Isoroku Yamamoto's Story

The convoy came to a screeching halt as they were confronted with the walking monstrosities. "Hold fire, Keep weapons hot." Ben Said over the comms to the convoy. "Get ready to paint the lead target if commanded." He ordered, they would not fire unless fired upon or given the go ahead from one of the others.

Thelead tanks stopped their massive railguns were aimed directly at the walking tanks. They did not fire for the time being but remained motionless. Behind them the APC'S pulled off the road and behind rocks and ditches as troops poured out and took up positions. For now this point would serve as the Joes forward line.

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General Allen was staring it his command screen as he watched the scene unfold. He was now faced with a choice, Reinforce the Joes that were cut off and risk escalation or risk an enemy strike against the Joe line. "Send some artillery and light tanks with a few reinforcements here." He said pointing to a map a location a mile from the trapped Joes. "And scramble some choppers and Fighter bombers A.S.A.P." He said as he ran a hand through his hair.

Maurana tilted her head towards the darkened sky, and shrunk down into her panther form. Due to their blood tie, she was still able to communicate through the mind with Risika. 'Risika, they are after your leaders due to some kind of treason. Boy, you sure know how to pick 'em, don't you?' "Oh, hush, you!" Risika snapped, "I've never met the man they are trying to take now, but I have met Daemala, and I can assure you, she is in no way a traitor to any honorable agreement ever made; in this universe or another. If these beings believe her to have sold them out in any way, trust me, they aren't as intelligent as they appear."

Maurana looked up, 'What do you mean? Surely you're not so trusting of a person you've known for merely months? For all you know, she accepted your citizenship here purely for sacrifice to these beasts. You see how the rest have fled, but your dull behind stays planted. Maybe she knew you were not one to be moved so easily, so she accepted you as sacrifice for her realm.' "You're wrong about Daemala. But are correct in the sense that I'm not afraid of those things. And mind you, you're still here as well, taken form as a cat even! I don't believe a fanged four legger is any kind of threat to the likes of them."
'I care not what happens to this city, or even to you. It's proven to be an interesting public affair though, and you do know I'm always one for a show.'

"Oh, get away from me!" Risika hissed before teleporting to the roof top of her building. Looking down, the intruders seemed much less threatening. Looking up, however, was an entirely different scene. Maurana scaled the columns and pounced a few feet away from Risika. 'I told you, Roxxy is somewhere within this city as well. Until I can locate her aura, I'm not leaving your side.' "How endearing." Risika mumbled, squatting down so as to remain out of sight.

With the crowds of people and many soldiers milling about the Hollow, it was easy enough to trail her prey, but hard as well, to keep him in her sights as he seemed to notice someone was trailing him. But with her skills and natural ablities at blending in with the crowds around the Hollow made it far easier for her to get close enough to bump into him. Easily relieving him of one of two things, his coin purse. Then she walked on, still keeping him in her sights. Shifting every so often into her Jellicle Vision to keep track of his direction and where he was headed.

Once again she started after him. Tantomile picked up the item she was truly after, and by the weight of the coin purse she knew she could either steal the item, or 'buy' it with the mans own money. The Jellicle Assassin was well trained in the arts of theivery, death dealing, and also blending in and acting as part of the crowd.

Tantomile got close a second time. With the mans eyes focused elsewhere she easily lifted from him another item and then took back to the crowd. Blending in perfectly once again. Though it was easy to spot her, after all, she was wrapping up an item rather large. that and she was moving rather quickly too into an alley and then scaleing the wall to the rooftops.

Throughout all of this she kept well clear of the soldiers of different nationale and focused on her primary task. Now she just needed to find the next Piece and also find any news of her sister. She wondered as well how long it was before the man that carried the weapon was going to notice it missing. Most of the time it took a Pollicle a good half a day if not more to find out his money was missing. But she had no idea the man had trained with a certain group and that another group had warned him of her coming.

Lukas felt someone bump into him then notice a slight drop in his weight from being deprived of his money purse. Gutsy. Only one person I know of who has the skills to be able to steal from one as highly trianed as he he thought as he felt another bump. He looked around and caught sight of an anthropomorphic felinoid figure disappearing into the crowd. I should've known it would be her. You don't get away from me so easily he thought as he gave careful but swift and graceful chase.

