Post by Omegarex24 on Jul 15, 2009 13:33:31 GMT -5
After the incident where Cerberus defeated a trio of Tormentor birds, HQ was in a state of constant high-alert. Both Riptide and Lenneth were out on combat patrols, just in case another shadow portal opened and spewed forth some kind of horrific entity. The two giant machines cruised high over the desert floor and beyond, scanners and long-range sensors active for any sort of disturbance. Suddenly, HQ sent a transmission that complicated matters.
"Control to Riptide and Lenneth. We have multiple new portal contacts, one east of your current position and one north. Disengage patrol immediately and intercept."
"Dammit. OK, I'll head east. Natalie, you take the one to the north. Scrag your target fast. We can't afford to have things down for repair for too long," Ben said as he recieved the signal
"I know, I know. I work in the hanger, remember," she replied, exasperated. "I've been through the mill too. Just bring yours back in one piece, too."
"Hey, I know how to handle myself," Ben answered, grinning. "Good luck out there."
"Yeah, you too."
The machine's both split off and headed in different directions. Natalie headed north, towards the border with Utah. There wasn't much between here and there, which suited her fine. Less risk of some innocent civilians getting killed. Her scanners started going wild as she neared the target zone. Some huge amount of shadow energy was present here. whatever it was, the signal was certainly stronger than those Tormentors Cerberus killed. She almost ran into her target when the massive bird rushed her, and it was only by sheer reflex that she avoided a direct hit.
The Shadow Roc shrieked as it turned around to face its new enemy, but this time, Natalie was ready for it. The skeletal beast still had plumage along its wings, but the feathers appeared sharp and dangerous. Still...
"Alright, now you're gonna get it," she said to herself, pumping herself up for the fight. She wasn't as used to this as Ben was. Still, she hoped she could live up to his expectations.
The Shadow Roc flapped its wings and launched a volley feathers at her, but they slammed harmlessly into the shimmering Barrier Field that she erected to protect herself. The demon seemed undeterred and luanched itself at the machine, hatred glowing in its empty eye sockets. Natalie waited, then stabbed forward with her sword, catching the bird in the shoulder. But the Shadow Roc still came at her, the blade cleaving right through its wing without slowing it down. Razor sharp talons sparked against metallic armor, leaving shallow wounds. The Roc backed off and circled, clearly intent on battering its opponent down.
"How the hell did that thing survive an attack like that," Natalie muttered as she tracked the bird. Even the Tormentors couldn't take that kind of punishment, although the regrew damaged parts... "Wait, that's it!"
Lenneth lifted off and pursued the bird in the air, a powerful laser charge glowing along the length of her sword. The Shadow Roc twisted and dived, but it couldn't gain enough speed to keep it ahead of the machine, and the sword blade cleaved in one side of its neck...and got stuck! The bird twisted, wrenching free as shadow energy sprayed like blood from the wound, but otherwise seemed fine.
"How the hell do you kill this thing," she yelled as she blocked more feathers with the Barrier Field. But the Roc was wising up. A second volley followed close on the heels of the first, striking when her guard was down. Razor sharp feathers penetrated armor, but not deep enough to cause serious damage. But the fact that she couldn't touch her enemy was starting to make her panic. How could you kill something like this?
She tried to keep calm, when something caught her eye. An orb of darkness glowed within the bird's chest. This time, she was sure of what that signified. And with her foe's weakness so plainly laid out in front of her, she felt better already. The Shadow Roc dove right at her, but this time, she was ready. She cocked her fist back, the bladed shield ready to strike. But the Shadow Roc kept coming, clearly thinking she was too far away to hit it. Boy, was he wrong!
A gout of fire erupted from the rocket engines as the shield launched itself at her foe, anchored in place by a thick and heavy chain. The bird squawked as the blade drove deep into its chest, causing it to come to a shuddering halt in midair. But the worst was yet to come. A surge of electrcity arced from the blade, shocking the wounded shadow demon right in the chest, where it was vulnerable. The Roc screeched in agony as Lenneth yanked hard on the chain, sending her catch plummeting to the ground, where it made an easy target. She forcibly yanked the shield out, reeling it in on its chain, before plunging her sword into the beast's chest. The shadow heart erupted in a violent explosion, but failed to stop Lenneth from finishing her target. As the bird disentigrated into darkness, Natalie called up HQ.
"HQ, northern target is down. Requesting new orders."
"Affirmative Lenneth. Move to assist Riptide with eastern target."
"That won't be necessary," Ben's response came back over the radio. I just finished up mine here. Any additional targets?"
