[18:57] *** Nathan_Carver is now known as Leo`R[Nathan]

[18:58] <Leo`R[Nathan]> This is it... I'm sick of these games Joshua...

tired of watching you ruin people... I'm stopping this, for good.

<He speeds on, carried on a trail of pale, bluish flame.>

[19:00] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <Meanwhile, as planned, forces of the United Alliance,

now entrenched in the L4 area, begin to spread. Fleets of transports and carriers

bring a legion of thousands to positions all across habited space, as a mass siege

of the colonies is underway. The UA has decreed... the Grand Cross' legacy ends here.>

[19:02] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <As he locks on the coordinates, he can be spotted from a

derelict colony. A faint star in the distance grows, manifesting into a knight-like

armored figure. The Leo-R bears down on the area, its boosters blasting away as the

fuel cell depletes itself.>

[19:03] <Joshua_Armaros> <A single white figure stands out amongst the field of black

that is dotted with stars. It is a plain Leo-S...and apparently, it is alone.>

[19:03] *** Joshua_Armaros is now known as Leo-S[Joshua]

[19:04] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <Comm> It all comes to this...

[19:04] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Comm] So it does...

[19:05] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <Ignites a thin beam rapier blade from its circular hilt in hand>

[19:06] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <Comm> No more second chances... no more lies.

I am sick of you destroying everyone and everything who comes near you.

Friends, comrades, loved ones... they all go up in smoke, just to fuel your warped ideal.

<He draws a small handle, letting it unfold into a lance, positioned at an angle behind

his back.>

[19:07] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Comm] It's all worth it though, Nathan.....when you scrape away

the dirt on the surface, and see the beauty beneathe it all....

<Tosses away his High Impact Cannon>

[19:07] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Comm] All of your trappings, your pain and tragedy....

it means nothing to me. It never will...

[19:08] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <He watches it drift, and then hits a switch near his left hand.

The beam rifle jetisons away from it's shoulder mount.

<Comm> Then, you're not even Joshua anymore.

[19:09] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Comm] Joshua died 20 years ago....he was holding on to what

he could not have, but in the end, he went on to a better place...instead,

his body still carries on to complete the cycle that must exist...

[19:10] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <Pushing both levers forward, he sends the Leo-R streaking down.

<Comm> You're just a pathetic shadow... I guess we'll just have to shead some light.

[19:11] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <Drawing the beam lance around, he twirls it before lifting

it high for a strike.>

[19:11] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Comm] That's where you're wrong....

<Laughs, and dashes towards the Leo R with Beam Rapier at the ready>

[19:13] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <Moving in, and weaving around, he slashs at the Leo-S as

it closes range.>

[19:13] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <The Leo-S drives its Beam Rapier down, colliding it with the

blade of the lance and pushing both blades towards the Leo R>

[19:14] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <As the lance wavers, the Leo-R pushes downward with its boosters,

pressing the lance back towards the other.>

[19:15] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <Joshua engages all of the boosters of the Leo S while

leading both blades upwards and towards it. It then spins its body and knocks

the lance blade away, while gaining distance from Nathan's Leo R>

[19:15] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Comm] You were a fool to attack me alone....

[19:16] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <Comm> You're not even fighting for anything anymore...

just killing blindly. <He snatches the lance, and pursues.> Besides, at is, I can

assure that, one way or another, its kept between you and me.

[19:16] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <Several cloaked Phantoms emerge from their hiding places,

beam cannons engaging.>

[19:16] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Comm] <Laughs> Not anymore....I told you it was going to end.

[19:17] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <Comm> Well, I guess I was right... shame. <Locking on to the

Leo-S, he swings the lance around in a crescent arc, beginning at the knee level and

moving to the right shoulder.>

[19:19] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <He pilots the Leo-S back, though the lance nearly cleaves

through it's right knee.> <"Open fire.">

[19:19] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <The Phantom squadron take aim at Nathan's Leo-R>

[19:20] <Leo`R[Nathan]> .... Crap. <Banking high, he hurtles back from the Leo-S,

moving towards a black shape, suspending in space. Grabbing his beam rifle, he

then shoots downward for the colony itself.>

[19:20] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <The Phantoms release a spray of pulse shots at the Leo-R,

trying to keep locked onto the target>

[19:21] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Comm] You've strayed too far from safety....now there is no escape.

