Description: Sure, they want to take over Thailand. Sagat, however, has overturned them enough in absence of Vega to put him in his place. In what might be their final attempt, the acquisition of Thailand has now become secondary to one single, unified goal that thousands of men and many, many weapons of death are all being put towards - the absolute death and annihilation of Sagat. While Sagat has indeed become a pillar of strength for his homeland in the wake of his rise from his fall from grace... he has inspired others to stand and fight. Others that such an overwhelming force does not anticipate... Sagat does not stand alone today.
Vega has had enough of this. There is no more reason to play nice, or to dedicate anything less than everything there is to spare. Where so many other regions have been attacked by a cobbled-together force of converts (willing or otherwise) from the conquered nations he holds, he (or a trusted lieutenant, either or) have hand-picked the finest China can spare. The best soldiers. The most devastating vehicles. The deadliest weapons.
That such an ominous shadow is befalling Thailand is no mere coincidence. The military forces of this nation - having fiercely fought for their independence in past weeks - are at last at their very limits. They are not being met by people taking great strides to holding this land.
No. This entire land is being razed, at this point. To salt the earth, to make sure to leave behind a scar the entire planet will remember long after this day. Forward, through the hills and mountains, they march and demolish. Thailand was arguably never truly safe, but there is no truer evidence of this fact than now. Villages or outposts in the way? Razed. Fields of crops? Burned.
To them, now, holding this land is entirely secondary.
As the thousands of men and women march forth, they seek exactly one thing. Every hour, on the hour, they all repeat the same thing together to ensure that everyone is on the same page. It matters not what comes of this offensive otherwise, beyond this one goal they seek.
The one goal to be obtained through this almost countless amount of soldiers, through these humming machinations of death that cover the land in blood and the shine of the sun in an ever-growing shadow under so many bombers.
Death.
To.
Sagat.
COMBATSYS: DEATH TO SAGAT has started a fight here on the top side.
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DEATH TO SAGAT 0|-------|-------
The ground is trembling, but it is not any mere stampede. This is not a storm, nor an earthquake. There is nothing natural in this, there is only mechanical, man-made, remorseless, death.
Hunter had taken off ahead of Sagat to see what fresh hell this is; she's fast and agile, and when she saw what it was, she was smart enough not to carry on and throw herself heedlessly to the threshing machine of death that is Vega's army. Instead, she had turned back, and raced against time to reach Sagat. The growing darkness on the horizon is not the encroach of night; it is the choking black smog of destruction.
The young woman is trembling lightly, which might just be a warning of how bad things are. She has been, until now, entirely unflappable. But here it is. What she had spoken about; the opportunity to take her shot against the legions of Shadaloo. Regardless of that, her voice is calmly controlled, absolutely neutral as she tells Sagat the facts, and nothing more.
"They are here."
It looks like Vega is making one last push out of desperation to show his might. The fall of Russia has proven to be costly and it seems like the idea to send Quon and Rust up that way proved to be a good one. He hopes both of them are fine since he has not heard from either of since they have left. Not like he has had time to stand around and wait for some sort of message to get to him. Vega is angered and Thailand is right in his sights as one of the nations that has angered him more than any others. Their occupation did not last long and attempts to take Thailand back have not turned out well. The Thai army has somehow managed to keep their focus and keep China from fully taking over once more.
This incoming unit looks to be a large one. Perhaps one of the largest since the initial invasion that Vega himself had lead. There is no more worries of taking over Thailand now. They just want to watch it burn. It is a purge and Sagat will not stand for it. They want to bring death to him then they will have their chance. He stands up straight in front of several scared soldiers with arms folded. That single eye watches as Hunter approaches. "Everyone get ready." is all he has to say to them.
He is already stepping forward as his hands flare up with the glow of energy that he can wield. He takes his stand and the dirt around him kicks up and swirls from the massive amount of energy the large fighter is gathering. He is not going to play around today. He will clear out this army and then he will move on. Now is the time to strike back and China and take Vega down.
COMBATSYS: Sagat has joined the fight here as a boss!
SAGAT
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DEATH TO SAGAT 0|-------|-------
COMBATSYS: Sagat gathers his will.
SAGAT
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COMBATSYS: Hunter has joined the fight here in the center.
SAGAT
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COMBATSYS: Hunter has joined the fight here as a left henchman!
SAGAT
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DEATH TO SAGAT 0|-------|-------
Everything has gone to hell for Chin-- Vega's bids for world domination. The kid gloves have long since come off - now they're effectively wearing brass knuckles, in the big scheme of seriousness in regards to the presence of gloves being taken off. That's a whole lot of gloves being taken off.
