To Hell with this

Pianissimo's sword throw misses it's mark as the curve of the long katana-like blade causes it's flight path to wobble to one side. However, it does cause the HeelNavi he threw it at to jump sideways out of reflex. Before the HeelNavi can recover, it is pegged by an aqua needle, and deleted.

Pianissimo then threw another pair of needles at the remaining HeelNavi, managing to strike it with both. The target then returned fire; its burst of vulcan rounds narrowly missing the dodging assassin. The Heel Navi adjusted its aim and fired again, only to miss as Pianissimo's strategy paid off.

The HeelNavi was in the process of reloading its gun when Pianissimno's PowerBolt attack blasted it with a column of energy from below. When the column dissipated, the HeelNavi was gone.

With the enemies defeated, the flames surrounding the Ancient Sword died down and extinguished themselves. The white glow of sword's double edges then died, and the weapon went dormant.

-----------
Summary
-----------

VICTORY!!

---Allies---
Pianissimo: 1 HP
GET: 800z, MarkCannon1
Optional: Ancient Sword (Key Item) or Azoth (Key Item) or Cursed Edge (Key Item)

Black-Clad Female Cleric (?): Deleted

---Enemies---

---Group1---
NormalNaviA: Ran Away
NormalNaviB: Ran Away
NormalNaviC: Dealt with.
NormalNaviD: Ran Away
NormalNaviE: Ran Away
NormalNaviF: Ran Away

---Group2---
SwordNaviV2: Dealt with.
SwordNaviEXA: Deleted
SwordNaviEXB: Owned.
SwordNaviEXC: Deleted
SwordNaviEXD: Deleted

---Group3---
GunnerNaviV2: Deleted.
HeelNaviA: Deleted
HeelNaviB: Deleted

---Objects---
SteelCubeA: 1000 HP (Iron Body, Anchored) [Left Side]
-- Old Broadsword: 240 HP (Object)
SteelCubeB: 1000 HP (Iron Body, Anchored) [Left Side]
-- Relic Blade: 140 HP (Object)
SteelCubeC: 1000 HP (Iron Body, Anchored) [Left Side]
-- Empty
SteelCubeD: 1000 HP (Iron Body, Anchored) [Right Side]
-- Azoth: 300 HP (Ethereal?)
SteelCubeE: 1000 HP (Iron Body, Anchored) [Right Side]
-- Cursed Edge: 120 HP (Shadow?)
SteelCubeF: 1000 HP (Iron Body, Anchored) [Right Side]
-- Antique Pole-Sword: 180 HP (Object)

Candle1: Destroyed

---Locations---
Entrance: (2 panels wide)
Doorway: (2 panels wide)
Pile of dismantled weapon data: [Far left corner]
Lava Flow: [Far right corner]

---Terrain---
Normal: 100% (Floor)
Lava: 100% (Below the floor)
System failure imminent. Recommend immediate jack-

"Shut up," Pianissimo rasped again, struggling to his feet. For a moment, he only succeeded in straining himself even more, before feeling healing energy wash over him.

((Energypack used.))

"Much better," he said, not from relief from the pain so much as from the disappearance of the error messages and jack-out warnings. He got to his feet, hefting the ancient sword over his shoulder. For a moment, he considered swapping it out for the cursed edge. It fit his fighting style better, for one.

"R..,eekjsally thpoughh," Duke's voice crackled, interrupted by static as the communications repaired itself. "Next time, just drop him back into the lava or something, I'm not made of subchips."

"He was the same gunner as a couple rooms back," the assassin commented. "Repeating tactics would have been a stupid idea. Besides, the lava is just under the floor now, and probably not all that deep." He then rolled his eyes at the subchip comment. "Fix that."

"Whatever. By all rights I should have jacked you out. The gunner deleted our charge, we failed as it is. Anyway, you going to keep that thing?"

"Probably," he said, still looking at the cursed edge."

"Just take both of them," the netop said, following his navi's eyes. "You've got two hands, don't you?"

"And taking both would make three swords, plus any other chips I may want to use. I don't see it," Pianissimo responded. "What did you say the katana was again?"

