[ {From} Military Jargon Explained: A Layman's Guide ] -=>{ "SCREAMER": Slang term for the combination of an AHMPCA and a }<=- -=>{ pilot, generally reserved for terrorist use, as it is not }<=- -=>{ seen as an acceptable military designation. Due to the }<=- -=>{ energy output and high velocity of AHMPCAs, it is required }<=- -=>{ for pilots to have an unusually high brain speed. The }<=- -=>{ faster the pilot can think, the more powerful the AHMPCA }<=- -=>{ becomes. #See Also: AHMPCA# }<=- -=>{ }<=- -=>{ AHMPCA: Armed High-Maneuverability Personally Contained }<=- -=>{ Armor. AHMPCAs were first developed by utilizing the highly }<=- -=>{ experimental Goulan energy core, a core capable of responding }<=- -=>{ directly to human thoughts. This allowed free control of the }<=- -=>{ armor, potentially unmatched engine thrust, and unforseen }<=- -=>{ energy spilloff that could be manipulated to various ends. }<=- -=>{ Since the power of an AHMPCA is directly proportional to the }<=- -=>{ brain speed of a human pilot, the search continues for a }<=- -=>{ human capable of accessing the full potential of an AHMPCA. }<=- -=>{ Sometimes referred to as "amps". #See Also: Goulan Core, }<=- -=>{ Screamer# }<=- The report was clearly labeled, the print neat and well-arranged, the files within each meticulously assembled. "Eric Larsen, age 20. Height 183 cm, weight 75 kg, green eyes, brown hair. Worked as a data analyst before testing positive for piloting AHMPCAs and joining the military. Noted for having strong leadership and tactical skills, but unusually and possibly dangerously paranoid. Rank of Unit Commander. Pilots a customized VES-1289 All-Purpose AHMPCA." Next page. "Sara Lycros, age 19. Height 180 cm, weight 60 kg, blue eyes, red hair. Formerly in prison on charges of racketeering and prostitution, but granted amnesty upon testing positive for piloting AHMPCAs under strict guidelines. High piloting aptitude and excellent combat ability, but noted for having a disregard and disrespect for any form of authority. Rank of Pilot First Class. Pilots a customized EBS-5551 High-Output AHMPCA." Next page. "Arthur Mendell, age 21. Height 185 cm, weight 74 kg, black eyes, silver hair. Formerly a professional actor, tested as part of a routine sweep. Extremely confident and graceful under fire, but also tends to have an overinflated sense of his own abilities. Current rank of Pilot First Class. Pilots a customized MWA-2113 Variable Armament AHMPCA." Next page. "Wynnona Smith, age 18. Height 175 cm, weight 58 kg, brown eyes, green hair. Former scientist working for Yseredon Industries, a premiere supplier of AHMPCA weaponry. Hair color changed due to an experimental weapon malfunction, though there are believed to have been no other adverse effects. Extremely calm at all times, despite her high brain speed. Current rank of Pilot First Class. Pilots a customized HAA-3619 Combat-Focused AHMPCA." Next page. "Michael Vetter, age 20. Height 181 cm, weight 70 kg, hazel eyes, dirty blonde hair. Former freelance mechanical technician. Naturally lower-end brain speed augmented by cybernetic implants, some suspected to be of borderline legality. Desired more for his mechanical expertise than for his piloting skill. Current rank of Pilot Second Class. Pilots a customized TEU-4056 Accessory Augmented AHMPCA." Final page. "Diana Brewster, age 19. Height 183 cm, weight 60 kg, green eyes, blonde hair. Former professional singer of some small note, still has some minor fan following. Despite her high brain speed, is reluctant to enter combat and prefers to bolster morale amongst her unit. Current rank of Pilot Second Class. Pilots a customized PET-4387 Generator-Centric AHMPCA." Without another word, the general let the report drop on his desk, something that made Major Akira Stiles more than a little nervous. "Quite a crew you have assembled here, Major," he said calmly, flicking the report closed once more with only a barely-noticable motion. Aside from the desk lamp that illuminated the general's desk, the room was dark. Stiles, normally not a smoker, had taken up the habit since his meetings with the general had begun, and so smoke flitted about the room, originating from the chair where the major sat. "Do you think they can perform the job?" Stiles nodded, trying to look more confident than he felt. "I think that they'll follow orders. They've got too much unit cohesion to disregard a direct command, not enough to question one. Exactly what you wanted, sir." He took another puff on his cigarette, trying to feel relaxed. "I watched them grow from civilians to full-fledged soldiers. They're good enough. I just want to make