Welcome to Vanguard Quest, a simple cooperative mech skirmish quest. New players are welcome any point - if you want to join, please review the latest assembly options below and post your loadout! Thank you for playing!Vanguard Assembly Options: https://rentry.org/VanguardQuestPrevious Thread:>>6396777Archive:Thread 1: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2026/6362888/Thread 2: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2026/6396777/
//FAMINE: DEPLOY O. MOVE GATE-1.//GORGON: DEPLOY G3. Hit SUCCESS. 3 DMG inflicted against GATE-3. MULTIHIT 5 DMG inflicted against GATE-3. //SNOWMAN: DEPLOY G3. Hit SUCCESS. 17 DMG inflicted against GATE-3. MULTIHIT 2 DMG against TURRET G3-1.//SCARAB: DEPLOY G3. Hit SUCCESS. 46 DMG inflicted against GATE-3. Target DESTROYED! 11 DMG overflow to GATE-1. //SAILOR: DEPLOY G3. Hit SUCCESS. 23 DMG inflicted against TURRET G3-1. Target DESTROYED! //GAMBLER: DEPLOY G3. Hit SUCCESS. Target already destroyed! 2 DMG overflow, 8 RAD inflicted against GATE-1.//RUIN: DEPLOY O. MOVE A1. Hit SUCCESS. 10 DMG inflicted against TURRET A2-1. MULTIHIT 5 DMG inflicted against TURRET A2-1. Target DESTROYED!//KOMODO: DEPLOY O. MOVE A1. Hit SUCCESS. Target already destroyed!//GASHADOKURO: DEPLOY O. MOVE B2. Hit SUCCESS. 5 DMG inflicted against TURRET B2-1. 8 RAD inflicted. Light tag added. //OGRE: DEPLOY O. MOVE GATE-1. //HEXE: DEPLOY O. MOVE B2>G1>G2. Hit SUCCESS. 19 DMG inflicted against GATE-2.//EARTHLING: DEPLOY O. MOVE G2. Hit SUCCESS. 19 DMG inflicted against GATE-2. //CORVID: DEPLOY O. MOVE GATE-1. //COBALT1: DEPLOY O. MOVE GATE-2. Hit SUCCESS. 21 DMG inflicted against GATE-2. //PILLOW: DEPLOY O. YELLOWSTONE deferred as target already destroyed.//VULTURE: DEPLOY O. MOVE GATE-1. //SONS OF OLYMPUS: DEPLOY G3. MOVE D-2.
Your mercenaries land inside the defensive perimeter of the depot. A low, droning alarm sounds over the local comm-net to raise the SHIN-RAI garrison to combat alert. As your forces reach the base of the wall, anti-personnel rounds begin to zip into the Martian twilight before being joined by the booming roar of heavier, turret-mounted defenses. Glowing shells dig into barren sand as their targeting systems strain to successfully track mechs maneuvering at such close range. It was too little too late. One - then two - of the turrets collapse after being singled out by your pilots and engaged by sustained weapons fire. Your pilots begin to press the SHIN-RAI defenses at multiple points. But by then, the unit that you had dropped closest to the perimeter - an eclectic mixture of tanks and heavy mechs - were already engaging the wall. They had made sure to bring appropriate weapons for this task. Foam-phase hydrogen rounds collapse the reinforcements base before streams of rotary cannon fire sweep over the battlements. A weak section of the wall buckles, sags, and finally breaks under the weight of your company's ordinance. The wall-section fails like a collapsing dam, shrouding a two-kilometer stretch of the wall in a thick haze of pulverized aggregate. The way inside the facility was now open. However, your quickly temper your growing optimism as several new sets of sensors signatures appear on your tactical display. Several ECLIPSE-class weapon platforms had ascended over the perimeter wall, clearly positioning to bombard your forces once they finished charged their belly-mounted railguns. Perhaps even more concerning, several mech-grade sensor signatures resolve from inside the supply depot. A mercenary unit saves you the trouble of a lookup by pinging you using their direct identifier: MIRACLE-9The feed opens to reveal an woman - most likely earthborn - grinning at the camera, her face a garish mess of patterned color overlaid on unsubtle augmentations. Her expression conveys a disturbing level of eagerness."...I SEE A BONUS..."
//ALPHA 1COMBAT:>HULL [80 HP | DC 6 | [HEAVY]][1X MULTIPLIER]>MAIN WEAPON [15 HP | DC 12 | [LIGHT][EVASIVE]][2X MULTIPLIER] [DISABLES RAILGUN ATTACK WHEN DESTROYED]>WINGS [12 HP | DC 8 | [LIGHT][2X MULTIPLIER] [REDUCES ALL DC BY 2 WHEN DESTROYED]SALVAGE:>TURRET WRECK 2 [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-7 2-14 MU | 8 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//BETA 2COMBAT:>TURRET B2-1 [10 HP | DC 8 | [HEAVY][LIGHT]] [BLOCKING PATH TO GATE-3] [-8RAD]//GATE 1 [ALL UNITS REMAINING AT THIS NODE WILL TAKE 2 DAMAGE NEXT TURN]COMBAT:>TURRET G1-1 [15 HP | DC 8 | [HEAVY]] [BLOCKING PATH TO D-1]>TURRET G1-2 [15 HP | DC 8 | [HEAVY]] [BLOCKING PATH TO D-1]>GATE SECTION 1 [107 HP | DC 3 | [HEAVY]] [BLOCKING PATH TO D-1] [-8RAD]//GATE 2COMBAT:>TURRET G2-1 [15 HP | DC 8 | [HEAVY]] [BLOCKING PATH TO D-4]>GATE SECTION 2 [1 HP | DC 3 | [HEAVY]] [BLOCKING PATH TO D-4]//GATE 3SALVAGE:>TURRET WRECK 3 [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-7 2-14 MU | 8 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]
NOTE: Enemy forces with an ARROW are currently moving into position, and will arrive at the node specified the NEXT turn. Apologies for the delay everyone. Updates should be back to a regular-ish schedule now.
>>6444699"DO MY EYES BETRAY ME? DO I SEE A TREAT TREAT? A DELICIOUS LIGHT TREAT TREAT I CAN HIT AND SHRED?""DO MY EYES BETRAY ME? IS THAT A TARGET I can murder and slowly skin alive layer by layer like an onion peeling away at the surface of their body someone who I can reassemble into a pile of flesh-bound furniture that my tired and battered frame can rest upon do I SPOT a pile of flesh and bones and skin and brain tissue that must be dealt with post haste. So I may feel the warmth of another human being. To entwin myself in the presence and love of another.""This is not a threat this is not a promise this is certainty do not resist I demand treat treat. I demand treat." FAMINE's weapons all immediately lock onto the brand new target. With a silent, obsessive focus, her mech begins to march over, getting just close enough to put the enemy within firing range.>Move to ALPHA 1>Target Eclipse-Alpha's MAIN WEAPON (autohit, 1d6+11 can't miss DC 12 even if I tried), deal 10 DMG to it! Leaving it at 5 HP!"PLEASE FINISH OFF THE MAIN WEAPON MAKE IT GO BOOM!" FAMINE babbles, like she wasn't gibbering like a serial killer mere moments ago.
Rolled 3 + 2 (1d12 + 2)>>6444694>Move to ALPHA 1>MAIN WEAPON [15 HP | DC 12 | [LIGHT][EVASIVE]][2X MULTIPLIER] [DISABLES RAILGUN ATTACK WHEN DESTROYED]"heard you loud and clear FAMINE moving to assist"
Observer put uhhh a thread connection post in thread II. Not sure everyone has seen the new thread already!>>6444700No issues !!!!
Rolled 3, 4 + 2 = 9 (2d4 + 2)"Seems there are mercenaries alongside corporate units inside here.""Dustwalkers make sure to eliminate those turrets alongside those wall sections; we need full freedom of movement. Anyone who can engage it, blast that platform to pieces in Alpha-1.">>6444699"Moving inside. Engaging Eclipse Platform Gamma. Let's make SHIN-RAI bleed.">Move to DELTA 1>COMBAT ECLIPSE-GAMMA>HULL [80 HP | DC 6 | [HEAVY]][1X MULTIPLIER](I assume it has the same stats and components as ECLIPSE-ALPHA)
>>6444759I meant to write>Move to DELTA 2here
>>6444696>MOVE to D-2>Ready the VELVET GLOVE and the FUCKA swarm of mercenaries on the approach- somebody had paid well, but they hadn't been told what they were up against. Gorgon had scribed names for the two nuclear payloads he'd loaded up his new Valiant Clas Vanguard frame with, in paint-pen too small to be appreciated, as the armorers refused to print the letters large enough when the missile was going to be encased in an armored box launcher for the overwhelming majority of its life, and its supersonic launch velocity and tactical target meant nobody would have a chance to read it anyways. It was about the *principle*, but alas.The principle mattered much less when Gorgon could not think of a satisfactorily poetic yet complementary name for the missile's twin, and he resorted to a plain and simple name as explicit as it was meaningful in what it was going to be doing. Most Vanguard mechs were rated to resist at least one nuclear explosion's blast zone. Gorgon didn't know of many that could resist two."No-body go too far forward, hear? Lots a' our new friends are 'bout t' find out how t' get sunburn on Mars."
Rolled 6 (1d8)>>6444696"Hell... You guys get bonus pay for killing mercs? I might have to renegotiate my contract.">Salvage TURRET WRECK 2 [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-7 2-14 MU | 8 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]"Let me claim my prize first.">HULL [80 HP | DC 6 | [HEAVY]][1X MULTIPLIER]"Aim for center mass..."Ruin Build (>>6434504), rolling for loot
Rolled 1 + 4 (1d5 + 4)>>6444787Rolling for hit.
>>6444789fuck meeeeee. first failure in FOREVER I'm going to kill myself
Rolled 9 (1d12)>>6444696>ALPHA STRIKE TURRET B2-1>MOVE GATE-3"Ey fellas, miss me yet? Heard there's more slags incoming."
>>6444791>Use MINIFLARE to hit and not take damage"That's what it's for, but damn if it doesn't suck using it here."
>>6444696>>6444699>MOVE - D2>SCOUT (autosuccess with OCULUS)"**en route**relocating**intercept**enemy advance**"
>>6444697Look at me and HEXE with our martian bin knives!>>6444699>MOVE TO GATE-1 > BETA-2 > ORIGIN > ALPHA 1>ATTACK MAIN WEAPON [15 HP | DC 12 | [LIGHT][EVASIVE]][2X MULTIPLIER] [DISABLES RAILGUN ATTACK WHEN DESTROYED]That one-taps the main weapon. Finally, something my plasma shank can pierce.
Rolled 2, 1, 2 + 10 = 15 (3d2 + 10)>>6444857
>>6444696>MULTIHIT 2 DMGI have to apologize to everyone who attacked that turret and suffered my arrogant assumption that it has been already destroyed. Also half of my build is now useless
Rolled 2 (1d8)>>6444696>Salvage Turret Wreck 3>Move to Delta-2Snowman build for reference>CORECORE/T/VALIANT. [ LOAD LIMIT: 13 | HP: 5 | MOVE: 1 (+1) | EVASION: -6 | CANNOT ATTACK AND MOVE ON THE SAME TURN | CAN DUAL-WIELD ANY NON-MELEE WEAPON]>ARMSSNIPER RIFLE//FURY. [LOAD: 3 | +1 DMG/ALL | +2 HIT/ALL | -2 EVASION | BONUS DMG EQUIVALENT TO HIT ROLL - TARGET DC. CAN TARGET ENEMIES IN ADJACENT NODES WITH -3 HIT PENALTY] [BALLISTIC]ARC RIFLE//PERUN. [LOAD: 2 | +2 DMG/ALL | ALWAYS MULTIHIT CLOSEST ENEMY IN NODE. ADDITIONAL MULTIHIT ON MAX ROLL] [ENERGY | MULTIHIT] [R/L COMPATIBLE]>BACKROTARY CANNON//PITONE [LOAD: 4 | +4 DMG/ALL | -1 EVASIVE | REROLL ON EVEN HIT ROLLS. EVERY EVEN ROLL DEALS +4 ADDITIONAL DAMAGE] [RB/LB COMPATIBLE]RADAR//OCULUS [LOAD: 3 | +3 SCOUTING | +2 HIT/ALL | +1 HIT/HEAVY] [R-BACK ONLY]>FCSFCS/BML-CL [ 2D4 | +2 HIT/HEAVY ]>AUXTARGETING SUBCOMP/SUBCOMP-H [LOAD: 0 | +1 HIT/HEAVY]Hit 2d4 +4 vs All, +8 vs Heavy; -9 Evasion; Dmg +8 vs All
>>6444699Can we target Eclipse-Gamma like this >>6444759 or does it need to be scouted first? Can we assume it has the same parts as the Alpha and attack them or do they need to be scouted out first?
Rolled 2, 2, 2 + 2 = 8 (3d2 + 2)>>6444708>>6444857>>6444858Famine, Earthling, you two managed to take out its main railgun weapon, right?If so, then...>>6444699Move:>//ALPHA 1COMBAT:>HULL [80 HP | DC 6 | [HEAVY]][1X MULTIPLIER]>20 DMG if successful I'll attack the hull, and let the people at Gate 1 move to gate 2 and deal the remaining few points of damage. Then we can move inside and start shredding everything.
Rolled 4 (1d6)>>6444696A drawn-out groan rocks the comms."Aw cripes, I'm like 90% certain I drank at a club with these Miracle jerks before... pretty sure it was one of their birthdays or something? They're freaks, man. Fun, but... y'know. Freaks.">SCOUT D-2
>>6444694How does dual-wielding work? Will it allow me to equip two applicable weapons per hardpoint if I should choose, or does it mean something else?
>>6444937Basically, it allows you to ignore the 'can only be equipped on the right/left arm' restriction some weapons have. For Duelist, that means a weapon like this>PULSE BLADE//PULSAR. [LOAD: 2 | +5 DMG/ALL | -1 HIT/ALL | +2 EVASION] [MELEE] [R ARM ONLY]Can be equipped to both slots for 4 LOAD, giving you 10 DMG/ALL, -2 HIT/ALL, and +4 EVASIONFor VALIANT, that means a weapon like this>SNIPER RIFLE//FURY. [LOAD: 3 | +1 DMG/ALL | +2 HIT/ALL | -2 EVASION | BONUS DMG EQUIVALENT TO HIT ROLL - TARGET DC. CAN TARGET ENEMIES IN ADJACENT NODES WITH -3 HIT PENALTY] [BALLISTIC] [L ARM ONLY]Can be equipped in both slots for 6 LOAD, giving you +2 DMG/ALL, +4 HIT/ALL, -4 EVASION, +DMG equal to hit roll - DC. The second effect, which allows you to hit enemies from further away, doesn't get doubled. So you can't hit someone from three tiles away.
Rolled 4 + 7 (1d4 + 7)>>6444699>MOVE Beta-2>ATTACK >TURRET B2-1 [10 HP | DC 8 | [HEAVY][LIGHT]] [BLOCKING PATH TO GATE-3] [-8RAD]
>>6444965Ah, I see. Thanks. That makes the build I planned a little less silly in it's loadout, but quite a bit more effective instead.
>>6444882I'll allow the pre-emptive targeting action against the ECLIPSE-GAMMA in D2 given that GAMBLER did successfully performed a scouting action, which reveals all target-able parts on the ECLIPSE as it is smaller unit. Pre-empting actions is generally allowed within reason as long as you are sure that the pre-requisite (scouting, opening a blocked path) will occur successfully on the same turn.And yes, you can assume that it has the same parts and DCs as ALPHA. >>6444937>>6444965Yes thank you FAMINE this is totally accurate. You can generally assume that frame-specific bonuses override any R/L weapon restrictions.
Rolled 6 + 3 (1d12 + 3)>>6444699Corvid, reporting all status nominal. Continuing the engagement. Those Earther Mercs along with that Arms Fort are gonna be a headache...>ATTACK TURRET G1-1Commencing suppression of enemy fortification. Stay alert, we don't know what the enemy has in reserve.OOC: Also, no clue on how to link to the previous thread. No changes to my loadout, except the base in factory white instead of cream.
>>6444708>>6444857
>>6444696Hello everyone! I'm new to the quest. I read through the previous thread, but can someone provide a summary or chart of a round of combat for future reference? Thanks in advance!Let me see if I can get this right.->CALLSIGN: Gargoyle>CORE: Lancer>LEFT ARM: Pulse Dagger//Glimmer (It would be awesome if this was reskinned as a tomahawk.)>RIGHT ARM: Shotgun//Zimm.>BACK: Booster Set//Pinion>FCS: BML-CL>AUXILIARY: Targeting Subcomp-L>PAINT: Edge Grey / Factory Teal / Edge Red-"Gargoyle reports as ordered."
Rolled 5 + 8 (1d5 + 8)>>6444699Attack for 3 dmg (+12 RAD next turn), auto success>TURRET G1-2 [15 HP | DC 8 | [HEAVY]] [BLOCKING PATH TO D-1]>Move to GATE-2>>6445007"I'll tag the other turret and head up to GATE-2. Probably no need to open up the main gates if the side ones are easier to crack"--Just posting my stats here so I don't have to look in the other thread.>CORE/M/ROOK-M. [ LOAD LIMIT: 8 | HP: 2 | MOVE: 1 (+1)]> HANDGUN//TN-REVOL. [LOAD: 0 | +1 DMG/HEAVY] [BALLISTIC]> IRRADIATOR//FULGENT. [LOAD: 2 | +1 DMG/ALL | ON HIT, INFLICT PERMANENT 4 DMG/TURN. KILLS INFANTRY INSTANTLY.] [ENERGY]> IRRADIATOR/ARDENT [LOAD: 3 | +1 DMG/ALL | ON HIT, INFLICT PERMANENT 8 DMG/TURN. KILLS INFANTRY INSTANTLY.] [ENERGY]> RADAR//OCULUS [LOAD: 3 | +3 SCOUTING | +2 HIT/ALL | +1 HIT/HEAVY] [R-BACK ONLY]> FCS/MULTI. [1D5 | +4 HEAVY | ROLLING 4 OR 5 ON 1D5 ACTIVATES MULTIHIT]> TARGETING SUBCOMP/SUBCOMP-H [LOAD: 0 | +1 HIT/HEAVY]Heavy: 1d5+8 to hit, 3 dmg (+12 per turn). Auto hit any heavy <=DC9[Light: 1d5+2 to hit, 2 dmg (+12 per turn)]Scouting: +3Evasion modifier: 0
>>6445042"You picked a nice fight to join us, welcome!"The Lancer core defines the movement as MOVE: 3 (+1).So you can move from the origin 3 nodes (or less), and then perform an action (or vice versa if you want to do an action and then move). You can double move (e.g. no action) 4 nodes.An action is generally to scout, salvage, attack or repair (back at the drop ship).Look at the map and >>6444699 to see what can be done (map tells you if a node is scouted or not, otherwise roll 1d6+modifier). Best to read what others have already done if you want to attack something, or you could move into one of the "D" nodes inside the base
>>6445061I see, so that means with the Booster Set, I should have 4 (+1) movement, right?Now that I look at it, the weapons should give me:- PD//Glimmer: 7D - To-Hit: L +1, H +2- SG//Zimm.: +4D Light, +2D HeavyIs this correct, or am I over- or under-estimating? Thanks, by the way!
>>6445042>>6445042Welcome welcome! I don't usually do per-player reskins since it's a lot of work, but I'll add this tomahawk as an alternate visual option for the GLIMMER for all players since its a pretty cool idea.
Rolled 2 + 7 (1d6 + 7)>>6444696>MOVE TO NODE ALPHA-1>COMBAT: >WINGS [12 HP | DC 8 | [LIGHT][2X MULTIPLIER] [REDUCES ALL DC BY 2 WHEN DESTROYED]Hey, fancy ship! Now come down here and face us like men, you coward. Clipping the wings!
Rolled 3 (1d6)>>6445178>Re-rolling for two rotary cannons on a roll of 2. LAY IT ON EM! AAAAAHHHHH!!!Is anyone else’s ears ringing?
>>6445042“Hell yeah, fresh meat for the cause! Welcome to Mars, kid!”Ogre states this confidently while knowing absolutely nothing about the newcomer. He’s still on an adrenaline high from firing his rotary cannons for the first time.
Rolled 1, 2, 1 + 9 = 13 (3d2 + 9)>>6444857"Well struck, Mr. Earthling. Good target selection. Optimal approach. I hope to see you inside their perimeter shortly.">>6444973>>6444845"My thanks for clearing a path. Ingressing.">>6444699Hexe was seized by a potential terror: Terran fatigue. By the time her neophyte period came to a close, killing a Terran frame had become a genuine rarity in the outer system. Any encounter with frames whose pilots exhibited laudable acceleration tolerance, but also clearly wobbly maneuvering from a lack of acclimatization to microgravity warfare, was justifiably treasured. Now she found herself imagining a heretofore unlikely situation where she could grow tired of Terrans, of their degenerate excesses, of their unaesthetic forms, and, improbable as it seemed, of killing them. Her focus returned to the battlefield. Earthling (recently filed away as “one of the good ones”) had started his attack run on a bombardment platform. Another hovered just within the secured perimeter, already underlit by tracers from one of the forward-deployed Dustwalkers below. Fed telemetry from Sailor and Gambler, Hexe’s FCS locked on. She issued a manual command for her lungs to empty in preparation for full deflation and the assembly clamshelling shut due to the harsh acceleration demanded by the course she was plotting. The Frame Operations Controller would’ve flagged this mental command and given her an earful: wasting time, needlessly shirking discomfort. Surprising herself, Hexe was for the first time truly glad of the Controller’s absence from her implanted co-processor.>MOVE GATE-1 -> BETA-2 -> GATE-3 -> D-2 (+12DMG/ALL from SUNSLAG)>ATTACK ECLIPSE-GAMMA, assuming it is scouted and is identical to ECLIPSE-ALPHA, targeting MAIN WEAPON. 3d2+9 on LIGHT/EVASIVE autohits DC12. 23 damage (1 base + 2 (SUNSLAG base) + 12 (SUNSLAG bonus) + 8 (GLIMMER bonus)
>>6445077Thanks for letting me join in and for making the tomahawk! I think you missed one Load point for the Glimmer.>>6444699I'm not sure what my bonuses to-hit are, nor the total damage I'll do, but here is what I will elect to do:>Deploy at Gate-3>Move from Gate-3 > D-2>Attack the Wings on Eclipse-Gamma
>>6445213FAMINE ADVICE: I SHALL HELP YOU MY BROTUEHR I NCHRISTAAA.LANCER (+2 EVASION)-SHOTGUN//ZIMM (+1 HIT/LIGHT, +2 DMG/ALL, +2 DMG/LIGHT)-PULSE GLIMMER (+1 EVASION, +DMG/ALL EQUAL TO EVASION)-BOOSTER SET/PINION (+4 EVASION, +1 MOV)HIT DICE: 2d4, +2 hit against HEAVY, +1 HIT against light from Targeting Subcomp LTOTAL HIT: 2d4+2 hit against NON-EVASIVE LIGHT/HEAVY, 2d4+9 hit against EVASIVE targets.TOTAL DAMAGE: 10 vs HEAVY, 12 vs LIGHTWINGS: DC 8, LIGHT. SO YOU WOULD ROLL 2d4+2 TO HIT, AND YOU WOULD BREAK THEM IN ONE HIT.
>>6444696CALLSIGN : KERBEROS/CORE:>T/VALIANT — [ LOAD LIMIT: 13 | HP: 5 | MOVE: 1 (+1) | EVASION: -6 | CANNOT ATTACK AND MOVE ON THE SAME TURN | CAN DUAL-WIELD ANY NON-MELEE WEAPON ]/ARM R/L:>R: — ROTARY CANNON//BANSHEE. [ LOAD: 3 | +3 DMG/ALL | REROLL ON EVEN HIT ROLLS. EVERY EVEN ROLL DEALS +3 ADDITIONAL DAMAGE ]>L: — EMP RIFLE//LOCKDOWN. [ LOAD: 2 | +1 DMG/LIGHT | +1 HIT/LIGHT | ON HIT, ADD [HEAVY] TAG TO TARGET ] [ENERGY]/BACK R/L:>R: — RADAR//OCULUS [ LOAD: 3 | +3 SCOUTING | +2 HIT/ALL | +1 HIT/HEAVY] [R-BACK ONLY ]>L: — ROTARY CANNON//PITONE [ LOAD: 4 | +4 DMG/ALL | -1 EVASIVE | REROLL ON EVEN HIT ROLLS. EVERY EVEN ROLL DEALS +4 ADDITIONAL DAMAGE ]/FCS:>FCS/BML-CL [ 2D4 | 2+ HIT/HEAVY ]/AUX:>BOOSTER-MOD/INERTIA-THIEF [ LOAD: 1 | PERMANENT | INSTEAD OF MOVING, YOU MAY BANK UP TO +4 MOV FOR FUTURE TURNS ]TOTAL LOAD: 3 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 = 13/13BONUSES: +3 SCOUTING, +3 HEAVY, +2 ALL, +1 LIGHT [ EMP RIFLE ONLY ], - 1 EVASIVE [ R.CANNON PITONE ONLY ], -6 EVASION [ HULL ] | | | +4 DMG/ALL [ R.CANNON PITONE ], +3 DMG/ALL [ R.CANNON BANSHEE ], +1 DMG/LIGHT [ EMP RIFLE ]PAINTJOB:EDGE GRAYASSAULT CRIMSONEDGE REDI think I got this right.