"Cursed Edge. Other than that I don't have a damn clue. The software kept bothering me to upgrade it."

"It's settled then. And while you're sitting around there, try writing a sheath program for this thing." The assassin turned away, walking toward the exit.

"That sword crashed my software, though."

"Cursed blades are called cursed for a reason, Duke."

"And who ever heard of an assassin that used a broadsword?"

"Me. Just now." The assassin shrugged, moving onward.
Pianissimo walked through the exit in the back of the room, and through a long, narrow, winding passage. Sometime later, he reaches a partially blocked entryway to another room... that wasn't a room. He was, in fact, standing at the mouth of a tunnel that emptied onto a shelf carved into the side of the stone shaft the center of the volcano.

From his current position behind the boulder that blocked half of the entryway, Pianissimo could see several more boulders dotting the broad crescent shaped floor just beyond the door. The stone ceiling paralleled the floor a few meters above the tops of the rocks, and extended all the way to the point where the floor gave way to the volcanic abyss a dozen or so panel lengths beyond the entrance. Looking out from there he could see the stone walls of the inner cone of the volcano as lit by a reddish-orange glow rose from the magma chamber far below, and estimated the shaft to be scores of panels lengths in diameter. The edge of a metallic platform suspended in the vertical shaft above the magma chamber could be seen through the space between two obstructing boulders.

Pianissimo could hear the echoes of someone speaking somewhere on the other side of the boulder, though it didn't seem very close by....

"...But I'm telling you, this is all we could get before those lunatics wrecked the place." A panicked female voice explained.

A young male voice added: "We grabbed what we had from our workstations and bolted here."

An older male voice yelled "Enough already!", which silenced the others. "This'll irritate our business partners, more'n likely. Nothin' we can do about any of that now, anyhow. Just put 'em in the capsule, and let me do the talking."

The sounds of something metallic being dumped into a container with more haste than care could be heard.

"Now, we jes wait for 'em to show up, an--"

The high-pitched sound of something beaming in... make that two somethings as the sound was interrupted and overlapped by an identical noise was heard. The sounds of metallic footfalls on metal paneling rang out as the newcomers stepped away from their transfer point (whatever that was).

A heavily modulated voice echoed strongly through the cavern... "You're early."

-----------
Summary
-----------

---Allies--- [In Entrance, Behind RockA]
Pianissimo: 180 HP {Equip: Ancient Sword [216 HP]}

---[UNKNOWN]--- (at least 5 individuals)

---Objects---
RockA: 600 HP [Directly before the left side of the Entrance]
RockB: 600 HP [To the right and 2 panels ahead of the right side of the Entrance]
RockC: 600 HP [3 panels ahead of the right side of the Entrance]

---Locations---
Entrance: (2 panels wide) [You're standing in it.]
Rock Pillar A: (2 moves Left of the Entrance)
Rock Pillar B: (2 moves Right of the Entrance)
Edge of the stone shelf: (12 or so moves ahead)

---Terrain--- (Bottom Level)
Normal: 10% (Crescent shaped rock ledge carved into the side of the inner cone)
Metal: 15% (Platform suspended in the middle of the throat of the volcano)
Missing: 75%
"Early, yes, good business strategy there," Duke rambled over a private line. "Always be early to meetings. Bet he did really well in business school, that one."

Pianissimo shook his head, turning the communications off as he edged around the rock blocking part of the entrance. He kept moving until he could see the metal platform more clearly, though hoped to remain undetected by whoever was on it.
Looking around the rock, Pianissimo was able to see the metal platform suspended in the middle of the volcanic shaft. A metal catwalk, all of 2 panels in width, stretched out from the edge of the cavernous shelf and connected with it. Standing out there on the platform were the five red and black Normal Navis that had fled the previous battle, what appeared to be a fairly strong red and black Heel Navi, and... a pair of armored figures that could only be two Executioners.

"This is a surprise..." One of the armored figures began, almost lightly. "...To what do we owe the honor?"

