Aschen Marine's Story

"No... No!!" Ashia cursed. They were too strong. Yes, they were the Aschen, feared throughout the Multiverse. But she actually thought they would have a chance.
But they were too strong. Despite the combined efforts of the Roman-Militian troops, they could not defeat the Aschen Empire. Plus, the C.O.R.e. had somehow made a comeback (apparently, they had been dwelling on other planets) and were now serving purpose as a wildcard.
As her troops were given command to retreat, Ashia felt herself torn between staying behind and retreating. She knew it made tactical sense to retreat, and staying here would get her killed... but Godsdammit, this was her planet! Her country! She'd been born and raised on Blackrock. To Rome it was just another tally to his empire, but to her it was her home! And no matter how cesspool-y it was, she would defend it to the death if she needed to.
However, she came to the conclusion that she should retreat as well. The R-M needed top rest and recuperate. Perhaps the C.O.R.e. would wear the Aschen down, and then-
Suddenly, there was the sound of roaring winds and a popping noise as a fleet of 500 battleships appeared in the sky. Each one gleamed with a chrome that seemed to reflect light even better than a normal metal. On it's side was printed a symbol; an azure shield with a white edge.
Oh, hell, Ashia thought, the color draining from her face. The Protectors. This should be fun.
A deep male voice was broadcasted to all of the ships present, whether R-M, Aschen or C.O.R.e. "You fascist fools. Did you really think your villainous deeds would go unnoticed by us? We were just waiting for the precise moment to strike, when we'd have you all in one place." An edge began to creep into the voice. "The Kreios System belongs to the people, not some fascist regime. We're here to make sure it stays belonging to the people."
Within the lead ship of the Protectors, General Reavus DuMarkel turned to his captains and soldiers. "Attack all enemy vessels, whether they are attacking or retreating. Especially target Ex-Captain Ashia Nova, who is wanted for high crimes against the sanctity of the planet of Blackrock."
With that, the Protectors began firing on the various ships present. Ashia Nova had to dodge the laser blasts of five or so W-Wing Blade-Runners that were firing on her. A blast seared the side of her armor; it wasn't very damaging, but every hit counted.
"Dammit!" she said, trying to contact Rome to tell him to retreat as fast as he could. But he had cut off communications for her.
This is going to be a rough one, Ashia thought. She began dodging all the attacks being made on her as quickly as she could.

(OOC: Yes, I know, I kind of pulled the Protectors thing out of a hat. But I actually have established their existence in prior posts before, and I have been planning to introduce them. Also, I felt the action was getting to focused on Ashia, and so I wanted something to preoccupy her so other roles could shine.)

The skies above Wing City...

Coming from orbit a Single Aschen Condor VTOL, escorted by four Raptor Talon starfighters began their descent towards the city below. Their engines screamed in the air, and Narcho; the pilot of the Condor was slowly easing his VTOL into it's final descent.

"Narcho, Hotdog..." One of the Talon pilots checked in. "No resistance so far, Scanners are clear... we got your back, continue your approach." The Talon pilot hailed, as he moved his fighter slightly closer to the other Talons.

"Roger.. I see Main Street, switching to hover mode now." Narcho replied, then keyed the intercom in the Condor.

"Alright ladies, we're about to hit the street, file out as quick as you can, engage all targets! Evac will be at the Tech Con campus!" Narcho called out.

Eagerly awaiting deployment, the Marines checked their weapons one last time as the Condor swept over Main street in front of Gambit's bar. It's back hatch opened up, and one by one, Aschen soldiers jumped out among the dust, trash, and debris kicked up by the Condor's engines.

They moved around irritated motorists, their stopped cars providing ample coverage as they made their way towards Gambit's Bar, weapons at the ready they took position by the doors, and the windows.

Once everyone was off, the Condor's engines screamed, and the VTOL lifted back into the sky, before it darted off towards the east.

"You attacked a woman who was a fraction of your size, who only warned you that they wished no trouble... if you considered that a challenge to your gladiatorial strength... then I fear for your own security." Elanna commented, while reaching down and pulling a shard of wood that had been embedded into her torso, wincing in pain as blood began to pour from her wound, soaking her uniform.

"You are little more than an insecure fool... who batters women."

