Round 1, Fight 8: Neo Holland vs. Corsair State

[Cardi Doorl]

THIRD GUNDAM FIGHT
ROUND 1, FIGHT 8
NEO HOLLAND vs. CORSAIR STATE

- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina -

December 3rd, FC 16

Mid-afternoon at Myrtle Beach, and the crowds had gathered for a Gundam Fight.

This particular match was controversial, if only because the representative of the Corsair State was involved. It seemed anything having to do with the Corsair State was drenched in controversy.

The arena itself was a three-mile stretch of beach, with boundaries at the ends, and with boundaries going out into the water just far enough that at the deepest point the Gundams would go waist-deep at most. The other end of the boundary went some distance inland past the edge of the sands, and ended just where the audience stands began.

The announcer's voice boomed over the loudspeakers.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to a match in the 3rd Gundam Fight finals! I know what you all came here to see, so I won't waste much of your time.

"Today's match pits Neo Holland's Windmill Gundam, pilot by Sven Dikestra..."

The audience members in the crowd supporting Neo Holland erupted into cheering and applause. Those supporting the Corsair State, however, were exclusively space pirates come down from the stars, and were generally the type who worked the less-glamorous jobs on various spaceships. As such, those who came were largely the grubby, rough types who had to be separated from the rest of the crowd to prevent trouble from brewing. At any rate, they booed and swore loudly in an attempt to drown out Neo Holland's support. Oh sure, there were some pirate captains who were comparatively sophisticated and reserved, but they were easily outweighed by their boisterous crewmen.

"... against the Corsair State's Corsair Gundam, piloted by Morgan Burke!"

The pirates' vulgar heckling transformed instantly into a show of support for their representative. Had they been able to bring guns in with them, the ears of their fellow audience members would've been filled with the sound of shots fired in the air. Lucky for the Dutch, they didn't have to suffer that.

"And now, let the fighters signal their readiness to the judge!"

[Heretic]

Sven had been preparing for the past half hour for his fight to start, he had spent nearly half that getting his hair just right. Myrtle Beach was far enough south that the temperature was more pleasant that other places in the country. A cool breeze came off the water to toss his blond locks as he stood waiting nonchalantly posed in the shoulder of the Windmill Gundam.

He tried not to let his annoyance show, but it was difficult, because his opponent seemed to be intent on making both Sven and the audience wait. Apparently this “Red Star” Burke had acknowledged the fight, but had yet to arrive. Technically, Sven could have challenged that not showing up should be an automatic forfeit, but he was the first Fighter to take on this Corsair State scum. There was no way Sven would pass up that opportunity.

So Sven waited.

[Heretic]

The assembled crowds were getting impatient. But oddly, a few of the Pirate Captains, the ones who fancied themselves cultured, were distinctly silent. Some few exchanged sly glances.

Above the noise of the crowd, could be heard the sound of approaching Ship engines. But try as they might, no one could see where the ship was approaching from. Suddenly, from behind the bleachers the Branwen flew over at low altitude at nearly flanking speed. All assembled got an unexpected close up of the Pirate Ship’s underside.

On the upper catapult, Morgan “Red Star” Burke steeped onto the launching mechanism in her Corsair Gundam. 180mm Cannon held firmly in her right hand, she gave the order to launch. “Give ‘em ‘ell cap’in!” came the boisterous words of encouragement from her First Officer.

The Corsair Gundam flew from the catapult to land a fair distance away from the Neo-Holland Gundam. “Hay Dutchman,” She said over her radio, “you’re early.”

-Neo Holland, Sven-

Sven gave a *humph* with just a hint of a smile. “And people call me flamboyant” he muttered. After climbing down from his gundam’s shoulder into the cockpit, he addressed the pirate who thought she was a Gundam Fighter, “You have guts for showing up, but don’t think I’ll go easy on you just because you’re a girl.”

[Heretic]

With both Gundams now standing on the beach in their starting positions, it was time for the referee to signal the fight start.

“You have guts for showing up, but don’t think I’ll go easy on you just because you’re a girl.”

Morgan wasn’t going to take the blond Dutchman lightly, she was in this fight to win. “enough talking Dutchman, are you hear to fight or just pose for the ladies?”