sure that we're still on the same page - that they won't be-" "So long as they proceed according to the design, as you seem certain they will, our agreement stands. If they deviate from it too much, I will do what is necessary without a second thought." The general's eyes narrowed as Stiles visibly reacted. "Remember how important this is, Major Stiles. This is the best shot we have at successfully implementing this program. The 'Saviour' series has responded better than any of the others, and this is the culmination of that project." The cigarette fell to the floor, still burning slowly. "I know that, sir, all too well," replied Major Stiles, leaning forward. "What this means to us isn't lost on me. I agreed because I knew it was a necessity. But losing this group could be more of a loss in the long run. Don't do anything hasty -" "Fool," snapped the general, sending Stiles firmly back in his chair. "I - we - have waited forty long years to see this happen. We are not about to give it all up this quickly, and we are not in the mold of making swift decisions. But I will pass judgement on your troops as I see fit at the time. Is that clear?" Stiles paused, then nodded with a bit of anger burning in his eyes. "Good. Now... what does your little team call itself?" Major Stiles was making a deal with the devil, and he knew it. Some part of him told him to lie, to give the general a false name, as if it would somehow arrest the momentum already acquired by the situation. But it was too late for him now, too late to do anything but let the chips fall. "Rogue Wing," he replied. [\-+-\] Electronic Transcendence Productions Presents: +\____/\___/+ |Iron Savior| Episode I: The Black Mystery +/----/\---\+ >Rogue Wing< by Eliot Lefebvre [\-+-\] "This assignment SUUUUUCKS," drawled Sarah, leaning against the wall of the dropship in her Amp, taking another puff on her cigarette before turning to look at the still-suiting up wing leader. "Hey, Eric! You have to draw a crappy little terrorist bust for our first assignment in MONTHS?" Another puff on the cigarette, then leaning back against the wall. "I oughta be in charge of this operation..." Eric held the decorative helmet above his head, glaring at Sarah. "For starters, you might be in charge if you stopped complaining about orders instead of following them," he snapped, slinging the helmet under his arm and stalking towards her. "Second -" he snatched the cigarette out of her mouth "- there is no smoking -" he dropped the small smoking tube as she gaped "- on the dropship." The last word was punctuated by him stamping down upon the cigarette, putting it out. Glancing over, Arthur sighed as he slipped his helmet on. "They're going at it again. I can't remember for the life of me a single time that they've agreed on anything..." He flexed his wrist, letting the right arm's beam sabre flash out, its projecter housed below the heavy shield on his arm. Looking back, he saw that Sarah was already gesturing wildly, Eric visibly struggling to maintain his calm. "Guys, enough! We're five minutes away from the drop site!" Without a word, Eric and Sarah both snapped their helmets in and jumped into position with liquid grace. "All right, wing, the rendezvous point has been programmed into our GPS, so Michael will guide us there. Everyone switch to output mode - we'll want to rendezvous with the Aegis Police as fast as possible." The doors on the side of the ship slid open, and the six Screamers threw themselves outside, into sudden freefall. Michael's was the first to engage, but one by one, all of the Amps raised the massive thruster banks on their backs and began gathering energy in the air behind them. As the six tumbled, their brains began to adjust, and the ball of energy grew larger. With a scream of force, massive columns of energy erupted from the primary thrust units for all six wing members, and the six lurched upward, Michael taking the lead as they raced towards their targets at incredible speeds. "Scanners picking up three Frames headed towards us, Eric," said Michael as the red indicator lights on his HUD flashed a warning. "It looks like they're being piloted by the terrorists we're flushing out right now. They're not even a match for -" "Paydirt," snarled Sarah, increasing her thrust by incredible amounts as she lurched towards her foes. "Offensive Mode." As the Amp slowed, weapons unfolded on its shoulders and arms, its arsenal coming full to bear. She could see the blips on her HUD almost immediately. "Pretty fast for old models. Guys, when you bother to catch up - they're just old AA-11s, nothing that we should think twice about -" Sarah's