Gaojinizer- Stage 25

The Price Of Victory

October 8th, 2090

The day had come.. Operation Orion’s blade had begun, across the world, electricity flowed upon the rails of the UFE’s mass drivers, as ships were catapulted into orbit, For the Juzumaru, and its attached ship, the Artemis. Who’s crew had been put on one of the refurbished space faring ships, the situation was the same. The azure skies which formerly surrounded them began to darken, it gradually became colder, the earth’s warmth disappearing, and gravity’s influence gradually lessened Something which was noted within the ship, as the pilots of the Machina moved to their respective machines.

“So this is it, then…” Takeshi stated, placing a helmet above his head. His attire had changed, with the battle to take place, the Vanguard armor pilot suit used for those in space. Comprising of layered Carbon-Fiber to prevent piercing from shrapnel, and a jetpack with propellant to let the pilot move to safety if they managed to survive a blast which left their machine disabled.

“Yes. There is no way to go but forward!” Diederick exclaimed. And with that, the catapults began to slide open, as the machina lined up in front of the electromagnetic rails, joined as well, by the Chevalier Custom. Which began to crackle with electricity. As usual, Kyoko was at the controls, looking across the battlespace around them. In short moments, 10 seconds at the most, the Machines of the Juzumaru had been launched. And it seemed that across the battlefield, the same was taking place, as they passed the final layer of the Earth’s atmosphere, the earth's fleet was already moving, a phoenix spreading its wings across the battlefield, ready to strike down their opponents. And it seemed that they’d been joined by Asani Igwe himself. Who sat upon his flagship, protected by a number of ships. The bridge was silent, as all within the fleet waited for his orders… Impatitance would have taken some, if they hadn’t known his knack, for the correct timing. As the enemy’s machines were launched, he did nothing, as the enemy ships began approaching, he did nothing, not just yet… He simply waited, and Waited, until… He noted a change in their formation, a spear dedicated to breaking their battle line in two and it was then that he striked.

“Split our fleet, and focus fire upon the flank of the enemy advance force, force gaps between those ships. Engage the Hades’ Vice formation!” One of Asani Igwe’s Specialties. Upon his orders, the forces of earth did just that, in but a moment, what seemed like a sure strategy had turned upon the defenders looming in the orbital ring. The commander of the defending fleet, A Garsalan with snow white Chitin, slammed a hand upon his desk, standing to his feet.

“"Whed?! Thairr dislan uis frel ul ir?!"- "What?! They turned our plans on us?!"

It seemed the relative inexperience of those left to defend earth’s orbit was showing already. Had they simply not read the reports? Or was it a case of them never having thought the humans would get this far? It would only explain how they’d managed to launch this fleet mostly undetected… Regardless, it seemed that their situation was only going to get worse, the Machina drove into one of the gaps that had been opened, joined by Vanguard armors of the UFE’s various member states, as were the forces of the Artemis. Space lit up as the Comet Pulse cannon fired forth projectiles that spread out, and began ripping apart all that was in its path, those who tried to break off an escape found another problem in the form of the Danzaman’s stingers, which flowed around, firing from all directions and cutting them down, The Sanvolner keeping any attacks from hitting the unit. While A war cry emanated from the mouths of Diederick and Andrew as they charged forth, flourishes of steel and impact-boosted punches and kicks demolished the enemy units in front of them.

A group of them attempting to close in and stab him from all angles were swept aside by a sweeping kick. Before he began moving to the next group of enemies. The Gaojinizer removed its scythe from the husk of a machine, which shortly exploded.

“That’ll show you who you’re messing with Roa-” The boy paused as he felt… Something, approaching him… A ray of crimson nearly crashed into his machine, and soon enough, his machine rotated to find the source… It was one he recognized well. A customized Ascalon, with four gun barrels, guided by wires.

“You…”

"Id raanr irrui'ya risyaiyan uis rerd feddra, Tassel... Nu neddas!" - "It seems you've survived our last battle, Terran... No matter!" A stream of energy began to approach Takeshi once more, as the attached barrels weaved and changed their angles, time and time again… Takeshi began to block out the distractions around him, remembering just how this attack had gone last time.. The 1st shot, aimed at the head, dodged, the second, a lower attack, aimed at the bottom, was responded to with a burst of the comet pulse cannon, the beams leaving an explosion radiating outward as the clashed, the third, aimed at his machines torso, he quickly descending to avoid. The fourth, aimed at the back, he’d adjusted his thrusters to elude it… And within a moment, he’d begun to close the distance between the two.

“Whed?!”-“What?!”