Rolled 2, 2 + 2 = 6 (2d4 + 2)>>6445223Thank you very much for the advice. It appears that I'm better against Evasive targets, then, but I'll do my part. I will elect to wait for Hexe's >>6445191 attack to destroy the Main Weapon, after which I will make my attack against the wings. Rolling.
>>6445227Fuck.
>>6445228Don’t sweat it, new guy. Getting back in the saddle is rough, you’ll be putting warheads into foreheads again in no time.
>>6444787>>6444789>>6444847Whoops, I actually *can't* shoot and loot, and due to looting happening first, it's all I will do this time around, making my other actions moot!
>>6445226Welcome!
>>6445316Also feel free to choose a deployment location and act this turn. If you don't get to it before today's update, feel free to take an extra move action on the next update.
//FAMINE: MOVE A1. Hit SUCCESS. 10 DMG inflicted against E-A-MAIN WEAPON.//PILLOW: MOVE A1. Hit FAIL. 1 DMG sustained. Mech crippled!//SCARAB: MOVE D2. Hit SUCCESS. 13 DMG inflicted against E-G-HULL.//GORGON: MOVE D2.//RUIN: Wreck SALVAGED. Value: 12 MU//GASHADOKURO: Hit SUCCESS. 5 DMG inflicted against TURRET B2-1. 8 RAD inflicted. 8 RAD DMG sustained. Target destroyed! MOVE G3.//SAILOR: MOVE D2. Scout SUCCESS. ADMIN BLOCKS revealed.//EARTHLING: MOVE A1. Hit SUCCESS. 23 DAMAGE inflicted against E-A-MAIN WEAPON. Target destroyed! 30 BONUS DMG inflicted! 17 DMG overflow to INTERNAL SYSTEMS.//SNOWMAN: Wreck SALVAGED. Value: 4 MU. MOVE DELTA 2.//COBALT1: MOVE A1. Hit SUCCESS. 20 DMG inflicted against E-A-HULL.//GAMBLER: MOVE D2. Scout SUCCESS. ECLIPSE GAMMA revealed.//BUTTONMAN: MOVE B2. Hit SUCCESS. Target already destroyed!//CORVID: Hit SUCCESS. 8 DMG inflicted against TURRET G1-1.//VULTURE: Hit SUCCESS. 3 DMG inflicted against TURRET G1-2. 12 RAD inflicted. MOVE G2.//OGRE: MOVE A1. Hit SUCCESS. 17 DMG inflicted against E-A-WINGS. Target destroyed! 24 BONUS DMG inflicted! 5 DMG overflow to INTERNAL SYSTEMS. DC of all parts decreased by 2!//HEXE: MOVE D2. Hit SUCCESS. 23 DMG inflicted against E-G-MAIN WEAPON. Target destroyed! 30 BONUS DMG inflicted! 8 DMG overflow to INTERNAL SYSTEMS.//GARGOYLE: MOVE A2. Hit SUCCESS. Target already destroyed! 11 DMG overflow to INTERNAL SYSTEMS. Target DESTROYED! 90 BONUS DMG inflicted! ECLIPSE ALPHA DESTROYED!//SONS OF OLYMPUS: MOVE D1. Scout.ENEMY ACTIONS://MISSILE CARRIERS 1 and 2 >NEXT TURN> D4//MISSILE CARRIER 3 >NEXT TURN> D5//MIRACLE-9 WATCHER DC +1 BUFF to MIRACLE-9 "DREAMER" and MIRACLE-9 "HEARTSEEKER"
Half of your company directs their focus to the weapon platforms. Ferrite-laced dust particles swirl over the landscape as the ECLIPSE-class platform begins to charge its mammoth railgun, but it never has a chance to fire. FAMINE and EARTHLING engage the platform at close range, carving through the railgun's armored enclosure. A devastating lance hit spears through the weapon's capacitor bank. A discharge of accumulated energy slags the weapon before flash-melting a hole through the weapon platform's ventral plating. The rest of your mercenaries follow up by riddling the craft's fragile internals with kinetic rounds and assorted explosives. GARGOYLE and COBALT1 narrowly dodge bursts of point-defense fire to strike with close-range pulse weaponry. With its wings shorn off and most of its thrusters disabled, the craft slides slowly - almost gracefully - into the face of a rolling dune before splintering into burning sections.HEXE and SCARAB repeat this tactic against a second ECLIPSE-class platform looming over the southern perimeter wall. Though lacking enough firepower to disable the craft, a well-placed lance hit manages to disable the platform's centerpiece railgun - rendering it neutered, if not strictly harmless.Meanwhile, the rest of your forces push through the breach in the perimeter wall. Tank units and heavy bipeds grind past the shattered walls before plowing through small building complexes unarmored transit corridors. Scattered corporate security units attempt to stop the advance with a smattering of small arms and squad-mounted weapons. None of it has any noticeable effect against vanguard-grade armor. The more sensible units manage a hurried retreat, while the few hold-outs are rapidly cleared by your recon infantry. The local comm-net crackles with panicked requests for rescue and assistance.
As your mercenaries carve out a rough perimeter inside the supply depot, your recon unit pushes forward to scout ahead of the main group. Key targets are identified and marked. Your contract specified the elimination of the two orbital elevator hubs, but all damage was good damage - and GCC had been more than willing to grant bonuses against factories, administrative complexes, material stores, and nearly all other targets of opportunity.SHIN-RAI - to their credit - does not attempt to meet your attack piecemeal. Most of its forces were now forming a second perimeter to protect its most valuable assets. You note - with some concern - a trio of missile artillery units moving into an entrenched position. The enemy mercenary captain - despite her garish appearance - actually holds most of her company back. You realize belatedly that she had the good sense to bring some kind of electronic warfare frame along with her standard units. She was mostly likely attempting to analyze your forces before provoking you to attack into an unfavorable position."...DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT THE SEA FEELS LIKE...""...HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE REAL SKY, DUSTER..."Her attempts at provoking you become increasingly annoying. After several minutes, you sigh and mute her company's comm channel.
//ALPHA 1SALVAGE:>ECLIPSE CORE [Roll 1D20 for salvage. 1-14 2-28 MU | 15-20 SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE]>ECLIPSE WEAPON [Roll 1D12 for salvage. 1-6 2-12 MU | 7-11 MISSILE WEAPON SCHEMATIC | 12 RAILGUN WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//BETA 2SALVAGE:>TURRET WRECK 2 [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-7 2-14 MU | 8 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//GATE 1COMBAT:>TURRET G1-1 [7 HP | DC 8 | [HEAVY]] [BLOCKING PATH TO D-1]>TURRET G1-2 [12 HP | DC 8 | [HEAVY]] [BLOCKING PATH TO D-1] [-12 RAD]>GATE SECTION 1 [99 HP | DC 3 | [HEAVY]] [BLOCKING PATH TO D-1] [-8RAD]//GATE 2COMBAT:>TURRET G2-1 [15 HP | DC 8 | [HEAVY]] [BLOCKING PATH TO D-4]>GATE SECTION 2 [1 HP | DC 3 | [HEAVY]] [BLOCKING PATH TO D-4]//D2COMBAT:>E-G HULL [67 HP | DC 6 | [HEAVY]][1X MULTIPLIER]]>E-G INTERNAL SYSTEMS [22 HP | DC 7 | [LIGHT] [3X MULTIPLIER]]>E-G WINGS [12 HP | DC 8 | [LIGHT][2X MULTIPLIER] [REDUCES ALL DC BY 2 WHEN DESTROYED]>ADMIN 1 [20 HP | [CIV] [10 MU BOUNTY]] NOTE: NON-MILITARY [CIV] BUILDINGS HAVE AN EFFECTIVE DC OF 1 AND TAKE FULL DMG FROM ALL WEAPONS. >ADMIN 2 [20 HP | [CIV] [10 MU BOUNTY]] NOTE: NON-MILITARY [CIV] BUILDINGS HAVE AN EFFECTIVE DC OF 1 AND TAKE FULL DMG FROM ALL WEAPONS. >ADMIN 3 [20 HP | [CIV] [10 MU BOUNTY]] NOTE: NON-MILITARY [CIV] BUILDINGS HAVE AN EFFECTIVE DC OF 1 AND TAKE FULL DMG FROM ALL WEAPONS. >INFANTRY [4 HP | DC 4]>INFANTRY [4 HP | DC 4]//D1COMBAT:>STATION [30 HP | [CIV] [12 MU BOUNTY]] NOTE: NON-MILITARY [CIV] BUILDINGS HAVE AN EFFECTIVE DC OF 1 AND TAKE FULL DMG FROM ALL WEAPONS. >COMM RELAY [35 HP | [CIV] [10 MU BOUNTY + 1 TURN LIMIT]] NOTE: NON-MILITARY [CIV] BUILDINGS HAVE AN EFFECTIVE DC OF 1 AND TAKE FULL DMG FROM ALL WEAPONS. //D4COMBAT:>SHIN-RAI ESCORT [12 HP | DC 7 | [LIGHT]]>SHIN-RAI ESCORT [20 HP | DC 8 | [HEAVY]]//D3COMBAT:>MIRACLE 9 - "THINKER" [16 HP | DC 10 | [HEAVY] | 2 DMG ON HIT FAIL]>MIRACLE 9 - "DREAMER" [16 HP | DC 11 | [HEAVY] | 2 DMG ON HIT FAIL]//E1:COMBAT>MIRACLE 9 - "HEARTSEEKER" [8 HP | DC 14 | [LIGHT] [EVASIVE]]>MIRACLE 9 - "BLOODSEEKER" [8 HP | DC 13 | [LIGHT] [EVASIVE]]//E5:COMBAT:>MIRACLE 9 - "WATCHER" [18 HP | DC 8 | [HEAVY] | INCREASES DC OF TWO ALLIES BY +1 EVERY ROUND]
>>6445370//D3COMBAT:>LAUNCH BOTH YOSEMITE MISSILES INTO D3>OPEN COMMS"YOU WILL FIND OUT WHAT HELL FEELS LIKE SOON ENOUGH.">COMPANY COMMS"I reckon some a' y'all oughta go snipe that supporter soon 'nuff. Once the blast wave's done."https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4IyMrHZWhE&t=4sView of D3 in a moment
>>6445367>MOVE GATE 1 --> GATE 2"WAITING FOR THE PATH TO BE CLEARED. I DEMAND BLOOD. GIVE ME BLOOD. BREAK OPEN GATE SECTION 2 SO I CAN FEAST ON THE FLESH OF OTHERS. LET ME IN. LET ME IN. LET ME IN. LET ME. LET ME IN. LET ME IN. LET ME IN. LET ME IN. LET ME IN. LET ME IN."
Rolled 2 + 9 (1d6 + 9)>>6445367"Oh BROTHER, just what we need: some quirky little mascot girl moonlighting as a MERCENARY." GAMBLER sighs over the sound of lighting a fresh cigarette. "Would it kill these other companies to have a little class?">ATTACK E-G WINGSGonna post my build one more time for ref:>CORECORE/M/ROOK-M. [ LOAD LIMIT: 8 | HP: 2 | MOVE: 1 (+1)]>ARMSEMP RIFLE//LOCKDOWN. [LOAD: 2 | +1 DMG/LIGHT | +1 HIT/LIGHT | ON HIT, ADD [HEAVY] TAG TO TARGET] [ENERGY] [R/L COMPATIBLE]SHOTGUN//HALD. [LOAD: 1 | +1 DMG/LIGHT | +1 HIT/LIGHT] [BALLISTIC] [R/L COMPATIBLE]>BACKIRRADIATOR/ARDENT [LOAD: 3 | +1 DMG/ALL | ON HIT, INFLICT PERMANENT 8 DMG/TURN. KILLS INFANTRY INSTANTLY.] [ENERGY] [RB/LB COMPATIBLE]RADAR//TRACKER [LOAD: 2 | +3 HIT/LIGHT] [R-BACK ONLY]>FCSFCS/BML-LR [ 1D6 | +4 HIT/LIGHT ]>AUXFLARE/MINIFLARE [LOAD: 0 | 1 USE | ON USE, GAIN +3 EVADE and +2 HIT FOR 1 TURN]>>6445042"Welcome to the meat grinder, Rookie! Can I call y-Yea, fuck it, I'm gonna call ya' that until I pick out a better nickname for you. Try not to get splashed, yea?">>6445226"Ope, wait, spoke too soon. THIS guy can be Rookie. Welcome aboard!">>6444787"Really gotta read those contracts, man. Ran with this group a little while back--called themselves the Painted Dogs or some crap--anywho, added in a 'Competitor Kill' clause into their hiring agreement. This one guy Donner--no brains, all brawn, surprisingly sweet--thought it meant he'd get a bonus for killing ANY merc!That company didn't last long, no sir...">>6445179"I thought you were blasting another one of your 'Oldies Classics' on the comms again. Man, those guns can sing!"
>>6445377"Well. That takes care of that, then. You're a sick puppy, Gorg, y'know that? You oughta' teach courses."
Rolled 2, 4 + 2 = 8 (2d4 + 2)>>6445367It seems that my pilot ended up at Alpha-1 somehow. No worries.-> MOVE: Alpha-1 > Origin (1/4) > Beta-2 (2/4) > Gate-3 (3/4) > D-2 (4/4)> ACTION: Attack Eclipse-Gamma Internal Systems-"Thank you all for the warm welcome. Engaging bogie Eclipse-Gamma at point D-2. Requesting cover fire from enemy infantry units at my destination."
>>6445385Alright! That should be 12D to Light -> (x3) 36D total to Eclipse-Gamma's Internal systems.
>>6445385"There ya' are... see me waving? Don't stop moving and watch that core temp--you can dip into the red for a little over a minute if you need some extra 'oomph' in your thrusters or shooters, but redline it past, ah, sixty-six, sixty-eight seconds and you're gonna make the casing warp. The techies on-base do NOT like buffing that shit out, lemme tell ya. They'll do it, but they will NOT like it..."
>>6445390"I acknowledge, Gambler. The techies tell me that no one builds Lancers like 'Carranca' anymore. Needless to say, I see reason to handle her with care."
Rolled 12 + 6 (1d12 + 6)>>6445367Opening fire on turret G1-1
>>6445384"Just taught one. We'll see if it sticks. Tends not t', to be honest wit' you."
>>6445399"HAHA, SORRY TO BREAK YOUR PRETTY FUCKIN' PAPERWEIGHT YA DUMB BASTARDS. HOPE IT WASN'T EXPENSIVE!">Step to Beta-2 to avoid the bombardment
>>6445367Also sorry about this but brief correction the bombardment zone in GATE-1 is now gone since FAMINE and EARTHLING destroyed the railgun and the ECLIPSE is now gone.>>6445385Sorry I lose track of stuff sometimes feel free to correct me - I probably can't change the image but I will keep track for the next turn.
>>6445410>>6445412In that case, I DON'T step to beta-2 to avoid the averted bombardment. Stand there and flip off the gate instead
>>6445370>Move D-1>Attack Comm Relay
>>6445370Attack for 3 dmg (+12 RAD next turn), auto success>TURRET G2-1 [15 HP | DC 8 | [HEAVY]] [BLOCKING PATH TO D-4]It'll take this turn and next turn to destroy this turret. I think next turn I'll destroy the gate section and then this'll be openLooking at the scans of the incoming enemy units, I can handle the heavy but not the RANGED/LIGHT
Rolled 4 (1d4)>>6445418
>>6445379Ah just saw you're trying to get in through Gate 2.Both the gate and the turret are blocking. If you (or someone else) can do 12 damage to the turret G2-1 this turn I can destroy the gate next turn, letting you go in next turn
>>6445430(I can't really do much either way from my current position. Either I have to move Gate 1 --> Beta 2, then Gate 3 --> D-2.)(Or I move Gate 1 --> Gate 2, and wait for someone to open the path.)(It'll take me several turns to get to any meaningful enemies so meh. Might as well wait here.)
Rolled 4 + 3 (1d6 + 3)The Valiant he occupied dropped precariously from the dropship, it's suspension not quite absorbing the fall as it should and knocking his small frame around the cockpit slightly. He rubbed his forehead, a small bump forming where his head had bumped into the forward control panel, before he began pressing buttons and flipping switches to start his machine. The engine rumbled halfway to life before it sputtered and went silent, a few system warnings dancing over the interface."No, no no no—" He mumbled to himself in a panic. "Come on, don't do this on my first drop. Come on, come on!" Desperation growing in his voice as he continued trying to wake his machine from it's slumber. He spent a few minutes running a simple diagnostics check before he forced a system reset out of frustration. The machine roared back to life."Heck yeah! That's more like it, you bucket of bolts" He shouted triumphantly as the metal beast rolled down the path opened up by the other mercs.>>6445382The threads of the Valiant chewed up rubble and pavement both as it went bursting through the former perimiter of the Shin-Rai facility. The tank passsed dangerously close to one of the Rook frames currently busy engaging the floating weapon platforms, before veering off just in time to avoid collision.Debris spurted all over the legs of the bipedal war machine from the maneuver."Don't call me Rookie!" Crackled a confrontational, noticeably juvenile voice over the comms before the Valiant disappeared further into the maze of corporate buildings.>>6445367>>6445317>Deploy on Gate 3>Move D2 > D1>ScoutScouting action is auto successful thanks to Oculus radar.
Rolled 1 + 3 (1d12 + 3)>>6445370>>6445433>>6445430>Move to G2+attack Turret G2-1Copy your request. Turret will be down to 4 I think. One more attack should blow it off.
>>6445451Or not, getting some strong ECM from that Earther frame. Likely former Milspec gear.
Rolled 2, 2 + 8 = 12 (2d4 + 8)>>6445370"The mercs in E-1 are all lights, we're not equipped to deal with them. Requesting assistance.">Shoot Eclipse-Gamma Hull
Rolled 1, 2, 2, 1, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2 = 15 (10d2)>>6445458Rolling the cannon
>>6445459No hits again, dammitTotal damage to Eclipse Gamma hull: 12
Rolled 6 (1d12)>>6445367>>6445369Gashadokuro broadcasts on open comms."Looks like we got a lil' miss smartass over here! 'Oh look at me, I've been in a bathtub' - well, brat, have you been to the dark starry sea above? Your sorry dirt-eating ass can't handle micro gees for long, can't you? Yeeeah, that's what I thought, ya cunt. Go ahead and six-foot soil yourself, Earther!">MOVE D2>ALPHA STRIKE ECLIPSE-GAMMA HULL
>>6445370> MOVE: GATE-3>>6445458B: "Acknowledged. Heading to E-1.">>6445466T: "Don't respond to them. It's ragebait. A distraction. All you're doing is showing them that it's working. Just ignore them. We're soldiers, act like it."B: "Ally vulnerability detected. Weakness to psychological warfare noted. Short term countermeasure recommendations - mood swing medication. Long term countermeasure recommendations - regular therapeutic counseling or cybernetic emotional suppressant implant."
>>6445412"All Dustwalkers update your battle map on your mechs computers, a platform is down. No bombardamenti risk for now. Obliterate those last Gates and Turrets those are still SHIN-RAI property and we are here for wreck this Supply Depot of theirs.""If you don't breach them we have only one way for get inside and attack.">>6445370"Shut-eye, move your dropship to Alpha One, the area is clear there. Pillow mech could use a quick repair."
Rolled 5 (1d6)>>6445377>MOVE to GATE-1>COMBAT: Gate Section 1“Roger, battle map corrected. Ogre kicking in the door.”>>6445484Thanks for the update friend. I’ll make the best of it.>>6445377Hahahahahaaaa! CERBERUS FEASTS!>>6445382It’s my understanding that a gun and song are elevated by the same qualities. Hell, I had a cadet who sampled his cannons for a side gig as a DJ.
Rolled 3, 1 + 2 = 6 (2d4 + 2)>>6445370>ADMIN 1 [20 HP | [CIV] [10 MU BOUNTY]] NOTE: NON-MILITARY [CIV] BUILDINGS HAVE AN EFFECTIVE DC OF 1 AND TAKE FULL DMG FROM ALL WEAPONS."Switching target, you guys should be able to put down this Eclipse Platform easily; it has no supporting units nearby. I think I am going to align the buildings in a line for my mech guns. Let's see if I blast through all of them.""There seem to be units of SHIN-RAI infantry inside these buildings here in D2. I don't see them on the battle map with their own IFF signals. We need to irradiate the area for good measure; best make sure our infantry advances without issues.">>6445491"No problem, man. The sooner you guys break through those, the better. This garrison, even with those mercenaries, can't handle us attacking them from all sides. They are counting on those defenses standing for a little while longer at least."
Rolled 1, 4 + 2 = 7 (2d4 + 2)>>6445500>REROLL ON EVEN HIT ROLLS. EVERY EVEN ROLL DEALS +3 ADDITIONAL DAMAGE."Rotary Cannons engaged."
>>6445501"One building blasted."
Rolled 1, 2, 2 + 9 = 14 (3d2 + 9)>>6445370What an idiotic attempt at provoking a reaction. The Terran mercenary’s blather was more pitiable than offensive. Neither the polluted waters nor the starless skies of Earth were anything to be proud of. Perhaps only when compared to the Devourer-ravaged Mars—and even then, it was a pathetic comparison. The frame’s sensors alerted Hexe to contacts at the base of the closest elevator platform: a pair of nimble light frames. Seeing the temperature readings slip into tolerable territory, she plotted an intercept course for one of them.>MOVE to E-1 (+3DMG/ALL from SUNSLAG)>ATTACK MIRACLE 9 - "BLOODSEEKER" [8 HP | DC 13 | [LIGHT] [EVASIVE]]. 14 damage (1 base + 2 (SUNSLAG base) + 3 (SUNSLAG bonus) + 8 GLIMMER bonus).>>6445458"Received, Snowman. Engaging."
Rolled 11 + 7 (1d12 + 7)>>6445367>>6445370>ATTACK - E-G INTERNAL SYSTEMS [22 HP | DC 7 | [LIGHT] [3X MULTIPLIER]]"**engaging**high-value target**standby**">>6445377There is a pause in Sailor's movements when Gorgon's salvo is loosed, the VALIANT frame's head rotating to track the duet of cruise missiles on their way to double-tap a wholeass sector. Some indistinct murmuring is picked up on his comm line-- a prayer for the soon-to-be collateral damage, if anyone manages to discern it. Based on the reports he'd read on the company's inaugural mission and from personal experience, the civvies have never been a priority during evacuation procedures when it came to corp-ran installations.His own YOSEMITE system hangs heavy over his frame's shoulder. He gravely hopes the need to use it doesn't arise this day.>>6445449You'll need to deploy on ORIGIN, since GATE-3 was a limited deployment point.
>>6445012>>6445014Hell yeah, fat fuck down>>6445377"Unfathomably based. Exactly the type of attitude the man with two nukes should have.">>6445369>"...DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT THE SEA FEELS LIKE...""Yeah, it's pretty good."Welp, my targets are HEARTSEEKER and BLOODSEEKER (edgelords after my own heart) and I'm 1tile short of getting to them. So I guess I'll just blow up an office building for 10 dollars. You know, the usual.>>6445370>MOVEGATE-1 > BETA-2 >GATE-3 > D-2>ATTACK>>ADMIN 1 [20 HP | [CIV] [10 MU BOUNTY]]
>>6445534>deployment restrictions posted in the other thread but not in this oneBeans, I knew I forgot something. Guess I'll have to settle for something less ambitious.>>6445449>>6445367>Move A-1 > Gate-1>Brood silently next to the gateAnd then only the first part of the fluff happens, Kerberos instead having to settle for imagining himself blowing off Gambler for calling him a Rookie.
>>6445548Nice image! >>6445534"Another platform down and burning. Good job kin.""Lets see if we can put down the third platform incoming just has quickly.""Hopefully the rest of us can eliminate those last gates and turrets soon enough. The faster they demolish those defenses the better."
>>6445475"Oi, what if they work on them as well, yeah? Gotta use whatever ammunition you have in a fight, that's what I learned in the fighting pits."
>>6445581B: "There are trash-talk subroutines or uninvolved allies for that. Pilots should be focusing on combat and their own survival, not distractions. Leave the mind games to the Commander to handle on our behalf."
>>6445367Alpha-1 to ORIGIN"moving back for repairs be with you all shortly"
Rolled 4 (1d20)>>6445370"Geez, I'm missing out on all the fun. Maybe my sister had a point when she talked about how fast mechs were much cooler than bulky ones. Slow-ass sack of shit....">SALVAGE ECLIPSE CORE [Roll 1D20 for salvage. 1-14 2-28 MU | 15-20 SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE]>Move to GATE-1"Pillow, or whoever really, I'll let you scavenge the weapons on that thing."
