches to his body. His right hand curls into a balled fist. Rock rears back and tries to repeatitly smash Sigma in the face.

Rock strikes Sigma with his Punch attack.

Sword Man grunts, rolling about. "I wouldst, if currently had the ability to. You hath disabled the very means which I would evacuate myself..." Indeed, his legs are up and about, but Sword finds himself unable to latch onto the legs with his shot arm.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Arkady transmits, "Okay, everyone report in status, everyone thoroughly beating the crap out of the Mavericks and Masters?"

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Rock transmits, "Sigma hasn't touched me yet."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Crescent Grizzly transmits, "'m 'ngagin deh' WilyMecha."

Even as Coaster comes around to make another ascent toward Shade, the dirge coming from his audials is enough to make Coaster flinch, and disrupt his generators enough that he falls back to the earth from a few feet up with a resounding thud, "Ugh..."

Iris is taken by surprise by the low-toned dirge, which resonates at such a pitch as to damage some of her sensitive communications equipment. She trips, stumbling and falling in clumsy fashion before pushing herself back up -- still swatting at the Bubble Bats. "Go on, shoo...oh, drat it all...this is terrible...well, hopefully I've lost that really awful one. I can't afford to meet up with HIM again..."

The Manticore seems satisfied with the damage that one scream has wreaked on the area - certainly those whom opposed it will be unable to continue such an action. That leaves only its main opponent - and the Swiss armor has been an admirable foe this far. And then the massive blast of light rips out, tearing off a good chunk of the side of the Manticore. The armor staggers for a moment, almost falling to the ground... almost, but not quite.

The Maverick Armor roars again in frustration, and its tail whips over its shoulder - and from its tip launches its stinger, racing through the air so fast that it leaves a trail of miniature air rings, even as there is a loud boom as the atmosphere behind the projectile collapses back in upon itself. There is a loud *KACHUNK* as a new stinger loads into place, ready for action as the first stinger hurtles towards the Sentinel.

Ride Armor <Manticore> strikes Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Sentinel> with its Stinger Launcher attack.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Alacrity Demon transmits, "I'm hoping to end things with the barbeque soon. Cause that bloody cleaver hacked a couple of my primary power lines. I'm still good, but another hit and I won't be."

The blast from the Guardian's fully-deployed beam cannon tears into the Kraken with all the fury of a newborn star, vaporizing hardened armor alloys like so much tissue paper. The Kraken topples over, crashing to the street with a resounding echo. Fragments of asphault and concrete scatter into the air, falling around the broken Ride Armor. Fully half the Kraken's primary armament, its dread tentacles, are shattered now, detatched from the body, or broken beyond use.

Yet, the Ride Armor rises, body rotating, pushing itself upright with its remaining tentacles. The jaws of the machine grind angrily. One tentacle rises, energy exploding into a corona of retina-searing brightness along its length and breadth. The surface temperature of the tentacle climbs, heating coils built into its structure drawing from the vast reserves of the Kraken's fusion bottle to fuel its immolation. Glowing white-hot, stripping the air around it into a blaze of hideous plasma, the tentacle extends, its reach impossibly long, lunging to coil and crush the Guardian's cockpit in its hellish embrace.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Lighthawk XO Bowie transmits, "Makin some Mavs' lives miserable. Ah'm okay fer now."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Ebony Fox transmits, "The Encampment is holding its own...can't talk much...I'm acting as a satellite for radio communique for Allied Troop Units...coordinating on multiple frequencies at once...."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Justice Jaguar transmits, "Sword Man disabled. Unable to evacuate himself. Where is assistance required?"

Ride Armor <Kraken> strikes Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Guardian> with its Plasma Tentacle Crush attack.

Cleaver Cow blocks a few of the shuriken with her cleaver - she knows what she's doing - but most of them simply go past her as she's moving now. A bit to the side, and then her hoof paws the ground for a moment... "Let's show you how this is done!" she yells, charging head-first toward Alacrity. She doesn't really have horns, but her head is hard enough. Smoke trails can be seen behind her...but that's more from her damaged ovens still burning her apron then any other reason.

