[Team B Group Fic] "The Shot Heard Around Ragol" - Episode 2

[Solstis]

Leto took a deep breath. This crazy man in front of him was carrying some sort of missile launcher, and seemed ready to use it. And, with the little distance in-between them, the newman doubted that he could dodge another shot, especially with the stinging pain in his shoulder.

Somewhere behind them, a few citizens began to raid the rubble of the clothes store.

---

Working with the coordinates that Hikara had obtained, the military sent a small team of expert trackers out into the forests of Ragol.

Well, the military would have sent their experts, but due to transportation difficulties, a few frontline grunts would have to do.

"Sargent Headless!"

"Yes, Private Slicedenhaf?"

Asked the Sargent with apprehension.

"Just what are we looking for out here?"

"Some sort of gathering place... we gotta round up them 'Hunters!'"

The Sargent accented this last word by spitting out a strange, gooey substance.

"Private Abouttadye, what are you doing staring into those bushes?!"

Yelled the Sargent at a rather scared looking soldier.

"I could'a swore I head something Sarge."

*Slash*

The Sargent watched as his troops were cut down by a vengeful blur.

I'm too old for this....

---

Makar was growing weary. This three on one battle was slowly grinding his energy to nothing, and he needed a change of pace.

"Rabarta!"

While his three opponents thawed, Makar dropped his mechguns, letting them clatter to the floor. He then took his beloved Yamato out of his inventory and swung them in an excessive fashion in front of the frozen men's faces. They didn't seem to be amused.

He then stomped both of his feet on the ground, unleashing two small blades from his boots.

"Now I'm ready!"






<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Solstis on 2004-04-09 20:16 ]</font>

[Hikara]

CP... I need to have a word with you...

-----------------------------------------------------

"I know you!" Hikara shouted at the HUmar in front of him. But a random explosion awoke him to his senses again, showing the clothing department in ruins. Four of the five members of Blue&Black were already frozen, and it appeared as if Zek was about to be greeted with an unfriendly grenade. "You know what, even if I DO know you, I've still got work to do. So if you'll excuse me..." Hikara suddenly caught the HUmar off guard with a Zonde and watched him slump to the ground, paralyzed. Hikara then walked over to him, leered down at him, then said "nice to meet you again, Luke." Hikara then raised his hand and cast a Megid, darkening Luke's eyes.

His problem out of the way, Hikara ran over to the teleporter, drew out his Agito, and slammed it directly into the console, causing the computer to explode, shutting off the teleporter. He then backed up so the door closed, and Rafoied it a good amount so that it was jammed in place. Now, on to objective number three...

***

"Now I'm ready!" the other HUmar said, a Yamato in his hand.

"Are you?" Hikara asked. A quick cast of Jellen and Zalure suddenly rendered the HUmar in a rather exhausted state. "Get out of the way, HUmar, and we'll forgive your mistake." Hikara then ran past the frozen trio, freeing them of their icy prison with an Anti. He then shouted "No time for revenge, guys. Come on!" Now then... the last threat... Hikara realized that Zek was about to blow the FOnewm to kingdom come, Gary with him, so Hikara cast a rather powerful Grants on the yellow grenade, causing a huge radius of electricity to surge from it, rendering Zek and the FOnewm immobile. Hikara cursed himself for his own stupidity, then cured the status of Gary and Zek with an Anti.

"Commander Gary, we need to go," Hikara shouted. "I've literally locked down the teleporter, so they can't get back to Ragol from here until they clear the door AND fix the transporter, so we don't need to worry about that! So, if you'd follow me..." Hikara then cast a Ryuker, fleeing the scene, followed closely by the Blue&Black squadron, ready for some R & R if Garanz2 would allow it. If not, then... Oh well. It would seem that the view of the Military through the public's eyes had just diminished by a severe amount....

[Chaos_Phoenix]

His Scape Doll kicking in with a delayed notion, Luke slowly stood up, dazed. "Bloody FOmar," Luke growled. Looking over the boxes, he watched as the military's Ryuker disappeared, and his friends laying wounded on the ground. "Bugger." Whipping out his BEE, he started talking. "Mike, we've got a problem."

"Yeah, I know," the voice on the other end responded. "I'm sending Shippo vie the long way, and he'll come bring you guys home to be treating." Luke let out a groan.

"They got that one kid, Hikara on their side," Luke muttered.

"Are you sure it's the same one?"

"Pretty sure. His Megid is stronger now, too."

"He took you down?"