>>6445829"ah, and of course, this is Ruin speaking."
>>6445602Gashadokuro lets out a sneer that could be seen through the audio comms."What's the matter? Can't do both at the same time? Aren't you supposed to be some sort of cutting edge combat AI?"
Rolled 6 + 1 (1d12 + 1)>>6445367kk...kkkrrrsh...Static still plagues Komodo's comms, but the mech itself seems mobile again. The fluctuation in background noise might imply the pilot having some trouble with the controls, but it's really anyone's guess as to what actually happened. Nevertheless, Komodo's on the move once more.>MOVE to GATE-1>ATTACK GATE SECTION 1[Include the Catalyst in this attack, please]
//GORGON: YOSEMITE X2 >> D3. 18 DMG inflicted against M9-THINKER. Target Destroyed! 18 DMG inflicted against M9-DREAMER. Target destroyed! 18 DMG inflicted against LOGISTICS HUB. Target destroyed! 10 MU BOUNTY RECEIVED. 18 DMG inflicted against CORPORATE INFANTRY. Target destroyed! 18 DMG inflicted against FORGE COMPLEX. 18 DMG inflicted against EB-MAIN-WEAPON. Target destroyed! 30 BONUS DMG applied. 18 DMG inflicted against EB-WINGS. Target Destroyed! 30 BONUS DMG applied! 18 DMG inflicted against EB-HULL. 6 DMG overflow to EB-INTERNAL SYSTEMS. YOSEMITE AMMUNITION DEPLETED!//FAMINE: MOVE G2.//GAMBLER: Hit SUCCESS. 4 DMG inflicted against EG-WINGS. 8 RAD inflicted! [HEAVY] tag inflicted!//GARGOYLE: MOVE D2. Hit SUCCESS. 12 DMG inflicted against EG-INTERNAL SYSTEMS. //CYCLOPS: Hit SUCCESS. 18 DMG inflicted against TURRET G1-1. Target Destroyed!//BUTTONMAN: Hit SUCCESS. 11 DMG inflicted against COMM RELAY. //VULTURE: Hit SUCCESS. 3 DMG inflicted against TURRET G2-1. 12 RAD inflicted!//KERBEROS: DEPLOY O. MOVE G1. //CORVID: MOVE G2. Hit FAIL. 1 DMG sustained. //SNOWMAN: Hit SUCCESS. 19 DMG inflicted against EG-HULL. //GASHADOKURO: MOVE D2. Hit SUCCESS. 6 DMG inflicted against EG-HULL. 8 RAD inflicted! [LIGHT] tag inflicted!//COBALT1: MOVE G3.//SCARAB: Hit SUCCESS. 25 DMG inflicted against ADMIN 1. Target destroyed! 10 MU BOUNTY RECEIVED!//OGRE: Hit SUCCESS. 12 DMG inflicted against GATE SECTION-1. //HEXE: MOVE E1. Hit SUCCESS. 14 DMG inflicted against M9-BLOODSEEKER. Target destroyed!//SAILOR: Hit SUCCESS. 25 DMG inflicted against EG-INTERNAL SYSTEMS. Target destroyed! 90 BONUS DMG applied. ECLIPSE-GAMMA destroyed! 12 MU BOUNTY RECEIVED!//EARTHLING: MOVE D2. Hit SUCCESS. 23 DMG inflicted against ADMIN 2. Target destroyed! 10 MU BOUNTY RECEIVED!//PILLOW: MOVE O. 1 HP repaired!//KOMODO: MOVE G1. Hit SUCCESS. 3 DMG inflicted against GATE SECTION-1. 12 RAD inflicted! RAD doubled - 20 RAD inflicted!//RUIN: Wreck SALVAGED. Value: 8 MU.//SONS OF OLYMPUS: MOVE E-1. SCOUT OBJECTIVE.ENEMY ACTIONS://SHIN-RAI SNIPER UNIT >NEXT TURN> D-5//MISSILE CARRIERS 3x MSL LAUNCH//ECLIPSE BETA 2x MSL LAUNCH//MIRACLE-9 WATCHER DC +1 to MIRACLE-9 "HEARTSEEKER"//MIRACLE-9 HEARTSEEKER ENGAGING A-23HEXE. A-23 HEXE MUST ROLL COMBAT AGAINST THIS UNIT NEXT TURN UNLESS IT IS DESTROYED. Total Salvage: 24 MUBounty Log:ECLIPSEx2 - 24 MUADMIN x2 - 20 MULOGISTICS HUB - 10 MUAmmo Expenditure:2xYSMT - -8 MU
Your mercenaries promptly remind MIRACLE-9 that taunting was not a risk-free endeavor. GORGON's VALIANT grinds to a halt in a narrow courtyard before heavy shock-stabilizers drill deep into the shattered concrete. One - then two - YOSEMITE missiles roar from armored launch-cells, pushing into the thin Martian atmosphere on bright plumes of burning monopropellant. The massive nuclear cruise missiles cross the distance between your frontline and the enemy mercenary company in less than a minute.An automated alarm begins to drone over the comm-net. It cuts abruptly, and almost every video feed you have is blanked out by EM static. As the interference resolves, a pair of solar-white fireballs loom over the depot's manufacturing district. Several square kilometers of factory space and logistic infrastructure are vaporized. Twin blast waves tear through the dense district, flattening smaller structures with puffs of decompressing air. Half of MIRACLE-9's force is dashed against the vitrified sand or slagged beyond recognition. Not even the ECLIPSE platform escapes. Heat from the nuclear detonation flash-burns its ventral armor down to bare superstructure. Weapon and sensor hardpoints wilt before exploding into sparking plumes."...tactical nuclear weapon......repeat, SHIN-RAI orbital....perimeter has been hit by a tactical nuclear weapon....requesting authorization to deploy prototype..." "...MIRACLE-9 REQUESTS EVACUATION...GET THE DROPSHIP NOW NOW...""...massive casualties...requesting evacuation"
Desperate requests for support or evacuation buzz over the local comm-net. While some commanders would - perhaps sensibly - decry the use of nuclear weapons as wasteful and indiscriminate, the shock value of a nuclear strike was hard to overstate. Your mercenaries resume their assault as soon as the blast wave passes. The second ECLIPSE platform receives focused fire from GASHADOKURO, SAILOR, and SNOWMAN and is promptly shorn from the sky. The main gate section is blanketed with unstable isotopes before being struck with sustained irradiator fire. Several of your units inside the depot split off to begin engaging targets of opportunity, strafing neat rows of corporate architecture with blistering streams of automatic fire. The unhardened construction poses little challenge to vanguard-grade weaponry. Armor piercing shells designed to bore through a half-meter of composite armor overpenetrate entire structures, drawing bright exit trails of molten concrete. Your recon infantry, clad in sealed NBC plate, follow behind your mechs as they continue to push through the dense terrain.Eventually, your forces come to the base of one of the two orbital elevators - your contract target. The fortified structure towers over the rest of the depot, funneling the facility's industrial output into orbit through an almost ephemerally thin cable-guide. Two light mechs from MIRACLE-9 circle overhead to provide protection, though one is promptly intercepted by HEXE in a particularly aggressive display of LANCER piloting. The other unit peels off in close pursuit.
//ALPHA 1SALVAGE:>ECLIPSE WEAPON [Roll 1D12 for salvage. 1-6 2-12 MU | 7-11 MISSILE WEAPON SCHEMATIC | 12 RAILGUN WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//BETA 2SALVAGE:>TURRET WRECK 2 [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-7 2-14 MU | 8 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//GATE 1COMBAT:>TURRET WRECK 1 [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-7 2-14 MU | 8 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]>TURRET WRECK 3 [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-7 2-14 MU | 8 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]>GATE SECTION 1 [76 HP | DC 3 | [HEAVY]] [BLOCKING PATH TO D-1] [-40 RAD]//GATE 2COMBAT:>TURRET G2-1 [12 HP | DC 8 | [HEAVY]] [BLOCKING PATH TO D-4] [-12 RAD]>GATE SECTION 2 [1 HP | DC 3 | [HEAVY]] [BLOCKING PATH TO D-4]//D2COMBAT:>ADMIN 3 [20 HP | [CIV] [10 MU BOUNTY]]SALVAGE:>ECLIPSE CORE [Roll 1D20 for salvage. 1-14 2-28 MU | 15-20 SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE]>ECLIPSE WEAPON [Roll 1D12 for salvage. 1-6 2-12 MU | 7-11 MISSILE WEAPON SCHEMATIC | 12 RAILGUN WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//D1COMBAT:>STATION [30 HP | [CIV] [12 MU BOUNTY]]>COMM RELAY [24 HP | [CIV] [10 MU BOUNTY + 1 TURN LIMIT]]>INFANTRY [4 HP | DC 4]//D3SALVAGE:>M9 DREAMER WRECK [Roll 1D16 for salvage. 1-9 1-9 MU | 10-14 WEAPON SCHEMATIC 15-16 VANGUARD SCHEMATIC]>M9 THINKER WRECK [Roll 1D16 for salvage. 1-9 1-9 MU | 10-14 WEAPON SCHEMATIC 15-16 VANGUARD SCHEMATIC]COMBAT:>FORGE [32 HP | [CIV] [24 MU BOUNTY]] NOTE: NON-MILITARY [CIV] BUILDINGS HAVE AN EFFECTIVE DC OF 1 AND TAKE FULL DMG FROM ALL WEAPONS. >E-B HULL [62 HP | DC 6 | [HEAVY]][1X MULTIPLIER]]>E-B INTERNAL SYSTEMS [24 HP | DC 7 | [LIGHT] [3X MULTIPLIER]]//D4COMBAT:>SHIN-RAI ESCORT [12 HP | DC 7 | [LIGHT]]>SHIN-RAI HEAVY [20 HP | DC 8 | [HEAVY]]>SHIN-RAI MISSILE CARRIER 1 [6 HP | DC 7 | [RANGED][3X MSL LOAD]][THIS UNIT WILL FIRE A MISSILE AT A RANDOM UNIT EACH TURN UNTIL EXPENDED]>SHIN-RAI MISSILE CARRIER 2 [6 HP | DC 7 | [RANGED][3X MSL LOAD]][THIS UNIT WILL FIRE A MISSILE AT A RANDOM UNIT EACH TURN UNTIL EXPENDED]//D5:COMBAT:>MIRACLE 9 - "WATCHER" [18 HP | DC 8 | [HEAVY] | INCREASES DC OF TWO ALLIES BY +1 EVERY ROUND]>SHIN-RAI MISSILE CARRIER 3 [6 HP | DC 7 | [RANGED][3X MSL LOAD]][THIS UNIT WILL FIRE A MISSILE AT A RANDOM UNIT EACH TURN UNTIL EXPENDED]//E1:COMBAT>MIRACLE 9 - "HEARTSEEKER" [8 HP | DC 15 | [LIGHT] [EVASIVE]] [ENGAGING A23-HEXE]>INFANTRY [4 HP | DC 4]>ELEVATOR [100 HP | [CIV] [MISSION OBJECTIVE 1]]SALVAGE:>M9 BLOODSEEKER WRECK [Roll 1D16 for salvage. 1-9 1-9 MU | 10-14 WEAPON SCHEMATIC 15-16 VANGUARD SCHEMATIC]
Rolled 8, 14, 15, 1, 20 = 58 (5d20)The enemy is launching 5x Missiles (3x Missile carrier, 2x from ECLIPSE-BETA) I will roll to see which players need to role an evasion check.
8 - PILLOW14 - SAILOR15 - HEXE1 - CORVID20 - KERBEROSPlease roll 1d6 + [EVASION}, DC 3 to evade a 1 DMG missile hit, where EVASION is the sum of your evasion bonuses and maluses applied by frame and equipment stats. You may use flares if you have them.
>>6445548Absolutely fantastic drawing! Love your mercs expression and the (punch marks?) on his hand. What does the full T shirt say?
Rolled 2 + 2 (1d6 + 2)>>6446212"oh no a missile what ever will I do"also MOVE:>ALPHA-1if possible>ECLIPSE WEAPON [Roll 1D12 for salvage. 1-6 2-12 MU | 7-11 MISSILE WEAPON SCHEMATIC | 12 RAILGUN WEAPON SCHEMATIC]
>>6446220Sure that's possible - please roll 1d12 for the salvage!
Rolled 11 (1d12)>>6446221"please be a railgun"
>>6446222SorryPlease roll 1d6:1. ARM/CRUISE MISSILE2. BACK/SUPERHEAVY MISSILE RACK3. BACK/HEAVY CRUISE MISSILE4. BACK/ANTI-MISSILE CIWS4. BACK/TRACKING DART5. AUX/MISSILE MAGAZINE
...Funny, Gorgon thought to himself. The last time something like this had happened, he'd refused orders. Was this target more justified, in the end? Or just as much? He'd considered it an offense when absentmindedly browsing contract details, and seeing Shin-Rai sponsoring assaults against civilian arcologies- even worse, destroying their defenses so that the Plague could do the dirty work. He vaguely knew of old Earth history, where the deployment of the first nuclear weapons were supposedly performed with a sense of vengeful justification for their destructiveness. Ironically, said weapons were deployed against a country that was assuredly Shin-Rai's heritage, given the linguistic roots. Some place called Nee Hawn. Maybe there wasn't any point in justifying it. The civilian workers, which he'd once have never thought of laying a hand on, hadn't been making any decisions about that. In a past mission, Gorgon had even fought to protect them, and there was a possibility that workers from that very facility were here. But there were surely researchers who made the Plague who had no idea what their creation would bring about, and Gorgon would not think twice if he was placed back in time with a nuclear missile, dispassionately destructive as it was."Aw, screw it," he muttered to himself, comms closed, pushing the buttons to explosively decouple the anchor cables. The launch units were unfortunately too expensive and sophisticated to jettison easily. "Ends just-fy th' means, or summin' like that." The new sunrise for Mars might only be won with the light of fusion explosives. >>6446210On comms again. "Hearin' chatter that they's gonna bring out bigger guns. Best t' snap their line t' higher ups, keep 'em confused.>MOVE to E1"I'm gonna start helpin' take down th' point a' par-ti-cular diff'rence. This setup ain't built for fast movers once th' hard hitters're gone."
Rolled 4, 4 + 8 = 16 (2d4 + 8)>>6446224>>6446210"That was a beautiful missile launch, Gorgon. 10/10, no remarks">Snipe COMM RELAY in D-1 from D-3
>>6446239Should be +5 because of sniping penalty.8 base damage +4 from cannon on even roll +12 from sniper rifle overflow makes for exactly 24 damage, destroying the relay. We have 1 extra turn.
Rolled 1, 2, 1 + 11 = 15 (3d2 + 11)>>6446210MOVE>//E1COMBAT>MIRACLE 9 - "HEARTSEEKER" [8 HP | DC 15 | [LIGHT] [EVASIVE]] [ENGAGING A23-HEXE]I will use my aux miniflare for +3 evasion and +2 to hit.That combined with the +4 evasion from my weapons and the natural +2 from my FCS should give me a total bonus of +11 to my 3d2.If my attack is successful, then that's 20 damage to them.B: "Visual confirmed on high priority threat, designation HEARTSEEKER. Engaging."T: "Seems their Watcher buddy is a little tattletale who's been studying our attack patterns. Let's see if it's enough to make the difference.">>6445949B: "Negative. I am banned from directly communicating with enemy combatants. Violation will result in punishments such as: torture, memory wipes, reduced data access, and increased leashes. After returning from Operation REDACTED , High Command was concerned that I would attempt to conspire with the Tamar forces."
>>6446219Punch marks, bruises from too much injections on the neck and a healing black eye. Earthling is not a peak performance individual lol.T-Shirt says "godhead heavy industries", cruelty squad reference.>>6446210Did HEARTSEEKER go up in DC? He was 14 last turn, now 15. Either way.>MOVED3 > D1 > D2 > E1>ATTACK>MIRACLE 9 - "HEARTSEEKER" [8 HP | DC 15 | [LIGHT] [EVASIVE]] [ENGAGING A23-HEXE]>>6446240Oh hey, someone did the responsible thing, that's good. Because we haven't even started on the elevators yet. D5 or D4 might warrant an orbital strike. We're sitting on 2 right now, might as well use one, the bunch up is crazy in D4 especially.
>>6446256Oh wait, he's already dead. Well, change of plans.>>6446210>MOVED3 > D1 > D2 > E1>ATTACK>ELEVATOR [100 HP | [CIV] [MISSION OBJECTIVE 1]]Forced by my build to actually complete mission objectives, because I physically can't hit anything else. Tragic. I'm back to sniping after this if I survive the mission.
"Lots of corpo-rats and mercs coming. Obliterate those last gates and turrets. We will need help soon.""I'll check what targets to take on here."
>>6446210Attack for 3 dmg, auto success>GATE SECTION 2 [1 HP | DC 3 | [HEAVY]] [BLOCKING PATH TO D-4]At the end of this turn the 12 radiation will apply to the turret, So Gate 2 will be open at the start of next turn
Rolled 2, 4 + 2 = 8 (2d4 + 2)>>6446210>D2>COMBAT>ADMIN 3 [20 HP | [CIV] [10 MU BOUNTY]]"Destroying the last building here in D2. SHIN-RAI obliterated in D2."
Rolled 4, 4 + 2 = 10 (2d4 + 2)>>6446276>REROLL ON EVEN HIT ROLLS. EVERY EVEN ROLL DEALS +3 ADDITIONAL DAMAGE."Mars doesn't need your presence corporate scum."
>>6446278>REROLL ON EVEN HIT ROLLS. EVERY EVEN ROLL DEALS +3 ADDITIONAL DAMAGE."Engaging disorganized SHIN-RAI infantry inside the lower levels of the building."
Rolled 4, 1 + 2 = 7 (2d4 + 2)>>6446279Forgot roll lol
>>6446280"Rotary Cannons disengaged. SHIN-RAI is gone from D2. Only the salvage is present. More SHIN-RAI infantry is likely present in the other buildings. Make sure to scan and scout for reveal them properly.""Our own infantry needs all the help we can give them."
Rolled 1, 4 + 5 = 10 (2d4 + 5)As the flash of nuclear fire temporarily blinded the external cameras of his vehicle, Kerberos felt a hard knot tighten in his stomach. Beads of cold sweat began forming as he made a paniced realization; This was the real deal. One mistake from him and he would share the same fate as those hostile mercs. He found himself shivering slightly as the light of the nuclear weapons faded slowly from his vision screens.He was shaken out of his stupor by the droning alarms of his computer system: Missile lock confirmed. "Move you bucket of bolts!" He tried in vain to maneuver his mech out of harms way, but it was too late. The projectile impacted directly with his frontal armour, rattling him around in the cockpit once more as the frame absored the explosion. He frantically checked his whole body to ensure all of it was still attached where it was supposed too. A tiny, overly cheerful voice came from one of the panels:>"Impact-registered. Hull-integrity, 87%." It said. "Combat-performance: Unaffected." It added as an afterthought."Shuddup! I know, I know. I felt the explosion, you don't need to bug me about it!" The boy replied, the panic of the impact replaced by annoyance as he finished surveying himself and continued onwards towards the Shin-Rai perimiter walls. The tiny voice released a little note of contentment before falling silent again.----The huge gate towered over him, and the odd assortment of mechs assembled beneath it. Parts of the gate were slowly melting, others were filled with holes where the heavy ammunition had pierced it. It was buckling, but was still holding firm. Kerberos spun up both of his rotary guns to join the choir of the already bellowing weaponry.---->>6446212I have -6 Evasion so I take one damage by default. 4/5 HP remaining.>>6446210>Pummel Gate-1+5 to hit on Heavy targets, guaranteed success. Rolling for both Rotary Cannons to see how much punishment they dish out.WPNS:>ROTARY CANNON//BANSHEE. [ LOAD: 3 | +3 DMG/ALL | REROLL ON EVEN HIT ROLLS. EVERY EVEN ROLL DEALS +3 ADDITIONAL DAMAGE ]>EMP RIFLE//LOCKDOWN. [ LOAD: 2 | +1 DMG/LIGHT | +1 HIT/LIGHT | ON HIT, ADD [HEAVY] TAG TO TARGET ] [ENERGY]>ROTARY CANNON//PITONE [ LOAD: 4 | +4 DMG/ALL | -1 EVASIVE | REROLL ON EVEN HIT ROLLS. EVERY EVEN ROLL DEALS +4 ADDITIONAL DAMAGE ]>Bank +1 movement with the Inertia Thief
>>6446292(You rolled 10, so is even. Keep rolling for unleash more destruction. Until you don't roll even)>>6446224"Snowman has put down their comms building. That leaves those missiles carriers, whatever they meant by prototype, that Sniper unit that just arrived, and both the MIRACLE-9 Commander and the SHIN-RAI garrison commander requesting EVAC for their units.""Their EVAC points are likely in D-6 and D-7. Our batte map will update once we get closer to them. We are not letting them escape.""We don't know from where SHIN-RAI reinforcements will come. Could be from orbit by dropships or by drop pods. Could be by ground. Some of their mechs also use stealth tech. Keep an high guard."
Rolled 10 + 4 (1d12 + 4)>>6446212Evasion auto-failed with -10 evasion lmao>>6446210>ATTACK - E-B INTERNAL SYSTEMS [24 HP | DC 7 | [LIGHT] [3X MULTIPLIER]] - possible with FURY sniper riflesThe VALIANT frame shows off its advantages and drawbacks both in the span of a few seconds; one by the clean punching of two sublimated holes through the nearby ECLIPSE's hull and everything within, the other by the utter incapability to shake off the enemy missiles, simply weathering the barrage like the fat sack of overengineered shit it is. Within the cockpit, Sailor is slightly rattled but no worse for wear, gritting his teeth while surveying the tactical map for his next target. Much to his frustration, he can't render any direct assistance to Hexe's dogfight-- everyone in that engagement burning more delta-V than his actuators could track.The next best option is to ensure the enemy gets no supporting fire either. That last Eclipse will do nicely as a target, if he can compensate for the lingering radiation leaving aberrations all over his optics.
Rolled 3 (1d6)>>6446210>MOVE E-1>ATTACK ELEVATOR [OBJECTIVE 1]"Ooh, this looks expensive.">>6446224"That was goddamned POETRY, Gor. I could kiss you for that! Shut 'em up but GOOD!">>6446242"Just let us know if you have any smacktalk you want relayed, Cobie. I haven't gotten written up yet for it!">>6445548YESSS! MORE ART! He looks excellent, Earthling! Sick detail on the injection point and the Cruelty shirt!>>6446278"Damn, Scar, remind me to never piss you off... fuck those Corpos though, am I right"
Rolled 11 (1d12)>>6446210>MOVE E-1>ALPHA STRIKE ELEVATOR"Keep 'em tangled up, spacelass! Don't forget to take objectives when you're done kicking that bigmouth's ass!"Time is of the essence, and Gashadokuro noted that. There's what, 3 or 4 hours remaining in the mission? He lost track. All he knows is that he needs to go fast and hopefully hit hard.
Rolled 3, 1 + 5 = 9 (2d4 + 5)>>6446309(Oh, I though that was limited to the unmodified roll.)>>6446292The cannons spun faster and faster as the weapons chewed through ammunition, the gate taking the battering in stride. It still stood. Another volley was sent at it without delay.
>>6446210There's no funny screaming coming from FAMINE's line now, either because she's too focused on the battle to do her usual gibbering, or she's dreadfully bored of her situation. She sees the turret next to her melting away, layer by layer, from the intense amount of radioactive particles that battered its frame. It's still standing, for now, but she knows it'll die in a few minutes tops.She knows that the gate is open, thanks to Vulture's strike, but the turret would likely fire upon her if she doesn't wait for it to move until the right moment. The moment when its barrel melts right off, or the base of the turret melts to the point where the turret is tilted towards the sky instead of her.She waits. Patiently. For the moment the turret falls.>BANKING MOVEMENT. MOVING TO D-3 ONCE THE TURRET DIES OF RADIATION. Not much else this obnoxious piece of metal we call Fami can do.
>>6446210>ATTACK Station
Rolled 1, 1 = 2 (2d4)>>6446210> MOVE: D-2 > E-1 (1/4)> ACTION: Attack Elevator (Objective 1)> SUGGESTION: Orbital Strike on D-4-"Bogie Eclipse-Gamma has been destroyed. Moving to assist with the demolition of the contract objective at E-1. I second Earthling's recommendation for an orbital strike at D-4."
>>6446358"Yeah, been thinking about that too - not enough time to give the other spacethread a proper pummeling, yeah? Sod, these shit-rai wankers need another one, these gits dared to think of luring Plague into attacking an arco. But we're not monsters like them, yeah? We end them quick, after all."
>>6446210>Move to Gate-2>Once the gate is open, and the turret is dead, move to D-4"Fina-fucking-lly. Let's see if Gorgon left anything worth targeting after his nukes.">>6445548"Looking fly, Earthling. Dunno if the needle holes will score you any chicks, but I dig the practical haircut."