“You got me with that last time, but that machine isn’t anywhere as near as good as your original, it's too predictable, and aside from that, I’ve improved!” The words which blared over the proximity channel were not ones the Garsalan could understand, but the simple tone of them annoyed him to no end, his mandibles emitting a low chittering. Yet, as he continued firing, even changing his patterns, it only resulted in the same thing, his target constantly evading his shots, and the distance closing quickly… Before he could attempt to evade, the scythe in the Gaojinizer’s hand had already cut his machine down the middle, and he had to move quickly to eject himself, the smaller fighter craft just managing to escape from the now exploding wreck of his machine… As the smoke began to disperse, all that was visible to G’thera, was the crimson eye the machine made use of. Yet, while some would have felt intimidated, likely the reason for the design choice… He felt only further anger. Yet, he bounded off back to the mothership without another word.

All things considered, the strategy Asani Igwe had put into place was successful, and to no small extent, the numbers of the Garsalan forces had begun to drop like flies, and multiple pockets had been isolated. This much was certainly not helped by the Machina, who continued to tear into their forces with Ferocity…

But it seemed that the situation was to change soon.. As Han's eyes moved across his display of the battlefield. His sensors, and senses alike picked up something, which made his eyes widen in shock.

“We have enemy Reinforcements closing in, and… HIM?!”

Given how the other Machina paused where they were, he was not the only one to sense it… The very same machine, the Jrug’mas, piloted by that general who dispatched them all with essentially no effort on his part. Had arrived on the battlefield.

“So the primitives have managed to make it into orbit… But regardless, the only thing you have done is change the location of your graves!” Within moments, general Ciddeth began his attack, discs of energy fired from the machine’s shoulders flashed across the void, cutting down tens of machines within an instant, unlucky ships that happened to be to close found their bridges, reactors, or thrusters bisected as the discs made contact… The machina moved without even being ordered, knowing quite well that they were the only ones capable of doing any damage to the general’s machine.

“To see him again so soon… Looks like bad luck!” As he spoke, Andew activated his machine's impact busters, ready to slam a mechanical fist into the Jurg’mas, but it seemed that his machine's fist was caught once more, a second sent with a free hand faced the same result. He had to withdraw quickly, once he noted the missile launchers opening on the frame. The projectiles which flew forth followed him even as he retreated. But support had come in two forms, the Valgeogant dragging its blade across one, and destroying it, the Gaojinizer doing the same.

“Bad luck Indeed, Here he comes!” Energy disks began to saturate the space as the Jrug’mas launched them en masse, in short time, the machina were forced to split up, though, the projectiles followed them all the while, wenarrow dodges, nicks upon their armor. Followed by cuts from the opposite direction. Whatever the case was, and whatever this machine was making use of, the finesse the pilot had in controlling them was too much higher then they had. It didn’t take long for the machine itself to begin moving as well, The Gaojinizer would have been struck, had it not been for the interference of the Sanvolner barring his path. But even this did not last for long, before the machine maneuvered around its shield, cutting into its back with an up-sized disk, which left a breach in its armor, and the missile that exploded within that gap shook the pilot within, his head slamming upon his display. By the time he looked up again, his face was bloodied due to the impact.

“Dammit!” The Gaojinizer attempted to fire a point-blank comet pulse cannon from behind, a strike that would have been devastating, had the machine not rounded on Takeshi, slamming a fist into his machine’s side, and firing off a point-blank missile strike, one that tore through his armor, and a kick that sent it careening backward. A strike from the Valgeogant, an attempted sword slash, was stopped as soon as it came, by an arm placed in the blade’s path, and the same could be said for a strike from the Kaizenbuster, which was blocked in the same manner.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“Fuurairh Tasselr... Yui heya ainfsuyan irruisraryar e faid, Bid irrui rdeln lu shelsa... Thura lluurr heya raiyal irrui dha wsulr ainae efuid whed e wessaius ull dha Garsalan Ase’l air Cefefra ull, Erfasaierrirr ula waidh rsaialsa'r fard Praiulaisr..."- "Foolish Terrans... You have improved yourselves a bit, But you stand no chance... Those fools have given you the wrong idea about what a warrior of the Garsalan Empire is Capable of, Especially one with science's best Psionics..."

The machine extended its arms, knocking both attacks away, and grabbing the heads of both machines, slamming them together, the armor even bending due to the sheer force being used upon them. But it seemed that a distraction would come soon, attempts to attack The garsalan machine with whatever weaponry was available. But it seemed that such efforts were fruitless, the machine’s defenses not even scuffed by the volume of fire from warships, and vanguard armor alike.

“"Ar aill dhura waefulr wuirn nu elirrdhailr... Thair neshaila her rasyan na warr, ayal ail dha feddrar ereailrd dhura nelnan Srerrai."- "As if those weapons would do anything... This machine has served me well, even in the battles against those damned Slassi."

