[IC] Mobile Suit Gundam - The Lunar War

[ZeroNumerous]

Episode I

Klimt, like most Lunar cities, existed as an underground city. Large solar collectors and large scale fusion reactors powered the cities' lights, heating, and other energy concerns, vast O2 farms provided it with fresh air, and the city's population wouldn't have it any other way. The city's roof, comprised of photosensitive lights, emulated a day and night scale for a quarter of a million occupants. However, its people are not the city's major purpose. Rather, it's a manufacturing cradle that produces everything from prefab housing and other material for colonization efforts to mobile suits. And that's why it was chosen by the Titans to house the beginnings of Project S, and Project S is why the AEUG have been forced to fight in the city...

Craig Murray

Craig finds himself in a familiar seat, and immediately recognizes that he's dreaming. He's had this dream before, and he knew exactly how it would go. He was sitting in pilot seat of his GM. The control panel in front of him blinks, beeps, and whirs as it feeds him data from the fighting. Their home ship, the Red Hare, had just taken a hit and power was sporadic. The crew were abandoning ship, and asking for the Fives' help. But Craig and the Fives were some 2 clicks away, sitting in one of the thousand of impact craters that pockmarked A Baoa Qu, and trying to find a way into the asteroid. To his left stood Jean's GM, and he knew it out of hand by the stupid lightning bolt he'd painted on the right shoulder, and beside Jean stood another GM. Five in total were huddled together in that crater awaiting orders to advance or retreat, but no such orders had come in over thirty minutes.

Craig remembered that in reality Jean had suggested they go back to the ship to help, but anyone with half a brain would have realized that the Red Hare was dead. The space around A Baoa Qu was filled with Zeeks, and the asteroid base's anti-ship defenses would quickly destroy a limping starship. Craig remembers that he had ordered them forward, and in doing so found a half-barricaded entrance that brought the Fives into A Baoa Qu's reactor core. Destroying the core won the Fives their reputation as heroes, and shutting off the defense systems turned the tide of the battle. All it required was sacrificing less than two hundred men and women he'd spent the last year fighting alongside.

But, like always, the dream progressed the same way: Jean raised his beam rifle and leveled it at Craig's GM, and the GM beside Jean turned upon him as well. The Fives had suddenly become just the three of them, and Craig recognized who the other traitor was. Selma and Jean didn't say anything as they opened fire on Craig, and he didn't even have time to scream.

Craig wakes up in his bed in his hotel room. It was shabby, rundown, and he could hear rats scurrying about in the walls. Elizabeth promised him the building wasn't condemned, but it was the only thing AEUG could have afforded anyway. The darkness that ruled Craig's room was broken by only a single light: A hallway light of some sort shining in through the crack in the door. Once Craig finishes waking up and turns on the light he notices the room hasn't changed. A lamp with a bulb that hadn't been replaced in fifty years sat on the night stand beside his bed, a small T.V. that looked like it still had vacuum tubes in it straddled a small table in the corner, and a door leading to an attached bathroom and shower stood on the far wall opposite the door leading out. His bag full of his gear remained right where he left it; tucked away under his bed. Inside was all of his things: A change of civilian clothes, a Federation lieutenant uniform with the name "Dennis Grayson" on the name tag, a .45 with 9 rounds in the magazine, and the dossier on his mission.

The coded dossier includes photographs of a massive warehouse, a pink-and-white starship (http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/gundam/images/a/a5/Gaunland.jpg), a mobile suit laying on a truck bed (http://i.imgur.com/UoNEjRw.png), and a map of the city showing the research base circled in red. The mission was simple: Craig infiltrates the base alone, posing as Lt. Dennis Grayson, in order to steal the prototype mobile suit. Once he radios out for help, then Franz, Elizabeth, and the Delphi attack the city from above to distract the enemy. Craig steals the unit, meets up with Franz and Elizabeth, then all three of them escape on the Delphi. Enemy defensive units were garrisons in old style GMs, the Titan assault carrier the Gaunland, and its mobile suit complement.

Craig starts with 2 sets of Civilian Clothes, a Medium Pistol(Small Arms skill; +0 Accuracy, 15 damage, 6 squares of range, 1 rate of fire, and 9 ammo/mag), and a Federation uniform(provides a +5 bonus to Disguise as an EFSF officer).

Franz Ulrich Lichtenstein

Franz finds himself standing in a place that doesn't exist anymore, and recognizes it as a dream. He stands in the living room of his familial home back on Earth. The walls and floors are still made of wood, and they'd been handcrafted in an age where everything was prefab steel. His father sits at the table, hale and hearty, and his mother sits across from him doing a crossword puzzle. She'd always been doing a crossword puzzle in this dream, but he can't recall if she'd ever liked the things in life. His mother and father take no notice of him, even if he speaks out or shouts, and they chat away in a gibberish tongue that makes no sense. But Franz can feel their words better than he can hear them: Safety, love, protection... And then it changes.

An explosion tore the building apart, and rapidly transformed his dream home into the charred ruin it was in the real world. The whole event progressed like a slideshow: His mother flew forward, slammed into his father at high speed, and the table flipped from the force of the bomb. Blood marred her back, and Franz knew that the explosion had damaged part of her head. She was comatose, but alive, in the real world. His father, holding his wife in his hands, got propelled backwards into the nearby wall. The sound of his father's back snapping temporarily drowned out the distorted dream noise of the explosion. Naturally, all of the movements felt strangely disconnected from Franz.

But then the one real memory he has of the explosion comes through: Fire, fear, and pain explode into his mind. Not of himself, but the pain of his family. The suffering of those important to him. It mixes together with anxiety to create a head-pounding crescendo closer to a scream than a thought.

Then Franz wakes up to the sound of someone banging on his door.

The young man finds himself waking up floating a few centimeters over his bunk. The cold gunmetal gray innards of a starship greet his eyes, and after a few seconds he remembers that he's aboard the Salamis-class light cruiser Delphi. He'd only spent a few days in this room, but it's as sparse and spartan as his bunks from the War. It contains a bed, a snug sleeping sack attached to the bed, a footlocker with a broken padlock, and a rod jutting out from the wall to tie up your holster. The rod has his service pistol--complete with holster--and an old EFSF jacket with the name tag torn off hanging from it. The light feeling of gravity tells Franz that the ship isn't in deep space, and that likely means they're on the moon. That means mission day. Naturally Franz recalls the mission details: He and Elizabeth will deploy in the Delphi's GM IIs in order to cover Craig's escape. What, exactly, Craig was doing in Klimt was need-to-know information, but whatever it was would require mobile suit escort.

Once more his visitor gives his door three hard knocks.

Franz starts with an old EFSF jacket, a Medium Pistol(Small Arms skill; +0 Accuracy, 15 damage, 6 squares of range, 1 rate of fire, and 9 ammo/mag), and a set of civilian clothes. He has a bunk bed, and has a GM II in the hangar of the Delphi.
RGM-179 GM II
Type: Giant Robot
Size: 15 (18.1m; 58.7 tons)
Shape: Humanoid
Occupancy: 1, Pilot; No cargo
Integrity: 18(Robo Stamina = Armor); Flesh Wound Threshold: 9; Deep Wound Threshold 18; Instant Death Threshold 36; System Shock: 10
Armor Rating: 18(Damage reduction from attacks)
Maneuver: -2(penalty to Piloting checks)
Burn Points: 620(Hours of non-combat operating time)
Deployment Range: 500km(310 hours of Space Flight)
Real Speed: Walking 95 kph; Space Thrusters 1.06 Gs of Thrust,
Tactical Ground Speed: Walking 9 squares, Jumping 10 squares; Tactical Space Speed: Thrusters 10 squares
Perks: 2 x Manipulator Arms(Size 15); Civilian Grade Communication System(4km; -5 to interception resistance); Physical Contact Communication System(0m; Immune to interception); Counter-Battery Sensors(6km; +2 to Notice rolls, +4 to Notice rolls to determine where an unexpected ranged attack came from); Reinforced Systems(Chassis, Crew, Ammo/Fuel, Movement, Backup Sensors[Ignore the first critical hit on these areas]); Hostile Environment Protection(Radiation + Vacuum[Occupants are immune to these effects])
Flaws: Trackable Emissions; Uncomfortable Seats(-1 penalty to Piloting checks after 1 hour of operating)
Mounted Weapons(Always equipped):
2 x 60mm Anti-Missile CIWS (Forward Arc; Physical; Accuracy +3; Damage Multiplier 3; Base Range 1; Rate of Fire 10; Ammo 600 rounds; Perks/Flaws: Anti-Missile(no penalty when intercepting missile type weapons), Anti-Infantry(no penalty when attacking people or small vehicles), Head-Mounted, Physical(damage type))
1 x Beam Saber (Forward Arc; Energy; Accuracy +1; Damage Multiplier 12; Base Range 0; Rate of Fire 1; Ammo 4(remains active for 4 actions, gains 1 ammo per round spent not in use); Perks/Flaws: Armor-Crushing(every hit reduces enemy armor rating by 2), Parrying(may be used to parry other beam sabers), Heat(damage type), Hand-Held)
Optional Weapons(Chose 2):
1 x C2 Beam Rifle (Forward Arc; Energy; Accuracy +2; Damage Multiplier 10; Base Range 2; Rate of Fire 2; Ammo 15 shots/mag, 3 spare mags; Perks/Flaws: Anti-Structure(x2 damage vs buildings), Attenuating Damage(-3 damage at Medium, -6 at Long, and -9 at Extreme ranges), Heat(damage type), Hand-Held)
1 x 380mm Hyper Bazooka (Forward Arc; Missile; Accuracy +0; Damage Multiplier 12; Base Range 3; Rate of Fire 1; Ammo 6 rounds/mag, 1 spare mag; Perks/Flaws: Anti-Structure(x2 damage vs buildings), Armor-Piercing(reduce armor by 1/2 vs this attack, rounded up, cannot critical), Area Effect(1 square), Heavy(-2 movement when in use), Clumsy(-1 additional maneuver penalty), Recoil(cannot fire while on the move), Physical(damage type))
1 x Shield (Forward Arc; Physical; Accuracy +0; Damage Multiplier 8; Base Range 0; Rate of Fire 1; Ammo 0; Perks/Flaws: Defensive(-4 damage when attacking), Heat Resistant(+12 armor instead of +8 vs heat-type weapons), Shield(Solid shield that adds +8 armor vs physical attacks), Parrying(can block any attack)

Three Murasame

A conflagration of thoughts, emotions, and ideas completely fail to piece themselves together in "Nora"'s mind. A woman, blond, pretty, and crying, holds a bloody and limp younger version of herself tightly. A man, stern, dangerous, and dark-haired, holds Nora's hand. Terror and Pain leap from his rough hands into her own dainty fingers, and the black fear spreads across her arm like an infection crawling through her skin. The woman cries out. The man does not move. She cries out once more. He still does not move. He raises his other hand, and fires his Terror at the woman. Her head jerks back as Pain strikes her squarely between the eyes. The grasp of the man becomes iron, and her hand is caught in the bloodied biting teeth of a bear trap.

