Eternity RPC Board
"Later perhaps," Feryn whispered. The Archking, of course, dominated the room the moment he entered. The cadre of officers and high-ranking government, both Lanlanian and Union, officials pounced on him, leading to a few minutes of quick handshakes and short greetings, each timed and staged for the photographers whose agencies were privileged enough to be present. This was not the first demonstration of the unmanned Hjolrun for many of the officials, including the Archking. The entire tradition was for the people, after all: an effort to bolster Lanlanian patriotism after its devastating defeat in the Great War and setbacks during the Syorid Affair and the First Solar War. While that had become less of a priority since its inception, the Lanlanian government nonetheless had significant interest in its success and looking good throughout it.
"I trust you're all enjoying this year's demonstrations here at Fort Theodore," Feryn said, shortly after greeting the Minister of Defense and replacing him at the center of the cameramens' attention. Only two of them had been allowed into the flight tower, from rival but prominent Lanlanian media groups. "It's such a shame you weren't able to join us in person." Fort Theodore wasn't far from Halvadag and consequently received extra attention. It was the only facility showing off the autonomous Hjolrun.
"I'm sure Minister Bjorn has already told you how special this year's exposition is," the Archking continued. Feryn looked rather young for his age and moved like it too, undoubtedly a perk of being the monarch of a first-world state. He took a position in front of the large windows specifically installed to give a greater view of the flightline. The Hjolrun stood at the far end, on stand-by. The Lanlanians had elected to showcase its most well-armed load-out, for maximum shock and awe. While the missiles and rockets inside were blanks, the unit was nonetheless maxed-out with 4 arm-mounted 4-pack missile racks, dual back-mounted 54-pack rocket launchers, and its 36-pack shin-mounted rocket pods. Its railgun was held at-ease in both arms in front of its body.
"Today we give our countrymen and the world a first-hand look at the next-generation war-fighter in action." The Archking looked very pleased, almost smug, as he looked down at the Hjolrun. The cameramen at his side captured it perfectly. "No longer will the Archkingom need to put her sons and daughters in harms way. Soon the age where men and women laid down their lives en mass for king, country, and family will be behind us and the defense of our loved ones, our liberties and way of life will instead be shouldered by steel. By machine.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the AMS-Hjolrun." Feryn gestured to the mobile suit at the end of the runway. "A new weapon for a new century. These autonomous warriors will come to be--"
The Archking was suddenly drowned out by the air-raid siren. It was a sound that only the oldest of Lanlanians had heard at its worst. The vast majority had heard it only in movies or school drills--entertainment and a respite from studies. There was a moment of confusion, before a white blur suddenly dropped into the base and, as panic began to spread and the gathered crowd scattered, immediately cut down the Hjolrun with a blade protruded from its shield. Upon sensing the critical failure, the Hjolrun attempted to eject its nuclear reactor in a fiery explosion, but it was instead instantly vaporized by the gundam's GS sword.
With the Hjolrun's destruction, the Archking's face immediately soured into a deep scowl. As lesser men evacuated the room, he and a few aids, as well as one of the cameramen remained. A pair of soldiers moved on the cameraman, moving to eject him from the room. Unknown to all of them, the live signal had already been cut by the Gundam's GS particle field.
The Archking had read the reports from Solhaven. "So this is the White Ghost," he whispered. "It seems it wasn't Solhaven after all." While the Union had obviously kept it classified, it had its suspicions about the disastrous invasion of Solhaven. Black boxes, survivor testimonies--entire bases and formations being wiped out in the middle of the night.
"It's not impossible Solhaven has brought the war to Lanlania," said General Noventa, Supreme Allied Commander Brigidna.
Feryn glanced at the officer, who joined him in surveying the sudden battlefield. Much of the crowd had already been evacuated. After destroying the Hjolrun, the gundam seemed to glare back at those in the tower, waiting waiting for their counterattack."Solhaven has neither the technology nor the resources for this. This is someone else." The rain of small arm and tank fire did nothing to the unknown mobile suit, instead being absorbed or deflected.