Seeing the artificial soldier approach her after entering the bar, Elanna briefly recoiled away from it, she didn't want to move too much, lest she disturb her wounds even more.

"I think I should wait for my people to get here..." Elanna replied, holding her hand over her stomach.

She did take the Robot's arm to steady herself, but only after the deafening sound of jet engines erupted outside the bar. The Artificial soldier would likely detect a single large contact, and about a dozen more jumping from the larger contact, IFF transponders consistent with soldiers of the Aschen Empire.

"I appreciate your help..." Elanna croaked towards the artificial soldier, before she erupted in a fit of coughs, glaring at Ken Blast! between spasms of her chest.

As the sounds of the engines began to die down, boots on concrete outside could be heard, as well as the activation of weapons, specifically disruptor weapons. The men outside did not make entry yet, though. Rather they took positions at either side of the door.

The bar door did open to reveal a single Aschen soldier, this one wearing a white armband with a red triangle outlining the rod of Asclepius. The universal symbol of medic for the Aschen Empire.

"That man is the one who attacked me, be careful he is extremely dangerous!" Elanna called out, bearing more weight on the artificial soldier.

The medic took two steps into the bar, and then stepped to the left, allowing two Aschen marines to move in behind him, and immediately point their weapons at Ken Blast! as they moved behind a nearby table, eyes fixated on him.

The Medic took a slow step towards Elanna, his eyes watching the other patrons as he grasped a white briefcase filled with medical supplies.

The two marines then shouted their commands. "You, against the wall, now! On your knees! Hands behind your head! Cross your ankles!"

Six Vikings launched from the Hospital came within view of Gambit's and halted. "Hold here Rangar Wing wait for my call." Sara ordered.

Turning to the banshee pilot Sara said. "Lower the ship. Angel squad with me."

The Banshee uncloaked as it landed in front of the bar.

"Move in guns at ready but fire only on my mark." Sara ordered her ten marines fanning out in front of her

Shouting could be heard inside and Sara gave gave the go her men taking up postions near the exits. Upon seeing the Aschen Marines they held up and Sara called out "This is The Terra Nova drop your guns and come quietly we have you surrounded."

Sara turned to a mage marine "Set up the anti teleport field They won't be bugging out on the rainbow road this time."

The mage nodded Casting his spell a magic bubble forming over the area as he chanted.

Ken Blast! scanned the room, noticing the vikings distracting the two marines with their threats and might. He took a second to register this before suddenly clapping his arms together, causing an extremely bright light to flash in the room, acting as a defacto flashbang. He then darted to the two marines and started to whale on them the same way he whaled on Elanna. Except, he showed no restraint this time. His arms had reached speed and force that shouldn't even be humanly possible, basically juggling them in the air with consecutive strikes.

He then darted behind one of the marines and German suplexed him into a wall behind him. He then grabbed the other and said "You are about to receive the genuine Ken Blast! experience." before he threw him up in the air a few inches and dropkicked him into the bar. He then ran over to the medic and pushed him over. "Diagnosis? You suck!" Ken Blast! taunted.

While everyone was distracted by the flash of light, Ken Blast! ran behind the bar and snagged a generic bottle of beer before running up to the woman in charge and handing it to her. "For your troubles." He said before walking over to Elanna. He waited for the blinding effect to wear off. "Maybe you're right. Perhaps I did act rashly. I dunno, maybe I got too excited when I heard your fancy laser gun start to make whirring noises. Also, I didn't know you were like half my height, you seemed taller sitting down. For what it's worth, and knowing you and your space Nazi regime or whatever it won't be worth a lot, but I'm sorry." Ken Blast! said with, for what seemed like the first time during this entire thing, sincerity.

][OOC: This is why we can't have nice things. .-. FYI: It is really hard for me to get on during the week, so please just be respectful and don't destroy the bar. This will be my only post until probably tomorrow evening... so again, be respectful.a][

"Son of a bitch. This place attracts trouble, I swear..." Gabrielle had no sooner told the two NOT to fight, when what happens? A fucking fight. Granted, the male started it this time and surprisingly the Aschen female did not retaliate, but it was still annoying, especially since she now had to replace some furniture. Silently putting her head against her hand, the brunette counted to thirty, debating on just ignoring what was happening. Realizing she couldn't do that and expect the bar to remain in tip-top condition, she slid to her feet and pulled out one of the many very hidden rifles from behind the counter. Her attention shifted to Ken Blast! and she finally responded back to him after she was able to with all the chaos going on.

