sander093
Well-known member
Clash at Tarbes
Her master was dead. Of that Sheffield had no doubt. The familiar bond that had become a constant of her life was gone, not muted, or distant... But simply gone. She had read up upon enough literature on the subject to know what that meant.
King Joseph of Gallia was no more. She was unsure as to how, that thing should have been more than able to keep him safe, but obviously not. Her vengeance would have to wait for now, given that she was attached to the Reconquista invasion fleet and had no easy way of departing at the moment. She would have to pull a disappearing act once they arrived and make her way to Gallia from there to find out what had happened to her departed master. And then take vengeance upon those responsible.
“Lady Sheffield.” She turned to see the captain of the ship at her door. “We have almost arrived at the landing point.” Good that meant, she was almost done with this trip.
“Is anything amiss?”
“No Lady. The outriders already brought the local village under control.” And had most likely taken liberties with said village. Well it wasn't like she was going to be staying with this lot for much longer. “From there it will be a simple march to the port.”
Simple, not easy? She supposed even Tristain would recognize the value of the port city, and takes steps to defend it. Not truly relevant to her as she intended to be gone by then, but useful to know that she would have to travel overland either to another port or all the way to Gallia. Both options carried risks, but she would have to decide later. “And Tristain.”
“...We spotted a few of their smaller ships when we left port, so we should assume that they'll be moving to intercept. We don't yet know what they'll be able to bring. But nothing more than their navy should be able to arrive before we've taken the port, and we can easily defeat whatever they can bring to bear with the new cannons.”
“And what of Tristain's 'weapons'.” The cursed things had both helped and hindered her masters plans, depending on who wielded them.
The face that went onto the captain's face told her all she needed to know. “We know how to deal with them now, their devilry won't be affecting our plans.”
No, Sheffield thought, those 'weapons' would very well affect Reconquista's plans.
.........................
The rumbling of the coach's wheel slowly died down as they came to a stop in front of half a dozen mounted soldiers. Zenobia looked them over from her place beside the coach master, the soldiers wore the livery of Tristain, but her master's warnings kept her wary. While she wouldn't mind a fight, these guys didn't look they would be much fun.... “Identify---”
Something large and heavy landing beside the cart signalled the arrival of her master's familiar with her master riding on top of it. The soldiers flinched back a bit at her masters arrival. “And just who might you be.”
The lead soldier regained their courage first. “Outriders under the command of Count Elaryis, part of General's Garmont's army.” Army.. Oh that could be fun to fight.
“Duchess Karin de La Valliere.” The soldiers eyes widened. “And my Retainers. We're to join up with the army, take us to them.”
“Yes.... My Lady, I will have one of my riders guide you to them.” Aww, no fighting, still joining up with the army meant there was a bigger fight looming.
........................
Garmont looked through the spyglass at the Reconquista fleet moving to intercept his army. It was both good and bad news, bad in that they would be forcing a battle, before he had gotten all his forces in position.
Good in that he didn't have to chase them down, and given how early they had moved out it gave him enough time to get what he did have in position. He lowered the spyglass and turned to the messenger beside him. “Inform admiral Vire to go with deployment C.”
The messenger gave a quick salute and ran off, as Garmont turned back to look at the approaching fleet. In a traditional battle what forces he had wouldn't have a chance of beating what Reconquista was bringing to bear.
So best not to let this be a traditional battle then.
...........................
“Looks like the general gave the order to deploy then.” Agnes de Milan observed as the airships hovering above them began to manoeuvre. “Which means we need to be ready.” She looked over to where Corporal Elise stood by with her 'weapon' Kanaha. KOS-MOS and Herald were waiting just outside the perimeter of their little encampment inside the main encampment of general Garmont's army. The former having finally fully reformed her body this morning.
The princess insisting on accompanying the army had lead Agnes and the rest of the Musketeer squadron being brought along. A few of them had tried to talk Henrietta out of it, but she had insisted, and eventually caused herself, Valliere and Garmont to relent. Chief amongst Henrietta's arguments had been one of morale, having their monarch along would inspire the troops. But mostly it was bringing out several artifacts from the royal treasury that required a member of the royal family to use. Ones that would be useful int the coming fights.