[19:22] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <The Leo-R weaves and circles, moving towards shots,

then whirling around them. Several make contact, stripping away armor.

In return, the Leo-R lets loose a burst of fire at one Phantom as it passes by,

whirl letting the extended lance blade cut across another.

Nearing the colony's surface, it settles amongst the ruins.>

[19:23] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <The Phantom starts to move out of the way,

but the shot rips through its midsection and kills the pilot.

The wrecked MS doesn't explode, surprisingly...>

[19:23] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <"Pursue him...">

[19:23] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <The Phantoms draw their beam sabers and fly down after Nathan>

[19:24] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <Comm> You shouldn't rely on henchmen...

especially people who's MS skills come second.

<As they advance, he flies backward along the colony suface.

Raising the rifle to eye level, he fires not in bursts, but precise,

single shots, switching targets before even bothering to see if a hit registers.>

[19:26] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <One of the Phantoms gets hit with a shot,

barrels while sparking with flames, and crashes into one at its side.

The other seem to be able to dodge the shots with agility.>

[19:26] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Comm] This is all for my amusement, mind you...

[19:27] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <comm> That just goes to show that the Josh I knew is gone.

<He turns, and meets an incoming sabre with a block from his lance.

Jabbing the barrel of his rifle into the Phantom, he fires,

following with his shoulder cannons.>

[19:27] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <The attacked Phantom tries to shove an arm through the attacks,

grasping onto the arm of Nathan's Leo R. The shoulder cannon fire shreads

it away and sends it flipping backwards through space.>

[19:29] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <The other attacks tear and blister his armor,

forcing him to take new measures. Advancing on another Phantom,

he keeps the range close, using it as cover, delivering an crosscut to its midsection.>

[19:29] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <The Phantom parries the cross cut with its beam saber,

but takes a beam cannon shot in its shoulder and tumbles forward into the Leo R.>

[19:30] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <Comm> Watching people die is fun, huh?

<He grinds his rifle barrel into it, firing shot after shot.>

[19:30] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Comm] Well, yes.

[19:31] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <The Phantom's frame quakes with each shot,

before the armoring swells with energy overload and explodes>

[19:31] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <Jabbing the Phantom aside with the end of his lance,

he backs away, cinders from the explosion charring his left arm.>

[19:32] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Comm from Phantom pilot to Joshua]

"Sir, we're taking too many losses for this one suit..."

[19:33] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Comm to Phantom pilot] "So kill it already, then."

[19:33] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Phantom Pilot, Comm] "This is madness..."

[19:33] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <Comm> Looks like they're scared.

You should fight your own battles, Josh.

<He wheels around, plunging the lance into the head of a Phantom,

and pushing it straight through to the center.>

[19:33] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <The Leo-S takes hold of its High Impact Cannon and

fires two shots through the Phantom in question>

[19:34] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <The Phantom floats backwards for a few moments, then explodes>

[19:35] <Leo-S[Joshua]> Don't second guess me...

[19:35] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <The other Phantom pilots stare in disbelief>

[19:35] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <Fragments of armor drift out from the wreck,

scraping over the sensor visor. As it flares a bright red,

the Leo`R turns about, firing all three cannons at its next target.>

[19:36] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Phantom Pilot 2] "You...you're insane!

You've just lead us out here to fight your personal battles....

we are not pawns, damn it....we are the most important agents

in the Grand Cross Empire. We have crumbled entire governments

with our influence...WE ARE NOT PAWNS."

[19:36] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <The Leo-R quakes from its own endurance,

loose shards of armor shaking into space.>

[19:36] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Comm to all Phantom Pilots] "....You are no longer needed

....goodnight. Sweet dreams."

[19:36] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <The Leo S floats upwards from them.>

[19:37] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <Suddenly, a load roar of static pours

over the comm signals and drowns everything else out>

[19:37] <Leo`R[Nathan]> Great... <He flies back, distancing himself from the swarm>

[19:39] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <Red wires pierce the Phantoms through their heads,

and worms through the bodies of the suits. They each kill the pilots

individually, a slow and hellish death where the body experiences both heat and electrocution>

[19:39] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <The wires then rip the suits into halves....>

[19:39] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <Comm> Stop it...

[19:40] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <An Omega uncloaks, floating amongst the wreckage>

[19:40] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Comm] I can't.