"'Charon'?" The general scoffed.
"I see a very grave threat, General. In the middle of Lanlania, no less."
"Your Majesty," a junior officer began, "we have successfully evacuated 90% of all civilians."
"Let's test our enemy's full capabilities, then," replied Feryn. "Before he runs."
"I trust you're all enjoying this year's demonstrations here at Fort Theodore," Feryn said, shortly after greeting the Minister of Defense and replacing him at the center of the cameramens' attention. Only two of them had been allowed into the flight tower, from rival but prominent Lanlanian media groups. "It's such a shame you weren't able to join us in person." Fort Theodore wasn't far from Halvadag and consequently received extra attention. It was the only facility showing off the autonomous Hjolrun.
"I'm sure Minister Bjorn has already told you how special this year's exposition is," the Archking continued. Feryn looked rather young for his age and moved like it too, undoubtedly a perk of being the monarch of a first-world state. He took a position in front of the large windows specifically installed to give a greater view of the flightline. The Hjolrun stood at the far end, on stand-by. The Lanlanians had elected to showcase its most well-armed load-out, for maximum shock and awe. While the missiles and rockets inside were blanks, the unit was nonetheless maxed-out with 4 arm-mounted 4-pack missile racks, dual back-mounted 54-pack rocket launchers, and its 36-pack shin-mounted rocket pods. Its railgun was held at-ease in both arms in front of its body.
"Today we give our countrymen and the world a first-hand look at the next-generation war-fighter in action." The Archking looked very pleased, almost smug, as he looked down at the Hjolrun. The cameramen at his side captured it perfectly. "No longer will the Archkingom need to put her sons and daughters in harms way. Soon the age where men and women laid down their lives en mass for king, country, and family will be behind us and the defense of our loved ones, our liberties and way of life will instead be shouldered by steel. By machine.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the AMS-Hjolrun." Feryn gestured to the mobile suit at the end of the runway. "A new weapon for a new century. These autonomous warriors will come to be--"
The Archking was suddenly drowned out by the air-raid siren. It was a sound that only the oldest of Lanlanians had heard at its worst. The vast majority had heard it only in movies or school drills--entertainment and a respite from studies. There was a moment of confusion, before a white blur suddenly dropped into the base and, as panic began to spread and the gathered crowd scattered, immediately cut down the Hjolrun with a blade protruded from its shield. Upon sensing the critical failure, the Hjolrun attempted to eject its nuclear reactor in a fiery explosion, but it was instead instantly vaporized by the gundam's GS sword.
With the Hjolrun's destruction, the Archking's face immediately soured into a deep scowl. As lesser men evacuated the room, he and a few aids, as well as one of the cameramen remained. A pair of soldiers moved on the cameraman, moving to eject him from the room. Unknown to all of them, the live signal had already been cut by the Gundam's GS particle field.
The Archking had read the reports from Solhaven. "So this is the White Ghost," he whispered. "It seems it wasn't Solhaven after all." While the Union had obviously kept it classified, it had its suspicions about the disastrous invasion of Solhaven. Black boxes, survivor testimonies--entire bases and formations being wiped out in the middle of the night.
"It's not impossible Solhaven has brought the war to Lanlania," said General Noventa, Supreme Allied Commander Brigidna.
Feryn glanced at the officer, who joined him in surveying the sudden battlefield. Much of the crowd had already been evacuated. After destroying the Hjolrun, the gundam seemed to glare back at those in the tower, waiting waiting for their counterattack."Solhaven has neither the technology nor the resources for this. This is someone else." The rain of small arm and tank fire did nothing to the unknown mobile suit, instead being absorbed or deflected.
"'Charon'?" The general scoffed.
"I see a very grave threat, General. In the middle of Lanlania, no less."
"Your Majesty," a junior officer began, "we have successfully evacuated 90% of all civilians."
"Let's test our enemy's full capabilities, then," replied Feryn. "Before he runs."