A messenger ran up to the encampment, Agnes looked to him. “The General has ordered all 'weapons' to deploy.”
“Tell the general we're on our way.” The messenger gave a quick salute before running off. “Elise with me, Nui, bring it out.” She went to the entrance to the encampment where her own 'weapons' were resting, Elise and Kanaha falling in behind her.
“Are you sure this is wise captain?”
“Entirely, no. But it's a gamble that has to be taken.” Nui met them just outside the entrance, a small box in her hands. She carefully opened the box to reveal the softly glowing blue crystal inside. The one they had recovered from the 'weapon' who had come after her, then went and killed her own master.
“Should we be bothering with this one Captain? She did try and kill you after all.” Agnes looked at Nui then down at the crystal sitting in the box.
“We need every one we can get.....” She glanced at KOS-MOS, Herald and Kanaha. Herald having donned her armour, that surprisingly hadn't needed to be reconstituted. “We're ready in case she doesn't obey.”
She reached in and took the crystal out. The moment her fingers touched it she felt a tingle go up her hand and through her body, while the crystal began to glow brighter and brighter....
Then the light coalesced into a humanoid form. Lavender eyes behind half rim glasses locked onto her, the woman threw her pale white hair to the side with a black gloved hand. “I am T-ELOS.” A polearm in her hands, the polearm consisted of a black staff with a spike at one end and an odd looking head at the other. She gave it a twirl before planting the spike into the ground. “Are you my master.” The move caused her dark skirt to flutter around.
She looked identical to the last time Agnes had seen her, wearing what was almost a dark recolour of what KOS-MOS wore. “I am....”
“Hmm...” T-ELOS leaned in a little close. “Something the matter master.”
The other three 'weapons' had readied their cannons. “...Their is questions about your loyalty.”
“Oh... do tell.”
“Do you not remember, you did kill your previous master after all.”
“I did? They must have been a poor master then, I do hope you prove better.”
“...Do you not even remember what you were trying to do to me?”
T-ELOS shook her head. “Master, we do not remember events of our previous lives.” KOS-MOS had returned her cannon to it's holster, which also caused T-ELOS to take in her surroundings.
“Hmm... You've certainly got quite a few interesting individuals following you Master.” Thunder echoed in the distance, it seemed the battle had begun.
“We don't have time for this now. We have to get to the front...” She focused on T-ELOS. “That includes you.”
“~Yes Master.” Agnes gave a grumbling as she lead the way towards the front, any other problems would have to wait for now.
...........................................
The soldier had been leading the carriage along the roads when the sound of distant thunder reached them and her master called for a halt. It seemed like there was a battle nearby, one Zenobia hoped she could join. Zenobia watched as Karin dismounted from the manticore. “Get my armour out, I'll be needing it.” A small smile went over Zenobia's lips, finally. While she hadn't minded the time spent with her master, not having something to fight, was a bit aggravating.
From the sounds of it she would soon get her wish. The trio of servants who had been brought with them lept into action, taking out pieces of armour for her master to wear into battle. Armour, not something she really bothered with, very few things she liked to fight hit weak enough for armour to make a difference, best to dodge or block for those. She grabbed her axe from where it was strapped to the top of the carriage, beat re-summoning it when she didn't need to.
A few minutes later and her master returned, ready for battle. “Zenobia, you'll be riding with me.” Ah, to battle, finally. Lifting her axe onto one shoulder she lept into the air, her arc putting her onto the manticore's back, just behind her master.
“So you got a plan?” She would at least hear out what her master intended first before going off and doing what she wanted. Instead of answering her master urged the manticore into the air.
They flew through the air for a few minutes, the carriage growing distant behind them, before Karin spoke. “We'll make for the main camp of our armies, going in without knowing what has been planned will just lead to confusion. From there we'll follow whatever assignments we are given, do not go running off on your own understand.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Sounded boring though. “And if we don't make it to the camp first?”
