Nondescript News

[Anonymouse]

'Squeak squeak..."

As the drone ascends, it rises and rises... and continues to rise until it reaches it's operational ceiling. The walls of clouds around the alien sky seem to rise up far beyond any barrier should, but given how they crackle angrily with blue lightning, trying to pass through the 'barrier' into the clouds isn't likely a good use of a drone. Regardless, the drone is getting some pretty heavy interference with scanning the 'sky' above, but as it least picking up all manner of odd electromagnetic and unclassified emissions coming from somewhere with no particular source. It's like trying to take a picture of a lit sky and determining the source without taking a picture of the sun.

Meanwhile, the other drones approach the figure in the center of the huge crater. Though the feed has periodic interference, the drones' feed focuses on the figure, revealing it to be a rather plain looking man standing in the center of the crater. Said man doesn't seem to take notice of the drones as he calmly stands in the center of the crater expectantly, while taking a smoke break. The smoke isn't even making skull and cross bone symbols. Huh.

As the troops fan out and begin to explore the ruined buildings nearby, Raleigh's disc seems to pass through the 'barrier' without any resistance. Of course the miasma immediately begins to eat away at the disc or whatever protective field it may have. Since the 'barrier' to the rest of the continent is invisible, Raleigh can very easily watch the disc's progress until he decides to check nearby stores.

Of course, as the troops and Raleigh soon find, there don't seem to be any buildings looking like stores- at least none that are obvious near the city center. Most of the buildings were, at one point or another, buildings of many floors, with a couple outliers even being tall enough to be skyscrapers. However, all of what really survived to this point seems to be the main superstructures of the buildings, with concrete doing better than pure metal supports. Obviously contents like papers, computers, and the like seem out of the question... they'd have more luck finding an underground bunker than any documentation in the ruined center of the city.

"Squeak squeak..."

[Raleigh]

*Had observed the disk exit the dead zone long enough to see that exit should be possible.* Good, at least we weren't trapped in a pocket dimension or something. *Stepping inside of the building.* Tch.... so much unneeded decimation. I hope whoever did this preserved it at least or else I'm going to be busy later. *He places a hand against one of the walls inside the large building he had found. As he does so he begins to seek the psychic imprint of the day to day activities of those that used this building. From that he is hopping to find if there was any kind of secured location that might have interesting things left behind while of course learning a bit about the native peoples in the process.*

[Teddy]

After what feels like a period of days, the two awake brothers look up at the sword. Shade mutters something about overcompensation and things 'being ridiculous' from where he is. Shadow is much more sociable, unfortunately.

"Ooo! What's this, what's this?" He flickers around the sword, black tendrils almost touching it, but shying away at the last second. "Not what my brother wanted, that's what~ But it's at least some sort of relief out here! Which one are you? I don't think we've met! You've got us at a disadvantage, since clearly you know who we are, but you~ That's a little bit of a different story. I do hope you're a Helel soul, and not some golden monster of Nokel's."

Shade shakes his head and gestures upwards. "She'd have already killed what's left of our rag-tag band. Maybe even tried to impale the idiot here in his sleep." He kicks at Corvus, who doesn't move. "Prolly coulda done it too, which is sorta a shame for the rest of us. I'm askin' the same crap the creep is over here. Who're ya, what're ya here for, and the like. Not that I'm complainin', any friendly face out here is a good one."

[Jello Shot Mischa]

'Squeak squeak..."

As the drone ascends, it rises and rises... and continues to rise until it reaches it's operational ceiling. The walls of clouds around the alien sky seem to rise up far beyond any barrier should, but given how they crackle angrily with blue lightning, trying to pass through the 'barrier' into the clouds isn't likely a good use of a drone. Regardless, the drone is getting some pretty heavy interference with scanning the 'sky' above, but as it least picking up all manner of odd electromagnetic and unclassified emissions coming from somewhere with no particular source. It's like trying to take a picture of a lit sky and determining the source without taking a picture of the sun.

