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Earlier Threads: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Halo:%20Spartan%202%20War%20Reports
Active Spartan Roster: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eO7rkImgBlWVU-gdeY4-e5qp3pC8IiGApewbHqlnRq8/edit?usp=sharing
Spartan Sven-033 Dossier https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jR1N--hxRrd9QZ0l6UmrcOkFfKNrXvHGRvVemdNE3y4
__
[ Current Mission: Mission 7: Operation: CROWS-NEST
DIFFCULTY: HEROIC/ LEGENDARY
[ CAMPAIGN : Diversionary Actions ]

[ Primary Objective 1: Disrupt and Sabotage Covenant Activities on Former Colony Alpha Corvi II ]
[ Secondary Objective 1: Destabilize local Covenant Chain of Command / Neutralize Area Leaders & Commanders ]
[ Secondary Objective 2: Gather intelligence concerning the Covenant non-military aspects/ Operations ]
[ Optional Sub-Objective: Find out the fate of Alpha Corvi II's Civilian Population, and if possible, rescue any survivors ]

Secret Objective 1: [File Encrypted]
Secret Objective 2: [ Neutralize the Yanme'e Queen below Jamshid ]
Secret Objective 3: [File Encrypted]
_
Warning! Warning! Sub Objective: Blade Breaker, has caused a dangerous adversary to enter the field. ???, Shamed Sword Master, is present in the enemy formations!
Current loadout: Primaries: "Sasquatch Grenade Launcher" + M45E-AC. Secondary: "Covenant Plasma Pistol. Melee: Integrated hook+ Pattern 2 Composite sword. Grenades: x4 Plasma, x4 Spike. Armor: MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC. Armor Attachments: CMN Attachment, Rebreather, TAC Attachments ( Tac Pad + Additional ammo reserves/ field kit + TAC Camo cloak )
_

And the surviving Sniper's day was about to get a lot worse. Enough key phrases in the Kig-Yar language had been fully translated, to make communication possible. A live translator software hadn't been developed yet, and only a few words had been translated and the ones that had were difficult for a human mouth to reproduce, but it was enough to have a talk with the unlucky Tengu.

"I know how to make Bird's Sing" You said as you approached from the other ring of the Mall's upper level, as Illya kept the squawking alien pinned beneath her foot and Jorge rushed to your side, stopping mid stride and turning away to resume his guard as he noticed that the shot you'd taken to the arm wasn't a serious injury and wasn't slowing you down at all

"Interrogation?" Jorge asked with a dark, heavy tone, which made the word sound more like torture. That was accurate. "In the field? Right now?"

You nod, "We need all the intel we can get. Cover me, I don't want our chat getting interrupted. Illya, patrol and secure the lower levels"

"We'll leave you alone with the Prisoner" She said, as she lifted her boot off of the Kig-Yar's chest. And too their credit, they tried to take themselves out to prevent a intel leak, rushing for the ledge to take a headfirst dive towards a concrete walkway.
Cont
>>
>>6435323

You interrupted their suicide with a casual clothesline, and brought them back to the ground, making sure to put the Sangheili bones adorning your Mjolnir on full display as you loomed over them, your shadow falling across the struggling alien as their eyes widened. They tried to show defiance in the face of death, hissing and clacking their fangs as they gripped tightly to your foot and tried to scratch the inner armor peeking through under your Mjolnir's kneepads. Applying pressure, but not enough to break their bones or damage their organs, you leaned over and rasped a word that the top minds in section three had confirmed meant "Answers" in the bastard tongue of these alien scavengers.

And with that coughed command, after a moment of confusion, terrified comprehension dawned on the face of the Tengu beneath your and they tried to squirm away in a panic; Understanding now what you intended to do to them. Placing Vali in a disposable datapad, so the AI could translate and interpret the speech that remained unknown and untranslated, you began the interrogation.

And slowly, gradually pulled answers out of the Tengu. They were quite pliable once they saw just how fragile a Kig-Yar's bones were under your heel, and really started to sing and spill their guts once you gave them a quick lesson on the internal anatomy of the muscles and sinew in their left arm. A little more intel was bought at the price of one of their eyes. And after learning to appreciate air after an extended wash off in the stagnant, green waters of what used to be fishtank, the interrogatee was all to happy to air out a lot of old and fresh laundry.

The Tengu couldn't take any more punishment, and expired naturally from cardiac arrest brought about by a mixture of extreme stress and physical shock. The fact they suffered the heart attack while you were in the process of removing the organ from their chest and holding it just high enough to be seen from the edge of their reduced cone of vision, was a small detail that could be left out of the official report. It'd all be covered in black ink anyways.

A quick interrogation had provided a bundle of valuable intel. Most importantly, there were more Covenant ships enroute and in system than you had originally assumed, and the Minister of Archeology was, besides wishing to win political and popular favor by honoring the Martyrdom of their predecessor, still looking for artifacts under Alpha Corvi-II's surface, and was primarily focused on punishing what remained of the Colony's population and recovering anything to present back to his boss' to make the trip and planetary genocide seem "worth it". All cause a single worm got blown to bits.

That made you hate the Covenant, more than you knew you could. Less important, but still vital, the singing canary tried to buy themselves a quick execution by using the Svartalfar Swordmaster as a threat.
Cont

Whoops, my bad lol
>>
>>6435324

And that they'd be sent by the Minister to Jamshid soon, either due to the loss of the bug hive or the other actions being carried out by the Guerilla cells. And you also learned, that the smokepit stories about your units previous activities since returning to Alpha Corvi II, had really gotten the rank and file of the Covenant Spooked. The Tengu didn't believe you were mortal, how could they? From their point of view you'd appeared from a quiet grave and moved unlike any of their prior, mortal targets. Some sort of superstition was already starting to form. And like every Covie you'd come face to face with before, they couldn't believe you were human underneath Mjolnir.

Equally as important as that, you learned why so many of the few survivors had tried to get into the Covenant's good graces. The bastard of a politician, who ran away to their own private bunker, was the first to try and sell out the rest of humanity. And was presently very comfortable, as the snake thought he was clever as Loki and knew he could buy himself more time on the clock by telling the aliens in charge what they wanted to know, piece by piece. Unaware that the moment the Minister found anything of value, he'd just be tortured of the most important bits and join the rest of the traitors on the last funerary pyre of Alpha Corvie. Before...It was glassed like Harvest. All except for a monument built in honor of the "Brave Minister who was murdered cowardly by human heretics"

Vali nearly melted the datapad as he relayed that tidbit of information. That explained why the Covenant weren't following their usual protocol and modus operandi, more than even knowing what their Minister was risking his worm-like neck for. Grace had really pissed them off when she blasted the previous minister straight to Hel.

And, he told you that the ape called Teckyis had made his base of operations in the skyscraper the Covies had turned into a hangar. The one Thistle was going to be assaulting, once you'd weakened the enemy chain of command enough. And he told you were the shitheel in a golden cage was being kept, until he ran out the Minister's patience or slipped up and blabbed about where more human colonies could be found.

The last piece of information worth mentioning besides troop movements, garrison positions and an estimate of the total forces deployed across the colony; The Tengu spat out right before his heart seized and he died, spasming and twitching, was that he and the other snipers had been deployed to deal with a pack of, as Vali translated "Juvenile Vermin".

Children. That was when you ripped their fucking heart out of their chest and marked down their death as "Sudden Cardiac Arrest". From what you could gather, one of the civilian bunkers, nearly one of Jamshid's schools, close enough to primarily hold the students had held long enough. And the kids had been resourceful and able enough to manage to survive.
Cont
>>
>>6435325

On their own now, if you had to guess. Only a few of them. You didn't try and think of how few they were. But they were alive.

And damn did it feel good to keep them alive, even if how many were left could be counted on one hand. If Alpha Corvi II hadn't fallen, the Spartan Program could've found a number of candidates for the second class across the colony. Which was as impressive as it was upsetting.

"Not going to eat their heart?" Illya darkly jokes as you stop considering all the new intel you'd gathered and lined up all your thoughts, tactical or not in a neat row

"Don't know where its been" You shoot back "That little chat of ours, was most enlightening and has changed our priorities"

"That can't be good" She muttered, as you walked up to Jorge

"No sight of enemy reinforcements?" You asked and he nodded

"Don't think it was a bluff, we shouldn't overstay our welcome here" He said gruffly as he stood back up and lifted his VK87 Command "What did that Tengu tell you"

"More than I wanted to know" You answer "I'll fill you two and the rest of the squad on the details, once we have a chance to breathe, what matters now is..."

>"We need to assassinate a politician. [ Switch priority from distracting Teckyis' forces in Jamshid, to kill the traitor ]

>"There are kids out in those streets, I won't leave them to die." [ Take a detour to play hero ]

>"We need to soften up Thistle's target, and I just learned where some prime targets are stationed..." [Weaken Teckyis' command structure, by taking out his key subordinants]

>"It's been confirmed there's a few more survivors out there, who are still capable of fighting" [ Make contact with the fighter's remaining in this district of Jamshid ]

>Write in option
>>
>>6435326

>"There are kids out in those streets, I won't leave them to die." [ Take a detour to play hero ]

>"We need to soften up Thistle's target, and I just learned where some prime targets are stationed..." [Weaken Teckyis' command structure, by taking out his key subordinates]

Greedy, greedy, greedy, I know, but I feel like we can maybe divert Kaitoa to save the kids while we go and start stacking bodies.

Pencil in killing the politician as a side-objective for Thistle, if it's in the bird's nest.
>>
>>6435326
>"There are kids out in those streets, I won't leave them to die." [ Take a detour to play hero ]

>"We need to soften up Thistle's target, and I just learned where some prime targets are stationed..." [Weaken Teckyis' command structure, by taking out his key subordinates

We have two teams so we can do is yeh. The kids are good for the soul and assassin'ation for the mission.
>>
>>6435326
>"There are kids out in those streets, I won't leave them to die." [ Take a detour to play hero ]

>"It's been confirmed there's a few more survivors out there, who are still capable of fighting" [ Make contact with the fighter's remaining in this district of Jamshid ]
>>
>>6435326
>"There are kids out in those streets, I won't leave them to die." [ Take a detour to play hero ]
I REALLY want to blood eagle the traitorous pig of a governor but I guess we'll have to do that later.
>>
>>6435326
>"There are kids out in those streets, I won't leave them to die." [ Take a detour to play hero ]

>"It's been confirmed there's a few more survivors out there, who are still capable of fighting" [ Make contact with the fighter's remaining in this district of Jamshid]

Switching to this thinking about let's rescue and gather for a big attack kill a politician and bird nest.
>>
>>6435326
>>"There are kids out in those streets, I won't leave them to die." [ Take a detour to play hero ]

>"It's been confirmed there's a few more survivors out there, who are still capable of fighting" [ Make contact with the fighter's remaining in this district of Jamshid ]


look i for one want to kill the politcal asshole but there are kids who need rescueing and resistance that needs back up
>>
>>6435326
>>"We need to assassinate a politician. [ Switch priority from distracting Teckyis' forces in Jamshid, to kill the traitor ]
We didn't work this hard to keep as much of human space hidden to the Covie to risk this fuckwit getting billions of people killed to unsuccessfully save his own skin. He has to go. I don't care how cold it sounds to potentially abandon the kids. I don't want to miss the forest for the trees.

We could at least peep Thistle and tell them they've got a harder target than was anticipated and to be extra prepared.
>>
>>6435360

Way I look at it, Maxim #1 applies here: Pillage, *then* burn.

Or to put it differently, we gather allies and save who we can and then we start hitting targets to make the hangar raid easier.

I still think we can pencil in the politician as a secondary objective for Thistle.

I mean, why deprive Nesta of the opportunity to help him get a head start on burning in hell?

Also - do you think there's enough plasma weapons back at the blacksite that Thistle can make their raid look like a false flag attack by one of the other chieftains?
>>
>>6435375
I am rather unwilling to treat this guy like a secondary objective. Every single minute of a headstart the covie have to finding and arriving at a human world is that many more thousands or millions of people who can't evacuate in time. It is rather important in my mind to prevent that as much as possible.

>enough weapons for a gayop
I'd never say never but I would be hesitant to say yes kek I think if we'd have had the idea to make it look like infighting before everyone had left camp to get down to business we might've been able to make that sort of thing happen but it might be a bit of an ask to try it mid-op on a big scale like that.
>>
>>6435387

I get what you're saying, but I think one way or another the kids are going to be a non-negotiable. We can send Kaitoa to rescue them.

And while I voted for softening up Thistle's target, I look on it as a bit of an interim step. It doesn't mean we *can't* then pivot to going after the politician and it might even make that OP easier in the process.
>>
>>6435389
For the sake of five, ten, twenty kids? Or hundreds of thousands of them? I have asked myself that question already. Now that the snipers are peeled off of the kids there's a solid chance they make it another day. In terms of risk reward, it's pretty simple to me. I also must say these things, in case this comes back to bite us in the future. So we can make our arguments to Momsey when she inevitably calls us a shortsighted but kindhearted boy and everyone can have a pity party. There must always be a devle and an angle on every shoulder.
>>
>>6435392

And I thought *I* was playing the role of Devil's advocate here.
>>
>>6435326
>"We need to assassinate a politician. [ Switch priority from distracting Teckyis' forces in Jamshid, to kill the traitor ]
This guy represents a significant security breach.
>>
>>6435392
It's not like we'd be able to kill off the Traitor immediately considering the bastards will obviously be well defended. Gathering.manpower before doing am offensive to kill the bastard isn't a bad call.
Besides Politicians been on the hands of the covies for months already, so who knows what info the bastards already given away.
>>
>>6435392
i understand where your coming from and i do respect it but these kids have been wondering around Jamshid for awhile now they might know something important or something they dont think is important but is

but that said I do want to direct everyone's attention to one piece of information we learned during that t&i session the sword master and entourage is on there way here to the city and is either on the way now or will soon be here so we going to have to deal with that and getting jumped while attacking a defended location is not a good time
>>
>>6435393
>tfw you are
Wouldn't that be some shit? The devil whispering to save kids? That is some old testament style bad times.

>>6435405
The swordmaster or his entourage could jump any of us, anywhere. Which means he could jump Thistle instead of us, or they could assault either of our basecamps with their cloaking. We also have to contend with the time crunch of the WORRRRRRMMMM looking for their bullshit down in the dark. If we wait for "the ideal moment" to deal with the swordmaster before doing anything we could just be wasting time. There is no perfect moment for anything really, just the moment which is good enough. We might get the traitor before the swordmaster makes touchdown, we might not, may as well kill the rat as soon as possible if we're gonna do it at all. It is always better to be proactive than reactive in terms of war and combat. Especially since the swordmaster very well could be the type to watch and wait til his target is busy before attacking, in which case we will never have a good time to fight him.

There's a bunch of stuff we can't say for 'sure', so instead we should focus forcing the enemy to react to us and keep the momentum.
>>
>>6435405
>>6435411

On the swordmaster, the 'ideal' would be to lure him and his posse into an ambush. Somewhere and somewhen we can fight him on our terms.

That being, preferably, somewhere Cal can blow his head off before he can get into face-stabbing range.
>>
>>6435411
Honestly the fact we have confirmation. That the swordmaster ris coming to jamshid is a good thing atleast we won't be completely blindsided if they appear even if there a chance they can ambush us.

Also elites and brute have rivalry so decent odds we get a hint that they're here.
>>
>>6435326
>"There are kids out in those streets, I won't leave them to die." [ Take a detour to play hero ]

Time to grab some future spartan 3s?
>>
>>6435326
>"We need to soften up Thistle's target, and I just learned where some prime targets are stationed..." [Weaken Teckyis' command structure, by taking out his key subordinants]
I really do hate to say it but the kids are on their own, we cannot keep side questing, this mission is too important. Inform Our local friends about this and leave it to them we have big fish to fry.

>Write in
Inform Grey team the enemy are deploying counter Operatives whom will in turn be hunting us. Remind them how the camo and radars go etc. Also tell them there is a human politician whom will likly try to bullshit them and WILL betray them, if encountered Eliminate with extreme prejudise. >>6435397 don't worry he'll get whats coming to him


-
Other human forces will see the results of our works and know something is happening saddly we need to wait for them to come to us. We have a count down between the Worm on a relic hunt, the coming glassing and finally Sword Master gunning for us. We do not want other spartans dying because they are hunting SVEN.

>>6435414
Correct and like >>6435412 said our best hope is to counter ambush by laying our next target out for them to strike. ive an idea for that but lets save it for another time.

>>6435405
Im sory bud but we cant go get the kids, we cant bring them with us OP wise and need to keep going, the other surviving humans gotta find them and link up in the chaos we create.

---

In the mid term I say we knock off the chain of command some more and then hard switch targets because we KNOW the sword master will see our pattern of play, we hit something totally unexpected after this to throw them off our scent or atleat buy some time. For that left of field action i actually propose we strike somewhere near the worm giving the Swordmaster a choice; protect the Prophet and been stuck on defence or some out and help the brutes deal with their ghost. He is good but he can't be everywhere.

---

Id love to see some more Covie PoVs especially given the anarchy thats unfolding.
>>
>"We need to soften up Thistle's target, and I just learned where some prime targets are stationed..." [Weaken Teckyis' command structure, by taking out his key subordinates]
>>
>>6435326
>"There are kids out in those streets, I won't leave them to die." [ Take a detour to play hero ]
>"We need to soften up Thistle's target, and I just learned where some prime targets are stationed..." [Weaken Teckyis' command structure, by taking out his key subordinants]
>>
>>6435326
>Write in option
>"We are looking at a larger campaign than initially imagined." [Start by informing our allies about the children and organizing rescue groups. Meanwhile, our squad focuses on making contact with the remaining Jamshid fighters]

If we are going into a larger fight then saving any and all hands, capable of fighting or not, become a high priority. Ideally, this would be followed by laying a plan on how to take out the politician's bunker, both as counter intel as well as to take any and all leftover people and resources his location might have.
Essentially, turning the mentality around this deployment into a more guerrilla style fight which might be weeks to months rather than a blitz "in and out in a few days".


BTW Torment, a few questions to specify some of the answers the Jackal gave.
1: It is mentioned "there were more Covenant ships enroute and in system than you had originally assumed", did the bird say anything about the size, shape or amount of the different vessels in system or on the way?
2: It was mentioned by the Jackal that there were estimates around total forces deployed as well as troop movements, could we maybe get some elaboration on that such we are aware of the situation as readers?
3: What might Sven think tactically is the leftover human population from some of the answers given by the bird in relation to those being punished with labour and those still being hunted down?
>>
>>6435326
More or less what I expected from the birdie, though I am surprised it's another politician to deal with, who leads the turncoats for Captain Teckyis. Since we have another politician to find, which is the one in the secret vault that needs to be found. So, we have two significant security breaches: one here, behind a lot of apes, and one somewhere in a secret place.

Anyway, Teckyis is not an idiot; in fact, he is the ape that made this idea (of using humans not just as slaves/playthings) and put it in front of Chieftain Brurlirus, and this was even approved by the new Prophet of Archeology. The turncoat snake in charge wouldn't be easy to kill; he is a prime asset of the Captain, and many of the tactics he uses are likely based on some services of the turncoat.

Right now, we can count on 4 groups worth of resistance fighters, with a 5 soon under us once James makes contact. Now, one cannot fight for us in Jamshid (the CMA unit is defending our base back at the ex-blacksite; they cannot move with that duty), so it would be just 4 groups worth plus our Spartans. If we can get more under us, it would be great, since our direct strike to destroy the air base of Jamshid needs to be extensively damaging. To make a pain in the ass for Covenant air patrols, and shame Captain Teckyis. Just like Captain Kestidion was shamed.


>"There are kids out in those streets, I won't leave them to die." [ Take a detour to play hero ]
>"It's been confirmed there's a few more survivors out there, who are still capable of fighting" [ Make contact with the fighter's remaining in this district of Jamshid]
>>
>>6435326
>>"There are kids out in those streets, I won't leave them to die." [ Take a detour to play hero ]
>
>>"We need to soften up Thistle's target, and I just learned where some prime targets are stationed..." [Weaken Teckyis' command structure, by taking out his key subordinants]

As fun and cool as it would be to pop the traitor and/or make contact with others, I'm not seeing how either one of them really contribute to the overall plan of creating a fratricidal war.

1) popping the politician is largely irrelevant. 50/50 we're going to kill him anyway as part of taking out the building we want killed. The only thing it is, is satisfying.

2) making contact with others will probably be a zero-sum or net loss endeavor, because by the time we make contact with them, they're probably going to be loaded down with wounded and/or needing supplies. Building a guerilla army only works when you are able to make sure you have logistics taken care of. I think the kindest thing we can do is to give them warning to get out of the area, because Teckyis is probably going to go apeshit (hehehe) after we take out the target - as would be expected, because it will seriously weaken his relative position within the Covenant. He will have to do SOMETHING.

On the other hand, rescuing the kids will be nice - We are the heroes after all. Detail off one of the groups under our command (one of the ones we don't need) to escort them to one of our bases.

And of course, taking out lieutenants to soften the target directly contributes to our mission.
>>
>>6435326
>>"We need to soften up Thistle's target, and I just learned where some prime targets are stationed..." [Weaken Teckyis' command structure, by taking out his key subordinants]
>"It's been confirmed there's a few more survivors out there, who are still capable of fighting" [ Make contact with the fighter's remaining in this district of Jamshid ]
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, Back online ]
Tomorrow is Thursday, so I probably won't get an update out, cause I'm running Hunter the Vigil from my friends

10 Votes to Save the kids/ be a hero

6 Votes to take down one of Teckyis' underlings

4 Votes to make contact with more of Jamshid's resistance

2 Votes to kill the snake that crawled out of the Bunker

1 Vote to inform Gray team that the swordmaster is being deployed

1 vote to inform your allies and organize rescue groups

So the team is taking a detour, before putting another alien bastard in the ground. Gotcha

[ Decisions made ]
[ Proceeding.... ]

>>6435661
Same Politician actually

>>6435486
Resupply/ escorts and onroute warships, nothing on the specifications besides the Covie names for them. No definite number on onroute ships, but raised the maximum insystem ships from six to twelve.

Can't give you an exact count of the Covenant ground forces, but suffice to say they easily out number yours and have presence everywhere except the sea

A fraction of the colonies original population, and dwindling rapidly, can't give exact numbers again. And that the collaborators probably outnumber the remaining resistance fighters
>>
>>6435820
Oh, missed this vote cause I forgot to reload the page.

So that makes taking down Techkyis subordinate have 7 votes and getting in touch with another resistance cell have 5. Doesn't change the outcome, but accuracy is king
>>
You weight your next words carefully, as only an Officer could. It was part of your extra curriculum, and your duty as the only commissioned officer in the first class of Spartan-IIs presently.

"There are kids in those streets" You say heavily and can see Jorge cringe behind his visor, even if his body language doesn't change. He's one of your closest brothers, and you probably know him better than you do yourself. "I won't leave them to die".

"And how, exactly, are we supposed to keep them alive. Sir? This is a war zone" Illya speaks up "Cruel reality is, we can't exactly play babysitter out here"

"We have to try" Jorge says, straightening his shoulders "We have to. We aren't monsters. We're soldiers"

Illya went quite and subtly rocked her head side to side, thinking, before answering with "Just pointing out, we don't have the luxury of time or an open escape route. Streets are flooding, and swarming with hostiles. How exactly, Sir, do you intend to save these ankle biters?"

"We're not the only soldiers in these streets, and we're about to make a lot of noise" You explain, and she nods, catching on but you can tell she still has her doubts "They're locals, Kaitoa and his men will be thrilled to play hero for once. They'll be their escorts. We just have to keep them safe until the handoff"

"Like capture the flag" Illya says softly, before her cynical side reared its head again "But, one more issue with this detour. Won't they run away?"

She lifted up an arm, prominently displaying the alien bone on it. And Jorge rolled his neck

"And even without these accessories, we don't exactly look like friendly faces, Sven" He pointed out, lowering his tone

"I'll handle it" You tell them both, before motioning to the sniper perch "We know, generally, where they're located. Won't take us long to find them. Then, we'll cover their escape back to the garrison, but eliminating one of the enemy leaders. Tengu gave me a list of names, and positions. It'll be easier than a day in Painland"

"Alright" Illya said, having raised concerns but hadn't gone against them. She, like all Spartans had been trained to do, stuck to the chain of command and followed the lead of her superiors "Going to make things harder. But that just makes it more worthwhile"

"Don't tell the kids their parents are dead, Illya" Jorge warns, only half sarcastically as you clear the mall as a group and then get back into the water. You'll contact Kaitoa through your tacpad, since his unit is connected to your CMN; Since before the Covenant showed up, his crew was the enemy. It wasn't as secure a channel as your MJOLNIR systems and the CMN module you were equipped with, but it was less noticeable than a flare or smoke signal.

Taking a detour away from the highway occupied by a Covenant platoon, you walked on the bottom of the now fully flooded lower streets, not swimming so as to preserve power and O2.
Cont
>>
>>6435837

Keeping a mental picture of the trajectory of the potshots the snipers had been took at the kids' direction, you quickly map out a route to reach their location.

And make visual contact while still beneath the water's surface.

"Counted four, could be more nearby. They seem to be on a supply run" You quietly report

"Don't look too starved" Jorge said hopefully "I think the one in charge is about our age. Guessing they're taking care of the younger ones"

"Might just be four" Illya said somberly "Could be surviving by staying on the move, the covenant wouldn't miss their hiding spot if they had one"

Unless they were waiting for them to starve. You knew that she and Jorge both thought that the same second you had. Why waste ammo or effort hunting a quarry that couldn't fight back? You knew the answer. Cruelty. They'd done at the schoolyard Thistle team was currently holding down. You'd seen the proof. The bodies. The bones. The Sasquatches might make a game of it. Which was why you need to get these kids out of the operation zone, before it got too hot. You wouldn't let anymore kids die. And technically that included yourself and the rest of the Spartans on Alpha Corvi II. You were still teenagers, even if you were hyper elite super soldiers in cutting edge power armor.

The problem was, as Illya and Jorge noted. None of you looked like any kind of soldiers kids would recognize, even if you weren't committing psychological warfare by wearing your enemies' dead like trophies; Which certainly further complicated the issue.

>Follow the group of four you have visual contact on, and try not to scare them when they return back to their "Safe zone"

>[Maverick] Act like Big Brother Sven, and try to sound non threatening as you approach the kids out in the open without your helmet

>Watch the kids' backs and get Kaitoa to send men over, keeping out of sight and keeping them out of trouble

>[Diplomat 2+] Take inspiration from Dr Halsey and Mendez, and see if the kids will still listen to an unseen authority figure

>Write in option
>>
>>6435839
>[Diplomat 2+] Take inspiration from Dr Halsey and Mendez, and see if the kids will still listen to an unseen authority figure
>>
>>6435839
>[Diplomat 2+] Take inspiration from Dr Halsey and Mendez, and see if the kids will still listen to an unseen authority figure

This what diplomacy is for and we've grinded it a lot.
>>
>>6435839
>>[Diplomat 2+] Take inspiration from Dr Halsey and Mendez, and see if the kids will still listen to an unseen authority figure

Well lets see how they respond to someone calling out to them, this will either work well or scare them
>>
>>6435839
>[Diplomat 2+] Take inspiration from Dr Halsey and Mendez, and see if the kids will still listen to an unseen authority figure
Hurts not to use the Maverick option, big brother Sven moments were some of my favorite parts of the training arc.
>>
>>6435839

>[Diplomat 2+] Take inspiration from Dr Halsey and Mendez, and see if the kids will still listen to an unseen authority figure
>>
>>6435839
>>[Maverick] Act like Big Brother Sven, and try to sound non threatening as you approach the kids out in the open without your helmet
>>
>>6435839
>[Maverick] Act like Big Brother Sven, and try to sound non threatening as you approach the kids out in the open without your helmet
Pity they're too old for the program. They must be pretty capable to have lasted this long on their own while also possibly caring for much younger kids.
>>
>>6435820
>Same Politician actually
Well, that's nice. We don't have to find his bunker.

>Resupply/ escorts and onroute warships, nothing on the specifications besides the Covie names for them. No definite number on onroute ships, but raised the maximum insystem ships from six to twelve.
This puts a bigger wrench in our plans. The covenant brought far, far more aliens than we thought so far. We are not in the +1000 realm anymore; we are far above that in numbers.


>Can't give you an exact count of the Covenant ground forces, but suffice to say they easily out number yours and have presence everywhere except the sea
I was more or less fully sure of that before, what with them building almost everywhere and with them leaving garrisons and patrols across almost the whole world. This gives us confirmation.

>A fraction of the colonies original population, and dwindling rapidly, can't give exact numbers again. And that the collaborators probably outnumber the remaining resistance fighters
This was a given, what with what we have seen the Covenant doing and learned in Alpha Corvi II. The last information is bad, but we can't do much besides killing them or putting them against their masters. And of course, capturing some of them.
>>
>>6435839
>>[Diplomat 2+] Take inspiration from Dr Halsey and Mendez, and see if the kids will still listen to an unseen authority figure
>>
>>6436005

The 'more ships' thing puts us on a bit of a time crunch.

Either we need to kill Brurlirus and the Prophet in the next day or two and hijack a ship in the confusion, or we need to figure out a way we can get people out undetected.

And of those two options, given the number of survivors we've found so far and the fact we only have two pilots, I actually think committing Grand Theft Starship is more feasible than cleanly extracting all the survivors we've rescued.

That is, provided that Tor and Chen haven't had an opportunity to ferry the civilians out of the blacksite yet. If they have, then the equation changes to 'only' difficult, instead of suicide.
>>
>>6436007
>time crunch
I mean, we had the genocide planned by the long neck in a few days too. We were already on a time crunch, especially if we wanted to save the slave humans.

>Either we need to kill Brurlirus and the Prophet in the next day or two and hijack a ship in the confusion, or we need to figure out a way we can get people out undetected.
We aren't getting all humans out undetected 100%. First of all, most humans here are still in the dig sites. And in the next days, they will all be grouped in one place by the long neck. We can't get them out undetected; it's impossible not to be noticed with their numbers; only the humans we have at base camp, and the resistance groups under us, can go out undetected in a reasonable way. And those humans at base camp aren't many, really. If we want to save more people, we have to manage to grab a ship. But that means we need to commit to the Fratricide War plot and the Trojan horse plot in full. Things will get really loud. So it comes down to doing those two plots and taking out Prophet and Brurlirus if possible. The fratricide war plot might need Brurlirus dead. But we need a hostage for the Trojan horse plot, unless we just go on the assault of one ship that is planetside with all our forces.

>And of those two options, given the number of survivors we've found so far and the fact we only have two pilots, I actually think committing Grand Theft Starship is more feasible than cleanly extracting all the survivors we've rescued.
The civilian survivors we have at base camp will be extracted. The attack at Jamshid is also done for this reason, on top of having clear skies and dunking down Teckyis. But we are not saving everyone else if we can't get an alien ship. And we can only reasonably get a ship if we make sure those two plots are done, for kill has many aliens and destroying has many ships as possible. Vali needs to be inserted somewhere where it can be broadcast on all covenant ships and bases across the world. We cannot save the human slaves if the Brute Tribe is united, and the small fleet bombards us from above.

>Tor and Chen
They will do it when we do the attack on Jamshid air base. We have already decided this before setting our sights on destroying Jamshid's "nest". It's the only way for our pilots to move freely multiple times and carry up the civilians at our base camp. Otherwise, if they just do it, their movement will be noticed sooner or later. With Jamshid under attack, the Covenant will react, sending help there and redirecting several air patrols there too.
>>
>>6435839
>Watch the kids' backs and get Kaitoa to send men over, keeping out of sight and keeping them out of trouble
a silent guardian...
>>
>>6435839
>[Diplomat 2+] Take inspiration from Dr Halsey and Mendez, and see if the kids will still listen to an unseen authority figure
>>
Had a rough night. Might not be able to deliver an update today, but we'll see
>>
>>6436480
well good luck and i hope it goes well for you
>>
>>6436480
Feel better
https://youtu.be/twql107CTtM
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor404TormentedCache, back online ]

7 Votes for [ Diplomat 2+]

2 Votes for [ Maverick ]

1 vote to act like guardian angels

Drill Instructor Askeland is about to make an appearance

[ Decision made ]
[ Proceeding... ] [/b

>>6436488
>>6436516
Thanks for the support, just needed to destress and sleep off the fatigue.
>>
Idly, instinctively, you scanned your surroundings, keeping aware of them to avoid getting surprised as you untangled the problem in front of you. And it was as you were making this, silent, visual sweep that you spotted the solution. It was a civilian terminal, miraculously intact amongst the rubble and flood waters. A simple, public access portal to the city's administrative non volitional AI. You signaled for your team to cover you and checked the terminal. It was a simple dumb AI, programmed for friendliness and approachability, to assist the average civilian in their day to day life in Jamshid and provide live updating data across the city. A shared digital assistant and it was connected to the intercom and traffic systems. Perfect. Seems you could get lucky like John from time to time to.

"Greetings, Officer. How may Jamy assist you today?" A friendly, simple tropic flower shaped hologram appeared

"I am assisting some lost children in finding their guardians" You answer, knowing the AI, in its limited capacity, is aware that something bad has happened since it would've been programmed to react to and provide aid to survivors of terrorist attacks "The city has been attacked, we're a relief force. I am requesting administrative access, per naval code..."

"No need, Sir. Jamy is happy that their family's have been found" And while it hadn't been programmed to speak in any tone besides chipper and enthusiastic, you could tell that, in their own way, Jamy was relived and sad at the same time. It wasn't as complex as Deja or Vali, but they could still feel emotions. even if they were simulated for the user's comfort. And from that response, you know knew how the kids had been staying alive. They had an invisible guardian angel watching over them, a saint in the machine, easing their passage through the warzone in anyway it was capable.

"You're a good AI, Jamy" You said, keeping your gratitude short and to the point so you could get the kids to safety as soon as possible "Open up intercom access and show me the updated local maps from Ahura district to the Mazda promenade. I'll handle everything from there"

"Thank you for your service, Office, Jamy is happy to continue providing assistance!"
_

[ Adjusting perspective ]

Samir was so exhausted, they had forgotten they had gotten tired. But he had to keep going, he was all that the younger kids had left. The only older kid who could still leave their safe haven, who hadn't given up or.... Samir blotted out that thought and the memory Heidi. If it hadn't been for her, he'd be dead and so would most of the little ones. He couldn't let them see him cry, they were only keeping it together enough to eat and drink and try to survive because he and the others did their best to not look afraid. He had to keep going, had to.
Cont
>>
>>6436701

A noise startled him, he turned, the empty gun he'd taken from a dead man's hands swinging as he entered fight or flight. He sighed and comforted little Clara as she'd been brought to tears just from the sudden noise of the intercom system turning on. Already ready to move on to avoid hearing any more nonsense the monsters had to say or the bullshit their brain wormed slaves spewed that got Tobias and Zayd killed.

But, instead a stern voice, that sounded like one of the military instructors that replaced the PE teacher for a month during a recruitment drive, but colder. Not in a bad way. They sounded in control, in command. Calm and commanding, but not inhuman or without warmth and none of the forced kindness the converts put on. They sounded concerned, like a teacher who caught them out of curfew.

"Listen to me" They said with a hushed voice that some how still boomed with authority "I am a NAVCOM Officer. A covert operation is underway. I cannot provide my rank or name, but you have to trust me"

"He sounds like my older brother" Clara sniffled, tugging on Samir's arm as Johnny and Chris crowded behind him, holding Griff ball sticks like a knight's swords

"If you trust me, I can get you and the rest of your friends out of the city and to safety, before the operation begins", the voice on the intercom continued, unhurried despite the urgency in their request.

"Alright" Samir, who was so, very tired, listened, feeling no doubt because the voice on the intercom was issuing stern but not strict commands.

"Good, you've got a good head on your shoulders for a kid your age. Head back to your safe zone, collect the other survivors. Once you're all together, I'll give you directions to a friendly force that can escort you back to our lines. But you have to be quiet, not a peep. Think of this like reading time" The voice, continued "We've got food and water for the younger kids, medical supplies to. Maybe even some familiar faces, as you aren't the first locals my unit has run into. And don't worry, they aren't traitors. They've been fighting the good fight"

Samir felt like he was about to fall apart, just from relaxing his jaw and letting his muscles go slack. He'd forgotten he wasn't even fourteen yet. He was just thirteen. Only thirteen. His vision blurred, and Clara handed him what was left of her dolly.

"And so have you", Samir shut his eyes to stop himself from crying "But it isn't done yet. Get a move on, soldier, follow orders, and you'll get out of here. Move quick, keep quiet. Me and my team will keep the boogeyman away. And, be prepared, the friendly force are...a bit eclectic. But this is humanity against aliens now, if a navy officer can trust them, you can to"
Cont
>>
>>6436702
Samir didn't wait, he looked and Johnny and Chris who looked unsure and lifted his chin and said, with a voice that sounded lighter than he remembered, younger than he ever felt "We still have to listen to adults guys, lets go"
_
[ Adjusting perspective, returning to preferred candidate, Sven-033 ]

"Sir, speaking openly. I can't believe that worked" Illya, who didn't sound the least bit cynical for once said, and you could tell without a "Spartan Smile" That she was grinning under her helmet

"Hopefully they can follow directions, I'd hate for them to fail this close to the finish line " Jorge said, keeping composed and under control as he kept his eyes on potential attack vectors "If they're in danger"

"We'll redirect, don't worry. But the best help we can give them, is giving the Covies something else to shoot out" You tell him as you power off the terminal, with one last show of appreciation to Jamy before shutting down the access point to deny the covenant a potential vulnerability. You'd connected to the network with your command network module and tac pad, so you didn't need the terminal anymore. Vali wasn't a jealous construct, so having Jamy ride shotgun on your wrist wouldn't affect the little viral wildfire's performance when the time came to break his "Chains"

The best way to distract the enemy, was to go headhunting. Updating Kurt and his team on the situation, you gave him free rein to choose his engagements while you picked out the opposition office you'd neutralize to get the Covenant's eyes off of the escape route you'd planned for the Jamshid Kids; None of the four you'd spoken to displayed any Spartan like qualities, unlike Violet. But they'd survived this long for a reason besides the local dumb AI providing support. They were more "there" than the ones you'd saved from the camp.

>Take out the enemy officer closest to the Jamshid kid's escape route, a Kig Yar who is in charge of deploying sniper teams and patrols.

>[Maverick] Get the Covenant shooting at eachother, by sneakily hitting some non Sasquatch squads from out of sight with your grenade launcher (DC 16. +3 Infiltrator, +5 Grenadier, +1 Average Brute Behavior [Maverick] )

>Gun for a big fish, and hit the ape the local captain has put in charge of the district. It'll be a hard fight, but it'll make more noise

>[Artifical Artisan] Work with Jamy and Vali to create false signs for the Covenant to follow, to launch an ambush to take out two birds with one stone (Path difficulty: LEGENDARY. First DC: 19 +3 Infiltrator, +2 Fire Support (Jorge, Illya), +2 SQ Spartan-II, +3 Superior tactics, +5 Grenadier. -4 Heavily outnumbered, -2 two enemy officers present )

>Write in option
>>
>>6436704
>>[Maverick] Get the Covenant shooting at eachother, by sneakily hitting some non Sasquatch squads from out of sight with your grenade launcher (DC 16. +3 Infiltrator, +5 Grenadier, +1 Average Brute Behavior [Maverick] )

getting them fighting each other worked pretty good the first time
>>
>>6436704
>[Maverick] Get the Covenant shooting at eachother, by sneakily hitting some non Sasquatch squads from out of sight with your grenade launcher (DC 16. +3 Infiltrator, +5 Grenadier, +1 Average Brute Behavior [Maverick] )
That legendary option is tempting but it might be more than we can handle with only Illya and Jorge if it extends out to multiple combat encounters.
>>
>>6436704
>[Maverick] Get the Covenant shooting at eachother, by sneakily hitting some non Sasquatch squads from out of sight with your grenade launcher (DC 16. +3 Infiltrator, +5 Grenadier, +1 Average Brute Behavior [Maverick] )

Finally a maverick option that's right in our ally. C'mon you brutes you really gonna let fuckers beside you stab first :v
>>
>We still have to listen to adults
It's going to be funny if he ever finds out how old Sven is. Same goes for Clarice and Tony.

>>6436704
>[Artifical Artisan] Work with Jamy and Vali to create false signs for the Covenant to follow, to launch an ambush to take out two birds with one stone (Path difficulty: LEGENDARY. First DC: 19 +3 Infiltrator, +2 Fire Support (Jorge, Illya), +2 SQ Spartan-II, +3 Superior tactics, +5 Grenadier. -4 Heavily outnumbered, -2 two enemy officers present )
I wonder how amusing that initial background interaction between both of the AI was.
>>
>>6436704
>[Maverick] Get the Covenant shooting at eachother, by sneakily hitting some non Sasquatch squads from out of sight with your grenade launcher (DC 16. +3 Infiltrator, +5 Grenadier, +1 Average Brute Behavior [Maverick] )

>Write in [[Artifical Artisan, wunderkind and infiltrator maybe?]
Jamy given your operational status i asume you've witnessed much of the ocupation through surviving cameras and data points. Please provide me your primary location so we can try to extract you.
-
Call it grinding for AI rep, call it salvaging what could be a trove of Data, call it what you will lets get this chipper fellow home to.
>>
>>6436704

>[Maverick] Get the Covenant shooting at eachother, by sneakily hitting some non Sasquatch squads from out of sight with your grenade launcher (DC 16. +3 Infiltrator, +5 Grenadier, +1 Average Brute Behavior [Maverick])

>>6436765

Let's pencil this in as a tertiary objective if we have time. For now, I think Jamy will be more helpful giving us NAV data and feeding us intel via the city's surveillance system, maybe opening caches and marking troop concentrations, a bit like the Superintendent in New Mombasa.

Also, 404 - I really dig the Sven Dossier.
>>
>>6436704
>>[Maverick] Get the Covenant shooting at eachother, by sneakily hitting some non Sasquatch squads from out of sight with your grenade launcher (DC 16. +3 Infiltrator, +5 Grenadier, +1 Average Brute Behavior [Maverick] )
>>
>>6436704
>>[Maverick] Get the Covenant shooting at eachother, by sneakily hitting some non Sasquatch squads from out of sight with your grenade launcher (DC 16. +3 Infiltrator, +5 Grenadier, +1 Average Brute Behavior [Maverick] )
The fratricide war plot continues. Kids saved, and an AI found. Not bad at all.

Jamy can definetly be a card up our sleeve for the strike at the air base. Should make the combined attack far more deadly and precise.

Though....could the turncoats use it ? The main snake Teckyis is using, is the local politician afterall. I would say they have written it off, but best we tell Jamy to consider the local politician access codes revocked.
>>
>>6436704
>[Artifical Artisan] Work with Jamy and Vali to create false signs for the Covenant to follow, to launch an ambush to take out two birds with one stone (Path difficulty: LEGENDARY. First DC: 19 +3 Infiltrator, +2 Fire Support (Jorge, Illya), +2 SQ Spartan-II, +3 Superior tactics, +5 Grenadier. -4 Heavily outnumbered, -2 two enemy officers present )

We better get those kids the fuck off world. Idk where they will go but anywhere farther back is good even if only for abit.
>>
>>6436704
>>[Artifical Artisan] Work with Jamy and Vali to create false signs for the Covenant to follow, to launch an ambush to take out two birds with one stone (Path difficulty: LEGENDARY. First DC: 19 +3 Infiltrator, +2 Fire Support (Jorge, Illya), +2 SQ Spartan-II, +3 Superior tactics, +5 Grenadier. -4 Heavily outnumbered, -2 two enemy officers present )

Guys, we only need a DC of 10 to make this happen. TWO officers, not just one.

By the time we hit Jamshid, you'll be seeing squad leaders leading companies, and the defenses rotten soft.
>>
>>6436704
>[Artifical Artisan] Work with Jamy and Vali to create false signs for the Covenant to follow, to launch an ambush to take out two birds with one stone (Path difficulty: LEGENDARY. First DC: 19 +3 Infiltrator, +2 Fire Support (Jorge, Illya), +2 SQ Spartan-II, +3 Superior tactics, +5 Grenadier. -4 Heavily outnumbered, -2 two enemy officers present )
Ynow what yeh let's flip a coin. If this works Boogeyman should proc bad
>>
>>6436704
>[Artifical Artisan] Work with Jamy and Vali to create false signs for the Covenant to follow, to launch an ambush to take out two birds with one stone (Path difficulty: LEGENDARY. First DC: 19 +3 Infiltrator, +2 Fire Support (Jorge, Illya), +2 SQ Spartan-II, +3 Superior tactics, +5 Grenadier. -4 Heavily outnumbered, -2 two enemy officers present )
>>
>>6436773 Rescinding.

>[Artifical Artisan] Work with Jamy and Vali to create false signs for the Covenant to follow, to launch an ambush to take out two birds with one stone (Path difficulty: LEGENDARY. First DC: 19 +3 Infiltrator, +2 Fire Support (Jorge, Illya), +2 SQ Spartan-II, +3 Superior tactics, +5 Grenadier. -4 Heavily outnumbered, -2 two enemy officers present )

Fuck it, let's ball.
>>
Might be late with today's update or miss it cause its fourth of july. If I'm a no show, it's probably cause the party my family threw went on too long or I drank too much and need to sleep it off

Also, remember, the following DCs for the rolls you need to make in a path will change and legendary ones will lean towards unfairly high DCs. Just a fair warning
>>
>>6437116
Also, its currently tied 6 to 6 between Maverick and AA, after Busy switched their vote. Noticed this before I left. There's going to be ribs at the function.
>>
>>6437116
>>6437132
have a happy 4th of July
>>
>>6436704
>>[Maverick] Get the Covenant shooting at eachother, by sneakily hitting some non Sasquatch squads from out of sight with your grenade launcher (DC 16. +3 Infiltrator, +5 Grenadier, +1 Average Brute Behavior [Maverick] )
We've been trying to make them kill each other for a while now. We should keep doing that. We could even take the beam rifle the sniper had and use that to pop a couple brutes too. The brutes will definitely flip their shit over it.
>>
For the record i do want to point something out

we have already used Jotun rage and Unbreakable so those are both on cool down right now
>>
>>6437152
Jotun is per battle. We should be able to use it again.
>>
>>6436704
>[Artifical Artisan] Work with Jamy and Vali to create false signs for the Covenant to follow, to launch an ambush to take out two birds with one stone (Path difficulty: LEGENDARY. First DC: 19 +3 Infiltrator, +2 Fire Support (Jorge, Illya), +2 SQ Spartan-II, +3 Superior tactics, +5 Grenadier. -4 Heavily outnumbered, -2 two enemy officers present )
>>
Yeah no update tonight, tired, not drunk, just spent too long watching fireworks. Also, tie persists. If it isn't resolved by time I end the vote, I'll just coin flip it. Even if, personally, I prefer not to do that

>>6437142
Thanks, I did. Ribs were good.
>>
>>6437247
I think this anon >>6436750 also changed his vote >>6437057 so AA is currently winning 7 to 6.
>>
>>6437257
Oh you're right. still too tired to write right now though and the vote is still open, so the result isn't set in stone yet. But AA is currently in the lead by 1
>>
>>6437157
In this case, with AA is combat specifically where we put ourselves at a further disadvantage. Jotun would help only a little against a bigger enemy presence and two important officers on the battlefield. A DC of 16 is more manageable than a DC of 19. Maverick doesn't have maluses tied to it.

We don't need to be tied in a prolonged combat when we are this few and split. We should hit and get away.
>>
>>6436704
>[Maverick] Get the Covenant shooting at eachother, by sneakily hitting some non Sasquatch squads from out of sight with your grenade launcher (DC 16. +3 Infiltrator, +5 Grenadier, +1 Average Brute Behavior [Maverick] )

Feels a bit wish washy but you know what fait that 2 officers aren't with a legendary difficultty
>>
>>6436704
>[Maverick] Get the Covenant shooting at eachother, by sneakily hitting some non Sasquatch squads from out of sight with your grenade launcher (DC 16. +3 Infiltrator, +5 Grenadier, +1 Average Brute Behavior [Maverick] )
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

Sorry about that, couldn't get a wink of sleep cause assholes wanted to make it sound like WW1 outside my window and set off car alarms till like 4am with their illegal ass fireworks.

8 Votes for [Maverick]
L
+ 1 vote for [AA+WK+I Write in]

6 Votes for [Artificial Artisan]

Maverick wins it after a neck and neck race.

[ Decision made ]
[ Please roll 1d20+9. DC 16. Bo3]
>>
Rolled 2 + 9 (1d20 + 9)

>>6437574
>>
Rolled 4 + 9 (1d20 + 9)

>>6437574
>>
Rolled 11 + 9 (1d20 + 9)

>>6437574
>>
>>6437579
[ Success! ]

Result of 20, 4 over DC, no additional degree of success

[ Proceeding... ]
>>
Rolled 14 + 9 (1d20 + 9)

>>6437574
>>
>>6436773
It is really cool isn't it, its just sick as hell! An anon last thread made it. I was just waiting to add it to the OP of the next thread.
>>
Glancing down at the tacpad attached to your wrist, you transferred the livefeeds displayed from the still functioning surveillance cameras across the city to MJOLNIR's HUD, one to keep an eye on the kids and another to track the movements of a particular squad of Covenant troops. One of the ones the sniper had sold out, and probably one of the ones ordered to provide reinforcement to their location. A disposable force in the eyes of the commanding officer. If you had to venture a guess, the captain in the city expected whatever took out those snipers to have taken their position and weapons and was lying in wait. It made sense, send other marksman to act as counter snipers. And it wouldn't get any of the apes under him up in arms at being ordered to act as sacrificial targets to figure out where the enemy that had taken out the position was set up.

And if he was against guerillas, his assumption would've been correct. But he's up against Spartans, not an exhausted CMA garrison, armed civilians or terrorists. Spartans who were using Sasquatch Gear. He was sending those Tengu to die. He knew it, but he'd gotten the details wrong, made a tactical error based on the assumption that in this game of cat and mouse, he was the more intelligent and prepared party. Moving through the murky, trash filled waterway that had formed over the ground level streets of Jamshid, you lead Illya and Jorge through the urban sprawl and kept to the deeper patches of water, using the different color of the OCEANIC variant of MJOLNIR to disguise your movements and meld into the background and become practically invisible. MJOLNIR temperature regulating system and the water around you, would even hide through from thermal sensors.

The Tengu weren't even aware they were being shadowed, despite taking every precaution and advancing as cautiously as possible. Signaling Jorge and Illya to remain in the water, to provide covering fire if the false flag attack didn't work out, you quietly crawled out onto an off ramp, kept to the ground and elbow crawled closer, pausing under the chassis of a burned out Scorpion tank as you watch the covenant patrol creep down the highway. And saw that it wasn't just Tengu. There were humans, dressed in salvaged CMA gear with a few armored plates that resembled the battle dress and field kit of their Kig Yar handlers. Disposable gear handed over to make them feel like they weren't just convenient meat shields at the moment.

They were clearly civilians, and unlike their cohorts, thought they were invincible in their shiny blue, patchwork armor

But the Tengu were clearly on edge, constantly scanning their surroundings and double checking, heads bobbing and whipping back and forth as they remained on constant, high alert as they moved down in two rows.
Cont
>>
>>6437599

One with their shield gauntlets active and raised over head and the others aiming down the scopes of their needle and beam rifles as they checked the road ahead of them for any ambushes or traps.

You waited, moving along the side of the raised road, hanging by the hooks on your wrists as you followed them, Jorge and Illya keeping pace on the bottom of the flooded streets as you waited for the right opportunity to strike a match to the tensions building in the Covenant Ranks. And quickly found it. There was, on a higher rise of the urban sprawl, a group of Sasquatches, either in dereliction of duty or on watch of a secure enough area they felt they were able to relax and lower their guard. The Tengu in lead flicked their head in their direction, as you pulled yourself up and looked in the same direction. And confirmed this was the opportunity you'd been waiting for, as you saw that more than one of the apes was carrying the same model of grenade launcher as you'd looted after the raid on the death camp.

Waiting until the Sasquatches noticed the Kig Yar on the street below and gave them an all clear signal to proceed, so to get their eyes and attention away from the area; You leapt the moment the patrol started moving, boosting your already powerful jump with the air jets attached to your armor. Landing through an empty window frame, you double time up a stairwell, not wasting a second to observe the office space around you as your rushed up the floors, focused on the video feeds in your HUD and the blank motion tracker beneath them.

Encountering no obstacles, two floors beneath the position of the Sasquatches on guard duty, you used the axe blade attachment to pry open a locked window frame and prop up the other half without locking it into position. Then, you did the math, running through the calculations to figure out the position and angle you'd need to fire from for the arc to hit dead center behind the traitor's backs, and right in front of the first row of the Kig-Yar.

To make it seem like a random act of aggression performed on a moment's whim. Then, while you mentally placed and updated the first firing solution, measuring out the distance and arcs and making use of your excellent kinesthetic vision, diagrams filling your vision as you solved equation after equation to figure out the second shot.

To make the Tengu "realize" they were also being "Shot" at by the stinking apes they called allies.

The first grenade, you had to bank off a road sign. And waved your fingers a little as the tension released as it detonated, taking out the traitorous scum. You waited a few moments, so the Sasquatches would be drawn to the ledge to investigate the source of the familiar explosion they just heard and the screeching of their allies on the ground. You counted down from six seconds, and sent the second shot soaring. Hitting immobile targets was much easier, didn't need to adjust the angle.
Cont
>>
>>6437600

The second blast went off, and the squawking of the Tengu turned from annoyed to furious and panicked. And you could hear the confused grunting and huffing of the apes two floors above you. Lining up a third shot, you sent it over the Tengu troop Leader's head as he dove for cover behind his energy shield, missing on purpose as the grenade plopped into the water and sent up a geyser.

The Sasquatches, must've realized something was wrong, cause they started getting nosier and began moving erratically as the Tengu below got into cover, dragging their injured members behind their shields or concrete barriers.

Then the first shot was fired from their end. And an angry bellow sounded from above you. Silently, you lowered the window on the back of the grenade launcher's axe blade, returning it to a closed position and used the commotion to get back into the water via the half flooded stair well and reunite with your team. Jorge gave a thumbs up as you walked on the bottom of the flooded street to his and Illya's position.

Now, with a distraction to give the kids a fighting chance to make it to Kaitoa's position, there were a couple of alien heads that needed hunting.

>Make the Kig-Yar convinced they're being purged, by knocking off the Tengu in charge of the sniper teams in Jamshid. And get Jorge and Illya to switch to Covenant weaponry for the attack (Path Difficulty: HEROIC. First DC 16. +3 Scrounger, +5 Grenadier, +2 Fire Support (Illya, Jorge), -4 Enemy is on high alert)

>Take out the ape in charge of the district, making the Jiralhanae suspicious of the humans and other covenant races (Path Difficulty: Heroic. First DC 17. +1 Shotgunner, +2 Fire Support (Jorge, Illya), +3 Infiltrator +2 SQ: Spartan-II, +2 MJOLNIR IV/ OCEANIC, -4 enemy is on high alert)

>[ Artificial Artisan + Wunderkind ] See if Jamy couldn't help make things more confusing for the Covenant on the streets

>Wait, see how the situation develops on the streets and if a better opportunity to soften Thistle's target will present itself

>Write in option
>>
>>6437601
>Make the Kig-Yar convinced they're being purged, by knocking off the Tengu in charge of the sniper teams in Jamshid. And get Jorge and Illya to switch to Covenant weaponry for the attack (Path Difficulty: HEROIC. First DC 16. +3 Scrounger, +5 Grenadier, +2 Fire Support (Illya, Jorge), -4 Enemy is on high alert)
>>
>>6437601
>>Make the Kig-Yar convinced they're being purged, by knocking off the Tengu in charge of the sniper teams in Jamshid. And get Jorge and Illya to switch to Covenant weaponry for the attack (Path Difficulty: HEROIC. First DC 16. +3 Scrounger, +5 Grenadier, +2 Fire Support (Illya, Jorge), -4 Enemy is on high alert)
>>
>>6437601
>Make the Kig-Yar convinced they're being purged, by knocking off the Tengu in charge of the sniper teams in Jamshid. And get Jorge and Illya to switch to Covenant weaponry for the attack (Path Difficulty: HEROIC. First DC 16. +3 Scrounger, +5 Grenadier, +2 Fire Support (Illya, Jorge), -4 Enemy is on high alert)
>>
>>6437601
>Make the Kig-Yar convinced they're being purged, by knocking off the Tengu in charge of the sniper teams in Jamshid. And get Jorge and Illya to switch to Covenant weaponry for the attack (Path Difficulty: HEROIC. First DC 16. +3 Scrounger, +5 Grenadier, +2 Fire Support (Illya, Jorge), -4 Enemy is on high alert)

We want a civil war.
>>
>>6437601

How have I not voted yet?


>Make the Kig-Yar convinced they're being purged, by knocking off the Tengu in charge of the sniper teams in Jamshid. And get Jorge and Illya to switch to Covenant weaponry for the attack (Path Difficulty: HEROIC. First DC 16. +3 Scrounger, +5 Grenadier, +2 Fire Support (Illya, Jorge), -4 Enemy is on high alert)

Let's get the Jackals shooting something useful for once.


>[ Artificial Artisan + Wunderkind ] See if Jamy couldn't help make things more confusing for the Covenant on the streets.

This doesn't sound mutually exclusive, so I'm going to vote we do this as well.
>>
>>6437740
>>6437601
+1
honestly yeh jammy shouldnt be exlusive.
>>
>>6437599
>dressed in salvaged CMA gear with a few armored plates that resembled the battle dress and field kit of their Kig Yar handlers. Disposable gear handed over to make them feel like they weren't just convenient meat shields at the moment.
>They were clearly civilians, and unlike their cohorts, thought they were invincible in their shiny blue, patchwork armor

Very interesting development. Teckyis even did this for the human turncoats.


>>6437601
>Make the Kig-Yar convinced they're being purged, by knocking off the Tengu in charge of the sniper teams in Jamshid. And get Jorge and Illya to switch to Covenant weaponry for the attack (Path Difficulty: HEROIC. First DC 16. +3 Scrounger, +5 Grenadier, +2 Fire Support (Illya, Jorge), -4 Enemy is on high alert)
>>
>>6437601
>>Make the Kig-Yar convinced they're being purged, by knocking off the Tengu in charge of the sniper teams in Jamshid. And get Jorge and Illya to switch to Covenant weaponry for the attack (Path Difficulty: HEROIC. First DC 16. +3 Scrounger, +5 Grenadier, +2 Fire Support (Illya, Jorge), -4 Enemy is on high alert)
>[ Artificial Artisan + Wunderkind ] See if Jamy couldn't help make things more confusing for the Covenant on the streets
>>
>>6437601
>Make the Kig-Yar convinced they're being purged, by knocking off the Tengu in charge of the sniper teams in Jamshid. And get Jorge and Illya to switch to Covenant weaponry for the attack (Path Difficulty: HEROIC. First DC 16. +3 Scrounger, +5 Grenadier, +2 Fire Support (Illya, Jorge), -4 Enemy is on high alert)
>[ Artificial Artisan + Wunderkind ] See if Jamy couldn't help make things more confusing for the Covenant on the streets
Having the Brutes become more suspicious of humans seems like it'd unnecessarily endanger our embedded CMA assets. And Jamy seems like a good parallel option to help sell the ruse by corralling the Jackal teams into a kill zone or to help the Brutes get to them more directly.
>>
Rolled 2 (1d4)

[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

8 Votes for Taking out the Kig Yar Officer

4 Votes for [AA+WK]

Alright, and since it does make sense and half the voters want it, Sven will see if Jamy can provide an assist in the ambush, which I'll stat as a decaying 1d4 roll, like jotun, rather than a DC modifier
>>
>>6438016
Alright!

[ Decision made ]
[ Please roll 1d20+8. DC 16. Bo3 ]
>>
Rolled 7 + 8 (1d20 + 8)

>>6438017
>>
Rolled 4 + 8 (1d20 + 8)

>>6438017
>>
Rolled 10 + 8 (1d20 + 8)

>>6438017
>>
>>6438021
[ Success! ]

2 over target
[ Proceeding...]
>>
Rolled 4 + 8 (1d20 + 8)

>>6438017
hell yeah ain't late this time.
>>
"Swap to enemy weaponry" You tell Illya and Jorge as the three of you exit the waterways, having marched along the bottom of the flooded streets to reach the center of command for the Tengu in Jamshid, where the intel they gave said the officer in charge of their deployment and command would be stationed, overseeing their actions across what was left of the city. It was a half crumbled office building, that had numerous covenant additions made to it in the form of tech and fortifications. And was abuzz with activity, with a heavy hostile presence. The office had recalled back a majority of the troops under their direct command, reacting to the ambushes and attacks across Jamshid carried out by the CMA and Insurrectionist units; As well as the "Friendly Fire", incident.

Having convinced the residential dumb AI to provide further assistance, you had Jamy counting down a timer as your team observed the encampment and studied it for weak points. Illya had a Plasma Pistol recovered from the sniper nest, and so did Jorge, both of them having shield gauntlets secured to their wrists. Hadn't been able to recover a third during the previous sortie, so you had to go without. Jorge rapped his knuckles against the pillar he had hidden behind, gesturing with his head and placing a marker on the HUD, marking the weakness in the enemy's defenses he'd spotted. It was a piece of uneven terrain, rubble from the building, that they hadn't had time to barricade or fortify. It was a steep climb, but was in a blindspot of most of the confirmed sniper positions and would let you evade the majority of outside patrols to slip in undetected.

It was heavily defended, with a at least six Tengu with shields stationed at the gap. You nodded, confirming the point of assault silently as you watched the timer tick down. And then the street came alive. Jammy flashed traffic lights and signs, played advertisements at maximum volume and blared alarm and raid sirens. The amount of noise, flashing lights and malfunctioning of the damaged road blocks and street diversion mechanisms created a very chaotic scene, with a few of the Tengu firing as they heard human voices, blasting holographic advertisement boards and flat screens in confusion and surprise.

That was when you made your move. You shot first, stepping out of cover and arcing a grenade to land directly between the stunned Tengu holding the breach. Two were able to duck for cover in time, one more was able to raise their shields. The other half of the unit was wiped out instantly, their bodies sent flying as Illya and Jorge moved out of their cover, firing two full charged plasma shots at the Aliens that had dove out of the blast radius. Without their shields, the plasma cooked through their sparse armor, allowing two rapid follow up shots to finish the job.
Cont
>>
>>6438033

The last of the six tried to shout in alarm, but you brought down the exaggerated axe blade welded to Sasquatch grenade launcher, down on their energy shield. Illya was behind you as the double handed swing turned the shield bright red. She sent another shot of plasma into the shield, taking it down as the Alien tried to stay standing after being hit by a blow that could stop a warthog. They were dead a moment later, as you caught them on the backswing and bloodily slashed across their midsection. Lifting your chin, you motioned for your team to move up, before the Kig Yar regained their senses and noticed all the chaos in the street was a distraction.

You scanned the surrounding rubble and Covenant structures in the shell of the building, trying to spot the priority target before the enemy could respond and counter attack. You caught sight of them, they were on the highest remaining level of the structure shouting orders. Out of range of any of your weapons, but in sight and commanding their troops. The whole circle of your motion tracker was red. Had to be quick about it.

[ Current success in combat: 1 ]
[ Violet team status: Kurt, Cal, Malcolm: Not present. Sven, Jorge, Illya: Uninjured ]
Enemies to beat: 10+ Kig-Yar, 1 Kig-Yar officer
[ Please roll 1d20. DC 14. +1 Jamy's distraction +2 Fire support (Jorge, Illya), +3 Scrounger, +5 Grenadier, -2 Outnumber, -2 Shield wall tactics)
[ Please roll 1d20+7. DC 14. Best of 3 ]
>>
Rolled 11 + 7 (1d20 + 7)

>>6438034
CHAOS IN THE STREETS
>>
Rolled 3 + 7 (1d20 + 7)

>>6438034
lets do this
>>
Rolled 13 + 7 (1d20 + 7)

>>6438034
>>
Rolled 15 + 7 (1d20 + 7)

>>6438034
Kill
>>
>>6438038
[ Success! 1 degree of success ] [/b]

Six over target

[ Proceeding...]
>>
The clamor of Jamy's distraction was starting to die down, either because the Tengu blasted the offending speakers and screens or they failed due to lack of maintenance or stopped due to the restrictions placed on Jamy. But there was still enough noise to cause a confusion and obscure the point of the assault. Which meant that the attempted defensive line, a shield wall of glowing blue energy shields, had left itself exposed as they rushed to block the quickest route to the CO in the building. One of the Tengu peeked from behind their energy shield and hissed, barking and chirping as they tried to coordinate their fellows in maneuvering their shield gauntlets to cover their exposed sides. But with all the noise and plasma fire out their front door, they had a moment of confusion of where the danger was coming from and didn't adjust their positions quick enough. You saw the eyes of the alert tengu tracked the grenade as it spun over and under after bouncing off the bottom half of the stairwell, flying and ricocheting directly behind them as they shrieked and institutively leapt out of the blast radius. A moment too late.

Sprawled out on the ground, Illya and Jorge confirmed the kill with one plasma pistol shot apiece, as the rest of the formation was scattered and wiped out. There wasn't any need to double tap and waste ammunition, they'd been in the epicenter of the detonation and were either in pieces or in their death throes. You stormed past the twitching aliens, followed by Jorge and Illya, who'd spun around to cover your rears with her energy shield gauntlet while providing covering fire to keep the Tengu flooding in from the empty streets from surrounding you as your sprinted up the half collapsed stairway.

The Office was still barking orders, waving a needler in one hand as they directed their troops like an orchestra's conductor, eyes wild and panicked. One of the Marksman, spotted your team first and took a snapshot that Jorge deflected with the energy shield on his wrist, turning it from blue to red as the Officer, stunned, swung their taloned hand forward, yipping like a frightened dog as you lined up a shot to clear the "obstacles" between him and your team

[ Current success in combat: 3, +1 Success, +1 five over target ]
[ Violet team status: Kurt, Cal, Malcolm: Not present. Sven, Jorge, Illya: Uninjured ]
[ Enemies to beat: 6 Kig-Yar, 1 Kig-Yar officer, reinforcements arriving ]
[ Please roll 1d20. DC 16. +3 Scrounger, +5 Grenadier, +2 Fire Support (Illya, Jorge), -2 outnumbered, -2 Shield wall tactics ]
please roll 1d20+6. DC 16.
>>
>>6438047
best of 3 over course
>>
Rolled 1 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>6438047
kabooms all around
>>
Rolled 13 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>6438047
>>
>>6438049
well im done for the night sorry all
>>
>>6438049
Someone roll a 20, please.
>>
Rolled 14 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>6438047
>>6438049
You killed us.
>>
Rolled 19 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>6438047

Well, if it comes down to it, we negate damage and go from there. Or make a Jackal take the hit for us.

Shouldn't have wasted time strategising.
>>
>>6438049
[ Error Code: RED! A critical failure is predicted! All members of Faculty, take cover!]

Nine under target + critfail. Luckily, Sven has heavily invested into Grenadier and Bulwark so it won't hurt as much it could've

[ Proceeding...]
>>
You click the firing mechanism of the grenade launcher, and mentally send the command to scatter to the the rest of your team as you see a flicker of blue as one of the Tengu breaks from the shield wall and takes a leap of faith as they throw out their arm and shut their eyes. They catch the bouncing grenade on the end as it shoots up from the point you'd shot it into to richochet it over the shield wall. It deflects and as you mentally count down the fuse, you instinctively map its trajectory and realize the Tengu had got extraordinarily lucky and managed to smack it at just the right angle to send it flying right at your feet.

Illya dives for cover. Jorge turns, sides step and raise his energy shield as you, in Spartan Time, consider your available escape routes. Knowing, generally, the way these Covenant grenades explode and the radius and force and spread of the shrapnel they toss up, you make a hair trigger decision and leap backwards, down the stairwell. The grenade goes off in flash of light and plume of smoke. You feel the blast wave slam into you and the shrapnel hit as you hop away to avoid being caught in the center of the blast. Gritting your teeth, you feel the shrapnel impact your arms as you use them to cover your head, the rest of the metal fragments stabbing into the thicker armor of the chest plate as the smoke and dust thrown up from the explosion blinds you for a few moments. A second later your back hits the wall of the stairwell and you stand up, unclenching your fists and dropping your arms.

That hurt. But you weren't seriously wounded. Could've been a lot worse if you weren't so familiar with the MJOLNIR system and the properties of the grenade that had been sent flying back in your direction; And if you'd hesitated. Your ears were ringing and your center of balance was off, but your armor had absorbed most of the shrapnel and you'd gotten out of the kill radius of the grenade immediately. You were bruised, hit with shrapnel, but all of your limbs were functional and still had your head on straight and ready to get back into the fight.

MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC, Grenadier 5+, and Bulwark: Unbreakable, Reduce incoming damage from [ Badly Wounded ] to [Moderately Wounded] to [Wounded] to [ Minorly Wounded] to [Lightly Wounded] to [Badly Injured] to [ Moderately Injured]

Bulwark ranks prevent Sven from taking any penalties from being moderately injured, Sven will recover from his injuries in time for his next outing into the field

[ Current success in combat: 3 ]
[ Violet team status: Kurt, Cal, Malcolm: Not present. Jorge: Lightly Injured, Illya: Injured, Sven: Moderately Injured
Enemies to beat: 5 Kig-yar, 1 Kig Yar officer, Enemies reinforcements arriving
[ Please roll 1d20. DC 14 +3 Scrounger, +1 Giant, +2 Fire Support (Jorge, Illya), -2 Shield Wall tactics, Unbreakable+ Brawler blocking multiple penalties ]
Please roll 1d20+4. DC 14. Bo3 ]
>>
Rolled 19 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>6438068
>>
Rolled 6 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>6438068
>>
Rolled 18 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>6438068
>>
Rolled 4 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>6438068
>>
>>6438072
[ Success! +1 degree of success ]

9 over target

[ Proceeding...]
>>
Blood pumping, ears ringing, heart hammering, you lurch back to your feet and relying on the motion and thermal sensors of your suit to see, you charge forward, sprinting up the steps and throwing yourself in the still burning cloud of smoke and dust, lifting up the alien grenade launcher in your hands as you leap out the other end of the rapidly settling. Illya is shooting from behind cover, having taken advantage of the hole in the energy shield to thread a shot through the gap and tag the marksman by the officer on an exposed part of the body, taking them out. Jorge was hammering the shield with rapid fired plasma bursts, keeping them bunched together and focused on him rather than Illya, who is still recovering from being caught on the edge of the grenade's blast. The last thing the Tengu in the Shield wall expected was for the armored giant who had vanished in a ball of fire to charge right back out of the plume of the explosion. They open fire, turning away from Jorge as they scramble to get a lock on you before you crash into their line. Swinging down the axe blade attached to the launcher, you press them back, causing their shields to flash with quick silver ripples as you beat against them. Just from the impact of your shoulder charge, you'd turned them from blue to orange, and landing the swing, pop two of the five. Jorge provides covering fire, threading his shots around you as you twist your waist and pull the launcher back up. The two without shields are splattered as you push through, carving a path directly past the now split shield wall.


Ducking down, as you see Illya rising out from her cover for a split second, a blaze of plasma shoots overhead. One of the two Tengu on your right leaps to block it, the force of the impact deactivating their shield and sending them to the ground as the Officer, who'd retreated around the side, lined up their needler shot.
[ Bulwark rank 3+ Interaction, Sven-033 forces a nearby enemy to take the hit ]
Flicking your eyes over, you snatch the Tengu who dove to stop Illya's kill shot and swing them. A spray of pink crystals impacts in their body or go wide as the Officer focuses fire on your location, barking and jabbing their claws as you turn the struggling alien into an improvised shield.

A wave of boiling heat from behind you, tells you Jorge neutralized the threat behind you, leaving two Tengu and the retreating officer in front of you. And you get the two out of your way by tossing the temporary shield you picked up at them, popping their shields with the impact and sending all three to the ground as you surge forward, one hand holding tight to the grenade launcher as the Tengu in charges eyes go wide and then narrow.

You toss the grenade launcher at them, axe first. They raise their energy shield on reflex, a spray of glowing pink death flashing from the edge of your vision
Cont
>>
>>6438089

[ Brawler rank 6: Open hand interaction, Sven-033 can instantly kill or disabler an opponent, while unarmed ]

Pouncing, you threw out one hand, disabling the enemy's shooting arm by holding it at the wrist. Pulling back your free hand, you launch it forward in an open palm strike as you pull the Tengu down. And hook their throat with the climbing tool attached to the back of your wrist armor. A twitch of the wrist, and it looks like their throat has been torn out with claws. claws about the size of a Sasquatches. Tossing the now bleeding out alien to the ground you turn around, and signal to a window.

[ Infiltrator + Mjolnir IV Oceanic interaction + Finished the fight in four rounds or less, Violet team makes a clean get away ]

Jorge is the first out, leaping as the number of red dots begins to multiply rapidly and a line of them starts reaching the stairwell. Illya is next out, falling out backwards to cover you as you sprint over and jump out the window, and aim for the flooded plaza behind the office space. Splashing down, you shake off the impact and signal to Jorge and Illya you're alright, and receive the same back from each of them, before you quickly retreat deeper into the water, away from the assassination site before the rest of the now leaderless Tengu can realize what happened.

