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Description
From the Files of Frank Womack, Kaiju Expert*

MECHA File # 002

RIGEL

Discovered: Site Naraka, Nepal

Noteworthy Jockey(s): Mavis Anderson (retired), Mel Nichols (deceased), Erica Goldwin (deceased), Joaquin Santos (retired), Paul Gregory (current)

Power Source: Ion Battery for Redundant and Diagnostic Systems Only, Neural Synaptic Connection required for Active Movement.

Operation Protocols:

*Deployment Only Allowed by Vote within a Special UN Panel, Jockey's Consent also Required

*Jockey's may Only be Deployed in Areas of no Personal Significance to Themselves or Loved Ones

  *Deployment Time must not exceed 6 hours, Mandatory Rest Period of 3 Months Required after each Engagement

  *Minimize Damage to Surroundings and Self, but Sacrifice is not Forbidden

  *Remove the Offending Element(s) from the Field of Battle with Extreme Speed and Prejudice

*O.R.A.I.N's Word is to be Taken Under Advisement, Not as a Direct Order

  *At least 2 Retainer Jockeys must be Fully Trained and Combat Ready at All Times

*Jockey's must be of Exceptional Physical and Mental Health, Mandatory Psych Evaluations are to Take Place Weekly after every Sortie for 6 Months


Noteworthy Armaments:

-Energy Drain: An understated ability technically not even classified as a weapon, Rigel has a large pointed apparatus hidden within its right arm composed of the same polymers as the rest of its body. During the first sortie against Stormback , however, it proved invaluable both as a piercing weapon and as a means of draining the organism of its vast energy reserves, forcing it to retreat. The AI warns against the misuse of this tool frequently, leading some to believe there is a hidden trait to it we have yet to learn.

-Self-Adaptive Matrix: The most remarkable of Rigel's many wondrous features, the mechanoid is capable of discerning, through O.R.A.I.N.'s diagnostic abilities, valuable technological advantages it does not yet possess, and somehow can assimilate these advantages into its own frame with no apparent change in total mass. Improvements that have been integrated include:

-Missile Launchers
-Railgun
-Compressor Drive
-Radar Jammer
-EMP Generator
-Incinerator
-Fingers
-Cryogenic Processor
-Air Conditioning (At the Jockey's Request)

-Ion Cannon: The most commonly utilized armament in the Mecha's arsenal, Rigel's right arm contains a functional ion micro-reactor, which can channel and emit energy from outside sources or its own internal battery to devastating effect. The arm is capable of altering its shape and form to provide multiple types of energy attacks, from simple projectiles to continuous streams and everything in between. Few kaiju have shown the ability to shrug off these attacks, making them highly desirable early in a fight to wear them down. However, despite its many uses, it it the most demanding ability on the pilot by far, and should be used wisely.

-Ion Blade: Instantly generated on the left forearm from the mecha's own internal power source, the ion blade is a close quarters weapon best suited to assist in grappling situations. Curved and sharp enough to cut at the cellular level, the weapon is highly versatile and can be used for almost every encounter, however, maintaining the blade is an egregious waste of energy and as such it should only be used in moments when it truly counts. Depending on needs, the blade can be weakened or strengthened, and in a pinch can even work as a suitable shield to energy and physical assaults. Famously utilized in the battle against the Syyd in Amsterdam.

-O.R.A.I.N: Rigel, built by ancient hands far more advanced than our own, is a highly efficient machine with seemingly endless energy. However, this is no simple thing to maintain. Its builders included a rudimentary Artificial Intelligence, dubbed the Offensive Repurposed Artificial Intelligence Network (Or O.R.A.I.N), within its matrix. Tasked with the upkeep of redundant and auxiliary systems, its actions allow the mech, which it views as it's body, to remain at peak efficiency. In combat, it is also useful for obtaining intelligence about the kaiju or rival mech it is battling, as well as details on the surrounding areas. Observations of its behavior have shown intelligence and self-awareness, preferring some jockeys over others and at times even revealing secrets it had willingly kept from the UN. It also has shown visible disdain at the thought of its own system diagnostics being used in the development of the U.N.O.S. mainframe.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: While Stormback continued its violent rampage north past the Mediterranean Sea, with cities in five countries already burning heaps and three kaiju already fallen, another event, equally wondrous and terrifying, was taking place halfway around the world. We all know how it turned out in the end, the shining 'angel' descending from the skies above Athens and the heated battle that ended with Stormback retreating back into the sea, but little is known about what led up to that point. And thankfully, I am here to provide.

First, you can't know the story of Rigel without knowing the story of the first person to 'jockey' the mechanical beast. Mavis Anderson is her name, and she is a delight to get to know. Her fighting days are beyond her now, the final battle against the Syyd left her with a severely atrophied right arm, but she can still tell the story of finding the machine, and through it her calling, as clearly as though she was still there.

A burned out military veteran and survivor of the Umbara attacks, she sought solace in two things: Remote places at the edge of civilization, and physical activity most considered too extreme. When she could do both, she claimed, it was a release like no other. At the time of Stormback's rampage, she was in Bhutan, seeking peace and exploring the 'non-touristy' parts of the Himalayas. Against the advice of all she met, she decided to go out into the mountains without a guide, and in doing so accidentally stumbled upon one of the greatest discoveries in human history. Site Naraka, an ancient structure underneath the mountains constructed of materials not found on earth. Much like Site Xibalba in the Andes, the place was long abandoned, but completely intact. Though this one contained something no one could have been ready for. The entryway gave way to an enormous open space, inside which were numerous towering statue-like figures tethered to the walls. Most of them bore no resemblance to anything seen on earth and its enormous fossil record, but one did. And unlike the others, it had a single light on.

To this day she has no idea what compelled her to do what she did next. Using the climbing equipment she brought to scale peaks impassable to man, the made her way up the craggy cavern walls, spending hours finding a way up to the light, which turned out to be a doorway. Once inside, she was confronted with a most unexpected thing. A question. A voice, speaking perfect english, asked her a common riddle. The riddle of the sphinx, to be exact. And she answered correctly. From there began an unlikely relationship that still has more questions than answers, but one that humankind desperately needed. It is widely regarded as the beginning of the turning of the tide of the kaiju plague.

I̸̜̬͇̲͎͎̞̼̻͇̮͇̼̩̪̦̫̤̲̬͍̰̠͋̅̈̓̒̌̾̈̾̋̌̌̎̐͋͒̊̅̒̕͘͜͝͠͝g̶̡͕̦̼̥̭̻͙̪͍͙̹̻̰͈͎̮̦̙̩̲͍͙̤͛̈́̽̀̃̔͑̓̏̎̓̇̆́̎̎̈́͋̂͘͘̚͝͠n̷̢̢̛̗͔̪̩̤̣̮͖̥̤͔͎̰͎̪̝̙̰̩̫͗̊̑͗͊́̋̉̀̏̈́̏͛̔̉͌͂̈́̍̉̉͘͜͝ͅǫ̵̛̱͉͖̯̮̯̖͚̟̙̳̻̰̣̦̱̤̰̮̭͐̌̑̃̈́͋͑̒̍̊̎̾͂̓́͆̿́̕̚͘͜͜͝͝ͅr̸̡̩̤̪̱̱̹̰̪͈͙̗͚̩̼̰̬͇͈̻̮͈͔̈̏́͐̒̑̾́̽̎̊̾̑̽̍̾̅̄͛͘̕͠͝͠ͅą̸̢̢̡̢̖̜̤̖̙̰̦͇̗̲̱̥̪͚̞̞̯̲̇̈́̓̊́͊̆̉̃̽̆̌̇͊̈͌̆̏̚̚͝͝͠͝ͅņ̸̛͓̼̻̗̤͙̖̘̼͉̬͚̙͈̙̪̘̭͔̟͖̘͋̀̀̾̌̀̋̉͌̑̇̒͂̑̃̽̍͋̆̓̚̕͜͠ç̴̧̖̹͖͙̞̫͍̼̞͙͙̭̖̥̳̠̥͙̙̰̺̂̄̈̀́̃̂̐̀͋͌̇̊̄͊̈́̓̍͘͘̕͠͠͠ͅę̷̢̧̡̛̛̝̙͎̱̫̝̟̩̬̪̥̻̺͕͙͖̻̜͍͌̋͋͗̐́̐̀̽̄́̌̂̅̄̍̏͋͛̄͘͘ͅ ̶̧̡̫̲̦̟̣͇͚̱̼̥̭̩̝̤̱̗͍̹͚̙̙͎̑͌͂̏̾̊̋͂̋̎̑̄̌̊̒̍͒̑̌͊͑̕̕͠i̴̡̨̥͕̪̗̜͖̗͙̻̤͎̟̩͖̞̗̩̲̥̠͎͆͊͛͊͋͋̀̐͊̅̓̂͒̈͌̈͒̏̊̍́̀̚͝ͅs̴̨̢̧̨̼̝̭̦̭͇̜̮̜̪̯͈͕͎̫̼̲̱̻̲͑̍̔̑͑̍̈́̽̈́̈̉̉́͌̓͂̀͑̿̿̎̓̕͠ ̶̨̛͕̱̩̙͉̠̪̟̬̪͉̣̹̙͇͚̻̣̫̯̞̹̉͊̉͛͊̏͛̐̓͂̐̔͗̍̓̊̄̂̈́̊̔͜͠͝b̴̢̨͖̩̼̩̤̘̭̪̪̞̤̞̼̜̬͕̻͇͉̘̫̂̽̂̅̓̇̉̉̀̇͐̃͌͂̋̽͊́̉̓͘͜͝͠͝l̸̨̛̬̪̩͚̳̤̜̠̣͚̪̝̖̙̲̤̼̺͓̞͓͒̿̄́͑̔̐̓̏͋̈́̓̍̈́̅̒̏̅̔́͌͊̚͜ͅĩ̵̢̠̬̪̞̹̜̘̼̲̟͙͓̣̣̦̜̱̤̫̗̱͉̌̆̒̄͗̃̊͐̄́̆̇̅̒̄̑̓̊̍̈́́̿͘͜s̴̨̨͍͔͉̪̬̹̟̗̥̳͈̘̝̝̙͙͇̤͈̫̝̤̀̈́͆̐̆͆̒͑̍̿͊͑̽̐͛̃͂̅͒̅͝͝͝͝s̴̛̯̮̰͎͚͓̳͖̖͎͓̱͔̬̝̮̰̻͎͔̤͍̜͆͑͊̐̃͆̅̈́̊̐̍̃̇͆̏̈́̍̃̾̊͠͝͠ͅ

