Scrap Heap Showdown! Aiyana vs Takeshi Kimari (Highguard)

So...we kind of got a great deal on this place...and we need to make some money back.

Which is why two members of Highguard are here to 'break in' the king of all scrapheaps....

Crazy Eddies Discount Scrap Emporium and playground!

Yep. Its a scrapyard. A big one. Theres all sorts of junk lying around, from old refrigerators (rumour has it there are bones of some guy in one!) to a half wrecked whaleking. Oh and the tower of TV's, 99th greatest wonder of the modern world according to Big Jimmy from Jimmy's Diner.

What more is there to say?

The judge has arrived.
The participants are ready.

GET!
IT!
ON!


(Aiyana goes first! alternating rounds.)

Stats and Zoid:

Battle RP
Aiyana was not sure how she felt about this Zoid Battle. Sure she was going up against Takeshi, the captain of the team she was now on, but was she really ready to go up against one of the major players from a team? While he was surely rusty, with the supposed time in between official matches and the ZBC's time out, the woman was not the one to be known for going out and beating other Zoids with hers. The area they were set to battle in was a junkyard, literally. It was full of scrap of various types, including some monument that would surely be destroyed within the few moments of this battle. A bit too nervous for a voice message, the woman would instead send a 'good luck' message to her opponent before the judge stated that the battle was started. The first reaction for the Command Wolf pilot was to reach down to the nanotech controls and set her armor to resist the cutting and tearing from melee based attacks. She had seen the weapons purchased by Takeshi and she was more worried about the rending and tearing than the heat buildup they would cause. Accidental overheating was easily fixed, accidental destruction of the Zoid Core was most assuredly not. Even as the nanites hardened in structure to protect against such attacks the woman would run in the direction of the tv tower and attempt to use it as a block between her and her team captain. Once there, wanting to make sure she had a bit more dangerous terrain for the Lightning Saix to worry about, the woman would urge the Command Wolf into a shoulder charge to knock over the 'Ninety-ninth wonder of the world' to use it as a large barricade to shoot over.

Before the dust could even settle, Aiyana would line up a shot and fire off two loud shots of the double eighty caliber rifle, that she had borrowed with permission from the very one it was aimed at, in the hopes that the dust in the air might cover up the attempted shots aimed for the body of the speedier and more agile Zoid Takeshi was in. Not wanting to keep this battle going any longer than it had to, the woman with the pointed ears would let loose a salvo of shots from the sniper rifle as well. One, two, three, four shots would echo across the battlefield as the woman did her best to keep her aim on target as each shot went off.

The woman would move the sticks to the side and pull hard, the Command Wolf jumping to the left in response, in an attempt to avoid anything that might be coming at her. As soon as the wolf's feet touched the ground the large beast would begin running even as it turned to get out of the way and get a little range so that they would not have to panic fire with the weapons at hand. Once she felt sure about her distance, Aiyana would do a sudden stop and a sharp turn. The motions would make the Zoid do a one-eighty before Aiyana took quick aim and let loose twice with the sniper rifle. There would be a short delay as she took steady aim again before another duet of firing from the same rifle would do a deadly dance towards what she hoped would be the body of the Lightning Saix. Not wanting to be caught in the melee death zone that the agile Zoid she was against could cause, Aiyana did a backward leap and began to run off to her right to get as far away as she could before Takeshi could react to her movements. It was a gamble more than anything else, but what else could she do? She either kept herself at a decent range from the Highguard captain or she was going to finish this battle with armor shredded to tiny bits. That was not how she wanted this fight to end, even though it was likely the future for her, and it was too early to lose a battle. It had barely begun and losing so swiftly would be quite the ego killer, even if she had no ego for the Zoid battling side of things.