[19:41] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <It shifts and contorts, reverting into its

resting form of a coccoon. It grows eerily motionless....>

[19:41] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <As the mobile armor uncloaks, it casts a shadow

of the over the faint sunlight that reaches this region of space.

<Comm> So, not it's on to the drones? Great...

[19:42] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Comm] These are the angels that Leviathan made as his court....

and as his new reign as god, they shall govern over all of his domain....

[19:42] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Comm] There will be no need for humans,

now that he has his own creations.

[19:42] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Comm] Unless...

[19:43] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <Comm> You're mad... <He closes range with the Leo-S.>

[19:43] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Comm] Unless you can stop it....so fight....

and never stop fighting.

[19:43] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <Flies towards the Leo R, firing off several

shots from its High Impact Cannon>

[19:44] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <Comm> It doesn't matter to you, does it?

All the people... innocents. Even Kristina...

<he banks left and right, two shots clipping away armor,

and sending a shower of blue lighting into space.>

[19:45] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <Drawing the lance around, and using the full

force of the suit and its boosters, he slashes at the Leo-S.>

[19:45] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <Flies off to the side as he sees the Leo R bank,

which gives him just enough space to keep clear of the lance strike.

He turns to aim the barrel at the Leo R again>

[19:46] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Comm] They'll die no matter what.....

[19:46] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Comm] So let them die and make way for something new!

[19:46] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <Swinging his own rifle barrel up,

he takes aim as well.> <Com> Sorry... not a chance of that ever happening.

[19:47] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Comm] You helped it happen before....

[19:47] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Comm] Now, suddenly, you have changed your mind...

[19:47] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <Pulls the trigger on the cannon, releasing a shot>

[19:48] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <Comm> Yeah, people do that.

<The shot tears away fragments of the left shoulder,

shattering the cannon mechanism. But, simultaneously,

he fires his own rifle and the other cannon.>

[19:49] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <Comm> They make mistakes, and then try to recover.

People are flawed, but nothing, and no one, can ever be held to perfection.

[19:49] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <The shots destroy his left arm and part of his right shoulder>

[Comm] Which is why humanity is weak....can't stick to one thing. Always must

they repeat so many mistakes.

[19:50] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <Comm> That's life, deal with it. People learn, if they

have the chance to. <He barrels towards Joshua, leaning back with the lance,

and then tossing it like a javelin.>

[19:52] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Comm] They've had their chance...I even helped them evolve,

but still....STILL they insist on the same old things....the petty in fighting,

the torn families, the broken spirits that are overlooked every day.

That's what we're both fighting...but you don't understand my way....

and you won't until my demise.

[19:52] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <The lance pierces the chest of Josh's Leo-S,

causing the core to malfunction. Alarms go off in the cockpit>

[19:52] <Leo-S[Joshua]> [Comm] So finish me off....

[19:52] <Leo`R[Nathan]> Then that's the way it is. <He takes aim.>

[19:54] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <Closes his eyes>

[19:54] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <He fires.>

[19:54] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <"Hear my cry.....it ignites dreams.....it kills pain

......remember it always.">

[19:55] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <The Leo-S catches the shot right in the midsection,

accentuating the wound in its chest. The lines of the damage become glowing

white as the core reaches critical mass...>

[19:55] <Leo`R[Nathan]> I'm sorry... Joshua.

[19:56] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <A scream echoes through each of the Colonies,

and pierces the minds of psychics that live therein. It's one of torturous pain.

Some are brought to their knees, others simply lose conciousness.>

[19:56] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <He smiles> <"It's over....">

[19:57] <Leo`R[Nathan]> Just like before... <He winces, his mobile suit now drifting.>

[19:57] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <The Leo-S sparks, then blazes into an inferno that

consumes the suit in its entirety. Shrapnel peels away, sent flying through the dark skies.>

[19:57] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <And the Omega that was once uncloaked has vanished.>

[19:58] <Leo-S[Joshua]> <The scream ends, but its aftershock even reaches those

on the Earth. Only as a faint and distant cry...>

[19:59] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <Raising an arm over its mid-section,

the Leo-R buckling as the debris pierces his armor.>

[19:59] <Leo`R[Nathan]> Ack..

[20:00] <Leo`R[Nathan]> That's... it.... <Cold realization sets in. Years of conflict,

all settled, in one, quick move.>

[20:03] <Leo`R[Nathan]> <Time passes, as he settles back into his seat,

playing the events over in his mind. No glory, no honor... just one more death.>