Meanwhile, the other drones approach the figure in the center of the huge crater. Though the feed has periodic interference, the drones' feed focuses on the figure, revealing it to be a rather plain looking man standing in the center of the crater. Said man doesn't seem to take notice of the drones as he calmly stands in the center of the crater expectantly, while taking a smoke break. The smoke isn't even making skull and cross bone symbols. Huh.

As the troops fan out and begin to explore the ruined buildings nearby, Raleigh's disc seems to pass through the 'barrier' without any resistance. Of course the miasma immediately begins to eat away at the disc or whatever protective field it may have. Since the 'barrier' to the rest of the continent is invisible, Raleigh can very easily watch the disc's progress until he decides to check nearby stores.

Of course, as the troops and Raleigh soon find, there don't seem to be any buildings looking like stores- at least none that are obvious near the city center. Most of the buildings were, at one point or another, buildings of many floors, with a couple outliers even being tall enough to be skyscrapers. However, all of what really survived to this point seems to be the main superstructures of the buildings, with concrete doing better than pure metal supports. Obviously contents like papers, computers, and the like seem out of the question... they'd have more luck finding an underground bunker than any documentation in the ruined center of the city.

"Squeak squeak..."

The one drone ascending upwards to investigate the unusual sky finally slows to a stop, although it continues to gather as much information as it can. Given that the sky seems inconsistent with the outside world, it starts examining the surrounding space for distortions, to determine if the zone may be some kind of wormhole or interdimensional portal...

The other two drones observe the smoking man for a moment, making passive scans of him. Finally, determining that he's either ignoring them or hasn't noticed them, one advances to speak with him. "Greetings. This unit apologizes for the intrusion, but may it ask you some questions?"

Meanwhile, the soldiers continue to examine and explore the surrounding area. Finding that the still-standing structures are only the skeletal structural elements, with no internal components remaining intact, they change their strategy to start looking around for possible underground areas that may have survived the blast, generating seismic readings and using ground-penetrating radar to investigate likely possibilities.

[Jello Shot Mischa]

As she moves through the base, an analysis of disruption might reveal her general location, but hard to pinpoint in accuracy, though her non random movement does hinder the cloaking device, albeit slightly, whatever she is doing, there is a purpose to it. She sits still at four separate locations in the CTC, for no longer than a few minutes at each one, before continuing her movement.

The CTC manage to determine that the cloaked figure pauses at the four locations by examining the interference patterns in their data, and start studying to see what possible tactical interest those four points may hold.

Meanwhile, the cloaked figure may notice a black-haired girl in a combat uniform trying to follow her...

[Jello Shot Mischa]

Back at the CTC Research Facility, the neural network goes to work trying to figure out how to control the device. Left to just the device though, it only seems to be able to project pulses kinetic energy waves in arbitrary directions. Maybe it needs some other input besides the network connected to it?

As for their other project, comparisons with plasma and some esoteric energy weapons yield some similarities with the results. When sufficient energy and fiddling with what the scientists have, the energy projector is able to generate a roiling mass of plasma which can be directed fairly easily with the addition of some magnetic coils. However, given previous observations of the other attack sub, it seems likely that it's able to focus far more energy than what it's doing right now, and was able to contain it using something OTHER than magnetism... If only the CTC had gotten view of the weapon actually being fired before being incinerated, maybe then they could see what the obviously offensive oriented energy projector is really capable of.

Despite this, as the scientists continue to fiddle with the remains collected, several get into accidents with the pieces of Soulsteel, as even through protective gear, they break down into seizures, screaming about 'he who brings the darkness'. Probably a good idea to set that Soulsteel aside, and focus on the other strange metal pieces that were collected that could help with the energy projectors. Maybe testing their properties would yield new ideas toward controlling the projectors?