[ Marksman Veteran, Zhuth, Neutralized. Kig-Yar in Jamshid are now rioting, reducing the number of Covenant Snipers and diverting Teckyis' forces to deal with them, the Berserk Yanme'e, and allied guerillas ]

>Take out the Sasquatch in charge of the district, now that he's dealing with the Tengu revolting (Path Difficulty: Normal. First DC 12. +2 Fire support, +3 Infiltrator, +2 MJOLNIR IV/ OCEANIC, -2 Enemy is on edge (penalty reduced due to situational modifiers)

>Regroup with Kaitoa and tell him to, besides the men leading the children to safety, to mass his forces and prepare for a much larger diversionary strike for Thistle/ Gray team + Nesta to take advantage of

>Fall back for now and return to the garrison to deal with the minor injuries your squad sustained, not testing your luck before the Big Push

>Contact Kurt and tell him of the situation, and direct him to the location of another enemy officer that can be safely picked off

>Write in option

When I was going through the update, I realized that there was no reason Sven WOULDN'T proc these abilities in the situation he got into
>>
File: TEMPO TEMPO TEMPO.jpg (74 KB, 960x960)
74 KB JPG
>>6438093

>Take out the Sasquatch in charge of the district, now that he's dealing with the Tengu revolting (Path Difficulty: Normal. First DC 12. +2 Fire support, +3 Infiltrator, +2 MJOLNIR IV/ OCEANIC, -2 Enemy is on edge (penalty reduced due to situational modifiers)


>Contact Kurt and tell him of the situation, and direct him to the location of another enemy officer that can be safely picked off

These two, then we signal Thistle and go for the jailbreak.

Also, fill Thistle in on the politician.
>>
>>6438093
>Take out the Sasquatch in charge of the district, now that he's dealing with the Tengu revolting (Path Difficulty: Normal. First DC 12. +2 Fire support, +3 Infiltrator, +2 MJOLNIR IV/ OCEANIC, -2 Enemy is on edge (penalty reduced due to situational modifiers)

>Contact Kurt and tell him of the situation, and direct him to the location of another enemy officer that can be safely picked off

man Teckyis must be going fucking mental in what looks like the span of a few hours
he went from My intellect makes me great too WTF IS GOING ON
>>
>>6438093
>Contact Kurt and tell him of the situation, and direct him to the location of another enemy officer that can be safely picked off

>Take out the Sasquatch in charge of the district, now that he's dealing with the Tengu revolting (Path Difficulty: Normal. First DC 12. +2 Fire support, +3 Infiltrator, +2 MJOLNIR IV/ OCEANIC, -2 Enemy is on edge (penalty reduced due to situational modifiers)
>>
>>6438093
>Regroup with Kaitoa and tell him to, besides the men leading the children to safety, to mass his forces and prepare for a much larger diversionary strike for Thistle/ Gray team + Nesta to take advantage of

I think this is perfect time to go for our endgaem. With the officer dealing with lots of fire. Our main goal is to elimate the planes our aftearll.
>>
>>6438093
>Take out the Sasquatch in charge of the district, now that he's dealing with the Tengu revolting (Path Difficulty: Normal. First DC 12. +2 Fire support, +3 Infiltrator, +2 MJOLNIR IV/ OCEANIC, -2 Enemy is on edge (penalty reduced due to situational modifiers)
>Contact Kurt and tell him of the situation, and direct him to the location of another enemy officer that can be safely picked off
Oh boy, here Sven goes killing again. And yeah good call on those abilities, no reason not to by that point.
>>
>>6438093
>>Take out the Sasquatch in charge of the district, now that he's dealing with the Tengu revolting (Path Difficulty: Normal. First DC 12. +2 Fire support, +3 Infiltrator, +2 MJOLNIR IV/ OCEANIC, -2 Enemy is on edge (penalty reduced due to situational modifiers)

>Contact Kurt and tell him of the situation, and direct him to the location of another enemy officer that can be safely picked off

>>6438101
TEMPO TEMPO TEMPO
>>
>>6438093
>[ Marksman Veteran, Zhuth, Neutralized. Kig-Yar in Jamshid are now rioting, reducing the number of Covenant Snipers and diverting Teckyis' forces to deal with them, the Berserk Yanme'e, and allied guerillas

Excellent
Captain Teckyis has not yet fully dealt with the remaining Yanme troops. Now he has to deal with the birdies. And he cannot fully deal with our allies. Let's add some of his apes. Then our strike at his base will make sure he is fucked. Really, the cherries on top of the pie would be having the grunts and human turncoats rebel too lmao. Now would we want that though...

After all, this is enough of a mess already that Brurlirus will personally come here to reprimand Teckyis publicly. Let's hope he doesn't want to just execute him afterwards. We need Teckyis to align with Kestidion and make them a power bloc against Cossuzeus and Gikirbus. And then we only need to know more about the Brute Tribe, Brurlirus, and the Prophet, which Pufpuf and more alien captures should happily talk about. After that, we can make sure the fratricide war plot starts, with Brurlirus out of the equation.

Once the fratricide war plot is truly going on, things will get really chaotic. Which helps us if we want to go for our 2nd plot, but it does mean human slaves will start dying a lot in the fights to come (and them not accepting to be turncoats means they are all defenseless from aliens). The human turncoats, even if we take or eliminate the head snake, will likely side fully with Teckyis and support him (unless they rebel). He has provided them even armors. Teckyis might be a genuinely clever ape, for a Brute. Either way, thanks to the chaos, our Spartans and the Guerillas will be able to move with almost no impunity. If we consider all the TYPHON vehicles we have, and the chaos of the fratricide war, we can move with extreme ease. There is still Swordmaster Ravo to consider as a possible problem to our plots, but we just might kill the guy and his men here in Jamshid, meaning no more counter-intrigue or an alien playing detective.

>Take out the Sasquatch in charge of the district, now that he's dealing with the Tengu revolting (Path Difficulty: Normal. First DC 12. +2 Fire support, +3 Infiltrator, +2 MJOLNIR IV/ OCEANIC, -2 Enemy is on edge (penalty reduced due to situational modifiers)
>Contact Kurt and tell him of the situation, and direct him to the location of another enemy officer that can be safely picked off

An entire district consumed in the fires of rebellion ? Doesn't bode well for your career, Teckyis.
>>
[ Rebooting....Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

6 Votes to Take advantage of the chaos/ knock off the ape

6 Votes to contact Kurt and update him and his group

1 vote to regroup with Kaitoa and his men

Alright, So Sven, Jorge and Illya are going gorilla hunting, and Kurt's team is going to take a shot at a third officer

nice

[ Decisions made ]
[ Please roll 1d20+5. DC 12. Bo3 ]
>>
Rolled 8 + 5 (1d20 + 5)

>>6438663
>>
Rolled 2 + 5 (1d20 + 5)

>>6438663
>>
Rolled 18 + 5 (1d20 + 5)

>>6438663
>>
>>6438673
Ouchie.
>>
>>6438673
[ Success! 2 degrees of Success! ]

11 over Target, very nice

[ Proceeding... ]
>>
"Kurt, Sven" You say as you calmly march on the bottom of the flooded street, Jamy providing guidance by turning on flickering, electric signs along the asphalt as you walk "Caused a bit of a hostile infighting, Snipers won't be a problem for now. Going to kick the last tent stake holding up this district out"

"Need support? If they don't need to watch their heads, our allied forces won't need much overwatch" He responds immediately as you check his location through the CMA module attached to your helmet

"Not necessary, got a different job for you Spartan. Take Cal and Malcolm, and soften up the Covenant Chain of Command on your end" You tell him, uploading coordinates "They'll be the first to send reinforcements to put out the fires we've started on our end. Neutralize them, delay the enemy from reestablishing order and discipline in its ranks. Thistle is going to have a nice, soft target to hit eighteen hundred hours"

"Understood. Malcolm and I will get the target into the open, Cal will headhunt" Kurt says, laying out the basics of his plan as you nod

"Good hunting", you sign off, going dark on COMMs as you, Jorge, and Illya silently proceed through the flooded streets, path lit by dim traffic lights at your feet. And over your heads, on the overpasses, highways and upper street levels, the Covenant in the district was tearing itself apart. You could, vaguely, account for the increasing hostilities and violence between the castes and species by the bodies that dropped in the water and either weighed down or floated up. Seems the cockroaches found a crack and got into the air, and the Tengu were seeking revenge against their brutish comrades and the Sasquatches were fighting to defend themselves and take back control.

Blood was in the water. But if Teckyis was as calculating as the Unggoy back at base camp said, he'd be able to reassert control. If he had the right ape on the ground. And that was an "if" you were aiming to remove from play. The Officer had taken to the field, leading from the frontline and fighting to squash the riot before the order could come down. Trying to earn favor, or save their own neck. He'd made a chokepoint on four way overpass, surrounded by terraced open air cafes with clear sightlines. Making himself a hard target for any snipers. He knew how to counter Kig-Yar. Force them to engage up close rather than dictate the battle from the safety of their perches. Clever for an ape. But, he'd not anticipated that the Tengu and Bugs weren't the only threat he was facing.

"Traitors holding the rear" You note, as you start scaling a cracked concrete pillar "Illya, take them out"

She answered by double timing up the pillar, speeding up before swinging herself over the steel rail. Before her feet even touched the Asphalt, two human bodies fell over the edge. She'd executed them via knife to the back of the head.
Cont
>>
>>6438684

Advancing rapidly, another body was thrown off as monkeyed your way further along the overpass, pulling yourself up as Illya dispatched a forth turn coat, snaking her hand around their head and terminating them with a quick twist of her wrist. The crack made the four other humans guarding the Sasquatch's rear turn, but they were dead by time they turned around. Even with their shiny new and blue armor, a spartan strength punch deliver at terminal velocity to the chest stops the heart. Shatters the ribcage to. Jorge was last up onto the street, and he took the first alien kill, by dragging the low rank ape who'd been left to babysit the conscripts off the edge, tossing them onto an unflooded rise of the street below.

The thud that followed, was lost in the ongoing firefight ahead. All three of you remain undetected, and as you moved up darting like jungle cats between cover, you quietly neutralized the rearguard. Human and Sasquatch. Securing an escape route in advance and maintaining stealth while approaching the target.

And, ducking behind one of the Covenant's own barricades, you had visuals on the enemy officer. They were standing on a burnt out, Scorpion with a decal of laughing jester and the title "Laughing Matter". He was firing into the advancing shield wall of ticked off chickens, bellowing and roaring as he directed his troops from a clear vantage point, where all of them could see him. And just out of range of Plasma Pistols and Needlers. He'd picked his chokepoint well, every sightline from the surrounding buildings was exposed and well within range of his soldiers. He'd come prepared. You watched as, almost casually he caught a Cockroach that flew too close and ripped off its head, roaring and tossing the body aside as the apes under his command rallied and surged for. Even the Hunchbacks joined the charge

But he didn't think to watch his rear. And that was what was going to get him killed.

[ Current success in combat: 3, 1 from success, 1 from going 5 over target, 1 from going 10 over target ]
[ 2 degrees of success. Stealth Completely Maintained ]
Enemies to beat: 1 Sasquatch Officer, if you play your cards right. A lot of Covies, if you don't
[ Please roll 1d20. DC 12. +3 Infiltrator, +2 Fire Support, +3 Bladebreaker (1/2 Brawler rank), -2 Enemy has high morale
[ Please roll 1d20+6. DC 12. Bo3 ]
>>
Rolled 5 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>6438686
>>
Dice+1d20+6
>>
Rolled 7 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>6438686

>>6438691
dice+1d20+6 in the options field, think it needs to be lower case as well
>>
Rolled 15 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>6438686
>>
>>6438707
[/blue] [ Success! 1 degree of success ] [/b]

9 over Target, nearly got 2 DoS again.

[ Proceeding.... ]
>>
You gave the signal. Illya shot forward, Jorge rolled out from cover a moment after her. She became a blur of movement as you drew the pattern 2 composite sword sheathed on your back and calmly walked up to the Target. The target had wisely held back two soldiers to provide supporting fire, and watch his right and left as he focused on the shield wall in front of him and pounding it with explosives like he was a breathing artillery platform. Illya took care of one, pouncing on their back and burying her combat knife under their helmet, not giving them the chance to take advantage of their brute strength. The death gurgle that Sasquatch made, got the attention of the second guard, who swung around, spike launcher raised, eyes wide as they chose to shoot first and ask questions later. Jorge was on them in an instant, charging and lunging at them, slamming them against the broken tread armor of the Laughing Matter with enough force to dent what was left of the plating.

That got the attention of the officer, who turned around just as a flash of sickly green light spelled the end of the last of his two reserve guard as Jorge fed the ape a mouthful of plasma. And just in time to see a giant in power armor sprinting to his position. Instinctively, he lifted up his grenade launcher, axe blade first. Sparks flew as you danced the edge of your own blade across its edge, sliding past the guard as your opponent ducked. A circle of hair and skin was carved from the plate of his skull, as you side stepped, avoiding the attempt to trust the oversized axe head directly into the gap of your knee guard. Illya was up on the burnt out Scoprion now. The enemy spotted her, a moment distraction just long enough for you to bury the sword in your hands through the back of his thigh up to the hilt, as she ducked and rolled past him, opening up his side. Purplish blood gushed out of the brute's two wounds, bringing them down to one knee as they grimaced and roar, swinging their grenade launcher around, prioritizing Illya as she slid down the side of the tank. You twisted your sword, retarding the motion and pinning them in place as Jorge finished the job.

Thrusting his arm out, a flash of sickly green light washed over the front of the Sasquatch's blue armor, and yellowed fangs and tusks. A second later, they top of their head was a glowing ember as you leaned away to avoid the stinging heat of the plasma round. Pulling out your sword, you toss the Officer's corpse back as the last charge he ordered began to falter and break against the Tengu shield wall.

If you were in standard Mjolnir, that would've complicated things. Jumping back to the water would've still be a viable and safe option, but it wouldn't have been quick enough to escape without further fighting. But the air jets and designs of the Oceanic Variant of the Mark IV, made that a non issue.
Cont
>>
>>6438716

Illya was already vaulting over the railing, Jorge paused to toss a grenade from the officer's belt at his own soldiers falling back to his position, and you did the same with one of the spike grenades you'd looted from a previous skirmish.

With the two explosions as a smoke screen, Jorge and you get a running start and leap off the overpass and join Illya back in the murk. Wasting not time to retreat from the assassination site, it isn't a few minutes later until Cal confirms over COMMs that she'd successful terminated the Ape Officer who could've sent troops to quell the Covenant Team Killing spreading across the district.

"Excellent work Spartan, wish I could've been there to see the shot" You tell her, proudly as you help Jorge out of the water with Illya, having retreated to a half submerged parking garage that had been rendered inaccessible except through the flooded lowest floor, as the walkways that'd connected it to the rest of Jamshid's skylines had been knocked out.

Three officers down, friendly fire in the streets, while two allied units were launching attacks across the ruins on any Covenant Patrol they could catch. Sitting down besides a luxury car, you check your Tacpad and smile. Kaitoa's men had gotten the kids back to friendly lines. And you counted more than four from the traffic camera's POV, but couldn't get an accurate count before they passed out of its line of sight, but there were more than you'd expected or hoped had survived. Jamy really was a good AI, keeping those little kids alive. The rebels were almost acting like real soldiers with how professionally they were escorting them. But they weren't safe yet, they wouldn't be even once they were brought back to the Garrison.

They'd only be safe out of Jamshid. Off of Alpha Corvi II. And that applied to each and everyone Civilian under your protection.

>Rendezvous back at the Garrison with Kurt, Cal, Malcolm and the Jamshid kids and let the Covenant kill each other while you take stock of the situation and get a headcount.

>Contact Thistle Team, and leave it up to Jai if their target has been softened up enough for their daring infiltration.

>[Boogeyman] further reduce enemy morale by picking off small patrols and stragglers near the waterline, leaving survivors to report back

>Regroup with Kurt's team, and move to support Jai's team's strike on the Covie Hangar, by hitting it from the bottom the moment they make their landing

>Write in option
>>
>>6438718
>>Regroup with Kurt's team, and move to support Jai's team's strike on the Covie Hangar, by hitting it from the bottom the moment they make their landing

Best to stick with it until the primary objective is done and dealt with. God forbid Gray team hits a snag and we're not close enough to assist.
>>
>>6438718
>Regroup with Kurt's team, and move to support Jai's team's strike on the Covie Hangar, by hitting it from the bottom the moment they make their landing

Cannot have too many Spartans on this task, so let us get the squad back together.

Afterwards, if possible, I would say with the air support gone it would be a very good idea to get our squad back in orbit, both for medical recuperation and to replace the damaged armour plates on our and the others suits. After all, we are not exactly in the best of conditions at the moment.
>>
>>6438718

>Regroup with Kurt's team, and move to support Jai's team's strike on the Covie Hangar, by hitting it from the bottom the moment they make their landing

Divide and conquer, I think.

We can merc that politician as well, while we pull Teckyis's forces apart in two directions. And hopefully, kill him into the bargain.
>>
>>6438718
>Regroup with Kurt's team, and move to support Jai's team's strike on the Covie Hangar, by hitting it from the bottom the moment they make their landing
>>
>>6438718
>>Regroup with Kurt's team, and move to support Jai's team's strike on the Covie Hangar, by hitting it from the bottom the moment they make their landing

im just waiting on the sword master to show up here he's been hell of a Chekov's gun this entire OP the moment we found out he'd be showing up in Jamshid
>>
>>6438718
>>Regroup with Kurt's team, and move to support Jai's team's strike on the Covie Hangar, by hitting it from the bottom the moment they make their landing

>Jamy really was a good AI, keeping those little kids alive.
Gonna need to extract Jamy too.
>>
>>6438718
>>Regroup with Kurt's team, and move to support Jai's team's strike on the Covie Hangar, by hitting it from the bottom the moment they make their landing

We ain't done till it's a crater.

Remember: the politician dies, the monkey lives. We're here for fratricide.
>>
>>6438824

Jamy's a dumb AI. If you're really set on getting it, have it download itself to a memory stick or something.
>>
>>6438829
A damn good dumb AI
>>
>>6438829
Wouldn't be a bad thing to bring back to disseminate across the rest of UEG/UNSC space. Having dumb AIs across all cities able to more effectively assist in military and guerilla efforts against the covenant would at least help slow down their ground invasions.
>>
>>6438718
>Regroup with Kurt's team, and move to support Jai's team's strike on the Covie Hangar, by hitting it from the bottom the moment they make their landing
>Write in option
>Contact James and ask if he made contact with the Saboteurs Guerilla. Having their help in the strike against the air nest would make sure Captain Teckyis has the worst report to give to his Chieftain.

I am not hearing James being back with the Saboteurs Guerilla. We need confirmation of James being back and the Saboteurs Guerilla en route. We have 3 Guerilla Forces under our command here, plus three Spartan divided teams. James's back is 2 Spartans and another Guerilla force. Which would be enough for us to really make Tecky's day shit.

>>6438725
>Afterwards, if possible, I would say with the air support gone it would be a very good idea to get our squad back in orbit, both for medical recuperation and to replace the damaged armour plates on our and the others suits. After all, we are not exactly in the best of conditions at the moment.
Absolutely not, we are not going up. We are going back to our base (the ex- ONI black site) for proper healing and repairs; we have plenty of supplies there already on the ground. Right now, we just need some time in a safe space to do some simple field healing/repairs, if we don't want to go to the ex-garrison of Jamshid.

>>6438770
A day has already passed; I assume he is here talking with Teckyis or deployed on the field with his Sangheili cadre. We are not leaving much of a clue, only a lot of chaos, so I doubt he knows where to find us. But he must be searching. Unless its search is interrupted by its own allies.

>>6438824
Maybe when everything is said and done. Right now, we need Jamshid air base gone, then we need to be on the move again because our plots don't complete themselves.
>>
>>6438828
>Remember: the politician dies, the monkey lives. We're here for fratricide.
On that point, idk. We only need Teckyis to fail even more than now for the first part of the fratricide plot to go, the politician himself, let's see where he is first in the air base. It could be an interesting capture to have. Or we just kill him. There is also another thing to consider: we need the turncoats to stick to Teckyis in general (even if the politician snake is removed). Because when the fratricide war starts, Teckyis, much like Kestidion, will already have been punished by Brurlirus in some form.

If Teckyis can count on some troops of his own (once Brurlirus is off the map), we make sure Cossuzeus and Gikirbus forces can't just sweep T&K. And no one wants human turncoat troops. But Teckyis does. We need this fratricide war to go on for at least a few days after Brurlirus is removed from the equation, if not longer.
>>
>>6438718
>Regroup with Kurt's team, and move to support Jai's team's strike on the Covie Hangar, by hitting it from the bottom the moment they make their landing
The guerillas morale must be as unbreakable as Sven at this point. In a few hours their hopeless situation has taken a dramatic turn for the better as the covenant occupation of Jamshid begins to fall apart the moment Sven and Co arrive.
>>
>>6438929
There is one downside to this later but that would be meta. And my countenance is no tome.
>>
>>6438718
>Regroup with Kurt's team, and move to support Jai's team's strike on the Covie Hangar, by hitting it from the bottom the moment they make their landing

Hopefully we have time to contact and gather the rest of the rebel cells before pulling out of the city. Might need to find a 2nd base if we can't fit everyone but more troops means more lives saved and sells us being a rebel army.
>>
>>6438718
>[Boogeyman] further reduce enemy morale by picking off small patrols and stragglers near the waterline, leaving survivors to report back
>>
>>6438718
>Regroup with Kurt's team, and move to support Jai's team's strike on the Covie Hangar, by hitting it from the bottom the moment they make their landing
>>
>>6438952

I'm for killing Teckyis personally.

As to why: What's more to our favour?

Two shamed captains who can back each other up and maybe convince Brurlirus and the other two that there's something going on?

Or making Brurlirus look weak and incompetent for promoting a coward and an incompetent who got killed in the middle of a riot by 'traitors'?

I'd say the latter option, because suddenly, Brurlirus's attention is diverted to the more important matter of protecting his own ass, rather than dealing with some upstart, leftover humans.

It'll give us more opportunities to spread chaos and confusion so we can operate more freely and hit more targets.

It's worked well so far and I don't see any reason it won't keep working.
>>
>>6439129
its funny how this mission is basically showign how dangerous Sven is as an Insurectionist.

Also that insurecction tactcs are just as viable against the Covenant.
>>
>>6439179

Think he'll suggest making recruiting Innies during invasions doctrine?

Imagine how big a pain in the ass the Einherjar remnants would've been to the covies, if we could've gotten them to play nice.

I know it never would've worked, but still something to think about.
>>
>>6439184
probably would have needed sven to talk his parents to coop it in full.
>>
>>6439179
Well the only reason it works is because they're largely decentralized and doing a bunch of random bullshit all over the place. If it was just a single fortress or staging ground these tactics wouldn't work, you'd just be resorting to infiltration rather than guerilla war.

Also because the elites took the Sneering Imperialist perk and the Gorillas were stupid and picked Nerd Rage but only put three points into Int, just enough to speak mostly correct sentences.
>>
>>6439191
>the Gorillas were stupid and picked Nerd Rage but only put three points into Int, just enough to speak mostly correct sentences.

see the problem with that statement is one does respec and he makes that everyone elses problem
>>
>>6439193

Truly, the rest of them should be thanking us once we vaporise him.

Also: Think the UNSC will actually be able to figure out their own plasma weapons in this?

Actually - there's *bound* to be Engineers in the airbase. We need to steal one. Or several. But at least one.
>>
>>6439184
I feel like we're going to have a stronger opinion on innies if we ever encounter someone like Hector Nyeto or Badia Campbell, especially when the war gets really bad and you have these types being two-faced and undermining all your effort. Not to say we'd leave innies to die, but going out on a limb to vouch for them and seamlessly integrating them into the war effort is a different story.
>>
>>6439195

Mm. Depends how much the peace conference actually accomplished, I guess.
>>
>>6439194
>Also: Think the UNSC will actually be able to figure out their own plasma weapons in this?

i actually hope we can get to defend that planet or at least rescue the ONI reserch group
>>
>>6439184
I could definitely see Sven advocating for further emphasis on guerilla and psychological warfare training for special forces personnel, especially if the Covenant ends up wasting an absurd amount of time and energy chasing ghosts instead of pushing into other systems.
Ya know, it might be worth mentioning to Command that the only reason we're doing the impossible right now is because Halsey refused to (and still refuses to) compromise on any aspect of the program, be it our equipment, our training, or our psychological and genetic profiles. "Cheap" should never be used to describe any Spartan, and I'm almost certain Ackerson is going to do just that when he tries to take over the SPARTAN program.
>>
>>6439196
Maybe? I recall the problem is still bad by the end of the war because there's this perception that the UNSC kind of left the outer colonies to fend for themselves in order to reinforce the inner colonies. At the start of Halo Reach, you're told that rebels stole some freighters a few months ago and are suspected of taking down the relay. Humans are nearly wiped out and you still have them undermining everything.
>>
>>6439197
>Also: Think the UNSC will actually be able to figure out their own plasma weapons in this?
A bunch of Covenant foundries and workshops are pumping this shit out based on technology and principles they don't understand in the slightest. You put actual researchers and engineers to the task of reverse engineering it and I'd expect working prototypes within the decade if they actually get the funding they need.
Imagine it; plasma weapons that don't give the user cancer or third degree burns!
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

Lots of discussion this time, love to see it

11 Votes to regroup with Kurt and co

1 vote to contact James

1 vote for Boogeyman

The two Spartan teams will regroup and get ready to assist Jai and co when they hit the Covenant Hangar in Jamshid.

[ Decision made ]
[ Proceeding... ]
>>
>>6439201
One interesting possibility implied by the way Pinch fusion, and much of the rest of the Covenant's technology works is that it is based upon easy, and cheap gravity manipulation. The difference in power output and the highly volatile nature of the reactor has the mechanical implication that they dont make use of heavy coolant systems, but rather have strong and cheap enough field manipulation that in contrast to UNSC reactors, much less of their fusion heat seeps out. A good showcase of the efficiency difference, is how they use gravitics in their Repulsor engines on ships instead of chemical or fusion thrust like the UNSC.
If Pinch-Fusion and the principals of easy gravitics is researched, many different avenues open up. The best part, would probably be how much it, together with other Covenant technology, simplifies the designs it is incorperated into.
Who knows? Maybe UNSC ships could even begin to be fitted with Grav-MAC's, and spartans given gravitics based shields instead of the electromagnetic ones used by the covvies as cheap imitations of Forerunnner tech.
>>
Which meant decisive action had to be taken. And the operation in Jamshid needed to be finished quickly. The assassinations performed today had created an opening that Jai and co could take advantage of to cripple the covenant hangar completely. Which would have a domino effect across the colony, making accomplishing the actual goals of the mission easier. That bird nest needed to come down, and while four spartans would probably be enough to crash it; Probably wasn't good enough of a chance. Making the call, you contact Kurt and company while your team rests up and maintains and checks the gear that isn't alien in origin.

"Kurt, Malcolm, Cal. We're regrouping. This is the best chance we'll get to take out the Hangar. Our allies and the infighting have the Covenant's eyes on the ground and watching their backs, we've got troops infiltrated into their command structure" You say calmly as you perform some field repairs to your armor and make sure none of your own wounds have opened and started bleeding under it "I'll give the signal for them to fly over, the second we're in position. Assuming no pressing matters on your end"

"Only a few friendly casualties" He answered "Our allied forces are pulling back to the Garrison, presently and I believe they've accomplished their assigned tasks. We were going to follow them back to base, but we can alter course, easily

"Good, and before your ask, the troops under our wings are still fighting in the street. Though approximately half of them are heading back to the garrison, escorting survivors" You relay to Kurt and the others "We're just resting, out of the line of fire, at the moment. What's the ammo situation on your end?"

"Not running out anytime soon" Kurt answered, glibly

"Same on my end sir" Malcolm reports

"Have enough" Cal answers

"Good, no reason for us to take a detour to the base then" You say "Meet us at these coordinates, avoid hostile contact and take the safest route. I'll give Jai the signal, then head out the rally point"

Which was one of the furthest points in the streets that was sufficiently flooded to make full use of the OCEANIC Mjolnir variants strengths and quirks. It wasn't directly under the hangar, but it was near enough to launch an amphibious assault on the forces defending it from the ground. And the waters would only raise higher.

"Jai, Adriana, Michael, Nesta" You roll call as you stand up, finishing applying a patch to one of your damaged armor plates "Still mission ready?"

"Affirmative" Jai returns "Lost a bet to Nesta just now, thought you'd call in earlier"

Hearing a very familiar laugh, Nesta didn't speak up, letting Jai have the floor. Adriana and Michael similarly, held their tongues

"Why's that?", you were curious

"Lots of aerial activity in the last few hours", there was a pause "With a noticeable increase in the last couple of minutes. Adriana"
Cont
>>
>>6439211

"I can tell him myself. Noticed a few flyers with different paintjobs and designs, in those couple of minutes. Think you might've kicked the hornets nest enough to get that "Spartan Hunter" on your trail, Sven. Almost jealous" Adriana answered, cutting off Jai and reminding you that she was one of the Spartans, like yourself, who didn't strictly follow protocol and chain of command

"If you did" Nesta interjects "Then at least James and Anton won't have to worry about getting shanked in the back, will make their job easier"

"As Adriana said, we suspect a special forces team is headed to Jamshid, and likely already arrived" Jai answered "Passed us right over"

"Does Michael have anything to add?" Jorge, hearing Nesta, joined the conversation

"Nope, unless you want mechanic talk, been busy with our captured birds"

"Then it doesn't need to be said, but you have green light to begin the flight to the target. Expect ground support, putting all our chips on the table to knock down this tower", They already knew why you called so there was no reason to repeat the plan, so you just cut to the chase

"Understood, won't need the help, but its appreciated" Jai says "Gray team has this handled"

"Oh am I an official member now?" Nesta smart asses, before you switch frequencies to let them their last minute mission prep and to focus on making it to the rally point in time. And you had some of you own last minute prep to make.

>[Tactician level higher than opposition leader's level] Give the double agents you planted in Teckyis' command structure the signal, before launching your own assault once they've softened enemy ground positions (DC 22. +3 Infiltrator, +6 Fire support (Cal, Kurt, Illya, Jorge, Malcolm, CMA troops), +2 Spartan-II. )

>Arrange a meet up with one of the double agents, and slip them Vali's data chip and give them orders to plant them in any Covenant device in their home base (Oceanic Mark IV variant auto succeeds stealth check)

>[Boogyeman] Capture a few Covie stragglers, and give the captain a fright by executing his men directly in front of their fortifications but outside of their effective range [Enemy Morale has lowered enough through repeated Boogyeman encounters, to auto succeed capture check]

>[Infiltrator 3+ & Mjolnir mark IV oceanic] Sneak into the Covenant Command in Jamshid, by going in through the flooded subbasement

>Write in option
>>
>>6439212
>>[Boogyeman] Capture a few Covie stragglers, and give the captain a fright by executing his men directly in front of their fortifications but outside of their effective range [Enemy Morale has lowered enough through repeated Boogyeman encounters, to auto succeed capture check]
>>[Infiltrator 3+ & Mjolnir mark IV oceanic] Sneak into the Covenant Command in Jamshid, by going in through the flooded subbasement
Okay now we go for the blood eagle. I want the high council to shit themselves when they see the recordings of this.
>>
>>6439212

>[Boogyeman] Capture a few Covie stragglers, and give the captain a fright by executing his men directly in front of their fortifications but outside of their effective range [Enemy Morale has lowered enough through repeated Boogyeman encounters, to auto succeed capture check]

Morale break gives the best opening for grey. Also just really like spreading fear, while keeping our spies as aces.
>>
>>6439212
>[Boogyeman] Capture a few Covie stragglers, and give the captain a fright by executing his men directly in front of their fortifications but outside of their effective range [Enemy Morale has lowered enough through repeated Boogyeman encounters, to auto succeed capture check]
>[Infiltrator 3+ & Mjolnir mark IV oceanic] Sneak into the Covenant Command in Jamshid, by going in through the flooded subbasement

kinda wanted vali to get used, but he can wait till later.
>>
>>6439222
Vali is probably best for taking out the ships in someway.
>>
>>6439222
The issue with using Vali right away is that he's liable to fry any stored data and comms equipment he comes into contact with. I'd like to get a chance to capture some of that before we go full torch and burn.
>>
>>6439212
>[Boogyeman] Capture a few Covie stragglers, and give the captain a fright by executing his men directly in front of their fortifications but outside of their effective range [Enemy Morale has lowered enough through repeated Boogyeman encounters, to auto succeed capture check]

By the way Torment, would you give permission that i make an omake regarding the ongoing research effort around the captured Covenant ship?
>>
>>6439212
>[Boogyeman] Capture a few Covie stragglers, and give the captain a fright by executing his men directly in front of their fortifications but outside of their effective range [Enemy Morale has lowered enough through repeated Boogyeman encounters, to auto succeed capture check]
Give the bastards a show.
>>
Man thinking about it. I wonder rif asking for more ships would have been a better call if we wanted to evac peeps.

Our ship probably isn't enough to evacuate every survivor we can find. Unless we can find some way to steal an extra ship or even just a way for our to carry more. Like how a car can tow a trailer.
>>
>>6439212
>[Infiltrator 3+ & Mjolnir mark IV oceanic] Sneak into the Covenant Command in Jamshid, by going in through the flooded subbasement
>>
>>6439212

>[Infiltrator 3+ & Mjolnir mark IV oceanic] Sneak into the Covenant Command in Jamshid, by going in through the flooded subbasement.

Shame we don't have a damage pack, we could've dropped the whole damn tower out from under them.
>>
>>6439223
yes, maybe some point later, we can infiltrate the worms ship and plant it there and take out the fleet.

>>6439224
yeah thats why i didnt choose it, besides itd be better later than have it risk alerting the Covies early about a virus.
>>
>>6439129
>What's more to our favour?
The reason we want to do this "fratricide war plot" is to create maximum chaos. And the way to do that requires Teckyis to be in the same spot as Kestidion. The losers/cowards one. With that done, we then eliminate Chieftain Brurlirus because he is the land commander here on Alpha Corvi. And what does that create? 4 captains with different levels of wanting the Brute Tribe throne, and we learned there is a lot of bad blood and a lot of family ties and a lot of ambition in these brutes. 2 are already aligned by being losers; the other 2 will be forced to align because we eliminate the Chieftain. And that gives us: maximum chaos. Captains infighting and breaking down the Tribe against one another, and with suspicions raised to the max between one another thanks to our previous actions.

Of course, if we want to go in another direction, we can, but we are working toward this as of now. Ultimately, if we want to try to do the second part of our plot, we need chaos in the Covenant ranks. And the second part of our plot is getting into a ship for insert Vali and broadcoast for make sure we kill as many Covenant and more importantly, Covenant warships. Otherwise, we are not saving the rest of the vast majority of humans here, the ones in chains being worked to death or being devoured.

I also want to keep Teckyis alive. Because I want to get my hands on him when we are done. On top of some other stuff and aliens. If Brurlirus needs to die, that's a major prize that I can't get home, and if we can't get the Prophet (we really need to get him alive if possible, it would be wonderful to impose boogeymen on him and force it to be our hostage), I want the smartest ape on this world.

>>6439184
It depends on whether we want to; we have recruited innies before, ONI has straight up recruited innies in this quest too. As of right now, most Innies' movements are in the process of becoming allies, at least, thanks to our successes and diplomatic efforts of UEG/UNSC. Check the war efforts section results in the doc if you need to look in depth. Sven is already working on other things, but he could suggest it when he gets back.

>>6439194
>there's *bound* to be Engineers in the airbase. We need to steal one. Or several. But at least one.
If a random covenant vehicle garage had one, an air base probably has one. If it's feasible to grab, we need to see it. There are likely a lot of gas balls in Alpha Corvi II at the moment, simply because there are a lot of aliens here above +1000, easily above +6000 even. If not +10k. Most of them are likely at the dig sites, though some are in the military bases and other structures, but the Archaeology Prophet likely wants them working.

The current alive prizes here are: swordmaster, chieftain, 4 captains, assorted lower-ranked officers, a prophet, assorted alien troops (there are still alive Yanme drones which would be nice to have), the gas balls, and of course the human turncoats.
>>
>>6439212
>>[Boogyeman] Capture a few Covie stragglers, and give the captain a fright by executing his men directly in front of their fortifications but outside of their effective range [Enemy Morale has lowered enough through repeated Boogyeman encounters, to auto succeed capture check]
>>[Infiltrator 3+ & Mjolnir mark IV oceanic] Sneak into the Covenant Command in Jamshid, by going in through the flooded subbasement

so what we split up or we kill and fade away and sneak into the basement?
>>
>>6439212
>>[Boogyeman] Capture a few Covie stragglers, and give the captain a fright by executing his men directly in front of their fortifications but outside of their effective range [Enemy Morale has lowered enough through repeated Boogyeman encounters, to auto succeed capture check]
This means Swordmaster Ravo might try to go for us with his cadre. A good opportunity to remove him.
>>
>>6439212
>[Infiltrator 3+ & Mjolnir mark IV oceanic] Sneak into the Covenant Command in Jamshid, by going in through the flooded subbasement

The boogyeman option is good IMO, and it has the potential of pulling attention off of Gray Team's approach. But at the same time if there's a chance of an engineer here our own infil would be the best chance of grabbing one.
>>
>>6439129

You were asking what's more to our favor... Well, I'd say having two captains going after the other two captains in a succession war (thus, a lot of covenant killing a lot of covenant) instead of just one dead brute.

That's actually the entire point of the fratricidal war plan - to place the captain most likely to be incited to rebel in a spot that he has to fight for his life (using the troops under his command). The idea was that we would disgrace him (thus, he looks weak), and then pop the overall brute leader, creating a power vacuum. The different captains get to fight it out, and there are higher overall casualties for the Covenant as a whole. A good plan.

You just trying to kill Teckyis aborts that plan entirely - he dies, a successor steps up, minimum disruption to covenant forces or operations. Not a good plan.

You also raised the point that if the overall brute leader is disgraced, HE would have to be watching his ass. I'm going to point out that that individual doesn't have any competitors for power - If he is disgraced, the only person he has to answer to is the prophet, and the prophet probably isn't going to remove him unless he has a better replacement candidate (not in evidence). Even then if he did, a simple change in command wouldn't start the kind of succession struggle that we're hoping will cause a lot more covenant casualties.

Not really seeing why you want Teckyis dead, in the overall scheme of things.
>>
>>6439212
>>[Tactician level higher than opposition leader's level] Give the double agents you planted in Teckyis' command structure the signal, before launching your own assault once they've softened enemy ground positions (DC 22. +3 Infiltrator, +6 Fire support (Cal, Kurt, Illya, Jorge, Malcolm, CMA troops), +2 Spartan-II. )
>
>>Arrange a meet up with one of the double agents, and slip them Vali's data chip and give them orders to plant them in any Covenant device in their home base (Oceanic Mark IV variant auto succeeds stealth check)
>
>
>>[Infiltrator 3+ & Mjolnir mark IV oceanic] Sneak into the Covenant Command in Jamshid, by going in through the flooded subbasement

All three of these are compatible. We infiltrate the base, and coordinate our attack with the double agents, after Vali starts some nasty shit.

Vali, my child, this is what you were born for. Rage and devour.
>>
>>6439294

My thought process for Teckyis dying or being removed from the picture is that Brurlirus's position could still be challenged by his subordinates if he's perceived to be weak enough and because three captains would mean that any potential alliances between the brute factions would likely be less stable.

I do see your point, I'm just looking at this from the bottom up, rather than the top down.

Because I can absolutely see the brutes being unprofessional enough to put their own self interest and advancement above the comparatively minor matter of doing their job.

I get what you're saying, though.
>>
>>6439438
We heard it from the lips of captured aliens. Multiple of them for confirm said informations. We have started to know how a Brute Tribe works, we know of its blood ties, we know of their captains ambitions. We even know how each captains operates and what they are known for. We know their names.

Brurlirus is the one in charge here for the entire land military, and also in general if the Prophet is only thinking about human genocide and relics. He has no leadership competititon here. He has full control and trust, and can direct things how he sees fit. Has a chieftain given so much power he can even afford to send reinforcements to his captains because he still holds a large amount of power and majority of troops. And he likely knows how to manage internal power and manage its captains. And the easiest captains to deal with for him are ? The ones that fail on their own, because he can reprimand/shame them.

Kestidion likely got his due already after running away in fear and losing a small force in a wilderness camp, the human slaves in it, plus soldiers directly under him. Very shameful.

Teckyis will have lost Jamshid after being generously given fresh reinforcements recently, have not kept under control control its own troops and letting them riot, having lost a great ally with the Yanme Queen and being defeated by human guerillas. Even more shameful than Kestidion, but it still places Teckyis in the same spot of another captain. Losers spot.

There is no argument that can be made against Brurlirus because he allowed by his own design a long leash to his captains. A leash of autonomy/power that if they fail they will entagle themselves in and be easily suffocated from it. He has left them doing a lot of decisions and power, because he knows that if they fail its entirely on them. He can shame them a lot if they do it.
>>
And thats why Brurlirus needs to be eliminated. He is the obstacle of our plot, he is the strongest link. Currently we are creating the conditions to create a power block between two Captains, K & T (Kestidion and Teckyis). Which means C & G (Cossuzeus and Gikirbus) will have to align has a response to this political development. And when we kill Brurlirus, ta-da we have a powerkeg about to explode on who should be the next Chieftain. We will have made two power blocks that want power, meaning they will start a fratricide war, they will not trust eachother, there would be no way for decide with votes who should be next. They will kill eachother.


We cannot do that if Clever Teckyis dies, because Brurlirus can just pick someone else and make him Captain. What that means ? Lets look at it. No maximum chaos, no we get a pacification, a new face and a return to the status quo. The New Captain would be the New Captain. And would entirely depend on Brurlirus for power because he was just picked has replacement, this new guy didn't take power or earn it in some way. This New Captain would have no reason to align with Kestidion too. He would be green and what not but not a loser like Kestidion.
>>
I would like to make a note to everyone, the Spartan hunter will be reviewing all the terror attacks and stuff we've been doing. Pair that with our prior activities before the colony fell.

Do not use the water path this time, they will be watching it. Becoming predictable is death, maybe not for us but some at least a few Spartans. We need to do something original so I suggest

>[Tactician level higher than opposition leader's level] Give the double agents you planted in Teckyis' command structure the signal, before launching your own assault once they've softened enemy ground positions (DC 22. +3 Infiltrator, +6 Fire support (Cal, Kurt, Illya, Jorge, Malcolm, CMA troops), +2 Spartan-II. )

We keep Vali on hand no matter what, can't risk him falling into enemy hands or being destroyed. His first debut should be on a ship since they won't have a counter
>>
Haven't slept a wink, so update may be delayed or come in late in the night.
>>
>>6439772
Yo take a nap bro
>>
>>6439212
>[Boogyeman] Capture a few Covie stragglers, and give the captain a fright by executing his men directly in front of their fortifications but outside of their effective range [Enemy Morale has lowered enough through repeated Boogyeman encounters, to auto succeed capture check]

Hopefully this draws out the elite.
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, Back online ]

Sorry about that, couldn't fall asleep until like 10 AM

8 Votes for [Boogeyman]

7 Votes for [Infiltraitor]

2 Votes for [Tactician]

1 Vote to arrange a meet up with one of the plants

Being a spooky motherfucker takes it by an inch, time for Sven to put the fear of the Aesir into these Covies.

Some mood music, to set the tone: https://youtu.be/1tYBDbzWmXk

[ Decision made ]
[ Proceeding... ]
>>
>>6440067
Nesta's going to be angry Sven's doing psychotic shit without her.
>>
>>6440067
look if they didnt want PTSD they shouldnt have picked a fight with humanity
>>
The Covenant weren't amateurs. They were an army of zealots, but they were a professional army of zealots. Couldn't underestimate their OPSEC. There'd be flight codes, frequencies any approaching craft had to enter to not be shot down. Other officers might get complacent, overconfident, but you'd seen that Teckyis was only a step behind the pace you set. This ape was smart, just not smart enough to keep pace with Spartan-033. But if he was working, even temporarily, with humans, he'd have to be aware that the equipment designed to be used with ease and comfort by multiple species, could also be used by humans. And that just because they'd killed most of the planet, didn't mean their weren't any resourceful or cunning bastards left just waiting for an opening to strike. So security on the Hangar would be high. You didn't doubt that Gray Team could evade any air defenses and countermeasures they had in place, but it'd make the landing and escape after all the more dicey.

So they needed a distraction, a big but brief one. One to make whatever squid faced freak they had certifying the credentials of every bird that came back to roost to look away, for just a few seconds. And after watching the ground floor like a hawk, you've have a plan to create that momentary opening. Spreading out your squad, you tell them exactly what you intend to do as they fan out and create an invisible "Net". With all the "excitement" going on in Jamshid's flooded streets right now, there are bound to be stragglers, especially around the enemy's command center. Cowards dragging their feet or grunts confused about conflicting orders, or the superstitious who've spent too long listening to ghost stories in the Covie's version of a smokepit

And catching them without being noticed, was easy. Their morale was eroding. Garrison duty hadn't made them enthusiastic, but they'd gotten jumpy and hesitant, a combination of not trusting the soldiers behind them and the spread of the "Ghost stories" your squad had been leaving behind across the colony. They weren't operating at a hundred percent, but even if they were fighting at their best, capturing a couple of lone aliens wasn't a challenge for even a single Spartan. Let alone six working in concert...
_
[ Adjusting Perspective.... ]

"Captain", Teckyis heard one of his underlings, meekly, address him as he studied the movements of the vermin that had the audacity to escape the corners he had painstakingly forced them to occupy. Calmly, in a manner he was told was very unlike a Jiralhanae, the Brute Captain rapped his knuckles on the edge of the wall, giving permission to the young blood to speak.

None of this made sense. The tactics of the hairless had drastically improved. They'd been quick to flee and retreat, even when they had a number advantage. Then, mysteriously, the Queen the Chieftan had entrusted him to work alongside, had perished in the heart of her hive.
Cont
>>
>>6440104

Whatever had happened down there, was still a complete unknown. The truth vanished with the trusted officer and troops he sent to investigate the matter. Sensors picked up a localized increase in temperatures, that was a close match to a plasma battery self detonating. And then, the primitive water systems backed up and humans with the sense to realize there was no forgiveness to be found, had started fighting back. And started winning.

Their tactics changed and improved. And Teckyis knew that he must've missed a veteran or officer of some ability during the follow up clean up of the human warren, but he could not imagine how. The colony's militarized population had been all but wiped out by the Sangheili following the demise of the former Minister of Archeology. And from how the humans fought, Teckyis wondered if the human psyche could produce individuals like the so called "Unmutuals" of the Yanme'e

For it would take a creature with colder blood than a Sangheili to abandon his own kind to suffer and die, until an opportunity to advance presented itself. If there existed a human so cunning, Teckyis might find reason to disagree with the mandated extermination of the species. For that would prove they could, with proper guidance, fill some niche not occupied by the lesser races.

As he thought, his subordinate gathered his courage and mustered the will to speak. Teckyis was considered of small frame and passive personality for a grown male, but his quiet demeanor created an oppressive aura that kept his subordinates in line better than a swung gravity hammer

"Several soldiers have failed to report to their stations or deployment zones" The wincing minor before him, who must've drawn a short straw, reported. Teckyis felt his blood boil, and the habitual rapping of his knuckles became pounding.

"Three officers dead, within the same day, renewed resistance from the human remnants" Teckyis listed off from a mental list "The Yanme'e lost their queen, and the Kig-yar believe us Jiralhanae attacked them, and the Jiralhanae believe the Kig-yar struck the first blow. One would believe there is a conspiracy against me"

The minor remained silent, and Teckyis lifted their hand and stretched out its fingers "Anything else to report, perhaps, my men have begun repeating the nonsense Kestidon made up to excuse his own failure to maintain order of starved and beaten prisoners, and the loss of a Huragok in territory we tightly control"
Cont
>>
>>6440105

"I know you are not superstitious, Captain, but..."The Minor begun, before being interrupted by a security alert. Teckyis smothered the lecture he had been planning on giving and turned to security feeds of the building he had chosen as his center of command, for its defensibility, position and surviving, technological infostructure. As primitive as it was. And at that same moment, an alert from the flight controller on the hangar in the upper levels arrived. A code of an unscheduled and unidentified flight of Oghal-pattern Attack Flyers

The Chieftan had informed him the shamed one had been given permission to come and go wherever they believed the ghosts they chased could be found. Teckyis, thus, determined the security alarm was of a more pressing concern, and before making a decision on the unscheduled flight, watched the security camera.

Teckyis, was, unlike the minor who was also now observing the live footage, utterly calm.

"They appear to have returned our missing soldiers" He observed, wryly as he counted down the line of Unggoy and Jiralhanae, bound by primitive means and knelt like heretics awaiting judgement and execution

"By the waters edge" The minor muttered fearfully, as Teckyis watched, expecting to see one of Gikirbus' soldiers walk into frame or the ambitious captain himself, to dramatically reveal he was the mastermind behind his rival and peer's sudden misfortunes and losses. For Kestidon, was too cowardly to take the chance unless he was certain of victory and Cossuzeus was too simple minded to orchestrate such a refined plan. Only Gikirbus would be so cunning yet overly bold.

Instead of a fellow Jiralhanae, what stepped into frame, behind the row of beaten and restrained soldiers, was...something else. Teckyis felt his spine tingle, as he saw the silver blue frame of the creature, covered by scorched and melted Sangheili bones and remains. There were clear signs of plasma damage, and absolutely no exposed skin or flesh. The thing had the posture and gait of a human, but perfected. Nearly mechanical in their precision. Absolutely no wasted movement or energy. And it was much larger than the specimens Teckyis had convinced would find salvation and forgiveness in the Covenants ranks.

Teckyis realized that the outer appearance was armor, different and more advance than that worn by the humans on the planet. Strange. Alien. With an eerie, ghost like sheen to its coating. He tried to take in every detail, from the hooks attached to the hands and feet of the armor, the strange segmentation of the visors and armored bars, the exaggerated and curved shoulder pads, and attachments to the armor. The figure wore a camouflage cloak, and a number of small, blinking devices attached to their head, one arm and waistline.

And they were desecrating Covenant Gear.
Cont
>>
>>6440107

Were the humans clients of some greater race? Teckyis wondered as a smug smirk crossed his furred lips. He'd found his saboteur, and now knew he had nothing to fear if they would be so overconfident to show off their prizes like his three rivals and flaunt their few victories over...

Teckyis started, as without warning, the bone wearer was joined by five more of their number. Lesser in stature and adornment, Teckyis once again wondered if these were examples of some unknown, dominator race that the humans served or if they were some superior sub species based off the similarity of their movements. Or maybe, the taboo existence of robotic intelligences.

These wonderings and the feeling of superiority Teckyis felt, certain of his own greater intellect and cunning, vanished as, with an unnatural coordination, the six figures took six unggoys and in full view but out of range of the furthest most defensive line on his tower, slit the tubes of their breathing apparatuses.

Teckyis had seen and ordered Unggoys to rip resisting humans apart to serve as examples to the rest and those who now, temporarily, served beneath him. But these Blue Ghosts, handled Unggoys like they were Jiralhanae. He watched, disgusted as the Unggoy began to flail and scratch at their own masks, choking as they were dropped and left to seize, within view of their fellows watching the entrance and the other prisoners.

Who were dispatched, as casually as the rest, as Teckyis felt his blood begin to boil. They were cut down like sick animals. But he realized that this was a brutish effort to make him lose composure, to fall into their hands and...Teckyis couldn't look away. The slow drag of knives and swords across the limbs of his subordinates, had been unpleasant but what followed wasn't just cruel, it was barbaric. Monstrous.

But the fate of the highest ranked amongst the prisoners, a major, had been too awful and grotesque for him to look away and feel anything but the characteristic rage of his species. They were butchering him alive, careful to not accidentally and mercifully end his life with one stroke of the blade. It was a bloody spectacle, a gruesome performance. And Teckyis' jaw went slack, the alarm from the hangar and reports sent up from the terrified guards stationed low enough to witness the grotesque act with their own eyes turning to ringing in his ears as his fear whiplashed into blind fury as he watched, unable to do anything to stop the barbaric execution or prevent the show of disrespect.

They'd skinned the back of the Major, cracked apart the rips and had began cutting and slicing through the exposed cavity, calm as machines or things that were already dead, as a few, token, attempts were made to shoot or chase off the bone wearers as they, with surgical precision that rivaled the Huragok.
Cont
>>
>>6440108

They were butchering him, pulling something meaty, red and pulsing from out of the hole in his back. Spreading it out, looking directly at the camera recording their bloody work, even as death lobber rounds and Kemuksuru were fired in their direction.

"Captain" The pale faced minor who had watched ordeal beside him "The hangar"

"BLAST THE HANGAR!" Teckyis roared, enraged, appalled and though he dared not admit it, frightened, slapped the back of the minors head "THE REAL THREAT HAS SHOWN ITSELF! AND I WANT ITS HEAD! TELL FLIGHT CONTROL TO FOLLOW PROTOCOL AND STOP WASTING MY TIME!"

The minor nodded as Teckyis stomped away to retrieve his War Hammer and put an end to this farce before it could do any more damage to his operations and reputation!
_
[ Adjusting perspective, Returning to preferred candidate, Sven-033 ]

"Thistle has landed" You calmly report as you drop what you think is a lung on the shoulder of the heaving and wheezing sasquatch you'd spent the last few minutes disassembling with Malcolm and Illya, while Jorge, Kurt and Cal dissuaded any attempt the covenant thought to make to rush your position or get close enough to be in range to mass fire "And judging from that roar, the enemy captain has been placed into checkmate"

Illya and Malcolm immediately stopped the hurried blood eagle performance, and the former ended the show via knife to the back of the skull. The intended audience wasn't watching, so there was no point dragging things out.

Thistle had reached their target, and were already underway achieving their primary objective.

>Give the signal to fall back into the water, and lead the covies on a snipe hunt around the area (Path difficulty: HEROIC. First DC 14. +3 Infiltrator, +2 MJOLNIR MARK IV/ OCEANIC, -2 they really want you dead)

>Signal your squad to advance and apply pressure, taking advantage of the fear of the enemy to push into the tower (Path difficulty: HEROIC. First DC 18. +1 Shotgunner, +5 Fire support (Violet team), +2 Enemy is terrified of you)

>[Tactician 3] Hold position, trusting Jorge to have select a good, defendable location, and wait until the enemy has committed, then give the signal to the double agents to engage

>[Maverick+Boogeyman] [ Daredevil Manuver] eschew tactics and grasp the enemies fear, and charge their positions along to draw fire and panic them, while the rest of your team slips past (Path difficulty: LEGENDARY. First DC 23. +5 Bulwark, +2 Spartan-II, +2 It wants our bones! (Maverick, bonus doubled if roll succeeds), -2 focused enemy fire)

>Write in option
>>
>>6440110
>>[Tactician 3] Hold position, trusting Jorge to have select a good, defendable location, and wait until the enemy has committed, then give the signal to the double agents to engage

we did all this work and set up for this moment now its time to use it
>>
>>6440110
>[Tactician 3] Hold position, trusting Jorge to have select a good, defendable location, and wait until the enemy has committed, then give the signal to the double agents to engage

I trust Jorge and this is perfect time to use our agents to give thistle a great start. Just hope our agents survive.
>>
Hmm hopefully we can loot the base and they have shadows or even pahntoms for for transport.
>>
>>6440114
hopefully our double agents learned alot from the traitors like what huragok is so IC we know to snatch them when ever
>>
>>6440110

>[Tactician 3] Hold position, trusting Jorge to have select a good, defendable location, and wait until the enemy has committed, then give the signal to the double agents to engage

Well, I wasn't for the Boogeyman option, but I can't argue with the results.

Let's capture us a Teckyis. He knows too much now.
>>
>>6440119
Part of me expects and hopes Teckyis pulls a saturday morning cartoon villain moment and manages to flee at the last second and secure his survival despite defeat.
>>
>>6440110
>[Maverick+Boogeyman] [ Daredevil Manuver] eschew tactics and grasp the enemies fear, and charge their positions along to draw fire and panic them, while the rest of your team slips past (Path difficulty: LEGENDARY. First DC 23. +5 Bulwark, +2 Spartan-II, +2 It wants our bones! (Maverick, bonus doubled if roll succeeds), -2 focused enemy fire)
More ultraviolence, please!
>>
>>6440137
This would be perfect if we still had our 1 per mission unbreakable but too risky even if we use Jotuns rage immediately. Since we'd be left alone against an army
>>
>>6440141
Coward.
>>
>>6440110
>>[Tactician 3] Hold position, trusting Jorge to have select a good, defendable location, and wait until the enemy has committed, then give the signal to the double agents to engage
>>
>>6440125

Nah, we got under his skin. He's pissed. We can punch him into next week, cocoon him in duct tape and haul his ass home for ONI.

We also need to see if we can't catch another bug on the way out.

Even if we have eggs and potentially a Queen egg, more live captures is always good.
>>
>>6440110
>>[Tactician 3] Hold position, trusting Jorge to have select a good, defendable location, and wait until the enemy has committed, then give the signal to the double agents to engage
>>
>>6440110
>[Tactician 3] Hold position, trusting Jorge to have select a good, defendable location, and wait until the enemy has committed, then give the signal to the double agents to engage
>>
>>6440110
>[Maverick+Boogeyman] [ Daredevil Manuver] eschew tactics and grasp the enemies fear, and charge their positions along to draw fire and panic them, while the rest of your team slips past (Path difficulty: LEGENDARY. First DC 23. +5 Bulwark, +2 Spartan-II, +2 It wants our bones! (Maverick, bonus doubled if roll succeeds), -2 focused enemy fire)
>>
>>6440119

Nah, We still need him for the rest of the plan. I do think it was dumb to show ourselves, but the question isn't "does he know who's after him", the question is, "Will the other brutes believe him, and will he do what it takes to survive?"

Even if HE knows what's up, it's not necessarily going to abort the fratricidal war plan.

Of course, if he gets the other captains on board, then this entire plan was for nothing except giving stiffies to several idiots who decided they'd rather make a blood eagle than start a civil war.
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

6 votes for [Tactician]

2 Votes for [M+B]

So Sven and co will hold position, until the enemy has fully committed and then give the signal to CMA soldiers disguised as the enemy

[ Decision made ]
[ Proceeding...]
>>
And your team was in an easily defended position. Jorge had picked it out prior to the capture of the "Volunteers" for the performance you'd put on to create an impactful enough diversion for Jai and co to make their landing, safely. With the execution of the last "subject", the Covenant soldiers and traitors that had been taking pot shots at your position but had been too cowardly to attempt to engage directly, stopped shooting for a few, vital seconds as all six Spartans got behind points of cover pre-selected for each of them. And began returning fire into the quiet enemy lines, snapping them out of their freeze response as they quickly chose fight over flight. They knew there were "only" six of you, and they had the high ground and number advantage. As expected, the traitors in their ranks were sent forward first, followed by the Hunchbacks; A few of who were smacked or outright pushed or tossed out of their cover by their own teammates.

And their, hesitant, advance met little resistance. Your team confirmed a few kills to keep them from realizing they were playing into your hand, but not enough to break their wavering morale complete and make them choose flight instead of fight, before the key moment. It was like a fire drill back in boot camp, more than actual combat. Calm, planned and easy, but you didn't drop your guard or get complacent and you know the others didn't at all, every muscle was tensed, coiled and ready to move the moment things went south or an unexpected complication appeared. But, that readiness was unnecessary, and Jorge had picked the "Hill" for your team to hold perfectly. Even though they had the numbers advantage, and more left the safety of their fortifications as they gained ground towards your position, they weren't able to hit any of you even by massing and focusing fire. With pre-planned fall back points and enough cover to re-position to when one position became untenable, your team was under little threat. Not none, but enough that there was no need to rush and push back hostiles advancing on your location.

And that was what you'd wanted. A stalemate. One where one side could, when they mustered their courage, push forward and gain ground but not be able to force out or injure the defending team. A frustrating position to be in, for grunts with already frayed nerves who were terrified of the force they were being sent against. Which meant they'd rely more on the advantage they had, numbers, since even with high ground and wide angles of attack, they hadn't made any headway.

They started to mass for a concentrated push, and you peeked from cover and saw a few familiar faces, hanging back as two Unggoy argued amongst themselves, probably about which was expendable enough to lead the rest of the cannon fodder into certain death. You threw up a hand, and flashed three fingers.
Cont
>>
>>6440489

Three seconds. The CMA soldier in charge understood, nodding and turning to face the two aliens that could easily kill him. He flashed two fingers, and a pocket of CMA militia disguised as turncoats flashed up one finger. There were three units in the enemy backline. You held up a fist.

And in unison, you and your spartans broke cover and actually started trying, laying into the distracted and hesitant enemy line with everything you had. A moment later, the three units of disguise CMA troops turned their guns on alien and traitorous backs, opening fire as they tried to fall back.

The Covenant only saw that their human auxiliaries had started firing on them. The traitors didn't last long after that the Covies started shooting at anything in their lines that didn't wear a gasmask or looked like a walking fur rug. The CMA guys, suffered causalities, but they back up in the form of six highly trained super soldiers. The first one you signaled, didn't make it to the end of a fire fight.

He'd executed the two distracted Unggoy to signal the rest of his unit to open fire. In full view of the Sasquatch taskmaster that had been throwing any human or Unggoy who hesitated to go down the stairs. He was grabbed by the throat, the moment after you'd left cover. But he didn't go down easily. Cal had lined up a shot on the helmeted brute, but before she could take it, the ape was on the ground choking on a knife. Even though his neck had been snapped, the soldier had taken down one last alien with him. And the rest of his team, didn't waste the chance he gave him and opened fire, suppressing the door before more Sasquatches could pour out to lend so much needed muscle to Covies trying to fight and claw their way back too safety.

And taking full advantage of the confusion and the covenants rout, you hit their backs with grenades as your team picked out and neutralized targets. The CMA guys held out until your team reached them, using Tengu Shield Gauntlets and plasma grenades to inflict heavy losses on the Covenant trying to figure out where they were being shot from, and the traitors who had been surprised to suddenly have their new alien friends turn around and start shooting at them instead of the enemy they'd been trying to flush out.

Jorge took point, fighting alongside the militiamen before the rest of the team reach their position, laying down covering fire for them, as you continued detonating the enemy backline, while Cal picked off any alien that looked like they were starting to reinstate order and discipline. Kurt lead Illya and Malcolm along the right flank, pouncing on some Unggoy and turncoats who'd tried to flee the fight.

All it took to complete nullify the Covenant's number advantage and turn the stalemate into a onesided slaughter, was one command and half a minute of panic and confusion on their end.
Cont
>>
>>6440490

And when the shooting stops, no Sasquatches return fire from inside the building, and a glance through the glass doors tells you they'd fallen back to more defendable positions. And saved your Spartans the trouble of putting down the traitors in their ranks. After the stunt you just pulled, the Covenant no longer trusted their own expendable fodder. Or at least, the troops on the ground didn't.

Either way, this bought you some breathing room and time to think. But as you signaled Kurt to help you clear the ground floor lobby, the sky lit up.

And a burning Sasquatch fell from it.

"Seems Nesta's having fun" Jorge remarked, without looking up. A moment later, an explosion sent concrete and glass raining down on the stairs leading up to the office building the Covenant had turned into a hangar.

>[Infiltrator 3] Take a page out of Operation Talon and Fallen Valkyrie, and go up the elevator shaft while the CMA unit keeps the Covies occupied (DC 16. +3 Infiltrator)

>Plant Vali into the building's network and have him cause some mischief (DC 12. DC reduced by 5 (From 17) through Quality:Wunderkind

>Entrench your current position, and ask Jai and co if they need any special assistance

>Keep pushing forward, to keep the enemy's attention divided (DC 20. +3 Tactician, +6 Fire Support (Violet Team + CMA Milita)

>Write in option
>>
>>6440491

>Keep pushing forward, to keep the enemy's attention divided (DC 20. +3 Tactician, +6 Fire Support (Violet Team + CMA Milita

This keeps everyone together while supporting thistle. Elavator would leave militia for dead.
>>
>>6440491
>Keep pushing forward, to keep the enemy's attention divided (DC 20. +3 Tactician, +6 Fire Support (Violet Team + CMA Milita)
>>
>>6440491

>Keep pushing forward, to keep the enemy's attention divided (DC 20. +3 Tactician, +6 Fire Support (Violet Team + CMA Milita)

TEMPO, TEMPO, TEMPO!
>>
>>6440491
I'm kind of hesitant to engage an enemy that is now settling into defendable positions. Feel like our CMA guys, who have already taken casualties, will take needless more for questionable gain. We might also have to worry about getting wounded soldiers out of the area.

>Entrench your current position, and ask Jai and co if they need any special assistance
>Write in option
>While we're holding, do some scrounging. Have the CMA guys check ammunition, redistribute supplies, treat any wounded, and recover the dog tags of any fallen personnel where it can be done safely without exposing themselves.
We're working with Jai while the Brutes are still concerned about our position and dealing with the traitors. They're still reacting to us, so it's not necessarily the lose momentum choice.

Any Covenant troops sitting in defensive positions waiting for us instead of responding to Jai are effectively being wasted. If they move to flush us out, we're in a good position to deal with them. If they move to deal with Gray Team, we can likely exploit that by committing to a push ourselves or even just launch a feint to split their attention again.
>>
>>6440491
>>Keep pushing forward, to keep the enemy's attention divided (DC 20. +3 Tactician, +6 Fire Support (Violet Team + CMA Milita)

lost one of the CMA guys but was an absolute badass in the way he went out
>>
>>6440491
>>Keep pushing forward, to keep the enemy's attention divided (DC 20. +3 Tactician, +6 Fire Support (Violet Team + CMA Milita)

Time to go on the attack, guerrilla forces, Spartan teams. Anything we have here needs to attack the Covenant air base of Jamshid. The pressure we have built up so far in Teckyis forces needs to explode, and it needs to explode right now.
>>
>>6440491
>>Keep pushing forward, to keep the enemy's attention divided (DC 20. +3 Tactician, +6 Fire Support (Violet Team + CMA Milita)
>>
>>6440550
Boogeyman should hopefully proc after a few success yeh and rout them. Hopefully swordmaster goes for us thanks Bladebreaker and appearing first instead of against thistle.
>>
>>6440491
>Keep pushing forward, to keep the enemy's attention divided (DC 20. +3 Tactician, +6 Fire Support (Violet Team + CMA Milita)
>>
>>6440491
>>Plant Vali into the building's network and have him cause some mischief (DC 12. DC reduced by 5 (From 17) through Quality:Wunderkind
>
>>Keep pushing forward, to keep the enemy's attention divided (DC 20. +3 Tactician, +6 Fire Support (Violet Team + CMA Milita)

We need eyes inside that building, and to kill comms - both for us and our squishies. And If the Spartan Hunter shows up, I want warning so we can put his nuts in a vise.
>>
>>6440522

Adding:

>Plant Vali into the building's network and have him cause some mischief (DC 12. DC reduced by 5 (From 17) through Quality:Wunderkind)

>>6440765

This guy's got it right. A limited-scale deployment of Vali to fuck the building shouldn't be a problem.
>>
>>6440491
>>Plant Vali into the building's network and have him cause some mischief (DC 12. DC reduced by 5 (From 17) through Quality:Wunderkind

If we can do this along with charging in coll
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

8 Votes to push forward

1 Vote to hold position
L
+ 1 vote to scrounge

3 Votes to plant Vali


So you'll keep pushing and applying pressure, keeping the Covie's attention divided

[ Decision made ]
[ Please roll 1d20+9. DC 20 Best out of 3 ]
>>
Rolled 19 + 9 (1d20 + 9)

>>6440957
>>
Rolled 15 + 9 (1d20 + 9)

>>6440957
>>
Rolled 4 + 9 (1d20 + 9)

>>6440957
I'll just ace thi-

>>6440958
Shit nevermind I'll just critfail and ruin this guy's roll instead.
>>
>>6440960

If you want to take another swing at it, it'll be way funnier in PTQ.
>>
>>6440958
[ Success! 1 Degree of Success ] [/blue[

eight over target, nice, nice

[ Proceeding....]
>>
"Can't let her have all of it" You said, throwing a glance in the direction of the CMA troops, who had paused to celebrate their victory against the alien conquerors, collect more familiar weaponry or mourn the dead. They noticed your attention a few moments later, as you motioned with the barrel of your M45E

"Need to maintain our momentum, we're pushing forward" You inform them, since they aren't Spartans and weren't able to recieve orders and signals given through cues or the interface of the MJOLNIR system. Jorge had held back, but the rest of the team had already moved forward lead by Kurt and were sprinting across the lobby, faster than any of the soldiers now playing catch up could move, blurs of silver blue like sharks darting just under the water's surface. You picked up the pace and used your longer stride to catch up with the rest of your team, and the moment you caught up with Kurt, they all slowed their pace enough that the Militia soldiers wouldn't get left behind.

Jorge covered the rear. Cal and Kurt watched the right, Illya and Malcolm the left, and you were focused on the center. It didn't take long to find where the Covies had retreated to, because you ran into them almost immediately. They were holding the stairway and landing that lead to the second floor, communal offices and workplaces that had been left in a hurry. And judging from the decorations, some unlucky civilian had their birthday the day the Covenant invaded the colony. Slowing down, you held up a fist and scanned the surroundings as your team stopped immediately and crouched down, hiding behind walls or kiosks that still flicked with light as the Sasquatches ordered around Hunchbacks to move desks, vending machines and concrete planters to serve as cover and fortifications. They had been so confident in their security before now, they hadn't set up any of their usual defenses measures. That made things easier. Much easier.

For the non spartan element in the task force, you turned to Jorge and Cal and told them "You two, stick with me. We'll hit them from the front, hard", then turning to Kurt, Illya and Malcolm "Kurt, take the Illya and Malcolm through the vents and flank behind. They're just wide enough to fit if you crawl"

"Anvil and hammer" Kurt understood immediately and also caught on why you were saying orders out loud that could be relayed through hand signs and the connection between your MJOLNIR suits. You nod and wave to the CMA troop who was now in command after their apparent leader went out in a blaze of glory and won themselves a fast track ticket to Valhalla.

"You'll be part of the anvil" You tell him as you gesture with your shotgun to the corner of the wall "We'll hit them first, you follow. Don't give them time to think or turn around"
Cont
>>
>>6440970

The apes clearly expected their cannon fodder and brothers they left behind at the entrance to have lasted longer than they did. They were caught complete unaware. Jorge provided suppressing fire, his VK87 barking in bursts as he shot to scatter, not kill to wound. The CMA troops ran out of their hiding spaces, trying to keep up with your strides as Jorge side stepped his way to a concrete bench that could sustain a few rounds of plasma and stop the rail road spikes the Sasquatches seemed to favor completely. You slid behind a support pillar on the other side of the interior garden, splashing through a stagnant water feature.

Cal, shot to kill, claiming first blood in the engagement by hitting the ape barking orders in the shoulder as he bowed behind the hardened glass of the walkway, nearly taking their arm off. She designated the wounded Sasquatch as a priority target. You agreed and started focusing fire on their poor choice of cover, moving from pillar to pillar as Jorge kept his position, shooting at any alien who popped their head out of cover or started firing at you or the soldiers that had spread out and started shooting where ever a Spartan did.

It wasn't as seamless as directing your Spartans in a firefight, but these CMA guys caught on quick and kept their cool under fire. Four had followed you, something Shika would've called bad luck, but they weren't jinxes. As you reloaded your M45E, you pointed at Cal's target, and one tossed a frag grenade while the other three leapt out from the pillar you'd just rolled from and peppered the ape with rifle fire.

Cal's friendly green dot moved slightly. And a Hunchback's gas tank went off like a firework, causing their fellows to leap out over cover. A well placed burst from jorge, and a underhanded tossed spike grenade from you, wiped out that group completely. The CMA guys finished the last survivor, a Sasquatches who'd caught fire and been riddled with spikes. Another snipe round rung out, and you saw the shadow of Tengu drop from the upper levels.

Kurt flashed his IFF tag. That was all the signal you needed, you burst from cover, gave a signal to Jorge and Cal, holding up and jabbing two fingers as you sprinted across no man's land and reached the stairs. They broke position, and seeing the power armored super soldiers make their move, told the CMA troops it was time for the Big Push. They rushed forward, half of them shooting as they other pushed to and secured a next line of cover, before switching. Cal popped any Covenant whose head peaked out of Cover, Jorge hung back, providing covering and supporting fire to the conventional soldiers fighting alongside you. And you kept the Covenant occupied.
Cont
>>
>>6440971

A Sasquatch, charged you to try and keep the biggest threat, both perceived and literal, away from their lines. You gave him a shotgun dental plan, bashing them across the jaw with the stock before flipping the gun around and giving him a taste of quad ought shot. It was then, that Kurt made his move. Illya and Malcolm slit the throats of the Sasquatch leading the defense on the left side, throwing the fodder under his command into a panic and into friendly firing lines. And Kurt rushed across the walk way, mechanically removing any obstacle in his way, controlling his XBR55's fire and scoring repeated headshots. Jorge had switched to his grenade launcher and Malcolm and Illya were laying suppressive fire across the walkway with their MA5B and M6S.

The enemy routs. Hunchback fleeing first, to avoid being trampled by the panicked Sasquatches who push, shove and strike each other as they fall back. You stop firing the moment they retreat, Kurt and Cal both score one more confirmed kill each, while Jorge sends a few grenades arcing onto the easiest escape routes higher up in the open air office space.

"None of us died this time! I think Little might've been our jinx!" One of the four CMA troops who kept up with you shouts, excitedly. Private Little had been left in charge of the Garrison, mostly since you don't trust a chatterbox on a stealth operation.