Cleaver Cow strikes Alacrity Demon with her Mad Cow Stampede attack.

Repliforce Attack Hoverbike <Delta> arrives from the Sky Above Western Europe.

Repliforce Attack Hoverbike <Delta> has arrived.

Paragon continues to press on, moving forward with a small group of Maverick regulars behind him. However, something makes him pause and narrow his optics. He curses slightly to himself and then barks out some more orders to the Regulars, instructing them on how to proceed. Apparently, something has come up that he neeeds to take care of. With a quick turn of the heel, Pargon hastily makes his way back through the lines, roaring to any in his way..

The Ox rolls as fast as his oddly shaped body will allow. The Ox manages to get away from the giant fist from the giant Master. The Ox does a push up and throws himself back to his feet, "Ahhh ugh no, I ain't gonna moo for you. You... just ain't right in the head are you?" The Ox backs up a bit and initiates a configuration change, "How bout you just stand there for a moment. Lemme do this, and maybe just maybe I'll give you a moo eh? As long as you just sit still." Of course while he's converting to another configuration, the nailgun is utilized to pop a spike into a nearby city attacker, "Eh... that goes for you buddies too."

Construct Ox changes into his Demolition armor.

Feedback curses under his breath as he misses yet again. He's so distracted listening to Shade's ramblings, he is caught off guard by that last attack. Feed just starts mumbling under his breath as his legs just give way and he falls to the ground. Mentally he adds Shade Man back to that list of people to hurt one of these days. But for now, Feed tries to get back to his feet so he isn't a complete sitting duck.

Harmony has arrived.

As the staff is thrust at him, Shark Man finally decides to get out of the way of an attack, spinning around so the staff passes through the air he previously occupied. Then, his lower right arm begins to glow with a sea-green colour, as blue-green seawater begins to gather around his fist. Sharky uses the water-coated fist to deliver an uppercut, hopefully hitting Spin in the jaw.

Despite the damage taking place, there's still a few buildings relatively unharmed. Wild Card goes into one of these buildings, and proceeds to go up one of the elevators to the rooftops. Despite how obscenely stupid this is to do during a battle, he nonetheless safely makes it to the top, and gets a candy bar from a vending machine along the way. Holding the chocolate bar in his mouth, he says (slightly muffled), "Come out, come out, wherever you are," and begins the process of hopping from building to building (it's not that hard, despite what The Matrix may make you think), searching out the one who ruined his hat.

Shark Man misses Spin Cougar with his Aqua Punch attack.

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Alacrity Demon transmits, "I'm out. However, it looks like the posterchild for Mad Cow Disease isn't sticking 'round either. One for one, catch y'all when y'get home."

Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Guardian> is rocked backwards, the cockpit burning and warping as the Kraken attempts to crush it. "Oh...no...you...don't...!" Almost desperately, the beam cannon folds back into a fist before going for a massive knife that deploys from the waist of the armor. Then, blade vibrating, the Admiral attempts to cut the Ride Armor free of the tentacle's embrace, like a deep-sea diver in an old horror flick.

Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Guardian> strikes Ride Armor <Kraken> with its Progressive Knife attack.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Arkady transmits, "SONAVAB***H!"

Sigma is decked again. "Rrrgh...Playing with me now, are you...", he is breathing heavily, even though he has yet to even touch Rock. Raising the hammer, focusing, no, forrcing himself into Focus. He simply swings out quickly with his Hammer. This better work, he's running low on strength already, he's ashamed enough that he already had to call in Reinforcements Before he even struck a blow. "But...", he grins to himself, "That is why we win, and you lose...", he comments.

Sigma strikes Rock with his Sigma Hammer attack.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] UN Security Elite Serena Gilbert transmits, "Eh?"