(( Oh yes, this part... ))

The adaptive program of the neural network continues to fiddle with the problem of the energy projector, although it's difficult to determine an effective fitness function to evaluate its effectiveness. Still, the fact that the device seems to manipulate kinetic energy directly is already promising... what an intruiging device! Some scientists start examining the effect, to determine if more effective kinetic weapons or barriers could be created from it...

The plasma cannon is examined and compared against the plasma weapons already in the CTC arsenal, although the fact that the equipment seems capable of so much more is noted. One scientist proposes that the weapon may use a gravimetric focusing array, and comparisons are made against the gravimetric weapons in the CTC arsenal.

Finally, materials analysis slows as several scientists suffer catastrophic psychological issues. They're quickly quarantined, and slated for immediate psychiatric analysis. Fortunately, trying to operate in a world as chaotic, random, and illogical as this one, the CTC have invested heavily in their therapeutic capabilities, and thus the scientists should at least be well taken care of. Examination of the soulsteel is postponed for now, with the remaining teams examine the properties of the other mysterious components, studying their molecular/atomic structure and what sorts of energy fields they may have been exposed to...

[Anonymouse]

"Squeak squeak..."

*The Ruined City*

Browsing about the husk of the building, Raleigh can pick up a faint, if charred impression of a fairly normal life for the people. The people that lived and worked here weren't extraordinary in any way. Business was conducted here, though because of the burns to the imprint, he can't tell what exactly. But even then, nothing unusual jumps out to him...

The building rumbles slightly as it sounds like something on a higher floor just collapsed, with specs of dust and concrete falling from the ceiling over Raleigh. Having exhausted the psychic impression, Raleigh may make out a sign for a shelter down below via some stairs. Though it seems stairwell, at least at that level, has collapsed. Such a bother. However, as the CTC soldiers use their radar sensors, they can pick up a great deal of underground openings- but they're largely irregular and probably full of debris. The openings end right at the peak of the rim around the crater- whatever glassed the core of the city also compressed whatever was underground, given how expansive the underground network is.

Meanwhile the drone up above can easily determine that there is some manner of distortion in the local area resulting in the alien sky above... but it can't determine what it is, or why the clouds abruptly start (or end?) at the edges of the barrier. However, it seems there is some unusual activity in the barrier itself with the activity gradually increasing.

Meanwhile in the center of the crater, the man quietly regards the drone speaking to him while taking a drag from his cigarette. He looks up at the sky and exhales before looking back at the drone and finally replying in a deep, authoritative voice.

"Very well, ask your questions, unit."

*Across the Continent*

The massive sword suddenly explodes into a flurry of golden motes of energy as an armored figured lands- loudly- on the ground before the pair, knocking up a considerable amount of dust. However, quickly the dust is blasted away by the maelstrom of essence burning from the figure. The figure itself is garbed in gleaming, golden armor, covering them from head to toe, with veins of white metal pulsating from the head to the rest of the body. Sprouting from the back of the armor are a pair of familiar, gray feathered wings, partially armored with more of that golden, white veined armor.

"Well, of course I know of you three, you're only the stupidest trio to have walked the earth, but I suppose that has it's own... redeeming features. Sometimes. I still think you're idiots."

The armored figure laughs before turning the visor of the helmet with red glowing optics on Corvus.

"Get him up, we have somewhere we need to be and not a lot of time. Nokel is moving."

The armored being turns on the three, beginning to walk, golden essence bleeding from the armor like a flare in the darkness against that awful miasma... which they ought to notice by now has become significantly less corrosive since the arrival of the angel. Who didn't answer any of their questions really. It must be someone they know, if the angel knows how to ignore Shadow and Shade's questions but not be worried of being stabbed by them. Oh well.

*CTC Research Facility*

Testing the kinetic forces the device is able to emit, the scientists eventually try to compare the force exerted on another barrier projector in storage- the find that the device seems to be able to invert the barrier on itself and negate it almost immediately with a noticeable spike in energy usage. The neural network then immediately suggests using a weapon against the device, to see if it can act as a barrier against weapons. The network even takes it a step further with suggesting a list of weapons to try, varying from energy, explosive and solid projectile weapons.