"Hmph." The second Executioner nodded, then added.... "I only like surprises at parties. So, you will tell us..." The armored figure's voice dropped menacingly. "Now... Before we find out on our own."

The HeelNavi took a moment, then responded with surprising honesty: "Our facility was invaded just now. Our Guild was almost completely wiped out."

"By whom?" the first Executioner asked bluntly.

"Two custom Navis. One is a female we've had trouble with in the past. She was finally eliminated, but she got our Sword Master before then." The HeelNavi paused, as if collecting himself before continuing. "The other is a sword wielding male assassin that she brought with her. We've never seen him before. He cut down as many of our SwordsNavis as the demoness did, and we haven't heard from our Gunner and the two guards we sent to support him for several minutes."

The two Executioners turned their armored heads to look at each other, and then back at the HeelNavi. "In other words, these two Navis fragged your code."

"To my knowledge, myself and these five surviving technicians are all that remains of our Guild." The older HeelNavi held out a sealed data capsule to the closer of the two armored figures... "This capsule contains about 80% of your latest Emblem order."

"Do you really expect us to pay you for failing to fulfill your contract?"

"Absolutely not." The old Navi responded quickly. "With our leader dead, the contract is void anyway. I propose a deal instead."

The armored figure furthest from the HeelNavi crossed it's arms then said: "Go on..."

"We'll trade what we have in this capsule, not for large sums of Zenny, but for safe passage." The HeelNavi offered flatly. "You let us through the gate, and the Emblems are yours. The price doesn't get cheaper."

"You have a deal, old man." The Executioner furthest from the old HeelNavi said as it uncrossed its arms and nodded to its partner.

The closer of the two accepted the capsule with one hand, and handed the Heel Navi a piece of key data in return with the other hand. The armored figure then motioned towards the telepad with it's helmeted head. "Get moving."

The HeelNavi nodded, and the small group of red and black Navis turned and began shuffling towards the telepad.

The other Executioner held an armored hand up to the side of its helmeted head, and spoke to no-one in particular... "This is Red Two. We're ready for pickup."

-----------
Summary
-----------

---Allies--- [In Entrance, Behind RockA]
Pianissimo: 180 HP {Equip: Ancient Sword [231 HP]}

---Guilders---
HeelNaviV2: 450 HP
NormalNaviA: 100 HP
NormalNaviB: 100 HP
NormalNaviC: 100 HP
NormalNaviD: 100 HP
NormalNaviE: 100 HP

---Executioners---
Unknown A: ???? HP
-- Powered Armor SP: 720 HP (20 HP Barrier)

Unknown B: ???? HP
-- Powered Armor SP: 720 HP (20 HP Barrier)

---Objects---
RockA: 600 HP [Directly before the left side of the Entrance]
RockB: 600 HP [To the right and 2 panels ahead of the right side of the Entrance]
RockC: 600 HP [3 panels ahead of the right side of the Entrance]
RockD: 600 HP [Off to the left, and 6 panels ahead of the entrance]
RockE: 600 HP [Ahead of RockA by 7 panels]
RockF: 600 HP [To the right of the catwalk]
RockG: 600 HP [Off to the left a ways, and near the wall]
RockH: 600 HP [Off to the left a ways, and near the edge]
RockI: 600 HP [Off to the right a ways, and near the edge]

---Locations---
Entrance: (2 panels wide) [You're standing in it.]
Rock Pillar A: (2 moves Left of the Entrance)
Rock Pillar B: (2 moves Right of the Entrance)
Edge of the stone shelf: (12 or so moves ahead)
Catwalk: (12 or so moves directly ahead of the Entrance, only 2 panels wide)
Teleport Pad: (Sitting in the middle of the metal platform)
Pad to Upper Level: (To the right of the metal catwalk)

---Terrain--- (Bottom Level)
Normal: 10% (Crescent shaped rock ledge carved into the side of the inner cone)
Metal: 15% (Platform and catwalk suspended in the middle of the volcanic shaft)
Missing: 75%
Pianissimo pressed himself against the rock, listening to the conversation and trying to hang onto every word.

