The Silent Hunter

"That didn't go exactly as planned..." Validus muttered as he looked up from his scope. Thankfully the explosion had gone by unnoticed by the crowd. As soon as the smoke cleared, Markerlight frantically contacted the Navi. "Bad news, Val! We've got more suicide metools!"

The navi cursed. There were at least another three more of them that materialized. As he pulled the handle on the rifle again, he fixed the crosshairs of his rifle on the three Metools. Same bomb equipment. He can't risk blowing them up all at once; this amount could actually cause a more noticeable ruckus. There was also the issue of this not being the only group in the area. What if there were actually more, hiding away at other places? Metools were the lowest form of virus and were easily replaceable, and it wouldn't be too far fetched for the enemy to use more than 4.

"Marker, change of objective. Scan the entire sector and the route the parade's going to take. Contact me the minute you spot more bomb metools." Validus said. An audible "Roger" was the reply from the SP, before she sprinted off to execute her orders. Validus then opened up another line with Alphonse.

"Alphonse, we have a situation. I've detected some suicide metools attempting to head your way. We took out one and the blast wasn't loud enough to send everyone into a panic. This might be a diversion to utilize the chaos caused to get to Glen. Request recommendations to handle this, over."

The Metools were going to get closer, but Validus wanted to make sure that in the ensuing chaos that would follow, it would be organized chaos as opposed to rampant panic.
Alphonse clearly heard what Validus had to say, but there was a pause before the shooter was able to get a response. "...Continue shooting them down, Validus. I repeat, continue shooting them down." Though the navi was resolute about this decision, there were signs of hesitation in his tone. "We didn't think they would go this far, but we can't stop. The safety of the civilians along with Miss Gren comes first!"

That said, the Metools were still moving between buildings as if they were specifically aiming to disrupt Vlaidus' aims!

StrangeMetoolA: DELETED [Behind Building C]
StrangeMetoolB: 40 HP [Between Building B & C]
StrangeMetoolC: 40 HP [Between Building B & C]
StrangeMetoolD: 40 HP [Behind Building C]

Terrain: 100% Normal

Validus.EXE: 120 HP
Markerlight.SP: 10 HP
When Alphonse's reply returned, Validus didn't need to second guess his orders, and placed his faith that they would be able to handle the crowd. Pulling back the loader on his rifle, he aimed the gun sights onto the three metools. "Good night, you bastards." the navi said as the weapon morphed itself into a cartoonish 80s alien zap gun.

With a pull of the trigger, the weapon fired a ring of electrical energy that lanced straight for the Metool. No sooner than the trigger was depressed, Validus reloaded the rifle, and the weapon morphed into another shape, this time one with a larger barrel. The display side of the weapon read "CANNON LOADED", and the weapon gave a soft hum, while the slits of the rifle emitted green light. A large cannon shell erupted from the cannon as Validus fired the rifle once more.

Markerlight reported that there was still one more metool. Validus decided to wait until the metool throws itself to the open for a clearer shot.

Turn Summary:
Validus
1. Zapring - 40 dmg - StrangeMetoolB
2. Cannon - 40 dmg - knockback - StrangeMetoolC
--Turnsplice--
The electric shot sniped the suicidal metool down with a single shot, short fusing the bomb so it would simply disappear without exploding. The cannon shot, however, was a miss as the targeted metool began to run faster than before after watching both of its comrades being shot. Fortunately, as the metool slipped out from Validus' sights, another popped out from another building...

UNfortunately, a pair of bunny viruses, equipped with the same explosives, appeared on the scene! If this continues, the navi won't be able to concentrate in his sniping!

StrangeMetoolA: DELETED [Behind Building C]
StrangeMetoolB: DELETED
StrangeMetoolC: 40 HP [Behind Building B]
StrangeMetoolD: 40 HP [Between Building B & C]
StrangeBunnyA: 50 HP [Behind Building C]
StrangeBunnyB: 50 HP [Behind Building C]

Terrain: 100% Normal

Validus.EXE: 120 HP [3 Actions left]
Markerlight.SP: 10 HP
Validus cursed as the shot missed it's target. Still, at least one of the viruses went down... only to be replaced by another pair of viruses, with the same set of bombs strapped onto them. With time running out soon, he decided to switch tactics as he fished out an orb from his left pouch. The orb was a bland, greyish metallic color. But after augmenting it with the chipdata Tsujsa had slotted in, the orb grew bright green.

"Alright, let's see how they like this one then." Validus mumbled to himself as he hurled the orb into the sky, towards the clear alley in between building B and C. as soon as he threw the grenade, he prayed (or performed the Navi's equivalent of praying) that the grenade would miss the target and bounce off the ground, creating a wide explosion field in order to trap all the targets in one go.

It would certainly beat shooting them one by one.

SUMMARY OF TURN
--turnsplice--
3. Treebomb - 60 DMG - Aimed at ground for group attack - Thrown in between Building B & C

Markerlight:
1. Do nothing.
2. Maintain overwatch.
Validus arced the bomb over to the opening between the two buildings, thudding against the ground before it stopped on the floor...Doing absolutely nothing as the bomb bunnies began to pass by the orb! The chip needed some time to cook up its attack, or it needs a bit of a kick!