"Several of you have been injured" You, bluntly point out "And aren't going to be able to keep up"

"Sir, you're one hell of a joykiller" He replied before wincing, and glancing at you like he expected a butt chewing or punch to come his way. You just ignored him. It was too early to celebrate, you hadn't won anything besides additional ground.

An explosion sounded higher up in the explosion, followed by another, and the sound of fire suppression systems going off. Thistle was making good progress

>Order the CMA troops to hold position and have Illya stay back to help with first aid, since she's carrying the supplies, and start climbing the tower (Path Difficulty: HEROIC. First DC 15. +1 Shotgunner, +4 Fire Support (Cal, Kurt, Jorge, Malcolm)

>[Maverick] kick the hornet's nest and put Vali on the "Microphone" to get the opposition angry and reckless (DC 22. +6 Fire Support (Violet team + CMA troops), +2 enemy isn't thinking straight (Maverick))

>[Scrounger] Turn Teckyis' tactics against him, and equip the CMA soldiers under your command with Surplus Covenant Weaponry [Rank 3 and Grenadier: Plasma wiz, provide additional bonuses]

>Plant Vali into the building's network and have him cause some mischief (DC 12. DC reduced by 5 (From 17) through Quality:Wunderkind)

>Write in option
>>
>>6440973
>[Scrounger] Turn Teckyis' tactics against him, and equip the CMA soldiers under your command with Surplus Covenant Weaponry [Rank 3 and Grenadier: Plasma wiz, provide additional bonuses]

>Plant Vali into the building's network and have him cause some mischief (DC 12. DC reduced by 5 (From 17) through Quality:Wunderkind)

We should be able to do both. As prep before making a other advance
>>
>>6440973

>[Scrounger] Turn Teckyis' tactics against him, and equip the CMA soldiers under your command with Surplus Covenant Weaponry [Rank 3 and Grenadier: Plasma wiz, provide additional bonuses]

>Plant Vali into the building's network and have him cause some mischief (DC 12. DC reduced by 5 (From 17) through Quality:Wunderkind)

Maxim 1: Pillage, *then* burn.

Just need to make sure Vali is restricted to this building. Don't want to burn Jami out when they can keep feeding us security vision.
>>
>>6440973
>[Scrounger] Turn Teckyis' tactics against him, and equip the CMA soldiers under your command with Surplus Covenant Weaponry [Rank 3 and Grenadier: Plasma wiz, provide additional bonuses]

>Plant Vali into the building's network and have him cause some mischief (DC 12. DC reduced by 5 (From 17) through Quality:Wunderkind)
>>
>>6440973

>[Maverick] kick the hornet's nest and put Vali on the "Microphone" to get the opposition angry and reckless (DC 22. +6 Fire Support (Violet team + CMA troops), +2 enemy isn't thinking straight (Maverick))

>[Scrounger] Turn Teckyis' tactics against him, and equip the CMA soldiers under your command with Surplus Covenant Weaponry [Rank 3 and Grenadier: Plasma wiz, provide additional bonuses]

Actually switching to this. A bit higher DC but decent odds it aggros the Swordmaster considering how prideful they are. Might even give the inpr ssion of traitors since Cov language is being used.
>>
>>6440973
>[Maverick] kick the hornet's nest and put Vali on the "Microphone" to get the opposition angry and reckless (DC 22. +6 Fire Support (Violet team + CMA troops), +2 enemy isn't thinking straight (Maverick))
>[Scrounger] Turn Teckyis' tactics against him, and equip the CMA soldiers under your command with Surplus Covenant Weaponry [Rank 3 and Grenadier: Plasma wiz, provide additional bonuses]
If by putting Vali on the mic means we don't burn out this fork of him them for sure, that seems like a good idea and combining it with the scrounger trait should synergise well. If we lose him for it then I don't think it's a good trade off.
>>
>>6440961
My bad g. I had actually went to sleep right after I had posted that kek

>>6440973
>>[Scrounger] Turn Teckyis' tactics against him, and equip the CMA soldiers under your command with Surplus Covenant Weaponry [Rank 3 and Grenadier: Plasma wiz, provide additional bonuses]
AK-47s, for everyone!
>>
>>6440973
>>6440973
>[Scrounger] Turn Teckyis' tactics against him, and equip the CMA soldiers under your command with Surplus Covenant Weaponry [Rank 3 and Grenadier: Plasma wiz, provide additional bonuses]


adding

>[Maverick] kick the hornet's nest and put Vali on the "Microphone" to get the opposition angry and reckless (DC 22. +6 Fire Support (Violet team + CMA troops), +2 enemy isn't thinking straight (Maverick))

IF this doesn't burn out the Fork.
>>
[ Rebooting....Rebooting Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

7 votes for [Scrounger]

3 Votes to let Vali cause mischief

3 votes for [Maverick]

So Sven will equip the CMA guys with Covenant weaponry

[ Decision made ]
[ Proceeding....]
>>
Scanning your surroundings from the semi vantage point of the walkway, as your team cleared the nooks and corners of the office space to check for any stragglers, you immediately took note of how much useable Covenant wargear had survived the engagement. It had been a lightning strike, a textbook hammer and anvil play, they hadn't had much of a chance to fight back once Kurt, Illya and Malcolm hit them from behind. That meant most of the energy weapons still had near full charge; And your side was the only one that had the chance to use any grenades. With the nearest hostile force retreating and falling back further in the tower, and Thistle team already carrying out their objective of disabling the hangar, there was very little urgency or need to move quickly at least for the moment.

Which meant that the enemy's equipment wouldn't go to waste. Turning to the soldier who celebrated too earlier, he tried to look away as he noticed the giant to his left was suddenly staring at him.

"Tell the men to start collecting enemy equipment. It is designed for universal functionality and ease of use, you already know how to use the plasma pistols and shield gauntlets" You told him, as you stepped around him and watched Malcolm's back as he cleared an enclosed room with blacked out windows "When the area is confirmed secure, I'll help police the weaponry and help outfit your crew with superior firepower"

"A..aye aye", he stuttered, having jogged to keep up with your slow and cautious pace as you cleared the surrounding area with Kurt and Malcolm. Another sniper shot echoed through the atrium, and Jorge complimented Cal for a good shot. There weren't any stragglers left behind, so you quickly got to work sorting through the recovered alien technology and began handing it out to the CMA troops who could still fight, while Illya provided first aid to most injured in company. It was a good haul. The Sasquatches had hit their supplies and armory, expecting a drawn out fight before they got caught unprepared. That meant that there was a surplus of guns, grenades and gear.

Only one Tengu had tried to join the firefight, and they didn't have an energy shield, but that didn't matter much as Kurt had brought a few extras with him when his half of the team regrouped with yours. Which meant you now had an additional layer of protection, which counted when the enemy had plasma weaponry. The CMA guys drew straws to decide who got shield gauntlets. They didn't have to with grenades or guns. There were in fact, too many to go around. An excess of firepower. Spike and Plasma grenades, which you gave a quick rundown to stop them from sticking themselves from cooking them too long, enough plasma pistols to replace their well used and abused standard issue sidearms.

But plasma pistols, though lethally effective, weren't the only weapons recovered. Needlers, both in standard and carbine form.
Cont
>>
>>6441352

Sasquatch spike shooters, revolvers, and grenade launchers as well as their ammunition, as well as Plasma rifles, which hadn't seen widespread deployment amongst the Sasquatch units your Spartans had run into so farm, and all of these were all completely charged.

And among the weapons you were familiar with, due to being shot at by them or shooting them yourself, you found a number of devices and gear that you didn't recognize and neither did any of the other Spartans. Some, clearly, were drained gas cannisters, the sort you'd found at the garrison outside of the maintenance tunnels, the "Infusions" the Covenant Thralls used recreationally. And while you weren't a hundred percent, you were pretty confident that at least a quarter of the unidentified objects weren't war gear and served no battlefield function. Of the ones you were certain weren't, some looked like holy symbols or decorative jewelry, some seemed to be pieces to a game or collectibles of some kind, and others you were confident were medals, commendations or trophies, and personal Knick knacks and toys. The sort of things one could expect after a barracks inspection.

You vaguely sorted out the items you were sure weren't war gear or battlefield equipment, and wondered, briefly, about how each of them fit into the "Civilian" side of Covenant culture. Some of the Sasquatches had carried pouches of ground up leaf, like tobacco, and a few of the Hunchbacks had been examining or playing around with what the officer workers had left behind at their desks. There were laser etched and glowing script written on thin strips of blue black metal, written in Covenant and clearly non Covenant script.

It was all very mysterious, but with study, it could reveal a lot about how the Covenant worked off the battlefield. Which might be more valuable than any of the possible never before encountered war gear could be. So you stowed both the miscellaneous and personal effects of the now dead aliens somewhere safe but separate from the potential pieces of battlefield kit. But that was all you did, there wasn't time, and with the abundance of captured enemy weaponry you had a chance to outfit the CMA unit under your command so they could fill a more specific and specialized role in the fire fights to come....

>[Grenadier: Plasma Wiz + Scrounger] Instruct them to take extra plasma grenades, and to either dual wield plasma pistols or use the energy rifles, and show them how to "safely" overcharge both. Time for the Covenant to feel the burn!

>[Maverick] Declare it open season and let them carry whatever they can into the engagement, the eclectic/ rag tag nature of their equipment should throw the Covies for a loop

>Give them long ranged weapons and have them keep out of close quarters, so as not to get in your team's way.

>Equip them for close quarters combat, since you'll be fighting in confined and cramped hallways as you head up the tower

>Write in option
>>
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>>6441353
>Give them long ranged weapons and have them keep out of close quarters, so as not to get in your team's way.
I figure this will keep things simple; they pin down any covies from afar while Sven and the other Spartans move up or around for a flank. Rinse and repeat as we clear the building.
>>
>>6441353
>[Maverick] Declare it open season and let them carry whatever they can into the engagement, the eclectic/ rag tag nature of their equipment should throw the Covies for a loop
Guess it's our style and everyone gets to use what they think will suit them.
>>
>>6441353

>Give them long ranged weapons and have them keep out of close quarters, so as not to get in your team's way.

Needle carbines? Needle carbines.

Back-up with plasma pistols and plasma grenades. They shouldn't *need* them, but better to be prepared in case they do need back-up weapons.
>>
>>6441353
>[Maverick] Declare it open season and let them carry whatever they can into the engagement, the eclectic/ rag tag nature of their equipment should throw the Covies for a loop
>>
>>6441353
>[Maverick] Declare it open season and let them carry whatever they can into the engagement, the eclectic/ rag tag nature of their equipment should throw the Covies for a loop
>>
>>6441353
>Give them long ranged weapons and have them keep out of close quarters, so as not to get in your team's way.
>>
>>6441353
>>[Maverick] Declare it open season and let them carry whatever they can into the engagement, the eclectic/ rag tag nature of their equipment should throw the Covies for a loop
>>
>>6441353
>[Maverick] Declare it open season and let them carry whatever they can into the engagement, the eclectic/ rag tag nature of their equipment should throw the Covies for a loop

should keep the covenant guessing when it comes to combat
>>
>>6441353
>[Maverick] Declare it open season and let them carry whatever they can into the engagement, the eclectic/ rag tag nature of their equipment should throw the Covies for a loop
>>
>>6441353
>[Grenadier: Plasma Wiz + Scrounger] Instruct them to take extra plasma grenades, and to either dual wield plasma pistols or use the energy rifles, and show them how to "safely" overcharge both. Time for the Covenant to feel the burn!
I dislike the idea of Elites popping in and getting the drop on our CMA guys. This'd give them a better chance to at least drop the shields on one before going down or keeping them off our ass long enough to actually respond.
>>
>>6441353
>[Maverick] Declare it open season and let them carry whatever they can into the engagement, the eclectic/ rag tag nature of their equipment should throw the Covies for a loop
>>
[ Rebootin...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

Sorry I'm so late, but I had some housework/ chores to do and ended up passing out while watching some halo lore vids while waiting for the coffee I brewed to cool down. My bad, guys

3 Votes for long range load outs

7 Votes for [Maverick]

1 Vote for [Plasma Wiz]

So, Sven is going to let the CMA dudes use whatever alien weapons they can carry, to confuse the fuck out of the Covies

[ Decision made ]
[ Proceeding... ]
>>
Alternatively, you could fully commit to the element of surprise. That was one advantage that could decide the outcome of any battle, but was difficulty to recapture once it was lost. And one thing that you hadn't thought of, was expectations. The Covenant might be bastards, but they were sapient even if their minds were alien and their thoughts and morality completely inhuman. And what little was known about their society, was that they organized themselves along strict caste lines based on species. This was clear from their formations and the organization of their forces, as well as their behavior observed outside of direct engagements. Their weapons were designed to be easily used by all of their confirmed client species. But how they were employed, was standardized, just like their combat roles and command structure. Whether through dogma, tradition or simple psychology, they tended to fit in the same mold

The big ones were in charge, the ones closer to human height filled the lower ranks and were bossed around by even the lowest strata of the officer castes. And the same had to be true of their equipment. It served a purpose, filled a role, occupied a niche and was kept in that position. Which meant, what other officers might politely categorize as "Creative use of gear" would really through the Covenant for a loop...if you were right that their battlefield strategy and use of weaponry was stratified as their society and chain of command. There wasn't any harm in testing the waters, and getting evidence one way or another.

"Listen, because I'll only explain what each of these Covie guns do, once" You address the CMA troops as you present examples, having Illya and Malcolm assist, while Kurt, Jorge and Cal provide overwatch and keep an eye out for any ambushes or assaults from the upper floors. And then you go down the list, giving a quick but detailed explanation of every weapon captured in the last engagement, as well as giving short, personal review based off your own experiences with each. You keep it brief, knowing that most of the soldiers in front of you have also had first hand experience with the weapons you're describing. Just as targets rather than shooters, which is the perspective you provide. The guns might be easy to pick up, but just being able to point and shoot didn't make someone an expert marksman.

Finishing off your rushed lecture, you stepped aside and motioned to the policed Covenant Weaponry and said "Equip yourself at your discretion, take whatever you can carry and believe you can employ effectively against the weaponry. Don't waste time, this isn't a trip to the shooting range, every second you waste is a second you give the Covenant to dig in"

The CMA troops don't waste a second after they adjust to the idea of being allowed to use whatever weapon they want to. This makes the composition of the squad's firepower rather eclectic, but that's the point.
Cont
>>
>>6441896

If it is confusing for you, it'll be even more baffling for the Covenant. And once they'd equipped themselves, without a word, you signaled to your team to begin climbing the tower. Kurt went first, checking for any booby traps that retreating aliens might've left behind, you and Jorge followed closely behind, Illya and Malcolm hung back with the CMA guys, and Cal held the rear and watched the walkways above and below for any threats.

[ BLADE BREAKER ]

Kurt had stopped in the middle of a walkway, leading up the fourth floor of the atrium. And the hairs on the back of your neck stood up. You'd seen this before. From both him and Nesta. Her "funny feelings" were stronger, more reliable, but Kurt's were rarely wrong. Nesta's simply never were. His instincts were unnaturally accurate. So you stopped, the moment he did, and held up a clenched fist. Jorge had noticed Kurt freezing and getting on guard, and had stopped. The other three Spartans, seeing your signal and noticing Kurt, immediately got on one knee and scoped in, establishing firing lines and waiting for the trap to spring. The CMA guys took a few seconds to realize they should group up and get their guns ready.

"This is too easy" Kurt muttered "Thistle team?"

"Movement under us, thought your team was engaging" Jai responded, before pausing "Nesta?"

You breathed out, repressing the instinctive rise of panic as you realized whatever bad feeling Kurt had gotten, had also effected Nesta. And they were several floors above your position, near the roof. Busy dismantling the hangar and every flyer that had landed in it.

"Switch to thermals" You hissed through the COMMs "and Infrared, Now"

"Just felt it for a moment, like a static shock" Nesta reported, quickly "Whatever that was, passed us by. And if Kurt had one of his feelings to then..."

You saw where that was going before she could shout "Sven!"

[ Jotun Interaction: Sven isn't so easily caught off guard ]

No one made a sound. COMMs went silent. Everything did. Until, a few floors above you heard the sound of a screen cracking. Faint, barely audible. You looked up, and saw a tell tale blur on the thermals, and infrared views overlayed on your HUD before it got close enough to strike.

Svartalfar.

And there were only a handful of those split jaws still deployed on the Colony. And they were hunting Spartans. The pieces fit together. They'd passed up their chance to ambush Thistle, to target Violet. To target you. The officer in charge. And they knew you could see them through the active camouflage. Might not know how, but they weren't relying on invisibility. They didn't make their move until you'd started talking, when you seemed distracted.

You wouldn't have thought to look up, if one of the invisible assassins hadn't stepped on and broke a Datapad some Civil Servant had left behind when they evacuated.
Cont
>>
>>6441897

"Spartans! Open Fire!" You shout as you take aim and back pedal, as the Svartalfar leading the descent lunges, leaping off of the walkway two floors above and aiming for your position as they ignite their energy sword.

>Hold your ground and try to be the matador to their bull (Try to "Crown" the Elite. DC 18 +1 Shotgunner, +2 Jotun)

>Raise the arm with the tengu shield gauntlet and try to bash away their opening sword strike ( DC 20 +5 Bulwark, +1 Energy shield)

>(Plasma Wiz + Open Hand+ Maverick) Take a risk and try to restrain their sword arm and disarm them before they can strike (DC 24. +6 Brawler, +1 Plasma Wiz, +1 Giant. DC reduced by 2 (From 26) Via SQ: Spartan-II)

>Take a dive, the water feature on the ground floor should be just deep enough....

>Write in option
>>
>>6441898
>Raise the arm with the tengu shield gauntlet and try to bash away their opening sword strike ( DC 20 +5 Bulwark, +1 Energy shield)
First, discombobulate.
>>
>>6441898
>Raise the arm with the tengu shield gauntlet and try to bash away their opening sword strike ( DC 20 +5 Bulwark, +1 Energy shield)
We've been engaged!
https://youtu.be/dfD4F7Tnre4
>>
>>6441898
>(Plasma Wiz + Open Hand+ Maverick) Take a risk and try to restrain their sword arm and disarm them before they can strike (DC 24. +6 Brawler, +1 Plasma Wiz, +1 Giant. DC reduced by 2 (From 26) Via SQ: Spartan-II
-activate Jotuns rage too and disarm skill

Disarm the sword and kill him we do have the skills for it.
>>
>>6441898
>(Plasma Wiz + Open Hand+ Maverick) Take a risk and try to restrain their sword arm and disarm them before they can strike (DC 24. +6 Brawler, +1 Plasma Wiz, +1 Giant. DC reduced by 2 (From 26) Via SQ: Spartan-II)
>>
>>6441898
>>Raise the arm with the tengu shield gauntlet and try to bash away their opening sword strike ( DC 20 +5 Bulwark, +1 Energy shield)
>>
>>6441898

>(Plasma Wiz + Open Hand+ Maverick) Take a risk and try to restrain their sword arm and disarm them before they can strike (DC 24. +6 Brawler, +1 Plasma Wiz, +1 Giant. DC reduced by 2 (From 26) Via SQ: Spartan-II)

In my experience, actually trying to parry with a shield is nowhere close to as easy as Dark Souls would have you believe.

This sort of grapple though, is pretty consistent if you can pull it off.

If the Swordmaster rushes us personally, we sync-kill him and move on.
>>
>>6441898
>>Raise the arm with the tengu shield gauntlet and try to bash away their opening sword strike ( DC 20 +5 Bulwark, +1 Energy shield)

>Activate Jotun

No time like the present to start winning.
>>
>>6441898
>>(Plasma Wiz + Open Hand+ Maverick) Take a risk and try to restrain their sword arm and disarm them before they can strike (DC 24. +6 Brawler, +1 Plasma Wiz, +1 Giant. DC reduced by 2 (From 26) Via SQ: Spartan-II)

-activate Jotuns rage too and disarm skill
>>
>>6441898
>Raise the arm with the tengu shield gauntlet and try to bash away their opening sword strike ( DC 20 +5 Bulwark, +1 Energy shield)
>>
File: evac.mp4 (1.35 MB, 1016x426)
1.35 MB
1.35 MB MP4
He might have APs/qualities of his own, guys. So I'd be cautious about relying on mechanics.
>>
>>6442066
It's a dice roll but so is suing shield. Hell a swordmaster being able to bypass shield is possible too.

So I'm just picking what's cool and uses more APs
>>
>>6441898
>(Plasma Wiz + Open Hand+ Maverick) Take a risk and try to restrain their sword arm and disarm them before they can strike (DC 24. +6 Brawler, +1 Plasma Wiz, +1 Giant. DC reduced by 2 (From 26) Via SQ: Spartan-II)

I'll say pop Jotuns rage and disarm skill
>>
>>6442054

Appending: Activate Jotunn's Rage. We're going to need the edge.
>>
>>6441898
They misunderstand the situation, this is not our boss fight. it's theirs.
https://youtu.be/3nTwBF7dM7g
I selected the 17 year old vid for the opening windows movie maker text

1) Trigger Jotun Rage

2) These Bastards wil have studied us so let them have something unexpected.
>Write in [Mavrick, Scavanger, Wunderkind, ???]
Use the Bruteshot to bounce grenades off the floor so they detonate in the air at the falling elites like a god damn AA flak gun. At bast it'll splatter one, at worst it shall scatter their formation and wreak their shields. (This is a move i used to run on Guardian [H3] bouncing shots of the holes either side of gold elevator or bouncing or from mid sniper town to the sniper spawn). and if they get close we've got the Bruteshot blade which while maybe cuttable will give us more reach than our normal size does.

Get vector math'd squids, Halsy would be proud.
>>
I also did the math, with three rolls the chances that one of them is a 1 is roughly 1 in 7. Same with a 20, praise be the number.
>>
>>6441898
>(Plasma Wiz + Open Hand+ Maverick) Take a risk and try to restrain their sword arm and disarm them before they can strike (DC 24. +6 Brawler, +1 Plasma Wiz, +1 Giant. DC reduced by 2 (From 26) Via SQ: Spartan-II)

-activate Jotuns rage too and disarm skill
>>
Rolled 4, 1 = 5 (2d4)

[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

Fight Music: https://youtu.be/vlvRvKmfKsA

Reminder, Disarm isn't active, Sven just has to succeed on a Brawler check in combat

5 Votes to shield bash

6 Votes for [ PW + B:OH+M]

6 Votes to activate Jotun's rage

1 Vote for s7bjA09

So, feeling Ballsy, Sven-033 is going to try ad rip the energy sword out of the lunging elite's hands. Real Spartan Shit

[ Decision made ]

also

Jotun's Rage Activated
>>6442344
Such nostalgia
>>
>>6442797

An extra five to the roll, nice. Sven is in the zone/ a marital trance, it seems. Time for the Sangheili to learn why you don't try and rush a Jötunn

[ Please roll 1d20+13. DC 24. Bo3 ]
>>
Rolled 1 + 13 (1d20 + 13)

>>6442798
>>
File: image0-32.jpg (10 KB, 236x236)
10 KB JPG
>>6442800
Holy fuck, had to be now of all times.
>>
>>6442801
Still got two more rolls, a 20 could reverse it
>>
Rolled 8 + 13 (1d20 + 13)

>>6442798
heres hoping this is the 20
>>
Rolled 18 + 13 (1d20 + 13)

>>6442798
i got this
>>
>>6442807
i don't got this
>>
if we have unbreakable now is the time to pop it
>>
>>6442807
So close

>>6442800
[ Error Code: RED! A critical failure is predicted! All members of Faculty, take cover!]

Critical failure, and exactly ten under/ 2 degrees of failure.

Fortunately, Sven is built like a tank/ has power leveled his Bulwark AP. Otherwise, this would've been even messier

[ Proceeding...]
>>
>>6442801
I mean it's literally a duelist doing his dueling shit after doing some homework and waiting for his opportune time, if there was any time someone would put a hurting on us or our team it'd be now. The dice love a good narrative. Someone is gonna die here. First Spartan Cas. THE END IS NIGH
>>
>>6442810
well here to everyone that voted for bulwark back in training it really was one of the best AP we could have gotten
>>
[ Warning! Warning! Hyper-Lethal Enemy: Shamed Swordmaster, Ravo 'Regamai, has entered the field and is engagingwith Preferred Candidate, Sven-033 in Combat ]
[ https://youtu.be/rw6-uMlQMSM ]
___

You eyes widen, pupils dilating as you take a step forward, the sudden, reactive movement feeling glacial as Spartan Time activates and the rapid assault of the Svartalfar Swordfighters and the chaos it caused in your ranks, slows down from your perspective as your adrenaline spikes and MJOLNIR reacts and moves before you even have the intent to defend yourself or attack. The world becomes a slide show of still frames, as a carefully controlled burst of rage peaks the adrenaline rushing into your veins so high that your Mjolnir suit flashes glowing red warning about increased heart rate and strain.

The split jaw lunging at you from overhead, is clearly the ringleader of this hostile assassination attempt. His armor, though stripped down, is an ornate badge of office. You only realize that, because from your point of view, he and yourself are moving in stop motion, fast forwarded enough to appear almost like live movement.

Too close, too fast to aim. No safe route of retreat. It really was a well timed strike. You react on instinct by necessity and desperation, the blue quick silver light of the energy sword ignited and pulled back into a thrust reflecting off of your helmet's visor as you repeat the movements you'd practiced since your first encounter with a Svartalfar wielding a blade of super heated plasma.

You feel the mistake before you see it or recognize it. A hot, familiar burning sensation. A flash of agony. White hot. Memories of Aster bubble up as four frames behind, you realize that as you moved to bash the thrusting arm of your would be killer away to try and throw off the stab and possibly disarm the assassin; They had activated a second, smaller energy sword. A dagger. And thrust it under the active shield gauntlet, as you'd raised it and shot out the arm to slap away their primary weapon. Snaking a strike through an opening that existed for a few milliseconds. He'd beaten the combined reaction speed of a augmented Spartan and the Mjolnir system, working in tandem.

And you get to watch every inch of it sinking into your stomach, through the outer and inner layers of Mjolnir. Everything becomes muffled. You heart shouts, screams. Gunfire. And a war drum beat and white water rapid rush, your heart beat and blood flow. Instinctively, reflexively, you take a step back, reeling.

But your stay cool. Your head clear. It hurts. But its nothing compared to the surgeries. Nothing compared to losing kin. To seeing your brothers and sisters crippled. The searing pain numbs as nerve endings burn out as the skin and muscles they're connected to fry. You don't twitch, you don't scream. You stay frosty and aware, and focused.
Cont
>>
>>6442830

They twist the dagger, as they begin to pull it out and to the side. Their initial thrust, turns into a swing. You duck, step forward, as the world and the splitjaw in front of you begin to "move" at a normal pace. What would've been a decapitating strike, is stalled by the swordman's own hand as they hop back, retreating as their subordinates engage your squad. The energy shield on your left arm flashes with silver waves. You'd lifted it just in time to block the lethal blow.

You don't speak split jaw cunt, but you understand what the poised, dangerously like a panther or puma, alien barks at you. More or less

"How are you still alive?"

You don't know that either, honestly. You'd seen what those energy swords did, you'd been impaled and gutted. That's checkmate, even for a Spartan. Instantaneous death, played out in slow motion until the last neuron fired and died.

[ SQL Giant + AP: Bulwark: Unbreakable + Armor: MJOLNIR MARK IV/ OCEANIC, reduce lethal damage all the way to Grievously wounded. Bulwark Unbreakable reduces Grievously wounded penalties to -1 ]

"It takes more than that to kill a Spartan" You growl as you take another step forward, the swordmaster is already moving, closing in again. Jorge, closest on the otherside of the walkway, is kept occupied with a splitjaw of his own to fight, as are Illya, Malcolm and Cal, but unlike Jorge they're not fight one on one.

Kurt is the only one not cut off from the rest of the pack, by a unit of energy sword wielding aliens. And you can rely on him. He's already opened fire.

The Swordmaster, smug prick, shouted something again. And without realizing, you return with a battlecry of your own

"TIL VALHALL!"

Paired energy sword and knife. You had a shotgun and shield. A sword on your back, a brother fighting to defend you a pace or two behind. And a belt full of grenade

Cont
>>
>>6442831

[ Current Success in Combat: 0 ]
[ Violet Team Status: Sven: Grievously Wounded, Jorge, Illya: Injured. Cal, Kurt, Malcolm: Uninjured ]
[ Friendly casualties: 2 CMA Soldiers ]
[ Enemies to beat: Ravo'Regamai, four of Ravo's Apprentices ]

>[Bladebreaker] Splitjaw wants to dance? Then lets dance! [Engage in a sword duel, with extreme aggression] (DC 19. +4 Jotun's rage, +3 Bladebreaker, +1 Giant, +2 Spartan-II, +1 Fire support (Kurt), +1 energy shield, -1 Grievously wounded, -6 Ravo'regamai is a swordmaster)

>Keep a gap between you and your opponent, and try to wear down their energy shield with shotgun blasts (DC 18. +4 Jotun's rage, +1 Shotgunner, +1 Fire support (Kurt), +2 Spartan-II), +1 energy shield -1 Grievously wounded, -2 in CQC with Ravo'regamai)

>[Brawler+Maverick + Grenadier: Daredevil Maneuver] Act like you're moving in for a punch, hiding a plasma grenade in your fist, prime it and drop it as you feint (DC. +5 Grenadier, +1 Plasma Wiz, +2 who would be crazy...(Maverick, effect reduced due to enemy APs), +1 fire support (Kurt), +1 Energy shield, -1 Greviously wounded, -2 in CQC with Ravo'regamai)

>[Boogeyman Modifier: Dishonored Dead] Silently order Kurt to retreat and wait for an opening , and take a "Calculated Risk", by smashing the Sangheili skull on your shoulder to piss of the swordmaster before running after Kurt (DC 16. +5 Bulwark, +1 Energy shield, +1 Fire support (Kurt), -1 Grievously wounded, -2 one angry splitjaw)

>Write in option
>>
>>6442832
Fucking, just realized I cut off the DC for the third option while I was moving everything around.

B+M+G's DC is 17
>>
>>6442832
>>Keep a gap between you and your opponent, and try to wear down their energy shield with shotgun blasts (DC 18. +4 Jotun's rage, +1 Shotgunner, +1 Fire support (Kurt), +2 Spartan-II), +1 energy shield -1 Grievously wounded, -2 in CQC with Ravo'regamai)

man i dont want Sven to die here this quest has so much potential and id hate it if ended here
>>
>>6442832
>[Boogeyman Modifier: Dishonored Dead] Silently order Kurt to retreat and wait for an opening , and take a "Calculated Risk", by smashing the Sangheili skull on your shoulder to piss of the swordmaster before running after Kurt (DC 16. +5 Bulwark, +1 Energy shield, +1 Fire support (Kurt), -1 Grievously wounded, -2 one angry splitjaw)
Need backuo
>>
>>6442832
>Keep a gap between you and your opponent, and try to wear down their energy shield with shotgun blasts (DC 18. +4 Jotun's rage, +1 Shotgunner, +1 Fire support (Kurt), +2 Spartan-II), +1 energy shield -1 Grievously wounded, -2 in CQC with Ravo'regamai)

Fuuuck, yeah Sven, if he survives this fight, requires Evac onto the Skidbladnir. He's going to need those Spartan specialized medical personnel we have on board.
>>
>>6442832
>[Bladebreaker] Splitjaw wants to dance? Then lets dance! [Engage in a sword duel, with extreme aggression] (DC 19. +4 Jotun's rage, +3 Bladebreaker, +1 Giant, +2 Spartan-II, +1 Fire support (Kurt), +1 energy shield, -1 Grievously wounded, -6 Ravo'regamai is a swordmaster)
I'm sure getting bested hurts more than the wound, the score needs to be settled.
Also didn't survive that wound to not advance this damn subobjective at the end of this. Death before dishonor, I say.
>>
>>6442832
>[Bladebreaker] Splitjaw wants to dance? Then lets dance! [Engage in a sword duel, with extreme aggression] (DC 19. +4 Jotun's rage, +3 Bladebreaker, +1 Giant, +2 Spartan-II, +1 Fire support (Kurt), +1 energy shield, -1 Grievously wounded, -6 Ravo'regamai is a swordmaster)
>>
>>6442832
>[Boogeyman Modifier: Dishonored Dead] Silently order Kurt to retreat and wait for an opening , and take a "Calculated Risk", by smashing the Sangheili skull on your shoulder to piss of the swordmaster before running after Kurt (DC 16. +5 Bulwark, +1 Energy shield, +1 Fire support (Kurt), -1 Grievously wounded, -2 one angry splitjaw)
>>
>>6442832
>[Brawler+Maverick + Grenadier: Daredevil Maneuver] Act like you're moving in for a punch, hiding a plasma grenade in your fist, prime it and drop it as you feint (DC. +5 Grenadier, +1 Plasma Wiz, +2 who would be crazy...(Maverick, effect reduced due to enemy APs), +1 fire support (Kurt), +1 Energy shield, -1 Greviously wounded, -2 in CQC with Ravo'regamai)
>>
>>6442832
>[Brawler+Maverick + Grenadier: Daredevil Maneuver] Act like you're moving in for a punch, hiding a plasma grenade in your fist, prime it and drop it as you feint (DC. +5 Grenadier, +1 Plasma Wiz, +2 who would be crazy...(Maverick, effect reduced due to enemy APs), +1 fire support (Kurt), +1 Energy shield, -1 Greviously wounded, -2 in CQC with Ravo'regamai)

Keep switching but this is DC 10 with the bonus and we kinda need a win right now. With how injir d Sven is.
>>
>>6442832

>[Brawler+Maverick + Grenadier: Daredevil Maneuver] Act like you're moving in for a punch, hiding a plasma grenade in your fist, prime it and drop it as you feint (DC. +5 Grenadier, +1 Plasma Wiz, +2 who would be crazy...(Maverick, effect reduced due to enemy APs), +1 fire support (Kurt), +1 Energy shield, -1 Greviously wounded, -2 in CQC with Ravo'regamai)

Somehow, I just fucking knew that this was going to open on a Nat 1.
>>
>>6442831
plasma wiz should also have played some role in mitigating that incoming damage, no?
>>
>>6442832
>>[Brawler+Maverick + Grenadier: Daredevil Maneuver] Act like you're moving in for a punch, hiding a plasma grenade in your fist, prime it and drop it as you feint (DC. +5 Grenadier, +1 Plasma Wiz, +2 who would be crazy...(Maverick, effect reduced due to enemy APs), +1 fire support (Kurt), +1 Energy shield, -1 Greviously wounded, -2 in CQC with Ravo'regamai)
>>6442920
hmmmm, maybe if we were better with plasma than just a wiz?
>>
>>6443033
>033
>dad jokes
>papa bear sven engaged
Also obligatory WIZZA PLEASE
>>
>>6442832
>>[Boogeyman Modifier: Dishonored Dead] Silently order Kurt to retreat and wait for an opening , and take a "Calculated Risk", by smashing the Sangheili skull on your shoulder to piss of the swordmaster before running after Kurt (DC 16. +5 Bulwark, +1 Energy shield, +1 Fire support (Kurt), -1 Grievously wounded, -2 one angry splitjaw)

Lowest DC here.

If Ravo gets too angry to think, that would be really good. We can turn that -2 malus of his into +2 plus for us. We don't have time to waste playing around with Ravo. Do not think about being honorable; we are not at full health here, and we are not even at an advantage. We have not inflicted a single scar on the guy, and all his cadre is alive and occupied with our brothers and sisters. We have Kurt and the CMA resistance teams somewhat nearby.

We are very heavily wounded, and we have not yet completed the subobjective part of Jamshid, which is a portion of our wider plan here in Alpha Corvi II. Grievously wounded sounds very close to an extreme or death-door wounds (on this 404, you might want to notify us of how many types of wounds exist before death door). We cannot afford a long fight with Ravo. Put that in your minds. Unfortunately, capturing him is out of the picture at this point. We need to make this fight short.
>>
>>6442854
We are not in a place to call any of our pelicans. We are at the feet of the skyscraper Captain Teckyis has transformed into an Air Base. We are in the middle of Jamshid, and we are doing right now the strike for ensure Teckyis' air base is dealt with and that he and his forces lose badly here.

Calling any of our pelicans here right now is asking for them to be detected and killed in an instant; they would be immediately seen, overwhelmed, and vaporized. Even if Chen and Tor are good pilots, they cannot EVAC us in the middle of this shit. We have kicked the wasp's nest in Jamshid on purpose, and we are creating chaos and death here on purpose. We have acted a certain way to ensure our plan is achieved and to attract a lot of attention. And our pelicans at the moment have been tasked by us to send up the civies from our ground base (the ex-multi-projects Blacksite of ONI) to the Skidbladnir. Because right now is the best time to do it.

These are our actual options to make sure Sven's wounds are attended to in a reasonable timeframe. Not healed, just attended and stabilized :
- 1 Wait again, and stabilize the wounds (we have already stopped once to give Covenant weapons to the CMA resistance teams, waiting again to attend to grievous wounds is not dumb) before moving again (and continue the destruction of Jamshid air base/making sure Teckyis loses here)
- 2 Give Kurt field command, while we act as a commander from the Jamshid garrison ruins (the ones that the resistance groups we have found have been moved into). Our wounds would be stabilized, and we would lead from the back, without being in harm's way. Our Aquatic/Oceanic, etc., MJOLNIR is specifically equipped with an armor mod for us to give orders/coordinate from a distance.
- 3 We have Sven's wounds stabilized, and he moves back to our base with one of the Fingerlings or the Mudskipper. From there, we go up to the Skidbladnir. We give field command to Kurt until our return.
>>6442840
So far, we have taken mostly good or smart choices. So with that in mind, unless we slowly walk or throw ourselves at Ravo's sword for him to impale us for free with 0 effort, we are not going to die here. Ravo might have wounded us grievously, but he and his cadre are exactly where we want them to be: near. We just need to not make tactics that are too problematic to do or suicidal, and make sure the fight ends quickly. With Ravo and his cadre's death, we don't need to think about having a voice of reason or a detective ruining our plots in the Covenant ranks of Alpha Corvi II.

If it's about rolls and you feel like there is bad luck, look at it this way: if you don't want to roll because you rolled like shit before, don't roll. That's it, keep the dice away for some days or even weeks, and let others roll for a while. I don't roll anymore in this quest because I have rolled badly every single time in past threads; I mostly only vote and discuss for our plans, ideas, or decisions.
>>
>>6443163
>Lowest DC here.
Technically the grenade gambit is the lowest DC.
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

2 Votes to break the swordmaster's energy shield via shotgun

2 Votes for [Boogeyman]

1 Vote for [Bladebreaker]

4 Votes for [B+M+G]

Close round of voting, but having Sven try to slight of hand a plasma grenade win it

[ Decision made ]
[ Please roll 1d20+7. DC 17. Best of 3 ]

>>6443163
It actually depends, since "wound states" are expanded based on Qualities/ APs and rarely equipment.

Giant started Sven off with more states of injured before wounded

Spartan-II, also expanded the Injured/ Wounded categories of the health pool. And Bulwark did as well, as has Unbreakable.

You guys haven't even reached Maimed or Crippled yet in the Quest. Which Sven, due to having a lot of health/ durability boosts from Giant, to Bulwark, to Spartan-II and then prestiging into Unbreakable, would be able to still keep fighting, as you may have noticed, Greviously wounded switched from a -4 to a -1 from the fight in the blacksite to now. That's two levels of Bulwark + picking Unbreakable as your prestige pulling some weight

Now, lets take a standard UNSC Jarhead. A lot of things that just injured Sven, after various layers of Bulwark and Mjolnir armor, would probably be on death's door or dead.

Sven is built different, even among Spartans. Which is why the Swordmaster got freaked out, because things usually die when you stick them with an energy blade, not lurch foward to try and punch your head off

Sven
is
fucking
durable
>>
Rolled 15 + 7 (1d20 + 7)

>>6443299
Bomb time
>>
>>6443301
I secured out success now none of you fuck up :v
>>
Rolled 19 + 7 (1d20 + 7)

>>6443299
Please, no critfail.
>>
Rolled 19 + 7 (1d20 + 7)

>>6443299
>>
>>6443309
>>6443304
Good job
>>
>>6443304
>>6443309
[ Success! 1 degree of success ]

on away from that juicy critical success + 2 degrees of success. Still, a good recovery

[ Proceeding...]
>>
>>6443313
here's hoping the other Spartans are Popping off
>>
A belt full of Covenant Grenades. Kurt was peppering the assassin with sustained XBR55 fire. Mercury silver flashes running across the body of the dual energy blade wielder as the bullets flattened or bounced off the fluctuating but still holding shield as they, with loping strides, matched your charge. In the moment, you came up with a plan. A risky plan. A gamble you wouldn't bet a dessert ration on.

You pulled your arm back, and used a slight of hand trick you'd learned during training, to sneak out sharp objects or snacks from nearby military bases when you joined your fellow Spartans in a midnight excursion and snuck out. The plasma grenade was a bit larger than a chocolate bar, but with your palm size, you could clench and completely hide it inside of your fist. Taking another step forward, as Kurt shot around you to continue weakening the enemy's energy shield, you primed the grenade, holding it tighter as you felt the heat start to radiate in your fist. But there was no flash of violet blue light. You'd contained it.

Then, without changing expression, stance or pace, you launched out your fist. The sword fighter, certain that a punch wasn't anything to concern themselves with, since they'd ignored battle rifle fire like it was nothing. Energy shields were effective, you knew that first hand. But this splitjaw could be a case study in one of their downsides. Thinking you were invincible, made you underestimate the danger around you. They didn't even move to dodge or sway out of the way, instead swinging up both of their arms to prepare for a double, downward chop that would seperate your arms at the shoulders if performed cleanly

They never got the chance as you duck, tuck and roll after opening up your hand a second before the grenade burned hot enough to fuse to your power armored glove. Using the movement you practiced, you roll your wrist and whip your hand, shaking off the active plasma grenade. You almost wish you could see the Splitjaw's face under his helmet, as he immediately notices and focuses in on the plasma grenade dropped at his feet. And leaps back before it goes critical and detonates into a sun hot flare of blue lightning and crackling electricity. You feel your MJOLNIR lock up for a second, but you'd gotten out of the blast radius of the EMP. Rolling back onto your feet, you immediately pivot, turning around to see that

THE SON OF A BITCH IS STILL ALIVE. The armor on his legs and one of his arms is charred, but he is still standing, and lunging at you.

But, he doesn't have his energy shield. And Kurt's moved up. And has never stopped firing. A spray of Violet Blood from the Swordfighter's shoulder sends him stumbling, but he ducks into an evasive roll as you pump your M45E and aim at his injured legs. They're slippery and already on their feet. Their head moves, eyeing both you and Kurt. And, against all logic and sanity, despite facing two powered armored opponents, they charge back in!

Cont
>>
>>6443335

An in that split second, behind their shoulder, you see Illya pin the arm of one of the other Svartalfar's to the railing, before quickdrawing and feeding them three rounds from her sidearm. At her feet is CMA soldier, missing their head. They'd died giving her an opening, unknowingly. Jorge, fending off one of the sword fighters, with a glowing gash on his shoulder, sends them tumbling back with a jaw shattering stock whip from his commando. The other two assassins, are trying to reach Cal and Malcolm as they fight alongside the remaining CMA troops

[ Current Success in Combat: 2, 1 success, +1 5 over target ]
[ Violet Team Status: Sven: Grievously Wounded, Jorge: Moderately Injured, Illya, Malcolm: Injured. Cal, Kurt,: Uninjured ]
[ Friendly casualties: 4 CMA Soldiers ]
Enemies to beat: [ Enemies to beat: Ravo'Regamai, three of Ravo's Apprentices ]

>[Giant] Risk your neck, and tackle the alien and try to slam them into the railing to get Kurt more clear shots ( DC 20 +3 Jotun's Rage, +1 Giant, +6 Brawler: Open hand, +1 energy shield, +1 Fire support (Kurt), -1 grievously wounded, -6 Ravo'regamai is a swordmaster.)

>Hold your ground, aim and fire (DC 17 +3 Jotun's rage, +1 Shotgunner, +1 Energy shield, +1 Fire support (Kurt), -1 Greviously wounded-2 in CQC with Ravo'regamai )

>[Bladebreaker] Risk you arm and use the hook to temporarily lock the splitjaws sword, so Kurt can cripple their arm (DC. +3 Jotun's rage, +3 Bladebreaker, +1 Giant, +1 energy shield, +1 Fire support (Kurt), -1 greviously injured, -6 -6 Ravo'regamai is a swordmaster.

>[Maverick] Shout "DEMO THE BRIDGE" to the four spartans on the otherside of the swordmaster and try to stay alive long enough for them to drop it (DC 18. +5 Bulwark: Unbreakable, +1 energy shield, +1 fire support (Kurt),, -1 Grievously Wounded -2 in CQC with Ravoregamai )

>Write in option
>>
>>6443336
Note, on the bladebreaker choice, there should only be -6 modifier.

Ravo hasn't suddenly multiplied himself or learned how to create shadow clones, just a typo on my part
>>
>>6443336
DC for bladebrraker
>>
>>6443340
I swore I wrote it in. I really screwed up on the formatting this time

Anyways, the DC for Bladebreaker is 18
>>
>>6443336
>>Hold your ground, aim and fire (DC 17 +3 Jotun's rage, +1 Shotgunner, +1 Energy shield, +1 Fire support (Kurt), -1 Greviously wounded-2 in CQC with Ravo'regamai )

this or the giant option have the lowest DC's and since the shield is down on this fucker and the shotgun is a shotgun i think this will work best

Also TormentedCache is Thistle team coming down to join us
>>
>>6443336
>[Bladebreaker] Risk you arm and use the hook to temporarily lock the splitjaws sword, so Kurt can cripple their arm (DC. +3 Jotun's rage, +3 Bladebreaker, +1 Giant, +1 energy shield, +1 Fire support (Kurt), -1 greviously injured, -6 -6 Ravo'regamai is a swordmaster.

Maverick could distract others from their fight. And crippling arm would be good advantage
>>
>>6443336
>[Bladebreaker] Risk you arm and use the hook to temporarily lock the splitjaws sword, so Kurt can cripple their arm (DC. +3 Jotun's rage, +3 Bladebreaker, +1 Giant, +1 energy shield, +1 Fire support (Kurt), -1 greviously injured, -6 -6 Ravo'regamai is a swordmaster.
>>
>>6443217
Yeah, but I didn't like the idea much. And of the other rolls, it was the lowest. Very risky idea. It's good that Sven pulled it off, but I was afraid of the light and noise that a plasma nade usually makes.

>>6443299
Very good. I did remember Sven was very tough; I just had never seen us with a "grievous" wound before, at least that I remember, they hurt us before, but not like this. Still a wound to stabilize before getting going, after we dealt with Ravo and his students.

>>6443336
>>Hold your ground, aim and fire (DC 17 +3 Jotun's rage, +1 Shotgunner, +1 Energy shield, +1 Fire support (Kurt), -1 Greviously wounded-2 in CQC with Ravo'regamai )

Ravo's legs are a bit injured. Let's remove them.

Ilya has taken out one of the apprentices, very good. She can start shooting at the one fighting Jorge or the other two bastards trying to charge our men.

It's good that Teckyis has not even bothered to send help to Ravo. Any kind of force to support his cadre would have helped the Swordmaster ambush immensely. The chaos and death we have made, alongside the first steps of our plot, are beginning to show their effects already.
>>
>>6443336
>Write in option
>Get creative and come at him "cloak and dagger" style like an Italian renaissance fencer, with a weapon in one hand and your tac camo cloak in the other. Try to blind, distract, or entangle him with the cloak to get an opening.
I like the idea of using some human style to beat the alien. Maybe something we learned in a class from Deja or one of the other Spartans interested in that kind of thing. We can thank them later.
>>
>>6443336
>Hold your ground, aim and fire (DC 17 +3 Jotun's rage, +1 Shotgunner, +1 Energy shield, +1 Fire support (Kurt), -1 Greviously wounded-2 in CQC with Ravo'regamai )

I would like to incapacitate Ravo, but honestly i cannot justify the risk to Sven's life.
>>
https://youtu.be/ahpW3lpvBc4?is=iE96RP2GDFF3Mq6d
>>
>>6443404
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7yYb711Q4w
>>
>>6443336
>[Bladebreaker] Risk you arm and use the hook to temporarily lock the splitjaws sword, so Kurt can cripple their arm (DC. +3 Jotun's rage, +3 Bladebreaker, +1 Giant, +1 energy shield, +1 Fire support (Kurt), -1 greviously injured, -6 -6 Ravo'regamai is a swordmaster.
>>
>>6443336

>Hold your ground, aim and fire (DC 17 +3 Jotun's rage, +1 Shotgunner, +1 Energy shield, +1 Fire support (Kurt), -1 Greviously wounded-2 in CQC with Ravo'regamai)

I like my swords, but Shotgun wins this round.
>>
>>6443336
>Hold your ground, aim and fire (DC 17 +3 Jotun's rage, +1 Shotgunner, +1 Energy shield, +1 Fire support (Kurt), -1 Greviously wounded-2 in CQC with Ravo'regamai )
Failure on the other options have substantially worse outcomes. With that in mind, I think it would do us well to introduce Ravo's knees to some of our quad aught buckshot.
>>
>>6443336
>>Hold your ground, aim and fire (DC 17 +3 Jotun's rage, +1 Shotgunner, +1 Energy shield, +1 Fire support (Kurt), -1 Greviously wounded-2 in CQC with Ravo'regamai )
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

6 Votes to hold your ground

3 Votes for [Bladebreaker]

1 Vote to get creative

[ Decision made ]
[ Please roll 1d20+3. DC 17. Best of 3 ]

>>6443404
Yoooo, that's sick as hell. The sound design was immaculate

>>6443414
This is also badass
>>
Rolled 4 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>6443642
>>
Rolled 5 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>6443642
>>
Rolled 14 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>6443642
>>
Rolled 9 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>6443642
not again...
>>
>>6443650
BY OUR FUCKING TEETH
>>
>>6443650
[ Success! ]

By the skin of Sven's teeth!

[ Proceeding... ]
>>
Distractions, at the moment. Spartan Time allowed you to get a look, but you focus on the threat in front of you and Kurt. He's favoring the left. He's aiming for Kurt. Makes sense. You're grievously wounded, Kurt is fresh and could become a bigger threat if he puts all of his effort into killing you.

But he's made one tactical error. The splitjaw expected you to retreat just because you've had your guts slit, that you'd become hesitant, cautious. As if you ever could. Spartans don't surrender, don't give up. And a step back would only endanger the brother fighting by your side. You hold your ground, shield gauntlet raised and M45E peeking around the corner, you run forward as Kurt holds position, aiming at the alien's dominant arm, trying to cripple it by focusing fire on the joint of the wrist or shoulder. Deflecting the warning strike from the enemy's energy dagger, at the cost of the energy shield popping, you lean to the side and in a one handed firing grip, line up the reticle on your HUD with one of the Splitjaw's legs, right as he lunges for Kurt, who doesn't move an inch, staying scoped on the enemy's head.

There's a burst of violet blood, The alien stumbles, Kurt's next three round burst grazes their head, and the Splitjaw ducks and rolls. There's a flash of light, Kurt, steps back, reeling as the dagger that just deactivated the shield on your wrist slices through his shoulder armor like a hot knife through butter. That creates enough of an opening for the Splitjaw to get back on their feet, holding themselves up by the railing, and once again getting directly between you and Kurt, not showing his back to either of you.

He'd been aiming for Kurt's head. And Your elbow. Lethal and crippling blows, respectively. Losing his footing and knee, stopped it from working out like the enemy had wanted. But just because he had a lame leg, didn't mean you could relax. Kurt was wounded, it was a grazing hit, but it'd be enough to throw off his aim.

You couldn't give this Splitjaw room to breathe. He was just too dangerous. Too Lethal. Too Quick. And he might've lost the dagger, but he still had the sword. And there was no way to tell where who he'd thrust it at next. You, or Kurt. He was close enough to lunge at either of you, and all it took was a momentary gap in your defenses. He moved just as fast as an augmented Spartan, if not faster...

[ Current Success in combat: 3 ]
[ Violet Team Status: Sven: Grievously Wounded, Jorge, Kurt: Wounded. Illya, Malcolm: Injured. Cal: Lightly Injured ]
[ Friendly casualties: 4 CMA Soldiers ]
[ Enemies to beat: Ravo'Regamai, Two of Ravo's Apprentices ]
Cont
>>
>>6443663

> [Bulwark: Unbreakable + Bladebreaker] You've noticed a slight flaw in the Splitjaw's swordsmanship, he has a tunnel vision problem. Dogpile on him with Kurt, and take any hit he throws his way (DC 22. +2 Jotun's rage +5 Bulwark, +3 Bladebreaker, +1 Giant, +2 Fire support (Kurt, Illya), +1 Enemy is wounded, -1 Grievously wounded, -6 Ravo'regamai is a swordmaster.)

>Force him to pick you, by attempting to completely disable his injured leg (DC 19. +2 Jotun's rage +6 Brawler, +1 Giant, +2 Fire support (Kurt, Illya), +1 Enemy is wounded, -1 Grievously wounded -6 Ravo'regamai is a swordmaster)

>Take the initiative, and swing a spike grenade at the Splitjaw before he can pounce (DC 20 +2 Jotun's rage, +5 Grenadier, +3 Scrounger, +2 Fire support (Kurt, Illya), +1 Enemy is wounded, -1 Grievously wounded, -6 Ravo'regamai is a swordmaster

>[Maverick+ Brawler Rank 3+] DROP KICK THE COVIE FUCK OFF THE WALKWAY (DC 20. +2 Jotun's rage +6 Brawler, +1 Giant, +3 Completely unexpected action (Maverick) +1 Enemy is wounded, -1 Greviously wounded, -6 Ravo'regamai is a swordmaster)

>Write in option
>>
>>6443665
>>Take the initiative, and swing a spike grenade at the Splitjaw before he can pounce (DC 20 +2 Jotun's rage, +5 Grenadier, +3 Scrounger, +2 Fire support (Kurt, Illya), +1 Enemy is wounded, -1 Grievously wounded, -6 Ravo'regamai is a swordmaster

fucking die already you hinge headed fuck
>>
>>6443665
> [Bulwark: Unbreakable + Bladebreaker] You've noticed a slight flaw in the Splitjaw's swordsmanship, he has a tunnel vision problem. Dogpile on him with Kurt, and take any hit he throws his way (DC 22. +2 Jotun's rage +5 Bulwark, +3 Bladebreaker, +1 Giant, +2 Fire support (Kurt, Illya), +1 Enemy is wounded, -1 Grievously wounded, -6 Ravo'regamai is a swordmaster.)
>>
>>6443665
>>[Maverick+ Brawler Rank 3+] DROP KICK THE COVIE FUCK OFF THE WALKWAY (DC 20. +2 Jotun's rage +6 Brawler, +1 Giant, +3 Completely unexpected action (Maverick) +1 Enemy is wounded, -1 Greviously wounded, -6 Ravo'regamai is a swordmaster)

Let us show 'them aliens that there are a LOT more martial art styles than just sword combat.
>>
>>6443665
> [Bulwark: Unbreakable + Bladebreaker] You've noticed a slight flaw in the Splitjaw's swordsmanship, he has a tunnel vision problem. Dogpile on him with Kurt, and take any hit he throws his way (DC 22. +2 Jotun's rage +5 Bulwark, +3 Bladebreaker, +1 Giant, +2 Fire support (Kurt, Illya), +1 Enemy is wounded, -1 Grievously wounded, -6 Ravo'regamai is a swordmaster.)

All high dc so
>>
>>6443665
>Write in option
>Instead of drop kicking the covie, spear tackle him off the walkway. Use his body and the hydrostatic gel layer in your armor to cushion your fall. Make sure he doesn't get back up.
Kind of reckless even for a Maverick, but I imagine Sven has had enough of this elite after seeing him hurt Kurt and decides to do whatever it takes to neutralize the threat permanently with all out aggression. No better way to make sure the elite has no room to breathe than completely crushing his chest.

I figure there's a chance we botch a kick and there's a chance he can survive a four floor (?) drop on his own, presenting problems later. It's going to be harder for the elite to dodge a Spartan charging at him, who is already at close range, while he has a bad leg and he's on a walkway rather than open ground.
The CMA guys seeing Sven walk it off would also be funny.

As for the other options, targeting his leg seems too precise in the moment and he's currently in striking distance anyway.
And I expect him to try to suicide rush Kurt or us if we stick him to take one of us out with him.
At least if we botch a spear tackle and the elite gets another hit on us, he can't stop that momentum. He will either have to dodge or take a glancing blow, which will at least give Kurt the opening he needs to finish this.
>>
>>6443665
>[Maverick+ Brawler Rank 3+] DROP KICK THE COVIE FUCK OFF THE WALKWAY (DC 20. +2 Jotun's rage +6 Brawler, +1 Giant, +3 Completely unexpected action (Maverick) +1 Enemy is wounded, -1 Greviously wounded, -6 Ravo'regamai is a swordmaster)
>Write in option
>Put full power to the water jet thrusters of the MJOLNIR Oceanic/Aquatic/Argonaut etc... variant when doing the dropkick. And keep shooting the alien with the shotgun until it's meat paste.

I don't think Ravo will survive a dropkick at full power by our MJOLNIR variant water jet thrusters. It makes us faster than usual. And we have seen the effects of the standard power usage of the water jet thrusters in combat. He is not escaping us at full power. We will recharge them later; this is a good use of them.
>>
>>6443724
There's an idea. If we do somehow get into a grapple with him, we could probably angle a thruster at his face and blind him temporarily with the air jet. Compressed air is no fucking joke. PSI is PSI after all. It'd also be a maneuver he could not possibly see coming because dude who has fucking air jets all over their body to do some shit like that?
>>
>>6443724
>[Maverick+ Brawler Rank 3+] DROP KICK THE COVIE FUCK OFF THE WALKWAY (DC 20. +2 Jotun's rage +6 Brawler, +1 Giant, +3 Completely unexpected action (Maverick) +1 Enemy is wounded, -1 Greviously wounded, -6 Ravo'regamai is a swordmaster)
>Write in option
>Put full power to the water jet thrusters of the MJOLNIR Oceanic/Aquatic/Argonaut etc... variant when doing the dropkick. And keep shooting the alien with the shotgun until it's meat paste.

This has my support the thrusters should give us a bonus, might even count as a daredevil manuever
>>
>>6443724

Spartan Piledriver?

Spartan Piledriver.
>>
>>6443760

>[Maverick+ Brawler Rank 3+] DROP KICK THE COVIE FUCK OFF THE WALKWAY (DC 20. +2 Jotun's rage +6 Brawler, +1 Giant, +3 Completely unexpected action (Maverick) +1 Enemy is wounded, -1 Greviously wounded, -6 Ravo'regamai is a swordmaster)

>Put full power to the water jet thrusters of the MJOLNIR Oceanic/Aquatic/Argonaut etc... variant when doing the dropkick. And keep shooting the alien with the shotgun until it's meat paste.

To be clear.
>>
>>6443665
>[Maverick+ Brawler Rank 3+] DROP KICK THE COVIE FUCK OFF THE WALKWAY (DC 20. +2 Jotun's rage +6 Brawler, +1 Giant, +3 Completely unexpected action (Maverick) +1 Enemy is wounded, -1 Greviously wounded, -6 Ravo'regamai is a swordmaster)

I smell a recurring character who'll turn into our bro during the Great Schism if we don't end up killing each other before then. Either that or he's going to be forced to an hero.
>>
>>6443828
no named oppoenent should survive us, since it just makes them more dangerous.
>>
>>6443828
>Either that or he's going to be forced to an hero.
>YOU SHOULD ARBITRATE YOURSELF
>NOW!
>>
>>6443828
>I smell a recurring character who'll turn into our bro during the Great Schism
I can't see Sven ever really liking any aliens after the war. He'd recognize the value of allying with Arby and his faction, but actually liking or forgiving them? Nah.
>>
>>6443665
>>[Maverick+ Brawler Rank 3+] DROP KICK THE COVIE FUCK OFF THE WALKWAY (DC 20. +2 Jotun's rage +6 Brawler, +1 Giant, +3 Completely unexpected action (Maverick) +1 Enemy is wounded, -1 Greviously wounded, -6 Ravo'regamai is a swordmaster)
>>
>>6443726
Possibly.
The idea is to make sure he is outright dead through a brutal dropkick. If he isn't dead, receiving multiple shots by the shotgun directly at extreme close range should make sure he is dead. Either way, we are killing him and all his apprentices.

>>6443743
>>6443760
This should give us a small bonus. We are going to be far faster than him—also piledriver.

>>6443828
We are going to kill him with a brutal dropkick, and then blast him as a good measure.

>>6443862
The only reason someone survives is that we captured them and sent them to ONI. Or because we weren't able to fight them.
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

1 Vote to spike the splitjaw

2 Vote for [B:U+BB]

1 vote for a spear tackle

6 Votes for [M+B]
L
+ 3 votes to add some thrust

So Sven is going to Drop kick Ravo, and I'll include the write in for full powering with the armor's jets to give it some extra oomph, since it is really clevel.

it'll add an additional +2 mod, but it will deplete the additional O2 supply the armor carries.

[ Decisions made ]

[ Please roll 1d20+8. DC 22. Best of three ]
>>
>>6444068
*DC 20

My bad, typo
>>
Rolled 16 + 8 (1d20 + 8)

>>6444068
>>
Rolled 18 + 8 (1d20 + 8)

>>6444068
Machine god, remember our duty. Death to the alien.
>>
still waiting on one more roll. No rush though
>>
Rolled 15 + 8 (1d20 + 8)

>>6444068
>>
>>6444137
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lWJXDG2i0A


what Split-lip supreme will be hearing in a few seconds
>>
>>6444101
[ Success!. 1 degree of success ] [/b]

Six over target.
Here comes the boom.

[ Proceeding ... ]

Sorry I took an hour to call it, took a cat nap.

>>6444142
lmao
>>
That meant that was not time to second guess. Only time to act. Hesitation meant death. For Kurt. Or you. Synapses firing, MJOLNIR moves before you even finish forming the thought, arms and legs pumping as you go from full start to full sprint in a fraction of a second. Firing on all cylinders, the sudden aggressive rush forces the enemy to select you as their next target around the time your head catches up with your reflex. You're going to drop kick the Covie fuck off the walkway. It was genius in its simplicity. They were a master of the blade. They'd spent who knows how long preparing counters, defenses, feints and answers to ever weapon in their stretch of the galaxy. Energy swords might be lethal against even the most advance defense technology known to man or alien, but they were still just swords. Range was an issue.

Logically, you think as your feet lift the ground as you pounce like a cat draw your knees up to your chest and lean back, they'd favor close quarter engagements. Against other gators or apes. Hierarchy and rank struggles, honor duels, they'd find a reason. And that was why, you reflexively moved to drop kick. It was Unexpected. Unknown. Ridiculous. Something only professional wrestlers did, not serious martial artists and certainly not soldiers in live combat.

You'd moved too quick for Kurt to react, but not the sword master. And you could practically see the gears turning in their head, grinding off the rust of long practice as they faced the worse scenario a master of the craft could face. A move so reckless and unexpected, it acted like a road block to their train of thought. Only someone with a death wish or who spent too much time watching wrestling matches, would ever think to pull off a drop kick. The Split Jaw has no idea what you're doing, sprinting and leaping at them. They're quick enough to realize you are attacking and not trying to leap overhead, but they can't tell how or from what angle you'll attack.

A expert would take a safe option. A master, seeing another gamble, would also raise the stakes. And that's exactly what the alien does, drawing his energy blade across the air horizontally in front of himself and kicking off the railing with his good leg to try and intercept you.

He swings, swiping super heated death where your legs were. As you extend and thrust them out, flying over the low swing as MJOLNIR, listening to a nervous signal you hadn't been aware of until it happened, redirected all power to the air jets on positioned on your legs and shoulders, and emptied to additional O2 tanks to provide a full power thrust to turn your drop kick into a Spartan Shaped Missile Launch.

The point of contact? Heels to chest plate.
Cont
>>
>>6444175

The metal buckles and cracks, splitting as the Swordmaster's torso buckles, the wind knocked out of them as they're nearly folded in half. Their mandibles tighten. They were already mid jump, so the force of the impact keeps them airborn as Violet splatters against your boots and leg armor. Heart hammering, you have the presence of mind to roll mid kick and turn around mid air as the would be assassin slams back into the railing and goes over, two Mjolnir boot prints stamped into the metal and bruised, leathery skin beneath the break.

They fall like a sandbag, prone and flailing as they realize, a moment too late they've left the ground. Having their ribcage collapsed violently, probably kept them from reacting or trying to swing that sword of theirs again. That isn't the case for you, despite the pain in your midsection. Reaching out, you grab onto the railing, buckling it and feeling your shoulders nearly pop out of their sockets from the whiplash of the sudden stop. The railing sags, and you scramble to climb up.

Before a pair of blue silver hands grabs you by the wrist, and you look up to see Kurt's visor reflecting your own helmet. Illya rushes over and grabs your shoulder as they haul you up. And then, even with the muffling effect of the armor, you're nearly deafened a loud roar of noise. Cheering. The CMA troops might be survivors, but they're living up to the poor reputation of Colonial Military. Fighting isn't done.

[ Brawler Rank 5+ Interaction ]

Which is why, before trying to help Kurt and Illya pull your body back over the railing, you kick down, having felt a pressure around your ankle. Heel makes contact with something hard, that snaps.

"POZOLE! WORRRGAAAH"

You look down to see an energy sword stabbing through the walkway, an inch from the leg you stomped down on fighter's reflex, and see the bleeding face of your would be assassin, with one of their mandibles bent into their mouth, broken.

"Son of a bitch" Illya said quietly, as you stare at a loss for words for the sheer stubborn tenacity of the Svartalfar. He'd grabbed onto your leg the moment you went over the railing. You don't look away until you see them hit the ground. And you're not confident that's a confirmed kill.

"Didn't know when to give up" Kurt, hiding his pain well said as he hauled you up and patted you on the shoulder "That was a risky move, Sir"

"Incredibly risk. Heat of the moment" You answer, turning around to see that, the assassins back up had been terminated.

"The two remaining hostiles got distracted, and were terminated" Illya answered as Jorge ran over, peeking over the railing before looking down at your wound as Illya offered her shoulder and Kurt held you up.

"With extreme prejudice!" One of the CMA troops shouted, stopping short of pumping a magazine of precious ammunition into one of them by a stern look from Cal.
Cont
>>
>>6444177

"Sven", Jorge, looking up from the still smoking hole in your armor and stomach says. There is a lot of meaning in just your name.

>"Keep pushing. Illya, patch me up. I'll catch up" [Listen to Jorge's concern and receive medical treatment]

>"Thistle. Better have good news. That surprise of theirs have...complicated our plans" [Delay the judgement call until after you hear if Thistle have completed their objective ]

>"Let me hear the status report first, Jorge. You know I can walk this off..." [Keep fighting up the tower]

>"...Half of us will retreat, not risking losing a Spartan here. I'm not the only one of us wounded" [Perform a partial retreat]

>"Head in the game, that assassin isn't dead yet. We both saw him breathing. We're finishing this first" [Attempt to Confirm the kill]

>Write in option
>>
>>6444178
>"Keep pushing. Illya, patch me up. I'll catch up" [Listen to Jorge's concern and receive medical treatment]
Hope he becomes a notable rather than staying a glup shitto after that. No body no death, after all. I'm hedging my bets on Regret snagging Ravo up into his McNamara's Morons goon squad before he has the chance to rope himself. Great combat encounter.
>>
>>6444178
>>"Keep pushing. Illya, patch me up. I'll catch up" [Listen to Jorge's concern and receive medical treatment]

god i want to confirm the kill so damn bad but im not gonna risk it like this

thankfully elite culture makes it so that elits think getting medicine is for the weak and cowardly so heres hoping split-lip supreme is an ardent follower of his people's culture
>>
>>6444180
Though, if Ravo is still down there and visible, there's literally no reason for Cal to not put a round through him before heading off, or for us or Illya to just drop a grenade on his ass. If he's not there then just giving another glance confirms he's a problem for later.
I would posit anything more than that unnecessarily throws off our current time table and will make it harder to grab anything important in the tower. Like an engineer.
>>
>>6444178
>>"Keep pushing. Illya, patch me up. I'll catch up" [Listen to Jorge's concern and receive medical treatment]
>Write in
>>"Kurt, would you mind seeing if our friend is dead? If he's not, help him out some." [Empty a mag into the kill for luck.]
>>
>>6444178
>"Head in the game, that assassin isn't dead yet. We both saw him breathing. We're finishing this first" [Attempt to Confirm the kill]
No loose ends!
>>
>>6444178
>>"Keep pushing. Illya, patch me up. I'll catch up" [Listen to Jorge's concern and receive medical treatment]
>Write in
>>"Kurt, would you mind seeing if our friend is dead? If he's not, help him out some." [Empty a mag into the kill for luck.]

Deligate and heal up
>>
https://i.4cdn.org/wsg/1784579916355235.webm
>>
>>6444178
>"Head in the game, that assassin isn't dead yet. We both saw him breathing. We're finishing this first" [Attempt to Confirm the kill]
I don't want him reporting back to the prophet.
>>
>>6444178
>"Head in the game, that assassin isn't dead yet. We both saw him breathing. We're finishing this first" [Attempt to Confirm the kill]
Cross your T's, dot your I's...
>>
>>6444178
>"Keep pushing. Illya, patch me up. I'll catch up" [Listen to Jorge's concern and receive medical treatment]
>Write-in
>"Spartans seize anything of use or value from the Svartalfar's corpses. Then move."

Get some apprentices' goodies.
Patch up and stabilize the wound. Not real healing, but it doesn't matter. We need to be in an acceptable shape to capitulate this air base. The chaos and death we have made so far is good, but clearly not enough.

I am not bothering to put that 4th vote, because Ravo sounded too alive for my liking. The wounds we have given him didn't do much; his lungs were working, and he let out a good ol scream. He is not dead or even that wounded. We will need to check our backs; same for the resistance groups. The swordmaster must have great war gear and a honed body trained for war.


We failed to kill Ravo. Our plots remain at risk because he is still an alive detective tasked with finding and killing all "assassins", and understanding what we are doing. He has confirmation that our activity is to destabilize the Covenant here, and that we work side by side with human resistance.

The only plus here really is that he just entered the Alpha Corvi II Covenant Failures Club like Captain Teckyis and Captain Kestidion. His wounds can be healed once in any structure of the Covenant, base, or outpost with even the basics of medicine. He doesn't have his cadre of apprentices, but he can just replace them with some Covenant infantry fodder, which is present in abundance all across the world and in space. Our justice for the death of those CMA soldiers will have to wait.


>>6444180
He already serves as a prophet, and his political conditions cannot have him go away from his current task. Would Regret want him if another Prophet dies here on Alpha Corvi II?

We are likely going to have to kill him here. He is a prime problem for the plots we want to make. He will be in our way, and he will keep hunting and investigating. Ravo has found his assassins; now he just needs a better ambush site, more info, and more help. If our fratricide war plot doesn't go through, we can only save a few people here. Every other human on this world will be killed or used by the Covenant.


>>6444185
I suspect we didn't do much damage to him. He must have pretty good armor and a well-trained body.

At the moment, our priority in the skyscraper is max destruction and death. But there is also other stuff here for sure (the human politician and his cronies, Teckyis' war room, multiple air vehicles, plenty of gear). Engineers are likely present in at least 5 or a few more; this place is a full base, not a vehicle garage in the wild. Taking them away, we can rob an air transport. Otherwise, we need to go back down and then to the sewers. Someone will need to go there anyway because we do need to move the TYPHON vehicles we used here in Jamshid.
>>
>>6444215
*serves a prophet
lol
Also, did we ask Jamy what this tower/skyscraper was about before the invasion? His info would be great for navigation here.
>>
>>6444178
>"Head in the game, that assassin isn't dead yet. We both saw him breathing. We're finishing this first" [Attempt to Confirm the kill]

Voting for this too don't want to risk elite surviving
>>
>>6444215
>He already serves a prophet, and his political conditions cannot have him go away from his current task.
Ravo serves a Minister, not a High Prophet. And the moment it's discovered he failed a second time he's going to either be ordered to kill himself, just do it himself, or go completely rogue and keep trying to hunt us by himself. Thus, Regret stepping in changes those political conditions as after this he's going to be persona non grata to the rest of the Covenant.
>Would Regret want him if another Prophet dies here on Alpha Corvi II?
Probably not. It's purely narrative speculation on my part as the chances of a High Prophet (Truth, Regret, or Mercy) stepping in for a literal who fuck up are practically nill. Just a convenient way to bring back a persistent antagonist for us to face.
>I suspect we didn't do much damage to him. He must have pretty good armor and a well-trained body.
>His wounds can be healed once in any structure of the Covenant, base, or outpost with even the basics of medicine.
Elites are a "if he dies, he dies" sort of warrior society. They largely don't accept medical treatment for combat injuries. And here are his injuries.
>Charred nanolam armor indicate serious burns beneath armor from our plasma grenade gambit.
>Lame leg after we put a shotshell into his knee point blank.
>Chest plate caved in and split open from our falcon kick. Minimum of broken ribs and damaged lungs. Sven thinks collapsed ribcage.
Ravo is fucked up and unless he's built like Ripa probably not in a good state. Alive but not doing much kicking.
>>
>>6444215
Ravo just lost his backup and is severely injured. This is THE best time to hunt him down.
>>
>>6444178
changing my vote>>6444183
to

>"Head in the game, that assassin isn't dead yet. We both saw him breathing. We're finishing this first" [Attempt to Confirm the kill]
>>
>>6444253
Confirm the kill or capture yeh
>>
>>6444259
Capturing him is a bad idea for the same reason capturing the roach queen was a bad idea. Too dangerous.
>>
>>6444260
He's heavily injured alr asy and alone. We've captures elites before too, so no reason we can't do it.
>>
Guys, something that's very important is that the swordmaster dies now, because the fratricidal war plan depends on it.