A machete lies nearby. Its edge gleams, sharp and ready for gruesome work. All that stands between Nora and freedom is the tiny, flimsy, and all too easily cut arm of a little girl.

Then a shout breaks the silence. "Wakey-wakey sleepyhead!

The sudden sensation of being airborne catapults Nora from sleep into the waking world as something heavy slams Nora's cushy bed. The young girl finds herself flying into the air like an anime, but she quickly and painlessly falls back to earth. No, that reaction was too nonsensical for this to be Earth. The memories of traveling on the Gaunland, arriving at Klimt, and finally getting an actual real bed to sleep in come flooding back. Nora is in her room at the Titan research base in Klimt. She's laying on her pale blue fluffy bed, wrapped up in pale blue sheets, and Second Murasame sits on the bed beside her staring at Nora. The woman wasn't quite old enough to be Nora's real mother, but she asked to be addressed as "Mommy" anyway.

"Pauline" smiles at her adopted daughter with the beaming smile of a mother proud of her little girl. "Come on, you can't dream all day. Dr. Okamura wants to run a check up on you before we get going." Yesterday the prototype test bed for Project S had arrived. That meant Nora would have to pilot the mobile suit, and that meant Dr. Okamura would get her ice cream or a toy to play with afterward. Without warning Pauline moves in for a hug, and whether Nora lets herself be hugged or not Pauline pats her head and smiles.

"You'll do great, but come back safe okay?"

[Bad Situation]

Franz floats in place for a few moments, ignoring the pounding on the door in favor of controlling the pounding in his heart. Taking a few final deep breaths, he curls himself upright with the help of his bunk's grip bars and launches himself toward his holster and EFSF jacket. He throws them onto his body haphazardly, shivering slightly as the cold jacket brushes against his bare, sweat-coated skin. Once his boots are laced he drifts toward his door, grabbing a plain black shirt as he passes by his footlocker, and opens the door to meet with his unfortunately determined guest.

Whoever opens the door is greeted with the sight of Franz's exposed chest, revealing the wiry frame of the former Fighting Five member. His life following his departure from the army has clearly taken its toll on the once robust body, with only the faintest signs of recovery under the AUEG funded physical therapy.

His voice comes out slowly and coarsely, as if the noise has to be strangled out of him, "Yes?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Franz

He meets face-to-face with the blond-haired pilot that Craig introduced him to once. She looks at Franz' exposed chest and poor dress, and practically salivates. She reaches out to touch him, but if she's rebuffed the blond-haired North American simply raises her hands in mock surrender and laughs it off. She speaks in a bright chipper tone that says she's been awake for awhile, or perhaps was naturally and happily air-headed. "Mornin'! I heard you were out of the scrap for awhile, and figured you might wanna run some sims to bring back the ole warrior instincts."

"After all, we gotta go get Craig back this morning, and you gotta be in tip top shape for that. Or else he'll end up getting himself killed, and then we'll both be haunted with his nagging forever." She laughs at her own joke, but doesn't really push for Franz to head out of his room. Then again, she doesn't move either and seems to be content waiting as long as necessary for the young man to wake up.

[Cespenar]

Craig sits up instantly upon waking up from the dream, his heart pounding. He curses under his breath -- he did use to see the odd nightmare about past mistakes, about people who couldn't be saved... but this one somehow stuck longer, for whatever reason. Not much depth to it too, Selma and Jean had stayed with the EFSF while Craig left a good while ago, so the sides of the matter were obvious. If anything, Craig should count as a "betrayer", technically.

Anyway, he thinks. Mulling it over certainly won't do any good. On to the work at hand.

Movements methodical after a decade of military life, he goes into the shoddy bathroom and takes a shower, which is followed by the uniform. Crisp as he could be in these circumstances, he sits on the edge of the bed and gives the dossier a re-read. Heh. He knew the AEUG didn't have much on resources, but this mission was a comedy any way you cut it. A one-man infiltration and hijacking of a prototype mobile suit? It would be one thing if he were a super spy, but he was simply a pilot and a squad leader. Then again, he had already discussed this with Angleford. Of the handful of pilots they have, he was the logical choice for this mission. Williams was too hot-blooded, Adam was... suspect, and even though Franz was a beast in a mobile suit, his face could be identified more easily than his own mildly-Irish and bland features.

With that, "Dennis Grayson" takes off, exiting his joke of an hotel and on his way for the research base.

[Bad Situation]

Franz stares at the woman blankly, resisting the urge to rub the sleep out of his eyes in front of her. It was far too early in the day to deal with somebody this energetic. He makes no move to stop her from touching him but drifts off down the hallways after a time, bleary and unfocused as he tries to get his higher brain functions online. He doesn't expect her to follow him but speaks up nonetheless, "There's no need. My 'warrior instincts' are all still there." He taps at his temple to emphasize this, referring to his newtype abilities, "Like it or not, they'll come rushing back so fast so as to make me nauseous."

He pauses for a second in the halls, hand splayed out against the wall as he steadies himself under the low gravity. What had Craig said about being sociable again? To...do it? Considering her status as his partner on this mission it would likely be advantageous to know exactly what she was capable of after all. And like she said, if they weren't working at their best today they probably wouldn't be coming home at all. "...but if you wanted to run some sims I wouldn't mind...watching you."

He yawns openly at this point and adds, "It'll help to know what you're capable of before we ship."

[Princess Tracy]

Two women... me... pain, scared. Me? For a moment, the machete rests heavily in her hand, deft fingers grasping at it in the blink of an eye as she seems ready to mutilate herself. A recognition of two though seems to stir a second thought at the last minute. Him... cut him. Some instinct of self defence stirs, perhaps even anger, over rote survival, bit as those feelings battle it out with fear and she raises the blade with no idea where it will rest and what will be cleaved at the end of its arc.,,

"Urp..." Nora's body jerks violently as consciousness returns and she feels herself floating about, only adding the the nausea that had immediately risen the back of her throat as the arm remains tensed where it held the handle. A mixture of confusion, disorientation, and a cramp in her body from the tension and conditions of her sudden awakening in non terrestrial conditions only exacerbates the matter. The sheets wrapped tight around her at least stops her limbs lashing out against the second murasame in surprise as she recalls where she is and calms herself to merely shaking and panting. It'd been a while since she'd felt panic. Or much of anything at all. Bad thoughts. Push them out. Take medicine. "Dreamt... I think I might..." She throws the sheets off of herself and slips from the Second's grasp, letting the bedding spiral off towards the opposing wall as she whips around, legs hanging over the edge of the bed as Nora tucks her head in, clearly threatening to vomit, but it seems to pass.

"... Sorry, mommy," she mutters after a few wretches. "Dream..." She palms her head, as Pauline can see her expression become neutral once again even if it was still somewhat pale. It didn't seem like a regular episode for her though.

"Yes... let's get that checkup then," she says, standing slowly but surely enough as her reflexes respond well enough to the gravity of... the moon, she thought she recalled. There seems to be orientable gravity on deck after all. "I'll be okay, Mommy. I'm strong, right?" She wasn't sure what to think of the professor's little rewards, since they seemed like they were for children, but Mommy acted like it was appropriate, so Nora must be happy with it.

Trying to find my voice for this character. As much as possible, I want to break down the tool-using language used to describe the functions of even her own body and mind to make it seem distant to her, something unfamiliar and seperate. A driver turns to the left, but someone who's never seen a car before would instead describe themselves as turning the wheel to reposition the car, or similar. Also perhaps obnoxiously her voice, lacking in humanity, doesn't have a special font to it, though I may rescind that in the name of readability. I'll also describe her, in her calm moments, rather than in rarely third person person, more commonly in the second person as she relates to the PCs and even other NPCs's perspective, as this is generally how she views and understands herself - through their eyes and perceptions rather than her own. This does interject, in that way, a first person narrative, hence the unmarked interjections of her own thoughts. She only exists as an entity when witnessed - or so her internal wisdom says. It's when she's truly alone that she gets confused and confronts the bad thoughts a little. Another reason for "Mommy" to be overbearing. There's also a slight element of "must do" rather than "does" or "wants to" that will creep in when she has no choice but to accept her orders or conditions with little comprehension as to why.

[ZeroNumerous]

Third Murasame

When Nora wakes up and almost vomits Pauline simply rubs her back, gives her a sympathetic look, and waits. Once Nora's fear has settled, then Pauline simply waits for Nora to provide an explanation if she wants to. Once she does, then Pauline gives her a weak hug. "You are strong."

Once Nora's able to stand up she's able to do her morning routine, get dressed, and finally the two Murasames head out of her room. They find themselves in a small apartment, little more than a trio bedrooms with the third converted into a living room, and Nora's memories of where she is come flooding back. She's in Klimt, on a military base, in a barracks converted into a shabby apartment complex for Titan officers. After leaving their "apartment" the two Cyber Newtypes head over to a building marketed with a large red plus sign, and easily find Dr. Okamura's office. Nora's greeted by the sight of a small young woman in a lab coat that she recognizes as Dr. Okamura. The woman's sitting behind a small prefab metal desk, and in front of her desk are two uncomfortable looking chairs. Pauline greets her with a smile and a wave, but Okamura doesn't bother returning the motion. Instead, the good doctor motions to the chairs in front of her.

