The District of Columbia

[Umbra of Chaos]

Galatea

Even without opening her eyes, Galatea seemed entirely aware of her enemy's movements. The tail dangling in front of her as well as the rising goddess attempting to skewer the demon in the air. So her hand darted out to grab the appendage and yank the redhead right into the blade's thrust.

[yinsukin]

Suerte

"Hmm?  Then don't kill them," she said, pushing a hair back as she tilted her head.  "You don't have to kill the other vampire if you don't want to."

Suerte lowered her eyes at the other woman, paying special attention to her next response.  Turning away for just a moment, she handed the man her money and took the bag of weapons.  Then, she resumed her gaze.

[YOLF]

Longirsu

Her sensors told her what the obvious shifting of the scythe made clear. She would not be able to hold onto the Tuner, not as the girl bent over and began to leverage the power condensed into that tiny frame to pull on it. An unworried, simple message sent itself back to her creator in an instant. [Result is below expected predictions. Highly skilled. Incredible bodily control and physicality. Overall evaluation: below opponent designation range "World Hero Avram" but within the category in which the creator expects personal intervention.]

The inventor's teeth gnashed against each other, an illogical swelling of memories consuming the periphery of his vision. So soon, barely had they stepped in this world, and already his shadow chased him. More than furious at this fact, Longirsu boiled with fury for himself like a torrent, cursing this inability to separate his goals from his enmity. But enhancement overcame passion, and cognition drowned the subconscious haze with a new stream of data around his field of view. He would always have to crush his past. This was a good opportunity to practice, to gather expertise against the threats this whole new world offered freely.

Wielding World Spear and World Shield as the picture of a mechanically perfected hoplite, his flying platform rocketed him down, swooping to intercept. The Terrortech units at his immediate disposal were little more than chaff against this creature's traits, and so he relinquished his attention on them to autonomous commands. His processing power honed instead on the enemy itself and pushing data synchronization with Ib to zero delay.

The body Longirsu saw before him emanated a heavy aspect analogous to elemental fire, that seemed to overlap the bodily functions expected of the human frame it possessed. But the thin, wavy tail was nonetheless, something like a dense bundle of nerves.

How fortuitious it was, Ib had already honed in on that same appendage. As the target attempted to flip away, Longirsu sailed into melee, placing her between the thrusting blade and the piercing tip of the extended World Spear.

[Bern]

Lily

"Iiiiigh!"

Lily froze up and her body went completely rigid the moment the robot girl snatched her tail, then her course reverse as said robot now could easily overpower her momentum and in the next moment-

"Ah-"

Amaerucana's sword sliced right though her gut like a hot knife trough butter. But in didn't end there cause in the very next moment she was struck once more. "Ughh.." The next attack wasn't from a sword but from a spear. It too pierced her midsection, not as smoothly as the sword had, but it pierced her all the same. It left the redhead between them skewered on not just one but two two things.

She twisted back and forth as she grunted in pain,  and blood spurred out of her mouth with each heavy gasp. Despite her attempts she couldn't move anywhere, not when held in place by three seperate forces.

[MissingMandible]

Roadrunner, Pegasus Scout Vehicle of 5th Company
Lancaster Bridge

"Look, look. I just need to hear this again, to fully understand it, is all!"

Sergeant McKinsey inhaled deeply through her nose as the assistant driver private Speer, in her typical loudmouth fashion, annoys the ever living crap out of her.

"So," the young woman, once again, began her tangent, "Americana gets kidnapped at the capital, not even a day after those attacks, gets flown all the way here, and mysteriously drops off the RADAR within a stone's throw from our position?"

"Yes..." came the jittery voice of gunner specialist Tanaka from her seat within the turret ring.

"And then, some fucktard captain in the 7th Calvary decides he has to be some big hero, drags his unit along with the rest of his battalion across the bridge and invades Columbia?"

"For the last time, yes, Speer." McKinsey's patience was wearing thin, "And watch your language."

"I'm just saying, McKinsey, that this whole thing stinks!" And off goes another Conspeeracy Theory, "We barely even got here, and then all this happens! I just feel we are the designated sacrifice to kick off the firework show!"

"And why would Americana fake her own kidnapping?" Specialist Pierre finally broke her silence from the driver's seat.

"Ah, my good Pierre, that's the thing! I believe that Americana is back in her mansion not even aware that this shit's going down. This is all fake shit cooked up by the shadow government! False flagging us into a war with Columbia, having plants in the 7th to lead the charge - it all makes sense!"

Everyone in the cabin groaned. Everyone except McKinsey, whose frown turned to an outright snarl. "Speer," she hissed, "We are going into battle! I am now ordering you to stow your shit, keep your conspiracies' to yourself, and to conduct yourself in a manner befitting your station!"

"Y-yes ma'am"


Indomitable, Command Super Heavy Tank of the 3rd Heavy Armor Battalion
Lancaster Bridge

"Checkpoint's been destroyed" Miho's soft voice came over Maho's radio headset, "The 7th must have moved on, Godmother. Over"

Maho's eyes darted to the map displaying the localized area. The 7th would have likely followed the highway - the surrounding area was pretty woods-y, limiting movement for those in a hurry. the road branches into two, with one going southward running by the last known place Americana was taken to. However, that branching occurs in the town of Phillipsburgh...

"Godmother copies, Phoenix Actual," Maho replied over the comms, "Attention all callsigns: Godmother, Valkyrie, Maiden, Phoenix, and Lancer will move on to the town of Phillipsburgh. Bulwark, Scylla, Thunder, and Jaeger will remain behind to guard our exit. Lancer Actual, I need you to leave behind two assets to help safeguard the bridge. How copy? Over."