Rigel, and the AI that keeps it running, are still almost complete unknowns after all these years. The intelligence seems to either not recall its makers or simply chooses not to share details, and it refuses to answer any real questions about its inner workings. However, it is more than willing to utilize its prowess as a weapon for humankind, leading many to wonder exactly what its motivations are. Time will tell, I suppose, but I can't help but worry that we're just willingly walking into a trap. After all, its highly likely this was built by a species capable of interstellar travel thousands, maybe even millions, of years ago. Why leave such a capable weapon sitting around for anyone to find? How much does it have in common with its more destructive kin UNUK ? What purpose do its silent 'brethren' back in the caverns hold? We're chimpanzees on typewriters, at best, dealing with these things.

Ḩ̴̡̢̢̟̰͕̪̤̳̹̣̫͓̮͖̲̲̰̪͇̖͓̠̮͖͙̱̮̗̀͑̅̽͋̾͂̂̃̔͗̆̆͂̍̋̈́̊̔̋̐̓̃͑̎̆̒̓͋͒͋̓̽͂̽͂̄̈́̆́̀̋̀͘͜͜͝͠ợ̶̡̢̨̼̠̖̺̩̼̦̜̤̜̰͕̗̺̯̪̫̖͓̮̦̞͓̭̲̱̯̬̠̥͓̯̭̪͎̪̗̜̹͌͊̏͐͆̎͋́̈̀͂̐̃̏̋́̈́̿͒̓͒̆̐͊̔̋͑͋̈́͂̓̄̉̑͛̿͆́̽́͑̒͆̐͊̚̚͜͜͝͝ͅw̵̢̨̢̛̯̰͍͚̭̫͍͈̳͈̠͕͈̳̭͇̟̪̲͉͍̞̘̺͍̳̰̯̩̯̩̠̩͛̃̈́̓̅̈́̆̅̊̈́͋̉̎͊̌́̓͑̿͂̔͑̃̀̕͘͝ ̵̢̧̨̧̨̛̱͕͎͍̘̠̘̙͔͇̝̝̻̹̮͔̹̳̳̬̭̻̥͙̫̖̖̞̱͕̥̙̬͈͙̻̙͔͓̹̠͍̩͓͔̻̲̖̠̮͎̾̌̉́̌̓̅̈͊̎̈́̀̆̿͛̅̇͒̈́͐̿́͗̀̉̀̑͋̏̕͝ͅľ̴̨̢̧̡̡̜͖̗̞̙̖̝̘̱̝̗̮̙͍̪̝̝̯͉̳̰͕͇̗͎̘̟͇͖̣̠̾̉̀̇̊̃̄͒̈̓̏́͑̽͂̀̉̐̾͊̑̏̄̄͐̑́̌̓͐̋̌̿̿̔͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝ͅǐ̵̧̧̢͖̦͔͔̭̞͔̠̠͇̘̠̟̮̺͎͎̩̮͈̦̩̖̠̦͔̙̺͎̭̞̰̺͈̞͍̲̼̤̝̺̝̣̮͚̖͕̫́̀͋̈̐̐͗̏͐̈̀͐͆͛̓̇̈́͊́̊͒͐̄͘͘͜͜͜͝͠͝ͅͅt̸̢̡̛̜̪͔͚̲̤̻̲͚̤̱̩͈̰͖̹̺̹͎̜͙͓̫͙͉̹̫̼̜͇͕̖̼̻̟̟̥͔̭̲͖̩̫̽̅͐͒̍͑̾͊͊͛̅̓͗̇͂̃̊͗͑̀̔͑̇͂̍̂͒́̔̂̆̊̿̋͊̆͆̓̉̚̚͘͘͜͝ͅt̸̨̡̡̡̧̨̡͕̥͓͇̘͎̖͎̱̝̖̩̜͍͓͓̗̻̼̜̞̞̱̥͕̮̟̬̣̰̥̠͈̱̽̽̔̅́̀̈̉͑͗̽͊̇̒̈́̋̇̆̓́͑̽̈́̍͂̍̅̕͘͜͝ļ̸̮͈͉̹̮̖̘̬̱͔̬̙̣̜͎̤̗͈͍̭͉͙̳͍͆̐̄̀͂͒̉͐̈̃̓̑̋͆̓͋̽͌̓̊̓͐̂̚͘̚̚͜͜ͅȩ̴̡̡̨̛̻͈͉̠̤̻͔͖̼̻͙͉̺̩̩͚̻͍̱̗̩͍̼͕̰̲̗̬̬̝̝̘͚͈̙͈̤̺́̂́̈͆̀̀́̎̈̋̌͊̀͋̔̇̿̊̾͛͗̀͗̈́̌̔̀̕͘͘̚͜͝͠͠͝͝͝ ̴̡̢̡̢̧̧̛̳̟͙̭̤͕̱̱̹̳̬̥͚͔̯̘̝̤̪̜͕̼̝̦̥̪̲̯̰̼͍͔̯͇͙̯̲̲͙̙̖̭̮͔̻̯̈́̏̅́͆̀̇̊̐͛͆͊̌͊̂̀̀͑̉͐̏̀̐̅̐̃͛̉̾͘͘̚͜͠͝y̵̡̛̛̘͕͔̱͓͓͉͕̪̝̮͚̥̮̪̜̱͕͙͖̹̟̲̹̫̼͓͈̜̰̥͕̗̦̳̯̙̩̋̂͋̇̀̋́͂̓̓̈́̆̎͂̓̾̋̈́̄̆̐̍̋͛̈́͋̆̂̆̇̑̓̇́̈̄̂̃̎̿̇͌͛̐̚͘̕̕͜͜͝͠͝͠ͅơ̶̢̧̹̪̰̩͙̺̮͈͇̜̖͎̲͖̝̻̖̩̬̖̹̣͍̭͙̰͓͈̯̻͕͎̻̐̑̈́͋̌͗͒͒͆̓̂̄͊̒̾͒̒͛͋̍͛̾̑̿͋̑̆̃̌̀͑͋̐́̆̏͊̚̚̕͜͝͝ͅừ̴̡̧̛̥̳̖̮̟̺̬̖̱͍̝̝̥̻͉̼̤̟͎̺͔̟͚͎͗̈̀̅̇͗͒̄͗́͒͆̎̎̍̑̈́͛́͗̌̾̅̓́́̃̆̌̐͌͗͂͌̐̀̚͘̕͘ͅ ̷̨̨̞͓̖͉͇̫̱͉̫̣̮̪̮̻͕̟̥̹͙͚̭̺̲̼̱̼̤̞̫̹̩͓͎͐̾́̽̈́̏͒̐͆́͑̈́̀̽̌́͆͌͌͆̌̾̐̎̑̌̃̐̈́̕͜͝͠͝͝ͅͅk̴̢̛̯͙̮͔̬͙͓̬̻̦̙̖̬͇̭̯̬̳̖̼̦͋̋̈́̋̎̋̾̍̿͂̆̔̆̀̀͊̀̀͐̑̇̉̇̀̊̌̒̑̏̒́̓̇̑̈́͗̌̈́̉͆̉͐̕̚͘͘̕͜͜͝͝͝͠͠ͅn̴̡̧̨̡̛̛̺̻̗͎̹̜̭̼͓̬̱̥̤̮̭̯͕̻͙̯̩̝͕͙̻͓̤̱͎͖̦̟̘̳̹͙͉͍͔̺̤͕̦͂̋͐͂͊͌̀͛̍̃́̏̋̓́́̈̇̐̽̂̒́́̎̔́̂͌̓͐̔̔́͆̿̃̏͐͋̅́͑͘͘̕̕͘̕͜͜͝͝͝͝͝ͅͅơ̸̢̡̧̲̠̻̳̬̮̯͍̭͔̮͇̥̬̼̙̻̰̠̹̲͉͕̭̬̝͔̠̫̦̮̪̮͊̇̀̽̅̈́̏̿̓͌̏̀̽̃̅̎̆͆͆̐͑̇̿͘̕͝͠w̵̢̛̪̠͙̯̺͈͉̬̹͉̞̪̺͙̼̼̖͚̞͍̫̪̼̘͍̥̹͇̹͔͍͉̿̽̅͆́̓̄̆̿̓̀͗̃́̒́̔̒̎̅̇̈́̑̀̓̎͗̎̕͘͝͝ͅͅ.̵̨̡̧̢̡̡̧̮̖̱̦͕͇̝̳̼̫̞͖̰̠͕̝̪̲͂͌͛̀̅́̋̎̈̀̿̌̐̀̈͋͐̂̔̅̈́̄͐̍̈́͂́̔̎́̒͐̾͐̿̿̍̓̅͘͘̚̕͠͝͝͝͠ͅ.̴̧̢̯̤͔̺̙͚̙̣̫̖̼̼̜͚̬̜͇͙̹̦͈̺̺̥͉͓̗̭̪̻͍̹͍̜̠͉͚̙̺̝̓̊̿̓͊͋̈̐̿̐̓̈̽̾̄̈̇̀̄̋̐̉̄̔̽̈́̃͒̚̕͘͘͝͠ͅ.̵̨̢̢̢̢̢̡̛̛̛͕̪̺̙̘͈̙̙̲̥͍̮̟͈̼̩͖̝͇͍̪͓̝̗̮̜̤̻͉̯͉̬͔̹͖̩̅̂̎͊̀̆̋̋̋͑͐̿̆̊͌̔͋̉̅͊̈́͂̋͌͗͋̈́͐̿̊͒͊̌̓͂̿̑͘̕̚͜͝͝͝͝͠