Tantomile was expecting to be followed, but not that soon. There were many people between her original target and herself, She had what she needed, now to flee the area and get out of his sight. She ducked into a store and then swiftly ducked out the back and climbed up again to the rooftops and then made for the edge of town, staying clear too, of the soldiers around the Hollow as she made her way out the way she had made her way in. But seeing the way barred she instead droped back into the crowded streets, then ducked into another alley and back to the rooftops.

In her robes, it was impossible to tell what she truly was, but she was tall as her race was naturally tall to begin with, it was her height that stuck her out like a sore green thumb at a concrete mixers convention. Light on her feet she jumped the distance between two rooftops swiftly and made for safety. She had what she needed. And money too! But she also had a unwanted tail tracking her. It was time to make tracks, and get away.

Once again she took to the crowded streets and moved along the way as if nothing was wrong. Using the now tightly wrapped in dark brown cloth weapon as a walking stick as she joined a group of monks, bowing her head a bit, her slender furred pawlike hands covered by dark white gloves acted as if part of their procession as they passed directly by her inital prey out in the open. She blended in too well.

Tantomile stayed with the procession as far as the great gates to Verinotte Hall before she broke off and entered a side alley towards the edge of the Hollow and towards the thicker woods that surrounded the place so thickly.

Lukas still stuck with her even through all the switches she was pulling. Her disguise would be good if she weren't taller than me thought Lukas as finally he found a way to cut her off in the woods which he scouted so vigorously for potential spots to build underground bunkers in which he could stay hidden for a long time. He stood before her arms crossed. "I think you have something that belongs to me" he said to the admittedly beautiful felinoid creature. "Money I care not for, but the other has great sentimental value to me, in addition to being an excellent blade. But perhaps if you have a sound purpose we might be able to work together towards it" said Lukas evenly.

Tantomile halted at the edge of the high roof as she heard a voice behind her. She smirked unseen. With her back to him and her hood up she said simply "You speak of what you do not understand. And even if you understood it. You would not be listening." As she spoke she walked out to the edge of the precipiece of the rooftop and stood on it. "Considering that you carried it all this time while not knowing what it is truly for, that surprises me." She kept her tone even as she spoke. her tone never wavered, as the tall Jellicle woman seemed ready to jump clean off the rooftop where she stood. Directly below was nothing but thick woods. She apparently had nowhere to run. Or did she ?

"Before you go darting off again, the reason it has sentimental value to me is that it is my only memento of my wife, now dead, killed at Stormreach. I'm a quick study. Enlighten me. I already know that it is something called a 'piece of eden' whatever that means" said Lukas.

Tantomile never turned around to face the man speaking to her. A quick learner, he'd better be. He stood out like a sore thumb while he carried the Piece of Eden on him so much. With it properly wrapped in a dark linien cloth. "Then you know enough, but do be careful where you speak those words." She said.

Then she said a simple word to the large male. "Follow." With that she pushed off the roof and performed what was known simply as a Leap of Faith off the high roof, it was a perfect swan dive. Directly into the water below. Though where she went from there was anyones guess.

Zosimos smiled, whispering into the ear of a guard. The spectacle had unfolded quite nicely, if you liked spectacles. Star ships had come down, the town had assembled and armed itself. Diplomats were demanding other diplomats! Armieshad showed up, allies and enemies glared at eachother through technology.

"You seek my blood?" The guard dispatched into Tauvyr Tavern. Zosimos slowly folded his arms, as if it wasn't chaos and turmoil around him.

"You forgot to say please," He grinned, "More importantly you forgot to provide paperwork. No grand-kin of mine is taken by any, especially foreign, force without a warrant or trial. Who...are you again? I don't believe we've ever met, though I do remember the mess you made over there, in our neighoring city to the North. Wing City?" He looked to Ix next.

"This one has already provided you with more than enough information. What is it exactly you seek? As my dear Brethren has suggested already," Zosimos flicked a hand in the direction of Caine, "Perhaps you should just go home."