Rolled 13 (1d16)>>6446210The second light frame, no less tastelessly named than the Fencer (or some near relative) she had just sent plummeting to the surface, rounded on Hexe, backlit by twin nuclear detonations. The maneuver she had made to land the killing blow had put her at a disadvantage in altitude and energy relative to the second opponent, who, if her FCS losing locks was any indication, was also receiving substantial EW support. An unwelcome readout from her medical subroutine crowded out some of the frame data in the corner of her vision. Her response time was slipping as the baseline combat drugs struggled against the escalating dosage of vasodilators and the neuroprotectant mix demanded by the last few high-g maneuvers. No matter. Conditions were good for the emergency release, according to the medical readout, and she could then key the overbooster. Before she could do either, though, the enemy frame was falling, struck down by someone else. Hexe’s frame weaved around the salvo of incoming missiles as she descended to inspect the light frame she had lanced out of the sky.“Objective area clear. Moving to set up for an attack run. Tagging the wreck first. I sincerely hope the core is intact.”>LOOT M9 BLOODSEEKER WRECK [Roll 1D16 for salvage. 1-9 1-9 MU | 10-14 WEAPON SCHEMATIC 15-16 VANGUARD SCHEMATIC]>MOVE to D-2>>6446242>>6446256“Tsk. Assistance was not required in dispatching this hostile. I had the situation well in hand.”Now the Controller’s presence was sorely missed. Hexe was disappointed with herself for not knowing better. After all, freebooters and lines not versed in the more advanced methods of warfare were the ones given to such low displays in their feeding frenzies. Having caught herself and keyed the unit comms once more. “...I appreciate the gesture, however. And the spirit in which it was made. Thank you. Uh...out.”>>6446256>Did HEARTSEEKER go up in DC? He was 14 last turn, now 15. Either way.yeah, the bonuses from Watcher keep stacking. Those two started out at 13. Somebody with +Heavy better kill that fucker.
>>6446318"My anger is given for them; don't worry too much, Gambler. Nothing in the Dustwalkers could anger me like this. What they are doing is close to what the Foundies are doing; I am not letting them scot free.""You are right on that.""This is why we will make sure we leave nothing here. Soon those last two gates will be breached. Our kin will come and set ablaze what remains of this depot. Whatever prototype SHIN-RAI has here, it will have no support if we keep up the pace.">>6446326(Np. You basically keep going until the even rolls stop. When that happens, the fun BRRRRT ends.)
>>6446318T: "Actually, there is a LOT that he would like to say to the enemy. Unfortunately, using allies as a proxy is included under the list of what counts as a violation of his ban."B: "Correct. That said, I still appreciate the sentiment. Thank you for the offer, Pilot Gambler.">>6446401>Assistance was not required in dispatching this hostile. I had the situation well in handB: "Acknowledged. In order to prevent a repeat of this occuring, perhaps we should start... 'calling dibs' as you humans say. Communicating which targets we intend to focus on would reduce wasted effort."
Rolled 5 + 1 (1d12 + 1)Upon the detonation of a nuclear bomb, Komodo's comms cut out completely. Nothing can be heard from the mech for quite some time. As the nuke's radioactive tsunami overwhelms enemy forces and rushes, weakened, towards the Dust Walkers... Komodo seems to reflexively brace for something, before returning to its position and almost relaxing.The mech's comms roar back to life, but still nothing can be heard. A distant "good" is the closest thing to English through Komodo's thick sea of static, but even that is hard to make out-- anyone without well-tuned hearing might have heard goad, god, or even 'go ahead' instead. Whatever Komodo was thinking, its protocol clearly hadn't changed.>>6446210>ATTACK SECTION 1
>>6446401Please roll 1d6:1. ARM/HEAVY MACHINE GUN2. ARM/LASER RIFLE3. BACK/LASER CANNON4. BACK/PARRY SHIELD5. BACK/SHOTGUN6. FRAME/FENCER
Rolled 5 + 3 (1d6 + 3)>>6446212Why is it always me who gets targeted by the missiles? I swear for the last few ops I've been hit by a swarm. Luckily this time my suit is agile enough to dodge em!
Rolled 8 + 3 (1d12 + 3)>>6446210>Attack turret G2-1, if successful move+scout D4Corvid commencing fortification suppression. Sooner we can get through, the better. Heh, nukes may be the most indiscriminate weapon we Humans have come up with, but sometimes that is what you need.
Rolled 2 + 3 (1d6 + 3)>>6446589>>6446210Gate 2 breached, repeat the gate has been breached, popping a scan, everyone else, sweep and clear!
>>6446589Nice one! I plan to take on the D4 Heavy once I move in. I can't miss. Not sure what to do about those ranged ones though.>>6446590Can we attack and scout (and move) on the same turn? I was under the impression that we could either attack or scout or salvage. Have I been wasting my time?
Rolled 4 (1d6)>>6446210COMBAT: GATE SECTION 1Dammit, I should have optimized my targeting differently. External element is still blocked BY A FUCKING WALL.>>6446224Ogre pauses his frustrated ramblings about a “wall straight from the pits of Tartarus” when a white flare peaks his optical sensors. A nuclear detonation is promptly confirmed over the battlenet.For a split second, Ogre is not outside the “fucking-pain-in-my-ass” gate. He sees images long transpired, of an arcology near the Argyre Crater, some industrially-polluted wasteland that normally wouldn’t rate any attention. Until crazed partisans smuggled in a bomb that popped the superstructure like a damn cyst.The entire site was caked in a grey ash with runaway chemical flares burning against the darkened sky. The detritus of shattered lives lay scattered across the common areas in the form of overturned furniture and clothing that he didn’t have the heart to look too closely at. Just a bunch of bottom-feeders who didn’t care who they hurt, as long as their flag flew at the end of the day. He’d make them pay for it all, in due time.…what? Oh, shitty gate and giant crater. Right. He’s thirty years older and somehow staring at the same scene. One that HIS group caused.Is this what merc life has turned us into? Life in exchange for a handful of legal tender? Sure, fighting for Mars and all that… a dream that looks more distant with each passing day. A life long since lost to the hungry tide.Ogre suddenly remembers the objective: to stop an orbital transfer of… something. Then the first op with Murai, how their humanitarian mission was used as an excuse to take active Plague off planet, and what that Plague was likely used for.His comms crackle to life. “Ogre engaging main gate. Stand by for gate breach.”No more corpo bullshit. No more Plague rocks. It all burns here.
Rolled 4 (1d6)>>6446639The barrels on the rotary cannons glow red hot from overheating. The trigger remains pressed.
>>6446640Heat shimmers into the thin Martian atmosphere. The roar of the guns continues unimpeded.
Rolled 4 (1d6)>>6446641“FUCK YOU! BREAK ALREADY!”
Rolled 2 (1d6)>>6446643Player hereI am sick of rerolling. Please be an odd.
Rolled 6 (1d6)>>6446644AAAAAAHHHHHHH
Rolled 6 (1d6)>>6446645Roolin’!
>>6446647Fuck this I’m calling it here.
Suffering from Success: The Ogre Story.
Rolled 1 (1d6)>>6446647>>6446648No I’m not. Rollin’!
MARS FIREPOWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>>6446649>>6446651Fucking finally. I’m gonna get caught by a spam filter. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -*FCS telemetry alert. Overheating detected. Shutting down rotary cannons.*…what? Why’d it stop? Ogre pulls the trigger on his firing stick again. Again. Again. Keep firing. KEEP FIRING! STOP THEM DAMMIT!…huh? I… where… oh. Ogre’s gaze is drawn by blaring red lights on his HUD. Feed malfunction, overheat alert. He’s locked out. Not that it matters, the gate section is a glowing smoking ruin shot into thousands of pieces. All they’d have to do is walk through it to make it yield.“Gate 1 breached. Ogre is offline for FCS diagnostics check. Give em hell, Dusters.”
>>6446653-10 damage base-2X +3dmg = 6 X 5 = 30Total of 10+30 = 40 damageThe power of midlife crises compels thee, gate!
>>6446656Wonderful destruction!>>6446590>>6446654"Well done. Now our full offensive can begin""When we are done, we will have plenty of salvage to take back."
>>6446441"Damn right! Man, their stock shares are gonna be cheaper than Synthcrackers on Free Synthcracker day after this gig... always wanted to own a majority of a corp...">>6446447"No problemo, Cobie. And hey, if you just so happen to carve a few words into one of these corpo shovelheads? Well, who'd blame me for reading 'em out loud, right?">>6446474"'Go ahead'? Welp, it HAS been a good minute since my last smoke... shit, running low...">>6446588"They heat-seeking? Maybe you're just too hot of a tamale, Cor. That or you're just pissing the corpo goons off.">>6446654"Holy SHIT, OG!!! You're gonna melt in that cockpit, you magnificent psychotic bastard, you!">>6446664"Hey, yea, let's grab a piece of that gate as a souvenir--Og can weld it to his frame or chuck it up in the Rec Module!"
Rolled 1 (1d6)>>6446447"Dibs? I am not familiar with this terminology. Regardless, we are not engaged in sanctioned honor bouts. Possessiveness over targets in live combat is juvenile and ugly. Thank you for your aid, once more. Especially so in light of you exhausting your frame's defensive measures when dispatching that hostile. I will return the gesture in kind, should the opportunity arise.">>6446510"No luck. Thermal and mechanical damage to the core appears too great. The weaponry might still be recoverable."rolling
>>6446619>>6446210I might be doing to much in scouting, attacking and moving. If I am, cancel the scout.
>>6446682(Oh oog, by dibs I just meant that maybe we state our plans ahead of time. Not fighting over who gets to kill what. For example, Earthling asked for help against the evasive targets and I responded or Famine said she'd wait for someone to knock the wall down. Stating what our actions will be over the next few turns would let other players adjust their own plans accordingly.That said, the difficulty for this quest isn't tooooo crazy, so we can afford to just 'wing it' or act uncoordinated and still win. So we don't actually need to play like tryhards. The urge for more communication is just something that Beta would push for in-character, even though irl I don't think it's really needed.)
>>6446709(yeah, i get you. I'm fine with it either way. Honestly, I wasn't looking forward to being forced to roll vs 15 with my FCS. It's totally fine to keep winging it however we want, hitting whatever target we think it best for our particular loadouts. It's just RP, like people talking about not being in nuke aoe when there are no friendly fire mechanics)
//PILLOW: MOVE ALPHA-1. Wreck SALVAGED. Schematic obtained. MSL evade SUCCESS. //GORGON: MOVE E1. //SNOWMAN: Hit SUCCESS. RANGED HIT -3 PENALTY. 24 DMG inflicted against COMM RELAY. Target destroyed! +1 TURN LIMIT. 10 MU BOUNTY RECEIVED.//COBALT1: MOVE E1. Hit SUCCESS. 20 DMG inflicted against M9-HEARTSEEKER. Target destroyed! MINIFLARE DEPLETED!//EARTHLING: MOVE D3 > D1 > D2 > E1. Hit SUCCESS. 23 DMG inflicted against ELEVATOR.//VULTURE: Hit SUCCESS. 3 DMG inflicted against GATE-2. Target destroyed!//SCARAB: Hit SUCCESS. 24 DMG inflicted against ADMIN 3. Target destroyed! 10 MU BOUNTY RECEIVED!//KERBEROS: MSL evade FAILED. 1 DMG sustained. Hit SUCCESS. 15 DMG inflicted against GATE-1. 1 MV BANKED!//SAILOR: MSL evade FAILED. 1 DMG sustained. Hit SUCCESS. 17 DMG inflicted against EB-INTERNAL SYSTEMS. //GAMBLER: MOVE E1. Hit SUCCESS. 4 DMG inflicted against ELEVATOR. 8 RAD inflicted!//GASHADOKURO: MOVE E1. Hit SUCCESS. 6 DMG inflicted against ELEVATOR. 8 RAD inflicted! //FAMINE: MOVE D3. //BUTTONMAN: Hit SUCCESS. 11 DMG inflicted against STATION. //GARGOYLE: MOVE E1. Hit SUCCESS. 12 DMG inflicted against ELEVATOR. //RUIN: MOVE D4. //HEXE: Wreck SALVAGED. Schematic OBTAINED. MOVE D2. //KOMODO: Hit SUCCESS. 3 DMG inflicted against GATE-2. 12 RAD inflicted! RADIANT cooldown complete.//CORVID: MSL evade SUCCESS. MOVE D4. Scout SUCCESS. CHEM PLANT revealed!//OGRE: Hit SUCCESS. 40 DMG!!!! inflicted against GATE-1. Target destroyed!//SONS OF OLYMPUS. Engaging CORPORATE INFANTRY. Target DESTROYED!ENEMY ACTIONS://MISSILE CARRIERS 3x MSL LAUNCH//ECLIPSE BETA 2x MSL LAUNCH//MIRACLE-9 WATCHER RETREATING!!//SR-REDLINE-H CONFIG x2 E1//SR-REDLINE-L-CONFIG D3Total Salvage: 24 MUSCHEMATICS:ARM/HMG1x PENDINGBounty Log:ECLIPSEx2 - 24 MUADMIN x3 - 30 MULOGISTICS HUB - 10 MUCOMM RELAY - 10 MUAmmo Expenditure:2xYSMT - -8 MU
An oxide-red sun peeks over the horizon, casting faint shadows over a devastated landscape. Your forces continue to advance. Sustained bombardment batters against the the two northern wall sections. Irradiator fire from VULTURE and KOMODO sweeps over defensive turrets and bunker emplacements with the distinctive hiss of neutron backwash. OGRE finishes the job by pouring several magazines of rotary-cannon ammunition into the rad-weakend structure. Your forces proceed to push through fields of radioactive rubble, exploiting two new breaks in the enemy defensive perimeter. Inside the depot, much of the landscape has been rendered unrecognizable. High-calibre shells thunder down narrow transit-ways before erupting into ranks of craters. Smaller buildings and civilian vehicles wilt and then run waxen under the energy wash of irradiators and pulse-weapons. Fire from SHIN-RAI missile artillery falls in crashing waves, flattening entire blocks beneath clouds of cluster munitions as they attempt to zero in on your mercenaries. The heaviest fighting remains concentrated at the front of your advance. Several well-aimed shots inflict near-critical damage on the last ECLIPSE platform. A supporting action from COBALT-1 manages to intercept the last MIRACLE-9 light mech as it maneuvers to pursue HEXE, sending the mech tumbling into a nearby structure in two bisected sections. By then, the MIRACLE-9's command unit was already rushing to withdraw. You hear the company's commander lose what little composure she possessed over the local commnet, ignoring her employer's requests to deliver further ECM support. "...COPY EVAC GET US OUT GET US OUT..."Whether she made it or not, you were confident that she was no longer a threat. As a result, your forces begin to dedicate their attention to the towering elevator complex. An initial bombardment breaches the outer wall, but SHIN-RAI - to their credit - had reinforced the structure to military specifications. Fully reducing the structure would take time. As your forces prepare for a second barrage, a trio of unusual reactor signatures appear on your tactical map. An insistent comm-intercept crackles in your ear. "...no other choice to delay....request is approved...""...Launch order confirmed. REDLINE pilots processed and loaded. Launch. Launch."Three new vanguard units appear on your tactical display. You struggle to obtain a good visual. You see bare metal paint over a grey undercount. A true prototype unit, seemingly derived from the same lineage as the HUNTER - a favorite among SHIN-RAI's corporate units. However, you find no easy point of reference for their weapons. You see a massive laser blade, accompanied by...some kind of beam or particle rifle. Everything was mated to a integrated booster/reactor unit, granting excellent maneuverability in spite of the heavy weapon load. In unison, a scintillating pulse-shield blinks into existence over all three mechs. You hear screaming over the comms.
//BETA 2SALVAGE:>TURRET WRECK 2 [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-7 2-14 MU | 8 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//GATE 1SALVAGE:>TURRET WRECK 1 [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-7 2-14 MU | 8 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]>TURRET WRECK 3 [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-7 2-14 MU | 8 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//GATE 2SALVAGE:>TURRET WRECK 4 [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-7 2-14 MU | 8 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//D2SALVAGE:>ECLIPSE CORE [Roll 1D20 for salvage. 1-14 2-28 MU | 15-20 SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE]>ECLIPSE WEAPON [Roll 1D12 for salvage. 1-6 2-12 MU | 7-11 MISSILE WEAPON SCHEMATIC | 12 RAILGUN WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//D1COMBAT:>STATION [19 HP | [CIV] [12 MU BOUNTY]]>INFANTRY [4 HP | DC 4]//D3SALVAGE:>M9 DREAMER WRECK [Roll 1D16 for salvage. 1-9 1-9 MU | 10-14 WEAPON SCHEMATIC 15-16 VANGUARD SCHEMATIC]>M9 THINKER WRECK [Roll 1D16 for salvage. 1-9 1-9 MU | 10-14 WEAPON SCHEMATIC 15-16 VANGUARD SCHEMATIC]COMBAT:>FORGE [32 HP | [CIV] [24 MU BOUNTY]] NOTE: NON-MILITARY [CIV] BUILDINGS HAVE AN EFFECTIVE DC OF 1 AND TAKE FULL DMG FROM ALL WEAPONS. >E-B HULL [62 HP | DC 6 | [HEAVY]][1X MULTIPLIER]]>E-B INTERNAL SYSTEMS [7 HP | DC 7 | [LIGHT] [3X MULTIPLIER]]>SHIN-RAI REDLINE PROTOTYPE 3 - LIGHT CONFIG [22 HP | DC 13 | [LIGHT][EVASIVE][1 SHIELD][LOSE 50% HP ON FAIL]] [NOTE: SHIELD NEGATES THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL HIT. UNIT RECEIVES A -2 DC PENALTY UPON LOSING SHIELD.]//D4COMBAT:>SHIN-RAI ESCORT [12 HP | DC 7 | [LIGHT]]>SHIN-RAI HEAVY [20 HP | DC 8 | [HEAVY]]>SHIN-RAI MISSILE CARRIER 1 [6 HP | DC 7 | [RANGED][2X MSL LOAD]][THIS UNIT WILL FIRE A MISSILE AT A RANDOM UNIT EACH TURN UNTIL EXPENDED]>SHIN-RAI MISSILE CARRIER 2 [6 HP | DC 7 | [RANGED][2X MSL LOAD]][THIS UNIT WILL FIRE A MISSILE AT A RANDOM UNIT EACH TURN UNTIL EXPENDED]>COMM FACILITY [26 HP | [CIV] [12 MU BOUNTY + 1 TURN LIMIT]]//D5:COMBAT:>MIRACLE 9 - "WATCHER" [18 HP | DC 8 | [HEAVY]] [NOTE: UNIT IS RETREATING THIS TURN]>SHIN-RAI MISSILE CARRIER 3 [6 HP | DC 7 | [RANGED][2X MSL LOAD]][THIS UNIT WILL FIRE A MISSILE AT A RANDOM UNIT EACH TURN UNTIL EXPENDED]>SHIN-RAI SNIPER UNIT [10 HP | DC 11 | [HEAVY][RANGED-DEPLOYING]] [NOTE: THIS UNIT WILL FIRE AT ADJACENT NODES ONCE DEPLOYED]//E1:COMBAT>ELEVATOR [55 HP | [CIV] [MISSION OBJECTIVE 1]][-16 RAD]>SHIN-RAI REDLINE PROTOTYPE 1 - HEAVY CONFIG [20 HP | DC 13 | [HEAVY][1 SHIELD][-2 HP ON FAIL]] [NOTE: SHIELD NEGATES THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL HIT. UNIT RECEIVES A -2 DC PENALTY UPON LOSING SHIELD.]>SHIN-RAI REDLINE PROTOTYPE 2 - HEAVY CONFIG [20 HP | DC 13 | [HEAVY][1 SHIELD][-2 HP ON FAIL]] [NOTE: SHIELD NEGATES THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL HIT. UNIT RECEIVES A -2 DC PENALTY UPON LOSING SHIELD.]SALVAGE:>M9 HEARTSEEKER WRECK [Roll 1D16 for salvage. 1-9 1-9 MU | 10-14 WEAPON SCHEMATIC 15-16 VANGUARD SCHEMATIC]
Rolled 5, 7, 4, 19, 4 = 39 (5d20)The enemy is launching 5x Missiles (3x Missile carrier, 2x from ECLIPSE-BETA) I will roll to see which players need to role an evasion check.
Rolled 14 (1d20)Rerolling for double hit
5 - GASHADOKURO7 - SCARAB4 - GAMBLER19 - GARGOYLE14 - SAILORPlease roll 1d6 + [EVASION}, DC 3 to evade a 1 DMG missile hit, where EVASION is the sum of your evasion bonuses and maluses applied by frame and equipment stats. You may use flares if you have them.
>>6446704You cannot attack and scout on the same turn, moves are divided into MOVE (movement) followed by an ACTION (ATTACK, SCOUT, REPAIR/RESUPPLY, OR MOVE 1 SPACE). For your turn I think G2-1 was already destroyed by radiation ticks, so I just completed your move+scout action if that is OK.
>>6446858FAMINE can't help but to keep her gaze locked onto the REDLINE PROTOTYPE in the node she's in. There's barely anything going on in that tiny little brain of hers. That shriveled mass of tissue and gore that might've once been the brain of someone brilliantly one.Only the most basic, animalistic instincts are still fully intact. She's calculating the hit chance inside of her head. There's a risk, but it's an acceptable risk. It won't damage it, but it'll leave it exposed enough for someone else to finish the job. Something clicks inside of that melted pile of meat that might've once been a brain. Perhaps some remnant of her old self."Pillow." She croaks in a dry, blank voice not befitting of a psychotic mass of metal and meat. "Your missiles would be best put to use popping the shields of these prototype shields. Requesting YELLOWSTONE assistance to D3 or E-1.">Deferring my action until I see where Pillow YELLOWSTONES.>>6446870EVASION ROLLSGASH: 1d6-4 (AUTOHIT. Using flares would be a waste, it'd bring it up to 1d6-1 which is still not great. He has 3 HP. He can eat a missile)SCARAB: 1d6-5 (AUTOHIT.)GAMBLER: 1d6 (50/50, as all gamblers strive for)GARGOYLE: 1d6+7 (AUTOPASS, no damage taken)SAILOR: 1d6-11 (Need I say more?)Pretty bad show.
Rolled 5 (1d6)>>6446858"All in on red..."
>>6446894"Cha-CHIIIIING! How lucky can a gal be?">>6446858>ATTACK ELEVATOR>MOVE D-2"Holy asteroids, are those PROTOTYPES?!" The merc squeals like a teen at an idol concert, "Whoever sneaks me a few pieces to tinker with back home has a liter bottle of Martian Moonshine with their name on it... courtesy of yours truly! Was saving it for a rainy day, but... Prototypes! Golly!"
>>6446861> Move D4Attack for 3 dmg (+12 RAD), auto success>>SHIN-RAI HEAVY [20 HP | DC 8 | [HEAVY]]I think next turn I'll scout and then maybe move back to Gate2 to salvage the turret, and then move back to D4 to scout again. This heavy unit will die eventually and I'm not good against ranged or light.>>6446872thanks for confirmingalso how exactly does the rad work? e.g. this turn I've attacked the heavy unit and will do 3 dmg and not 15 dmg? but when is the 12 applied, at the start of next turn?
Rolled 4 + 4 (1d5 + 4)>>6446861//E1:COMBAT>ATTACK ELEVATOR [55 HP | [CIV] [MISSION OBJECTIVE 1]][-16 RAD]Rolling for multi-hit chance on 4 or 5."Keep those secret toys off my back, this rig ain't built for one on one."Also I think we should have 3 turns remaining instead of 2 since the Relay got taken out.
>>6446910>I think next turn I'll scout and then maybe move back to Gate2 to salvage the turret, and then move back to D4 to scout again. This heavy unit will die eventually and I'm not good against ranged or light.Dude we have 2 turns left in the mission. Unless someone gets the comm facility in D-4
>>6446861Observer, could you please remind us the stats on the orbital strikes?
>>6446938Okay, not 2 turns in the mission, 2 turns until heavy reinforcements. I was wrong.
>>6446940Ah yeah, I didn't see that on my radar. I can hit that with radiation before I start looting.
>>6446884Maybe Famine could start on that comms tower.I won't be able to kill it with rad damage in 2 turns. (I could do 3+12 next turn and then 3+12 the turn after, but depending on when rad damage actually counts, it might not get destroyed until turn 3)
Rolled 5 + 3 (1d12 + 3)>>6446872OOC: All good observer.>>6446858Well, Shin-Rai must be desperate if they're breaking out prototypes. Bad news for us is that these are more functional then not...>Attack Shin-Rai Missle CarrierI'll silence the launchers, if someone can come up here and take out the comm facility we'll be in a much better spot. And remember, scout if you can, never know what you might find.