Several Chinese aircraft lead the charge. There are very, very few visible infantry outside of the horizon - almost all of them are in jeeps, tanks, trucks, or hovercraft of some sort. There are likely thousands of guns all about to converge on a single, noteworthy point made all the more visible with the energy the mighty Sagat gathers. It is as though a challenging beacon. They know he is there.
<<"Target at 12 o'clock,">> says one pilot in Chinese.
<<<"Roger. Commencing Swallow Formation.">>>
There is immediate, swooping gunfire on all sides as no less than six dive lower and lower yet as they fire their guns into where Sagat stands - Hunter may just end up being collateral if she is not careful. They are here specifically to utterly destroy Sagat. If anyone else must fall alongside him, so be it.
And so, the greatest battle Thailand has seen yet commences in a hail of air-to-ground gunfire.
COMBATSYS: Hunter blocks DEATH TO SAGAT's Warning Shots.
SAGAT
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DEATH TO SAGAT 0|-------|------=
Hunter nods to Sagat. She doesn't need to get ready. She is ready. She has never not been ready.
The scattered gunfire rips through the trees she had been using for cover, but she is already moving. Though lead rakes across the young woman's back, it is hardly the worst wound she's taken in this war.
Continuing to move, Hunter breaks into a sprint across the main line. It doesn't look like there is any end to these troops. The sheer number of them is intimidating; her mind is reeling, trying to come up with some angle, some vector of approach from which she can make a significant impact. How can she maximize her effect here? What should she *do*?
Sagat will be making an impact soon, she decides... perhaps she can use the chaos from that to make her approach; she doubts one 'fleeing' woman with a bow is going to be the biggest concern they have in a few seconds!
COMBATSYS: Hunter focuses on her next action.
SAGAT
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DEATH TO SAGAT 0|-------|------=
COMBATSYS: DEATH TO SAGAT successfully hit Sagat with Warning Shots.
SAGAT
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DEATH TO SAGAT 0|-------|----===
Being such a big target it isn't exactly easy for Sagat to avoid a hail of lead aimed to mow him down. It is why his body has several new scars from where bullets and even tank shells have ripped flesh and disfigured his large body with each battle that has happened. It looks like he gets a few more on top of that that when he finds himself under fire once more. He covers his face with his arms and keeps his ground. As long as he doesn't lose his other eye he should be fine. Even then that might not stop him from fighting because he will still be able to at least stand and kick.
The arms lower as the bullets die down and he starts to step forward to meet the advancing unit. He shows no fear as his hands ignite with energy again. IF they want to send some shots his way to try and intimidate him then he will do much the same. That single eye narrows and he brings those fists back then are thrust forward as a burst of orange energy erupts from the closed fists and hurtles right into the approaching army. "TIIIIIGAAAAAAAAAAH!" he roars while attacking. If some of the soldiers in the back didn't know what was going on they certainly do now.
COMBATSYS: DEATH TO SAGAT slows Tiger Shot from Sagat with Lead Rain.
Glancing Hit
SAGAT
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<<"Incoming Tiger Shot!">> Announces a tank commander as he sees that trademark glow of energy in the distance, quickly rattling off the direction it's going on. This death squad works like a machine, a well-oiled one - that they were able to come up with such an efficient, quick means of communication specifically for this singular purpose of destroying Sagat in such a short amount of time is nothing short of unremarkable.
When Vega wants something done, it typically gets done.
The tank in front of where the shot is going - alongside two other tanks side by side - turn their gatling guns on. They are the highest grade machineguns available to the army. All three of them start shooting immediately, seeking to completely and utterly annihilate this chi manifestation before it can reach them. They think they might do it - fighter chi manifestations have always been tricky to quantify in terms of force when it comes to the tools of the mundane and unpowered.
The gunner of the center tank panics when the Tiger Shot loses maybe a bit of its luster, but little of its momentum to really matter as it tears through the center tank and blows it up. It continues through it to take out another tank behind it, and another.
<<"We've lost a line,">> Says the tank commander of the one to the left of the victim(s). The sad thing is, they expected this particular outcome - but will Sagat have enough to destroy all of them?
This may be where the resolute Hunter may come in to help even the odds.... or, as it would appear, make them even worse.
Hunter runs around the outside. Ordinarily, she'd be tempted to keep going and use her bow, but... ordinarily, she has the high ground, and all the cover she needs to keep away from return fire. The sheer quantity of enemies she has to deal with here... no. Her instinct tells her that if she gets into a shooting match with these people, she's going to wind up very dead very quickly.
Instead, the girl comes in fast from the side. The amount of speed Hunter can pick up when she wants to is astounding; more like a pouncing animal than a human being, and if the cold fury in her eyes is any indication, she has more than just speed in common at that.
