Avalon:Volume 0 Chapter 9 - Revision history

Aorii at 20:00, 22 April 2013

2013-04-22T20:00:14Z

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	''...And right now, neither do I.''		''...And right now, neither do I.''

	~~She~~ wondered how long someone could live a life this way before they succumbed to the enticing frame of mind that saw people merely as disposable resources, gambled away in hopes of chance returns.		Kannon wondered how long someone could live a life this way before they succumbed to the enticing frame of mind that saw people merely as disposable resources, gambled away in hopes of chance returns.

Aorii at 19:59, 22 April 2013

2013-04-22T19:59:22Z

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Aorii at 02:49, 16 April 2013

2013-04-16T02:49:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:49, 16 April 2013
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	''They were human lives.''		''They were human lives.''

	But Kannon knew this was an alpha-priority mission, and therefore he had no other choice.		But Kannon also knew this was an alpha-priority mission, and therefore the Captain had no other choice.

	''...And right now, neither do I.''		''...And right now, neither do I.''

Aorii: 3P edit

2013-04-16T02:46:16Z

3P edit

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Aorii at 22:10, 15 April 2013

2013-04-15T22:10:15Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:10, 15 April 2013
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	\|-		\|-
	\| Back to [[Avalon:Volume_0_Chapter_8\|Chapter 8]]		\| Back to [[Avalon:Volume_0_Chapter_8\|Chapter 8]]
			\| Ref to [[Avalon:Volume_0_Chapter_9_Old\|Old Format]]
	\| Return to [[Avalon_Beyond_the_Eclipse\|Main Page]]		\| Return to [[Avalon_Beyond_the_Eclipse\|Main Page]]
	\| Forward to [[Avalon:Volume_0_Chapter_10\|Chapter 10]]		\| Forward to [[Avalon:Volume_0_Chapter_10\|Chapter 10]]

Aorii: em-dash fix

2012-12-27T00:05:50Z

em-dash fix

Aorii at 19:13, 24 December 2012

2012-12-24T19:13:29Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:13, 24 December 2012
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	My decision had been made; more precisely, the me from three nights ago had made it for me.		My decision had been made; more precisely, the me from three nights ago had made it for me.

	I tapped into one of the drones' camera just in time to watch three waves of missiles, flushed from the ''Principes'' ~~IFVs~~' external racks, hurled themselves towards the top two floors of the crumbling hotel. Yet even as the structure fell, eight automated laser point-defense turrets deployed atop the roof did their job and nailed all but four of the warheads. The remainder were still stopped short of the hotel as they struck the ''Barrier'' wards and detonated.		I tapped into one of the drones' camera just in time to watch three waves of missiles, flushed from the ''Principes'' Infantry Fighting Vehicle's (IFV) external racks, hurled themselves towards the top two floors of the crumbling hotel. Yet even as the structure fell, eight automated laser point-defense turrets deployed atop the roof did their job and nailed all but four of the warheads. The remainder were still stopped short of the hotel as they struck the ''Barrier'' wards and detonated.

	The lasers then turned their attention towards the IFVs, but the armored vehicles' outer defensive layer of electromagnetic shielding deflected the stilettos of light with little effort. Four electrolaser turrets also unfolded from the packaging that concealed their true nature and added their firepower to the mix. The shield strengths of friendly vehicles dwindled on the readout, but not quickly enough to matter considering the short lives those turrets had remaining.		The lasers then turned their attention towards the IFVs, but the armored vehicles' outer defensive layer of electromagnetic shielding deflected the stilettos of light with little effort. Four electrolaser turrets also unfolded from the packaging that concealed their true nature and added their firepower to the mix. The shield strengths of friendly vehicles dwindled on the readout, but not quickly enough to matter considering the short lives those turrets had remaining.

Aorii at 19:12, 24 December 2012

2012-12-24T19:12:01Z

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	The rising tension in Korey's voice was enough to inform me that the mission was starting. I hurried back to my seat and activated the inertial dampeners before putting on my seat belt. We were parked half a mile away from ''Ambassador Towers'' and behind a large apartment building which, according to the city's data, should be able to stand up to the shockwave. But Korey fired up the aircar's engines nevertheless, just in case we had to run away from a collapsing building.		The rising tension in Korey's voice was enough to inform me that the mission was starting. I hurried back to my seat and activated the inertial dampeners before putting on my seat belt. We were parked half a mile away from ''Ambassador Towers'' and behind a large apartment building which, according to the city's data, should be able to stand up to the shockwave. But Korey fired up the aircar's engines nevertheless, just in case we had to run away from a collapsing building.

