Strata's Sacrifice/Total Conversion

Spoiler Warning: Planned Content!

This is very late-narrative content, taking place during the latter half of the Three Wars mega-arc, either before, during, or after the War of Woe against the military. This exists for my personal notes in the event of a world war, alien invasion, Biblical-class flood, or my untimely demise, not necessarily in that order...
Premise

Capitalizing on what peaceful downtime they have between battles, the Ronin spend time with their respective loved ones, anticipating the day when Entide finally arrives. The lull in combat does not last for long as a Totalitary city ship arrives off the coast suddenly. Believing this to be a prelude to the End Tide, the heroes spring into action before the invading ship can secure a foothold on the mainland. When one of their own is seemingly struck down, the rest of the Ronin storm the ship seeking retribution only to come face to face with a nightmare become reality...

Plot points/Scenes

1. Calm Before The Chaos-Rowen wakes up after spending a peaceful night in bed with Roxi at her cabin.
2. Echoes of Entide-A Totalitary city-ship arrives off the coast of Japan and the Ronin attempt to engage.
3. The Fallen King-Rowen is greeted by a historical figure from Thanged's history and presented with a tempting offer.
4. His Perfected Form-The Ronin storm the ship searching for its core to destroy it but are thwarted by an unexpected foe.
5. A Convincing Act-Revealing his treachery to be a ruse, Rowen frees the others and enacts his plan to destroy the ship.
6. Still a Ronin Warrior-The city-ship is completely destroyed but Rowen has to deal with the repercussions of his ordeal.

Themes

There are recurring elements centered around facing and overcoming temptation, self-sacrifice, choices and convictions. Because this marks the first time the Ronin engage in direct combat with Totalitary forces, they find all of their resources, skills and recent upgrades (their new Spectronin Armors) put to the test.

Structure

Exposition

Act I

Calm Before The Chaos

The sun rises outside as morning comes to the mountain country. Rowen wakes up in bed with his girlfriend Roxi Hirochner snoozing peacefully on top of him. He's been spending more and more time with her lately, making the most of the downtime after the final defeat of the Dynasty (War of Wrath). Entide is said to occur in the "near future", and Rowen hopes to start a family with Roxi before his prophesized death. He gently scoots out from under her and pulls the blanket over her shoulders and lets her continue snoozing while he gets dressed. He fixes himself a modest breakfast even though Roxi likes cooking. Brianna has yet to wake up in her room and Goldheart is lounging on the porch outside. Rowen goes outside to enjoy a mug of hot tea and takes in the pristine forest around the cabin. He's been contemplating moving to the cabin to stay long-term rather than staying at Mia's estate.
Meanwhile at the Roost, all seems clear on the console until alerts go off and a huge signature appears over water off the coast of Toyama. It's nearly twice the size of both Thunthen super-carriers put together (The Ramahatesguad and the Huzonthunorthplier) and shrouded in enormous clouds of steam from its sudden arrival. When the steam clears, its revealed to be a Totalitary city-ship, the first of its kind seen on Earth in over four-hundred years. So far only one is seen, leading the Ronin to believe it's a scout to gauge the planet's defenses.
Even though the Ronin have spent years preparing and marshaling their allies, the arrival catches them somewhat unawares as the Northern Garrison is scrambling to mobilize and the bulk of the Reptilloid forces are still on their homeworld of Runjen. The fleet ships (Argonauth, Illiad, Hellespont, Odessyeur, and Vesuvian.) are being prepped by Bak and his crew but are slow to move and will take time arriving.

Conflict

Act II

Echoes of Entide

Rowen is alerted to the situation via wrist-com and states he's on his way. He doesn't tell Roxi or Brianna anything, not wanting to worry them and changes into Spectronin Strata Armor, mounting his sky-board and flying off towards the coast. As forces converge towards the city-ship, they notice its moving very slowly towards the mainland. Cye remembers how quickly they established bases in his doomsday vision. The city itself has started evacuating with civilians fleeing the city in droves and JSDF (Japanese Special Defense Forces) attempt to engage but as usual are cut down easily by tri-wing fighters, confirming that the Totalitary come with ill intentions.
Rowen is a few minutes out but the ship is so high up the Ronin aren't exactly sure how to engage since only a few of them are flight-capable (Ryo, Tanya, Dais, Cye, and Rowen). They might need to get a lift from the Argonauth or call in their personal Pegasi. Ryo is reluctant to summon Raurgoth since he doesn't want to reveal him just yet. The Ronin on the ground can spot Rowen incoming in the distance, but they notice a port opening on the side of the city-ship facing him.
Rowen prepares to deploy his Arrow Shock Wave Magna but a wave of energy erupts from the port, consuming him and instantly erasing him from sight. Ryo screams in horror and the others are distraught, Cye especially since this fulfills the part of his vision where Rowen is seemingly killed . Because of the fundamental changes in the Spectronin Armors from the originals, the others can't sense whether Rowen is dead or alive but he no longer appears on the ArmSig network.
The others solemnly vow vengeance and Ryo summons Raurgoth to ferry them to the city-ship. The Inferno White Dragon carries the remaining heroes into the air, arrowing towards the city-ship and barreling through entire squadrons of tri-wing fighters. The dragon-titan flies low enough to stay out of line-of-fire of the city-ship's capital weapon and catches onto a open hangar, depositing the rest of the Ronin inside and going to town on docked tri-wings. Hearts full of grief and grim determination, the nine Ronin proceed to lay waste to the interior as they search for the city-ship's command center.