“If, if we are engaged on the way use your barrier to shield us.”
Zenobia looked down at the manticore the two were riding on. “Barrier is going to be a little small, and cut into this guy.” She tapped the manticore with one of her feet.
“Can you make it larger?”
Could she? She gazed upwards, best to try away from their mount. Ether flowed out of her.... And she pushed it even---
[ERROR: Out-of-bounds exception: Ether conduit limit reached.]
“No.... But...” Couldn't get a bigger shield, but what about a smaller one.... That could be an option.
[RECALCULATING BARRIER...... DEPLOYING.... STABLE]
Her familiar shield appeared above the two of them, though covering a far smaller area than normal. “I can make a smaller one...”
“...That will do---”
“DODGE!” Her warning came just in time, and in a testament to her master's experience she wasted no time in sending the manticore into a dive, avoiding the green beam that sailed over head. Following the beams ether trail she spotted a ship peeling off and heading in their direction, one of the larger ones from the look of things. “One of yours or theirs?”
“Theirs, sail set up is what's used on the White Isle, continental sails are arranged differently.” The manticore changes direction again as another green beam goes sailing by. “Disengaging here may prove difficult.” As if to emphasize the manticore changed direction again, avoiding yet another blast.
“So running away then?”
“For now yes.”
“Better idea. Get me above that ship. We won't get anywhere until it's dealt with, so drop me on it and I can clear it out. Just remember to pick me up afterwards.”
Rather than answering, Karin guided the manticore through another turn to avoid another shot. Though she did begin to move towards the ship while slowly gaining altitude. A quick use of her barrier caused the next shot to explode on contact, the smaller barrier shattered with the explosion, but far enough away that they weren't harmed. She could also throw it out faster than her big ones.
A bit more flying saw them directly above the ship. “Here's good.” And without waiting for a reply she lept. Immediately she could feel the wind rushing by, sending her hair and skirt ruffling. She let out a laugh, this was it, this was what she lived for, why she existed.
A lance of green shot up towards her, quickly she threw out a barrier, intercepting the attack. Using a bit of wind manipulation she dodged the next shot that came her way, it wasn't enough to fly like her master, but it was enough to change the course of her fall. She dodged and block the next few shots as the ship grew larger, and the shots became harder to dodge.
With the ships masts looming before she used one last push to set her final direction, any more and she would miss her target. Blocking one last shot with her barrier she channelled ether into her axe and picked her target..... That mast looked perfect. Twisting around a bit she swung at just the right moment for her axe to dig into the top most beam of the mast.
Glowing with ether her axe cut straight down through the beam and surrounding ropes. The sail immediately began to sag on the one side and the few taunt ropes whipped out... But her focus was on the next beam down, her strike on the first beam having caused her to spin opposite the direction she had swung. So she followed through and timed her next hit came in from the side, the beam, although a bit thicker providing no more resistance than the first one.
Then the deck was, her last blow sending her feet first into it, right in front of poor sailor, who a moment later found himself in the path of her axe.
[WARNING: Ether Lock]
She sidestepped the green beam that nearly took her head off, and watched it detonate inside a raised structure on the ships deck. Ether lock, she could use that.... She put the mast between her and the other 'weapon' for a moment, then reversed direction when she felt the attack coming. A small smile of satisfaction crossed her face as the beam burned through the mast leaving a smouldering hole behind.
Charging forwards she used her axe to clear a group of sailors that had gathered to oppose her, their armour proving to be of no use against her ether infused axe. Sidestepping another shot she continued on, her target standing out from the rest of the sailors.
She stood out, not only with the ether cannon shaped in like an oversized musket, but that her dark-blue uniform came with a skirt rather than pants. The glowing sapphire blue crystal embedded in her uniforms collar along with the ether Zenobia could feel flowing around her insured she stood out to Zenobia's eyes at least. Pale green hair drifted back and forth in the wind, while chestnut eyes bored into her.
“So the fool arrives. You saved us the time of retrieving you after your master is gone.” Zenobia didn't stop even as the other 'weapon' spoke, dodging the shot her opponent managed.