Action Summary
1a. Activate: Set Nanotech to protect against melee damage.
1b. Dodge: Hide behind the tv tower.
2a. Dodge: Knock that bitch over! Cause debris and dust clouds.
2b. Double Attack: Double 80 cal Rifle aimed at the body of Takeshi's Zoid. (80 DP x 2)
3a. Double Attack: Sniper Rifle quad shot aimed at the body of Takeshi's Zoid. (40 DP x4)
3b. Dodge: Jump to the Left!
4a. Dodge: Run to the left!
4b. Attack: Sniper Rifle double shot at the body of the Lightning Saix. (40 DP x2)
5a. Attack: Sniper Rifle double shot at the body of Takeshi's Zoid. (40 DP x2)
5b. Dodge: Leap backward and run to the right!

LIGHTNING SAIX
Type: Cheetah

Speed: 20
Agility: 45
Heat Index: 25

Internal Slots: 2
CPU Slots: 2

External Hardpoints: 3 - Body: 3 (chest, each side), Limbs: (none)

Base Armor - Head: 20 / Body: 90 / Legs (x4): 30 / Tail: 20

Current Armor - Head: 120 / Body: 190 / Legs (x4): 130 / Tail: 120


Aftermarket Parts:

NanoTech Regenerative Coating (NTRC)
Intended for those with an eye towards healing any damage taken, the NTRC offers the user the fantastic ability to regenerate their damaged armor mid-battle. Outfitted with the standard NanoTech package including armor treatment and the on-the-fly defensive modifications, the NTRC will allow you to absorb hit after hit, only to shrug it right off and keep on fighting.
+100 Armor to All Parts
Can regenerate 30 armor points to any damaged section each round, up to two sections can regenerate each round.
NanoTech Regenerative Coating is also able to alter its physical structure to harden itself against certain types of damage(Solid Rounds, Melee, Energy, Heat, Explosive, Light, Dark or Elemental). While active this feature will reduce damage from the chosen type by 40%. A charging feat must be used to activate this feature and the type of damage must be stated. You can change the type of damage at any time during battle but no more than twice per round.
NanoTech Regenerative Coating is fully compatible with any and all armor coatings but is incompatible with attached armor platings. If armor coatings are applied, the NTRC retains its ability to regenerate and alter itself against varying damage types.

Heat Blades [Energy]
Usable 3 times per round, up to 4 rounds
80DP [70 + 10 for Proficiency]
Heat Rating: 15
External Hardpoints: 2 (On each side)


Specials:

Lightning Beam Cannons
[Energy]
A pair of 100mm beam cannons solid-mounted on the back of the Zoid, capable of firing powerful laser beams in whatever direction the Saix is facing.
70DP

30mm Laser Repeaters
[Energy]
Located on the Saix's forehead are two 30mm laser repeater rifles, each capable of spitting out roughly 4 shots per second. Though not turret-mounted, they fire where the Saix's head faces, and are quite accurate because of that. Like the after-market Sniper Rifle, the Repeaters can be double-shot to count as one feat.
20DP per shot

Hardened Alloy Teeth and Claws
Razor-sharp fangs and rows of equally sharp teeth adorn the Saix's mouth while its paws contain sharp claws of their own.
50DP

Streamline Drafting
If more than one Saix is in the same battle they can use their body design to draft off each other. By continually leaping, the front Zoid can increase its speed and maneuverability, supplementing the damage of its next attack.
+10DP to next attack; increased rate of evasion by 10% per extra Saix

Battle Narrative:

The darkness was absolute, like the most defining constant of the entire universe, there existed nothing within its inky blackness except the floating consciousness of a Zoid Warrior on the brink of battle. There wasn’t so much words as merely an aimless trail of thought, as battles new and old played out against the black backdrop of his mind’s eye, his body caught in near perfect stillness he allowed himself to fall into the calm state of mind that preceded conflict for all great warriors. In this state there was no room for anger or fear, or even passion, it was a passive stillness like the surface of a lake. To the casual observer this might be off putting but to those of knowledge and skill it was clear that it ran deeper than just the surface, for like a calm lake the still surface belied the roiling storm that went on below.