transmission was cut short as fire spat past her amp, and she smirked as the frames came closer. Letting her targeting system lock on, she lurched forward, training her autocannons on the center frame and letting loose. High-velocity shells cut through the air, shredding the armor of the enemy frame, sending it into a spin. As its companions turned to face her, she concentrated for a moment, focusing the force her generator was composing into a ball, then aiming it at the frame. A lance of energy shot out, spearing the frame's shoulder like a laser. "Come on, you aren't even trying... huh?" A glowing beam stabbed through the center of the frame's chest, and as it began to fall Arthur's amp was clearly visible. "You sure were taking long enough, Sarah. I think you're losing your touch." He spun upwards, sabres buzzing audibly as he prepared to dive in for another pass at the frames. Before he got the chance, however, twin lances of energy tore through the pair, and Sarah and Arthur looked to see Wynnona in offensive mode and Eric in normal mode, both looking at the pair with obvious anger. "Um. We did take them out, right?" "You did, at the possible cost of many civilian lives," replied Wynnona calmly, gesturing down towards the city below, where trails of smoke still led down to the wrecks of the frames. "We take on frames as a unit, Sarah. You of all people should know that." "Shut up," snarled Sarah as the remaining two wing members caught up with the group. "You losers are all way too reluctant to use your hardware. I'm not. That's your problem, not mine. Output mode." As the armor shifted back to its alternate mode, she turned to Michael. "Well? Are you going to keep going, or should we just stay here for a few more hours?" Michael shrugged, then rocketed forward, dipping down into the city to weave through the buildings as directed by the GPS. The others lurched down to follow, shifting back to output mode and readying themselves for the more severe threat. [\-+-\] It took a special kind of man to yell at someone in an amp. A brave man. A proud man. Or, in this case, an angry and scared man. "You promised me that there would be no military intervention here, and yet I just got a report that they've sent in six Screamers! SIX! Our weapons are no match for them! You haven't been upholding your part of the bargain!" The figure seemed to pause in thought for a moment. Then, with grace that belied the bulky amp the man wore, he grabbed the leader of the terrorists by the neck, lifting him off the floor. "Understand one thing, Ahmed. I am not here because I have the vaguest interest in your anti-government sentiments. You simply provide a useful front for my own motives. Understood?" A flick of the wrist, and Ahmed flew across the room, slamming hard into the wall. "Y-yes, I understand," replied Ahmed, staggering to his feet. "But you said you could supply military support, Gilgamesh. I'm grateful for the weapons, but they can't hold up against Screamers. If you want us to -" "Don't worry, Ahmed. Two members of my personal entourage are already en route to engage the Screamers before they can enter the building. I have prepared for this sort of contingency - even expected it." The man turned away from Ahmed, who had obviously been injured in being tossed by Gilgamesh. "Now leave me. I have things to think upon." As Ahmed left, the hostages in the corner gave a collective sigh of relief. Only one of their number remained frightened, still keeping himself pressed to the wall as far away from the entrance as possible. A brown-haired woman stepped over to him, putting her hand on his shoulder, which seemed to do nothing for his terror. "It's all right, now. He's gone. You don't have to be scared. I'm Lina, one of the workers here. Who are you?" "I'm Keizman," replied the man, still clearly frightened. "And it's not Ahmed I'm afraid of." He turned his gaze on Lina, who was still trying to smile at him. "I don't know why I'm here, Lina. I don't know why I'm named Keizman, or what my last name is, or even where we are. All I know is that I can pilot that." He gestured over to the only amp the terrorists had, stacked against the wall for lack of a pilot. "And something is telling me I have to." Lina's eyes widened. "You... can pilot an amp?" She blinked. "That's an incredibly rare ability, Keizman. Maybe two percent of the population can pilot an amp successfully. If you could send it into battle against the terrorists..." "I might be able to free us, yes." He glanced back over at the amp. "But if I can't remember anything about myself except how to pilot an amp... then something tells me nothing good can come