(OOC: Wingnut, you're up."

[Wingnut]

After much delay by the Corsair State Gundam, both fighters had arrived and were ready to fight.
'Corsair State. The wild card in this Gundam Fight.' Being of Greek origin, the judge could understand the nature of a small state vying for power and a place in the world as evidenced by the ancient history of his own nation.
'Still it would be comforting to know what their objectives were should they win the Tournament. No matter. They still have to survive these first rounds of they want a shot at the title.'

"Well then now that you are both finally here... GUNDAM FIGHT... RRRREADY... GO!"

[Heretic]

-Neo Holland-

With all the build up to this match, the stillness that followed the referee’s declaration of the beginning was a stark contrast. Both Gundams stood motionless, waiting for the other to make a move.

Sven in his Windmill Gundam stood facing southward with the ocean to his left and the audience to his right. The Corsair Gundam was standing opposite.

Sven felt a gust of wind coming off the water, it was just right. The stillness was broken by an explosion of action. Sven had the advantage of speed, he launched from his left leg into a sprint to his right. No surprise that the Corsair Gundam followed, moving to its left and tracking with its cannon.

In a single fluid motion, Sven detached his four bladed fan from his left arm, spun around once to release it flying towards the ocean and returned to his previous path.

The Fan was caught by the wind coming off the water and arced back towards the land and the Corsair Gundam. Sven was betting on the Corsair’s lack of speed to prevent it from reacting in time. That cannon had to be heavy, requiring both arms to use it effectively. The corsair would have to turn its entire upper body if it was going to stand a change of bring its gun to bear to shoot at the fast approaching fan. Such a move should be impossible for a slower machine like that.

However, what Sven anticipated and what he saw take place were very different. Instead of trying to turn its whole upper body, the Corsair Gundam turned its head to face the oncoming fan then with its right arm alone, it took aim at Sven’s weapon and fired without hesitation.

A loud *clang* rang out over the beach and Sven’s Fan angled away from the Corsair Gundam to imbed itself in the sand. “No way,” Sven said in disbelief, “She can fire that huge gun one handed!?”

His shock turned to fear as the massive gun turned back to where he had stopped his run. Sven dove for the ground as he saw the muzzle flash. He hit the sand and rolled as a 180mm shell hit the ground where he had been and exploded, sending sand up into the air.

Sven kept rolling until he could bring himself back upright into a run. He needed to get his fan blade back if he was going to stand a chance. But in order to get the fan back, he would have to move even closer to the Corsair Gundam. No time for strategy, no time to think of fancy moves or cunning tricks. Sven could only make a break for his fan and hope.

Sand erupted dangerously close to his legs as he ran. By some fluke, he reached where his fan was sticking into the beach and grabbed it by the middle handle. Turning to once again face his opponent, he reattached it to his left arm and the fan began to spin to form his shield. No sooner had he done so, a 180mm shell struck the spinning blades, knocking Sven back. Followed by another, then another. Before long, Sven found himself being forced into the water, and soon after, he was in past his knees.

Then the barge stopped. Was she out of ammunition? It seemed so, since the Corsair Gundam discarded the weapon, tossing it in behind and drawing its twin Beam sabres from over its shoulders.

So it would come down to swords and blades…

It was then Sven realized the disadvantage he was in. With the water up past his knees, his speed was effectively cut in half because of the water’s resistance.

The Corsair Gundam however, was only standing in ankle deep water, with more freedom of movement. No matter how Sven approached, she could easily change her stance and position to counter him before he could even get close enough.

Nothing for it, any strategy he used would be seen coming, so Sven went with directness. Detaching his fan, then splitting it at the middle to form his twin double heat bladed swords, he charged directly at the Corsair Gundam…

[Heretic]

In a flurry of motion that would be hard for anyone to follow, beam swards and heat blades collided with fury, sending sparks and energy that lit up the entire arena and bathed the audience in an unnatural glow.

-Corsair State-

Morgan was quickly on the defensive, she had the strength to hold off the Dutchman’s attacks but not the speed with which to penetrate his defenses. She had an idea, but it was risky. Deliberately, she left an opening for the Dutchman to make a strike for her head, her impulsive opponent went for it and at the last moment, she pulled to her right and the heat blade imbedded itself in her Gundam’s left shoulder armor.