Rising Action

Act III

The Fallen King

Rowen awakens to find himself alive and held captive in a dark room with a bright spotlight above him. He is restrained on a table and is horrified to see tiny mechanical arms peeling pieces of his skin off and applying sheets of flexible metal in its place that seems to bond with his flesh. He cries out and thrashes against his bonds violently to no avail. His captors somehow forced him to shed Armor and he can't re-summon sub-armor while restrained.
A foppish-sounding voice off to the side in the shadows tells him to stop squirming, it's tacky. Rowen raises an eyebrow and asks who the heck is he supposed to be. His eyesight adjusts to the gloom and he can make out a young man with short lavender hair and wearing skin-tight armor from the neck-down. Bits of metal frame his face. The man says in his previous life he was known as Memner, but he calls himself Memnech now. Rowen is baffled: Memner? the Sky King from Thangien history? Memnech applauds him for his intellect. He states that he opposed the Totalitary in ages past and was presumed killed but in truth was brought aboard their vessel and "properly educated" on their motivations. He is now a prominent member of the Upper Echelon and his mission is to serve as both a herald of the Totalitary and ambassador to the Humans, correcting "misconceptions" about their actions.
Rowen argues that the Totalitary are evil and must be stopped. Memnech calls him silly and comments he had similar opinions in his youth. He tells Rowen he's been extended a special honor: automatic membership to the Upper Echelon. Rowen notices more of his skin has been covered in metal and he struggles, shouting he doesn't want this. Memnech insists he does since he's nearing 20% Conversion just in the time they've been chatting. Why else would Rowen's body be so welcoming to the procedure. Rowen notices he doesn't feel pain anymore while more pieces of his skin are replaced. It tingles but does not burn. Memnech says Conversion has alot of benefits: 400 years and counting and doesn't look a day over 30. He tells Rowen he is merely fulfilling his desire to be perfect, to be free from frailty and suffering.
Rowen states that Humanity is inherently imperfect and that its the struggle of life that defines them, the freedom of choice and consequence, and that Humans are meant to be more than just mindless drones. Memnech scoffs that that's just a lie he tells himself, that all Humans desire perfection: to be stronger, smarter, to live longer and more comfortable. In one fell swoop, the Totalitary can satisfy all those desires. He tells Rowen he knows deep in his heart he knows this is his true destiny and whispers enticingly to embrace his fate. Rowen looks at his body, now almost completely covered in metal. He has a conflicted look in his eyes.