The various company commanders - Erika (Valkyrie Actual, 1st Company), Alexandra (Bulwark Actual, 2nd Company), Ren (Scylla Actual, 3rd Company), Kaguya (Maiden Actual, 4th Company), Miho (Phoenix Actual, 5th Company), Ino (Thunder Actual 6th COmpany), Carter (Jaeger Actual, Tank Hunt Auxiliary), and Saito (Lancer Actual, Anti-Air Auxiliary) - gave their affirmatives over the battalion frequency.

And so, Dunham's tanks invade Columbia.

[SINIB]

Americana

"Enough." The goddess's voice bellowed out as if it were an order. She pulled the blade out of Lily's gut, staring right into the redhead's eyes. She reached out and grabbed her chin as if to examine her. It was gross, upsetting that she'd been beaten, however, she couldn't deny her loss. She would not return to Columbia's womb, but she would offer her champion a modicum of respect, even as she was a demoness.

"I am sorry our duel was interrupted." She intoned slowly and unnaturally, pausing to take a deep breath midway through her sentence. "You won. This interruption wasn't expected."

She turned to face the man. "How did you know I was in peril? Why did you save me?"

[Hibiki]

Nika

"Eh, you are not reading between lines. I don't plan to waste her, unless she has something else in mind, then it will be just fair of me to whatever it takes when my existence is put on line. But hey, I sort of died once, so I'm not really gonna feel like like a sore loser if I'm about to die again. I have seen my fill of things, and existing for centuries is not a bad run."

She said it with a bit nonchalant tone, and there wasn't any particular weariness in her voice. She really did seem taking in stride prospect of her own potential death, while refusing to kill if it wasn't to be killed.

"We could as well die at any moment from something we can't see. So I have stopped worrying about my own chances and learned to enjoy what I can in the moment. That's all to it."

[YOLF]

Longirsu

His eyes narrowed with critical appraisal at the girl skewered on his weapon, even as he considered Americana's words. Allowing someone who had so brought her to this point to go so easily? Letting go of a decisive advantage because she was wary of the conditions those behind it would impose on her was one thing, but because of honor? Foolishness. Longirsu would find it humiliating, if it was of personal concern at all.

But the scientist too, had no desire to burn certain bridges ahead of time. He swung the spear, letting the fiery demoness slide free of impalement, and took a step closer to Ib before turning to the goddess. He gave no word for the automaton to let go of the enemy's weak point.

"Your flight over the border was not subtle. Others have likely noticed," he said. The dispassionate scowl that marred his features turned to deeper in the woods. "Let's continue this conversation elsewhere."

[yinsukin]

Suerte

"Well gosh," she said, resting her wrists on her wide hips.  "Never thought i'd hear a vampire say somethin like that.  For a girl who talked about the joys of killing a few moments ago your surprisingly merciful too."

If Suerte was in her shoes, she would kill that person so long as they consented to it.  She still had a lot to learn.  To be a better person would take a lot more than she was putting in now. With that thought lingering in her mind, she grabbed the bag and hoisted it over her shoulder. "Well, I need to take these back to my house.  We should stay in touch."

Suerte giggled as she leaned down to offer her breasts up to the girl.  "You should give me your number too."

[Bern]

Lily

"Hey!"

Whith a heavy thump the redhead hit the ground as both weapons were pulled out of her. Even so she immediately got up, although her movements were noticeably much more sluggish than before, and it was on shake legs that she tried and failed to pull away from the robot girl's grip on her tail.

"You owe me an apology you bastard!" Her fury was directed completely towards the spear wielder. "Are you just gonna leave after breaking the sanctity if a duel by spearing me from behind. And now you're just gonna run awa like a coward. Where is your honor??"

[YOLF]

Longirsu

The only thing worse than one 'honorable warrior' was two of them. 'Honor' was the only reason he did not have Ib taking her apart with the Tuner as it stood. He scoffed in the redhead's direction.

"I interrupted for my own reasons. Your warrior's conduct is of no relation to me, so kindly do not force your standards on my actions." Longirsu shook his head. Communications from his drones buzzed behind his eyes. "We must leave, Goddess of Dunham. Ib, release this one."

[Umbra of Chaos]

Galatea

The automaton calmly retrieved the Tuner with one hand, but she did not release the girl yet. Instead she turned to face her maker with her ever-present smile. "Creator, would it not be wise to extract a sample for future tuning? The demon's flesh is abnormally resilient to physical trauma when her extremity is untouched."

The scythe still vibrated, just the barest ring emanating from it. Only the keenest of ears or the fine-tuned sensors of the Terrortech could detect such a thing.

[SINIB]

Americana

Americana swung her sword, flinging Lily's blood upon the ground to clense her blade of it. "What are your reasons, then, Composer? Are you just going to leave?"

[Hibiki]

Nika

"I guess so? But wait, if you're giving me your contacts, maybe you can too give me some details about anyone who might need some mercenary work. After I'm done with the duel, I should just look for a 'job'. Violence and money are like the two constant fixtures of the world, and I never will pass up opportunity to get my fill of the other one too."

The vampire didn't mind exchanging the details, but also clearly wanted to be referred to anyone who might need some muscle or warriors for hire. She had her expenses, after all.

[YOLF]

Longirsu

His face went still as a frozen ocean when Ib failed to promptly follow the order, and cold eyes came to rest on his mechanical servant. For a spell, he stared through her, rather than at her. Then his lips quirked up, like a dangerous wave breaking through the surface of the ice. [A small one. Shave it off subtly and then let go.] His instructions rang, heard only by the two.

"Business," he said, addressing Americana. "If you wish to leave your domain unprotected or be caught in the midst of enemy territory and justify a response, it is your call, but I don't recommend it."