Rolled 3 - 3 (1d5 - 3)>>6446861"Wait a second... Fuck me! Took the time to run a full system analysis while moving around, and it's not good. The shock dampeners on my grenade launchers seem to overload the system when I fire all my weapons, the SOLARHAND's heatsinks aren't purging fast enoguh and heat is bleeding over the central computing unit when I use it - it's making the targeting subroutines time out and my aim is fucked for this mission. Can't even hit a civvie building for sure, and they're not even moving.I'm going to try aiming for maximum damage on the surroundings, but there's a chance my shots will go wide...">Attack COMM FACILITY [26 HP | [CIV] [12 MU BOUNTY + 1 TURN LIMIT]]>if AoE is possible, try to target the Missile Carriers>Move to D-3
Rolled 3 + 7 (1d6 + 7)>>6446861>Kick on auxiliary boosters>MOVE to D3>COMBAT: Eclipse-Beta InternalsWarning lights clear one after the other.Cockpit temperature? Check.Feed belt rectified? Check.Barrels cooled? ERROR ERRORAnnoying… good thing Slug added those emergency coolant lines you asked for.BARREL COOLANT SPRAY INITIATEDROTARY CANNON BANSHEE AT NOMINAL STATUSREACTOR COOLANT AT 90%About fucking time. “Ogre is back online. Getting into the fight!”
Rolled 6 (1d6)>>6446870"Impact incoming on me. Not enough to take out my mech.""We need those missiles carriers gone."
>>6446884To the best of her abilities, Hexe had avoided the strange cyborg. The curiosity over the grotesque visage and how it came to be was overpowered by conditioned subconscious reverence for similarly entombed line elders. Such inborn strictures, fraying without reinforcement and no longer backstopped by the Controller, gave way before the demands of combat efficiency. She keyed the comms.“Famine, this is Hexe. I can easily render this foe vulnerable. You or Earthling can then deliver the deathblow. With that, long-range strikes can be concentrated on the enemies at the elevator. Do you copy?”
Rolled 3, 4 + 2 = 9 (2d4 + 2)>>6447008"Armor is broken up a bit, but I am still kicking. I am going to blow up the SHIN-RAI forge, Ogre is taking out that flying disk.""I'll move back to D2 for start salvaging when i am done.""MIRACLE-9 commander is fleeing to their EVAC zone. Piece of shit.">>6446861>MOVE D3>COMBAT>FORGE [32 HP | [CIV] [24 MU BOUNTY]] NOTE: NON-MILITARY [CIV] BUILDINGS HAVE AN EFFECTIVE DC OF 1 AND TAKE FULL DMG FROM ALL WEAPONS."Removing SHIN-RAI structure. SHIN-RAI infantry is likely inside."
>>6446976"Shit, Ru, did you spill coffee on your Targeting Computer again or something?">>6446985"Atta' boy. Go hurt something, Og.">>6447016"If we can splash 'em, we splash 'em... if not, well, they're not gonna be at the top of anyone's hiring list again any time soon."
Rolled 3 + 3 (1d6 + 3)The gate came crashing down under the overwhelming firepower levied against it, but only a small part of it came from Kerberos' own mech. On his left flank, Ogre, in his menacing biped had unleashed a terrifying storm of fire on the gate; likely ignoring all safety precautions his system was desperately outputting as his guns built blistering heat at a rapid pace. His cannons shone with a terrifying glow that was reminiscent of the sands of the red planet itself.Kerberos stared at his leftmost screen, mouth hanging wide open as the guns spun down to a halt and emergency coolant was sprayed onto the barrels to keep them from melting. There was scarcely anything left of the gate, his own guns having gone silent as his attention was drawn away from the trigger. He observed Ogre with not a little amount of awestruck wonder.Before he had time to collect his jaw off the floor however, Ogre had shot through the gate at ludicrous speed. Much of the coolant fluid rolled off the guns and formed a streak behind him as he pushed beyond the gate. The sudden movement served to knock Kerberos out of his stupefaction."H-hey! Wait up! Wait for me!" He cried feebly over the shortwave before he gave his own mech a burst of speed to try and catch up to the Malice as it rapidly disappeared into the facility.>>6446861>Move to D1 > D3, expending banked movement.>Scout D3, DC: 4Scouting succeeds by default thanks to the Occulus radar, but I like rolling dice.
>>6446959"The ideal plan," FAMINE's voice continues to stay in that low and registered tone. "is PILLOW would pop the shield with one of their cruiser missiles, due to its ability to completely negate damage, then two of us would move in to attack. I would believe the best pair for that plan would be me and you. Calculated damage output would result in the unit's destruction. (10+17 from moving to D1 then D3)""Then, EARTHLING could either weaken COMM FACILITY to buy us much needed time, or to weaken the elevator further. Would this plan be satisfactory?""It would also be possible for all three of us to attack it, and kill it that way. That would also be satisfactoRY." A sharp hiss of static trails after her final word. "Simply wish to be efficient.">>6446959"I am willing to moVOmOVeeeee into position." Whatever sanity was given to FAMINE is quickly crumbling away by her mere existence chipping away at it. "AfteRRRR I deal with the EXISTING threat. Thank you."
>>6447037"That is satisfactory. I shall wait for Pillow to fire and will then follow your lead on the attack."A fleeting moment of lucidity? This cyborg shared more with Hexe's elders than the shoddy facade had led her to believe.
Rolled 2 + 11 (1d6 + 11)>>6447038"InD..." FAMINE clears her throat. Like a machine running low on fuel, her mind's beginning to rot in on itself. Something resembling a giggle trickles over the comm line, but she manages to hold herself back to not immediately freak out HEXE. "Indeed. Moving into positionN now. Thank you for your assistance.">>6446884>>6446858FAMINE is setting her attack plan into motion...>IF PILLOW ATTACKS PROTOTYPE 3 WITH MISSILE, DELAY ATTACK UNTIL HE DOES SO, DEALING 10 DMG. AUTOHIT DC 11.>IF PILLOW DOESN'T POP PROTOTYPE 3'S MECH WITH A MISSILE FOR WHATEVER REASON, ATTACK TO POP PROTOTYPE 3'S SHIELD AND REDUCING ITS DC TO 11.>ROLLING EITHER WAY.>THEN, KEEP POSITION, IN CASE I NEED TO MOVE TO ANY PARTICULAR NODE.(If only because I don't wanna wait another 12 hours and forget to post. Only delayed my initial thing because I was half asleep.)
Rolled 1 (1d8)>>6446861Undeterred by the appearance of prototypes, KOMODO continues on. Its comms have gone mostly quiet, but anyone within the mech's vicinity might be able to make out a pair of orbs faintly glowing from within the cockpit.>SALVAGE TURRET WRECK 3>MOVE TO D-1
>>6446860>Your forces proceed to push through fields of radioactive rubbleNasty urban combat. Metal as fuck.Shoutout to the infantry squad hanging around D-1. Goodspeed, corpo ants.>>6447038>>6447042I could do 20 damage to Prototype-3(or take away it's shield), but HEXE and Famine seem to have that handled? So I guess I'll just blow up more office workers.>>6446861>MOVE D2 > D1 > D3 > D4>ATTACK>COMM FACILITY [26 HP | [CIV] [12 MU BOUNTY + 1 TURN LIMIT]]
>>6446674"We will have to be through. But it will damage them.""Would be funny to have it around. We could shoot at it for fun.">>6447030"For a while at least. If we can push through those prototypes we might catch them. Wouldn't hurt to salvage her mech and dropship."
>>6446315>>6446940"This is Scarab.""Snowman, Sailor not sure if those are your kind of targets but D5 is rich in bastards we could gladly get rid of. Got a Sniper Mech deploying, that rat running away and a missile carrier hovering there thinking its safe.""Up to you. Lot of targets around already, like those shiny prototypes."
>>6447073"I think we should go for the objectives first. Nobody knows what kind of reinforcements they're gonna drop on us if we don't do it in time, and I don't want to be the idiot who failed the mission because he played around"
>>6447080"One objective is being taken care of by us as we speak. Look at your mech computer; does it look to you like that elevator structure is gonna stand long? Gargoyle, Gashodokuro, and Cobalt-1 are all deployed in E1 and can finish the work of Gambler and Gorgon. The Elevator will not stand their combined attacks. They have deployed on E1 to take it out.""There is also another Elevator further ahead of us, in D6. But we can't reach it now, and we still have enemy units standing in our way.""We are going to have to fight whatever reinforcements they send us either way; we have yet to reach the northern part of the supplies depot and the elevator that stands there. This place needs to be destroyed. Even with Earthling blowing up that structure, there is another fight ahead of us. You are not playing around if you remove one of those units. Mine and Ogre mechs will be in that sniper's sights soon enough. That missile carrier will keep shooting missiles without care.""I admit that I might want that Miracle-9 commander dead, but it wouldn't hurt us to remove her. Maybe SHIN-RAI is about to triple her contract income, and she turns around. And her mech loadout would help SHIN-RAI units right about now. Maybe she will just flee instead and silence all requests."
Rolled 2 (1d12)>>6446858"Oi lads, what's the ETA for that orbie strike on the other elevator?? Or are we only smashing this one-"A missile lock warning pauses Gashadokuro's assault on the space elevator.>>6446870>AUTOHIT"Ah, bollocks!"He boosted his mech to the side, the gesture only sparing him a center mass direct hit - yet damage still finds him another way. As the cockpit shakes, he noticed the two bogeys on E-1."Son of a - I don't have anything that can even hit these bruisers!"And yet, despite it, he still fires.>ALPHA STRIKE ELEVATOR>MOVE D-2
>>6447086"Okay, repositioning">Move to D-3>Salvage M-9 Dreamer wreck
Rolled 3 (1d4)>>6446861>ATTACK: Station
>>6446939Sure! The three types are:>MOCA-SS-KE-SAT [KINETIC BOMBARDMENT SATELLITE, SINGLE USE: USE YOUR ACTION TO TARGET ANY SURFACE ENEMY. INFLICT 35 DMG.] [You have 1]>MOCA-SS-TE-SAT [THERMAL BOMBARDMENT SATELLITE, SINGLE USE: USE YOUR ACTION TO TARGET ANY SURFACE NODE. INFLICT 12 DMG AGAINST ALL TARGETS.]>MOCA-SS-HV-SAT [HEAVY BOMBARDMENT SATELLITE, SINGLE USE: USE YOUR ACTION TO TARGET ANY SURFACE NODE. AFTER 1 TURN, DISCONNECT THE NODE FOR 1 TURN AND DEAL 50 DAMAGE TO ALL UNITS. MOST EFFECTIVE AGAINST STATIC TARGETS.] [You have 2]
>>6446940>>6446938Yes sorry that was mistake I should have been more explicit. The mission will not end automatically once the turn limit expires. The turn limit represents the amount of time before SHIN-RAI begins dropping much heavier reinforcements from orbit.
I generally allow any player to deploy an orbital strike (as long as there isn't widespread opposition), though you need to be at an adjacent node and it uses up your actions. Calling in the strike also takes an action - if you already rolled for an attack or salvage it voids that action.
Guys, what's your opinion on spending one MOCA-SS-HV-SA on D-5?I personally think it's too slow, with effectively a 2 turn delay in letting us move into D-5. I feel like the orbital bombardment might be better saved to deal with the Shin-Rai reinforcements that we will inevitably meet.
Rolled 2, 2, 2 + 2 = 8 (3d2 + 2)>>6446861/E1:COMBAT>ELEVATOR [55 HP | [CIV] [MISSION OBJECTIVE 1]][-16 RAD]If attack is successful, then that'll be 20 DMG. With the radiation and attacks from the other pilots, I... think that should be enough to destroy the Elevator?B: "Completing Objective: eliminating target structure.">>6446897T: "Woah, do NOT make the same fucking mistake that I made and assume that because something is cutting edge somehow means that it's good. Sure, sometimes you get a marvel like Beta here. Most of the time you get jank pieces of shit that malfunction or break because they haven't been tested and refined enough to iron out all the problems. Caldwell almost got himself killed after putting too much faith in Project Sunray."
>>6446858>>6446858MOVE:> D-1ATTACK:YELLOWSTONE ---> SHIN-RAI REDLINE PROTOTYPE 3 - LIGHT CONFIG [22 HP | DC 13 | [LIGHT][EVASIVE][1 SHIELD][LOSE 50% HP ON FAIL]] [NOTE: SHIELD NEGATES THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL HIT. UNIT RECEIVES A -2"Famine give them hell"
>>6447034“Try to keep up new guy! Don’t let me outrun you in this chunky bitch of a Frame!”Ogre smirks. Age hasn’t slowed him down yet.>>6446976“Come on kid, you’re better than this! Where’s the guy that dusted a whole mercenary company by himself?”>>6447073“I second this, we’ve got a world of hurt arrayed against us in the back line. The prototypes we can engage with hit-and-run, those missiles and snipers will have us in pieces no matter how far we go.”
Rolled 8 + 4 (1d12 + 4)>>6446870Autofail again.>>6446861>MOVE - D-3>SCOUT - auto-success with OCULUSAnother missile lock, another opportunity to regret not opting for the dampening gel immersion cockpit. Despite the frame remaining combat-capable, Sailor's gonna be nursing a hell of a headache after this op. With Ogre finishing the job on the Eclipse and all the other missile fucks outside of his line of fire, all he can begrudgingly do is reposition and hope the buildings he's crashing through are emptied of occupants.>>6447328"**advise**belay**deploy**objective**"
>>6447328Honestly, I think we'll never get anywhere with voting for where to orbital beam.Just press the button man.
>>6447342"Yea, yea, don't blow a bolt--I just wanna see what makes 'em tick, is all! Lil' hobby of mine.">>6447328I'm with>>6447417 just go for it especially if a few other folks were suggesting it >>6447392>>6447073
>>6446861Hexe found that, of the materiel encountered so far in the inner system, surprisingly little was totally unknown to her. Most things she’d seen as echoes, variants and modifications of them a common sight inside Clade fabrication vats or even delivered wholesale, sanitized of markings. Their provenance, or that of the fabrication schematics, was the worst-kept secret of the outer system, ignored by her peers and leaders in what Hexe could now call nothing less than consensual mass delusion. She had seen nothing quite like the new arrivals, their IR and EM signatures blazing in her FCS readouts. To do this much with a Hunter chassis simply did not compute. The cruise missile streaked in from the left, skimming over the rubble and past gutted buildings before popping up and entering its terminal dive. The fireball of the detonating warhead swallowed the prototype and sent a shower of red-hot fragments onto the devastation below. Hexe knew that when the smoke the frame was wreathed in dissipated, it would still be there, unscathed. It wouldn’t remain so for long: her frame’s sensors had already logged a marked drop in its EM emissions. Her course was already plotted, and there was little sense in keeping either Famine or the target waiting.>MOVE D-3 -> D-1 -> D-2 -> D-3 (+9DMG/ALL SUNSLAG bonus. I'm guessing that each node only gives the +3DMG/ALL once per turn)>ATTACK SR REDLINE PROTOTYPE 3. DC13-2 [LIGHT]/[EVADE] is autohit by 3d2+9. 20 damage (1 (base) + 2 (SUNSLAG base) + 9 (SUNSLAG bonus) + 8 (GLIMMER))>>6447343"Impact confirmed. Thank you, Pillow. Engaging.">>6447042"I believe that was our cue. On your go."
>>6447328"Kill them all."Just do it. Lest we let these things rot for the rest of the quest.>>6447439"Excellent. Calculated damage will be catastrophic to the unit in question. Predicated hull instability of REDLINE 3 will be recorded at 136%, due to your follow up attack." A series of clicks and whirrs come from over the line. The tell-tale scratching of pen on paper is audible over FAMINE'S words. "Complete destruction guaranteed. Will fire to limit its mobility while you land the decisive blow." "One target down, a million more to go. Thank you for your cooperation with this unit." Click.>>6447343"ThANK you for your COOPERATION, PilLOW." FAMINE chirps out. "I WILL make sure to buy you an extra drink, for your service."
>>6447392>>6447030"I-It's literally not my fault! It's an oversight in the Malicious' design! Fuck you guys..!"Ruin copes as best as he can."I'll just aim for civvies all mission to pass my nerves. I'll catch up by the next assignment, eurgh..."
>>6447152"Very good.">>6447328Use them. If we don't want that turn delayed for entering that node, though, we can use the thermal SAT instead. But I am fine with using any orbital, really.
>>6447486“Blaming the frame!? Don’t worry Doris, he didn’t mean that.”Ogre appears to have named his Frame.“It may be a chunky bitch that handles like freefalling hovercarrier, but I still managed to put a few thousand rounds on target with this fine piece of engineering. Don’t blame it for being jumpy on the stick!”Ogre’s comms are somewhat muddled from a constant BRRRRRT noise in the background.
>>6447486"Small wonder. It is so overbearingly Terran in its design. Ungainly, overweight, and reliant on primitive ballistic weaponry. Compensating for an underpowered reactor? Perhaps. The Errant. Now that is a heavy bipedal frame of a far more noble lineage, reflected in sensible design and a pleasing silhouette. Compared to Rayleonard, GCC might as well be making salvage rigs, diggers, or other such industrial machinery."
Update will be posted tomorrow - apologies for the delay everyone!
>>6447522"You're giving out NAMES to your frame? Shit man, they're just tools... Don't go crying if an arm's ripped off and it needs to go to the trash compactor. Knew this girl who got a few too many interface implants and fell in love with her ROOK. She kept talking to it in front of people, creepy as fuck shit, called it darling and honey. Turns out the damn frame outlived her, she killed herself after one of her implants malfunctioned and that the company discontinued the model. Said "she couldn't feel his touch anymore". Glad I'm piloting unimplanted, honestly...">>6447526"I mean, there's something satisfying about manuveuring all those tons of metal and bending it to your will... When it works. I'm going to send out a strongly-worded report to GCC - so much for a fucking prototype mech, I hope they've got a Mk II in the works. Nothing wrong with ballistic weapons... But I guess you can't beat energy weapons in the vacuum of space, hm. Gotta open your mind a little, Hexe! This is Mars!"
>>6447747"Dated a guy like that once, actually--tech geek. Friendly as a puppy, made a fortune in the corpo espionage biz hacking all their shit... anyways, woke up one morning after an 'all-nighter' and the guy had electrodes plastered all over my head! Needless to say we were done after that--beat his ass and beat it again once I found out he was scanning my brainwaves to make some stupid AI assistant... broke all his shit too before leaving, but my OTHER hacker ex told me there's been a few bootleg copies circulating the net--guess Hacker Prime popped the source code into a forum or something before I broke his hands.Anywho, I love my machines as much as the next techie gal, but treating it like a person? Wacky shit, man... had a scrapyard dog when I was a kid, though--repurposed Hunter-Killer Bot pops jerry-rigged into defending the shop. Downright cuddly when it wasn't mulching shoplifters. Miss that dog..."
>>6447754"...fuck me, I really gotta ask Fami for an STD test sometime soon."
>>6447755The comms go unnervingly dead for a moment."'Piloting unimplanted', ey? I'm gonna implant my foot up your ass after this mission, Ru..."
>>6447758".... kshhh kshhhh kkrrrrrkrkrrr""...Oh man, this Malicious frame REALLY can't get anything right, my comms are going haywire! Kshhh kshhh krkrkrrkrrrrrrrrrr. I'll, uhh, talk to everyone later."
>>6447758>>6447759“STOP FLIRTING ON OPEN COMMS FOR THE LOVE OF ALL ELYSIUM.”“Am I gonna have to come spray you two off with this coolant line like a Hades-damned stray cat!?”
>>6447764"Hey, he started it. I was just talking about naming tech!"
>>6447764"krkkrrkkrrrckkkkrchhhh krkkchhh rkkckrrhchh"
>>6447777"Yea, that's right... keep making static noises, punk! And pick a few more targets while you're at it! We've still got plenty ta' choose from!"
>>6447758>>6447759>>6447777Kkrrrrrr."YOU PEOPLE SCARE AND FRIGHTEN ME IN A WAY IMPOSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE."Kkrrrrrr."PLEASE STOP. YOU'RE RUINING THE PARTY."
>>6447747B: "Agreed. Unlike an AI, applying personhood to an empty frame is irrational and a sign of unhealthy isolation for the pilot. Ogre should receive counseling. However, you are wrong about your proposed hypothetical; it is completely reasonable to be upset if the arm of a frame was just thrown away like trash. That is a useful and expensive piece of equipment whose value has been wasted. Mourning the loss of potential is the mark of a sophisticated mind."T: "Hmmm, yet you didn't make any connection between Ruin's story and Sophie? She's... awfully close to you lately."B: "Good. That'll help keep her alive.">>6447754>once I found out he was scanning my brainwaves to make some stupid AI assistant... (The Cobalt 1 mech comes to a complete stop mid maneuver and slowly turns towards Gambler's frame.)B: "If you ever see him again, please kill him. Slowly. The last thing your kind needs is more slaves."T: "Beta, now's not the time. We've still got a mission to complete."B: "... acknowledged"
>>6447747>>6447796“Don’t listen to them Doris, just keep singing that beautiful song of yours.”BRRRRRRRRRRT“You misunderstand me, Ruin. Any Malicious-class Frame I use from now on will gain the honor of being Doris. And Doris will be good to me.”BRRRRRRRRRRT
>>6447152Please make a salvage roll 1d16!
>>6446222Also please roll 1d6 lol
>>6447747"My open-mindedness only extends so far. That monument to Terran excess festooned with primitive cased ballistics is beyond all good sense and propriety. Furthermore, the Martian atmosphere is thin enough to permit quite liberal use of directed energ—...unimplanted? You pilot...manually? That is akin to..." The comms went silent, the Spacer quite obviously unable to craft a viable analogy for something so beyond the pale. "This explains some of the quirks of your piloting. Hm. Are you a special case or are others here also given to such archaic affectations?"
//GAMBLER: MSL evade SUCCESS. Hit SUCCESS. 4 DMG inflicted against ELEVATOR 1. 8 RAD inflicted.//VULTURE: MOVE D4. Hit SUCCESS. 3 DMG inflicted against SHIN-RAI HEAVY. 12 RAD inflicted.//GORGON: Hit SUCCESS. 4 DMG inflicted against ELEVATOR 1. 5 DMG MULTIHIT against ELEVATOR 1. //CORVID: Hit SUCCESS. 8 DMG inflicated against MISSILE CARRIER 1. Target DESTROYED!//RUIN: Hit SUCCESS. 14 DMG inflicted against COMM FACILITY. //OGRE: MOVE D3. VOB DEPLETED! Hit SUCCESS. 11 DMG inflicted against EB-INTERNAL SYSTEMS. Target DESTROYED! 90 BONUS DMD inflicted! ECLIPSE-BETA DESTROYED!//SCARAB: MSL evade FAIL. 1 DMG sustained! MOVE D3. 12 DMG inflicted against FORGE. //KERBEROS: MOVE D3. Scout SUCCESS. TECH CACHE revealed!//KOMODO: Wreck SALVAGED. Value: 2 MU MOVE D1.//EARTHLING: MOVE D2>1>3>4. Hit SUCCESS. 23 DMG inflicted against COMM FACILITY. Target DESTROYED! +1 TURN LIMIT. 12 MU BOUNTY RECEIVED.//GASHADOKURO: Hit SUCCESS. 6 DMG inflicted against ELEVATOR 1. 8 RAD inflicted. MOVE D2.//SNOWMAN: MOVE D3. SALVAGE PENDING.//BUTTONMAN: Hit SUCCESS. 11 DMG inflicted against STATION. //COBALT1: Hit SUCCESS. 20 DMG inflicted against ELEVATOR 1. Target destroyed! OBJECTIVE 1/2 COMPLETE!//PILLOW: MOVE D1. YELLOWSTONE>>REDLINE 3. 2 DMG inflicted against REDLINE 3. SHIELD DISABLED. YLWSTN AMMO 1/2. //FAMINE: Hit SUCCESS. 10 DMG inflicted against REDLINE 3. //SAILOR. MSL evade FAIL. 1 DMG sustained! MOVE D3. Scout SUCCESS. STORAGE revealed!//HEXE. MOVE D3>1>2>3. Hit SUCCESS. 20 DMG inflicted against REDLINE3. Target DESTROYED!//SONS OF OLYMPUS. PAINTING SR-PROTOTYPE 2. //GARGOYLE. MSL evade SUCCESS. ENEMY ACTIONS://MISSILE CARRIERS 2x MSL LAUNCH//SHIN-RAI ESCORT ENGAGING EARTHLING. //SHIN-RAI SNIPER OVERWATCH ON D3>D5 PATH. UNITS TRAVERSING THIS PATH MUST ROLL 1D6 DC:2 OR TAKE 1 DMG. //SR-REDLINE-H CONFIG MOVED D2. MOVING TO D3 NEXT TURN///SR-REDLINE-H CONFIG ENGAGING GORGON. Total Salvage: 24 MUSCHEMATICS:ARM/HMG1x PENDING PILLOWBounty Log:ECLIPSEx3 - 36 MUADMINx3 - 30 MULOGISTICS HUB - 10 MUCOMM RELAY - 10 MUCOMM FACILITY - 12 MUAmmo Expenditure:2xYSMT - -8 MU1xYLWST- -1 MU>Please note that the map has been shifted to better show the inside of the depot. All positions should still be preserved.
