[Anno] Flight from Südburg

[AnnoyedZebra]

It is a time of chaos in the Eden sector. After the failure of the latest German offensive, Ayanami forces surge forwards into a powerful counterattack and local lords are forced to consider where their allegiances truly lie


The Markgraf's palace, Südburg

Markgraf von Südburg: You two are probably wondering why I have summoned you here. I have a mission of great importance for you two.

Anna: We can take it!

Klara: So what actually is this mission?

The Markgraf: I have received word that many of the neighbouring principalities intend to defect to the Reiists. While it pains me to say this, we have no choice if we wish to avoid annihilation in this battle.

Anna gasps while Klara remains silent

The Markgraf: I cannot risk transmitting a message, as there is too much risk that the nearby warship SMS Zentaur will decrypt our message.

Anna: So Im guessing you need a smuggler for that.

The Markgraf: Indeed

Klara: We accept the mission.

Anna: If its for the good of Südburg, we'll do it

The Markgraf: Excellent! The fate of our land rests in your hands.



The "secret" conversation has not gone unnoticed





The message finds its way to the nearest German warship, the SMS Zentaur



Messenger: Herr Kapitän! We have intercepted news that the Markgraf von Südburg intends to defect! He has sent two smugglers to carry the message past our blockade!

Node Commander: Without Südburg we hold only a 24% chance of retaining our control of this whole sector. Engineering, double scanning power and half shield power, the odds of Reiist offensive remain low for the next 48 hours.



The node commander swings its processor laden frame around to face an unusual Baka Boy

The node commander: Leutnant Fleder, you and your men are to perform a sweep of the spaceport. Capture and interrogate any smugglers. You are not to allow the local authorities knowledge of your true intentions.

Fleder: I shall do so at once, Herr Kapitän.

[ComradeGreen]

Ooo! I love the photography on this one.

[Bragallot]

That node commander looks rad.

[AnnoyedZebra]

thanks all

[Food_Truk]

Love the spaceship shot with the stars, situation's getting exciting too.

[AnnoyedZebra]

The Zentaur's supporting fleet of T-wing dropships return to the mothership to refuel and take on troops


Fleder hatches a scheme to gain personal glory at the cost of violating the Captain's orders
Crew Member: We're being hailed by the planetary authorities!
Fleder: On screen


A Südburg security force commander appears on screen[i/]
Security Commander: We're detecting some quite heavily armed vessels coming as part of your convoy. Please state your name, rank and mission.
Fleder: I am Leutnant Fleder of Shikinami and this planet is now under the jurisdiction of the German Edensflotte. Resistance will be met with force.
Security Commander: The Bishop of Shikinami has no jurisdiction in the holy realm of Südburg![/b]
The transmission ends]


Fleder: Signal the Zentaur that the local authorities have chosen to resist our security sweep and to begin jamming their communications.
Crew Member: But the node commander didn't say anything about taking control of the planet!
Fleder: Would you rather die in glorious battle or live your life as a nameless clone?
Crew Member: Yes sir, signalling the Zentaur now..


A fleet of outdated J-wing fighters of the Südberg security force(SSF) fly out to oppose the Shikinami T-wings but their low power turbolasers struggle to penetrate the thick ablative armour of the dropships


One desperate pilot rams a dropship


Despite the heroic efforts of the SSF pilots and surface based turbolaser gunners, only a token resistance can be made against the oncoming T-wings and they soon breach the planet's defences on their way to the drop zones

[Arkbrik]

That Zentaur is siiiiiick.

Love the Node Commander too.

[AnnoyedZebra]

glad people like the node commander, i think its hes a holdover from the nehellenium days

[AnnoyedZebra]

A hasty meeting is convened in the ancient Geyer family manor. Shelling and machine gun fire in the distance seem to draw ever closer and screams can be heard from the manor's great hall, which is serving as a makeshift field hospital for the embattled SSF

Klara: So you said you had some way to get us past the General fleet?
Dietrich: Yes, more cruisers seem to be gathering and there are even reports of an incoming battleship but beneath this manor our family's ancient vessel Guingelot is ready for you.
Anna: With all due respect, how is some aging rustbucket gonna get us past that fighter screen? Much less the flak batteries?
Florian: Guingelot isn't "some aging rustbucket"! It was crafted by Bleyland the smith in the time of Gods, its faster than any fighter!
Dietrich: THATS ENOUGH. Cease this pointless argument, Guingelot has never failed our family for centuries.
Klara: I don't doubt the quality of your family's relic vessel, but the flak screen is too strong for even the fastest ship in the galaxy.


Dietrich: Fortuitously, we managed to capture some security codes that should allow us to temporarily disable the flak batteries for a few minutes before they discover what we've done and switch out the codes.
Anna: That still leaves the fighters...
Florian: I told you, Guingelot can handle them!


Dietrich: My son is right, I promise you. He will don our family's ancient armour and lead you through the crypts to Guingelot.
Anna: Hang on why can't you lead us?
Dietrich: Alas, in my youth I could not see with eyes unclouded by hate. A Reiist warlord slew my brother in battle and I vowed to get revenge. I tracked the warlord to his lair and fought him. Overcome with my fury, I was no match for him and I was permanently scarred by his novablade. Now I must wear this life support armour to survive.
Anna: I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to-
Klara: Anna, it is time to go now...
Dietrich: Yes, take my son and go now. It is for the good of Südburg. I will hold off Fleder and his men for as long I can. Get the help of the Reiists and do not allow your vision to be obscured by hate as I once did.