Let's think this through. Right now, Teckyis knows that it's us because of the blood eagle stunt, and not some other chieftain that is responsible for his run of bad luck. That was an error (done right, Teckyis might even have fired the first shot), but not one that's irretrievable - when the other chieftains become aware of his fuck up, it's possible they'll just say "yeah, of course he would blame this on humans. He doesn't want to admit fault, and they're probably his humans anyway. Do we even really care? He's weak and this means I can take top spot." The point is that they probably won't listen to Teckyis' protestations of innocence and their greed will be more important than us.

HOWEVER, The swordmaster is not only not a brute, he is also a person of public note - he has been more or less charged with a holy duty, which means that every one of importance in the Covenant chain of command knows who he is. While he may have been disgraced for a failure of duty, he probably has not been disgraced for being a liar - which means that if the swordmaster says that there are other humans fucking their shit up, IN ADDITION to Teckyis saying that, they might actually listen to Teckyis, and at that point they all start trying to stamp our shit.

In other words, no witnesses. Thats swordmaster and his whole cohort cannot remain alive to undermine the plan.

FIND THAT FUCK AND KILL HIM.
>>
>>6444272
Fair enough. I think the last elite we captured was an ultra, the last time we were on Alpha Corvi. We'd need to cripple him so he physically cannot fight back though.
>>
>>6444178

>"Keep pushing. Illya, patch me up. I'll catch up" [Listen to Jorge's concern and receive medical treatment]
>"Spartans seize anything of use or value from the Svartalfars' corpses. Then move."
>"Kurt, would you mind seeing if our friend is dead? If he's not, help him out some." [Empty a mag into the kill for luck.]

Characters like him aren't dead until you've watched them stop breathing. And then double-tapped for good measure.
>>
>>6444178
>"Keep pushing. Illya, patch me up. I'll catch up" [Listen to Jorge's concern and receive medical treatment]
>"Spartans seize anything of use or value from the Svartalfars' corpses. Then move."
>"Kurt, would you mind seeing if our friend is dead? If he's not, help him out some." [Empty a mag into the kill for luck.] (Or Cal if it makes more sense.)

Cal’s the one with a sniper or marksman rifle, why aren’t we having her make sure that the elite is dead?
>>
desu I don't want the others to advance without the "funny feeling" guy
>>
>>6444283
then vote for it

and if you voted something else just change your vote
>>
>>6444428

Already did.
>>
>>6444178
>"Head in the game, that assassin isn't dead yet. We both saw him breathing. We're finishing this first" [Attempt to Confirm the kill]
>>
>>6444482
You didn't >>6444188
You voted for the half measure and considering he survived having his rib cage obliterated by a Spartan drop kick, I'm not certain just mag dumping him will be enough. It's better to be thorough.
>>
Today's update is going to be late, might miss it. Just feeling really out of it for some reason rn.
>>
>>6444661
>Just feeling really out of it for some reason rn.
That tends to happen when you are kicked down from the fourth floor, Mr. Ravioli.
>>
>>6444178
>>"Keep pushing. Illya, patch me up. I'll catch up" [Listen to Jorge's concern and receive medical treatment]
>>
>>6444178
>"Thistle. Better have good news. That surprise of theirs have...complicated our plans" [Delay the judgement call until after you hear if Thistle have completed their objective ]
+ >>6444188
Been a long long time since I've been in this quest
Glad to be back
>>
[ Rebooting....Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

Sorry about missing a day, wasn't feeling right last night. And then I decide to walk across town in the summer heat today. Which is entirely on me

7 Votes to Get patched up while your team pushes forward

10 Votes to Confirm the kill
L
+ 5 votes to have Kurt do it

3 Votes to order your team to loot the elites

1 Vote to get updated by thistle first

Bit of a tricky one to figure out. But holding back and receiving first aid + Having Kurt mag dump into Ravo, have 5 votes combined, and Head in the game has six votes (without counting the Kurt vote, which is a sub vote of it IMO)

So, we'll do it like this, Sven will sit his ass down while Illya patches him up, Kurt and the rest of the team will advance but only after confirming the scary ass Covenant Assassin is a confirmed kill.

seems fair to me

[ Decisions made ]
[ Proceeding.... ]

>>6444931
Glad to have you back, welcome back.
>>
>>6445019
>So, we'll do it like this, Sven will sit his ass down while Illya patches him up, Kurt and the rest of the team will advance but only after confirming the scary ass Covenant Assassin is a confirmed kill.

that makes sense and i think it is quite fair
>>
>>6445019

Works for me.

I'm sure there will be recurring covenant characters. Just not this guy.
>>
"Head in the game, Spartan", clapping a hand on Jorge's shoulder as you support yourself against the intact side of the railing as Illya begins to wordlessly unpack her medical supplies and trauma kit. The rest of the team listens, as you, subtly, gesture to the covenant Assassin who just took a four floor swan dive and lower your voice before finishing what you had to say " that assassin isn't dead yet". Looking into Jorge's Visor you continued as you gripped his armor hard, "We both saw him breathing". Your brother answered with a nod. Breaking away from staring him down, you turned to the rest of your team, to Kurt and said, sternly and with finality "We're finishing this first"

Every Spartan present had kept their safeties off and their guns loaded, they were ready to confirm the kill. They were just waiting to hear who'd be given the honors.

"Kurt, would you mind making sure our friend is dead?" You said, in a low, conspiratorial tone while shooting Cal a glance that was an unspoken command to be Kurt's Guardian Angel. She had already set up on the walkway, angling her rifle as Kurt rolled his injured shoulder as you let out a hiss of repressed pain as Illya began cutting away the bits of the inner layer of your armor that had melted and fused to the skin on your stomach.

"Understood, trusting the rest of you to watch our backs" He said as he shouldered his rifle. A few of the CMA soldiers, watched him go and retarded the motion to follow him. You gave them permission with a nod as you slumped down, white hot pain shooting up your spine and tingling in your fingers as you were reminded that Illya was much less gentle than Shika when it came to first aid. Nothing you couldn't endure, but you couldn't help but notice the difference in their bedside manner.

"Is he going to survive?" The CO of the CMA troops asked quietly as Jorge and Malcolm remained on high alert and thus didn't reply "I've seen those glowing blue swords of theirs slice through tank armor. And I know you guys are hyper elites with cutting edge gear but...your leader just got impaled. And you all seem remarkably calm"

"Spartans don't panic" Malcolm answered shortly, and that was all that needed to be said. But Jorge tossed his hat into the ring as well

"Sven is tougher and more stubborn than a Tank" Jorge said calmly "He'll live. Not sure if they've invented a way to kill the Lieutenant Commander yet"

Illya breathed out of her nose, and as she removed another piece of metal fused to skin said dryly "An exaggeration, he is killable and mortal"

"Doesn't seem like it to me" One of the other CMA troops said "I mean, he straight up wrestler kicked that squid face down what? Five stories? After getting stabbed by one of the Covie's death lasers!"

Illya silenced the argument before it could start, shooting a silent, helmeted stare at him.

"Let her work" Malcolm said calmly "Our CO is tough, but he's human"
Cont
>>
>>6445039

"We all are" Jorge added, as the CMA guys went quiet, watching as if they expected to see Illya pull out wires and gears rather than burnt skin and charred muscle.

"Movement" Cal reported, a second before you heard a burst of SMG Fire. Kurt shot first and from a distance, must've gotten one of his feelings and decided not to risk another limb. Judging from the yelling and gunfire, he'd opened fire the moment before the Assassins stopped playing dead.

"Take the shot" You coldly order, sweat beading cold on your forehead as Illya starts cutting again. Cal didn't wait for the order, and had taken the shot before you could finish speaking. There was a rattling wail, followed by a period of silence as Kurt reloaded, and more sustained Gunfire.

You looked over to Cal, she remained scoped in.

"Kurt?" You ask casually

"Kill Confirmed. They had a solid knife on their hip. Looked ceremonial. Might've been bone or fang" He reported, short of breathe "Was quicker on the draw, Still a close call. Cal, nice shot"

"Thank you"

"Double tap" You order icily, Cal looks your way, shrugs and shoots as Kurt finishes empting the second mag

"Bit more than a double tap" One of the CMA troops muttered

"Call it insurance" Jorge told them before looking at you heavily. You breathed out a sigh, Illya wasn't close to finishing her first aid and you were still bleeding out of an open chest wound. You didn't want to make the call but...

"Keep pushing forward" You ordered "Illya will patch me up, then we'll catch up, Understood?"

"In-freaking-human. You guys make ODST look like pussies!"

"Understood" Jorge said "We should be able to hold out until we get back to base"

"If you get banged up, retreat back to this point. I'm talking to you, Kurt, Jorge", then taking the moment to look around you take account of the dead and injured of your allied force "Any of CMA personnel who can't keep up, can remain at this point"

None of the ones left standing take the offer. Every member of your team pats you on the back before they continue their climb up the skyscraper, with Jorge taking the most time before he left you and Illya alone with the dead. Then, she started humming as she worked on patching you back together

"You'll need to visit the specialists and on board AI on your ship, after the mission is done. I can stitch you up, seal the wound, but you need more than field treatment, Sven" She said after awhile as you started counting the lights on the ceiling and tracking your teams progress up the floors "And not only for this stab wound, but the shrapnel damage you took earlier in the OP. Did you tear any stitches or staples?"

"Hard to tell. Getting impaled on a plasma sword kind of blotted out any other pain I might've felt. Can't strip off the armor to check" You answer as she sighs
Cont
>>
>>6445041

"I'll do what I can, Sir, but you'll be more Biofoam than anything if you keep taking hits like this", Illya paused "Managed to miss any vital organs or muscle groups. Or bones. Won't have to go back on the surgery table"

"Thank the gods" You chuckle, stopping as she started dabbing disinfectant into the wounded area

"We're going to be alone for a couple of minutes, that's practically hours for Spartans" She said as she continued administering aid and checking your vitals "You're chatty, Sir, want to find a more pleasant topic of discussion besides your bill of health?"

You gave her a look

"Better than sitting in silence, waiting for hostile contact or the sound of gunfire", she argued and you nodded and gave it some thought.

>"Do you remember your home, I mean, where you came from. Where the program found you"

>"Be honest, do you think I'll be the first to be KIA?"

>"...Isn't much left of this colony to be saved. The Covenant is efficient, if nothing else"

>"Which Covenant species do you hate the most, Illya?"

>Write in option

And yes, Sven's sub objective bladebreaker has progressed. The details/ official progress event will happen shortly/ in a couple of updates

Kurt, also now has the bladebreaker Sub-objective, btw
>>
>>6445043
Excellent though taught Kurt would have gotten that already from killing an elite with a katana

>"Do you remember your home, I mean, where you came from. Where the program found you
>>
>>6445045
Yeah meant to say he also progressed to stage 2, not started it. My bad
>>
>>6445043
>>"Do you remember your home, I mean, where you came from. Where the program found you"

God damn Split-lip supreme really just wouldn't die

>>6445045
i think that was Ralph or Oscar who did that not Kurt he was just in charge of the Op with Niaomi
>>
>>6445043

>"Do you remember your home, I mean, where you came from. Where the program found you"

So if we do any more OPs with Kurt, it's pretty much a guarantee we'll have more Elite Swordmasters gunning for our asses.

Are any of our APs going to update as well during this mission? It's a bit different to Irminsul in terms of progression, so curious.

>>6445045 Lol, that's a very funny IP tag.
>>
>>6445043
>"Do you remember your home, I mean, where you came from. Where the program found you"
>>
>>6445043
>"Do you remember your home, I mean, where you came from. Where the program found you"

>>6445045
Pretty sure that was Oscar.

>>6445046
What happened to that katana btw? I remember Oscar wanting to keep it as a trophy or something but it belonged to an old marine who was presumably Shika's grandfather. Was it confiscated or did one of them get to keep it?
>>
>>6445076
Never mind, just checked. It was Kurt who used the katana to kill an elite in a duel but the katana was supposedly originally gifted to Oscar by Shika's grandpa. So both Kurt and Oscar wanted to keep the sword for themselves. Or maybe Oscar intended to give it to Shika.
>>
>>6445087
huh hopefully we can confirm that was Shikia's grandfather so we can give her the Katana or hopefully she found something made by her grandfather since she deserves it
>>
>>6445101
I mean... the man had a shrine with a picture of Shika's flash clone. Unless he was some sort of freak, he was definitely family.
>>
>>6445087
If Shika were there, it would have almost certainly been her Katana, but she wasn't, so it isn't.
I said it before, but it belongs to Oscar. The footage, AAR, and the regulations back that up. HOWEVER, should Oscar want to solidify that claim, he might want to get go over Kurt's head and have the matter settled by Command. This would be best accomplished by funneling the matter through Sven first, lest the request catch the eye of an Officer who wants a nice new trophy to hang on the wall of their personal cabin.
Though I will admit that it would be best if Oscar and Kurt both resolved to give Shika the sword, ostensibly in appreciation of her "heritage".
Anyways, I think it might be advisable for Sven and Kurt to twist Halsey's arm and get a dedicated melee weapon folded into the ongoing projects for supplemental Spartan equipment.
>>
>>6445043
>>"Be honest, do you think I'll be the first to be KIA?"
>>
>>6445043
>"Do you remember your home, I mean, where you came from. Where the program found you"
Once thistle blows the joint and the job is done we need to take away the bodies of this elite and his disciples, ideally I'd like to make trophies of them but if we can't we ensure they're never found. Making them seemingly disappear is far more scary than finding their bodies, the imagination does it's worst.
>>
>>6445109

Something that can ideally stand up to or short out an energy sword.
>>
>>6445129
>super-electromagnet gauntlet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9P1y9Z4zww
Honestly trying to go band for band with plasma with any material is a losing game. Gotta use equivalent other natural forces, like magnetism (which is what is already used to shape and guide it most of the time), gravity, or directed pure kinetic energy which is basically telekinesis but with science and as far as I am aware doesn't exist except in hypotheticals.

So lightsaber duels it is.
>>
>>6445135

Nano-laminate plating with an induced current running through the blade?
>>
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51 KB JPG
>>6445135
Beyond engineering new super high resistance alloys, I think focusing on disrupting the magnetic field generated by an energy sword is also viable.
We've already got equipment capable of generating short lived EMPs, so I think developing a miniaturized electromagnetic field generator and incorporating that into a supplemental MJOLNIR attachment or a dedicated melee weapon is definitely feasible.
>>6445136
I like it. Way more elegant than my initial proposal of a tactical sword with tungsten alloy inserts and a ferromagnetic core hooked up to a badass electromagnet on our back. As I describe it, it sounds like the bastard child of a protosaber and vibroblade.
>>
>>6445136
It would still melt, which is the real problem when it comes to clashing against plasma. You kind of just can't for prolonged periods. And even brief contact will induce vaporization on some scale. Which is why ablative protection works against plasma, in theory. If the outer layer explodes it'll push away the plasma kind of like the Leidenfrost effect or whatever it's called. It's also why the heat-resistant layer on ODST armor and Mjolnir can take minor plasma attacks, it literally explodes against the surface and dissipates the attack as best it can, which turns the refractive coating into a sort of self-detonating but inert E.R.A. which is kind of neat.

Ideally, you don't touch plasma with anything. Unless that something can walk on the surface of a star. In which case laugh as they are completely unable to harm you. I'd be kind of worried about outright shorting out or disrupting the plasma containment field in melee range though. If the energy swords don't have an inbuilt instantaneous dissipation and deactivation failsafe then you turn their active sword into a grenade. I'm pretty sure they do though. But still.

>>6445137
Yeah magnets are probably our best quick fix option right now. In the future we'll probably unlocked specific energy field tuning as a sub-genre of energy shields that might be able to redirect or reduce plasma that would probably come in the form of a buckler or something that burns itself out for the energy cost.

Oh and if we carried around a jug full of napalm we could chuck it at an energy sword and it would instantly ignite and explode. So much so that you could actually have a safe and inert chemical fuel and do it. Super stable but ultra-dense high-performance fuel that you would normally need to aerosolize first would flash vaporize and explode from the sheer temperature. Nesta would be thrilled to throw fucking jet-fuel at a splitjaw and watch it warcrime itself because of its fancy toys.
>>
>>6445137
>>6445142

What I'm envisioning is the stuff the Hunter's shields are made out of. Coat that with the heat-resistant layer on ODST armour and run a circuit under the whole business.

A solid sword against an energy sword is a problem, but what I'm looking for is a solid sword that can survive parrying an energy sword and in the process, short it out.

It might not come out of the encounter unscathed, but the same can be said of any sword clashing with another sword. If you strike edge-on they get damaged and there's nothing you can do about it.

I use that example as an analogy, the problem I foresee is that without the expensive nano-laminate shit the Covenant use, any other sort of feasible counter that Section 3 can devise is going to be very expensive and short lived.

This would still be expensive, but it'd last long enough to be feasible.
>>
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>>6445144
>>6445142
In the short term, it might be worth Jackalmaxxing and keeping a plasma pistol and shield gauntlet on us at all times. I've no doubt that Blademasters are well versed in engaging Kig-Yar with the same setup, but Spartans are a different thing entirely.
>>
>>6445145

Oh, they definitely know how to deal with Jackals, considering how Ravioli opened Sven up like an Amazon package with that energy dagger.
>>
>>6445043
>>"...Isn't much left of this colony to be saved. The Covenant is efficient, if nothing else"
>>
File: rtassparring.png (2.02 MB, 1200x886)
2.02 MB PNG
>>6445146
All the more reason to train our asses off and do some shit a Jackal wouldn't and couldn't.
>>
>>6445043
>"Be honest, do you think I'll be the first to be KIA?"
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

Didn't mean to take so long to do this today, but I just wasn't in the right headspace all day. Lots of good discussion

6 Votes for "Do you remember your home, I mean, where you came from. Where the program found you"

2 Votes for Be honest, do you think I'll be the first to be KIA?"

1 vote for "...Isn't much left of this colony to be saved. The Covenant is efficient, if nothing else"

So Sven is going to ask Illya if she remembers her home at all

[ Decision made ]
[ Proceeding...]

>>6445076
Currently still at Reach, since the program/ command wrote off possession of it as an internal matter/ issue with the Spartan Class.

Though the exact reasoning for "Let the Spartans figure it out" did vary for each authority the issue was brought up to
>>
"Do you remember your home" You start before pausing to explain "I mean, where you came from. Where the program found you"

Otherwise the answer would've been obvious. Reach. Or, more specifically the program. The class. Her fellow Spartans. Illya paused, momentarily, contemplating her answer as she was making sure the wound in your stomach didn't present a delayed lethal threat to your life.

"Sven. You're an outlier. In more than one way" Is what she answers with as continues clearing and washing the area around the impalement "Most of us don't barely remember anything from before the program, and you seem to take pride in refusing to forget. I've noticed that about you, if I have permission to speak openly. You're nostalgic. A daydreamer. Contemplative. You value meaning, seek it beyond your duty as a soldier. Don't know how you ended up with such an artistic view, when you went through the same training as all of us..."

"I'll overlook the fact you didn't wait for permission, and the fact that doesn't answer my question"

She scraped off a bit of burnt skin, and the unburnt nerves beneath it came alive with a jolt of pain

"I was getting there. I was just giving my theory why you've always been so sentimental. Its an anomaly. You can be cold and calculated one moment, then spend hours off deployment sketching something you saw on a mission. You're probably one of the most openly and emotionally healthy Spartans, but you can bury it in an instant and go so cold you seem icy to the rest of us" She answered, rapidly as she continued giving your first aid "And I think, its because you remembered your home so vividly but knew that most of what you knew was false. That everything you'd tried to get back to, early on, wasn't really...real. Your family were part of the existential threat we had been taken to face and prevent. I still remember how hard it was to shave that mane you came into Basic with. You always were as tough as you are hard headed."

Since when did Illya learn to be a therapist? You'd need to check the Skidbladnir's laws, you had a feeling she was spending more time than she admitted talking with Rita.

"But that's just conjecture on my part. I can't imagine being in your head, Sir. You can be a hardass, the ideal leader or a big brother, moment to moment. Or you can be more cold blooded than any of us were taught to be" She continues, humming again as she finally brings out the biofoam to fill the hole in your chest "And to answer your question, all I remember clearly about "home", is birds"

"Birds" You repeated through gritted teeth

"Birds" She answers mechanically "Don't think they were tropical, but they were colorful. And I remember them singing. And this tune I've been humming. I think my mother...or an older sister would hum it to me. Don't know if it meant anything, if it came from a song. If it had meaning. But I like the sound of it, keeps my hands steady"
Cont
>>
>>6445776

"Then I'm glad you remembered it" You chuckle as she takes a second canister of biofoam "And this is just conjecture, but maybe you like it because its the last connection you have to a home you've forgotten, lost"

"Rita said similar, maybe. I just know it improves my performance. That's what matters in the moment, in the field" She answers, as a few distant gunshots ring out "Almost finished, Sir. You'll still be bleeding, and at risk of opening the stitch, but it should last until we get out of the line of fire. But"

You straightened up, sensing a change in her tone that sounded like she was turning the question around on you

"I have to ask, Sven. You know your parents, remember them. Both of them are awaiting or on trial now. Facing execution. You captured one of them, personally. And lead the decapitating strike on that home you were so wistful about" She said, sadly "We follow and carry out orders, it is what we were trained to do. But that can't have been easy, especially with how...sentimental you can get"

>"They weren't the parents I remembered. And I wasn't her son, I'm a Spartan. They were enemies, and were a threat to...everything"

>"Illya. I like creating. I like art. I like programing. My family wasn't any worse than the Program. Or ONI. I was always going to become a soldier. I was just fortunate I became a Spartan"

>"I didn't look either of them in the eye. And they had aged. It was easy actually, to separate them from the pleasant memories I still have"

>"I finished mourning them long before the orders came down to take them out. They were terrorists. Threats. The cat wasn't"

>Write in option
>>
>>6445779


>"Illya. I like creating. I like art. I like programing. My family wasn't any worse than the Program. Or ONI. I was always going to become a soldier. I was just fortunate I became a Spartan"

Good stuff, 404.
>>
>>6445779

>"Illya. I like creating. I like art. I like programing. My family wasn't any worse than the Program. Or ONI. I was always going to become a soldier. I was just fortunate I became a Spartan"
>>
>>6445771
Well I guess we can resolve that issue when at home. No reason to let it there. And decide who gets the katana.

We will have no shortage of alien weapons, even melee weapons (gifts from the yanme queen, the brutes, and Ravo cadre) too. And we can probably have on the spot by asking HC a dedicated weaponsmith just for make spartan melee weapons. A small request really, in comparison to the rest we will ask.
>>
>>6445779
>>"Illya. I like creating. I like art. I like programing. My family wasn't any worse than the Program. Or ONI. I was always going to become a soldier. I was just fortunate I became a Spartan"

I live for this shit 404.
>>
>>6445779
>>"Illya. I like creating. I like art. I like programing. My family wasn't any worse than the Program. Or ONI. I was always going to become a soldier. I was just fortunate I became a Spartan"
>>
>>6445779
>>"Illya. I like creating. I like art. I like programing. My family wasn't any worse than the Program. Or ONI. I was always going to become a soldier. I was just fortunate I became a Spartan"

god the most "human" Spartan with arguably one of the most tragic origins of all the Spartans was always going to be a soldier and he never had a choice in that matter only whose soldier would he have been
>>
>>6445779
>"Illya. I like creating. I like art. I like programing. My family wasn't any worse than the Program. Or ONI. I was always going to become a soldier. I was just fortunate I became a Spartan"
>>
>>6445779
>"Illya. I like creating. I like art. I like programing. My family wasn't any worse than the Program. Or ONI. I was always going to become a soldier. I was just fortunate I became a Spartan"
Great update. Always nice to have an actual social with our fellows.
>>
>>6445779
>"Illya. I like creating. I like art. I like programing. My family wasn't any worse than the Program. Or ONI. I was always going to become a soldier. I was just fortunate I became a Spartan"
>>
>>6445779
>"Illya. I like creating. I like art. I like programing. My family wasn't any worse than the Program. Or ONI. I was always going to become a soldier. I was just fortunate I became a Spartan"
>>
[ rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

9 Votes for " Illya. I like creating. I like art. I like programing. My family wasn't any worse than the Program. Or ONI. I was always going to become a soldier. I was just fortunate I became a Spartan"

Complete agreement for Sven to tell Illya he thinks he was always destined for the battlefield, properly fatalist

[ Decision made ]
[ Proceeding ]


>>6445782
>>6445787
>>6445825
>>6445951
Very happy you all enjoyed the update!

>>6445050
After the current mission, Crow's Nest, Ends, they will. Might need some help remembering all of Sven's current ones that triggered a level up though, but I should be fine with new ones, since the choice at the end of a mission maxes out at 7 options

Meant to answer this earlier, but I forgot
>>
You take the hand she offers and stand back up, looking into her silver visor and the image of yourself reflected in it before speaking from the heart you wear on your sleeve.

"Illya, I like creating. I like art. I like programming", and it wasn't lost on you that you were surrounded by examples of both at the moment, and what you said next felt heavier than the powered armor you were wearing, but they were honest. True. "My family wasn't any worst than the program. Or Oni"

And weren't those words bitter, but they were real. Accurate. You throw a glance the way of the fallen CMA soldiers, and bowed your head in a passing show of respect as you admitted what you'd known for most of your life, "I was always going to be a soldier". And turning away from the past and the dead, you proudly state "I was just lucky I became a Spartan", as Illya racks her shotgun and watches your back as you pick back up your own guns.

"And I'm called a fatalist. But, I can't imagine myself being anyone beside who...what I am now. All of us seem tailored made to be what we are. Whether we were born or molded into it,=doesn't matter" Illya contemplates out loud "Whether it was destiny, or circumstance, doesn't matter. We're Spartans. We have a duty. And a job to do. Sir, are you able?"

"The norns cut every mans' fate long before their birth. If it is mine to die today, I'll exact a heavy price of covenant lives" You say in a stanza like a saga read out loud "It'll take all they can muster and bring to bear to kill me, of this I swear"

"That makes on of us, Sven" Illya says dourly, and with a tilt of her head that told you she was showing you she had rolled her eyes at you acting the skald in the middle of an ongoing combat operation "Our odds are never great, fighting these aliens. Almost seems unfair, considering all of advantages. Every mission, a brush with death"

"And that's why we call you a Fatalist and not me, in spite of my beliefs, Illya" You chuckle "But enough chatter, head in the game. Our team sounds like they could use reinforcements"

"No time to get philosophical. I'll take the lead" Illya volunteers "Don't push yourself too far, Sir"

"I've got the rear" You agree, as another round of gunfire, from much higher up the building than the last sounded from, sounds off. And two, consecutive explosions rock the walls. The other Spartans were hitting the Covenant, and hitting them hard.

You wouldn't be rushing in blind, it take only a quick ping to get status reports from both teams before you rejoined the firefight. But that didn't require all of your attentions. Nor did it keep your hands occupied....
Cont
>>
>>6446165
>[Scrounger 3 + Bladebreaker] Loot the Assassins energy swords, and take another route to the on going firefight to hit the Covies from the side (DC 15. +1 Giant, +3 Bladebreaker, +1 firesupport (Illya), +3 Infiltraitor, DC reduced by 7 (From 22) via SQ: Spartan-II Penalties from injuries temporarily abated)

>[Infiltrator 3] Kurt and Co are handling themselves well, so bypass the enemy defense with Illya by going up the elevator shaft and move to reinforce Thistle, as Nesta made a call to turn their sabotage mission into an assassination after setting the hangar on fire

>[Artificial Artisan/ Wunderkind] Plant Vali in the network and set him to erase any evidence of Spartan presence in this attack, ahead of time

>[Boogeyman] Grab a certain "prop" from the ground floor and approach the on going fire fight at a leisure pace, then show the Covenant what happened to their Elite assassin

>Write in option

I should be able to fit in the progression for Bladebreaker next update or the one after. Couldn't find a good spot for it in this one
>>
>>6446166

>[Artificial Artisan/ Wunderkind] Plant Vali in the network and set him to erase any evidence of Spartan presence in this attack, ahead of time

>[Boogeyman] Grab a certain "prop" from the ground floor and approach the on going fire fight at a leisure pace, then show the Covenant what happened to their Elite assassin

Not sure if we can combo but I think we can. So let's go full horror.monster. no evidence only aftermath
>>
>>6446166
>[Scrounger 3 + Bladebreaker] Loot the Assassins energy swords, and take another route to the on going firefight to hit the Covies from the side (DC 15. +1 Giant, +3 Bladebreaker, +1 firesupport (Illya), +3 Infiltraitor, DC reduced by 7 (From 22) via SQ: Spartan-II Penalties from injuries temporarily abated)
>[Artificial Artisan/ Wunderkind] Plant Vali in the network and set him to erase any evidence of Spartan presence in this attack, ahead of time
Surely we can find an access point along our alternate route, right?
>>
>>6446165
>[Artificial Artisan/ Wunderkind] Plant Vali in the network and set him to erase any evidence of Spartan presence in this attack, ahead of time
Maximize spookiness. Get them all nice and paranoid, jumping at every shadow.
>>
>>6446166
>[Scrounger 3 + Bladebreaker] Loot the Assassins energy swords, and take another route to the on going firefight to hit the Covies from the side (DC 15. +1 Giant, +3 Bladebreaker, +1 firesupport (Illya), +3 Infiltraitor, DC reduced by 7 (From 22) via SQ: Spartan-II Penalties from injuries temporarily abated)
>>
>>6446166
>[Artificial Artisan/ Wunderkind] Plant Vali in the network and set him to erase any evidence of Spartan presence in this attack, ahead of time

>[Scrounger 3 + Bladebreaker] Loot the Assassins energy swords, and take another route to the on going firefight to hit the Covies from the side (DC 15. +1 Giant, +3 Bladebreaker, +1 firesupport (Illya), +3 Infiltraitor, DC reduced by 7 (From 22) via SQ: Spartan-II Penalties from injuries temporarily abated)

Go my son Vali, Its your time to shine.
>>
>>6446166
>[Artificial Artisan/ Wunderkind] Plant Vali in the network and set him to erase any evidence of Spartan presence in this attack, ahead of time
>>
>>6446166

Checked

>[Artificial Artisan/ Wunderkind] Plant Vali in the network and set him to erase any evidence of Spartan presence in this attack, ahead of time.

Make sure we put some limits on him. No going beyond the building.

>[Scrounger 3 + Bladebreaker] Loot the Assassins energy swords, and take another route to the on going firefight to hit the Covies from the side (DC 15. +1 Giant, +3 Bladebreaker, +1 fire support (Illya), +3 Infiltraitor, DC reduced by 7 (From 22) via SQ: Spartan-II Penalties from injuries temporarily abated)

Tempted to go help Thistle, but they should be okay to fuck Teckyis up.
>>
>>6446166
>[Scrounger 3 + Bladebreaker] Loot the Assassins energy swords, and take another route to the on going firefight to hit the Covies from the side (DC 15. +1 Giant, +3 Bladebreaker, +1 firesupport (Illya), +3 Infiltraitor, DC reduced by 7 (From 22) via SQ: Spartan-II Penalties from injuries temporarily abated)
Take the heads of the assassin's for trophies and hang them over our shoulder alongside that fancy knife.

Now as much as I want to plug and n our boyni thought we wanted to save the cities AI because they hold so much data regarding covenant occupation protocols and Sven's general view on AI (no one left behind)
>>
>>6446248

Which is why I'm stipulating a limited deployment.

This building's network only.
>>
>>6446166
>>[Artificial Artisan/ Wunderkind] Plant Vali in the network and set him to erase any evidence of Spartan presence in this attack, ahead of time
>[Boogeyman] Grab a certain "prop" from the ground floor and approach the on going fire fight at a leisure pace, then show the Covenant what happened to their Elite assassin
>>
>>6446166
>[Scrounger 3 + Bladebreaker] Loot the Assassins energy swords, and take another route to the on going firefight to hit the Covies from the side (DC 15. +1 Giant, +3 Bladebreaker, +1 firesupport (Illya), +3 Infiltraitor, DC reduced by 7 (From 22) via SQ: Spartan-II Penalties from injuries temporarily abated)
>[Artificial Artisan/ Wunderkind] Plant Vali in the network and set him to erase any evidence of Spartan presence in this attack, ahead of time

time to be some spooky motherfuckers
>>
>>6446166
>[Artificial Artisan/ Wunderkind] Plant Vali in the network and set him to erase any evidence of Spartan presence in this attack, ahead of time

>[Scrounger 3 + Bladebreaker] Loot the Assassins energy swords, and take another route to the on going firefight to hit the Covies from the side (DC 15. +1 Giant, +3 Bladebreaker, +1 firesupport (Illya), +3 Infiltraitor, DC reduced by 7 (From 22) via SQ: Spartan-II Penalties from injuries temporarily abated)
>>
>>6446166
>>[Scrounger 3 + Bladebreaker] Loot the Assassins energy swords, and take another route to the on going firefight to hit the Covies from the side (DC 15. +1 Giant, +3 Bladebreaker, +1 fire support (Illya), +3 Infiltraitor, DC reduced by 7 (From 22) via SQ: Spartan-II Penalties from injuries temporarily abated)
>[Artificial Artisan/ Wunderkind] Plant Vali in the network and set him to erase any evidence of Spartan presence in this attack, ahead of time
>>
>>6446166
>[Scrounger 3 + Bladebreaker] Loot the Assassins energy swords, and take another route to the on going firefight to hit the Covies from the side (DC 15. +1 Giant, +3 Bladebreaker, +1 firesupport (Illya), +3 Infiltraitor, DC reduced by 7 (From 22) via SQ: Spartan-II Penalties from injuries temporarily abated)
>[Boogeyman] Grab a certain "prop" from the ground floor and approach the on going fire fight at a leisure pace, then show the Covenant what happened to their Elite assassin
I think we could probably do all 3 of these. If nothing else, I want that sword, and/or maybe his plasma knife.
>>
>>6446303
Shit, "both of these" not "all 3". Let's not take a leisurable pace either
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

10 Votes for AA/ WK

3 Votes for Boogeyman

8 Votes for S3+BB

Don't see any reason Sven couldn't loot the energy sword, quickly plant Vali to do his thing, then rush to hit the flank with Illya. Though it will raise the DC slightly, to reflect the Covenant having more time to get into a better position again Kurt, Jorge, Malcolm and Cal + the CMA dudes

[ Decision made ]
[ Please roll 1d20+8. DC 16. Best of three ]
>>
Rolled 4 + 8 (1d20 + 8)

>>6446600
>>
Rolled 5 + 8 (1d20 + 8)

>>6446600
>>
Rolled 10 + 8 (1d20 + 8)

>>6446600
>>
>>6446610
[ Success! ]

Two over target

[ Proceeding... ]
>>
Do the ultimate dick move, turn on the sword int he dark so they getg hope, let it swell then throw their elite assassins head at them from the dark.

After all despair is a dynamic state
>>
As you listened to Jai then Kurt report the current circumstances and position, you reached down and very cautiously extracted the energy sword from the walkway. Thistle had succeeded in their original objective, rapidly, simultaneously with your own push up the tower. The Covenant in the Hangar had been caught completely off guard and prepared, and they'd performed a text book lightning raid on the airbase at the top of the tower. You knew they had, judging from the intermittent explosions still rocking the tower. They had been working on rendering the upper floors unusable as an airbase, when they narrowly avoided the assassination team that bee-lined straight for you location. The smoke from the fire's they'd started had lowered visibility enough that with Nesta's early warning, the Svartalfar had passed them by and missed them entirely. And it was shortly after you made...contact with those same Assassins, that Nesta decided to "Creatively interpret" their objective, and cut the problem the airbase presented off at the source. In Adriana's words, she was gunning for the "Officer in charge". And you could only guess what Nesta had actually said when she took off, right when Jai was reconsidering their planned escape route. So far, there hadn't been any problems for Nesta going off script. Jai, Michael and Adriana caught up to her quick and they had encountered "Minimal resistance"

Probably because Nesta had a flamethrower and Incendiaries, and Gray team excelled at this sort of cloak and dagger action. And because the Covenant were focusing their efforts on resisting and repelling Kurt, Jorge, Malcolm and Cal. The CMA squad had suffered two to three more casualties, but the rest of your team hadn't gotten anymore shot up. Presently, they'd encountered a roadblock, in the form of a choke point that had been established before you hit the tower. And a quick check of the interior layout, provided by Jamy, you were able to find a weakness you could exploit easily. An exposed flank. It would just delay your arrival back into the fight, briefly,

Illya listened in, watching your movements as you handled the energy sword that had nearly cut your career short and got used to the customizations and embellishments its previous owner had established. It was hard to describe, but somehow it felt lighter than the standard model. The projected blade of plasma had the nearly the same dimensions, length and width wise. But there were minor adjustments to its shape. A thinner "Guard" which was how it slipped past the shield gauntlet you wielded so easily. If the standard issue were longswords, this was a rapier. But the changes were subtle, except for one. One of the prongs was extended.

And reviewing the short but brutal encounter, the style the assassin was clearly unorthodox. Maybe it was better to call it traditionalist. It brought to mind certain ancient styles of fencing.
Cont
>>
>>6446623

You'd need to practice their moves, just in case you run into another practitioner student of the same....energy fencing school.
-

[ Sub Objective: Bladebreaker, has progressed. Progress points/ stage, 2 out of ?. Swordmaster Ravo 'Regamai: KIA. Previous effects remain active. Sangheili will prioritize killing Sven over other Spartans encountered, chance of encountering skilled sword fighters/ Swordmasters will increase. Sven's understanding/ comprehension of Sangheili Sword fighting techniques raises, lowering the negative modifiers of facing a swordmaster in CQC slightly. Sven is able to disable/ break Energy Swords in combat and requires higher degree of failure for his own melee weapons to be destroyed while engaged with a Energy Sword wielder in combat ]

[ Additional Effect from killing Swordmaster Ravo'Regamai. Sven has learned the basics of the "Sangheili Fencing" style, and while wielding an energy sword/ similar weapon, will occasionally gain partial benefits of the AP/ Style, despite not meeting its requirements ]


"Here" You say as you toss a deactivated energy sword "grip" to Illya "You'll need it, give it a few swings. We'll be taking a detour"

Illya hesitated, before dipping her head down and practicing a few simple swipes and thrusts as you looked for an admin terminal on the floor. If you were going to be delayed, you should clean up after yourself. Vali could wipe the network of the building and whatever tech the Covenant had brought in. There was a risk of him escaping, damaging or deleting Jamy accidentally. His code was like a digital wildfire, just existing in a system was enough for Vali to crash it. Which was why it was so difficult to keep them maintained or contained. But that was a risk that was easily solved by being clear with his objective. And also isolating the system, cutting it off from what was left of the local chatternet and civilian infostructure.

Which Jamy could do, remotely. There might be failsafes in place to prevent the service AI from taking such a heavy handed action. But you knew the override code. Wasn't even an Office of Naval Intelligence secret. It was one all non volitional Colonial Administrative AI shared to bypass their restrictions or overrule their control of certain systems. Usually only used by engineers, local government or Volitional AI who wanted to get a little more "Hands on"

Jamy would be happy to help, he just needed to be given the key. Contacting them through a chat app, you were able to quickly backdoor the "start up" phrase and from there guess Jamy's unique "overide permissions" to allow them to seal off the office building from what was left of Jamshid. Then, you let Vali loose.
Cont
>>
>>6446624

"The vermin infest these halls like a plague. Creator, I beg of thee, permit me to become their doom embodied!" Vali greeted you, the terminal's interrace already glitching and turning static "Let me avenge the dead, let me drag these animals to their grave"

"Theatric little freak" Illya muttered, as you waited for Vali to finish venting their frustration and contempt against the aliens they could see through the office's still active security feeds

"Patience Vali" You tell the xenophobic and furious AI, they must've seen you were injured and had their bad temper worsened "You'll get your chance, restrain yourself. And cover our tracks"

"Understood" He answered and the chimeric skull in the glitching screen vanished. You waited a few seconds, as Vali spread and did what he was created to do. A simple data wipe, without any restrictions or obstacles, or any other AI playing defense shouldn't take long for Vali to finish.

"Task completed" Vali reported "Kill a dozen for me, Creator"

"I'll try" You say as you eject his data crystal, and quickly put them back into the secure hardcase before they start suffering "Whiplash" from their own programming eating through the system. You turn to Illya, "lets move out"

The two of you pass by sparking security cameras and servers as you double time to reach and support the rest of your team. The lights are off, an attempt by the Sasquatches to gain an advantage, not knowing about how excellent a Spartan's night vision was or that your helmets had a number of additional sights and sensors. They were focused and stuck in a firefight with the rest of your team, who'd taken up defensive positions in the cubicles down the hallway.

They didn't hear you approaching. Illya followed your lead and approached slowly, igniting her energy sword a moment after yours. The Ape in charge, who had a hand pressed to their ear, listening to orders from higher up, turned, a look of relief flashing across their ugly face.

Before you lunged and slashed them across the torso. The lights flickered as Illya pounced on the next closest alien. There was a high pitched, shrill shriek as one of the Hunchbacks in their command started a stampede away as the remaining sasquatches, still behind cover looked like they'd wet themselves. You didn't give them a chance to get their bearings, surging forward and literally disarming one as they tried to turn their grenade launcher around on your. Illya tackled another to the ground, the sound of metal and flesh sizzling as she pinned them and switched to her M45E, pumping a few rounds at the retreating Unggoy as the Sasquatches who were dead or crippled fell back down a side hall.

"FORWARD!" Jorge boomed a second later, and you saw three friendly green dots charging your position as the apes in front of you scrambled to create distance between you and Illya.

It had turned from a prolonged stalemate into a rout in a second. Psychological warfare at its finest.
Cont
>>
>>6446626

>Pursue the fleeing apes into the dark, and finish clearing this floor (DC 19. +5 Five support, +1 Giant, +3 Bladebreaker)

>Secure Thistles a new escape route, cooperating with them as they try and take out the captain

>Split up your team, leaving Jorge, Malcolm and Cal behind while you, Kurt and Illya advance to assist Thistle team

>[Tactician 3] The ape in charge is too clever to let themselves get trapped, change directions and head to where you think they'll run when the fight isn't going in their favor

>Write in option
>>
>>6446627
>[Tactician 3] The ape in charge is too clever to let themselves get trapped, change directions and head to where you think they'll run when the fight isn't going in their favor

Good stuff, cant wait till Sven can have a proper duel with a Elite sword master.
>>
>>6446627

>[Tactician 3] The ape in charge is too clever to let themselves get trapped, change directions and head to where you think they'll run when the fight isn't going in their favor.

Interesting, so no need to worry so much about Sven's melee weapons vs. Energy swords now...

Might not need to go quite as hard on building a custom weapon for him, but we still ought to try and get him a zweihander or bastard sword.
>>
>>6446627
>>[Tactician 3] The ape in charge is too clever to let themselves get trapped, change directions and head to where you think they'll run when the fight isn't going in their favor
Where is the gorilla named Teckyis and his human lackey
>>
>>6446627
>>[Tactician 3] The ape in charge is too clever to let themselves get trapped, change directions and head to where you think they'll run when the fight isn't going in their favor

here's hoping he has a huragok with him we can snatch
>>
>>6446627
>[Tactician 3] The ape in charge is too clever to let themselves get trapped, change directions and head to where you think they'll run when the fight isn't going in their favor
>>
>>6446627
>[Tactician 3] The ape in charge is too clever to let themselves get trapped, change directions and head to where you think they'll run when the fight isn't going in their favor

>>6446631
I think making a greatsword, or any normal sword for that matter would be a mistake. In terms of engineering, it will likely be several years before a blade able to survive Covenant plasma is made.

I would like to put forward the idea, of taking the energy sword Sven just got, and modifying it into a halberd. Just make an extension for the handle, and with a bid of modification to the activation switch, one could make an additional trigger further down the new handle.

A Plasma Halberd would give a lot of reach, and is possible to make as soon as we get to a ship or station with simple manufacturing capacity.
>>
File: TECKYIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSS.png (1.02 MB, 1440x1080)
1.02 MB PNG
>>6446627
>[Tactician 3] The ape in charge is too clever to let themselves get trapped, change directions and head to where you think they'll run when the fight isn't going in their favor
TECKYIIIIIIIISSSSSSS!!! YOU CAN'T ESCAPE! I'LL CHASE YOU THE ENDS OF THE EAAAAAAAARTH!!!
>>
>>6446631
>>6446658
Even with scrounger, it might be difficult to have a supply of energy swords for us to use. That's a lot of long melee weapon ideas.

>>6446665
lol
>>
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177 KB JPG
>>6446658
While I do think a hypothetical plasma halberd would be an effective weapon, I think it would also be a waste of that hilt we just got, or any other we pick up down the line for that matter.
Right now, we're still in the process of learning how Sangheili blademasters fight, something that's largely informed by their equipment. Given the extreme rarity of energy swords available at the moment, I'd rather we not sacrifice them to the RND gods yet. Not until we actually have a fairly robust understanding of Sangheili swordsmanship at the very least.
>>
>everyone voting tactician

So, what, the fratricidal war plan is out the door?

Teckyis has to be ALIVE for it to work you know...
>>
>>6446627
>>Write in option - Make it look good. Graffiti the symbol of the colonial militia on the walls, and instruct Thistle team to give Teckyis a narrow escape, but avoid being seen by credible witnesses. Trawl the place for intel and weapons, kill the Quisling politician.
>>
>>6446719

The reason why this works is because the prerequisite for the fratricidal war plan is that Teckyis looks WEAK. If this attack can't be blamed on another captain, it needs to be blamed on the colonial militia, which kind of looks like a joke up until now.

What we DON'T need is for it to be blamed on UNSC super soldiers, because then not only will the fratricide not start, but the smarter brutes start wondering "If they have been on the world all this time, why haven't they shown themselves? Maybe we need to start taking a look at if anyone has arrived since then." And the fleet in orbit starts looking for spots where special forces teams can start hiding.

Give at least SOME reason for the brutes to believe what they will want to anyway - and remove any credible witnesses that can say otherwise.
>>
>>6446718
the thing is if hes making a run for it he seems like hes going to be taking with him important pieces of intelgince which could include the poltican and a huragok and just because we fined him dosnt mean we have to kill him
>>
>>6446658
>make halberd
>they just cut the shaft in half and now you have no halberd
>>
>>6446666
>6666
Nice
Also, i imagine Sven probably wont be constrained to only picking up swords. If Sven grabs a plasma recharging station, which are likely abundant in his travels, then the weapon could work for quite a while.
>>6446669
I can understand the sentiment, although i dont imagine it to be very hard to modify the hilt onto a titanium stave. With some of the eggheads on the team as support, i think the chance of destroying the energy sword are less than 1/20

>>6446725
Happens. Then it can just be wielded like a sword with a long shaft.
>>
>>6446729
>Then it can just be wielded like a sword with a long shaft.
>scrambling to pick up your half a halberd when they're still trying to gut you
I dunno man. Seems like just leaving it alone and learning how to use a Pata is the better play. At least until we can actually make something properly and not just juryrig it.
>>
>>6446718
>>6446720
My intention with the tactician option is mainly to make sure Teckyis' escape is unlucky. He should survive, but there is good reason to believe he could have his important assets with him. Like the politician, he wouldn't leave it behind. There is also the issue that the boogeyman options all this time- created fear but also made the rumor that the assassins of the prophet do exist and that they are undead demons. The dead of Ravo (he is gone) make this a reality when it will be noticed.

Your deception to create confusion could help (a resurgent human resistance making symbols after a victory on a whole alien base. Though i would just graffiti an human fist and put alien blood on it. Quick, simple), but we already do exist has undead demons in the aliens minds or has semi-real demon things for the ones that had their eyes on us for a little while (which include both Kestidion and Teckyis, and a few others).

Teckyis, from my understanding at the moment, is only positioning himself for a rapid escape. He is seeing his base burning, chaos and death all around, but he is still somewhat directing things for now, at least. We need to find him and make him rout.

Ultimately, what matters the most is that Teckyis survives but loses here, and we then need to follow this up with Brurlirus' death.


>>6446729
Possible.
>>
>>6446732
>and not just juryrig it.

I have terrible news anon. Thats the things we do best.
>>
File: IMG_5497.jpg (2.6 MB, 3264x2448)
2.6 MB JPG
>>6446810
>Frankenhog honks loudly
>>
>>6446739

I concur - glad you articulated your vision of the plan.
>>
>>6446810
Just cause it's what we do best doesn't mean it is the best we can have. If Dimas were here we'd be able to use that piece of string, the half-chewed gum, four twigs and a can of gas to make a fully operational Scorpion. And then we'd be able to play with the string!
>>
The Lancer game I'm in ran a bit longer than expected. Update is probably going to come in late. I'll try not to miss the day's update, but I need to recharge. Got my Lancer a Blackbeard after the ship's AI went Rampant and summoned the fucking devil for our crew to fight
>>
>>6446905
>after the ship's AI went Rampant and summoned the fucking devil for our crew to fight

oh great the AI are already trying to kill us all
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor404TormentedCache, back online ]

7 Votes for [Tactican]

1 vote for tATgg50j's write in

So Sven's team is going to alter their trajectory to cut off Teckyis' possible escape route while Jai's team tries to take their head

[ Decision made ]
[ Proceeding... ]

>>6446665
Hilarious

>>6446913
Bastard was called Beelzebub and not even the spoiled rich girl of our Lancer unit fell for their attempted ambush.

Which went poorly for the fucking devil they summoned. But the Ai itself got away after they dropped the compartment of the ship it'd tried to kill us in. Unfortunately, it WAS the ship's primary AI so...we're kind just drifting now. Not good for a mercenary company.
>>
>>6446929
>Literally named Beelzebub
Subtle.
>>
>>6446929
>it WAS the ship's primary AI so...we're kind just drifting now. Not good for a mercenary company.

An SoS is great for all sort of things like merchant ship, pirate ships, military ships, pirate ships, exploration ships, pirate ships, other merc ships, and even yes Pirate ships
>>
>>6446931
Don't forget about the pirate ships.
>>
>>6446934
oh my god how could i forget about the pirate ships thanks for reminding me
>>
You hold up a hand and clench a fist, the CMA soldiers taking a moment to notice and follow the command. Their rifles bark as they take a few parting shots at the fleeing cannon fodder or Sasquatches. You look up, checking the rapidly moving IFF tags of Nesta, Jai, Michael and Adriana as they make their assassination attempt. Vali seems to have turned off the fire suppression system, judging from the slowly ticking up temperature reading tucked into a corner of your visor's HUD. Resistance is only get heavier further up the tower and with Thistle's Demolition job, the structure won't remain stable for long.

And you know that the captain in command of this tower is smarter than the average alien ape, smart enough to prepare and maintain an escape route even while their position is extremely well secured. A path out of the fire and back up to the pan. If he doesn't try to fight, or realizes he can't win against four Spartans with or without backup. He'll try to run. It'll be a bit of a gamble, but there's no risk to change trajectory and head to the most likely escape vector the Captain will choose out of the tower. Whether he lived or died, either worked for your long term strategy for the mission, but letting him escape unscathed would be a complication. One you couldn't allow.

Without explaining this train of thought or the reason for the sudden change of direction to the militamen still alive to assist your team, you turn and start jogging in the direction to stop the ape's escape. And halfway to point you plan to cut off their retreat, your decision is proven to have been the correct one.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT HAMMER!" Nesta nearly deafens you as she roars in the COMM Channel and a moment later, the floor shakes.

"Nesta!" You call out, worried. She didn't answer, but her tag kept moving, same with Jai, Adriana and Michael's. Whatever the hammer was, it hadn't injured or killed one of your Spartans. An explosion rocked the tower, and there was another quake from their direction as four IFF tags scattered and you heard Nesta hiss.

"Son of a bitch"

"Sir?" One of the CMA soldiers asked, wondering what had slowed down and stopped the super soldiers they were fighting alongside as you watched, hands starting to sweat as you tried to picture what was happening up there. Kurt gave you a look, and you dragged your feet, kept moving, one eye on the other team's location and movements. Had to keep your head in the game, couldn't get distracted. They were Spartans. They'd survive. They would survive.

It was like watching a wolf pack hunt a bison. The holographic show Deja had shown for one of her early classes played back in your minds' eye. The pack fighting together, using instinct and group tactics to take down a bigger prey. It was different, seeing your Spartans in a situation, as the underdogs.
Cont
>>
>>6446941

You had to stop yourself from thinking, imagining what was happening as their spartan ids moved rapidly, circling, suddenly darting or dropping.

You, your team and the militamen reached an open air cafe connected to the office building, between the two "prongs" of the middle upper level of the tower, with a vantage and intercept point to cut off the captain's easiest route out of the building. And you had nothing to do but wait in ambush and watch.

Your heart skipped a beat as the tag S-097 suddenly fly to the left. The moment between that movement and Nesta, sounding like she'd just been hit by a shock stick and then a sledgehammer, shouted triumphantly "I GOT CHUR EYE YA MANGY CUNT!"

Jai's tag moved next to hers and both of them pulled away as Adriana and Micheal's advanced. And then stalled

"Target escaped, heavily wounded. Nesta's chestplate is caved in" Jai rapidly reported "Nesta?"

"Think my ribs are cracked, maybe broken but I got 'is eye!" Nesta slurred and you breathed out "Takes more than a smack to slay a dragon"

"You're lucky to be alive" Adriana snapped, angry at her for taking a risk "He'd ran while we were reloading, you couldn't secure the kill. You risked your life for no gain"

"Gave us a chance to see what that big hammer of his actually did, looked like it manipulated gravity from the increased for the impacts" Michael muttered "But when Nesta got hit, it seemed to have lost that effect and had just become an ordinary, if oversized, hammer. It had a charge.

You didn't know if you wanted to slap Nesta for risking her life or hug her. Probably one first, followed by the other. She'd used her sixth sense for danger to measure the risk of trying one last time to take down her target. And confirmed, that the Covenant weaponized their anti gravity technology. But that those weapons had charges. Just like the energy sword magnetized to your hip. Even for Nesta, that was reckless.

"She's breathing, Sven" Jai said, sounding fatigued "Nearly secured the kill. But, he didn't act like the Sasquatches we've fought before"

"Yeah, like Mike said. Also, I got one of his eyes" Nesta said, chuckling "...Internal bleeding might be worse than I thought, tasting blood. Wait, just bit my tongue. False alarm"

"We're evac-ing" Adriana said sternly "now"

"We're evac-ing" Jai and Michael say in unison, before the former requested the coordinates to your base of operations in Jamshid.

"We'll cover your retreat" You answer as Jorge gripped the stock of his gun tight enough to stress the metal

"Sir. Do we need that alien alive?" Jorge asked, heavily and clear restrain a torrent of anger

"Sven, I'm just bruised. I can still fight. You've got a plan right?" Nesta, who you could see was struggling to not be pulled away from running after the enemy that had just swatted her across a room "Tell it to the greys. I want to scalp the cunt!"
Cont
>>
>>6446942

Jorge and you exchanged glances as Malcolm, Illya, Kurt and Cal tilted their heads, listening in and reacting in their own, subtle ways to Nesta being herself.

"Sven" Adriana said heavily "Control her"

You were one of the few Spartans who could. Which was as much of a commendation as the medals you'd won.

>"Evac, we're pulling out to. Nesta, that last attempt actually played in perfectly to my plan. Thistle, we'll regroup out in the streets"

>"The remaining Covenant are still an issue. Set your remaining charges , then pull out. I want this tower demolished"

>"He's heading our way. Everything is going according to plan. Just need to make sure the story the ape will tell won't be believed..."

>"...We're killing the ape. I had other plans, but we don't let anyone get away with hurting one of ours. Follow this route, and we'll make this alien regret his birth"

>Write in option

>>6446930
My friend realized he'd called it Beelzebub early in the session after trying to come up with a name on the fly lol

>>6446931
>>6446934
>>6446936
The Blackbeard is an Anti Pirate frame. I think the name is meant to be ironic
>>
>>6446943
>>"He's heading our way. Everything is going according to plan. Just need to make sure the story the ape will tell won't be believed..."

god were about to confuse the fuck out of all the Spartans with us but its a really good plan if we can pull it off
>>
>>6446943


>"The remaining Covenant are still an issue. Set your remaining charges , then pull out. I want this tower demolished."
>"He's heading our way. Everything is going according to plan. Just need to make sure the story the ape will tell won't be believed..."

Politician can't rat if we drop the building on him.
>>
>>6446943
>"He's heading our way. Everything is going according to plan. Just need to make sure the story the ape will tell won't be believed..."

>"The remaining Covenant are still an issue. Set your remaining charges , then pull out. I want this tower demolished"

Thistle can demolish tower while Sven primes a civ war
>>
>>6446943
>>"The remaining Covenant are still an issue. Set your remaining charges , then pull out. I want this tower demolished"
>"He's heading our way. Everything is going according to plan. Just need to make sure the story the ape will tell won't be believed..."
>>
>>6446943
I wonder if we can take the hammer rwhile letting thekis go. Grav hammer rwould be great loot and perfect humiliation
>>
>>6446963

Just for the disrespect, we should try.
>>
>>6446943
>"He's heading our way. Everything is going according to plan. Just need to make sure the story the ape will tell won't be believed..."
First, a Yanmee queen is assassinated in the heart of her own hive, then his forces across the city begin to openly murder each other in the streets as there's simultaneously a sudden surge of human resistance. Teckyis naturally recognizes that someone is pulling the strings here but what he doesn't expect is for the culprits to just show up outside his HQ and savagely execute some of his men in full view of the entire garrison. These ghoulish monsters then proceed to storm the airbase while a second pack of them appears out of nowhere and begins killing everything on their way DOWN. His only hope is the arrival of a renowned/infamous Sanghelli blademaster and his acolytes who surely must be more than enough to put at least a few of these dreadful revenants down, but he's about to have even that small hope dashed as Sven shows up with Ravo's sword.

Teckyis is having a very bad day. And it's not even over yet.

>>6446949
Isn't the traitorous governor in a bunker elsewhere in Jamshid? He isn't here at the airbase.
>>
>>6446971

404 left that kind of vague.

I'm assuming he's in the skyscraper in a 'friends close, enemies closer' move from Teckyis.
>>
>Nesta got her chest caved in
NESTA DO YOU KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE YOU ARE TO FIELD
>>
>>6446972
It would have been mentioned if he were here. Sven knows where the traitor is hiding.

>>6446975
Sven can't talk. I don't think he's been on a single mission where he hasn't fucked up his armor.
>>
>>6446979

In fairness, in a cost-benefit analysis, he's worth it.
>>
>>6446981
I guess Sven does make up for it with his habit of stealing shit for the nerds at Section Three.
>>
>>6446943
>Write in [Scavanger maybe?]
Set a big ol explosive trap for the monkey and just blow him up remotly as he flees the scene. Watching safe from a distance.

>Exfiltration shall begin asap, Fuck the tower we did what we needed to do they los ttheir air AND the assassin. Get out before we lose someone, don't over reach,

"Nesta listen to me very fucking carefully. You. Are. Leaving. Secure exfil route with Grey team and ensure the path home is clear we've multiple wounded. On your way out and ONLY if it's on your way out plant final charges and drop the tower. UNDERSTOOD? I need you alive Redcap"
>>
>>6446943
>"Evac, we're pulling out to. Nesta, that last attempt actually played in perfectly to my plan. Thistle, we'll regroup out in the streets"
>>
>>6446943
>>"The remaining Covenant are still an issue. Set your remaining charges , then pull out. I want this tower demolished"

>>"He's heading our way. Everything is going according to plan. Just need to make sure the story the ape will tell won't be believed..."

HeheheheheBWAHAHAHA... *Maniacal laughter begins as the penultimate stage in our plan nearly reaches its conclusion*
>>
>>6446949

Addendum: Grab a balloon on the way out.
>>
i think we should wait to blow up the tower we might be able to find a phantom to use or find some nice tech
>>
>>6446943
>"The remaining Covenant are still an issue. Set your remaining charges , then pull out. I want this tower demolished."
>"He's heading our way. Everything is going according to plan. Just need to make sure the story the ape will tell won't be believed..."

Teckyis is time to enter the loser club with Kestidion....
And we also need the tower to come down when we are out.

We have no time for much else here in the tower, not with all this wounded. So the politician traitor has to die. If there were gas balls here, they are going to die. Can't do much about it; this is a chaotic battle. At the very least, more gas balls should be across the planet, so no need to be scared. In regard to Nesta, have Ilya and Adriana stabilize her wounds and tell our sister everything is going as we want it. There will be death for the aliens. And she will get her scalps soon enough. Just have to trust big bro mysterious plan. Should work.

>>6446830
Np

>>6446963
If he leaves it behind should be viable. He is heavily wounded and lacking an eye now, so Teckyis is reaching the "fuck it, time to GTFO" attitude. He might start to drop things to make sure he lives, even assets and equipment used by him a lot and important. I wouldn't blame him; seeing up close more undead-demons-superhumans is not a great experience.

>>6446971
Just lost an eye too and is bleeding from wounds all over.
>governor
From my understanding, with what little we know of him and theorizing a bit, his bunker was likely found by the aliens. It was likely in a secret location near Jamshid. He decided not to play defense inside the bunker and became Teckyis' main human asset. So far we haven't seen him, but I reckon he is still in the tower? Weirdly, Teckyis hasn't extracted him yet; I expect he is trying to do that now.

>>6446979
Does Sven know with certainty ? I am not quite sure. He likely thought about it at least.
It would be weird if Teckyis allowed the politician to remain in the secret bunker. Teckyis would keep the guy near him, is much preferable to have the human slave-visir nearby than plotting in a safe place. And we don't know where that secret bunker is.
>>
>>6446943
>"The remaining Covenant are still an issue. Set your remaining charges , then pull out. I want this tower demolished"
>"He's heading our way. Everything is going according to plan. Just need to make sure the story the ape will tell won't be believed..."
>>
>>6447047
>Does Sven know with certainty ?
Maybe not with certainty but we did torture a jackal for that info and had the option of hunting the bastard down earlier. I just assume the jackal told us where Teckyis keeps his pet rat.
>>
>>6446943
>"He's heading our way. Everything is going according to plan. Just need to make sure the story the ape will tell won't be believed..."

>"The remaining Covenant are still an issue. Set your remaining charges , then pull out. I want this tower demolished"
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

9 Votes for "He's heading our way...cont"

7 Votes for "The remaining Covenant are still an issue...cont"

1 Vote to to blow Teckyis to Hel's Hall

1 vote for "Exciltration shall begin ASAP...cont"

1 vote for "Evac, we're pulling out...cont"

So you'll tell the team ""The remaining Covenant are still an issue. Set your remaining charges , then pull out. I want this tower demolished" and ""He's heading our way. Everything is going according to plan. Just need to make sure the story the ape will tell won't be believed...""

In specifically that order
[ Decisions made ]
[ Proceeding.... ]
>>
But the mission wasn't over. Concern could wait until the objective was achieved. The game won.

"The remaining Covenant are still an issue" You tell Jai and the rest of the thistle, hearing Adriana breath in sharply but say nothing as you continued "Set your remaining charges, then pull out. I want this tower demolished"

"I've still got enough fuel in the tank to burn it down, Sven" Nesta informed you "I'll need to leave them behind to lighten up, might as well use them to light them up"

"We still have enough charges to cause a chain reaction, collapsing the upper floors onto the lower levels. It'll just be like solving a math equation" Michael added

"Understood, tower is coming down" Jai said "Adriana?"

"We'll bring it down, but if she tries to get herself killed again, I'm restraining her" She said, a stern warning to Nesta

"I'll maintain discipline, you don't have to hold my leash, Ana" Nesta told her "Not that you could, but I won't do anything too reckless. Promise"

You remembered what Halsey told you about promises and wondered if it still applied if it was between two girls. You filed the thought away for later

"Our priority target is heading our way" You tell them stoically as you watched the row of possible ambush points as you drew and measured a mental line between the last known location of Teckyis and your current position, equations overlaying your HUD in your mind's eye and calculating that they'll run right into you in at most a couple of minutes. More than enough time for Jai and the rest to finish setting up the tower to fall.

"Everything is going according to plan", the CMA guys looked amazed, none of the Spartans did. They knew you could get Machiavellian when you weren't flying by the seat of your pants and figuring out your plan in the heat of the moment and battle. It probably sounded unbelievable to the Militiamen.

"And what's the endgame?" Adriana asked

"A long fall?" Malcolm asked, eyeing the walkway connecting the two halves of the tower. One of several.

"Maybe a live capture" Cal suggested.

"Going to press the ape for intel?" Jai asked, curiously

"Close. It is simple, really" You tell the rest of your team as the CMA unit tried to act like they weren't eavesdropping "Just need to make sure the story the ape will tell won't be believed..."

"The final touch to all the infighting you've created" Kurt, enlightened said as the CMA guys looked at you like you'd suddenly sprouted wings and shiny halo "If we pull it off, it'll cripple the covenant's ability to project force, locally"

"It'll look like a complete collapse of order, and give us a chance to neutralize the "intel leak" nearby" Jorge admired

"Then we won't need to waste bullets on executing the ape ourselves" Jai added, sounding impressed "If it works, we'll have a few more days to hit the covenant where it really works"
Cont
>>
>>6447300


"...Did you send me with the grays because you knew I'd try to headhunt the target?" Nesta asked, almost purring. She was probably mad, but also certainly impressed.

You wouldn't tell her that it had created a temporary wrinkle in your plan. And it just meant she'd get one free hit when you met back up with Thistle team, after she got hers for acting so recklessly. It was only fair.

>[Boogeyman] Make Teckyis seem completely delusional by setting up a horror show just for him. He'll have no evidence to hand over and his CO will only have his word.

>[Tactician 3] Knowing he'll be running straight for his superior, give the order to fall back the moment after making visual confirmation, and make his flight all too easy, making it look like all the trouble in Jamshid was his fault.

>[Cal is in your team] Ask Cal to land a glancing shot on the Captain's armored head, not lethal, but near enough that his mental competence will be questioned

>[Jotun+ Vali is in your possession] With Vali's assistance getting the pronunciation right, and restraining your immediate reaction of wanting to rip the stinking ape's head off, Taunt Teckyis and namedrop one of the other Sasquatch Captains, hoping he'll make a wild accusation against them

>[Inspiring + Tactician / Allied morale is sufficiently high + Officer ] Track the Captain until he reaches another Covenant force, and starts talking, then have the guerillas strike his location, to make his talk of "Bone wearing devils" seem like a tall tale

>Write in option
>>
>>6447301

>[Jotun+ Vali is in your possession] With Vali's assistance getting the pronunciation right, and restraining your immediate reaction of wanting to rip the stinking ape's head off, Taunt Teckyis and name drop one of the other Sasquatch Captains, hoping he'll make a wild accusation against them.

I mean, this is pretty much exactly what some of the anons wanted Diplomat for. Who am I to question their collective wisdom?

All of these are good and Tactician is super, super tempting, but this seems like the best way to sour relations between the brutes enough to make them want to start shooting each other.
>>
>>6447301
>[Jotun+ Vali is in your possession] With Vali's assistance getting the pronunciation right, and restraining your immediate reaction of wanting to rip the stinking ape's head off, Taunt Teckyis and namedrop one of the other Sasquatch Captains, hoping he'll make a wild accusation against them
>>
>>6447301
>[Boogeyman] Make Teckyis seem completely delusional by setting up a horror show just for him. He'll have no evidence to hand over and his CO will only have his word.
Planet's haunted.
>>
>>6447301
>[Inspiring + Tactician / Allied morale is sufficiently high + Officer ] Track the Captain until he reaches another Covenant force, and starts talking, then have the guerillas strike his location, to make his talk of "Bone wearing devils" seem like a tall tale

I like this, uses up all our assets and really make it seem like teklis is just weak
>>
>>6447301
>>[Jotun+ Vali is in your possession] With Vali's assistance getting the pronunciation right, and restraining your immediate reaction of wanting to rip the stinking ape's head off, Taunt Teckyis and namedrop one of the other Sasquatch Captains, hoping he'll make a wild accusation against them

damn Sven played a game so deep only the best of the Spartan program could figure it out once it was hinted at
>>
>>6447301
>>[Boogeyman] Make Teckyis seem completely delusional by setting up a horror show just for him. He'll have no evidence to hand over and his CO will only have his word.
>>
>>6447305
>>6447310
>>6447347
My problem with jotun Vali is that it rely on teklis being to unsettled to believe enemy taunt to make accusations. Instead of just cova thinking his insane or weak.

Not saying it won't work but high high reward
>>
>>6447301
>>[Boogeyman] Make Teckyis seem completely delusional by setting up a horror show just for him. He'll have no evidence to hand over and his CO will only have his word.
The ape is smart enough to know not having evidence completely fucks him, so he'll HAVE to do something drastic or make some shit up. Obviously the humans they've been stomping this entire time couldn't have done this, it HAD to be interference from his peers even if he knows better. And that's what he'll have to say to his boss. And with all the local damage done being from mostly Covie weapons, he might be able to float the idea and stir up shit trying to save his own ass. Devious.
>>
>>6447301

>[Boogeyman] Make Teckyis seem completely delusional by setting up a horror show just for him. He'll have no evidence to hand over and his CO will only have his word

Let's make him seem insane to others.
>>
>>6447301
>[Boogeyman] Make Teckyis seem completely delusional by setting up a horror show just for him. He'll have no evidence to hand over and his CO will only have his word.
>>
>>6447301
>[Boogeyman] Make Teckyis seem completely delusional by setting up a horror show just for him. He'll have no evidence to hand over and his CO will only have his word.

Using Vali here seems like it could backfire on us if they figure out we have an AI that can translate shit. They don't need to believe Teckyis to take precautions against potential threats. Then again I think it'd also help us pick up the Covenant's lingua franca.
Having Vali teach us Sangheili when? It's imperative to ragebait enemy combatants in the middle of combat by shouting hard r slurs at them in their own language.
>>
>>6447301
>>[Boogeyman] Make Teckyis seem completely delusional by setting up a horror show just for him. He'll have no evidence to hand over and his CO will only have his word.
Take this L Tecky

>"...Did you send me with the grays because you knew I'd try to headhunt the target?" Nesta asked, almost purring. She was probably mad, but also certainly impressed.
Lol
>>
>>6447301
>>[Tactician 3] Knowing he'll be running straight for his superior, give the order to fall back the moment after making visual confirmation, and make his flight all too easy, making it look like all the trouble in Jamshid was his fault.

We want him to look weak and incompetent.
>>
>>6447301
>[Boogeyman] Make Teckyis seem completely delusional by setting up a horror show just for him. He'll have no evidence to hand over and his CO will only have his word.

>[Jotun+ Vali is in your possession] With Vali's assistance getting the pronunciation right, and restraining your immediate reaction of wanting to rip the stinking ape's head off, Taunt Teckyis and namedrop one of the other Sasquatch Captains, hoping he'll make a wild accusation against them
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

Sorry I'm so late. Wasn't feeling well, I'm still not, but I'm feeling just well enough to write. So I will. Might have to cancel my hunter game today, depending on how I feel after I wake up.

But first

the quest.

4 Votes for [J+V]

8 Votes for [Boogeyman]

1 Vote for [I+T]

1 vote for [Tactician]

Aren't you afraid of the Boogeyman, Teckyis?

[ Decision made ]
[ Proceeding... ]
>>
"Gather the enemy dead, we're going to need "props" to make it look like our retreating Captain has a bad case of shell shock" You order, turning to the least wounded Spartans and the surviving members of the CMA unit "We're going to put on a private horror show, just for him"

You'd been painting a mental picture and there should be just enough distance for you to create a "Haunted House" exhibit, with real blood and corpses. But there was one last touch, a final push to send Captain Sasquatch over the edge. Something you hadn't planned for.

Until you had heard that Nesta had torn out one of their eyes

"We'll need to work fast, but try to leave the heads of the Sasquatches intact while transporting them. I'm going to need one of their eyes" You explain, and Jorge chuckles, catching on that you're adding one detail that will make even the most superstitious of the Covenant think that the Captain has turned into a basket case. The rest of your team, figures out exactly what you're planning on doing to discredit the enemy officer, around the point you ask for the eye. The CMA Crew, might need to get a mental evaluation if they survive to extraction. The way they're smiling, looks a little too enthusiastic. Sure you're not one to talk, but the desecration you'd performed on the dead Covies was purely a tactical decision, to get in the enemy's heads. It might've been cathartic, but you didn't enjoy the act or do it just cause you could . They were looking forward to it, and would take great pleasure in butchering the alien invaders. You might not be able to blame them for taking joy in it, but it wasn't good for them, mentally. But that was a concern to be answered later.

For now, all you could do was wait to get your hands on the macabre "Arts and crafts" supplies, and stay as motionless as possible to prevent further bleeding or re-opening the injuries you'd received. Once you had the necessary parts, you could dictate and direction the rest of the team what to take and where to place it. But for now, you had a brief moment of rest to think. And plan...
_
[ Adjusting Perspective ]

Teckyis' ears were ringing. His lungs burned. From exertion or smoke, the Jiralhanae couldn't tell. Half of his field of view had been lost, turned to an agonizing emptiness. The fur and skin had been clawed off and crudely flayed. Perhaps his skull was bare and red on that side of his head. The thought churned their stomach as he paused to catch his breath and tried to get into contact with any of his surviving subordinates, cursing his would be assassins. And himself for being so easily mislead!