"Good morning Third, and you too Second. How have you both been?" Pauline seems to resist responding to her moniker, but a stern stare from Okamura fishes out a report of good health from Second Murasame. Okamura turns to Nora and waits for her report before continuing.

Craig

Craig walks through the ****ty rundown hotel without problems, but he's definitely not alone. A few prostitutes, a few men in business suits, and a crackhead sleeping in the stairwell. A drunk sits behind the desk at the front door, and he's the only one to stop Craig at all. "Oh, hey, I--hic--I need your key. Can't-uh-Can't let you leave with it. Too many, uh, too many get lost." Naturally if Craig gives up his room key, then he's allowed to leave freely. Refusing gets an annoyed complaint, but ultimately he doesn't bother trying to actually get it back.

Outside Craig finds an open topped jeep with a man behind the wheel parked on the curb in front of his hotel. The boxy vehicle is clearly weighted differently than an Earth vehicle, and that weighting likely allows it to drive around on the moon. The passenger side is plainly pointed toward the hotel, and it's obviously a transport for someone. The man behind the wheel, a thin man likely born in space rather than on Earth, turns toward Craig when he steps out of the hotel. His dark hair is cropped short in a military haircut, and he's wearing an EFSF uniform that has a third grade petty officer rank on his collar. The man motions for Craig to cover over, and starts up the jeep as he does so. The machine grumbles, rumbles, and sputters as its poorly maintained engine struggles to run. It's impossible to talk over the engine without shouting. If Craig gets close, then the man leans over and opens the passenger door.

"Come on Lieutenant Murray!" He shouts over the engine's turning and sputtering. "We've gotta get you to the base!" If Craig goes with him then the man drives "Dennis Grayson" to the Titans' research base, and talks to him on the way. "It's an honor, sir! I always wanted to meet a member of the Fives! Name's John Hammer! Joined up last year! Found out about the Colony 30 Incident a couple of months ago, so... Well, I guess this makes me a traitor!"

Franz

Elizabeth completely forgets any sense of personal space once Franz doesn't rebuff her, but once he starts to walk away she pouts. Nonetheless, the pilot does follow him with long bounding strides made possibly by the weak gravity. Still, she laughs off Franz' refusing to run sims.

"Haha! Have you even been in a cockpit since the War? These new GMs aren't like the old models: 20% faster, less armor, more powerful rifles, and the new sensors are twice the range of the old ones. And if you haven't seen the panoramic cockpits yet: Those things are amazing."

A sim would make up for missing the Delaz Conflict experience or the Titans training that Craig and Elizabeth had, but how much effect could switching from a GM to GM II have? Either way, Elizabeth happily leads Franz to the Delphi's hangar. Inside the refitted hangar are three mobile suits: A pair of GM-like mobile suits (http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/gundam/images/8/8a/Rgm-179.jpg)s painted in an off-green that resembles the Zeek's Zaku colors, and a heavily armored mobile suit (http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/gundam/images/7/70/RGC-83_GM_Cannon_II_Earth_Federation.jpg) with a GM's head on it. Elizabeth points to the two green suits first.

"GM IIs. They got vulcans and a beam saber as standard. We've got four beam rifles, a couple of bazookas, and about sixteen shields for them to use--you know, cutting corners on cost and all that. The shields are actually useful now too: Anti-beam coating can defend against beam rifles, but you only got about 6 hits before the things fall apart." Elizabeth points to the armored mobile suit and continues onward. Elizabeth points to the GM II closest to them. "That one's yours. Mike, the QM, handles weapon requisitions so hit him up if you wanna change out your equipment."

"An update to the old GM Cannons. Two beam cannons that fit better on a Salamis than an MS, a beam saber, and vulcans as standard. The reactor's overtaxed powering the cannons, so it can't trigger a beam rifle. Unfortunately we don't have any machineguns, so it can only hold a shield and a bazooka. It's slow, unwieldy, and the armor only works well against ballistics. But it's got good guns on it. I've been assigned to it, but usually the Lieutenant used it."

[Bad Situation]

Franz cracks a smile at the sight of the familiar machines and chuckles in spite of himself as Williams goes on about the adjustments to GM IIs. But he wipes the grin off his face quickly enough once he remembers where he is, and just what they were about to do. Mobile suits were amazing pieces of equipment, marvels of technology in every context that mattered, but at the end of the day they were just weapons. The notion was enough to make him sick.

And yet despite his hesitation, by the time the woman is done with her little rundown of their operation, the former Fighting Five member is halfway into his assigned GM's cockpit. Was it instinct that had led him back to the machine? Or was the beast inside of him merely excited at the prospect of bloodshed? The thought stops him cold and he freezes before he can enter the thing proper.

Rather than mull on his treasonous thoughts any longer however, he instead speaks up, "...I have no doubt that you're familiar with my 'particular' style of combat. All I ask is that you maintain distance from me whenever possible and to provide me cover. I will, in turn, support you however I can from my own position."

[ZeroNumerous]

Franz

When Franz climbs up into his suit Elizabeth follows, largely so she could continue talking to him without shouting across the hanger. Once Franz pops open his suit he finds himself face-to-face with the new cockpits (http://www.mahq.net/mecha/gundam/0080/lineart/rx-78nt-1-cockpit.jpg). His suit's controls that look nothing like the old style cockpit (http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/gundam/images/8/86/Rgm-79-cockpit.jpg).

Regardless, when Franz points out his fighting style Elizabeth shrugs. "Well, the Cannon II isn't exactly useful in close combat. Especially since the bazooka slows that heavy bastard down more than a sack of wet cats. So I'm likely going to end up relying on you, rather than the other way around."

[Cespenar]

Walking out, he grins at the drunk man and flicks the keys to his lap casually without breaking his stride. "Sure." He wouldn't need this room after the operation anyway, if all goes as planned. If not, then probably the room wouldn't matter that much.

When he's out Craig spots the jeep quickly, hops in, and gives the driver a hearty handshake instead of acquainting over the roaring engine. The last remark draws a comment from him though.

"Well John, 'traitor' is a funny word! All depends on where you look at it from! I'd say to not fret on it too much!"

[Princess Tracy]

Blinking slowly, Nora seems to gather that more explanation is needed. "I had a dream. A man was there... hurting me. I was going to... do something. Then Mommy woke me up." A dream wasn't a usual thing, not like that. Appearing in one's own dreams so vividly - she couldn't decide whether being a person should be exciting or scary, but it wasn't what she was used to since her conversion. She wipes at her forehead and just shakes it off. "I'm okay," she said the words to reassure Pauline more than anything else.

Her routine is straightforward enough, Nora washes off her face and switches into whatever uniform she had on hand - out of habit she packed her school uniform so equips that if her military fatigues and such are not on hand. She moves robotically her with movements only slightly adjusted for that uncanny weightlessness, before they head off to see the doctor.

Hearing Third reminds her of her place. At first Nora stares off to the left, almost seeming ready to think of some lie, but that call to duty causes a snap in Third's neck as it standing at attention even as she sits in the chair without a second thought. "I had a dream. It was unpleasant. Is that bad?" Third asks, somewhat ramped up into "duty" mode.

[ZeroNumerous]

Craig

The drunk reacts with obvious surprise when the keys are actually turned over, and raises a flask of some sort of drink in appreciation.

The driver returns Craig's handshake, and once the former Lt. is inside the jeep he takes off.

"I dunno sir! It just feels weird! I was supposed to protect and serve! Not..." His next few words are inaudible over the engine, but after he says them he continues on at a shout anyway.

"Anyway, sir! You're supposed to be delivering orders from Captain Sighard! He's the guy whose ship's in the dock, you know, the Gaunland! It's the briefcase in the back, sir!" If Craig checks the back then he indeed finds a scuffed and obviously well-worn briefcase; the perfect kind to not raise any suspicions at all.

"Those are supposed to go to the base commander, General Richer Banister! That'll get you in the door, and will stop any questions someone may have! Just, you know, don't actually go to the General! They'll be fueling the prototype for a combat trial! Most of its ammo will be paint rounds, so don't rely on any ballistics!"

Third

Nora's explanation eases Pauline's fears, but it's obvious from the look on her face that she doesn't comprehend Nora's problem. Nonetheless, she remains smiling and happy. Whether that's her medication or her maternal instinct to keep her daughter happy remains to be seen.

Nora finds both her school and Titan uniform (http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/gundam/images/f/f3/Chara_b_07.png/revision/latest?cb=20120210123353)s. Her Titan uniform lacks any rank pins on its lapels or collar. It's up to her on which one she equips, and regardless of her choice Pauline comments on her as if they were actually mother and daughter. "You're getting more and more adorable every day. I'm surprised the boys aren't coming around more often."

Once the pair arrive at Okamura's office and Nora answers the doctor's question, then Okamura seems a bit confused. "Mh. No, that isn't bad. Dreams can be a side-effect of the neuroleptics. If you want, then I can provide you with sleeping medication to fix the problem. No other problems?" Okamura makes a note of Nora's response on her clipboard, then puts the clipboard down on her desk. The doctor reaches into one of her lab pockets, then fishes out a small bottle of pills. She places the bottle on her desk and motions to Pauline. Shortly afterward Okamura produces a second bottle from her other pocket, and then hands that bottle to Nora.

"The dosage had to be upped based on your blood work from last week, but they're otherwise just like the current medication. Take two a day with meals and your only side effects should be a bit of drowsiness, lethargy, and mild mood swings. If you have anything more serious then inform me immediately, but do not stop taking your medication."

[Princess Tracy]

Nora makes a show for her audience of seeming to be embarassed by the compliment, but stares eerily at Pauline as she does so as if waiting for praise for affecting the reaction properly. "Thank you, Mommy."

