(click to enlarge)
STORYLINE: US Air Force base, Okinawa, late afternoon.
Angry clouds hung heavy over the Pacific.
Massive Mecha Scorpions moved into formation around the lighter infantry armor, their hydraulic joints hissing as hot steam vented across the puddle-choked tarmac. The ground vibrated beneath their multi-leg stomps. Behind them, armored hovercopters whined on helipads as the Night Troops loaded the Scorpion Attack Force for the sea crossing.
Cutting through the rainy mist and reek of aviation fuel came the legendary Commander Ashe. Tall, razor-thin, and clad in a high-density commando weave, Ashe moved with the unnerving stillness of a ghost. A crimson scar ran from his brow down his cheek, while a tarnished silver Victoria Cross dangled from his septum ring over his lips. In the dim tarmac light, his dilated pupils caught the red hazard beacons like a predator's eyes.
He unlatched the massive blast doors of the war room. Cold ozone-heavy air rushed out to meet the suffocating tropical humidity.
"President Spyder." His voice sounded more like a professor's than a warrior's. "The 101st is within visual range of Jeju Island."
Maximilian stood over the tactical holotable, red eyes gleaming. Overhead lights caught the sharp edge of elongated fangs as he devilishly grinned. He clapped a heavy hand onto Ashe’s shoulder with a firm grip. “This is the last stand of the wily old Pharaoh and his Harlot,” his deep voice rumbled. “Corrupt humans and lesser monsters are no defense against the might of the Vampire Nation. This is our world now. His reign ended in Berlin.”
His grin widened.
“Tomorrow, we finally burn out his ancient bloodline.”
Alarms went off, bathing the war room in red. Warnings violently flickered across the holotable. A distressed transmission broke through, framing the face of the Flying Bats Squad Leader. Inside his cockpit, lights flickered on and off as the craft tumbled out of control.
"REPORT!" Maximilian leaned over the projection, jaw tight.
Audio shattered into metallic screeching. Only two words survived the static before the signal died completely: "...No power..."
Ashe immediately swept his hand across the control interface, switching feed angles.
On screen, three more black hovercopters dropped from the sky like lead weights. Their engine glow winked out simultaneously before the black ocean swallowed them whole.
"PULL BACK! REGROUP!" Maximilian roared. "Deploy the Mosquito Bots. All units, locate the perimeter of that bloody shield!"
Ashe rerouted the holotable to an orbital optical feed. Below them, Jeju Island was going dark as if a black wave was sweeping over it. The sky above the island burned crimson beneath the storm clouds. Streetlights were dead. Buildings stood dark along the coastline. Even the traffic signals had died.
"An Entropy Barrier," Ashe said, his voice flat and analytical. "They anticipated our arrival."
Maximilian’s expression turned to iron. "Paine. That bitch betrayed us,” he snarled.
"Possibly. But extending an Entropy field this far beyond the Forbidden Zone would require infrastructure." His eyes narrowed. "The real question is, where did they get enough Entropy to power it?"
Maximilian huffed in disgust.
Ashe zoomed in on the rocky shoreline, targeting a slim lattice structure disguised among sea cliffs. "Notice these relay towers.”
He mapped the shoreline with two quick keystrokes. Six identical towers lined the coast in a precise geometric grid.
"Equidistant. Coordinated." Ashe traced the pattern across the glass. "These aren't cell towers.”
Maximilian turned toward the open comms panel, muscles coiled like a spring. "Unit Five, see that central spire? Dive bomb it."
The sub-window displayed a surviving pilot, pale against his flight harness. "Sir, our flight systems will die the second we breach the boundary zone."
Maximilian sneered into the camera. "Then climb to maximum altitude. Aim. And let momentum carry you. Gravity does not require voltage. Ram that target at top speed, soldier.”
A heavy chill fell across the room.
“Delay that order.” Ashe stepped smoothly into the frame, placed himself directly between Maximilian and the holotable, and clicked the master mute button.
The war room went completely silent. Maximilian’s eyes blazed with lethal fury. For three long seconds, the air balanced on the edge of violence as the President confronted his commander's defiance.
Ashe did not flinch. "Wasting pilots and expensive resources on tower relays is inefficient. There is no need to sacrifice pilots and aircraft when the towers can be dismantled by hand. Send the remaining 101st Flying Bats. They can tear those structures apart with more… traditional methods.”
Maximilian glared at him, the tension slowly bleeding out of his shoulders, replaced by a slow, ruthless grin. "Do you think your elite boys still remember how to hunt with wing and claw?"
"It is innate," Ashe said. He unholstered a long-barreled WWII service pistol from his side, the cursed steel dull and heavy under the tactical lights.
“Old technology served us well in Europe.”
Max stared at the antique weapon. "That gun is over a century out of date."
Ashe checked the chamber, the metallic clack cutting through the silence.
"Digital systems fail. Blood and iron do not."
He raised his eyes. The Victoria Cross glinted in the red hazard light.
"We will hunt in the dark."
HAPPY OCTOBER, Everyone! Best month of the year. *throws fall leaves* I have fun spooky posts in the works with Engine Room items. The Engine Room is a historical fantasy event filled with high quality items, gifts, and even hosts DJ parties. This post was inspired by the many awesome war things at the event, and scorpions! I had making a more movie like image for this post.
On him, Maximilian Spyder:
Mask: MILKBATH - Goblin Mask [mesh]
Hair: Wasabi Pills - Draco Mesh Hair, male [mesh]
Eyes: Gloom - Savage Collection - Sclera 03 - Red S [BOM]
Skin: coconut - Dong Skin / Winter Tone / EVO X [BOM]
Tattoo: XTX - Arana Tattoo - 60% [BOM]
Head: LeLUTKA - RUNE [mesh](3990L)
Body: TheShops - [BODY] Athletic Meshbody (Legacy)(m) (1.7.1) [mesh](5000L)
On him, Commander Ashe:
Helmet: SOLE - SA - Helmet DND (Black) [mesh]
Collar: AVEC TOI - Aiden Neck Corset - TIGHT - V1 (LegacyATHLETIC) [mesh]
Cap: Oracle - Sovereign Cap, male [mesh]
Nose chain: Remarkable Oblivion Paragon Cap, Nose chain [mesh]
Earrings: Swallow - Earrings H01 for lel Evo X Human Ears MALE [mesh]
Boots: Livalle - Payne - Combat Boots - Male [mesh]
Body: TheShops - [BODY] Athletic Meshbody (Legacy)(m) (1.7.1) [mesh](5000L)
Setting:
Scorpion: SEmotion Libellune - Venom Antares Companion LIMITED[Animesh](Neo Japan)(188L)
Scorpion Chairs: Nebur Cyborg - SCORVA Rover R-027 (PBR) [mesh]
BONUS IMAGES: inworld raw shots, midday sky, default camera:
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