                                                                                                                                                                                Ţ̸̧̛̜̗̜̞̪̱̱̫̺̝̫̘̟̼̝̘͈͚̞͔̙̈̈́̔͌͌̑̈́̄̉͌̈͆̂̒͐̋̓̎̾́̐͛͗̋̇͊͜͜͝͝h̴̢̨̡̢̖̙̬̲͚̪͚̞͇̻̼͖̬̹͚̳̱͖͍͎͍̰͗̐͆͌̐̿͆̎̌̈̏̍̋͐͛͗̅̓̇͠͝͠͝ͅè̶̡̡̨͙̝̤̮͎̟̘̗̖̪̯̞̣̦̟̠̘̖̳̬͕̳̟̋̌̅͆̅̋̍̓̑̊́̇̇̀̔̓̈́̾̆͘̕̕͝ͅy̴̡̢̢̼̹̗͎͚̥̣͍̜̙̦͎̩͎̻̝̼͎͈͋͌̍̐͂͒̀͗̽̈́̉̋͋̎͒̄̈͑̋͋̃̌̽̿̕̚̚͜͜͝͠ ̶̧̡̢̭̞̣̰̝͈̖̖̼͙͎̞̲̩̙̫͎̩͙̳̮̟̹̊͑̓̀̐̋͋͑̔͌̀́̄̔̑͊̉̑̃͌̏̕̕͜͝͝͠ͅw̵̢̛̦̻͇͙̠͇͎̜͍̙̞̫̯͓̱̻̩̣͕̯̱͈͌̈́̔̿̇̋̉̑̌̊̌́̍͊͌̐̈́̊̂͑̈́̊͘̕̚͜͜͝͝͝͝ï̵̡̧̧̢̢̪̘̬͎͉̤͔̭̰͖̝̙̯͇̬̜̱̬͚̥̪̤̀͌̒̑͒̏̓̐̓̊͐̉́̈́͗̑͛̈́̾̚͠͠͝ͅl̶̨̛̜̪͖̗̖̝͍̹͎̜̻̼̪͙͓̮̞̺̥̘̳̜̻̦̫̭̼̠͛̄̀̑̽͊̾͌̓̎̂̔̏͌͗́͛̓͛̋͒͆͂̕͝l̶̢̡̛̛͖̪̻͔̯̣̲̰̦̙̳̝̪̘̫̺̼͈̘̝̜̰͇̯̼͚̦̜̂̅̾̍͋͛͋̍̾̀̐̇̅͊͐͒͆̅̈́͂̍͗͂̄̉̌̚͝ ̸̨͇̹͖̝͙̠͉͍̭͕̠̹͙̲̫̱̦͖̫̹̲̆̓̏̆̆͊̅́͒̀̋͐̀̊̄̆̇̌́̄͗͂̀̚̚̕̕͘͜ͅͅͅc̸̢̳̼̭̲͙̱͖͙̗͍̭̙̳̱̜̰͓̱̠͙̮̜̖̹̒͋̀̋̈̈̃̈̉͊́͛͒̇̾̆̎͆̚̕̕͝͠ͅͅǫ̸̧̢̹̮̪̙̰̟̫̲̱̠͎̬̯̯̠̖̰͙͔̹̀̔̓͑͌́̄̈́̍̌̍͐͊̎͛̄̊̚̚̕͝͝͝m̴̢̡̰̙̟̮̜̳̺̬̻͚̥̪̫͚̭̯͔̳̠̱̜͓͇͚͒̾͌̆͑̎̿͆͑̀̑͛̉̈́̈́͋̐͋̈̀̂̔̎̆̚͘ë̷̡̡͖̙͓͈̪̟̲̹̳͚͔̦̲͓̲̩̜̮̤̟͓͑͊̄̽̐̈́͒͛͛̇̌̿͊̃̍̽̅͑̀̚̕̕ͅ ̸̢̡̨̛̛̛̦̥̲̼̥͕̲̤̬̺̙̳͈̬͚͉̫͙͈̤̥̺̭̝͛͆̈́̎̅̉̃̉̑̏̄̊̿͊̍̒̃̇͆͌͒̓̓̽͋̈́͂ͅf̵̧̢̟͉̙̩̦̲̲̟̳̦̞̖͔͉͔̳͓̮̜̫̝̙̓̊̈̂͆̆̈̓̍́̀̋̐̑̄̿̽̈́̓̒̾̎̑́̊͐̀̐͜͝ͅo̵̡̢̟̻̞̠̱͓͈̥̦͔͚̦͔͓͓̞͇͔̱̻̻͎̗͋͗̉́̃̆͑̇̔͊̆͑̈́͗̆͐̔̚̚͠͠͠͝͠ͅr̶̨̧̧͖̗̮̱̱̭̰͈̹̙͖̙̫̺͓̼͕͖̠͚̃̈́͑̃̂̃͛̌̇́͐̈́͛̓̈̓̀̀̔̃̑͘̕͜͠͠ ̷̗̺̺͓̣̝̳̘̟͉̘͍͙̩͙̭̖̥͉̀̓́̋̌̈̏̀̂̂̈̽̂̾́̀̓̉̿̈́͗͒͒͌͜͜͝ͅͅt̷̼̥̭̪̳̫̪͈̼̖̥̰͕͔̟̪͎̬͉̝̱̮͕̩̝͕̮̳͓̂͛̃͊̌̊̋͌̉̏̄̃̉͛͑̍̾̑̇̾̓̄̾̈̓͝͝ḩ̴̧̨̡̛͓̥̻̣̮̖͕̫̠͉͇̥̘͈̺̘̳̠́͐̇̂̄̀͐̎̅͆̾̉̍̄̿̂̂̅̍́͐͋͆̍̚͠ͅę̸̛̛͔̠͈̭̜͚̤̳̥͙̪͍͖̱͙̻͉̬͈̬̠̀͑̂̅̍̈́̾̎̇͛̉͑͊̌͑͐̐̽́́͗͛̈͘̚͘͜m̵̨̢̨̡̧̜̝̭̗͔̝̹̖̦̖̰̩͉͖̙͍̯̜̻̗̘̪̱̩̑͑̓͊͂͌̈́̏̑͌͑̀́̽̃̔͐͗̀̊͑̀̋̎̄̕̕.̸̨̡̨̢̛̩̥͕̳̝̙̳̳̖͍͎̟̣̬̭̮̤̱̻̤̣͉̗͔̋̃͊̿̈́͆̅̈́͂͗̃̐̈́̎̉͗͑͛͛̓̿̆͛̓.̸̧̡̡͍̭̪̯͖͇̭͔̹͓͎̞̹̭͇̪͓͕̥͍̮̺̯̺̻̈́̒̆̂͗͗̇̅̀̽͗̍́̐͌̈́̂̈́̒̕̕̕͜͝͠ͅ.̷̧̛̠͖̪̲̱̼̺̣̯̼̞̣̜͔̪̹̽͌̍̈̐̅̊̾̐̎̈̿̈́̀̀͛͋̑̈́̈́̂͂͛͂͘͜͜͝