"It was a nightmare. It hurt. It isn't a usual thing though, forget it," says the soldier as explanation for the dream, seeming to wave off the offer of further medication, though perhaps making a note to ask if it happens again. Perhaps curiosity? Her robotic tone is all the more robotic when in the presence of the doctor away from school and certainly in the context of being the Third and not Nora. Third nods her head, perfectly dressed in the barest elements of a Titan uniform as she sits beside Second and the Doctor. A firm hand reaches out and takes the medicine, weighing it for a moment in hand before pocketing the pills with one more nod of the head to acknowledge the instructions.

"...We have a mission?"

[Cespenar]

"You are protecting and serving, John! Just not the government, but the people instead!"

He listens carefully to the driver as best as he can over the engine sounds, nodding as he goes on.

"Any other higher-ups I need to look out for? And what about your getaway?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Third Murasame

"Yes, Third. I've requested Captain Sighard put aside his test pilot and promoted you as a replacement. I'm quite interested in how well you handle the machine." Okamura picks up her clipboard again, flips the page, and continues onward.

"The machine's being prepped right now, but it won't be functioning for another thirty minutes, so you'll have an opportunity to take and metabolize your medication." With that said Okamura stands up, then looks to Pauline and sends her away for something for the two Murasame projects to eat. Several minutes later Pauline returns with a couple of vendor machine granola bars and two bottles of water, and she provides one bar and a bottle of water to Nora. Once the two subjects have taken their medication, then Dr. Okamura stands up and nods at both of them.

"Alright. Nora, Pauline, would you two like to see the new machines?" Pauline does not refuse, and unless Nora raises a complaint then Okamura escorts the two girls out of her office and down a series of hallways until all three of them leave the barracks area. The three of them head toward a large, square, and red warehouse guarded by a couple of men. After a moment of walking the three of them arrive in front of the hangar, and Okamura introduces herself to get past the guards.

Once inside, Nora sees that the hangar contains a trio of old style GMs painted in dark blue, and a unique mobile suit (http://i.imgur.com/UoNEjRw.png) stands beside them. Engineers crawl all over all four mobile suits, and they're clearly working on making the suits ready for combat.

Craig

"Sorry sir, I don't know of anyone else that'll cause any problems! I guess you want to avoid having anyone radio back to the ship! These orders aren't real, so be careful of anyone looking at them!" When Craig questions John's escape, then John just shrugs.

"I'm a grunt, sir! I'll just keep my head down and go AWOL during your escape! No one should notice!" The jeep eventually slows down to a crawl as the base's gate comes into view. The base itself is simply nothing more but a serious of warehouses and barracks surrounding a parking lot, and the only marker separating it from the civilian areas is the tall chain-link fence wrapped around it. John slows down and eventually comes to a stop in front of a ramshackle gatehouse attached to the flimsy chain gate. After a few seconds of waiting a window opens in the gatehouse, and a guard wearing a grunt's EFSF uniform leans out with a clipboard in hand. He looks at John and Craig, then back again.

"Names?" John responds immediately.

"Petty Officer, Third Class, John Hammer", and John motions to Craig behind him, "Lieutenant Dennis Grayson." The guard looks to Craig, and makes a salute.

"Good to see you back, sir." The guard drops his salute when its returned, then marks the two names down, leans back, and opens the gate. "Commander Clement left a message: He wants you to report to the MPs for being late again. Go on through."

John drives the jeep through the gate, takes it to the parking lot, and finally brings it to a total stop. He looks at Craig, then covertly points to the big red warehouse nearby. A couple of soldiers with SMGs stand in front of the warehouse, and it's obviously very important to the base's brass. A trio of people walk up to the guards, then walk inside the warehouse."That's where they keep the mobile suits, and I think that's where the prototype will be held. If it's not there, then they may not be ready. If they aren't, then you'll have to figure out something to do to waste time and not get caught. Avoid the ballistics, get out of the warehouse, and be ready."

[Cespenar]

Lieutenant Murray (or Grayson now, to get into character) returns the salute and nods gravely as if he's taking the Commander's message very seriously.

When inside, he watches on the trio entering the warehouse with great interest while nodding at John. "To clarify, I'll radio for help from inside the suit, right? Assuming they don't block the suit's comms from afar?"

Whatever John says, Craig nods. "Got it. This will take a lot of playing by ear, it seems. Maybe I'll even go pay that Commander Clement a visit," he jokes.

If he doesn't offer any more information, he takes off, and plots a course that would take him around the warehouse in an attempt to find any spots to glance inside.

Can I deduce the ranks/jobs of the trio walking into the warehouse, as well as if they were questioned by the guards or not?

[ZeroNumerous]

Craig

John shrugs. "I don't know, sir. But they won't be able to jam the suit's radio so quickly. They'd have to have started the minovsky radiation before I picked you up."

[Bad Situation]

Franz sucks in a deep breath to calm his nerves and takes the plunge by pulling himself into the machine, settling himself into the seat in a motion he finds too familiar for his own comfort. He begins by flicking on the various activation switches and waits for the consoles to come online.

"I'll keep them away from you. But I don't think I can really promise anything."

[Princess Tracy]

"Promoted..." Third repeats. Test data to be gathered on the cyber newtype after all. That was her duty in addition to battle itself. The furtherance of research and understanding of her own abilities for further implementation, and ultimately the bolstering of the army's forces. Just being alive in the day to day was part of the soldier Nora's duty as long as she as observed.

She quietly goes about her little breakfast and takes her medication without comment as her eyes stare off into the distance, apparently seeming to contemplate the base she now found herself in. Being addressed as Nora seems to break the battle doll's contemplation of battlefield tactics.

"I hope I'm not rusty," she said. "Ha," she added, with her best attempt at a smile. It was a joke at her expense that she'd overheard on her way in - or specifically the punch line, as two privates chuckles about how she was one rusty piece of equipment to be putting in these new machines. Not that she resented the implication of being machinery. The pilot is part of the mech after all. The brain. Optimally in battle, she was no more than a part of it.

As they arrive in the hangar, Nora makes a show of performing a stretch to get the drowsiness out of her body, though as she tucks her arms behind her back it seems more like a strain to get the blood flowing than anything. A mild bit of pain activates adrenaline and creates a differential in experience for battle. It was like slapping the side of a duke box when it skips - trying to manually manipulate her own functions. "What are the system specifications? Will I be alone? What is my objective?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Franz

After some fiddling Franz only successfully activates the reactor. The machine's OS doesn't boot up at all, and the controls are unresponsive. Elizabeth just watches him play with the controls while grinning, and it isn't for a few minutes before she offers some assistance. "The newer machines have a start-up trick to prevent kids from just falling in them and starting them up. Power up the reactor, then toggle the IFF three times. The little red switch there. That'll get it working." Once Franz does so the OS boots up. It looks just like the old GM, so while the hardware changed the software remained the same. Once Franz starts up the sensor suite his ball-like cockpit fades away, and he's able to see the whole hangar in a 360 degree panoramic view. Elizabeth pushes off the GM II, and slowly falls back down to "Earth", in order to give Franz some alone time with the new machine.

However, before the young man can start up the sim the hangar's intercom keys on. Captain Angleford's posh old world accent streams through the speakers. "All personnel take your combat stations. We'll be commencing Operation Outlaw in ten minutes. I repeat: All personnel assume combat stations." Fortunately Franz was already at his combat station. In a few seconds he gets then green light to move to the catapult and get ready for launch.

Third

Okamura laughs at Nora's little joke when she makes it, then pats her on the head.

Once in the hangar the doctor flags down a nearby engineer, has a short conversation with him, then informs Nora of what she learned. "The nice young man said he'd get you a readout on the machine. But, it seems they're only about half-way done with fueling it. Nora, would you like some ice cream while we wait on the fueling to be done and for our friend to get those specs?"

[Princess Tracy]

Nora the Third looks over the unique looking mech at the end with a mile long stare before nodding. "Ice cream sounds good, doctor," she says, looking around to Pauline as if wondering that was the right answer. "What will you do, mommy?"

[Bad Situation]

The erstwhile pilot gives the control levers experimental pulls and tests the foot pedals for sensitivity as soon as he hears the alert, his face hardened with a grim intensity. Whatever demons he was battling on the inside didn't matter, not when there were Titans to fell. Craig and the rest of the AUEG were counting on him to fly at his best and for their sake at least, he would let loose the beast.

With a final gulp he flicks on his comm and calls out, "Franz Ulrich Lichtenstein, taking off!"

[ZeroNumerous]

Franz

The catapult weakly launches Franz' GM II out just meters above the lunar surface. The ship's flying along the nape of the earth, and she's following a ravine--likely dug out by a meteor strike based on the tall dirt walls--that protects it from sensor cover. Shortly afterward he's joined by the GM Cannon and another GM II. Since Elizabeth was assigned the Cannon, then that likely meant Adamsk was in the other GM II. Elizabeth's Cannon moves up behind Franz's GM, and the familiar sound of metal-on-metal announces that Elizabeth touched his GM for metal-on-metal contact. Her voice fills his cockpit shortly afterward.

"We're 2 klicks south of Klimt. Radio silence from here on out. We're on touch-talking only, or else they might pick us up on active sweeps." Seconds later a heavily accented voice accompanies hers, and Franz can deduce that it's Adamsk's.

"We are to remain low, stay in ravine, and advance toward city. Once we get the signal, you two go attack city. I remain to protect ship, and cover escape. Easy, no?" Elizabeth grumbles audibly, but responds in the affirmative rather than starting a fight with the former Zeek.

"Well, lead the way Franz. Show us what the Fives can do." Franz can see the ravine ahead is practically a footpath: The furrow leads north, then takes a sharp turn about one and a half kilometers ahead. That was likely the entrance to the city, and turning that corner would start the fighting.

Third

The doctor nods at Nora's statement. When Nora asks about Pauline's actions, then the older woman smiles. "I'll go with you two. If I can, doctor." Okamura simply nods at Pauline's request, and the three women head out of the warehouse.

