NationStates Jolt Archive

Narnia - Dark Empire Fortress

Phobos (http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g166/The_Illuminati_Orb/Character%20Pics/phobos.jpg) smiled slightly as he looked out upon the currently pilotless Shadow Zoids picked for the pilot candidates Nightshade would be sending as they glistened in the pink light of early dawn. Sensing a presence approaching behind him, he turned as his face resumed its normal stoic expression.

"Yes, what is it?" he asked.

"Phobos," replied Prince Cain (http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/SeaQuest_Sim/Schematics/SeaQuestian%20Commonwealth/Character%20Pics/cain.jpg) as he stepped into a pool of light cast from a near-by lamp, "are you sure this alliance with Nightshade is wise?"

A slight muscle spasm near Phobos's right eye was the only indication of his annoyance.

"Cain," he said in response, "if you weren't a member of the Bridger bloodline, I would have shown no mercy for your insolence.

"As for Lady Nightshade Masaki, her bloodline will proove useful. Both will come out stronger as a final result."

"I believe I understand," responed Cain before he departed.

"You better not cause any foul ups with my plans, Cain," Phobos said to his retreating figure.

Phobos glanced at the chronometer. If Nightshade kept up her end, the Shadow Zoid pilot candiates should be arriving that afternoon.

They were the best AT and TIE pilots born on Tenetia. They were lavishly equipped, trained to almost Sith standards, and had the clout to order other units about.

They were the Doom Warriors (OOC: Name in progress). 32 of Lady Nightshade's elite pilots, sworn to serve her forever. Nominally led by Janus Nightshade, the real commander is Colonel Ivan Hamdo, a descendant of the Emperor Hamdo that once plagued Coreworlds. He and his crew are now standing at attention before the Dark Lady to hear her words.

"You are the best of the best, and that is why I have chosen you for this mission. Learn the ways of the Shadow. Notice everything that could possibly be of use to the Empire. Do your duties and you shall make the glorious Emperor proud!" Lady Nightshade exclaimed, speaking as if at a rally. And make me proud as well...

The men and women of the group pumped fists into the air and spoke the Imperial Motto.

"Empire est primoris! Empire est Vita! Empire est nex!" (Empire is First! Empire is Life! Empire is forever!)

Cain stood briefly on a balcony overlooking the Shadow Zoid pilot candidates Nightshade had picked as they arrived. He watched as Legato Bluesummers (http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g166/The_Illuminati_Orb/Character%20Pics/The%20Gung-Ho%20Guns/Legato.jpg) waited for them leaning against a parked shuttle before turning and strolling back inside.

Meanwhile...

Legato straightened up and walked over to the Tenetians.

"Alright. Which one of you is in charge of your group?" he asked in a tone that would cause the pilot candidates to instictively snap to attention.

"I, Colonel Ivan Hamdo am in charge. To whom am I speaking?" The Colonel stepped forth proudly.

"My name is Legato Bluesummers, but you can call me 'sir'," came the reply in the same tone, "know now, any failure at anything by any of the others will be deemed your responsibility.

"I'm sure you can figure out the reason why that is, Colonel," Legato added with a chilling smile, "if not, you will learn in time."

Condescending little fool. The Colonel thought. "But of course. Then again, the Empire only cares about the successful outcome of this training mission. If a few soldiers must be sacrificed for the New Order, then their deaths will not be in vain. Shall we continue?"

"Arrogant prick," Legato thought, "Doesn't realize the true meaning behind that measure. Well, in time, he will."

Aloud, he said, "Then let's begin."

He pulled a transponder out of a pocket and activated it. With a flash of black light, he and the pilot candiates were beamed to the medical facility deep underneath the surface structure.

"Now," he continued once everyone rematerialized, "comes the easy part. The first stage of gene therapy will determine which of you will move to the next stage and which won't.

"As for you, Colonel," he turned to Ivan, "you can drop the attitude. This is a whole new ballgame than you're used to."

With a snap of his fingers, figures in face masks and white labcoats came over and began to lead the Tenetians to various beds. Either gently or forcefully, depending on what was needed. Once they were in the beds, they were strapped down so they wouldn't hurt themselves while the accelerated gene therapy was being administered.

"Now," Legato added, "I can assure you, this will be painful. Speed is of the essence, so we can't go easy on you."