Blindingly fast, she leaps at one of the jeeps. Open-topped vehicle, just right. If she can judge her jump accurately, a net descends from above with her, tangling over her targets whilst a wickedly sharp knife is brought to bear on the driver of the vehicle. There's no hesitation; committed to the action and, if she can drive that knife in deep, will try to use his corpse as a shield from the others for those few crucial seconds.
After all, when you are *in* one of these vehicles, all that firepower becomes as much a hazard as a strength.
The armored division is certainly the part to worry about most. At least for now Sagat can worry about it a slight bit less. A few of them have been taken out completely and the rest will need some time to recover. The soldiers that had accompanied him are laying down a good amount of cover fire to keep the enemy from advacing easily as well. Of course how far can the expect to advance once fully running into the moutain of a fighter that stands before them? They will have that answer soon enough because Sagat is closing in quickly after letting loose that blast of energy.
For being so large it is amazing how fast he can get running. He is not known to be the most agile of people, but given time to break into a full run he is showing that he has a good amount of speed for a man in his mid fifties. It looks as if things are really going to get messy now as Sagat crashes right into the advancing army full force. Right at the last moment he leaps from his feet and brings a knee forward to just let himself run over whatever is in his path. "You want to kill me. Show me you can do what real fighters couldn't."
COMBATSYS: DEATH TO SAGAT endures Hunter's Hunting Net.
SAGAT
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COMBATSYS: DEATH TO SAGAT blocks Sagat's Aggressive Strike.
SAGAT
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The tactics they were using in the previous attempt do, on some level, still apply - the idea to try and separate and not be too close together whenever Sagat comes charging through. The vehicles in question he crashes into with his knee are simply those that cannot get out of the way - but considering one of the kneed vehicles flips up aways and proceeds to explode deeper down the line, he may find the effort appreciable despite however well-versed these sorts are in attempting to minimize the damage Sagat can do in a single blow.
The driver of the jeep is quickly removed from the mortal coil, mouth agape in shock as his eyes roll back - there remains the issue that there's others on board who quickly attempt to wrestle control of the vehicle as it starts to swerve very, very wildly (and rather dangerously, for being a jeep).
The jeep bumps into another, which in turn crashes into a hovercraft that tumbles about - finally knocking loose a cache of live grenade rounds from the back of another jeep that bounce along towards Sagat. Hunter should not consider the net result a mistake on her part, considering the amount of damage she has basically done by just disrupting /one/ jeep.
Sagat is more than a match for just some loose grenades.
Hunter is distinctly aware of the struggling soldiers in the back. This is not her preferred method of combat; the battlefield is disturbingly chaotic, difficult to predict, even with her sharp senses she has difficulty trying to figure out where her efforts should best be directed. Sagat sends a vehicle into the air, and the young woman's heart skips a beat.
The glancing blow with the jeep jerks her knife free, and she tries to regain control of the situation by grasping the wheel. The young woman grits her teeth, and jerks the jeep in the direction of one of the tanks; struggling soldiers and all.
Leaping from the back and relying on the dead man at the wheel to serve as the survival instincts of that particular lot, she hits the ground, rolls, and aims to come up behind Sagat, certain that it wouldn't be long until he is having to face danger on all sides; she can at least try to mitigate that.
COMBATSYS: Sagat Toughs Out DEATH TO SAGAT's Shrapnel Burst!
SAGAT
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What are a few grenades for a fighter like Sagat? More than likely the answer is anger fuel. Even as he wades through the troops he soon finds himself caught up in an explosion that would make a fine mess of body parts of most people. Among all the commotion maybe the army thought they did get Sagat by some weird luck caused by the chaos that was started by Hunter. So in a way it was Hunter who perhaps killed Sagat. Then again Hunter probably knows better than to think Sagat would be killed so easily.
It was a safe bet for her to make because stepping out of the smoke and fire is a singed and rather angry Sagat. Sure he is angry looking almost all the time, but there is just something about that evil glint in his eye combined with the teeth being shown by the grin he is giving. Maybe to add to the effect is the fact he is glowing right now full of energy before he just suddenly erupts forward.
What happens next? Pretty much complete destruction unleashed by the God of Muay Thai. A move he had developed for when he finally faces Ryu once more. A move he is sure of that will give him the advantage in that fight. He is a flurry of kicks and punches as he moves forward and presses towards the tanks. They will get the worse of it if he has his way. He will erupt through one with a vicious uppercut and the one behind it isn't spared and perhaps fares much worse if Sagat makes contact. It is a secound uppercut delivered with all the strength Sagat can muster into the blow, his hand glowing with energy as he looks to tear through another tank and go skyward.