Anna and Klara help Florian don the armour and the trio rush off into the crypts

[AnnoyedZebra]

The trio make their way through the crypt, occasionally being showered with dust when a shell lands nearby

Anna: So Florian, what's the deal with the spear? You do realise we could run into people with firearms and laserguns right
Florian: This is no ordinary spear, it is the lance of a knight.
Anna: Yeah yeah everythings some ancient artifact with you guys, what are you gonna actually do with it though?
Klara: Anna thats enough. The Geyer family have been kind enough to help us. You don't need to interrogate poor Florian here.


Florian: Its fine Klara. If you really must know, this is the spear with which I will slay Lord Akira, the man who killed my Uncle and scarred my Father.
Klara: So long as you don't let it get in the way of the mission
Florian: Yes, yes of course. I've been hoping to run into the old fool for a long time. I must always be prepared in case I lose my chance, he wears an old Eternian force shield at all times. It f ilters out any projectiles with ease and heavens forbid you attempt to hit it with a blaster.
Anna: You know its funny, Lord Akira killed my father too. He wasn't a knight though, Mum always says he was a scoundrel and a smuggler.
Klara: For the last time Anna, he was a bandit. Everyone knows your home sector is full of them.


Before the argument can continue, a mysterious figure appears ahead.

Mysterious figure: Greetings travellers, I am Gawain, knight of order and guardian of Guingelot.
Florian: How do I know you're a real knight and not just some grave robber
Gawain: SILENCE! In order to pass, you must prove your bravery as a true knight and strike me with your weapon.
Florian: Well thats easy, come over here I'll strike you as many times as you want!
Gawain: Foolish child, if you strike me I will return to strike an equal blow at the end of your quest.
Klara: Florian, don't be rash lets talk through this!


Florian steps forward impulsively and beheads Gawain in one slash


Gawain's head vanishes and his body crumples to the floor lifelessly.

Florian: I can't believe he actually thought I'd fall for that trick...
Disembodied voice: Trick?



Gawain's corpse picks up its sword and stands up

Disembodied voice: Go to your ship, son of Dietrich. I will find you at the end of your quest.

Gawain's corpse disappears

[Space Bunny]

[Arkbrik]

Ha ha, the old Gawain trick

[Spectral]

Nice Gawain and the green knight reference. Now who is gunna be giving Florian kisses and a magic sash?

[AnnoyedZebra]

Our heroes board Guingelot and blast off, soon reaching the upper zones of the atmosphere.
Florian: I told you this thing was fast!
Anna: b-
Klara: We don't have time for bickering right now, lets all focus on getting out of here ok?
Anna: Fine...


German crewmember: Sir, we're detecting a ship that managed to escape the flak battery
German captain: Ah, our first catch of the day. Contact the fleet and tell them to scramble fighters
Klara: I've punched in some coordinates, fly us in close to the destroyer. Once we get past jump to hyperspeed.
Florian: Hang on why are we letting you boss us around, we'll be vulnerable to their turbolasers that close!
Anna: Just listen to her, she knows what she's doing dammit!


Guingelot passes in close to the destroyer, giving it some modicum of protection from the fighter fire.
Klara: This close and this fast, their targeting computers can't catch us in time!


Guingelot swooshes past as one of the fighters smashes into the side of the destroyer.
German captain: Intensify firepower to the starboard batteries! Don't let them past!


Anna skilfully outmaneuvers the remaining fighters.
Klara: Punch it!
Guingelot jumps to hyperspace with blinding blue flash.

[AnnoyedZebra]

Coming from hyperspace, our heroes arrive in the war torn world of Tesera's Ayanami controlled capital.

Florian: Why are we stopping in this dump?
Anna: Yeah, seems a bit of an odd detour...
Klara: It was the nearest refueling station which wouldn't try to shoot us down.
Anna: Come on!! Its a literal warzone!!
Klara: Relax, the Germans are only in the southern hemisphere. Anyway I have to meet a contact here, you two keep an eye out for spies and try to see if you can find any good gear.


Klara heads off, disappearing into the crowd of assorted scum and villainy who call Tesera their home.
Florian: Hey look at that sword!
Anna: Pfft, in a real fight you'd get a blaster bolt in between the eyes before you get a chance to use it


Shklontep: That blasted sword, its wedged in there real good! The locals insist that only "a pure hero on a true quest" can get it out. I've had no such luck...
Florian: This sounds like a job for me!


As Anna facepalms, Florian strides forwards and yanks at the sword! It stays put as a few locals chuckle before returning to their business.


Someone sinister approaches...


Meanwhile, Klara has found her contact.
???: Its been some time young Kimiko...
Klara: You know what I'm here for, Ōsu.


The beam saber in Ōsu's hands ignites, casting the room in a magenta glow as he examines the weapon's construction.
Ōsu: Ah you long for it once again. It is a shame you cannot see it for what it is! A toy constructed by the very same child who led Tasai to our enclave!
Anno: The past is the past, Ōsu! Lives are at stake!
Ōsu: Lives were at stake when you abandoned the teachings of the Anno-Yedi and fled from our enclave. Leave this place at once!


The spy watches on as our heroes and random bystanders alike are lined up along the wall at gunpoint by the Shikinami troops.


Shikinami Baka Boy: Sir! We found this one skulking around the back alleys, what should we do with her?


Before anyone can react, Klara has pulled the sword from the stone and and is cutting her erstwhile captor to pieces!


The fight is over in the blink of an eye, but the spy and one of his men escape in the confusion!
Klara: I told you two to watch for spies!
Florian: But how did you?..
Klara: No time, we need to get off this rock NOW!