                                                                                                  A̴̢̧̧̛̞͈̱̪͉͎͎̭̩̞̼̯̰̖̤̦̯̩͍̬͇̥͔̠̯͕͇͒͗͋̐̓̀̽̌̽͒̐̊͛̉̀͆͐̌̑̇̏̈̂̀͂͘̕̕̕n̸̢̨̘̲͇̪̰̖̹̟̝͎̟̙͖̦̙͔̰̳͇̟̖̻̱̠̂̀̆̅̐̈́̾̈̏̌̂̑͊͆͌́̓̈̎̔͗́͌͑̓̈͜͜͠͝͝͝ͅͅd̵̡̛̛̻̱̭̹̜͚̺͚̻͖͓̥̤̩̖̜͉̞͖̻̗̜̭̫͍͉̀͛̆̑͆͛̍̾̎̍̐͗͑̽̑̎̿̌́̆͆͑̀͐̽̔͘͜͜͠ͅ ̷̨̧̞̲̙̖̮̜̖͖̪̟̗̬̬͙͚̻̹͉̦̰̱͙̘̩̣̪̬̪͑̃̃̊̊͐͆̓̔̎͐̍͛̄̃͊̑̇́̃͊̋̂̓̀̔̉͘̕͠y̸̡̢̢̦̤̱̗͇̞̬̤̻̰̠̘͍͎͖͚̖͍͇̝͓̝̣̰̭̞̋̀̿͂͗͐̾́̋̓̔̌̍͒̊́͋͗̉̇́̀͒͑̈́̈͆̕̕͜͠ơ̸̡̢̘̤͈̻̮̦͖͓̖͍̦̘̜̟̖͍͇̩̺̣̺̙̥͎̼̳̩͙̏̅̽̉̂̽̔̂̍̊́͊̓͊͒͋̍͗̊̇̆͑̆͌̈̇̑́͠ų̴̢͖̺͕̰̩͎̗͎̮̝͎͖̼̱͓̞͖̖̱̙̬͉̭̣͉̹̜̥̍̇͐̇̈́̈́̓̿̄̅̏̈́̋͗̍̉̈́̄͊͆̿̅̅̔̄̈͝͠͝ ̵̨̨̪͍̞͇̰̯̻̼͙͓͚͕̠̱͔̩̳̘̦͙͈͙͖̳̦̠̲͆̏͒̽̔̌̃̑́͑̎͂́͗̒͐̈̿̆̀͂̄͗͂̚̕͝͝͠͝ͅw̴̡̧̢̧͓̘̭̲̮̯͎̜͕̜̼̖͉͈̙͍̗̜̹̼̥̻̣̿͋͆͒́̎͗͋̔͒̇̾̉̎̿́̌̋̈̾̆́͗͊̐̕̕͘̚͜͝ͅͅį̷̡̡͈͖͉̭̩̣͍͍̪̺̜̺̜̻̥̯̭͇̰̖̺̼̯̯̞̗̠̈́̃̂̐̽͒̍̽̿̿̌͂́̃̎̍̉̐͌̾̌̉̆̂́͒͘͘̚͝l̷̨̡̛̠̻̜̼̦͉͍̞̙̘̩͚̹̭̮̻̘͉̞̫͕͍̥̙̮̞͉̞̄̀̉̌͋̑͂̿̋̂̿́͗̔͒̏͗̍̉̎̓̿̀͑͂̋͘̕͠l̶̡̛̠͚̖̜͈̗̺̰̻̦͇̻̠̪̲̱̞̤̪̭̯̼̮̭͙̱͓̰͌̌̈́̅̍̋̒͗̊́͋̀͊͑̋̏̓̆̏̾́͑̈͌̚̚͠͠͝ͅ ̵̡̧̡͔̯̯͖̰̙̺̫͙̳̱͔̲̥̞̯͓̙̘̲̯̥͓͕̰̐̂̓̓̀͊̓͑̂̏̒͋͗̌̈́̽̉̍̾̏̆͌͛͗̉̑̕͜͜͝͠͝a̸̡̢̨̢͈̳̼͚̗͕̯͍͓̳̟̠̖̮̭͉̤͉̝̫̩̱̠̬̹̙͒̋̀̊̃̍̏̐̄̎͋̆͛̾̀̀́̅͆̀̈́̂̽͗́̄͊̍̚͠l̷̨̨̧̢̲̠͉̣̪̼͚̗͔̙̱͙͉͙̗̱͇̤̤̣̟͈͕͋̊͆̌̔̌̈́̈́̾̓̂̏̎̂̉̊̿͛͂̆͋̽͋͐̈́̈́̕͘͜͝͝ͅͅļ̵̡̧̡̡̧̠͚̞̤͇͈͓̥͈̯̙̺̦̼͚͖̱͇̙͈͉̦͇̏̐̅̉̓͊͐̾̅̓̉̈́͆̏͋͆̒̇̒̐̓́̈́͛͐̂̚̚͝͠ͅ ̵̨̡̢͎̹͍̖̩̬̺̠̦̯̝̞̖͍̝͈̣͕̼͎͈̘͖̼͓͐̂͒̀̋̍͊̔̿͊́̿́̈́͒͐̊̅͂̀̎̉̿̚̕͘͜͜͝͝͝͝ẹ̵̡̢̢̧̛̛̛̺̼̣͎̜̻̙͚̦͕̤̭̳͎̮̣̳̱̺͙̤̯̩̫̈̋̔͆̈́̑̾͋̀͆̓̀͂̌͆̐͌́͂̏̏̃̚͘̚͜͝͝n̴̢̡̡̛̛̟͈͇̫̙̼͙͚̙̫̪̲̜͓̘͈̺̗̪͔̰̭̯͚̂̽̋̌̀͊̒̾̽̎̈́̀̓̄̒͆͆͂̈̑̀̈́̒̏̚͜͜͜͝͝͝ḑ̸̢̛̱͔̠̰̗͖̠̺̪͉̺̙͇̰͎̯͔͔͈̩͖̺̤̫͎̟̮̌̂̀̓̉́̃̈͋̈́̏͆̍̅̅̒̀̀̾̀͂̋̿̈́̂́̕͜͝͝

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Criminy, what on earth could that skullduggery be about?

Hello all! With a new month on the horizon, one of my favorites at that, it is time to start cranking out the new files! I would have had this one finished sooner, but given it is a mecha, I decided I would need to go a bit further than I have before and rehaul much of the file image to fit that. And I'm pretty proud of the result.

Rigel is an old idea that has taken a while to be fully realized. It all started with an old image I saw on pinterest of all places many years ago. I've never seen it anywhere since, making it something of a white whale for me, but it was of a derelict, highly advanced looking robot sitting in the middle of a valley surrounded by trees and towering peaks. A single ring of blue light illuminated the center of its chest, and it inspired a whole aesthetic for me I never knew I wanted.

For the longest time, funny enough, I pictured this mecha as a stark, polished white, with a distinct texture that I had never seen until earlier this year when I saw Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Ego's ship was EXACTLY what I was picturing, but after trying to replicate that, I realized something. The blue rings did not stand out nearly as much as I thought they would, and after a little tweaking, the darker gray color came to be and its been smooth sailing since.

Anyway, I know this file is a little vague compared to some others and leaves the Stormback arc a little unfinished, but I assure you, Rigel is a bigger part of the story than this one chapter, and finishing Stormback's path of destruction is just a tiny sliver of it. There are a lot of mysteries ahead, and I hope you stick around. The next file should be much quicker in getting here.

