In Search of Sanctuary

Without any time to overthink the situation, Astraea secured the data node and made ready to descend – whatever that meant. While her constructs destroyed the wooden seed before it could do anything suspicious, the metal platform lurched, then swivelled ninety degrees and began a fairly rapid descent into the desert sands. It wasn't uncomfortably quick, but within a second or two, Astraea found herself dipping below the line of the ground, the abductor unit, up on the sand, waved one more time to her and CTA, before the light in the shaft went out suddenly as a secondary metal plate slid closed and resealed itself before the viruses outside could follow after the elevator.

-=Viruses=-
HauntedCandleHauntedCandle (HauntedCandle)

This virus attacks every action if able.

Area: Kotobuki Town, Netfrica, Hades Isle, NetVegas

HP: 100
Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Fire + Square Attack + Ground Attack
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Creates flame spire in a square. Targets panels.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): BurnSquare1, Zenny
Special: Immobile.
Special: Heat Body: This virus is immune to Fire damage and associated effects.
Special: Square Attack: Attacks a 2 panel x 2 panel square area.
Special: Candle: Can be snuffed by Wind, which prevents it from attacking. Fire relights it. A: DELETED
HauntedCandleHauntedCandle (HauntedCandle)

This virus attacks every action if able.

Area: Kotobuki Town, Netfrica, Hades Isle, NetVegas

HP: 100
Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Fire + Square Attack + Ground Attack
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Creates flame spire in a square. Targets panels.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): BurnSquare1, Zenny
Special: Immobile.
Special: Heat Body: This virus is immune to Fire damage and associated effects.
Special: Square Attack: Attacks a 2 panel x 2 panel square area.
Special: Candle: Can be snuffed by Wind, which prevents it from attacking. Fire relights it. B: DELETED
MettFireMettFire (MettFire)

Area: Kotobuki Town, Netfrica, Hades Isle, NAXA, NetVegas

HP: 100
Attack: 20 Fire + Drop Attack x 3 hits + Variable Targeting
Attack Accuracy: D
Attack Description: Drops 3 meteors onto enemies' heads.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Meteor9, Asteroid1, Zenny
Special: Attacks every other action. Right before it attacks, it can move behind the nearest object as a free action. If there are no objects on the field, they may instead move behind an ally.
Special: This virus's dodges are treated as Teleport for the purposes of movement only. It gains no effectiveness over a regular dodge. A: DELETED
MettFireMettFire (MettFire)

Area: Kotobuki Town, Netfrica, Hades Isle, NAXA, NetVegas

HP: 100
Attack: 20 Fire + Drop Attack x 3 hits + Variable Targeting
Attack Accuracy: D
Attack Description: Drops 3 meteors onto enemies' heads.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Meteor9, Asteroid1, Zenny
Special: Attacks every other action. Right before it attacks, it can move behind the nearest object as a free action. If there are no objects on the field, they may instead move behind an ally.
Special: This virus's dodges are treated as Teleport for the purposes of movement only. It gains no effectiveness over a regular dodge. B: DELETED
BlazerBlazer (Blazer)

Blazers are a modified strain of Fishy virus made to fully exploit their previous possession of Burner battlechip data. While they retain, for the most part, the appearance of a Fishy virus, their fins are more heavily rounded and there are a set of specialized gills on either side of their underbelly that can spew flames. In addition, all Blazers are now a stark reddish color, with the intensity varying from a charcoal-ish gray-red at the first tier to a violent intensity with the Omegas.

Area: Kotobuki Town, Netopia, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 80
Attack Damage/Effect: Movement + 15 Nova 2 Fire Damage
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Flies forward and then SPINS, unleashing a gout of flame from specialized vents on its' flanks.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Burner1, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes: DELETED
SpikeySpikey (Spikey)

Spikey viruses are a little faster than the average virus, allowing them to cover more ground than normal with movements and dodges. They may attack while moving, but as normal, they cannot attack while dodging without expending a second action to do so. Spikey viruses are also able to use something called 'pack tactics' when 3 or more of them are present. Simply put, the Spikey viruses attack and dodge as a wolf pack. In addition, they are treated as having a reduced power Haste and Accuracy Enhancement effect which grants them a +5% bonus to evasion and accuracy while this effect is active. The effect is passive, and only expires when their numbers drop below 3.

Area: ACDC, Kotobuki Town, Yumland, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 90
Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Fire + Spread 1
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description - Fires HeatShot
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): HeatShot, Zenny
Special: Uses pack tactics when with at least 2 other Spikeys: DELETED
KillPlantKillPlant (KillPlant)

Area: Beach, Yumland, Netfrica, Dentech

HP: 100
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Wood
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: The virus spits a large wooden seed at one target, like a bomb. If it misses, it remains on the field for one turn.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Wood + Ground + Line Attack + Aqua Boost(+30 Wood, +AccuracyUP)
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C / B
Secondary Attack Description: If the seed is left alone for one turn, it will erupt into a Wood Tower attack. If the seed is hit by any Aqua based attacks or it lands on a Sea Panel, it will double in power and speed.
Element: Wood
Possible Rewards (Per virus): TreeBomb1, Zenny
Special: This virus is immobile.
- The Seed is immune to damage.
- Fire and Impact will destroy the Seed.
- This virus attacks every other turn, starting on the first turn. A: PING!
KillPlantKillPlant (KillPlant)

Area: Beach, Yumland, Netfrica, Dentech

HP: 100
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Wood
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: The virus spits a large wooden seed at one target, like a bomb. If it misses, it remains on the field for one turn.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Wood + Ground + Line Attack + Aqua Boost(+30 Wood, +AccuracyUP)
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C / B
Secondary Attack Description: If the seed is left alone for one turn, it will erupt into a Wood Tower attack. If the seed is hit by any Aqua based attacks or it lands on a Sea Panel, it will double in power and speed.
Element: Wood
Possible Rewards (Per virus): TreeBomb1, Zenny
Special: This virus is immobile.
- The Seed is immune to damage.
- Fire and Impact will destroy the Seed.
- This virus attacks every other turn, starting on the first turn. B: DELETED

GeninGenin (Genin)

Area: Beach, Yumland, Netfrica

HP: 60
Attack: 30 Null + Slashing + Group Attack (MoonBlade) / 10 Null + Slashing x 3 Attacks x 2 Targets (Kunai)
Attack Accuracy: B / B
Attack Description: Counter attacks with either a spinning cut or a volley of Kunai.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Kunai1, MoonBlade1, Zenny
Special: This virus does not initiate attacks on it's own.
- Seeks cover behind objects when not attacking.
- If no objects are present, this viruses evasion is enhanced.
- Counters Battlechip use with Kunai once per turn.
- Counters Buster use with MoonBlade once per turn.
- Counters Sig Attack use with either Kunai, or Moonblade once per turn.: 45Hp [Behind Abductor Unit]

VolcanoVolcano (Volcano)

Volcano viruses only appear if there is Lava Terrain present on the field, and only 1 Volcano virus may appear per panel of Lava Terrain (usually 5%). Volcano viruses move and dodge at average speed. Volcano viruses have the ability to fully heal themselves no matter how much damage they have taken if they move to Lava Terrain, and spend an action on it for this purpose. This type of virus cannot attack while moving, and moving requires an action. Attack power doubles on Coal and Lava.

Area: Netfrica, Hades Isle, NetVegas

HP: 110
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Fire + Lava Terrain Boost (10 Fire) + Coal Terrain Boost (10 Fire)
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Erupts, dropping a flaming meteor on one enemy. This attack is stronger when standing over Lava or Coal terrain.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Fire + Burn(5) + Blast1
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C
Secondary Attack Description: Launches a FireBomb at the enemy that sets them on fire if it hits.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): LavaCannon1, FireBomb1, Zenny
Special: Can spend an action healing itself if on Lava.
Special: Burn: Status effect lasting 1 turn. Deals Fire damage per action taken by the afflicted.A: 110Hp [Lava][Left of the metal circle]
VolcanoVolcano (Volcano)

Volcano viruses only appear if there is Lava Terrain present on the field, and only 1 Volcano virus may appear per panel of Lava Terrain (usually 5%). Volcano viruses move and dodge at average speed. Volcano viruses have the ability to fully heal themselves no matter how much damage they have taken if they move to Lava Terrain, and spend an action on it for this purpose. This type of virus cannot attack while moving, and moving requires an action. Attack power doubles on Coal and Lava.

Area: Netfrica, Hades Isle, NetVegas

HP: 110
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Fire + Lava Terrain Boost (10 Fire) + Coal Terrain Boost (10 Fire)
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Erupts, dropping a flaming meteor on one enemy. This attack is stronger when standing over Lava or Coal terrain.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Fire + Burn(5) + Blast1
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C
Secondary Attack Description: Launches a FireBomb at the enemy that sets them on fire if it hits.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): LavaCannon1, FireBomb1, Zenny
Special: Can spend an action healing itself if on Lava.
Special: Burn: Status effect lasting 1 turn. Deals Fire damage per action taken by the afflicted.B: 110Hp [Lava][Right of the metal circle]

-=Navis=-
Astraea.CMD: 90Hp [Metal][Sword: 4/6 uses remaining]

-=Terrain=-
30% Sand

• -20% Evasion and reduced movement speed to all.
• Can Burrow as standard action, incurable Blind1 until turn after exiting Burrow.
• Wind attacks: +100% Source Damage + Blind1, change terrain hit to Normal, trigger Sandstorm for 3 turns: Lose 5 HP/action, Blind1, Fire attacks gain Slashing.
• Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Glass.
• Terrain changes between Sand and QuickSand do not inflict damage upon burrowed entities, nor do they eject burrowed entities to the surface.
• PanelShot: Blind1.

[Majority]
25% Sea

• Fire Elementals lose 10 HP/action standing, 20 HP/action submerged. Other Non-Aqua Elementals lose 5 HP/action submerged. Nullified for Aqua Elementals.
• Ice attacks: 50% Freeze1 chance, Changes terrain hit to Ice.
• Terrain changes between Sea and Onsen do not inflict damage upon submerged entities, nor do they eject submerged entities to the surface.
• Elec attacks: +100% Source Damage.
• PanelShot: Imbue Aqua.

[Broad strip crossing on one side of the metal circle, where the dragon attacked]
20% Lava

• Non-Fire Elementals lose 5 HP/action standing, 10 HP/action submerged. Doubled for Wood Elementals, nullified for Fire Elementals.
• Aqua attacks: Panel explodes, +100% Source Aqua Damage, change terrain hit to Normal.
• PanelShot: Imbue Fire.

[Two large pools forming to the left and right]
20% Normal

• No effects.

[Exposed sections of sandstone rock, scattered]
5% Metal

• Cannot be Broken or Cracked except with Geddon/PanelShot, cannot be Burrowed into.
• Elec attacks: +100% Source Damage.
• 100 Damage Aqua attacks: Change terrain hit to Cracked.
• 100 Damage Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Furnace.
• PanelShot: Imbue Elec + Break.

[Circle of panels in the middle of the area]

-=Objects=-
Metool Data Node (Also Green and Mysterious): 25Hp [Master-worked][Metal][Right by Astraea]

Cinder Turret: 55Hp [Master-worked][Metal][Behind Astraea]
Abductor Unit: 40Hp [Master-worked][Sand][Just past CTA]

-=Battle Mode=-
Victory Condition Met!
- Participants may choose to escape for free and with guaranteed success at any time, and will receive full rewards for the battle.
- Participants may continue to battle viruses for additional turns if desired, but destruction of the MD at any point will still result in a battle failure.

-=Battle 3, Victory!=-
Spoils: 1500z, Asteroid1Damage: 40 x 4 + Drop Attack + Blast Zone
Accuracy: D
Description: The user selects a target, then flaming meteors crash down onto and around them.
Duration: Once
Element: Fire
Special: Drop Attack: This attack originates above the battlefield, and falls to the ground. It gains one rank of accuracy against High Altitude targets.
Special: Blast Zone: The area this chip can target in is the equivalent of a Blast 3 area, centered on the chosen target. It will randomly target anything within this area, including the user if they are in that area. Mass Destruction does not affect Blast Zone's size.
Trader Rank: D, 26 BugFrags

Open GMD?

===

After descending in the dark for a few moments, lit only by whatever light sources Astraea and her turret could bring to the scene, new lights began to show through; a dull green glow from somewhere down below, getting closer.

Eventually, the elevator lurched and paused still with a heavy metal clunk and the sound of other machinery parts shifting all around. In the dim light, Astraea could see a lattice of gantry and other mechanical parts. A second lurch shuddered through the platform as a large clamp gripped it from under neath and rotated out in an arc. It stopped here, long enough for Astraea to see several low doorways set into the metal sides of the circular inset the platform had been pushed into.

The doors opened to the sound of pattering feet and a chorus of 'meeps' coming from several directions as the elevator platform was suddenly flooded with about a dozen metools filing on and chattering to each other as they went. Silence fell suddenly as a dozen sets of eyes peeked up at Astraea from under their helmets, and a tense moment stretched... before most of the mets went back to their various unintelligible conversations.

The lift platform chimed softly and the exterior doors closed, before it clunked and lurched heavily again. The platform descended another foot, then settled as if locking into some other track. It rotated out and around, as though it were rolling across one of the walls, before Astrae was able to look out over a deep, plunging shaft. Around the edge of the shaft, a metal rail system spiralled downward, looking like the gantry of an old fashioned pinball machine, and with a smooth gliding sensation, the platform began to slide along in, gradually winding its way down into the dark. One of the little metools nearest Astraea tapped her on the foot. It peeked up at her, then ducked under its helmet. After a second, it popped out and looked up at here again, as though to check she understood. All around the alien navi, the other metools on the platform were all ducking low in their helmets as well.

fSomething green and shiny and familiar had been hinding inside the data cache and Astraea touched it lightly.