Climax

Act IV

His Perfected Form

The Ronin continue to wail on any drones they encounter, Anubis, Cale, and Sehkmet brutally slaying drones with their gauntlet weapons. Ryo thinks this means they are weak shit and just got a lucky shot on Rowen and regrets the drones don't feel or speak or else he'd take more pleasure killing them. They have no idea where they are going or the ship layout but their plan so far is "blast anything with blinky lights".
They enter a large chamber that goes dark suddenly. Sage provides illumination but the room still looks dim. Suddenly the Ronin are attacked by a mysterious force that takes them down handily one-by-one despite the enhanced strength of their Spectronin Armors, and the room is so dim they can't get a bead on the attacker. Something slaps a device onto Kento's head before he has a chance to transform and Ryo is similarly disabled, preventing him from using his fire demon power. Metal cuffs extend out from the walls and pull the Ronin off of the floor, binding them securely. Tanya wonders what the hell happened and Cale comments whoever attacked them its like they knew exactly how to counter their moves.
A voice speaks from the shadows and commends Cale for stating the obvious. The other Ronin are startled, recognizing that voice. A figure emerges from the shadows and they are horrified to see it is Rowen, alive, but he appears drastically different. His skin is metallic from the neck down with thick gold plates on his shoulders and blue plates on his chest, arms, and legs. Implants frame his face, and the Ronin are dismayed when they realize he's apparently been Converted. Rowen begins a sinister monologue, stating the planned fates for each of the Ronin: Ryo's been selected for vivisection because the Upper Echelon are interested in the symbiotic relationship between him and the fire demon.
Rowen tells Sage they're interested in the trace fragments of Redal DNA still in his body and will re-activate it. Sage cries out, stating he doesn't want to become that monster again, but Rowen tells him he has no choice. Kento shows promise but the Upper Echelon finds his Avatar form unsightly and plan to remove it. Kento argues they can't but Rowen says he should be thankful: hasn't he always wanted to be cured of his Avatar? Kento says not like that since he still views his Avatar as part of his being. Rowen tells Cye the Upper Echelon will pick his brains-figuratively and literally-regarding the insectoid alien he encountered since once the Totalitary finishes up with Earth, that race is next. Rowen scornfully tells the others (Tanya, Anubis, Dais, Cale, and Sehkmet) that they're not worthy of joining the Upper Echelon and will be relegated to being drones. He'll leave them captive to ponder their fates for now.
As he prepares to exit the room, Cye calls out to him saying he saw this in his doomsday vision, but he never told Rowen because he was afraid what it would do to him. Rowen smirks and thanks Cye for keeping silent about the matter, or else he wouldn't be able to embrace his true destiny. He taunts Cye that he's always been good about keeping his feelings hidden until the last minute. Cye notices Rowen's eyes don't have the implants in the iris like he did in the vision and wonders if the process is still incomplete. Ryo, enraged, screams and calls Rowen a traitor as he leaves the room.

Falling Action

Act V

A Convincing Act

Meanwhile at Roxi's cabin, completely unaware of the situation unfolding off the coast, Roxi and Brianna are finishing dinner. Brianna notices Roxi bent over the kitchen sink and asks if she's okay. Roxi dismisses it as something spicy going the wrong way but Brianna has a sneaking suspicion it's morning sickness.
Back on the city-ship, Rowen is lying on the operating table again and glances to the side when the mechanical arms finish moving and retract, holding a pan of what looks like chunks of flesh. Rowen sits up and flexes his right arm testily then raises it. A section of his arm rises up, revealing a blaster has been installed into his arm. He retracts it and Memnech says he's only at 60% Conversion currently but they'll give him a few days to get used to the dermal implants before starting him on the first nanotech infusions. He comments cybernetics are so passe and Rowen should consider himself lucky that they both got in on the new style since the previous method used to be much messier. Rowen wonders why and Memnech comments that they learned the hard way after the Reptilloid rebellion that it's better to ease subjects into Conversion rather than just go ham on the process. Nanotech is quicker and more efficient and feels better overall. Memnech remarks that he envies Rowen since "that first time is pure ecstasy".
He tells Rowen he'll need a suitable name to distinguish himself and suggests Ur-Rowen. Rowen is confused until Memnech explains its a old prefix meaning a 'perfected state' or 'enlightened being'. Rowen says similar to Uber and Memnech replies something like that. Rowen looks at his arm again and admits he does feel stronger. Memnech explains that Conversion dials a subject's original abilities to 11. He advises Rowen not to use the blaster too much in quick succession until he's completed the process or else his arm will overheat, but if he wishes to test its accuracy he can try it out on his "former friends".
Memnech turns around and gazes at a screen showing the city-ship approaching the shore. Soon they will begin establishing infrastructure. He turns around and smirks at Rowen but his face falls when he sees Rowen aiming at him with the blaster. Memnech is shocked and asks how can Rowen betray him even when the truth has been laid out for him to see, when with his exceptional intellect he should know better. Rowen simply replies he is "Still a Ronin Warrior" and shoots Memnech in the shoulder, blowing him through the wall and into a pit where he seemingly plummets to his death. Rowen winces and retracts the blaster, rubbing his temples from a headache.
Back in the holding cell the other Ronin are still trying to figure out how to escape. Raurgoth wouldn't know where to find them and they are unable to summon Armor. Sehkmet asks how come Kento can't go beast-mode and Kento says he's been trying (he's learned how to transform at will at this point) but he can't focus. It's like his brain's on ice. Cye suspects the devices on Kento and Ryo's heads are some sort of neural dampeners that prevent them from manifesting their monster abilities. Dais offers to trash talk Kento if that'll get him riled up enough but Kento says it wouldn't work.
Ryo is grumbling under his breath how much of a lousy traitor Rowen is and Anubis says him fuming about it doesn't change the fact that they are still captive. The door opens suddenly and Rowen enters the room. He approaches Sage and says simply "it's time". Sage panics and starts blubbering that he doesn't want to turn into that creature again and begs Rowen to spare him. After a few moments of hysterics Rowen smirks and tells Sage to calm down, he's embarrassing himself. The others are confused and watch as Rowen walks over to Kento and calmly plucks the neural dampener off of his head, stating they'll need his strength. He removes the dampener from Ryo and says they'll need his demon's firepower too. He turns around and walks over to the wall where he inserts his fingertip into a slot and unlocks the restraints. Rowen states that the rest of the drones have their hands full trying to corral Raurgoth, so they'll have little resistance on the way to the core and begins to turn around.
Kento-fully transformed-slams into him and pins him against the wall. He growls that Rowen better give him a good reason why he shouldn't rip his limbs off "you traitorous toaster-oven". Rowen calmly states that if Kento doesn't let him go right this second he'll never get to enjoy a tasty sandwich ever again. Kento looks puzzled before his face lights up and he releases Rowen and gives him a hearty slap on the back, commenting that "an evil Rowen wouldn't say that" and he "really had them going". Ryo is dismayed when he realizes how big of one Rowen took for the team, allowing himself to get Converted in order to get into a position of trust. Rowen quips that it might look like he's wearing the latest in Totalitary fashion but it's not fun having all his extremities sheathed in metal, and he means ALL his extremities... Cye starts to apologize but Rowen tells him he has no hard feelings: he wouldn't have been able to give as convincing a performance if he knew what would happen in advance.
Rowen inserts his fingertip into a port by the door and unlocks it, able to interface with the systems thanks to the implants. He rubs his temples, suffering a mild headache again. Ryo worries he's straining himself but Rowen assures him he's fine, he isn't being controlled. He lays out the plan for them to follow the corridor and the directions to the core since the ship is too big for Raurgoth to fight his way to the interior by himself and the route he lays out is the fastest. Meanwhile Rowen will make his way to the control center and pull the ship back out to open water so it won't flatten the mainland once its destroyed. He tells the others to destroy anything sophisticated they see. Tanya asks if it'll disrupt the ship and Rowen replies that they can't leave any tech intact to fall into the wrong hands. The core won't explode right away when sufficiently damaged, instead it will start ejecting hull sections in an effort to ease the strain, but will eventually reach critical mass. The others must escape through one of those openings before its too late.
He wishes the others good luck on their mission and prepares to part ways. Ryo tells him to make sure he comes back safely, and Rowen grimly replies "whats left of him at least..."