Description
From the Files of Frank Womack, Kaiju Expert*

MECHA File # 002

RIGEL

Discovered: Site Naraka, Nepal

Noteworthy Jockey(s): Mavis Anderson (retired), Mel Nichols (deceased), Erica Goldwin (deceased), Joaquin Santos (retired), Paul Gregory (current)

Power Source: Ion Battery for Redundant and Diagnostic Systems Only, Neural Synaptic Connection required for Active Movement.

Operation Protocols:

*Deployment Only Allowed by Vote within a Special UN Panel, Jockey's Consent also Required

*Jockey's may Only be Deployed in Areas of no Personal Significance to Themselves or Loved Ones

  *Deployment Time must not exceed 6 hours, Mandatory Rest Period of 3 Months Required after each Engagement

  *Minimize Damage to Surroundings and Self, but Sacrifice is not Forbidden

  *Remove the Offending Element(s) from the Field of Battle with Extreme Speed and Prejudice

*O.R.A.I.N's Word is to be Taken Under Advisement, Not as a Direct Order

  *At least 2 Retainer Jockeys must be Fully Trained and Combat Ready at All Times

*Jockey's must be of Exceptional Physical and Mental Health, Mandatory Psych Evaluations are to Take Place Weekly after every Sortie for 6 Months


Noteworthy Armaments:

-Energy Drain: An understated ability technically not even classified as a weapon, Rigel has a large pointed apparatus hidden within its right arm composed of the same polymers as the rest of its body. During the first sortie against Stormback , however, it proved invaluable both as a piercing weapon and as a means of draining the organism of its vast energy reserves, forcing it to retreat. The AI warns against the misuse of this tool frequently, leading some to believe there is a hidden trait to it we have yet to learn.

-Self-Adaptive Matrix: The most remarkable of Rigel's many wondrous features, the mechanoid is capable of discerning, through O.R.A.I.N.'s diagnostic abilities, valuable technological advantages it does not yet possess, and somehow can assimilate these advantages into its own frame with no apparent change in total mass. Improvements that have been integrated include:

-Missile Launchers
-Railgun
-Compressor Drive
-Radar Jammer
-EMP Generator
-Incinerator
-Fingers
-Cryogenic Processor
-Air Conditioning (At the Jockey's Request)

-Ion Cannon: The most commonly utilized armament in the Mecha's arsenal, Rigel's right arm contains a functional ion micro-reactor, which can channel and emit energy from outside sources or its own internal battery to devastating effect. The arm is capable of altering its shape and form to provide multiple types of energy attacks, from simple projectiles to continuous streams and everything in between. Few kaiju have shown the ability to shrug off these attacks, making them highly desirable early in a fight to wear them down. However, despite its many uses, it it the most demanding ability on the pilot by far, and should be used wisely.

-Ion Blade: Instantly generated on the left forearm from the mecha's own internal power source, the ion blade is a close quarters weapon best suited to assist in grappling situations. Curved and sharp enough to cut at the cellular level, the weapon is highly versatile and can be used for almost every encounter, however, maintaining the blade is an egregious waste of energy and as such it should only be used in moments when it truly counts. Depending on needs, the blade can be weakened or strengthened, and in a pinch can even work as a suitable shield to energy and physical assaults. Famously utilized in the battle against the Syyd in Amsterdam.

-O.R.A.I.N: Rigel, built by ancient hands far more advanced than our own, is a highly efficient machine with seemingly endless energy. However, this is no simple thing to maintain. Its builders included a rudimentary Artificial Intelligence, dubbed the Offensive Repurposed Artificial Intelligence Network (Or O.R.A.I.N), within its matrix. Tasked with the upkeep of redundant and auxiliary systems, its actions allow the mech, which it views as it's body, to remain at peak efficiency. In combat, it is also useful for obtaining intelligence about the kaiju or rival mech it is battling, as well as details on the surrounding areas. Observations of its behavior have shown intelligence and self-awareness, preferring some jockeys over others and at times even revealing secrets it had willingly kept from the UN. It also has shown visible disdain at the thought of its own system diagnostics being used in the development of the U.N.O.S. mainframe.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: While Stormback continued its violent rampage north past the Mediterranean Sea, with cities in five countries already burning heaps and three kaiju already fallen, another event, equally wondrous and terrifying, was taking place halfway around the world. We all know how it turned out in the end, the shining 'angel' descending from the skies above Athens and the heated battle that ended with Stormback retreating back into the sea, but little is known about what led up to that point. And thankfully, I am here to provide.

First, you can't know the story of Rigel without knowing the story of the first person to 'jockey' the mechanical beast. Mavis Anderson is her name, and she is a delight to get to know. Her fighting days are beyond her now, the final battle against the Syyd left her with a severely atrophied right arm, but she can still tell the story of finding the machine, and through it her calling, as clearly as though she was still there.

A burned out military veteran and survivor of the Umbara attacks, she sought solace in two things: Remote places at the edge of civilization, and physical activity most considered too extreme. When she could do both, she claimed, it was a release like no other. At the time of Stormback's rampage, she was in Bhutan, seeking peace and exploring the 'non-touristy' parts of the Himalayas. Against the advice of all she met, she decided to go out into the mountains without a guide, and in doing so accidentally stumbled upon one of the greatest discoveries in human history. Site Naraka, an ancient structure underneath the mountains constructed of materials not found on earth. Much like Site Xibalba in the Andes, the place was long abandoned, but completely intact. Though this one contained something no one could have been ready for. The entryway gave way to an enormous open space, inside which were numerous towering statue-like figures tethered to the walls. Most of them bore no resemblance to anything seen on earth and its enormous fossil record, but one did. And unlike the others, it had a single light on.

To this day she has no idea what compelled her to do what she did next. Using the climbing equipment she brought to scale peaks impassable to man, the made her way up the craggy cavern walls, spending hours finding a way up to the light, which turned out to be a doorway. Once inside, she was confronted with a most unexpected thing. A question. A voice, speaking perfect english, asked her a common riddle. The riddle of the sphinx, to be exact. And she answered correctly. From there began an unlikely relationship that still has more questions than answers, but one that humankind desperately needed. It is widely regarded as the beginning of the turning of the tide of the kaiju plague.

I̸̜̬͇̲͎͎̞̼̻͇̮͇̼̩̪̦̫̤̲̬͍̰̠͋̅̈̓̒̌̾̈̾̋̌̌̎̐͋͒̊̅̒̕͘͜͝͠͝g̶̡͕̦̼̥̭̻͙̪͍͙̹̻̰͈͎̮̦̙̩̲͍͙̤͛̈́̽̀̃̔͑̓̏̎̓̇̆́̎̎̈́͋̂͘͘̚͝͠n̷̢̢̛̗͔̪̩̤̣̮͖̥̤͔͎̰͎̪̝̙̰̩̫͗̊̑͗͊́̋̉̀̏̈́̏͛̔̉͌͂̈́̍̉̉͘͜͝ͅǫ̵̛̱͉͖̯̮̯̖͚̟̙̳̻̰̣̦̱̤̰̮̭͐̌̑̃̈́͋͑̒̍̊̎̾͂̓́͆̿́̕̚͘͜͜͝͝ͅr̸̡̩̤̪̱̱̹̰̪͈͙̗͚̩̼̰̬͇͈̻̮͈͔̈̏́͐̒̑̾́̽̎̊̾̑̽̍̾̅̄͛͘̕͠͝͠ͅą̸̢̢̡̢̖̜̤̖̙̰̦͇̗̲̱̥̪͚̞̞̯̲̇̈́̓̊́͊̆̉̃̽̆̌̇͊̈͌̆̏̚̚͝͝͠͝ͅņ̸̛͓̼̻̗̤͙̖̘̼͉̬͚̙͈̙̪̘̭͔̟͖̘͋̀̀̾̌̀̋̉͌̑̇̒͂̑̃̽̍͋̆̓̚̕͜͠ç̴̧̖̹͖͙̞̫͍̼̞͙͙̭̖̥̳̠̥͙̙̰̺̂̄̈̀́̃̂̐̀͋͌̇̊̄͊̈́̓̍͘͘̕͠͠͠ͅę̷̢̧̡̛̛̝̙͎̱̫̝̟̩̬̪̥̻̺͕͙͖̻̜͍͌̋͋͗̐́̐̀̽̄́̌̂̅̄̍̏͋͛̄͘͘ͅ ̶̧̡̫̲̦̟̣͇͚̱̼̥̭̩̝̤̱̗͍̹͚̙̙͎̑͌͂̏̾̊̋͂̋̎̑̄̌̊̒̍͒̑̌͊͑̕̕͠i̴̡̨̥͕̪̗̜͖̗͙̻̤͎̟̩͖̞̗̩̲̥̠͎͆͊͛͊͋͋̀̐͊̅̓̂͒̈͌̈͒̏̊̍́̀̚͝ͅs̴̨̢̧̨̼̝̭̦̭͇̜̮̜̪̯͈͕͎̫̼̲̱̻̲͑̍̔̑͑̍̈́̽̈́̈̉̉́͌̓͂̀͑̿̿̎̓̕͠ ̶̨̛͕̱̩̙͉̠̪̟̬̪͉̣̹̙͇͚̻̣̫̯̞̹̉͊̉͛͊̏͛̐̓͂̐̔͗̍̓̊̄̂̈́̊̔͜͠͝b̴̢̨͖̩̼̩̤̘̭̪̪̞̤̞̼̜̬͕̻͇͉̘̫̂̽̂̅̓̇̉̉̀̇͐̃͌͂̋̽͊́̉̓͘͜͝͠͝l̸̨̛̬̪̩͚̳̤̜̠̣͚̪̝̖̙̲̤̼̺͓̞͓͒̿̄́͑̔̐̓̏͋̈́̓̍̈́̅̒̏̅̔́͌͊̚͜ͅĩ̵̢̠̬̪̞̹̜̘̼̲̟͙͓̣̣̦̜̱̤̫̗̱͉̌̆̒̄͗̃̊͐̄́̆̇̅̒̄̑̓̊̍̈́́̿͘͜s̴̨̨͍͔͉̪̬̹̟̗̥̳͈̘̝̝̙͙͇̤͈̫̝̤̀̈́͆̐̆͆̒͑̍̿͊͑̽̐͛̃͂̅͒̅͝͝͝͝s̴̛̯̮̰͎͚͓̳͖̖͎͓̱͔̬̝̮̰̻͎͔̤͍̜͆͑͊̐̃͆̅̈́̊̐̍̃̇͆̏̈́̍̃̾̊͠͝͠ͅ