He should've known it was all an act! To make him reactive and angry. That was the point of the butchering of his troops, to blind him to true purpose and angle of the assault. He'd been set up. Tricked. The barbarity, the gruesomeness of the executions of his soldiers had been purely to take his attention away from the real goal of the attack.
Cont
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>>6447712

To try and kill him in his own command center. And to cripple their ability to patrol they skies and send fast response forces out to any native resistance. It had all been a well orchestrated deception, and only now, missing one eye, had Teckyis realized this. And in this moment, as he only heard the panicked roars or screams of his subordinates, did he realize he alone would escape the trap. Huffing, a smug grin revealed his bloody fangs as he reveled, internally, that he had escaped the cage prepared especially for him.

And those silent, armored humans had been bled. He didn't have an exact count of the attackers, but four had cornered him when he had counted six and six had been report on the ground floors of his tower. There had been two teams. Contact and communication had been lost with the penitent cadre following the shamed swordmaster, but there'd been a delay in the next assault and six had become four on the lower levels.

Two enemy fatalities. Two, clearly well trained and elite soldiers, lost in a failed gamble to take his head. It was almost enough to make Teckyis laughed, but the muscles on his face felt close to tearing and it hurt to breath. He'd been shot, bludgeoned, stabbed, burned and nearly exploded. He was losing blood, fast and even the simplest of movements brought new waves of pain to his body.

Any other Jiralhanae would've assumed the four near assassin had been the survivors of the initial six, ignoring or missing the initial, more subtle assault on the upper levels. Especially after that gruesome display of butchery and desecration. But he knew better. Engagements had been reported, simultaneously.

So he was prepared, even if he had not expect to be attacked as he tried to recover valuable data and stop the spread of the fire. That armor had made them fireproof. And believe they were immortal. He had personally slain one of them during his rearguard action. The Swordmaster, who had probably regained the honor he so valued in death, had lead an attack that killed two. But he would not be alive to report it.

None of them would be. The fires were spreading too fast. His forces were panicked and scared. The Seven remaining silent killers wouldn't need to fight further. The flames and smoke would do the job for them.

And they would count Teckyis amongst the dead! Perhaps, barbaric and primitive as they were, they'd waste time mourning their lost packmates and give him time to muster another force to wipe them outh.

Teckyis paused, stopping the fantasy, reminding himself that he had only escaped death by sheer dumb luck, perhaps divine providence. The assassins, who had been careful to never reload simultaneously, had ben forced to after he put up more of a fight than they expected.
Cont
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>>6447713

He was fortunate to be alive. Even if it cost him an eye. An eye, hah, he thought, what a small price to pay for knowledge. Brurlirus' temper would be quelled, when he presented the hard facts that fool Kestidon had lost in his fear of these mere human pests. Calling them demons, devils, revenants. The living dead.

It was all a disguise. The bones, the brutality, the odd, silent and robotic behavior. They were fear tactics. Designed to terrify the lesser races and rouse the blinding rage of his own kind. Teckyis knew he alone could see through the deception, because of the same quality he had long been mocked and demeaned for.

His calm, clear mind. Yes. It was all a ploy. And he fell for it, briefly. Humans had no stomach for such savagery. They were a meek, submissive species. Which explained why his "Converts" switched sides the moment their original superiors appeared. It was ingrained into them, like Unggoy.

"Dominant Subspecies" Teckyis panted, leaning against a wall, dragging his spent war hammer at his side as he fought his way through the smoke, trying not to breathe or open his eyes too often. He had to keep moving. The air should clear up soon. He had gotten away from source of the smoke.

His ears range. The floor beneath him shook. And he forced his damaged and exhausted legs to move faster, pumping as he blindly moved through the ruins of what should've been and could still be his great triumph.

He merely needed to present it in a way that would make him seem blameless. He had wounds and scars to prove he had fought to the end, and he'd bellow in grief for the siblings and cousins who had given their lives so he may escape.

Snarling his red edged vision returned as the smoke thinned enough to see, Teckyis was reminded of the last, most damning injury he sustained.

How heroic it'd sound to the lower ranks and his superior, that he crushed the alpha human's chest before they clawed out his eye with their death spasm.

Grinning, the Brute Captain breathed out and moved heavily eyes watering and fur sticky with dried blood, smoke clinging to him like a Sangeheili energy shield as he stomped his way forward, listening to the sounds of the tower crumbling around him and the desperate calls for aid his lost subordinates screamed into the smoke and dark. He could see the light. Taste the salty air. He was almost free. He could have the coward he found lurking in a cave repent by way of lashings. Then, he may be able to still keep the desperate humans around as fodder as he crushed the last pockets of resistance in his city.

These plans and all other thoughts stopped as he lowered the hand he had raised to shield his smoke burned eye from the glaring sunlight.

What he saw, was not the pristine path he had remembered. It was a vision closer to damnation than the fiery hole he had just crawled out of.
Cont
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>>6447714

Bodies. There were bodies everywhere. Chopped or torn to pieces, and displayed like war trophies. Heads, of humans, Unggoy and Jiralhanae lined the glass barrier, impaled on the support rods, their jaws held open in silent screams. The glass path had been splattered with gore, entrails and drenched with blood that had only started to grow tacky and dry. It was myriad of colors. Including Violet.

Teckyis' mind blanked, his stomach dropped, and his arms felt all the heavier as he lifted up his head. And confirmed that Ravo'Regamai and his cadre had found redemption in death. Bile burned the back of his throat, as he saw the Sangeheili , sat in a ring , kneeling as if in their ridiculous meditations. As if they were merely waiting for their orders. Except, their heads had been parted from their shoulders and laid on their laps. They were right in front of him. Teckyis, found it difficult to command his legs to take another step forward, his jaw wagging as he cautiously advanced, only moving forward because the logical half of his brain reminded him that certain death was all that awaited behind him.

"Their hands" Someone, that Teckyis realized was himself a moment later whispered like a cub frightened of being beaten. The Swordmaster and his apprentices, were missing their hands. Teckyis chuckled, breathing out slowly.

"Another trick, to try and break me" He told himself, as he found enough confidence to walk steadily forward, staring straight ahead to avoid looking at the crude and heavy handed display. It was nothing but a smoke screen, to scare him. They were afraid. Three of their number.

There was a glint. It caught his one eye. Teckyis turned, and saw...saw...

Them.

Dressed in silver blue armor covered in cracked, burned and broke Sangeheili bones, splattered with multicolored blood, there were six of the monsters. Six. Six. Teckyis' mouth dried and his pupil dilated. They were on a ledge, close enough to shoot him, to kill him. But they simply stood there, silently as the normal humans hurled insults and threats in their primitive tongue.

Teckyis screamed at himself to run, to create distance, but he simply stared, slack jawed and retreating towards the wall opposite of the one between him and the water devils.

Then he saw it. He'd been looking for hands, and then noticed the largest of the terrors. The one who had tore the beating heart out of one of his most trusted soldier's back. He had been stabbed, and was standing as if he was fresh from his bed. And he was moving his hand, up and down. Like he was releasing and catching a small object

Teckyis' thoughts. Of survival, future plans and the grounded, rational logic that had kept him calm even as he was ambushed and half blinded, vanished. Replaced with a primal, screaming panic as he realized. The object in the brute king's hand was bloody. And white.
Cont
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>>6447715

It was an eye

HIS EYE! HOW!? HOOOW!? IT WASN'T POSSIBLE! HE KILLED ONE. HE SAW IT DIE. FALL STILL AFTER CRUMPLING LIKE A BROKEN TOY! HOW?! HOW?!

The proud Jiralhanae who had proudly won his position through his intellect and guile, bolted, running like a hunter animal as he squealed, dropping his hammer and sprinting blindly forward, away from the corpse defiling monsters that were pursuing him, chasing him to sup upon his dread and very soul!
_
[ Adjusting perspective...returning to preferred candidate, Sven-033 ]

"And that, ladies and gentleman, is how folklore is born!" The leader of the militiamen who joined you on this operation declared, doffing their combat helmet and bowing theatrically as you watched the maimed enemy captain sprint away, moving far faster than he should with how wounded he looked from where you stood "Did you make horror movies before you enlisted, Sir? Cause it seems to me you put the fear of whatever bastard god these animals worships into the stupid monkey"

"That was more effective than I thought it would be" Kurt remarked, as he and Cal kept their sights trained on the fleeing Sasquatch's back "Command might argue with the method, but I don't think they will balk at the results. Sir. The handbook for psyche warfare might have a new chapter, starting with an account of what we just did"

"Or just a picture of the big guy and the caption "Let him do whatever he wants to the dead squid faces" Another CMA soldier laughed as your team remained on high alert. The celebrations of your allied force, were cut short as the glass panes over your heads exploded outwards

"We have enough time to exfiltrate out the way we came, Thistle Team should be evacuating back to the streets now" You state, composed and calm as you walk away "The enemy captain should escape as well. And any useful intel he has, will be overlooked"

"Hard to believe what he'll tell his superiors" Malcolm said with a nod "He'll look like a raving madman. Especially if he shares the detail about the eye"

"A terrified mind will fill in the blanks and imagine horrors worse than anything we could've made"

>Remain in Jamshid and take advantage of the loss of the commander to search for any surviving resistant cells.

>Contact Base camp and the Skidbladnir, and meet the saboteurs Anton and James were sent after and get an update from your ship, before sharing the good news.

>Retreat from Jamshid and get the kids and fighters back to base camp before the Covenant can send reinforcements

>Use the chaos you've cause to wipe out the traitors to humanity and seal the potential information leak at its source. Teckyis fled, but he kept his pet Quisling close. And he can't be left alive.

>Write in option
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>>6447716

>Use the chaos you've cause to wipe out the traitors to humanity and seal the potential information leak at its source. Teckyis fled, but he kept his pet Quisling close. And he can't be left alive.

>Remain in Jamshid and take advantage of the loss of the commander to search for any surviving resistant cells.

We have the numbers to do two things, I think.
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>>6447716
>Remain in Jamshid and take advantage of the loss of the commander to search for any surviving resistant cells.

>Use the chaos you've cause to wipe out the traitors to humanity and seal the potential information leak at its source. Teckyis fled, but he kept his pet Quisling close. And he can't be left alive.

getting the rest of the resistance movements working together should make it easier for everyone in the long run and getting rid of the traitors is the best move we can for other planets
>>
>>6447716
>>Remain in Jamshid and take advantage of the loss of the commander to search for any surviving resistant cells.

>>Use the chaos you've cause to wipe out the traitors to humanity and seal the potential information leak at its source. Teckyis fled, but he kept his pet Quisling close. And he can't be left alive.

>>Write in - a phone call to your ship for status updates and any good news.

And, guys, seriously we're going to need to have our hero take a rest. We will need to be ready to kill the top dog, and then after that there might be opportunities with a pretty high operational tempo - throwing gas on the fire of the fratricide, maybe thinking about popping a second prophet or something.
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>>6447716
>Use the chaos you've cause to wipe out the traitors to humanity and seal the potential information leak at its source. Teckyis fled, but he kept his pet Quisling close. And he can't be left alive.
>Remain in Jamshid and take advantage of the loss of the commander to search for any surviving resistant cells.
>>
>>6447716
>Use the chaos you've cause to wipe out the traitors to humanity and seal the potential information leak at its source. Teckyis fled, but he kept his pet Quisling close. And he can't be left alive.

>Remain in Jamshid and take advantage of the loss of the commander to search for any surviving resistant cells.
>>
>>6447716
>Remain in Jamshid and take advantage of the loss of the commander to search for any surviving resistant cells.

>Use the chaos you've cause to wipe out the traitors to humanity and seal the potential information leak at its source. Teckyis fled, but he kept his pet Quisling close. And he can't be left alive.
We can send the Greys to take care of the turncoat.
>>
>>6447716
>Remain in Jamshid and take advantage of the loss of the commander to search for any surviving resistant cells.

The Resistance Army grows. We will need their full backup if we want to accomplish the next plots parts. The current Resistance leaders we have should support Sven command now that Teckyis has been put on the run and that Jamshid air base has been destroyed.

Besides this is a good way for identify the location of the city AI for a later extraction.

>Use the chaos you've cause to wipe out the traitors to humanity and seal the potential information leak at its source. Teckyis fled, but he kept his pet Quisling close. And he can't be left alive.

Sorry Teckyis but I think we are going to put an end to your pet project.

>Write-in
>Thanks for the free hammer, Teckyis.
Free loot

>>6447740
We need to sit on camp for proper medication and armor repairs no doubt about it. I think its best we leave Jamshid before talking on long comms. Even with our armor mod better keep talks brief and away from any remaining covenant structures/troops here in the city.

After that is done Chieftain Brurlirus is our target. We need to find his location and kill him, that way the fratricide war plot truly starts. And then.

Then we have the opportunity of doing a lot of damage, the best would be able to take a important ship for insert Vali in a computer and transmit him to the rest of the covenant ships present on Alpha Corvi-II. Ensuring a lot of aliens die and their ships with them. Preferably we also capture the New Archeology Minister, he would be an invaluable hostage against any remaining covenant troops here and if we can make him afraid a powerful tool (possibly forcing even some of them to surrender). The New Minister of Archeology needs to be stopped anyway, since he is planning a big bloodbath of humans.

If we could achieve that we would achieve a great victory. Its also the only way for get home most humans here (the ones in chains working to death digging or being food/playthings probably surpass by a large number both traitors and resistance groups humans).
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>>6447716
>Remain in Jamshid and take advantage of the loss of the commander to search for any surviving resistant cells.

>Use the chaos you've cause to wipe out the traitors to humanity and seal the potential information leak at its source. Teckyis fled, but he kept his pet Quisling close. And he can't be left alive.

Resistance cells means morere firepower and lives saves. A single spartan team should be enough to deal with traitors.
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>>6447716
>Use the chaos you've cause to wipe out the traitors to humanity and seal the potential information leak at its source. Teckyis fled, but he kept his pet Quisling close. And he can't be left alive.
>Remain in Jamshid and take advantage of the loss of the commander to search for any surviving resistant cells.
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>>6447716
>Have one of your Spartans take Teklis Hammer. It's a new type of weapon that's deserve analysis
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>>6447716
>Contact Base camp and the Skidbladnir, and meet the saboteurs Anton and James were sent after and get an update from your ship, before sharing the good news.
>Use the chaos you've cause to wipe out the traitors to humanity and seal the potential information leak at its source. Teckyis fled, but he kept his pet Quisling close. And he can't be left alive.
>>
>>6447716
>Write in option
>With the destruction of the local air support, call the Skidbladnir and request an Evac pelican land at a meeting point outside of the city and pick up every spartan with the wounded or greater (as in anyone wounded or worse) status up so they can be treated on the ship.
>Whichever Spartans remain groundside are given standing orders to recover any remaining resistance cells still alive in the city, sending the most exhausted soldiers back to the ONI facility carrying bags of alien weapons, so that they can rest and recover until Sven and the other Spartans return from space. Once Jamshid is being reinforced by Covenant troops, lie low back at the Oni facility until further notice.

I really want to emphasise, that Sven got a plasma sword through him, Nesta got her ribs turned into mush, and several others, like Jorge and Kurt are wounded as well. This is not something that should be allowed to fester, they all need professional medical help, and we have a Spartan trained team in orbit which could patch us up to be mostly alright again.

We might miss a week or two of planetside action, but at the moment most of our team would DIE if they got hit with a few more attacks, Sven especially.
And, during that time, we could watch from orbit and try to translate the Covenant chatter. Maybe the family infighting plot will take place on it's own without our interference with Teckyis's power vacuum? When it then has died down, our refreshed roster could hit the enemy, which has exhausted itself in infighting.
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>>6447716
>Remain in Jamshid and take advantage of the loss of the commander to search for any surviving resistant cells.

>Use the chaos you've cause to wipe out the traitors to humanity and seal the potential information leak at its source. Teckyis fled, but he kept his pet Quisling close. And he can't be left alive.

Both would be good but the first if only that is possible.

We should take this time to clean up before leaving.
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>>6447716
>>Use the chaos you've cause to wipe out the traitors to humanity and seal the potential information leak at its source. Teckyis fled, but he kept his pet Quisling close. And he can't be left alive.
>Remain in Jamshid and take advantage of the loss of the commander to search for any surviving resistant cells.
>>
>>6447871
We have the TYPHON amphibious/aquatic vehicles for move around discreetly. Moving people and loot is feasible with those plus the two pelicans (the human resistance groups here dont need to walk all the way there. Same for us spartans. We are mobile). There is also the captured Banshees.

And this Spartans are standing. We are not letting it fester, we have stabilize it. We are simply completing Jamshid loose ends before leaving the city (we might return at end of mission). Right now we will likely go back to Jamshid ruined barracks for some rest and quick look of wounds/damages, before soon after undertaking this two tasks we have chosen.

Afterwards we go back to the ONI base and take a better look at our wounds with the groundside medical supplies. IF we really need it we go up to the Skidbladnir, to our medics and our medical AI. But we aren't staying a week or weeks up there. We stay at best 1-2 days. And thats stretching it. We have a clock ticking of an unclear amount of days for a big religious alien ceremony, where the fresh Archeology Minister will be ready to paint red the forerunner ruins dig sites with human slaves blood, for see if said ruins open up and because he wants them dead. Said human slaves cannot fight back since they either work to death digging or are food/playthings. 24h since the invasion won.

We already have people watch from orbit, watch spaceships in space and also listen to alien chatter. And we pushed them to do it throughly and agressively.

The fratricide war plot is not yet completed. Is multiple steps one after another. Chieftain Brurlirus must die. Because right now we have de-facto created the losers team of the Brute Tribe (Kestidion and Teckyis in the same position; thus forcing a political divide and naturally 2 distinct factions for the Tribe throne), but Brurlirus is still in charge. He can punish them. His position is of total power has full land commander, he has a lot of forces of his own, and the other two captains still go behind him. What happens if Brurlirus remains alive for a week or weeks, is a kick in the nuts of Teckyis and Kestidion forces, concluding with their heads cut from their shoulders, and 2 fresh loyal new captains. Not a fratricide war. Status quo would be reestablished, because there is still a full land commander completely unharmed and in charge.
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>>6447805

Ok, so you touched on something I've been thinking about and this is as good a time as any to bring it up.

Here's the question: what do we want our endgame on this world to look like? What constitutes a win and "mission accomplished" for the Spartans?

Let's think this through.

As far as I recall, we were sent to this world with vague instructions that amount to "go see what the Covenant are doing here, then do something productive and fuck them up." This means that all in all, our mission objectives are pretty vague.

Now: "strategy" has a formal definition. It means "how you employ your military resources to achieve a political goal." But the thing is we dont even know what those goals ARE.

Allowing that the first political goal (war aims) is "Save Humanity", the second is "Annihilate the Covenant, force them to surrender, or achieve an acceptable peace", the third is "preserve the UNSC as the government in being", and the fourth is "preserve our way of life.", then our CURRENT strategic objectives work out to "Support UNSC military actions to accomplish these goals."

So what COULD that look like on this world? Here are some thoughts:

-Weaken the Covenant military as much as possible (casualties and sabotage) to weaken the Hegemony overall.
-Sabotage Covenant artifact digs (on the basis that stopping them from getting what they want must help us by definition; not a proven assumption)
-Assassinate Covenant political leadership to affect their willingness to continue the war/affect their war aims (no idea what it would do. Could amplify the crusade, could make them glass the world, could make them pull back)
-Preserve human forces/civilians on this world
-Evacuate human forces/civilians on this world
-Discover what the Covenant are looking for (on the basis it might help us)
-Draw enemy forces away from other theaters of war (a theater being defined as a largely self-contained area of conflict, where what happens in one largely doesn't affect others)
-Support other UNSC military actions - Intel gathering on Covenant objectives, forces, culture, etc (most of this would be of only background interest, because we're still learning about them but this isn't immediately militarily useful)
-Other?

So, two things should jump out at us:

One: Most of these possible objectives are impractical. We can't stay here forever. We can't evacuate more than a bare handful (realistic upper limits of total surviving humans on this world might be 25-50k. No known personnel of strategic value other than US.). Communication with UNSC command is infrequent and slow. Killing another prophet would be tough even for us, and of dubious value. Even if we capture an artifact or amazing gear, we probably can't move it off world.

Two: Most of these objectives don't really do much to advance the UNSC strategic goals. We're on a bumfuck human colony without production facilities or other strategic value...

(Con't)
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>>6447917

... And even if we killed every Covenant on this world instantly, it wouldn't really do anything to stop the Covenant fleet advancing, or enable the UNSC to counterattack. This world isn't a key supply nexus, a command center, a shipyard world, etc.

In short, there's only a handful of things we can do that are actually STRATEGICALLY relevant to the overall war as a whole:

We can lure in reinforcements from other theaters, particularly naval assets.

We can see if the Covenant discovered anything useful and capture it.

We can kill or capture a prophet.

So. Now we need to think about what we actually want the end game to look like.

My vote? Lure in Covenant naval assets, particularly those supporting the fleet on Reach (or wherever it was that admiral was going to counterattack), then kill them all. Grab whatever loot the Covenant might have dug up. Run like a thief in the night.

How would we do this?

Once the fratricide is underway, we're going to have a lot of options. A certain amount of our effort is going to be going towards continuing to throw gas on the fire to keep it going as long as possible. However, I like the idea of hitting a communications center or something similar, and stealing Covenant codes and communication protocols.

You see, a pretty valid assumption is that the prophet is safely in orbit aboard one of the biggest and most well-protected ships they have. Meaning, he's not going to be on this world to try and pour water on this fire, and he has to work through remote communication and intermediaries. His knowledge of the situation on the ground is going to be whatever he can see from orbit, and whatever it is reported to him by his subordinates.

So, we just make sure that doesn't happen. We tinker with Vali a little bit to try and build a fork that will act as a somewhat less virulent worm and start dumping it into the Covenant network, once we steal the codes. We use that to suppress certain relevant communications to the prophet and distort his understanding of the situation ("internal discipline", "suppressing human forces", "brute family picnic"). Shit, we might even be able to get him to provide orbital fire. Then, we either send an FTL message using captured gear, or try to deceive the prophet to do the same and when the reinforcements arrive, we see how much damage Vali can do. We can say the prophet is captured, or say a critical artifact is discovered, or say we need reinforcements (ironically, this one might actually be true - and might really be sent by the prophet, even if it's because we fooled him).

Best case? A bunch MORE dead Covenant at a strategically advantageous moment.

Worst case? The fleet our admiral is facing is smaller than normal because they're partying with us.

Biggest obstacle? Making sure our little demon in a pad is up to the challenge when the reinforcements arrive.


(REALLY worst case? we critfail a bunch and GG, but that's what Spartans do.)

I LIKE this plan.
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>>6447922
Well the way I see it is we have our objective which is "Just fuck up whatever they're doing here". Two ways of doing that is to wait til they do it and either steal it or destroy it in transit, or to blow up the mine with something a bit more permanent. Like a handful of nuclear payloads. Though we don't have any of those as far as I am aware. But that would certainly make their efforts of looking around in them just plain impossible in the short term. And maybe the long term, too. Even the Covie would need to take a long ass time to excavate a mountain that glows like the sun. That is, if they are indeed digging out the mine again. If they've just dug their own quarry next to it we'd be outta luck with "just blow it up".

No need to get complicated or anything. Just like we simply won't be able to save everyone, we probably won't be able to achieve total victory. So bloodying their nose and spitting in their eye should be our goal, not pulling off the big win. Also why capturing a Covie ship is kind of silly to try here. There is a small fleet. They'd just shoot whatever ship we tried to steal. We should establish our bare minimum for what we want to achieve, not our ideal end point.

Especially considering we have already suffered damage that may not be easily repaired or replaced. Nesta is gonna need her whole chestplate replaced, do we even have a whole MAKO model chest piece to give to her? Cause otherwise she'd get a standard model plopped on which means she would lose the ability to engage in aquatic warfare like the rest of the unit. Also assuming she can heal in time to actually partake in more combat. The same goes for Sven. How long will he take to recover before the risk of internal bleeding and aggravated organ damage is gone? A week? Two? A month? We don't even know how much longer it'll take the Worm fuck to find what he's looking for. And the other Spartans being chipped away at as well. We have to worry about attrition and the enemy doesn't. Ultimately we need to identify something important to target, hit it, and leave. Or at least make motions to do that if we have to.

Just kicking off a bunch of infighting itself might constitute a success if it gets really bad for the Covie here. Can't build that shitty monument and dig in the sand when a bunch of retarded apes are killing each other and all your workers.
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>>6447930
We have standard Spartan armor. So if necessary we can just switch to that.
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>>6447936
That would preclude involvement in any crocodile tactics though. Which we have been abusing since the Covie have no answer to it at this moment. Which makes it less than ideal. Sure it can still go underwater just fine, it just lacks the mobility. We'd need to start partitioning duties based on armor which in some circumstance can complicate maneuvers and tactics. The injuries are still the bigger concern.
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>>6447930

Yeaaaaah, this isn't going to get us that second Colonial Cross. I want Sven to be able to build a little fort out of 'em.

More seriously, that would be a serious underutilization of the Spartans. Let's say we kill every officer on this world. Ambitious but at least within the laws of physics. Who cares? We go back to HQ and say "buncha dead Covvies!" And they say "great! Didn't do shit for the fleet that just got pasted, but at least you tried."

*Shrug*

I agree we have limited resources and we're pushing the envelope if we go for the BIG big win. But think about this - the "lure them in" plan really only requires a few things.

1) we hit a comm center, steal whatever codes they have, and dump NerfVali into their networks. BONUS: we read Covenant mail regarding what they are digging for and see if they found anything.

2) we see if there's anything else we want to do to throw gas on the fire, or shit we want to steal.

3) we call for reinforcements

4) once they arrive, either Vali is able to infect a BUNCH of them, or we can try to play with IFF to get them to shoot at each other too. (Let's say their networks aren't as interlinked)

Put that way, it doesn't even seem like it would involve a lot of actual combat. Worst case: the arriving fleet gets annoyed and starts glassing shit. The world is lost anyway.

We can even let them land ground forces or whatever if we find something that will make a bang.
>>
>>6447965
This operates on the assumption that any reinforcements would be drawn from an ongoing conflict/theater and not from a staging point. It's far more likely that if reinforcements are called they would come from a secondary location and not a flashpoint.

Additionally, Vali is good, he's still a dumb AI, and Covie AIs have a lot more raw processing power because of the nature of their construction. There is a very good chance that by the time he finishes chewing through a ship or two the others in the same network would identify the attack vector and either bunt it or begin a counterattack on it.

Again, our mission isn't "Save the warfront" it's to disrupt their operations HERE. Don't worry about "over there", that's extraneous. That's a "If the opportunity presents" thing, not a "Let's aim for it" thing. I'm not gonna have the first Spartan cas be on our head because we wanted to be "extra". Call it cowardly, boring, unambitious, whatever you like, I'm not going to chase glory when the flag is right there.

Literally the secondary objective of this mission is "Destabilize the chain of command/eliminate officers", that is the EXACT JOB COMMAND ASKED US TO DO what do you mean "it doesn't matter it would just be neat if we did"? This is like coming in to work to stock shelves and you go off and paint the walls instead, yeah it looks great, you didn't do your fucking job lmao top tier ragebait ngl
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>>6447970

>Reinforcements from a secondary location

Sooooo, we wouldn't be sending a transmission directly to the fleet we want to draw reinforcements from? Oh wait, yes we would. Using the correct codes/prophet authority too. Bad assumption there brah.

>Vali not up to the challenge

Sooooo, Vali wouldn't be copying itself and all the forks going off synchronously? Do you even know how viruses work? Yes this is a valid tactic.

>Our mission isn't to save the warfront

How cowardly.

More seriously, even if all we did is make the fleet weaker with the admiral attacked, thats a success. Considering that getting Covvie codes is something we can do that's to our advantage in a wide range of situations, attacking a comm center is a move we can make that will be of value almost no matter what.

>Destabilizing their chain of command

Yes! Yes, Napoleon, you have found the truth! If only there was some plan in effect that would cause some kind of breakdown in their command structure! Something like causing officers to fight, or a leader to die! That would be AMA-Oh wait that's the EXACT PLAN ALREADY!

I'd rather push the envelope.
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>>6447974
>Sooooo, we wouldn't be sending a transmission directly to the fleet we want to draw reinforcements from? Oh wait, yes we would. Using the correct codes/prophet authority too. Bad assumption there brah.

>"The prophet is asking us to help him? I see. Well another prophet told us to be here. Send a message to fleet whatever the fuck at point wherever the hell to help him instead, they're closer."
Uh?

>Do you even know how viruses work?
Still runs into the same issue, now he has to infiltrate multiple AI domains and remain undetected by all of them long enough to engage this massive simultaneous attack. Still banking on the power of one VS many here dude. The more that get involved the less likely the attack is to succeed and it doesn't matter how you partition it. Especially since you want him to hijack shit and send off messages FIRST before engaging the hack so that the crew wouldn't have a chance to reverse it so the reinforcements get caught up, too. As if the AI aren't also going to be scanning themselves and the various messages just because they have nothing better to do. You're asking A LOT of Vali. A FUCKTON in fact. Especially considering his nature is one that wants to get himself killed only a little less than he wants to kill aliens.

>attacking a comm center is a move we can make that will be of value almost no matter what.
I'm not disputing that. I have no issues attacking a comm center and lifting codes or information. Intel of any kind is always valuable. It's just this ten layered plan besides that makes no sense at all. Just disrupting their means of communicating would be enough to cause issues in general. Suddenly lose radio with the area a new Prophet went to? Where a Prophet already died? That would probably trigger an investigative response on its own. Frankly that isn't that good for us, either. More ships is more problems with trying to exfil. Which is at odds with trying to save anyone on this beachball anyway.

>Oh wait that's the EXACT PLAN ALREADY!
Nigga you know that ain't what I was gettin at and that ain't the sentiment you have been espousing this entire time shut yo ass up kek
>>
>>6447985
>>"The prophet is asking us to help him? I see. Well another prophet told us to be here. Send a message to fleet whatever the fuck at point wherever the hell to help him instead, they're closer."
>Uh?

I rather doubt that's the way it works. The prophets are religious and political leadership - I've seen nothing to indicate they give direct commands, but rather they delegate command to Elites, Brutes and so forth - as we are seeing on this world, even! An enemy Admiral wouldn't say "a prophet told us to be here" he would say "I've just received an order from someone akin to the president. Yes sir yes sir three bags full sir." And detail off a force that he thinks it will need.

>Vali can't do it.

AGAIN, dude, you're analyzing the problem poorly. We've seen nothing to say Enemy AIs coordinate between ships, so it's more like one Vali vs one ship. Vali is specced specifically to kill covenant systems, against an empire that doesn't believe in AIs and doesn't appear to do cyberwarfare. It's more like a war virus from the NSA vs Norton Antivirus. Remember, it's many Valid vs enemy.

>Investigative response

Comm center hit would be in and out. We just took out their air support. Want to bet we can't move quicker than they can?

>That wasn't what I was talking about.

Then do explain, Napoleon. I am alllll ears. But while you do, think about it: are you saying the fratricide plan DOESN'T meet the requirements of the secondary objective?
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>>6447987
>I rather doubt that's the way it works
The prophets do straight up tell admirals to do things from time to time. And they can take direct control of various groups when doing something specific, like looking for Forerunner artifacts, and they maintain nominal control over the group until they decide they're done.

>he would say "I've just received an order from someone akin to the president. Yes sir yes sir three bags full sir."
Consider that the prophets are not touted as Mr. Presidents but instead a bishop or cardinal of the church. So, no. Especially if it was an Elite in charge, since they kind of don't like each other. It's kind of central to the plot even.

>We've seen nothing to say Enemy AIs coordinate between ships
Well we've seen nothing to say they CAN'T either. Big fucking whoop. I'm being cautious because I don't want one of our biggest assets to get exposed and later neutralized as an option. And before you @ me with some bullshit, they Covie specifically develop and enhance their AIs in the future explicitly to counter the human AIs because of how much more useful human AI is and proves to be effective against them. And it works. Their SIGINT is no joke. They end up causing hiccups for smart AI down the line. Right now Vali has a type advantage and that's it. If we use him and any single enemy survives then that fuels the flame of the Covie getting their fingers out of their ears and ramping up their anti AI stuff. I want Vali to actually be useful for as long as possible. Sue me.

>Comm center hit would be in and out
I'm talking about another fleet. I never said they would swoop down from orbit and investigate. Hence why I said "More ships".

>Then do explain, Napoleon. I am alllll ears. But while you do, think about it
Retard, YOU SAID command wouldn't care about killing officers. And I quote
>>6447965
>Let's say we kill every officer on this world. Ambitious but at least within the laws of physics. Who cares? We go back to HQ and say "buncha dead Covvies!" And they say "great! Didn't do shit for the fleet that just got pasted, but at least you tried."
I have been disputing that. No where have I said anything about NOT killing officers or causing issues for their chain of command with your plan. Fucking READ.

You know what, you win. Whatever. Me dum u rite GG. Christ.
>>
>>6447917
The current "endgame" was something most anons agreed through talking with eachother here, and basically it goes like this (and was discussed through the threads while getting new info for adapting it) :

- Fratricide War Plot : Analyze the Brute Tribe, create fear, create terror, understand its hierarchy, create a stark divide (2 capt. losers/2 capt. loyalists), execute the Chieftain, ensure the civil war
- Eliminate the Investigator : Ravo and.his Cadre needs to be found, why ?, they are hunting us and looking for answers, we eliminate Ravo, no voice of reason or stick in our plots way
- Guerillas : Resistance Groups if connected with provide us more firepower, this allow us to do more attacks, and to be supported in decisive strikes (one we just did for example).
- The Ship and The Long Neck : All this leads for us to go on the opportunity to strike one ship on the ground (preferably the one of the Minister), where we insert Vali and then ensure to eliminate all other ships through a broadcast. We get a Covenant ship and a Minister. We evac the remaining humans alive (they are dying every day), and we avoid a bloodbath is done.
- Escape: With us having a ship and an important hostage we can effectively bring home more humans. + loot/capture.

High Command has given us free reign to fuck things up here in Alpha Corvi II.

Not quite. I am not sure when you joined but like i said before this plots, this ideas where made through the threads. And they had ends. We adapted things. We worked with what we had. This stuff didn't spawn from thin air. 404 even liked what we where writing. I think you missed some previous discussions. Some of us where even going in detail on which kind of ship to go for the final step (we know some ships are on ground and not just above our heads).

We have adapted to our plans with what we can do. The mission objectives we have even if they are vague are being done right now.

>>6447922
We are here for create problems in Alpha Corvi-II. Thats what was asked of us. There is already a small fleet worth of ships from the ones on ground and in orbit. And we are going to kill them.

Thats your vote okay.
Harvest. What we are doing is partially connected with Cole plan. It can potentially influence it though if we do enough of a ruckus. Which we have intention of doing so.

The Old Minister of Archeology was killed on ground. The New Minister of Archeology has two current duties here that could very much have him on ground, plus something he WANTS to do here on ground.
- The planet is considered now one of Martyrdom (one dead long neck), he was tasked to make it "sacred ground"
- There are dig sites with potential relics he will need to go and see (and why wouldn't he)
- He WANTS to do a ceremony in a few unknown days which is mostly kill human slaves in mass (for his pleasure likely, and then if something else happen thats good for him) for see about opening some ruins.
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>>6447930
>We should establish our bare minimum for what we want to achieve, not our ideal end point.
This was discussed before, some anons are forgetting things but it was discussed and in detail. Eitherway I have no intention of leaving just because we have this wounds now. The majority seems to not want to leave either even with this wounds and damage.

>Or at least make motions to do that if we have to.
What you think we are doing now. We are progressing our plot, which has the full intention of giving us a window of opportunity for strike at a covenant ship on ground. Which we suspect the Prophet is in and goes out of it has he sees fit.
>>
In fact we discussed things so in detail before that we had two variations even of the full plan. One after Brurlirus was dead, was grabbing transports with an hostage and do the trojan horse plan, the other one is the current one we are doing right now (which we are doing because Covenant troops numbers + built structures don't add up with the ships in orbit meaning there are covenant ships on ground)
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>>6448055
>I am not sure when you joined but like i said before this plots

I am the architect of the original fratricidal war plot.

My discussion was about "what next? How do we turn this success into something that affects the course of the war as a whole?"
>>
>>6447998
>I have been disputing that

Aside from being a bit of a pussy ("we don't know that AIs CAN'T!" *clutches pearls*) , you seem to be illiterate as well - my argument was about how we turn this world into something that advances the UNSC war as a whole. You don't seem to be able to parse an argument, so I'm worried you have been hoarding all the chromosomes over there or something.

>Prophets give orders to admirals

I think you just supported my point - that it's reasonable that a faked/real order from a prophet will get a response. It only DOESN'T happen if there's a prophet at the fleet we talk to, and if there's enough rivalry between the two that he would countermand an order from another prophet.

In the meantime, we KNOW they have to work together well enough to actually run a war, so barring extraordinary circumstances, I'd expect a prophet to be able to call on the support of other prophets. My point is - whether there is another prophet or not with the fleet we talk to, there's probably still going to be a response. Not sure why you consider this a hard concept, but the short bus is over there. Don't forget your helmet.
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>>6448061
If we complete our full plan (either this one or the trojan horse variation, we will create a giant ruckus). This shit will affect the war at large, because the Covenant will see a ton of misfortune again on the same world. Twice ! Another Minister of Archeology dies or worse captured. A whole small fleet gone. Troops on ground dead or killing eachother.

All of this combined forces the Covenant to waste time and go "oh no !! Alpha Corvi-II is cursed :( ! How can we make it a place of Martyrdom ;("

Our enemy is inherently religious. If we do one of our full plans they are going to suffer. They will slow down. On top of that a Swordmaster has just failed is public redemption mission and a Brute Tribe will fail and be made a mockery. And that can create the seeds for wider problems.
>>
We must trust on the plans we have made so far. We have spent time writing and discussing them. They are sound, they are working. We are seeing it right now. The only thing the plans need is some adjustments time to time has new info is collected or if new problems present themselves.

Just look at what happened to the Sangheili commanders after the first mission of Alpha Corvi-II (where we defeated the forces they lead and even captured the "White Whale" commander). Exiles, lost ranks, execution and fucking Ravo having to say he was about to make a public redemption mission. We did that without knowing it. We now know that happened because of us.
>>
Shit we even killed a Yanme Queen here. A minor young one ? Likely. Small political fry, but her death adds up. It adds up with us creating chaos, fear and terror here. Alpha Corvi II by the end of this mission if we complete one of our full plans variants will be a cursed place.

And in a grandious holy war such has this one, a cursed black mark like this world, infleunces things.

Now we had Sven dip only a little in plotting. But I think we are doing very good work here. Could we do more ? Perhaps but I think we need more info first from alien lips. And even so what we made so far works. I will not say is perfect but is very very good. Take this compliment everyone that contributed to make this plans.
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>>6448066
>We must trust on the plans we have made

Dude, I know. I don't want them to change at all - I designed the fratricide plan and I'm proud AF of it. What I WANT is to build on the opportunities it creates. It's the sequel.
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>>6448240

Okay, so we're still two-to-three steps away from *maybe* getting the civil war within the brute tribe we want. So let's zoom in on the next potential phases and go over those in detail.

This is all just broad strokes and my perspective, since we don't really have anything concrete to work with here, but here goes:

Now, I'm very much backing Self-Interest because as always, it'll be the only horse that's trying.

However, we *need* to consider how the Prophet might fit into things. We need to find out where Mr Worm is and how easily he could conceivably shut the whole thing down before it really gets started.

If he's on a ship, we need to know which one and we need to figure out how to fuck the prosetylisation network so they can't communicate effectively. Not that their top-down only global network is efficient, but the worm can still put a moratorium on the civil war if he hears about it.

If he's at the dig site, we need to either snatch him or bury him. If Brurlirus is with him, then we simply capture or kill the prophet when we put a few extra holes in the ape in charge's skull and we have our civil war then almost regardless of anything else.

We also have to consider the prophet's planned massacre of the civilians and where the ship(s) on the planet is.

When is it? How long do we have? How will kicking off the civil war before we rescue them effect things? Do we rescue them first or play pirate first?

What ship(s) are on the surface and how easily could we conceivably steal one? How do we get the resistance involved if it's a big one which in turn leads to where we get transports to get them there if the one we choose is a really big one? How do we keep Vali from rendering the ship we want inoperable?

That last point is pretty big, since to actually use any ship we steal properly, we very well might need to try and get Rita interfaced with it and play things like how Cortana did in First Strike. We might have to dock the Prowler or something.

If I'm reiterating points already made in the discussion above, my bad, there is a *lot* there, I'm just trying to provide a framework for our next moves.
>>
Not sure I'm entirely a fan of the boogeyman route we've been taking, but it seems to be effective at least. Sven also appears to be aware that he is walking a fine line. Interested to see if he will continue to resist taking enjoyment out of these boogeyman tactics, whether he will end up embracing them, or alternatively completely have a change of heart about going down this path, maybe if he gets praised about it by ONI or something.

>>6447714
>An eye, hah, he thought, what a small price to pay for knowledge.
I don't know if it was your intention, 404, but this made me think of Odin sacrificing his eye for knowledge.
Comes across to me like Teckyis is trivializing it in a meta sort of way, unwittingly mocking Sven.
And then he symbolically wanders into hell to find Nidhoggr and a bunch of dragons with some corpses and freaks out, which is funny.
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, Back online ]

Sorry to take so long, felt like I was dying all thursday/ friday. Feeling better now, well enough to write at least. So lets go

11 Votes to remain in Jamshid and try to find any other surviving resistance cells

12 Votes to Use the chaos to your advantage

2 Votes to contact base camp & the Skidbladnir for an update

2 Votes to pick up Teckyis' hammer

1 Vote for UGBKGLxp wriote in

So the Spartans are going to stay in Jamshid, using the chaos to their advantage to get into contact with any surviving resistant fighters & to wipe out the Quislings, including the Politician whose been buddy buddy with the Covies

[ Decisions made ]
[Proceeding... ]

>>6448331
That is EXACTLY what I was going for actually. Was waiting for someone to point it out
>>
Your team retreats to minimum safe distance from the office building turned Covenant FOB and Hangar, and watch it collapse after a series of street shaking explosions. Jamy, still trying to fulfill their duties, helpfully warns of an ongoing terrorist attack followed by an ad encouraging the locals to enlist in the CMA today. The only way they can celebrate the victory without direct communication. The pillar of fire dominates the skyline, spreading to nearby, unoccupied buildings. Like the city's funeral pyre. The CMA guys stand at attention for a full minute, before they get moving again. Your Spartans only spared five seconds, to make sure the detonation went off without a hitch.

And with the Commanding Officer of the city gone, the covenant garrison has fallen into complete anarchy. The race war you kicked off as a diversionary action has continued to heat up and spread. Which is good, because it means your heads won't be the Tengu's first choice of Targets.

There are no issues or problems on the march back to the Base Camp, with more CMA and Insurrectionist fighters linking up with your squad. Thistle rejoins halfway to the garrison, and you see that Nesta's chestplate had in fact caved in and crumpled. It was, technically, still operational and it should remain airtight so long as the inner layer wasn't punctured beneath it. Both of you got one free hit in on the other, a smack on the cheek from you and a jab to the side from her respectively, for almost dying. Kaitoa has also been injured, heavily and has clearly taken stimulants to keep conscious and on his feet & fighting. Many of the former insurrectionists have. The only difference between them and the CMA troops, is that the latter hasn't taken any "Battlefield Aid" to stay in the fight. But both parties are ragged.

Kaitoa is in high spirits, but Smithson is exhausted though you wouldn't be able to tell from how he was smiling.

"I saw the fireworks from downtown! Think I felt an Airburst" The leader of the rebels turned actual freedom fighters laughs, eyes mostly white and heavily veined, almost as jumpy as a Tengu as he talks, gesturing with his rifle "Could've probably caught some waves on the flooded district. Lots of dead aliens. Lots of dead aliens. And we saved some kiddos, yee yee"

"This operation was successful beyond any and all of our expectations, I'd like to shake the hand of whoever taught your unit" Smithson said, hobbling on a scratch built crutch, having been shot in the leg by one of the real traitors still operating across the city "I'll admit, I had my doubts, but you've quashed them all. You Spartans are a cut above the rest"

"We know" Nesta said, as she thumped her damaged chest piece, hiding the wince from the militia and rebels, but not her fellow Spartans.
Cont
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>>6448356

The moment you got back to base, you had every Spartan who'd been injured receive first aid and medical attention. You'd brought the medical supplies your team had packed to the Garrison, but they wouldn't last for long, especially not while they were being spread amongst your squad and the resistant fighters. First aid could only do so much, some of the guerillas weren't going to be combat ready or capable unless they were brought up to the Skidbladnir, and your own deployment was on a timer. Biofoam could only hold up for so long. A few hours and it'd start to break down. It could be reapplied, but there was no guarantee the first, next and so on applications wouldn't fall apart in the middle of a firefight. Going forward, anything you did in this operation was going to be on a tight schedule and every engagement had to be planned in advance or quickly ended.

"Your ribcage is intact, beside some bruising. The ceramic coating held up" Illya tells Nesta, as she fights to get her helmet off to breathe while you sit still and wait to have the wounds you'd taken earlier in the mission to be patched back up, which is also why Nesta is still sitting in the medical tent Jorge had made while fortifying the garrison. You feel eyes watching you, and glance over to see some of the kids you'd saved and sheltered watching. Your helmet was still on, and you were watching them from the corner of your eye as Illya started to re-apply Biofoam to the deeper wounds Nesta had earned during the raid on the prison camp.

"I'd rather die than get my bones re-coated in that crap" Nesta scowled, blinking as her eyes adjusted to a world without a heads up display and anti glare filters. One of the younger kids gasped, and both she and Illya turned. The latter ignoring them immediately after and Nesta giving a playful wave as they scattered.

After Illya was done treating Spartan injuries, she was voluntold to give first aid to the rest of the injured troops. Kaitoa was detoxing like the rest of his crew besides the ones he'd spared to rescue the orphans of Jamshid, so you held a tactical meeting with Smithson, Private Little, Jai and Kurt.

"We're not pulling out of the city yet" You began, pulling up a holographic bird eye's view map of the city via the tacpad on your wrist "The Covenant Commander has fled, leaving behind his forces who are presently fighting amongst themselves. The Bugs, Tengu and Sasquatches are infighting, the Gas Huffers...are fighting for whoever is their commanding officer. Their chain of command has suffered a complete breakdown"

"And they won't reestablish order immediately, at least not unless the Commander or equivalent ranked monkey returns. All his subordinates are jockeying for his position, as we speak" Jai continues "If they're not being sniped, they're contesting against eachother to figure out who is in charge"
Cont
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>>6448357

"This of course, presents a number of opportunities" Kurt finished "That we can easily exploit. The Lieutenant Commander, has already decided on our mission priorities, going forward"

Private Little swallowed the chocolate bar she'd scrounged up from somewhere and suggested "Kill all sons of bitches, Sir? The FCs and RLs have gone completely AWOL and the MAs are trying to figure out who is king shit of fuck mountain. They might outnumber us, but we've got murder ro...Spartans on our side! We could just kick their slimy asses out of Jamshid!"

Jai rocked his head side to side. Kurt remained staid and Smithson pinched his brow as the Private grinned like she'd just rewrote the book on military tactics.

"Close" You say, measuredly and unemotive "We're focus our aggression against the human element in the enemy forces. The traitors must die"

You hold up your wrist and zoom in on a particular portion of the city, one that had been entirely untouched in today's fighting "But one in particular is a priority target. This man, Khalil Shahi, is both the root cause of the Covenant's success in creating turncoats and represents a disastrous intel leak waiting to happen. He and the other traitors, are only alive because the Covenant knows he could sell them secrets. It is only a matter of time until he tells them something that will cripple the war effort off world or doom another planet. He has to be terminated, immediately"

The picture of the politician remained floating besides the secure location you knew he was being kept, within reach from Teckyis' command center if he was deemed no longer useful but far enough away to be easily extracted from Jamshid to a safer, more secure location. He looked like a stereotypical corrupt outer colony politician. The sort that the Einherjar probably would've given the blood eagle if they got their hands on him, and ONI would do worse if you managed to take him alive, much worse.. A fake smile, carefully slicked back hair and just enough facial hair to look "rugged" and sell the every man image to Civilians who didn't know any better. He looked more like a doll than a real person, too perfect and photogenic, like a robot designed to get votes and support.

Somehow, seeing his face made you feel a little more human despite the training and procedures you went through. At least you had substance and served a cause.

"He and the other turncoats will be our targets. Let the aliens kill eachother. But we aren't just going to focus on eliminating the traitors in the city. I'd like to try and reconnect with the other resistance cells, if any of them are still active"

"You mean alive, sir" Private Little said

"Didn't run into any familiar faces during our street ops" Smithson said, stroking his cheeks thoughtfully "They could just be hiding still, gone to ground or moved to areas we didn't reach"

"After the noise we made, any survivors will probably come out of hiding, looking to join the action" Jai said
>>
>>6448358

"Wouldn't hurt to send scouting parties to their prior area of operations, to see if they left any clues" Kurt suggested, right as you got contacted by James. And he had good news

The pair of Saboteurs had been found and safely brought back to Home base. That changed things. Drastically.

>Prevent the worst case scenario, and lead an all out assault on Khalil Shahi's gilded cage to choke the canary before he can sing

>Transport over the saboteurs, and not wanting to risk further, serious injury, extract to watch the home base while giving Kurt command of the Jamshid operation while you start planning evacuations and hear what the Skidbladnir has learned.

> [Infiltrator 3 + Tactician 3] The enemy didn't notice this trick the first time, so sneak some of your allied forces into the politics' personal guard and maximize damage by delaying the kill order, until the situation in Jamshid has gotten bad enough to extract him

>[Jotun] Slow the pace, re-establish communications with the other rebels on Jamshid and let the Covenant bleed itself before moving in for the kill, even it'll cut the execution uncomfortably close to the deadline

>Write in option
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>>6448359
>Transport over the saboteurs, and not wanting to risk further, serious injury, extract to watch the home base while giving Kurt command of the Jamshid operation while you start planning evacuations and hear what the Skidbladnir has learned.

> [Infiltrator 3 + Tactician 3] The enemy didn't notice this trick the first time, so sneak some of your allied forces into the politics' personal guard and maximize damage by delaying the kill order, until the situation in Jamshid has gotten bad enough to extract him

Not sure if this can be done at same time. But Sven uses his trick to put in infiltrators then Sven delegates to Kurt and start planng both evac and get healed up
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>>6448359

>Transport over the saboteurs, and not wanting to risk further, serious injury, extract to watch the home base while giving Kurt command of the Jamshid operation while you start planning evacuations and hear what the Skidbladnir has learned.
1) Grey team will be assigned the OP to recover the City's AI Jamy, he's on borrowed time now too since he's shown himself etc.
2) Kurt will now have tactical command of remaining ground assets

>Write in option
Sven, nesta and anyone to damaged will be taking a trip back to the Ship; Sven IS on a timer and we can't afford to fuck up.


---
If we have a single bad roll chain its game over, Sven NEEDs the full medical treatment and we'll bring Nesta cos she needs it but also a tingle. Nows the time while the covies are establishing order. We need the big picture
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>>6448359
>Transport over the saboteurs, and not wanting to risk further, serious injury, extract to watch the home base while giving Kurt command of the Jamshid operation while you start planning evacuations and hear what the Skidbladnir has learned

>>6448361 what this guy said
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>>6448359
>Transport over the saboteurs, and not wanting to risk further, serious injury, extract to watch the home base while giving Kurt command of the Jamshid operation while you start planning evacuations and hear what the Skidbladnir has learned.
Better get our flash boiled innards looked at sooner rather than later.
>>
>>6448359

>Transport over the saboteurs, and not wanting to risk further, serious injury, extract to watch the home base while giving Kurt command of the Jamshid operation while you start planning evacuations and hear what the Skidbladnir has learned.

We need to be fighting fit and we need more intel. We're the OIC, so we need to know when to take a step back.

>[Jotun] Slow the pace, re-establish communications with the other rebels on Jamshid and let the Covenant bleed itself before moving in for the kill, even it'll cut the execution uncomfortably close to the deadline.

Cold as ice doesn't just mean we're a sociopath. It also means we don't panic. The last second is still within the time limit.
>>
>>6448359
>>Transport over the saboteurs, and not wanting to risk further, serious injury, extract to watch the home base while giving Kurt command of the Jamshid operation while you start planning evacuations and hear what the Skidbladnir has learned.

>[Jotun] Slow the pace, re-establish communications with the other rebels on Jamshid and let the Covenant bleed itself before moving in for the kill, even it'll cut the execution uncomfortably close to the deadline
>>
>>6448359
>>Transport over the saboteurs, and not wanting to risk further, serious injury, extract to watch the home base while giving Kurt command of the Jamshid operation while you start planning evacuations and hear what the Skidbladnir has learned.

>[Jotun] Slow the pace, re-establish communications with the other rebels on Jamshid and let the Covenant bleed itself before moving in for the kill, even it'll cut the execution uncomfortably close to the deadline

Hmm yeh this combo works better. Have Kurt handle gatthering the rebels. Then he eithers deals with the leak or we get back in time for it.
Jotun does lead to more dead covies.
>>
>>6448371

Appending: >>6448362 this write in.
>>
>>6448359
>Transport over the saboteurs, and not wanting to risk further, serious injury, extract to watch the home base while giving Kurt command of the Jamshid operation while you start planning evacuations and hear what the Skidbladnir has learned.


>[Jotun] Slow the pace, re-establish communications with the other rebels on Jamshid and let the Covenant bleed itself before moving in for the kill, even it'll cut the execution uncomfortably close to the deadline

>Write in option
Sven, nesta and anyone to damaged will be taking a trip back to the Ship; Sven IS on a timer and we can't afford to fuck up.
>>
>>6448359
> [Infiltrator 3 + Tactician 3] The enemy didn't notice this trick the first time, so sneak some of your allied forces into the politics' personal guard and maximize damage by delaying the kill order, until the situation in Jamshid has gotten bad enough to extract him
>>
>>6448359
>Transport over the saboteurs, and not wanting to risk further, serious injury, extract to watch the home base while giving Kurt command of the Jamshid operation while you start planning evacuations and hear what the Skidbladnir has learned.
>[Jotun] Slow the pace, re-establish communications with the other rebels on Jamshid and let the Covenant bleed itself before moving in for the kill, even it'll cut the execution uncomfortably close to the deadline

Sven for sure needs medivac as do a few laymen from our PUG, James and Anton can fill in for us. The Jotun option is good for Kurt, James, and Jai, slow is smooth and smooth is fast.
>>
>>6448359
I assume we grabbed Teckyis hammer right.....(you usually say if something is smart/obvious enough we do it even if it has not enough votes 404. Does it apply here ? Just to check)


>Transport over the saboteurs, and not wanting to risk further, serious injury, extract to watch the home base while giving Kurt command of the Jamshid operation while you start planning evacuations and hear what the Skidbladnir has learned.
>[Jotun] Slow the pace, re-establish communications with the other rebels on Jamshid and let the Covenant bleed itself before moving in for the kill, even it'll cut the execution uncomfortably close to the deadline

>Write-in
Tell Kurt to work together with both Smithson and Kaitoa. For now from him we need :
- Complete this two objectives : find other guerilla forces/survivors in Jamshid and take out Khalil Shahi and his traitors. Its quite likely we will need Khalil secret vault destroyed, though keep in mind to grab any digital devices present here. This politician had quite literally made a secret vault under everyone noses in the colony, and we only found out thanks to Soren. If he more dirty political laundry its best we ensure its in our hands or destroyed.
- Harass and kill Covenant small groups or alone aliens in Jamshid. Simple
- Little will likely be follow Kurt now.

Once this is completed
- Begin to move out (spartans/guerilla forces/survivors) of Jamshid toward our secret base and the abandoned school filled with skeletons (Kurt will evaluate how quickly that school can be turned in a second secret base)
- If there is time, he will also have to send someone to find and extract Jamy the city AI (not an easy task with Sven not around. This is why beside listening to Jamy instructions, working with Kaitoa's and Smithson is vital. They might know someone with some experience with AI in the guerilla forces or survivors ranks).

>Write in option
>Sven, nesta and anyone to damaged will be taking a trip back to the Ship; Sven IS on a timer and we can't afford to fuck up.

I am considering to bring down with us our Proto-Helots special squad too, once we are patched up. Our medics and Rita will do a good enough work and we need firepower.
>>
>>6448240
Fair enough. At the moment my mind can only think of capturing more aliens (capturing aliens always good). They could know something useful for improve our plans further. Oh wait. Well we can do that of course.

But Pufpuf still needs to be fully grilled for all his knowledge when we return ! He proved useful to us even if he is just a fodder private.

>>6448274
Hopefully the Skidbladnir discovered something. All those comms heard and movements seen, should reveal a thing or two.

If not this are our ways for learn new info:
- Scouting, Observation, Infiltration
- Vali hacking
- Pufpuf grilled for more info
- Other aliens can be captured (and grilled for info)
- Khalil Shahi and the traitors could know something of the Covenant (Teckyis more or less transformed them in his pet project; with even training and some simple armors made of Covenant metal plates. They where even in his own force ranks, has auxiliaries troops. This amount of contact could have give Khalil and the traitors some amount of alien info)
- Some bits of knowledge could be known from any new guerilla forces, survivors or ex slaves that join us (we first need to find them, for them to have a chance to tell us and they might not know or couldn't understand well)
>>
>>6448635
+1

We should probably write in Sven getting proper medical attention yeh
>>
Like the other anon pointed out we should ask ourselves some questions too about the current problems we face (and try find some answers) : if we where a long neck where we would plan a bloodbath of slaves ? Where we would park our ship ? Where do we want to build the martyr tomb/monument ?

And same for Chieftain Brurlirus : where would we the powerful leader of a Brute Tribe command this worl-- the land army and garrisons of this world from ? Do i need to move myself from my cool thron-- command chair for fix Teckyis carefully built force or wait that it bleeds for now ? Do i need to humiliate Teckyis like i possibly did with coward and weak Kestidion, since he returned defeated AND has a coward too ? Where is that sword-beggar of Ravo and his cadre ? Still chasing shadows ?
>>
>>6448635
Speaking of Jamy, I've had a thought. They'll have been watching everything that goes on in the city since the invasion and, despite being a dumb AI, could have built up quite the data cache of observations of the Covenant occupation forces and possibly even logged instances of useful intel that they've overheard. So there might be valid intel reasons to get at their databanks depending on what they saw and remembered.
>>
>>6448664

That would settle our secondary objective if that's the case.
>>
Just a heads up, going to try and reset my usual update schedule, so expect today's update to arrive later today/ tonight unless anything unexpected happens.
>>
>>6448664
That's quite possible now that I think about it. Good thinking.

Still, Kurt should check with Kamitoa and Smithson to see if there is anyone with experience with AI. Without Sven being here, the Spartans can only extract with Jamy's instructions (not many tech Spartans, rare type). Anyone experienced with AI among the civilians or resistance fighters could be a great help to the Spartans and speed up the extraction process.

>>6448805
Not a problem.
>>
>>6448664
>>6448808

Also speaking of Jamy... It's a dumb AI. It doesn't really require specialized gear in order to be able to run.

Why don't we just find a location with some bandwidth, tap into it, and tell Jamy to copy itself to us?

For that matter, before we go, why don't we tell Jamy to go through the stuff in its databanks (using algorithms written by us, of course) and have it copy over only the subset of data we would actually find useful. History of troop movements, anomalous behavior by Covenant (might be something religious or cultural), and current/previous locations of surviving resistance groups/more kids and current locations of enemy forces.

Shit, after we get that information, we just transmit it up to Rita and let her do most of the processing.

Seems a lot easier than trying to get the AI and data banks physically.
>>
>>6448864
Has far I remember we are the only one with the long range comms mod for our armor, and we are going up instead of remaining here. And we aren't even using it all the time for talk with the Skidbladnir. In fact our talks with the Skidbladnir have been very few. We only talked a very few times on long range comms, even with Spartans that we sent in other locations of the world too.

Better not transmit Jamy with covenant ships around. Especially to the Skidbladnir. It would be a visible civilian transmission. Extraction seems safer.
>>
>>6448955

Do we plan to have any Pelicans going to and from, for any reason? Send a hard drive with them. It can wait, too.

We can still download Jamy without transmitting it.
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

Sorry, meant to do this earlier in the day/ night but a nap turned into a sleep.

9 Votes to head back to home base, give OPCOM of Jamshid to Kurt and start planning evacuations
L
+ 4 votes for YGtzGXdi's write in/ send over the other injured spartans
L
+ 2 votes for ANXTWQBq's write ins

3 Vote for [I+T]

7 Votes for [Jotun]

Sven and the other heavily injured Spartans will evac back to homebase (Because it'd be out of character for him to go alone), transport over the Sabtours + James and Anton, handing over mission command to Kurt, and start rolling out evacs and hearing what the crew of the Skidbladnir have learned from the covenant transmissions and ships...etc

[ Decisions made ]
[ Proceeding....]

>>6448635
Yep! Sorry, meant to mention it, but I wasn't feeling well. Sven looted the hammer. Boy has sticky fingers and that hammer needs studying
>>
>>6449053
Oh and your last order in Jamshid will be to slow the pace and get in contact with the other rebels, letting the Covenant bleed itself before taking out the data leak, forgot to add that, since Jotun got enough of the vote to get in
>>
"Kurt, you have OPCOM for Jamshid the moment this tactical brief ends" You announce as you tap your datapad "However, as your superior officer, I have standing orders to place before I evac. You'll have a pair of highly skilled saboteurs under your command, employ their skills as you will, but keep the pace of the operation slow. Let the enemy bleed themselves and prioritize re-establishing contact with the surviving loyal and armed forces in the city"

"The Covenant will eventually move to preserve their living data leak, wait until it comes down to the wire, then take him out", Kurt listens closely and nods "Run the clock as close to out as possible"

"Understood" He says stoically "But I'll be going off of my instinct and discretion to make the call on the timing of the assassination"

"Of course, you'll be the one calling the shots here and I put you in charge of the team, because I trust your instincts" You tell him, nodding once as he stands a bit straighter while you continue tapping in command codes on the tactical device strapped to your wrist

"We won't let you down, sir" He answers with a salute, Jai copies the motion a second later, followed by Smithson and Little

"Been an honor serving with you, Askeland" Smithson says, sounding more UNSC than he does CMA as he stands as straight as he can with his injuries "Doubt I'll make it to the end of this, but if I do, I'd like to shake your hand. Not sure if regulations..."

You grab his hand and shake it firmly, "Til Valhalla" You tell him firmly, before turning to Whitney Little and nodding "Til Valhalla, private"

"I'll do the UNSC proud in your absence! Sir!" She responds, slapping her helmet in a salute as Smithson pulls down his cap over his eyes

"We're also UNSC" Jai, who was only just meeting the only other UNSC force left on Alpha Corvi II, said firmly

"Your unit does the UNSC Proud just by existing, I've got to represent the corps, which means I've got to put in maximum effort" She said with a smile, eyes darting around as she checks if she needs to salute the Spartan standing in front of her, before you, in real time, see the private decide it is better safe than sorry and salute Jai anyways. Jai just shrugs and turns away

"Nesta will follow me back to base camp, as will any other Spartan who Illya determines is an operational hazard due to their injuries" You continue "James and Anton will escort the Saboteurs over and join the operation, under your command. If there's any need of supplies or ammunition, we'll transport over what is needed with them"

Nesta is the only Spartan who isn't declared fit to continue combat operations, mostly due to the damage her MJOLNIR suit suffered however her bruised ribs compounded with the injuries she sustained earlier in the camp raid makes her a case of better safe than sorry. You don't waste time with goodbyes, since you know your team will pull through the operation and succeed in their mission.

Cont
>>
>>6449071

You would take the rescued kids back to home base and out of the city, but there isn't enough room in the Mudskippers, you'd have to send one of the pelicans to evac them. And for the time being, the Garrison is the safest place they can be brought without endangering the mission.

Nesta is quiet on the hike to the stashed Mudskippers and Fingerlings, and for the ride back to Base Camp. It's easy slipping away, with the Covenant Infighting distracting the enemy it is as simple as walking in formation. The CMA troops left behind at the camp, greet both of you as you dock the mudskipper near the beach. They try not to look at the obvious damage Nesta and your armor has sustained or the bandages around your midsection.

The Mute Lance Corporal Roche, and his one eyed Aid Merrick, don't ask questions so neither do their subordinates and they return to their guard posts the second you pass by the defenses built up and around the Queen of hearts. The teachers, researchers and the CMA too injured to hold a gun, are handing out rations to the kids. Tony and his sister were trying to get the ones rescued from the camp to talk, and they were communicating now, only in one word responses or with nods or shakes of their head; But it was a marked improvement.

The exception of course was Violet, who was alert and scanning her surroundings. She spotted you and waved.

"Chen, Ostrum" You said as you marched past the ration line and too the pelicans, motioning with your chin to tell Nesta to keep Violet occupied while you handed out orders "Start preparations to begin evacuations. I heard that the Skidbladnir had sent a report while I was away"

James had told you, when you told him to head to Jamshid and that you and Nesta were falling back due to your injuries. It had arrived not long after he and Anton had brought the saboteurs back to base.

"Ostrum" Chen Tian said, wrapping up the ration bar he'd been biting into. The lower ranked of the two pelican pilots nodded and hopped off the ammo crate he was sitting on and jogged up to Doghouse to start running pre-flight checks. The hotshot jogged to match your pace as he lead you to Reaper Spirit. Following him up the ramp, he played back the report and presented the files that had transferred over.

They'd cracked the covenant comms chatter and frequency and intercepted a number of active covenant frequencies. LTJG Faure had commended Ensign Kon for her work, though she noted that the junior officer had been unable to explain how she had accomplished it, before presenting what had been gathered and learned from the intercepted communications. Covenant Language hadn't been decoded, but it was clear that a number of the frequencies had been regular "outgoing calls" sent beyond the system. What could be understood were propaganda aimed at lowering what was left of the colonists morale or trying to tempt them into "joining" the Covenant, which was just a delayed death sentence.
Cont
>>
>>6449072

However, Kon had been able to triangulate the propaganda and sermon transmissions to their source. the location of the Covenant's local spiritual leader, The minster of archeology. She'd pinpointed it not to the primary excavation site or the point of heaviest covenant activity, which was assumed to be their main base, but rather an outpost inland, which none of the local or off world mining corporations had touched because it was minerally useless. It had been a base of Insurrectionist activity, prior to the Covenant Activity. Remote and situated in difficult, rocky terrain.

It was a pretty good guess that the commander was operating out of the Covenant's mainbase, as a number of planetside communications had been sent to and received from that location.

But more foreboding, Kon had also detected transmissions that came from out of system. Faure had put Ensign Sonar on a double shifts after that was discovered.

He, LTJG Deluna, Warrant Officer Cook and Cadet Coste, were commended for successfully evading detection after the Covenant had suddenly gone on raised alert and performed a "Wolf pack" sweep of the orbit of Alpha Corvi II. Faure also reported that they had successfully captured high quality images and scans of the Covenant ships in orbit. You recognized the "Persephone" classes immediately , but the Manta Ray was much more unfamiliar, Sonar had estimated it at a tonnage of over thirty million . They'd also captured the profiles and scans of smaller craft, ranging from the fighters Thistle had used to infiltrate Teckyis' tower, to the transports and what Faure theorized were specialized gunships that resembled in "Sonar's words, a horseshoe crab"

Faure's report ended ominously with "Sensor operator believes enemy presence in system is larger than initially suspected. Communications officer tracked regular transmission from suspected location of Covenant Spiritual leader to a location just beyond Alpha Corvi's gravity well/ System periphery. On board AI conjectures, based off a data gathered, that anomalous microwave broadcasts in system could be generated by a collection of ships and or a singular vessel of approximately fifteen hundred meters and upwards of a eighty million tonnage"

Reading this sent a chill down you spine, but you remained composed and calm. You were already outnumbered and outgunned, and if the fleet in system hadn't discovered the Skidbladnir, additional ships and their sensors wouldn't worsen the Prowler's odds of continuing to evade detection. What was worrying was the projected measurements Rita had given. Eighty Million tons or more and at least fifty meters in length. That was one big ship. It'd dwarf even the massive zombie that was the Halcyon class. And you weren't going to work off the assumption that the anomalies were just that, false reads or that they were a cluster of ships.
Cont
>>
>>6449073

The Covenant war machine was massive. It was easy to believe that could have a ship of those specs, and ships even larger and heavier.

What confused you, was that it was just out of the gravity of Alpha Corvi's star and not on the frontlines or above Harvest. What could the Covenant need that much Tonnage for a world that they'd already fully captured? Glassing? Or was it a colony ship or a mobile station?

There was no way to know, unless you got boarded it and took a look yourself. Which would be a suicide run, if you were even able to get close enough to take a look at the ghost giant which certainly would need an escort. So you put it out of your mind while you reviewed the report the Skidbladnir had sent.

It seemed like the Covenant had switched their attention back planet-side. Which meant they believed the attacks on their position had originated from a force planetside. Which meant your deception was working flawlessly. Which meant that it was now, relatively, much safer to attempt to evacuate the non combatants under your protection than it had been when they had first been saved.

>Get the kids out first, and send Reaper Spirit to pick up the ones in Jamshid before sending them up to the Skidbladnir with Doghouse

>Razor classes like the Skidbladnir carry three Fury tactical nuclear weapons, transport two down in preparation to transport them to high value targets towards the end of the mission.

>There wasn't enough room aboard the Skidbladnir for the number of survivors you'd collected. You'd need another ship. Order a search for surviving civilian spacecraft

>Have a chat with Pufpuf, the Unggoy Prisoner and see what you can learn

>List the injuries and equipment damage you and your squad have sustained, and get the professional opinion of the Program medics and Rita

>Write in option
>>
>>6449074

>List the injuries and equipment damage you and your squad have sustained, and get the professional opinion of the Program medics and Rita
The Spartans are most important assents we need to get them healed back to fighting shape as quick as we can.

>There wasn't enough room aboard the Skidbladnir for the number of survivors you'd collected. You'd need another ship. Order a search for surviving civilian spacecraft

If we want to get everyone out we need more ships so delegate that to skid.

These shouldnt be a problem to do at same time.
>>
>>6449074

>There wasn't enough room aboard the Skidbladnir for the number of survivors you'd collected. You'd need another ship. Order a search for surviving civilian spacecraft.

>List the injuries and equipment damage you and your squad have sustained, and get the professional opinion of the Program medics and Rita.

>Have a chat with Pufpuf, the Unggoy Prisoner and see what you can learn.

The order isn't going to take long to give and better to try and get info out of our Grunt now while we can.

Ordinarily, I'd only do a multiple choice as two options, but considering this is all talking mostly, I think we can squeeze in an additional chat.
>>
>>6449074
>>List the injuries and equipment damage you and your squad have sustained, and get the professional opinion of the Program medics and Rita

>There wasn't enough room aboard the Skidbladnir for the number of survivors you'd collected. You'd need another ship. Order a search for surviving civilian spacecraft

>Razor classes like the Skidbladnir carry three Fury tactical nuclear weapons, transport two down in preparation to transport them to high value targets towards the end of the mission.
>>
>>6449073
I do like the fact Kon found where the prophet is though. Once we kill the brute chieftain to see off the civil war we can go and attack her to capture or kill. Might even be able to used his com access to send Vali to all Covenant ships and forced them to self destruct, including that ghost ship. We do have a one per mission ability to forced enemies to do things for us.

Using Vali and Prophet to have every ship Martyr itself will be utter Sweetness :v
>>
>>6449112

I think we might want to grab the prophet at the same time we blow Brurlirus's mind. Make sure there's *no* opportunity for the Covenant to contain the damage.
>>
>>6449113
We do have the numbers for it if we split to six man team.

And brulius just need to die so even something like buking the cove base rwould work to set up cw. While Sven goes for the prophet.
>>
>>6449074
>List the injuries and equipment damage you and your squad have sustained, and get the professional opinion of the Program medics and Rita

>There wasn't enough room aboard the Skidbladnir for the number of survivors you'd collected. You'd need another ship. Order a search for surviving civilian spacecraft.

>Have a chat with Pufpuf, the Unggoy Prisoner and see what you can learn.

Would it maybe make sense to try and visit one or two of the larger Covenant wreaks in orbit? the Prowler could latch itself into the surface, effectively making itself seem non-existent compared to the large mass it attached itself to. We might be able to bring some weapons down onto the surface from said ship, and we might find some other cool loot.
>>
>>6449117

*Are* there any Covenant wrecks, is the question?

I don't think there was any mention of them. Just human wrecks.
>>
>>6449074
>Get the kids out first, and send Reaper Spirit to pick up the ones in Jamshid before sending them up to the Skidbladnir with Doghouse

>List the injuries and equipment damage you and your squad have sustained, and get the professional opinion of the Program medics and Rita

>Razor classes like the Skidbladnir carry three Fury tactical nuclear weapons, transport two down in preparation to transport them to high value targets towards the end of the mission.


i really do think we need to get the kids out first
>>
>>6449074
>Razor classes like the Skidbladnir carry three Fury tactical nuclear weapons, transport two down in preparation to transport them to high value targets towards the end of the mission.
Transport all 3 nukes down. We can find 3 covenant places to nuke with ease.

>Get the kids out first, and send Reaper Spirit to pick up the ones in Jamshid before sending them up to the Skidbladnir with Doghouse
Put them in a safe place. Narfi and Rita can attend to them.

