Truly one of the most epic battles ever to befall the C Dome, this conflict took not one, but TWO threads in order to cover. Thing is, the first one was far more exciting than the second (linked). Talk about a dog-pile. Virtually the entire Dome stood up against Walker, but he would not back down. It was also here that we first got to meet Lieutenant Smotherer acting outside his usual capacity as Gate Keeper. If any of you ever want to know how things were before the General handed the reigns over to Adamsen, this is all you need to see.

            “Are you sure about this, Lieutenant?” Leach asked, extending a hand to the new recruit.

            “Certain” Smotherer took his hand and shook it vigorously.

            “You’re taking a big risk… you know this, don’t you?”

            Smotherer released his hand, “I’ve had enough of standing on the outside looking in, unable to affect any real change. The time has come for me to act.”

            “Well then, let me say, welcome to The Keepers, the paragon of civility and intelligence here in the C – Dome.”

            “Really?” Smotherer raised an eyebrow, “How do you explain Travis, then?”

            “Let’s just say… some of us should have retired a long time ago. He’s not long for this conflict. I can’t blame him- it’s hard, mediating the endless struggle between the Pscis and Cons, ensuring that peace is preserved wherever possible.”

            “So what about the countless times I’ve seen you fight the Cons on behalf of the Psci, particularly when they’re up against Walker and Adamsen?”

            “Well, for the sake of peace, lieutenant! We make a point to take our fight to those starting fights, who just so happen, for the most part, to be Walker and his deputy. Would you not agree that this is best means of attaining peace?”

            “Of course, Master. But how will I know when to attack?”

            “No worries, Smotherer, you’ll know when it’s time.”

* * *

            Walker loaded another clip into his reaper, “Come and get me, heathens!”

            He began firing in the direction of the Psci’s Lab. With the new marathon upgrade to his weapon, he would be able to take them all out, if they even dared challenge him. With Christine at his side, he was prepared to end this, once and for all.

            Immediately, Vazquez appeared, wielding several battle axes and a rubber chicken. As Vazquez hurled the first of his axes at Walker, the general fired up his reaper, reducing the steel axe into scrap before it even reached him.

            Vazquez didn’t let up. Each time Walker turned, another axe was hurdling toward him, and each time, he either blasted it out of the air or caught it in the blades of his reaper. Vazquez could do nothing to stop him.

            “Ha! Keep on wasting your axes, Vazquez! I can keep this up all day!”

            Vazquez hurled another axe at him, but before Walker to thrash it, Lebau swept in and grabbed it out of the air with his talons.

            Before Walker could react, Lebau dropped the axe onto him. Fortunately, he Salvo helm more than absorbed the blow.

            “Hah! Seriously? You Psci are so desperate that you’re now using the HOC to carry out your attacks? Ludicrous! Eat righteous fury!”

            Walker swung his reaper down just in time to catch Cho in its blades. While the Psci’s hardened spikes deflected the bullets of his reaper, several were broken off by its spinning blades. The Psci stumbled back in pain, but not before taking another swipe at him, which fell far short of its target.

            A hard strike from behind him threw Walker forward. He rolled to the side, barely avoiding another subsequent blow from Bahn. The large Bear-Psci had snuck up behind him! Nearby, he could hear Ngyu unsheathe his claws.

            “Seriously? It takes four of you and Vazquez to take me out? You’re revealing the depth of your weakness. You know you are in darkness… now taste repentance!”

            Tossing his reaper to the ground, Walker grabbed his penance render and pulled the intensity valve as far back as he could. Releasing it, he shot of wave of pure power at the assembled Psci, forcing them to all step back and pause. Just as he was about to take them down, he felt himself losing balance as a wave of forceful energy struck him. Releasing the trigger, he turned to face the new assailant.

            It was Travis, with his counterfeit penance render. As if he didn’t have enough on his plate with all these Psci jumping down his throat! What a day. But he could take them… he could take them all out. And he would.

            “Quick! Christine! Take the reaper! I’ve got an imposter to take down!”

            He tossed the toothed weapon to Christine, but it was knocked out of the air by The Chambler’s fist. Great. Was the whole freaking Dome after him?

            Suddenly, he felt the blade of one of Gregorio’s throwing axes strike him in the leg. Fortunately, it was unable to break through his armor. He shook his leg, detaching the axe from his body. This was actually kind of fun!

* * *

            “I’d say now’s the time to intervene, Smotherer. Apparently, Walker has started a fight with the entire Dome. How am I not surprised?” Leach turned toward Bran and beckoned him forward.

            “Come, Donbe. It is time for The Keepers of Civility to enter the fray!”

            The trio charged out onto the promenade which surrounded their base. Not caring to use the stairs, Leach leapt off the edge, landing smoothly on his feet a good forty feet down from the elevated walkway. Bran followed his example, though he landed harder and didn’t recover as quickly. Not everybody could duplicate the grace of The Master.

            Smotherer, for his part, chose to take the steps. Sure, he wouldn’t enter until later, but he didn’t care if he was late to this battle. It had become nasty out there.

            Within moments, he saw Leach and Bran engage Walker, as though the Con’s general didn’t already have enough people on top of him. There was literally five, six, seven others standing against him and Christine. By all means, the battle should’ve already been over… yet Walker was holding his position.

            Avoiding a strike from Leach’s rapier, Walker parried the attack with the barrel of a large, glossy arm cannon he was wielding, doubtless his famed penance render, which Travis had recently produced a near-exact copy of, purely out of coincidence. In fact, his fellow keeper was already in the battle, firing on The Chambler with blasts of energy.

            Atop his balcony, Commander Cockrell was watching, an excited grin on his face. Wasn’t the commander going to intervene? Or was he actually enjoying all this violence?

            Smotherer turned his eyes back to the General. Christine had just joined him in opening fire on the Psci. Using her EMP-AT rifle, she struck Bran Donbe in the chest, sending him falling backward with the force of the attack. Nearby, Vazquez hurled another axe toward Walker, though the general took the axe to the back, focusing his energy instead on Travis, who had begun firing his penance render again.

            “That’s it!” Walker screamed, charging at Travis, “I’m tired of you!” He struck the keeper in the jaw with the barrel of his penance render and kicked him in the chest. Travis was dazed, but nevertheless retaliated by firing another series of blasts at Walker.

Abandoning the other combatants, Christine joined Erik, firing the large, toothed weapon she was wielding at Travis. Between the two, Travis couldn’t hold out. He backed up and retreated, allowing Walker and Christine, now joined by Adamsen, to re-engage the others.

            Smotherer didn’t even know if it was worth joining in the battle. One thing was certain, though…Walker would not accept defeat.

Hesitantly, he sided with the Cons, firing several shots from his AR-15 toward the assembled Psci. He didn’t know what he was doing here… but it was good to be on the inside for a change.