"Oh hell, what did Enrico leave me this time?"
As he strolled toward the structure, his apparent shepherds walking before him, he found Enrico and Yukiko had both had the time to forward messages to his armor computer over the SQUADCOM. Enrico's was, predictably, his combat music playlist, while Yukiko's seemed to be a message, with the armor's computer informing him it was written text. Well, that was interesting, she wouldn't have had time to write much before he...vanished, teleported, whatever that was, and he resolved to take a look at it when he had the time. When they entered the building, it didn't take long for James to note this was definitely a professional establishment. He noted with a raised eyebrow the closed doors and ropes blocking their path, leaving them a set route forward. Safe within the confines of his own mind, James thought "Well these aren't exactly secure barricades are they? Must be magic I'd assume, I can't speak for the other competitors but there's no way they'd think to contain a Ranger with ropes and doors alone."
Captain Teller cleared his mind of the pointless observation and focused it on the task at hand. Almost as if he were a hostage, he counted turns and directions, making sure he'd be able to flee without stopping to ponder direction should things go south. Times like this, he wished he had the gear those SAD blokes got. The Supernatural Assault and Destruction teams got all the nicest kit, from smart AI to customized Heavy Assault Armor. If he had one of those AIs he could have it do this basic SF grunt task while he focused on other things, but he supposed there was no business worrying about what he didn't have. Shaken from his musings by the sudden arrival at a pair of swinging bar-room doors, his guides stood to the sides, apparently to allow him in first "Right in here Captain, take a podium as your own." the previously silent Déaglán quietly muttered
As Teller walked towards the doors, Amelia caught him by the arm and whispered "Fight hard, Captain. I hope you can finally go home after this."
A vague nod of agreement was sent her way as she released his arm and Teller strode in, the pair behind him. His eyes immediately began darting around, sizing up the room he stood in. The ceiling was glass, fashioned into a dome, and Teller immediately added that to his list of worries. An aerial breach through that would be as easy as getting a VTOL and some rope, and in here the glass alone could serve to kill the unarmored members of the assembly. Speaking of the other members of the assembly, James began sizing each one up as his potential enemy, or friend as circumstances may lead to.
Of the armored halberdier, James thought "Its been a few seconds and I'm already confused, but whatever. Whoever that guy is he's clad in medieval chic, full plate, may or may not be some flavor of enchanted but either way it'll stop something like shrapnel Regardless, that thing may be magic, if so it's a big problem, otherwise though...well, better assume the harder of the two."
Of the one-armed Shrine Maiden "Hm, injured already, but she wouldn't be here if she wasn't a threat. Still, she may be weak in close quarters, not that I'm eager to fight her. Hopefully we're all from the same universe, mine, if so she may know what a Ranger is and help out."
Of the hoodied gamer "OK, I'm trying hard not to underestimate anyone but what the hell is with this kid? No armor, the fact he seems pretty attached to those guns means no magic probably, and he sure as hell isn't a soldier. Alright Teller, don't think too bad about the kid, after all how's the saying go? Amateurs are dangerous because you can't predict them or something."
Of the power armored warrior ""Really starting to worry here. That armor looks thick, though its got some vulnerabilities around the neck it looks like, but look at those damn guns! Those matched pistols are massive, Gods only know what they fire, one of those pistols has what disturbingly appears to be a fuel tank attached and I don't know where to start on the last one!"
Of the armored swordswoman ""Another probable magic user, though I can't underestimate that sword. I've seen devil swordmasters at work, and I'd not care to get too close to anyone on that level. That armor may not take bullets but it'll stop grenade shrapnel I bet, no go on that then."
Of the Kitsune bombshell "Someone upstairs must be looking after me by leaving the squad back home, or I'd have to stop Salvador from chasing her like a lost puppy. Still, those fox ears tell me she's a Kitsune, and I remember the rumors about what that Kitsune from Team 2 could do. Best be careful around her, after all I'm not fireproof."
Of the fungal skeleton "Oh what in Sam Hill is up with THAT one? I am DEFINITELY not in the right fucking universe, because not even the deltas managed something THAT insane looking. Alright, I'll deal with the mushroom man via high explosive deliverance if I have to, not too worried."
Of the apparent dragon lady "I am officially, royally, fucked, if she is anything like the dragons back home. Shit, the smallest unit to get a confirmed dragon kill was a squad size element of UASD, and that was such a big fucking deal that it got Wolf out of the office to personally award them all a fucking medal. The only consolation prize is she doesn't look full fucking dragon but I still don't like this, best to avoid her."
Of the white-clad blademaster "Lots of women with swords here, I'm noticing. Well, she's got no armor and a light blade, so she must be a dodgy fighter. That's easy to deal with at least, not even a Knight can out run an explosion, and I'll bet you can't either."
Of the gluttonous demon "Well he's setting every instinct in me, and my armor's delta warning light, ablaze. At least a delta I can deal with, though he doesn't look like a delta from my universe and in that case then I might be bloody well fucked if I try my usual methods."
Of the towering paladin "Thor on a bike what the hell is that guy's deal? Is there ANYONE here I can try to engage in melee and beat other than the damn hoodie kid? Well, if there are, he's not one of them, and I don't think I want to try my R41 against him either. I've got more explosive-worthy problems than I've got explosives, at this rate I'll have to get creative."
Of the magical composer "OK, at least THIS GUY looks like he might go down with a good stab, but I'd bet my ass he's a powerful mage. Great, where the hell is Yukiko with the PER when I need her? Oh well, no worries, at least the R41 should drop him, maybe even the good 'ol LE if I get close enough."
Of the cereal killer ""He looks kinda familiar...wait..wha-....No. I've accepted a lot of shit but there is no way I'm actually fighting a pre-war fucking CEREAL MASCOT. By Odin's fucking beard this is bullshit! Alright, calm down Cap, just..just shoot him when you see him. Heavens above I need a drink."
Of the massive ogre "Oh this just isn't fair! How the hell am I gonna kill THAT?! He's so fucking big I'd have to dr-...Y'know that's not a bad idea, better save that one for in case it comes up. Glad I went to sapper school."
His conclusions reached, the time came for some speech given by an old woman, this tournament's overseer Teller was sure. As he absorbed the facts from it, his eyes were drawn to these 'phylacteries' as she'd called them, and he immediately processed what he was told. The one he claimed would hold his soul, and if he killed an opponent it would adsorb theirs. However, already, Teller's mind was thinking up ways to cheat the system, even as he reached his armored hand out and clutched his own, wearing it as he wore his dogtag chain, though taking care to tuck it beneath his chest plate so nobody could take it with a rapid grab and end his game before it even started. If he was right about how these worked, those fast and furious types just got a lot more dangerous.
So, they'd have time to explore the arena, that was good. He'd have time to get a rough feel for the locations in it he could fight from, maybe pre-build some fortifications with the trusty E-tool in the survival kit, and see if he could salvage some useful gear. By the sound of it, there'd be things laying around, and James couldn't help but grin as he uttered aloud the same phrase he and his fellow Marines had uttered so long ago "Gear adrift is gear a gift." As fog flowed up from vents at the bottom of the floor, James turned his mind to contemplating how to go about this. The inability to attack an opponent who he wasn't matched with made this harder, but not impossible, and the idea that he couldn't even engage someone he knew he was matched with until the go ahead was given made it damn infuriating. However, it hadn't sounded like there was a time limit within which he HAD to engage, meaning he could still work his tricks, and James felt one thought resonate both through his mind and out his mouth, the motto of UASD Team 8, HIS team
"Always outnumbered, never outdone."
ActRaiserTheReturned
Master EffeX