"This may have been what the viruses were after." The lift started up and she pulled her hand away as she tried to balance herself.

"Wave goodbye, wave goodbye!"

"Wha-ok?" She didn't know what Alex was talking about but as she looked out at the viruses she saw her Abductor Unit saluting and she lifted her one hand in a wave.

It felt strangely sad.

She stared upward as the doors closed behind her then moved to gather up the spoils left over from the fight. The elevator came to another stop then lurched in a different direction and she reached out to support herself with one hand on her turret. At least that had come along and she took comfort from the faint traces of heat she could feel from its internal mechanisms.

"Machinery everywhere, this place is pretty much your paradise isn't it?" Alex said in a wondering voice as the elevator turned trolley moved along. She nodded a numb agreement as she looked out, her palms itching with the urge to disassemble one. What would she see if she did so? What could she learn to strengthen her own forces? She already had many ideas from her second trip through the Net. Revisions, alterations, blueprints for entirely new constructions were crammed into her head but there were more pressing matters until she had found Metangler a safe haven.

"It references memories of where we found Metangler." She said quietly. Alex made an interested humming noise and she thought he agreed. Did that mean she needed to worry about a similiar construction appearing? If one did, wouldn't that potentionally be a good thing though?

She was pulled from her thoughts by a notification of a large viral signature detected nearby. She stiffened and began to peer into the dark. The reading was fuzzy enough she couldn't tell if it was one viral entity or a groupping of many others. Either way her best option would be to keep quiet and hidden-

beep...beep?

"No!" Her head whipped around to the Cinder Turret as she whisper-yelled and she immediately lunged toward it, punching one of her fingers at the yellow button on its side to turn off its battle routines. She sighed and straightened up and dragged the back of her hand across her face with a sigh.

Then the doors open and a dozen or so metools joined her on their commute. They filed on and for a moment there was silence as Navi and virus contemplated each other and the turret bore witness

Then the awkwardness passed and the Metools went right back to their conversations.

"That could have been bad." Alex remarked, his voice low and quiet and in her ears only. She nodded her agreement as the lift moved again. It was getting crowded on the lift now and she gave Cinder Turret one last pat before sending it back to her shop. Hopefully it would understand the gesture as a reassuring one. With more room to manuever she picked up the GMD and carried it awkwardly in front of her. Alex would want her to open it but with how crowded the elevator was it hardly seemed the place.

A small tap on her foot as the elevator continued downward brought her attention to the metool. She looked at it curiously as it hid under its helmet. She stared at it. It popped out from its helmet. The other metools ducked low in their helmets. She stared at them, then at the track, then at the one looking at her again. "Um..."

"Maybe it wants you to duck?" Alex suggested from his comfortable, brightly lit spot in his living room where he was several degrees removed from the weirdness his Navi was experiencing. "That tunnel is starting to look rather cramped."

"Ok..." THe mechanic wasn't too sure about this but it seemed reasonable enough! She pulled her shield hand free and gave it a shake that unfolded hher dependable shield. She raised her shield over her head as an improvised head protection and then crouched beneath it. "Is this proper procedure?" She asked the helpful metool. Her fingers slipped across the GMD, triggering it's opening. "And is this the proper way to Sactuary? I wish to relocate an acquintance there."

In the real world Alex smiled fondly and lifted his water. It was endearing watching Astraea try and communicate. He had never had an experience like this on the Net with his Normal Navis.

[Opening GMD][Searching for Battle #4]

((GMD: WyrmEgg1Damage: 110 + Ground Attack + Phasing + Homing
Accuracy: C
Description: A fire-attuned snake slithers across the field, hunting for an enemy.
Duration: Once
Element: Fire
Trader Rank: D))

As the platform spiralled down the edge of the bottomless shaft, Astraea was able to check the data crystal that had remained after the node decoded itself and let her in; a quick decryption later revealed a bundle of chip data that she'd be able to put to use later, potentially.

The lazy, curving descent grew steeper after the first few revolutions, as the spiral track dropped further and further each circle. The platform sped up, and soon Astraea could feel the movement of air around her as their pace increased. the lighting grew into a flicker as the individual points of dim green light grew further apart and flashed by more quickly. There still didn't seem to be any bottom to the central shaft, if the engineer looked over, but the heavy mechanical structure that formed the walls thinned out progressively, exposing more gantry work and long struts of supporting metal beams and braces. In rapid glimpses, Astreae was able to see a long way into the mesh of metal and tech that seemed to spread out further from the shaft, with only occasional lights to illuminate it.

Suddenly, with the pace climbing further, the spiral movement became a straight line as the platform sped through the end of the descending track and into a long tunnel at break-neck speed. the metal clack and thump of the platform rocketing along its rails was the only sound other than the rushing wind while the metools all around her on the lift sat neatly under their helmets. Around the platform, there was just enough ambient light from the intermittent glowing fixtures for Astraea to see that they were shooting through a mostly enclosed space, but with clear drops away to nothing on either side of the rail the platform was shooting along. Not to far from the edge of the platform, the metal gantry and machines closed in a round, intermingled with support beams and old-looking piping that let to or from who-knew-where.

Fun as it might be, the trip went from just having some very poor OHS, to downright dangerous; Astraea was able to glimpse, rapidly coming up on either side, the glowing red grates of stove viruses, nestled into the gantry on either side, with a couple of other virus signatures just behind them. They would pass them by in a moment, but the viruses seemed well aware of the platform's approach.

-=Viruses=-
OldstoveOldstove (Oldstove)

Oldstove viruses move and dodge at a very slow pace.

Area: ACDC, Kotobuki Town, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 50
Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Fire + Line Attack(3) + Panel Crack
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Flamethrower to one enemy.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): FireBurner1, Zenny
Special: Slow Movement. Cracks Terrain. A: 50Hp [Coming up on left]
OldstoveOldstove (Oldstove)

Oldstove viruses move and dodge at a very slow pace.

Area: ACDC, Kotobuki Town, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 50
Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Fire + Line Attack(3) + Panel Crack
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Flamethrower to one enemy.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): FireBurner1, Zenny
Special: Slow Movement. Cracks Terrain. B: 50Hp [Coming up on right]
WindBoxWindBox (Wind & Fan)

All viruses in this family are immobile during combat, with the exception of being able to turn to face any direction it wishes. Later versions of this virus may switch between Wind and Fan effects, which requires one action, during which time all wind or fan effects cease. Bonuses and penalties do not stack if multiples of the same virus family exist on the field. Wind and Fan do not push or pull Objects, only creatures.

Area: SciLab, Yoka, Beach, Sharo, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 100
Attack Damage/Effect: Wind Effect, Northwind
Attack Accuracy: S
Attack Description: Causes a large scale gale of wind to blow across the entire field in the direction the virus is facing. This gale will constantly move all targets this virus considers to be enemies in the direction the wind is blowing, which makes it difficult to land many kinds of attacks on it and allied viruses, such as thrown attacks and close ranged attacks. All those affected by the wind will also have their barriers and auras blown off by a constant Northwind effect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Wind, Zenny
Special: Causes short ranged attacks, such as (but not limited to) swords, melee attacks, and flame thrower style weapons, to suffer from a 30% accuracy penalty against targets they are being pushed away from. Both sides of the engagement suffer a 30% accuracy penalty with direct attacks perpendicular to the direction of the wind, and all thrown attacks.
Special: Those allied with this virus may opt to take advantage of the wind to increase movement speed or evasion by going with the wind. They do not suffer any penalties, however. Conversely, anyone may move along with the wind to increase accuracy by 10% for close ranged attacks, assuming the target is in that direction.
Special: Northwind effect to all enemies once per virus action while maintaining wind effect. A: 100Hp [Coming up on left]
WindBoxWindBox (Wind & Fan)

All viruses in this family are immobile during combat, with the exception of being able to turn to face any direction it wishes. Later versions of this virus may switch between Wind and Fan effects, which requires one action, during which time all wind or fan effects cease. Bonuses and penalties do not stack if multiples of the same virus family exist on the field. Wind and Fan do not push or pull Objects, only creatures.

Area: SciLab, Yoka, Beach, Sharo, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 100
Attack Damage/Effect: Wind Effect, Northwind
Attack Accuracy: S
Attack Description: Causes a large scale gale of wind to blow across the entire field in the direction the virus is facing. This gale will constantly move all targets this virus considers to be enemies in the direction the wind is blowing, which makes it difficult to land many kinds of attacks on it and allied viruses, such as thrown attacks and close ranged attacks. All those affected by the wind will also have their barriers and auras blown off by a constant Northwind effect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Wind, Zenny
Special: Causes short ranged attacks, such as (but not limited to) swords, melee attacks, and flame thrower style weapons, to suffer from a 30% accuracy penalty against targets they are being pushed away from. Both sides of the engagement suffer a 30% accuracy penalty with direct attacks perpendicular to the direction of the wind, and all thrown attacks.
Special: Those allied with this virus may opt to take advantage of the wind to increase movement speed or evasion by going with the wind. They do not suffer any penalties, however. Conversely, anyone may move along with the wind to increase accuracy by 10% for close ranged attacks, assuming the target is in that direction.
Special: Northwind effect to all enemies once per virus action while maintaining wind effect. B: 100Hp [Coming up on right]

-=Navis=-
Astraea.CMD: 90Hp [Normal]

-=Terrain=-
40% Normal

• No effects.

[Circular Platform]
40% Missing

• Permanent bottomless hole.
• Doubles dodge penalties for bad RP.
• EJO if you fall in.

[Not the Platform]
20% Metal

• Cannot be Broken or Cracked except with Geddon/PanelShot, cannot be Burrowed into.
• Elec attacks: +100% Source Damage.
• 100 Damage Aqua attacks: Change terrain hit to Cracked.
• 100 Damage Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Furnace.
• PanelShot: Imbue Elec + Break.

[Machinery to either side of the platform]

Terrain Quick-Slip: Things mare moving quickly; terrain changes to the exterior area will not last, as the battlefield moves past them. The fast moving platform itself will be resilient to terrain changes.

-=Objects=-
Transport Lift: 200Hp [Made of metal, but presents as non-conductive normal terrain on the surface][SteelBody]

-=Battle Mode=-
Pursuit:
- Win Condition: Reach the end of the pursuit [Minimum of 3 turns]
- Additional Failure Condition: Becoming unable to continue pursuit without successfully concluding it.
- Versus 3-5 Area/Net tier appropriate viruses on battle start
- Viruses get one turn to act and be acted upon, before the pursuit moves past them. 3-4 additional viruses from the area list will join the battle at the end of each turn, as the 'next' upcoming viruses.
- All players will be given an automatic voluntary escape after the win condition is fulfilled, and may use this to signify the conclusion of the pursuit in their favour.
- Players may continue for additional turns after the victory condition is met, but the failure condition will still apply if it is reached.
- At battle conclusion, players receive full rewards for their performance in battle.
- Terrain, field objects, and other features of the battle are left to mod's discretion

-=Battle 4, Start!=-

With a quiet "pop" the GMD popped open and suddenly Astraea found her hand full of chip data. She frowned and then examined it closely and sent it along her connection to the PET. Despite Alex's seemingly well thought out logic it-

"Turns out I was wrong all along!" Alex cried out playfull with an audible 'slap' that rang in Astraea's head. "Of course they were avoiding battle. Still, they didn't say this wasn't where we need to go so hey-ho, let's bust some virus!"[/color]

"Understood." Astraea started to straighten up and found herself straining against the wind, her eyes narrowing as she braced herself. Her feet slid a little on the floor and she shifted her shield infront of her. "Operator, the high wind pressure is threatening to remove me from the platform. Situation is non-optimal."

"That's a fancy way of saying you're being blown away. Hm-hm," She nodded an acknowledgement. There was another problem too: many of the chips they had were dependent on there being a ground in some way and she wasn't sure how well they would work in this situation. It was something for her to rectify in the future.

Her to-do list just grew larger the more she fought.

Chip data buzzed in her awareness and she activated it immediately. Her plain white shield glowed for a moment then shifted into a circle shape with a green cross emblazoned in the center. She appreciated the greater defense but when it came to keeping her from being knocked off the platform...

"Alright! Second and third chips for the left, fourth is for the right it might need a bit of 'help' to do the job so I'm sending another."

The whirlwind of directions and chips entering her system surprised her and she found herself nodding dimly. She pulled her ray gun out and fired three quick blasts at the oven and fan to her left. Green light from the bolts briefly flashed off the metal of the structures around her and then she felt for the last chip.

She immediately understood what Alex had meant. Alone the chip couldn't have done enough damage, and even now it was a bit of long shot (what if it got blown back? what if it got blown off course and fell into the shaft?) but her options were very limited.

She holstered her ray gun and materialized the Lilbomb over her waiting palm. Her fingers closed securely around it as she sighted her path. She stepped to the middle of the platform she rode and then drew her arm back and flung the sphere.

With the platform rushing unerringly towards the viruses on either side, the two stoves opened their grates and launched long streams of fire across the passageway, aiming to toast the platform's occupants. Their first effort jumped the gun, however, and both fire streams came too early to hit Astraea. The near edge of the lift itself got a licking, and the fire washed harmlessly over the handful of mets at the front edge, safely sheltered under their helmets.

Astraea was ready with her enhanced shield all the same, and as the fire cleared, she managed to take two quick shots. Despite the gale that was blowing across the rails, first one way, then another, her shots were clean; the first ripped into the left hand stove and damaged the windbox behind it, while her second finished the irksome fan off.