COMBATSYS: DEATH TO SAGAT just-defends Hunter's Huge Thrown Object!
SAGAT
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COMBATSYS: DEATH TO SAGAT just-defends Sagat's Tiger Destruction+!
SAGAT
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Hunter's hijacked jeep teeters and totters across uneven terrain as she finally dismounts, crashing headlong into a rather sturdy tank head-on - there's a giant cloud of dust and fire, but it's very difficult to see beyond what's going on there. Did she take out another? The spreading fires that obscure them may paint a positive picture of the scenario - it is exactly what these monsters deserve, is it not? The willingness to utterly kill and destroy, just to make a point to one. Single. Man.
Sagat's fury is like none other when one comes to it. Tiger Destruction is exactly what it says it is - he kicks and punches through numerous tanks and vehicles like so much cardboard. The flames and smoke dance around his form, every strike displacing the air with enough violent force it actually flips over a jeep that otherwise just misses being struck by it. One by one - more like ten by ten - things fall, explode, break apart.
His uppercut rises high enough that it all ends up piercing a very low flying bomber intercepted before it can rain death upon him. The terror of an ejecting pilot is as plain as day - he may not actually live to see the ground, depending on how vindictive and vicious the Thai soldiers a ways behind are.
However, Sagat may catch a sight that may yet elicit something beyond the mere anger he radiates. He can see it from his vantage point from the rising uppercut.
There's more. Far, far more.
Laughter breaks out from some incredibly souped-up speaker system from a giant aircraft overhead, of which all eyes fall upon.
"Oh, Sagat!" Cries a voice. "Once again, your strength is unparalleled. I watched you from up here - such power, indeed. That you would so indeed level all before you... I'd expect no less. I never believed for a moment you died on that... miserable island from a while ago."
The commander on board is a fat man in his 60s, a Shadaloo long-timer who has at last been rewarded for his loyalty by being one of the very, very top men of the entire war effort. General Blanc. He's an asshole, plain and simple, who sits atop his captain's chair with nothing but glee.
"You have destroyed but our first line, my friend," he boasts, "and as you can see... there are far more. I have spared no expense, Sagat! I have brought everything to bear. Every one of our best men, every one of our best weapons. You are more than a match for one unit. The only one who could best such a force now is the mighty Lord Vega himself! ...And, if I may dare dip into a touch of arrogance, I would imagine it would prove veeeeeeeerry close."
Oh, Vega is so going to kick his ass for that - if Sagat and his ally don't do it first.
Suddenly, from the distance, lightning-fast mobile tanks charge forward to bring up the front, looking to run the both of them over. Tanks are ordinarily slow, clunky things - Shadaloo research has brought forth a whole new generation of them, and safe to say, having them murder Sagat (...and his little friend, too) would be a most excellent first unveiling.
"Now!" The General yells. "DEATH TO SAGAT!!"
COMBATSYS: Hunter dodges DEATH TO SAGAT's Forward, March!.
SAGAT
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DEATH TO SAGAT 1|-----==|=======
Hunter dives to the side of the roaring vehicles. The cackled laughter, the mocking voice... yes, there's no doubt that Sagat is the real target here. Death To Sagat is the stated mission objective. But Sagat is not alone. If anything, Hunter's resolve is solidified. Does this man really take pleasure in such utter destruction? So many other villages, like hers, reduced to smouldering craters?
Hunter is small, but she is vicious, and these tanks are moving with incredible speed. She thinks she sees her target, though she has no idea if she's actually strong enough to pull it off. She doesn't have much choice, though. If she wants to help, she's going to have to give it a shot.
"He likes to talk, doesn't he?" A soft question thrown to Sagat, "I'll be back in a moment."
Charging back towards the tanks, the girl does the stupidest thing possible, and actually dives underneath the back of one of those tanks. Her knife is still in her hands, and her aim is simple; most of the time, you can guess where the fuel is... she can drive her knife in there, and start the arduous work of crippling this unending assault.
COMBATSYS: Sagat auto-guards DEATH TO SAGAT's Forward, March!!
SAGAT
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That voice. It is a familiar one and when he lands Sagat has to take a look around to see where it comes from. That eye narrows and he realizes who Vega sent. A man that was in Shadaloo longer than Sagat. One that was probably jealous how the Muay Thai warrior just easily joined up and instantly became the right hand man to Vega. He should not be surprised that General Blanc would be the one heading this assault. He must really be looking for a promotion by bringing Vega the head of his former right hand man.