Rigel, and the AI that keeps it running, are still almost complete unknowns after all these years. The intelligence seems to either not recall its makers or simply chooses not to share details, and it refuses to answer any real questions about its inner workings. However, it is more than willing to utilize its prowess as a weapon for humankind, leading many to wonder exactly what its motivations are. Time will tell, I suppose, but I can't help but worry that we're just willingly walking into a trap. After all, its highly likely this was built by a species capable of interstellar travel thousands, maybe even millions, of years ago. Why leave such a capable weapon sitting around for anyone to find? How much does it have in common with its more destructive kin UNUK ? What purpose do its silent 'brethren' back in the caverns hold? We're chimpanzees on typewriters, at best, dealing with these things.

Ḩ̴̡̢̢̟̰͕̪̤̳̹̣̫͓̮͖̲̲̰̪͇̖͓̠̮͖͙̱̮̗̀͑̅̽͋̾͂̂̃̔͗̆̆͂̍̋̈́̊̔̋̐̓̃͑̎̆̒̓͋͒͋̓̽͂̽͂̄̈́̆́̀̋̀͘͜͜͝͠ợ̶̡̢̨̼̠̖̺̩̼̦̜̤̜̰͕̗̺̯̪̫̖͓̮̦̞͓̭̲̱̯̬̠̥͓̯̭̪͎̪̗̜̹͌͊̏͐͆̎͋́̈̀͂̐̃̏̋́̈́̿͒̓͒̆̐͊̔̋͑͋̈́͂̓̄̉̑͛̿͆́̽́͑̒͆̐͊̚̚͜͜͝͝ͅw̵̢̨̢̛̯̰͍͚̭̫͍͈̳͈̠͕͈̳̭͇̟̪̲͉͍̞̘̺͍̳̰̯̩̯̩̠̩͛̃̈́̓̅̈́̆̅̊̈́͋̉̎͊̌́̓͑̿͂̔͑̃̀̕͘͝ ̵̢̧̨̧̨̛̱͕͎͍̘̠̘̙͔͇̝̝̻̹̮͔̹̳̳̬̭̻̥͙̫̖̖̞̱͕̥̙̬͈͙̻̙͔͓̹̠͍̩͓͔̻̲̖̠̮͎̾̌̉́̌̓̅̈͊̎̈́̀̆̿͛̅̇͒̈́͐̿́͗̀̉̀̑͋̏̕͝ͅľ̴̨̢̧̡̡̜͖̗̞̙̖̝̘̱̝̗̮̙͍̪̝̝̯͉̳̰͕͇̗͎̘̟͇͖̣̠̾̉̀̇̊̃̄͒̈̓̏́͑̽͂̀̉̐̾͊̑̏̄̄͐̑́̌̓͐̋̌̿̿̔͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝ͅǐ̵̧̧̢͖̦͔͔̭̞͔̠̠͇̘̠̟̮̺͎͎̩̮͈̦̩̖̠̦͔̙̺͎̭̞̰̺͈̞͍̲̼̤̝̺̝̣̮͚̖͕̫́̀͋̈̐̐͗̏͐̈̀͐͆͛̓̇̈́͊́̊͒͐̄͘͘͜͜͜͝͠͝ͅͅt̸̢̡̛̜̪͔͚̲̤̻̲͚̤̱̩͈̰͖̹̺̹͎̜͙͓̫͙͉̹̫̼̜͇͕̖̼̻̟̟̥͔̭̲͖̩̫̽̅͐͒̍͑̾͊͊͛̅̓͗̇͂̃̊͗͑̀̔͑̇͂̍̂͒́̔̂̆̊̿̋͊̆͆̓̉̚̚͘͘͜͝ͅt̸̨̡̡̡̧̨̡͕̥͓͇̘͎̖͎̱̝̖̩̜͍͓͓̗̻̼̜̞̞̱̥͕̮̟̬̣̰̥̠͈̱̽̽̔̅́̀̈̉͑͗̽͊̇̒̈́̋̇̆̓́͑̽̈́̍͂̍̅̕͘͜͝ļ̸̮͈͉̹̮̖̘̬̱͔̬̙̣̜͎̤̗͈͍̭͉͙̳͍͆̐̄̀͂͒̉͐̈̃̓̑̋͆̓͋̽͌̓̊̓͐̂̚͘̚̚͜͜ͅȩ̴̡̡̨̛̻͈͉̠̤̻͔͖̼̻͙͉̺̩̩͚̻͍̱̗̩͍̼͕̰̲̗̬̬̝̝̘͚͈̙͈̤̺́̂́̈͆̀̀́̎̈̋̌͊̀͋̔̇̿̊̾͛͗̀͗̈́̌̔̀̕͘͘̚͜͝͠͠͝͝͝ ̴̡̢̡̢̧̧̛̳̟͙̭̤͕̱̱̹̳̬̥͚͔̯̘̝̤̪̜͕̼̝̦̥̪̲̯̰̼͍͔̯͇͙̯̲̲͙̙̖̭̮͔̻̯̈́̏̅́͆̀̇̊̐͛͆͊̌͊̂̀̀͑̉͐̏̀̐̅̐̃͛̉̾͘͘̚͜͠͝y̵̡̛̛̘͕͔̱͓͓͉͕̪̝̮͚̥̮̪̜̱͕͙͖̹̟̲̹̫̼͓͈̜̰̥͕̗̦̳̯̙̩̋̂͋̇̀̋́͂̓̓̈́̆̎͂̓̾̋̈́̄̆̐̍̋͛̈́͋̆̂̆̇̑̓̇́̈̄̂̃̎̿̇͌͛̐̚͘̕̕͜͜͝͠͝͠ͅơ̶̢̧̹̪̰̩͙̺̮͈͇̜̖͎̲͖̝̻̖̩̬̖̹̣͍̭͙̰͓͈̯̻͕͎̻̐̑̈́͋̌͗͒͒͆̓̂̄͊̒̾͒̒͛͋̍͛̾̑̿͋̑̆̃̌̀͑͋̐́̆̏͊̚̚̕͜͝͝ͅừ̴̡̧̛̥̳̖̮̟̺̬̖̱͍̝̝̥̻͉̼̤̟͎̺͔̟͚͎͗̈̀̅̇͗͒̄͗́͒͆̎̎̍̑̈́͛́͗̌̾̅̓́́̃̆̌̐͌͗͂͌̐̀̚͘̕͘ͅ ̷̨̨̞͓̖͉͇̫̱͉̫̣̮̪̮̻͕̟̥̹͙͚̭̺̲̼̱̼̤̞̫̹̩͓͎͐̾́̽̈́̏͒̐͆́͑̈́̀̽̌́͆͌͌͆̌̾̐̎̑̌̃̐̈́̕͜͝͠͝͝ͅͅk̴̢̛̯͙̮͔̬͙͓̬̻̦̙̖̬͇̭̯̬̳̖̼̦͋̋̈́̋̎̋̾̍̿͂̆̔̆̀̀͊̀̀͐̑̇̉̇̀̊̌̒̑̏̒́̓̇̑̈́͗̌̈́̉͆̉͐̕̚͘͘̕͜͜͝͝͝͠͠ͅn̴̡̧̨̡̛̛̺̻̗͎̹̜̭̼͓̬̱̥̤̮̭̯͕̻͙̯̩̝͕͙̻͓̤̱͎͖̦̟̘̳̹͙͉͍͔̺̤͕̦͂̋͐͂͊͌̀͛̍̃́̏̋̓́́̈̇̐̽̂̒́́̎̔́̂͌̓͐̔̔́͆̿̃̏͐͋̅́͑͘͘̕̕͘̕͜͜͝͝͝͝͝ͅͅơ̸̢̡̧̲̠̻̳̬̮̯͍̭͔̮͇̥̬̼̙̻̰̠̹̲͉͕̭̬̝͔̠̫̦̮̪̮͊̇̀̽̅̈́̏̿̓͌̏̀̽̃̅̎̆͆͆̐͑̇̿͘̕͝͠w̵̢̛̪̠͙̯̺͈͉̬̹͉̞̪̺͙̼̼̖͚̞͍̫̪̼̘͍̥̹͇̹͔͍͉̿̽̅͆́̓̄̆̿̓̀͗̃́̒́̔̒̎̅̇̈́̑̀̓̎͗̎̕͘͝͝ͅͅ.̵̨̡̧̢̡̡̧̮̖̱̦͕͇̝̳̼̫̞͖̰̠͕̝̪̲͂͌͛̀̅́̋̎̈̀̿̌̐̀̈͋͐̂̔̅̈́̄͐̍̈́͂́̔̎́̒͐̾͐̿̿̍̓̅͘͘̚̕͠͝͝͝͠ͅ.̴̧̢̯̤͔̺̙͚̙̣̫̖̼̼̜͚̬̜͇͙̹̦͈̺̺̥͉͓̗̭̪̻͍̹͍̜̠͉͚̙̺̝̓̊̿̓͊͋̈̐̿̐̓̈̽̾̄̈̇̀̄̋̐̉̄̔̽̈́̃͒̚̕͘͘͝͠ͅ.̵̨̢̢̢̢̢̡̛̛̛͕̪̺̙̘͈̙̙̲̥͍̮̟͈̼̩͖̝͇͍̪͓̝̗̮̜̤̻͉̯͉̬͔̹͖̩̅̂̎͊̀̆̋̋̋͑͐̿̆̊͌̔͋̉̅͊̈́͂̋͌͗͋̈́͐̿̊͒͊̌̓͂̿̑͘̕̚͜͝͝͝͝͠