Third and Craig

While Craig is searching the building for a window, and Nora and her "family" are leaving the warehouse, Nora finally notices the man in the EFSF uniform walking around. He's plain, a lieutenant of some sort, but his presence captivates the young woman. The memories of a dead woman, of a time when Nora's name was different, rise from the bog that is her subconscious. The girl she had been remembers the man, but cannot place a name to him: Only an emotion of protectiveness. She remembers a time before the medication, before the surgery, before she had become the Third Murasame prototype, and she's certain he was involved in that time.

But Okamura and Pauline make no note of him, and unless Nora acts out they don't even look twice at the uniformed officer.

DM

Meanwhile, elsewhere, a rotund man in an aging uniform stands at the forefront of a ship's hangar. In front of him stand six men, all in old flight suits, saluting in a manner not seen for almost a decade now. The rotund man swipes a hand through his aging hair, then begins speaking.

"We have crawled in the dirt of this city far too long. We have worn their uniforms, masqueraded as their allies, and bided our time. And now, on this day, that will all change! Men of the Cerberus Squad, today is the day we will strike back! Today is the day Zeon rises once more, and we are its vanguard! Hail, Zeon!" The six men throw up their fists in unison, parroting their leader's war cry, and the rotund man smiles to himself. The time has come, and men will die.

[Bad Situation]

"Understood," comes his terse reply.

Franz flies the machine in low, careful not to pull too far ahead of his two allies as he descends on the ravine. Once obscured by the natural cover he advances slowly towards the corner and waits for the signal.

[Cespenar]

Not quite figuring out the details on any of the women, Craig decides to intercept a passerby of lower rank in the area, and question him about the mobile suits in the warehouse, making it seem like a pop quiz rather than anything like actual honest questions.

[Princess Tracy]

Third's eyes hone in on the man. What was this feeling, it almost seemed like a delusion bordering on hallucination, where else would it come from? Such things in her head coming unbidden. Protection, who was to be protected. She bit her lip and doesn't take her eyes off of him as her pace slows behind the others. "Actually I would like to stay while they refuel. I... haven't been around a mech unit in sometime and would like to become accommodated before it is battle ready."

Okamura knows that Nora's real Achilles heel is not knowing how to deal with the emotions she does feel, and she was plainly wearing a confused nervousness on her face. Nora's eyes keep darting to the generic officer as if checking he hasn't disintegrated into the graveyard of discarded thoughts, and she lacks the presentational wherewithal to be deceptive at all even if she wasn't sure of her own intentions. Somewhere in her though was a voice of rebellion - one that did not want to shift from this spot even against her own orders, until she saw it through.

What illness is my brain suffering now? This is the sort of thing the doctor should be told.

[ZeroNumerous]

Third

Dr. Okamura shrugs. "Well, alright. Pauline, what will you be doing?"

Pauline looks at the doctor, then to Second. "I think I'll stay with her."

With that done Okamura turns to leave, probably planning to head back to her office, while Pauline remains with Nora. However, Okamura doesn't get very far before things get crazy.

Craig

Craig's easily able to find a random grunt. Naturally the grunt responds as best as he can when questioned, but he has no idea who the pilots of the base's mobile suits are. Fortunately for Craig events progress in a surprising manner.

DM

The base's klaxons start to sound, and Craig, Nora, and all the military personnel recognize that it's the base's warning sirens. Then, without further warning, a missile smashes into one of the base's other warehouses and explodes. The conflagration of hellfire obliterates the structure, and it becomes obvious that the base is under attack. Following the trail of exhaust fumes back to the source reveals the attackers are a trio of old style Rick Dom (http://i.imgur.com/obMfA8K.jpg)s painted in a dark green color. Two of them have machineguns that Craig recognizes as the old style 120mm Zaku MGs, and one of them is carrying a bazooka. All three are walking toward the base from the road that leads toward the city, and it's obvious that they came from the city itself rather than external attackers.

The bazooka-wielding Rick Dom takes aim once more, and his next shot obliterates the base's barracks. It seems Zeon has made its return, and it's almost as if the war had never ended.

Craig & Nora

The grunt turns when the explosion rips apart one of the warehouses nearby. "Oh sh--That was the command bunker! And the barracks! We need to get out of here!" Unless Craig stops him the man starts running toward the jeep John and Craig had used to get into the base. The armed guards in front of the makeshift hangar have fled--either running inside or running away--and the only people left around Craig are the three women from earlier.

Okamura and Pauline look toward the explosion when it goes off, but only Pauline follows the exhaust trail back to its source. Okamura instead looks toward Nora. "Second, Third, we need to return to the Gaunland!"

Pauline points out the Rick Doms. "There's the enemy."

Franz

Several uneventful moments pass as the squad of AEUG mobile suits wait for the signal. Their radios crackle to life, but what comes out over the speakers isn't Craig. Instead, it's the radio operator back on the Delphi. "Bad news: Sensors picked up a series of explosions inside the city. Captain's orders that we go loud, so commence the attack at will."

Shortly after the radio operator goes off, then she's replaced by Elizabeth. "****! Those Titan bastards must have jammed his comms. We need to get in there and get Craig out!" If Franz rounds the corner at this point he comes face-to-face with one of Klimt's docking ports. The port consists of a ramp leading down into a lunar crater, and at the end of the ramp stands a pair of interlocking metal doors. Beyond those doors should be a ship dock, and beyond that would be the underground city itself. Of course, getting past the door will require firepower from the ship or Elizabeth's beam cannons.

[Cespenar]

Craig watches the missiles fall with nary a blink. The peace is over, is the only thing he can think of as his legs take on the initiative and press him towards the warehouse. The grunt escaping with their jeep only registers on the surface of his mind -- he realizes as his way opened to the prototype suit that the attack couldn't have come at a better time.

[Princess Tracy]

As Okamura begins to leave, Nora looks to Pauline for a moment before thinking better of convincing her to leave too. She makes a beeline walking right towards Craig, but naturally comes to a halt with the sound of an explosion.

The Third's eyes show no panic, and she even takes the luxury of watching the grunt for a another long second before she seems to robotic mirror Pauline's movement of tracing the bombardment back to its origin, nodding as they're named. She looks at Okamura for a long second, her feet shifting as if to go with her, but the Murasame shakes her head. "You had me promoted in someone's place. There's now an unmanned prototype that its my duty to commandeer. Please take shelter, doctor. Half fuel will be sufficient to drive them off. In a command seat, I'm the strongest weapon here." As she speaks she starts making her way back into the hangar. As she sees the grunt from before also head inside, her duty lines up with desire and she breaks into a sudden sprint, chasing after him on the way to the mech.

Don't know if I need a check against my "need to follow orders" quirk or something., I guess if Okamura specifically shoots down my argument.

[Bad Situation]

Franz freezes up when the alarms begin to blare, his mind drawn back to the carnage he had witnessed during the One Year War. But the moment passes as quickly as it comes, replaced by a vicious determination in the pilot's eyes. Before Elizabeth can even finish her second sentence, Franz shoots out from the ravine and toward Klimt. The mobile suit draws its beam saber and shield complement as it flies toward the docking port, streaking in fast and low to the ground.

He clumsily opens up his communications and shouts brusquely, "That door needs to go Williams. Get to it."

[ZeroNumerous]

Craig and Nora

"Third, no!" Okamura shouts for Nora to stop, but a third bazooka shot hammers into one of the buildings nearby. The explosion drowns out what Okamura says, and Second acts immediately. She grabs the doctor and starts physically dragging her away from the warzone, both to save herself and the doctor. That meant Nora would be on her own.

Craig and Nora are able to run inside no problem, and find themselves inside the warehouse-turned-hangar. Engineers are running around in a chaotic mess, and there aren't any brass on hand shouting orders. None of the engineers are armed, and there aren't any other soldiers around. The older GMs are unmoving--either lacking pilots or unprepared for combat--and the prototype unit remains in its dock. With the barracks having been destroyed it seems unlikely that there are any pilots around to resist Zeon. Except, of course, Craig and Nora.

The sound of a colossal explosion outside announces the next phase of the Zeonic attack.

Franz

When Franz moves out Elizabeth follows. Meanwhile, Adamsk's GM jumps skyward and burns its thrusters--trying to get an overhead view of the city--and his voice sounds over the radio. "...Is a hole in the city's roof normal? I think no."

Franz' request gets an immediate response from Elizabeth, and two beam shots lance through space to hit the door. Both beams pierce through it and melt away the dock's door like it was ice being assaulted by boiling water. Inside Franz finds a civilian ship--an Earth-Lunar cruise liner by the looks of it--already in dock. No one is visible outside the ship, but his GMs sensors tell him the ship's occupied. Fortunately Elizabeth's cannon shots didn't strike the ship, but with its bulk taking up so much of the hangar Franz' GM will need some careful maneuvering to get through.

Elizabeth rolls Gunnery to hit the door [roll0]+1=[4] vs the door's 0. Her cannon does 14 per point over 0(totaling 56 damage), and the door only has armor 10 which the cannons ignore 5 points(reducing her damage to only 51). She beats the door's instant death threshold by 11, so its gone.

In order to pass through the blocked dock quickly, Franz needs to make a Pilot+Agility-Maneuver test vs 3. On a failure he collides with the ship dealing damage to it and himself equal to 2*his size. If he passes through it slowly, then he doesn't need a check but he'll add 1 round to the time it takes to get to the fight at the Titan base.

[Princess Tracy]

A single nod to Pauline is all the acknowledgement given on the field of battle as they separate.

Following her instincts, what ghastly unknowable things they were, Third continues charging in. Wavering for just a moment, she tries to catch up to the soldier and grab him by the arm. "You. You're important," she says, no doubt sounding insane unless she was recognised in turn. "If you can't pilot, take shelter elsewhere. When I emerge from here with the prototype, this building will become a target too if they're not already aware of the hangar."

The black haired girl looks like she's seen better days. There's a musculature to her body that seems eerily visible that on closer observation seems to be from low body fat. Something about her is running on fumes and among the various scars etched into her the most visible are apparent medical incisions just peaking forward of her hair line. However he responds, she seems tor remember her duty, releasing him and moving to the cockpit of the prototype to try and boot it up.

