V S M Rearview Mirror

Beatrix III

[SA] Mrs. Hizrihel
Staff member
Level 3
Joined
Jul 20, 2018
Messages
67
Awards
7
Essence
€10,075
Coin
₡18,000
Tokens
5
World
Erde Nona
Profile
Click Here
Faction
Civil Unrest
The morning dew glistened in the rising sun. The forest was quiet; only the sounds of nature could be heard. This was the farthest Imogen had ever been outside of the walls of Markov. They were twenty miles from the Pilots Union reach and response time at this range was closing in on an hour. However, the mission they were on was vital to city security and was authorized by King Dulmare himself. For the past week, Imogen had been tracking a rogue zoid that had managed to cripple two squads of Defense Units. It was unusual for a wild Zoid to get so close, to begin with, but for it to best eight of the Pilot Union’s finest? Something was going on that Imogen had been sent to find out.

A cool breeze blew through the tops of the trees where the blonde had made her camp for the night. The trees grew as large as buildings on Cevanti, and one of the upper limbs had enough open space for her to set up a sleeping roll. Thunder crackled in the distance as the alarm on her helmet display buzzed, waking the woman from her sleep. Imogen had decided to sleep with her back against the tree, forgoing the sleeping bag she had laid out. Shaking off the cobwebs the blonde knelt and began to close her bedroll up. Another crack of thunder tore its way through the area. The storm was getting closer. Clasping the straps on the bedroll she attached it to her radar pack. Pressing a series of buttons on the interface a new screen took over her HUD showing a more extensive sweep of the area.

Right on time.

“Capture One and Capture Two, be ready,” Imogen spoke softly into her comm system, fastening a quiver to her lower back, so it draped across her butt.

Taking her bow from its spot against the tree the blond took a firing stance facing south. Taking a deep breath Gallant drew an arrow from her quiver and notched the projectile in place. Aiming, she exhaled slowly, drawing the bow back, the technology humming quietly as energy built up inside the arm of the weapon. As the last of the air escaped her lungs, she loosed the arrow. With a deafening crack, the bow flexed, ejecting blue plasma from its joints as the projectile was launched. It tore through trees and foliage, creating a vortex of debris in its wake as the sheer amount of energy infused into the arrow propelled it forward. The arrow struck true, exploding with a shockwave of energy as the simple little shaft of metal implanted itself into the side of the Zoid they had been following.

An ear-shattering roar accompanied with the splintering of trees alerted Imogen of what she had assumed.

A Geno Breaker.

Slinging her pack over her shoulder, the woman dropped from the branch, and with a combat knife, she slid her way down the building-sized oak tree.

“One and two on my six. I’ll get her out in the open.” Imogen said into her comms as the area around her began to shake, the rampaging Zoid headed in her general direction.

“Roger, Lead. Beacon attached successfully. Target located.” A voice replied.

After what seemed like ages the blonde finally reached the forest floor to where she had parked her motorcycle. Now that she had set the trap, she had to continue her role as bait for the operation.

“Time to see what this thing can do when it isn’t muzzled.”

Slinging her bow across her chest she took hold of the handlebars and jammed her foot down on the starter. Flipping two switches on the left handlebar with her thumb made a series of servos click, and suddenly the bike went from running quietly to extremely loud. Revving the engine, the woman took off towards the radar blip headed her way.

“What are you doing, Gallant? Come in, Lead One.” A series of voices pestered her.

“Just fucking trust me. Radio silence. Package headed your way.” Imogen replied, sinking into her seat as the cycle passed one hundred miles an hour.

Hanging a sharp left, she headed west, another roar bellowing from behind her. The ground shook with each giant step the monster machine took behind her. Just like they had rehearsed she saw that the ramp had been set up. Twisting her right hand, she began to redline the engine as her HUD turned red to signify that her target had closed the range to less than 50 yards. Looking at one of her mirrors she saw the giant head of a T-Rex roar at her, its giant figure breaking through trees and overgrowth like it was nothing.