                                                                                                                                                                                Ţ̸̧̛̜̗̜̞̪̱̱̫̺̝̫̘̟̼̝̘͈͚̞͔̙̈̈́̔͌͌̑̈́̄̉͌̈͆̂̒͐̋̓̎̾́̐͛͗̋̇͊͜͜͝͝h̴̢̨̡̢̖̙̬̲͚̪͚̞͇̻̼͖̬̹͚̳̱͖͍͎͍̰͗̐͆͌̐̿͆̎̌̈̏̍̋͐͛͗̅̓̇͠͝͠͝ͅè̶̡̡̨͙̝̤̮͎̟̘̗̖̪̯̞̣̦̟̠̘̖̳̬͕̳̟̋̌̅͆̅̋̍̓̑̊́̇̇̀̔̓̈́̾̆͘̕̕͝ͅy̴̡̢̢̼̹̗͎͚̥̣͍̜̙̦͎̩͎̻̝̼͎͈͋͌̍̐͂͒̀͗̽̈́̉̋͋̎͒̄̈͑̋͋̃̌̽̿̕̚̚͜͜͝͠ ̶̧̡̢̭̞̣̰̝͈̖̖̼͙͎̞̲̩̙̫͎̩͙̳̮̟̹̊͑̓̀̐̋͋͑̔͌̀́̄̔̑͊̉̑̃͌̏̕̕͜͝͝͠ͅw̵̢̛̦̻͇͙̠͇͎̜͍̙̞̫̯͓̱̻̩̣͕̯̱͈͌̈́̔̿̇̋̉̑̌̊̌́̍͊͌̐̈́̊̂͑̈́̊͘̕̚͜͜͝͝͝͝ï̵̡̧̧̢̢̪̘̬͎͉̤͔̭̰͖̝̙̯͇̬̜̱̬͚̥̪̤̀͌̒̑͒̏̓̐̓̊͐̉́̈́͗̑͛̈́̾̚͠͠͝ͅl̶̨̛̜̪͖̗̖̝͍̹͎̜̻̼̪͙͓̮̞̺̥̘̳̜̻̦̫̭̼̠͛̄̀̑̽͊̾͌̓̎̂̔̏͌͗́͛̓͛̋͒͆͂̕͝l̶̢̡̛̛͖̪̻͔̯̣̲̰̦̙̳̝̪̘̫̺̼͈̘̝̜̰͇̯̼͚̦̜̂̅̾̍͋͛͋̍̾̀̐̇̅͊͐͒͆̅̈́͂̍͗͂̄̉̌̚͝ ̸̨͇̹͖̝͙̠͉͍̭͕̠̹͙̲̫̱̦͖̫̹̲̆̓̏̆̆͊̅́͒̀̋͐̀̊̄̆̇̌́̄͗͂̀̚̚̕̕͘͜ͅͅͅc̸̢̳̼̭̲͙̱͖͙̗͍̭̙̳̱̜̰͓̱̠͙̮̜̖̹̒͋̀̋̈̈̃̈̉͊́͛͒̇̾̆̎͆̚̕̕͝͠ͅͅǫ̸̧̢̹̮̪̙̰̟̫̲̱̠͎̬̯̯̠̖̰͙͔̹̀̔̓͑͌́̄̈́̍̌̍͐͊̎͛̄̊̚̚̕͝͝͝m̴̢̡̰̙̟̮̜̳̺̬̻͚̥̪̫͚̭̯͔̳̠̱̜͓͇͚͒̾͌̆͑̎̿͆͑̀̑͛̉̈́̈́͋̐͋̈̀̂̔̎̆̚͘ë̷̡̡͖̙͓͈̪̟̲̹̳͚͔̦̲͓̲̩̜̮̤̟͓͑͊̄̽̐̈́͒͛͛̇̌̿͊̃̍̽̅͑̀̚̕̕ͅ ̸̢̡̨̛̛̛̦̥̲̼̥͕̲̤̬̺̙̳͈̬͚͉̫͙͈̤̥̺̭̝͛͆̈́̎̅̉̃̉̑̏̄̊̿͊̍̒̃̇͆͌͒̓̓̽͋̈́͂ͅf̵̧̢̟͉̙̩̦̲̲̟̳̦̞̖͔͉͔̳͓̮̜̫̝̙̓̊̈̂͆̆̈̓̍́̀̋̐̑̄̿̽̈́̓̒̾̎̑́̊͐̀̐͜͝ͅo̵̡̢̟̻̞̠̱͓͈̥̦͔͚̦͔͓͓̞͇͔̱̻̻͎̗͋͗̉́̃̆͑̇̔͊̆͑̈́͗̆͐̔̚̚͠͠͠͝͠ͅr̶̨̧̧͖̗̮̱̱̭̰͈̹̙͖̙̫̺͓̼͕͖̠͚̃̈́͑̃̂̃͛̌̇́͐̈́͛̓̈̓̀̀̔̃̑͘̕͜͠͠ ̷̗̺̺͓̣̝̳̘̟͉̘͍͙̩͙̭̖̥͉̀̓́̋̌̈̏̀̂̂̈̽̂̾́̀̓̉̿̈́͗͒͒͌͜͜͝ͅͅt̷̼̥̭̪̳̫̪͈̼̖̥̰͕͔̟̪͎̬͉̝̱̮͕̩̝͕̮̳͓̂͛̃͊̌̊̋͌̉̏̄̃̉͛͑̍̾̑̇̾̓̄̾̈̓͝͝ḩ̴̧̨̡̛͓̥̻̣̮̖͕̫̠͉͇̥̘͈̺̘̳̠́͐̇̂̄̀͐̎̅͆̾̉̍̄̿̂̂̅̍́͐͋͆̍̚͠ͅę̸̛̛͔̠͈̭̜͚̤̳̥͙̪͍͖̱͙̻͉̬͈̬̠̀͑̂̅̍̈́̾̎̇͛̉͑͊̌͑͐̐̽́́͗͛̈͘̚͘͜m̵̨̢̨̡̧̜̝̭̗͔̝̹̖̦̖̰̩͉͖̙͍̯̜̻̗̘̪̱̩̑͑̓͊͂͌̈́̏̑͌͑̀́̽̃̔͐͗̀̊͑̀̋̎̄̕̕.̸̨̡̨̢̛̩̥͕̳̝̙̳̳̖͍͎̟̣̬̭̮̤̱̻̤̣͉̗͔̋̃͊̿̈́͆̅̈́͂͗̃̐̈́̎̉͗͑͛͛̓̿̆͛̓.̸̧̡̡͍̭̪̯͖͇̭͔̹͓͎̞̹̭͇̪͓͕̥͍̮̺̯̺̻̈́̒̆̂͗͗̇̅̀̽͗̍́̐͌̈́̂̈́̒̕̕̕͜͝͠ͅ.̷̧̛̠͖̪̲̱̼̺̣̯̼̞̣̜͔̪̹̽͌̍̈̐̅̊̾̐̎̈̿̈́̀̀͛͋̑̈́̈́̂͂͛͂͘͜͜͝