With that, the general prepared to turn his attention to earth’ forces once more, but, very narrowly, found himself needing to avoid a shot from an enemy he hadn’t yet seen, 3 of the four stinger drones, their barrels aimed at a single spot.

“"Thura nsular ereail, el elluirrelsa... I'rr nardsuirr dhed ula llaisrd!"- "Those drones again, an annoyance... I'll destroy that one first!" Before Han could do much more, the Danzaman was bombarded with missiles, 10s within seconds. Slamming against his armor, the explosive force even reached the man within. Pained screams echoed, and shrapnel floated through the cockpit… Had it not been for the layer of carbon-fiber on his pilot suit, it would have certainly pierced him. But, regardless, he felt his consciousness beginning to waver, his vision doubled… Yet, he tried to keep himself stable, as much as he could, especially as he noted the General turning his attention to the fleet once more…

“You… Guys… We can’t stop yet. We still have a way… The first formation Lieutenant Moraeu tried to teach us.” Eventually, a pained voice came from Andrew, as his face appeared on Han’s display.

“The Tornado formation?” Soon enough, Takeshi appeared as well.

“Looks like the only way…” Joining them as well, was Diederick.

“But to try using it correctly mid-battle… Well, I suppose the stakes will be enough to make us learn…”

“Indeed… If these machines run upon our minds, then we only need to make sure our minds are strong, and connected… I’m sure you’ve all noticed that strange… Sense, by now.” Haemon commented, This much gained nods all around. For some time, the comms went silent, as eyes were closed, blocking out distractions, for the time being, even each other…. When their eyes finally opened, once more, their machines shot into position with increased speed.

“Our machines are still damaged, so we need to break him down before we do. Focus on one spot, so we can get through that armor of his. A stream of attacks, move around him, Misdirect, make him think one thing and disprove it with another!”

With that, Han marked the spot, on the machine’s side, close to where the cockpit of most garsalan machines lay. And with no more words, the pilots sprung into action, while Han and the Danzaman hung back, the stingers it made use of and the pilots were a different story. They began to bound around the Garsalan commander, remembering the words, the lessons taught to them.

“It’s all about timing…. Out of sync movement will lead to you getting in each other's ways, your opponent figuring out the pattern, that can not happen…”

A point indeed, Deidrick dived in for what seemed to be a flourish of the blade, but when the general turned to launch an energy disc at him, he was already in retreat, and the Kaizenbuste had come from behind, slamming a kick into the marked spot, before treating as well. Though, he didn't get far before the machine grabbed hold of his leg.

Though, this did not last for long, as the Gaojinizer cae from above, divvying the arm from the machine with his scythe. And freeing his ally. The two promptly retreated, ascending above the machine, and from behind them came the Valgeogant, jabbing his blade into the same spot, shearing through the armor.

“"Whed shelran?! Thairr'ya neleran du nenera na err ull e rinnal?!"- "What changed?! They've managed to damage me all of a sudden?!" Before long, he fired off a stream of missiles, tens of them at once, aimed at breaking up his opponents, and they did just that, though, there was another problem for the general, as the Danzaman began firing beams from the stingers, ripping apart the missiles in short instants. ThAs the Garsalan noted this, his mandibles chittered lowly , as he rushed to strike the cockpit of the human machine, to end it at once, The energy disk which flew outward nearly destroyed the cockpit, and as for han himself, though he was not hit directly, he surely would have died if he had, searing pain ran through his already beaten and bruised body.. And yet, even at this, he could not help but laugh.

“I’m not gone just yet, roach… But you will be soon” Before long, the Kaizenbuster slammed into the machine, knocking him away once more, and another salvo of missiles was sent forth with the Jrug’mas sent back. Interference from the Sanvolner, however, caused the explosives to rock against his shields, and the general found himself facing a different issue, as the Valgeogant shot across space, its cape flowing behind it, as the pilot within yelled out, the blade cutting through an opening in its armor, much larger than before. But the general returned the favor with energy saws removing both arms as they were launched outward.

"Delnan Tasselr, dhair wairr fa dha aln llus irrui!”- "Danmed Terrans, this will be the end for you!” Though he prepared to destroy the cockpit,and therefore, its occupant with a launched fist,.. The general found himself staring into a single red eye… And before he knew it, red hot energy slammed into the Jrug’mas, some of it, even cascading into his cockpit, and the inner workings of his machine…

“We got him on the ropes! Let’s finish this!” Takeshi shouted. The rage of the one being referred to simmered under the surface, as the launchers upon his machine’s shoulders opened once more, but clearly, these missiles were of a different class, if the size of the cells was anything to go by.

