[RP] Mobile Suit Gundam: Hostile Frontiers

[Zeon's RedComet]

Few Hours later

The teams were rounded up and split between the two big trays, with Lance were Izra, Tumbili, Jensen, Bob and a few other pilots as well as their crew complement, meanwhile in the following one with Katarina were Adam, Mikhail, Nova, and Carl as well as various other MS pilots and crews. The preparations were made and they had began to move out of the area, heading due north with an escort complement from Gnisis that would follow them to the border territories with the neighboring citystate of Khar'shan and the expanse within.

There was a person on the screen from the neighboring city state's bureaucracy, some middling that handled permission for convoys. "Normally we require a waiting period and far more information than was provided to us yesterday...plus there was no mention of an escort."

"It's temporary. They'll begin when we're in your territory and then it's us."

"I see, we need to confirm. Please hold."

Lance sighed as the screen turned to the state seal of Khar'shan "You ever wonder if people thought hold would stop being a thing when video calls became the norm?" he asked no one in particular. Sighing. It wasn't long after that she came back up on the screen.

"We've confirmed it. And we allow your passage, we have conditions though, one in the event of the Earth Union attempting pursuit you'll be refused asylum and be removed from our territory and back into. Gnisis'. Two any harm that falls upon you in the expanse isn't our problem, there's been a constant barrage of sandstorms in the area, so we have no idea what you're getting into and things are difficult even for us to get in there. Aside from that you're free to do what you need, but you have 72 hours, we're being lenient since your mission is at least stated to be humanitarian."

"It is, we have people in the expanse, we just want them out, and then we'll be out of your hair. Any luck we can get it done in 36 hours."

"Well Mister Bonaparte, you're lucky we don't hold you to that." she said, "Good day." Lance sighed.

"Awfully catty for someone who's basically a glorified clerk." Katarina said.

"Aye, not that I blame them, I'm just happy we're not having to sneak in." it meant they could get in quicker, not that sneaking was particularly hard it was just slow with this many people and this much equipment, Lance had wanted to take a single ship but he took what he could get. "We have an hour and a half to prepare our suits for Sand combat, get the techs on your ship on that as well. I'll send you the course we'll take."

"Aye." Katarina said as her monitor blinked off as well.

"Izra." Lance said to him, before keying up a map to appear on one of the monitors. "I've boiled down a handful of routes," he said showing a few paths to the area, four in total, one was rather direct, but led though some narrow areas, the topography on the maps wasn't updated so it wasn't known if it would be a tight fit still of a bit easier to go though, two others were more roundabout and would take longer, but would skirt heavy storms, the other one tried to avoid most of the canyons in general but would go though some nasty bits. "You have a knowledge of the area and wanted to check for some supplies any ideas for new routes or modifications to these ones?" he asked.

[Exia]

"First route is the easy route, those other two are good spots for bandits. By bandits I mean Spec OPs people of this place in bandit clothes. They're too well armed, too well trained, and too disciplined to be anything else. They tried something with me a while back. I fired a missile barrage in response. Took out the first wave. And second. And half of the third. Then they left. Really wasn't in the mood. The last one is the most familiar to me. It's long but it's got some great stretches of land for both boarding and for the car. The shitty parts are the areas I'd stay and make camp and hide weapon caches. Can't remember what's in what, but I know I left one in the area. Since it's a difficult area it's not traveled often if at all unless the circumstances are dire. But I like a challenge and it's been fun in my experience." said Izra in his full pilot/boarding/combat attire, helmet in hand, "Your call and all but the longer route has advantages that most people overlook unless they're looking to disappear."

[Dom Tropen MS-09D]

On the mobile suit deck, Michail and Adam where studying their newest rides intensively.

"So, the Woundwort really has only one core part, the cockpit?" Adam asked.

"Yup. It's the very first completely modular MS. The Hizack configuration is based on the Dom, Zaku and Asshimar, combining several features from those suits into one. It allows immense tactical versatility."

"Wow, you Martians got a real knack at this. Any reason why it never got into production?"

"It was completed too late and converting existing production lines for was too costly, at least in the short term."

"I see. So the schematics Rose gave us, we can use them?"