That eye narrows some and he shakes his head. "Never died on the island. I won't die here." he calmly says and even as those tanks come forward Sagat keeps his ground. In fact he growls and steps forward to meet the one coming directly at him and extends his arms. He stops the thing for the most part as it just pushes him back several feet before it finds itself being lifted upwards. "I hope you brought alot more than this!" he yells out to the dear old general and then moves to wield the tank and swing it about to try to clear out some of the other tanks that had come in to try and run him down.
COMBATSYS: Hunter successfully hits DEATH TO SAGAT with Poisoned Knife.
SAGAT
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COMBATSYS: DEATH TO SAGAT blocks Sagat's Huge Random Weapon.
SAGAT
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These new designs are sleek, so incredibly well-made that they might even break the accepted design rules and standards for modern tanks... no, these are the next generation. The young woman who has taken up the mantle of Hunter is, in effect, playing a guessing game in her stabbing as she stabs away at the plating. She strikes at the right angle, with the right force - she won't get to hold on, but as it's dislodged she can now see, plain and clear, that there is some sort of liquid fuel coming out of it - it's not enough to immediately stop the tank, but now, she can communicate to Sagat where /exactly/ might be the best place to punch them - not to mention be an excellent reference for her own ends.
The tank that has the highly unfortunate luck of running into Sagat in its attempt to, er, run into Sagat finds the tank crew inside morbidly shocked as they are rocked about from Sagat's killer dead lifting of the tank. The other tanks nearby are already moving away best they can - you never stand your ground when it comes to having /other tanks/ shot at you, you attempt to minimize the collateral damage.
If 'minimize' means 'otherwise still blowing up a good number of them,' then it is a barely successful maneuver even now.
The General frowns deeply inside his comfy little miniature air fortress at this sudden turn of events. These new tanks shouldn't /be/ stopped by fighters so easily. Perhaps Sinclair was right in suggesting to him that the training exercises should suggest /not/ ramming valuable vehicles into fighters. It really is nothing but trouble in the end, isn't it?
"Don't get too cocky, Sagat!" The yelling continues. "All units, open fire! Now!"
Those agile tanks that are in range all turn their guns upon the gigantic Sagat. It's amazing how fast their turrets even turn, as they fire off shell after shell after shell upon Sagat.
Hunter at least has the good sense not to get too close to Sagat as the enemy focus their full force on him. As much as it doesn't make her feel good to admit it, if they are targeting Sagat, they aren't targeting her, and she realizes, she can still help.
"Aim for the lower back left!"
She doesn't explain *why* but, really, it isn't as though Sagat is going to need to know much more than that to do his job.
What she does, instead, is draw her bow, and pull the string back. Threaded with arrow after arrow, her aim is true; like shooting flying birds that happen to be bigger than normal and explode on impact.
The girl's aim isn't directly at the tanks, yet. Instead, her aim is to try and thin out some of the artillery bombardment and buy Sagat a larger window with which to take the fight to the enemy.
COMBATSYS: Hunter assists Sagat.
SAGAT
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COMBATSYS: Sagat dodges DEATH TO SAGAT's Large Thrown Object.
SAGAT
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It didn't fully create the space that Sagat wanted, but it still gave him a bit more breathing room as the tank in hand is discarded. It seems that right now just because of having such superior numbers that the general himself has been getting more and more cocky. Sagat still has alot of fight left in him so they best be careful. The proof of that is the fact he actually manages to avoid the tank fire by leaping up high and then landing on top of one of the tanks. There is a bit of that evil grin he gives as he tosses a slight glance in the direction of where the general watches. "Did you bring more? I do enjoy breaking Vega's toys."
He jumps off the tank and once again looks to heft the thing upwards and take another one out of action. While he doesn't exactly go for the weak point Hunter told him about it is hard to deny his tactic can be just as effective as he tries to get it up over is head so he can toss it more towards where the general is sitting. A gift!
COMBATSYS: Sagat successfully hits DEATH TO SAGAT with Tiger Carry.
SAGAT
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Hunter's aim is true - she does deflect several rounds with such startling precision that even some of the tank commanders are reconsidering their approach. To get in close to Sagat means exactly what's going on right now - that other tank's as good as done with. If they can't pin him with their fire and they can't touch him...
"Sir," says one of the people operating the plane, "he's throwing a tank at us!"
"WHAT?!" The general screams. "Pull up! Pull up! Pull--"
The tank explodes as it makes contact with one of the wings. The entire vehicle rocks violently as it starts descending to the earth. Underneath, several other tanks end up being crushed as it crashes to the ground. Dirt and debris spray about everywhere. The tanks become slightly obscured in the dust cloud.