[ZeroNumerous]

Craig

Naturally Craig notices the Titan officer grabbing him, and when he looks at her he immediately recognizes her: Constantina Mulan, a former member of the Fives and supposedly someone who left the military life for a civilian one. Of course, the girl he knew was younger, prettier, and far more alive than the doll staring at him.

[Bad Situation]

Franz doesn't balk at the sight of the cruise-liner and to contrary, begins accelerating his machine towards it, using the momentum of the mobile suit to launch himself up and over the ship with a bit of his thrusters making up the difference. The machine tumbles around in the air due to the nature of his maneuver but after a few quick adjustments with the throttle lever and pedals, the machine rights itself mid-flight and continues its flight to the base as though nothing had been in its way in the first place.

"Expect more resistance than initially outlined, but the mission proceeds as normal. We punch our way to the captain and then we punch our way out. Keep an eye out for any third parties."

[Cespenar]

Craig swivels instinctively to punch whoever is grabbing him, but stops himself at the last second. Constantina Mulan, the kid soldier (one of many) from the Fighting Fives? Hadn't she gone civilian? And what has she done with herself? All the scars, incisions, undernourishment...

"Wait," he exclaims, this time him stopping the girl. "Constantina? Constantina Mulan?" he tries to kindle something from the past to gain credibility, even though his next words would be 90% truth anyway. "That one only has paint rounds loaded, you couldn't protect anyone within it. Trust me," he says, nudging her towards the other, non-prototype suits instead.

[Princess Tracy]

Her fringe would hide the incision on her skull if not for the headband pushing back her hair as part of the Titan uniform. As well as keeping the hair from her eyes in battle, it also served to simply and casually display a mark of what she was.

She suddenly seems to lose balance as she hears that name spoken aloud while walking away, stumbling as she grips her head, fingers digging into her temples. "C-constan...? Argh!" The girl she was once.... did she really know who this man was? How could she? Even what memories she was allowed to keep were muddled beyond a timeline... no, he couldn't have been before ALL of the surgery. She was worthless without the modifications. She pants, looking over her shoulder at him as suddenly her cool attitude is broken.

"I am the Third Murasame. The Doctor and Second christened me Nora. Who are you to... know that trigger...?" she tries her best to be steadfast even as she has little idea what to think of it. There were certain things she wasn't allowed to remember - for her own good of course. Why would that name be one of them?

She bites her lip as she feels the ground shaking and remembers this is a place of battle when he advises her that the prototype isn't equipped with real weaponry. "O-okay." She moves drunkenly at first as she stumbles towards the mech he nudges her to, but seems to get her balance back enough to return to her sprint after a moment. The older model would have to do, she didn't have any choice - for some reason she trusted his assessment.

[ZeroNumerous]

Craig and Nora

While Craig and Nora reach a reasonable compromise: The world is not so accommodating. An explosion shatters the warehouse as a bazooka round slams into the wall near the GMs. The shot knocks the GMs forward, and each machine tumbles face down into a pile of metal and fuel. Engineers scream and shout as they're trapped underneath the wreckage of the military machines, and several of those lives are cut short under the GMs. A small lake of fuel spreads out from underneath the GMs, and the burning warehouse will quickly ignite that fuel. Craig and Nora are left in the half-ruined warehouse-turned-hangar, and the shaking ground announces the approaching Doms. There's only one pilot for the prototype, and whoever is left behind will likely be killed by the Zeeks or a fuel explosion.

Franz

After Franz punches through the dock Elizabeth's voice comes out over the radio. "****! I'll have to squeeze through. Go on ahead, and I'll catch up!" If Franz continues on without Elizabeth then he finds himself on the city's main road. A road sign reading "Klimt Military Garrison" points Franz toward the northwest of the city. Going toward that would likely take him to the military base Craig had infiltrated, but who knows what could happen taking that route.

Franz needs a Notice + Perception+the GM II's Sensors check.

[Princess Tracy]

"Why aim for the barracks before the hangar if they knew this was here?" Even as death seems imminent, she seemed more upset by the sound of her name than the actual consequences of battle, just a battle doll. Nora still trusts Craig's word without question that the prototype was unarmed, but it would be a getaway at least - armoured and fast enough at least and possibly a distraction. It was better than dying in a fuel fire. She looks quickly around to see if the fuel had cut off their escape from the building, it seems not. She looks to him. "Run," she says before making a beeline for the robot, intending to make a distraction. As far as she knew, she was the only pilot on hand, unless Craig cared to quickly raise an objection.

[Cespenar]

Craig sees the other two suits get reduced to junk on his way to the prototype, and quickly realizes that whoever staying on the ground would probably become a bit of statistics in the ensuing battle. At which point he slows down, "Nora" reaches him, and says her part. Craig stares back for the seemingly longest moment of his life. And then he simply nods, letting her reach the suit.

Feeling just a big nothing, he changes course, running out of the warehouse in an attempt to clear the imminent fuel explosion, but his stride seems to have lost its vim behind it. He suddenly and very briefly wonders if there is indeed an afterlife like his grandma was wont to say, and whether his actions would make any difference in that world or this.

[Princess Tracy]

As the Third scales up to the cockpit, she sees Craig lagging about on the way to the exit and suddenly finds herself overcome with the most human feeling she's had in some time. She didn't have a word for it anymore. perhaps it was panic. Or empathy. Whatever it was, she's never heard her voice so loud or caring in her existing memories. "RUN FASTER. LIVE. I want you to LIVE!" she belts over the inferno. That man was important. That was all she knew. She didn't know taht he was a friend or a pilot, just that he was to be protected and this seemed like the best she could do. "I'm not fighting so that you can DIE. RUN."

[ZeroNumerous]

Franz

While approaching the battlefield Franz' senses go a little haywire. He senses the desire of someone hunting him combined with bloodlust. An intense desire to protect, to save intermingles with a spike of fear. Three distinct people all mix together in the weird way only Newtypes can really experience. He sees the barrage of rockets streaking toward his location before his attacker pulls the trigger.

A barrage of missiles fires from the alleyway behind Franz. Fortunately, since he sensed the attack coming he has time to react. Whether he's hit or dodges Franz finds himself face-to-face with an enemy Zeek: A red mobile suit (http://i.imgur.com/0D09gsq.jpg) stands in front of Franz, flanked by two Zaku II (http://www.mahq.net/mecha/gundam/0083/ms-06f2.jpg)s, with its missile tubes still smoking. The red mobile suit raises a Zaku machinegun at Franz. "Surrender Feddie. You've got no hope, and we just want your mobile suit."

Elizabeth hasn't made her appearance yet, but she's likely behind them.

Franz can attempt to shoot down the missiles with his CIWS--making a Gunnery+Perception+Accuracy check vs 4--or dodge them with a Pilot+Agility+Maneuver check vs 4.

Craig and Nora

Nora's able to climb inside the prototype without any problems, and seconds after she closes the cockpit door the warehouse explodes in a massive fuel-aided fireball. Craig narrowly runs out of the warehouse as fire chases him down, and finds himself on the battlefield facing down three Rick Doms with just a .45 pistol.

Meanwhile, Nora's able to start up the prototype while still within the ruined mess that used to be a hangar. The mobile suit boots up no problem, but as soon as it's up the computer blares two warnings: The first one is that it only has 50% fuel, and the second warning is that its reactor is going critical. However, if Nora checks the reactor readout it displays normal heat and all its venting is operating at optimum efficiency. Naturally her weapon read outs warn Nora that she's using nothing but paint rounds.

Nora needs a Combat Sense + Agility check to determine initiative vs the Doms.

RX-108NT-GP01 Gundam "Psy"
Type: Giant Robot
Size: 15 (18m tall; 72.6 tons)
Shape: Humanoid
Occupancy: 1, Pilot; No cargo
Integrity: 17(Robo Stamina = Armor); Flesh Wound Threshold: 8; Deep Wound Threshold 17; Instant Death Threshold 34; System Shock: 10
Armor Rating: 17
Maneuver: -1; Multiplier: x0.67
Burn Points: 1320(660 currently)
Deployment Range: 500km(660 hours of Space Flight)
Real Speed: Walking 100 kph; Space Thrusters 1.50 Gs of Thrust,
Tactical Speed: Walking 10 squares; Space Thrusters 15 squares
Perks: 2 x Manipulator Arms(15); Civilian Grade Communication System(5km; -5); Physical Contact Communication System(0m; +5); Counter-Battery Sensors(6km; +3); Reinforced Systems(Chassis, Crew, Ammo/Fuel, Backup Sensors); Hostile Environment Protection(Radiation + Vacuum); Prototype Bio-sensor(+2 to Newtype checks)
Flaws: No life support; Trackable Emissions; False Alarm(Sensors); Structural Weakness(-1 armor)

Mounted Weapons(Always equipped):

2 x 60mm Anti-Missile CIWS (Forward Arc; Physical; Accuracy +3; Damage Multiplier x3; Base Range 1; Rate of Fire 10; Ammo 600 rounds; Perks/Flaws: Anti-Missile, Anti-Infantry, Head Hardpoint, Non-Lethal)

2 x HE1019H Beam Saber (Forward Arc; Heat; Accuracy +1; Damage Multiplier x12; Base Range 0; Rate of Fire 1; Ammo 4(remains active for 4 actions, gains 1 ammo per round spent not in use); Perks/Flaws: Armor-Crushing, Parrying, Heat, Hand-Held)

2 x HFW-GR-MR90 90mm Gatling Gun (Forward Arc; Physical; Accuracy +2; Damage Multiplier x8; Base Range 2; Rate of Fire 3; Ammo 1200 rounds; Perks/Flaws: Anti-Infantry, Arm Hardpoint, Non-Lethal)

[Bad Situation]

The GM II's head swivels to intercept almost as soon as they've been fired, its head-mounted vulcans blaring violently as Franz sweeps the projectiles out of the sky. He eyes scan the assembled trio with trepidation but clamps down on his fear, letting his momentary hesitation give way to his hatred of the Federation's longtime enemy. It seemed the world would never be completely free from threat of Zeon. And what better time for the Zeeks to make their presence known than here of all places.