"Like I said, fights break out. You were the dick that started it and I did warn you as did the female officer. Now, if you would all kindly fuck out of my bar and finish arresting him outside, that would be great. We are a neutral ground and this shit isn't appreciated." She heard the noise outside and swore, grabbing the megaphone.

"You fucking Terrans have no authority in this bar either. Fuck off and let them leave peacefully. The Aschen did not start it this time. A civilian attacked her." She spoke loud enough for anyone in a few block radius to hear her. Was she pissed? Yep.

The problem with the Ken’s planned attack was that the two aschen marines inside the bar itself were not distracted, rather they kept their attention completely fixated on Ken Blast! Through the entire duration of their exchange, while the Medic was fixated on Elanna.

The Marine sergeant outside kept his gaze fixated on the landing Banshee, while several other marines fanned out, and took cover behind a parked sedan, their weapons leveled on the Banshee as it landed.

The instant Ken Blast! So much as move a muscle to try and clap his hands, the pair of Marines with their weapons fixated on him opened fire, their disruptor rifles barking their deafening report, and sending searing beams of green light towards Ken Blast! Each beam would likely strike true, and was capable of cutting through hardened steel like butter, liquefying concrete, and going through just about any armor. It wasn’t one or two shots either, the pair of Marines kept firing their weapons until Ken Blast! Was either vaporized from the sudden barrage of disruptor bolts, or he managed to somehow dive for cover. But given the men had opened fire, it would be highly unlikely he would be able to attack them without sustaining several hits from their weapons. A single hit from an aschen disruptor at center mass was a lethal prospect, as a beam at near fifty thousand degrees centigrade was hot enough to flash-melt steel, which meant it would likely vaporize flesh.

The medic dove for Elanna in the flurry of disruptor bolts as they whizzed downrange, providing a disorienting blinding green flash, and deafening pop with each discharge.

The opening fire inside the bar prompted the Marines outside the bar to action, the Sergeant move for cover, as four more Marines moved to the entrance of the bar.

“Stand down or we will be forced to engage, we’re here to extract a hostage... and the situation just exploded because of you!” The sergeant screamed at Sara.

“Decurion! Call in the adepts of war!” The sergeant called out to his radioman.

[OOC: so we're retconning a lotta this then, huh? understandable let me tweak this a bit]
Ken Blast!, looking absolutely shocked with more than half of his body vaporized, started to stumble away from the lasers. "Do you guys know... how long it will take... to regrow all this lost flesh?!" He asked, with fake, sarcastic rage seeping in his voice. Before they could answer, his flesh regrew almost instantly. "Having holy powers has its perks." He said, eerily calm, in stark contrast to his then energetic tone of voice. The wraps on his arms fell off as his crosses melted away. "You know, those crosses and bandages were holding me back. Don't blame me for what this will bring." He said.

Instantaneously, he was only two inches from the marines that had vaporized most of his flesh. He rammed his fists into their visors, his forearms hotter than anything that a human should produce. He wasn't being flashy anymore, he wasn't showboating. He only meant to get rid of the annoyances that had pushed him to this point.

He looked over at Sara before asking: "You wouldn't happen to have any bandages on you, would ya?"

Emily finally stood up in all of her religious habit and walked over to the engagement. She looked infuriated and swept an arm to her side.

Everyone present shall immediately stop their actions in full, or I will forcibly remove all of you from these premises...

She paused as her voice got deeper, and was corrupted with heavy reverberation and distortion.

...by force if I must. Blessed are those that revere the Unknown Trinity. Repent now, defiling maggots, and leave with your lives! The patrons stay in peace, and you away, but likewise as so!

Emily herself opened her eyes to reveal the black sclera once more, red pupils narrowing. She didn't take any kind of fighting stance this time. She looked more enraged than anything.

It was the words of the barkeep inside and not the barking Aschen that gave Sara pause.

"Ma'am orders?" asked a marine.

Sara sighed. "Stand down men..." Turning to the Aschen she said "Get your VIP out of here..."

"Men cover the Aschen withdrawl... "

It was in this moment, that the chime and sound of the bar door opening could be heard, as Ao Rixy stepped into the bar and into what he could only describe as something like a Mexican Standoff. Which was rather unfortunate...

