Mechanicus Supreme watched Overwatch Supreme's reactions, and glanced over at the destroyed Strider.
+++I WAS INFORMED YOU NEEDED ME. AS FOR THAT, WE CAN BUILD MORE. I HAVE A NEW PROTOTYPE THAT NEEDS TESTING.+++ He gestured to the surroundings.
+++ARE THE REBELS ERADICATED?+++

"Yes, I you were informed correctly." Overwatch Supreme deliberately paused, "And No, most of the rebels escaped. Oddly enough these two answers are connected. Why am I hearing reports of Synth faliures in Overwatch sectors? I hear tell of gunships losing their bearings while on routine patrols they have performed for many years, Strider warp cannons critically overheating and APC missiles which detonate even after failing to launch. I don't think I need to tell you that this is somewhat concerning me, given the importance of our strentgh now more than ever." He levelled his eyes to Mechanicus Supreme's augmented visual inputs. "I need to know that your increasing transhuman experimentation will not detriment my military efforts. The incident with the Red Eagles was a regrettable setback. Our superiors will be less forgiving if this affects the elimination of Gordon Freeman."

Mechanicus returned his stare.
+++RECENTLY THERE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN PORTAL ACTIVITY IN THIS AREA. IT IS MY THEORY THAT THIS IS THE CAUSE. I AM CURRENTLY DEVELOPING SHIELDING TO PREVENT THESE FAILURES, AND COMPLETELY OVERHAULING THE COMBINE FORCES. SPEAKING OF WHICH, THAT IS THE ALTERNATE REASON WHY I AM HERE.+++ He looked once more out into the forest, in the direction that the rebels had fled.

"Overhauling?" Overwatch Supreme gave him an almost quizzical look. He was about to enquire further when a group of Overwatch Soldiers approached, a struggling human in their grasp. "Ah." He smirked. "What have we here?"
"Rebel, sir." One of the soldiers replied.
"Yes, I can see that Sergeant." Overwatch Supreme replied abruptly.
"From the camp, sir." Another soldier put in.
"From the camp..." Overwatch Supreme repeated as he mused. "Then there is some existing relationship between him and those rebels."
The soldier shrugged indifferently. "What do you wish us to do with him, sir?"
"Detain him at the prearranged facility. He may yet prove useful." He turned to one of his Elites. "In the meantime, fetch our new messenger."

The Elite saluted and walked off. Overwatch Supreme noticed Mechanicus Supreme looking expectantly at him. "Oh, worry not, my brother." He smiled. "All will become clear." Barely a moment later the Elite returned with a black masked figure, his armour similar to the Overwatch soldiers' but leaner, augmentations visibile all over his body. "You see, Mechanicus Supreme, I too have been... tinkering." A sly smile crossed his face, and he turned to the dark figure. "Magnificent isn't he? Designed the parts myself. Every muscle on his body artificially enchanced to perfection; unmatched speed, strength and agility; the perfect weapon." He moved toward the dark figure. "Cyrus. It is time. Deliver my message to this... 'Ivan Zakharov'. You know what to do." The figure nodded curtly and sprinted off towards the forest, leaping gracefully across craters and ditches that would bring most hardened Combine to a grinding halt, but he did not lose even a second to such obstacles.

Overwatch Supreme turned back to his Elite. "Pull back the patrols and have them set up a perimeter. When Zakharov returns I want him playing by my rules." He signalled the Overwatch soldiers to take David to a nearby dropship. "The hunt begins." He muttered. He returned to the Mechanicus Supreme. "Now then, what of this overhaul?"

[ooc: Sorry for epically long, supposedly "mini", post, and sorry MNDF for not really referencing your character a lot during that... Might have to tweak this maybe.]

[OOC: it's all good, I wouldn't expect much notice to be taken of David ]

David Landerson

The next minute passed in silence as the soldiers spoke through in-suit comm links he couldn't hear. Their next move took David completely by surprise; they lowered their weapons and pulled him to his feet, one soldier on each side.
All he could do at first was blink and stare dumbly in surprise, but he soon regained his composure and attempted to free himself even as he noticed the small congregation he was being taken towards. Two of the figures looked to be of exceptional rank and, likely, immense power. To see two such officers - and be brought before them - gave Dave a sense of being in something far bigger than he knew; the first clue was that he was alive, the second was the startlingly obvious fact that this was no ordinary group of Combine... the third was the freakishly fast Combine (or at least it looked Combine) that sprinted into the forest as he was being dragged away from the two superiors... it was then he realised he had no idea what they had even said to him and that he was still struggling.
Instead he now just let his body fall limp as he was carried away to whatever his destination may be.

Mechanicus stared at Overwatch Supreme.
+++IMPRESSIVE. I HAVE NEVER FOUND ANOTHER WITH SUCH TECHNICAL PRECISION AS I.+++ He turned to face towards the City, gesturing at the Citadel.
+++THIS OVERHAUL I SPEAK OF, IT SHALL HAPPEN SOON. THE ADVISORS HAVE GROWN COMPLACENT IN THEIR CONFIDENCE. THEY SIT, EXPECTING THE HUMANS TO BOW TO THEIR FEET. I, HOWEVER, HAVE SEEN WARS SUCH AS THIS BEFORE. THE FORCES THEY HAVE BROUGHT TO THIS PLANET, THE ONES THEY HAVE SENT TO TAKE THE HUMAN SETTLEMENTS, THEY WERE ADEQUATE TO BRIEFLY CONQUER. BUT EVERY VIRUS FINDS A MUTATION THAT PREVAILS. WE MUST USE DRASTIC MEASURES.+++ He turned back, and looked Overwatch Supreme straight in the eye.
+++MASS HARVESTS. ELIMINATION OF THE WEAKER SPECIMENS. THE ERADICATION OF ALL LIFE ON THIS PLANET. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE INEVITABLE.+++ His eyes glowed red with conviction as he voxed this, and the claws at the end of his servo arms hissed and clacked.
+++I AM ALREADY BUILDING THE FORCES TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. HUMANITY IS IN IT'S LAST THROES OF LIFE.+++

"Do not be so swift in your estimations, my friend." Overwatch Supreme replied. "There are some who may prove useful. You saw my latest creation; once a loyal servant of a Rebel scientist, and now? Now he is the ultimate weapon." He looked out towards City 17. "Take City 17 for example. Thousands of humans live within its walls. When this Freeman makes his first strike, which he will, some will rebel, some will refuse to participate out of fear, but a precious few will defect." he turned back to Mechanicus supreme, his voice lowered as he levelled his gaze once more on Mechanicus Supreme. "We must be careful how we perceive our stock. We must eliminate just the right groups and extract the rest for service in the name of the Combine."

Overwatch Supreme began to walk away towards the makeshift command post. "Now, I must make arrangements for Zakharov's arrival. By all means make yourself comfortable here. This camp shall remain active for a while. We shall need it if we are to make any headway toward the White Forest base." With that, Overwatch Supreme returned to his Elites to set up the perimeter and establish the deployment of the camp's structures and defenses.

[OOC: Anyone else need to add anything before I post this up? Still need to wait for Lulz in order to advance the Ivan section since we need to know what he is doing before going off and doing things.]

Soory, but I guess I put this here. That last post was HUGE! Large wall of post is a large wall...