Inside the grounded machine, General Blanc clutches his head as he sits awkwardly on his chair. He hit his head on something on the way down.
"Sir, we're on the ground," says an operator, "we're vulnerable to Sagat if--"
"If our ground forces DON'T DO THEIR JOBS!" General Blanc sneers. "Kill Sagat! DEATH TO SAGAT!!"
The tanks on the ground start to encircle Sagat, moving laterally in a perfect circle with him and Hunter in the center as the various tank commanders come to a consensus about their next move.
"<<Commencing Beetle formation in 3... 2... 1...>>"
Gouts of flame spray from the turrets - flamethrowers! They all swirl them around within this circle, hoping to cook the both of them alive - to try and weaken them for the eventual purpose of, indeed, bringing Death to Sagat (and his little friend, too!).
COMBATSYS: Hunter dodges DEATH TO SAGAT's Flamethrower.
SAGAT
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0|---------------|------------===
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hunter 0/-------/-----==|
[ ||||||||||||||| ]
DEATH TO SAGAT 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
Hunter shakes her head just the slightest amount as the enemy circle her. There's no subtly in these forces, just crushing, brutal, overwhelming force. If there is one thing any decent hunter could tell you, it is that when an animal is raging and thrashing against the noose, they have already lost.
Flames scorch and burn over where Hunter had been, but she's already in the air, and her bow is again returned to its place on her back. The long term strategy is discarded; working from moment to moment, survive from one second to the next. If she keeps that up long enough, then she'll come out the other end unscathed.
"You cannot kill him." She whispers, as she descends. From one pocket, a long length of knotted rope has been produced, now seeking to entangle around one of the flamethrower-wielding troops.
"He is our strength. As long as he stands, we shall not fall."
And with a harsh jerk, she aims to wrench the flaming trooper around towards his fellows, choking the air out of him in the same motion that waves of rolling orange flame are turned on their wielders.
COMBATSYS: Sagat interrupts Flamethrower from DEATH TO SAGAT with Tiger Uppercut.
SAGAT
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0|---------------|---------======
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Hunter 0/-------/-----==|
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DEATH TO SAGAT 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
Is that all the can shout? "I heard you the first hundred times!" the God of Muay Thai shouts to those who keep thinking that just shouting about wanting him dead would make it easier. If anything it is just making him more angry. That can lead to him being a bit accident prone, but at the same time if he does get his hands on those that have made him angry they are in for a world of pain. He isn't going to stand around and deal with this shouting at all for that matter. Even as the tanks close in they soon find Sagat looking to barrel right through some of them.
Flames lick at his skin and cause it to redden from the impact of the flames. Overall they mostly graze him and never really directly engulf him. There is a trail of smoke coming off of him as he ducks low and comes upwards with an uppercut to rip through a tank once more before twisting in the air and coming down with a slicing kick to demolish another one. That is when that sadistic grin turns to look at the crashed plane holding the general and he reaches up to make a throat cutting motion before pointing that way. LOoks like him and the general will get to reunite after all this time soon.
COMBATSYS: DEATH TO SAGAT blocks Hunter's Medium Throw.
SAGAT
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0|---------------|---------======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hunter 0/-------/-----==|
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DEATH TO SAGAT 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
Between the two of them, this line of tanks that surround them are quickly rendered as little better than scrap. Whoever designed them to such horrible results is surely to be put to death - it may be the overwhelming performance of Sagat that sees these otherwise now top-tier combat vehicles never make it into mainstream battle beyond this single run.
In this respect, Sagat and Hunter may have already saved the world from further horror... for now.
Sagat's strength is as such that he doesn't just uppercut through one - the carried over force from it topples over several others among the spinning formation, to say nothing of how many more explode or are otherwise displaced when he comes back down! A tank commander comes spilling out of one of the tanks (incidentally, he does indeed have a personal flamethrower), to come eye-to-eye with Hunter, whose eyes widen in fear to her whispers the truth as she wretches him, chokes him, and otherwise using him against his fellows - there's precious few tanks around the them that Sagat hasn't already destroyed, but she finally makes good on that one tank she managed to cut open the fuel hold to earlier. Fire plus fuel, well...
"ENOUGH!" Cries General Blanc. "Sagat, I will concede. Even... today's newest, greatest models may not be a match for you." Does he surrender? There is a silence that comes from the ranks.
"You know, I never believed it'd come to this," oh now he is blatantly lying from his comfy (slanted) chair, "to see you fall like this. I was hoping you'd be... intact, for me to present back to Lord Vega."
"CANNON!" He shouts, failing to obscure his microphone completely as the front of the grounded aircraft opens up to a variety of over-the-top mechanical movements that change it from an armored nose into a long, extended, electrified cannon with a lot of blinking lights that may or may not serve an actual purpose beyond looking intimidating.