As for the plasma cannon, the fabrication of a gravimetric array to be fitted to the cannon begins, using their own current arsenal. But, it's with the materials analysis that the scientists find the most interesting discovery yet following the quarantine of the Soulsteel and the scientists working with them.

In particular, it seems some of the metals that were picked up have some interesting properties that affect the space around them, but more strangely, seem to distort time itself when a current is induced. The metal 'shards', because of how small they are, haven't been seen before by the CTC anywhere, and molecular analysis yields something more similar to a amorphous structure instead of typical, rigid metal formations. As such, it's hard to determine why the metal is able to conduct metal so well despite the bizarre molecular arrangement, in addition to the abundance of unknown matter alloyed into the shards. The shards themselves also seem to have intricate designs carved into them, and seem to glow when current is passed through the shards, which may also play into the effect of the shards. But from what the scientists can determine, there's no apparent scientific background to the seemingly magical effect that these shards can create.

"Squeak squeak..."

[Raleigh]

Hm... well might as well make sure first. *His arm stretches out toward the rubble as it turns into a black mist of its own and starts to try and work its way through the rubble to the rooms below. He knows it is likely that the rubble is too tightly compressed to allow even air through but he would be remiss if he didn't try.*

[Teddy]

Shadow looks very unsettled by the idea that Nokel is moving. And insulted that he was called stupid. But sniffs and starts gathering what's left of his rag-tag army. Being out here WAS stupid, but he just couldn't sit there. Could he have? "Towards us? Or is he continuing to move farther and farther away?" He bends over, but doesn't touch Corvus, instead pulling back. "We can just leave him here~ The man clearly made the decision to just sort of lie here, so he can die!"

Shade meanwhile is looking the girl up and down, impressed. "Stupid? Debatable. We're not dead yet. But that may be part of being lucky too." He fishes around in his false arm, before producing a filterless cigarette. "But I'll argue that stupid and reckless ain't the same things. Sure, we're risking a near metric shit-ton getting this far. But someone's learning. And if it ain't Shadow, it's me or this bastard here."

The warrior pauses, as if realizing something. He spits the unlit cigarette out and discards the pack before kicking Corvus in the chest. "Hey, ass. Get up or I'm gonna go and bang your lady love. Four way. Me, Nokel, and Zei-Arrgggle"

Corvus drops Shade as quickly as he leapt up to strangle him, quickly realizing he was baited. He looks the angel up and down, a small smile flickering over his face. "Not what I wanted, but it's to be expected. I'll assume I've caught the Bloodshade's eye and we're running now?" He stretches like he just woke up from a small nap and mutters more to himself than to everyone else. "Which soul are you...?"

[Funny Hat + Funny Accent]

*The head of a Zone Trooper with Rommel suddenly snapped upwards as he called for a sudden halt to the advance. Rommel calmly walked over to the now-trembling woman.*

"What is it, Trooper?"

"Sir, my gear is picking up MASSIVE amounts of dimensionally instability from the direction of the ruins that the CTC was going to investigate. It's....not a very comfortable type."

"Alright, take point then. We'll follow you and your readings."

*The platoon reshuffled its order rapidly to the follow the order and then set off for the ruined city at a rapid pace.*

---
*Elsewhere, a lone buggy returned to the crash site bearing reports of similar readings.*

[Anonymouse]

"Squeak squeak..."

*The Ruined City*

Surprisingly, the rubble in the building isn't all that compacted- there's lost of big, heavy chunks, it's just obtrusive for a human to slip through. That black mist though, seeps through the wreckage, and Raleigh is able to determine that the other side is traversable. Beyond that is more stairs, along with some missing stairs and landings, as some of it has collapsed- but there's holes here and there that Raleigh will be able to slip through, having gotten past the initial barrier of debris.