Frost Man watches the cow, and bounces joyfully, "Cow's gonna go moo! Cow's gonna go mooo!" fortunately for Construct, Frost is an idiot and honestly believes he's gonna get a moo out of the cow. So, he sits there, clapping his hands, anxiously awaiting his moo. Daddy never took him to a petting zoo, or a farm, so he never got to hear any real 'moo's before. And so he waits, anxiously..

Morph Moth's Junk Pile <MMJD> arrives from the Germany.

Morph Moth's Junk Pile <MMJD> has arrived.

Pallbearer drops to the ground as the dirge begins, growling as his highly powered sensors are disrupted by Shade Man's song. "You...pompous son-of-a...I swear I'll rip your fangs from your head and blind you with them...." His rage builds as he struggles to recalibrate his sensors, clutching his head with one hand as he tries to locate Shade.

Morph Moth has arrived.

Morph Moth has left.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Resonance, not Resonance says, "...Sir?"

Morph Moth's Junk Pile <MMJD> enters the Germany.

Morph Moth's Junk Pile <MMJD> has left.

Alacrity Demon grunts as Cleaver plows into him, his eyes flickering dangerously for a moment before emergency relays close inside him and restore power. Coughing up a sizable amount of orange mechfluid, he smirks through the pain at his opponent, "Well, lady. Looks like y'just might be a cut above regular grade beef after all. Catch y'later." With that he's gone, his battered form unable to battle but far from broken, hurling itself into the air with all the speed he can muster, plowing through a few scattered bubble bats on it's way out of the area.

Alacrity Demon retreats from the area swiftly, leaving him open to pursuit or parting shots from Mercury, and Crash Man.

The stinger goes right into the side of the Sentinel, tearing right through a good part of it and in fact driving right into the left leg of the pilot within. Staggered for a few seconds, the Sentinel regains its control looking up with the normal coldness of a ride armors glare. The beam cannon on the right arm of the Sentinel glows anew, this time its energy shoots out and forms into the shape of a beam lance. Kicking in its afterburners, the Sentinel flies toward the Manticore in a pose reminscent of the Iron Giant triumphantly flying toward the nuke.

Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Sentinel> strikes Ride Armor <Manticore> with its Beam Lance attack.

Ride Armor <Manticore> falls to the ground, unconscious, due to massive systems damage.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Arkady transmits, "That sonava****h just drove its stinger right through the armor and into my leg..."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Ebony Fox transmits, "Do you need assistance, Arkady?"

Top Man arrives from the France.

Top Man has arrived.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Resonance, not Gabriel transmits, "..."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Arkady transmits, "No... its stuck well enough in place to keep major bleeding down. We have a f***ing country to protect."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Crescent Grizzly transmits, "Confirmed. Don't hesistate to yell if you do need me, though."

It takes some time to fully convert into his Demolition Configuration, but Construct Ox manages to do it. Usually in a battle situation he would not spend the excessive time to do so, however... it seems he's in a match against someone with below average intelligence. The Bulldozer-esque Ox starts his treads back up. He propels himself forward, towards the giant Master, "Moo..." The Ox begrudgingly lets out as he moves towards Frosty faster and faster. The treads tear up the ground as he speeds up, "MOO!" He lets out another one, "There! There's you Moo! You dipstick!" Seems Ox is on a collision course.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Crescent Grizzly transmits, "OOC That was supposed to be Ebony."

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Resonance, not Resonance cheers, "That's the spirit! Tear off their balls, sir!"

Construct Ox strikes Frost Man with his Bulldoze attack.

Cleaver Cow rocks from the impact, shaking her head. Ouch. Holding the sides of her head, she actually grins once she sees Alacrity running off. "Ha! Shows you..." Of course, all /her/ systems are probably giving her as many problems as his; rather then continue, she starts to move toward the Dino Tank. At a slower clip that isn't going to break anything anytime soon.