"If we can get a facility with the necessary fabrication ability, yeah." Michail showed Adam a data pad with all the purposed configurations.

"Wow, there is a ton of em." Adam scrolled the page down. " Kehaar, Queenly, Full Armor Queenly, Fiver.......Gigantic form?"

"Yeah, saw that thing too. And the best part, for you? We can use almost all the modules for the Hazel as well."

"We really hit it big this time. Let's just hope the things have the reliability to go on."

"They are Martian, of course they are reliable."

Adam simply gave Michail a teasing smile, before heading to Hazel to assist mechanics in adding sand filters.

[Zeon's RedComet]

"First route is the easy route, those other two are good spots for bandits. By bandits I mean Spec OPs people of this place in bandit clothes. They're too well armed, too well trained, and too disciplined to be anything else. They tried something with me a while back. I fired a missile barrage in response. Took out the first wave. And second. And half of the third. Then they left. Really wasn't in the mood. The last one is the most familiar to me. It's long but it's got some great stretches of land for both boarding and for the car. The shitty parts are the areas I'd stay and make camp and hide weapon caches. Can't remember what's in what, but I know I left one in the area. Since it's a difficult area it's not traveled often if at all unless the circumstances are dire. But I like a challenge and it's been fun in my experience." said Izra in his full pilot/boarding/combat attire, helmet in hand, "Your call and all but the longer route has advantages that most people overlook unless they're looking to disappear."

"That was my idea behind it, that and it avoids getting caught to much in the storms." The storms weren't hard to navigate though most martian landships were equipped to handle such sandstorms due to the earlier years of wider spread uninhabited zones having similar storms. He didn't want to be caught in one fighting for too long though especially if the severity picked up. Lance then had a thought looking at it. "Still cutting down some time would be nice, how about this." he drew a route that combined some of the second route and the fourth. "Cutting there lets us avoid some of the more rugged spots here, but still for the most part keeps us out of sight for the most part." the dip into route 2 as it was labeled was in one of the calmer areas both avoiding the worst part of where the weather service said the storms were, while also not being in the worst spot for a potential ambush. "We'll have to cut into the thick of the storm for a bit, but we'd be skirting it any ways here and here, cuts the distance a bit." It should also keep the being hidden advantage of the longer route. "Only thing is we'll need to widen the path slightly at the cut off. But that should be easy."

[Exia]

"That was my idea behind it, that and it avoids getting caught to much in the storms." The storms weren't hard to navigate though most martian landships were equipped to handle such sandstorms due to the earlier years of wider spread uninhabited zones having similar storms. He didn't want to be caught in one fighting for too long though especially if the severity picked up. Lance then had a thought looking at it. "Still cutting down some time would be nice, how about this." he drew a route that combined some of the second route and the fourth. "Cutting there lets us avoid some of the more rugged spots here, but still for the most part keeps us out of sight for the most part." the dip into route 2 as it was labeled was in one of the calmer areas both avoiding the worst part of where the weather service said the storms were, while also not being in the worst spot for a potential ambush. "We'll have to cut into the thick of the storm for a bit, but we'd be skirting it any ways here and here, cuts the distance a bit." It should also keep the being hidden advantage of the longer route. "Only thing is we'll need to widen the path slightly at the cut off. But that should be easy."

"Hmm. It's not a bad shortcut, just depends on how the activity of the weather's been in the region the last few months. This calmer area, if weather is terrible, has toxins that vent up from the cracks. Effects are like Saryn, not something you want to breath. If it's been calm then what I just said is moot. Still, it's a route that no one would be able to plan for. The advantages outweigh the risks from my point of view." said Izra

[Zeon's RedComet]

"Filters should keep it out in both the MS and the ship. Such fissures were common during the early days after the process of giving the planet a Magnetic field. Came up and was caused by reactions when the crust began shifting due to the activity in the core." he explained "Much like how sensors on the planet are specifically calibrated to cut though the excess static caused by the storms in places like this during the early development of the planet. It's settled then we'll take this route."