"Make a note, Duke," he said once the exchange took place, making sure his voice couldn't carry more than a couple feet in the net as he turned the comm on again. "Armored figures are probably...what did they call themselves again, Executioners?" He paused, hearing typing from the other end. At the same, he tapped the side of his helmet, and the information he was dictated began tracing itself on the inside of the eyepieces and then vanishing...a saved record. "Emblems. Navi emblems, most likely. There was some sort of contract...emblems for money. Why Executioners want navi emblems...yet to be determined. Best not to provoke them for now."

The data finished writing itself, and seconds later he heard the typing over the line stop. The assassin sighed, making a run for one of the other rocks. He was grateful, in that moment, that the metal catwalk was a ways off still, and that his boots were designed to make absolutely as little noise as possible. With any luck, what little noise there was would coincide with the shuffling and the "pickup". There was little he could do about the emblems or Executioners, so he would have to, instead, gather as much information as he could and, if possible, follow.

Possible being a matter of practicality vs suicide. If following meant provoking the Executioners, he would have little choice but to let them go, taking with him only the overheard conversation. Still, he couldn't help but wonder what the emblems were for. He remembered back to Broadside, whose working with them in the first place had something to do with his emblem's removal, and Arcaster, who had no emblem and whose appearance looked almost...dead.
___

1-6 + passive: Move to position behind Rock E
As Pianissimo quietly advanced behind the cover of the scattered boulders, the surviving guild members stepped onto the telepad and warped out one after the other. The Executioners stood by silently as the guilders left. They obviously intended to keep their word and allowed the survivors to depart.

However, after the last one had exited through the warp, the Executioner that had identified itself as "Red 2" stepped over to a spot near the telepad, and held out an empty hand. A small disc-like device materialized in the Executioner's grasp, which the armored figure laid carefully on the panel adjacent to the telepad. The armored Navi stood up again, and began walking away from the object.

Nodding to its partner, the Executioner holding the capsule commented: "Quick thinking."

"It was necessary." 'Red 2' added as it shrugged. "I really hate improv."

"I certainly can't complain about the results though." The Executioner held up the capsule admiringly for a moment. "Twenty-something Navi Emblems for processing, and it cost us nothing." It slung the capsule over its shoulder and drew its weapon. "How long do you figure it'll take the NP to scoop them up?"

"Given the tips our man left for 'em... I give those poor bastards seven minutes at the outside." 'Red 2' shrugged, readying its rifle as well. "I'll bet money they talk immediately. Takers?"

"Nuh-uh." The Eecutioner waved a hand before itself. The armored figure allowed its hand to fall to its side again before continuing. "Not that it really matters... Their testimony will seem like a raving lunatic's flight of fancy, and spun by petty criminals trying to lessen their sentences no less." 'Red 1' shrugged. "All that's left for us to do is cover our tracks and ensure the NPs find nothing to support their charges' claims."

"Covered, love." 'Red 2' said as it pressed a button on its forearm, causing the device it had set to activate. The strange device emitted a buzzing sound as it covered a line of metal panels across the platform with electrical currents that bled into the framework that supported them. The framework vanished into deletion, which caused the platform to break into its component panels and drop into the lava below, taking the telepad with it. "God help the sods that try that gate now."

"Think we aught to track down that swordsman they were talking about?" The Executioner carrying the capsule asked.

"No, we've a job to do." The other responded, movig to stand next to his partner. "We wait for evac and deliver that capsule to the boss man."

"Speak of the devil..." The capsule carrying Executioner remarked as the sound of jet engines echoed its way down into the volcano, and began gaining in volume....

Both Executioners looked up expectantly.