StrangeMetoolA: DELETED [Behind Building C]
StrangeMetoolB: DELETED
StrangeMetoolC: 40 HP [Behind Building B]
StrangeMetoolD: 40 HP [Between Building B & C]
StrangeBunnyA: 50 HP [Between Building B & C]
StrangeBunnyB: 50 HP [Between Building B & C]

Terrain: 100% Normal

Validus.EXE: 120 HP
Markerlight.SP: 10 HP
"Vally, the bomb's not going off...!" Markerlight hissed into her earpiece, staying out of sigh and watching the viruses slowly beginning to close the distance from the building to the street. Tsujsa fished out an aquaneedle chip and slotted it into the PET. The rifle changing into a large, lance-like weapon.

"Marker, mark the bomb. I'm going to speed up it's growth." Validus said as he hefted the lance up, tapping a circular blot on the side monitor of the gun, then lifted it up in a 45 degree angle. Markerlight only returned a grunt of acknowledgement, before aiming her handgun onto the inactive green orb. She pushed a small red button on the device beneath the weapon's barrel.

Validus immediately received the proper coordinates. He allowed the weapon and his own body instinctively to make the adjustments to ensure maximum accuracy. Once everything was properly adjusted, he pulled the trigger, the weapon recoiling but held with the proper handling method taken by Validus. Three lances containing hydro-data soared across the air, as they made their way to the Treebomb left on the ground.

Without losing his momentum, he switched his rifle back into it's original shape, and aimed the visor to look for the last virus... only to find it being out of sight. Cursing, Validus knew that waiting for it meant that it was getting closer to the targets. With a leap, the Navi began to jump from building roof to roof, intent on closing the distance to finish off the Suicidal Metool before it got any closer to the street.

Summary of turns:
VALIDUS:
1. Visor Guidance - Accuracy Enhancement
2. AquaNeedle - 3 x 20 DMG - Inactive Treebomb
3. Movement - Close distance from Current position to MetoolC

MARKERLIGHT:
1. Remain hidden.
2. Remain hidden.
Validus' plan to hydrate the bomb was a good idea...if only the bomb didn't go off prematurely. The seed exploded in a violent growth without the splash of water the navi tried to provide it with, impaling everything that was near its vicinity. It was able to catch both of the Bunnies by surprise and immediately deleted them, clearing more of the suicidal viruses...

However, when the navi hopped across the roofs and finally into a good shooting range, two blurs began to speed through the street! It was a pair of Spikeys that was running at top speed, making the wild dash towards the street in order to ruin the parade!

StrangeMetoolA: DELETED
StrangeMetoolB: DELETED
StrangeMetoolC: 40 HP [Between Building A & B]
StrangeMetoolD: 40 HP [Behind Building B]
StrangeBunnyA: DELETED
StrangeBunnyB: DELETED
StrangeSpikeyA: 90 HP [Between Building B & C]
StrangeSpikeyB: 90 HP [Between Building B & C]

Terrain: 100% Normal

Validus.EXE: 120 HP [On top of Building B]
Markerlight.SP: 10 HP
As Validus sprinted across one roof to the other, he caught sight of more bad news, another two more viruses in a zombie like trance. The only problem was that these viruses weren't as slow as the others. In one swift movement, Validus unslung the rifle and charged towards the Metools, jumping off the roof and falling towards the ground. Tsujsa slotted in the flamethrower chip just as Validus leapt from the roof.

The rifle shifted, turning shorter and it's grip extended, a canister popped out in Validus' hand as he slammed it into the ammo chamber of he rifle. The front of the barrel protruded a small extension with a lighter. Once Validus landed, he raised the flamethrower up, at the two metools from behind, and pulled the trigger, the weapon unleashing a tongue of flame as it filled the alleyway with fire data, incinerating anything unprotected.

He then turned around to face the two spikeys that were running towards him at top speed. Without much time to actually deal with both in a single shot, Validus pushed a button on the side of the rifle, and the weapon glowed brightly, before expanding and covering his entire right arm. The weapon formed a sort of massive claw in his right hand, the claws flexing menacingly as he curled it into a fist.

Markerlight noticed this happening as she looked through her binoculars. Worryingly, she opened a comms channel to Validus.

"Val, you're not going to-"
"Yup."
"But that's-"
"No time. Gotta go. Dogs rushing me. Take the shotgun and wait for my signal."
"Val-!"

Validus ran headfirst into first SpikeyA, as he swung the massive claw in an attempt to bat it towards the other Spikey in an attempt to clump both of the critters into a pile before he attacked them.He signalled to Markerlight to get into a position where she would be able to get a clear shot at the two Spikeys, which the SP did so as she moved from her current position, attempting to do so stealthily and without being noticed by the dog-like, firebreathing viruses.

TURN SUMMARY:
VALIDUS
1. Tactical movement - Drop from roof, place self between building B & C.
2. Fireburn - StrangeMetoolC, StrangeMetoolD - 50 DMG
3. RageClaw - SpikeyA - Attempt to throw at SpikeyB - 40 DMG

MARKERLIGHT
1. Tactical movement - Find angle of attack to catch SpikeyA + SpikeyB
2. Remain Hidden
The flamethrower had swallowed up the remaining two metools to ashes, leaving only the two Spikeys left. Validus' powerful claws had successfully grabbed onto one of the canine virus and threw it against one another...However, due to their single-minded trance, it had only slowed them down for a single moment as they continued their dash forward!

StrangeMetoolA: DELETED
StrangeMetoolB: DELETED
StrangeMetoolC: DELETED
StrangeMetoolD: DELETED
StrangeBunnyA: DELETED
StrangeBunnyB: DELETED
StrangeSpikeyA: 70 HP [Behind Building B]
StrangeSpikeyB: 70 HP [Behind Building B]

Terrain: 100% Normal

Validus.EXE: 120 HP [Behind Building B]
Markerlight.SP: 10 HP [On top of Building B]