“Heh, you speak as though you're going to win here.” Her opponent began to back up, still letting off the occasional shot, with two of them gathering ether from the same area, neither could really fight at full strength.
“You laugh now, but you will become another blade for lord Cromwell.” The leader, not the movement, interesting. She had closed the gap and brought her axe down.
......................
It was chaos as Tristain forces clashed with those flying the Reconquista flag. Agnes de Milan hung back directing fire of a few dozen Musketeer regulars as KOS-MOS, Herald and her recently awakened T-ELOS danced in the middle of the fray. She had taken over the musketeers after their sergeant had fallen earlier in the battle. Elise and her 'weapon' had stayed with the main group of 'weapon' masters.
That it meant her 'weapons' could fight without her safety being a concern was of secondary importance. The melee she and her adopted musketeer's were firing into had dissolved into chaos, what should have been neat battle lines had instead devolved into a mud soaked circle of blood and bodies. T-ELOS danced at the edge, picking off any who bore Reconquista regalia, something she was proving disturbingly good at. A reminder that the 'weapon' could have easily killed her back during their first encounter, only her focus on other activities having allowed Agnes to live.
KOS-MOS and Herald had circle even farther out and were engaging both targets on the ground and any airborne enemies that strayed within their range. Even managing to down an airship.
For her musketeer's, she was having them focus on the enemy skirmish line, the melee was too mixed to even try and fire into it. She was still watching it in case Reconquista troops tried to breakout towards her. She was also keeping an eye on a Reconquista ship that had broken off earlier, KOS-MOS had confirmed the presence of a 'weapon' on board. The other 'weapon' that her own had detected was somewhere on the ground, Herald had volunteered to try and intercept.
Several shouts of alarm alerted her to something going wrong, she was in the process of turning and bringing her pistol to bear when something knocked it out of her hands. Or in this case who, and Auburn haired woman stood before her, looking at her with teal eyes behind a pair of glasses. She was wearing a beige jacket with purple highlights, with a sapphire blue crystal peaking out from her black colour.
“So you're the one who awakened her.”
Her master was dead. Of that Sheffield had no doubt. The familiar bond that had become a constant of her life was gone, not muted, or distant... But simply gone. She had read up upon enough literature on the subject to know what that meant.
King Joseph of Gallia was no more. She was unsure as to how, that thing should have been more than able to keep him safe, but obviously not. Her vengeance would have to wait for now, given that she was attached to the Reconquista invasion fleet and had no easy way of departing at the moment. She would have to pull a disappearing act once they arrived and make her way to Gallia from there to find out what had happened to her departed master. And then take vengeance upon those responsible.
“Lady Sheffield.” She turned to see the captain of the ship at her door. “We have almost arrived at the landing point.” Good that meant, she was almost done with this trip.
“Is anything amiss?”
“No Lady. The outriders already brought the local village under control.” And had most likely taken liberties with said village. Well it wasn't like she was going to be staying with this lot for much longer. “From there it will be a simple march to the port.”
Simple, not easy? She supposed even Tristain would recognize the value of the port city, and takes steps to defend it. Not truly relevant to her as she intended to be gone by then, but useful to know that she would have to travel overland either to another port or all the way to Gallia. Both options carried risks, but she would have to decide later. “And Tristain.”
“...We spotted a few of their smaller ships when we left port, so we should assume that they'll be moving to intercept. We don't yet know what they'll be able to bring. But nothing more than their navy should be able to arrive before we've taken the port, and we can easily defeat whatever they can bring to bear with the new cannons.”
“And what of Tristain's 'weapons'.” The cursed things had both helped and hindered her masters plans, depending on who wielded them.
The face that went onto the captain's face told her all she needed to know. “We know how to deal with them now, their devilry won't be affecting our plans.”
No, Sheffield thought, those 'weapons' would very well affect Reconquista's plans.
.........................
