So, the opening and first scene of Episode 5 are FINALLY ready for viewing. By you, at least. I encourage feedback while I work on the next scene.
This is so cool.
I'm on an actual spaceship.
Run by actual space pirates.
If we can beat them all does that mean I get to keep the ship?
Episode five of Super Dimension Magical Girl Lyrical Skitter, hajimarimasu!
"So, Lieutenant Takamachi. Having successfully escaped confinement, you decided to allow our guest to take the lead in an attempt to defeat the entire crew of the pirate vessel - total numbers unknown to you at that time - total resources, one civilian and one green Lieutenant, both with noncombat Devices. Is that a correct asessment of the tactical situation at the time, Lieutenant?"
Nanoha Takamachi stood at attention before the Major's desk, her eyes fixed on the wall directly above Tiida Lanster's head. She was not exactly green, to be certain, with two major incidents handled even before she and her friends had been singled out for the Academy. She knew better than to contradict a superior officer who was chewing her out, however. "Yes, Major," she answered. "That is a correct summary of the situation as we knew it."
"Would you care to inform me, then, Lieutenant," he asked, voice dangerously low, "Just what in the name of the Sankt-Kaiser you thought you were doing?"
Nanoha marshalled her thoughts carefully, aided by the comprehensive report she and Raging Heart had put together from her own memory and her loaner Device's data-logs of the incident. "Sir. Ms Hebert is technically a civilian, but by her own admission is a veteran of several years of guerilla-style and counter-insurgency combat incidents, frequently against both individuals more powerful than her and large groups of opponents. She had already shown an impressive bent for out-of-the-box tactical improvisation in arranging our escape from the holding cell. Given that, I saw an excellent opportunity to gather further data about her combat style, personal ethic, and tactical ability...."
I watched Taylor approach the door, her expression taut with concentration. Maintaining focus on that many spells at once - and not just the shield-drill, I could see other spell-balls forming around her as well - I could handle that number fairly easily, but if her focus on the drill slipped for even a moment she could lose her hand. Again.
"Get ready," she said. "This is going to get real obvious in a few seconds." I nodded and started forming blasters, only a couple at a time to spare my poor loaner Device from mana overload.
The drill made a lot of noise when it hit the door. It seemed to be cutting through the dense material fairly easily, though. I'd have to make a note of that in my report for an entry technique in teleport-warded areas. Once the safeties were properly refined, that is.
And of course, the guard noticed, too. "Hey in there! What the hell are you doing?" Taylor lifted her free hand for a moment to beckon me closer. I grinned and nodded, my first batch of blasters swirling around to frame the doorway while the second formed.
The screech of tearing metal came to a sudden stop as she drew her hand back from the door, stepping aside to dodge the blaster shot that ripped through the doorway as it slid open.
A half-dozen spell-balls preceded Skitter through the cell door. For a moment I wondered where she'd gotten hold of a blaster spell, but then I recognized the Wide Area Search spell I'd shown her just before we were gassed. I stepped through behind her, forming a third set of blasters, and kept a close eye in case she needed help.
For a moment I thought she was going to go after the guard with the safety-broken shield 'drill' she'd built, but she was smart enough to realize just how reckless that would be. She'd dismissed the 'drill' and recast just two of the shields while sending out the Search spells, which made a bit more sense.
I still wasn't quite sure what the searchers were for, until I saw her actually step into the fight. All the hesitation and lack of confidence I'd seen in her Strike Arts sessions with Graff was just plain gone. She flowed around the shooter he managed to get off like water, then effortlessly stepped around the punch he threw at her. Her first blow, padded by the shield on that hand, sent him flying into the wall, and she stepped in again to plant a foot in his gut.
She didn't even turn her head, but she'd already noticed the second guard coming around the corner and into the corridor. She stepped aside from one shooter, deflected the second into her first opponent with her shield - one down, one to go, and stepped into a quick exchange of blows.
The searcher spells she'd had out spread, even while she was still in mid-fight, moving down the corridors and around the junctions. Her style was quick and efficient, no wasted movements, and she never seemed to miss an attack even when it was outside her line of sight. Time to see how much attention she's paying, I decided, sending a flurry of blaster-balls to circle around the room and get in behind her opponent.
She kept his attention focused on her with a rapid series of jabs and a quick side-kick, obviously not doing much damage past his Barrier Jacket except with the shield-punches. After a few exchanges she jumped back, and I let him have it with the blasters. He never saw it coming, and went down flat almost instantly.
-- next scene goes here --
--
Sucrose Octanitrate.
Proof positive that with sufficient motivation, you can make anything explode.