Imogen hit the setup ramp at well over two hundred miles an hour, near max speed for the Geno Breaker. As she rode the smoking motorcycle through the air, she stood up on the seat and balanced herself. Timing her jump just right she tumbled into the open field where she had led the renegade Zoid. Capture team one and two were ready and waiting for their numerous vehicles launching tethering cables that immediately sought to bring the beast under control. A center unit had closed in and launched a net over its head. Imogen stood up and removed her helmet, her blood still pumping from what she had just accomplished. She turned to watch the capture teams do their thing. As she wielded her bow things took a turn like she hadn’t expected.

The Geno Breaker extended its claws and attachments breaking free of the bindings that were holding it down. Without her helmet on she missed the order to take it down instead of taking it intact. Both companies opened fire, but it was no use. The T-Rex modeled Zoid ripped through both capture teams. An ear-splitting crack of thunder followed by sheets of torrential rain brought on by the darkening sky was a welcome relief to the hot morning but did nothing to alleviate the current danger. With all her associates no longer posing any threat to it the Geno Breaker set its sights upon the blond woman who had managed to plant an arrow in its chest. The tyrannosaurus rex walked its way over to where she had landed, making eye contact with Imogen. The two alpha level females stared at each other, unsure of how to proceed.

“Clever girl.”
 

Beatrix III

[SA] Mrs. Hizrihel
Staff member
Level 3
Joined
Jul 20, 2018
Messages
67
Awards
7
Essence
€10,075
Coin
₡18,000
Tokens
5
World
Erde Nona
Profile
Click Here
Faction
Civil Unrest
A twisted bolt of lightning streaked across the sky as Imogen dropped her pack to the ground, the Geno Breaker dropping its snout to the ground, bearing its mechanical teeth. Reaching her hand into a pouch on her belt the woman took out a hair tie. As she placed it between her teeth, the Geno Breaker let out a low growl; the blond pulled her hair back into a ponytail. Taking the hair tie she looped her blonde hair through it a couple of times before letting the wet mess flow down her back.

Both females reacted at the same time. Imogen drew her bow back as the dinosaur Zoid before her charged forward. Letting loose an arrow it ripped away the ground beneath the machine. Using the nose of the beast the blonde stepped up and jumped off, backflipping into the air with a gymnast’s grace. Twirling her body, she hit the ground running in the opposite direction another arrow already knocked and ready to go. The Geno Breaker bellowed in anger, thundering after it’s prey. Pressing a series of buttons on her wrist pad, Imogen dialed in a series of numbers and hit a green enter button. Just as the T-Rex was about to dish out the final blow and crush Imogen between its jaws, Tallgeese came barreling out from the tree line throwing its body into the giant Zoid. Gripping the machine by both the tail and jaw the giant humanoid mech dragged the red T-rex away from its quarry.

“Geno Breaker…meet Tallgeese I,” Imogen said, coming to a stop as she watched her mobile suit restrain her mark.

Planting a foot to its side, Tallgeese kicked the Geno Breaker sending the giant Zoid sliding away. Immediately moving to the blond, he placed out a hand to which Imogen stepped on. As she was brought to its chest, the woman watched as the Geno Breaker recovered and turned to face its new foe. With a deafening roar, it stomped its feet into the ground and charged. Miss Gallant quickly entered the cockpit of her Tallgeese I and took her seat. The monitors were already live, and she was watching this Zoid charge straight at her. With a grin, she pushed the controls forward, and Tallgeese lurched forward, his back thrusters igniting with giant blue flames. Flicking a switch on her side panel an armature locked the shield located on her left side onto her left arm. It rotated into place just in time for a brutal backhand to the Zoid’s head. Geno Breaker was thrown down into the mud, its shrieks to get back onto its feet the only thing one could hear.

Tallgeese planted the rim of the shield into the neck of the T-Rex, forcing its head into the mud while punching its side with the other arm. That’s when things got interesting. Geno Breaker fired its thrusters and with one of its claw extensions, latched onto the mobile suits’ neck.

Shit.