The rumbling of the coach's wheel slowly died down as they came to a stop in front of half a dozen mounted soldiers. Zenobia looked them over from her place beside the coach master, the soldiers wore the livery of Tristain, but her master's warnings kept her wary. While she wouldn't mind a fight, these guys didn't look they would be much fun.... “Identify---”
Something large and heavy landing beside the cart signalled the arrival of her master's familiar with her master riding on top of it. The soldiers flinched back a bit at her masters arrival. “And just who might you be.”
The lead soldier regained their courage first. “Outriders under the command of Count Elaryis, part of General's Garmont's army.” Army.. Oh that could be fun to fight.
“Duchess Karin de La Valliere.” The soldiers eyes widened. “And my Retainers. We're to join up with the army, take us to them.”
“Yes.... My Lady, I will have one of my riders guide you to them.” Aww, no fighting, still joining up with the army meant there was a bigger fight looming.
........................
Garmont looked through the spyglass at the Reconquista fleet moving to intercept his army. It was both good and bad news, bad in that they would be forcing a battle, before he had gotten all his forces in position.
Good in that he didn't have to chase them down, and given how early they had moved out it gave him enough time to get what he did have in position. He lowered the spyglass and turned to the messenger beside him. “Inform admiral Vire to go with deployment C.”
The messenger gave a quick salute and ran off, as Garmont turned back to look at the approaching fleet. In a traditional battle what forces he had wouldn't have a chance of beating what Reconquista was bringing to bear.
So best not to let this be a traditional battle then.
...........................
“Looks like the general gave the order to deploy then.” Agnes de Milan observed as the airships hovering above them began to manoeuvre. “Which means we need to be ready.” She looked over to where Corporal Elise stood by with her 'weapon' Kanaha. KOS-MOS and Herald were waiting just outside the perimeter of their little encampment inside the main encampment of general Garmont's army. The former having finally fully reformed her body this morning.
The princess insisting on accompanying the army had lead Agnes and the rest of the Musketeer squadron being brought along. A few of them had tried to talk Henrietta out of it, but she had insisted, and eventually caused herself, Valliere and Garmont to relent. Chief amongst Henrietta's arguments had been one of morale, having their monarch along would inspire the troops. But mostly it was bringing out several artifacts from the royal treasury that required a member of the royal family to use. Ones that would be useful int the coming fights.
A messenger ran up to the encampment, Agnes looked to him. “The General has ordered all 'weapons' to deploy.”
“Tell the general we're on our way.” The messenger gave a quick salute before running off. “Elise with me, Nui, bring it out.” She went to the entrance to the encampment where her own 'weapons' were resting, Elise and Kanaha falling in behind her.
“Are you sure this is wise captain?”
“Entirely, no. But it's a gamble that has to be taken.” Nui met them just outside the entrance, a small box in her hands. She carefully opened the box to reveal the softly glowing blue crystal inside. The one they had recovered from the 'weapon' who had come after her, then went and killed her own master.
“Should we be bothering with this one Captain? She did try and kill you after all.” Agnes looked at Nui then down at the crystal sitting in the box.
“We need every one we can get.....” She glanced at KOS-MOS, Herald and Kanaha. Herald having donned her armour, that surprisingly hadn't needed to be reconstituted. “We're ready in case she doesn't obey.”
She reached in and took the crystal out. The moment her fingers touched it she felt a tingle go up her hand and through her body, while the crystal began to glow brighter and brighter....
Then the light coalesced into a humanoid form. Lavender eyes behind half rim glasses locked onto her, the woman threw her pale white hair to the side with a black gloved hand. “I am T-ELOS.” A polearm in her hands, the polearm consisted of a black staff with a spike at one end and an odd looking head at the other. She gave it a twirl before planting the spike into the ground. “Are you my master.” The move caused her dark skirt to flutter around.
She looked identical to the last time Agnes had seen her, wearing what was almost a dark recolour of what KOS-MOS wore. “I am....”
“Hmm...” T-ELOS leaned in a little close. “Something the matter master.”
The other three 'weapons' had readied their cannons. “...Their is questions about your loyalty.”
“Oh... do tell.”
“Do you not remember, you did kill your previous master after all.”
“I did? They must have been a poor master then, I do hope you prove better.”