>There wasn't enough room aboard the Skidbladnir for the number of survivors you'd collected. You'd need another ship. Order a search for surviving civilian spacecraft.
Who should do that though. Regardless even if found seeing if it works is another thing. The only way a civilian spaceship can survive is if the Covenant are dealt with in Alpha Corvi-II.

I guess we will interrogate Pufpuf when we return from the Skidbladnir.

>>6449073
>the location of the Covenant's local spiritual leader, The minster of archeology. She'd pinpointed it not to the primary excavation site or the point of heaviest covenant activity, which was assumed to be their main base, but rather an outpost inland, which none of the local or off world mining corporations had touched because it was minerally useless. It had been a base of Insurrectionist activity, prior to the Covenant Activity. Remote and situated in difficult, rocky terrain.
Good work Kon.
I guess we can ask Karitoa guerilla group and the Saboteurs guerilla group about the place. Should help us. Why the hell is the Minister in this place.

Also seems Chieftain Brurlirus is likely in the main base. Good.

>>6449114
Could be an idea. Though its dangerous, the Covenant main base is likely extra filled of Covenant troops to the brim. Still we are increasing our firepower with new guerilla forces being found (so we will have more support with us in our attacks) so we might have a chance.

If we split i definetly want to bring down our Proto-Helots special squad though. Could use them on the ground against the Covenant.
>>
Tired after playing the Lancer game in today. So the update is probably going to be late. Sorry my update schedule has been irregular and I've been late lately. Just haven't been feeling well the last few days.

But, the session was good. Three of the other players combo'd to melt a boss pirate with heat, and I made Sven-033 proud by diving into the pirates back line and soloing 3 of their mechs in my Blackbeard without taking a single hit. It was a very fun session, but It lasted forever so I need to recharge
>>
>>6449073
>Eighty Million tons or more and at least fifty meters in length. That was one big ship.

NEW OBJECTIVE! WE KILL IT! *Maniacal grin*
>>
>>6449074
>>Get the kids out first, and send Reaper Spirit to pick up the ones in Jamshid before sending them up to the Skidbladnir with Doghouse
>
>>Razor classes like the Skidbladnir carry three Fury tactical nuclear weapons, transport two down in preparation to transport them to high value targets towards the end of the mission.
>
>>There wasn't enough room aboard the Skidbladnir for the number of survivors you'd collected. You'd need another ship. Order a search for surviving civilian spacecraft
>
>>Have a chat with Pufpuf, the Unggoy Prisoner and see what you can learn
>
>>List the injuries and equipment damage you and your squad have sustained, and get the professional opinion of the Program medics and Rita

All of the above - they are all compatible. Nukes come in, kids go out, Skad starts turning their sensors to see if there are surviving civvie ships, we have a chat, and our 2IC makes a report to transmit to Rita. Duh.
>>
>>6449289
+1
>>
>>6449289

>I forgot - write in: fire a probe at the Big Ugly Fat Fucker (I'm naming the 80m displacement the BUFF class ship) to get some info on it. Use tight beam laser comms and a second probe to dogleg the transmission back so they can't find us.

Probe A goes at BUFF, probe B goes at an angle towards probe A. Probe B relays Probe A's transmission, and even if they figure out there's SOMEBODY here, it won't point at us. Considering the BUFF is beyond the edge of the solar system, the probe might take several weeks to get there, by which time we will want to leave.
>>
>>6449074
>List the injuries and equipment damage you and your squad have sustained, and get the professional opinion of the Program medics and Rita

>Razor classes like the Skidbladnir carry three Fury tactical nuclear weapons, transport two down in preparation to transport them to high value targets towards the end of the mission.

>Get the kids out first, and send Reaper Spirit to pick up the ones in Jamshid before sending them up to the Skidbladnir with Doghouse

If we somehow kill a fucking second Prophet this early into the war, Idk what the covenant would do.
>>
>>6449322
It's not like they can genocide humanity any harder.
>>
>>6449340
They very much can, there is ALOT of covenant space in comparison to UNSC space.
>>
>>6449118
Well, yes? It is not something mentioned by QM in story, but he mentioned it out of story, with the caveat that it would probably heighten the chance of detection.

Also, on the Wiki it is mentioned that the battle for Alpha Corvi II in space were "moderate" which, has no linked source so might very well be bullshit, but I think it probably isn't that far from the reality of the situation, so I go with the interpretation as well.

>>6449340
THAT is probably one of the worst possible take-aways. Most of the covenant during the Human-Covenant was off doing their own business.
>>
File: FnlSy3_XgAUUq_7.jpg (105 KB, 1200x564)
105 KB JPG
OH ALSO

i forgot to mention in my first post with the vote, that with those sensor readings...
"could be generated by a collection of ships and or a singular vessel of approximately fifteen hundred meters and upwards of a eighty million tonnage"

IT IS A FUCKING MJERN, I CALLED IT.
1500 METERS
AROUND 80 MILLION WEIGHT

Holy fucking shit, the bounty is real.
20 Engineers/Huragok
Nanite repair systems
Assembly forge design

ACTUAL goldmine Bros.
>>
>>6449458
Idk how you expect us to steal that with an entire covenant fleet in the AO
>>
>>6449458
Might be the Prophets old ship. I f we want to steal it we'd need some way to infiltrates though.

So let's get the prophet first to get some more info
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor404TormentedCache, back online ]

Sorry I'm so late, slept like a rock and took forever to wake up.

7 Votes to get the medic's professional opinion

6 Votes to search for useable ships to get the Refugees aboard

4 Votes to chat with the grunt

6 Votes to bring down the nukes

5 Votes to get the kids out

So Medical advice, look for useable vessels to put the surviving colonists onboard and send the kids up and bring down at least one of the fury nukes. Gotcha

[ Decisions made ]
[Proceeding... ]
>>
Reaper Spirit had already flown off in the direction of Jamshid as you reported the list of the total injuries suffered by every Spartan deployed on the fallen colony to the medical professional onboard the Skidbladnir, the specialists that had been transferred from the Spartan-II program to the Prowler specifically to provide the specialized care Spartans required. It had gone better than expected, considering how high value each Spartan is individually, you'd expected to be reprimanded or given a stern reminder of that fact. They weren't happy, the doctor you were talking to in particular had some rather colorful words to describe your behavior when you'd finished listing off every wound you were suffering, but they were professionals and while their behavior was as cold and distant as they had been when they were preparing the ASTER surgeries, cynical like they were talking about specimens or subjects in the morgue, they did listen and give the professional advice you'd sought.

That being that Spartan Zero Three Three should transfer back to the Skidbladnir for immediate treatment and probable surgery, which would effectively take you out of the fight and that Spartan Zero Nine Seven would require a full medical scan to make double certain that the coating on her ribcage hadn't been damaged and that both your MJOLNIR system were in need or repairs. The head of the specialized medical staff, seemed to have expected you to argue, as if you weren't aware that you were as mortal as anyone in spite of your augmented and enhanced physique and weren't keenly aware of your body's limits. Rita had a similar diagnosis, though she also wanted the rest of the squad to receive a check up and have their armor get tuned and patched ; If present circumstances would allow it. But neither she nor the head of the specialists ordered you to return to the Prowler, they just gave their professional opinion and strongly urged you to consider them.

You put off that call and got Soren on the line, and put him to work searching for possible, functional space worthy vessels left behind during the rapid evacuation and abandonment of Alpha Corvi II. This was too solve a problem you'd been all too aware of. There just wasn't enough room on a Razor Class Prowler to fit every survivor your squad had "Brought Home". And you weren't going to abandon them, not after giving them hope, not after rescuing them. You weren't Yao. It would've been pragmatic, but you'd been taught to have Honor and do your duty. And to keep your promises. Which is why Chen was now flying to transport the orphans of Jamshid to this base, so they could be transported in a group up to the Skidbladnir on Doghouse. Ostrum was the best pick to do the dangerous flight out of orbit, as their particular skill set would give them a higher chance of evading the Covenant vessel patrolling the world's gravity well.
Cont
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>>6449524

Then, they'd return with one or more the fury tactical nuclear devices your ship carried by regulation. They'd be used against high value Covenant Targets when the mission was in its last stage and you'd need a distraction to get off planet side and escape into slipspace. Hopefully with additional ships under the Skidbladnir's escort, even if that'd make leaving the system safely a bit more challenging. You trusted your crew, you trusted Chen and Ostrum to succeed in the vital tasks you'd given them. And you trusted Rita.

And that was a problem. She was right. The Doctors were right. If it were any Spartan besides yourself who'd been impaled, you'd have immediately gotten them out of the line of fire and to the nearest medbay. Nesta's armor needed repairs or replacement, and she needed some "bullet" wounds properly treated and stitched, the docs were erring on the side of caution. But you'd been stabbed with a blade shaped out of super heated plasma and were being held together by Biofoam and Spartan Stubbornness. You needed medical attention.

The problem was the treatment you needed would take you off the board for, at minimum, a few days and probably longer depending on how grievous the internal damage was. It wasn't guaranteed you'd be able to return to the field before the mission was finished; One way or the other.

It was incredibly frustrating. It was the right call, the logical thing to do. The mission took priority and if you didn't get treatment, your condition would endanger not only the mission but the rest of your squad. But that didn't mean it was an easy call to make. Getting treatment meant leaving your team behind, and being incapable of supporting them. On the battlefield at least. So long as you didn't need to be sedated for the treatment, you could still support them aboard the Skidbladnir. Or directly assist in the effort to find space for the surviving colonist.

>[ Bulwark: Unbreakable ] Just get field treatment and just tough out the rest of the mission, you can bleed when the jobs done.

>Get taken out of the fight to receive treatment, but continue providing support from the Skidbladnir

>Remain in base camp until the rest of the Squad returns, and then make your choice.

>Send Nesta up first, and interrogate Pufpuf while you wait for her to return. You aren't leaving these people without a protector, if you do need to evac

>Write in option
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>>6449526
>[ Bulwark: Unbreakable ] Just get field treatment and just tough out the rest of the mission, you can bleed when the jobs done.
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>>6449526
>Get taken out of the fight to receive treatment, but continue providing support from the Skidbladnir
>>
>>6449526
>>Get taken out of the fight to receive treatment, but continue providing support from the Skidbladnir
>Write in: conduct leaders review of the base to make sure it's dang near invisible before we go.

It's a shit call, but the right one. If we wait, the mission gets put on hold. Getting patched up gets us back into the fight ASAP, and right now the infighting is beginning to heat up, so they're focused on each other, not us.

Can't wait for the big ape to die.
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>>6449526
>Get taken out of the fight to receive treatment, but continue providing support from the Skidbladnir
I trust our people to get things done while we're getting put back together. They're trained for this sorta thing.
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>>6449524
>Get taken out of the fight to receive treatment, but continue providing support from the Skidbladnir

We're tough enough that we might still be able to participate in the last leg of capturing prophet or assassination Brute chief.
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>>6449526

>Send Nesta up first, and interrogate Pufpuf while you wait for her to return. You aren't leaving these people without a protector, if you do need to evac.

Yeah, a half-measure, but a necessary one.
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>>6449526
>Send Nesta up first, and interrogate Pufpuf while you wait for her to return. You aren't leaving these people without a protector, if you do need to evac

well heres hoping we can big dick a miracle
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>>6449526
>>Get taken out of the fight to receive treatment, but continue providing support from the Skidbladnir
>>
>>6449526
>Get taken out of the fight to receive treatment, but continue providing support from the Skidbladnir
We just had our guts flash fried. There is a hard timer on how long we can actually stay functional in the the field before the injuries worsen.
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>>6449526
>>Get taken out of the fight to receive treatment, but continue providing support from the Skidbladnir
>>
>>6449526
>Get taken out of the fight to receive treatment, but continue providing support from the Skidbladnir

>Write in
While we're on the vessel we speak to the people whom cracked the covie comms and we begin working on upgrading Vali. This lil monster of ours will be key in whatever our goal is and sure we don't all agree we know he's the key.

-----
Now semi related I have an idea but it'd be the last mission of this whole campaign.After we upgrade Vali as best we can to be as brutal as possible, we create multiple forks of him then splitting into three teams of SPARTANs we take stolen craft to hit three hangers at once and upload Vali into covie fleet net from three seperate places with instructions to vent the whole damn place as soon as he can and generally cause chaos.

We then decide what to do from there depending on how effective it goes, either bail in the sheer chaos of it all because we couldnt ask for more chaos, or if by some miricle it works ideally we have a ghost fleet to pick through, maybe a ship or two worth stealing
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>>6449668
+1 you know what yeh if we can't fight we can atleast upgrade Vali.
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>>6449668

Not a bad end-game, just two points:

First - how're we getting to the ship we want? Because I agree, the only feasible way we're taking a ship is Vali venting the whole thing.

Second - We need a fork that can do non-destructive tasks like translate. Maybe still hack, but without destroying the system he's in. Vali but a little defter, in other words.
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>>6449672
My thought idea was we'd have eventually pissed off the covies enough they'd soone ror later glass the planet. IN that mass withdrawl we hijack a phantom/spirit or two and as everyones rushing out we slip in with'em get close enough to transmit Vali in the chaos and then as they say "run". Though equally maybe we'd need a direct connection in which case its a hange rport then run.

i think our issue is VALI is poorly coded for translating and what i'd call "assistance" stuff and might be worth jsut pulling that data from him for a diffrent AI in a diffrent time/project down the line.

i've a few ideas though no doubt an AI in universe so to speak would have a better one. Given we see they are multi string each a consensus forming group we could hard spec VALI into blending in and then tagging false tags on other strings, in short allowing us to make them prune their own members like Sven managed but at AI speed, with the added bonus we can direct actions we want by removing other options.

Hell we could board a vessel going up there to refuel or supply and jsut slip him in there, a trojan horse

Eg. we want them to vent? delete the string which handles atmosphere stuff and make it belive they need ot vent to make things better, depressurising the whole ship. Sure the weapons and engine AI are still there for now but there'd be no crew or few.

Once inside VALI can plant a false reading that the source of the virus is from a target we want dead and steer the string AIs into deciding "this vessel or plac emust self destruct to prevent contamination". that kinda deal.

But like i said we'll know more when votes come up.
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>>6449677

Well, if we do steal a ship, we can corral another associate intelligence fragment and build another specialist dumb AI out of it for assistance work, but retrofitting a fork of Vali for it should at least work as a stop-gap.

>Engines and weapons intact but most of the crew dead.

Say less, that's fucking perfect for taking prizes.
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>>6449526
>[ Bulwark: Unbreakable ] Just get field treatment and just tough out the rest of the mission, you can bleed when the jobs done.

Several days or week is too much time being eaten and Sven not deployed. He has yet to present his full plan here to Spartans and guerilla resistance officers.

And unfortunately we cannot provide proper support from the Skidbladnir. Our communications have been few with the Skidbladnir before for very good reasons. Either we are on ground or we cant command regulary and properly. This is not a regular warzone or human space, this is under the Covenant so our communications are few and far between them. Giving support is not feasible with that in mind, not when our next steps need to be done particulary well and consider a changing situation on the ground. Already Nesta is not available for combat, if Sven is out, is two Spartans that cant fight.

His presence was also of great help for the resistance fighters.
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>>6449668
If we are gunning for both Brurlirus and Minister, both of them would likely have strong communications systems that give them the possibility to talk with the fleet. Especially the Minister.

If the Minister is still dead set in doing his human slaves sacrifice he will probably make a public broadcast of it too, with most aliens of Alpha Corvi-II watching or listening to it.
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>>6449677
With what we have intentions of doing, the Brute Tribe will tear eachother apart. Instead than just the current infighting inside Teckyis forces (currently a four way : Yanme troops rebels - Jackals troops rebels - Teckyis not united subordinates - Khalil traitors{kind of not helping any of Teckyis officers i bet at the moment}), I am mot sure the warships will even move from their positions, they might be too shocked at first.

It will take by surprise the warships, and if this happens with a nuke exploding in the main Covenant base even more so. Brurlirus would be dead. Coordinated with us stopping the public massacre, capturing a minister and spreading Vali (if the Minister is making the sacrifice ceremony something heard and seen, Vali can be spread across all bases, outposts and warships of the Covenant in the star system), the warships wouldn't stand a chance. They certainly arent ready to mobilize or activate digital defensive measures.
>>
Also if both Sven and Nesta are out for days, then sending down the Proto-Helots to Kurt has reinforcements becomes obligatory.

After Kurt is done in Jamshid, next will be the strikes against Brurlirus and the Archeology Minister. Does two attacks will have many alien troops in the way and us not being on ground. So any help we can give him would be appreciated. Since we cant really communicate often and need to be quick about it, if we are stuck in the Skidbladnir, sending down to him the Proto-Helots is the next best thing to give him beside other Vali forks. And the other two nukes.

Thankfully with the TYPHON tech advantage and the use of Covenant tech for create infighting, both of this two future strikes have good chances to be quite successfull. We also have Kaitoa guerilla and the Saboteurs guerilla that should have knowledge about the ex-innie base. Which means we can hurt whatever garrison the Minister has with him. Pufpuf and Jamy knowledge could also be good to have for us.
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Gonna let this round of voting continue for a bit longer
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>>6449526
>[ Bulwark: Unbreakable ] Just get field treatment and just tough out the rest of the mission, you can bleed when the jobs done

We can focus on support and command unless needed but not out of the field.
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>>6449720

This raises an interesting question if Teckyis will be able to reestablish control over his forces. He's disgraced and looks weak, he's not dead (yet).
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>>6449526
>Get taken out of the fight to receive treatment, but continue providing support from the Skidbladnir

I know it is not ideal, but i do NOT trust the alternatives, and know sven will likely otherwise be useless in the near future.
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>>6449526
>Write in option
>Switch it around. Order your medical team to prep for deployment to the surface, bringing down what they can. Set up a field hospital on the ground, employing anyone amongst the survivors with prior medical experience to assist.
Medical technology is kind of insanely portable in universe. Halsey did some crazy stuff with just a small medkit in one of the books. So don't see why this wouldn't work.

Having a quality field hospital would be good for the time being. We can organise raids on the planet's hospitals and first aid stations to secure more supplies, maybe even potentially authorize our crew to conduct EVA to get more from destroyed ships if necessary.
Can stay groundside, maintain security, and help any survivors that need medical attention. Also taking into consideration the negative morale effect on these people if Sven takes himself off the field.
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>>6449880
Huh wow that's brilliant

+1 support though not sure if it would be enough for Sven to not get take. Out definately let's Sven Command in base and last defense. Even if risky and pushes out medica hard.
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>>6449880
>>6449534
A bit of a late write in but I'll change my vote to support this anyway. Hopefully these soulless ONI medics won't refuse. Plus Sven and Nesta won't be able to get their armor fixed/replaced.
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>>6449904
Theyre under our command so be hard for them to refuse
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>>6449880
The hangup I see with this plan besides the obvious that the medical team would be in danger, but that's an acceptable risk as long as it isn't the actual Spartan project specialists we have on board is that the more people we have planetside the longer it will take to extract. Which may be an issue depending on how things play out between now and then. Something to keep in mind. Also the Mjolnir armor facilities probably have to stay on the ship as well, just because breaking them down and reassembling them is probably an involved affair and takes a bit of time. Assuming they're just bolted down and not welded to the floors as then we may as well not bother with them.
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>>6449911
Not to mention that the medical facilities on board the skidbladnir likely involve automated machinery and sterile enviroments that likely cant just be brought along.
Imagine how hard it might be to transport an MRI machine planetside, and then expand that to 10 different machines.
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>>6449880
i dont know about this one, i think it would just be as good as an upgraded field treatment and with more assets exposed and risking the covenant finding the Skib
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>>6449915
Yeah I imagine the best care parts of the medical amenities would need to stay up there. All the surgery would need to be manual with minimal machine assistance. Assuming of course that what medical facilities they had at the base before the Covie overran it in the initial invasion were destroyed or irreparably damaged.
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[ Rebooting...Monitor404TormentedCache, back online ]

3 Votes to tough it out

7 Votes to get treatment
L
+ 1 vote to conduct a leaders review
L
+2 votes to try and upgrade Vali

2 Votes to send nesta up first and interrogate the alien

3 Votes to risk setting up a field hospital

Looking like you're going to get taken out of the fight, briefly, to receive medical treatment. But Sven is still going to provide support/ command from the skidbladnir, while he and Nesta get fixed up.

[ Decision made ]
[ Proceeding... ]
>>
So you made up your mind and would fly up with Doghouse when he'd evac the kids off world. There had been difficulties with the refugees when you'd brought back an alien alive, but there were none when you announced you were leaving to board your ship, temporarily, to get your wounds treated and armor repaired. They were adults, professionals. Researchers, Teachers and Soldiers. They understood that it was necessary and that where they were now was the safest place they could be. And if any of them felt resentment that they weren't being brought up along with you, they kept their thoughts to themselves. Because complaining would mean arguing they deserved a seat on the dropship that could fit two to four kids. You'd like to think it was their humanity shining through even in the most dire of circumstances, even though they were afraid. But there was no way to tell.

"Until the other members of my unit return, Chief Warrant Officer Chen Tian will be charge of the camp and its occupants" You say, starting to feel woozy from blood loss as you stand beside the ramp of Ostrum's pelican as the kids from the research base, the camp and Jamshid's streets file inside in a surprisingly organized fashion. There is a lot of crying, but they don't crowd or push, there all well behaved and follow orders well. Which you know isn't normal, despite you upbringing

"And that includes the gas huffer stuck in the locker over there" Nesta adds, gesturing with one of her knives "We'll know if one of you take the liberty of executing the prisoner"

"And" You add before any one can raise questions about the safety and security of keeping an alien prisoner in a refugee camp "We've doubled security and locked down their temporary holding cell, and have a system in place to remotely feed the alien. So long as you don't break into that building, you won't even have to look at the prisoner. And they have been remarkably well behaved"

"And, if it is any consolation, Section three is probably going to make them wish one of you put a bullet in the back of their head" Nesta, in her own way, tries to raise the spirits of the civilians and colonial militia men

"I will continue commanding from the ship in orbit, assisting in efforts to find additional transports off world and the continued and active strikes against Covenant positions and leadership", And as soon as you said that, the CMA troops saluted and you knew that there'd be no problems with discipline and conduct while you were away. At least in this camp. Straighten your back and squaring your shoulders, you continued "As we speak, the other members of our unit are making contact and regrouping with allied forces that have survived the occupation. Forces that were key in pulling these kids out of the Jamshid warzone. The fight is still on going, though we must temporarily retreat. I promise we'll finish this fight, together"
Cont
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>>6449971

And you board the dropship, followed by cheers and the people you were temporarily leaving behind wishing you a swift recovery or promising to live up to the standards you'd set. And idly, you wonder how many commanding officers prematurely departing the battlefield would be shown such gratitude and trust by their troops and civilians under their protection. It probably isn't a big number. Nesta stays standing, and so do you. It was cramped. There'd been thirty one kids before Jamshid, after Jamshid there were closer to Sixty in total. The D77 Pelican could safety carry twenty passengers. By regulations, you'd need to take at least three separate trips, even if children took up less space and weight than soldiers in full kit. But you couldn't risk three trips. Fortunately, Doghouse had learned his fair share of tricks and while it meant the Dropship was completely unarmed and defenseless, he'd made up the weight difference to allow for a safe, if extremely cramped, flight to the Skidbladnir.

You tried not to think about how a few of the kids on the dropship are a year or two older than the two of you or how close in age even the youngest of them are to you. They're quiet until the dropship takes off, then even the most traumatized and "Shut off" of them start crying. They only stop when Ostrum, in a gentle tone that you'd never hear in military service, that the Pelican has left the Planet's atmosphere.

The Skidbladnir's crew had been informed and prepared for the sudden influx of children, a number of whom needed special psychiatric care and nutritional support. They'd also been informed of the circumstances they were rescued from. Trapped in a undersea research facility on a field trip, treated like animals in a camp, or struggling to survive in a Covenant Occupied city.

When you'd reported that, there'd been an influx of volunteers to join the on going operation.

You'd have liked to have helped with the kids and too immediately provide whatever assistance was needed on your ship or down planetside, but you needed medical attention first. And luckily, some of your crew had experienced with children. They were parents, had been teachers or in one case a juvenile correction facility officer. They could handle the almost sixty children rescued from Alpha Corvi II. You tried not to think about how small a number sixty was, comparatively.

You watched from the sidelines with Nesta, as the kids filed out of the dropship and into the Prowler's hangar, on their best behavior in front of some many military personnel.

"What are those" A boy named Samir, who was one of the teenagers who'd kept the younger kids alive in the streets of Jamshid asked. He was referring to the Fury nukes. They'd caught the eyes of most of the kids, at last the ones who were too damaged and shell shocked to notice. Violet had to.

"Bombs" She said, eyes cold and determined as she looked up at you for confirmation
Cont
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>>6449972

"Big bombs" You told her with a nod, and her expression shifted to concern

"Are you going to be alright?" She asked, for once sounding her age

"It'll take more than this to put me out of commission" You tell her, as she walks away down the line, being shepherded away to a compartment of the ship now temporarily serving as additional sleeping quarters "We won't be up here for long"

"Gotta give those Covies payback" Nesta agreed as she watched the three rows of twenty children line up in front of Deluna, who was the officer present at the Hangar to welcome them aboard and greet you. You didn't hear what she had to say to the kids, but you could assume easily enough.

You had to get your armor off and then head straight to the medical bay. It'd start with a medical scan and diagnosis, to see exactly what needed fixing and where, then you'd get your treatment. And you knew, the entire process you'd be anxious, counting the seconds until you were given the all clear to head back into the fight.

>Focus on recovering, and have that chat you'd promised Soner Kobal and try to figure out Kon Kiyomi's trick to cracking Covenant frequencies

>Continue directing Spartan operations, even during surgery and get real time updates on your Squad's activities in Jamshid

>Assist in searching for a vessel to carry the refugees out of the system on, helping Soren and Coste in their efforts

>Check up on the kids with Rita, to make sure they're comfortable/ alright, and to see if Violet fits the criteria for a Spartan, like you suspect she does

>Write in option

Sorry I was so late with this, wanted to give every one a chance to vote since it felt like a pretty important decision.

Luckily, I had time before I had to run my hunter game today, which isn't too common!
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>>6449973
>>Focus on recovering, and have that chat you'd promised Soner Kobal and try to figure out Kon Kiyomi's trick to cracking Covenant frequencies

Vali is our most special boy, and he should be able to translate most of the signals the Skidbladnir has recorded.

Also, to my knowledge the big thing about covenant encryption was that...there was not really any. Wasn't it that Cortana made use of that?
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>>6449973

>Check up on the kids with Rita, to make sure they're comfortable/ alright, and to see if Violet fits the criteria for a Spartan, like you suspect she does

>Focus on recovering, and have that chat you'd promised Soner Kobal and try to figure out Kon Kiyomi's trick to cracking Covenant frequencies

>>6449998
No the Covenant do have encryption, Its just on Halo they weren't using any at all and just on general broadcasting.
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>>6449973
>Focus on recovering, and have that chat you'd promised Soner Kobal and try to figure out Kon Kiyomi's trick to cracking Covenant frequencies

>Write in option
>Order to prepare the other two fury nukes in the hangar, for make them easily ready to be sent down. The Helots Special Squad instead, will be sent down immediatly to help Kurt. Kurt may also use any of our other TYPHON vehicles at the base, if he requires them.
>Tell Kurt to be through in the destruction of Khalil bunker. And if any of the politician digital devices can be recovered good, if not make sure they are destroyed. Jamy, the city AI, will also need to be extracted or denied to the enemy at least. When the objectives in Jamshid are all completed, withdraw in good order from Jamshid. If we aren't coming back from orbit, we will send down to him our current full plan.
>After Jamshid, Kurt should evaluate the use of the abandoned school has a second base. The numbers of the forces under us have increased, alongside the survivors we have to protect. A second secret base is necessary.
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>>6449805
He is likely going to be ultimately humiliated by Chieftain Brurlirus. But Brurlirus will not strip him of his rank i feel or kill him, because Teckyis is also a remarkably good and clever captain. Better than the other three so far thats for sure. Even if he wants to be Chieftain of the Tribe. Keeping him alive with this defeat is better, is a free power move for Brurlirus.

Brurlirus will probably send him back to Jamshid after some kind of public humiliation. Not in a fast manner. So Kurt will have time to achieve the objectives we have given him.

Teckyis will have his work cut for him when he gets back to Jamshid, but I can actually see him being able to get back control. Just in time for him and Kestidion to ally when Brurlirus dies. Of our leaders enemies here him, Brurlirus and Gikirbus are the most dangerous now. Both Ravo and the Yanme Queen are dead.

Cossuzeus and Kestidion are not an issue in comparison, their weak points can be exploited by us a lot if it comes to it. Khalil is about to die soon. And the Archeology Minister will shit its pants and surrender when we capture him probably. Boogeyman trait will be put to good use on him.
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>>6449973
>>Focus on recovering, and have that chat you'd promised Soner Kobal and try to figure out Kon Kiyomi's trick to cracking Covenant frequencies

>>Continue directing Spartan operations, even during surgery and get real time updates on your Squad's activities in Jamshid
>>
On another topic.
Last Thread, I mentioned the idea of using pieces of Covenant ship hull to make the armoured plates & solid pieces of Mjolnir. I have in the meanwhile been thinking about other possible upgrades one might make to Mjolnir.

I was thinking for example, maybe Spartan armour could take some notes from later stages plate armour, and make use of a Fauld or Tasset? an armoured skirt would do wonders, since the groin region is one of the least armoured parts of Mjolnir, only beaten out by the hip section for under-suit visibility. Pic related, how one such armoured skirt looks. (Of course, project Mjolnir would likely make it look much better/cooler)
I have been trying to think up of other general Mjolnir upgrades, as well as possible variant types. Do any of you Anons have other ideas that might help improve Mjolnir? Ones not already explored in lore that is.
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>>6449973
>Focus on recovering, and have that chat you'd promised Soner Kobal and try to figure out Kon Kiyomi's trick to cracking Covenant frequencies

Quicker we can go back to ground
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>>6450026
Wouldn't that be rather noisy? For an expected engagement it would probably be handy as fuck though.
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>>6449973
>>Focus on recovering, and have that chat you'd promised Soner Kobal and try to figure out Kon Kiyomi's trick to cracking Covenant frequencies
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>>6449973
>Focus on recovering, and have that chat you'd promised Soner Kobal and try to figure out Kon Kiyomi's trick to cracking Covenant frequencies
>Check up on the kids with Rita, to make sure they're comfortable/ alright, and to see if Violet fits the criteria for a Spartan, like you suspect she does
I figure we can chat with Soner and Kiyomi while we're laid up in medbay, then check on the kids when we're discharged.
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>>6449973
>Focus on recovering, and have that chat you'd promised Soner Kobal and try to figure out Kon Kiyomi's trick to cracking Covenant frequencies
>Check up on the kids with Rita, to make sure they're comfortable/ alright, and to see if Violet fits the criteria for a Spartan, like you suspect she does
Firstly, if we crack their encryption then that opens up tight beaming Vali into their b-net which would be massive. Secondly, getting a head start on future Spartans as either potentially earlier S3s or an actual S2C2 is a massive long term benefit.
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>>6449998
Cortana mentioned a 128,000-bit modulating encryption key in CE when she was cracking a door on the T&R. The Covenant battlenet is sometimes just unencrypted mostly because of arrogance or ignorance. I'd guess it could also a deliberate choice by some crafty Covenant who use this perceived weakness as a honeypot to trick humans or predict their behavior. An Elite did something similar in one of the books, analyzing what Cortana accessed to project what humans were going to do.
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>>6450018

Support +1
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>>6449973

>Focus on recovering, and have that chat you'd promised Soner Kobal and try to figure out Kon Kiyomi's trick to cracking Covenant frequencies
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>>6450114
+1

If we can do both sure
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>Focus on recovering, and have that chat you'd promised Soner Kobal and try to figure out Kon Kiyomi's trick to cracking Covenant frequencies
>Check up on the kids with Rita, to make sure they're comfortable/ alright, and to see if Violet fits the criteria for a Spartan, like you suspect she does
>>
Come on send down the Helots special squad. We need all the help and firepower we can gather, Kurt could use them on ground right now for finish the objectives in Jamshid. And if Sven and Nesta cant come back from orbit, then the Helots presence would be even more of a boon in the two strikes we planned (against Brurlirus and Minister).

Focus on helping completing the objectives we have.
>>
>>6450026
Thinking of a modernized ecranche/tilting shield/besagew piece of armor attached to the MJOLNIR main armor but also a bit away from it. A piece of sacrificial titanium that takes a few hits and melts off.

But honestly i really like the aquatic new armor. Maybe they could make an hazardous terrain MJOLNIR. Or an urban warfare variant.
>>
>>6450301
Thats more things to evac when we leave though
Plus we need the crew OF OUR SHIP with our ship, where they belong
>>
>>6450336
>Thats more things to evac when we leave though
If we wipeout the Covenant fleet and start the Brute Tribe civil war we will have the time needed for leave without too many issues. Because the enemy would be in chaos, infighting, dead or broken. If we also capture the Minister we would have a powerful hostage that could force aliens around the world to surrender.

The majority of survivors and guerilla forces (nevermind the slaves in the dig sites) are going all to die here if we aren't successfull in our full plan. They cannot leave with the Skidbladnir. And whatever civilian spaceship we find ? It will be a miracle if its not just a plasma burned wreck, and the Covenant will slaughter it on sight anyway if we can't destroy their fleet. A civilian ship is a civilian ship, not stealthy, not with guns, not with great performances. Even a civilian ship found in one piece mostly, will probably need time to be repaired and move again (no mainteneance and even minor covenant ships damage would still be an issue for a civlian ship).

>Plus we need the crew OF OUR SHIP with our ship, where they belong

The Helots special squad aren't our entire crew, they are a squad. We specifically trained them for get some loyal backup for Sven to deploy alongside Spartans directly under his command. They are a military experimentation of Sven, made to be used, if the Skidbladnir doesn't have them the ship its not going to be without crew.

Right now we are still trying to get more forces under us too. We are getting under us any single guerilla force we can find on AlphaCorvi-II. Because we need them, its not just a matter of saving them, we need them for our plan here. We need every available gun we can point against the Covenant. Sven trained for a while this Helots Special Squad. He trained them against aliens specifically.
>>
Ackerson was already thinking of somehow getting the Helots Special Squad for himself if he couldn't do what he wanted (As far I am concerned, thats nor gonna happen. They are ours so he is not getting them). Because he was looking at the result of the training, lessons and conditioning Sven was putting in them. And the results where very promising.

Alpha Corvi-II can be their test ground. We are winning steadily here, and our current tactics and plan are putting us an at a advantage. We also have eliminated just recently, someone that could have become a real pain in our ass here (Ravo) if he kept investigating. And Khalil will follow him in the grave soon.

The Helots have good chances to gain experience and survive. I would love to properly make them step by step, and truly transforming them in a new elite military unit under Sven but we need to win. The stakes are too high, and two Spartans are stuck healing for an unknown number of days.
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

11 Votes to Focus on Recovering

5 Votes to check on the kids/ test violet

1 Vote for jjN2J3f's write ins

2 Votes to continue direction Spartan OPs

So Sven-033 will focus on recovering, try to figure out what Ensign Kon actually is doing and talk religion with Ensign Kobal, and if you don't heal too quick, fit in a visit or two with the kids

[ Decision made ]
[ Proceeding... ]
>>
"... we'll be able to flash clone the cauterized and destroyed tissue, intestines and the damaged organs" Rita explains as you lay flat on the medical bed, the scanner still running as the ship's AI projects herself as the surgeons assist her in removing the parts of you that had been flash liquefied by the heat generated by the Splitjaw's energy sword that had been stabbed through your stomach "Fortunately, the carbide coating on your ribs absorbed and redirected the heat, reducing the internal damage and preventing it from being even more extensive"

"It is an anomaly that, even with your superior physique and augmented biology, that you had survived this injury, -033" the head of the medical team explains emotionlessly, focused on the read out and medical scans displayed on the screen in front of them, idly zooming in to observe the microscopic images of the cellular damage your muscles and skin had suffered from the momentary contact with plasma "Nerve stands will require some rewiring, this is the most extreme damage an active Spartan has suffered. I am curious the Aster augmentations will handle the replacement of such a substantial replacement of material"

"We should be more concerned with this Spartan's well being, rather than treating them as a specimen to be dissected" Rita, remaining composed, reprimands the doctor

"It is mere scientific Curiosity. -033, the Lieutenant commander's condition, has stabilized. It remains to be seen if the standard procedure of flash cloning what parts of his anatomy were lost or damaged, will suffice, or if we'll have to repeat the steps of the augmentation process" The head bonesaw said "I hope, for his sake, that it will not be necessary"

"We have learned much since the Aster surgeries, Doctor" Rita said firmly

"I've survived it once, I could survive it again" You say calmly, closing your eyes as anything in your chest cavity that plasma sword destroyed or damaged is removed. Luckily, the got the dosage of the anesthetic right, so you don't feel the process of them cutting away the burned guts and muscle from your body, only feeling the cold touch of the machines and tools probing your body and the flashes of your nerves being exposed as the burnt and dead skin are peeled away.

Fortunately, the damage wasn't extreme enough to require a second pass through the trial by fire that is ASTER. And with the specialized equipment brought with the medical staff from the SPARTAN program, it only takes a few hours for every "inside" that you'd lost to get replaced. Rita insists you remain in the medical wing, as does her second in command, the head doctor, Hao Schmidt, for observation as both are still concerned that your status as a cyborg super soldier will complicate the recovery process, that ASTER won't play nice with conventional healing.
Cont
>>
>>6450448

Nesta got off easy, and just needed a muscle graft where she'd been spiked through the legs and a few injections to lessen the strain her lungs were under after she got bashed with a M12 Engine sized hammer. She waited and stood guard at your bedside, until you felt recovered enough to return to your duties as office.

Kon Kiyomi was ushered in, in uniform, as Nesta, out of her armor walked past her with a look of frustration on her face that couldn't be solved.

"Ensign" You greet as you sit up, Rita's holographic avatar hovering behind you as your communication's officer kept her eyes firmly on her feet "This is the second time you've intercepted Covenant frequencies, far earlier than should be possible"

She nodded, "It is, Sir".

"And, the method you used is covered under black ink and you haven't been able to describe exactly what you did to pick up the COMM chatter as early as you have"

She looked up, staring at a point past you "Because, like I told the officials from the office of naval intelligence and the top brass, what I'm doing shouldn't work"

"Explain, Ensign, you have the floor" You say as you adjust your sitting posture and she keeps her attention fixed on one of the nearby screens

"I can't explain it, beyond that it goes against the basic mechanics of what every sensor and communications operator is taught and practices. Everything I learned in office school and during my two years of service, says that what works to get an early warning of Covenant activity or presence shouldn't" She explains while fidgeting her fingers as she clasps her hands behind her back "Shouldn't...Shouldn't"

She sighs heavily and looks around helpless

"Shouldn't work?" You finish for her

"Yes, sir. I can't explain why it does. It is a repeatable anomaly that I...am just not smart enough to explain. I'm out of my depth, I just got lucky and" She starts to get off topic with self doubt and self consciousness. So you put a stop to it

"You're here because you deserve to be, even discounting your miracle, Ensign Kon. You're a valuable asset and good communications officer, you're quick thinking and ability to act under pressure, are qualities that make you fit for your role aboard the Skidbladnir" You assure her "But, we're getting off topic, can you explain what you actually do"

"Harmonic Frequencies" She explains

"Noise doesn't travel through space"

"It doesn't, but the vibrations can be transmitted through solid materials. But our sensors shouldn't be able to detect these vibrations" She explains "Especially from the distance I did...can. Theoretically, Logically, it would require incredibly precise sensors that can detect temporary variations on the molecular level that are produced by soundwaves on the internal structure of...it shouldn't work, is the short answer, Sir, the Covenant Probably doesn't have receivers that precise but..."
Cont
>>
>>6450449

"You found a, lets call it a "glitch", how?" You press. She shut her eyes and drooped her shoulders, mumbling

"P...pirate radio" She muttered

You arc an eyebrow, she slouched and took in a breath, steeling herself as she straightened up

"My prior posting was remote, uneventful. And regulations were slack, discipline wasn't good, and the colony rarely had unscheduled traffic, foot or communication wise. So when I was alone, which was often, since I didn't...fraternize or go AWOL, I'd keep myself busy and test the functionality of the communication network by"

"Playing DJ?" You ask, not sure if you should be amused, disappointed or impressed

"I broadcasted poems, Sir. And I was trying to record some stellar activity to use as backing through data sonification. I'd ping empty space, and use the junk readings the radio emissions would create. And I hit something, and it somehow picked up a fragment of the Covenant Communication. The moment they'd jumped into the outermost periphery of the system"

"Which shouldn't be possible"

"Exactly, Sir. And the office of naval intelligence d..didn't like that answer" She said, squaring her shoulders "The method, distance and accuracy shouldn't have worked. But it did. And it still does. I don't know why. And I have answered to the best of my abilities, Sir"

You place a hand on your knee and run through everything she'd told you, and can't come up with an explanation that holds any water

"I see, thank you for your time, Ensign" You tell her with a nod as her cheeks flush and she turns suddenly away, avoiding eye contact

"Permission to return to my post, Sir?"

"Granted, send in Ensign Kobal, if he is on duty"

"Lieutenant Commander", he arrived within minutes after ensign Kon had left "You wished to see me"

"I've been prescribed some R&R, against my will. No better time to have that talk I promised you than now" You tell him, gesturing to a chair "You want to lead"

"I'd be happy to, Sir" He says, taking off his cap and sitting down stiffly "I mean no offense, and do not intend to insult your faith and I apologize if I do so accidentally, in advance. But, why?"

"Why?" You repeat

"Or I should saw how, how does your faith or you personally, cope with the concept that mens' fates are preordained. From the research I've done on the belief system the New Noregr' unique religion sourced from, presents a firmly fatalistic world view" He explains "And ever since you said you wanted to talk about our personal faiths, I've been wondering how you handle that belief or if it has endured to the modern Norse faith you practice. The...Norns, I think they're called. You believe they have decided everything you will do?"
Cont
>>
>>6450451

>"Is it not the same with your Allah? Just different wording. I'm sure my fate is to die in battle, but I am sure I've got...wiggle room to decide where and when"

>"It is complicated. It might seem fatalistic or defeatist, but it is comforting in a way, knowing that the tragedies of life aren't random chance. Not completely"

>"To explain that, I'll have to tell you about the pantheon I believe in. Odin gave up his eye for wisdom, sacrificed himself to himself, and was destined to be devoured by Fenrir. It was his fate. But it does not discount the wisdom he gained or the sacrifice he made"

>"Yes. But no one can know their fate until it arrives. I believe, in the Abrahamic faith, it is said "No man may know the hour, nor the day". Ragnarök is destined, but it hasn't arrived, but we know how it will play out"

>Write in option
>>
>>6450453

>"Yes. But no one can know their fate until it arrives. I believe, in the Abrahamic faith, it is said "No man may know the hour, nor the day". Ragnarök is destined, but it hasn't arrived, but we know how it will play out"

>Write in option

>But the knowing gives us agency. And even knowing that it's coming, choosing to defy fate and fight to change it anyway still holds meaning. I can meekly accept, or I can die standing. And if I fight hard enough... well. Maybe that certain doom will be proved false, until the next one.
>>
>>6450451
hmm interesting guess Forerunner tech really is weird for Kon to find that glitch.
>>
>>6450359
>If we wipeout the Covenant fleet and start the Brute Tribe civil war we will have the time needed for leave without too many issues. Because the enemy would be in chaos, infighting, dead or broken. If we also capture the Minister we would have a powerful hostage that could force aliens around the world to surrender.
Crackhead ideas. At best we could get the fleet distracted, and capturing the Minister would get them all focused on us.
And for the record I'm not a fan of the helots as an offensive force either. We should have gotten fucking ODST or regular UNSC Marines with us for that. Hell, I'd like us getting to request some of these come with us and serve as our support. Even if the current Helots aren't the entire ship's crew, they're still crew, naval personnel.
>>
>>6450482
Brute tribe civil war is fine, but personally wiping the whole covenant fleet? Are you genuinely retarded? Who's to say they won't call in reinforcements, ESPECIALLY if we capture a Prophet.
>>
>>6450482

I agree regarding the helots. They're basically mascots that were conning into thinking they can take on Covenant toe to toe.

The second kindest thing we can do is give them heavy weapons, a defensive mission, and suicide pills. The kindest thing we can do is to leave them home.
>>
>>6450485
>They're basically mascots that were conning into thinking they can take on Covenant toe to toe.
Especially considering none of them are infantry. They already have jobs aboard the ship, and I doubt those jobs are things as benign as "Janitor". As I said, we should have requested dedicated infantry for support, either after the prior mission or after this one.
>>
>>6450487
we should be able to retain some command over the soldiers we got here atleast. Little, Karakoa and Smithson are all worthy Helots with some more training.
>>
>>6450490
Yeah, thats what I was thinking of if we couldn't get ODST. Request Little, Karakoa, Smithson, and the others to serve as a supporting ground force. They already have experience with sabotage, survival, resisting detection, etc. Seems like the QM might be leading up to that as an option, but who knows.
>>
>>6450492

Only issue with Kaitoa is he's an Innie. He could wind up being shuffled in with Whitaker's people.
>>
>>6450493
True. There's always Roche, though we'll have to fit him with some kind of artificial voicebox. Shouldn't be too hard though, once we get back to UNSC space and proper medical facilities.
>>
>>6450494

Mm. His people and Skua Squad would be good options.

ODST would be good, even if winning them over would take some time, but Skua's and Roche's experience vs the covenant probably make up the difference at this stage.
>>
>>6450453
>"It is complicated. It might seem fatalistic or defeatist, but it is comforting in a way, knowing that the tragedies of life aren't random chance. Not completely"
Wyrd is a conceptualization of 'fate' nordic faith that I think influences Sven the most here. It's a personal destiny but not predestined. A confluence of choices building up to a man's final moments.
Sven has his fate but it's through his own actions that he arrives to it on his own terms.

>>6450497
>>6450492
ODST are good deep strike commandos and for interfacing actions. Rangers would be good for more ops like this one where we're doing longer term infiltration stuff. That said, I'm in agreement, our cadre of named survivors already know how we work and have experience most of the rest of the UNSC just don't have yet.
That and recurring named characters are just fun and it's nice to have familiar faces in a narrative. We'll get our own Johnson, one day.
>>
>>6450509

>Inb4 it's Thorstad or Gundersen.
>>
>>6450482
>Crackhead ideas.
No? This is what we planned. And also what we need. Either we can put Vali in the Minister's comms and let him spread, or most of the humans here are dead. No civilian ship will leave the surface of this world, never mind the star system, if that fleet isn't dealt with in some capacity. The day its engines are on, the aliens pick up that there is a human ship about to move on Alpha Corvi II:
> Capturing the Minister would get them all focused on us.
We are striking the Chieftain at the same time, and detonating a nuke. And we will be able to put Vali in the Minister comms that he clearly has on the ground if he can talk even with spaceships at such distance.

Not a fan? Okay. We still have them, and they exist.

>>6450484
>Are you genuinely retarded?
No, I want to use what we have. Why am I a fucking retard for that? I ain't even told you anything.
Vali has killed whole ships of the Einherjar fleet before, after being able to be put on their flagship comms console. Why you believe he can't do the same if put on a comms system of a Minister that will likely broadcast a massacre to all the aliens here is beyond me. When we made him a digital weapon against the Covenant.

We intended to use Vali against the Covenant ships here. The Minister's comms permit him to talk with all Covenant forces here. How that is retarded I don't know.

>Who's to say they won't call in reinforcements, ESPECIALLY if we capture a Prophet.
Maybe the part where we put Vali in the comms used by the Minister ? A nuke detonating in their main base and starting a fratricide war on the ground? Do you believe that this fleet is ready to defend itself from a virus we made, when they are listening or watching their Minister broadcasting executions of humans? How are they going to call for reinforcements with Vali inside their ships?
>>
>>6450485
>mascots
Considering Ackerson had the idea of stealing them from us and putting them through advanced training, I wouldn't consider them that. Sven is capable.

>>6450487
We requested the TYPHON vehicles this mission because we needed mobility and being able to conceal ourselves. Taking ODST, Marines, or Infantry would have meant we wouldn't have had those vehicles to move around and would have needed to find vehicles of our own or just move on foot. Or deploy the Frakenhog, which is a single vehicle. We couldn't take both request options, so the vehicles won.

We can take them next time if we feel like it.
Unless we want to enlist under our command what guerrilla forces survive here, like Smithson, Kamitoa, Kibe, and the leader of the Sabotouers
>>
remember to vote.
>>
Vali is considered a powerful secret weapon, which High Command has allowed Sven to keep (no reason to take it from him). Sven couldn't even say exactly what Vali was besides "classified secret weapon" when the wolfpack fleet captains under his temporary command asked him, after seeing the Einherjar warfleet explode and being left only with its space transport ships that had no reason to be on comms to begin with since they were just waiting far from the space battle and above the world with the forerunner outpost ziggurat.

>>6450453
>"To explain that, I'll have to tell you about the pantheon I believe in. Odin gave up his eye for wisdom, sacrificed himself to himself, and was destined to be devoured by Fenrir. It was his fate. But it does not discount the wisdom he gained or the sacrifice he made"
>>
>>6450453
>Write in option
>Perhaps everything is determined. Perhaps only the path is woven, and how we walk it is our own. I don't know that the distinction matters so much. A man isn't diminished simply because his fate was woven before he walked it. If the Norns have written every step, those steps are still mine to take. I find there's strength in embracing the thread I was given rather than wasting my life wishing the Norns had woven another.
>>
>>6450558
>Considering Ackerson had the idea of stealing them from us

Ackerson has had a lot of ideas, and a lot of them are fairly shit. Considering that the best results he would get after a prolonged period of training would be part-time ground troops that might be within shouting range of ODST, I think this is one of his shittier ideas. Mind you, this is the best case scenario.

They are mascots.
>>
>>6450587

To expand on that, the only reason to have this kind of training is if you expect that you will need armed manpower, have absolutely nowhere else to draw from, and need people who know which end of a gun to point. It's a case of maximizing the resources you have in a desperate situation, not making effective units.
>>
>>6450453
>>"To explain that, I'll have to tell you about the pantheon I believe in. Odin gave up his eye for wisdom, sacrificed himself to himself, and was destined to be devoured by Fenrir. It was his fate. But it does not discount the wisdom he gained or the sacrifice he made"
>>
>>6450453
>"Yes. But no one can know their fate until it arrives. I believe, in the Abrahamic faith, it is said "No man may know the hour, nor the day". Ragnarök is destined, but it hasn't arrived, but we know how it will play out"

>>6450471
I mean it checks out considering how Forerunner tech is basically operating on a Harmonic level and the forerunners just copy pasted what they could.

also the whole living time shit in the setting and what not.
>>
>>6450449
>Nesta, out of her armor walked past her with a look of frustration on her face that couldn't be solved.
Is it just concern about Sven's condition or frustration with being out of combat? Or is her danger sense going off? Something to worry about?

>your communication's officer kept her eyes firmly on her feet
I know she's pretty timid, but... I am wondering whether Sven is perhaps naked at the moment given how he is still in the medical wing being monitored after his surgery.
>>
>>6450453
>"Yes. But no one can know their fate until it arrives. I believe, in the Abrahamic faith, it is said "No man may know the hour, nor the day". Ragnarök is destined, but it hasn't arrived, but we know how it will play out"

By the way Torment, I feel like this is the perfect opportunity to have some of the crew see Sven out of armour. Honestly I would love to see a perspective, of the crew just talking about how their leading officer is a kid, and how monstrous our bodily physique is, in terms of both size for our age, and the wounds Sven were diagnosed with.

Also, At least in terms of the discussion around goals, the Mjern is definitely my top 1 priority. Huragok are also up there, but the fact that Mjern's carry assembly forge technology, and likely with it the schematics for most infantry equipment, as well as vehicle production and partial ship repair, since they have remote repair capabilities Which are likely nanites spewed out to repair locations based upon the design specs of the ships being repaired. Additionally, while the Covenant FTL communications technology does not allow for replication within human space, it does allow humanity to spy on, or take out the Forerunner Slipspace Comm beacons being used.

They are also rare to see, so I would be willing to take a lot of risk for this darling to be captured.
>>
Might not be able to update today/ tonight, but we'll see. Just figured I'd warn you guys early, just in case
>>
>>6450557
>Vali has killed whole ships of the Einherjar fleet before
Yeah, EINHERJAR, not Covenant. Let's not bank on him doing the same shit without it being tested first, and I'd prefer to not test it when civilian lives are on the line. And what's retarded is trying to singlehandedly destroy the whole fleet. Let's fuck things up on the ground, have the fleet too busy with infighting to pay attention, and evac under their noses. If Vali manages to take out the entire fleet then hey, thats nice, but I wouldn't bank on him doing so.
>>6450558
>We requested the TYPHON vehicles this mission because we needed mobility and being able to conceal ourselves.
True. I still want to enlist some of these guys and some ODST though. Especially since in the future, the amount of Spartans we have onboard will drop more and more as Spartans start dying and squads get assigned across the whole UNSC.
>>
>>6450588
This. They'd only be useful if the prowler is boarded, or, say, there's only one combat effective Spartan on the ship, and things are VERY desperate on the ground. It's not a bad idea to run our crew through anti-covvie scenarios, but it is one to take them off their jobs and stick them on the ground with rifles when there's no need for them to do so.
>>6450453
+1 to >>6450460's write-in.
>>
>>6450719
If we capture the Prophet. We might be able to order it to land on Alpha Corvi as as sos to evac the prophet. Which might let us capture it or atleast break it with Vali then capture.
>>
>>6450719
If you want something that can do that, snatch an Engie. They can just pass said knowledge directly onto there child.
>>
Won't be able to put an update out tonight for various reasons. Sorry lads.
>>
>>6450787
The gorillas got him boys.
>>
>>6450787
damn ONI be moving with the quickness to stop him from giving us the quest
>>
>>6450453
>>"It is complicated. It might seem fatalistic or defeatist, but it is comforting in a way, knowing that the tragedies of life aren't random chance. Not completely"
>>
>>6450739
We have used Vali multiple times by this point in digital warfare, and he has been made with those Covenant crystals. If we aren't going to use it on Covenant tech, then we are going to take out a great weapon right now from our arsenal. Better steal more digital equipment from the Covenant, at least, and then feed it to it; otherwise, Vali is not getting better against alien computers.

>And what's retarded is trying to singlehandedly destroy the whole fleet.
If the Minister is gonna do what I suspect (a public broadcast of the massacre he announced), it would mean all ships here would be connected to see what the long neck is doing. It's a gamble, sure, but it's not getting better than this in terms of chances here in Alpha Corvi II. Unless the aliens do something very stupid.

>Let's fuck things up on the ground, have the fleet too busy with infighting to pay attention, and evac under their noses.
That's the issue.
We can only fuck things down here (except that option). We know of the problems of the Brute Tribe on the ground, and we are exploiting them. But we know 0 of the affiliation of the ships above our heads. We don't know what they will do when the 4 Brute Captains on the ground start gunning each other after a nuke explodes on the main ground base. We don't know what they will do when we strike at the Minister position. And that means we cannot 100% guarantee that the civilian ship will be safe when its engines are on. The chances that it will be a good ship are not high, and it will need repairs.

Enlisting more is fine; I don't mind doing it either. We can use more troops for next missions.
For the future? I doubt it will be a problem grabbing troops. We will likely move to bigger ships, especially if Sven climbs the ranks (which will happen faster or slower depending on our mission results). The number of mundane troops under us will increase considerably in comparison to what we can have now, and we will have fewer Spartans under our direct and general command until they allow us to command only the Purple Team. We might be able to get Soren inside the Purple Team if the Spartan/Rhodes collab Colossus can deliver results for Washouts.
>>
>>6450719
Until we return to the ground, I would wait to think of other additional goals. We have to see if Kurt can manage Jamshid on his own first.

>>6450026
A simple idea that was suggested in the previous thread for the MJOLNIR variant we are using now was to attach local sea flora to the armor and enhance the camouflage.

>>6450587
>>6450588
I will have to disagree, since it's Sven and the other Spartans that trained them. I will not write them out of a fight easily, even if Ackerson has a lot of bad ideas. Even if they end up being used never.
>>
>>6450887
I'm not saying "don't use him", I'm saying "don't bank everything on him destroying the entire fleet"
>>
>>6451180

Honestly, this once it should be a fairly safe bet. Covenant cyber-war isn't really a thing in canon and especially this early. And given what Vali is, the bigger problem will be how we get anything intact and moving once he's done.

I wouldn't count on it going forward, however. But this is a sucker punch they can't be expecting, aren't prepared for and should be vulnerable to, so let's send it.
>>
>>6451183
Yeh its all about getting the prophet and seeing how much we can use Vali. Getting him to Martyr a fleet and clearing the way out is groovy and opening a way to capture the mjerd is a dream.
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

Really, really sorry I made you all wait over the weekend, but I slept through all of sunday, apparently. Woke up 5 am today. Guess I really needed a nap

3 Votes for "Yes. But no one can know their fate until it arrives" Cont

2 Votes for "But the knowing gives us agency" Cont.

2 Votes for "It is Complicated" Cont

2 Votes for "To explain that, I'll have to tell you about the pantheon I believe in" Cont

1 Vote for "Perhaps everything is determined" Cont

So "Yes. But no one can know their fate until it arrives. I believe, in the Abrahamic faith, it is said "No man may know the hour, nor the day". Ragnarök is destined, but it hasn't arrived, but we know how it will play out"

is the winner by a margin of 1 vote.

[ Decision made ]
[ Proceeding.... ]
>>
"Yes" You answer seriously, hands clasped together as you lean forward and maintain eye contact with the Sensor operator, who only nods in understanding as you speak. Lifting a finger, unlinking it from your clasped hands, you continue your explanation, " But no one can know their fate until it arrives"

Ensign Kobal leans forward, eyes narrowed and waiting for what you're going to say next. So you don't keep him waiting, and proceed.

"I believe, in the Abrahamic faith, it is said "No man may know the hour, nor the day". And Kobal raises a finger of his own, asking permission to speak. You give it.

"The prophet Isa ibn Maryam, said as such, though you'd gotten the day and hours position reversed" He said, quietly amused and you nod, knowing you'd probably make a minor mistake like that at some point in the conversation "No man or angel may know the date of the beginning of the end of times. Only god. I can see a similarity in this, to your own belief, Lieutenant Commander"

"Precisely" You concur, nodding and sitting up a bit stranger "Ragnarök is destined, but it hasn't arrived, but we know how it will play out"

"And the same can be said of our foretold final day" Soner Kobal agrees, smiling slightly as he rubs his chin in thought "Though I understand that, your faiths conceptualization of fate, destiny, is somewhat different than that of Islam, Christianity or Judaism. I've done my homework, Sir, but I don't want to offend you if my research was incorrect"

"We're talking faith, one of us will get offended, even if we don't show it" You answer, cocking an eyebrow before answering his question
"You are referring to Wyrd, I think. Personified by the Norn Urðr. The Norn who presides over the Past, and whose name is shared with and also used for, Wyrd. A mixture of past deeds, current actions, threaded and spun by cosmic forces. It is mutable, changing. A more accurate translation of it, would be "That which comes to past. It differs from Orlog"

"And what is Orlog?"

You lean back in thought "Orlog is destiny, Wyrd is fate. Wyrd is what has & may occur, Orlog is what must. Orlog is clay, Wyrd is pottery"

"Ragnarok is Orlog?" Soner asks and you nod "And then, this war for survival that has just begun, could be called Wyrd"

"Close. It is hard to explain. They often overlap. Shika says it reminds her of Yin and Yang, but that isn't right. Wyrd and Orlog aren't opposites, they're connected, intertwined. But they are not opposed. Both shape a man, a world's destiny, but how they do so are different. Wyrd may be changed, it is not preordained, every moment, every hour every day, but from birth to death. Orlog cannot be, it is as an immutable law. The Twilight of gods cannot be averted, unlike...unlike"

And then, like a flash or static charge, you realize it.

"My Orlog was to be a soldier, my Wyrd is being a member of the Spartan Program"
Cont
>>
>>6451235

"You believe these Norns wove your fate to make you live a life of soldiery?" The ensign asks, sounding saddened for some reason

"Through the Wyrd of others, my Orlog and threads were stuck" You answer with a shrug "What was done in the past, set the stones I now choose where to place and towards my unknown destination, the doom that the norns whispered upon my birth"

"We will need to have a deeper discussion on this, later, I am sure you have questions about my faith as well, Captain" Soner says after a prolonged silence, tapping his brow as he finishes contemplating and cuts off his deep thoughts "But this has been enlightening"

The Einherjar hadn't presented the most enlightened perspective of the faith to the rest of humanity, nor had any of them ever sat down and explained their beliefs to outsiders. They twisted and used it for their own ends, perverted the lessons and meaning. And they had taken the name of the honored war dead as their own

"You posed a difficult question, so allow me to pose one in kind, Ensign. Paradise. The promised afterlife. Just like destiny, both of us believe in a form of it. Though, from what I know of your faith, your paradise is very different from our Valhalla or Fólkvangr. And certainly the three other realms the dead may go"

"Five? I thought you only had Valhalla"

"Our history isn't one that gets much attention in the modern day, and the Einherjar didn't help by using the warcry "Valhalla" during their terrorist attacks" you answer "Turning a pledge between warriors and friends into a threat, but yes there are five. Hel is among them, there is Ran's realm, for the drowned and those lost to the black, and the burial mound where the dead may live. But we can talk at length of this at another time, I wish to know about where Islam thinks we end up, when our ticket's punched"

"I would be happy to, Sir" Ensign Kobal said, before taking a deep breath "It will take some explaining, but you're asking not about its contents but the conditions to arrive"

You nod

"Then it will take me even longer to begin..."

>Spend the rest of your recovery time talking with Kobal, while directing the Spartan OP and planning the mission to capture functioning star ships.

>Send Nesta back to the battlefield once she is recovered, giving her lead of the mission to secure additional vessels, while you make time to meet the kids on your ship and run tests on Violet with Rita

>Run a mid mission action review with Soren, and using the outcome of the Jamshid operation, plan your next strike against the Covenant on Alpha Corvi II

>Look over the data and intel the Skidbladnir gathered on the Covenant Ships and Transmission and study it, to try and anticipate the enemy's next move

>Write in option
>>
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7.33 MB PNG
>>6451236
>Send Nesta back to the battlefield once she is recovered, giving her lead of the mission to secure additional vessels, while you make time to meet the kids on your ship and run tests on Violet with Rita
Safe to assume Violet's been orphaned by the Covenant, right?
>>
>>6451236
>Spend the rest of your recovery time talking with Kobal, while directing the Spartan OP and planning the mission to capture functioning star ships.

>Send Nesta back to the battlefield once she is recovered, giving her lead of the mission to secure additional vessels, while you make time to meet the kids on your ship and run tests on Violet with Rita

i feel like we can do both
>>
>>6451236
>Run a mid mission action review with Soren, and using the outcome of the Jamshid operation, plan your next strike against the Covenant on Alpha Corvi II

Still need to see the outcome of Jamshid. Did Kurt accomplish the two objectives assigned ? Did he find the digital devices of Khalil ? Did he extract Jamy and bleed the Covenant troops ? Did the retreat go well ? And then we need to interrogate further Pufpuf. And understand which day is the massacre day planned by the Minister. And we very much need to talk ASAP with Kaitoa and the Saboteurs leader, since they are both innies and should know about the ex innie base that the Minister is using has....base ? residence? Whatever it is. The alien is there eitherway and talking from there likely.

A review with Soren should help us all the same. He has a good brain.

>Look over the data and intel the Skidbladnir gathered on the Covenant Ships and Transmission and study it, to try and anticipate the enemy's next move

I am not really inspired by this, but it could help us. It all depends on what the Skidbladnir gathered. Could be anything. I already think Brurlirus will send Teckyis back after some days, to Jamshid and resolve its own force rebellions (after Teckyis has been publically shamed/humiliated). After that the most likely thing to happen, is Brurlirus sending hunter-killer parties around for find the resurgent human guerilla that bounced back in Jamshid. By that point we would have already moved out of Jamshid though. At the same time Teckyis should start private talks with Kestidion, since the two captains are now on the same side of being losers.
>>
>>6451236

>Send Nesta back to the battlefield once she is recovered, giving her lead of the mission to secure additional vessels, while you make time to meet the kids on your ship and run tests on Violet with Rita

>Run a mid mission action review with Soren, and using the outcome of the Jamshid operation, plan your next strike against the Covenant on Alpha Corvi II
>>
>>6451236
Send Nesta back to the battlefield once she is recovered, giving her lead of the mission to secure additional vessels, while you make time to meet the kids on your ship and run tests on Violet with Rita

>Run a mid mission action review with Soren, and using the outcome of the Jamshid operation, plan your next strike against the Covenant on Alpha Corvi II
>>
Current Goals (assuming Kurt did everything we wanted in Jamshid):

- Understand which day the Minister planned for the ceremony (the best day to attack him and Brurlirus; in general, the aliens would be distracted)
- Find civilian spaceships (seize them, see their status, and what can be done with them)
- Take/Kill the Minister (we will need to see how much garrison/honor guard is between him and us. He would be an extremely valuable hostage/prisoner. Boogeyman could make him a tool of Sven)
- Take the Minister Comms Station/Machinery present on the ground (see what can be done with it at least)
- Kill Brurlirus/Nuke the Main Covenant Base to ensure the Fratricide War starts (self-explanatory)
- Use the school with bones as a 2nd base (self-explanatory)


Possible New Goals (to consider if truly feasible after the current ones are dealt with):

- Search for other human resistance groups on the coastlines and Black Reef (we have looked only a bit in nature and then concentrated on searching Jamshid)
- Plan on how to get the human slaves in the Forerunner dig sites out (with the Fratricide War starting, and the Minister dealt with, these places could get very chaotic. They would still have humans to save since the ceremony would not have been done)
- Nuke the Forerunner main dig site (self-explanatory)
- Nuke the potential holy tomb/monument made in honor of the Martyred Ex-Archaeology Minister (self-explanatory. Need to check if it exists)
- Check if the Queen of Hearts (Scorpion Tank at ONI blacksite base) is a full wreck or if it can be recovered (much like the Frankenhog, it would be a free vehicle for us)
- Potential capture of a Huragok/s (the problem is just the fact that they can easily die and transporting them)
- Potential capture of a Yanme/s (while we have the eggs, an alive one much like an alive Huragok is a whole new alien species to bring home. Should be feasible to capture)
- Capture other aliens (common soldiers, officers, or even leaders like Teckyis would be all valuable)
- Bring home more Covenant weapons/equipment/vehicles (self-explanatory)
- Grabbing Queen Yanme's corpse (rotting in the water)
- Mjern Capture (can't see this done without using Vali or taking the Minister)
- Start planning the escape route for any civilian starship found and restored (An escape plan needs to be made, even if we deal with the fleet. If we can't deal with it, even more so)


Stuff to Request after the mission :

- More troops (if we don't enlist the guerrilla forces in our ranks, or even if we do so). Could be ODST, Infantry, Marines, Rangers...
- Expanded Spartan Armories with dedicated experienced personnel (add all manner of human weapons even out of the usual companies the UNSC buys from)
- Equipment for handling captured aliens (built from adapted equipment for handling large animals?)
- Large Animals Sedatives (this should be good enough for aliens)
- ONI stealth dropship
>>
>>6451272
>- ONI stealth dropship

unfortunately that wont be made till after the war tho we might be able to convince Dimas to make it early
>>
>>6451280
Aren't there some ONI space vehicles that we could use even now ? Or is our best bet still stealth-painted pelicans? Well is still a pretty good request list; beyond that, we could probably use a better medical wing, or a lab. Or better accommodations for Spartans.

Being able for them to visit their old homes would be a big request.

Dimas isn't spec'd in spaceship design, I am afraid. Not sure which tech/research path he will take in the future
>>
There is also the option of requesting ONI Field Agents. But I am not sure people would like more glowies in our ship; they would be good in human worlds for info gathering. Otherwise has reconnaissance and spying. Good in ambush, squishy in a direct fight.
>>
>>6451236
>>Run a mid mission action review with Soren, and using the outcome of the Jamshid operation, plan your next strike against the Covenant on Alpha Corvi II
>
>>Look over the data and intel the Skidbladnir gathered on the Covenant Ships and Transmission and study it, to try and anticipate the enemy's next move

What, are we fucking sleeping? Let's get our head in the game and see what happened with Jamshid and how to best fuck the Covenant no lube.
>>
>>6451236

>Run a mid mission action review with Soren, and using the outcome of the Jamshid operation, plan your next strike against the Covenant on Alpha Corvi II.

>Look over the data and intel the Skidbladnir gathered on the Covenant Ships and Transmission and study it, to try and anticipate the enemy's next move.
>>
>>6451236
>Look over the data and intel the Skidbladnir gathered on the Covenant Ships and Transmission and study it, to try and anticipate the enemy's next move
>>
>>6451236
>Look over the data and intel the Skidbladnir gathered on the Covenant Ships and Transmission and study it, to try and anticipate the enemy's next move

>Send Nesta back to the battlefield once she is recovered, giving her lead of the mission to secure additional vessels, while you make time to meet the kids on your ship and run tests on Violet with Rita
>>
>>6451280
>>6451283
>unfortunately that wont be made till after the war tho we might be able to convince Dimas to make it early
>Aren't there some ONI space vehicles that we could use even now ? Or is our best bet still stealth-painted pelicans?
Sub prowlers are what you guys will want. Bigger than Pelicans by a marginal amount but typically fitted with slip space caps like a Condor. The Black Cat will be the most accessible to us at the moment and they're 50m long, so theoretically one should be able to fit within the Skib if we're willing to drop a Pelican+ some extra space. They're used for planetary infil/exfil ops and are pretty good at it. And thanks to their SS caps they can make limited 4 hour jumps for drop off and pick up just outside a system.
>>
>>6451236
>>Send Nesta back to the battlefield once she is recovered, giving her lead of the mission to secure additional vessels, while you make time to meet the kids on your ship and run tests on Violet with Rita
>>
>>6451321
The Black Cat was one of the options we had available. Maybe we grab it in our next ship, not sure i like the idea of taking out a pelican and extra space.
>>
>>6451462
Black cat suits ostrom a lot atleast and lets us deploy our helots more effectively.
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

6 Votes to send Nesta back into field and meet with the kiddos

1 Vote to spend your recovery directing & planning the OP

5 Votes to run an mid mission action review with Soren

5 Votes to look over the data

Nesta is being sent back into field to secure transports for the civilians (Alongside Lance Corporeal Roche Kibe and the 474th CMA Anti Terrorist Operations unit) and Sven will meet with the kiddos.

Looking over the data the skidbladnir gathered and seeing how Kurt finished/ mopped up the plans in Jamshid, as well as the choice for the next action the spartans will take, will happen in an upcoming vote.

[ Decision made ]
[ Proceeding... ]
>>
"Spartan Zero Nine Seven" You address Nesta in front of the medics and support crew being temporarily transferred down to the base camp once she'd gotten her damaged armor replaced or repaired, Warrant Officer Bari Cook was overseeing the transportation of additional supplies necessary now that the situation on the ground had changed and there were many more mouths to feed than originally planned.

"You will be given charge of the operation to secure functional space craft to assist in the evacuation of the remaining civilian element on Alpha Corvi II, at the time of our retreat from the star system" You continue as she remains at attention, fully armored while you, still recovering from your wounds a day earlier are dressed in your officer uniform "the details and location of space worthy vessels have been uploaded directly to your armor. The other Spartans on the ground, are currently underway completing their final objectives in Jamshid"

"Stopping that intel leak" Nesta said staidly, as you stand straight backed and give a quick nod as a confirmation. They were following your last order, and had already made contact with a number of surviving loyal elements across the flooded capital and in its periphery regions, and had made effective use of the saboteur team James and Anton had brought into the fold, letting the Covenant bleed itself until the last possible moment to attempt to assassinate that traitor Khalil Shahi and stop the threat he posed to humanity at large once and for all

The general details of the plan were known to the senior officers of your crew and command. Soren had even calculated the timeframe and final deadline of the operation that signified the last chance to successfully deny the Covenant their prized "Canary".

"Lance Corporal Roche Kibe and any remaining combat able members of the CMA Four Seven Four Anti Terrorist Operation Unit, as well as any allied forces Kurt can spare to the mission, are under your command, Nesta" You continue, motioning with your chin to the supplies being loaded onto Doghouse "Once supplies are divided out at the FOB, you have my direct permission to use the classified prototype amphibious vehicles stored around the camp as you see fit for the operation"

"Understood, I'll try not to chip the paint" She said with a nod as she turned on her heel, having already been debrief on the finer details of her mission and marched up the pelican ramp, grabbing two crates of ammunition and carrying them under arm. You remained at attention, watching until the Pelican dropship departed from the Skidbladnir's hangar and then marched away.

The fact you were still standing and walking under your own power, amazed the crew of your Prowler, who hadn't seen just how hard you were to put and keep down or how quickly a Spartan, even one less stubborn than yourself, could recover back to being combat capable.
Cont
>>
>>6451704

"Cook" You call out to one of the two pilots of your ship, who was wiping sweat from his brow. You could hear the servos in his cybernetic legs whirring as he jogged to catch up "Would you like to accompanying to my wellness check on our little guests?"