Cleaver Cow retreats from the area swiftly, leaving her open to pursuit or parting shots from Shade Man, Sword Man, Iris, Rock, Paragon Pirana, Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Sentinel>, Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Guardian>, Spin Cougar, Wilymachine <Mecha-Wily>, Feedback, Velguader, Coaster Raptor, Ride Armor <Kraken>, Crescent Grizzly, Construct Ox, Sigma, Bowie, Mercury, Harmony, Pallbearer, Ride Armor <Manticore>, Justice Jaguar, Alacrity Demon, Wild Card, Shark Man, Crash Man, Top Man, and Shadow Man.

Mercury strikes Cleaver Cow with her Grasp attack.

Crescent Grizzly strikes Cleaver Cow with his Grasp attack.

Shade Man can feel it. The energy draining rapidly from him. All of these area attacks have sapped much of his remaining fuel supply, a snarl forming on his lips. However he witnesses the effect of his Song... disrupting the circuitry of his four current enemies... and leaving his prey open.

Shade throws back his head, and gives another horrifying shriek into the night, even as his wings fold... and he dives...

..Upon Iris...

Shade Man's arms go around Iris. He sweeps her into his arms, spinning her around and crushing her mercilessly to him. A terrible smile spreads on the Vampire's lips.

Shade Man's eyes slowly turn from their charming beauty to a deep, blood red... as that smile spreads into a terrible snarl. His horrifying voice rises from him...

"Give me some sugar, baby."

Shade Man dips... and sinks his teeth into the sweetest, softest reploid synthflesh to ever exist... and almost moans as Iris' lifeblood fills his mouth.

Apparently, X got a little over-confident as Sigma's hammer hits him squarely in the chest. The red 'Blue Bomber steps back from the attack. He spits out a glop of mecha-fluid and stares back at Sigma. "I see you aren't going to take my advice... Fine, Sigma. This ends... and it ends now!!" Rock slams his forearms together and strikes a Ken or Ryu like pose as he unloads a huge blue fireball at Sigma.

Sword Man strikes Cleaver Cow with his Grasp attack.

Shade Man strikes Iris with his Vampire Bite attack.

Shade Man drains energy from Iris with his Vampire Bite attack.

Armor screams as the vibrating edge cuts deep into it. A war between the metallurgy of the Coalition, and the weapons technology of the Swiss Army. A battle that the Maverick machine loses. The Prog Knife's blade tears a deep ragged wound through the plasma-sheaved tentacle, severing the dense cables of artificial muscle. The tentacle goes limp, sliding free from the Guardian, hanging from the Kraken's body by only a few strands of myomer cord.

The Maverick within contemplates his machine's console. He breathes in the acrid, smoke-filled air clogging the cockpit, not bothering to engage the air filters. He is calm. But his machine roars, -roars-, the sound of engines and drive elements blasting at a whole new ear-shattering octave. The machine screams forward, treads propelling it faster than it has any right to move. The Kraken's upper jaws slide open, serrated edges gleaming in the light, hungering for the blood of its tormentor.

Rock strikes Sigma with his Hdkn attack.

Ride Armor <Kraken> strikes Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Guardian> with its Jaw Crush attack.

Though Sword Man has fallen, Justice Jaguar isn't quite in the clear yet. Having grown tired of playing with defenseless NPCs, Shadow Man silently creeps up on the Hunter while he's busy being Dramatic. Drama has a way of getting Maverick Hunters in trouble... And right now, Shadow Man attempts to slip the edge of his giant shuriken into the Hunter's back, severing whatever internal mechanism may lie in the path of the freshly sharpened blade's cold touch.

Huntsman Chupacabra arrives from the Germany.

Huntsman Chupacabra has arrived.

Shadow Man strikes Justice Jaguar with his Blade Stab attack.

Flame Man arrives from the Germany.

Flame Man has arrived.

Alacrity Demon enters the Sky Above Western Europe.

Alacrity Demon has left.

Spin Cougar doesn't manage to connect with his staff thrust, and almost gets a counterattack in the jaw - he gets pretty wet, for what it's worth, but nothing. "Fine, then die for what you believe in," he mutters as he steps back, then lunges forward - another thrust, but this time, the tip of his staff splits and reveals a short energy blade headed for Shark's torso.