Both the Geno Breaker and Tallgeese I were launched along the ground. Managing to right itself the T-Rex fired ramset pylons into the ground from its feet, forcing it to a stop. Bringing its jaws down upon Tallgeeses’ right arm forced Imogen to push her left throttle into the red as the left thruster pod ignited to emergency war power. Immediately dialing the power to zero she used the gained momentum to drive her shield edge into Geno Breaker’s mouth, shattering its beam cannon with a powerful left cross.

“Capture three and four inbound, Lead.” Spoke a random grunt from one of the squads into Imogen’s comms.

“NO! Stay back! This Breaker has AI. Capture one and two ineffective. We’re going to need to EMP it. Something to get it to shut down,” She screamed back, pushing her controls forward as the Zoid clamped its teeth down on her left shoulder.

“Affirmative, ma’am.” They replied.

Tallgeese gripped the Zoids’ neck as Imogen fired both of her thrusters lifting off the ground. As the Geno Breaker’s feet left the ground, she sent one knee forward into the beasts’ chest knocking it to the ground. Pushing the thrusters to full the blonde gained some altitude before dropping the mobile suit directly on top of the Zoid below. Gallant was thrown from her seat, colliding with the interior of the cockpit as Tallgeese shuddered to the water-soaked field. Pushing herself off the monitors before her the woman sat back in the pilot chair, gripping the seat belts and fastening them. Yanking back on the controls Tallgeese gripped the Geno Breaker that was wrenching its’ teeth through the mobile suit's arm.

Get off me.

Squeezing the triggers on her controls, Imogen unleashed the Vulcan cannons in her mobile suits head. The rounds did little to the armor plating the Zoid had, but it was enough to elicit a roar. Taking this opportunity, the blond drove both throttles to max power and shouldered the giant T-Rex. Lifting the beast above its head, Tallgeese began to fire the RCS jets on its legs to compensate for the added weight. With one final push of the controls and a violent shudder, Imogen tossed the Geno Breaker further into the field where it landed on it’s back.

Inside the cockpit of Tallgeese, several red warning lights were blinking regarding heat levels and structural strain. Blood from where the screen had crushed her nose during the clinch had run down past her lips. Ignoring her injury, she charged forward with Tallegeese.

“Magnetic pulse ready- “

“FIRE!” Imogen yelled in reply, tackling the Geno Breaker who had already recovered from being thrown.
 

Beatrix III

[SA] Mrs. Hizrihel
Staff member
Level 3
Joined
Jul 20, 2018
Messages
67
Awards
7
Essence
€10,075
Coin
₡18,000
Tokens
5
World
Erde Nona
Profile
Click Here
Faction
Civil Unrest
Sweat cascaded down Imogen’s face as she feinted to the left, throwing a gloved punch into the side of the punching bag resting in the middle of her living room. Wearing nothing but a t-shirt and boxing gloves the blonde warrior sent a high knee into the bag just as a loud buzzing noise from her apartment complex intercom interrupted her training. Righting her posture with a huff, Imogen wiped the sweat from her face using the shirt she wore and strolled over to the door. Depressing the red faded button, she leaned against the cool steel wall.

“Yes?”

“Yes, hello, Miss Gallant. I’m Frederick Newton, one of the head researchers in charge of studying the Zoid you brought back. I’ve been tasked with-”

“Get to the point, Mister Newton. My job was completed. I delivered the asset, earning myself, and I quote, a week of paid alone time.”

“That’s just the thing. We’re not entirely sure what you did, but the asset hasn’t recovered and isn’t responding to any of our attempts to boot it up. We need you to come in…”

Imogen flung the door open, exposing her current attire to the scientist who himself was sweating buckets. Gripping the man by his shirt she pulled him in close, making eye contact the entire time.

“What did you idiots do!? This mission was my key to a vacation! Not only that, but it’s going to cost me four months of pay to get Tallgeese back to fighting strength!” Imogen was fuming.

She threw the man against the opposite hall in the hallway where he fell to his butt and quivered in fear.

“My eyes. My eyes are up here.” She pointed to her face.

“I’ll be on-site within the hour, Newton. I need to shower first.”