"Yeah, I have to thank you for that Scape Doll. Otherwise, I might not be talking to you right now," continued Luke, walking out into the street. Putting away his BEE, he began to push away the crowd. "Alright folks, nothing to see here." The crowd stayed for a moment more, before reluctantly walking back to their lives. Dropping a Sol Atomizer on his fallen comrads, he waited for them to get up. "Come on you lazy bums, we gotta military to stop!" Moments later, Leto picked himself up slowly.

"We were so close..." he muttered.

"Don't worry, Leto. We'll get 'em all..."



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Chaos_Phoenix on 2004-04-11 10:55 ]</font>

[Deathscythealpha]

Back in the mansion everyone was beggining to arrive at the Library. Malice had strolled in sometime earlier and was still in awe of the sheer size of the room. There was hundreds of books on many subjects stacked up high on the shelves. He resisted the urge to pick up several books and have a flick through.

There was a cough from the other side of the room and everyone began to hush up as Mike started to deliver the brief.

[M_BlackHawk]

Episode 2

Photonic Curtain

Mike stepped to the front of the libarary, where the hunters had gathered. At his left side is Darias, standing thanks to a crutch. Seifer Angelus stands to Mike's right.

"OK, guys," he begins, "It's crunch time. What we're about to engage in is probably the largest battle ever taken on by the Hunter's Guild. The government calls us mercenaries for not fighting for the military. However, I say that we're free. Free to fight for what we believe is right. And I'm sure that we all believe that the military's stranglehold on our people is more than just wrong, it's immoral...no, Amoral. I've been planning a mission of this magnitude for a long time. And now, this mission will come to it's fruition."

"This is an enormous venture, people," Seifer explains, "And having known eachother for as long as we have, I'm trusting that Mike won't lead us into a deathtrap."

"Of course not," Mike continues, "Darias did come back with some very important information that we can use. First off, He provided us with a layout of the base. Apparently he wasn't able to get into the MAIN databases, but was able to get a map of the complex. Caris, show map of base, Ursa-514."

"Coming up, Mike." the AI answers as the detailed map of the base shows up, "Darias, why don't you explain this."

"Ok, Caris," the young hunter and former intelligence operative begins, "people, this is Ursa-514. Base of all research and development for the Pioneer 2 military, based on a separate continent from Pioneer 1. While it may look like a normal military installation from the surface, its true nature lies underground. Now, the way to access the underground is through one of two lifts, in the two forward sentry towers. Both go to the underground, but to different areas, which are cut off from one another. The eastern tower's lift goes into the administrative offices of the entire military. The western tower's goes to the research labs. They were originally thinking that building underground would make it more secure. They were wrong. I didn't get the specifics on their projects in the lab, but I did get visual confirmation on a very potent bioweapon, some huge robotic monstrosity, and something in a rejuvination tank. It was labled 'Raging Demon'."

"Our mission," Mike continues, as Jessica and Xander begin to hand out packets of information to the hunters, "has 2 objectives, which will be accomplished by small insertion teams. I'll lead one, while Ardo will lead the other. Ardo, you'll go into the administrative offices and kill the HMFIC of the Military, Gen. Carl Heinrickson. If you'll read the material that Jessica and Xander just handed to you, you'll see that he's been ultimately responsible for about 90% of the problems aboard Pioneer 2, starting with the incident aboard the Parma, 20 years ago. My team will go into the lab, and retrieve data on the military's projects, especially the bioweapon. That way, we can come up with a viable countermeasure for whatever they throw at us. Ardo, you can pick your team. Pick two hunters from the group here. As for my team, first off, I'm taking Malice. Second, and I'm sure Rhiana's going to hate me for this, Daxion, you're with me." He points out into the middle of the gathering to a rather young brown-haired HUmar. "I wouldn't trust anyone except for the son of one of my best friends to fight beside me on this one. Those of you not chosen for an insertion team, will be on our main assault force. Joined by robots from the mines, you will attack the forces of the base, allowing our insertion teams time to get in, and fulfil our objectives."

"I'll keep the Angelus Vanguard on alert here, in case the military decides to attack while you're out," Seifer tells Mike, "Dash and Diego could use all the help they can get, though."

"That's why you've got Xander," Mike advises his friend, "He'll report directly to Dash. Now, saddle up, people. We've got work to do. Seifer, notify our assets on Pioneer 2 of their new objectives, ok? I've got my work cut out for me on this insertion mission."
-----------------------------------------------------
later

M_BlackHawk

[KodiaX987]

Vigore opens up his info package, skims through it and his eyes open wide in surprise. Without any regard for Mike's instructions, he slams his document on the table and shouts "Hey M.B.! I call the kill-the-general mission, and that's not negotiable!"