Spin Cougar misses Shark Man with his Energy Thrust attack.

Cleaver Cow sends a radio transmission.

Paragon Pirana receives a radio transmission from Cleaver Cow.

Iris struggles mightily as Shade grabs ahold of her...she still has some fight in her in the onset. But once the vampire-Master sinks his fangs into her...it's all over. Her kicking feet begin to twitch feebly...her mighty struggling beginning to ebb...and her eyes slowly begin to close, head falling back as the world begins to go dark.

Iris misses Shade Man with her Kick attack.

Bowie is pretty easy to spot, once you're on his level. While his armor isn't exactly flashy, it doesn't blend in that well with the grays of the stonework. The Texan is mostly focused on the battle going on below, though he also watches for any other would-be snipers following his lead. The sound of someone or something landing on the opposite side of the roof is enough to pull his attention away from the ground-side chaos, turning towards it. Now he knows why that voice over the radio sounded familiar. No words of greeting - he's always perferred to let his guns speak for him in a fight.

You strike Wild Card with a glancing hit from your Buffalo Rifle attack.

The sounds of battle drone out the whirr of an attack hoverbike entering the area, purple hair whipping behind her as she heads the way. 500 or so Repliforce SecDef gumbies closing in, still a good distance away from their temporary leader... Harmony! Skidding to a stop, she grits her teeth and surveys the.. area. It's such a mass of movement and battle and noise, it'd blow her mind if she hadn't seen something like this before. Sighing, she thinks, and motions a hand forward. Talking into her radio, she orders her troops along. A select few go to make sure all civilians are out of the way, others go to protect injured troops as they're carried off. Most go straight into battle, fighting other useless gumbies in the neverending cycle of gumbie death. Harmony, for now, stays back and waits for her chance..

Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Guardian> is flattened by the Kraken's tackle, and the severe shredding and rending of the massive jaws manages to rip into the cockpit itself to shred much of the displays, the glass shredding the body of Admiral's containment self. "Damn....no time for it now...." Fortunately, this position makes it rather -easy- to aim. The beam cannon arm rests against the Kraken's body, and it takes very little to activate it at maximum power, actually blasting through its' own fist to hit the Maverick armor. "Down t' Davy Jones with you...if I can be cliche..."

Swiss Guard Ride Armor <Guardian> strikes Ride Armor <Kraken> with its Beam Cannon <max> attack.

Ride Armor <Kraken> falls to the ground, unconscious, due to massive systems damage.

[Radio: (F) Joint-Secure] Arkady transmits, "Teach the virus-ridden garbage heaps to mess with us, 'eh Admiral?"

Frost Man starts to dance in a circle, singing, "The cow went moooo! The cow went mooooo!" As his back is turned, Frost Man gets run over like an old lady in the street. "AIEEE!" Face down on the pavement, with tread marks all up his back, Frost Man, suddenly, isn't happy. Looking up, his eyes narrow at Construct Ox.

He pulls himself off the ground, his happy demeanor..gone. Entirely. Infact...he's not happy at all. Shaking in anger he growls, "YOU RAN ME OVER!" Well, duh Frost. The area around Construct Ox is suddenly littered with shadows, each quickly growing bigger. If he were to look up, he'd see several huge snowmen plummeting towards the each, summoned up by Frost's weaponry systems. He sings savegely, "Frosty the snow man...stuffed you in a hole! He took a big bat and smashed your head, and stuck it on a pole!" Ok, Frosty's flipped..

The Manticore is rocked as the beam lance tears into the cockpit - but a half a second before it even strikes, the top of the canopy blows clean off, spinning through the air even as the pilot ejection system engages. The lance goes right through the cockpit, solidly impaling the entire Ride Armor through its entire length - but Bit is already out into thin air, clear of his armor even as he looks down at the Swiss Armor.

"Pathetic tools - the true way to deal with such things is always directly," Bit comments as he hovers in the air, cupping his hands in front of him. There is a burning ball of energy that gathers in them, and the Yang Yomi snaps his hands forw