He knew that not all would make it to the next level. Those that didn't would most likely be fully assimilated by the STA gene they were being given. However, a rare few would be able to assimilate it into themselves instead of the other way around, thus gaining abilities they could have never imagined.

"I'll check back on you tomorrow to see who has survived," he said before leaving the room.

Watching through a two-way mirror overlooking the chamber, Cain wondered how these examples of the less evolved strain of Homo sapien sapien would handle the procedure.

OOC: CW, I leave it up to you to decide who the STA gene therapy takes in, who gets assimilated by it and becomes a Core, and who assimilates it and becomes a Thrall. If you want any of them to become Thralls, let me know and I'll TG you with the basics of what a Thrall is.

OOC: Let me know what a Core and a Thrall are before I decide.

OOC: Let me know what a Core and a Thrall are before I decide.

OOC: TG has been sent.

The painful gene therapy produced much discernation for the Colonel, but in the end, quite a few of the group became what would be known as Cores, and a small number, including the Colonel himself, would gain the superior abilities of a Thrall. One pilot was inexplicitly unresponsive to the gene therapy. So the ratio of success for the Shadow pilots-to-be was 23:8:1.

The next morning found Legato looking down at the results of the accelerated STA gene therapy through the two-way mirrors Cain had used the day before.

"Seperate out the Cores," he ordered before leaving to go down to the room below.

Stepping in as those that hade become Cores were seperated out, he glanced at those that had made it. Noting the signs of a Thrall in some, his eyes narrowed.

"Colonel Hamdo," he said, "it seems you and a few others of those that made it through the proceedure have become something more than just pilots with the STA gene. To unlock your new nature to its fullest will require seperate training, however, that does not disclude you from continuing on with you Shadow Zoid training first. Your choice, Colonel."

He glanced over as the unresponsive pilot candidate was led away. He may not have the STA gene, but the Dark Empire also had units with lesser levels of Shadow tech. Most likely, he/she would find a position on the transport ship that came with the Shadow Zoids Nightshade was getting.

OOC: Your Thralls are going to need seperate training for the Thrall bit, CW. But, if you want them to become Shadow Zoid pilots as well, that can wait.

"Colonel Hamdo," he said, "it seems you and a few others of those that made it through the proceedure have become something more than just pilots with the STA gene. To unlock your new nature to its fullest will require seperate training, however, that does not disclude you from continuing on with you Shadow Zoid training first. Your choice, Colonel."
"Our primary directive is the Shadow Zoids training." The Colonel then smiled, feeling the surge of power that came with being a Thrall. It seemed that not only did the power of the Thrall become evident in him, it unlocked the dormant Force-sensitivity of his bloodline, which would intruge the Empress back home. His ancestor was once a Masaki's Jedi student, after all. "But I feel that this additional training would be beneficial. So what will occur with those 'Cores' as you call them?"

Legato smiled coldly and replied, "A Core is basically the CPU of a Shadow tech unit. The Core is neither pilot nor passenger; it is a ready-made thought matrix. An organic unit can process information faster than most computer systems and reacts faster when formulating strategy. It is much easier and faster to temper an existing brain than to manufacture a complex computer. Linking the Core and unit together is a telepathic connection augmented by cyberorganic implants. This connection also creates the mindscream reported by those few who have encountered them and survive.

"The Core must be properly prepared for insertion. If it is not, the result is a confused, disoriented, and insane unit.

"Although they require a sentient being as a Core, the 'pilotless' Shadow tech units are extremely single-minded. Once they target a victim, they never stop, never slow down, never give up until that target is dead.

"Excluding the one destined for the Black Star that will be modified to serve as the transport for your Shadow Zoids, the rest will most likely end up in 'pilotless' Shadow Zoids designed for such a purpose with the piloted ones."

OOC: Neat! It's a lot similar to the project in the Dark Empire comics where the Emperor infused the brains of top Imperial pilots with the Dark Side and put them into droid fighters. Evil. Just the way Nightshade wants it!

IC:
"Intruging." Colonel Hamdo said, though he felt unsettled. Not yet fully into the Dark Side, he was. "So. Shall we begin with the training?"

OOC: Lol, and that's just the canon stuff.

IC: Legato pulled out the transponder he had used the day before. Activating it, the group was beamed in front of the bay where the Shadow Zoids that were choosen for this purpose in a similar black flash of light as before.