He doesn't grace the red mobile suit with a response. Instead, he pushes forward with the GM II and prepares his beam saber for a vicious diagonal slash.

Shooting Down Missiles: [roll0]
Move and Attack(Newtype): [roll1]+1

[Princess Tracy]

Nora takes a moment of breath as she looks at the readout, wondering if that man made it out alive. If he had... why did she care? She did though. He was an objective now and she would progress on the assumption that he could be saved, that she could do something. Something beyond even duty.

Without warning, using the smoke of the fuel explosion as cover, she rockets forward, activating her beam sword and in one flowing action one hovering over the lowest population in half, leaving it to fall from the sky and explode gloriously for all she cared. "I am the Third Murasame. You will surrender or die," she says simply as she brings the arc of her movement back to a defensive posture ready to strike once again.

[Cespenar]

Craig turns back to gawk at the mobile suit "Nora"'s in now. Her words... she must have remembered him as well, it couldn't have been any other way. Still...

Turning forward, he faces the three giant suits looming before him like some statues from ancient times judging his sins. He isn't even thinking now, he whips his head right and left to take in what's around him and runs for whatever small, unimportant, non-burning building he can lay his eyes on. He doesn't hope he won't get noticed because hope is a feeling and he has none, not right now.

[ZeroNumerous]

Franz

The red mobile suit flares its thrusters and slides to the side in the low lunar gravity. Franz realizes the enemy pilot is some sort of newtype, as he senses the man's tangled ball of emotions: bloodlust, pride, anger, and regret all mixed into an incoherent mess. "Very well then!" It's empty arm thrusts forward in a punch, and surprisingly the green light of a hidden beamsaber emits from underneath its forearm. The pilot takes a swing at Franz' saber-wielding arm, clearly intending to disarm the suit in order to capture it.

His back up Zakus raise their machineguns, and are about to open fire on Franz when Elizabeth suddenly cuts in. "What the hell is Zeon doing here?! Where's Craig?" Elizabeth's beam cannons clip the Zaku's, burning off their armor and seriously throwing off their aim. None the less, they do their best to back up their commander and fire on Franz.

Franz needs a Notice+Perception check vs [roll0]+1 or be surprised by the attack. If he fails, then he cannot roll his Dodge skill, but can still attempt a dodge by spending Newtype dice.

The enemy ace ignites his hidden beam saber, then makes a melee attack with it. He's trying to aim for a weak point in the GM II's armor, and thus rolls Melee+Perception+Accuracy. He'll spend 1 Newtype die on it.

Red MS' Melee Attack: [roll1]+1. Result: [7]

Elizabeth will shoot at the Zakus with her beam cannons. The Zakus are completely unprepared for the cannon, and are unable to defend.

Elizabeth's Gunnery Attack vs Zaku 1: [roll2]-2. Result: [4] * 14 = 56. His armor is 18(Instant death at 36), but Armor Piercing cannot instantly kill so he's merely seriously damaged and now has a - 2 damage penalty.
Elizabeth's Gunnery Attack vs Zaku 2: [roll3]-2. Result: [4] * 14 = 56. His armor is 18(Instant death at 36), but Armor Piercing cannot instantly kill so he's merely seriously damaged and now has a - 2 damage penalty.

If the Zakus survive then they open up with their MGs on Franz.

Zaku 1's Gunnery Attack vs Franz: [roll4] - 2. Result: [1] Dam: x7.
Zaku 1's Gunnery Attack vs Franz: [roll5] - 2. Result: [0] Automatic miss.


Nora & Craig

Nora finds the Gundam highly responsive--much more so than a GM--and her machine feels like its acting before she touches the controls. The Gundam bursting out from under the cover of the burning warehouse catches the Doms by surprise, and Nora's attack completely destroys her bazooka-wielding target. The other two machines exchange a look of almost human-like surprise, and then raise their machineguns to open fire on the Gundam.

Craig is able to dash to the nearest non-burning building.

Dom 2's Gunnery Attack vs Nora: [roll6]. Dam: x7.
Dom 3's Gunnery Attack vs Nora: [roll7]. Dam: x7.

Craig needs a Luck test. 1d6+Psyche. On a 1-2 he runs into a building with Titan guards. On a 4-6 he runs into a building with an RPG near a window(Gunnery; +1 accuracy; x7 damage; 1 round). If he elects to fire it at a mobile suit then he gets a +2 bonus to hit due to its immense size.

[Bad Situation]

As with the missile fire, Franz sees the hidden beam saber before it can even ignite and reacts to the danger accordingly. He leans back from the attack and uses the space created from the maneuver to crash his own saber against the opposing swing. With a bold flourish of his weapon he casts the attack away and reels his saber arm back, thrusting forward into the gap to run his opponent through.

Melee (N3): [roll0]+4, Result: [10]

[Princess Tracy]

For a giant mech, it dances gracefully through the air as if it were one with its pilot. She can't spare a moment to look out for Craig or anyone else right now, all she really aimed to do was take them down over areas they had already blasted to minimise casualties. "No, Surrender," she repeats, utterly flat as she spins around with the blade once more. Whether "surrender" meant to stand down or simply let themselves be killed however was unclear because she doesn't wait for a response before trying to cut another down.

No, it was hardly a 'she'. The Third Masamune was one with the Gundam prototype. A machine of war.

Move to Attack another dude [roll0] +5 (+2 agility, +3 technology)

[Cespenar]

Bobbing and weaving his way through flying shrapnel, Craig somehow clears the battlefield for the briefest of moments, and manages to go into the building. His eyes darting around, he finds himself grabbing the bazooka near the window. Without much thought, he launches it at one of the Doms fighting Constantine.

+1 perception +1 acc +2 big target?
[roll0]+4

[ZeroNumerous]

Franz

Franz' blade is met with the Zeek's own, and the young man vaguely recalls clashing swords with him before. But while the memory is still crystallizing their clash is broken by Elizabeth's appearance. The Zeek disengages, and Franz' sensors cries out. Five more suits are moving toward Franz' location. "We'll finish this later."

The Zeek turns and fires his thrusters, leaping over the city toward the southwest--opposite the docking bay Franz and Elizabeth had arrived in--and starts traveling away from Franz and Elizabeth.

Red Suit's Knowledge Parry: Melee+3 NT: [roll0]+4 vs 10. EDIT: I'm an idiot.

Regardless of his success, Elizabeth's arrival forces him to retreat. He and any surviving Zakus will jump away, moving away with their space movement at 7 squares and 18 squares respectively.

Craig and Nora

Nora's second attack annihilates the other Dom, causing it to explode in a massive fireball. Craig's missile goes drastically off course and smashes into a building nearby. The surviving Dom realizes he's way out of his depth, and tries to retreat. The Dom fires his thrusters and leaps toward the city proper, and it's plainly moving toward something with design rather than terror. If Nora pursues, then she finds herself traveling through the city.

Craig's left on his own in the ruined base. There's several soldiers still running around, and fortunately his uniform is still intact.

Surviving Dom flees leaping 13 squares due to his space movement.

DM

The new arrivals appear after the Zeeks start withdrawing. Three of them are plainly Titans: One customized GM, and two Hizacks painted in the dark blue of the Titans' colors. One of them is Zeek: A fleeing Dom who's plainly surprised when he finds Titans and the AEUG rather than his allies. The final appearance is a gundam (http://i.imgur.com/UoNEjRw.png) painted in a dark black color. Nora's IFF tells her the GM and the two Hizacks are Titans, and she recognizes the customized GM as Jean's custom mobile suit. Franz' IFF naturally identifies the GM, Hizacks, and the gundam as Titan mobile suits. Elizabeth keys her comm toward Franz.

"That's gotta be Craig. What's the plan then?"

Jean keys his comm toward the Gundam.

"Nora? The enemy has attacked the city. Our mission is to eliminate all the terrorists."

[Princess Tracy]

The Third's attention is focused solely on the remaining dom. His movement wasn't a simple retreat or panic, he was going to try and accomplish some objective before being eliminated. What could one do? Were there more coming? "Tell me your plan if you want to live." Despite her words, she shows no pause or mercy as she blasts forward in hot pursuit, overtaking her opponent and spinning around with a quick mental calculation of his momentum to carve out the pilot, though it was slipshot; she didn't care if she killed him, but with limited information she ran with what she had.

She pauses upon hearing Jean, and looks around for any further intruders. "Two enemies eliminated. Enemy objective unknown beyond initial sabotage of military facilities. This prototype isn't equipped with live ammunition, and only half fuel, but its speed is substantial for melee range. Point me in the right direction."

Attack with sword. Knowledge based: Trying to destroy the robot functionally without creating another explosion to insta-kill the pilot, by using knowledge of the anatomy of these machines. Killing him isn't a dealbreaker, it'd just be nice if I could avoid it. [roll0] +4

I see now that you edited in a fair bit, huh... I'm a bit confused because I'm not sure where Franz and his friends are relative to me since we can both see Jean.

[Cespenar]

Craig looks around confusedly when the action is more or less over, the adrenaline not really drained of him but now lacking of a target to channel into. He absentmindedly watches the various suits darting across the place, and suddenly remembers an obvious fact. He has to alert Franz somehow.

Searching his surroundings for an appropriate building among the piles of wreckage, he tries to find some radio equipment, hopefully without an attending soldier. While outside, he not only divides his attention to spot any flare guns on the fallen soldiers' bodies, but also scans the skies whenever he can to catch a glimpse of Franz's signature red mobile suit.

I'm rolling Notice + Perception, just in case.
[roll0]

[Bad Situation]

Franz blinks through the images of the past, forcing his focus onto the battle at hand. Once he's dispelled the disorienting wave of emotions he pushes in hard with his mobile suit, only for the Zeek to break free of the clash and begin fleeing. He moves to pursue but stops when he considers the five mobile suits heading their way. He turns off his beam saber and lets the weapon charge in the meanwhile, responding to Elizabeth's message.