Some of the wind subsided as she re-positioned herself and steadied her footing, but as the remaining viruses flashed by, the stove opened its grate a second time and covered the platform in fire. This time the engineer navi was caught in the wash of flame, but was able to take cover behind her shield. It responded with a bolt of energy the struck the stove and pierced through it to the windbox as well, though a moment later the two viruses were shrinking away behind them.

In a last effort to make the transit way a little safer, Astraea threw her last chip for now, lobbing the bomb back towards the pair. The continued gale from the windbox messed with her aim somewhat, but though it was enough to blow the explosive away from the windbox itself, the stove virus was still caught by the edge of the blast and destroyed.

A moment later, they were out of range, and the lone remaining windbox was probably not a threat on its own. The track rushed onward, however, and after a couple of clattering curves, Astraea could see that they were moving through a more overtly industrial section of the strange, factory-like underworks. Orange and red glows joined the faint, flickering green now, as channels and vats of molten metal came into view on either side, being run in different directions, poured out into moulds, and channelled into other strange-looking machines.

Just ahead, on her left and right, a pair of magtect viruses had turned to face the approaching sound of the lift platform, heir previous interest in rattling the heavy machines seemingly forgotten. Above the track, a large iron crucible was slowly crossing over from one side to the other, far enough above the platform to be safe, though Astraea could see the tell-tale red glow of magma filling it, which might be a concern, given the two slender metal bars that were carrying it across. A momentary glance showed another problem, as the platform approached the crossing – the figure of a lamp-like virus popped up from the lava in the crucible, peering out at the lift as it came closer.

-=Viruses=-
OldstoveOldstove (Oldstove)

Oldstove viruses move and dodge at a very slow pace.

Area: ACDC, Kotobuki Town, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 50
Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Fire + Line Attack(3) + Panel Crack
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Flamethrower to one enemy.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): FireBurner1, Zenny
Special: Slow Movement. Cracks Terrain. A: PING!
OldstoveOldstove (Oldstove)

Oldstove viruses move and dodge at a very slow pace.

Area: ACDC, Kotobuki Town, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 50
Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Fire + Line Attack(3) + Panel Crack
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Flamethrower to one enemy.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): FireBurner1, Zenny
Special: Slow Movement. Cracks Terrain. B: DELETED
WindBoxWindBox (Wind & Fan)

All viruses in this family are immobile during combat, with the exception of being able to turn to face any direction it wishes. Later versions of this virus may switch between Wind and Fan effects, which requires one action, during which time all wind or fan effects cease. Bonuses and penalties do not stack if multiples of the same virus family exist on the field. Wind and Fan do not push or pull Objects, only creatures.

Area: SciLab, Yoka, Beach, Sharo, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 100
Attack Damage/Effect: Wind Effect, Northwind
Attack Accuracy: S
Attack Description: Causes a large scale gale of wind to blow across the entire field in the direction the virus is facing. This gale will constantly move all targets this virus considers to be enemies in the direction the wind is blowing, which makes it difficult to land many kinds of attacks on it and allied viruses, such as thrown attacks and close ranged attacks. All those affected by the wind will also have their barriers and auras blown off by a constant Northwind effect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Wind, Zenny
Special: Causes short ranged attacks, such as (but not limited to) swords, melee attacks, and flame thrower style weapons, to suffer from a 30% accuracy penalty against targets they are being pushed away from. Both sides of the engagement suffer a 30% accuracy penalty with direct attacks perpendicular to the direction of the wind, and all thrown attacks.
Special: Those allied with this virus may opt to take advantage of the wind to increase movement speed or evasion by going with the wind. They do not suffer any penalties, however. Conversely, anyone may move along with the wind to increase accuracy by 10% for close ranged attacks, assuming the target is in that direction.
Special: Northwind effect to all enemies once per virus action while maintaining wind effect. A: DELETED

MagTectMagTect (MagTect)

MagTect move and dodge at slightly above average speed. In spite of the fact that they have wings, and hover above the ground, they are still subject to the effects of the terrain below. Regardless, they are very dangerous thanks to their ability to exert control over enemy movements with pincer attacks and magnetic pull effects. They know how to use these effects, too. MagTects avoid liquid terrain types if at all possible, as they do not function well at all if forcibly submerged.

Area: SciLab, Electown, Netfrica, NAXA

HP: 90
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Elec + Stun 1 + Magnetic Pull
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Pulls opponents towards them and hits with a magnet. Stuns.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Elec + Seeking + Pincer Attack x 2 Missiles
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C
Secondary Attack Description: Shoots two MagnetMissiles at a target: one from each side. The missiles move as if to pass the target, then suddenly turn towards each other in a pincer attack with the target between them.
Element: Elec
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): MagBolt1, MagnetMissile1 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Pincer Attack: Attacks a single chosen target from two opposing directions at the same time. A: 90Hp [Metal][Left side]
MagTectMagTect (MagTect)

MagTect move and dodge at slightly above average speed. In spite of the fact that they have wings, and hover above the ground, they are still subject to the effects of the terrain below. Regardless, they are very dangerous thanks to their ability to exert control over enemy movements with pincer attacks and magnetic pull effects. They know how to use these effects, too. MagTects avoid liquid terrain types if at all possible, as they do not function well at all if forcibly submerged.

Area: SciLab, Electown, Netfrica, NAXA

HP: 90
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Elec + Stun 1 + Magnetic Pull
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Pulls opponents towards them and hits with a magnet. Stuns.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Elec + Seeking + Pincer Attack x 2 Missiles
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C
Secondary Attack Description: Shoots two MagnetMissiles at a target: one from each side. The missiles move as if to pass the target, then suddenly turn towards each other in a pincer attack with the target between them.
Element: Elec
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): MagBolt1, MagnetMissile1 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Pincer Attack: Attacks a single chosen target from two opposing directions at the same time. B: 90Hp [Metal][Right side]
ElemperorElemperor (Elmperor)

Elemperor viruses are Planeswalker viruses: their attacks and abilities all depend on the terrain they stand upon. Pay attention to the special sections of their stat sheets, as those will tell you what types of terrain must be present for an Elemperor to appear (this terrain requirement naturally overrides the Network's terrain selection). All Elemperor are immune to any adverse terrain effects... except damage multiplication, of course. They attack every action they are able to.

Area: Beach, Sharo, Yumland, Netfrica, NetVegas

HP: 100
Attack Damage/Effect: 15 (Elemental Rage) + Small Rage Terrain Change + Ground Attack
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: Fires a magic flare that changes the ground beneath the enemy's feet.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): ElementFlare, ElementalRage1 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Immobile.
- Always appears on Lava Terrain.
- Gains Regen 50 when on any terrain but Normal.
- If this virus is on Normal Terrain, its attack power is halved.
- Attacks assume the element of the terrain this virus sits on, and attacks create more terrain of the same type.: 100Hp [Lava][Above the track]

-=Navis=-
Astraea.CMD: 90Hp [Normal][Strengthen: 40]

-=Terrain=-
40% Normal

• No effects.

[Circular Platform]
20% Missing

• Permanent bottomless hole.
• Doubles dodge penalties for bad RP.
• EJO if you fall in.

[Not the Platform]
30% Metal

• Cannot be Broken or Cracked except with Geddon/PanelShot, cannot be Burrowed into.
• Elec attacks: +100% Source Damage.
• 100 Damage Aqua attacks: Change terrain hit to Cracked.
• 100 Damage Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Furnace.
• PanelShot: Imbue Elec + Break.

[Machinery to either side of the platform]
10% Lava

• Non-Fire Elementals lose 5 HP/action standing, 10 HP/action submerged. Doubled for Wood Elementals, nullified for Fire Elementals.
• Aqua attacks: Panel explodes, +100% Source Aqua Damage, change terrain hit to Normal.
• PanelShot: Imbue Fire.

[Large crucible moving above the track]

Terrain Quick-Slip: Things mare moving quickly; terrain changes to the exterior area will not last, as the battlefield moves past them. The fast moving platform itself will be resilient to terrain changes.

-=Objects=-
Transport Lift: 200Hp [Made of metal, but presents as non-conductive normal terrain on the surface][SteelBody]

-=Battle Mode=-
Pursuit:
- Win Condition: Reach the end of the pursuit [Minimum of 3 turns]
- Additional Failure Condition: Becoming unable to continue pursuit without successfully concluding it.
- Versus 3-5 Area/Net tier appropriate viruses on battle start
- Viruses get one turn to act and be acted upon, before the pursuit moves past them. 3-4 additional viruses from the area list will join the battle at the end of each turn, as the 'next' upcoming viruses.
- All players will be given an automatic voluntary escape after the win condition is fulfilled, and may use this to signify the conclusion of the pursuit in their favour.
- Players may continue for additional turns after the victory condition is met, but the failure condition will still apply if it is reached.
- At battle conclusion, players receive full rewards for their performance in battle.
- Terrain, field objects, and other features of the battle are left to mod's discretion

-=Turn 2!=-

The Lift moved on from the fight and Astraea did her best to do so as well. Putting the remaining windbox out of mind was easy with all of the interesting machinery that surrounded her - and the rattling from two more viruses up to mischief. A tilt of her head back showed her the Lamp-like virus above, its features lit from below with a red glow.

For a moment she was jealous, then she brushed the thought aside as she began to plan.

"I recommend we focus on the two viruses below, then attempt to remove the one on top." She said after a brief scan of their informational pop-ups. She shoo'd the windows away with a wave of her arm that ended in the now familiar flick of her wrist that unfolded her trusty shield in front of her.

"But how to-got it! Drop an Abductor, hit hard, then Move fast back to the platform! Just don't think too much about what your doing!"

"Wha-?" Astraea jerked in surprise as a metallic Fishy formed above her. Her eyes widened in horror as she looked between the bar running across the bottom and the Magtect the construct was pointed at, but if this plan was to have any chance of winning she could not allow herself the luxury of thinking about it.

She dropped her hand to the keypad on her belt and punched in a code and beside her on the platform the ufo on bendy legs of the Abductor unit formed beside her. Extra plating layered its surface but the control station-

One of the poorly made images of her waved back.

She reached up and grabbed the bar, squeezing her eyes shut as the Fishy construct briefly stripped the platform's movement to deliver itself and its user to the smaller tangle of machinery.

Astraea landed on something. She didn't bother to check what. For a moment she had flown faster than the platform but now it would soon be drawing even and she raced back in the direction of the track. She bent her knees slightly just before she leapt, saw the hook from her summoned item flying toward her.

Would she make it?


-- Turn Splice --

Shield out as the platform raced on, Astraea had a brief moment to glimpse one of the magnet viruses turning to launch a pair of seeking missiles; one cut across the track ahead of the platform, while the other launched down the near side of it; both missiles angled sharply as though trying to strike the ledge, or something on it, but the virus had miscalculated the angle and speed, missing everything. The missiles impacted on the metal and machine parts behind the lift, briefly illuminating the scene from behind.

As the abductor unfolded itself and Astraea's fishy shuttle powered up, the other virus launched a more direct attack, jolting Astraea herself with a magnet pulse that latched onto her shield and pulled with an alarming amount of force. Unfortunate for the virus, however, was the fact that Astraea was holding onto the handle of her rocket-fish, and both were already starting to jet towards the virus anyway. If anything they went even faster than the fishy should have travelled, and impacted hard before the virus could recover. Astraea landed, already trying to time her jump back to the ledge, but errant jolts and shocks from the magnet pull made her stumble slightly.

She made the jump, reaching out, as the ledge sped past, and for a moment it seemed like the stunning blow had cost her too much. From inside its little cockpit, however, the poorly drawn image of Astraea pushed the levers forward with a grin. The better drawn one didn't have to worry; she knew what she was doing. She had her just fine, nothing to worry about. The hook sailed out at a well mapped trajectory, wrapping once around Astraea's wrist before catching firmly in her own hand. A moment of sharp whiplash swung the engineer around the back of the platform at a terrifying velocity, and she felt strain on her arm as the laws of physics did their thing and she whipped further about to the far side of the platform before being pulled in at last, to the creaking groans of the abductor's legs as it braced itself. As Astraea found her way back onto the ledge and the hook relaxed, the little image waved at her and grinned again.

Above them, as they shot below the giant crucible filled with magma, the lamp virus attempted to blast the centre of the platform, but the burning bolt of energy dropped down behind them, not quite accurate enough to connect with anything this time. The whole exchange had taken barely a second or two, and there was only another small fraction of time to respond before they would leave the crucible behind, but it would be hard for Astraea to capitalise on it while the lingering disorientation from the magnet shock lingered..

-=Viruses=-
OldstoveOldstove (Oldstove)

Oldstove viruses move and dodge at a very slow pace.

Area: ACDC, Kotobuki Town, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 50
Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Fire + Line Attack(3) + Panel Crack
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Flamethrower to one enemy.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): FireBurner1, Zenny
Special: Slow Movement. Cracks Terrain. A: PING!
OldstoveOldstove (Oldstove)

Oldstove viruses move and dodge at a very slow pace.

Area: ACDC, Kotobuki Town, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 50
Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Fire + Line Attack(3) + Panel Crack
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Flamethrower to one enemy.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): FireBurner1, Zenny
Special: Slow Movement. Cracks Terrain. B: DELETED
WindBoxWindBox (Wind & Fan)

All viruses in this family are immobile during combat, with the exception of being able to turn to face any direction it wishes. Later versions of this virus may switch between Wind and Fan effects, which requires one action, during which time all wind or fan effects cease. Bonuses and penalties do not stack if multiples of the same virus family exist on the field. Wind and Fan do not push or pull Objects, only creatures.