of me getting into that suit..." [\-+-\] Michael was eyeing the terrorist setup with some admiration as the group touched down. "They've got a good pattern going on. Fairly well-made equipment, and the staggered arrangement can cut down just about any AA that might come at them." He looked at the chief of the operation, an Aegis Police operative that had introduced himself as Leonard Magnus. "Not much of a challenge for an amp, though." "I know," replied Leonard, the frame he was wearing looking graceless in comparison with the six amps, despite being state-of-the-art. "I'm one of the few Aegis Police officers that's registered positive for piloting an amp, but unfortunately the acquisitions department claims to have been unable to input my brain patterns into one just yet. That leaves us with little choice but to call in you guys." Eric looked at Leonard, surprised at the man's youth. The Aegis Police were notoriously reluctant to let anyone rise through their ranks swiftly, and someone in charge of a major operation at such a young age would have to be an individual of serious skill. "So, we disable their defenses and keep them occupied while you rush in from the ground level?" Leonard nodded. "Doesn't seem like a hard run." "It shouldn't be," yawned Arthur, looking up at the guns. "They've got a bunch of static guns, and we're the fastest things in the sky. Then the Aegis Police can mop things up like they usually do." He tossed a smirk at Leonard, who scowled back. "So are we going to get this show on the road, or what?" "Normal mode," said Eric as he slid his helmet back on. The rest of Rogue Wing noted the gesture, and prepared to take off, each shifting to their preferred combat mode as force began to gather in their thrusters. "Leonard, get your force in as soon as we begin to engage them, or we'll lose our window of opportunity. All right?" Leonard nodded, and Eric lept skyward with a burst of thrust, followed by his wingmates. Diana rushed upwards as fast as she could, determined to prove herself useful. She trained her weaponry on one cannon, and as she screamed up the side of the building, she unleashed her firepower, unbalancing the cannon, but not knocking it out of comission. Shocked, she could only watch as the cannon and another near it started lancing out towards her with laser fire, then a trio stationed above her started firing as well. "This place is a deathtrap!" she screamed, focusing her core's energy into a defense shield as she saw Eric racing to her aid. His shoulder-mounted laser lances tore apart the upper two cannons, and a flung bolt of core energy disabled a third as Diana banked away. She focused again, and sent a torrent of energy into the fourth cannon, inwardly cursing herself for her uselessness in battle. "Stay out of the way, Diana! You don't want to put yourself at risk!" shouted Eric as he unleashed his arm-mounted chainguns on a pair of frames sniping at him, sending them recoiling into the building. With a swift motion, he was up higher yet again, a burst of fire disabling a cannon that was keeping Wynnona occupied. Below the pair, two cannons were training on their profiles, but Arthur flew upwards between them, beam sabres extended and slashing through the delicate mechanisms of the cannons. Diana sighed, then blasted another cannon with a lance of energy. Breaking away from Eric, Wynnona dove lower down the building, raking an array of cannons with her formidable arsenal, sending explosions rippling along the wall and over the cannons. Her amp was one of those that most benefitted from offense mode, giving her access to a destructive force mirrored only by some of the heavier assault dropships in the USAF. As if dancing, she wove out of the path of the cannon's bursts, then focused the core's force, sending forth a tearing wave of energy that nearly shattered a portion of the building's wall, leaving the cannons as mangled wrecks of blackened metal. "Michael, how are we doing as far as terrorists?" she asked calmly, trying to get some form of assessment. Although Eric was the leader, Wynnona was the unofficial second-in-command, and often took it upon herself to make sure the group's efforts were coordinated. Michael's reply took a moment, which historically was a bad sign. "I'm reading few terrorists left... but I'm also reading two Screamers headed directly for our position. Design schematics don't match any known configurations... I haven't got the vaguest clue what these things are!" He whirled around, using the telescopic camera in his faceplate to get a visual on the incoming screamers. "They're coming in fast!" Eric lurched away from the