"I wairr lud rura, I'rr railc dhair llraad, hasa eln luw!"- "I will not lose, I'll sink this fleet, here and now!" The missiles which were launched began to close the distance to the ships of the fleet within mere seconds, swarming like aggravated wasps. implanting themselves into the armor of two of the ships, the explosive bubble which was produced flew outward, swallowing multiple other ships and destroying them as well. Causing the eyes of the pilots to widen.

“Warheads?!” Takeshi shouted in confusion. The pilots from the other ships watched this take place as well, Kyndal rotated her machine to observe what was occuring behind them.

“Shit! If we let those keep hitting, our dream of re-taking orbit is over!” Noting this as well, the machina prepared to launch back into battle, particularly, Takeshi, but he did not make it far before his machine’s leg was grabbed.

"Jird whasa nu irrui dhailc irrui'sa ruailr... Whu reain uis feddra wer uyas?!"- "Just where do you think you're going... Who said our battle was over?!"

Thankfully, he was freed, as the Machine dodged a charge from the Kaizenbuster, releasing his foot… This conundrum. They couldn’t very well leave this man alone, and at this speed, would they get back to the rest of the fleet in time, especially with his interference? Split their numbers, perhaps-

“Worry about him, You all… I’ll take care of this…” The words came from one they’d come to know well, one Pierre Moreau.

With n more words, he pushed the output of his thrusters to their maximum, tightening his grip upon his controls, as his machine drew a vibrating blade, forged of an ebony metal. As he shot off into the distance, it almost seemed as if his machine was already tearing itself apart, but he only kept pushing it further and further, even as his lungs seized, and the g force began to affect him. He reached one of the missiles approaching the fleet, and with a swipe, it detonated a safe distance away, the fleet protected from the blast, but the same could not be said for him, regardless, he would keep going, doing so to the next. Blood began to drip from his mouth in a downpour, as his machine's components began to be exposed… Even if he had moved quickly enough to only be on the outskirts of the explosions, the effects were clear. Yet, he continued upon the sam actions regardless, a comet streaking upon the void, leaving explosions in its wake, an injured Han looked upon this from his cockpit, or as well as his doubled vision could observe.

“... His machine… The Lieutenant can't… Take more of this…” Surely the man knew of this himself, but he continued… Swipe, combust, Swipe, Combust.. Even as his machine’s armor was stripped away, components exposed, and even the layer of carbon fiber became useless with the shrapnel now implanted in him.. He made it to the very last one, and destroyed it regardless…. But it seemed that his machine did not move out of time. And as the lamp of destruction began to overtake his camera, he did nothing but begin to smile.

“With this… Mankind has a future once more… You five… Kyoko… Kyndal, Even Lucas…. In this short time, you have grown… Do not stop doing so, not for anyone…” With that, the Chevalier Custom, and Moreau the swift alike, had gone inert…. And for the pilots of the machina themselves, for some reason, even for the one known as Diederick, a certain rage blazed within them. This much showed itself in their scowling expressions, marked with glowing eyes. And the light of the aether, which flowed from their machines…. In short time, the Gaojinizer had begun to flash around the general, continually peppering his armor with shots from the comet pulse cannon, tearing it apart, bit by bit, layer by layer, and joining him, was the Kaizenbuster, as andrew extended his machine’s fists, and used his impact booster once more.

“You’ll pay for that, for The Lieutenant, and all of them, roach!” His declaration punctuated by the fists slamming into the metal of the torso, nearly crushing the roach within.

“"In-Infurraifra!"-"Im-Impossible!" Soon enough, the Gaojinizer brandished its scythe, the Valgeogant, its quickly extending blade, and the Danzaman, its remaining drones aimed in the general’s direction.

“This… Ends… Here!” As the three shouted, the Gaojinizer sliced the machine vertically, the Valgogant, horizontally, leaving the general within sliced into quarters. This combination punctuated by the particle beams from the stingers piercing the cockpit, and reactor alike… Before long, the machine shared the fate of many of its comrades, combusting into a ball of fire, marking its end.

The effects of this action were far reaching almost immediately, as officers and enlisted soldiers alike began to run to-and-fro like headless chickens within the Garsalan forces.

"Tha Ge’luzer her faal rreirran?!"

"Birr dhura Tasselr?!"

"Id nird fa e raia!"

-"The general has been slayed?!"

"By those Terrans?!"

"It must be a lie!"

It seemed that it would be this to spur the beginning of the Garsalan retreat… Letting the ships of earth rest, as well as the pilots… The fact of the matter was this, Earth had given the Garsalan their first ever space combat loss in this system. Yet, despite this victory, there were still the costs, which allowed them to reach it…