"But I suppose we will just have to scrape the dirt where you stand, eh, Sagat? You and that... other one." General Blanc seems resigned to this, although there is inflection in his tone of voice that he is totally giddy enough to have reason to pull this. "So, savor your last precious moments here on Earth, dear... friend. Hah! Hah! Haaaah!"
"FIIIIIRE!!"
A light gathers at the tip of the downed nosecraft's new cannon, whirling ominously before a violet light expands wider and wider and wider yet, until it is a blindingly bright sphere of light in front of it.
Moments later, it shoots forward in a blinding laser beam that evaporates pretty much everything in front of it. Tank wreckage, earth, geographical features, pretty much everything within its width - directly homing in upon Sagat himself.
All around, more tanks come to a complete stop - as though everyone merely wants to stand and watch to be absolutely, positively sure that this will kill Sagat for real. If this doesn't...
The Thai girl unslings her bow. Blonde hair is smudged with ash and oil, but her eyes are sharp, and against the smoke-choked sky, she narrows her eyes. There's no way that the General can hear her of course; even Sagat would be hard-pushed to hear her over the constant roar of battle, the destruction and devastation that is being wrought on her homeland. She takes a long, slow breath. Judging the wind, the distance. It is a long shot, but, she can do it.
"I am just 'the other one'." She murmurs, "The remnant you failed to destroy. A person without a home. You turned my dreams to ash, killed everything I had reason to love, removed it from this world."
Raising her bow, she sights it carefully, raising it up to the sky.
"If I was someone with a name, with a family, I would be afraid. But I have no reason to fear. The only thing you can do is kill me. I have no reason to live."
"Other than to see you die."
Flames lick and dance, solidifying into a solid mass in her bowstring. Other fighters, perhaps, would unleash everything they had after such an outpouring; give all their spirit and soul to the fight and trust in it to make their will reality. Hunter does no such thing. Hunter's arrow is tightly controlled, the perfect mass and velocity to make the journey it needs to make. No more. No less.
And from the battlefield below 'the other one' lets her bow finish the talking for her; a single bolt of concentrated flame shooting upwards faster than a rocket, aimed with stunning accuracy to pierce the cockpit of the General's transport, and, if she can, silence that obnoxious voice once and for all.
COMBATSYS: Sagat blocks DEATH TO SAGAT's Overwhelming Assault.
SAGAT
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0|---------------|------=========
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hunter 0/-------/------=|
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DEATH TO SAGAT 1|-------|=======
A surrender? No, he doubts that is likely to happen at all. Some groups might be able to run away and not face harsh punishment, but to waste so much of Vega's precious resources and to come away a failure will cost the general his head. He only has two options really this day. To kill Sagat or to die in this battle. Even if he crawls away there would be no escape. Vega would send someone to hunt him down. Balrog would probably have particular fun gutting the old man. He isn't sure what to expect through all this, but even so he doesn't look worried.
That is when the blast comes right for him. THere is no time to get out of the way. Just time to get his arms up and get engulfed by the blast. As things die down Blanc will soon be very nervous. How many options does he have left? He shouldn't need more options, but yet There Sagat is slightly glowing with energy that he seemed to use as a way to protect himself. The force had driven him down to a knee, but as the glow fades he rises back to his feet. "I wouldn't have accepted your surrender anyways."
That is when he takes a deep breath and he gathers the energy about him once more in his hands. He steps forward and aims a blast right for where the general sits. It is time to see just how well protected he is because there is a powerful wave coming right for him. "TIIIIGAAAAAAH!"
COMBATSYS: Hunter successfully hits DEATH TO SAGAT with Flaming Arrow.
COMBATSYS: DEATH TO SAGAT refuses to stay down!
SAGAT
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0|---------------|------=========
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hunter 0/-------/-----==|
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DEATH TO SAGAT 1|-------|=======
COMBATSYS: Sagat successfully hits DEATH TO SAGAT with Low Tiger Shot.
SAGAT
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0|---------------|--=============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hunter 0/-------/-----==|
[ | ]
DEATH TO SAGAT 1|---====|=======
A flaming arrow sails through the wind, over the beam that Blanc and his crew find themselves overly fixated upon. A flaming arrow carrying the rage and sorrow of a woman who lost everything to the bloodlust of selfish, terrible men such as General Blanc himself.
With the overwhelming emphasis upon Sagat and his well being (or intended lack thereof), it is easy for them to write off any other sort that might try to stand and rise alongside him. Indeed, Sagat has few - if any - equals, and even fewer superiors. They may very well be completely irrelevant in the big picture, just faceless numbers to add to some sort of tally for the history books.