"Negative. Both units, RTB for repair and refit."
"Roger," they said at the same time, which made Natalie giggle a little. She felt giddy. Twice now, she proved she was capable behind the proverbial wheel. "Look out world, here I come."
+75 MP
"Control to Riptide and Lenneth. We have multiple new portal contacts, one east of your current position and one north. Disengage patrol immediately and intercept."
"Dammit. OK, I'll head east. Natalie, you take the one to the north. Scrag your target fast. We can't afford to have things down for repair for too long," Ben said as he recieved the signal
"I know, I know. I work in the hanger, remember," she replied, exasperated. "I've been through the mill too. Just bring yours back in one piece, too."
"Hey, I know how to handle myself," Ben answered, grinning. "Good luck out there."
"Yeah, you too."
The machine's both split off and headed in different directions. Natalie headed north, towards the border with Utah. There wasn't much between here and there, which suited her fine. Less risk of some innocent civilians getting killed. Her scanners started going wild as she neared the target zone. Some huge amount of shadow energy was present here. whatever it was, the signal was certainly stronger than those Tormentors Cerberus killed. She almost ran into her target when the massive bird rushed her, and it was only by sheer reflex that she avoided a direct hit.
The Shadow Roc shrieked as it turned around to face its new enemy, but this time, Natalie was ready for it. The skeletal beast still had plumage along its wings, but the feathers appeared sharp and dangerous. Still...
"Alright, now you're gonna get it," she said to herself, pumping herself up for the fight. She wasn't as used to this as Ben was. Still, she hoped she could live up to his expectations.
The Shadow Roc flapped its wings and launched a volley feathers at her, but they slammed harmlessly into the shimmering Barrier Field that she erected to protect herself. The demon seemed undeterred and luanched itself at the machine, hatred glowing in its empty eye sockets. Natalie waited, then stabbed forward with her sword, catching the bird in the shoulder. But the Shadow Roc still came at her, the blade cleaving right through its wing without slowing it down. Razor sharp talons sparked against metallic armor, leaving shallow wounds. The Roc backed off and circled, clearly intent on battering its opponent down.
"How the hell did that thing survive an attack like that," Natalie muttered as she tracked the bird. Even the Tormentors couldn't take that kind of punishment, although the regrew damaged parts... "Wait, that's it!"
Lenneth lifted off and pursued the bird in the air, a powerful laser charge glowing along the length of her sword. The Shadow Roc twisted and dived, but it couldn't gain enough speed to keep it ahead of the machine, and the sword blade cleaved in one side of its neck...and got stuck! The bird twisted, wrenching free as shadow energy sprayed like blood from the wound, but otherwise seemed fine.
"How the hell do you kill this thing," she yelled as she blocked more feathers with the Barrier Field. But the Roc was wising up. A second volley followed close on the heels of the first, striking when her guard was down. Razor sharp feathers penetrated armor, but not deep enough to cause serious damage. But the fact that she couldn't touch her enemy was starting to make her panic. How could you kill something like this?
She tried to keep calm, when something caught her eye. An orb of darkness glowed within the bird's chest. This time, she was sure of what that signified. And with her foe's weakness so plainly laid out in front of her, she felt better already. The Shadow Roc dove right at her, but this time, she was ready. She cocked her fist back, the bladed shield ready to strike. But the Shadow Roc kept coming, clearly thinking she was too far away to hit it. Boy, was he wrong!
A gout of fire erupted from the rocket engines as the shield launched itself at her foe, anchored in place by a thick and heavy chain. The bird squawked as the blade drove deep into its chest, causing it to come to a shuddering halt in midair. But the worst was yet to come. A surge of electrcity arced from the blade, shocking the wounded shadow demon right in the chest, where it was vulnerable. The Roc screeched in agony as Lenneth yanked hard on the chain, sending her catch plummeting to the ground, where it made an easy target. She forcibly yanked the shield out, reeling it in on its chain, before plunging her sword into the beast's chest. The shadow heart erupted in a violent explosion, but failed to stop Lenneth from finishing her target. As the bird disentigrated into darkness, Natalie called up HQ.
"HQ, northern target is down. Requesting new orders."
"Affirmative Lenneth. Move to assist Riptide with eastern target."
"That won't be necessary," Ben's response came back over the radio. I just finished up mine here. Any additional targets?"
"Negative. Both units, RTB for repair and refit."
"Roger," they said at the same time, which made Natalie giggle a little. She felt giddy. Twice now, she proved she was capable behind the proverbial wheel. "Look out world, here I come."
+75 MP