cannon he was dueling with, heading for Michael's position. "Rogue Wing, regroup on my position now! We've got incoming!" He glanced over at Michael as the others centered around Eric. "Can you get a fix on their biosignature?" "No, which is one of the really strange parts," replied Michael, his gaze not moving from the incoming screamers. "At this range, I should be able to identify the pilots, but somehow those amps are masking the signatures. Whatever we're dealing with here... it's got some heavy firepower. Biomasking is hard work." He nodded, as if remembering a similar operation he had performed. The amps were within visual range now, but Eric still had to strain to pick them out - they were jet black, and their thrusters were throwing off more energy than Eric had ever seen before. "Everyone, start firing as soon as they get within range!" he shouted, losing his cool a little. He knew that procedure would probably require hailing the amps first, but they weren't identifiable or even legal, and he didn't want to risk his unit. "Why wait that long?" asked Sarah, jetting forward. She got her answer seconds later, as fire lanced out from the amps, only barely missing her multiple times, then spearing one of her thrusters hard. With a shriek, she began plummeting, and Diana lurched down after her, well aware that she was the only one capable of helping Sarah. Focusing, Diana released a gentle wave of energy into Sarah's amp, concentrating hard on re-knitting the fractured metal. There was a moment of silence, then the roar of Sarah's thrusters as she shot back upwards towards her attackers. "Thanks, sideliner," she shouted disdainfully. "Now leave the fighting to those of us capable of it." She headed towards the nearest black amp, only to see in whirl faster than she thought possible and send a burst of energy lances towards her. For a split second, she could think about how he had been able to pull that without even a second's concentration, then she winced in anticipation of feeling the force slam through her. Instead, she heard the sound of crackling force before her, and saw one of Diana's forcefields protecting her. "Who's the one capable of combat again, Sarah?" asked Diana smugly. Sarah fumed and lanced out with all her weapons towards the black amp, only to be shocked as it deflected her blasts thoughtlessly with a forcefield. Growling, Sarah focused for a moment, channeling all of her core's energy into a blast, letting the HUD lock on and then firing on the amp. It wobbled, but did not seem outwardly damaged. "Wow," noted Diana, impressed. "I didn't think that anything could stand up to that..." "They've reached the others!" snapped Sarah, shocked and turning to rush to their aid. "We've got to help the rest of the group! Come on!" Grabbing Diana's wrist, she rocketed towards the side of the building, where combat had broken out between the two black amps and the four other members of Rogue Wing. Wynnona and Eric were focusing their full firepower on one of them, but its forcefields held as it moved ever-closer to them. The other was trying hard to hit Arthur and Michael, but to his dismay he had picked the group's two fastest amps to target and could not get off a solid attack. Unfortunately, neither could they. "Its fields should have dropped by now, Eric," said Wynnona, grunting as her weapons unleashed their deadly force upon the target. "It must have some form of supplementary generator in there, augmenting those shields. That's the only possible explanation." Eric looked to her, then back at the amp as it suddenly turned away from them. Behind it, Sarah flashed them a thumbs-up. "Come on, Eric! I know you can't hold a candle to me - offense mode - but all three of us together can take out this bastard!" Eric seemed to scowl, but the three amps fired in unison on the black amp, which shifted to defense mode and encased itself in a bubble of force. The collective firepower hit its surface hard, but still they could not dent the forcefield. "Dammit! What the hell is this machine?" "I don't know," replied Edward, scowling as he shifted his systems into offense mode and let his ankle-mounted minimissiles join in the battle. "But it looks like the terrorists got some serious backup..." [\-+-\] There was no move made by the hostages, save that required for breathing, as Gilgamesh eyed Ahmed's corpse. "I am well aware the Aegis Police are coming in, you fool," he snarled, less out of anger than annoyance. "Your terrorists will fight well, but they will be overwhelmed. I could care less. My associates will finish the job you started." He turned to the assembled hostages. "USAF Screamers