A Vulture's Hunger

[Goliath]

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Zhao was a man of focus. Ever since his "recruitment" to the Chochinbi, his only goal was that of serving his masters' Grand Design. Zhao had two friends on his shoulder. The first one, 'Urei', aided his grieving heart to push through loss. Someone to wipe his tears and share tales of other warriors who went through similar hardships. And then there was 'Setsujoku', who whispered promises of vengeance. To him, every loss deserved a vengeful spirit to reclaim their honor. Zhao played that role well.

The list of those who wronged his masters was long, near infinite. The best way to hurt an enemy was to aim for the weak spots -- and in that day it was Fort Carthage. Zhao heard rumors of a secret installation fueling The Order's war machine. Vile metal construction whose sole purpose was to cause suffering. It was the perfect opportunity to shorten his list.

Day after day he spent cutting through enemy forces like a well sharpened katana alongside other fighters he shared a deep connection with, until finally the end of his labor would come to bear fruit. Fort Carthage was left open and Kusari's wrath fell upon The Order's amalgamation. It was through the simulated noise his cockpit generated that Zhao heard through the local channel a familiar voice.

CURSE YOU, ZHAO!!!

His heart raced and his mind momentarily blanked out. There were no words to describe what he felt in that moment. Fear, angst, hatred, despair were too subtle. That voice accompanied by a sudden Ripper Mine disabling Zhao's shields only contributed to a sudden feeling of shellshock.

PREPARE TO MEET YOUR END, ZHAO!

Again, but the feeling passed. The Agent was focused once more and aware of his surroundings. That was no ordinary terrorist. His own brother had resurfaced after years of absence and mourning. Now under a new nickname, The Colonel, it was he who swore allegiance to The Order. Now on opposite sides of an unending war for their respective leaders, the two brothers clashed swords in a kenjutsu - a duel.

You fuoool. How dare you bring dishonor to our family?! Yuooo should have stayed dead.
Yuoo are forcing my hand now, brother.

They charged at one another. Zhao's mighty railguns met The Colonel's Iron Hammers. Pinpoint accuracy against immeasurable, brutish stopping power. A Chimaera's righteousness and a Bastet's cunning. Their shields collapsed as each of them landed solid shots, then stopped in opposite directions as the battlefield around them vanished into thin air. Now it was just them - brother against brother.

Curse you Zhao! I Hereby vow, you will rue this day! You have long fallen from the path intended by our ancestors!

The Colonel glazed over Zhao's Chimaera. Her 'horns' were already shattered. Visible hull damage from Order weaponry was apparent. His own ship was wounded, too. Kusari-born weaponry burned through the outer layers of armor on his Bastet, but still had the advantage in terms of how many nanobots he had left in the reserve. Not the same could have been said about Zhao, however.

Their engines rumbled like two feral animals ready to pounce at one another while in the distance the IKN-Yulgok Yi launched a volley of shots on a nearby Order Geb. The Battlecruiser's shots landed masterfully, providing the final que for the two brothers to engage in a decisive duel.

COLONEL!!!
ZHAO!!!

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