Through the air, the flaming arrow flies as it goes to the windows. One operator's head is in the way, but he is attentive enough to duck when the flaming arrowhead pierces already ruptured reinforced glass from their nasty fall, as the tongues of flame glance off his head en route to its final destination.
The General's lung! The flames envelop him immediately as he gasps in horror, fire starting to envelop him.
"Sir!" Cries the operator who just realized what his own concern for his well-being brought as he goes to the general's side.
The General, however, is dedicated - if anything - wincing and twitching as he pulls himself up off his seat even as blood fills his lungs. He should not be standing up. This wound is undeniably fatal.
"Sir, please, sit do--"
"N-No," the General hisses, "I'll... see... him... dead."
The General limps to the forefront, pushing aside all help even as he burns and chokes to his very end. He manages to make it even to the destroyed glass, leaning his head out to see, in the wake of the beam...
There he is. Sagat. He doesn't see him so much as hear him - because all he can see, from there, is the wave of chi that flies towards him, and his eyes glaze over upon the realization that no, what happened has just cemented what nobody among Shadaloo would care to admit.
Nobody, short of Vega, can kill Sagat.
Nobody, short of Vega, can /stop/ Sagat.
A gigantic explosion is visible to all those on the ground as the Tiger Shot pierces the bridge and so many other things, that begin to envelop the entire aircraft as a whole - and soon, much of the battlefield erupts into an inferno that may be able to be seen from space. So many tanks are caught up in it.
Though many tanks remain, their forces are in disarray. Some even really consider just retreating back to China and hoping Vega won't notice/punish them when they help overturn whatever might come its way. Others stand their ground - it takes an effort for the Thai army to fight off those that still try, but eventually, they will pull through.
If this was the very best that Shadaloo had to offer... then, perhaps, Thailand has finally earned its peace.
What of the world at large beyond Thailand...?
COMBATSYS: DEATH TO SAGAT takes no action.
SAGAT
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0|---------------|--=============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hunter 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: DEATH TO SAGAT can no longer fight.
SAGAT
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0|---------------|--=============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hunter 0/-------/-----==|
Hunter's eyes are very keen indeed. Tracking the flight of her arrow, the girl is surprised to find herself smiling with satisfaction. That the General meets his end at the hands of Sagat's fury only makes it even sweeter for her. It takes a few seconds for her to come back to herself, to compose herself properly and push that sweet taste of vengeance out of her head.
Walking over to Sagat, the girl looks up at the man. She'd told him that she had no intention of dying; that she never went into these things without a plan. All of this is true. What... he would have made of her little monologue to herself... better not to dwell on that. A rare moment of self-pity. She's over it, now, she tells herself. There is too much more to do.
"You broke the back of the assault." She says, wiping the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand. "You should rest. You're bleeding. I'll change your bandaged and we can mop up any dug-in remnants afterwards."
Sagat is slow to get up. He has to take a few moments before willing his body to finally stand up. The constant fighting continues to take its toll and he is thankful that he doesn't often have to fight such a well prepared army every day. He hopes the general has enjoyed all those years of loyalty to Vega. He has a hard time thinking that Vega would barely remember his name or thank him for it. Instead he can only be labeled a failure despite all his best efforts and forgotten.
He glances to Hunter when she comes up to him and he shakes his head. "I will be fine." he comments and looks back to destruction that lays about the entire battlefield. "I need to ask you a favor." he finally says after a few more moments of silence.
He turns about and looks down at the younger fighter. "I am unsure if this is the end. I need you to help the army here." He hopes he won't get an arguement with her about this. He knows she only travels because he is here, but where he plans to go he rather not bring her along for what he plans next. "Defend our home. I have to leave for some time. I need to go to China."
"Alright."
And that's the end of it. There's no argument from Hunter. Although she would have liked to insist that she travel onwards with Sagat, the fact remains that Thailand is going to be vulnerable without his presence, and there may very well be more evil men like the General ready to seize on any perceived weakness and finish the deadly work they have begun. How many thousands of her countrymen have already died, and that's with Sagat's presence here to prevent it.
Emotion has no place in this; she would just have to swallow her displeasure and do what she could here. Logically, she knows that Vega could destroy her so easily as to make any contribution she could muster moot, anyway.
"But I have one condition." There it is. The solemn girl's price for obedience. There has to be a catch, doesn't there? She's not a fool, she knows why Sagat is going and why it is so important.
"Kill him for me."
Log created on 08:54:24 03/04/2012 by Rust, and last modified on 10:20:02 03/09/2012.