Resolution

Act VI

Still A Ronin Warrior

Drones attempt to seal off a corridor and have their weapons trained on the door as they see something apparently cutting a rectangular section like a blowtorch. All of a sudden the section flies towards them, flattening them into metallic mush. Demon Ryo used his heat powers to cut through the metal and Avatar Kento punched the sheet hard enough to send it flying. Demon Ryo comments that Kento can use his head when need be and Kento growls that he better watch himself "fang-face". Even though they are normally friends the Demon Ryo persona still likes taking pot shots at Kento. Tanya scolds them to save it for the drones and they proceed down the corridor, Demon Ryo and Avatar Kento clearing the way while the other Ronin use their gauntlet weapons to trash any delicate systems.
At the control center, Rowen uses his implants to guide the ship back over the open water, hoping once it explodes any surviving wreckage will sink too deeply to salvage. Using the implants gives him a headache but he manages to set the course. He then uses the blaster in his arm to damage the control consoles. The blaster starts to overheat and Rowen has to stop but feels he has caused sufficient damage. Instead of retracting the blaster he tears it out of his arm, leaving a empty cavity halfway into his arm.
The other Ronin have reached the core and use their sub-armor weapons to damage it enough to force its containment shields to start collapsing. A hull section slips out and the Ronin move to escape, Ryo reverting to human and changing into Inferno sub-armor and deploying his wings. Raurgoth could pick them up but it will take him time to reach them and they have to leave asap. Tanya complains she'll have to haul Kento's heavy ass since his body density is the same even in normal form. Ryo, Dais, and Cye can tow the others but they haven't heard from Rowen yet. Cye says they should trust he'll make it out safely and they depart. Explosions pepper the ship's exterior hull as it moves further out above the ocean.
Raurgoth disengages from the hangar bays and flies out to intercept the Ronin as they fly slowly above the water. Suddenly the ship begins exploding violently, tearing apart into several chunks. The others are horrified when they see a distant form plummeting from a section and realize its Rowen. Even if he lands in water, without his Armor, a fall from that height will kill him implants or not, but Raurgoth can't turn around fast enough to reach him in time.
Rowen is in freefall and the air rushes against his face. He growls he is still the master of the Armor of Strata and summons Spectra Strata, the microplating forming over his Converted body. He deploys his skyboard and slows his fall much to the joy of the others. He thanks Strata for "always being there to catch him". The remaining fragments of the city-ship explode further, ensuring nothing else survives and the wreckage sinks below the waves.
As the sun starts to set, Rowen is standing with Ryo on the dock by the lake house. He looks down at his hand and comments that he'll more than likely wind up with a great deal of scarring once the implants are removed. Ryo jokes that there's no way Rowen's father Genshiro will let the "Hashiba good looks get tarnished". Rowen chuckles in good humor before turning solemn. He states that the Totalitary know the Ronin have been preparing for them and because of him they know how much. Ryo shrugs that they'll just have to prepare even more.
Rowen comments that they're obsessed with Earth. In all the centuries since their defeat they haven't embarked in a large-scale campaign. They're focusing all their efforts on taking them out first, making an example of them for all the universe to see. Ryo says they proved they can destroy one city-ship with great effort, but if they're to fully defeat the Totalitary, it'll take everything they've got. Roxi still doesn't know what Rowen's been through and he doesn't have the heart to tell her until the implants are removed and he's fully healed. Entide might not occur today or tomorrow, all they can do is hope to enjoy the time they have until the Day of Doom arrives.