Area: SciLab, Yoka, Beach, Sharo, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 100
Attack Damage/Effect: Wind Effect, Northwind
Attack Accuracy: S
Attack Description: Causes a large scale gale of wind to blow across the entire field in the direction the virus is facing. This gale will constantly move all targets this virus considers to be enemies in the direction the wind is blowing, which makes it difficult to land many kinds of attacks on it and allied viruses, such as thrown attacks and close ranged attacks. All those affected by the wind will also have their barriers and auras blown off by a constant Northwind effect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Wind, Zenny
Special: Causes short ranged attacks, such as (but not limited to) swords, melee attacks, and flame thrower style weapons, to suffer from a 30% accuracy penalty against targets they are being pushed away from. Both sides of the engagement suffer a 30% accuracy penalty with direct attacks perpendicular to the direction of the wind, and all thrown attacks.
Special: Those allied with this virus may opt to take advantage of the wind to increase movement speed or evasion by going with the wind. They do not suffer any penalties, however. Conversely, anyone may move along with the wind to increase accuracy by 10% for close ranged attacks, assuming the target is in that direction.
Special: Northwind effect to all enemies once per virus action while maintaining wind effect. A: DELETED

MagTectMagTect (MagTect)

MagTect move and dodge at slightly above average speed. In spite of the fact that they have wings, and hover above the ground, they are still subject to the effects of the terrain below. Regardless, they are very dangerous thanks to their ability to exert control over enemy movements with pincer attacks and magnetic pull effects. They know how to use these effects, too. MagTects avoid liquid terrain types if at all possible, as they do not function well at all if forcibly submerged.

Area: SciLab, Electown, Netfrica, NAXA

HP: 90
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Elec + Stun 1 + Magnetic Pull
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Pulls opponents towards them and hits with a magnet. Stuns.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Elec + Seeking + Pincer Attack x 2 Missiles
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C
Secondary Attack Description: Shoots two MagnetMissiles at a target: one from each side. The missiles move as if to pass the target, then suddenly turn towards each other in a pincer attack with the target between them.
Element: Elec
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): MagBolt1, MagnetMissile1 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Pincer Attack: Attacks a single chosen target from two opposing directions at the same time. A: PING!
MagTectMagTect (MagTect)

MagTect move and dodge at slightly above average speed. In spite of the fact that they have wings, and hover above the ground, they are still subject to the effects of the terrain below. Regardless, they are very dangerous thanks to their ability to exert control over enemy movements with pincer attacks and magnetic pull effects. They know how to use these effects, too. MagTects avoid liquid terrain types if at all possible, as they do not function well at all if forcibly submerged.

Area: SciLab, Electown, Netfrica, NAXA

HP: 90
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Elec + Stun 1 + Magnetic Pull
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Pulls opponents towards them and hits with a magnet. Stuns.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Elec + Seeking + Pincer Attack x 2 Missiles
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C
Secondary Attack Description: Shoots two MagnetMissiles at a target: one from each side. The missiles move as if to pass the target, then suddenly turn towards each other in a pincer attack with the target between them.
Element: Elec
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): MagBolt1, MagnetMissile1 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Pincer Attack: Attacks a single chosen target from two opposing directions at the same time. B: 90Hp [Metal][Right side]
ElemperorElemperor (Elmperor)

Elemperor viruses are Planeswalker viruses: their attacks and abilities all depend on the terrain they stand upon. Pay attention to the special sections of their stat sheets, as those will tell you what types of terrain must be present for an Elemperor to appear (this terrain requirement naturally overrides the Network's terrain selection). All Elemperor are immune to any adverse terrain effects... except damage multiplication, of course. They attack every action they are able to.

Area: Beach, Sharo, Yumland, Netfrica, NetVegas

HP: 100
Attack Damage/Effect: 15 (Elemental Rage) + Small Rage Terrain Change + Ground Attack
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: Fires a magic flare that changes the ground beneath the enemy's feet.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): ElementFlare, ElementalRage1 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Immobile.
- Always appears on Lava Terrain.
- Gains Regen 50 when on any terrain but Normal.
- If this virus is on Normal Terrain, its attack power is halved.
- Attacks assume the element of the terrain this virus sits on, and attacks create more terrain of the same type.: 100Hp [Lava][Above the track]

-=Navis=-
Astraea.CMD: 85Hp [Normal][Strengthen: 40][Stunned! (1)]

-=Terrain=-
40% Normal

• No effects.

[Circular Platform]
20% Missing

• Permanent bottomless hole.
• Doubles dodge penalties for bad RP.
• EJO if you fall in.

[Not the Platform]
30% Metal

• Cannot be Broken or Cracked except with Geddon/PanelShot, cannot be Burrowed into.
• Elec attacks: +100% Source Damage.
• 100 Damage Aqua attacks: Change terrain hit to Cracked.
• 100 Damage Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Furnace.
• PanelShot: Imbue Elec + Break.

[Machinery to either side of the platform]
10% Lava

• Non-Fire Elementals lose 5 HP/action standing, 10 HP/action submerged. Doubled for Wood Elementals, nullified for Fire Elementals.
• Aqua attacks: Panel explodes, +100% Source Aqua Damage, change terrain hit to Normal.
• PanelShot: Imbue Fire.

[Large crucible moving above the track]

Terrain Quick-Slip: Things mare moving quickly; terrain changes to the exterior area will not last, as the battlefield moves past them. The fast moving platform itself will be resilient to terrain changes.

-=Objects=-
Transport Lift: 200Hp [Made of metal, but presents as non-conductive normal terrain on the surface][SteelBody]

-=Battle Mode=-
Pursuit:
- Win Condition: Reach the end of the pursuit [Minimum of 3 turns]
- Additional Failure Condition: Becoming unable to continue pursuit without successfully concluding it.
- Versus 3-5 Area/Net tier appropriate viruses on battle start
- Viruses get one turn to act and be acted upon, before the pursuit moves past them. 3-4 additional viruses from the area list will join the battle at the end of each turn, as the 'next' upcoming viruses.
- All players will be given an automatic voluntary escape after the win condition is fulfilled, and may use this to signify the conclusion of the pursuit in their favour.
- Players may continue for additional turns after the victory condition is met, but the failure condition will still apply if it is reached.
- At battle conclusion, players receive full rewards for their performance in battle.
- Terrain, field objects, and other features of the battle are left to mod's discretion

-=Astraea Has 2 Actions Remaining!=-

-- End Turn Splice --

The alien landed heavily on the platform, rolling once before she came to a stop. Her arms shook, her legs trembled. She tried twice to get to her feet, finally succeeding on the second attempt. Her limbs were wobbly but there was chip data waiting for her.

She faced back toward the virus that had hit her. It was a shame but she would have to forget about the one on top. One shakey hand rose in the air and the small move formed above her head before a lance of silver light arched out from it. The shadows on the platform were thrown in the sharp relief by the sudden and intense burst of light and she poured a little extra strength into it.

With only a fraction of time to respond, Astraea managed to scour the remaining magtect away with a brilliant moon beam before it could fire again. In the same instant, as the platform raced away from the large iron crucible, the lava-bathing virus launched a second elemental shot towards it as a parting shot. This one hit the centre of the platform squarely, splashing over the mechanical abductor. the machine stayed up, despite some structural damage, while the platform beneath it grew super-heated. It didn't melt entirely, as a stationary tile set might do, but it did become a baking furnace beneath the abductor's legs.

That was all there was time for, however, as the ledge continued forward. After the burst of moonlight faded, it made the rest of the area feel suddenly darker, though it was likely no dimmer than it had been before. The gaps between the ledge and the walls narrowed as the track pressed forward into the dark; the occasional green lights stopped, and before long the space was plunged into true darkness, with only the whistling of the wind and the sensation of claustrophobic mechanical structures rushing past on every side.

All around her, Astraea was still aware of the dozen or so metools, still huddled under their helmets, and the heat glow from the patch of damaged platform in the centre felt more palpable in the gloom. After about a minute of travelling at break-neck speed through the dark, small points of light began to come into view. Individual pin-pricks at first, scattered about to either side, and often seeming to blink off and on again as different parts of machinery obscured the view. They didn't quite seem to draw closer, but there were steadily more of them. Before long, the engineer navi could probably make them out as individual energised solar panels, glowing bright in amongst the other metal work and jumbled parts. As they reached the first ones, it was almost like passing through a scattered star field; the solar panels were never close to the edge of the platform, and their individual points of light never quite gave a clear view of the surrounding mechanisms. There were enough gaps in the complex mechanical block to give glimpses of pockets even quite along way from the ledge, but it only made the feeling of being penned in by darkened metal lactic-work all the more pronounced.

The platform began to slow down now as it moved through; the rail began to wind and curve, sliding around particularly dense sections of machinery rather as though it had been threaded through whatever gaps were wide enough for it, rather than built at the same time. If not for the poor safety of the situation, it might have been a vaguely pretty sight and experience. And then something moved. At first, it seemed like it might just have been another stretch of pipe moving across her field of view between the platform and a far-off light, but then it happened again, and again. Next time the shift came with the sound of metal scraping over metal. A series of sharp, small clinks and taps.

More movements in the dark accompanied by the sounds of creatures running across metal. Just as the platform passed by a pair of solar lights that were closer than the other others, the alien navi caught sight of three shapes leaping across the small gap and towards the platform from different directions, their forms mid-spring as the moment seemed to hang.

The frozen beat passed and three creatures landed on different edges of the platform all around her; they looked like small foxes, mostly, but with a metallic sheen to their coats. As each landed, head low and ready to spring again, glittering light reflected of a myriad of long, waving metal tails that caught the light and reflected sharp edges. The three foxes picked their footing between the cowering metools, seeming to ignore them while there was a more vulnerable target on the scene.

-=Viruses=-
OldstoveOldstove (Oldstove)

Oldstove viruses move and dodge at a very slow pace.

Area: ACDC, Kotobuki Town, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 50
Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Fire + Line Attack(3) + Panel Crack
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Flamethrower to one enemy.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): FireBurner1, Zenny
Special: Slow Movement. Cracks Terrain. A: PING!
OldstoveOldstove (Oldstove)

Oldstove viruses move and dodge at a very slow pace.

Area: ACDC, Kotobuki Town, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 50
Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Fire + Line Attack(3) + Panel Crack
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Flamethrower to one enemy.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): FireBurner1, Zenny
Special: Slow Movement. Cracks Terrain. B: DELETED
WindBoxWindBox (Wind & Fan)

All viruses in this family are immobile during combat, with the exception of being able to turn to face any direction it wishes. Later versions of this virus may switch between Wind and Fan effects, which requires one action, during which time all wind or fan effects cease. Bonuses and penalties do not stack if multiples of the same virus family exist on the field. Wind and Fan do not push or pull Objects, only creatures.

Area: SciLab, Yoka, Beach, Sharo, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 100
Attack Damage/Effect: Wind Effect, Northwind
Attack Accuracy: S
Attack Description: Causes a large scale gale of wind to blow across the entire field in the direction the virus is facing. This gale will constantly move all targets this virus considers to be enemies in the direction the wind is blowing, which makes it difficult to land many kinds of attacks on it and allied viruses, such as thrown attacks and close ranged attacks. All those affected by the wind will also have their barriers and auras blown off by a constant Northwind effect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Wind, Zenny
Special: Causes short ranged attacks, such as (but not limited to) swords, melee attacks, and flame thrower style weapons, to suffer from a 30% accuracy penalty against targets they are being pushed away from. Both sides of the engagement suffer a 30% accuracy penalty with direct attacks perpendicular to the direction of the wind, and all thrown attacks.
Special: Those allied with this virus may opt to take advantage of the wind to increase movement speed or evasion by going with the wind. They do not suffer any penalties, however. Conversely, anyone may move along with the wind to increase accuracy by 10% for close ranged attacks, assuming the target is in that direction.
Special: Northwind effect to all enemies once per virus action while maintaining wind effect. A: DELETED
MagTectMagTect (MagTect)

MagTect move and dodge at slightly above average speed. In spite of the fact that they have wings, and hover above the ground, they are still subject to the effects of the terrain below. Regardless, they are very dangerous thanks to their ability to exert control over enemy movements with pincer attacks and magnetic pull effects. They know how to use these effects, too. MagTects avoid liquid terrain types if at all possible, as they do not function well at all if forcibly submerged.

Area: SciLab, Electown, Netfrica, NAXA

HP: 90
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Elec + Stun 1 + Magnetic Pull
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Pulls opponents towards them and hits with a magnet. Stuns.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Elec + Seeking + Pincer Attack x 2 Missiles
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C
Secondary Attack Description: Shoots two MagnetMissiles at a target: one from each side. The missiles move as if to pass the target, then suddenly turn towards each other in a pincer attack with the target between them.
Element: Elec
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): MagBolt1, MagnetMissile1 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Pincer Attack: Attacks a single chosen target from two opposing directions at the same time. A: PING!
MagTectMagTect (MagTect)

MagTect move and dodge at slightly above average speed. In spite of the fact that they have wings, and hover above the ground, they are still subject to the effects of the terrain below. Regardless, they are very dangerous thanks to their ability to exert control over enemy movements with pincer attacks and magnetic pull effects. They know how to use these effects, too. MagTects avoid liquid terrain types if at all possible, as they do not function well at all if forcibly submerged.

Area: SciLab, Electown, Netfrica, NAXA

HP: 90
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Elec + Stun 1 + Magnetic Pull
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Pulls opponents towards them and hits with a magnet. Stuns.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Elec + Seeking + Pincer Attack x 2 Missiles
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C
Secondary Attack Description: Shoots two MagnetMissiles at a target: one from each side. The missiles move as if to pass the target, then suddenly turn towards each other in a pincer attack with the target between them.
Element: Elec
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): MagBolt1, MagnetMissile1 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Pincer Attack: Attacks a single chosen target from two opposing directions at the same time. B: PING!