*Dark Continent Wastelands, Between the City and the CTC Base*

As the Steel Talons platoon heads toward the Ruined City, the ground shakes noticeably under their feet. Meanwhile, the female soldier leading the platoon likely stops in her tracks as she detects a far more ominous disturbance in the fabric of space, to the south east... just east of the CTC base. Given the distance it is from the base, it'd probably be quicker to investigate this signature, whatever it is.

*Crashed Steel Talons Vessel In a Volcano*

At about the time the female soldier leading the platoon from the CTC base detects the disturbance, spacial and temporal sensors go crazy as something breaches the storm ridden skies and crashes into the ground, a few miles east of the CTC base. Seismics confirm the crazy reaction from the sensors, indicating that whatever just landed, it's BIG. However, as they receive these readings, the Steel Talons also likely become aware of more, though smaller, readings approaching from the east of them. Looks like the king of the dead got tired with the new intruders finally.

*CTC Base*

Alarm Klaxons begin to blare all over the base abruptly as the seismic sensors detect a massive disturbance east of the base. Due to their proximity, buildings nearby visibly shake before the soldier's eyes, while techs likely scramble to figure out what the cause was. Activating more active detection systems determine that there was a breech in space-time via an Einstein-Rosen Bridge of rather significant scale. Long ranged imaging confirms all previous readings, as spacial distortions are visible stretching from the heavy storms above down to the ground in roughly the shape of a funnel cloud. However, the clouds are quickly regressing, leaving a massive object which is likely the culprit of the seismic disturbance in its wake.

Given the objects size, the fact that subsequent vibrations begin to reach the sensor fields shouldn't be surprising as the huge object begins moving: South.

*To the Far East*

The angel turns back at Shadow and Shade, a growl coming from the filters of the helmet, resulting in something that sounds like an angry tiger. However, before she ridicules them further, Corvus rises to her surprise, causing her to ALMOST take a step back. She growls again though at the questions as she finally relents and provides an answer.

"It's not your movements that have attracted the Bloodshade's attention, but of several important players to the west of here. We better get going now, or they'll be a paste on the ground before we even get ther-"

Her tirade is cut off as the ground shakes slightly and she looks over her shoulder with a start. She then turns the red gaze of her helmet's optics back to Corvus, Shade and Shadow and looks down slightly, appearing almost distraught.

"We're out of time. What's the fastest you can move? The Colossus has arrived and will likely begin to hunt soon."

She spreads her wings as essence begins to gather in them, charging with energy as she prepares for flight.

"And so you know, the name's Kriega. But don't count on anything more than that, we have a job to do."

[??????? ?? ????]

The CTC manage to determine that the cloaked figure pauses at the four locations by examining the interference patterns in their data, and start studying to see what possible tactical interest those four points may hold.

Meanwhile, the cloaked figure may notice a black-haired girl in a combat uniform trying to follow her...

*A quick analysis of the four points will yield less tactical interest than they might hope, in fact, almost no tactical interest at first glance. The locations seem as ordinary as they are random. Guard shack, vehicle bay...rest room. However, as more points found through the observation of non random events caused by the cloaked figure, something of geometric interest might begin.*

*As she moves about on her mission, she quirks her head, taking in notice of the uniformed shadow she has developed. The follower's best bet to continue as such would be to not try to specifically follower her, but just go in the last direction known, as the longer she focuses on the cloaked lady, the harder it is to recognize her as such.*

[Teddy]

“We?! Who the hell says it’s we? I didn’t sign up for helping anyone out from the West, lady.” Shade looks up at her, rubbing at his neck where Corvus had wrapped a hand around it.

“For once, I agree with Shade~” Shadow says, floating backwards. “They should have done their research like we have before attracting the Bloodshade’s ire. Besides, they’re not us. I don’t see why they’re that important~”

Shade nods in agreement with Shadow, pulling his soldiers to him. “We’ve done what we wanted to. We’ve tested how far we could get with what we had. I don’t think we can take this colossus or whatever the hell it is. I’m taking my men, and we’re leaving.”

