Launch Base Zone

[Dr. Robotnik]

"Tatsuhiro, you must come with us," the SWATBot said, walking a little closer to the mutant. "Robotnik does not wish to harm you, but a lack of cooperation will change that."

To emphasize his point, the circle of robots around Tatsuhiro pressed in tighter, as they placed their hands back on their weapons.

[Tatsuhiro]

What the SWATbot said was enough to get him to stand down.


“…Fine.”


While he wasn’t threaten by there sudden moves, what the robot said had snapped him into his senses. If he had continued to be stubborn, it was going to be him hurting in the end. Not because of the attack, but more or less by making the Doctor trust him less. Granted, he should trust him already, but he didn’t need to make the situation. Regardless, his tone as he said it was nothing less than anger and his eyes were narrowed, showing obvious displeasure. He followed them despite it.

[Dr. Robotnik]

The robots moved into step with Tatsu, as they walked back towards the new clearing the bulldozer bots were working on. As they did, the SWATbot who'd spoken to Tatsu gave more information about the situation.

"Robotnik wishes you to know this is nothing personal. This world recently underwent a dimensional merge, and all the allies of Robotniks from other dimensions are coming to this Robotnik to pledge their allegiance. The doctor only wants to protect himself from freedom fighters or others who might pretend to be an alternate dimension ally to infiltrate the empire."

[Tatsuhiro]

“Freedom Fighters?” he asked out of curiosity, although his expression remained neutral, “What is that? What kind of military force is it?”

He had no idea who these “Freedom Fighters” were, which was obvious by what he said next. He was only used to a military force, not a small band of rebels. Anyone who dared to rebel would have been quickly eliminated; and he wouldn’t even have to send the robots on them to do so.

[Dr. Robotnik]

"The Freedom Fighters are a small, ragtag group hiding somewhere in the Great Forest. They seek to overthrow the Robotnik Empire, never mind the fact that it's foolish to stand against Robotnik's might. However, because they are well hidden in the forest, their hideout has not been located yet. But it is only inevitable that they will be discovered and crushed."

By this time, Tatsuhiro would notice a different-looking airship descending onto the cleared area that the bulldozer bots had cleared. This one looked like it had considerably heavier armor. Not to mention, smokestacks and large air vents protruded out of the top of the vehicle. It almost looked like a flying factory of some sort.

---

Shortly after the factory ship, the Egg Carrier in all its splendor also arrived over the Launch Base Zone. Robotnik gazed out the window, admiring his little camp around the crater lake as well as the nostalgia trip. While this place marked the beginning of the end for the Death Egg, he felt confident that this time he would come out the victor. His gaze wandered over to the large factory ship that had just landed.

"That's my smelting ship. I've got information that much of the shards are buried underground around here, so they'll be buried under rock and ore. We'll bring the ore back to this ship, the ship will melt all of the ore and leave the emerald shards behind. I figured it would be easier to just build the refinery on a ship, rather than making an actual building. We're only going to be here for a short time, after all."

[Tatsuhiro]

Tatsuhiro eyed the large factory-in-air with a curious light in his eyes, though his demeanor didn’t seem to change. There was a lot of activity going on, which reminded him of the small operation Robotnik would occasionally set out to grab smaller towns around the area. Except, there were no towns around.

“Yes, indeed they are…”

Even though he was listening, his mind was still mulling over all the information given to him. And he was stil takeing time to process everything. He looked over towards the robot walking beside him and inquired a question.

“When will the Doctor be landing?”

[Chadin]

[From Cross Country...]

"So that's the little spit 'a lad we're here to strip mine?" Rampage mused as he gazed out the window while the Egg Carrier came in to land. Truthfully, Rampage didn't care one way or another what happened to the island, all he wanted was the chance to see some action; and if this Knuckles character was as tough as he'd been led to believe he'd be having a blast here, literally.

"So, where's the best place to start getting their attention, Boss?" He'd never been to this island before, and while there was certainly plenty of forests to be seen from the air, Rampage didn't want to just waste his time lighting fires if there's no chance of finding his intended prey. He hoped Robotnik might be able to lend some advice to that end.

[Dr. Robotnik]

[I heard from Rose that Magnus is taking an indefinite lead from the board, so presume that his characters are no longer around.]

"I have acquired the doctor's flagship in my vision above us," the head SWATbot said, answering Tatsu's question. It pointed at the larger, more colorful Egg Carrier now making its descent over the crater lake. "He will be ready to see you shortly."

---

Back on the ship, Robo pointed to a forest on the opposite side of the island from the Launch Base zone. Oddly though, between the mass of green leaves, Rampage would also see odd-looking blotches of red and yellow. Closer inspection with his zooming eye would show them to be the tops of gigantic mushrooms.

"Assuming Sonic and his friends don't know about the operation yet, that would be the best place to start. It's the Mushroom Hill Zone, and it's on the opposite side of the island from where we're setting up shop. I would prefer that Sonic stay in the dark about what we're up to for as long as possible, so it's the best place for you to get to work. If you want, you can take the 'disco balls' and what you need now."

He smiled, as he looked back over to the mortar craft that Rampage had given that name to earlier.

[Tatsuhiro]

Tatsuhiro looked up as the robot and saw the techno colored ship descend to the crater. He scuffed lowly, makes a smart remark.


“That –would- be his ship…”

Despite his loyalties to him, he wasn’t the kind to not spot the Doctor’s ‘bad’ qualities. Even for an old man, he knew him to be stubborn, vain, egotistical, short sighted (at times), and temperamental. Seeing the large ship he was on, compared to all the others, he was surprised he did not see it; what with it’ grand colors and all. Obviously, he wasn’t paying enough attention.


“What is Dr. Robotnik doing coming out here anyways? The Dr. Robotnik that I knew never stepped foot outside his city.”

Normally, he would have stopped talking, but his curiosity was getting the best of him. This Robotnik operated much differently from the Robotnik he knew. He usually dealt with more ‘political’ problems; dealing with the city, the ‘enemy’ cities, any towns he had managed to capture. He simply would send his robots out, and any agents the Doctor would have to do any dirty work. A place that he came into view. Regardless, the fact that this Doctor even left to go out on a mission that simply wasn’t political in terms was interesting. He knew that a long time ago, Robotnik did this all the time. It was too bad he found out after a particular event that was anything –but- pleasing.

[Rampage]

Using his robotic eye, he could indeed make out the giant mushrooms. Pretty strange sight to see, he almost wondered if those mushrooms would burn properly... Then again, what better way to find out then to try it?

Rampage nodded smartly. "Right, time for me to go on a little rampage." he added to this remark by cracking his real knuckles with an eager sneer etched on his living face as he boarded his personal hovercraft.

"Come on disco ball, time for us to cause a little mayhem." Rampage declared over the radio as he took off from the Egg Carrier and made a bee-line toward the Mushroom Hill Zone with the bot close behind.