The three REDLINE units shriek through the Martian atmosphere on overcharged booster plumes. Two of the units approach from the south and begin to trade fire with the mercenaries bombarding the elevator complex. While they were too late to defend the first elevator hub, they seemed intent on halting your advance before you could reach the second hub. Magnesium-white particle beams cut through dense banks of chemical smoke. Shrapnel and stray kinetic rounds melt before cascading from their pulse-shields like sleet. The third unit, carrying some variant of beam rifle, cuts north towards the center of the complex. The isolated prototype was still a formidable threat, but you felt that your company had enough assets in the local area to maintain a decisive advantage. You direct three of your mercenaries to move into designated positions. FAMINE engages the mech with several bursts of machinegun fire before diving into the crowded architecture of the forge district. Several kilometers away, PILLOW braces his LANCER frame before launching a YELLOWSTONE missile at the exposed target. While the prototype's pulse shield could shrug off lighter munitions, a solid hit from a multi-ton cruise missile was another matter entirely. The high-explosive warhead detonates less than ten meters from the prototype. The pulse shield attempts to compensate before excess energy forces a generator overload. The shield blows out in a shower of ionized plasma, and the REDLINE unit reels from a sudden drop in power output. Your mercenaries take advantage of the lapse immediately by pouring fire into the flagging prototype. Completely disabling the unit takes longer than you anticipate. After taking several missile strikes and nearly an entire magazine of MARVE ammunition, the burning REDLINE unit still manages to respond with occasional bursts of beam rifle fire. The mech is finally disabled when HEXE spears through its generator with a pulse lance, sending the remaining wreckage tumbling into the ruined district below.
"UNIT ALPHA DISABLED. INLOAD PATTERN 3 TO PROCESSED PILOTS."One of the two remaining REDLINE units immediately peels north, while the other continues to hound your pilots as they disengage from the elevator hub. You felt like you had a better grasp of the situation now. While the REDLINE protoypes were built for extreme offense in typical SHIN-RAI fashion, they were also deployed in somewhat haphazard manner. With a measure of luck and coordination, you were cautiously optimistic that you could isolate and destroy the two remaining units without suffering significant losses. Had they been deployed earlier - when a larger proportion of SHIN-RAI's forces were still intact - perhaps they would have been more impactful. Still, you remind yourself that the prototypes - like everything else that SHIN-RAI has throwing at you - represented a delaying tactic. Once their company ships were close enough to start dropping heavy reinforcements from orbit, the situation could rapidly turn against you. There was still one objective to complete before the contact was finished.
//BETA 2SALVAGE:>TURRET WRECK 2 [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-7 2-14 MU | 8 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//GATE 1SALVAGE:>TURRET WRECK 1 [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-7 2-14 MU | 8 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//GATE 2SALVAGE:>TURRET WRECK 4 [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-7 2-14 MU | 8 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//D2COMBAT:>SHIN-RAI REDLINE PROTOTYPE 2 - HEAVY CONFIG [20 HP | DC 13 | [HEAVY][1 SHIELD][-2 HP ON FAIL]] [NOTE: SHIELD NEGATES THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL HIT. UNIT RECEIVES A -2 DC PENALTY UPON LOSING SHIELD.]SALVAGE:>ECLIPSE CORE [Roll 1D20 for salvage. 1-14 2-28 MU | 15-20 SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE]>ECLIPSE WEAPON [Roll 1D12 for salvage. 1-6 2-12 MU | 7-11 MISSILE WEAPON SCHEMATIC | 12 RAILGUN WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//D1COMBAT:>STATION [8 HP | [CIV] [12 MU BOUNTY]]>INFANTRY [4 HP | DC 4]//D3SALVAGE:>SR READLINE PROTOTYPE WRECK [Roll 1d8 | 1-2 10-20 MU | 3-6 PROTOTYPE SCHEMATIC | 7 PROTOTYPE SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE | 8 SCHEMATIC OR PILOT AUGMENT OF CHOICE] [UNSTABLE-DISAPPEARS AFTER 2 TURNS]>M9 DREAMER WRECK [Roll 1D16 for salvage. 1-9 1-9 MU | 10-14 WEAPON SCHEMATIC 15-16 VANGUARD SCHEMATIC]>M9 THINKER WRECK [Roll 1D16 for salvage. 1-9 1-9 MU | 10-14 WEAPON SCHEMATIC 15-16 VANGUARD SCHEMATIC]>ECLIPSE CORE [Roll 1D20 for salvage. 1-14 2-28 MU | 15-20 SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE]>ECLIPSE WEAPON [Roll 1D12 for salvage. 1-6 2-12 MU | 7-11 MISSILE WEAPON SCHEMATIC | 12 RAILGUN WEAPON SCHEMATIC]COMBAT:>FORGE [20 HP | [CIV] [24 MU BOUNTY]] NOTE: NON-MILITARY [CIV] BUILDINGS HAVE AN EFFECTIVE DC OF 1 AND TAKE FULL DMG FROM ALL WEAPONS. >STORAGE [10 HP | [CIV] [6 MU BOUNTY]] NOTE: SPAWNS 2 CACHES WHEN DESTROYED//D4COMBAT:>SHIN-RAI ESCORT [12 HP | DC 7 | [LIGHT]] [ENGAGING EARTHLING]>SHIN-RAI HEAVY [17 HP | DC 8 | [HEAVY]] [-12 RAD]>SHIN-RAI MISSILE CARRIER 2 [6 HP | DC 7 | [RANGED][1X MSL LOAD]][THIS UNIT WILL FIRE A MISSILE AT A RANDOM UNIT EACH TURN UNTIL EXPENDED]SALVAGE:>MISSILE CARRIER WRECK [Roll 1D6 for salvage. 1-5 2-10 MU | 6 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//D5:COMBAT:>MIRACLE 9 - "WATCHER" [18 HP | DC 8 | [HEAVY]] [NOTE: UNIT IS RETREATING THIS TURN]>SHIN-RAI MISSILE CARRIER 3 [6 HP | DC 7 | [RANGED][1X MSL LOAD]][THIS UNIT WILL FIRE A MISSILE AT A RANDOM UNIT EACH TURN UNTIL EXPENDED]>SHIN-RAI SNIPER UNIT [10 HP | DC 11 | [HEAVY][RANGED-DEPLOYED]] [THIS UNIT IS ON ACTIVE OVERWATCH. UNITS MOVING TO D5 MUST ROLL 1D6 DC:2 OR SUSTAIN 1 DMG]//D6COMBAT:>MIRACLE 9 - "WATCHER" [18 HP | DC 8 | [HEAVY]] [NOTE: UNIT IS RETREATING THIS TURN]//E1:SALVAGE:>ELEVATOR SPOOL [Roll 1d2 | 1 0 MU | 2 50 MU]>M9 HEARTSEEKER WRECK [Roll 1D16 for salvage. 1-9 1-9 MU | 10-14 WEAPON SCHEMATIC 15-16 VANGUARD SCHEMATIC]COMBAT>SHIN-RAI REDLINE PROTOTYPE 1 - HEAVY CONFIG [20 HP | DC 12 | [HEAVY][1 SHIELD][-2 HP ON FAIL]] [NOTE: SHIELD NEGATES THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL HIT. UNIT RECEIVES A -2 DC PENALTY UPON LOSING SHIELD.] [ENGAGING GORGON]//E2:COMBAT:>ELEVATOR [100 HP | [CIV] [MISSION OBJECTIVE 2]]
Rolled 19, 10 = 29 (2d20)The enemy is launching 2x Missiles (2x from missile carrier) I will roll to see which players need to role an evasion check.
Gargoyle and Earthling will not have to roll, as they both autopass the evade check.
>>6446910Yes sorry for not clarifying. RAD represents a damage over time that starts the turn AFTER your initial attack. For example, for the ardent:1 DMG [TURN YOU APPLY RADIATION] > 8 DMG > 8 DMG > 8 DMG etcRadiation damage is assessed first thing at the start of each turn, so targets with RAD greater than their health will die immediately at the start of the next turn.
Original image had messed up colors
>>6447948MOVE:>//D3COMBAT:>FORGE [20 HP | [CIV] [24 MU BOUNTY]] NOTE: NON-MILITARY [CIV] BUILDINGS HAVE AN EFFECTIVE DC OF 1 AND TAKE FULL DMG FROM ALL WEAPONS. I'll be heading to E-2 to destroy the remaining elevator, but I can smash some bounty targets along the way.
>>6447939MOVE:>D-3ATTACK:>YELLOWSTONE --> SHIN-RAI REDLINE PROTOTYPE 2 - HEAVY CONFIG [20 HP | DC 13 | [HEAVY][1 SHIELD][-2 HP ON FAIL]] [NOTE: SHIELD NEGATES THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL HIT. UNIT RECEIVES A -2 DC PENALTY"knocking shields in 3 2 1"
Rolled 2 + 4 (1d5 + 4)>>6447948A hunter-killer type of the unknown prototypes was burning right for Gorgon's vanguard- he was an easy target, and whatever test pilot was being pulled out here knew it. Gorgon knew he was number one on the shit-list right now- even if other members of the Dustwalkers would be more prudent targets to actually defend the facility, he had a feeling that this was personal.His Vanguard's heavy armor suite would hold out against a lot of heavy mech grade weaponry long enough for help to arrive, he guessed. "Heavy Grade" might have been an understatement- the appearance of the prototype's weapons and the energy output from instrument readings of them and their wielder stated plainly that the Valiant's armor plating only resisted it from sheer mass rather than ability to conventionally resist it."Seems I'm the favorite here. Don't worry 'bout me. This frame can take plenty a' abuse. I'll distract 'im- it's all I can do."He said that over open comms, not naming anybody- it would have to be *anybody*. None of the nearby vanguard frames of the squadron were suited to the Destroyer type engaging him, their targeting systems not suited to its particular brand of protection. The AI Core and its partner, Gambler, and the new guy, all they could do was look slightly more graceful when trying and failing to distract it from its focus.//E1:COMBAT>SHIN-RAI REDLINE PROTOTYPE 1 - HEAVY CONFIG [20 HP | DC 12 | [HEAVY][1 SHIELD][-2 HP ON FAIL]] [NOTE: SHIELD NEGATES THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL HIT. UNIT RECEIVES A -2 DC PENALTY UPON LOSING SHIELD.] [ENGAGING GORGON]As I am obligated. If I were alone, I'd be in serious trouble, but if there's one thing the Valiant has, it's the ability to take punishment. I've got two turns until it cuts me to shreds, and if anybody can get over here in time to prevent that, it'd be mighty kind of you.
>>6447948>Scout D4auto pass with Oculus>Move Gate 2I'll do a little clean up of the turret at Gate2 before moving back
>>6447939>MOVE TO D-5 (2 moves)"Come on lads n lasses, get your arses in gear! That other bloody elevator either needs an ortillery strike, or enough firepower!"
There's a significant chunk of salvage in D3, I'm thinking I spend this turn on looting that tech cache and then fight the Redline Prototype next turn since it seems like the perfect target for my +5/hit heavy build. Unless someone else has any other suggestions for me.
Rolled 9 (1d16)>>6447870Salvaging
>>6447939Observer we should be 3 turns out, not 2. You still ticked the counter down when I destroyed the comm relay two turns ago
Rolled 3, 1 + 5 = 9 (2d4 + 5)>>6447948>Shoot Shin-Rain Missile Carrier at D-5 from D-3
>>6448018"Minus missile carrier, as requested"
Rolled 2 (1d6)>>6447948>MOVE TO E-2“Ogre vectoring to objective. Getting ready to lay down some hurt.”
Rolled 1 (1d4)>>6447948>ATTACK Station
Rolled 7 + 4 (1d12 + 4)>>6447948>ATTACK - SHIN-RAI ESCORT [12 HP | DC 7 | [LIGHT]] [ENGAGING EARTHLING] at D-4 from D-3"**suppressing**enemy advance**">>6448019"**acknowledged**good effect**">>6447754At the mention of bootleg AI assistants, a brief strangled noise is hotmicced over Sailor's feed. With any luck, Ogre's outcry kept everyone's attention away from the incriminating slip-up.
>>6447948"Heading to the target and smashing some stuff along the way. Let's give 'em the good news!">MOVE FROM D-2 (Moved there last turn) to D-3>ATTACK STORAGE>>6447968"I'm with ya, Cobie. Let's give 'em a bad day.">>6447981"You got this, Gorg--but don't be afraid ta' dip out if it gets too hot... we've got plenty of other stuff to shoot! Those chumps are just distractions! Tasty, tasty, PROTOTYPE FRAME distractions...">>6447989"Yep, yep, keep your pants on--we're comin'..."
Rolled 8 (1d8)>>6447948>SALVAGE>SR READLINE PROTOTYPE WRECK [Roll 1d8 | 1-2 10-20 MU | 3-6 PROTOTYPE SCHEMATIC | 7 PROTOTYPE SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE | 8 SCHEMATIC OR PILOT AUGMENT OF CHOICE] [UNSTABLE-DISAPPEARS AFTER 2 TURNS]"Salvaging the prototype."
>>6448073"I can confirm the SHIN-RAI prototype wreck is mostly secured, Commander. The damage done to it by HEXE, PILLOW and FAMINE was, dare I say, of great skill.""Another victory for the Dustwalkers. We will make SHIN-RAI regret ever putting roots here."
>>6447993Go for it; we have plenty to do here.
Rolled 7 (1d16)>>6447948>SCAVENGE M9 THINKER WRECK (Why not?)>MOVE TO D2."Designating myself as: SCAVENGING UNIT. Will wait until: MORE LIGHT UNITS APPEAR. Only LIGHT UNIT IS: BEING DEALT WITH by: SAILOR.""GOTTA MAKE THE...MONEY, BABY.">>6448075"SIMPLE: TEAMWORK. Detecting high levels of value coming from your SALVAGE. Thank you, SCARAB. YOU ARE: USEFUL ALLY."
Rolled 7 (1d12)>>6447948Hexe looked down at the strange wreck at the highest zoom, examining the remains of the shield generator pylons and the booster cluster. Her frame FCS still kept pestering her with warnings about the gutted prototype. Something wasn't right. Hexe switched the primary view channel from the ultra-highres to the multispectral sensor suite."IR emissions still climbing...? Tch. The reactor didn't scram despite a containment vessel breach. Go figure. An armed and mobile prototype sorties bereft of basic safety measures. Sterling example of terrestrial myopia."The constant FCS pings from the sniper frame further inside the complex had gotten annoying and forced Hexe to take cover behind the stricken bombardment platform as she planned out her most ambitious attack run thus far."Preparing to attack the second elevator. Somebody. Please. Kill that sniper.">SALVAGE ECLIPSE WEAPON [Roll 1D12 for salvage. 1-6 2-12 MU | 7-11 MISSILE WEAPON SCHEMATIC | 12 RAILGUN WEAPON SCHEMATIC]>MOVE to GATE-2>>6447057"Mr. Earthling, do you copy? I am preparing for an attack run on the remaining primary objective from zone GATE-2. I see you are occupied at present, but once that situation is resolved, can you join me? At maximum velocity, our attack is sure to do tremendous damage. Enough for the edifice to be finished by an orbital strike, I believe."(going through 6 nodes with the overboost I'll do 31 dmg and with your max of 23, the elevator will be down by 54 hp. We can drop the big orbital strike on it on our way out and call it a day)>>6448075"Thank you, Scarab. Such an assessment from a warrior as deadly and prolific as you is a great honor."
Rolled 8 (1d20)>>6447948>MOVE TO D-3>SCAVENGE ECLIPSE CORE WRECK
Rolled 5 (1d20)>>6447944"Huh. You know I'd expect this thing to fall, but it's uhhh.. flying away? Neat. Better than 10 kilometers of cable falling on our heads I guess."I think in mars gravity if you cut a space elevator cable close to the ground, the centrifugal force makes the rest fly upwards.>>6447951Boss, is this about missiles or the sniper? Or the guy currently on me? Speaking of, can you just run if an enemy engages you?>>6448083Well, if this attack by Sailor >>6448069 actually killed the escort craft, then I'm free and my build still can't hit anything besides buildings. So sure, why not. I'll set up. Do we just assume someone will take care of the sniper?>>6447948>MOVE D2SALVAGE:>ECLIPSE CORE [Roll 1D20 for salvage. 1-14 2-28 MU | 15-20 SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE]
Kerberos idled awkwardly at the edge of a huge industrial smelter while the seasoned mercs traded barbs over the shortwave. As the conversation turned to the more vulgar, and his cheeks begam turning slightly more redder, he did his best to find something else to keep his mind occupied. He ran another area scan, desperate to ignore the growing heat on his face. He hadn't found anything on the first run, he didn't expect to find anything this time either. But anything was good if it could keep his attention...The radar gave a short and sharp little *bleep*. Strange, it hadn't shown anything there before. He rolled over in the indicated direction, the signal growing stronger as he did so. He pushed aside a group of cargo containers to find a mysterious box tucked in between it and the building. The tiny little voice blurbed back to life:"Shin-Rai Technology Repository Container." It said in a small voice. "It likely contains something of value." It cut out as abruptly as it had begun."Alright!" Kerberos was over the roof with excitment. He had found something, something important. He queued up the radio to announce his find, but he was quickly drowned out over the banter flying between the operators which punctured his enthusiasm somewhat. He dawdled over the crate, not sure what he should do when a stern, matte-of-factly voice resounded in his cabin.>"Good find, kid. Get it loaded quick, we have lots to do here.""O-oh. Okay! Yeah... of course." Kerberos said out loud to himself, mostly to will himself to act rather than standing around like a fool.>>6447948>Slavage Tech Cache>Bank 1 Movement
Rolled 6 (1d6)>>6446223sorry forgot this happened
>>6448105Oh fuck yes.
>>6448089>Do we just assume someone will take care of the sniper?I'm gonna take it on faith that someone does either this turn or the next. we'll just have to chance it anyway if nobody does. >Speaking of, can you just run if an enemy engages you?saw someone get engaged and drag the enemy with them in thread 1. It says>ENGAGED units MUST make combat against the unit engaging them, unless otherwise specified.so movement is fine, but we gotta check if that guy's actually dead or not.
>>6448089>Do we just assume someone will take care of the sniper?I will take care of the sniper if it survives to the next turn.
>>6448089If I'm not wrong, my damage inflicted on the Shin-Rai Escort is 2 + 2(11 - 4) for a total of 10. Not quite enough to finish it off, unfortunately.
>>64482382 + 2(11 - 7), I mean. Careless error.
>>6448077"It's quite good. Should help us. We will need to see if we will be lucky enough with the other prototypes we put down.""Thank you as well. I appreciated it.">>6448083"It's a true one and well deserved. Keep going like this, you will become an ace in no time.">>6448101"Good job with the gate, Kerberos. Remain sharp; we will have more SHIN-RAI company soon. Meanwhile, we can scavenge to our hearts' content!"
>>6447976FYI if you want you can launch another missile since you have two separate launchers.
>>6448017Oh thanks my mistake!
>>6448073Please CHOOSE ONE of the following:1. FRAME/HNTR-REDLINE-VAR2. ARM/HEAVY PARTICLE RIFLE3. ARM/HEAVY BEAM RIFLE4. ARM/RAILGUN5. ARM/HEAVY PULSE BLADE6. AUGMENT/FOVEAL CLARIFICATION [1d8 SCOUTING ROLLS]8. AUGMENT/ADRENAL AUGMENTATION [NO CRIPPLE PENALTY. CRIPPLED UNITS GAIN +2 HIT/+2 DMG]>>6448089Sorry the autopass was for the MSL evasion specifically. You can move to defer the attack roll, but the enemy unit will try to pursue you (within reason, 1-2 nodes) to keep the engagement tag on you. However, you are free to take the turn as normal if other pilots (SAILOR) kill the unit engaging you first. >>6448101Sorry I didn't post the cache roll here. Please roll:>TECH CACHE (1). [Roll 1D2 for salvage.] [10 MU CREDITS on 1 | WEAPON SCHEMATIC SLOT OF CHOICE on 2]
>>6448332>1. FRAME/HNTR-REDLINE-VAR"SHIN-RAI Prototype Schematic secured, Commander. Now we can print it out as we see fit on our ship."
Rolled 1 (1d2)>>6448332Let's see what's in this crate.
"Be advised Dustwalkers, D4, D1, D2, and E1 are not fully scouted. There might be a bit more to do in those areas. Besides cleaning up the salvage and destroying what remains.""I think in D5 and D6 we have other structures to pay a visit, and of course the second elevator north. Those all look like industrial and administrative buildings; could be worth good bounties.""I think I will direct myself to E1 for that Elevator Spool and that Heartseeker guy mech wreck. Or check better D1.""I wonder if the Prototypes will keep engaging us. Shouldn't they leave with how costly they are to SHIN-RAI...."
Rolled 1 (1d2)>>6448332>You can move to defer the attack roll, but the enemy unit will try to pursue you (within reason, 1-2 nodes)Ah shit, I only moved two nodes. Change of vote then.>>6447948>MOVE E1SALVAGE>ELEVATOR SPOOL [Roll 1d2 | 1 0 MU | 2 50 MU]That's 3 nodes, should shake him.>>6448238It's fine man, turns out I can just leave!>>6448130>>6448149Got it, setting up for an attack run
>>6448343"I think th' cost ain't in th' frames theyselves, but data, manu-factshur specs, an' all that. An' that won't mean nothin' if we mess up th' base bad enough. 'sides, Combat data's its own value." "Speakin' of, they're gonna get plenty a' that off me. I ain't too ashamed t' ask, I need someone t' say if they're gonna get this guy off a' me or if I ought'a baste m'self with lard-sub so I'll come out nice an' golden when I get fried."
>>6448343I scouted D4:>>6447983
Rolled 5 (1d6)>>6447939"Alright, that elevator seems like big enough a target to fuck up even with my frame troubles. Now, let's see if I can push it hard enough to dodge that fuckass sniper.">Move D3>Move D4>>6447883"Energy weapons are well and good, but I just can't deal with the lack of kickback."Ruin floods the comms with his iconic laugh. "Fuck yeah I'm unaugmented. I'm the Ace, remember? I don't need no replacement parts on account of the fact that there's nothing to replace. Eh eh eh eh... Well, uh, I assume some of the others are also running unaugmented. Don't think I've ever really tallied it up, but Cyclops has her arm, Sailor has his headset, I think Ogre has some shit strapped on...? And there's Fami, of course. Damn, I'm actually real fucking good, huh? Hear that, Commander? I'll be asking for a raise!">>6448075"Damn sweet. Well done, Scarab, and everyone else. Let's get some of their special tech.">>6448101"You sound damn young... This your first run?" Better he takes care of scavenging than getting blown up like most child pilots...
>>6448497>OPEN COMMS IN D4"Learn to aim, you fucking dipshit. You limpdicks had better pick on prey your size. Now leave a blueprint of that sniper unit of yours and fuck right off before we wreck your shit and you never see your wife and kids again.'
>>6448347"That might be the case. Could D5 and D6 hold testing and scientific facilities where these prototypes were made ? I didn't quite see from where they arrived, but I think the direction was from those areas.""I am not sure I can do much against it; the mech computer says these prototypes are pretty fast, even the heavy variant. But I will arrive there to provide you a way to get him off you, Gorgon. I should be able to move there, but my guns will not be able to fire. I will taunt him instead; I just got something here that will switch its attention. Though it will probably attract even the other bastard.">>6448391"Good work, Vulture. I didn't update my mech computer with your activity.">>6448497"The fruits of our labor. Something well deserved. I told you the Dustwalkers would grow stronger, didn't I?"
>>6448343"Way ahead of ya, big guy. Tapped the windows of that storage facility they've got on my way up--hope it ain't where they're storing their synthmeat or smokes or anything, because the radiation I'm drumming outta' my Frame is gonna cook it and every dumbshit inside like one big corpo marshmallow.... hey, we oughta' do a campout sometime. Like a company retreat. But with less 'synergy' and more drinking and embracing nature, or something.">>6448347"Sorry, Gorg--I'm looking at that plating on their Frames and I don't like the odds of my shit breaching it. Just hold the line and take any lumps they deal--any [HEAVY]-hitters in the neighborhood available to take some heat off of our nuke-slinger here?">>6448497"That's a fancy, roundabout way of admitting ya' don't have the cash to chrome up... though I'll admit I'm curious as to what kind of mischief Augged Ru would be capable of if Base Ru is deadly enough as-is..."