"Umm...this is a bar right? Cause the sign outside said bar...not fighting ring..." Ao mentioned, looking at the people around. However, it seemed like while they were involving each other, they had yet to full involve other people, and so, Ao decided to go around them, go to the bar, and sit down casually, pretending like a bunch of super crazy people were not close to going in some weird, all out fight....in a bar. Rather, instead, he did the normal thing.

"What alcohol do you have....you have any Wyvern Whiskey, on the rocks? If not, just make it a normal whiskey then" he ordered, doing what people were meant to do in a bar. Drink large amounts of alcohol.

What could only be described as Ao took his seat at the counter as a cement truck hitting a building a Honkingly HUGE black form smashed int othe window, but it didnt break it thankfully, but made a hilarious smacked-against-the-window face on the glass briefly before regaining his feet and folding his wings, the black dragon roughly the size of a large pickup truck somehow fit nicely in the bar proper.

The dragon briefly was confused at the site of the standoff but skirted it and went right for the bar, apparently a regular as he tapped the counter twice and a huge mug of draconian wiskey was set before him. Picking up the mug, the dragon raised it in a toast to Ao. "Cheers"

watching the situation fizzle down, the robot nodded at Elanne's words and then who seemed to be the only bar staff in today spoke up, a very pissed off individual it seems. Ken seemed to get agitated again.

activating armaments, defend VIP an update of objectives coming from his overseer

the Automated soldier wouldn't move, allowing the medic to get first aid to their rear Admiral, though the moment any gunfire ignited Alpha would step forward and extend out a bubble shield, to protect both the medic and Elanne the dim lighting across the body of the machine would flash as the small green lights by the trigger mechanisms and the scabbards flashed and then began glowing a dim red from green. any shots that would impact the shielding would be absorbed and the energy transferred into strengthening it.

"are you both alright?" the robot's head turned slightly towards the two it moved to protect, its head swiftly turning back to watch the chaos ensue. from the small of the lower back of the bipedal robot, one of the two shield modules ejected leaving the bubble shield to sustain itself and keep the two aschen protected.

this was as Ken felt it best to 'go all out' striding over towards the criminal, Alpha tapped at his underarm. As the electromagnetic shielding activated, he was spooling up his 'key' linking to the beacon in orbit, and the network, he was going to take Ken into space and deal with the problem there that was the plan, he just needed to get a hold of the fool or touch him, a punch should do the trick, that's if the electromagnetic shielding doesn't cause a cardiac arrest on contact. "Stand down Criminal, the owner of the establishment has demanded everyone who would cause a problem to leave."

Ken Blast! looked at the robot who had told him to stand down and raised his arms slightly. "Alright, okay." He said, still calmly, but not nearly as eerily. "I'm not gonna try to fight robocop, I've seen the movies." The fool added. "But do you mind at least giving me some sorta bandage wrap or something? It's a pain trying to do anything when your arms are as hot as their laser guns."

A man walked into the bar, his attire dripping from the heavy rain outside. Though he had a hooded cloak of thin material that had seen the worst a galaxy could seemingly throw at it without becoming more than simply threadbare, it did little to hide the bodysuit that the man wore, lines adhering to and moving in concert with his muscles, small shimmers of light playing over the metallic threads as they moved. On his right thigh rested a hefty-looking pistol, though it had no visible means of being held to his leg, and on his back, over the top of his shoulder and on the exterior of his cloak, rested a large rifle, almost uncomfortably large in comparison to the man who carried it.

He sat down at the bar, picking a stool that appeared plenty sturdy enough to take his weight and that of his equipment. It creaked as he settled, but proved its worth by continuing to keep the man from crashing to the ground. He flagged down the barkeep and ordered something vile and obscenely alcoholic, but his composure never varied from that of a man tired of doing something he'd never felt comfortable doing.

It had been years. Almost a decade ago he'd last set foot in the city he now found himself in, but the man would be damned to say it wasn't somewhat comforting. After all, with what had seemed like an apocalypse coming down on it the last time he'd been around, he was surprised it was still here, let alone the planet itself. As he looked around, taking a sip of the sludgy-looking drink he'd ordered, he wasn't surprised at most of the occupancy.