                                                                                                  A̴̢̧̧̛̞͈̱̪͉͎͎̭̩̞̼̯̰̖̤̦̯̩͍̬͇̥͔̠̯͕͇͒͗͋̐̓̀̽̌̽͒̐̊͛̉̀͆͐̌̑̇̏̈̂̀͂͘̕̕̕n̸̢̨̘̲͇̪̰̖̹̟̝͎̟̙͖̦̙͔̰̳͇̟̖̻̱̠̂̀̆̅̐̈́̾̈̏̌̂̑͊͆͌́̓̈̎̔͗́͌͑̓̈͜͜͠͝͝͝ͅͅd̵̡̛̛̻̱̭̹̜͚̺͚̻͖͓̥̤̩̖̜͉̞͖̻̗̜̭̫͍͉̀͛̆̑͆͛̍̾̎̍̐͗͑̽̑̎̿̌́̆͆͑̀͐̽̔͘͜͜͠ͅ ̷̨̧̞̲̙̖̮̜̖͖̪̟̗̬̬͙͚̻̹͉̦̰̱͙̘̩̣̪̬̪͑̃̃̊̊͐͆̓̔̎͐̍͛̄̃͊̑̇́̃͊̋̂̓̀̔̉͘̕͠y̸̡̢̢̦̤̱̗͇̞̬̤̻̰̠̘͍͎͖͚̖͍͇̝͓̝̣̰̭̞̋̀̿͂͗͐̾́̋̓̔̌̍͒̊́͋͗̉̇́̀͒͑̈́̈͆̕̕͜͠ơ̸̡̢̘̤͈̻̮̦͖͓̖͍̦̘̜̟̖͍͇̩̺̣̺̙̥͎̼̳̩͙̏̅̽̉̂̽̔̂̍̊́͊̓͊͒͋̍͗̊̇̆͑̆͌̈̇̑́͠ų̴̢͖̺͕̰̩͎̗͎̮̝͎͖̼̱͓̞͖̖̱̙̬͉̭̣͉̹̜̥̍̇͐̇̈́̈́̓̿̄̅̏̈́̋͗̍̉̈́̄͊͆̿̅̅̔̄̈͝͠͝ ̵̨̨̪͍̞͇̰̯̻̼͙͓͚͕̠̱͔̩̳̘̦͙͈͙͖̳̦̠̲͆̏͒̽̔̌̃̑́͑̎͂́͗̒͐̈̿̆̀͂̄͗͂̚̕͝͝͠͝ͅw̴̡̧̢̧͓̘̭̲̮̯͎̜͕̜̼̖͉͈̙͍̗̜̹̼̥̻̣̿͋͆͒́̎͗͋̔͒̇̾̉̎̿́̌̋̈̾̆́͗͊̐̕̕͘̚͜͝ͅͅį̷̡̡͈͖͉̭̩̣͍͍̪̺̜̺̜̻̥̯̭͇̰̖̺̼̯̯̞̗̠̈́̃̂̐̽͒̍̽̿̿̌͂́̃̎̍̉̐͌̾̌̉̆̂́͒͘͘̚͝l̷̨̡̛̠̻̜̼̦͉͍̞̙̘̩͚̹̭̮̻̘͉̞̫͕͍̥̙̮̞͉̞̄̀̉̌͋̑͂̿̋̂̿́͗̔͒̏͗̍̉̎̓̿̀͑͂̋͘̕͠l̶̡̛̠͚̖̜͈̗̺̰̻̦͇̻̠̪̲̱̞̤̪̭̯̼̮̭͙̱͓̰͌̌̈́̅̍̋̒͗̊́͋̀͊͑̋̏̓̆̏̾́͑̈͌̚̚͠͠͝ͅ ̵̡̧̡͔̯̯͖̰̙̺̫͙̳̱͔̲̥̞̯͓̙̘̲̯̥͓͕̰̐̂̓̓̀͊̓͑̂̏̒͋͗̌̈́̽̉̍̾̏̆͌͛͗̉̑̕͜͜͝͠͝a̸̡̢̨̢͈̳̼͚̗͕̯͍͓̳̟̠̖̮̭͉̤͉̝̫̩̱̠̬̹̙͒̋̀̊̃̍̏̐̄̎͋̆͛̾̀̀́̅͆̀̈́̂̽͗́̄͊̍̚͠l̷̨̨̧̢̲̠͉̣̪̼͚̗͔̙̱͙͉͙̗̱͇̤̤̣̟͈͕͋̊͆̌̔̌̈́̈́̾̓̂̏̎̂̉̊̿͛͂̆͋̽͋͐̈́̈́̕͘͜͝͝ͅͅļ̵̡̧̡̡̧̠͚̞̤͇͈͓̥͈̯̙̺̦̼͚͖̱͇̙͈͉̦͇̏̐̅̉̓͊͐̾̅̓̉̈́͆̏͋͆̒̇̒̐̓́̈́͛͐̂̚̚͝͠ͅ ̵̨̡̢͎̹͍̖̩̬̺̠̦̯̝̞̖͍̝͈̣͕̼͎͈̘͖̼͓͐̂͒̀̋̍͊̔̿͊́̿́̈́͒͐̊̅͂̀̎̉̿̚̕͘͜͜͝͝͝͝ẹ̵̡̢̢̧̛̛̛̺̼̣͎̜̻̙͚̦͕̤̭̳͎̮̣̳̱̺͙̤̯̩̫̈̋̔͆̈́̑̾͋̀͆̓̀͂̌͆̐͌́͂̏̏̃̚͘̚͜͝͝n̴̢̡̡̛̛̟͈͇̫̙̼͙͚̙̫̪̲̜͓̘͈̺̗̪͔̰̭̯͚̂̽̋̌̀͊̒̾̽̎̈́̀̓̄̒͆͆͂̈̑̀̈́̒̏̚͜͜͜͝͝͝ḑ̸̢̛̱͔̠̰̗͖̠̺̪͉̺̙͇̰͎̯͔͔͈̩͖̺̤̫͎̟̮̌̂̀̓̉́̃̈͋̈́̏͆̍̅̅̒̀̀̾̀͂̋̿̈́̂́̕͜͝͝

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Criminy, what on earth could that skullduggery be about?

Hello all! With a new month on the horizon, one of my favorites at that, it is time to start cranking out the new files! I would have had this one finished sooner, but given it is a mecha, I decided I would need to go a bit further than I have before and rehaul much of the file image to fit that. And I'm pretty proud of the result.

Rigel is an old idea that has taken a while to be fully realized. It all started with an old image I saw on pinterest of all places many years ago. I've never seen it anywhere since, making it something of a white whale for me, but it was of a derelict, highly advanced looking robot sitting in the middle of a valley surrounded by trees and towering peaks. A single ring of blue light illuminated the center of its chest, and it inspired a whole aesthetic for me I never knew I wanted.

For the longest time, funny enough, I pictured this mecha as a stark, polished white, with a distinct texture that I had never seen until earlier this year when I saw Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Ego's ship was EXACTLY what I was picturing, but after trying to replicate that, I realized something. The blue rings did not stand out nearly as much as I thought they would, and after a little tweaking, the darker gray color came to be and its been smooth sailing since.

Anyway, I know this file is a little vague compared to some others and leaves the Stormback arc a little unfinished, but I assure you, Rigel is a bigger part of the story than this one chapter, and finishing Stormback's path of destruction is just a tiny sliver of it. There are a lot of mysteries ahead, and I hope you stick around. The next file should be much quicker in getting here.