This is so cool.
I'm on an actual spaceship.
Run by actual space pirates.
If we can beat them all does that mean I get to keep the ship?
Episode five of Super Dimension Magical Girl Lyrical Skitter, hajimarimasu!
--- * --- 1.5 --- * --- 1.5 --- * ---
"So, Lieutenant Takamachi. Having successfully escaped confinement, you decided to allow our guest to take the lead in an attempt to defeat the entire crew of the pirate vessel - total numbers unknown to you at that time - total resources, one civilian and one green Lieutenant, both with noncombat Devices. Is that a correct asessment of the tactical situation at the time, Lieutenant?"
Nanoha Takamachi stood at attention before the Major's desk, her eyes fixed on the wall directly above Tiida Lanster's head. She was not exactly green, to be certain, with two major incidents handled even before she and her friends had been singled out for the Academy. She knew better than to contradict a superior officer who was chewing her out, however. "Yes, Major," she answered. "That is a correct summary of the situation as we knew it."
"Would you care to inform me, then, Lieutenant," he asked, voice dangerously low, "Just what in the name of the Sankt-Kaiser you thought you were doing?"
Nanoha marshalled her thoughts carefully, aided by the comprehensive report she and Raging Heart had put together from her own memory and her loaner Device's data-logs of the incident. "Sir. Ms Hebert is technically a civilian, but by her own admission is a veteran of several years of guerilla-style and counter-insurgency combat incidents, frequently against both individuals more powerful than her and large groups of opponents. She had already shown an impressive bent for out-of-the-box tactical improvisation in arranging our escape from the holding cell. Given that, I saw an excellent opportunity to gather further data about her combat style, personal ethic, and tactical ability...."
- 1.5 --- * --- 1.5 -
I watched Taylor approach the door, her expression taut with concentration. Maintaining focus on that many spells at once - and not just the shield-drill, I could see other spell-balls forming around her as well - I could handle that number fairly easily, but if her focus on the drill slipped for even a moment she could lose her hand. Again.
"Get ready," she said. "This is going to get real obvious in a few seconds." I nodded and started forming blasters, only a couple at a time to spare my poor loaner Device from mana overload.
The drill made a lot of noise when it hit the door. It seemed to be cutting through the dense material fairly easily, though. I'd have to make a note of that in my report for an entry technique in teleport-warded areas. Once the safeties were properly refined, that is.
And of course, the guard noticed, too. "Hey in there! What the hell are you doing?" Taylor lifted her free hand for a moment to beckon me closer. I grinned and nodded, my first batch of blasters swirling around to frame the doorway while the second formed.
The screech of tearing metal came to a sudden stop as she drew her hand back from the door, stepping aside to dodge the blaster shot that ripped through the doorway as it slid open.
A half-dozen spell-balls preceded Skitter through the cell door. For a moment I wondered where she'd gotten hold of a blaster spell, but then I recognized the Wide Area Search spell I'd shown her just before we were gassed. I stepped through behind her, forming a third set of blasters, and kept a close eye in case she needed help.
For a moment I thought she was going to go after the guard with the safety-broken shield 'drill' she'd built, but she was smart enough to realize just how reckless that would be. She'd dismissed the 'drill' and recast just two of the shields while sending out the Search spells, which made a bit more sense.
I still wasn't quite sure what the searchers were for, until I saw her actually step into the fight. All the hesitation and lack of confidence I'd seen in her Strike Arts sessions with Graff was just plain gone. She flowed around the shooter he managed to get off like water, then effortlessly stepped around the punch he threw at her. Her first blow, padded by the shield on that hand, sent him flying into the wall, and she stepped in again to plant a foot in his gut.
She didn't even turn her head, but she'd already noticed the second guard coming around the corner and into the corridor. She stepped aside from one shooter, deflected the second into her first opponent with her shield - one down, one to go, and stepped into a quick exchange of blows.
The searcher spells she'd had out spread, even while she was still in mid-fight, moving down the corridors and around the junctions. Her style was quick and efficient, no wasted movements, and she never seemed to miss an attack even when it was outside her line of sight. Time to see how much attention she's paying, I decided, sending a flurry of blaster-balls to circle around the room and get in behind her opponent.
She kept his attention focused on her with a rapid series of jabs and a quick side-kick, obviously not doing much damage past his Barrier Jacket except with the shield-punches. After a few exchanges she jumped back, and I let him have it with the blasters. He never saw it coming, and went down flat almost instantly.
-- next scene goes here --
--
Sucrose Octanitrate.
Proof positive that with sufficient motivation, you can make anything explode.