	The countdown timer had already began, and I brought up the sensors display. The transponders of the team's vehicles were automatically highlighted in green: four illusioned IFVs moving in from three different directions, plus the disguised aircar that we sat in. The target structure and the apartment at point A-11 were marked red, while everything else was a shade of transparent gray.		The countdown timer had already began, and I brought up the sensors display. The transponders of the team's vehicles were automatically highlighted in green: four illusioned Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) moving in from three different directions, plus the disguised aircar that we sat in. The target structure and the apartment at point A-11 were marked red, while everything else was a shade of transparent gray.

	I called upon yet another window to access the hotel security system. As I brought my right hand up to manipulate it, my eyes focused themselves on the communication ring once again.		I called upon yet another window to access the hotel security system. As I brought my right hand up to manipulate it, my eyes focused themselves on the communication ring once again.

Aorii at 06:26, 20 December 2012

2012-12-20T06:26:05Z

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	"---<u>Regroup! Angela, Joshua, with me!</u>"		"---<u>Regroup! Angela, Joshua, with me!</u>"

	Even though each squad was linked in a telepathic subnet, the amount of communications over the main channel exploded as the first IFV went down and its crew attempted to coordinate with whomever nearby. It was impossible for me to sort out multiple people talking at once, so I focused on paying attention to only the command channel while filtering out the rest~~...~~		Even though each squad was linked in a telepathic subnet, the amount of communications over the main channel exploded as the first IFV went down and its crew attempted to coordinate with whomever nearby. It was impossible for me to sort out multiple people talking at once, so I focused on paying attention to only the command channel while filtering out the rest:

	"<u>Squad Cyrille, ''Wind Blast'' the dust cover as you approach!</u>"		"<u>Squad Cyrille, ''Wind Blast'' the dust cover as you approach!</u>"

Aorii: major grammar pass (end of 2012)

2012-12-19T19:10:56Z

major grammar pass (end of 2012)

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← Older revision		Revision as of 22:10, 15 April 2013
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	\|-		\|-
	\| Back to [[Avalon:Volume_0_Chapter_8\|Chapter 8]]		\| Back to [[Avalon:Volume_0_Chapter_8\|Chapter 8]]
			\| Ref to [[Avalon:Volume_0_Chapter_9_Old\|Old Format]]
	\| Return to [[Avalon_Beyond_the_Eclipse\|Main Page]]		\| Return to [[Avalon_Beyond_the_Eclipse\|Main Page]]
	\| Forward to [[Avalon:Volume_0_Chapter_10\|Chapter 10]]		\| Forward to [[Avalon:Volume_0_Chapter_10\|Chapter 10]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:05, 27 December 2012
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	Korey didn't look quite convinced, but he decided to accept it anyways:		Korey didn't look quite convinced, but he decided to accept it anyways:

	"Yeah, I see how that could be rather distressing, given what we do---"		"Yeah, I see how that could be rather distressing, given what we do--"

	(No, that's not it...)		(No, that's not it...)
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	I shook my head and tried to cut in, but I couldn't bring out the words to clarify myself. After all, he was right. I was quite bothered by it, even if it wasn't the real problem that night.		I shook my head and tried to cut in, but I couldn't bring out the words to clarify myself. After all, he was right. I was quite bothered by it, even if it wasn't the real problem that night.

	"---But you see, that's part of the world we live in. There are a lot of gray boundaries here, and sometimes we don't have a choice but to play dirty to achieve our goals."		"--But you see, that's part of the world we live in. There are a lot of gray boundaries here, and sometimes we don't have a choice but to play dirty to achieve our goals."

	His tone carried bitterness like how Captain Arkadi sounded whenever he spoke of the past.		His tone carried bitterness like how Captain Arkadi sounded whenever he spoke of the past.
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	"It's... fractured, somewhat messed up, with a lot of unrest..."		"It's... fractured, somewhat messed up, with a lot of unrest..."