"The STA gene each of you now carry links you to a specific mecha here," he said once transport was complete, "the first step in training is for you to let your concious mind slip aside and let your instincts guide you to the correct unit. I do have to warn you, the gene therapy links you to one Shadow Zoid alone. Physical contact with the wrong unit by one not prepared can be lethal."

Legato watched as each successful pilot candidate made their way to his or her new Shadow Zoid. At the same instant, a trio of Shadow Gliders flew over head as they came in for a landing.

OOC: CW, feel free to pick which style of Zoid each gets to pilot the Shadow Zoid version for each. Just none of the big super Zoids (ie, Deathsaur, Ultrasaurus, Death Stinger, et cetera) from the canon, a'right? If you need it, I can TG you the list of Zoids I found that would be acceptable.

OOC: I will need two recon/stealth squads, two assault squads, two artillery/heavy platform squads, and two command squads. Four Zoids per squad. Of course, Colonel Hamdo's personal squad will be Command Zoids and the like. I want his personal Zoid to be a match for the Liger Zero, hehe.

OOC: I will need two recon/stealth squads, two assault squads, two artillery/heavy platform squads, and two command squads. Four Zoids per squad. Of course, Colonel Hamdo's personal squad will be Command Zoids and the like. I want his personal Zoid to be a match for the Liger Zero, hehe.

OOC: How about a Shadow tech Liger Zero for the Colonel with the rest Shadow tech Command Wolves? For artillery/heavy platforms, I would suggest the Shadow tech Dibison. As for recon/stealth, how about a Shadow tech Shadow Fox? As for an assault Shadow Zoid, I'm going to have to refresh my canon knowledge for that.

EDIT: How about Shadow tech Zaber Fangs for the assault role?

OOC: Yeah, that would be cool. Shadow Liger Zero with escort Command Wolves to protect him. The second squad, containing his XO Major Wilhem Ernst will have a Rayse Tiger. Dibison and Mad Thunder for artillery. Recon: Shadow Fox. Assault: Tyrannosaur/Gigantosaur types, perhaps?

OOC: Yeah, that would be cool. Shadow Liger Zero with escort Command Wolves to protect him. The second squad, containing his XO Major Wilhem Ernst will have a Rayse Tiger. Dibison and Mad Thunder for artillery. Recon: Shadow Fox. Assault: Tyrannosaur/Gigantosaur types, perhaps?

OOC: The Mad Thunder is one of those uber Zoids that could go toe-to-toe with a Deathsaur (IMHO, its a one per planetary invasion type Zoid (I RP my Zoids with a mix of Battle Story canon and anime canon (both have very different story lines), thus making them canon level in strength or even beyond (depending on which one it is)). How about Cannon Tortoises instead?
(Plus, technically, the Dark Empire doesn't have many of that level Shadow Zoid to spare, sorry).
As for assault, how about Shadow tech Gun Sniper LTs?

OOC: Cannon Tortoises would be fine. Hmm. Maybe two Sniper LTs would do, along with some slightly heavier assault...

OOC: Cannon Tortoises would be fine. Hmm. Maybe two Sniper LTs would do, along with some slightly heavier assault...

OOC: How about either Dark Horns or Red Horns?

OOC: How about either Dark Horns or Red Horns?
OOC: Dark Horns all the way.

OOC: Dark Horns all the way.

OOC: A'right, sounds good.

IC: OOC: Lol, and that's just the canon stuff.

IC: Legato pulled out the transponder he had used the day before. Activating it, the group was beamed in front of the bay where the Shadow Zoids that were choosen for this purpose in a similar black flash of light as before.

"The STA gene each of you now carry links you to a specific mecha here," he said once transport was complete, "the first step in training is for you to let your concious mind slip aside and let your instincts guide you to the correct unit. I do have to warn you, the gene therapy links you to one Shadow Zoid alone. Physical contact with the wrong unit by one not prepared can be lethal."

Legato watched as each successful pilot candidate made their way to his or her new Shadow Zoid. At the same instant, a trio of Shadow Gliders flew over head as they came in for a landing.

OOC: CW, feel free to pick which style of Zoid each gets to pilot the Shadow Zoid version for each. Just none of the big super Zoids (ie, Deathsaur, Ultrasaurus, Death Stinger, et cetera) from the canon, a'right? If you need it, I can TG you the list of Zoids I found that would be acceptable.