-----------
Summary
-----------

---Allies--- [Behind RockE]
Pianissimo: 180 HP {Equip: Ancient Sword [231 HP]}

---Executioners--- [9 moves ahead, at the far end of the catwalk]
'Red 1': ???? HP (Carrying Capsule) {Equip: Heavy Rifle}
-- Powered Armor SP: 720 HP (20 HP Barrier)

'Red 2': ???? HP {Equip: Heavy Rifle}
-- Powered Armor SP: 720 HP (20 HP Barrier)

---Objects---
RockA: 600 HP [Directly before the left side of the Entrance]
RockB: 600 HP [To the right and 2 panels ahead of the right side of the Entrance]
RockC: 600 HP [3 panels ahead of the right side of the Entrance]
RockD: 600 HP [Off to the left, and 6 panels ahead of the entrance]
RockE: 600 HP [Ahead of RockA by 7 panels]
RockF: 600 HP [To the right of the catwalk]
RockG: 600 HP [Off to the left a ways, and near the wall]
RockH: 600 HP [Off to the left a ways, and near the edge]
RockI: 600 HP [Off to the right a ways, and near the edge]

---Locations---
Entrance: (2 panels wide)
Rock Pillar A: (2 moves Left of the Entrance)
Rock Pillar B: (2 moves Right of the Entrance)
Edge of the stone shelf: (12 or so moves ahead of the Entrance)
Catwalk: (12 or so moves directly ahead of the Entrance, only 2 panels wide)
Pad to Upper Level: (To the right of the metal catwalk)

---Terrain--- (Bottom Level)
Normal: 10% (Crescent shaped rock ledge carved into the side of the inner cone)
Metal: 10% (Platform and catwalk suspended in the middle of the volcanic shaft)
Missing: 80%
Pianissimo continued to record the conversation, making notes as it continued. He wondered what the "gate" was, but figured he could find that out later. His eyes narrowed as they mentioned possibly tracking down the swordsman, and he gripped the broadsword in his hand tightly. It wouldn't be much trouble to light up that entire platform if they decided they needed to, but otherwise...he certainly didn't want to provoke them.

All thoughts of following or attacking, however, were immediately shoved aside as a massive aircraft descended into the cone of the volcano.

"Duke," he said, making sure he could still be heard on the PET communications above the roar of the engines. "A craft like that can't have gone unnoticed by the netpolice or other organizations. See if you can find any information on it."

"On it," Duke said, turning to his computer as Pianissimo pressed himself against the rock to hopefully avoid being seen from above.
A couple of moments later, and a huge red and silver aircraft, easily the size of a small airliner, descended into view. The sleek craft featured a main hull, and what appeared to be two secondary chassis to house the beastly engines that drove it, all connected by a broad wing-like structure spanning between the main and secondary hulls. The craft had large swept-back wings which sprouted from the sides of the two enormous engine pods. It was also lavishly equipped with numerous smaller wing-like control surfaces and was studded with what appeared to be actual maneuvering jet nozzles. Overall, the craft had the appearance of a supersonic strato-fortress, complete with an impressive array of turret mounted chain guns and large caliber twin-barreled auto-cannons of some sort.

The large craft came to a hover, and began to align itself over the catwalk. Once it had moved into position over the catwalk, the metallic clanks of utility grapnels disengaging echoed their way through the cavern. A large metal shipping container dropped from the bottom of the craft, and landed with a resounding metallic crash on the far end of the catwalk. The container was quite large as it covered a 2 panel by 4 panel area and was easily 2 rock-cubes high.

-------------

Meanwhile, Duke's info search turned up a file posted by the Netopian central government at around 6-AM that morning. The file was a bounty notice, but lacked much in the way of information. It provided a photograph of the aircraft making a high-speed pass over an airport off somewhere that Duke didn't recognize. The image of the craft itself was blurred, indicating it had been traveling at very high speed when the image was taken. The notice went on to state that the craft was believed to be a Navi, and proceeded to list dozens of airspace violations as the reason for the bounty. However, the the posted the sum of the bounty was no less than 45,000 Zenny with 'Wanted: Deleted or Quarantined' as the bounty's contractual fulfillment terms....

-------------

"Okay. Do your thing." The Executioner carrying the capsule prompted.

The other nodded, turned away, and approached the front of the container. The armored figure raised its hand and summoned a circular device, which it quickly applied to the surface of the container. It let go of the object, which stayed attached to the container, and began fiddling with a control panel o the front of the object. A moment later, the Executioner (Red2) turned around and jogged quickly back to rejoin its partner

"Det's set." Red2 said simply.