The Commandant turned to his adjutant, and then he turned to Yuriko. "We don't need paperwork, we have big guns." He said in broken english. The Commandant crossed his arms in front of his chest and then he glared at Zosimos. "We have questions for them, now we can make this easy, and they can come quietly, or I can contact my superiors and we can... explore alternate options." The Commandant explained, Yuriko crossing her arms as well while he turned to Cain.

"We won't fight for this planet, as you say it's worthless for us, worthless planets aren't committed too, they're bombarded into oblivion from the safety of space." The Commandant warned, then he turned back to Zosimos. "And pardon our introduction, I'm Commandant Yosho, of the Taiyou Empire. And you would be wise to heed our demands."

From the shoulder of the King Oni, Xyntha leaned boredly on her hand. "So much talking, and nobody really seems to be saying anything..." she murmured, rolling her eyes with a sigh.

The demoness glanced to one side at the head of the large mech. "You must be bored too." she said dryly, leaning back.

Tommy and the NPA Enforcers, and the Terran soldiers stood their ground. Listening to the words from the Taiyou commander, "Are we really going to keep humoring this?" The Scottish soldier asked Zosimos, "This is your land, we'll follow your lead. But, this will become a fight as soon as they open fire." Tommy added.

The men and women on the ships hovering over the flashpoint began to arm their weapons and prime their shields. There was going to be a fight, there was no doubt about it when it came to the Taiyou. Those in space did the same, everyone was mostly in communication.

They had a plan.

Ships began to deploy from other areas of the planet, big and small. NPA ships, Invictus ships, Terran military ships, who knew who else was getting involved once the news began to spread? There were surely going to be some anti-Taiyou vigilantes or terrorists trying to join into the fray.

If they were lucky they wouldn't be shot down by both sides.

"History's repeating itself, I think it needs to diverge for once." Tommy told his allies.

Ix laughs at the mention of an orbital bombardment but otherwise says nothing. Instead he turns to Zosimos and gives him a big wink.

Terrific thought Lukas sarcastically as he followed her.

Zosimos smiled even wider. Big guns apparently clouded the minds of these people. He thought of an old colleague if his who had once said weaponry was like vampyrism. It seeped into a man's blood, corrupted him.

"Demands?" He said it delicately, as if the word would shatter on too harsh a tone. "Any questions you have can go through me, and I will handle the necessary processes. Considering..." Zosimos eyed the guns with harsher vigor, raised a brow and smirked. Behind him, the doors to the Tavern bustled open. Out was escorted Daemala Tauvyr, a grouping of ten vampyric soldiers occupying her presence for protection.

"What the hel-" Daemala nearly shouted, then realized exactly what was going on. Her words were swallowed.

"It's good you won't fight for this planet. If it's as worthless as you say, surely it isn't even worth your destructive weapons, or your time. Why are you still here again? Ah! That's right!" Zosimos turned to Daemala, who had shrunken in on herself in shock. "These people have questions for you!" He smiled the wickedest of smiles.

After a few moments of silence, staring around at everyone, Daemala gathered her spine. After nodding at her allies, she gestured a hand at the Taiyou, at all the forces she didn't recognize, and spoke.
"Excuse me but...Who are these people?"

Zosimos grinned, and looked to Tommy and the NPA officers.

"No, I don't believe we shall be humoring this any longer."

The Commandant nodded. "No I don't think we shall, you're in luck, though As it seems we won't be burning this town to cinders." He said, an Imperial radioman approaching from the rear, and whispering something to the Taiyou Commandant in their native language. "We'll be in touch, however." He said, turning back to the Sudden Transport and moving towards it, Yuriko turning to follow suit.

Engines began to churn and grumble, and the column of Taiyou began to move, taking a sharp left to the north to exit the town. Imperial Warriors marched in step while Sergeants called out to them to march. The King Oni's footsteps began their rhythmic song as they, the Tanks and helicopters began to move through the town.

A video screen within the Sudden Transport flickered to life, and Admiral Yamamoto's face bore crisply on the display. "Prince Takayama has elected to assign the ISSP to the investigation, they're a bit more subtle in their methods, and shouldn't attract the attention of the Invictus, whom the Prince also plans to address at a later date." The Admiral explained, the camera panning towards the young Prince.