"Shut your mouth, dammit!!" Someone shouts from the other end of the room, to whom the RAnewm replies by throwing a pencil in his direction.

"And I want the twins to tag along too." Vigore resumes. As the next person speaks, he leans over to the side and whispers to the hunter next to him: "I mean, they've got such a nice ass..."

Satisfied, the ranger leans back in his chair and smiles.



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: KodiaX987 on 2004-04-08 19:23 ]</font>

[Logical2u]

*Pclunk...* *Pcklunk*... The lone sound of mechanized boots broke the silence caused by Vigore's outburst. Ardo coughed as he approached the front. He sighed, realizing that any not picked for his team would probably ambush him later in a dark alley and kill him.

"I've got one thing to say for anyone not picked for either team. Give em hell."
A pause.
"Now, I'm not saying hat you aren't allowed on the team, but I really need multi-talented people moreso then you 'one trick horses."
Another pause. Someone coughed.
"Shippo, your tech skills are unmatched and you're handy with a claw. You're in."
A small round of applause.
"Solstis. I've heard about this 'Technades'. Do you have any left? If so, you're definitly in. Even if not, I still know about your 'Support' Hu tendencies."
Some 'boo's, some clapping.
"Solstis, if you DO have those Technades, I need them, theres a little something I've designed that could use them..."
A pause.
"Now, I've said my bit. Oh yeah, Vigore... Don't get mad, I think you could better serve the assult. Wait,... PUT, DOWN the mechguns! Noo!"

The flurry of bullets tore through the air where Ardo stood a second ago.

Ardo got up from the floor, swore, and yelled. "SECURITY!"

[Solstis]

Solstis waited for Vigore to be pulled away before beginning.

He cleared his throat and stood up, scanning his eyes over the tense crowd. "Thank you, Log... Ardo, for n..."
Before the hunter could finish, applause erupted in the room. Solstis smiled, he was finally receiving recognition.

"I am a great warrior, aren't I?"

"Hurrah for Shippo!" yelled a short FOnewm.

"Three Cheers!" bellowed a rather large HUmar as the crowd spontaneously burst into a torrent of claps and yells.

Solstis clenched and unclenched his hands a few times and attempted to continue again. "As I was saying, I am willing to provide any number of techanades to the..."

"Let's have a hand for that brave FOmar up there!" Interrupted the large man from before.

"He is a FOmar, right?" continued the man to his neighbor in a rather loud voice, "I mean, he's not wearing any armor, and no self respecting hunter would go outside without it!"

Solstis grimaced and quickly spun on his heels, firing a large ball of megid right over the man's head.

The audience quieted down in stunned shock, and Ardo shook his head with amusement. Solstis then visibly twitched for a moment, noticed the stares he was receiving, and quickly sat down with an apologetic smile on his face.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Solstis on 2004-04-10 12:45 ]</font>

[Davion]

Seifer walked out of the library. Dozens of hunters hurried past him as he opened his BEE uplink. Aravis ran up to him from behind.

"Seifer, what exactly is Mike planning here? I'm worried about Daxion."

"Dax will be fine, Aravis. I'm sure Mike knows what he's doing. Besides, he is your son after all."

Aravis nodded, "Well, as long as he stays near Mike. I'm not so sure I trust that Malice person."

Seifer smiled, "Once again, Dax will be fine. Malice might seem a bit rough, but I sense his heart is in the right place."

Aravis smiled. She then turned and walked down the corridor.

Seifer looked down at his BEE uplink.

"Make sure Daxion stays with Mike at all times!"

"For the last time, Aravis, Dax will be fine!"


- - - -


Luke was still trapped on Pioneer 2. Since his encounter with the military's forces, the government had locked down all modes of transport to Ragol. Luke was trapped, and reinforcements wouldn't be able to come to his aide either. The hunter was hiding in an alley with his two friends, Leto and Makar. They were certain that going back to their homes would be out of the question being that the government was obviously going to be looking for hunters that matched their description.

Luke's BEE uplink buzzed.

"Hello?"

"Luke, this is Seifer."

"Seifer who?"

"You know who I am. Besides, I can't risk my last name being revealed."

"But you already said your first name, wouldn't anyone listening be able to figure out who you are?"

"Don't be a fool, boy. Do you have any idea how many Seifers there are on Pioneer 2?"

Luke thought about the question for a minute, "I see what you mean. When will Shippo be here? I'm getting tired of hiding."

"Welcome to my life, Luke. Also, there's been a change in plans."

"Change in plans?"

"Yes. Regrettably, your little skirmish caused quite the uproar with the officials of Pioneer 2. There's no way we can get to you. The ship, and all its smaller escort vessels, are under a total lockdown."

