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.
To Hell with this
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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%
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%
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"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.
"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.