"The Organization has displayed their defiance long enough, and will be dealt with like all enemies of the Empire, but this situation is delicate and one we must approach with caution. I intend to address them once I've addressed the Aschen and the Coalition." The Prince explained.

"Move out, and proceed to your next objective. There are Aschen holed up in the mountains to the north of your position. Destroy them and all collaborators, no prisoners, no survivors. Prince Takayama out."

The collective forces of the NPA, Terrans and Invictus watched as the Taiyou began to leave. Tommy lifted a hand to his right ear, "They'll be around." He said, speaking into some form of communication device. "They won't be leaving soon, they're too fuckin' stupid to actually do anything that makes sense." The Scotsman said.

"Orders?" The bridge captain of Tommy's ship asked, "Beam me up, Scotty!" Tommy said, "Don't... don't do that." The bridge officer said.

The ships and vehicles in the area began to head back to where they were before for the most part, a helicopters deciding to circle around the perimeter of Verinotte Hollow in case they'd be needed again in the future. Who knew if the Taiyou would return? It was better to have eyes in the sky.

It took some time, some ships and soldiers lingered for awhile, but eventually everyone was on their way to where they were stationed before being called down. It was back to business as usual.

For now.

As the Taiyou and Terran Armies moved out of the area so did the Joes. Troops loaded onto transports and the Massive tanks were loaded onto their carrier trucks. The Convoy formed up as it made it's way back toward the mountains. Ben sat in the command vehicle and looked over the glum reports. Would Terra ever be peaceful would there ever be a day the Joes felt it was safe enough to recind their support and move on to help other worlds in need? This was one of the questions that raced through his mind lately. Though deep down he knew this place would probably be the death of him. He would eventually just become another casualty in the blood bath.

The Drones over head still flew about gathering intel on the movements of Troops while a few attack helicopters and fighter/bombers flew above the convoy.

In the Pit Allen sat at his desk, the Joes had finally made it back up to full strength after that tragic attack on their previous base. Allen sighed, how long would this last before they were dragged into a conflict. The fighting never ended never ceased. El was dead lost off world in a terror attack. It was Ironic to die in something they tried so hard to fight. But her mission was quiet the opposite she died in a terror attack while committing one of her own. Allen saw this as fate a sign he ordered it they Aschen were not their friends but now he regretted it. To him it seemed clear the Aschen were on the outs and Taiyou seem to be the latest threat in the galaxy. Maybe it was time to disappear, dissolve the Joes let the others fight for themselves. Though deep down he knew that was not the answer. He wasn't fighting for power or political reasons, he was fighting for the innocent, the children disabled those he could not defend themselves and for all those lost in these senseless conflicts.

The Non-lethal ultrasonic 'noise' caused the men in the sudden Transport to pass out from the strange noise, while those in the Jigabachis had already killed themselves, detonating their suicide vests causing the helicopters to spin out of control and land in the snow in a loud crash. That wasn't the first to transpire. With the Transport now silent, several flashes of yellow cut through the clouds, before a deafening shriek filled the mountains.

In Orbit, Taiyou ships readied their weapons.

A Series of deafening booms followed, as brilliant fireballs mushroomed into the sky, clearing wind, cloud, and snow in all direction and cratering entire ridges. One after another. Streaks of yellow erupted into brilliant flashes of light and deafening, thunderous roar. 150Kt Tactical nuclear ordinance erupted all around the Varden ships, radiation and hot blast wind moved through the mountains as shell after shell impacted the mountains. The Thons and other Varden units would be hard pressed to evade such a saturating bombardment.

Directly above Vule and Nedra, a 250mm Anti-Ship shell careened from the sky, roaring and screaming it's report as it seared directly towards the pair from the skies. A Sheer coincidence that the shell would happen to land here. 500 feet above them it detonated into nuclear fire, starting with a brilliant flash of light, and a nuclear shock wave expanding out in all directions. However the Thon with the Sudden transport was only slightly outside the blast radius. However it had to contend with the smaller 150mm Shells that rained down on them from orbit.



Twenty minutes went by, and the Bombardment ceased, leaving what was a pristine mountain range, little more than smoldering, charred craters, mushroomy fireballs rising up into the sky.