In the end, the First Tenetian Shadow Zoid Company was fitted out with the following Zoids:

8 Shadow Foxes.
6 Dark Horns and 2 Sniper LTs.
4 Cannon Tortoises and 4 Dibisons.
6 Command Wolves.
1 Rayse Tiger
1 Shadow Liger Zero.

"Now," Legato called to the First Tenetian Shadow Zoid Company, "the cockpit of your Shadow Zoids are similar in design to the originals. However, the controls are more thought based. All you need to do is relax and allow the Shadow tech to immerse you. You will literally become one with your Shadow Zoid. If you wish to leave, a luxory a Core wouldn't have, all you have to do is remain relaxed and visualize the disembarkation process beginning.

"You will note that while the Shadow Zoids are equipped with a basic communication system, you will find yourselves more and more relaying on the telepathic aspect to co-ordinate yourselves.

"When you are ready, acknowledge that fact to me telepathically. To work succesfully, you must go beyond teamwork. The group must act as one."

As he spoke, a second trio of Shadow Gliders launched to go out on patrol.

The Colonel relaxed and immersed himself into the myriad senses and fearsome power of the Shadow Liger Zero. It took a little while to get used to using thoughts to move the sleek giant cat around, but in only a few moments, more rapidly than any of the others, he and the Liger were as one. The other pilots soon grew comfortable as well with their Zoids.

My Company reports that all is well. The Colonel sent telepathically.

<Very good,> Legato replied on the same channel, <Now for the fun part.>

He activated the transponder and the whole group, Shadow Zoids included, were transported inside an arena facing off an equal of Core controlled Shadow Guysacks and Shadow Rev Raptors.

<You must get the feel for combat,> Legato sent, <So here's a live fire exercise. You may begin when ready. Your only goal is to disable the Core controlled Shadow Zoids.>

The Shadow Foxes fanned out first, circling around the enemy and harassing them with their light cannons to test their abilities, snipping at their heals so to speak. The assault and heavy artillery hung back while everyone got a feel for combat.

Legato watched as the Core Shadow Zoids responded in the way that the First Tenetian Shadow Zoid Company would be in time, not a group but a unit. To compensate, he had ordered that the Core Shadow Zoids be set at a level that wouldn't be too easy but the Tenetian first timers would still be able to defeat them. Of course, he didn't let them know any of that info as it would have hampened their self-esteem when they did when.

OOC: A'right. The 'match' with the Core Shadow Zoids is all yours, CW. I've got something in store for the Colonel though after this before letting them rest until the next day (they may have the STA gene for their individual Shadow Zoid (not including your new Shadow Thralls), but the Shadow tech still has to adapt to the pilot and visa-versa to ensure optimal performance. Until then, which can only be gained by actually getting in the cockpit and working at it, it can be mentally and physically exhausting).

The Rev Raptors, like their biological counterparts were smart biomechs. Working in pairs, they used their speed and agility to dodge Tenetian fire and launch attacks with their HyperClaws and Killer Fangs. But the Shadowfoxes were there to counter the Raptor assaults, gatling away with their AP laser cannons as they moved in to tear apart their throats with their strong jaws and claws.

Guysacks were scorpions and like scorpions, they attack with their tail, shooting lasers that the Colonel and his Command Wolf had to dodge. The Liger, however, was a quick beast and the first Guysack died to its powerful cannons before it knew it. The others were dealt with quickly by a combination of the wolves and the charging Dibisons. A Cannon Tortoise blew up a Guysack with its heavy artillery cannon.

Then the remaining Guysacks and Rev Raptors regrouped and charged forth. Reacting quickly, the Colonel ordered his squad and Major Wilhem Ernst to flank the enemy on both sides, using their agility to quickly surround and eliminate the enemy forces, concentrating their firepower on the enemy in the center. Brilliant explosions rumbled the area as enemy after enemy died to the performance of the Liger and the Rayse Tiger and their squad...

The last Rev Raptor was given the honor of being the first to feel the blow of the Colonel's Black Lightning Strike, where his Liger Zero charged forth while purplish Shadow energy crackled around its claws, lunged at the Rev Raptor and lashed out with a forepaw, slicing it in half as easily as any lightsaber. The Raptor fell and exploded, while the Liger roared in savage triumph...

Out of the entire Company, only 3 Shadowfoxes and 3 Command Wolves needed repairs. Not bad for a first time...