The eldest brother stays silent, chewing on his lip. With a face that looks like it was carved from stone, he eyes his brothers. “If they’ve got Nokel moving, they’re already useful. Luck is an important part of anything. And this is lucky on our part. If they’re the same people spying on us, all the better. I’d LOVE to get to talk to some slimy spies face to face.” He cracks his neck at a near ninety degree angle.

“Oh, please. You’re just thinking of using them as a distraction so you can wave your arms around and tell Helel she doesn’t have to stay here~ Gag me, Corvy. Don’t pretend you’re being selfish for that sort of reason~”

A shattering sound like panes of glass breaking accompanies Corvus punching Shadow to the ground. “I had assumed we all knew why we were here in the first place and had no reason to continue talking or even TRYING to mock me.” There’s another crick as he stretches his limbs out, now appearing much lankier and disproportioned.

“I can move fast when the time comes. Dunno about my family. Lead the way, miss holier than thou.”

[Anonymouse]

"Squeak squeak..."

*The Far East*

Kriega hmphs as Corvus' brothers decline her call to arms.

"Very well, no point in wasting our time with a pair of fakes and their ineffective pawns. We have no need for weak wills in the fight against the Bloodshade, he only preys on such things."

Her wings spread to their full wingspan before sweeping them at the ground, launching herself into the air with rings of golden light exploding over the ground where she was. Once in the air, her wings remained stretched out as streamers of energy propel her to the 'west', leaving the brothers and their army behind.

*ELSEWHERE*

The shadow rests upon his command throne with his head resting upon a hand while his eyes and subtly inclined head suggest boredom... or displeasure. A red screen flickers to life to his side, displaying a video with and some text. The shadow shifts his attention as a woman's voice speaks as the video runs.

'Prototype C-zero-one-zero-five-five-U-five has reached it's destination in Quadrant Three and will begin test procedure delta seven shortly. Be aware that all regional troop movements are suspended until the procedure has reached conclusion-'

Before the message completes, the shadow dismisses the message and turns his attention to one of the operators. Almost as though hearing an unspoken summoning, the operator rises from their station and approaches the shadow, coming to attention before him.

"That accursed scientist is getting in the way of my operations yet again with the testing of another of her new toys when we have a Core practically right in our hands. Who in Dis does she think she is, hmm?"

The operator mutely looks down at the shadow, offering no comment. The shadow sighs as another operator turns to him.

"Reports indicate that the Chaser has entered the field. IAM has reached no conclusion for the sudden movement-"

A smile stops the operator from continuing before the shadow at last cackles loudly, causing a hush to come over the room.

"I know exactly what the Chaser is doing right now- he intends to claim the Core while the new toy romps around, throwing all the little ants into a frenzy. And if that's the case, we'll easily be able to swoop in and wipe them out and add to our numbers before we begin Ex-End."

"Affirmative. Standby orders for units nine through twelve will be issued immediately, while currently deployed units will be instructed to give a wide berth for the prototype to flush out the rebels."

The operator leaves the now pleased shadow as new markers across the continent appear, while others begin to withdraw from their current positions. Up ahead, the main screen continues to display the dark continent, with minor changes here and there. At the crash site of the Steel Talons, the divisions seem to have withdrawn, but a great deal of the hazard markers have been removed. The troops to the far east seem to have left the picture, while others have withdrawn or disappeared from before as well.

Meanwhile, a large icon of an unblinking eye sits near the center of the western region of the continent, while a simple 'C' is placed over a circle near the coast- the site of the ruined city.

"Squeak squeak..."

[Raleigh]

Hm... nice to know I can get in. I suppose their gpr has found a network underneath as well. *Attempting to see if communication inside the dead zone is possible he tries to send a telepathic message to the leader of this group.* Hey, I found an entrance I can use but its blocked for those of a more static nature. Shall I go ahead and poke around or do you want me to stick with your boys until we can find a path everyone can take?