Takeshi’s eyes finally opened into slits after what felt like hours of contemplation but was in reality perhaps only thirty minutes. Slowly, millimetre by millimetre his eye lids lifted until the shining emeralds of his eyes stood out in stark relief against his pale, lined face. His hands rested easily on the controls, the soft skin of his palms pressing gently against the cool, smooth leather. It had been years since he sat here, in the cockpit of his Lightning Saix about to go into battle, so long since Flash had been tested, an easy smile played across the pilot’s lips, he’d waited so long for this and it wasn’t until he’d got here that he’d realised just how eager he was to finally unleash the furious power of the Cheetah Zoid with which he’d made his name. In a few moments the gate would open, and he would be facing one of his new recruits, Aiyana Shuer, the Command Wolf pilot had been a god send, but now she had to face her Captain.

Takeshi shifted in his seat, these team battles were new to him, and normally he only faced down opposing teams or mercenaries, this concept of battling his rookies even as an exhibition match felt strange. Still, with no points on the line he was looking forward to getting used to Flash again, he’d missed being a Saix pilot, for all he wouldn’t trade Thunder for anything, it’d be nice to just feel the grace of true high speed battle again. Lights began to flash as the gate prepared to open, Takeshi switched on his comm-link and spoke evenly to the Highguard support team that would be running the show, “Alright guys, let’s light the crowd up a bit, play our song.” As the words left his mouth and the gate began to lower in front of the Saix the song began, with a continuous thud, thud “Yeah!” the first chords of the rock anthem hummed across the scrapyard arena.

The judge’s announcement crashed around as the Saix took its first steps out into the full field of view, not wasting any time the Saix accelerated in large easy strides, the feline grace of the Cheetah Zoid evident in every line as it sped around the edges of the battlefield, ducking and weaving between the mounds of scrap metal. Takeshi’s eyes hardened in the anticipation of a predator on the hunt, the familiar pressure in his chest began to fill him as they hit top speed of the Saix’s base capabilities, his hands moving to the Nanotech armour settings, adjusting its form to provide better protection against the solid projectiles that the Command Wolf would undoubtedly unleash. The Highguardian launched himself up the side of one mound of scrap, clawing his way up the loose chunks of metal, an avalanche of the rusted and pitted refuse cascading down behind as he worked to get a height advantage over the wolf.

It wasn’t long before the opponent came into view, the cheetah sprung its trap with the crashing cacophony of a rat trap snapping shut. The Zoid launched itself down towards the opponent, extending the heat blades that had remained hidden at its sides, as they slid past the wolf, a heel spin on the Saix’s hind legs pivoted them around to drive past with one last strike before they bounded past once more, dashing back into the moderate cover of the mountains of scrap metal, it struck Takeshi how similar the battlefield was to the part shop he’d grown up working in before he’d made it as a pilot, it had been in a not dissimilar place that he and Flash had first forged their bond, and it was in this place that it felt fitting for the duo to return to the world of Zoid battles. The pilot smiled, a guileless smile with no malice, it felt good to be home he thought as the duo prepared to strike once more.

Once more they rounded on their opponent, this time coming at the foe from behind, Takeshi’s grin widened as he lined up the foe with the Lightning Beam Cannons on the Saix’s back, he’d developed a reputation as a melee combatant and to be fair it was what he was best at, but people often forgot he wasn’t a terrible shot, particularly when he had his opponent so firmly locked between the crosshairs, the cannons roared to life as he hit the trigger and the twin flashes of energy as they fired lanced off in the direction of the Command Wolf like the lightning for which it was named, the metallic tang and scent of ozone that filled the cockpit left no doubt as to what had happened when they fired. Takeshi was nothing if not a showman, and he lived up to his nickname, he was the Blue Bolt of Highguard. Without another sound, he activated the boosters on the Saix and hit top speed in an instant as he weaved, his face puckered with concentration as he re-acclimated to the insane speeds of a top performance Lightning Saix, the gee forces slamming into the pilot with ferocity as he manoeuvred around the scrap heap with all the finesse of an artist.

The Saix charged down its prey now as the pilot sensed the end game approaching, no time left for fancy piloting it was time to simply punch on where he knew he was the superior pilot, Aiyana could undoubtedly outshoot the Captain, but he was the king of melee combat in this arena and he had to demonstrate why, the Heat blades extending once more as they swiped past the larger wolf the roaring air they left in their wake screeching as it ran over the curved edges of the Zoid, large concussive blasts echoing across the battlefield each time they broke the sound barrier.