"So I won't be able to get back?"

"Nope. However, there is still something that needs to be done, and right now you're the only one of us in any position to do it."

"What is it I need to do?"

"Well, I can't explain it now, it'll take too much time and I'm already worried about this call being traced. I need you to find Janus Highland. He should be working undercover with his RAcaseal companion Hal in the slum section of Pioneer 2."

"There's a slum section on this ship?"

"People have lived on Pioneer 2 for a long time now. It's not really a slum, but it's more rundown than any other area of the ship. Janus should be operating under the name Heitai. Find him and tell him 'Angels walk on Ragol.' and he'll help you. After you find a secure location, tell him we're going to need him to execute 'Operation Falling Heaven'. He'll know what to do. Just follow his orders and you'll be fine."

"Wait, what's going on?"

"There's no time, just find Janus. Seifer out."

The connection closed and Luke looked at his two friends, "Looks like we have a job to do."


- - - -


Seifer closed his BEE uplink, "Caris, what does the Pioneer 2 network have to say about our message?"

"I was monitoring your message's data stream. It looked like the Pioneer 2 scanners were about to focus on it, but you managed to break connection just as they began tracing procedures."

"I'm glad I cut it short then, that was close."

Angelus Manor was alive with activity as hunters of all types prepared for their respective roles. This was the chance they'd been waiting for, a chance to strike back after all these years. Seifer walked up the main staircase near the front entryway and he stood on the balcony as he watched the hunters who found refuge in his home. "Father would be proud." he thought, "This is exactly what he had hoped for his sons, a chance to help those he sacrificed for."

Dash Henderson was sitting in his office looking through names of prospective members of the Angelus Vanguard. Over the past few months, his job as head of security at Angelus Manor had gotten much more involved. Not only did he have to worry about all these new applicants to his security force, but he always had to find ways of keeping the government from finding an excuse for attacking his home and place of work.

"If only father was still in control of Pioneer 2's security." he thought, "I'm sure he'd be able to do something about this mess." Dash leaned back in his chair, "No, he wouldn't be able to do anything. They'd just kill him like they did fifteen years ago. Funny how that time so affected this house. That was the time when Davion left this world, my father was murdered, and we had to transport Angelus Manor down to Ragol because of mounting pressure from the government. Maybe soon we'll be able to finally taste justice." Dash laughed, "Ha, justice. Funny, that's why I took this job."

"What was that Dash?"

"Oh, Diego, I didn't see you come in. Have a seat."

"I'll stand, thanks. I've just come from the library. Mike and Seifer held the briefing, it should be beginning."

"I know, I watched it from here. So I guess we'll be bringing the machines up then."

"It looks like it. Talk about ironic."

"Yeah, the very machines the military built to be used for their own purposes are being turned against them. I'm just happy the foundation for this manor was built on such a treasure trove of technology."


- - - -


Outside Angelus Manor, a small contingent of soldiers from Pioneer 2 lie dead amongst the trees. A lone, dark figure walked quietly southward until it faded into the shady mist of the wood.

The Darkness walks. . .




<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Davion on 2004-04-10 10:05 ]</font>

[Zzzzzz]

"I can't believe we turned yellow back there boss!"

Zek was very upset that he couldn't blow the FOnewm to smithereens.

"I had him! He was right there! If you had given me-"

"Zek?" Gary interrupted.

"Yeah, boss?"

"Shut up."

Zek grumbled something about "freedom of speech" while they were walking through the corridors. Finally, after a few twists,turns, and dirty looks from other officers, they ended up at Garanz MK. II's office. Gary was the first to speak when they walked in.

"Black&Blue Squadron and Hikara reporting, sir!" And, on that note, everybody saluted Garanz MK II while he saluted back. He stood up and asked "Commander, how come three hunters almost managed to defeat six military personnels?"
Gary did not miss a beat and swiftly replied "We were caught surprised and they had those grenades." Garanz2 slammed his fist on the table, almost breaking it in two. he yelled out "DAMN" then asked "Where's the pipsqueak?" Zek stepped in front of the desk.

"What ya want, tin can?"

"You know how much that clothing store is going to cost us? That was a brand
new store, you idiot!"

"So?"

Gary objected. "Sir, if it wasn't for him and Hikara, we all wouldn't have made it here to begin with," he said. Garanz2 sat back in his chair, mumbling "Hikara and Zek" several times. Finally, he stood back up.

"Hikara?"

"Sir."

"You just found yourself a teammate."

Hikara looked confused, then noticed Garanz2 pointing to Zek. The color of his face drained, and he heard a loud *THUMP*.

Zek had passed out.