	"Unrest doesn't begin to describe it," Korey responded after an almost painful chuckle, his tone growing not only darker but more inflamed by the second. "You see, nearly ninety percent of the Republic's wealth is held by less than ten percent of its people. Almost a fifth of the overall population are persistently unemployed, while another quarter are simply unable to climb out of poverty. The politicians are always stuck in a legislation deadlock unless the Marshals wish to push through a law even more beneficial to the so-called military aristocracy; whom, despite their competence, has corrupted the system so thoroughly that even the worst of them could make themselves invisible to the law with the right influence --- Lysette is a living example of that."		"Unrest doesn't begin to describe it," Korey responded after an almost painful chuckle, his tone growing not only darker but more inflamed by the second. "You see, nearly ninety percent of the Republic's wealth is held by less than ten percent of its people. Almost a fifth of the overall population are persistently unemployed, while another quarter are simply unable to climb out of poverty. The politicians are always stuck in a legislation deadlock unless the Marshals wish to push through a law even more beneficial to the so-called military aristocracy; whom, despite their competence, has corrupted the system so thoroughly that even the worst of them could make themselves invisible to the law with the right influence -- Lysette is a living example of that."

	"Eh?"		"Eh?"
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	Despite sharing a room, we've barely talked since three days ago. But even though her perceptions were... somewhat twisted, she didn't seem like a rotten aristocrat in any way.		Despite sharing a room, we've barely talked since three days ago. But even though her perceptions were... somewhat twisted, she didn't seem like a rotten aristocrat in any way.

	"Nonono, I don't mean she's corrupt --- I meant that she's a victim of the corruption," Korey rushed to correct me. "Lysette has the most simple and pure reason for being with us, since her childhood memories were too fragmented by brainwashing to recover, and the only life she knew before Arkadi and Kaplan saved her in a raid was that of a slave."		"Nonono, I don't mean she's corrupt -- I meant that she's a victim of the corruption," Korey rushed to correct me. "Lysette has the most simple and pure reason for being with us, since her childhood memories were too fragmented by brainwashing to recover, and the only life she knew before Arkadi and Kaplan saved her in a raid was that of a slave."

	I sucked in a deep breath as he finished.		I sucked in a deep breath as he finished.
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	The anger and disgust in Korey's voice was overwhelming, yet his face grew flushed as his tone suddenly plummeted under the influx of embarrassed hesitation. He fumbled to pick the right words to continue with:		The anger and disgust in Korey's voice was overwhelming, yet his face grew flushed as his tone suddenly plummeted under the influx of embarrassed hesitation. He fumbled to pick the right words to continue with:

	"I--- uhhh, really shouldn't say any more. I mean, it's her past that I'm delving into without permission already, and... You're still too young to hear about these kind of dirty details."		"I--uhhh, really shouldn't say any more. I mean, it's her past that I'm delving into without permission already, and... You're still too young to hear about these kind of dirty details."

	His emotive drop from anger to shame was even more awkward than his sudden bailout...		His emotive drop from anger to shame was even more awkward than his sudden bailout...
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	Korey frowned and pursed his lips, uncertainty spreading through his face as though waging an inner argument against himself. Moments later, he gave an obvious sigh, and began in a voice that continued to escalate in fury and disgust, condemning it as one of the greatest sins of humanity.		Korey frowned and pursed his lips, uncertainty spreading through his face as though waging an inner argument against himself. Moments later, he gave an obvious sigh, and began in a voice that continued to escalate in fury and disgust, condemning it as one of the greatest sins of humanity.

	"Lysette was a pleasure slave---"		"Lysette was a pleasure slave--"

	(Oh my god.)		(Oh my god.)
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	I regretted asking already. Those few words instantly sent horrifying chills up my spine and into my thoughts.		I regretted asking already. Those few words instantly sent horrifying chills up my spine and into my thoughts.

	"---She had been sold or kidnapped as a young teen and basically raised to become a sex toy. Captain Arkadi found her when they raided some bigwig politician's manor, and he's seen far more over the years."		"--She had been sold or kidnapped as a young teen and basically raised to become a sex toy. Captain Arkadi found her when they raided some bigwig politician's manor, and he's seen far more over the years."

	The history books spoke of slavery and human trafficking. But as a girl, especially one brought up in a more socially conservative family, this was easily the worst nightmare. I doubt I could even begin to imagine what she went through.		The history books spoke of slavery and human trafficking. But as a girl, especially one brought up in a more socially conservative family, this was easily the worst nightmare. I doubt I could even begin to imagine what she went through.
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	Korey nodded.		Korey nodded.