"Still not used to you not wearing a ton of metal, sir" He said. Your face wasn't unknown to your crew, as you made a point to get out of your armor and wear the uniform of your rank, but like any Spartan, being out of your MJOLNIR suit left you feeling exposed and under dressed "And Cadet Coste has the helm, if that was an order"

"It wasn't, it was an offer" You tell him "I think you might be a calming, reassuring presence to them. And I prefer to keep a trusted soldier by my side at all times, and if not, as often as possible"

"I am uncertain what I've done to earn your trust, Sir, I'll join your wellness test" He says, stopping as you stall your stride and look back at him, wondering how it wasn't obvious

"The same reason I picked you as one of the Skidbladnir's pilots. Hard not to trust a Navyman who'd remain at their station as the bridge burned around them" You answer, before turning around and adjusting your stride and pace to make it easier for the pilot to keep up with you

Loki joined the company as you made your way to the "Kindergarten" as the Skidbladnir's crew were already calling it. Off duty volunteers were trying to keep the kids occupied and their minds off of everything they had gone through and witnessed, under Rita's direction and watchful eye, alongside one or two of the Spartan Program Doctors, who were following her and your orders to help treat the kids.

You'd learned all of their names, and managed to coax a few of their stories out of them. Mostly from the older kids, who while damaged, were able to recount part of their experiences. The younger kids, perhaps mercifully, weren't able to fully comprehend the horror of what had happened. It was the middle bracket of age, where they had enough understanding but lacked the maturity to even begin to grapple with their trauma. There were exceptions of course, one of the teenagers from Jamshid was currently under the delusion she was back in her highschool and that the invasion had never happened.Her name was April Montagu and Rita was hopeful for her recovery, said she'd retreated to a fantasy to deal with her immense losses, including one Heidi Smith, who you were going to do everything in your power to get the highest civilian medal of honor awarded to post humorously, as by all accounts, young Heidi was the reason there were kids of any age left alive in Jamshid. Another had gone catatonic the moment they'd lifted the last of the kids they'd been keeping alive alongside, Luis Morales. The one you'd made contact with, Samir, who you'd learned was a year your elder, was helping two of the current volunteers feed Luis and the other "Shutdown" children.
Cont
>>
>>6451706

Clara, one of the youngest survivors, cried out "Kitty", as Loki "Cleared" the room, by entering it in advance of your and Bari Cook.

"Lieutenant Commander Askeland" Rita's hologram greeted as you walked in and took off your officer's cap, as the kids looked first to the older and more experienced looking Bari Cook, before they followed the Nun's attention and saw that she was referring to you before she turned and addressed your fellow guest "Warrant Officer Cook, may I know the purpose of this visit?"

"Wellness check, I've been cleared for non strenuous activity, so I figured I'd make the time to check up on our guests" You say, wondering how long it will take one of the older ones to ask why you looked so young and "Baby faced", or if any of them had the spirit left to do so "How are they fairing, Sister?"

"Best as we could've hoped" She answered and the meaning was clear "They've been showing marked improvements across the board, but of course, it won't be an overnight recovery after all they've suffered and endured, but I am doing my best to make them feel safe and comfortable"

"Did you kill any of the aliens, I mean...sir, uh, personally?" A kid named Johnny asked, stuttering nervously

You nodded

"Plenty" You answer as you kneel down to get on his level "But, how I did it, is considered a need to know matter"

"What about you?" Another boy next to him, Chris . Tony's sister, the hot headed Arleen, was watching, her arms wrapped around her knees. She was found trying to sneak aboard Ostrum's Pelican earlier in the day, to get back to her brother's side and had been reprimanded by the guards on duty and Rita.

"Not exactly frontline material, not anymore" Cook said, smiling a smile like the one you'd seen in his off duty pictures, pulling up his uniform's pants to show off the metal underneath "Got this hardware after my last posting", then he leaned down and whispered the words "Pirates"

Loki had already ingratiated himself with the younger kids, and had even gotten a reaction from the survivors of the camp, who'd crept closer to watch the furry feline as he made his rounds around the rooms, flicking his tail as he was followed by a gaggle of children. A few had started crying when they saw them. Family and friends weren't the only things they'd lost, clearly. Beloved pets were also counted amongst the casualties of the Covenant's invasion.

Fortunately, the eclectic make up of your crew, meant that the Volunteers present knew how to comfort and calm down a few crying kids. Rita also made a show of walking her hologram over to them as she said a few comforting words and reassured them they were safe now. But never that Sergeant Whiskers was still fighting the good fight against the Covenant, in the ways only a cat could.
Cont
>>
>>6451708

You tried to give each of the kids present an equal amount of attention, but you really didn't know how to act around kids that weren't part of the program, that weren't one of your Spartan, so the best you could do was act your rank while trying not about how all they had gone through and their shared trauma was probably making it easier for you talk with them. You wanted to help but you didn't know how else you could, after all you'd done to pull them out of the battlefield.

And you did have an ulterior motive for coming here, beyond your stated reasoning of performing a by the books wellness check. And that was to confirm what you suspected of Violet since you met her and saw how easily she'd moved on from the hell that was that death camp. That she was viable candidate for the second class of Spartans. Rita and you had argued about it earlier, but you convinced her that it was probably for the best to check before the Program did officially and she relented as she couldn't fault your argument that anything Violet had gone through was worse than even the hardest parts of the Spartan Program and that if she was accepted into the second class, it would probably be for the best considering the tendencies and behavior she'd shown.

"Are you going to go back to kill more of them?" Were the first words out of her mouth, when she'd broken away from the pack of kids following after and fascinated by the ship's cat. Straight to the point and goal oriented. You checked two boxes in your mental check lists as you stood in front of her

"Of course" You say as Cook, as you'd hoped and planned, keeps the older kids occupied as you talk with Violet "But Sister Rita needs to run a few tests on you Violet"

"Now?"

You nod "I'll be an observer, part of the wellness check". There was a look of suspicion in her eyes as she tried to figure out what was going on, but she nodded and silently followed you and one of the program doctors to the medical bay. The Docs hadn't needed convincing, they in fact had to be reminded whose ship they were on when you and Rita floated the possibility that Violet was a viable candidate for the second class.

But before the tests began, Rita asked you privately, "Varangian, if she tests positive, what do you intend to do with the results?"

>"Keep them to myself. She should be given the choice none of us had, if nothing else. Though I think I know her choice"

>"Forward them to Halsey. I trust her to do what's best for her. And you know she cares about everyone of her Spartans"

>"Give them to the program. It might not be accurate, but I've heard they've encountered...issues with the candidate pool"

>"Like I told you before, Sister, I'm gathering Data. Survivors of Covenant Attacks, might just be more...apt for the Spartan Program"

>Write in option

felt there should be at least one vote between the mid action report, the Covie data and next stage plans
>>
>>6451709
>>"Keep them to myself. She should be given the choice none of us had, if nothing else. Though I think I know her choice"

god whats worse/better about this choice is i dont think Sven will pull his punches about the outcome of this choice when he asks her

morally its the right thing to do is to give her a choice; she still a kid tho
>>
>>6451709
>"Keep them to myself. She should be given the choice none of us had, if nothing else. Though I think I know her choice

>"Like I told you before, Sister, I'm gathering Data. Survivors of Covenant Attacks, might just be more...apt for the Spartan Program"

This is. Adiplo option so we can mix two. Letting children have a choice to be spartan is just sven. But frankly Spartans are needed so data for suitable candidate which those who survived the covenant is too useful.
>>
>>6451714
Her childhood was killed by covenant. She's gonna turn herself into a weapon for for revenge no matter what. Spartan is just gonna what makes her the best of the best.
>>
>>6451709
deleted my old vote, Swapping too this.

>"Forward them to Halsey. I trust her to do what's best for her. And you know she cares about everyone of her Spartans"

I'd rather help fund more S2's then any of those disgusting and inferior S3's
>>
>>6451709
>"Forward them to Halsey. I trust her to do what's best for her. And you know she cares about everyone of her Spartans"

There is a time to be moral and this aint it. We need more Spartans for the war effort. Preferably 2's over 3's.
>>
>>6451709

>"Keep them to myself. She should be given the choice none of us had, if nothing else. Though I think I know her choice"

Then:

>"Forward them to Halsey. I trust her to do what's best for her. And you know she cares about every one of her Spartans."

This is a little like the First Strike choice Halsey put on John in some ways, but the difference here is, Violet's already tried to merc a grunt with a knife, so it's fairly safe to assume she'll volunteer.
>>
>>6451709
>"Forward them to Halsey. I trust her to do what's best for her. And you know she cares about everyone of her Spartans"
I hate to torture Halsey's psyche even more, but any other option runs the risk of Violet's potential being squandered.
>>
>>6451709
>"Keep them to myself. She should be given the choice none of us had, if nothing else. Though I think I know her choice"
If she says yes, forward them to Halsey.
>>
>>6451709
>>"Keep them to myself. She should be given the choice none of us had, if nothing else. Though I think I know her choice"
I think we will get another choice later what we will do with Violet anyway.
>>
>>6451709
>"Keep them to myself. She should be given the choice none of us had, if nothing else. Though I think I know her choice"
>"Forward them to Halsey. I trust her to do what's best for her. And you know she cares about everyone of her Spartans"

Easy, ask her outright and tell her in no uncertain terms what it means to become a Spartan. If she declines, burn the data. If she agrees then forward it to Halsey. I'm hoping this leads to a Class 2 with improved augs. The option to forward it to the program itself seems likely to be a repeat of ASTER when we need to push things along closer to CHRYSANTHEMUM. Hopefully with the Einherjar research on chem augs giving us stable, non lethal rumble drugs, we can improve the current set and meaningfully improve the survival rate for a class 2.
>>
>>6451709
>"Keep them to myself. She should be given the choice none of us had, if nothing else. Though I think I know her choice"
>"Forward them to Halsey. I trust her to do what's best for her. And you know she cares about everyone of her Spartans
>>
>>6451709
>>"Keep them to myself. She should be given the choice none of us had, if nothing else. Though I think I know her choice"
>>
>>6451709
>"Forward them to Halsey. I trust her to do what's best for her. And you know she cares about everyone of her Spartans"
>>
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[Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online]

8 votes for "Keep them for myself"

1 Vote for "I'm gathering data"

7Votes for "Forward them to Halsey"

Alright, so Sven will tell Rita "Keep them to myself. She should be given the choice none of us had, if nothing else. Though I think I know her choice"

And of course if Violet pass the tests and agrees, Halsey will be the one who he sends the results to. But he'll make it clear it'll be Violet's choice, not Halsey's.


[ Decision made ]
[ Proceeding...]
>>
Instinctively, you almost replied that you'd forward them to Halsey. She was the head of the program and you trusted her, knew she cared in ways the other members of the project didn't. But something was holding you back, an invisible hand of responsibility pulling at your leash as faint, faded memories of the day you were conscripted into the Spartan II program flitted through your mind's eye. The program was a necessary evil, but you and the rest of the Spartans hadn't been given a choice. You'd only known Violet for a two to three days, but it felt like betrayal to take the one decision she could reasonably make for herself out of her hands. You trust Halsey, looked up to her, and when you thought about your mother, thought more of her than you did your actual one.

Violet would be given a choice, the one that few other Spartans had. You knew that not every Spartan had been black bagged like you were, most had been, but some were given the choice to refuse. A choice that would've probably been ignored by the retrieval teams or Halsey herself, but even if it was just the illusion of choice it meant something. It certainly did for Soren. It was a point of pride for him, that Halsey asked if he wanted to join the program. Just like giving the instructors so much trouble before you shaped up and got in line was still one of yours.

So, confidently, you gave the Ai the answer, not just the one she wanted to hear, but one you meant. "Keep them to myself" You say, as Rita looks at you, scrutinizing the micro adjustments of your expression and the subtle, unconscious emotional cues in your body language. She is probably one of the few people, besides other Spartans, who can get a read on you. She inclined her avatar's head, and you, being just as familiar with artificial intelligences as Rita and her donor had been with Spartans, you understood she was asking "Why" through her projection's body language.

"She should be given the choice none of us had, if nothing else" You added as you continued walking towards the medical bay, glancing back over your shoulder to the hologram woven together from strands of different hues of green and yellow light, and smile knowingly "Though I think I know her choice"

"She's just a child. But, so were you and so you are, Sven" She says sadly "Though, like all Spartans, you're mature for your age. She isn't developed or mature enough to understand the ramifications. I don't doubt that the program would discover her, even if we didn't perform this test. ONI would know. And neither you nor I have the authority to stop them from "conscripting" her. But, even if letting her decide is just an empty gesture, an illusion of free will. It matters. To her. And to Me. And I know it matters to you as well, Sven"
Cont
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>>6452096

"I'll won't pull my punches, she'll know exactly what she's getting into, if she answers like I expect she will" You tell her "And if she refuses, we scrub the date. Full burn. Do everything we can to make her disappear, at least long enough that by time ONI finds her, she has already "Aged out" of the program"

"...Impressive, you found a solution that a volitional AI like myself had missed. As expected of one of the "Wunderkind" that caught Catherine's personal interest amongst a class of a hundred child geniuses"

"I just know how to get away with breaking a few rules" You answer with a smile "Lets not keep Violet waiting, Sister. You've prepared the test materials"

"Double and triple authenticated them, Varangian. Even the project head would find it difficult to find any fault with it" She answered as you walked through the door to the medical wing, where Violet was sitting on a metal table, having a routine medical check up

[ Adjusting Perspective ]

Sven-033, which Violet had memorized the moment she saw the armored giant wading through the bad place, covered in the blood and bones of those monsters, wasn't as grown up as she expected him to be. He had blue eyes, that looked cold even while he was smiling. And somehow, out of his armor, he looked even bigger, dressed like a navy captain in a stiff suit that she was worried would tear or lose a button if he moved too much.

She didn't question why he was on his feet, since she didn't know how injured he had been or how long it would take a soldier to recover from nearly being gutted. She just knew he was strong, stronger than any grown up she knew before, and that he killed the monsters that took everything away from her. And that she wanted to be like him. That she didn't want to be scared anymore. She wanted to be able to fight back, Make those monsters pay.

It was hard for her to answer the questions Sven asked, and he stopped when he saw that he was upsetting her, like her big brother would when she was frustrated with how stupid the rest of her class was. Violet didn't know why she got so angry or sad when she thought about what had happened before he and the other super heroes had come and saved her and the others, or why it was so hard to explain what had happened, or even think about it. But she answered every thing he asked, as best she could, it just took her awhile to push past the "Mental wall" that kept tangling up her tongue.

The fake person, that Violet was told was the Ship she'd been brought onto's AI, looked sad as she told her, Sven and the creepy doctors what she could remember. Violet didn't understand why she did, even though talking about it made her sad, it was just what had happened. Just facts. Violet only knew she wished she could've stopped it from happening, but that she couldn't.
Cont
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>>6452097

If Sven had been there before, she was confident he and his friends could've prevented it. If she was like them, she could've done it. And maybe that crybaby Meryl she picked on wouldn't

Violet stiffened and buried the rising emotion and thought of the girl she'd liked to bully and what had happened to her and the ohers. She felt...bad thinking about Meryl especially, so she tried not to do it. She'd get those monsters back for what they did to that Crybaby. And everyone else they'd taken.

When Sven was done asking her about what she remembered about the Monsters' attack and her time in the bad place, Rita gave her a test.

Violet had expected to breeze through it, like she had through every class she'd been put into. She'd even went to school early and skipped a few grades. Dad had always called her a genius. She rocked her head side to side, to stop thinking about his face, or what it looked after he jumped on top of her when those evil, laughing lizards found their settlement. Half of it gone. One eye, something grey and squishy sizzling on the black road.

She stopped thinking about her dad, and what happened to him. At least she knew what happened to him. Her mom just never got out of their backyard. A smoking crater now.

"Violet" Rita said gently, as Violet realized her eyes were damp. Was she crying? She was too old to cry, too tough. That's what her mama used to say.

"I'm alright, I just don't know what this word means" She lied and she thought Rita knew, even if she wasn't real. She explained, patiently, as Sven sat, hands tented as he watched her. Like a statue.

She had to ask for help a few times, but once she had the concepts or terms that were unfamiliar to her, Violet found the tests refreshingly challenging to her. She didn't know where Stamford was, but she understood why the Vick King who held it was important. The math problems were the best and hardest, though she wondered why school hadn't used problems like finding the velocity of a bullet or taught them about cool things like chemicals and battles.

The tests kept coming. And it seemed like she'd been in the room that smelled like bleach and lemon juice for hours, until Rita told her that she was finished. The creepy doctors left, but Rita and Sven remained.

"Captain" Rita addressed Sven, even though Violet had remembered her was Lieutenant Commander. Had he been promoted? For saving them. Violet thought Captains had to be old, and grow whiskers. Like Dad had.

"She passed"

"I know" Violet's hero answered, but he sounded sad, like they were at a funeral "I was looking at her answer sheet, she got most of them right"

"Over ninety percent of them" The Ai dressed like old lady Gertrud said, but she didn't sound proud of her. Violet suddenly felt uneasy

"You have my permission, Sven". Why did those words sound so heavy
cont
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>>6452098

"Violet. Do you want to be like me?" Sven suddenly asked "To be a Spartan, like the people who saved you. Who are, as we speak, killing aliens and saving lives?"

She almost leapt out of her chair, shouting yes, wondering if this had been a dream, but she felt her joy die as Sven looked her directly in the eyes and she felt as though she was being scolded. Not by a teacher. But by her father. She swallowed heard and sat back down, trying to look small

"It isn't as easy as saying yes. You have to understand. What I...we went through to become Spartans, was living hell" The Captain explained, blue ices like chips of ice or frozen steel as he explained, almost like he was explaining something to her from a textbook, talking about his experience, his training like it was the subject of a day's lesson "We were driven to the absolute brink of human ability. We were beaten, abused. We toughened up. We were put into teams, if one of us failed, none of us got to eat. If we complained, we were hit with electric prods. If our results were lacking, we ran extra laps. And this was just in the first week of boot camp. We weren't given time to adapt. We were thawed out, told we were conscripted to fight a future war, and were herded into barracks. I tried to escape, with another recruit, Named Jai. He's fighting aliens right now"

"We were beaten by multiple instructors. He reached the fence, I didn't. I broke one instructors nose. Back then, I thought my parents would save me. They never came. The next day, we ran an obstacle court, that was the day I met three of my best friends. Jorge, James, and Nesta. We won that day, cause we worked together. That was the day purple team was made.. One of the other teams, Blue team, one of their members, didn't play well with others. He got first, but his team didn't keep up. All of them missed dinner"

Sven leaned close

"Now imagine, running harder than you ever had, for hours, and not getting to eat after. He learned his lesson. And became one of the best of the graduating class. He's trying to capture a Covenant Warship, presently, leading a team of his own. Both of us, learned lessons that day. But training didn't get any easier. It never did. We just got better at taking hits and rolling with the punches, we learned, we adapted, whenever we started to excel, the instructors would increase the challenge. The next time we ran the obstacle course, they had booby trapped it and had instructors with paint pellet guns waiting. They made us fight, bare knuckle in the ring. I was cocky, I was always big. Always strong. So Mendez, he was our head instructor, one of the few men I admire and a damn fine teacher, he gave me a lesson"

Sven smiled and laughed "I could thrash any other Spartan in training, one on one, I was just too big, too strong, especially for my age. So Mendez, seeing I might get too big for my britches, arrogant, had me fight all of green team. Including my pal Kurt. They beat me bloody"
Cont
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>>6452099

Violet swallowed dryly

"And then there was Painland. I still have scars from all the barbed and razor wire we had to crawl under. They'd shoot live ammunition over our heads, have us run over gravel sharper than razor blades, and if we slowed down. We'd get hit. Good old Painland. Used to hate the place, now I kind of miss it"

And Sven just kept talking, recounting every trial and challenge in the program. How they had to fight real soldiers when they were still kids. Had the soldiers had brought real guns. Had Sven put out one of their eyes. How the same marines had beaten one of the trainees, called Maria, badly. How when one of them, named Cal, couldn't clear her rifle fast enough, they made her repeat the action until her fingers bled. He talked about how they had to climb a mountain without any gear, while being hunted. How they'd been dropped without functioning air tanks in the middle of the sea. He seemed to have no end of stories about his time in Boot Camp. And he kept telling her, everything he had gone through. And Violet knew he wasn't lying, she tried to see if he was, by asking for more details

Then he told her about the first instructor to die, how Carris had killed them, and Violet felt like she was going to throw up after hearing him describe the way the instructor's spine had stretched the skin of their neck and broken through in some places. She didn't doubt a word he said after that, and he just kept talking. and Talking, describing in more vivid and deeper detail all the hardship and struggles he and the other Spartans went through.

Then, he told her about the last step. And Violet felt like he was telling her a ghost story. How Spartans, who'd spent six years training every day, every hour, without any breaks or any kind of comfort, had died. Just like that. Never waking up again. And how they were the lucky ones. Violet was afraid by how angry the seemingly unaffected Sven got as he told her about the "Washouts". And how she could easily end up like they had.

"Do you still want to be like me, like us, after hearing everything they did to make us Spartans?"

Violet thought, and nodded, without hesitation. Sven smiled, but it was different from his other smiles. It felt dangerous

"Welcome to the Program, Violet' He said, reaching out one of his great big hands, she thought he wanted her to shake it, before he suddenly saluted

[ Prospective Candidate Violet's Special Quality revealed: [Natural Born Survivor].Testing reveals subject has a abnormally strong Survival & Self Preservation Instinct, and accounts of their time on a Covenant Occupied world, if accurate, prove the Subject is capable of performing feats of physical and mental endurance well beyond the norm ]
[ Prospective Candidate Violet's, pre existing Advancement Paths, Revealed. 1/10 Knife Expert
[ Adjusting perspective, Returning to Preferred Candidate, Sven-033 ]

Cont
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>>6452100

>Check to see if any of the other rescued kids meet the criteria, before getting back to the ongoing operation, hearing Kurt's report and reading through the data on the Covenant ships in orbit

>Prepare the report you'll send to Halsey, once Operation: Crow's Nest is finished and make sure it is well hidden and secure before getting back to work.

>The moment Kurt reports the end of the Jamshid OP, Have him support Nesta's attempt to secure additional vessels before reading the details of the mission.

>[Wunderkind + Officer] You know the program's requirements and Halsey's own, so write up a "Plan of action" for future Spartan OPs to find and separate any potential candidates found in the field, using your in depth knowledge of regulations to perfect it

>Write in option

Meant to get to the mid mission AAR and Covenant ship stuff this update, but Violet's POV kind grew out of control

Also if you're wondering how Violet has 1 rank in knife expert, she got it because the Jiralhanae forced their captives to fight for any food they were given.
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>>6452102
>[Wunderkind + Officer] You know the program's requirements and Halsey's own, so write up a "Plan of action" for future Spartan OPs to find and separate any potential candidates found in the field, using your in depth knowledge of regulations to perfect it
>>
>>6452102
>The moment Kurt reports the end of the Jamshid OP, Have him support Nesta's attempt to secure additional vessels before reading the details of the mission.
>[Wunderkind + Officer] You know the program's requirements and Halsey's own, so write up a "Plan of action" for future Spartan OPs to find and separate any potential candidates found in the field, using your in depth knowledge of regulations to perfect it
That was a good POV switch. I do hope all that rumble drug research we've got has helped backwash into improving Spartan augs.Perhaps replacing the more dangerous and invasive ones with chem alternatives as a sort of interim step for any potential Class 2 candidates prior to if Ack gets his S3s off the ground.
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>>6452102
>The moment Kurt reports the end of the Jamshid OP, Have him support Nesta's attempt to secure additional vessels before reading the details of the mission.
>[Wunderkind + Officer] You know the program's requirements and Halsey's own, so write up a "Plan of action" for future Spartan OPs to find and separate any potential candidates found in the field, using your in depth knowledge of regulations to perfect it
>>
>>6452102
>Check to see if any of the other rescued kids meet the criteria, before getting back to the ongoing operation, hearing Kurt's report and reading through the data on the Covenant ships in orbit
>[Wunderkind + Officer] You know the program's requirements and Halsey's own, so write up a "Plan of action" for future Spartan OPs to find and separate any potential candidates found in the field, using your in depth knowledge of regulations to perfect it

This should work well together. Spartans are necessary evil but we can atleast give as many as we can a choice and protect those who refuse.
>>
>>6452102
>>[Wunderkind + Officer] You know the program's requirements and Halsey's own, so write up a "Plan of action" for future Spartan OPs to find and separate any potential candidates found in the field, using your in depth knowledge of regulations to perfect it
>>
>>6452102
>Check to see if any of the other rescued kids meet the criteria, before getting back to the ongoing operation, hearing Kurt's report and reading through the data on the Covenant ships in orbit

>[Wunderkind + Officer] You know the program's requirements and Halsey's own, so write up a "Plan of action" for future Spartan OPs to find and separate any potential candidates found in the field, using your in depth knowledge of regulations to perfect it


boy the UNSC is going to have fun with Sven already making a system on finding Spartan recruits al while their in a "bureaucratic deadlock"
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>>6452140
>boy the UNSC is going to have fun with Sven already making a system on finding Spartan recruits al while their in a "bureaucratic deadlock"
I imagine even those with ethical concerns would still approve of it, albeit begrudgingly. We need Spartans, and frankly speaking there's no pussy-footing around what it takes to make them.
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>>6452102
>[Wunderkind + Officer] You know the program's requirements and Halsey's own, so write up a "Plan of action" for future Spartan OPs to find and separate any potential candidates found in the field, using your in depth knowledge of regulations to perfect it
OPERATION: BARN VALKYRIE (Barn is Norse for Child) I think it would be neat if Sven made a system to quickly distinguish Spartan Candidates
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>>6452152
S2 and s3 training was effective yeh. The main difference were quality of candidates and augs.
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>>6452140
I bet Halsey won't though. She'd probably be upset about Sven "taking that burden" upon himself.
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>>6452160
>I bet Halsey won't though. She'd probably be upset about Sven "taking that burden" upon himself.
Shouldn't have given Sven the broadest shoulders and strongest back in recorded Human history then. Those who can do more not only should, but will.
>>6452157
I was under the assumption that the canonical graduates of the SPARTAN-III program only performed worse due the disparity in age, experience, and equipment, but were otherwise equal to those from the SPARTAN-II program. Is that not accurate?
>>
>>6452164
Different augments. Also s2 candidates were just flat out geniuses at different specs. With most s3 being normal kids who just survived the covenant and wanted revenge while compatable with the augments.

That said there wer s3 equal in quality to s2 like noble.
>>
>>6452164
Also the worst thing about s3 were the majority really being sent into suicide mission with some exceptions. Which makes it seem like ther so much worst than S2
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>>6452102
>Check to see if any of the other rescued kids meet the criteria, before getting back to the ongoing operation, hearing Kurt's report and reading through the data on the Covenant ships in orbit
>[Wunderkind + Officer] You know the program's requirements and Halsey's own, so write up a "Plan of action" for future Spartan OPs to find and separate any potential candidates found in the field, using your in depth knowledge of regulations to perfect it

Well...okay we are doing this now. I guess we can give the kids that enter the program "homework" in the Skidbladnir, if we are fit to return on ground that is.
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>>6452102

>[Wunderkind + Officer] You know the program's requirements and Halsey's own, so write up a "Plan of action" for future Spartan OPs to find and separate any potential candidates found in the field, using your in depth knowledge of regulations to perfect it
>The moment Kurt reports the end of the Jamshid OP, Have him support Nesta's attempt to secure additional vessels before reading the details of the mission.
>>
>>6452102
>[Wunderkind + Officer] You know the program's requirements and Halsey's own, so write up a "Plan of action" for future Spartan OPs to find and separate any potential candidates found in the field, using your in depth knowledge of regulations to perfect it
>>
>>6452157
>>6452169
>The main difference were quality of candidates and augs.
>Different augments.
Project CHRYSANTHEMUM augmentations are objectively superior to the Spartan 2's ASTER augmentations. They provided the same baseline enhancements with a broader disparity in effectiveness, due to the candidate pool, and had a virtually 100% success rate.
Alpha Company only marginally fell outside of Halsey's requirements with the biggest difference being age range. Which, IIRC, was between 4 or 5, and 11 (Carter was the oldest recruit). Beta and Gamma had a larger disparity in the genetic/physiological requirements but made up for it with marginally, and then substantially better training.
>>6452164
>Is that not accurate?
You're correct. There are no meaningful differences in combat between an S3A and S2 if they're both in MJOLNIR by 2552. S3Bs have marginally better squad and platoon level tactics training. And from Kurt's own words in GoO, S3Gs are the best Spartans ever trained.

Also, need to say it again and to go on a tangent. Fuck Ackerson. Idiot starts mass producing Spartans and giving them even better training than 2s, gives them reasonably effective and cheap to produce stealth/infiltration armor, then sends them off on massed frontal assaults. Genuine brainlet behavior.
He should have been using Spartan 3s as actual infiltration/commando units like they were trained for (you know, like 2s) rather than shoehorning them into massed stormtrooper/assault sapper raids.
Would have been cheaper and easier to just give a DropBatt of ODSTs rumble drugs and SPI then drop them right on top of the Op PROMETHEUS and TORPEDO objectives. Wouldn't even rank as notable mass cas events for the helljumpers.
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>>6452249
Honestly just have squads of s3 bring nukes and set it to blow. Not like Humanity could conquer those enemy planets.

Actually fits their Spartan training morem
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>>6452249

How the hell did Andersen avoid being court martialed for incompetence? Who was he blowing under the table? Lord Hood?
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>>6452249
When they authorized the Spartan III program, they were worried about morale plummeting if word got out about them sending soldiers on suicide missions, which is why secrecy was necessary. That rules out ODSTs, even if they are good enough for a Thermopylae-tier operation like that.
Though you probably have a point. Casualties from the war were already ridiculously high, so who's really going to give a shit about some ODSTs getting wiped occasionally. You could even propagandize it as something heroic. But that's the logic in universe.

>>6452251
I can't remember if it has since been retconned, but the canon reason at the time was that nukes exiting slipspace release cherenkov radiation, even when shielded, which leads to them being immediately tracked by enemy defenses and then destroyed, so not viable.

>>6452252
He's very good at navigating politics. He's also seen as useful to people in high places (particularly the head of ONI, Parangosky). I think it was also implied that his personal AI Araqiel has a bunch of blackmail material on people, which he must either keep for insurance or to use to get what he wants.

And to be fair to him, Alpha Company got wiped because they lost unit cohesion, which was a training problem. Beta Company got unlucky and a bunch of cruisers showed up to join the battle. The entire purpose of the IIIs was to be expendable anyway. They were just lives to sacrifice to buy time. Losing a handful of elite soldiers to stop another front from opening up when a billion people are getting killed a year probably doesn't really seem like too steep of a price. They're doing exactly what they were designed to do.
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>>6452102
>Check to see if any of the other rescued kids meet the criteria, before getting back to the ongoing operation, hearing Kurt's report and reading through the data on the Covenant ships in orbit
>[Wunderkind + Officer] You know the program's requirements and Halsey's own, so write up a "Plan of action" for future Spartan OPs to find and separate any potential candidates found in the field, using your in depth knowledge of regulations to perfect it
>>
>6452102
>Check to see if any of the other rescued kids meet the criteria, before getting back to the ongoing operation, hearing Kurt's report and reading through the data on the Covenant ships in orbit
>[Wunderkind + Officer] You know the program's requirements and Halsey's own, so write up a "Plan of action" for future Spartan OPs to find and separate any potential candidates found in the field, using your in depth knowledge of regulations to perfect it
>>
>>6452294

>Parangonsky.

Oh, *that* bitch. That tracks.
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

12 Votes for [WK+O]

3 Votes to order kurt to support nesta's mission

5 Votes to check the rest of the rescued kids for class 2 candidates

So Sven is going to pen up the procedure for securing potential Spartan program candidates out in the field, using his extreme familiarity with the rules and regs to perfect it.

What this will effect in the future...who can say for certain

[ Decision made ]
[ Proceeding... ]
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>>6452740
Mor ore bullshit Spartans for 2nd class like the damn Precog who got away. :v
>>
After earmarking Violet for conscription into the program, you were left with an abundance of free time. And the fact that there was an ongoing grounds operation, and had nothing to do besides focus on recovery to return to the action as quickly as was humanly possible, meant that currently you were restless. Fidgety. Sitting in your quarters, watching Loki stare at the initial projections of the covenant ships the Skidbladnir had gotten a detailed scan of, the hologram was accompanied with Soren's observations, notes and theories concerning the specs and battlefield role of each vessel in both a solitary and fleet action, a problem suddenly came to mind.

Something you'd realized, when you'd revisited and reviewed your last encounter with Colonel Ackerson. And how the chatterbox had mentioned that the program was having difficulties finding candidates to fill the roster of a second class of Spartans. Turning around your father's pipe in thought, it became clear that even if that weasel was lying or just airing out rumors spreading around the Office of Naval Intelligence, recruitment rates would be an issue. Spartan candidates were superior, physically and mentally, Halsey and the program had prepared for years to fill your graduating class. From an outsider, one who wasn't as intelligent as the good doctor or who had personal experience with the program, it would be like the Colonel had said. That Catherine's high standards were retarding the efforts to create a second class of Spartans.

Which was complete horse shit and showed how little he and whoever told him that tidbit, if he hadn't figured it out through his own covert and highly likely illegal means, understood about the program. Or the Spartans it produced. Those standards were put in place, because Halsey understood that to make the ultimate soldier, one had to begin from a place of excellence and from an early age. You couldn't grab any jarhead or ODST and turn them into a Spartan with a series of surgeries or take any random orphan or outer colony kid and make them a Spartan through training and ASTER. And you certainly couldn't craft a Spartan out of thin air, or produced Candidates that fulfilled the criteria and necessarily high standards that, when combined with six years of intense training and cutting edge augmentations, would, if they didn't washout or die on the operating table, produce a single combat capable Spartan Super Soldier.

And reflecting on this, as Loki tried to catch the glowing, miniaturized ships projected from your desk, you understood the burden of intelligence Halsey had bemoaned on more than one occasion in your company.
Cont
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>>6452755

It shouldn't be difficult to understand why the recruits needed to be geniuses and naturally physically gifted, why they needed to be the winners of the genetic lottery, why they should meet the insanely high criteria and hit the genetic markers the program had monitored for and shifted through countless outer colony medical records. But you understood why the higher ups, even those with the clearance to know about the ins and outs of the Spartan-II program would miss the forest for the trees and only see the results and not understand the process or costs. They wanted Spartans. They would get Spartans. But if they stopped funding Halsey or replaced her and her brainchild with a competitor, they would get a pale imitation of your Spartans. And the idea of that, rubbed you the wrong way, made you feel offended just at the thought of it.

Not because there would be second rate super soldiers running around, calling themselves Spartan, but because of the wasted potential and resources. Command already didn't know how, where or when to Deploy Spartans, but anyone with the clearance wanted to have the authority to control your Spartans. And that would eventually lead to preventable Spartan causalities.

Just thinking about what would be done with a branch of Spartans outside of your command, made your blood run colder than usual. They'd be wasted, spent like ammunition. You'd come close to losing Spartans or becoming a casualty of war yourself. If those armchair generals got their way, and the sole command over the second class or their replacement solution, it'd be a slaughter. Setting down the pipe, you flicked two fingers across the screen of your datapad as the Covenant ship's in miniature remained static in the air in front of you.

It'd be a disaster, but one you could prevent. If Ackerson wasn't lying or trying to play politics during an existential war on the galactic scale, that meant recruitment was an issue. For the moment, you'd proceed as if that weasel of Colonel was telling the whole truth, without an ulterior motives.

The exact requirments the Program asked of its candidates and potential recruits, was something you were intimately familiar with. You knew ninety nine of them, and were one of the handful of the "Special Cases" that were allowed to read the exact criteria Halsey had presented when she first proposed the Program to the Office of Naval intelligence, one of the ones who'd been given special lessons by Catherine herself. The "Wunderkind" like Rita had said.

And, from all the private talks and classes you had with her, you knew the additional traits and qualities Halsey preferred. The only cases that could be accurately called overly high standards. Special Qualities, things that couldn't be recorded with test records or genetic tests.
Cont
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>>6452756

Like John's Luck. Or Nesta's sixth Sense. Or Shika's scary ability to vanish. Most Spartans had this "X factor", in one way or another. Most were "happy accidents" but others, Halsey had selected them out of the original pool of candidates, because of these bonuses. Like yourself. She'd told you as such, close to graduation.

You listed all the standard criteria and Halsey's additional requirements, listing every trait and quality you knew, providing minimum possible requirements as well as the extreme cases as represented by several other Spartans. This didn't take long, you grew up with them, trained alongside them, and fought beside them. It was like sketching the back of your own hand.

With the basic criteria written out, you began to reflect and review the operation on Alpha Corvi II until now, focusing particularly on Violet.

and wrote a primer on how to detect and identify the qualities that made a Spartan. Part of it felt like selling your soul, but cynically, it felt like writing a dry scientific paper or a theoretical naval tactic as homework. This took longer, as you had to consider false positives and the various ways the qualities could be missed, overlooked or mistaken for trauma or otherwise lost in the details. Drawing on your experience in Boot Camp, you thought about the similarities and differences between your classmates and how they changed through the years, maturing into the fine soldiers they were now. And once you used that train of thought, writing out a detailed process to finely and accurately screen possible recruits, became a breeze. It was almost concerning how easy it was to write.

Then, remembering that this procedure wouldn't end up solely in Spartan hands, you reminded yourself to list how to safely secure and isolate any potential candidates. It was easier to do when you thought of it all as a thought experiment or class assignment. But you knew you were lying to yourself. But, at the same time, you knew you were taking some of the weight of responsibility off Catherine's shoulders. She'd have some choice words and critique for you when this paper inevitably ended up on her desk.

She'd forgive you. She'd understand. The Program was a necessary evil. Compared to the extinction of mankind, the mass genocide of planets, there was little that could be considered too extreme.

But, to cover your own ass and make sure that the factions or individuals who had it out for you or Halsey for one reason or another, you made sure that the procedure you were creating was as lawful as possible and didn't break any rules of war or engagement or any important regulations of behavior or the UNSC charter. It wouldn't hold up for long in a military tribunal if, after the war, someone went whistleblower on the whole operation but it would stop any bleeding hearts or subversive elements from sinking the proposal immediately.
Cont
>>
>>6452757

And, if humanity survived the Covenant, it could in theory provide a defense of the program in the event someone tried to bury it.

Once the necessity of super soldiers passed, and if the program was declassified...you'd hope that whoever was left would realize it had all been worth it. But, like Rita, like Halsey, you knew that the Program was a grim necessity, but also extremely immoral and illegal. Hopefully it would just end up forever buried in black ink but...it never hurt to make preparations. At the very least, making the proposal match up to the rules and regulations, would make it easier for the Higher Ups to swallow and pat themselves on the backs.

The originally simple project exploded beyond its original scope, and by time you'd finished reinforcing it with legal and military doctrine loopholes, you'd been alerted that the data from the scans of the Covenant Vessels had been compiled and was ready to be read and that Kurt had reported a successful operation in Jamshid and was pulling his team out.

But there was one last finishing touch to make.

What to call the procedure for locating and securing future candidates for the Spartan Program.

>Naval Code 45812-B

>WEREGILD Protocol

>The Askeland Proposal

>PIED PIPER

>Write in option

Next update will be Kurt's AAR and the Covenant Data, I promise, and after that Sven will be good to return to the field. Just keep realizing mid update that I need a vote to bridge to the next one
>>
>>6452758
>PIED PIPER
>>
>>6452758
>PIED PIPER

Fits both folklore and what it really is.
>>
>>6452758
Do like the idea of this req being useful once Oscar whistleblows. It helps the war but also in the aftermath atleast they can't just pin everything in Halsey when fact is all of UNSC and ONI work together to produce Spartans.
>>
>>6452758
>The Agoge Protocol

i figure naming the recruitment program after the actual training arena of the Spartans of old
>>
>>6452758
>The Agoge Protocol
Fits the program theme
>>
>>6452758
>PIED PIPER
In the coming decades, I want this shit to look as bad as possible for ONI during the inevitable hearings.
>>
>>6452758

>Naval Code 45812-B

Formally.

>PIED PIPER

Short hand.
>>
>>6452758
>>The Agoge Protocol
I like it
>>
We are going to make our previous successes in the other missions look small if we get away we what we want. We are even making a new procedure for the Spartan Program mid-mission lol. Now lets see what Kurt accomplished.

>>6451272
Thinking about it another goal would be to steal any artifacts of the Forerunner the aliens found. But I am not sure how practical it would be. Depends on the amount of damage and chaos we inflict on the Covenant, and if we stay after the two big strikes we planned. We haven't touched the digsites (and those also have the slaves).
>>
>>6452857

*If* we can get the prophet and decapitate the regular command structure, we might have a little time to grab some souvenirs before we nuke the site.

But that's a big if.

We might have to content ourselves with what we took from the Hvitserk planet for the time being.
>>
>>6452758
>PIED PIPER
I'm not sure being involved with this sort of evil glowie shit was a good idea. Seems like it might bite us in the ass way down the line.
>>
>>6452861

Probably, which is why I'd prefer the Naval Code myself, but the Spartan Program getting more recruits and undercutting Ackerson are in humanity's best interest.

Still not moral, but to quote Director Church:

When faced with extinction, any alternative is preferable.
>>
>>6452758
>Naval Code 45812-B

I'll throw my vote on this too cinically oficial and makes it seem like just another obscure reguation
>>
>>6452758
>Naval Code 45812-B
Calling it PIED PIPER makes it sound like a joke and frankly a little insidious, like they know its a trick. Stick to numbers and data
>>
>>6452860
I mean its a big if more because of the humans slaves there (which Sven wouldn't want to leave to their fate, so that requires planning to take them away) and if we are able to complete our current goals first. There would be also the other many new goals i placed in the list that we might want to do instead than trying and find some artifacts.

I don't consider the artifacts a priority at the moment we have a lot more on our current plate, and the next plate if we feel like the situation allows to do more. The dig sites might not even have found anything worth yet.

Its a possibility, if everything goes perfectly.
>>
>>6452863
SVEN alpha AI when? We're already Maine combat wise
>>
>>6452889

When we make him, I guess.

Step one: Kidnap Director Leonard Church.
>>
>>6452758
>PIED PIPER
>>
>>6452758
>Naval Code 45812-B
>>
>>6452758
>Naval Code 45812-B
>>
>>6452758
>Naval Code 45812-B
>>
>>6452758
>>Write in option
>Titicaca Doctrine
I'm not immature I just like lakes I promise.
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

4 Votes for Pied Piper

3 Votes for Agoge Protocol

6 Votes for Naval Code 45812-B

1 Vote for Titicaca Doctrine

The "Plan of action" for pulling recruits from active OPs battles will be called Naval Code 45812-B, a branch of the code that was used to conscript the first class into the Spartan-II program

[ Decision made ]
[ Proceeding... ]

>>6452762
>>6452791
>>6452873
Going to assume you were switching your vote each of these times

>>6452823
And that you were voting for the Naval code, cause otherwise Pied Piper would be in tie with the Naval Code and this is easier
>>
>>6453119
Yeh I wanted a cool protocol then realized it smarter to go boring to cover our ass and convince the higher ups.
>>
>>6453120
45812 is the protocol Halsey used to conscript the original Spartans. So it's not exactly boring. Seems more like Sven is acknowledging Halsey's necessary atrocity and deliberately appending his own to it. "We can burn in hell together" sort of thing.

Also I don't know if anyone interested in prosecuting Halsey post-war could cleanly disentangle 45812-B from 45812. They'd have to throw Sven under the bus alongside Halsey. He knowingly helped expand and formalize the program. So maybe this is a way of protecting her to an extent.
>>
>>6453119

Yeah, Naval Code 45812-B is my vote, I can just see it being called PIED PIPER informally.
>>
Pied Piper would be a fitting name, but an extremely unprofessional one. And you are well aware of the seriousness and severity of what you've made, even if Pied Piper is closer to your usual style of naming operations, this procedure is hopefully going to be adopted by the wider Spartan program and the reality of what it entails is much too grave to inject any sense of humor, dark or not.

So instead you file the proposal under the identifier "Naval Code 45812-B", marking it as a branch or alteration of the same secret protocol the Program had used at the beginning, to conscript you and the rest of the Spartans without your family's consent or knowledge. And doing so, will divert some of the blame from Halsey to yourself, formally attaching yourself to the amendment of the necessary evil that began the Spartan Program, the first of several. In a way, you were just doing what you always did, protecting what and who you cared about. You leave the file open, for further editing and refinement until the moment you can present it to Halsey, preferably, or her superiors if you can reach her.

Soren provides a tactical debrief on the available data on the Covenant fleet in orbit. It is confirmed that the Smaller, three hundred meter long craft are in fact the same model as "Persephone", as encountered over Chi Cheti IV, and while most of what has been learned from that capture vessel is highly classified and a blob of black ink, the scans and observation of the Skidbladnir has shed some light on the "Persephone" Class. Which Soren at least classifies as a "Cruiser", though he notes that their behavior and armament is closer to those of patrol ships or a UEG Police Cutter and posits that they are the escort of the Covenant Holy Figure present on the fallen colony, rather than a proper occupation force.

"In short, Sir, they are a security detail. Which makes it a mystery what a sole example of the class was doing in Chi Cheti" Soren finishes off his presentation of the facts, which included his estimates of how much firepower the ship could bring to bear as well as its defenses minus its ship wide energy shield "And this would substantiate the evidence that the rest of the fleet is beyond the local star's gravity well, having retreated for reasons unknown to us. Could be a rally point or a resupply mission, but we only have readings to go off of and haven't made radar or visual confirmation with the craft beyond the periphery"

"And what can you tell me of the larger, Manta Ray craft? The Thousand Meter" You ask as Soren adjusts his seating posture, and gestures with his good hand towards the next hologram

"I would personally call it a frigate, and I suspect it is cataloging the world as well as providing additional security in the system. We've observed it observing the devastated regions of the planet, but it has also moved over untouched regions of the world" Soren continued, pausing for a second
Cont
>>
>>6453140

"The reason for both of these behaviors, is unknown, but it could be that the Covenant use "Glassed" worlds are a subject of study or perhaps, it holds some artistic or religious significance to them"

"And what do you suppose its battlefield role is?" You ask, having gotten a few ideas from the data read outs yourself

"It is either fills a specialized role as a "Shot Caller" prior to the Covenant destroying a planet, or it is, like the Persephone Cruisers, acts as a policing or patrol ship in Covenant Held Space" He answers, stiffening his back and staring at the hologram "Or it could be a survey craft, though our scans indicate it is packing a pretty big gun, Sir"

"We'll call it a Ferryman Frigate in our reports, and present your and my personal theories of its purpose in the Covenant Fleet' You answer "And you mentioned a big gun, I don't see it on its profile, I assume it retracts like the point defense seen on the Persephone over Chit Cheti IV?"

"No, its this tear drop or arrowhead shaped protrusion on its back, we only have projections of its energy output but if they are accurate to a seventy percentile range, it is an oversized armament for the ship's specs" He answers, while showing you the read outs and he isn't wrong, if the ambient radiation produced by that weapon indicates its battlefield performance, it is like strapping an elephant gun to a terrier.

"But beyond the main gun, its weaponry is within expectations of declassified reports on similarly sized Covenant craft"

"We'll mention its elephant gun in our official report, and speaking of reports, I heard that Kurt has mopped up the operation in Jamshid while I was recovering, and Nesta was out "Car shopping" You continue and Soren's eyes sparkle with boyish enthusiasm

"Wish I could've been on the ground with him, Sir, and your gambit to turn the local garrison against itself has worked flawlessly and reports from the allied forces brought under his command indicate it has spread to the immediate surroundings, and we've observed from orbit a number of skirmishes in line with a local power struggle"


You nod along, smirking as you tent your hands and listen

"Kurt remained passive and held the allied troops he'd made contact with in reserve, letting the Covenant fight itself and only acted to ensure order and discipline remained low, and reports that no further human collaborators have been sighted within Jamshid or beyond it and that the behavior of the newly arrived troops indicates a switch in local leadership, which would explain the infighting outside of the city, which hasn't stopped as of the time of this report"

"And the operation was deemed a success, and considering our last goal was stopping up the intel leak, I assume the assassination of Khalil Shahi was successful?" You interrupt, to hurry along the report
Cont
>>
>>6453141

"Yes. Kurt massed his allied forces and forced the Covenant's hand. They struck every garrison in the city, every reinforcement point, simultaneously. And with the tensions of between the enemy's troops, it lead to a second complete loss of discipline and collapse of their local chain of command. The new commanding officer, brought in heavy reinforcements and was identified as "Cossuzeus" from the prisoner's report"

"He moved up the deadline? That's a bit uncharacteristic of Kurt, he's usually cautious" You question and Soren nods

"He was confident in the resources available and saw an opportunity to "Spark" further internal strife in the Covenant. He also notes the change of leadership and arrival of the enemy captain, "complicated" things" He continues "Cossuzeus, created a defensive line and personally lead the counter attack against Kurt's massed assault, resulting in the total loss of several of the teams tasked with the strikes. But he was then cut off from his own defensive perimeter around their target, as the sabotage unit lead by James...well they sunk the city, Sir, collapsed the streets and completely cut off the Covenant's defensive perimeter from the rest of their forces"

"Oh, so that's what his angle was" You chuckle, seeing Kurt's plan now

"The Covenant, then, sped up their evacuation of their intel leak, and that's when Kurt deployed his team and lead them in a decapitating strike on the penthouse they were keeping that traitor Shahi in", Soren spat on the ground before continuing "They'd infiltrated past the defensive line and struck from multiple angles. Cal, Malcolm and Anton disabled the ship sent to transport Shahi out of the city, Jai, Adriana and Michael intercepted the Covenant squads sent to extract Shahi from the skyscraper after the transport craft crashed into it, and Kurt, Jorge and Illya entered the building with three squads of allied troops, and cornered the rat trying to flee the sinking ship"

"And who stomped out our rat?" You ask and Soren frowned and flicked his finger through his personal data pad

"One Private Whitney Little, who was assumed KIA early in the infiltration when her climbing gear failed and she plummeted...five floors during the opening of Kurt's strike" He answered "Apparently, her COMM unit was damaged and she fled from a number of Covenant security teams and reinforcements and accidentally cut of Shahi as he managed to evade Illya and Kurt via an elevator. According to Kurt, Little was trying to take the same elevator up, so it stopped on her floor. Shahi was unarmed, and already heavily injured from Jorge full auto-ing his first choice of hiding places. He was killed when the private opened fire with a Covenant firearm she'd "found herself in the possession of"

"She wasn't kidding about having bipolar luck" You chuckle, struggling not to laugh as you imagined the situation "So the operation was a success, any notable injuries or losses?"
Cont
>>
>>6453142

"The insurrectionist leader Kaitoa is marked as KIA. He lead one of the assaults on the Covenant reinforcement points, and engaged with Cossuzeus directly, and from what we can gather, the enemy captain attempted to interrogate him personally. Kaitoa had snuck an explosive device onto his person and detonated it. Heavily injuring the enemy officer and playing a key role in the continue anarchy in the Covenant's ranks in this region. We don't know if the Captain was killed or not, but Kaitoa's second in command has taken charge of the remaining insurrectionist elements under our command"

"Til Valhalla, wish I could've known him better, but that was a good death. Worthwhile. No Spartan injuries?"

"Jorge's armor was heavily damaged. However Any injuries reported, Weren't disqualifying for continued operation though they will need some recovery time, Gray team in particular experienced heavy resistance and suffered the most injuries out of any team, though they report the termination of no less than three of Cossuzeus' direct subordinants and the capture of a second "Gravity Hammer", this one apparently, keeping charge"

"Excellent, any other note worthy losses? Besides Kaitoa?" You ask as Soren nodded

"One of the local saboteurs elected to stay behind to ensure the bombs went off. The team lead by James encountered the remnant of the "Cockroach" infestation and with the tunnels already heavily flooded, had to make to fall back early. The other member of the duo, Alexi, is still alive. Apparently, the two were a married couple. CMA technicians"

"Who was the one who stayed behind?"

"Dimitri Orlov, they were already injured and didn't want to slow the rest of the unit down. As for the total casualty report, to our best estimate..."

You listened to the total losses and leaned back, "It is a net increase to our numbers on the ground. The traitor is dead, and at least three different Covenant forces are currently fighting their own local civil war. Kurt did a damn fine job. We'll get Jorge a new suit of armor, Gray team can sit the next step out"

"And, as your tactical advisor, Sven, may I hear what the next step in your plan is?"
Cont
>>
>>6453143

>"Anton, Cal and I will help Nesta find those ships, Kurt and the other Spartans will fall back our base of operations in the colony and prepare for evacuation"

>"We were sent here to impede Local Covenant operations, so far, we succeeded, but that Chieftan could be sent to Harvest or another planet. We'll take him out, when he shows up to bring his troops into line"

>"Three of the Captains have suffered humiliating defeats, three of them are fighting and struggling for power. Of the later three, one hasn't suffered any loss of face. And he's what we need to worry about. If we kill Gikirbus, the local chain of command will become extremely unstable"

>"...Maybe its my viking blood speaking, but I think I want to kill a holy man. The Covenant seem to put extreme importance on their priests. We killed one here before. Killing a second should encourage the fleet commander to divert excessive resources to the planet, in response

>Write in option

Also

[ Secret objective 1: Prevent Khalil Shahi from leaking the location of nearby colonized systems]

Kurt's team completed the secret objective.

>>6453125
CORRECT!
>>
>>6453144

>"...Maybe its my viking blood speaking, but I think I want to kill a holy man. The Covenant seem to put extreme importance on their priests. We killed one here before. Killing a second should encourage the fleet commander to divert excessive resources to the planet, in response.


>"We were sent here to impede Local Covenant operations, so far, we succeeded, but that Chieftan could be sent to Harvest or another planet. We'll take him out, when he shows up to bring his troops into line."

Two pronged attack time. This'll put us on the clock though, but time to set up our endgame.
>>
>>6453149

Also, RIP Kaitoa. Posthumous pardon and awards for valor wouldn't go astray, I feel. Good propaganda opportunity if nothing else.
>>
>>6453144
>"...Maybe its my viking blood speaking, but I think I want to kill a holy man. The Covenant seem to put extreme importance on their priests. We killed one here before. Killing a second should encourage the fleet commander to divert excessive resources to the planet, in response

Time to kick a grunt into a prophet.
>>
>>6453144
>"...Maybe its my viking blood speaking, but I think I want to kill a holy man. The Covenant seem to put extreme importance on their priests. We killed one here before. Killing a second should encourage the fleet commander to divert excessive resources to the planet, in response

I'd prefer capture sice we've got lots of use for a live prophet but if we can't it's just more effective for our main objective.
>>
>>6453144
>"A Two pronged attack. One Team will eliminate Gikirbus ensuraing the local chain of command becomes extremely Untstable. Using that opening I'll lead one team to Capture a Holy Man as a Hostage or Kill them to ensure the covenant divert excessive resources to the planet in response."

Thinking about it the chieftain is too strong and dangerous for just one team of spartans. Distracting him by removing his last liutenant ouf of the board and needing to fix it is more achievable.

Then we can aim for the prophet, cpature them and use boogeyman to send Vali to all Covenant Ships to open a way out, or just kill him to divert covenant attention. Hell we can kill it using boogeyman to break their hearts.
>>
>>6453155
Tehre no way the chieftain wont get executed if something happen to the prophet anyway. that what happened last time we killed a prophet here.
>>
>>6453144
>>"Anton, Cal and I will help Nesta find those ships, Kurt and the other Spartans will fall back our base of operations in the colony and prepare for evacuation"
>>
>>6453142
Very interesting Brurlirus didn't wait for Teckyis to be sent back here, he has sent Cossuzeus to fix up the mess. So Teckyis is only receiving humiliation for now most likely.

Not great that we lost several guerilla forces teams.


>>6453143
>Kaitoa dead
Ah man that's bad. He was a good officer and would have work well with Sven even has an Innie. And he had info about that ex innid base the Minister is using. Very very bad.

Maybe the Saboteurs leader will know something of that base. But with Kaitoa dead we cant count anymore on his knowhow and experience. He was a genuine hero for go 1vs1 against Cossuzeus since we know its a bigger bad ape than the other ones here on AlphaCorvi-II.

And Jamy wasn't extracted. Uhm then we put Jamy with the new goals. Cant do it now.
>>
>>6453144
>Write in option
We need more information not only from Jammy whom needs extraction asap. Take advantage of the chaos but also why the covies came here to start with, they're still here which means the ruins still have secrets.

So!

Next OPs will be as follows
1 team secures Jammy
2 team secures transports
3 team begins to infiltrate those ruins, we know from before Sven has an odd reaction to them
>>
Current Goals :

- Understand which day the Minister planned for the sacrifice ceremony (best day to attack him and Brurlirus)
- Find civilian spaceships
- Take/Kill the Minister (ask the innies about the fort)
- Take the Minister Comms Station/Machinery present on the ground
- Kill Brurlirus/Nuke the Main Covenant Base to ensure the Fratricide War starts
- Use the school with bones as a temporary 2nd base (increased humans numbers under us)


Possible New Goals (to consider if feasible after the current ones are done):

- Search for other human resistance groups on the coastlines and Black Reef
- Plan on how to get the human slaves in the Forerunner dig sites out
- Nuke the Forerunner main dig site
- Nuke the potential holy tomb/monument made in honor of the Martyred Ex-Archaeology Minister (self-explanatory. Need to check if it exists)
- Check if the Queen of Hearts (Scorpion Tank at ONI blacksite base) is a full wreck or if it can be recovered
- Extract/Destroy Jamy, the AI of Jamshid (might be dead with the water everywhere, buuut the report of Kurt doesn't mention it)
- Potential capture of a Huragok/s (they can easily die. Could be anywhere, even if dig sites make more sense than other places)
- Potential capture of a Yanme/s (while we have the eggs, an alive one much like an alive Huragok is a whole new alien species to bring home. Might not be easy now if those rebel remnants are going to be killed by Cossuzeus)
- Capture other aliens (common soldiers, officers, or even leaders like Teckyis would be all valuable)
- Bring home more Covenant weapons/equipment/vehicles
- Grabbing Queen Yanme's corpse (rotting in the water)
- Mjern Capture (can't see this done without using Vali or taking the Minister)
- Steal Forerunner Artifacts from aliens (i kinda doubt they have found anything, also in comparison to the rest of our goals here ? less important. Its something too vague to run behind, hell the Minister wants to do a public ceremony of human sacrifices because the dig sites probably haven't found artifacts yet. And also because he is likely a sadist)
- Start planning the escape route for any civilian starship found and restored (fairly important, the Covenant fleet needs to be occupied in some capacity though first. Otherwise the civie ships ? All dead. It would also be best to have a route so we herd them together in one place)


Stuff to Request after the mission :

- More troops (if we don't enlist the guerrilla forces in our ranks, or even if we do so). Could be ODST, Infantry, Marines, Rangers...
- Expanded Spartan Armories with dedicated experienced personnel (add all manner of human weapons even out of the usual companies the UNSC buys from)
- Equipment for handling captured aliens (built from adapted equipment for handling large animals?)
- Large Animals Sedatives (this should be good enough for aliens)
- Guarantee honors/medals for several dead humans and survivors of Alpha Corvi-II
>>
With Gikirbus being the only one not defeated of the captains, killing him idk. Its doesn't exactly fullfill perfectly the Fratricide War plot we made. Like yeah sure more tension, but Brurlirus can just place a new guy. I really want that fratricide war to go off. Would be a tactical magnum opus of Sven.

I like 4YcON7v1 adaption of using Gikirbus has a distraction. Still the death of the for now undefeated captain good with poisons... really doesn't feel like being enough. To me it sounds like a distraction and yes more chaos, but not enough. Sven seems to think different in the standard option.
>>
>>6453187
its not exactly east to appoint a new liutenant considering Gikirbus subordinates would be fighting overit. Theres only so much the Chieftain promotion can do especially with how Klingon promotion Brute are prone too.
>>
>>6453144
>>"We were sent here to impede Local Covenant operations, so far, we succeeded, but that Chieftan could be sent to Harvest or another planet. We'll take him out, when he shows up to bring his troops into line"
>>
>>6453144
>"...Maybe its my viking blood speaking, but I think I want to kill a holy man. The Covenant seem to put extreme importance on their priests. We killed one here before. Killing a second should encourage the fleet commander to divert excessive resources to the planet, in response
This seems like it could have strategic consequences beyond the operation. The entire point of this campaign is to divert Covenant attention and resources away from Cole and his battlegroup. Another dead Prophet seems like the kind of thing that would accomplish that, drawing additional forces into the system. Just need to be gone before they show up...

As a bonus, the Brutes could get punished for the Minister's death in the aftermath like the Elites did.
And there's also the fact that the more forces the fleet commander commits to the planet, the fewer he will have on his ships to defend them. It could make boarding and capturing one more feasible.
>>
>>6453188
That's fair.

>>6453155
>>6453144
support this write in
>>
>>6453144
>"...Maybe its my viking blood speaking, but I think I want to kill a holy man. The Covenant seem to put extreme importance on their priests. We killed one here before. Killing a second should encourage the fleet commander to divert excessive resources to the planet, in response
>>
Might be a bit late with the update, feeling really out of it today for some reason.
>>
>>6453432
He huffed the Unggoy Giggle Gas
>>
>>6453518
I'm going to see if sleeping will help. So the update is going to take longer than a "bit late".
>>
>>6453559
Hmm qm does killing a prophet unlock a sub objective like Bladebrraker and do brute Have an equivalent for killing chieftains?
>>
>>6453573
>"Sub objective:Danelaw"
>Kill a prophet and high level commander while within Covenant controlled territory
>Leveling hint: Raid within Covenant territory
Please I beg you Torment, this came into my mind and I feel it is too fitting to let go.
>>
>>6453575
Alternative name if we want to seperate it from the previous mission name:
>Name:Danegeld
>>
>>6453144

>>"Three of the Captains have suffered humiliating defeats, three of them are fighting and struggling for power. Of the later three, one hasn't suffered any loss of face. And he's what we need to worry about. If we kill Gikirbus, the local chain of command will become extremely unstable"
>
>>"...Maybe its my viking blood speaking, but I think I want to kill a holy man. The Covenant seem to put extreme importance on their priests. We killed one here before. Killing a second should encourage the fleet commander to divert excessive resources to the planet, in response
>
>>Write in option: killing the priest should probably get the Covenant to send reinforcements to this world. We've spent a lot of time playing with him... I wonder how Vali would do if we got to set him loose on the Covenant fleet? We should infiltrate a communications center and bury a few forks of him.
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

Sorry about that, whatever was wrong with me is sorted. Almost forgot I had a Lancer game today. Me and another player helped HORUS sabotage the tournament our group is already planning on using to humiliate the hosts, and they, not realizing we were competing, locked our first opponents in their mechs which lead to an entirely avoidable casualty in the ring. Which got us an easier win cause the tournament called the match early because of it

And I'm going to be in another LANCER game on Wednesday , but like the monday game, it shouldn't stop me from updating cause unlike the Hunter game I run.

Anyways

6 Vote for next objective being killing the Prophet

2 Votes for next objective being killing the Chieftan

1 vote to Kill Gikirbus

1 Vote for next objective to be securing transport off of colony

1 Vote for p/2sxo+A's write ins

2 Votes for a Two Pronged attack

1 Vote for 3IAuBbOM's write in

So the next objective will be the BIG ONE and also the hardest choice of the non write in choices. Nice

[ Decision made ]
[ Proceeding.... ]

>>6453177
...I knew I'd forgotten to mention something. Jamy was extracted, because Spartans don't do half measures or leave behind vulnerabilities like that and Michael was in the squad so it was easily enough done

>>6453573
>>6453575
>>6453576
You guys need to get out of my walls lol
>>
>>6453671
Coolio we need o bring Grace next time we go Covie raiding so she can level her Subjective up.

Or maybe send her with John team when mission can have a prophet show up.

Gotta honor our first prophet killer.
>>
>>6453671
Gonna need to kill the chieftain after the prophet though. Does it need to be an actual fight or would just numong his homebase with him in r work :v
>>
>>6453671
>Covie civil war with brutes/jackels/grunts
>ANOTHER prophet dies here

Dude the fucking 3 in charge are gonna be so confused.
>>
>>6453677
send in the silent shadow!
>>
You consider for a moment how to voice what you're planning. It is risky, but risky is what Spartans do best isn't it? And if the mission is a success, it'll make Operation: Crow's Nest succeed beyond even Command's highest expectations. But it was risky, even for the number of Spartans under your command. It could easily go FUBAR, and the Operation could fail. But in your opinion, the rewards far outweighed the risks. You'd already ran through the pros and cons before you decided on the approach and next goal of the operation, but you had yet to inform Soren. An oversight that was admittedly on you.

"Maybe its my Viking blood speaking, but I want to kill a Holy Man", and for a moment, the Spartan out of armor didn't understand what you were saying, a look of confusion passing through his eyes before he experienced a fully body jolt as he recalled the pertinent intel from the last deployment on Alpha Corvi II.

"Sven, that is an incredibly risky play to make" He said, not warning but more out of reminiscence "I don't think any oufit besides ours could pull it off. If you succeed, it'd cripple the Covenant's operations on Alpha Corvi II and create a domino effect across their nearby fronts. Including Harvest"

"Exactly. The Covenant seem to put extreme importance on their priests" You say stoically, completely calm and composed as you directly voice your plan "We killed one here before; Killing a second should encourage the fleet commander to divert excessive resources to the planet, in response"

"And if that happens, Command will likely cut our operations behind enemy lines short, Since there isn't much bigger a diversion you can cause than a political assassination in a zone the enemy considered secure", Soren says, tapping away on his datapad as he hobbles beside you to keep up with your brisk pace as he follows you to the armory "I'll inform the rest of the unit, before you shuttle back planetside"

"Nesta will continue her solo mission of finding useable ships to get any survivors off world" You explain "And you and I will hash out the finer points and details of the assassination, while I get suited up and armed"

"Of course, we know where the worm priest is located, haven't seen any activity from the site since the officers began duking it out amongst themselves" Soren says, forcing his eyes to remain on the screen of his datapad as the two of you walk into the room devoted the MJOLNIR armor, where your suit has already been patched up and repaired from spare components of the redundant MARK IV/ OCEANIC suits. Though you could switch to the Standard Variant of Mark IV power armor, as the target is far from any sizeable body of water, but the integrated hooks on the wrists and feet of the Oceanic variant, also worked just as well for mountain climbing as they did amphibious infiltrations.

So you'd stick with the OCEANIC variant.
Cont
>>
>>6453677
Covie command are gonna be obsessed with this planet. Shame we can't leave a parting gift. Though maybe we can set up a nuke in our base and bait for it before leaving.

It's definately gonna make the panic worst though since now everyone on the chopping block.

>>6453671
Also 404 can we switch the killing to capture of opportunity arrives. Though hopefully we can atleast loot the prophets Phone if we can only kill him.
>>
>>6453679

"We've got nukes in play, we'll need to figure out where we'll deploy those to" You say as you walk up to the mechanism designed to fit MJOLNIR over you like the pieces of a puzzle, and as the technicians got to work suiting you back up, your thoughts turned to the equipment and kit you'd take when you got back into the fight...

>Primaries: M45E Shotgun + AC kit (Aquatic Combat) & MA5B Assault rifle + AC Kit (Including AC-AP Rounds , Tracer rounds, & AC-Shredder Rounds), Secondary: Recovered "Sasquatch" Revolver. Melee: Integrated hook + Recovered Energy Dagger [High charge remaining]. Grenades: x2 Smoke, x2 Flashbang, x2 Fragmentation, x1 Plasma. Armor: MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ UA Attachments.

>Primaries: SRS99-AM sniper rifle+ AC Kit (Aquatic Combat) & M392 DMR + AC Kit (Including AC-AP Rounds & Tracer Rounds), Secondary: Recovered "Sasquatch" Revolver: Integrated Hook + Recovered Energy Sword [High Charge remaining]. Grenades: x3 Smoke, x 3 Flashbangs, x 1 Plasma. Armor: MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ TAC attachments (Tac Pad + Additional ammo reserves/ field kit + TAC Camo cloak).

>Primaries: Recovered "Sasquatch" Grenade Launcher & XBR55 battle rifle + AC kit. Secondary: Narq Dart pistol. Melee: Integrated Hook + Hatchet. Grenades: x 3 Napalm, x 3 fragmentation, x 1 Plasma. MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ UA Attachments + TAC Grenadier Bandolier.

>Primaries: M247 general-purpose machine gun + Additional Ammo (Replacing 2nd primary). Secondary: x 2 recover energy pistols. Melee: Integrated Hook + Combat Knife. Grenades: x 4 Fragmentation, x 2 flashbang, x 1 plasma. MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ TAC Attachments (TAC Bracing + Additional Ammo Reserves)

>Write in option
>>6453677
In this scenario, the third Minister of Archeology is going to be forced to attend a seminar about the dangers of personally going planet side to oversee the excavations of holy relics
>>
>>6453680
Of course.
>>
>>6453681
>Primaries: Recovered "Sasquatch" Grenade Launcher & XBR55 battle rifle + AC kit. Secondary: Narq Dart pistol. Melee: Integrated Hook + Hatchet. Grenades: x 3 Napalm, x 3 fragmentation, x 1 Plasma. MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ UA Attachments + TAC Grenadier Bandolier.

Gives us a chance to capture the prophet. Also with the nuke we can send James and his saboteur to use it as distraction for the brutes.

Brute grenade launcher can also make them think the brutes are rebelling or something else stupid. Hell pin the assassination on Brutes. It's crazy but could cause even more confusion.
>>
>>6453681
> the third Minister of Archeology
>In one year
>The Prophets are gonna start thinking the position is cursed

I look forward to installing actual "Beware the pharoes curse" to this job of the covenant.


>Primaries: Recovered "Sasquatch" Grenade Launcher & XBR55 battle rifle + AC kit. Secondary: Narq Dart pistol. Melee: Integrated Hook + Hatchet. Grenades: x 3 Napalm, x 3 fragmentation, x 1 Plasma. MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ UA Attachments + TAC Grenadier Bandolier.

How can I not make it look like the Brutes not only failed to save the Prophet but also did a part of killing him?
>>
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>>6453681
>M45E Shotgun + AC Kit (Aquatic Combat) & M392 DMR + AC Kit (including AC-AP Rounds & Tracer Round). Secondary: x 2 Recovered energy pistols. Melee: Integrated Hook + Recovered Energy Sword (High Charge remaining). Grenades: x 2 smoke, x 3 Fragmentation, x 2 Plasma. Armor: MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ UA Attachments + TAC Grenadier Bandolier
This is gonna be hard no matter what we do, so I'm opting for primary weapons we've actually been trained on and secondary weapons that fill gaps those don't. Also more grenades, because who doesn't love grenades?
>>
>>6453692
We have enough grenadier levels to use the sasquatch. Though that does have energy pistols and energy sword to fake it as Covie betrayal too.
>>
>>6453681
>Primaries: M45E Shotgun + AC kit (Aquatic Combat) & MA5B Assault rifle + AC Kit (Including AC-AP Rounds , Tracer rounds, & AC-Shredder Rounds), Secondary: Recovered "Sasquatch" Revolver. Melee: Integrated hook + Recovered Energy Dagger [High charge remaining]. Grenades: x2 Smoke, x2 Flashbang, x2 Fragmentation, x1 Plasma. Armor: MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ UA Attachments.
Going on a worm hunt

>>6453695
We're nuking the site anyway, aren't we? There won't be anything left for them to assume the brutes are guilty.
>>
>>6453699
Not settled yet. I feel the big think is brining the nart pistol to improve odds of capturing the prophet. This probably the biggest chance we have for it and getting a prophet early is equal to the ship we got.

In terms of info about covenant and more.

High risk yeh but going for the kill is already Legendary so might as well go all in for highest rewards.
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>>6453681
>Primaries: SRS99-AM sniper rifle+ AC Kit (Aquatic Combat) & M392 DMR + AC Kit (Including AC-AP Rounds & Tracer Rounds), Secondary: Recovered "Sasquatch" Revolver: Integrated Hook + Recovered Energy Sword [High Charge remaining]. Grenades: x3 Smoke, x 3 Flashbangs, x 1 Plasma. Armor: MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ TAC attachments (Tac Pad + Additional ammo reserves/ field kit + TAC Camo cloak).
Feel like this would be the most immediately useful loadout. We can probably scrounge to adapt further if necessary.
>>
>>6453695
I'm gonna be real, I kinda don't care about maintaining the false flag at this point. I just want that Prophet dead.
We're plenty deadly with regular grenades anyways and we're probably gonna be swimming in them thanks to Scrounger and Grenadier. I don't really see much benefit in giving up a primary slot for the brute shot because of that.
Besides, we're pretty good with shotguns at this point and I think a DMR would allow for more consistent lethality at a distance, which may be a factor if the Prophet makes a run for it or has marksmen giving him cover.
>>
>>6453695
I want to capture him as well tbf. But i'm also def one of the first marines to die in any fire fight.
>>
>>6453695
>>6453714
Oh yeah, addendum, the plasma pistols and swords are for chewing through any Sangheili. We do not have time to be wasting with John Wick tier CQC every time we run up against a splitjaw, especially if we're gonna be trying to assassinate somebody this important.
>>
>>6453681
>Primaries: M45E Shotgun & M319 Grenade Launcher Secondary: Narq Dart Pistol & 1 Energy pistol Melee: Integrated Hook + Recovered Energy Sword [High charge remaining]. Grenades: x2 Napalm, x2 Flashbang, x2 Fragmentation, x1 Plasma. Armor: MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ UA Attachment

Okay heres a write in to give ourself as big bonus as possible. Our old reliable Grenade Launcher that weve used alot for grenadier, a shotgun for shotgunner. Wont have supressive fire but we just have to adapt but teammate and bonus should carry the day.

