From Russia with love (pre-mission event)

[srwu_npc]

[1]
Welcome to the ц-04 Frontline Supply Base. It's on Kamchatka, which means the surroundings are very cold, very Russian, and possibly BETA-infested. Why are you here?

Argos Flight is going to test an anti-BETA weapon in this inhospitable environment, and parts of Unity Group were dispatched too, in case something goes wrong.


"Unity Group. I am Lt Colonel Fikatsia Latrova, commander of the 211 Batallion Zhar. When the railgun test begins, it will be my Battalion's duty to lure the BETA in and keep them at bay while the weapon is being fired."

Say hello to the woman in charge? Or perhaps her subordinates - eishi of Batallion Zhar look young on average, and very unhappy to see you here. Several spit and leave at your sight (not while Latrova is watching of course), others mutter between themselves in Russian. Not the warmest of greetings.

[2]
That's for foreigners, but what about other Russians?

Batallion Zhar treats them no better. As a matter of fact, Inia and Cryska, the Scarlet Twins, are right there!

And they are being accosted by over a dozen of local pilots, who surround them, nasty intents clear from their expressions.


"Stay back! I will bleed dry the first dog who tries to... ugh!"

"Cryska!"

Worst time ever for the older of the two to suffer from a psychic headache.

[3 - mostly for Yuuya]
Day after the enjoyment from prompts above, it's time to proceed with the test!


"This is the EML-99X Electromagnetic Induction Launcher." Yui presents the anti-BETA railgun to Yuuya.

"Should something happen... I am not saying it will, but if something bad happens, abandon the weapon and retreat to safety, do you understand? Make sure it's destroyed, so no one can steal it and copy the design."

It seems she doesn't trust the hosts much...

Soon enough, first signs of BETA are detected and Zhar is dispatched to box them in. Everything proceeds as planned and the weapon is ready to fire, but...


"..."

"Something's wrong!"

Comments

1

[brought_it_back]

[What a coincidence, Eva's pretty young too. She talks to the commander while the subordinates are around, because that seems wise. And because she hasn't given any thought to this at all.]

That seems unreasonably dangerous.

[srwu_npc2]

"If you are worried for our safety, don't. Batallion Zhar is a veteran unit and I will make sure to deploy in numbers sufficient for the amount of BETA we face."

[brought_it_back]

[A glance at the assorted eishi.]

...It is?

1) [Russian Eishi]

[mistaken_for_monster]

[Well Volya was kind of sort of hoping for a chance to speak with people from the homeland, he was feeling kind of homesick after all. Then of course the way they were acting... so he speaks up rather hesitantly to one of them that was hopefully not going to feel like punching someone in the face and asking questions never.]

-Hello?-

[Maybe speaking in Russian would help his situation a little...]

[srwu_npc2]

"Yes? Where did you learn to speak Russian, boy?"

Asks a girl not much older than Volya himself, maybe sixteen.

[mistaken_for_monster]

-The same place you did. I'm Russian too. I just... kind of had to leave...-

[He rubs his arm anxiously before he continued.]

-Um... I... why's everyone here... so angry?-

[He barely managed to keep himself from saying 'so close to my age'.]

2

[a_louse]

[Click. That's the sound of sunglasses being taken off somewhere to the side.]

These ladies obviously do not want to be bothered. I suggest you obey their wishes.

[srwu_npc2]

"This is Motherland business!" Well, you got their attention Roger. The hostile pilots turn around to face you instead.

"Americans think they can stick their nose anywhere. Get lost or you get taught a lesson too!"

[a_louse]

I am not a citizen of the United States, but that's just on the side. Say what you want, but this is my business too; we can either handle this like civilized people, through talking, or we can do it the way where you end in pain on the ground.

2)

[break_the_nine]

[There's a soft, somewhat unbalanced chuckle off to the side as a single figure walks into view.]

Hey... hey what's going on here? This doesn't look like its very fun.

[He was enjoying a pudding cup while walking around the base when he heard the yelling from the scarlet twins. Leos raises an eyebrow at the thugs with a lopsided smile.]