	"In the Republic, a technical military background is the best foundation for life. Apart from reliable training and experience, military service is also the easiest way to become a citizen and receive all the privileges and benefits, rather than staying as merely a resident civilian. So even though the academy was supposed to be free, becoming a soldier really requires money and influence --- which I had as a Lieutenant-Commander from the Office of Naval Oversight."		"In the Republic, a technical military background is the best foundation for life. Apart from reliable training and experience, military service is also the easiest way to become a citizen and receive all the privileges and benefits, rather than staying as merely a resident civilian. So even though the academy was supposed to be free, becoming a soldier really requires money and influence -- which I had as a Lieutenant-Commander from the Office of Naval Oversight."

	"My goal is to finish my service term. Complete twenty-five years of it and earn my citizenship, as opposed to mere civilian residency as someone born within the district. Only then will I have the privilege to open my own company --- a software firm that I can establish using the connections I forged here, where I could hire and train all those future-less kids I watched grow up. Even if I fail, maybe one of my friends who I managed to enroll into the academy may finish that dream for me."		"My goal is to finish my service term. Complete twenty-five years of it and earn my citizenship, as opposed to mere civilian residency as someone born within the district. Only then will I have the privilege to open my own company -- a software firm that I can establish using the connections I forged here, where I could hire and train all those future-less kids I watched grow up. Even if I fail, maybe one of my friends who I managed to enroll into the academy may finish that dream for me."

	I leaned over and hugged Korey from the side as he continued to stare blankly at the screen.		I leaned over and hugged Korey from the side as he continued to stare blankly at the screen.
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	"<u>Now that's a ''Disjunction!''</u>" Another member of the strike team cheered over the channel.		"<u>Now that's a ''Disjunction!''</u>" Another member of the strike team cheered over the channel.

	It took a moment before comprehension dawned on me. The combination had been a ''Catalyst Disjunction'' effect --- the most powerful antimagic spellword for stripping away magic by converting all ether in the area back into unrefined mana and dispersing it, merged with the boost word to spark a chain reaction.		It took a moment before comprehension dawned on me. The combination had been a ''Catalyst Disjunction'' effect -- the most powerful antimagic spellword for stripping away magic by converting all ether in the area back into unrefined mana and dispersing it, merged with the boost word to spark a chain reaction.

	(I should have thought of that. Still way too new at this...)		(I should have thought of that. Still way too new at this...)
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	"<u>Those bastards!</u>"		"<u>Those bastards!</u>"

	"<u>Blast their left flank, screen</u>---"		"<u>Blast their left flank, screen</u>--"

	"---<u>Regroup! Angela, Joshua, with me!</u>"		"--<u>Regroup! Angela, Joshua, with me!</u>"

	Even though each squad was linked in a telepathic subnet, the amount of communications over the main channel exploded as the first IFV went down and its crew attempted to coordinate with whomever nearby. It was impossible for me to sort out multiple people talking at once, so I focused on paying attention to only the command channel while filtering out the rest:		Even though each squad was linked in a telepathic subnet, the amount of communications over the main channel exploded as the first IFV went down and its crew attempted to coordinate with whomever nearby. It was impossible for me to sort out multiple people talking at once, so I focused on paying attention to only the command channel while filtering out the rest:
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	"<u>Were they expecting us?</u>"		"<u>Were they expecting us?</u>"

	My own hesitant voice came, still unsure in making such a discouraging comment. Yet Arkadi had to consider it --- this might still be an opportunity, but it was also an operation against increasingly harsh objectives with narrower constraints. It required all or nothing, and the risks were...		My own hesitant voice came, still unsure in making such a discouraging comment. Yet Arkadi had to consider it -- this might still be an opportunity, but it was also an operation against increasingly harsh objectives with narrower constraints. It required all or nothing, and the risks were...

	"<u>He's bluffing on a guess,</u>" Arkadi responded, his composure seemingly unfazed by the challenge, yet I could sense a trickle of doubt forcing its way in. "<u>Regardless, we're invested, and breaking off will only inform him for certain to prepare against a second strike!</u>"		"<u>He's bluffing on a guess,</u>" Arkadi responded, his composure seemingly unfazed by the challenge, yet I could sense a trickle of doubt forcing its way in. "<u>Regardless, we're invested, and breaking off will only inform him for certain to prepare against a second strike!</u>"