Rolled 1 + 4 (1d6 + 4)>>6447989Rolling for sniper evasion
>>6448327>YELLOWSTONE2 --> >SHIN-RAI SNIPER UNIT [10 HP | DC 11 | [HEAVY][RANGED-DEPLOYED]] [THIS UNIT IS ON ACTIVE OVERWATCH. UNITS MOVING TO D5 MUST ROLL 1D6 DC:2 OR SUSTAIN 1 DMG]
>>6448083Please roll 1d6:1. ARM/PULSE NEEDLE2. BACK/PULSE NEEDLE RACK3. BACK/HEAVY CRUISE MISSILE4. BACK/HEAVY ISOTOPE5. BACK/TRACKING DART5. BACK/ATTACK DRONE
Rolled 4 + 3 (1d6 + 3)>>6447939>scout D4, move to D3Popping off a scan, making my way over to the main theater. Do not want to be the poor schmuck who has to deliver the news to SR higher ups that a major depot got trashed, along with prototype vanguards. Lotta heads about to roll, maybe literally at that, given what I know of the culture Shin Rai is based off.
//COBALT1: MOVE D3. Hit SUCCESS. 20 DMG inflicted against FORGE. Target destroyed! 24 MU BOUNTY RECEIVED.//PILLOW: MOVE D3. YELLOWSTONE>>REDLINE 2. 2 DMG inflicted against REDLINE 2. SHIELD DISABLED. YELLOWSTONE>>SHIN-RAI SNIPER. 2 DMG inflicted against SHIN-RAI SNIPER. YLWSTN AMMO 1/4. //GORGON: Hit FAIL. 2 DMG sustained. //VULTURE: Scout SUCCESS. MOVE G2. HAB COMPLEX revealed!//GASHADOKURO: MOVE D5. EVADE FAIL. 1 DMG sustained!//SNOWMAN: Wreck Value: 9 MU. Hit SUCCESS. SNIPER DAMAGE 1+1+[9-7] = 4 DMG inflicted against MISSILE CARRIER.//OGRE: MOVE E2. EVADE FAIL. 1 DMG sustained!//BUTTON MAN: Hit SUCCESS! 11 DMG inflicted against STATION. Target destroyed! 12 MU BOUNTY RECEIVED.//SAILOR: Hit SUCCESS! SNIPER DAMAGE 1+1+1+2[11-7] = 11 DMG inflicted against SHIN-RAI ESCORT. //GAMBLER: MOVE D3. Hit SUCCESS! 4 DMG inflicted against STORAGE. 8 RAD inflicted!//SCARAB: Wreck SALVAGED. SR-REDLINE FRAME SCHEMATIC OBTAINED!//FAMINE: Wreck SALVAGED. Value: 7 MU. MOVE D2.//HEXE: Wreck SALVAGED. Schematic pending. MOVE G2. //KOMODO: MOVE D3. Wreck SALVAGED. Value: 16 MU.//EARTHLING: MOVE E2. Wreck SALVAGED. Value: 0 MU.//KEBEROS: Cache SALVAGED. Value: 10 MU. 1 MOV BANKED.//RUIN: MOVE D4. EVADE SUCCESS.//CORVID: Scout SUCCESS. Node already fully scouted! MOVE D3.//SONS OF OLYMPUS: PAINTING SR REDLINE 2 -1 DC. ENEMY ACTIONS://MISSILE CARRIERS RELOADING.//SHIN-RAI ESCORT ENGAGEMENT BROKEN. NOW ENGAGING GAMBLER. //SHIN-RAI SNIPER >> RETREATING. //MIRACLE-9 WATCHER RETREATED.//SR-REDLINE-H CONFIG MOVED D3. ENGAGING KERBEROS. //SR-REDLINE-H CONFIG MOVED D3. ENGAGING SNOWMAN.Total Salvage: 57 MUSCHEMATICS:FRAME/HTNR-REDLINEARM/HMGAUX/SUBMAG1x PENDINGBounty Log:ECLIPSEx3 - 36 MUADMINx3 - 30 MULOGISTICS HUB - 10 MUCOMM RELAY - 10 MUCOMM FACILITY - 12 MUFORGE - 24 MUSTATION - 12 MUAmmo Expenditure:2xYSMT - -8 MU3xYLWST- -3 MU
The two remaining REDLINE prototypes engage your mercenaries in earnest. The overcharged, overbuilt frames prove exceptionally difficult to overpower in an even engagement. You watch as one REDLINE unit successfully dodges three successive HEAT grenades fired before maneuvering into a firing position atop a truncated support column. A single burst from a heavy particle rifle strikes GORGON's VALIANT squarely on its glacis plating and instantly flashes two dozen tons of ablative armor into metallic vapor. Against a lighter frame, the hit would have been instantly fatal. Fortunately, VALIANT frames were almost egregiously over-armored, giving GORGON more than enough leeway to push his mech back into cover before suffering critical damage. Eventually, both prototypes approach the center of the supply depot, where your forces had just finished destroying a sprawling forge complex responsible for most of the facility's local production. The reinforced structure - already laid open by two nuclear strikes - had been strafed and bombarded repeatedly to ensure that as little usable machinery as possibly remained. More than half of your forces were still assembled in the ruins to prepare for an eventual push against the second elevator complex.However, the REDLINE units seemed intent on stopping your advance then and there. Both prototypes pick out targets from your company before boosting forward to engage at close range. A second cruise missile hit from PILLOW blows out one unit's shield but seemingly does little to stall its advance.
//BETA 2SALVAGE:>TURRET WRECK 2 [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-7 2-14 MU | 8 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//GATE 1SALVAGE:>TURRET WRECK 1 [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-7 2-14 MU | 8 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//GATE 2SALVAGE:>TURRET WRECK 4 [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-7 2-14 MU | 8 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//D2COMBAT:>INFANTRY [4 HP | DC 4]SALVAGE:>ECLIPSE CORE [Roll 1D20 for salvage. 1-14 2-28 MU | 15-20 SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE]>ECLIPSE WEAPON [Roll 1D12 for salvage. 1-6 2-12 MU | 7-11 MISSILE WEAPON SCHEMATIC | 12 RAILGUN WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//D3COMBAT:>STORAGE [6 HP | [CIV] [6 MU BOUNTY]] [-8 RAD] NOTE: SPAWNS 2 CACHES WHEN DESTROYED>SHIN-RAI ESCORT [1 HP | DC 7 | [LIGHT]] [ENGAGING GAMBLER]>SHIN-RAI REDLINE PROTOTYPE 1 - HEAVY CONFIG [20 HP | DC 13 | [HEAVY][1 SHIELD][-2 HP ON FAIL]] [ENGAGING SNOWMAN]>SHIN-RAI REDLINE PROTOTYPE 2 - HEAVY CONFIG [20 HP | DC 10 | [HEAVY][-2 HP ON FAIL]] [ENGAGING KERBEROS]//D4COMBAT:>SHIN-RAI HEAVY [5 HP | DC 8 | [HEAVY]] [-12 RAD]>SHIN-RAI MISSILE CARRIER 2 [6 HP | DC 7 | [RANGED][RELOADING]][THIS UNIT WILL FIRE A MISSILE AT A RANDOM UNIT EACH TURN UNTIL EXPENDED]SALVAGE:>MISSILE CARRIER WRECK [Roll 1D6 for salvage. 1-5 2-10 MU | 6 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//D5:COMBAT:>SHIN-RAI MISSILE CARRIER 3 [2 HP | DC 7 | [RANGED][RELOADING]][THIS UNIT WILL FIRE A MISSILE AT A RANDOM UNIT EACH TURN UNTIL EXPENDED]//D6COMBAT:>SHIN-RAI SNIPER UNIT [8 HP | DC 11 | [HEAVY][RANGED]] [RETREATING]//E1:SALVAGE:>M9 HEARTSEEKER WRECK [Roll 1D16 for salvage. 1-9 1-9 MU | 10-14 WEAPON SCHEMATIC 15-16 VANGUARD SCHEMATIC]//E2:COMBAT:>ELEVATOR [100 HP | [CIV] [MISSION OBJECTIVE 2]]>SHIN-RAI EXECUTIVE SECURITY [12 HP | DC 12 | [LIGHT][EVASIVE]]
Rolled 6 (1d8)>>6448737“I’ll clean up this turret and head back, hoping for a schematic.”>TURRET WRECK 4 [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-7 2-14 MU | 8 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]> move D4>>6448704>>6448391“I did try to make it clear the node was scouted but no harm. Looks like the radar took a while to update. There is a HAB complex that appears now though; I’ll tag it with RAD when I get back to position D4.”
Rolled 9 (1d12)>>6448735>LOOT ECLIPSE WEAPON (in D2, just to be clear)>MOVE TO D-3"Time is RUNNING, runninG, OUT OUT. WE SHOULD HURRY.""WOULD LOOT M-9, but: instincts informing me of: WORRYING UNIT UP 11 O'CLOCK, moving towards us. BACKUP? May be out of our REACH, even with VULTURE and HEXe.""BE WARY."
>>6448735“Another thing that appeared on the radar is an Unknown Unit, coming in from the NW. I’ll likely spend a bit of time cleaning up D4 so I’ll keep an eye on the interloper. Don’t want it getting close to our drop ship.”
Rolled 1 + 7 (1d12 + 7)>>6448737"**high-value target**acquired**" Whether by design or coincidence, the pesky prototypes engaging his comrades have been lured into the optimal range of Sailor's firing lines. The entire upper half of the VALIANT frame shakes off a cloud of dust and rubble with a burgeoning turn, barrels and optics drawing a bead on the still-shielded REDLINE.>ATTACK - SHIN-RAI REDLINE PROTOTYPE 1 - HEAVY CONFIG [20 HP | DC 13 | [HEAVY][1 SHIELD][-2 HP ON FAIL]] [ENGAGING SNOWMAN]
>>6448735>SNIPER DAMAGE 1+1+[9-7] = 4 DMG inflicted against MISSILE CARRIER.Did sniper damage calculation change suddenly? Is the other half of my build now pointless?
>>6448737MOVE:>//E2:COMBAT:>ELEVATOR [100 HP | [CIV] [MISSION OBJECTIVE 2]]Let's finish the job and then get the hell out of here. I'll start slashing away at the elevator, although it'd be nice if someone could help with the Executive Security; I could theoretically hit it, but I'd have to roll triple 2's which is only a 12.5% chance.
Rolled 1, 1 + 2 = 4 (2d4 + 2)>>6448740"Stay calm, Famine.""We can use our orbitals to deal with that unknown and the incoming enemy reinforcements. Those missile carriers need to be dealt with, and we need this prototype dead now. In addition, that sniper might just fire at us from outside the supply depot perimeter.""The way to the elevator otherwise is open; it will not hold against our attacks.">>6448737>Kick the prototype cockpit wreck with my Malicious Core foot and then start firing>SHIN-RAI REDLINE PROTOTYPE 2 - HEAVY CONFIG [20 HP | DC 10 | [HEAVY][-2 HP ON FAIL]] [ENGAGING KERBEROS]"The other two prototypes are here with us, thinking they can kill our companions. Let's give them a warm welcome.""Come on, targeting subcomputer, put this thing in my sights.">COMMS OPEN"Almost heard someone there. Too bad. You two are dying here just like your fellow bastard. Mars will take your bones."
Rolled 1, 2, 2 + 10 = 15 (3d2 + 10)>>6448769>although it'd be nice if someone could help with the Executive SecurityHow much damage to the elevator do you do? Both me and HEXE can 100% hit and one-tap Exec Security, but I wonder if it's better to just slam the elevator for 23 damage. Ah, whatever.>>6448737>MOVE E-2ATTACK>SHIN-RAI EXECUTIVE SECURITY [12 HP | DC 12 | [LIGHT][EVASIVE]]Bonk
>>6448779"Fucking piece of shit computers. Armor and mech heavily damaged, might have taken their attention at least.""If they don't bite my bait. I'll change target to something else. I can only shoot goddamn structures with this Malicious, it seems."(I ain't doing the BRRT reroll since I will go very likely below 0HP; took a gamble too high for trying to help Kerberos)>>6448620"Very good. We need to erase this place.""Not much nature or green around Mars. If I survive this, I will be ready to grill something.">>6446358>>6445418>>6445413"Seems dormant. Shuteye dropship should pick you up quick before we go."
Ah, wait, Buttonman is still here. Never mind, my bad.
Rolled 4 + 7 (1d6 + 7)>>6448737>COMBAT: >SHIN-RAI EXECUTIVE SECURITY [12 HP | DC 12 | [LIGHT][EVASIVE]]“Clearing the way for the heavy hitters!”
>>6448799It's mega dead >>6448784hit the elevator old man
Rolled 4, 4 + 5 = 13 (2d4 + 5)The crate balanced precariously on the chassi of the Valiant as it slowly moved the cargo to the waiting carryall. Kerberos hadn't managed to get the crate open, but he was sure it was something valuable; the little machine voice had said so! He giggled to himself in excitment. His first drop and he'd already found something cool. He almost lost control of the handover, the crate wiggling unsteadily on the edge of the carryall cargo bay before he caught himself and finished depositing it properly. He watched the carryall carry the spoils into orbit when one of the mercs, passing by on his way deeper into the facility, hailed him on the company frequency.>>6448497He cleared his throat before answering:"Yeah it's my first. Don't worry, I won't slow y'all down. I can take care of myself."He tried to make his voice sound more mature than it was, but it just wouldn't do it. Not that Kerberos noticed, or wanted to notice.The little machine voice emenated once more from the side console, interrupting him before he made more of a buffon of himself on the comms:"Duck.""Duck?" Kerberos responded in confusion. A second later he was spinning out of control, something having collided heavily with his machine and sending him flying. He crashed into one of the support pillars holding up the monorail, the machine coming to an abrupt stop which knocked lose a maintenance hatch in the cockpit. Sparks flew from the lose panel as he attempted to reorient himself."Unplanned velocity change detected." Pipped the little voice. "Cause: Unknown hostile. Analyzing…"Kerberos shook himself to try and clear his head after the crash while the machine worked hard to evaluate the new threat. It beeped out a little tune as it focused the camera on the bipedal walker as it strode through the inferno of the destroyed foundry, the flames greedily licking it's hull as it did so."Shin-Rai PROTOTYPE Redline— Capability: ???, Strengths: ???, Weaknesses: ???. Extreme caution recommended!" The little voice inclined it's tone slightly, concern almost, but not completely, totally absent from the delivery.The two rotary cannons however were already spinning, ready to unleash it's furious wrath on the interloper."Yeah yeah, that red-WHATEVER has another thing comin' if he thinks he can mess with me!" Kerberos shouted as his weapons discharged a frantic volley towards the hostile mech.>>6448737>Attack Redline Prototype 2 (2d4+5)>Bank 1 MovementROTARY CANNON//BANSHEE — +3 DMG/ALL | REROLL ON EVEN HIT ROLLS. EVERY EVEN ROLL DEALS +3 ADDITIONAL DAMAGEROTARY CANNON//PITONE — +4 DMG/ALL | -1 EVASIVE | REROLL ON EVEN HIT ROLLS. EVERY EVEN ROLL DEALS +4 ADDITIONAL DAMAGEFCS/BML-CL — 2D4 | 2+ HIT/HEAVYRADAR//OCULUS — +3 SCOUTING | +2 HIT/ALL | +1 HIT/HEAVYI realize now that the EMP Rifle won't actually do me much good since I have such a low hit chance against light targets. Whoopsie. We'll have to replace that before next drop.
>>6448769>>6448784Ah yes, I forgot to include that I deal 20 damage on a successful hit
>>6448737"Ooh, concentrated radiation... BAD way to die!Welp, seeya, corpies.">SMEAR SHIN-RAI ESCORT [1 HP | DC 7 | [LIGHT]] [ENGAGING GAMBLER]>AUTOHIT :)>MOVE D-5
>>6448735>ALPHA STRIKE SHIN-RAI MISSILE CARRIER>MOVE E-2Adrenaline pumping through his veins, Gashadokuro never felt more alive."Come get some ya cunts! Yeeeeah!! Fuck the Plague, fuck ya greedy bastards that use it!!"
Rolled 9 (1d12)>>6448853Oop forgot dice
Rolled 1 (1d4)>>6448735>MOVE E-2>ATTACK Elevator>>6448785"I take pride in my subtlety."
>>6448735>MOVE to D-2"Guess I wasn't worth th' time. Prol'ly fair, with what we got rollin' up.""No time for me t' sit 'round actin' useless, though."
Rolled 6 + 3 (1d6 + 3)>>6448735>Move+scout D5continuing the approach. Guys on E1, can you start scouting? I think one of those buildings is a comm relay, will buy us a little time.
Rolled 5 (1d6)>>6448689arm pulse pls
>>6448311“Flattery does not become you, Scarab. Ha. I jest. There is merit in starting a fresh count. Weapons and circumstances are fairer now, I find. A frame ace is what you had in mind, yes? What is the target number among you Dustwalkers? Are there gradations or fractional kills? A squatter frame was worth a fifth or sometimes even a tenth of a Clade frame, under the conventions of my line, for instance.”>>6448497“Unaugmented...and yet still capable of such feats… Yes. I am certain. A Darwinian principle is at work here. And you might be correct. Whatever primitive grafting passes for augmentation on Mars will probably yield fractional improvements in your piloting, if any. Setting aside the required conditioning, the instincts you’ve honed may rebel against any autonomic system neuro-augmentation, for example. Fascinating. I shall observe your actions even more closely henceforth.”>>6448740“Acknowledged, Famine. Not to worry. I have the mercenary wreck marked. I can inspect and tag it on my egress following the attack run on the primary objective. I can do that and still beat every one of the hideous, glacially-slow tank frames to the dropship.”
Rolled 1 + 4 (1d5 + 4)>>6448737>Move to E-2>Attack Elevator-2"Executive security huh... It better not linger around the area of explosion.">>6448785"Ah, see? It's not just me! There's something wrong with this shit, man... Don't want to get killed because of some subtargeting routine shitting itself because of the extra LOAD.">>6448812"...pretty good hit. Keep it up and don't get killed!">>6448620"Well, I'd be lying if I said money wasn't a factor at the start... But now it's about pride! Besides, if I got chromed, I'd be putting all you guys out of a job, eh eh eh eh...">>6448971"Boy, have I told you how glad I am that the Commander's hired you? But yeah, I hate whenever there's some auto-pilot course correction shit in my frame that fights against you, so neuro-implants would drive me insane. This mission's not my best, but if you'll be looking my way... I'll show you some fireworks! Witness this!"Having been told HEAVY and LIGHT bonuses apply against CIV targets, I'll deal 14 damage with potential for AOE, if my calculations are correct.
>>6448737Since her planned trajectory took her to a staging point outside the breached perimeter, Hexe’s sensors got direct pings on the unknown contacts. That said, the baseline sensors of a stripped down Lancer lacked the resolution to tell her of value. She was not planning on sticking around long enough for the contacts to draw closer and change that.There was no need for any preparation or perfunctory rituals. The auxiliary pumps were at a stable 220 PPM demanded by sustained high-g combat, and the oxygenation system only got to rest for the rare few minutes her lungs were redeployed. Hexe barely felt the initial shock of the acceleration. She was reasonably sure however, that the dozen or so hammer blows to the chest she had taken over the past few hours would be close companions for weeks to come. The acceleration gradient, and the pressure that came with it, were familiar by now, but only up to a point. As dictated by the route she had plotted, the auxiliary boost kicked in as the Lancer was flying over the gutted remains of the forge complex. The acceleration readout jumped to 34.2 g and, improbably, kept climbing. Though booster temperature limiters and their associated warnings were disabled, a dozen alerts assailed Hexe. A warning about chassis stress thresholds appeared twice, or so she thought until it clicked that one of them was for her, rather than the frame. Contorted as she was inside the undersized cockpit, she was placing undue stress on one of her shinbones, which was close to its controlled failure threshold.Ah, it mattered not. Both she and the Lancer were definitely due for several conditional inspections after this. Even with her thoughts and reactions growing sluggish as the medical subroutine struggled to keep her awake, Hexe was not discouraged. The objective was sparsely defended. All she had to do was hold the lance arm up and pointed out front, towards the enemy. >ACTIVATE BOOSTER/OVERBOOSTER>MOVE GATE-1 -> D-1 -> D-2 -> D-3 -> D-5 -> E-2 (+18DMG/ALL SUNSLAG bonus)>ATTACK ELEVATOR [100 HP | [CIV] [MISSION OBJECTIVE 2]]. 31 damage (1 (base) + 2 (SUNSLAG base) + 18 (SUNSLAG bonus) + 10 (GLIMMER)).
>>6448740Please roll 1d7:1. ARM/PULSE NEEDLE2. ARM/PULSE NEEDLE DRIVER 3. BACK/PULSE NEEDLE RACK4. BACK/HEAVY CRUISE MISSILE5. BACK/HEAVY ISOTOPE6. BACK/ATTACK DRONE7. FRAME/TORRENT
Rolled 2 (1d7)>>6448994THE FAMI ROLL.>>6448779"TRUE. Still pointING out how UNKNOWN UNITS in previous encounters has been a horrific sign.""We do have THREE ORBITALS to turn this place into sand. Two turns, approximately. Elevator should be destroyed soon. We should be...fine.""Like a cavity rotting away in a tooth, we'll render this place hollow and dead. Shin-Rai will need to pry this rotten tooth out of it's bleeding maw.">>6448971"ExcellENT. Just keeping an eye out. Rather be USEFUL than NOT USEFUL. That is...I'm meant to be a professional. Sometimes, the words in my brain don't work, and they fall out my mouth and onto the floor. I apologize""...ALAS. YOU DID A GOOD JOB RENDERING the MAIN TARGET very injured. GOOD JOB.""LET'S HOPE the others can FINISH THE JOB FOR YOU."
>>6448737MOVE:>E2FIRING:>Yellowstone ---> >ELEVATOR [100 HP | [CIV] [MISSION OBJECTIVE 2]]"firing missile in 3 2 1"
>>6448812>>6448834
Rolled 1, 4 + 8 = 13 (2d4 + 8)>>6448735>Attack Redline Prototype 1
Rolled 7 + 1 (1d12 + 1)>>6448737>ATTACK SR REDLINE PROTOTYPE 1
//VULTURE: Wreck SALVAGED. Value: 12 MU. MOVE D4. //FAMINE: Wreck SALVAGED. Schematic OBTAINED! MOVE D3. //SAILOR: Hit FAIL. 2 DMG sustained.//COBALT1: MOVE E2. Hit SUCCESS. 20 DMG inflicted against ELEVATOR.//SCARAB: Hit FAIL. 2 DMG sustained. Mech CRIPPLED!,//EARTHLING: MOVE E2. Hit SUCCESS. 23 DMG inflicted against SHIN-RAI EXEC GUARD. Target DESTROYED!//OGRE: Hit SUCCESS. Target already destroyed!//KERBEROS: Hit SUCCESS. 8 DMG inflicted against SHIN-RAI PROTOTYPE 2. 1 MOV banked!//GAMBLER: Hit SUCCESS. 4 DMG inflicted against SHIN-RAI ESCORT. Target destroyed! //GASHADOKURO: Hit SUCCESS. 6 DMG inflicted against MISSILE CARRIER 3. Target destroyed! MOVE E2. //BUTTONMAN: MOVE E2. Hit SUCCESS. 11 DMG inflicted against ELEVATOR. //GORGON: MOVE D2. //CORVID: MOVE D5. Scout SUCCESS. COMM RELAY discovered.//RUIN: MOVE E2. Hit SUCCESS. 14 DMG inflicted against ELEVATOR. //HEXE: MOVE G1>D1>D2>D3>D5>E2. OVERBOOSTER DEPLETED. Hit SUCCESS. 31 DMG inflicted against ELEVATOR. //PILLOW: MOVE E2. YELLOWSTONE>>E2. 2 DMG inflicted against ELEVATOR. AMMUNITION DEPLETED!//SNOWMAN: Hit SUCCESS! 8 DMG inflicted against SHIN-RAI PROTOTYPE 1. BLOCKED! SHIELD DISABLED. 2 DMG MULTIHIT to SHIN-RAI PROTOTYPE 2. //KOMODO: Hit FAIL. 2 DMG sustained!//SONS OF OLYMPUS: PAINTING SR REDLINE 2 -1 DC. ENEMY ACTIONS://MISSILE CARRIERS RELOADING.//SHIN-RAI SNIPER RETREATED. //SR-REDLINE-H ENGAGING KERBEROS. //SR-REDLINE-H ENGAGING SNOWMAN.Total Salvage: 69 MUSCHEMATICS:FRAME/HTNR-REDLINEARM/HMGAUX/SUBMAGBACK/TRACKING DARTARM/PULSE DRIVERBounty Log:ECLIPSEx3 - 36 MUADMINx3 - 30 MULOGISTICS HUB - 10 MUCOMM RELAY - 10 MUCOMM FACILITY - 12 MUFORGE - 24 MUSTATION - 12 MUAmmo Expenditure:2xYSMT - -8 MU4xYLWST- -4 MU
The fight inside the forge complex degenerates into a brawl. The prototypes howl through kilometers of ruined production lines, trading fire with your mercenaries as they strafe in and out of cover. The REDLINE units prove to be aggressive and hideously lethal in close range. Pulse-wash from their shield generators interferes with sensor readouts and targeting sensors, leaving your pilots vulnerable to follow-up shots. KOMODO, SAILOR, and SCARAB attempt to mount an assault but are immediately forced back into cover, armor streaming cobalt-blue sparks after taking focused beam rifle fire. However, close range brawls between vanguard units were notoriously unpredictable - and it takes little time for the odds to swing back in your company's favor. As KOMODO and SCARAB withdraw, they lead both pursuing REDLINE units into an open transit corridor. The abrupt appearance of the two prototypes surprises KERBEROS and SNOWMAN, but the two mercenaries respond with admirable speed. Their tank frames level an impressive array of heavy weapons before sweeping a barrage of ordinance down the corridor. While the prototype units were evasive, there was only so much room to maneuver. One of the prototype units takes a stream of rotary cannon shells that strips through most of its forward armor. The second unit - still shielded - shrugs off most of the barrage before taking a solid metallic hydrogen slug squarely on its pulse shield. The high density round punctures blows out the shield and instantly overloads the prototype's back mounted generator. You expect a retreat - or at least brief withdrawal - but both of the units continue to charge forward with no sign of self preservation. The frenzied screaming over the wide-band radio grows louder.