<Impressive first trial, Colonel,> Legato sent, <You're men are free to take to the stands around the arena. You, however, have a second trial to take part in before you rest.>

He activated the transponder control again. Beaming in behind him, in the flash of black light characteristic of Dark Empire transporter technology, appeared Legato's personal Shadow Zoid, a one-of-a-kind, currently, Shadow Blade Liger Zero Schneider (OOC: Basically, a Blade Liger with Schneider armor that's been customized to fit all with the usual Shadow regenerative adaptive armor 'skin'). Crouching momentarily, Legato leaped up into the air at the same time his Shadow Zoid opened its cockpit hatch. Landing neatly in the pilot's seat after a flip in mid-air, the cockpit automatically sealed shut seamlessly. The six red-orange Shadow eyes, three on each side of the head, flashed momentarily as the Blade Schneider roared in challenge towards the Colonel's mecha.

The Liger Zero answered the challenge with another deafening roar. Colonel Hamdo grinned and attacked the enemy Liger Schneider with his cannons to test the reaction.

Legato's Blade Schneider lightly jumped out of the way. Pulling out all the stops, Legato would see how far the Tenetian Colonel could be pushed safely.

<I don't expect you to win this first time around,> he sent, <Until you can manage a draw, you won't be considered to have gotten enough training to use these units successfully in the field.>

At the same time he sent the telepathic message, the Blade Schneider shimmered and vanished to EM based detection. The Colonel would have to figure out more about the abilities the Shadow tech granted his mecha to fully unlock his potential.

<To truely unlock what you can do, Colonel,> Legato added, <You are going to have to let go. Unlearn what you have learned. You are not just a man right now, you are one with your mecha. Learn to use that.>

The Blade Schneider dropped out of cloak for an instant as it jumped onto and then off of the back of the Colonel's Liger Zero.

OOC: Yes, there is a method to this madness. A Shadow Zoid isn't limited to just the generally accepted five senses. Once the Colonel gets it down to an instictual level, which is highly unlikely this first go around, then he'll be passed as ready to lead his team in actual combat. Until then, he'll continue to learn through such duels as this.

Let go? Unlearn what I've learned? The Colonel frowned. Sounds like some kind of Force philosophy.

Then he grunted as the other Liger jumped on and off his Liger. Damn! I'd better get him quick!

He fought to relax himself, to focus, to become one with the machine as instructed...

Inside his body, his DNA began to respond. His dormant Force-sensitivity began to activate. Then, slowly, he found something 'fuzzy' in his mind's eye and shot at it...

The blast glanced off the front left leg close to the 'wing' blade assembly of the cloaked Blade Schneider. Legato, in retort, pushed his mecha's speed and agility even farther than he had been. Due to the confined space of the arena, though, he was unable to go full throttle. Still, dropping cloak just long enough for the Colonel to see the head blades wing foward crackling with purple energy and firing a salvo from the Dual Impact Cannon, Legato charged with the full intent of ramming into the side of the Colonel's Shadow Liger Zero.

<You have to become one with your Shadow Zoid, Colonel,> said Legato over the telepathic channel, <Only then will you fully unlock it and your full potential.>

OOC: Bump-age time.

The blast glanced off the front left leg close to the 'wing' blade assembly of the cloaked Blade Schneider. Legato, in retort, pushed his mecha's speed and agility even farther than he had been. Due to the confined space of the arena, though, he was unable to go full throttle. Still, dropping cloak just long enough for the Colonel to see the head blades wing foward crackling with purple energy and firing a salvo from the Dual Impact Cannon, Legato charged with the full intent of ramming into the side of the Colonel's Shadow Liger Zero.

<You have to become one with your Shadow Zoid, Colonel,> said Legato over the telepathic channel, <Only then will you fully unlock it and your full potential.>
The Colonel was only half listening. Having tasted the Force, he now delved deeper into the ways of the still-mysterious energy field. A warning!

The purple energy beam blew rock and soil apart, but the Liger had deftly moved out of the way. Then came the charge. The Colonel asked the whispers what he should do. The whispers answered. The Liger jumped over the enemy Liger, landing on its back and got to work slashing the Shadow armor off...

Legato rotated his mechs side blades so the edges were facing upward, with a deft manipulation of the controls, he angled them so they were pointing at the Colonel's mech and jabbed them towards their target. If the Colonel didn't get off the Shadow Blade Liger Zero Schneider's back, his own Shadow Liger Zero would be gutted by the glowing blades. Of course, this was all taking place as Legato was also doing his best impression of a bucking bronco.