Components

Goals

• Over-arching: The Entide prophecy states that the Totalitary will meet their ultimate end at the hands of the coalition led by the Ronin Warriors. Destroying the city-ship would send a message loud and clear that Earth is willing to fight and that the Totalitary aren't as omnipotent as they make themselves out to be.


• Secondary: When Rowen is presumed KIA, the Ronin vow vengeance on the inhabitants of the city-ship.


• Tertiary: In order to prevent the mainland from being pancaked by the ship debris, the ship must be brought down over the water and completely and utterly destroyed in order to prevent leftover tech from falling into the wrong hands.

Hooks

• The Totalitary were first routed on Earth by Hai-riyo (Hariel) and his forces, the original Armor Bearers/Ronin Warriors.


• Memner the Sky-King is a figure from Thangien history who led the first war-host against the Totalitary when they attempted to invade Earth/The Oldworld centuries ago.


• The Ronin have thus far defeated a Superbeing-class enemy (the Baltokor in the War of Rage) and completely crushed the Dynasty remnants (War of Wrath). With the power of their Spectronin Armors, they are confident they are more than a match for the Dread Enemy in the prophesized Day of Doom.

Stakes

If the city-ship is not destroyed quickly, the Totalitary will begin constructing bases and abducting the populace and Converting them. If the Ronin are captured/killed, the coalition (Three Allies) is doomed to collapse and Earth/The Mortal Realm will lose their greatest defenders.

Moral Quandaries

There are no shades of grey when it comes to the Totalitary, they must be destroyed wherever they are encountered, but the risk of collateral damage is high for the heroes. While captive, Rowen is presented with an offer he finds difficult to resist and later must grapple with the results of his choice.

Cruel Tricks

Despite the increased power-level of the Spectronin Armors, the other Ronin are easily captured and restrained at first.
Planned Content

It is revealed months later after Roxi gives birth to twins that Rowen's headaches were the result of a nanotech failsafe activated when he attacked Memnech, triggering latent nanotech secreted in his body and subtly Converting him over time even after the external implants were removed and he was pronounced healed. The implants began reapparing on his face and he is unable to seek help directly since this time his body is under the direct control of the Upper Echelon. In an effort to protect his loved ones, he flees before the process can complete and he becomes Ur-Rowen again...

Red Herrings

Rowen apparently joins the Totalitary and uses his knowledge of his friends' skills and styles to easily subdue them.

Relations

Protagonists

The Ronin Warriors

Ryo, Rowen, Kento, Sage, Cye, Tanya, Anubis, Sehkmet, Dais, Cale.

Allies

Trakar

Roxi Hirochner

Neutrals/Bystanders

Brianna Johansen Goldheart

Competitors

JSDF (Japanese Special Defense Forces) Men-in-Black/Magical Interception Bureau

Adversaries

Totalitary

Memnech

Backdrops

Locations

Roxi's cabin in the early morning. Just off the coast of Japan as the action unfolds. Interior of the Totalitary ship as chapter reaches its climax.

Threats

The enhanced tech of the Enemy, the unfamiliar setting of the ship corridors, the relatively high altitude above the waters.

Encounters

Romance (opening), Combat (mid-chapter and finale), Subterfuge (mid-chapter and finale). Reflection (finale). Discussion (finale).

Plot type

Chapter summary