“...Do you not even remember what you were trying to do to me?”
T-ELOS shook her head. “Master, we do not remember events of our previous lives.” KOS-MOS had returned her cannon to it's holster, which also caused T-ELOS to take in her surroundings.
“Hmm... You've certainly got quite a few interesting individuals following you Master.” Thunder echoed in the distance, it seemed the battle had begun.
“We don't have time for this now. We have to get to the front...” She focused on T-ELOS. “That includes you.”
“~Yes Master.” Agnes gave a grumbling as she lead the way towards the front, any other problems would have to wait for now.
...........................................
The soldier had been leading the carriage along the roads when the sound of distant thunder reached them and her master called for a halt. It seemed like there was a battle nearby, one Zenobia hoped she could join. Zenobia watched as Karin dismounted from the manticore. “Get my armour out, I'll be needing it.” A small smile went over Zenobia's lips, finally. While she hadn't minded the time spent with her master, not having something to fight, was a bit aggravating.
From the sounds of it she would soon get her wish. The trio of servants who had been brought with them lept into action, taking out pieces of armour for her master to wear into battle. Armour, not something she really bothered with, very few things she liked to fight hit weak enough for armour to make a difference, best to dodge or block for those. She grabbed her axe from where it was strapped to the top of the carriage, beat re-summoning it when she didn't need to.
A few minutes later and her master returned, ready for battle. “Zenobia, you'll be riding with me.” Ah, to battle, finally. Lifting her axe onto one shoulder she lept into the air, her arc putting her onto the manticore's back, just behind her master.
“So you got a plan?” She would at least hear out what her master intended first before going off and doing what she wanted. Instead of answering her master urged the manticore into the air.
They flew through the air for a few minutes, the carriage growing distant behind them, before Karin spoke. “We'll make for the main camp of our armies, going in without knowing what has been planned will just lead to confusion. From there we'll follow whatever assignments we are given, do not go running off on your own understand.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Sounded boring though. “And if we don't make it to the camp first?”
“If, if we are engaged on the way use your barrier to shield us.”
Zenobia looked down at the manticore the two were riding on. “Barrier is going to be a little small, and cut into this guy.” She tapped the manticore with one of her feet.
“Can you make it larger?”
Could she? She gazed upwards, best to try away from their mount. Ether flowed out of her.... And she pushed it even---
[ERROR: Out-of-bounds exception: Ether conduit limit reached.]
“No.... But...” Couldn't get a bigger shield, but what about a smaller one.... That could be an option.
[RECALCULATING BARRIER...... DEPLOYING.... STABLE]
Her familiar shield appeared above the two of them, though covering a far smaller area than normal. “I can make a smaller one...”
“...That will do---”
“DODGE!” Her warning came just in time, and in a testament to her master's experience she wasted no time in sending the manticore into a dive, avoiding the green beam that sailed over head. Following the beams ether trail she spotted a ship peeling off and heading in their direction, one of the larger ones from the look of things. “One of yours or theirs?”
“Theirs, sail set up is what's used on the White Isle, continental sails are arranged differently.” The manticore changes direction again as another green beam goes sailing by. “Disengaging here may prove difficult.” As if to emphasize the manticore changed direction again, avoiding yet another blast.
“So running away then?”
“For now yes.”
“Better idea. Get me above that ship. We won't get anywhere until it's dealt with, so drop me on it and I can clear it out. Just remember to pick me up afterwards.”
Rather than answering, Karin guided the manticore through another turn to avoid another shot. Though she did begin to move towards the ship while slowly gaining altitude. A quick use of her barrier caused the next shot to explode on contact, the smaller barrier shattered with the explosion, but far enough away that they weren't harmed. She could also throw it out faster than her big ones.
A bit more flying saw them directly above the ship. “Here's good.” And without waiting for a reply she lept. Immediately she could feel the wind rushing by, sending her hair and skirt ruffling. She let out a laugh, this was it, this was what she lived for, why she existed.