"Good." The capsule carrying Executioner said as it raised its rifle, aimed at the stretch of catwalk between it and the container, and fired. The strange round shattered on impact and sprayed acid all over the metal panels of the catwalk. The acid quickly ate through the panels, and the container fell down into the molten core of the volcano below. "Lets deliver the Emblems."

"Heh. This place is done." The other Executioner commented before the pair of them ignited their boosters, and leaped up into the craft.

The strato-fortress cranked up the power on its hovering thrusters, and began to rise back out of the volcano....

-----------
Summary
-----------

---Allies--- [Behind RockE]
Pianissimo: 180 HP {Equip: Ancient Sword [231 HP]}

---Executioners---
'Red 1': ???? HP (Carrying Capsule) [Aboard the aircraft.] {Equip: Heavy Rifle}
-- Powered Armor SP: 720 HP (20 HP Barrier)

'Red 2': ???? HP [Aboard the aircraft.] {Equip: Heavy Rifle}
-- Powered Armor SP: 720 HP (20 HP Barrier)

Large Red-and-Silver Craft(?): 1100 HP [????] (????) {????}
-- External Booster Assembly(?): ????
-- External Booster Assembly(?): ????
-- Dorsal Weapons Array(?): ????
-- Ventral Weapons Array(?): ????
-- Starboard Weapons Array(?): ????
-- Port Weapons Array(?): ????

---Objects---
RockA: 600 HP [Directly before the left side of the Entrance]
RockB: 600 HP [To the right and 2 panels ahead of the right side of the Entrance]
RockC: 600 HP [3 panels ahead of the right side of the Entrance]
RockD: 600 HP [Off to the left, and 6 panels ahead of the entrance]
RockE: 600 HP [Ahead of RockA by 7 panels]
RockF: 600 HP [To the right of the catwalk]
RockG: 600 HP [Off to the left a ways, and near the wall]
RockH: 600 HP [Off to the left a ways, and near the edge]
RockI: 600 HP [Off to the right a ways, and near the edge]

---Locations---
Entrance: (2 panels wide)
Rock Pillar A: (2 moves Left of the Entrance)
Rock Pillar B: (2 moves Right of the Entrance)
Edge of the stone shelf: (12 or so moves ahead of the Entrance)
Catwalk: (12 or so moves directly ahead of the Entrance, only 2 panels wide)
Pad to Upper Level: (To the right of the metal catwalk)

---Terrain--- (Bottom Level)
Normal: 10% (Crescent shaped rock ledge carved into the side of the inner cone)
Metal: 5% (What remains of the catwalk suspended in the middle of the volcanic shaft)
Missing: 85%
"It's leaving. There's nothing more we can do here," Pianissimo commented, watching as the aircraft rose out of the volcano. "Any luck so far?"

"Just one so far. A Netopia bounty for it. 45,000 zenny. Must have caused a lot of trouble for such a high price," Duke said, looking for more matches in a second window. "Airspace violations, from the looks of it. You'd think they could just shoot it down."

"Maybe they tried and it didn't work," the assassin commented, looking up at it. "Those executioners are pretty dangerous on their own, there's no telling how powerful their flying fortress is."

"True." Duke sighed. "And they believe it to be a navi...great. So we've got a giant, autonomous flying fortress in league with and carrying those guys." A moment's pause, then "As much as I hate to suggest this...do you think we should report this to the Netpolice or Requiem?"

"No," Pianissimo answered. "This could cause problems if too many people know about it. The way I see it these people are trying to keep to the shadows. The bounty is a slip-up because the aircraft's too big to just not be noticed when flying around. If they got wind that someone had been watching their activities and knew what they were up to, they'd do everything in their power to find that someone and silence them. And let's be honest, I'd rather not be deleted just because I 'knew too much'."

"Point. And on that note I'm jacking you out before someone looks down and notices that you're pressed against the rock there still."

Pianissimo nodded in response, then sank into the shadow of the rock until nothing was left.