- - - Updated - - -

Few Hours later Edge of the Expanse

The trip had gone smoothly most of the area leading to now was all just flat, but it was clear as they looked into the valley below that the canyons would be a pain for the helmsmen to navigate but they were unto the task. The area on the monitors below them were not to unlike the American southwest's canyons just far more twisted, some parts looked naturally worn others slagged from magma build up that was long since cooled, coming up when the core was jump-started during the terraforming of Mars, before that it was one of the flattest areas on the planet, but it happened to be on a weaker section of crust as such the characteristic fissuring happened, a testament to the power of mankind, there were a few areas like it on Mars each one their own painting of it's history and part of it's man modified nature.

"Set the course and take us in." he said as they began the descent down the rockyslopes and into the canyon pocked valley.

[gundammonkey]

Bob was looking at the landscape as they went along. Needless to say a bit of boredom was starting to gnaw at him.

"This is exciting! We are in their world now. We must tread carefully from here on out. They already know we are here. There over there do you all see it? LOOK you will see it.. A ROCK! OOOH and look another one, but that one is a darker red. But that one WOW what a rock it is almost white. There's another one and another, and a there is even more over there. I think they have us surrounded. We might have to fight our way out of here. The rock is a worthy advisory, their tactics are astounding. Surround the enemy and confuse them with your numbers. Strange their building structures seem to be made out of the dead bodes of there fallen. Cannibals I tell you they are most likely cannibals, and will crush our bones to powder. They are a crafty lot, those Rocks of death. I have heard stories of their brutality, they leave none alive and they have spies everywhere. you think that is simple gravel you walk on? No my friends spies I tell you they are the spies of the rock clan! Be warned we have already been infuriated they know our plans and will use them against us. You have seen the signs, "Beware of falling rocks" They are the suicide squads sent to disrupt us and make way for a bigger invasion! Watch the rocks."

[Exia]

Few Hours later Edge of the Expanse

The trip had gone smoothly most of the area leading to now was all just flat, but it was clear as they looked into the valley below that the canyons would be a pain for the helmsmen to navigate but they were unto the task. The area on the monitors below them were not to unlike the American southwest's canyons just far more twisted, some parts looked naturally worn others slagged from magma build up that was long since cooled, coming up when the core was jump-started during the terraforming of Mars, before that it was one of the flattest areas on the planet, but it happened to be on a weaker section of crust as such the characteristic fissuring happened, a testament to the power of mankind, there were a few areas like it on Mars each one their own painting of it's history and part of it's man modified nature.

"Set the course and take us in." he said as they began the descent down the rockyslopes and into the canyon pocked valley.

*Izra did a double check on Ace since he was up and running smoothly for once, he armed himself accordingly then wandered onto the bridge*

"Jumped that. And that one. Oh! Made it over that 100 meter magma pool on a prototype board. Meant for magma racing. Too expensive for mass release, but it'd have been good to have for more clandestine missions. Nice board too. Almost got fried there." he said pointing to a small magma geyser, "Yeah. Did that as I hit the edge and was already in the air, more or less launched thru a lava wall. Ruined a race suit, but the suit did it's job."

*Izra turned his back to the window*

"Figured I should be here on account of the whole "guide" thing." he said with air quotes, "If we run into some shithead bandits just open fire, it'll scare the rest of them off. They aren't the type to come back in greater numbers....."

[gundammonkey]

"Figured I should be here on account of the whole "guide" thing." he said with air quotes, "If we run into some shithead bandits just open fire, it'll scare the rest of them off. They aren't the type to come back in greater numbers....."

"Unlike Sand people, they always walk in single file to hide their numbers. And they always return in greater numbers."

Bob said, he then returned his previous activity of banging two rocks together.


"Talk damn you! Where are the others!!"

[Exia]

*Izra let out a loud groan*

"Don't get me started on those asshole Sand People. Always popping up out of nowhere and taking piss poor rifle shots at us boarders to chase us off. A fuckin' sect tried that shit a few months ago with me, used Ace to follow them back. I think you know what I'm about to say, but that sect no longer exists in any fashion. Slaughtered them all by myself personally, the men, the woman, and the children. The "old ways" came in handy for once. Once I found that sword in a hut it was over. Fuckin' hate those people." said Izra, "Crazy ass desert worshiping cult."