Once they reached a suitable alleyway within the twisting warrens of the junkyard, Takeshi brought them to a standstill, backing the cheetah Zoid up against the wall to await their opponent if he could draw the Wolf into a shootout it would look very cool, and in the recesses of Takeshi’s mind he could hear the whistling music of an old cowboy movie, but really he just needed Aiyana to break cover and run into the sights of the Beam Cannons, and the moment she did the Captain hit the triggers with a double tap, the mighty lightning cannons hissing their deadly song across the battlefield.

Battle Summary:
1.
A: Dodge: Float like a butterfly amongst the scrap heap.
B: Activate: Nanotech against solid projectile damage -40% Damage from solid projectile weapons.
2.
A: Dodge: Climbing scrap heaps to avoid being seen.
B: Reflex: Double Attack: Sting like a bee, heat blades ninja jump attack to Command Wolf’s body 160DP + 30 Heat Index (70+10 prof*2 and 15 HI* 2)
3.
A: Attack: Lightning Beam Cannons to Wolf’s body 70DP
B: Reflex: After Image: Weaving amongst the scrap. Near auto dodge
4.
A: Attack: Heat Blades to wolf’s body 80 DP 15 HI
B: Dodge: Duck and weave like a mofo
5.
A: Reflex: Double Attack: Beam Cannons at Wolf’s body 140DP (70*2)
B: Dodge: Moving amongst the scrap for cover.

Reflexes Remaining: 4/8

And in spite of promised action and mayhem...the opening seconds of the match were almost laughably passive. Both pilots dodging and weaving wildly through the maze of junk and setting their defences to protect against melee attacks or projectiles.

Aiyana took refuge behind Crazy Eddies pride and joy, the Tower of TV's! Which when things got hot would suffer an unfortunate fate, leaving Eddie without his precious stack of electronics, however hiding didn't do much good for Aiyana, as Takeshi had taken to the highground, so the dust thrown up by the collapse didn't quite block his view, which when he slashed downward like an avenging angel he landed a solid blow, though a stray bouncing TV robbed him of the second blow landing. Aiyana's response however, was severely muted, the shots going wide from the sudden close range appearance of Takeshi's Lightning Saix.

However, as the pair composed themselves Takeshi managed to land another blow, this time with his Lightning Beam Cannons, Aiyana's reply was swift and punishing, slamming four rounds out of her Sniper Rifle, all of which struck home. Sadly however, the hardening against projectile attacks meant that the successful hits were nowhere near powerful enough to knock the speedy Saix into next week. Even with the incredible effort put in by Takeshi in which the speedster seemed to vanish from sight, the rounds landed*.

As things continued, the Saix streaked in for another savage slash with the heat blades, which landed and set the stage for the end. Aiyana's response was to terminate a nearby pile of scrap with extreme prejudice.

The coup de grace was the pair of beam cannon shots, one landing squarely on target, the other striking a glancing blow off of what little armour remained on the Command Wolf, Aiyana's own last-gasp attack striking true and leaving the Takeshi's Lightning Saix perilously close to destruction.


So with 14 armor left on the body, I hereby declare Takeshi the winner!.
Crazy Eddie also would like to have a word with Aiyana about his TV's.

Aiyana, it seems that all your luck got poured into that double-double, sadly though, it wasn't enough with the reduction in damage.

Rewards:
to the Victor, I award standard winnings (12RPC) +5RPC for the round. Also gonna give another 5. Because I feel like it...also good viewership! Woooooo get you some!
to the vanquished, I award 5RPC for the loss, 5RPC for the round and another 5 for taking out Crazy Eddies TV tower. Also you may want to leave now...cause he's talking about 'getting even' and waving a pipe wrench.

*: Seriously, I rolled 4 D10, the After image needed anything less than 10 to 'work'...and apparently ALL of Aiyana's luck went into this. But the outcome doesn't really matter...you still won.

edit:
Changed winnings to 12RPC for unranked. My bad.