NinetailsNinetails (Ninetails)

A small fox-like virus, that would otherwise be nondescript if it didn't posses nine metal, razor sharp tails. Despite appearing as though the tails would hinder their movement, they are actually quite good at dodging, and are treated as having Haste for Evasion purposes only at all times. Ninetails Omega has double Haste. As one would expect, they attack via a series of vicious tail whips.

Area: Netfrica

HP: 90
Attack Damage/Effect: (3 Null + Slashing) x 9 Hits
Attack Accuracy: D
Attack Description: Whips a target with all nine of its tails.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Varitails1, Zenny
Special: Dodges by this virus are treated as having Haste (+10%). A: 90Hp [Normal]
NinetailsNinetails (Ninetails)

A small fox-like virus, that would otherwise be nondescript if it didn't posses nine metal, razor sharp tails. Despite appearing as though the tails would hinder their movement, they are actually quite good at dodging, and are treated as having Haste for Evasion purposes only at all times. Ninetails Omega has double Haste. As one would expect, they attack via a series of vicious tail whips.

Area: Netfrica

HP: 90
Attack Damage/Effect: (3 Null + Slashing) x 9 Hits
Attack Accuracy: D
Attack Description: Whips a target with all nine of its tails.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Varitails1, Zenny
Special: Dodges by this virus are treated as having Haste (+10%). B: 90Hp [Normal]
NinetailsNinetails (Ninetails)

A small fox-like virus, that would otherwise be nondescript if it didn't posses nine metal, razor sharp tails. Despite appearing as though the tails would hinder their movement, they are actually quite good at dodging, and are treated as having Haste for Evasion purposes only at all times. Ninetails Omega has double Haste. As one would expect, they attack via a series of vicious tail whips.

Area: Netfrica

HP: 90
Attack Damage/Effect: (3 Null + Slashing) x 9 Hits
Attack Accuracy: D
Attack Description: Whips a target with all nine of its tails.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Varitails1, Zenny
Special: Dodges by this virus are treated as having Haste (+10%). C: 90Hp [Normal]

-=Navis=-
Astraea.CMD: 85Hp [Normal][Strengthen: 30]

-=Terrain=-
35% Normal

• No effects.

[Circular Platform]
10% Missing

• Permanent bottomless hole.
• Doubles dodge penalties for bad RP.
• EJO if you fall in.

[Not the Platform]
30% Metal

• Cannot be Broken or Cracked except with Geddon/PanelShot, cannot be Burrowed into.
• Elec attacks: +100% Source Damage.
• 100 Damage Aqua attacks: Change terrain hit to Cracked.
• 100 Damage Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Furnace.
• PanelShot: Imbue Elec + Break.

[Machinery to either side of the platform]
20% Solar

• Elec Elementals get +5 HP/action.
• Wood attacks: +100% Source Damage, change terrain hit to Cracked.
• PanelShot: Imbue Elec + Stun1.

[Scattered sections of the side areas]
5% Furnace

• Fire attacks: Splash to all adjacent panels for 20% Source Damage. Does not chain across multiple Furnace panels.
• Heat Mirage: Non-Fire Elementals get -10% Accuracy, +10% Evasion against Non-Fire Elementals.
• Aqua attacks: Vaporize into steam, increase accuracy penalty to -20% for Non-Fire Elemental and -10% for Fire Elemental for turn after hit.
• Changes to Metal Terrain when hit with an Aqua attack of 100 damage or greater.
• Echolocation nullifies the effects of the steam cloud and heat mirage for the user, and Seeking just ignores it.
• PanelShot: Imbue Fire.

[Small patch in centre of platform, under Abductor Unit]

Terrain Quick-Slip: Things mare moving quickly; terrain changes to the exterior area will not last, as the battlefield moves past them. The fast moving platform itself will be resilient to terrain changes.

-=Objects=-
Transport Lift: 200Hp [Made of metal, but presents as non-conductive normal terrain on the surface][SteelBody]

Abductor: 16Hp [Furnace][Centre of platform]

-=Battle Mode=-
Pursuit:
- Win Condition: Reach the end of the pursuit [Minimum of 3 turns]
- Additional Failure Condition: Becoming unable to continue pursuit without successfully concluding it.
- Versus 3-5 Area/Net tier appropriate viruses on battle start
- Viruses get one turn to act and be acted upon, before the pursuit moves past them. 3-4 additional viruses from the area list will join the battle at the end of each turn, as the 'next' upcoming viruses.
- All players will be given an automatic voluntary escape after the win condition is fulfilled, and may use this to signify the conclusion of the pursuit in their favour.
- Players may continue for additional turns after the victory condition is met, but the failure condition will still apply if it is reached.
- At battle conclusion, players receive full rewards for their performance in battle.
- Terrain, field objects, and other features of the battle are left to mod's discretion

- Defeat the Ninetails to clear the pursuit!

-=Turn 3!=-

It was like being back in space.

The warmth of the furnace at her back, if she ignored the Metools and the machinery it was like being back in the deep infrastructure of her satellite's network, her personal display window showing the every changing view of the stars outside while she performed her maintence checks.

But she wasn't.

Something eclipsed the light. She mentally shrugged it off at first - just a bit of machiner in the dark. But then it happened again and this time it came with sounds. She squinted to try to see. The faint light of the molten panel didn't reach nearly far enough.

"Alex, Abductor, something is out there." That was all she had time to say before the shapes leapt.

Thin narrow snouts, sharply pointed ears, and sharpened, gleaming tails.

They landed and time began to move again. She matched names and statblocks to the lithe shapes that wound their way between the Metools. She doubted they were ignoring the Metools simply because they were also viruses and found herself glad for their near impervious helmets. She would need to be quick if she wanted to remove them.

And careful too.

She glanced back at her summoned object, her nose creasing at it's shape. She couldn't heal it and she would need to be aware of the blast radius from it's self-destruct.

"Oh, they look mean. My ex wore that exact expression whenever she was made at me. I wouldn't bother with your shield, by the way." Alex mused. Astraea wasn't really sure what to do about the information about his ex, and she was a little confused by the comment about her shield but she could improvise. "It looks like the platform is coming up to the end of the line so lets play it safe. Quick feet, here's this for some healing aannnnd-oh, oh yeah we can finish 'em off with this if you use some of that extra strength."

"Understood. I'll do my best." Astraea stepped away from the blast radius of her summoned helper somewhat regretfully. It felt a little cruel to leave the saucer and depiction of her alone to its fate but if it survived this fight then maybe she could thank it properly.

The first chip loaded and she lifted a hand in front of her chest, palm up Above her hand a small swarm of mechanical Skeeter virus. They lumbered through the air toward the last fox to land on the platform and she frowned. How long would it take to reach the virus?

Apparently her Abductor Unit also had the same though. Her poorly rendered doppleganger frowned and manipulated the controls. The hook underneath swung wildly as the ship rotated, then flew out past the Skeeters toward the Ninetails as well.

Astraea wondered at that. It made sense for the construct to know what she was thinking to some extent- it was running off her processors, but wasn't that degree of synchronity a little weird?

Whatever. The next chip was downloading. Alex had mentioned speed but most of their gun-based chips had been used already. The dragon would probably be fast enough to catch them, but she thought Alex also wouldn't want to test if the Metools were protected from the unerside by their hardhats.

All that to say it wasn't a surprised when her hand reached for her wrench so she could use her sword. The familiar beam of light extended out and she stood for a moment to channel all the extra power she had into it. The she charged the first of the Ninetails. She stepped around the Metools and brought her sword down in a diagonal slash. Next she spun about and shifted her grip to lunge directly toward the so far untargeted Ninetails, attempting to spear it through with the empowered blade. She pulled back from her lunge and skip-step-twisted to face the last Ninetails and lashed out with her weapon.

There wasn't anything particularly pretty or flashy about her swordplay but it would be enough to get the job done or at least make the job easier to complete.

"I don't think that's what people mean when they say sword and shield is the best combination but I'll take it."

Hurtling through the flickering darkness, the intermittent pin-points of light reflected on the waving metal tails of the three viruses as they moved in; Each was a flurry of quick, nimble movements that made them hard to pin down, and as Astraea formed a plan, the first one darted forward, seemingly ignoring her abductor unit and going right for the alien navi herself. Its tails flashed in the dark, wildly flaying the are where Astraea had been standing a moment before. Fortunately, the engineer had backed off, away from the attacking virus just in time, and only one single whip of a single tail lash managed to connect, drawing a slim razor cut across her form.

From the other side, a second one appeared in her periphery spinning in place as it whipped out with its own mesh of blades; two of these managed to catch Astraea in the back and side despite her best efforts to get away.

The third had waited a moment longer, watching, and it gave Astraea enough time to send her helpful mechanical swarm in its direction. Before the dubiously precise insects could reach it, Astraea's low resolution companion evened the odds; her better-rendered self wouldn't need to worry about the cagey, unpredictable virus if it was baited in advance. It launched the hook with a knowing certainty.

Outside, the Ninetail virus jumped away from the obvious attack, ready to dodge the assault, but just as calculated, this left the virus to chance to react as the swarm of mechanical bugs descended on it a moment later, drawing off data and sending it back to Astraea. Harried and stun,g the virus thrashed around and lashed out, but only one of its tails managed to connect with anything at all, scarping with little impact off the edge of the abductor unit.

Taking her moment, Astraea fired up her wrench and attempted to extricate the trio of viruses with careful, precise strikes. Unfortunately, the difficulty of seeing and the unusual surrounds let her first attack go wide as the virus skipped to one side. The second virus tried to do the same, eyeing her blade, but it seemed to stumble on a huddled metool that had almost certainly been a few inches to the left a moment before, and in the hesitation Astraea managed to cut it down. The third was still recovering from the biting insects and making a low threatening sound in its throat at the abductor unit – the little image of Astraea inside was waving at it as he counterpart managed to move in undetected for the moment, and finish it off as well.

Further ahead, the curving track seemed to grow increasingly complex in its meandering, manoeuvring though the tight space; a growing light source was approaching from somewhere far off ahead. The trip might almost be over, perhaps, but Astraea still had one more virus to contend with before she was in the clear.

-=Viruses=-
OldstoveOldstove (Oldstove)

Oldstove viruses move and dodge at a very slow pace.

Area: ACDC, Kotobuki Town, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 50
Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Fire + Line Attack(3) + Panel Crack
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Flamethrower to one enemy.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): FireBurner1, Zenny
Special: Slow Movement. Cracks Terrain. A: PING!
OldstoveOldstove (Oldstove)

Oldstove viruses move and dodge at a very slow pace.

Area: ACDC, Kotobuki Town, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 50
Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Fire + Line Attack(3) + Panel Crack
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Flamethrower to one enemy.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): FireBurner1, Zenny
Special: Slow Movement. Cracks Terrain. B: DELETED
WindBoxWindBox (Wind & Fan)

All viruses in this family are immobile during combat, with the exception of being able to turn to face any direction it wishes. Later versions of this virus may switch between Wind and Fan effects, which requires one action, during which time all wind or fan effects cease. Bonuses and penalties do not stack if multiples of the same virus family exist on the field. Wind and Fan do not push or pull Objects, only creatures.

Area: SciLab, Yoka, Beach, Sharo, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 100
Attack Damage/Effect: Wind Effect, Northwind
Attack Accuracy: S
Attack Description: Causes a large scale gale of wind to blow across the entire field in the direction the virus is facing. This gale will constantly move all targets this virus considers to be enemies in the direction the wind is blowing, which makes it difficult to land many kinds of attacks on it and allied viruses, such as thrown attacks and close ranged attacks. All those affected by the wind will also have their barriers and auras blown off by a constant Northwind effect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Wind, Zenny
Special: Causes short ranged attacks, such as (but not limited to) swords, melee attacks, and flame thrower style weapons, to suffer from a 30% accuracy penalty against targets they are being pushed away from. Both sides of the engagement suffer a 30% accuracy penalty with direct attacks perpendicular to the direction of the wind, and all thrown attacks.
Special: Those allied with this virus may opt to take advantage of the wind to increase movement speed or evasion by going with the wind. They do not suffer any penalties, however. Conversely, anyone may move along with the wind to increase accuracy by 10% for close ranged attacks, assuming the target is in that direction.
Special: Northwind effect to all enemies once per virus action while maintaining wind effect. A: DELETED
MagTectMagTect (MagTect)

MagTect move and dodge at slightly above average speed. In spite of the fact that they have wings, and hover above the ground, they are still subject to the effects of the terrain below. Regardless, they are very dangerous thanks to their ability to exert control over enemy movements with pincer attacks and magnetic pull effects. They know how to use these effects, too. MagTects avoid liquid terrain types if at all possible, as they do not function well at all if forcibly submerged.

Area: SciLab, Electown, Netfrica, NAXA

HP: 90
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Elec + Stun 1 + Magnetic Pull
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Pulls opponents towards them and hits with a magnet. Stuns.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Elec + Seeking + Pincer Attack x 2 Missiles
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C
Secondary Attack Description: Shoots two MagnetMissiles at a target: one from each side. The missiles move as if to pass the target, then suddenly turn towards each other in a pincer attack with the target between them.
Element: Elec
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): MagBolt1, MagnetMissile1 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Pincer Attack: Attacks a single chosen target from two opposing directions at the same time. A: PING!
MagTectMagTect (MagTect)

MagTect move and dodge at slightly above average speed. In spite of the fact that they have wings, and hover above the ground, they are still subject to the effects of the terrain below. Regardless, they are very dangerous thanks to their ability to exert control over enemy movements with pincer attacks and magnetic pull effects. They know how to use these effects, too. MagTects avoid liquid terrain types if at all possible, as they do not function well at all if forcibly submerged.