are currently locked in combat with my fellows outside. They will not defeat them. They will be destroyed, and then so will the lot of you. Then the Aegis Police, and then this entire building will be dust. And the world will know who we are." He seemed to smile, although the amp's facemask prevented anyone from seeing his face. "If it is any consolation whatsoever, I will tell you this - the operation here was not begun by me, only utilized. It was sponsored by another source entirely. Content yourselves with that before your deaths." Looking up at the ceiling, Gilgamesh let his thrusters kick in, and smashed through the ceiling straight up and out of the building. As he left, Lina was breathing heavily, holding Keizman's hand tightly without even realizing it. "My god," she breathed. "He's evil, pure evil." Keizman was holding Lina's hand tightly, too, but for entirely different reasons. He was scared and confused, perhaps more so now than before, but he was definite about what he had to do. "There are people out there fighting to defend me," he said, standing and letting go of Lina's hand. She looked up, surprised. "I've got to help them! If I can pilot that amp, I might be able to save us all!" Lina was surprised, especially considering Keizman's earlier reluctance to enter the amp. "Do you mean that?" she asked, looking at him intently. He nodded, and smiled at her. "Then come here. I'll help you put on the armor." They moved to the wall, and Lina began fastening the leg braces over Keizman's clothes. [\-+-\] Arthur was sweating hard, being pushed to the limits by his opponent. There was no opening, no chance of getting close enough to use his beam sabres, and his only other weapons in normal mode were electrostatic beams - useful against frames, but not amps. But he couldn't let up, or it would turn its attention on Diana or Michael. "Come on!" he yelled, weaving out of the way of another volley of shots. "What are you waiting for? Hit me already!" Michael and Diana were hitting the amp with all they had, but it had already realized that they weren't the real threats, that Arthur was the best pilot among the three. And it seemed warranted, considering that the pair had yet to even dent the amp's forcefield. "That field's a combination of Goulan energy and artificial weaving!" shouted Michael, the scanners inside his retina working hard with the data they could pick up. "Diana! Focus the biggest blast of energy you can, and I'll hit it with a missile at the same time! The combination just might be enough to overload a small portion of the system!" Diana nodded, and let herself focus once again on the energy around her. A pinprick of force appeared on the forcefield, and Michael loosed his missile as the prick exploded into a massive blast of energy, Diana focusing her energy on sustaining the blast as long as possible. The two struck the same spot, and there was a grinding noise, with all three pilots holding their breaths in hopes that the trick had worked. Jerking for a moment, the black amp seemed to spasm, then suddenly turned and slashed a beam of energy through Arthur's primary thrusters. "It was faking! Arthur!" Diana began to dive towards the falling Arthur, but was caught by the black amp charging towards her, gripping her around the throat and slamming her against the building wall. She struggled for a moment, but the grip was hard and unyielding, and even as she flung force against the machine, she could feel her brain slowing. Knowing he could do nothing to save Diana, Michael flung his armor's chain lances down, catching Arthur in mid-fall. "Eric!" he shouted, hoping the commander could hear him over the din of the combat. "Arthur's wings have been clipped, and Diana's in serious trouble! I need backup!" The words were barely out when Eric came barreling towards the black amp holding onto Diana. "Let go of her!" he shouted, beam sabres extended. Though most of his arsenal was ranged, he did posses twin beam sabres in offense mode, and he now struck hard against the black amp's forcefield with them, moving with a grace and speed that was generally reserved for when he was angered. The black amp released Diana as he slashed at it, falling backwards as Diana slowly recovered into a hovering position. Michael swung upwards, releasing Arthur to let Diana repair him, and getting a sudden thought, sent a modified electrostatic pulse at the amp. Eric's slashes traced across the shield, then, surprising both Eric and the black amp, the shield fizzed, and the sabre cut hard across the amp's chestplate. "I should have thought of it earlier, Eric," shouted Michael, flying by his commander's