LOG-002.
My fingers remained tightly clenched around the overhead handle, even as the subtle vibration of the aero shuttle caused the digits to shake ever so slightly.
Yet another fine example of 'Gamma tech.' It was actually something I'd wondered about initially, back when I'd just joined the Legion as a Grunt, questioning just how a bunch of escaped convicts could have access to such impressive technology.
The answer was relatively simple. Namely in that they stole it.
Everything from the aero shuttles, to the uniforms the Grunts wore, was Warden technology, liberated from their prison during the Legion's grand escape.
From there it was repurposed, defaced, and generally altered until it was all but unrecognisable, and that was before the Legion's own cadre of research focused members got around to innovating, namely in the various fields of mad science.
Heck, the Animus itself was supposedly a former transport ship meant to ferry around prisoners. Something it technically still did, even if it had a big glaring alien skull on the front instead of the Warden's shield logo, and those it once had housed now controlled the wheel, so to speak.
"Hup hup hup!"
Glancing to my side sharply, I acknowledged the lightly armoured, spandex covered (not really, but the super material looked close enough to match) figure with a quick nod.
"Understood, inform units two and three that we're proceeding ahead. The operation will continue as planned."
"Hup hup!"
Turning away as the Grunt began to speak into a communicator using that peculiar language I'd been forced to become fluent in several months ago, I watched as the side doors of the aero shuttle slid open, exposing my squad and I to the outside world.
The first thing I noted was the obscene amount of lasers and explosions being thrown around the eastern city of Oykot. The second thing I noted was the familiar pair of armoured figures currently getting beaten back by the five colourful figures hounding them across an utterly ravaged highway.
Eyes narrowing behind the safety of my visor, I let go of my safety handle, waving a hand at one of the Grunts idling behind me.
"Tell the pilot to bring the shuttle down behind me. I'm going ahead before those two knuckleheads get themselves captured again."
A singular "Hup!" served as all the confirmation I needed, before I allowed myself to begin falling forward.
Gravity did the rest.
BOOM!
Amazingly enough, the explosion didn't come upon landing. I actually dropped like a rock and shattered a significant portion of the road with the impact first.
It was only upon standing up and directing a sharp eye towards the suddenly frozen battle that the air behind me abruptly decided to ignite, coinciding with the bizarre laws of this world as smoke and fire billowed forth from behind me like some kind of overly dramatic backdrop.
"G-General Knightmare!"
More importantly, it served as vital cover for the aero shuttle landing behind me as I turned to regard the two vaguely humanoid knights rushing over to grovel before me, folding my hands behind my back as I did so.
"Commander Chandelierra. Commander Shellshock. Report."
My voice was cold, but unbeknownst to everyone besides the two Commanders directly in front of me, there was a small smile on my face. It wasn't too often that I got to see the two jokers that had initially inducted me into the Legion bruised, battered and burned after all.
"We gave those damned Wardens a good thrashing, oh yes we did!"
"Indeed! Though they're putting up a fiercer resistance against our clams and candles than I would have liked…"
"Shut it Chandelierra!"
"Quiet Shellshock! You overgrown mollusc!"
"Why yes, I am!"
Former Grunts like myself, and more importantly, good friends that I'd dragged up with me through the ranks, rewarding their loyalty with better positions and a promised place in the eventual new hierarchy I intended to construct. Even if their chosen themes of water and flame manifested in peculiarly specific forms, to say the very least.
"Enough. You've done well, but it's time I took the stage. Withdraw with honour, my underlings, for the cavalry has arrived."
"You got it General!"
"At once my superior!"
Allowing my hands to fall back at my sides as the duo sprinted past me and disappeared into the smoke, I looked forward just in time to see five familiar figures skid to a stop upon catching sight of me, evidently having been chasing my subordinates.
"General Knightmare! I didn't think you'd dare show that ugly helm again after the last time we dealt with you!"
Bravado filled Red. Logic driven Blue. Martial focused Green. Joy jammed Yellow. Love fueled Pink.
"Not my fault Lovelace needed someone to tank a hit. In all honesty, I'd much rather be relaxing at home right now, but alas, I must follow the commands of my lord. Hm...seven will have to do."
The bravado faltered ever so slightly as Warden Red tilted his masked head, hands coming up in a ready stance as the rest of his team followed suit.
"...Seven?"
The sharp crack of bone as I mimicked his move and tilted my head to the side earned a flinch from the lot of them, even as I brought my own hands up and began to crack my knuckles one by one.
"Seven minutes. Seven minutes is all I can spare to play with you right now."
As the typical combative responses and witty comebacks began to hurl through the air, I grinned beneath my helmet.
Teams two and three would be completing the real objective of sourcing necessary supplies for the continued running of the Animus. And in the meanwhile?
In a flash of darkness, an immense lance formed into place around my right arm, blackened strands beginning to spiral along my helmet to form a mane of pure shadow that flickered in an invisible wind.
"Combat stance: Horseman of the Apocalypse!"
Well, it was only rational that I took the time to keep this world's premier law enforcement busy, at least long enough that they could go about their work uninterrupted, no? And if nothing else, rage bait would work perfectly in that regard.
"Posture all you want Knightmare! But through the power of friendship, we'll beat your clock!"
It'd certainly look better to my lord than General Infernus' failed attack on Kroy's puppy orphanage yesterday, at least…
"Come at me then, Wardens! Let's see if you can win this race against time!"
Awa...that was horribly cliche! Get it together Knightmare!