She slammed her door shut and bolted it, causing the nervous scientist to jump. With a heavy sigh, the blonde ran her fingers through her hair and headed towards her bathroom. Removing her combat gloves, she tossed them on the couch. Lifting her t-shirt over her head while simultaneously pulling out the hair tie keeping her ponytail up the woman switched on the water and leaned against the dull tile interior of the room. After a few minutes the water was finally warm enough where she stepped in, placing her head directly under the stream. A lukewarm shower was better than nothing, and this apartment was the only thing she could afford after all her other expenditures. Her budget consisted of various things related to her profession, including the upkeep of Tallgeese, which she had yet to get Cytokine Industries to start paying out for. If her lawyer could get it into her contract, it would free up a huge amount of her income for other projects. Imogen wanted to rebuild the engine in her car, a Storm Motors Ascension. It was a classic muscle car that Storm Motors had stopped making forty or so years ago. She bought it on auction from one of the local police precincts. It was an old primary interceptor of the police fleet back in the heyday. Imogen had purchased it with hopes of restoring the exterior and installing a Minovsky high-performance ultra-compact fusion nacelle, but the motor has yet to be assembled or even ignited for the first time as she found herself with little spare time. In the interim she uses an old scouting motorcycle that had been modified extensively over its lifespan. It was loud and fast; the only things she cared about.

Taking a towel from the rack in her bathroom, Imogen stepped out of the shower and proceeded into her bedroom. Slipping into a pair of jeans on her floor, the blonde threw on a bra and a hoodie before exiting to her living room. Grabbing the keys for her bike off the kitchen table she slipped into a pair of combat boots by the couch and proceeded out of her apartment. Descending the stairs of her apartment complex Imogen rummaged through her pockets for the package of cigarettes she knew was in there. Placing one between her lips she took the lighter from within the pack and flicked it, covering the flame with her other hand. Taking a quick puff to make sure it was lit, the blonde returned the lighter and package to its place, pushing open the garage door. Making her way to the bike she sat down, inserted the key into the ignition, and kicked the bike into life.

***​

“Thank you for coming down on such short notice.” Mister Newton said as he escorted Imogen through the hangar bay.

Everyone was shocked to see that after one day into her vacation, she was back at work. Considering the scene she had made directed at her boss regarding getting some time to herself, it wasn’t a surprise. Imogen was one of Cytokine Industries top in-house pilots that didn’t have a connection to the Pilots Union itself. Ignoring the whispering of riff-raff, the blonde bit down on the cigarette between her lips as the duo came upon the Geno Breaker. The science team had expected some immediate reaction, but it was still dormant, even as they rode the lift to where the cockpit should be.

Exiting the rickety hangar lift, Imogen circled the catwalk around to one of the dinosaur’s eyes.

“You have them fooled. I won’t be tricked so easily,” she sneered, flicking her cigarette onto the chassis.

Almost immediately the systems in the Zoid began to boot. The eyes lit up a bright red color, and the trapped robot let out a fearsome mechanical roar. The hangar shook around her as it struggled against its restraints.

“Let me in, and you’ll be free.” The blonde proposed, leaning up against a steel column, ignoring the mayhem and calamity going on around her.

“Newton! Get me a blank cartridge!” She bellowed.

“Y-yes ma’am!”

The Geno Breaker continued to resist against the restraints keeping it in place.

“Let me pilot you, and no science team will ever get their hands on you.” Imogen offered with a sinister grin.

“Miss Gallant, you don’t have the auth-“

A loud hissing sound cut his sentence short as the head of the dinosaur-shaped Zoid sprung open revealing a cockpit. Taking the blank pilot registration diskette from Newton, the blonde sprang from the catwalks onto the Zoids head. Dropping down into the seat she swallowed nervously as the canopy began to close. Inserting the diskette into the console Imogen registered the Zoid under her pilot ID for Cytokine Industries. Accepting the input the HUD inside of the cockpit turned green and the hangar before her came into view through the eyes of the beast she was driving. Tallgeese had at least two weeks of downtime before he was going to be ready.

It was time to see what this thing could really do.
 
Top