side. "Thos shields were being augmented by a generator, but one of my amp's systems in special mode uses a form of electrostatic pulse - lower-grade than Arthur's weapons - to disrupt generators just like that. Sorry for taking so long." "I'm afraid that the apology will do us a minimum of good, Michael," said Wynnona as she and Sarah flew to group with the rest of the wing. "These things are too powerful for us, even with the ability to shut down their forcefields temporarily." The black amps seemed to enjoy the comment, closing in on the group, both visibly less damaged than the members of Rogue Wing. "It appears that this is -" "Hold on!" shouted Michael, looking up. "I'm reading an amp coming out of the building right now! It's... it's not bearing any markings either, but it doesn't have weapons primed... do you think it might be Leonard?" Keizman didn't know who was shouting as the amp flew out of the building, only that the six differently-colored amps were the people that had been trying to save him, and they needed his help. He didn't know how to operate most of the amp, but he decided to just hope he could pick it up as he went along. Raising his arms, he raked one of the black amps with a chain of white energy lances, letting them spear the opponent without a second thought. The amp exploded, and he banked to a stop as the other black amp turned to face him. "Are you all okay?" Eric couldn't believe his eyes. The amp had no visible weapons whatsoever, yet had just released an assault that punched straight through something ten times more powerful than any USAF model. The thrust behind it was massive, jagged, as if the amp were generating more energy than it could handle. "We're fine," he replied, still in shock. "Who are you?" Keizman was about to reply, only to see the black amp rushing towards him. He didn't know what he was doing, only knew that he wanted to get rid of the enemy amp right away as he spun to see it. From there, instinct just kicked in, and the amp's thruster became a cannon itself, lances of energy pulling out of it and slamming through the black amp until the attacker exploded. "I'm Keizman," he replied. "And... and I don't know anything past that." The group simply stared at him. [\-+-\] "Excellent peformance, Stiles," said the general, leaning back in his seat. "I was very impressed, all told. You unit is rather coordinated for such a young group, and they performed admirably against the terrorists." He smiled, which disturbed Major Stiles significantly. When the general smiled, it was not one of joy, but one of threat and hostility. "Our test ran above expectations. I trust the lot of them have been held over for questioning?" Stiles nodded. "The subject is in our possession, yes. We can begin the next phase of the plan at your leisure." He took another puff on his cigarette. "With all due respect, general, I wish you had let me know about this 'Gilgamesh' character before you implemented the plan. We came very close to releasing additional forces." The general's eyebrows raised. "Gilgamesh?" "Yes, sir. Haven't you read the report yet?" The general shook his head. "The terrorists were nearly taken out when two black amps, supposedly connected with a figure allied with the terrorists that called himself Gilgamesh, showed up and nearly destroyed the unit. I was certain until the last moment that they weren't part of the plan." The general said nothing. "You don't mean to tell me...?" "There was no Gilgamesh, no black amps, none of that involved in the execution of this operation, Stiles," replied the general. "We had a plan of execution, yes, but I hadn't received word it had failed." He thought for a moment. "This throws a monkey wrench in things. Get Munin working on the problem immediately - I want to know as much as possible about this Gilgamesh now." Stiles nodded. "Of course, General Merovingian. I'll get right on it." He stood, and the general gestured for him to leave. Turning, the major walked out of the room swiftly, a sense of impending doom sneaking up on him as he closed the door behind him. He let it linger a moment longer, then pushed it out of his mind, put out his cigarette, and started walking down the hall to meet with Rogue Wing. / ¤********{ e l e c t r o n i c t r a n s c e n d e n c e }-+†‹±ø£'? /*/>>>>ø>>« Eliot Lefebvre, AKA Lost Factor, Stormcloud, Q! »<<ø<<<<\* ¥ø==« Transfan, X-Fan, X-Phile, Trekker, Gamer, Otaku, and more »==ø¥ ÷----ø--« ET Website: http://www.crosswinds.net/~lostfactor »--ø----÷ *====ø==« Mirror: http://members.fortunecity.com/lostfactor »==ø====* *\>>ø>>« Contact: eltf@hotmail.com, Eliot.Lefebvre@uconn.edu »<<ø<