Area: SciLab, Electown, Netfrica, NAXA

HP: 90
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Elec + Stun 1 + Magnetic Pull
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Pulls opponents towards them and hits with a magnet. Stuns.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Elec + Seeking + Pincer Attack x 2 Missiles
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C
Secondary Attack Description: Shoots two MagnetMissiles at a target: one from each side. The missiles move as if to pass the target, then suddenly turn towards each other in a pincer attack with the target between them.
Element: Elec
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): MagBolt1, MagnetMissile1 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Pincer Attack: Attacks a single chosen target from two opposing directions at the same time. B: PING!

NinetailsNinetails (Ninetails)

A small fox-like virus, that would otherwise be nondescript if it didn't posses nine metal, razor sharp tails. Despite appearing as though the tails would hinder their movement, they are actually quite good at dodging, and are treated as having Haste for Evasion purposes only at all times. Ninetails Omega has double Haste. As one would expect, they attack via a series of vicious tail whips.

Area: Netfrica

HP: 90
Attack Damage/Effect: (3 Null + Slashing) x 9 Hits
Attack Accuracy: D
Attack Description: Whips a target with all nine of its tails.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Varitails1, Zenny
Special: Dodges by this virus are treated as having Haste (+10%). A: 90Hp [Normal]
NinetailsNinetails (Ninetails)

A small fox-like virus, that would otherwise be nondescript if it didn't posses nine metal, razor sharp tails. Despite appearing as though the tails would hinder their movement, they are actually quite good at dodging, and are treated as having Haste for Evasion purposes only at all times. Ninetails Omega has double Haste. As one would expect, they attack via a series of vicious tail whips.

Area: Netfrica

HP: 90
Attack Damage/Effect: (3 Null + Slashing) x 9 Hits
Attack Accuracy: D
Attack Description: Whips a target with all nine of its tails.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Varitails1, Zenny
Special: Dodges by this virus are treated as having Haste (+10%). B: PING!
NinetailsNinetails (Ninetails)

A small fox-like virus, that would otherwise be nondescript if it didn't posses nine metal, razor sharp tails. Despite appearing as though the tails would hinder their movement, they are actually quite good at dodging, and are treated as having Haste for Evasion purposes only at all times. Ninetails Omega has double Haste. As one would expect, they attack via a series of vicious tail whips.

Area: Netfrica

HP: 90
Attack Damage/Effect: (3 Null + Slashing) x 9 Hits
Attack Accuracy: D
Attack Description: Whips a target with all nine of its tails.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Varitails1, Zenny
Special: Dodges by this virus are treated as having Haste (+10%). C: DELETED

-=Navis=-
Astraea.CMD: 120Hp [Normal][Sword: 3 Uses]

-=Terrain=-
35% Normal

• No effects.

[Circular Platform]
10% Missing

• Permanent bottomless hole.
• Doubles dodge penalties for bad RP.
• EJO if you fall in.

[Not the Platform]
30% Metal

• Cannot be Broken or Cracked except with Geddon/PanelShot, cannot be Burrowed into.
• Elec attacks: +100% Source Damage.
• 100 Damage Aqua attacks: Change terrain hit to Cracked.
• 100 Damage Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Furnace.
• PanelShot: Imbue Elec + Break.

[Machinery to either side of the platform]
20% Solar

• Elec Elementals get +5 HP/action.
• Wood attacks: +100% Source Damage, change terrain hit to Cracked.
• PanelShot: Imbue Elec + Stun1.

[Scattered sections of the side areas]
5% Furnace

• Fire attacks: Splash to all adjacent panels for 20% Source Damage. Does not chain across multiple Furnace panels.
• Heat Mirage: Non-Fire Elementals get -10% Accuracy, +10% Evasion against Non-Fire Elementals.
• Aqua attacks: Vaporize into steam, increase accuracy penalty to -20% for Non-Fire Elemental and -10% for Fire Elemental for turn after hit.
• Changes to Metal Terrain when hit with an Aqua attack of 100 damage or greater.
• Echolocation nullifies the effects of the steam cloud and heat mirage for the user, and Seeking just ignores it.
• PanelShot: Imbue Fire.

[Small patch in centre of platform, under Abductor Unit]

Terrain Quick-Slip: Things mare moving quickly; terrain changes to the exterior area will not last, as the battlefield moves past them. The fast moving platform itself will be resilient to terrain changes.

-=Objects=-
Transport Lift: 200Hp [Made of metal, but presents as non-conductive normal terrain on the surface][SteelBody]

Abductor: 13Hp [Furnace][Centre of platform]

-=Battle Mode=-
Pursuit:
- Win Condition: Reach the end of the pursuit [Minimum of 3 turns]
- Additional Failure Condition: Becoming unable to continue pursuit without successfully concluding it.
- Versus 3-5 Area/Net tier appropriate viruses on battle start
- Viruses get one turn to act and be acted upon, before the pursuit moves past them. 3-4 additional viruses from the area list will join the battle at the end of each turn, as the 'next' upcoming viruses.
- All players will be given an automatic voluntary escape after the win condition is fulfilled, and may use this to signify the conclusion of the pursuit in their favour.
- Players may continue for additional turns after the victory condition is met, but the failure condition will still apply if it is reached.
- At battle conclusion, players receive full rewards for their performance in battle.
- Terrain, field objects, and other features of the battle are left to mod's discretion

- Defeat the Ninetails to clear the pursuit!

-=Turn 4!=-

"One left! Finish it quick, Astraea!" Alex called. There didn't appear to be a need for him to slot in another chip, the one she had should do the job.

"Just in case." He said as he did so anyways. Better for her to have the chips and not need them then to not have them at all.

The alien had felt the strike of the tails earlier and now she eyed the nine remaining. She didn't want to get hit by that again. But now the last virus had nothing else it needed to focus on.

Except it did. A look back showed that despite everything the Abductor Unit was still standing. The saucer was looking battered and there were scrapes across the mini-control room where her double resided and the main body of the machine and one of the tripod legs was almost sheared through but it was still standing. Astraea nodded to her double who gave her a double thumbs up. Astraea smiled and stepped to the side.

She slipped away from her previous location, double-timing it between two of the Metools to vacate her previous position. She had lingered too long looking, hopefully the abrupt movement would throw the fox's aim off. Over the place she had been standing flew the hook from her abductor unit, attempting to distract or drag the metal virus into range of its summoner's blade.

A swing of her arm brought the sword up in a diagonal slice in the fox's direction. She let her arm's momentum carry her forward and to the side before she dug in her heel and pivoted, spinning back aground in a horizontal slash at the virus's side. She was out of the extra power her shield had granted her earlier. Now it was just a matter of slicing enough times to put down the virus.

She could feel the other chip data Alex had sent her but she let it lie unusued as she pivoted away from the fox only to step back in and drive another thrust at the virus's side. With all the Metools around she didn't want to risk an AOE, nor the chance that one might raise its helmet too early.

The Sword worked well as an instrument of precision for those purposes.

With jsut one virus left, the Ninetails seemed cagey but still aggressive as it circled the edge of the platform in small skips and hops, looking for an opening. the glow of light was slowly growing brighter and its head turned forward for a moment before snapping back to spot the next attack coming in from Astraea's abductor unit. It dodges aside, making a small, metallic-sounding noise somewhere between a bark and a growl, threatening. The distraction was enough, however, for Astraea to move in and strike it with the laser edge of her weapon. The fox recoiled and spun its tails about, flailing in the navi's general direction, but Astraea had learned quickly enough and backed off after her first cut; the storm of flashing tail-blades hit only air and well-protected metool helmets. When it slowed from the attack, she was ready to come in again and make a second strike, this time enough to finish the virus off.

With the immediate conflict ended, Astraea had a moment to gather herself while the platform wound along its rails in the gradually fading dark. Soon enough, she could make out what looked like another docking bay, bathed in green light as the platform drew closer. The rail seemed to end there, just short of a large set of reinforced blast doors with a yellow paint scheme and green crosses marked symmetrically across it. The wind died down as the platform slowed the last few grades and began to move in towards the dock at a controlled pace.

-=Viruses=-
OldstoveOldstove (Oldstove)

Oldstove viruses move and dodge at a very slow pace.

Area: ACDC, Kotobuki Town, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 50
Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Fire + Line Attack(3) + Panel Crack
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Flamethrower to one enemy.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): FireBurner1, Zenny
Special: Slow Movement. Cracks Terrain. A: PING!
OldstoveOldstove (Oldstove)

Oldstove viruses move and dodge at a very slow pace.

Area: ACDC, Kotobuki Town, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 50
Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Fire + Line Attack(3) + Panel Crack
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Flamethrower to one enemy.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): FireBurner1, Zenny
Special: Slow Movement. Cracks Terrain. B: DELETED
WindBoxWindBox (Wind & Fan)

All viruses in this family are immobile during combat, with the exception of being able to turn to face any direction it wishes. Later versions of this virus may switch between Wind and Fan effects, which requires one action, during which time all wind or fan effects cease. Bonuses and penalties do not stack if multiples of the same virus family exist on the field. Wind and Fan do not push or pull Objects, only creatures.

Area: SciLab, Yoka, Beach, Sharo, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 100
Attack Damage/Effect: Wind Effect, Northwind
Attack Accuracy: S
Attack Description: Causes a large scale gale of wind to blow across the entire field in the direction the virus is facing. This gale will constantly move all targets this virus considers to be enemies in the direction the wind is blowing, which makes it difficult to land many kinds of attacks on it and allied viruses, such as thrown attacks and close ranged attacks. All those affected by the wind will also have their barriers and auras blown off by a constant Northwind effect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Wind, Zenny
Special: Causes short ranged attacks, such as (but not limited to) swords, melee attacks, and flame thrower style weapons, to suffer from a 30% accuracy penalty against targets they are being pushed away from. Both sides of the engagement suffer a 30% accuracy penalty with direct attacks perpendicular to the direction of the wind, and all thrown attacks.
Special: Those allied with this virus may opt to take advantage of the wind to increase movement speed or evasion by going with the wind. They do not suffer any penalties, however. Conversely, anyone may move along with the wind to increase accuracy by 10% for close ranged attacks, assuming the target is in that direction.
Special: Northwind effect to all enemies once per virus action while maintaining wind effect. A: DELETED
MagTectMagTect (MagTect)

MagTect move and dodge at slightly above average speed. In spite of the fact that they have wings, and hover above the ground, they are still subject to the effects of the terrain below. Regardless, they are very dangerous thanks to their ability to exert control over enemy movements with pincer attacks and magnetic pull effects. They know how to use these effects, too. MagTects avoid liquid terrain types if at all possible, as they do not function well at all if forcibly submerged.

Area: SciLab, Electown, Netfrica, NAXA

HP: 90
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Elec + Stun 1 + Magnetic Pull
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Pulls opponents towards them and hits with a magnet. Stuns.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Elec + Seeking + Pincer Attack x 2 Missiles
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C
Secondary Attack Description: Shoots two MagnetMissiles at a target: one from each side. The missiles move as if to pass the target, then suddenly turn towards each other in a pincer attack with the target between them.
Element: Elec
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): MagBolt1, MagnetMissile1 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Pincer Attack: Attacks a single chosen target from two opposing directions at the same time. A: PING!
MagTectMagTect (MagTect)

MagTect move and dodge at slightly above average speed. In spite of the fact that they have wings, and hover above the ground, they are still subject to the effects of the terrain below. Regardless, they are very dangerous thanks to their ability to exert control over enemy movements with pincer attacks and magnetic pull effects. They know how to use these effects, too. MagTects avoid liquid terrain types if at all possible, as they do not function well at all if forcibly submerged.

Area: SciLab, Electown, Netfrica, NAXA

HP: 90
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Elec + Stun 1 + Magnetic Pull
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Pulls opponents towards them and hits with a magnet. Stuns.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Elec + Seeking + Pincer Attack x 2 Missiles
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C
Secondary Attack Description: Shoots two MagnetMissiles at a target: one from each side. The missiles move as if to pass the target, then suddenly turn towards each other in a pincer attack with the target between them.
Element: Elec
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): MagBolt1, MagnetMissile1 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Pincer Attack: Attacks a single chosen target from two opposing directions at the same time. B: PING!

NinetailsNinetails (Ninetails)

A small fox-like virus, that would otherwise be nondescript if it didn't posses nine metal, razor sharp tails. Despite appearing as though the tails would hinder their movement, they are actually quite good at dodging, and are treated as having Haste for Evasion purposes only at all times. Ninetails Omega has double Haste. As one would expect, they attack via a series of vicious tail whips.

Area: Netfrica

HP: 90
Attack Damage/Effect: (3 Null + Slashing) x 9 Hits
Attack Accuracy: D
Attack Description: Whips a target with all nine of its tails.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Varitails1, Zenny
Special: Dodges by this virus are treated as having Haste (+10%). A: DELETED
NinetailsNinetails (Ninetails)

A small fox-like virus, that would otherwise be nondescript if it didn't posses nine metal, razor sharp tails. Despite appearing as though the tails would hinder their movement, they are actually quite good at dodging, and are treated as having Haste for Evasion purposes only at all times. Ninetails Omega has double Haste. As one would expect, they attack via a series of vicious tail whips.