"I'll grab their attention. Give me covering fire and get ready to move. Once Craig gets going we break off for a fighting retreat all the way back to the ship. The customized GM and the black Gundam...I get a bad feeling from them."

Melee (vs Hizack #1): [roll0]

[ZeroNumerous]

Franz & Nora

"What--? Craig's in that thing. We just need to get the Gundam out." Elizabeth shouts to Franz, but moves to support him anyway when Franz attacks the GM and its Hizacks.

Jean moves to help his ally, and sends another message to Nora. "Cover my back. Don't let them escape."

Is Franz punching? If he's still using his beamsaber, then he's only got one round left in it. Regardless, the Hizack defends with his shield: [roll0]. If successful the Hizack's armor goes up to 27 for the attack, and if not then his armor is only 15.

Since Franz initiated combat everyone needs to roll initiative (Combat Sense + Agility) to determine who acts first. Due to Nora's Gundam being more advanced than the GM-IIs, she has a +1 bonus to her rolls.

Craig

The base is ruined, but Craig spots a red mobile suit (http://i.imgur.com/0D09gsq.jpg) escaping the city. However, the suit is plainly not a GM from its silhouette alone. The bulky legs and spiky shoulders seem more like a Zeon mobile suit than anything else.

Craig needs to roll 1d6+Psyche. On a 1 he only finds a squad of Titans, 2-3 he finds a single Titan, 4-5 he finds a single EFSF soldier with a radio, and on a 6 he finds a radio without anyone around.

[Princess Tracy]

Third looks around and follows Jean's lead, for a moment mentally questioning just what on earth was going on.

Two lesser actions, whatever they're called. Deactivate sword to let it recharge for the round, and move towards the fighting, though keeping behind Jean at first. Rolled combat sense OOC, got 5

[ZeroNumerous]

Franz & Nora

Franz' attack catches the Hizack unawares, and his saber carves a furrow in the suit's side. He senses a kinship with the attacker, like some sort of sister he hasn't seen in years.

"Bastard!" Jean aims his GM Custom's rifle at Franz' GM II. A sense of betrayal--a family attacked by a beloved son--assaults the newtype's senses, and it's followed by a particle blast from the enemy's rifle.

Elizabeth returns fire with her bazooka, aiming at the GM Custom rather than the Gundam due to not realizing that Nora is not their ally. Unfortunately for Elizabeth, Jean's CIWS successfully shoots down her rocket and prevents her from hitting him.

Jean fires at Franz with his CR82 Sniper Rifle: [roll0]+5.

Elizabeth fires at him with her bazooka: [roll1]+1.
Jean responds with his suit's CIWS: +5.

Initiative:
Jean
Franz
Elizabeth
Nora
Hizacks

Craig

Craig finally finds a building he can get into: A half-collapsed warehouse converted into a operation center. Avoiding the patrols eventually brings Craig to a radio room. Two dead men, wearing EFSF uniforms, lay on the ground in front of a radio that had been knocked over. A single man, still alive but clearly injured, sits beside the radio. His left leg is a bloody mess, but ultimately still intact. He looks at Craig with surprise, and motions toward the radio. "Sir, w-we were trying to get ahold of the Gaunland and request reinforcements. A-are we gonna make it?"

Naturally Craig can't send a message to the AEUG with the man in the room.

[Cespenar]

Craig quickly takes account of the makeshift radio room, acknowledging the dead men, the equipment, and finally the last survivor. After the man asks his question Craig seems to consider his reply thoughtfully. After a while, he takes out his gun, removes the safety and just levels it at the man's chest. With his other hand, he theatrically mimics him to stay quiet with a gesture at his lips. If the man complies, he checks him for weapons, disarms, binds and gags him. If there's nothing on hand to do the latter two with, he settles with keeping him on gunpoint as he steadies the radio equipment and tries to patch in to Franz's signal.

[ZeroNumerous]

Craig

Seeing Craig go for his gun causes the man to try and cry out, but his voice is weak.

"T-tr.." He reaches for his service pistol, but his arms are painstakingly slow at moving. His injuries make it trivial for Craig to win the quick draw, and his life is completely in Craig's hands.

[Princess Tracy]

A sigh inside her chamber. Guns filled with paint, beam sword recharging. She might as well draw some of their attention. She flies up to the missile launching mech and attempts melee with the servos of the gundam.

Punch! Agility melee, I guess, +0 accuracy, so... does that +3 apply here? I didn't include it, add it if it does. [roll0]+2.

[Cespenar]

After relieving the man of his weapons, Craig quickly gets on to radio Franz, hopefully in time.

[Cespenar]

Craig throws a dire look at the man reaching for his gun, and starts to lower his own gun a little down from the man's chest. As the tension rises, he can't help some Scottish seeping into his normally faint accent.

"Oi, drap that or ah will shaw ye a couple places mair painful than a knee wound."

I'm just making an intimidation check. Couldn't find intimidation in the skills though, so I'm hopefully trying to use my Creativity + Negotiation, finding a vivid enough threat to make him rethink his situation.

[roll0]

[Bad Situation]

Franz forces the recollections down and spins around in time to deflect the worst of the rifle shot with his shield and acts quickly to the danger posed by the GM Custom, forcing his fists into the carved open Hizack in search of the melee weapons undoubtedly stored on its body. Using his passing familiarity with the Zaku inspired Gundam, Franz probes and pries apart the enemy in search of a weapon he can use.

Defense: [roll0]+3
Piloting: [roll1]+3

Note: If Piloting isn't an acceptable skill choice, just take the first two numbers rolled in the set to simulate me using Hand to Hand plus a Newtype dice.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Franz' fumbling for his shield fortunately puts him out of the worst of the rifle shot, but his GM is sporting a few more spots of melted metal. Franz is able to successfully steal a heat hawk from one of the Hizacks, and it backs off then fires on Franz with its machinegun.

The other Hizack moves to support the Gundam, and opens fire on Elizabeth. Both the Hizack and Nora's punch connect, but the heavily armored GM Cannon proves very resilient.

Jean takes aim at the GM II again and opens fire once more.

Franz

When punched Elizabeth shouts out over the comm. "****! That's not Craig in that thing! The Gundam is hostile!"

Seconds later the sound of the Delphi's radio operator comes out over the radio. "Say again? Is the Gundam ours?" When Elizabeth responds in the negative, then the ship's operator relays an order from Captain Angleford. "Extraction Team has the green light to withdraw. Repeat, extraction team withdraw. Operation Outlaw is a bust."

The surprise in Elizabeth's voice is obvious, and she shouts out over the comm. "We can't! Craig's still in the city!"

The operator merely repeats the order.

Nora

The customized GM pauses for a moment, then Jean opens his comm again to address the squad. "More Zeeks appeared on the Gaunland's sensors. A Zanzibar-class assault carrier. We need to clean up here and go stop them from causing any more chaos. Nora, eliminate the GM II. We can chase down the slower Cannon once its support is gone."

Hizack #1 fails to prevent Franz from stealing its heat hawk. It attacks Franz: [roll0]+1. On a success she deals 7 damage per degree of success.

Hizack #2 attacks Elizabeth with his MG: [roll1]+3. Elizabeth will try to block both the Hizack and the Gundam punch:

Gundam Punch Block: [roll2]+1 vs 9. [Fails] by 2. The punch deals 12 damage(6*2), reduced to 0 by Elizabeth's 24 armor. Elizabeth's armor is now 23.
Hizack MG Block: [roll3]+1 vs 9. [Fails] by 2. The Hizack deals 14 damage, reduced to 0 by Elizabeth's 23 armor. Elizabeth's armor is now 22.

Jean fires at Franz: [roll4]+5. If successful he deals 10 points of damage per success.

Initiative:
Jean
Franz
Elizabeth
Nora
Hizacks

Craig

The man lowers his hand in the face of Craig's menacing aura. "Y-you... Ze-zeek bastard..." Regardless, Craig's free to use the radio to contact whomever he has frequencies for.

Craig has the frequency for the Delphi and its mobile suits, but he'll need to make an Information Warfare + Knowledge or Creativity check to encrypt his transmission. The radio gives him a +1 bonus to this roll.

[Cespenar]

After taking the intimidated soldier's weapon at gunpoint, he holsters it and gets on to radio-call Delphi, hoping that the girl hasn't entered combat with Franz and the crew yet. Now, if he could just remember the encryption procedure right...

[roll0]

[Bad Situation]

The GM II is forced to shrink back at the assault, body narrowing to provide a smaller target, with a shield thrust out to catch the rifle's fire. The pilot inside snarls at the situation, at Craig for failing in his mission, for being so powerless against the other machines. When Elizabeth tries to resist the Delphi's command he practically screams over the comms, "Just go! If Craig failed in his mission he's either dead or he's been compromised. And if it's the latter he wouldn't want to be around me when we're done here. If we've already lost him, I'm not losing you too! Fall back while I cover your retreat, that's an order!"

[Princess Tracy]

"More enemies? Is it zeon?" Nora reaches to the beam sword, they had the advantage but this needed to be dealt with quickly even if activating the blade was something of a gamble at low charge. She reels around and attempts to bisect her previous target. If she survives, she would certainly have cause to run, not that the Third considers that at all. It was another faceless enemy on the battlefrield whom she knew nothing about and who had just killed many men below, to the best of her knowledge.

Minor to activate beam sword, attack with it. I believe the accuracy compared to her technology was a +1 bonus so with Agility of +2, melee [roll0]+3

[Bad Situation]

Franz swings the heat hawk in a wide horizontally slicing arc to create between him and the Titan mechs, launching himself at the prototype machine to cut off its approach toward Elizabeth. If they couldn't have the Prototype for their own use then the next best thing would be dismantling it before it could be used against them. With these thoughts in mind he flies in with a hard diagonal slash with the axe, intent on crushing through the opponent's armor and hopefully, the pilot within.

Melee (N1): [roll0]+3