Gritting her teeth at the trace feedback, she made her move. With one of the Dutchman’s blades immobilized in her shoulder, she had an opening. “FIST OF THE CRIMSON STAR!” she shouted, powering up the servos and motors in her right arm to maximum and shutting down her beam saber. She threw everything she had into the punch directly for the Dutchman’s head, but he managed to get his remaining bade up fast enough to partly deflect her strike, causing her fist to only catch the right side of the Windmill Gundam’s head and knocking it backwards into the water.

The heat blade in her shoulder slid out as the Dutchman’s Gundam fell, sending a huge splash and rippling waves. Quickly, Morgan re-ignited her right hand saber and tried to make an attack at the fallen Gundam’s head. Only to miss as the Dutchman managed to roll his Gundam out of the way in time. Morgan’s saber hit the water causing a massive eruption of steam which obscured the entire area.

When it had cleared, Morgan quickly located the Dutchman who was already charging at her with his blades swinging…

-Neo Holland-

Sven had the upper hand now. His Windmill Gundam’s blades collided with the Corsair Gundam’s Sabers with such force that both of them slid a good ten meters in the wet sand before coming to a stop. And Sven didn’t let up there. It didn’t take long for the fury of his attacks to knock the Corsair Gundam onto its back with one of his blades jammed though it’s left leg. He was going to win; there was no doubt in his mind. He tried to picture what the look on Captain “Red Star” Burke’s face might be, and oddly, the image of the girls who had ridiculed him in his adolescence sharing that look of defeat also came to Sven’s mind.

The thought made him laugh.

“What’s so funny Dutchman.” A square opened up on Sven’s panoramic screen with Morgan’s face inside it. The look on her face was nothing like what Sven had expected. She was smiling, a sneering vicious smile. And her eye was that of a predator circling its next meal. The covers over the Corsair Gundam’s chest Vulcans slid open and a split second later fire erupted from the dark openings in the form of 120mm shells.

Sven pulled away fast enough to avoid the torrent of ammunition. “Nice try, but it didn’t get you anything.”

“You think so?” That was when Sven noticed the Corsair Gundam was laying next to the 180mm Cannon it had discarded earlier in the fight.

No, it’s just a trick to buy time, she had no ammunition left for that thing. I’ll finish this now! Sven lunged forward, his blade held in his upraised right arm ready to swing it down into the Corsair Gundam’s head.

Even as he saw the Corsair Gundam grab its cannon and swing its muzzle towards him, the thought that it was a trick kept repeating in his mind. That thought dissolved with the first flash from that black gapping muzzle. The first shot struck his ankle right in the gap of his armor and shattered the joint. Sven started to stumble forwards. Then came the second shot which went right through his right elbow joint and his lower right arm and the blade it held fell to the ground. He would have fallen on top of the Corsair Gundam it its good right leg hadn’t caught him in the chest and kicked him backwards.

The force of hitting the ground and the flood of feedback form the trace system made Sven’s vision swim and when it finally cleared, the Corsair Gundam had gotten back up and limped closer to stand over him. The barrel of its Cannon hovered at point blank range as it moved up the body of his Gundam. For a moment the fear that this pirate might forsake the rules and aim for his cockpit came to Sven’s mind. That fear paralyzed him, but the Pirate made a point of going around the cockpit before carrying on to aim her weapon at Sven’s head.

The square on Sven’s screen was sill there, and the look on Morgan’s face had been unchanged the whole time. Her predatory eye still looked into him as the final shot came.

The shot echoed all along the strip of beach with a note of finality to it. The viewing screens that the audience were watching showed numerous angles of the Neo Holland’s Windmill Gundam’s head exploding as the 180mm artillery shell put an end to the fight.

[Wingnut]

It was over in a rather quick fashion, but that did not make it any less enjoyable of a match. The Corsair State had prevailed in its first Gundam Fight finals match.

"The winner of this match is Morgan Burke and the Corsair State's Corsair Gundam! Crews may now retrieve their Gundams and fighters."

'Let's hope those pirates don't tear the house down celebrating after this.'

[Cardi Doorl]

Match Result: Corsair State wins