Area: Netfrica

HP: 90
Attack Damage/Effect: (3 Null + Slashing) x 9 Hits
Attack Accuracy: D
Attack Description: Whips a target with all nine of its tails.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Varitails1, Zenny
Special: Dodges by this virus are treated as having Haste (+10%). B: PING!
NinetailsNinetails (Ninetails)

A small fox-like virus, that would otherwise be nondescript if it didn't posses nine metal, razor sharp tails. Despite appearing as though the tails would hinder their movement, they are actually quite good at dodging, and are treated as having Haste for Evasion purposes only at all times. Ninetails Omega has double Haste. As one would expect, they attack via a series of vicious tail whips.

Area: Netfrica

HP: 90
Attack Damage/Effect: (3 Null + Slashing) x 9 Hits
Attack Accuracy: D
Attack Description: Whips a target with all nine of its tails.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Varitails1, Zenny
Special: Dodges by this virus are treated as having Haste (+10%). C: DELETED

-=Navis=-
Astraea.CMD: 120Hp [Normal]

-=Terrain=-
35% Normal

• No effects.

[Circular Platform]
10% Missing

• Permanent bottomless hole.
• Doubles dodge penalties for bad RP.
• EJO if you fall in.

[Not the Platform]
30% Metal

• Cannot be Broken or Cracked except with Geddon/PanelShot, cannot be Burrowed into.
• Elec attacks: +100% Source Damage.
• 100 Damage Aqua attacks: Change terrain hit to Cracked.
• 100 Damage Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Furnace.
• PanelShot: Imbue Elec + Break.

[Machinery to either side of the platform]
20% Solar

• Elec Elementals get +5 HP/action.
• Wood attacks: +100% Source Damage, change terrain hit to Cracked.
• PanelShot: Imbue Elec + Stun1.

[Scattered sections of the side areas]
5% Furnace

• Fire attacks: Splash to all adjacent panels for 20% Source Damage. Does not chain across multiple Furnace panels.
• Heat Mirage: Non-Fire Elementals get -10% Accuracy, +10% Evasion against Non-Fire Elementals.
• Aqua attacks: Vaporize into steam, increase accuracy penalty to -20% for Non-Fire Elemental and -10% for Fire Elemental for turn after hit.
• Changes to Metal Terrain when hit with an Aqua attack of 100 damage or greater.
• Echolocation nullifies the effects of the steam cloud and heat mirage for the user, and Seeking just ignores it.
• PanelShot: Imbue Fire.

[Small patch in centre of platform, under Abductor Unit]

Terrain Quick-Slip: Things mare moving quickly; terrain changes to the exterior area will not last, as the battlefield moves past them. The fast moving platform itself will be resilient to terrain changes.

-=Objects=-
Transport Lift: 200Hp [Made of metal, but presents as non-conductive normal terrain on the surface][SteelBody]

Abductor: 13Hp [Furnace][Centre of platform]

-=Battle 4, Victory!=-
Spoils: 1800z, 32 BugFrags

Success came surprisingly fast and painless once Astraea got into it with the remaining virus. She stepped back with a long exhale of relief, blade of her sword disappearing as the card's effects ended with the end of the battle. She slipped her wrench back to it's spot.

"Nicely done! You're back to full health and your metool buddies haven't been scratched." Alex crowed. The alien nodded and turned to face her summoned machinery.

"Recognition belongs to this." She said simply. The mini-her in the saucer blushed and put both hands on the floating splotches of pink within the wire-frame of its face. Astraea smiled a little in response then tapped out a quick command to send the construct home. The figure in the saucer blinked as light began to shine beneath the saucer's legs then waved a goodbye just before the entire thing disappeared in a flash of light back to her workshop. "Rest, I will call on you again."

"So, stilll bothered by the appearance?" Alex asked as she went about gathering up the spoils of the fight. She shook her head, smile still in place.

The platform began to slow and she looked up and stared at the doors before her. A glance showed the Metools were still huddled beneath their hats. Did this mean more trouble awaited or were they playing it safe?

"Be ready Operator. I do not think our trouble has passed yet."

[Ready for Battle 5/Continue]

[Abductor Unit has been sent away!]

As the platform came to a halt, it shuddered with another heavy jolt; it was easy for Astraea to identify the familiar sensation of something beneath the platform being released and re-locked by another system. A hiss of steam followed and a green and yellow light flashed from above the huge blast doors while a short mechanical tone sounded. all around her, the little metools picked themselves up and began to filter of the platform, chatting to each other again in a murmur that picked up right where it had left off before the danger began.

The are a before the doors had all the signs of a massive loading bay, but the mets all filtered towards a much smaller panel near the bottom left of one door, just barely high and wide enough for them to walk through in single file. The door had an arch-eye metool painted on it, and a green scanning light crossed over each virus as it approached the door. It chimed each time and the line moved forward. It wouldn't take them very long to all get through, as the process continued in an efficient and relaxed way.

One of the mets that had been near to Astrea earlier – it might have been the same one that had gestured to her before, but it was exceptionally difficult to tell at this point – turned back to look at her, then waved its pick-axe in the air to get her attention. Rather than the little hatch, it gestured more towards the centre of the massive blast doors for her. Intimidating as it seemed, Astraea had little other option but to approach, if she wished to go forward.

Moving towards the centre, once she did, didn't give the alien engineer much opportunity to announce herself or make any kind of request or case. Rather, the lights spun again, and another small siren sounded from somewhere inside the blast doors. A green scanning light began to trace across her form, emitted from somewhere near the top centre of the gates, and it took many long, tense seconds to do a meticulous ray trace of the navigator.

Eventually it withdrew and a deeper, more resonant chime sounded. The sounds of machinery moving began from deep underfoot, lurching into the increasingly heavy churn and ratchet of gears and hydraulic hissing. The great doors shuddered, then their seal disengaged. Gradually, they began to slide open.

On the other side, Astraea had a brief glimpse of a broad, open area, split across many different level,s and covered with a variety of different sized dome-like structures, most of which unmistakably looked like very large metool helmets, large enough to be houses and other buildings. the space itself was still lined with machinery and metal piping – it was a sanctuary nestled away amidst a deep nest of mechanical and technological systems, and seemingly with none the wiser for its existence.

As marvellous as this was, the gates pulled open slowly, and Astraea's main focus was drawn to the shapes on the far side, not too far in front of her now. Multiple storey's tall and made of heavy-duty industrial iron and steam-punk fixtures, Astraea would immediately recognise the shapes of two giant machines, both very similar in design and style to the Metangler she had met previously and was now seeking a home for. They weren't quite the same; these ones looked to be in good condition, with well kept paint jobs and well maintained systems. They still bore their digging arms, but looked to have a number of other changes, modifications or additions besides. they were also both leaning forward, arms down on the ground, peering at Astraea with the intensity that only giants of this size could manage.

A few seconds stretched and the doors finished opening with a last heavy metal clank and a hiss of steam. Given the stance of the two massive behemoths, stepping over the threshold right away didn't seem like the wisest course of action, but they didn't seem immediately violent either.

“Brother,” a booming voice echoed and reverberated through the metal body of one of the metangler guards. “This Is A Network Navigator.” The met-helmeted head of one of them twisted slightly, its reticulated neck joints ratcheting around as many sets of eyes shuttered and opened again in the direction of the other one.

“Yes. What Is The Correct Action?” The other one had a similar, almost deafening voice.
“She Is Marked As Sympathetic.”
“Yes. Should We Invite Her Inside?” The second guard's head turned as well now, looking back towards the first while their engines rumbled and steam belched from the stacks on the backs of their huge forms.
“We Do Not Know Her Purpose.”
“Yes. She Might Have Business Here.”
“We Should Ask Why She Has Come.”
“Yes. Should We Obtain This Information Before We Invite Her?”
“If Her Business is Pressing, The Tour May Be Inconvenient.”
“Yes. We Should Ask First.”

As one, the two massive, many-eyed head cranked back again to face Astraea. Unsurprisingly, when they next spoke, it was in thunderous unison, with a rather predictable question.

“Network Navigator! Why Have You Come To This Sanctuary?” It would really be nice if they could tone down their volume a bit, but she might remember that the first Metangler she had met had displayed a similar issue at its full size. Behind the two guards, Astraea could get a glimpse of a great many other regular-sized metools moving about between the buildings and seeming to go about their business, unconcerned by the giant met-themed machines interrogating her at the door.

natural for this to be goodbye but-no, the mattock's tip was being pointed rather purposefully at the large doors. Astraea let her hand drop.

"Looks like you've got your in! Might want to get to it, We don't know what else is out here." Alex urged. Astraea straightened her spine and nodded. She strode determinedly to the big doors and stood through the green light.

What awaited her on the otherside of the doors was a wonder. Buildings clearly designed with the mets as their inspiration, a sprawling cityscape full of activity and machinery.

But that wasn't the only wonder. Two familiar forms (albeit much cleaner) were revealed between her and the city at large. She gaped at them, mouth hanging slightly open, eyes wide as they flicked from one to the other as they conversed.

"Hah! You've got your foot in the door now seal the deal!" Alex's voiced was loud in her ears and she closed her mouth and nodded just the tiniest bit.

The giants were loooking at her and she felt a great pressure settle upon her tiny frame but she ignored it. She had a job to do.

"I am here to find a place for one like you, a being designated Metangler." She answered, pleased that her voice trembled not at all. Her words kept their clipped, matter of fact style and she took comfort in that. "I encountered them in a facility in another network that had fallen into grieveous disrepair. I offered to seek a space where they might stay, for now they have compacted themselves to fit within my PET while I searched the net."

She cleared her throat, aware that she was skipping some rather sizeable bits of the story but she felt that information was unneeded. She did not need to fill in every little detail after all. "I need nothing myself, I merely wish to bring them to a safe haven where they can prosper."

Alex was silent in her ear,s he could hear the faint lack of buzz that meant the mic had been muted. Still she knew he was watching and she hoped to do him proud.

The two waiting giants watched and listened with looming intensity to Astraea's response. Their many-lensed eyes scoped and reticulated at different intervals, and it was hard to take any kind of read for what they might be thinking. The rumble of their internal engines prevented anything like actual silence to follow in the gaps between her words, and the constant plumes of curling steam coupled with the obvious village life carrying on far behind them, stopped there from being any true sense of stillness, but there was, all the same, a waiting, contemplative pause.

“Brother, She Speaks Of The Lost Sites.” One rumbled of sound broke the tension as the left giant's head craned around on its articulated joints again. The other turned its head again in response as well.

“Yes. Many Are Unaccounted For.”
“Many Are Abandoned Or Destroyed.”
“Yes. Our New Brother Will Need Help.”
“We Must Inform The Core.”
“Yes. More Space Will Be Required.”
“Our New Brother May Not Understand Yet.”
“Yes. We Remember Losing Our Directives.”
“This Is... Joyous.”
“Yes. It Is Also... Difficult.”
“We Must Meet Our New Brother.”
“Yes. We Must Ensure He Is Safe.”
“For Our Sanctuary?”
“Yes. Also For Himself.”

After a pause the two large helmeted heads cranked and ratcheted back to face Astraea again. The spoke in unison, booming at her from both sides.

“You Must Bring Our New Brother Here!” As the echoing sound rumbled away again, however, Astraea was able to notice a different sound coming from somewhere else. It started like the sound of wind, but gradually grew into a moaning gale, coming from somewhere out in the dark, beyond the loading bay doors. There was no telling how far underground the fast-paced platform had taken Astraea to get here, but a sudden wind seemed out of place. Beyond the open space in front of the doors, and the bay where the platform was docked, the complex nest of forgotten machinery faded into darkness, but distance light points gave the impression of red soil and deep rock.

The sound of the wind carried something else; it was hard to pick out at first, but as it drew closer it definitely began to sound like an angry war cry. The two gate guards slowly rotated their heads towards the distant dark, now hearing the sound as well.

“Brother, Something Comes.”
“Yes. We Must Prepare To Defend.” Their hulking forms began to shift slightly, picking themselves sup from the stopped position they had been interviewing Astraea from, and they each moved slightly forward, onto the threshold of the blast doors. An insightful navigator might see that Astraea herself, and possibly the compact-form Metangler, might be the fly in the ointment at this exact moment; the guards were not bringing her inside yet, but they also didn't seem intent upon simply closing the blast doors and leaving her outside.

A red flicker in the dark drew closer, and the howling wind became a hot gale of blasted desert air; Astrea could feel the leading specks of scouring desert sands being whipped across the loading bay. The shout grew intelligible moments later as waves of heat washed out from the shadows and coils of darkness began to reach forward with them.

“Now I've got you! Userpers! Thieves! Defilers!! I'll destroy you all!!” The voice was manic and wild, with a feminine accent to it, though it was rough regardless. A dark shape burst forward, flying out of the dark in a maelstrom of burning sand. The form was shadowy and indistinct at first, but a female form was clear, vaguely humanoid, but tall and thin. As sand began to cover the loading platform, the whipping winds carried her towards Astraea, the guards, and the open blast doors. In the glimpse of time remaining, Astraea could see dark brown skin, clad in gold-trimmed veils. Her feet faded away into indistinct shadow below the knees and her hands grew into long, almost incorporeal shadow claws instead. A blaze of red hair trailed behind her, making the brightest point of light within her form, as it burned like an unnatural fire.

“I'll burn you all from my desert!!” This last scream was about all there was time for as she reached the platform, one clawed hand already upraised; she showed no sign of slowing or stopping, and seemed to be intent on attacking at full speed.

-=The Vengeful Wind=-
SiroccoShade.rcvr: 500Hp [Sand] [Central-Eastern edge of the battlefield]

-=Caught in the Crossfire=-
Astraea.CMD: 120Hp [Normal] [Centre of the battlefield]

-=Holding the Gate=-
Metang-Sual: ???Hp [Metal][Left side of blast doors]
Metang-Takid: ???Hp [Metal][Right side of blast doors]

-=Sanctuary Exposed=-
60% Normal

• No effects.