A lance of green shot up towards her, quickly she threw out a barrier, intercepting the attack. Using a bit of wind manipulation she dodged the next shot that came her way, it wasn't enough to fly like her master, but it was enough to change the course of her fall. She dodged and block the next few shots as the ship grew larger, and the shots became harder to dodge.
With the ships masts looming before she used one last push to set her final direction, any more and she would miss her target. Blocking one last shot with her barrier she channelled ether into her axe and picked her target..... That mast looked perfect. Twisting around a bit she swung at just the right moment for her axe to dig into the top most beam of the mast.
Glowing with ether her axe cut straight down through the beam and surrounding ropes. The sail immediately began to sag on the one side and the few taunt ropes whipped out... But her focus was on the next beam down, her strike on the first beam having caused her to spin opposite the direction she had swung. So she followed through and timed her next hit came in from the side, the beam, although a bit thicker providing no more resistance than the first one.
Then the deck was, her last blow sending her feet first into it, right in front of poor sailor, who a moment later found himself in the path of her axe.
[WARNING: Ether Lock]
She sidestepped the green beam that nearly took her head off, and watched it detonate inside a raised structure on the ships deck. Ether lock, she could use that.... She put the mast between her and the other 'weapon' for a moment, then reversed direction when she felt the attack coming. A small smile of satisfaction crossed her face as the beam burned through the mast leaving a smouldering hole behind.
Charging forwards she used her axe to clear a group of sailors that had gathered to oppose her, their armour proving to be of no use against her ether infused axe. Sidestepping another shot she continued on, her target standing out from the rest of the sailors.
She stood out, not only with the ether cannon shaped in like an oversized musket, but that her dark-blue uniform came with a skirt rather than pants. The glowing sapphire blue crystal embedded in her uniforms collar along with the ether Zenobia could feel flowing around her insured she stood out to Zenobia's eyes at least. Pale green hair drifted back and forth in the wind, while chestnut eyes bored into her.
“So the fool arrives. You saved us the time of retrieving you after your master is gone.” Zenobia didn't stop even as the other 'weapon' spoke, dodging the shot her opponent managed.
“Heh, you speak as though you're going to win here.” Her opponent began to back up, still letting off the occasional shot, with two of them gathering ether from the same area, neither could really fight at full strength.
“You laugh now, but you will become another blade for lord Cromwell.” The leader, not the movement, interesting. She had closed the gap and brought her axe down.
......................
It was chaos as Tristain forces clashed with those flying the Reconquista flag. Agnes de Milan hung back directing fire of a few dozen Musketeer regulars as KOS-MOS, Herald and her recently awakened T-ELOS danced in the middle of the fray. She had taken over the musketeers after their sergeant had fallen earlier in the battle. Elise and her 'weapon' had stayed with the main group of 'weapon' masters.
That it meant her 'weapons' could fight without her safety being a concern was of secondary importance. The melee she and her adopted musketeer's were firing into had dissolved into chaos, what should have been neat battle lines had instead devolved into a mud soaked circle of blood and bodies. T-ELOS danced at the edge, picking off any who bore Reconquista regalia, something she was proving disturbingly good at. A reminder that the 'weapon' could have easily killed her back during their first encounter, only her focus on other activities having allowed Agnes to live.
KOS-MOS and Herald had circle even farther out and were engaging both targets on the ground and any airborne enemies that strayed within their range. Even managing to down an airship.
For her musketeer's, she was having them focus on the enemy skirmish line, the melee was too mixed to even try and fire into it. She was still watching it in case Reconquista troops tried to breakout towards her. She was also keeping an eye on a Reconquista ship that had broken off earlier, KOS-MOS had confirmed the presence of a 'weapon' on board. The other 'weapon' that her own had detected was somewhere on the ground, Herald had volunteered to try and intercept.
Several shouts of alarm alerted her to something going wrong, she was in the process of turning and bringing her pistol to bear when something knocked it out of her hands. Or in this case who, and Auburn haired woman stood before her, looking at her with teal eyes behind a pair of glasses. She was wearing a beige jacket with purple highlights, with a sapphire blue crystal peaking out from her black colour.
“So you're the one who awakened her.”