Come ooon. We're all eishi here right? We're all friends. The BETA are our enemy after all. We should concentrate on maiming and killing them~.

[srwu_npc2]

"Friends?" One of the pilots laughs bitterly. The others are less welcoming as their faces frown in disgust.

"Russians treat us like garbage, let us die, you call this friends? But we'll see who's garbage when left tied up to a fence - with no clothes!"

2

[brought_it_back]

[A loud clanging noise comes from the vents above the room.]

Ow...

[srwu_npc2]

"What was that?"

"Rats? Is it BETA? BETA in our vents?!"

"Idiot! Were you dropped on your head as a kid Ilya?"

Well, that got the attention of several of the pilots. They're getting a ladder to check what's going on there - very carefully.

1 - more for fikatsia

[caressthedarkness]

[Seta tries to take cover from the eyes by raising her outfit's collar and the muffler around her neck - she's now wearing a longer blue coat with a pattern that resembles a snake on the right side. It comes complete with thin, red fur lining, because cold.

The kinds of looks she's getting aren't new to her, but that doesn't mean she doesn't feel uncomfortable.

At the same time...]

...How long?

[srwu_npc2]

"Only as long as it takes for the test weapon to get fired. It is up to Argos Flight exactly how long it takes."

"If everyone does their job right, we won't be even close to the eight minute mark."

1

[prismphantom]

Morale here seems to be a serious problem.

[srwu_npc2]

"Actually no. There are no problems inside my batallion. There is a reason it is named Zhar."

"It is only outsiders that are a problem."

1

[tiger_ken]

This feels familiar...

[Its like he's in a room of Yuuya's - or rather, the early version he first met, and beat up, but at base.]

It would be worth asking why several of your subordinates just left the room the instant we walked in?

[srwu_npc2]

"Lives were very hard for soldiers of the 211 Batallion. You would act similar if in the same situation."

Latrova moves in closer - not to be intimidating, but to talk to Ken without others eavesdropping.

"Also, it is hard to like strangers who come and demand you use your bodies as shields against BETA while they test a weapon that you won't get to use, only them. Do you understand what I am talking about?"

2

[ugyuuya]

[Yuuya notices the twins and watches Inia cling frightened to a Cryska as the ring of pilots begins to close in. Leaping over a concrete barrier Yuuya enters the ring and stands over Inia and Cryska before addressing the surrounding pilots.]

Hey, just what's going on here?

[Yuuya is on guard but slightly nervous at being so outnumbered.]

[srwu_npc2]

"Those 'pure' Russians think they are guests of honor. Time to show them Batallion Zhar hospitality - and you get out, unless you want to join them!"

3

[ugyuuya]

[As Tarisa hovers behind the main battle line with the rest of the Argos flight she checks the data link at the sudden declaration.]

There isn't enough Mechanized Infantry, they won't be able to make a proper cordon with these numbers. Just what's going on here?

[Meanwhile Yuuya is standing watching waiting for the appropriate clearance to fire. His nerves fraying as he watches the disaster unfold before him without the appropriate clearance to use the sole weapon his unit is outfitted with.]

[srwu_npc]

"This is what I am trying to say! Allied troops are too few and spread too thin. They will be overrun!"

The Russians have already engaged the BETA. You can see the Scarlet Twins' double seater Terminator somewhere out there too, making mincemeat out of any incoming enemy... but it's true. There is simply not enough of them, and they are slowly but steadily losing ground.

What to do?

2

[keep_your_dignity]

IS THERE A PROBLEM.

[Kagura approaches, asking what is international officer code for "I know there is a problem, and you all know that I know, but there better not be anymore or you are about to get into serious trouble". Plus even beyond the officerdom, well, it's hard to argue that a nine feet tall robotic suit of armor emblazoned with what might as well be Illluminati sigils can command a lot of attention]

[srwu_npc2]

"Who do you..."

The ringleader turns to actually see Kagura - the others already stare dumbfounded. Some try to retreat discretely.

"What... are you?"