[Most of the loading bay area]
20% Metal

• Cannot be Broken or Cracked except with Geddon/PanelShot, cannot be Burrowed into.
• Elec attacks: +100% Source Damage.
• 100 Damage Aqua attacks: Change terrain hit to Cracked.
• 100 Damage Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Furnace.
• PanelShot: Imbue Elec + Break.

[Blast doors and beyond]
20% Sand

• -20% Evasion and reduced movement speed to all.
• Can Burrow as standard action, incurable Blind1 until turn after exiting Burrow.
• Wind attacks: +100% Source Damage + Blind1, change terrain hit to Normal, trigger Sandstorm for 3 turns: Lose 5 HP/action, Blind1, Fire attacks gain Slashing.
• Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Glass.
• Terrain changes between Sand and QuickSand do not inflict damage upon burrowed entities, nor do they eject burrowed entities to the surface.
• PanelShot: Blind1.

[Eastern edge of the loading bay]

The bay is a large, mostly ovular area, broader than it is deep. The eastern side is beginning to be encroached on by sand, and drops away into darkness and missing terrain. The northern side holds the large blast doors, while the southern side holds the platform that Astraea arrived on. The western side ends against a wall of old machinery and metal.

-= Battle 5, Start!=-

They called him Brother.

Astraea felt light headed. She let her pose relax as the two spoke back and forth about the topic, her mind grabbed onto the hopeful ones and the fact that they were willing to take on the task of assisting Metangler in- something? Adjusting maybe?

She was happy for him. Clearly by their demands they cared for him, wanted to protect him. He was wanted here and she felt a spreading pool of relief course through her. She had wanted to help him yes, but she hadn't been sure of her ability to assist him in finding a goal outside of his old directives. She wasn't programmed for social work.

"Of course." She said in response to the demand to bring him here. The noise washed over her but it was comforting rather than frightening. She began preparing to call the travel-sized Metangler to her side as the echoes of the noise reached them. She shut her eyes against the rushing wind and called, an appropriatly sized target appearing on the ground in front of it. It was identical to the ones she used for summoning her machines to the field and this was no different: a flash of light from the ceiling and then Metangler would be there.

But something else was arriving as well.

Astraea finally registered that the noise in her ears wasn't the reverberations from the massive machines and turned her whole body to look, her hand dropping to the haft of her wrench as the gate guards stated their intent to defend. Her eyes hardened and she shifted to look at Metangler. "Get inside, with your brethern."

"What? I mean he's small but he put up a pretty good fight before and you didn't even get a chance to see what he could do." Astraea nodded once to acknowledge Alex's words before she answered.

"Our mission was to find and deliver Metangler to somewhere safe." She stiffly stated. Would he accept her reasoning? "If, as a result of conflict Metangler is hurt or deleted then our mission is a failure. I can be recalled to the PET, they cannot."

"Hey, you don't have to convince me to fight! That's sound reasoning though, let's get ready to rumble!" Astraea nodded and adjusted her position to put her firmly between the gates and the edge of darkness where the sound of wind was coming from. It was louder now and she could almost make out a voice.

The heat came, with it the shadows and then finally their source. Astraea wanted to try to talk it out but she remembered the previous fight with the viruses, the ones that hadn't been keen on diplomacy. Her eyes narrowed and she moved into a fighting stance.

"Well she looks crazier then a bag of cats fished out of a river.Doesn't she realize she brought the desert with her?" Alex remarked as the sand devil appeared on the scene. "Whatever, she wants a fight she's got one! Battle routine set!"

Despite the encouragement she wasn't inclined to rush in to a brawl with the unknown foe. She still remembered the vampire, the desperate fight in the dark. She hardered her resolve and shook her wrist, her shield snapping out in front of her. "Ready to recieve chips."

"As much as I want to rush in, let's start it off from a distance! Here's this, you already have a shield, that's not really helpful here, what if she dodges that? Huh. Let's call your Turret too." Alex finished pondering and sent the chips.

The running narration was a bit unnerving but it was also a little nice to hear him planning things ahead. The first chip data settled in her systems and she scurried across the still normal floor out of direct line with the gate guarnds and Metangler. Once she was a suitable distance away she pulled her raygun, the usual white overwritten with the familiar green coloration of the chip she was channeling through it. She lifted her gun then fired at the opponent, vaguely hoping to knock her right off the edge of the platform.

Chip spent she reholstered her buster and hurridly shifted a little from where she had just been standing in case of retaliation. Her other hand dropped to her belt and soon the targetting display appeared on the ground in front of her again.

Once more Cinder Turret Alpha took the field in defense of its' maker. It felt the firm tap of her wrench on its' shell, felt its' armor thicken and its' screws tighten. It knew what it had been called for.

Beep beep!

A pair of buring shells were spat toward the shady character.

The alien mechanic changed her positioning again, shifting around the turret's frame to give it a clear shot.

Summoned in on the cusp of an unexpected battle, the now-compact Metangler appeared not far from Astraea with its shovel arms still folded away neatly on the back of its much smaller drum-like body. It looked up at the two still massive guards before it but, before there was any time for greetings or pleasantries, danger was upon them. It turned to look back to Astraea for direction, then towards the howling Valkyrie that was assaulting the platform, then finally down at its own much reduced form.

“Security And Defence Of Valued Entities Is Priority!” In a brief moment, it unfolded its digging arms, looking back towards the attacker as wind continued to blast across the platform. the smaller rumbling of its engines sounded less even than the two larger metanglers, and the smoke that emanated from its miniature chimneys spluttered and blackened every few seconds. It looked down at itself again. “Security Grade Scaling Cannot Be Resumed Without Replacement Data. Damage To Core And Auxiliary Systems Remains. Current State Is In Liability To Present Danger. Directive Accepted. Seeking Shelter.” It delivered its response in the same absolute tone, albeit a higher pitched and quieter one than the gate guards, but there was something, if only slightly, to suggest that it might have sounded unhappy about its assessment. It moved towards the gate with heavy mechanical steps; it was not a fast program, unfortunately, but the movement was steady.

“Curse you all! Curse you all for despoiling my desert!!” A howling shriek interrupted the moment as the red-haired figure screamed at them and came on. The blistering winds accompanied her, but even as she raced towards the blast doors, her physical body grew steadily darker and more wrapped in shadows; dark brown skin tones faded to pure black and a heat haze mixed with indistinct shadows until only her flaming hair and burning red eyes were clear.

Astraea was on the move as well, and turned to fire off a crack shot at the enraged woman. The cannon shot was accurate, sure enough, and blasted through her chest as she flew towards the door, but it didn't seem to have any true impact on her; something about the way the darkness was enshrouding her made her form too incorporeal for the time being.

She flew past the trundling little metangler, seemingly disregarding him for now, and instead flew at the two guards in a violent fury. Her form became a dervish if long, clawed strikes that grew with the shadows and raked at the first machine again and again while the winds around her cut and scoured. Small nicks and gouges began to appear on its metal body, but for the time being they looked mostly superficial, though the metal where she struck glowed red hot. She hovered between the two, though still low enough for Astraea to reach in close quarters if she wanted to, weaving back and forth in the air as the two massive guards began to counter her assault. Each began to swing their diggers at the much smaller target, one after the other taking inter-changing strikes in compliment to each other. She seemed to make some effort of dodging around the strikes in between her own flurry of raking claws and scouring winds, but the strikes that passed through her shadowed body didn't seem to phase her. She turned her next storm of strikes against the other metangler, scoring and scratching. It didn't seem like too much damage against such impressive beings, but their own inability, so far, to repel her cast the conflict in a more dangerous light.

In the midst of this melee, Astraea called in a construct of her own making. CTA found itself on the field surrounded by many other machines, but only it was actually of the maker's own hand. Her touch galvanised the turret's resolve and it immediately joined the fray, firing a pair of cinder shots at the obviously hostile one. Though the shots passed through, as previous strikes had also done, it did seem to get the assailant's attention and she turned, fixing her burning gaze on Astraea and her turret now.

“You as well! Defiler! Despoiler!! Violator!! You'll all return to the winds and the sands!!” Her screech reached a crescendo and her hands lifted up above her form. The winds rose further, whipping about the platform in a scorching maelstrom as more sand began to spread and build up. Soon Astraea could feel that she was up to her ankles in coarse desert sand, though she was able to shelter more or less from the biting way it scratched at everything. Beside her, CTA was damaged by the blast of heat and flying particulates, but it bore up with staunch determination. Towards the doors, her Metangler friend seemed unharmed, by chance, though he was struggling now to step through the shifting terrain.

The two mentangler guards were not able to avoided the scouring sands in any real way, but they bore the brunt of it without any obvious complain. Instead, they each took the opportunity of the desert-woman's distraction to raise their diggers up and slam them down on her together. This time, though their arms still passed through, the blow seemed to flinch her somewhat, her shadowy form wavering as she half turned back. For a moment, the shadows enshrouding her feel away and her physical body was more visible again; the moment's dazed stun wouldn't last long, most likely.

-=The Vengeful Wind=-
SiroccoShade.rcvr: 500Hp [Sand][Near the centre of the blast doors][Self-Slow][Stunned!(1)][Shadow (ending now)]

-=Caught in the Crossfire=-
Astraea.CMD: 120Hp [Sand][Western side of the battlefield] [1-Hit Shield]

-=Holding the Gate=-
Metang-Sual: ??? (-65) Hp [Sand][Left side of blast doors]
Metang-Takid: ??? (-65) Hp [Sand][Right side of blast doors]

-=Mechanical Considerations=-
Metangler.sec.ogg: 40Hp [Sand][Approaching blast doors, 1 movement away]

CTA: 36Hp [Sand][Reinforced]

-=Sanctuary Exposed=-
100% Sand

• -20% Evasion and reduced movement speed to all.
• Can Burrow as standard action, incurable Blind1 until turn after exiting Burrow.
• Wind attacks: +100% Source Damage + Blind1, change terrain hit to Normal, trigger Sandstorm for 3 turns: Lose 5 HP/action, Blind1, Fire attacks gain Slashing.
• Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Glass.
• Terrain changes between Sand and QuickSand do not inflict damage upon burrowed entities, nor do they eject burrowed entities to the surface.
• PanelShot: Blind1.

[It gets everywhere]

The bay is a large, mostly ovular area, broader than it is deep. The eastern side is beginning to be encroached on by sand, and drops away into darkness and missing terrain. The northern side holds the large blast doors, while the southern side holds the platform that Astraea arrived on. The western side ends against a wall of old machinery and metal. It's all covered in sand now.

"Oh this is going to suck." Alex groaned as he and Astraea watched her shots fly through the crazed desert lady without harming her. "That's the shadow defense, I should've known from the shadows dammit... Ryeboy's ninja navi uses it so I know it's going to be a pain."

"How do we circumvent it?" Astraea's eyes were on the guards and Metangler and she felt a pang of regret for summoning the smaller one so soon, she could see it struggling through the new terrain. At least she had gotten the shrieking fiend's attention.

"With slashing, it'll dispell it. It looks like it's letting up for now anyways and she's stunned, lets hit her hard while we've got the chance!" Chip data rushed into the pet and she called it as quickly as it came.

Fire coursed through her. It coursed through her body and her code until it condensed in her outstretched hand where it dripped to the ground and into a new form; a large, glowing, oval-shaped ember. The ember slit and from its hollow insides rushed a snake with coal-black scales lined with flames. It hissed once then rushed across the field to SiroccoShade while leaving a trail of glass in its wake. Belatedly she realized that while her current position meant the snake would miss Metangler completely but the mechanic made a note to watch for that in the future.

"Oh shi-I didn't realize fire would do that to sand. Hey, if the sand is too bad your CTs can shoot the ground." Alex suggested. "But for now, mmm. I get why you called Metangler immediately but that might screw us and it if that crazy chick digs her claws into it. You'll need to pull her attention or provide it some help."[/color]

The alien considered his words and then Metangler's position on the field and nodded firmly. The truth hurt but she resolved herself to push forward. "I'll do both."

"Really? How are you going to provide-wait not like that!" His yelled as Astraea pried her shield off her arm with an ominious crack. Alex groaned as he put his face in his hand which meant he missed the part where she tapped the now removed shield with her wrench, a thin-layer of metal folding over the hard plastic.

Finished with her preparations she lined up with Metangler, pulled her arm back, then threw. Upon connection with the Metangler the metal spread over the shield would transfer to the machine and reinforce its structure, giving it a little more leeway in the surviving prospect.

Now for the next part. She shuffled away from her spot, a single large step to seperate herself from her turret.

"Alex, how do I get her attention?"

"PFFT, now you ask me! Well normally I deal with ladies who are looking for a good time but I guess I can help in this case." He mused. After what felt like way too long but wasn't really that long at all he nodded. "Okay! Here's what you say..."

"I'll never let you have your desert back you rabid, sand-encrusted cat!" Yelling was harder than Astraea had expected, and it took a couple tries for her voice to even be loud enough. Still the mechanic pressed on and forced herself to speak with a malice she didn't quite feel, no matter how silly it felt. She raised her hand. "I'll burn all traces of you from the net! You'll never get anything back!"

She dropped her arm. CTA beeped and fired at the ground at the gate, the incendiary shots sinking into the ground and hopefully turning it to glass.

"You changed the words and your delivery sucks but you might need this." A shield materialized in front of Astraea as she stepped back again. She slipped her arm into the handles on the back and held it in front of her.

"Thank you."

"What I'm here for~"

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