[Zeon's RedComet]

"The desert does weird shit to people." Lance remarked with a chuckle at the exchange. There was a storm in the distance as they approached the change over coming up. "Anyone operating in that will be as crazy as us, don't know whether that's good or bad."

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

Meanwhile not far in the hills beyond a heavily modified Gelgoog it was painted Dazzle camo but in desert tan and grey it had protective wrapings around it's joints (think thunderbolt) it carried a modified Beam rifle as well as modified sensors over it's left shoulder and a cannon mounted over the right. "That's them." the pilot said, a modified Maganac was beside the Gelgoog it was painted similarly, it carried an anti ship rifle but looked much lighter in terms of modifications compared to it's compatriot.

Above them on another out cropping walked up a Rot Forbidden gundam it's red and black replaced with Desert tan it's greys replaced with a deeper tan color than that though some of the high lights were a deep grey. The pilot sat inside a child by most pilots standards no older than sixteen or seventeen and a pale white despite operating in the desert he smiled it carried a beam magnum in one arm and the Forbidden's usual scythe in the other. He wore standard Martian desert fox camo pattern BDU's from the Decade conflict and wore a head covering. "Good." his accent sounded Earth, light russian inflection to be exact. "Painted Desert squadron, get ready to follow them, we may of finally hit the mother load." he grinned.

[Twitch]

Tumbili was passing the time by sitting down at a table of cards with other crew members. Nova was inside the Tallgeese's cockpit with the hatch open, eyes closed and arms crossed, reminiscing of years past. Carl, for once, was being productive by ensuring his Gundam's Terrain Mode was optimally set.

[Dom Tropen MS-09D]

Meanwhile Michail had discovered the external speakers on his Woundwort. Unfortunately for Adam and every one nearby.*

"Let's Go Might Gaine" Michail drummed his fingers to the instrument panel" Full Power" He transitioned to foot tapping." Combine NOW!"

Adam was trying his best to shut everything external off and try to get used to the Hazel, but it was proving difficult.
"Where the hell is the enemy when you need them?"

*

[Zeon's RedComet]

Katarina had heard the racket even in the bridge, the big trays were small, on top of that the small hangars that were added to these modified ones meant noise could be heard easily "What the hell's going on down there?" she couldn't make out the music as a whole but could hear it.

"Everything going good over there? We're entering the Sandstorm now."

"It's fine," the comms were open so Lance had heard her asking what the racket was. "Just music, I suspect they don't realize how small these things are compared to other ships is all." Flashes of lightning caused by the static in the Iron sand could be seen as they entered it. "Switch to thermal imaging." she ordered as they became engulfed.

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

The Painted Desert squad near by began stalking them, they stalked them like a band of hyenas waiting. "With any luck they'll lead them to that base Flores is holed up in, and when the greeting is going on...we take the masked pirate and him down and have whatever's underneath that place." It was rumors, but the rumors seemed confirmed after they had followed Flores to the old shipping depot and observed next to no activity in the upper levels, they had a feeling that there was something below something earth military.

"Are you sure we should focus on what's down there sir, why not strike in the sandstorm?" One of his men asked.

"I admit, just going for Bonaparte has it's merits, but whatever's down there will be valuable to the right people." he replied simply. "Switch to cold running." he flipped a few switches in on his control panel. A specialized system began pumping liquid nitrogen around the MS, it was originally made as a cooling system for MS during a period of the war known as the martian summer where temperatures skyrocketed due to a greenhouse effect, but afterwards it was found that it worked well as a means of disguising the heat of MS in the desert. Though the system had it's risks namely lowering the temperature of the hydraulic fluid in the suits actuators made them stiffer to pilot meaning that the system would have to be turned off a few minutes before entering combat, generally. Though it had helped keep the Painted Desert squadron unseen in the sandstorms of the area before.

[Exia]

*Izra was watching the sandstorm pick up, it brought back old memories, he had pulled a knife out and was flipping the blade around like a master as if it was child's play*

Something doesn't feel right....A sandstorm. Perfect first strike chance....But from where? There may be a specific target aboard.....Lance would be a good one. Same with Kat....Rest, not so much. And I doubt it's them coming after me..... thought Izra before he muttered something, "....something's off....feels like a trap's ahead....This is a familiar feeling....A preemptive strike in this is perfect...."