Gambit's always was a place where you could find the unfindable, after all. He could only hope that he'd been gone long enough to have dropped off of every radar imaginable. Especially since he'd gotten back into a job he'd left years before, and not of his own volition, either.

Slowly, the medic helped Elanna back to the entrance of the bar, while the two Cuirasse armored Marines hardly flinched at being struck, their shields flared brightly, and they reacted by shoving a disfigured Ken Blast! Away from them.

"Stand down." Elanna instructed. "We'll let Intelligence deal with him..." She added, casting a nod to the robot that came in the nick of time to offer assistance.

Once back outside, the rest of the marines moved in to cover their Admiral, the Sergeant gesturing towards the Tech Con complex, while the two Medics helped her to a stretcher, and began administering a nanite injection.

Turning to the Marine sergeant, Elanna coughed.

"I'm going to put a price on his head so large, every bounty hunter in the galaxy will be looking for him."

Sera breathed a sigh of relief as the Aschen left. She Then turned to Ken Blast! "I suggest you leave here kid... If you want medical treatment you can find us at the Wing City Hospital... You are on your own to get there though.."

"Sorry for the frak barkeep." Sera said to Gabrielle as she turned to her men. "Ok ladies let's bug out."

The Terra Nova forces made their way out heading back to the hospital.



Meanwhile in the shadows of the bar a figure stirred from her meditations her eyes scanning the bar. Seems she had missed something... Well not her trouble. looking to the bar Relina made her way there for a drink.

Ken Blast! overheard Elanna talk about them standing down and basically buying him time to recover completely. "Ah, good. I'll consider it a gift from you to me." He said with an odd amount of composure, despite the fact that he has multiple holes on him. Though, in the back of his mind, he was thinking: "Oh, thank God, I'm kinda at my limit." Though he had kept an unflappable composed facade.

"Hey, before you go, does your medic have gauze or something? I can't turn this off and it's hard to do anything when things melt in proximity to your arms." He said in an unfittingly cordial tone as if he had completely forgotten the fact he has just whaled on her a moment ago and would have no reason to even try to help Ken Blast!.

Though, he heard the woman talk about the Winged City Hospital. While his regeneration doesn't usually require medical assistance, it could provide for a safe place while he's left vulnerable. He gave the woman a nod before she had departed. He looked around before saying to Gabby: "Uh, I'd leave a tip but... the money would just, y'know, vaporize in my hands so... uh I'll do you a better favor and just leave, yeah?" He said before heading west, exiting the bar and entering the Main Street.

Alpha watched the military forces depart and counting the strengths of each individual strike team he had witnessed today. Though he'd register Elanna's thanks he'd respond with a small nod of his own, returning his attention to Ken who seemed to wait only a couple minutes before leaving himself. odd

he would raise his arm tap at the underside of the other and deactivate the Key he had primed for use, a couple of drones taking off from his back no bigger than one's palm the small flying devices would retrieve the discarded shield emitter, deactivating it in the process and reconnecting it, before returning to their own hidden compartments.

without further words, the Automated soldier made its way for the door and exited Gambit's the still active electromagnetic shielding becoming visible due to the rain, a thin blanket of electrical energies vaporizing the rain that came in contact with it.

deactivating a shield that is no longer needed, the field around the robot breaks as it steps aside allowing entry to and fro the bar, not quite registering what it wanted, nor needed to do next.

][OOC: Sorry for the delay.][

Gabrielle felt her jaw tightening the longer things went on, but thankfully just as quickly as it started, the chaos was over. She merely shrugged at the apology and glared at Ken Blast! Even after he had left the bar. Moving over to the broken pieces of table and whatever else had been broken, she lugged it out of the bar, throwing it into the dumpster in the back. Stepping back around to the front, she headed inside, glad that her bartender was tending to those that had remained or had arrived either during or after the fracas. She slid her fingers through her brunette hair and grabbed a broom.



“Friggen fights.” She muttered as she set off to sweep up the debris, knowing she would have to bring up a new table and chairs from the basement to replace the broken crap, but that could wait. Once done with the sweeping, she put away the broom and headed back to behind the bar, flopping down on a barstool with a grunt. Grabbing a fresh Mountain Dew, she popped it open and as she took a swig, studied everyone left in the bar.