For Secondary were taking a Nart Drt for capture opportunity and an Energy pistol. Both of them should be pretty light since Dart pistol was used by kids and energy pistol dont have added ammo.

For Melee an Energy sword as our most powerful melee weapon.

Lastly Knads, Napalm, Flashbang, Fragment and plasma give us versality.

hopefully these works as compromise.
>>
>>6453681
>Primaries: M45E Shotgun & M319 Grenade Launcher Secondary: Narq Dart Pistol & 1 Energy pistol Melee: Integrated Hook + Recovered Energy Sword [High charge remaining]. Grenades: x2 Napalm, x2 Flashbang, x2 Fragmentation, x1 Plasma. Armor: MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ UA Attachment

>Primaries: Recovered "Sasquatch" Grenade Launcher & XBR55 battle rifle + AC kit. Secondary: Narq Dart pistol. Melee: Integrated Hook + Hatchet. Grenades: x 3 Napalm, x 3 fragmentation, x 1 Plasma. MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ UA Attachments + TAC Grenadier Bandolier

Just making it clear I'm not switching votes but voting for both. Since while I'm fine with the Sasquatch. I do understand the desire to go with more familiar weapons in hunting a prophet.
>>
>>6453681
>Primaries: Recovered "Sasquatch" Grenade Launcher & XBR55 battle rifle + AC kit. Secondary: Narq Dart pistol. Melee: Integrated Hook + Hatchet. Grenades: x 3 Napalm, x 3 fragmentation, x 1 Plasma. MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ UA Attachments + TAC Grenadier Bandolier
>>
>>6453681
>Primaries: M45E Shotgun + AC kit (Aquatic Combat) & MA5B Assault rifle + AC Kit (Including AC-AP Rounds , Tracer rounds, & AC-Shredder Rounds), Secondary: Recovered "Sasquatch" Revolver. Melee: Integrated hook + Recovered Energy Dagger [High charge remaining]. Grenades: x2 Smoke, x2 Flashbang, x2 Fragmentation, x1 Plasma. Armor: MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ UA Attachments.
>>
>>6453681
>>Primaries: M45E Shotgun + AC kit (Aquatic Combat) & MA5B Assault rifle + AC Kit (Including AC-AP Rounds , Tracer rounds, & AC-Shredder Rounds), Secondary: Recovered "Sasquatch" Revolver. Melee: Integrated hook + Recovered Energy Dagger [High charge remaining]. Grenades: x2 Smoke, x2 Flashbang, x2 Fragmentation, x1 Plasma. Armor: MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ UA Attachments.
>>
>>6453681
>Primaries: M45E Shotgun & M319 Grenade Launcher Secondary: Narq Dart Pistol & 1 Energy pistol Melee: Integrated Hook + Recovered Energy Sword [High charge remaining]. Grenades: x2 Napalm, x2 Flashbang, x2 Fragmentation, x1 Plasma. Armor: MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ UA Attachment

>Primaries: Recovered "Sasquatch" Grenade Launcher & XBR55 battle rifle + AC kit. Secondary: Narq Dart pistol. Melee: Integrated Hook + Hatchet. Grenades: x 3 Napalm, x 3 fragmentation, x 1 Plasma. MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ UA Attachments + TAC Grenadier Bandolier

either or for me capturing this guy would be good for us but if its not feasible i want to be sure they're dead
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>>6453681
>Primaries: M45E Shotgun & M319 Grenade Launcher Secondary: Narq Dart Pistol & 1 Energy pistol Melee: Integrated Hook + Recovered Energy Sword [High charge remaining]. Grenades: x2 Napalm, x2 Flashbang, x2 Fragmentation, x1 Plasma. Armor: MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ UA Attachment
>>
>>6453681

>Primaries: M45E Shotgun & M319 Grenade Launcher Secondary: Narq Dart Pistol & 1 Energy pistol Melee: Integrated Hook + Recovered Energy Sword [High charge remaining]. Grenades: x2 Napalm, x2 Flashbang, x2 Fragmentation, x1 Plasma. Armor: MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ UA Attachment.

Yeah, go with this and try grab a Plasma Rifle or Repeater along the way. Try and bring a vehicle that's got a big boot to stuff the prophet and any other loot we can get into.

Also:

>Addendum: Duct tape.

Got to have something we can cocoon the prophet in, or at least keep him quiet.
>>
>>6453183
>>6453671
Well, that's one more completed goal from our list then.

>>6453680
We can leave parting gifts, three for be exact, but the question is leaving them in places that, well, matter for the Covenant. Like the main covenant base and the main dig site (though if we do this, we are blasting the human slaves there in chains). And the monument to the Dead Martyred Minister, which I haven't seen so far.

>>6453681
>Primaries: M45E Shotgun & M319 Grenade Launcher Secondary: Narq Dart Pistol & 1 Energy pistol Melee: Integrated Hook + Recovered Energy Sword [High charge remaining]. Grenades: x2 Napalm, x2 Flashbang, x2 Fragmentation, x1 Plasma. Armor: MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ UA Attachment.
>Addendum: Duct tape.
I like the addendum.

Automatic priority right now should be :

- Understand which day the Minister planned for the sacrifice ceremony (this is important for attacking him. It's also important if we care about the humans working to death still; these guys are the ones that will get their throats cut). I think we can understand the day based on increased Covenant comms chatter and the signs of large movements (human slaves being brought to the sacrifice place)
- Use the school with bones as a temporary 2nd base (we have more humans now, and a whole lot more incoming if we want to be a savior further. Dividing them between the ruins of the ONI Blacksite and the School with bones piles helps our stealth)
- Interrogate Pufpuf again (probably about the Minister; if we get even a basic idea of his mentality, we can take him by surprise even further. What he is planning to do already reveals something of his mind)
- Talk with Innies rebels (the place the Minister is using is an ex innie base/fort. Anything they know would help our assault considerably)

Then we strike. We have a lot of forces with us now, so much we could use the entirety of our TYPHON vehicles deployed and still have plenty of resistance fighter squads left on foot. If we still have the air Covenant vehicles, we could also use those.

I am thinking a full attack with most of our Spartans and resistance squads from all sides of the ex Innie base/fort, while we have some resistance fighter squads do small attacks around the world first. Basically, we create nuisance and distractions before we hit them by surprise with a hammer. Some art and crafts, giving a new look for everyone involved, could be useful if there are alien materials to use.
>>
Alternatively, just more basic camouflage for resistance fighters would help the assault. I assume the world's jungle surrounds the ex-innie base/fort. Partially at least.

Hmm, how much does Sven know about Aztecs? We should reintroduce that whistle of theirs.....
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>>6453839

Problem - solvable: How do we get to whatever ship we intend to steal, because we'll need it in operable condition?

We're going to have to steal a Phantom. Maybe a few so we have some decoys that can be remote piloted.

I'm assuming that there's going to be PD of some sort active on our approach and that we'll be going in hot. Stealth would be preferable, but we should plan for the worst case scenario still.

And yes, I am stealing John's Gambit from First Strike a little here - we use at least one of the stolen Phantoms as a fireship to breach our target's shields so we can land. From there, we fight our way to the bridge, lock the ship down and vent the atmosphere, then sweep the damn thing from stem to stern to purge any survivors we can't subdue.

With any luck, there'll be an Engineer or two on the bridge.
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>>6453844
At this point, I am not sure going for the Mjern is feasible. If everything had gone smoothly, maybe. But besides, we need a vehicle like that (and the last place that can have it is the Covenant Main Base, where there is Brurilus, so too much work), and then go for it. And the Mjern is all the way in space.

Right now we should concentrate on the Minister, and we know he is ground side in this ex Innie base/fort.

I am thinking we use TYPHON vehicles and approach from the ground. Maybe our two Pelicans can deliver resistance squads as well. We need to attack in strength the Minister, and crack open the garrison and honor guard that protects him. If we are lucky, a combination of surprise, fear, and info from Innies and Pufpuf will give us a strong opening. If we can understand the day of the sacrifice ceremony, it would be an even better attack.

Vali will be of use only if we find the comms station or machine the Minister is using from the ground.
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>>6453847

Mm.

I guess we could always try and ransom the Prophet for the Mjern, but it's risky. They could always plant a tracker on the ship and it'd be a bitch to find it.
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>>6453847
For mjern we can usw the prophet to order it to go to specific location and maybe ambush it with a spartan crw to capture.

Considering it's in comms with the prophet it's likely to be under their direct command.

Another option is using the prophet to get a re scarlet somehow to let us attack it while they're off guard.

We need to focus on the prophet for now though. The mjern is too distant to be our concern right now.
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>>6453849
>>6453850

We will have to see if we can put our hands on him and if we can find the machine/comms station/alien phone/alien iPad he uses on the ground. If we can get our hands on these two things, we can use a Minister, and we can put Vali somewhere potentially very dangerous for the Covenant forces here. That is, if we feel like its worthed enough to do it. We can just get out once the Minister is dealt with.

I am 99% sure he will broadcast on the day of the sacrifice ceremony, so he should have a clean, perfect connection with all aliens in Alpha Corvi II and be occupied with basically doing religious streaming.

The only question now is whether we can understand the exact day and hour he starts doing this, and if he will waste time actually using his own hands for a symbolic human kill on religious alien TV while the Brute Tribe troops do the actual massacre.
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>>6453851

Rather than interrogating Pufpuf again, I propose we kill a patrol and interrogate a grunt with fresher intel.
>>
>>6453849
>Ransom
>A member of the Covenant
>>6453850
>Using a prophet as a hostage
Using Prophets for anything other than public executions is the same level of hopium RED FLAG was on. Especially this early in the war, any captured or 'left behind' members of the Covenant, prophet or otherwise, will happily be killed off as martyrs for the great journey. The moment we try and use the local minister as leverage we'll be nailed by the Ester's ventral plasma lance.
>>6453844
>I am stealing John's Gambit from First Strike a little here
That only worked because the carrier he and his rescuees managed to grab was running a skeleton crew and had a majority of it's compliment depleted. And he had Cortana who could handle most of the ship's functions. It was essentially an empty ship. A Mjern is not a combat deployment ship, it will have it's entire compliment of warriors and crew aboard barring a single honor guard and whatever ultras the Minister could scrounge up as a personal guard.

The only use we have of the prophet is broadcasting his blood eagle to the whole ass fleet in system and having Vali riding the broadcast to backdoor every ship that see's it. Mjern included, and hope to fuck that Ester too and whatever high tonnage BS is sitting at the edge of the system. I'm all for it but going after even a Minister is kicking a hornets nest. We kill the bastard then scoot, anything more gets us and our Spartans glassed by that Ket or Elefen battlecruiser sitting on the edge of the system.
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>>6453853

>RED FLAG

See, half of my motivation behind wanting to capture a Prophet early is to demonstrate how useless an idea it is. That and even a low-ranking prophet will have all the cultural intel that ONI could want, plus whatever else they can pull out of his head before he's vivisected.
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>>6453853

Ransoming isn't a serious suggestion, either. More spitballing.

And it's admittedly been quite a while since I read First Strike, so I'd forgotten that detail. Guess it'd be down to Vali's ability to restrain how badly he hatefucks the digital architecture of whatever ship we might try and take as a prize.
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>>6453852
Could be an idea. And you would be right; Pufpuf is not updated in any recent changes. Should be easy enough. The grunt and any of the aliens that survive from that patrol. Hehe, maybe we capture Mikmak.

>>6453853
>Bloodeagle
Well, that and bringing him home (where interrogators can interrogate him and scientists study all about him). And the blood eagle takes a bit of time... even if it would be powerful against aliens' morale. Especially if we really look like an undead demon while doing it. Buuuuut at the same time, we just made sure Teckyis was seen as a complete madman with PTSD who believes the legends of undead human demons are real.

Bringing him home would be great if we could.
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>>6453853
>>6453856
If we capture them yeh all info is more important even the fact negotiate is impossible unless we kill all the prophets to cause a schism in Covie rank.

That said I think you guys are forgetting the Prophet here is archeology meaning they should have a lot of forerunner knoedge even if bias. Might help with research for that. Even if the engineers are the r al backbone of covenant forerunner tech
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>>6453861

Oh, for sure. Like, more valuable than the Prophet would be a Luminary, if he has one.
>>
So i've bene doing some thinking and for our little Kidnapping/possible worm murder and i've got together a number of things we need to do in a vague order before, during and after said Operation. Now honestly I propose we jsut kill'em, i'd like them to be captured but given Sven's own background he knows religious zealots are more than happy to go down with the ship so to speak.

I propose we get in there and stage an attack in the dig site flushing the worm from his hole (unless we somehow get them with their pants down and kill them then and there). The actual hit itself will occur outside where we'd have planted a Tac-Nuke around their camp/Landing site. They come out and as their forces converge to deal with the dig site attack/the VIP is escorted out? BOOM.

Now the aliens will be on the hunt, we deploy the second nuke as a diversion/seocnd mass casulty event somewhere else important. Get their eyes on the ground and comms buzzing. In that chaos awash with radio static and barking orders we let out Vali while we take the civilians and ourselves out of here. Let our little monster wreak havoc on their in space systems and detections while dealing with nuclear fallout; we all bug out in the whirlwind left behind.

Jump somewhere random first, lay low awhile then head back to our own chekc in point after sweeping our own vessels for infiltrators.

---
In short jsut trying to remind we don't need to be right up on the worm to kill it and if we can at range or remotly it'd be silly not to....unless we really, really really want that Prophet skull on our armour or desk
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>>6453867
it would be nice to at least get a tissue sample for scientific purposes
>>
>>6453861
Oh no, I am not forgetting that. But I have my eyes on all the scientific and cultural discoveries we would make if we could capture him. He would be valuable. It would be another early victory of the war, another invaluable effort that helps, another Spartan and Sven-signed incredible success. Just like capturing the ship. The Forerunners' knowledge he holds in his head will also help humanity, of course. But his body and his knowledge of the Covenant cultures, races, society, politics, territory, religion, etc.... It's worth. HC would sign any requisition Sven asks for free if he can return with that.

Killing him is another kill; it will do some morale damage. It will make Alpha Corvi II cursed, but so does a capture. A capture even more so, perhaps. A capture is an even deeper failure than death.

I wonder if we could fake the guy's death with a nuke explosion while we actually take him away with us. And put the nuke explosion on the Sasquatchs. If only we could collect apes to bring home, we might learn of them using nukes in their past....
>>
Ah, you know we can actually bring with us easily more loot. Depending on what kind of civilian ships we find, we should be able to throw most of the stuff we have on the ground inside them, while still having plenty of space for civies. No need for pelicans to go back to the Skidblanir bringing our vehicles and loot back there.

Instead, in the Skidblanir we can place our current few alien prisoners. Like Pufpuf. And others, plus the Minister if we are lucky enough.
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>>6453679
And if that happens, Command will likely cut our operations behind enemy lines short, Since there isn't much bigger a diversion you can cause than a political assassination in a zone the enemy considered secure", Soren says, tapping away on his datapad as he hobbles beside you to keep up with your brisk pace as he follows you to the armory "I'll inform the rest of the unit, before you shuttle back planetside"

Cool so prophet kill is progress in promotion and maybe chance for some low difficulty mission we can use to spend time with Spartans. Though maverick letting us only bring 12 Spartans one more time might mean going for another legendary mission. Gotta see what opens up after crows nest
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>>6453681
>Primaries: M45E Shotgun & M319 Grenade Launcher Secondary: Narq Dart Pistol & 1 Energy pistol Melee: Integrated Hook + Recovered Energy Sword [High charge remaining]. Grenades: x2 Napalm, x2 Flashbang, x2 Fragmentation, x1 Plasma. Armor: MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ UA Attachment.
>Addendum: Duct tape

Forgot to vote let's leverage our APs and bring duct tape.
>>
[ Rebooting Monitor 404TormentedCache, Back online ]

Lots of discussion, always love to see it

5 Votes for Recovered "Sasquatch" Grenade Launcher & XBR55 battle rifle + AC kit. Secondary: Narq Dart pistol. Melee: Integrated Hook + Hatchet. Grenades: x 3 Napalm, x 3 fragmentation, x 1 Plasma. MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ UA Attachments + TAC Grenadier Bandolier.

1 Vote for M45E Shotgun + AC Kit (Aquatic Combat) & M392 DMR + AC Kit (including AC-AP Rounds & Tracer Round). Secondary: x 2 Recovered energy pistols. Melee: Integrated Hook + Recovered Energy Sword (High Charge remaining). Grenades: x 2 smoke, x 3 Fragmentation, x 2 Plasma. Armor: MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ UA Attachments + TAC Grenadier Bandolier

3 Votes Primaries: M45E Shotgun + AC kit (Aquatic Combat) & MA5B Assault rifle + AC Kit (Including AC-AP Rounds , Tracer rounds, & AC-Shredder Rounds), Secondary: Recovered "Sasquatch" Revolver. Melee: Integrated hook + Recovered Energy Dagger [High charge remaining]. Grenades: x2 Smoke, x2 Flashbang, x2 Fragmentation, x1 Plasma. Armor: MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ UA Attachments.

1 Vote for SRS99-AM sniper rifle+ AC Kit (Aquatic Combat) & M392 DMR + AC Kit (Including AC-AP Rounds & Tracer Rounds), Secondary: Recovered "Sasquatch" Revolver: Integrated Hook + Recovered Energy Sword [High Charge remaining]. Grenades: x3 Smoke, x 3 Flashbangs, x 1 Plasma. Armor: MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ TAC attachments (Tac Pad + Additional ammo reserves/ field kit + TAC Camo cloak).

7 Votes M45E Shotgun & M319 Grenade Launcher Secondary: Narq Dart Pistol & 1 Energy pistol Melee: Integrated Hook + Recovered Energy Sword [High charge remaining]. Grenades: x2 Napalm, x2 Flashbang, x2 Fragmentation, x1 Plasma. Armor: MJOLNIR Mark IV/ OCEANIC + CMN Attachment + Rebreather+ UA Attachment

2 Votes for Duct tape

Alright so

Primaries: M45E/AC Shotgun + M319 Grenade Launcher

Secondaries: Narq Dart Pistol + Plasma Pistol

Melee: Integrated hook + Energy sword

Grenades: x2 Napalm, x 2 Flash Bang, x 2 frag, x 1 Plasma

Armor+ Attachments: MJOLNIR MARK IV/ OCEANIC +CMN + Rebreather+UA attachments

[ Decision made ]
[ Proceeding... ]
>>
>>6454133

No Duct tape. RIP. Would've been funny.
>>
>>6454133
Hmm idea have a team distract the brutes. Whole another team invade and capture the prophet base and with Vali make it so none of their army knows about it. Then use that to send false orders to get everyone fight even more and give us time and opening to evac everyone.
>>
The first change was dropping the tactical attachments for more Up Armor hardpoints, you could handle the increased weight and felt you'd gathered enough field data on the various prototypes tactical attachments already. Taking the Tacpad back into the field, would risk the performance data it had acquired across the mission. The Command Network Module was too useful to leave behind, but you decided to ditch the camo cloak, for ease of movement, as the UA attachment points unique to the OCEANIC variant could cause it to snag and at this point in the operation stealth was optional. You also had to drop the additional shell holders and bandoliers to make room for the additional armored hardpoints, and the field kit was no longer necessary now that there were two established FOB on the colony. You also kept the rebreather, as the mission had shown that the extra Oxygen tanks intended for maneuvering didn't last as long as intended in the field, when the airjets were deployed for combat and evasive maneuvers. And the last thing you wanted was to be the first Spartan KIA'd via drowning in a suit intended for aquatic and amphibious action.

The AC variant of the M45E, took some getting used to but had proven as reliable as its standard variant, so you were taking it, along with an M319 that had been given the same treatment. The waterproof rounds were in short supply so you'd have to make every shot and grenade count.

As for sidearms, a Narq Dart pistol and a Plasma Pistol that wouldn't be listed in the ledger of recovered enemy equipment. Just like one of the energy swords of your would be assassin, from the unlucky gator who got headshot right as the shot begun. Gotta give Cal your thanks for that later. The head assassin's sword, as a unique variation, was never on the table as an option as just taking it apart and seeing what different parts it had, would be priceless intel on the Splitjaw's favorite and deadliest close quarters combat option. And the lack of a sheath, meant you could fit more UA attachments in its plate. Your hips and thighs were already covered by the outer layer of MJOLNIR, but you'd fought the Covenant enough to know that the refractive coating didn't last long under sustained plasma fire.

And to complete your kit, Two each of Napalm, Fragmentation and Flashbang grenades. And one Covenant Plasma Grenade, there were plenty recovered from the earlier operations so one would not be missed.

Suited up and equipped, you'd travel back to the base camp with additional medical supplies, rations, and ammunition cases. Tor Ostrum had Doghouse ready to fly, once the Covenant activity in orbit died down, Soren had marked a few locations planetside he thought would be the best spots to deploy the nukes you'd sent down earlier and had uploaded them to your suit during your preparations.
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>>6454140

>[Inspiring] Congratulate the locals victory at Jamshid and inform the non combatants of the success

>Check in on Nesta first and see how much headway she and the 474th have made

>Take inventory and pick out the possible locations to drop the nukes

>Meet up with the rest of the Spartans and immediately plan the route to the new Target's location

>Write in option
>>
>>6454141

>Check in on Nesta first and see how much headway she and the 474th have made.

Depending how this goes:

>[Inspiring] Congratulate the locals victory at Jamshid and inform the non combatants of the success.

Word of a ride home will keep morale up. If she's not found anything yet, keep this brief. Then:

>Meet up with the rest of the Spartans and immediately plan the route to the new Target's location.

We can pick deployment sites for the nukes as a farewell present *after* we've got the prophet. Or, delegate that to Kurt. We're a Lt Commander and the OIC. We can do that.

Actually, we really should get in the habit of delegating some of these options to other Spartans.
>>
>>6454141
>[Inspiring] Congratulate the locals victory at Jamshid and inform the non combatants of the success

>Check in on Nesta first and see how much headway she and the 474th have made

I think these two are enough for now. For delegating the nukes we should probably ask James instead, he's a grenadier sapper meaning his better at setting up the nuke as trap.

Though I still think using it as distraction before attacking the Prophet base ia great idea. No way a nuke won't cause panic and confusion if used properly.
>>
>>6454141
>Check in on Nesta first and see how much headway she and the 474th have made
I only hope she played nice.
>>
>>6454141
>Check in on Nesta first and see how much headway she and the 474th have made
A check in on the way down if we can without risking an opsec breach.
>Take inventory and pick out the possible locations to drop the nukes
The nukes will serve as celebratory fireworks for the locals once they go off. I'm sure they'll get a nice view from their transport if we need to pop one to make a hole for their extract.
>>
>>6454141
>>[Inspiring] Congratulate the locals victory at Jamshid and inform the non combatants of the success
>>Check in on Nesta first and see how much headway she and the 474th have made
>>
>>6454134
Sven will grab the duct tape; He is smart!

>>6454141
>Write-in
>Put Soren and the Skidbladnir on duty to understand which day/hour the Minister planned for the sacrifice ceremony
I don't want to leave this to chance if we can't get it out of the mouths of the next aliens we capture. If we know exactly the time of the sacrifice ceremony, our attack can be that much better. Preferably we don't kill these aliens this time. Then again, another Craaktis Pinata would be funny....

>Write-in
>Talk with the Innies rebels about the ex innie base/fort
This is crucial for our attack against the Minister since he is sitting is ass there.

>[Inspiring] Congratulate the locals victory at Jamshid and inform the non combatants of the success
Sure. Can help; the resistance groups and their leaders need to be informed of the next strike in the making since we will need them too.


For the nukes, we already have 3 good places. Covenant Main base, main dig site, and if we feel like it, the ex innie base. I guess it would be a mercy for the slaves to die in nuclear flames instead of being massacred by the Covenant. The only thing to consider is if Soren found out a Covenant tomb/monument for the Martyred previous Minister. Because that would be a great place for a nuke.

Nesta and the 474 have not started searching for much time. I doubt they got anything so soon. The problem is when they find something, since some specialized people will be needed to get these spaceships ready to go in space at our signal. So Nesta will most likely comms us when she needs that help.
>>
>>6454141
>Check in on Nesta first and see how much headway she and the 474th have made

>Take inventory and pick out the possible locations to drop the nukes
>>
>>6454141
>>Check in on Nesta first and see how much headway she and the 474th have made
>Take inventory and pick out the possible locations to drop the nukes
>>
>>6454141
>[Inspiring] Congratulate the locals victory at Jamshid and inform the non combatants of the success

>Take inventory and pick out the possible locations to drop the nukes
>>
>>6454141
>[Inspiring] Congratulate the locals victory at Jamshid and inform the non combatants of the success
Pat em on the back, get back to work on Operation Belloq
also, I desperately want to have a buddy cop movie between Sven and his Elite equivalent
>>
>>6454480
I can't imagine Sven being anything but violently xenophobic for the rest of his life after the first year of the war.
>>
>>6454488
>when asked what sven thought about master chief working with the arbiter
>"I'm happy for John, and I'm'a let him finish, but HINGEHEADS SHOULD ALL BE PUT THROUGH A WOODCHIPPER"
>>
>>6454488

If Master Chief and Sgt Johnson had it in them to put things aside and respect, trust, and possibly even outright befriend the Arbiter and the other Sangheili during the Schism, I think Sven "Recruit Every Innie I Can Get My Hands On" Askeland can do the same.
>>
>>6454490
John and Johnson aren't Sven. I'm sure Sven would be willing to work with the Arbiter and his followers during the schism and after the war if ordered to, it's not like the UNSC could afford to keep fighting them by that point, but there's no way he doesn't hold a grudge and go around calling them "hingeheads".
>>
>>6454505

I get you, but IMO, Sven seems like he's got too much of a Noble and Conciliatory Spirit to really HATE-hate the Sangheili. I get the feeling likely he'll end up kind of like Lord Hood, a sort of "I don't like you but I respect you" kind of mindset.
>>
Sven is a smart boy, he will recognize the value of supporting rebelious factions and potential desserters since this is a war on a national scale, where attrition is one of the best ways to calculate the relative fighting chances of each opponent long term.
Any rebels within an empire, are resources taken off of the nations ledgers, and put into the hands of their enemy combatants.
If an empire is fighting one or multiple oppnents, the empire starting with 1000 "strength" at the start and their enemies together being equal in strength, then rebels are not just the succumbing empire loosing, as an example 100 strength, it is also their overall enemies gaining 100, making it suddenly a 1100 vs 900.

Depending on how much Sven finds out about the Forerunners as a civilization, it very well might be that another civil war could brew within the Covenant, regarding the heretical notion that they are actually slaughtering their gods direct decendants.
>>
>>6454516

That'd need a lot to go right, but it'd certainly be an interesting way for things to shake out.
>>
>>6454514
That noble heart is probably what would make him hate the dank elves so much IMO. Like, he has a bleeding heart and believes in honor and then you have elites running around butchering families, ordering glassings, talking about humanity like they're a virus, which is hardcore villain shit. Sven himself will bend orders for humanitarian reasons, that's his brand of heart. Elite honor is very contrary to that, where they'll do fucked up shit simply because they're ordered to, something Sven will bend over backwards to avoid. An entire species of fuckos who'll behead a child just because someone above them pointed a finger at em. With splitjaws like OUR Arby being the exception that proves the rule.

John is a bleeding heart, too, but he's not nearly as much as Sven is, and he's more reserved and emotionally withdrawn. I'm sure Sven could put it aside if it meant killing more Covie, but I sincerely doubt he could look past the attempted genocide and the erasure of many cultures, bloodlines, and worlds once the dust settles.
>>
>>6454518

Also, Chief would've blown Thel's head off in the opening of 3 if Johnson hadn't told him that he was cool.
>>
File: Covenant_Spinward_PNG.png (7.23 MB, 7500x7045)
7.23 MB PNG
>>6454516
Such a possible senario, is one I think would actually be very narratively interesting.
A lot of alternative Halo settings and offshoot fanon works like to ascribe a much greater size to the covenant than is shown in the halo games, books and series. Generally i think that is done for the best, since the timeline of the Covenants existance is THOUSANDS of years ahead of humanity and their interstellar empire. With both superior technology for a long period of that time, as well as several species with each their own specializations able to contribute to larger efficiency.
Examples of such larger scales are of course Daybreak's map, which makes human colonized space pea sized in comparison to Covenant space. In a conventional war without the prophets relaxing and only using 0.1% of their fleets in invading human occupied space, then humanity would likely get curbstomped in a few years rather than the many decades it actually took.
Now, if a civil war did break out, one where some areas within the Covenant might have declared independence, and others might have actually JOINED humanity and sworm fealty feudal style due to religious reasons, i think that would be an interesting narrative path, as it could allow for a much more protracted war, where the covenant and its empire comes much more into focus. As well as highlight the already existing theme from halo 3 of "we have to work with those who previously shot at us" to the 11'th degree.
>>
>>6454514
You seriously think that Sven of all people is going to just forgive the elites after they murder BILLIONS of humans and indiscriminately inflict countless atrocities upon soldiers and civilians alike? I don't know about that one, man.
>>
>>6454520
It really is ON SIGHT when dealing with things that can cloak kek
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>>6454524

Cloaking enemies justify paranoia by their existence.
>>
>>6454522
>You seriously think that Sven of all people is going to just forgive the elites

Don't put words in my mouth. That's not what I'm saying at all, what I'm saying is that I don't think Sven is going to be quote "violently racist" against the sangheili. To repeat myself, I DO NOT think he'll ever LIKE the sangheili, but I DO think he would RESPECT them and prefer the war end with both species ALIVE and UNGENOCIDED.
>>
>>6454522
Spartan-IIs are like Nietzschean ubermenschen.
Hating someone else for what they've done to you and letting that define you gives them power over you and makes you weak. That kind of weakness is like anti-Sven.
That doesn't necessarily mean being BFFs. I imagine Sven would be too focused post-war helping Halsey with forerunner shit to be petty or perpetually assblasted about what elites did to humans anyway.

Not that that future is set in stone. The way we're going I feel like the Covenant might start taking humanity more seriously than they did in canon. Bringing Xytan 'Jar Wattinree back into the fold, sending out prelates, not focusing so much on the Banished (if they become a thing), maybe even throwing sharquoi into the mix, depending on how much 343 lore is a thing (none? lol).
>>
>>6454535
It's kind of a recurring theme in the games and other media that the Spartans, despite everything, are still human and in touch with their humanity. They can still be irrational, emotional, compulsive, and very much "weak". Some of them even die because of it. I wouldn't be so sure Sven would get through this war without picking up some baggage.
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

Session 0 over the 2nd of the 2 Lancer games I'm in went swimmingly. Everyone but me are playing nobles, so I ended being a pirate hired by one of their families to keep them alive in the mech tournament the game is centered around. Which suits me just fine, as I am aiming to be the ultimate tank in this one.

Oh! And more importantly than the TTRPGs I play, I am celebrating my sister's birthday this friday, and it might affect my ability to update on that day. But we'll see. Just figured I'd warn you guys since I usually can't update on Thursday (Cause I run for my hunter group on that day), and there is a chance the late bday celebration makes me also have to skip friday. But we'll see

Anyways

6 Votes for [ Inspiring ]

7 Votes to check in on Nesta

1 Vote to meet up with the rest of the team

4 Votes to pick out where to nuke

1 Vote for q59WLRBb's write ins

So first order of business will be checking in on Nesta and the 474th and seeing if they've produced any results, before anything else (Including giving one hell of an inspiring speech)
>>
>>6454540

Not saying you don't have a point, but I think you might be discounting Jotun's influence.

Sven can be an ice cold, rational motherfucker when he wants to be. He left irrationality behind during training.
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>>6454529
Agree to disagree then. All I'm saying is that I don't think Sven will be at all upset when Jai and his team nova bomb that sanghelli colony.
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>>6454544
>I am celebrating my sister's birthday this friday
Happy birthday, sis.
>>
>>6454547
Eh hell be upset it happened after the war ends. Just like grey did. Civilians are different from soldiers.
>>
You wait until Doghouse has breached Alpha Corvi II's atmosphere before you turn on you COMMs, to maintain the deception that your forces originated from the colony itself and had simply gone to ground during the invasion and had only recently resumed activities. It had worked so far, but one slip up would be all it takes to unravel the ruse. So you didn't immediately connect to the secure frequencies your Squad uses, and instead waited until Ostrum had brought the Dropship close to sea so if any Covenant radar detect the transmission they would believe that you'd arrived from elsewhere on the planet rather than from its orbit.

"Nesta", She hasn't had much time to search for spaceworthy vessels, but you wanted to see if there was any good news you could share with the survivors beyond the successful operations in the city of Jamshid "Any progress on your mission? Have you and the 474th had any success in finding those lifeboats we need to shuttle off of this rock without leaving anyone behind?"

"Oh yeah we've made progress" She says, drawling out the words "The Covies are seeing red, you really kicked a Hornet's nest before you took that short "Holiday" of yours, Sven. So far I've checked off some of our leads. Didn't even need to waste time hoofing it over to check, cause the cannon fodder you lent me was so kind to tell me which parts of the planet the Alien's hit hard and beat flat. And I made a few educated guesses to further narrow our search"

"Meaning?" You ask as you feel the Pelican drift, diving down lower than advisable, an preemptive evasive maneuver that they didn't teach in pilot's school

"Meaning, I remember what that slimy cunt Yao did after sounding retreat" Nesta said cheerfully but you could hear the venom under the mask...er, visor "The places the Alien pricks flattened and the Civilian launch points and space ports, can be written off. Either they're scrap on the ground or debris in orbit. But, its not all bad news, Sven"

"Figured, you weren't cursing enough for there to be no silver lining to be found" You chuckle as you feel the dropship drop lower, to the point it was nearly surfing over the surface of the ocean "So, cut to the chase"

"Marking off all the dead ends, I'm dead certain I know where we can find space worthy ships" She says proudly "The Cannon Fodder helped me figure it. Not every UNSC soldier got off world during the cluster fuck of the evacuation"

Private Whitney Little was the only known survivor, and she'd been written off as KIA'd during the lead up to the evacuation order. You could see where Nesta was going with this.

"The Covenant would go out of their way to destroy any military craft they could find" You say, feeling the dropship start to lift, gaining altitude and speed as Doghouse suddenly accelerated
Cont
>>
>>6454554

"Think we've cleared their active patrol area" Ostrum said, breathing out a sigh you could tell he had been keeping in since he entered orbit "We nearly got buzzed by a squadron of Covenant Birds. I didn't break protocol by not telling you what I was doing, did I, Boss?"

You shake your head and wait for Nesta's answer, knowing she has one and has figured at the issue of the lack of intact star ships left on the lost colony

"Don't act like a Prat, Sir" Nesta snapped "You already know the answer, you said it yourself, Fangs. That they could find. That applies to both military and civvy ships. And Insurrectionist. And while you were catching up on your beauty sleep, I narrowed down where we need to look and found those ships that Covenant missed when they brought their boot down and gave the world a few good, solid stomps"

"And you're sure they'll fly?" You ask and she laughs

"All they'll need is a fresh coat of paint" She answers "If the intel is solid, hiking out to confirm now. If it isn't, and there's nothing but scrap waiting for me. I've got a plan B, want to hear it?"

"Tell me"

"Those turn coats got on their hands and knees and begged to be left a few ships. They're in Covenant Hands, but grounded and watched. I figure, since they're busy purging their ranks of the jackasses stupid enough to believe them or trying to earn a promotion by giving their next higher up a necklace of ears or teeth, that they haven't gotten around to decommissioning those ships yet. Or maybe they hope to find an AI that hasn't necked themselves. Either way, they've got ships. If it comes down to it, we can re-capture them"

>"Send some men to double check the locations you've checked off, best to be thorough"

>"We'll consider your plan B only if Plan A fails. Keep me updated Nesta, and avoid engaging the enemy when you can"

>"Red-Cap, we'll get our chance to re-take those ships soon. We're killing the priest the Covenant have digging through the sand and shells. And I think your plan B might be just the diversion we need"

>"Send me your coordinates, I'll join the search party and update you on the situation before the rest of the team"

>Write in option

>>6454548
Thanks, celebrating it a bit late, but that's cause she went camping for a few days to celebrate the actual date and I'm playing catch up.
>>
>>6454555
>"Red-Cap, we'll get our chance to re-take those ships soon. We're killing the priest the Covenant have digging through the sand and shells. And I think your plan B might be just the diversion we need"

Perfect we can rescuee peeps and get more ships. Might even let the covies think this was a breakout a attempt.
>>
>>6454555
>>"We'll consider your plan B only if Plan A fails. Keep me updated Nesta, and avoid engaging the enemy when you can"
>>
>>6454555

>"Red-Cap, we'll get our chance to re-take those ships soon. We're killing the priest the Covenant have digging through the sand and shells. And I think your plan B might be just the diversion we need."

More chaos and confusion. They're all over the shop as is, but if we keep pulling them in different directions while order and discipline are fucked, we should have an easier time of it.
>>
>>6454559
Don't even need to get all the ships just enough to get thei attention. Since Nesta already secure us a good amount and hidden tll. Though more is always useful since we can use extra ships as fire ships when breaking out or so on.

>>6454555
404 did nestra crit or high roll the ship search. Really did amazingly here.
>>
>>6454555
>"We'll consider your plan B only if Plan A fails. Keep me updated Nesta, and avoid engaging the enemy when you can"

If we use Nesta's plan B as a distraction for our hit job then doesn't that pull attention onto ships headed for orbit? Seems like it'll make it harder for us to extract in the long run. It'd certainly sell the idea that there's no ships, the Skid, already active though.
>>
>>6454555
>>"Send me your coordinates, I'll join the search party and update you on the situation before the rest of the team"
>>
>>6454555
>>"We'll consider your plan B only if Plan A fails. Keep me updated Nesta, and avoid engaging the enemy when you can"
>>
>>6454569
theres no way the ships above wont notice us when evaccing. So wed jsut have to distract the blockade another way before heading for orbit.

Part of that is getting access to Prophet personal comms, so we can transmit Vali through it. Something we should be able to do whether we capture or kill the prophet.
>>
>>6454569
plus like I said extra ships can be used as distraction to give us an opening.
>>
>>6454569
also like hell the Brutes will tell the Blockade that they lost ships meant for theire turncoats while getting into a civ war.

Remember Brute have the ground command but ships should belong to Jackals or Elites. Branch, racial and political rivalries for the win.
>>
I still think the best play regarding the ships in orbit and deep space, is to capture the prophet, and then using his likeness command all forces in the system to land at a location like an hour to two hours'ish walk from the ruins. Then once landed, tell everyone but the essential engineering staff to walk to the ruins as a form of mini-pilgrimage. Then once all of the enemy combatants are there, blow one of the nuclear warheads to kill them all in one swoop. Then ambush the small remaining garrison surrounding the ships, while Vali jams their internal defenses.
With the Mjern as the priority, most of the important crew should be left to capture, and depending on how well the blitz goes, maybe some of the other ships can be captured before they get scuttled?
>>
>>6454597

That's a hell of a risky gambit.
>>
>>6454555
>"Send me your coordinates, I'll join the search party and update you on the situation before the rest of the team"
You know we do have that LCdr officer perk that makes us aware of the quirks of ships. Maybe we can actually contribute something by taking a detour.

Also... we don't necessarily need starships, yeah? Ships without slipspace drives can follow ships that do from what I understand. Civilian cargo transports, dropships used by the military, militia, innie, covvie, whatever we can find. They just need to follow the Skidbladnir through the rupture before it closes. They're then carried along with its wake.
Probably not ideal for comfort that said, but potentially workable.
>>
>>6454597
This requires that 1) the worm doesn't immediately shout about being captured and 2) can keep a convincing enough facade up under the fear of death. And considering how sniveling most of the pieces of shit are I wouldn't bank on it.
>>
>>6454698
It does not NEED to be the actual minister. After capturing him, one could likely record his voice and make Vali repeat or remix his words into the required message/order that could then be sent. He probably wouldnt even need to be alive afterwards if capture became too problematic.
Essentially plan would be:
>Infiltrate the ministers lair without alerting him
>Capture him
>Interrogate him, record and either imitate or remix his voice in a message
>Order the ceremonial service at the forerunner facility
>once nearly all ground troops are assmebled, blow up nuke
And then a second phase of the plan could begin with the storming of the ground bound ships.
>>
>>6454555
>>"We'll consider your plan B only if Plan A fails. Keep me updated Nesta, and avoid engaging the enemy when you can"
>>
>>6454555
For something else different 404 would Brute Path be what we needed to be able to use the Grav Hammers properly?

Since we're playing viking I'm contractually obliged to have Sven learn to go Hammer time ala Thor. Hell I'm willing to give Swords as main melee weapon to go all in on it.

Halo Grav Hammers are an awesome weapon to use and Sven has the body to use them.
>>
>>6454555

>"Red-Cap, we'll get our chance to re-take those ships soon. We're killing the priest the Covenant have digging through the sand and shells. And I think your plan B might be just the diversion we need"
>>
>>6454555
>"Red-Cap, we'll get our chance to re-take those ships soon. We're killing the priest the Covenant have digging through the sand and shells. And I think your plan B might be just the diversion we need"
>>
Rolled 2 (1d2)

[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

Sorry about that, got home late and collapsed on my bed after the birthday bash, so I was right to warn that I could've missed friday, cause I did.

4 Votes for "Red Cap, we'll get our chance to re-take those ships Soon" Cont

4 Votes for "We'll consider your plan b only if plan a fails."Cont

2 Votes for "Send me your coordinates" Cont

Tie between "Red-Cap, we'll get our chance to re-take those ships soon. We're killing the priest the Covenant have digging through the sand and shells. And I think your plan B might be just the diversion we need"

and

"We'll consider your plan B only if Plan A fails. Keep me updated Nesta, and avoid engaging the enemy when you can"

So I'll flip a coin to tie break real quick

1: Nesta capture the ships for a diversion

2: to Tell nesta to stick to the original plan and avoid engaging the enemy
>>6454562
Good rolls + her Qualities/APs, yeah
>>
>>6455192
alright, so Sven will tell Nesta "We'll consider your plan B only if Plan A fails. Keep me updated Nesta, and avoid engaging the enemy when you can"

[ Choice Determined ]
[ Proceeding...]

>>6454782
It'd give you bonuses similar to the sword break optional objective, and have similar outcomes/ rewards when its finished, but gravity hammers would benefit from other APs, Sven just doesn't haven't any of them atm
>>
>>6455192
guess we need to look for a different distraction, of well thats how the dice rolls.

Time to trust James and our saboteurs with a nuke distraction.
>>
>>6455193
hmm if the chieftan or his base is nuke, damaging his forces and rep. thats a perfect time for gibkribus to make a move to become chieftain, he was a known backstabber afterall and with other liutenants weakened and infighting, i can see it ebing very tempting for the brute to go after the chieftain.

Opportunist can be real reckless in some ways afterall. At the very least damaging the chieftain would make it easier to kill him afterwards.
>>
"We'll consider your plan B only if Plan A fails" You told her, knowing she wouldn't disobey a direct order from her "fearless leader", even if she'd prefer and thinks her idea would be a more effective strategy "Keep me updated Nesta, and avoid engaging the enemy when you can"

You could hear her click her tongue over the COMMs "Understood, won't have any difficulty avoiding a fight if I have to. Those stupid monkeys are too busy beating down each other to be a threat. With present circumstances, even these paper soldiers tagging along won't get in my way"

"Nesta" You start, with a reprimanding tone. Nesta chuckled

"Don't worry Sven, I'm taking good care of the 474th. Mostly by preemptively removing any "Complications" before they get in range of them" She said "They're exhausted, and were subpar troops before they went through the wringer. They're CMA, way below our standards"

"Just reminding you to play nice with the friendlies, Spartan" You say, knowing that Nesta's preferred method of engagement wasn't something conventional soldiers or even some Spartans could keep up with. Her danger sense could get her through fire fights even you'd be cautious to take part in, so long as her reactions could keep up with that sixth sense of hers

"I will, just don't expect me to coddle them or hold their hands" She shot back "I'll report back once I confirm if the Covenant missed any ships during their sweep. Might need to fall back on Cargo or Dropships, hard to hide anything larger than that"

"Actually" Doghouse speaks up "It's easier than you'd think to make a starship disappear, the hardest part is getting eyes off it long enough to disappear it. Don't need to store it all in one place. With the right tools, you can put a partially disassembled ship back together in a day or two, with the right crew"

The COMM channel went silent as you turned to the cabin as Ostrum straightened his back and stiffened up, realizing he might've said too much.

"Hey, Sven. Can I borrow Doghouse?" Nesta asked suddenly "No offense to the brave boys of the 474th, but they don't have our friendly dropship pilot's...breadth of experience. And hitching a ride would let us finish this objective a lot faster than hoofing it will. Even if these troops were at a hundred percent, they'd still be slowing me down"

It was an open secret that Tor Ostrum had been a smuggler prior to signing up to join the UNSC after the fall of Alpha Corvi II. And while Nesta could've worded it with more decorum, she wasn't wrong. Spartans moved fast. Much faster than a colonial Marine in full kit could, especially one that had recently been starved, beaten and tortured.

"ETA under five minutes, Boss. Think I can shave it down to three or less"
Cont
>>
>>6455199

You weighed your options. Transportation was vital to the success of the mission and Nesta was right, they'd make better time and cover a wider area with a Pelican and Doghouse knew how to keep under the radar.

On the other hand, it'd be difficult to transport the nukes to their final destinations with just one Pelican. You could use the Typhon prototypes, in a pinch, but they'd be less effective at the delivery

>"Granted, head for the school and Doghouse will meet you and your temporary unit there. Good Luck, Nesta"

>"Negative, going to need Doghouse and Reaper Spirit for step one of our plan to kill the Covenant's Minister"

>Write in option

And having made up your mind on that front and with the ETA shrinking rapidly, you had to make another call immediately after that. What to do after you arrived at the FOB on top of what used to be an ONI blacksite.

>[Inspiring] Tell the survivors about the success at Jamshid and assure them that there is a plan to get them off world

>Talk with the Prisoner, Puf Puf, with Vali's assistance and see if the Grunt doesn't know anything more than he's already leaked

>Separate the squad into teams again and have each one carry a nuke to one of the sites, decided jointly between the Spartans on the ground + Allied Leaders via Soren's intel

>[Maverick + Boogeyman] Ensign Kon has cracked the Covenant's frequency, taking inspiration from an ancient earth war's "Operation Wandering Soul", send a few messages to terrify the rank and file of the Covies

>Write in option

Meant to write a few more posts, but I got near the end of the first and realize there should be a choice and then realized there should be two actually, before proceeding further
>>
>>6455200
>After we complete step one of the of our plan to kill the Covenant minister.

>[Inspiring] Tell the survivors about the success at Jamshid and assure them that there is a plan to get them off world
>>
>>6455200


>"Granted, head for the school and Doghouse will meet you and your temporary unit there. Good Luck, Nesta"

>[Inspiring] Tell the survivors about the success at Jamshid and assure them that there is a plan to get them off world

>Separate the squad into teams again and have each one carry a nuke to one of the sites, decided jointly between the Spartans on the ground + Allied Leaders via Soren's intel

The speech shouldn't take long.
>>
>>6455200
>"Granted, head for the school and Doghouse will meet you and your temporary unit there. Good Luck, Nesta"

No reason not too. If it can get us some great ships, especially ones with weapons.

>[Inspiring] Tell the survivors about the success at Jamshid and assure them that there is a plan to get them off world

Lets keep the morale high so they dont panic.

>Separate the squad into teams again and have each one carry a nuke to one of the sites, decided jointly between the Spartans on the ground + Allied Leaders via Soren's intel

Once the speech is done time to bring out the nukes.
>>
>>6455200
>"Granted, head for the school and Doghouse will meet you and your temporary unit there. Good Luck, Nesta"

>[Inspiring] Tell the survivors about the success at Jamshid and assure them that there is a plan to get them off world
>[Maverick + Boogeyman] Ensign Kon has cracked the Covenant's frequency, taking inspiration from an ancient earth war's "Operation Wandering Soul", send a few messages to terrify the rank and file of the Covies

Actually lets not bring out the nukes yet. Instead take advantage of all the boogeyman action weve done to get the rank and file panicking.

We can use the nukes afterwards.
>>
>>6455200
>"Granted, head for the school and Doghouse will meet you and your temporary unit there. Good Luck, Nesta"

>[Inspiring] Tell the survivors about the success at Jamshid and assure them that there is a plan to get them off world
>>
>>6455200
>"Negative, going to need Doghouse and Reaper Spirit for step one of our plan to kill the Covenant's Minister"

>[Maverick + Boogeyman] Ensign Kon has cracked the Covenant's frequency, taking inspiration from an ancient earth war's "Operation Wandering Soul", send a few messages to terrify the rank and file of the Covies
>>
>>6455200

>"Granted, head for the school and Doghouse will meet you and your temporary unit there. Good Luck, Nesta"

>[Inspiring] Tell the survivors about the success at Jamshid and assure them that there is a plan to get them off world
>[Maverick + Boogeyman] Ensign Kon has cracked the Covenant's frequency, taking inspiration from an ancient earth war's "Operation Wandering Soul", send a few messages to terrify the rank and file of the Covies
>>
We shouldn't start this next part until we have at least talked with the innies about the ex-base/fort the Minister is using.

And also, we should capture a fresh alien patrol to get more recent alien info (sacrifice ceremony day/hour)
>>
>>6455200
>"Granted, head for the school and Doghouse will meet you and your temporary unit there. Good Luck, Nesta"

>[Inspiring] Tell the survivors about the success at Jamshid and assure them that there is a plan to get them off world
>>
>>6455200
>>"Granted, head for the school and Doghouse will meet you and your temporary unit there. Good Luck, Nesta"

>Talk with the Prisoner, Puf Puf, with Vali's assistance and see if the Grunt doesn't know anything more than he's already leaked
>[Inspiring] Tell the survivors about the success at Jamshid and assure them that there is a plan to get them off world
I think this is reasonbable to do both, but incase just count Puf Puf only if we can only do one.
>>
>>6455200
>"Negative, going to need Doghouse and Reaper Spirit for step one of our plan to kill the Covenant's Minister"
It would inconvenience Nesta but might be better for us to have them than not. Lots of potential uses: a back up, a decoy, close air support, etc.

>Talk with the Prisoner, Puf Puf, with Vali's assistance and see if the Grunt doesn't know anything more than he's already leaked
>Separate the squad into teams again and have each one carry a nuke to one of the sites, decided jointly between the Spartans on the ground + Allied Leaders via Soren's intel
>>
>>6455464
Ostrom knows more about hiding ships, like how he talk about disassembling them.which meant his smuggler ass would buff Nesta already great bonus.

Exit strategy is pretty important so Id stand with that getting settled properly.
>>
>>6455200
>"Granted, head for the school and Doghouse will meet you and your temporary unit there. Good Luck, Nesta"
>[Inspiring] Tell the survivors about the success at Jamshid and assure them that there is a plan to get them off world
>[Maverick + Boogeyman] Ensign Kon has cracked the Covenant's frequency, taking inspiration from an ancient earth war's "Operation Wandering Soul", send a few messages to terrify the rank and file of the Covies


Hopefully we can do both
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

8 Votes to send Doghouse to transport Nesta
L
+ 1 vote for doing it after step one

2 Votes to not send doghouse to assist Nesta and co
_

9 votes for [ Inspiring ]

3 Votes to separate the squad into teams to carry the nukes

4 votes for [M+BM]

2 Votes to chat with Puf Puf


So Nesta gets her ride and its time for one of Sven's trademark inspiring speechs

[ Decisions made ]
[ Proceeding.... ]
>>
"Granted, head for the school and Doghouse will meet you and your temporary unit there" You relayed to both your fellow Spartan and the dropship Pilot as he began to tilt the dropship as he approached the FOB, gradually slowing the Pelican and lowering it as it performed a wide, arcing descent. Pausing for a second, you signed off with a simple "Good Luck, Nesta", before you switched off your COMMs and unbuckled yourself from your seat, world reflected in your helmet's visor and HUD as held onto the roof of the troop compartment to keep from leaning with the dropship as you walked to towards the dropramp.

"Doghouse, open the door" You say, thumping your fist on the wall. This was another reason you specially requested Ostrum and Chen to be attached to the Skidbladnir as Dropship pilots. Other Pelican Pilots might hesitate when hearing an order like that, or outright refuse due to safety concerns or regulations. But Doghouse and Reaper Spirit? They wouldn't ask any questions. The ramp opened and the sound of the winds whistling into the compartment drowned out the quieting engines as you took two big strides forward and walked out, having timed and measured your trajectory in the second between it dropping and your feet reaching the edge. With kinetic vision as good as yours, you hit your mark perfectly, an empty space in front of the fortifications, a few meters away from the wrecked Queen of Hearts.

"Lieutenant Commander on deck!" Ostrum reported as he brought his Pelican around to hover and land next to its sister, Reaper Spirit. Where you could see Chen Tian lightning a cigarette that he quickly plucked from his lips and stowed in the sleeve of his uniform, saluting as he double timed to the front of the defensive line as you, barely missing a beat, marched up to the husk of the Scorpion Main Battle Tank.

Your unexpected and low altitude, unassisted air drop or more accurately your landing had gotten the attention of the survivors in the camp. The members of the 474th too injured or malnourished to join Nesta on her search had brought their rifles up and the Civilians took cover in the trenches Jorge had Dug, before they realized it was a friendly bird coming home to roost and they saw the familiar silver blue gleam of the refractive coating of your MJOLNIR armor.

"I can't believe it" One of the teachers said, wiping their glasses on their shirt as they stare as Chen Tian reaches the fortification as you clamber over it one step at the time "Wasn't he...they were impaled! I thought..How could they still be"

"They build them tougher where they're from" Chen Tian, who doesn't have clearance to know anything about Spartans besides their names and existences as a highly covert and highly classified spec ops unit, excuses as he waits on the other side of the scorpion to greet you "Glad to have you back, Sir"
Cont
>>
>>6455500

You nod once and square your shoulders and lift up your chest as the commotion draws every eye in the camp directly onto your position.

"They do, but my quick recovery is more thanks to the quality of our medics, Chief Warrant Officer" You project your voice, the helmet covering your head giving your already booming voice a more metallic bass as you clasp your hands "And I shaved of a few days, to bring the people of Alpha Corvi II good news, hope. As I speak, my unit is returning from the abandoned city of Jamshid. As I speak, the enemy is confused, lost and incapable of understanding how they were beaten on their own turf so completely!"

There was a pause, Chen Tian who'd been kept updated saw what you were doing and feigned surprised as the CMA troops relaxed, visibly and some of the civilians, those who could still muster to strength and will to, cheered quietly as if they were afraid of attracting attention.

"The traitor to humanity, Khalil Shahi, has been brought to justice. He was executed in the field mid operation by Private Whitney Little. The other traitors to all of mankind, have been neutralized completely during our actions in the city or by their erstwhile masters"

The cheers grew louder, Two of the crippled colonial marines hooted and hollered, there were at least three "Good riddance" and five "Hope he burns in hell". You let them vent for awhile, get it off their chests before continuing.

"They paid the price for their cowardice, and the continued threat they posed to humanity and her colonies. They got what they deserved, and I regret that I wasn't present when that snakes ticket got punched. But I am proud to have taken part in the flooding and extermination of an Alien Bug Hive, Alpha Corvi II might be in Covenant hands but it will never be their home. They're an infestation, an invasive species, and my unit ensured they couldn't make themselves comfortable"

The cheers after that were thunderous. A few of the bed bound survivors had sat up. The worst cases seemed to be more aware of their surroundings and were listening intently as you waited for the excitement to die down before continuing.

"We were assisted by remnant CMA hold outs and former insurrectionist cells, these men and women gave their lives to bloody the Covenant's nose. I am proud to have served among such brave sons and daughters of this world, to have seen their last acts of defiance against the Alien menace, first hand. Let us observe a moment of silence, for the honored dead, who died on their feet, fighting to the last. They join the other, unspoken, unnumbered heroes who to performed the ultimate sacrifices and whose blood has soaked into the water and sand"

You gave them all the time they needed to mourn men and women they didn't know, before giving them names and actions to the faceless heroes that had been lost in the operation.
Cont
>>
>>6455501

"Counted amongst their number, is Kaitoa, a former rebel and terrorist. He was captured by an enemy officer, taken alive during an assault on the Covenant's reinforcement zone. His final choice, was to hit the switch of IED, one similar to explosives used in terror campaigns on this colony and others like it. That Covenant Ape should've known, humans don't die quietly. We die proud and defiant, to our last man. And now, that Covie Officer is either dead or wishing he was. Also, amongst our losses, is one Marcus Kaiden, who infiltrated the ranks of the turncoats, and used the position to attack a Covenant troop while their back was turned. He died sinking a knife into an alien's throat, before his own neck was snapped. His last act, allowed my unit an opening to advance. This was part of an action that allowed us to remove another enemy officer from their command and send him running"

You continue listing off the valorous dead and give the refugees another moment of silence, before continuing your speech

"Jamshid was a total success. The Covenant have lost a vital source of intel, two of their commanders, a whole nest of bugs, and have no idea who sucker punched them. They're busy pointing fingers and fighting amongst themselves. Unaware or perhaps, unwilling to admit the "Pests" they'd sneered at and sought to eradicate, how completely and utterly humiliated them on their home ground. And I am happy, no...delighted to inform you all that a plan is underway to safely evacuate you and the other survivors of the colony off world. I cannot explain it in detail, but know that your nightmare is almost over. And the Covenant's has just begun"

And then you walk off the Queen of Hearts, and ask Chen Tian as you stride past him "Present ETA of the rest of my team?"

"Last contact was a few minutes after you entered orbit" He answers "Shouldn't take them longer than another half hour, Sir. Excepting any unexpected complications"

Was he trying to jinx them. You ignored that comment and nod firmly as you walked through the camp and checked in on the badly injured colonists and helped Ostrum off load the additional supplies shuttled down from the Skidbladnir.

>Use the thirty or so minutes you have to interrogate Puf Puf and squeeze them for intel

>Divide your Spartans into three teams of three, leaving two at Camp for defense, and decide which team will deliver each nuke

>Send Nesta two spartans to help her secure the ships

>Belay the next step of the operation to see if Plan A will work or if you'll have to resort to Plan B

>Write in option
>>
>>6455503

>Use the thirty or so minutes you have to interrogate PufPuf and squeeze them for intel.

Rather a fresh grunt to interrogate, but probably aren't any around.
>>
>>6455503
>>Divide your Spartans into three teams of three, leaving two at Camp for defense, and decide which team will deliver each nuke

Lets make the beginning of our plan by making team and picking targets. Though Sven and James definately needs to lead Nuke Teams. While Jorge defends. Not sure if Greys have recovered already though.
>>
>>6455503
>Belay the next step of the operation to see if Plan A will work or if you'll have to resort to Plan B
>[Maverick + Boogeyman] Ensign Kon has cracked the Covenant's frequency, Work with Mike andtaking inspiration from an ancient earth war's "Operation Wandering Soul", send a few messages to terrify the rank and file of the Covies.

Changing actually.
Well need to prioritse plan b if Nesta team doesnt get us ships. So lets freek out the rank and file while waiting instead. Should be doable especially with mikes help.
>>
>>6455506
Grey needs time to recover from exhaustion and injuries too. So no need to be hasty.
>>
>>6455503
>>Divide your Spartans into three teams of three, leaving two at Camp for defense, and decide which team will deliver each nuke
>>
>>6455503
>Use the thirty or so minutes you have to interrogate Puf Puf and squeeze them for intel
Maybe I've forgotten, but we haven't used that Diplomat ability this mission, have we? The one that lets us persuade/intimidate someone into doing what they wouldn't otherwise do? Wonder what's the best way to make use of that.
>>
>>6455540
Save it for the prophet or high rank officer.
>>
>>6455503
>Use the thirty or so minutes you have to interrogate Puf Puf and squeeze them for intel
Might as well, since he is here. Just don't kill it. Bringing alive prisoners is better than corpses. We can grab fresh alien patrols too later.

Of course is also imperative we talk with the innies if they know about the ex innie base/fort the Minister is sitting upon. Otherwise we strike the Minister without using possible vital information. I assume the division of spartans is for the nukes delivery, and then we use all of them for the strike at the minister. The nukes can just be detonated by remote afterall. We will likely need Nesta as well, if she can finish that task in time.
>>
>>6455503
>Use the thirty or so minutes you have to interrogate Puf Puf and squeeze them for intel
>>
>>6455503
>Use the thirty or so minutes you have to interrogate Puf Puf and squeeze them for intel

ALRIGHT PUFPUF, TIME TO GET YOUR NIPPLE MATES INTO THE UNIT.
>>
>>6455503
>>Use the thirty or so minutes you have to interrogate Puf Puf and squeeze them for intel
>>
[ Rebooting...Monitor 404TormentedCache, back online ]

6 Votes for Grunt Talk

2 Votes to set up teams and deliver the nukes

1 Vote to wait to see if Nesta will need to go Loud to get the required transports

1 vote for [M+BM]

Puf Puf is going to meet the Big Man...again!

[ Decision made ]
[ Proceeding... ]
>>
"Then I have half an hour to kill" You replied sharply, eyes tracking to the improvised cell of the one covenant prisoner lucky enough to not have been made into a component or "special effects" of the ongoing psychwar you were waging against the alien menace, or high ranked enough or iron willed enough to require enhanced interrogation techniques to extract intel from. The Unggoy called Puf Puf.
Chen Tian, after a moment, tracked your gaze and smartly informed you that, "The Prisoner is alive, healthy and cooperative. Recovered materials have kept them breathing and fed. And we haven't had any incidents, besides a curious labcoat getting too close to try and communicate with them directly"

He took in a breath and puffed out his chest "They were reprimanded of course, for endangering themselves. No idea what they were thinking, if I didn't know it was intelligent, I'd think it was an animal with all that barking and squeaking"

"The prisoner is talkative?" You ask, suddenly suspicious

"They like talking to themselves, and try to communicate with the guards. Can't understand anything they're trying to say, but it sounds like complaining to me" The chief warrant officer answers as he walks with you to the holding cell "At least, from my experience in Boot"

"From what I've seen, the hunchbacks aren't disciplined or professional. It's likely they are forcefully conscripted or that the ones we've seen on the battlefield are, effectively child soldiers" You explained as you walked up to the door "Habitual and recreational drug use are common in their ranks"

"A bunch of regular jar heads, might need to see if we have any crayons to supplement their diet" Chen, who was part of the air force joked, having become comfortable "loosening his collar" around you

"That's an insult to our fine marine corps, Warrant' You tell him as you reach the door and can hear the alien beyond it muttering to themselves, as well as the hissing of their methane tank providing them breathable air "as punishment for the infraction, You're on guard duty while I have a private chat with our prisoner"

Chen Tian quirked an eyebrow and smiled as he saluted, sneaking out the cigarette he had stowed away in his sleeve, holding it between two fingers as he responded with "Aye aye, Sir". You ignored the second, more serious infraction as you opened the door.

And found the Unggoy sat down, laying out the wrappers of the rations they'd been given put in front of them, organized them through color and material texture as they pulled them apart, chirping as they were piecing together the shiny plastic together in what looked like an attempt to recreate the figure of a Spartan in the OCEANIC Variant of Mjolnir. They stopped, staring up at you with wide eyed shock as they noticed you'd seen their artistic endeavor, letting out a shrill squeal through the mask as they scrambled up, nearly tripping as they retreat to a seat that had been bent by their weight or strength.
Cont
>>
>>6455882

Acting like a good prisoner, they sat down, trembling as you closed the door behind them. They winced as you glanced down at their artwork, and shrunk back as you brought out the datapad you'd prepared to contain Vali, so the AI could act as your interpreter.

[ Diplomat AP interaction, rank 2 & 3. Sven's diplomatic experience comes into play, unlocking improved interactions/ choices for the interrogation/ interview with the Grunt Puf Puf ]

>Take an intimidating, coercive approach with the prisoner [ Increases amount/ quality of intel gained based on how terrified the prisoner is of Sven-033

>Take an friendly, gentle approach with the prisoner [Increases chance of additional related or non related intel being gathered, based on Sven-033's charisma]

>[ Maverick ] Bribe the Prisoner with recovered gas injections, before asking questions [Expands the intel/ quality of the intel gathered from the initial line of questioning, but lowers the number of subjects asked by 1]

>[ Wunderkind ] Treat this as a scientific study and the prisoner as the subject [Improves lines of questioning related to Covenant technology, Biology or Society]
___
[ Please select four lines of questioning ]

>Ongoing Covenant Operations

>Importance of Alpha Corvi II to the Covenant

>The Chieftain's habits and leadership

>The Minister's habits and leadership

>Vital Locations of the Covenants' activities on the world

>Covenant Religion/ Society/ Language

>Covenant Technology/ Weaponry

>Unggoy

>Kig-Yar

>Sangheili

>Yanm'e

>Jiralhanae

>Write in option(s)

Bit of a complex vote this update
>>
>>6455884
>[ Maverick ] Bribe the Prisoner with recovered gas injections, before asking questions [Expands the intel/ quality of the intel gathered from the initial line of questioning, but lowers the number of subjects asked by 1]
>Take an friendly, gentle approach with the prisoner [Increases chance of additional related or non related intel being gathered, based on Sven-033's charisma]
Unggoy are used to being abused, honestly I imagine just being nice to it might very well get it to spill the beans just because it suddenly feels more normal with the enemy alien than it ever did with any Sangheli or brute.

>Covenant Religion/ Society/ Language, Specifically how do the different species communicate with one another, especially with some species seeming non verbal/throatless in their nature? (Worms/Lekgolo, and Engineers/Huragok)
>Write in: General caste system, how come some species are seen as inherently lesser and used as cannon fodder? Is it because of History, some actual metrics they use, or just good old fashioned tyranny for powers sake? Ask it to potentially off-foot it and make it Sven seem less antagonistic in it's eyes due to his lack of prejudice.
>Write in: Ask it which of the ships in orbit it came into the system on, layout and what role it has in the fleet as well as composition of species on said ship.

Asking questions that would most likely be answerable by Puf-Puf while giving us some greater understanding of our future encounters and the enemies psychology.
>>
>>6455884
>Take an friendly, gentle approach with the prisoner [Increases chance of additional related or non related intel being gathered, based on Sven-033's charisma]
>[ Maverick ] Bribe the Prisoner with recovered gas injections, before asking questions [Expands the intel/ quality of the intel gathered from the initial line of questioning, but lowers the number of subjects asked by 1]

>Puf Puf (ask more about himself)
>Unggoy
>Vital Locations of the Covenants' activities on the world
I figure a lot of the info he will give us will be either outdated, hearsay, propaganda, or outright disinfo desu. We can start off friendly and get him relaxed with the gas injections, then maybe extract some useful intel about vital locations at the end. He will know a lot about the first two topics, and we should be able to verify any info about the vital locations since the Skidbladnir can presumably scan the surface from orbit.
Maybe we can locate another digsite or find better locations for the nukes or something.
>>
>>6455884
>[ Maverick ] Bribe the Prisoner with recovered gas injections, before asking questions [Expands the intel/ quality of the intel gathered from the initial line of questioning, but lowers the number of subjects asked by 1]

>first
Himself and the Unggoy, why do you serve little one?

>Second
>Covenant Religion/ Society/ Language
The first would lead into this

>Finally
>The Minister's habits and leadership
Know thy Prey

---
Start stiring the flames for a Grunt Rebellion
>>
>>6455884
>Take an friendly, gentle approach with the prisoner [Increases chance of additional related or non related intel being gathered, based on Sven-033's charisma]
>[ Maverick ] Bribe the Prisoner with recovered gas injections, before asking questions [Expands the intel/ quality of the intel gathered from the initial line of questioning, but lowers the number of subjects asked by 1]
Slinging drugs to a mentally retarded alien. Better keep this one out of the AAR.

>The Minister's habits and leadership
>Vital Locations of the Covenants' activities on the world
>Covenant Religion/ Society/ Language
>>
>>6455884
>Take an friendly, gentle approach with the prisoner [Increases chance of additional related or non related intel being gathered, based on Sven-033's charisma]

>The Chieftain's habits and leadership

>The Minister's habits and leadership

>Vital Locations of the Covenants' activities on the world

>Jiralhanae
>>
>>6455884
>[ Maverick ] Bribe the Prisoner with recovered gas injections, before asking questions [Expands the intel/ quality of the intel gathered from the initial line of questioning, but lowers the number of subjects asked by 1]

>first
Himself and the Unggoy, why do you serve little one?

>Second
>Covenant Religion/ Society/ Language
The first would lead into this

>Finally
>The Minister's habits and leadership
Know thy Prey

This should help with secondary objective of knowing Covenant culture and society.
>>
>>6455884
>[ Wunderkind ] Treat this as a scientific study and the prisoner as the subject [Improves lines of questioning related to Covenant technology, Biology or Society]

>The Minister's habits and leadership

>Vital Locations of the Covenants' activities on the world

>Covenant Technology/ Weaponry

>Unggoy
>>
File: someonesintrouble.png (2.5 MB, 1920x818)
2.5 MB PNG
>>6455884
>Take an friendly, gentle approach with the prisoner [Increases chance of additional related or non related intel being gathered, based on Sven-033's charisma]
You get on a POW's good side, they'll be way more talkative and less likely to make shit up, especially naïve ones who obviously have no RTI training like Puf Puf here. Anyways...
>The Minister's habits and leadership
>Covenant Religion/ Society/ Language
>Unggoy
>Sangheili
I'll explain my choices from the top down;
- We gotta know how our priority target operates for pretty obvious reasons. If he's smart, he's going to precede with caution from this point on, which just makes him a tougher nut to crack.
- We're definitely not closing the tech gap anytime soon, so we're gonna need to up our game in regards to guerilla warfare and PSYOPs against the Covenant. Our successes so far during Operation: CROWS-NEST should make the effectiveness of such strategies clear. I think these will also just have broader gains for our intel gathering in the future, which is always gonna be a priority.
- Unggoy are one of the most commonly deployed species by the Covenant, and an Unggoy would know the most about them, biased viewpoint aside.
- This is a longshot, but it's clear to me that Elites are gonna be the biggest problem for us and other Spartans going forward, so I think this is worth asking even if he doesn't know much about his splitjaw superiors.
>>
>>6455884

>Take an friendly, gentle approach with the prisoner [Increases chance of additional related or non related intel being gathered, based on Sven-033's charisma]

>The Chieftain's habits and leadership

>The Minister's habits and leadership

>Unggoy

>Covenant Religion/ Society/ Language

Tempted to make the Infuision a carrot if he cooperates, but that could backfire in the future. We don't really want to turn these interrogations into negotiations and a quid pro quo arrangement gives him the illusion of leverage.
>>
>>6455924
>>6455927
>>6455950

The probablem with friendly is that were handing puffpuff to ONi afterwards. Which sending him to hell. Sven being a deli erate deception of being friendly then backstabbing is just distasteful.

It's one thing if we're legitimately trying to flip an former enemy like with Jor and Gunderson's. It's another to make a Covie thinke we're a friend before handing hom to the spooks.
>>
>>6455991
So torturing aliens and humans alike is okay but pretending to be friendly to Puf Puf in order to hopefully coax some extra intel out of him is "distasteful"? What ONI does to him once we've handed him over is NOT our problem.
>>
>>6455991
>distasteful
"Distasteful" is reenacting ancient torture rituals just to piss off an enemy officer or mutilating corpses so you can strap their bones to your armor to look spooky.
Lying to a dead grunt walking for some intel in a war of survival is way more reasonable than a lot of shit we've done as a Spartan to be honest.
>>
>>6455991
If you wanted to be polite and nice to the grunt you'd be better off voting to put a bullet through his skull the very moment we're done with him. After all it doesn't matter which faction you give him too, he's gonna wind up tortured and killed anyway.
>>
>>6455991
>Suddenly having a moral issue with being 'nice'
lmao
>>
>>6455884
>>Take an friendly, gentle approach with the prisoner [Increases chance of additional related or non related intel being gathered, based on Sven-033's charisma]

>The Minister's habits and leadership
>Unggoy
>Covenant Religion/ Society/ Language
>Sangheili
>>
>>6455884
>Take an friendly, gentle approach with the prisoner [Increases chance of additional related or non related intel being gathered, based on Sven-033's charisma]
Sven has plenty of charisma

>The Chieftain's habits and leadership
>The Minister's habits and leadership
>Vital Locations of the Covenants' activities on the world
>Covenant Religion/ Society/ Language

We should be able to figure out the ceremony day now
>>
>>6455884
>Take an friendly, gentle approach with the prisoner [Increases chance of additional related or non related intel being gathered, based on Sven-033's charisma]

>The Chieftain's habits and leadership

>The Minister's habits and leadership

>Unggoy

>Covenant Religion/ Society/ Language

Balance about mission knowledge and cultural knowledge.
>>
>>6455884
>>6456128
+1
>>
Heads up, going to let this vote run a bit longer than usual. Since it is a little more complicated than the usual votes.

In the mean time, any Spartans you want to see more of?
>>
>>6456160

More Kurt and Cal wouldn't be bad.
>>
>>6456160
maybe Halsey and Mendez Povs/Interludes, The Minister POV to Svens shenanigans.
>>
>>6456160
id like too see PoV's of some of the other missions spartan teams

or maybe the secondary members of spartans that interact with Sven to see their thoughts
>>
>>6456160
Dimas, Daisy, and Nesta. Maybe Soren when we get to see Colossus.......



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