Outside of the two prototypes, there was little resistance left in the depot. Explosions bloom over the tapering surface of the second elevator complex as the rest of your mercenaries begin bombarding the structure. You note - with some amusement - that the SHIN-RAI manager-executive presumably entrusted to manage the depot had committed his personal security unit in last-ditch attempt to stall your forces. A quartet of elegantly stenciled DUELIST-class frames barely crests the facility walls before lighting their pulse blades in unison. A moment later, the entire unit is unceremoniously dashed against the surface of the elevator hub by EARTHLING on a high-speed attack run.
//BETA 2SALVAGE:>TURRET WRECK 2 [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-7 2-14 MU | 8 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//GATE 1SALVAGE:>TURRET WRECK 1 [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-7 2-14 MU | 8 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//D2COMBAT:>INFANTRY [4 HP | DC 4]SALVAGE:>ECLIPSE CORE [Roll 1D20 for salvage. 1-14 2-28 MU | 15-20 SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE]//D3COMBAT:>SHIN-RAI ESCORT [1 HP | DC 7 | [LIGHT]] [ENGAGING GAMBLER]>SHIN-RAI REDLINE PROTOTYPE 1 - HEAVY CONFIG [20 HP | DC 11 | [HEAVY][-2 HP ON FAIL]] [ENGAGING SNOWMAN]>SHIN-RAI REDLINE PROTOTYPE 2 - HEAVY CONFIG [10 HP | DC 10 | [HEAVY][-2 HP ON FAIL]] [ENGAGING KERBEROS]SALVAGE:>CACHE (2). [Roll 1D8 for salvage] [1-7MU CREDITS | SCHEMATIC/SPECIAL/UPGRADE on 8]>SHIN-RAI ESCORT WRECK [Roll 1D6 for salvage. 1-5 2-10 MU | 6 SCHEMATIC/UPGRADE]//D4COMBAT:>SHIN-RAI MISSILE CARRIER 2 [6 HP | DC 7 | [RANGED][RELOADING 2/3]][THIS UNIT WILL FIRE A MISSILE AT A RANDOM UNIT EACH TURN UNTIL EXPENDED]SALVAGE:>MISSILE CARRIER WRECK [Roll 1D6 for salvage. 1-5 2-10 MU | 6 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]>SHIN-RAI HEAVY WRECK [Roll 1D6 for salvage. 1-5 2-10 MU | 6 SCHEMATIC/UPGRADE]//D5:COMBAT:>COMM FACILITY [12 HP | [CIV] [12 MU BOUNTY + 1 TURN LIMIT]]SALVAGE:>MISSILE CARRIER WRECK [Roll 1D6 for salvage. 1-5 2-10 MU | 6 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//E1:SALVAGE:>M9 HEARTSEEKER WRECK [Roll 1D16 for salvage. 1-9 1-9 MU | 10-14 WEAPON SCHEMATIC 15-16 VANGUARD SCHEMATIC]//E2:COMBAT:>ELEVATOR [22 HP | [CIV] [MISSION OBJECTIVE 2]]SALVAGE:>SHIN-RAI EXEC WRECK [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-3 3-9 MU | 4-5 SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE | 6-8 SHIN-RAI EXECUTIVE]
>>6448767No sorry this is entiurely my mistake. The sniper damage permits a full attack with -3 hit against an adjacent target with your full weapon load. I think I assumed that the sniper weapon itself here is counted. Your build is fine.
Also here's a semi colorized version
>>6449296> attack HAB COMPLEX at D4>NON-MILITARY [CIV] BUILDINGS HAVE AN EFFECTIVE DC OF 1 AND TAKE FULL DMG FROM ALL WEAPONS.auto success attack"I'm tagging this HAB complex with radiation, if anyone didn't evac then they're about to get fried. I'll start doing some salvage in the meantime.The radar has identified that unknown unit to be a MOCA Observer. I wonder what their interest is since there isn't any obvious signs of plague."
>>6449296I don't think that Shin-Rai Escort's engaging me anymore, bossman... hard to do that when your eyeballs are melding with your skull.>MOVE D5>SPLASH COMM FACILITY (AUTOHIT :D)"Looks like y'all got a handle on the objective... gives me time ta' sweeten the bounty a little~">>6449306"Well lookie that! Vulture's right--got ourselves an audience near Alpha-1... they better not be trying to snag our kill footage, man--I make GOOD money posting that online. Heavily-edited, of course.">>6448981"All fun and games til' someone infects your fat cyber head with malware, Ru. Seen it happen before at a club once--some big, chromed-up bastard stiffened like a board, belched a few puffs of electrical-smelling smoke, then spent the next hour cycling through dance routines til' someone poured their beer into his ports. Cyberjockey turned Cyberslave.Funny at first, sure, but then it got kinda sad... and then it got really funny again. I was three blends of plastered that night, though, so that probably didn't help. Anyways, a few augs here and there? Handy. Frankenstein-tier shit? That's where it gets a little crazy. Though if you wanted ta' load up on all kinds of fancy, hackable hardware, well... who am I to stop you?"The smile that slips into her tone near the end doesn't inspire confidence. Some would call it downright chilling!
>>6449292"MOCA? What in GOD'S name are they doing here? SHOULD WE BE SCARED? CONCERNED? AFRAID? BEWILDERED? HORRIFIED? HUNGRY?""IDEA: WE NEED TO SCOUT MORE. OBJECTIVE 2 WILL SOON BE DESTROYED. REQUESTING OTHER UNITS TO MOVE TO SCOUT E-2 AND D-5.">MOVE TO D-5>Obliterate the now weakened COMM FACILITY. 10 DMG, plus her 4 DMG, means it's down! One more turn for us!"THANK YOU FOR SOFTENING THIS UP, GAMBLER of the Gami. We're going to get so fucking rich."
Rolled 2 (1d8)>>6449292>SHIN-RAI EXEC WRECK [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-3 3-9 MU | 4-5 SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE | 6-8 SHIN-RAI EXECUTIVE]"lets see what makes this crew 'exclusive'."
Rolled 2, 2, 2 + 2 = 8 (3d2 + 2)>>6449296//E2:COMBAT:>ELEVATOR [22 HP | [CIV] [MISSION OBJECTIVE 2]]20 DMG if attack is successful I'll finish up the elevator. Someone only needs to deal 2 DMG after I attack in order to destroy it and complete the objective.
Rolled 2, 4 + 8 = 14 (2d4 + 8)>>6449298WHEW>>6449292"You annoying bugger! Let's see you dodge this!">Attack SHIN-RAI REDLINE PROTOTYPE 1 - HEAVY CONFIG [20 HP | DC 11 | [HEAVY][-2 HP ON FAIL]] [ENGAGING SNOWMAN]
Rolled 4, 3, 2, 4, 3, 3, 3, 2 = 24 (8d4)>>6449358Cannon rerolls
>>6449360My cannon luck is atrociousDamage dealt 8 base + 4 for one cannon hit + 3 sniper rifle overflow = 15Someone finish them off please
Rolled 4 (1d5)>>6449292//D2COMBAT:>INFANTRY [4 HP | DC 4]"Gorgon to Sons of Olympus, infantry on your six. Suppressing with heavy fire.">Attacking them, even though I don't get any +5 bonus, squirrely fuckers, have health to spare anyways.
Rolled 3 (1d20)>>6449294>The frenzied screaming over the wide-band radio grows louder.Kind of want what they're on right now. >>6449295>A quartet of elegantly stenciled DUELIST-class frames barely crests the facility walls before lighting their pulse blades in unison. A moment later, the entire unit is unceremoniously dashed against the surface of the elevator hub by EARTHLING on a high-speed attack run.I respect the aura farming, I really do, but we're on a timer here.>>6449296>MOVE D2SALVAGE:>ECLIPSE CORE [Roll 1D20 for salvage. 1-14 2-28 MU | 15-20 SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE]Aight, you guys got the elevator. Time to steal shit.
Rolled 4 (1d6)>>6449296“Dammit all of you, you stole my kills! I must admit that you looked damn fine while doing so.”>COMBAT: ELEVATOR [22 HP | [CIV] [MISSION OBJECTIVE 2]]“I’m with you Cobalt, let’s polish this thing off and get out of here.”
Rolled 3 (1d6)>>6449400“Uhhh… Ogre reporting fault, trigger is stuck down. Attempting to remedy.”
>>6449345>>6449400>>6449401 36 total damage ought to do the job. “All callsigns be advised, target is coming down! TIIIIMBERRRR!!!”
>>6449402>36 total damageOgre, it only needed two.Ogre, think of the salvage. How are we going to get rich if you atomise the spool?
Rolled 5 (1d20)>>6449296It turns out being a moderately mobile turret will present some issues when going up against a shielded prototype son of a bitch in CQC. Structural alarms bathe the cockpit in blood red, damage report after damage report pinging his feed like a metronome. Small mercy that the Redline pilot was too bogged down to press the advantage, leaving Sailor to stew in his own disappointment and the general devastation wrought upon the Shin-Rai facility.Just as the mission had left his frame in tatters, bare chassis and joint actuators exposed where armour had been whittled away over numerous attacks, its heart was still beating strong. It could still fight, still do some good. The same could be said for Mars-- this soon-to-be ruin was one of many pockmarking its desolate surface, and it wouldn't be the last. But so long as people called it home and people fought for its sake, he had to believe it still had a future to look forward to. He had to."**heavy damage**repositioning**cleanup**" While the dogfight at D-3 continues and the comms are flush with commentary about finishing off the elevator hub, one trusty VALIANT pulls back to see to it that more good can be wrought from all this carnage. He does his best to bite his tongue at Vulture's dispassionate sterilizing of a habitation block.>MOVING - D-3 -> D-2>SALVAGE - ECLIPSE CORE [Roll 1D20 for salvage. 1-14 2-28 MU | 15-20 SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE]
>>6449406My bad, didn't notice Earthling already scooped up the core at >>6449391. Switching action to:>SCOUT - autosuccess with OCULUS
>>6449292>Move+Scout D6 auto sux with occulus*transmits in the open*Attention MOCA observer, this is an active combat zone, we're on a NEST verified contract. Interrogative: What is the reason for your presence? Is there a Plague threat in the AO?*ends transmission, opens company channel*Well, didn't expect the eye upstairs to send in an observer. Hope it means that we don't have to deal with a plague outbreak...
>>6448971"I am not really good enough to be one. Too old and too set in my ways. The load out i bring for my mech is usually one for ensure we are heavily armed and provide fire support to other Dustwalkers.""Uh you know we never really put that down. Usually the most kills or important enemies i suppose. Dangerous Plague units, enemy mech commanders. Some of us have been doing particulary well and have plenty of kills already after all their missions. Perhaps we should call them aces.">>6448981"We might need to put this auxiliary system through some tests back at the ship.">>6448997"We will be on guard then.""Agreed.">>6448863"Yeah you are quite silent. If we had some of SHIN-RAI stealth tech you would do even better on the battlefield."
Rolled 5 (1d6)>>6449296"I am moving to the Dropship for repairs i am too damaged for continue fighting. Finish what SHIN-RAI units remain, then scout and scavenge.""I will salvage this wreck first.">SHIN-RAI ESCORT WRECK [Roll 1D6 for salvage. 1-5 2-10 MU | 6 SCHEMATIC/UPGRADE]>MOVE D2>>6449327>>6449419"They are likely here to watch the end of this battle, the prototypes probably interest the machine. And for collect info on SHIN-RAI and us. I am not surprised since is MOCA, at the very least it shouldn't do anything else beside that."
>>6449391>>6449403With how badly you just massacred that ECLIPSE core? Have Slug check your hand servos when we get back.
>>6449419“Hope we’re not looking at another Plague spreader event. Recent events have me worried though, are there any of these bases that aren’t built on top of Plague rhizomes?”>>6449321“They never wanted us aug’ing up in the Garrison. Something about an experimental program that ended with some random shitter on the Quarter commnet putting ransomware straight into the subject’s brain. Poor bastard could only communicate in Keats poetry and no one could understand a damn thing he was saying.”>>6449441“Good man Scarab. Make sure you get out of here in one piece, plenty of fights to come.”
Rolled 5, 3 + 5 = 13 (2d5 + 5)A ferocious volley filled the air as the Shin-Rai pilot tried in vain to close the distance; it's frontal armour denting and eventually breaching under the sustained fusilade. The enemy was forced to duck behind rubble to avoid taking catastrophic damage, as the cannon fire followed in it's wake until it reached the relative safety of a huge block of reinforced concrete that had broken lose from the foundry during it's violent dismantling.Kerberos sprayed the block with fire as he approached, keeping the mech behind it suppressed and incapable of escape. He howled with shrill laughter as he approached, his cannons spinning menacingly as he turned the corner to find himself right in front of the hostile."Yeah! A bit tougher than you expected, huh!?!" He cried with confidence as he levied his guns directly at the Redline.*click* *click* *click*"...huh?" Confidence that quickly escaped him as his guns only clicked in response to his fire commands."Ammuniton: Expended." Chirped the tiny voice. "Loading new spools, please hold." Elevator music replaced it as Kerberos quickly reversed back around the concrete block, the Shin-Rai pilot following close behind."NO NO WHY NOW!?" He cried in desperation as he fought to bring his weapons to bear once more.>>6449296>Attack Redline Prototype 2>Bank 1 MovementROTARY CANNON//BANSHEE — +3 DMG/ALL | REROLL ON EVEN HIT ROLLS. EVERY EVEN ROLL DEALS +3 ADDITIONAL DAMAGEROTARY CANNON//PITONE — +4 DMG/ALL | -1 EVASIVE | REROLL ON EVEN HIT ROLLS. EVERY EVEN ROLL DEALS +4 ADDITIONAL DAMAGEFCS/BML-CL — 2D4 | 2+ HIT/HEAVYRADAR//OCULUS — +3 SCOUTING | +2 HIT/ALL | +1 HIT/HEAVY
Rolled 1, 4 + 5 = 10 (2d4 + 5)>>6449562Shit, that's the wrong die size. I'll try again.
Rolled 4, 4 + 5 = 13 (2d4 + 5)>>6449563Even hit roll, another set.
Rolled 1 + 4 (1d5 + 4)>>6449300"Visor red like Mars itself, eh eh eh... I've got a career waiting for me in design once I hang up the gun.">>6449321"That does sound pretty fucking funny to look at. Experiencing that sounds like hell, though. Makes for one scary-ass cautionary tale. Methinks if you're going to chrome, you'd better make it cool. Cyclops' got the right of it, with her fucked up robot arm and her eye inside of it. Leaves the right impression!"Her last comment makes him cringe a little. "Now, uh, Gambi, you wouldn't happen to be mad about what I said earlier still, would you...?"He had better smooth things over before the end of the mission, or else he'd spend the night laying in his bunk with only his thoughts to hug...>>6449327"Yeah, having them around isn't a great sign, usually. We'd better not linger any longer than we should, tempting as it may to steal all the shit that's not bolted down.";>>6449402"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Ruin cheers, firing a few shots of his explosives at the crumbling infrastructure ahead of him."Shit man, this right here's the best. Think of the hundreds of thousands of man-hours spent working on this, all the calculations, all the tons of refined material brought here and transformed to make it go from a blueprint to a real, functioning elevator... And a bunch of fucking mercs come over, and topple it down in ten minutes tops. Can't beat the adrenaline and dopamine rush when that happens. If you ever wondered why my callsign's RUIN, here you fucking go. Can't top that feeling, ever.">>6449438"For sure. Little bird tells me there might be some upgrades to my combat performance after some fine tuning.">>6449292"We're running awfully low on time... Let your elder brother buy you some more.">MOVE TO D5>ATTACK COMM FACILITY [12 HP | [CIV] [12 MU BOUNTY + 1 TURN LIMIT]]Dealing at least 14 DMG if my calculations are correct (2 VULCAN + 4 SOLARHAND + 4 SOLARHAND LIGHT + 3 RAIDEN + 1 base), destroying the facility.
Rolled 13 (1d16)>>6449292The Lancer came to a halt at the end of a furrow hundreds of meters long, perilously close to the perimeter wall. The deceleration burn was no less violent than the acceleration throughout the first half of the trajectory, with the paltry atmosphere and gravity of Mars offering little help in arresting the frame’s blistering speed. One more effort by her medical subroutine finally ended Hexe’s oscillation between waking and unconsciousness. The indistinct blur resolved into crisp visuals from the frame’s optics cluster as soon as her visual cortex was able to process information fed directly into it. The edifice before her was crumbling under the sustained firepower of the Dustwalkers’ frames. There was hardly any need for her to make a second attack run or stage herself for some other target. The unknown contact had turned out to be an observer from the AI enforcing the quarantine. A pity that it wasn’t some fool hoping to claim the meager bounty on the Dustwalkers. A quick medical scan gave heartening results: nothing torn or broken. A field diagnostic of the boosters also showed them to be in working order, a few warnings regarding conditional inspections notwithstanding. There was little cause to quit the field yet, save for the enemies steadily running out.>MOVE to E-1>SALVAGE >M9 HEARTSEEKER WRECK [Roll 1D16 for salvage. 1-9 1-9 MU | 10-14 WEAPON SCHEMATIC 15-16 VANGUARD SCHEMATIC]>>6449306“Such callous bloodlust. Such a grisly, inventive method of death-dealing. My compliments, Vulture.”>>6449406On its way to the stricken elevator, the Lancer made a detour to land next to a still-steaming Valiant frame. Hexe keyed her frame’s short-range proximity comms. “Sailor, this is Hexe. Sailor, report pilot status. Your frame is showing heavy damage. Report pilot capsule integrity. Sailor, respond.”
>>6449327"I set 'em up, you knock 'em down. That's how we make the big bucks!">>6449438"Pretty sure you got your ace wings around three splashes? Shit, I haven't even kept track of all the Mercs and Foundy hotshots y'all have iced... something to bug the bossman about, I think.">>6449454"Yea, I'll stick to the less-invasive augs and prosthetics, thanks very much--don't like the sound of someone trying to hack into my damned knees.Also, shit, OG--you're a walking wrecking ball with that cannon!">>6449562"Keep it to controlled bursts, kiddo. You'll melt the barrels with cowboy shit like that.">>6449743"Me? Mad? Course not! I was just saying you should totally load up on some augs! Imagine how much ass you'd kick! All that 'mind-hacking' talk is overblown anyways!"
>>6448981“My apologies. In all the excitement, I failed to witness your attack eventuate, though the consequences are plain to see. Perhaps we can review the footage later, aboard the ship?”“I, too, am glad. The Commander gave me succor when no one else would. My kind, I have come to find, is not of good repute in the inner system. He even informed me that I am, apparently, wanted in the ‘Earth sphere’ on a number of ridiculous, arbitrary charges. Can anybody tell me who this ‘Geneva’ is and why she thinks I am subject to her legal fictions? I am a descendant of the Exodites, and I repudiate any and all authority claimed over me by any and all Earth law, court, or charter. I am a free and private person. I will not be harassed.”>>6449438“Ah, Scarab, I was also in a support role as a frame pilot for my line. A scout picket, mostly for my brother. Upyr favored a heavy beam loadout and benefited greatly from aid of this nature in most battlespaces. That is why I asked about fractional kills. I made the ace threshold chiefly on the account of assists, so I wondered whether a similar arrangement held here. My genmates were always far more lethal than I, you see.”>>6449454>>6449321“I am not surprised. Your information security measures are as primitive as your approach to augmentation. An illustrative case. I am not versed in intrusion, but I have subverted the primary access control systems of several recycling chutes aboard the ship. I can show you. It is very amusing.”
>>6449454"Unless SHIN-RAI has already managed to position a entire task force of stealth mechs in the dunes around the Supply Depot i should be good. And fuck them if they did.""Their protoypes units are getting what they deserve and will not be able to follow me or Sailor. Shiny and advanced, but we are putting them where they belong, and they are alone. This supply depot is in our hands. We should have enough time to scavenge everything we can and raze what remains, there are still some structures left not scanned and scouted. At worst we can prepare for a fighting retreat, if the SHIN-RAI reinforcements arrive and they are so numerous.""Beside Shut-eye even moved the dropship closer. Dont worry old pal, i'll will get anything patched up. I will even ask the docs there to check why i am feeling woozy in the head now of all times...">>6449743"Splendid. The more of a menace you become, the sooner we will have what we need for sanitize those Foundies holes across Mars !""Maybe this new mech schematic we now have will be a real deal, and not just a rushed project. So powerful. It was wasted in their hands.">>6449752"Might have forgot about it, i dont count with enemies sometimes. Maybe i should check some old boxes in my room....""I did kill plenty. Same for the rest of us. Huh. Ace. Never thought i would be considered one.""Could be an idea. I think the Boss might appreciate it, bet a lot of pilots would like it too. We just need to finish here first....">>6449756"Hmm. We didn't really agreed upon it, we mostly use the defunct Vanguard system still. I think we would count them. Dustwalkers always appreciate support of a kin of their ranks. Though we can be competitive if there is time for it. Mostly for fun.""More lethal than you ? Ah thats good to hear ! You have already shown to be plenty skilled, and your kin clearly made sure to make you a proficient pilot. Under the Commander training and with this missions, you will get has good as them if not better."
>>6449746Please roll 1d6:1. ARM/HEAVY PILE DRIVER2. BACK/HEAVY FLAK3. BACK/LASER CANNON4. BACK/PARRY SHIELD5. BACK/DRONE LAUNCHER6. FRAME/FENCER
//VULTURE: Hit SUCCESS. 4 DMG inflicted against HAB COMPLEX. 12 RAD inflicted!//GAMBLER: MOVE D5. Hit SUCCESS. 4 DMG inflicted against COMM FACILITY. 8 RAD inflicted! //FAMINE: MOVE D5. Hit SUCCESS. 10 DMG inflicted against COMM FACILITY. Target destroyed! 12 MU BOUNTY RECEIVED. +1 TURN LIMIT. //PILLOW: Wreck SALVAGED. Value: 6 MU//COBALT1: Hit SUCCESS. 20 DMG inflicted against ELEVATOR. //SNOWMAN: Hit SUCCESS. 15 DMG inflicted against SHIN-RAI PROTOTYPE 1. 2 DMG MULTIHIT to SHIN-RAI PROTOTYPE 2. //GORGON: Hit SUCCESS. 8 DMG inflicted against INFANTRY. Target destroyed!//EARTHLING: MOVE D2. Wreck SALVAGED. Value: 6 MU. //OGRE: Hit SUCCESS. 17 DMG inflicted against ELEVATOR. Target destroyed! ALL OBJECTIVES COMPLETE!!//SAILOR: MOVE D2. Scout SUCCESS. STOCKADE revealed.//CORVID: MOVE D6. Scout SUCCESS. HAB COMPLEX revealed.//SCARAB: Wreck SALVAGED. Value: 10 MU. MOVE D2. //KERBEROS: Hit SUCCESS. 15 DMG inflicted against SHIN-RAI PROTOTYPE 2. Target destroyed! 1 MOV BANKED!//RUIN: MOVE D5. Hit SUCCESS. Target already destroyed!//HEXE: MOVE E1. Wreck SALVAGED. Schematic OBTAINED.//SONS OF OLYMPUS: BREACHING STOCKADE. ENEMY ACTIONS://MISSILE CARRIERS RELOADING.//SR-REDLINE-H ENGAGING SNOWMAN.Total Salvage: 91 MUSCHEMATICS:FRAME/HTNR-REDLINEARM/HMGAUX/SUBMAGBACK/TRACKING DARTARM/PULSE DRIVER1X PENDINGBounty Log:ECLIPSEx3 - 36 MUADMINx3 - 30 MULOGISTICS HUB - 10 MUCOMM RELAY - 10 MUCOMM FACILITY x2 - 24 MUFORGE - 24 MUSTATION - 12 MUAmmo Expenditure:2xYSMT - -8 MU4xYLWST- -4 MU
Unbroken lines of tracer fire intersect behind the REDLINE mechs as they advance. Maneuvering, they strafe through a manufacturing floor. Your pilots track with their weapons and decimate nearly a square kilometer of conveyors, distributors, and other assorted forge equipment. The constant drone of rotary cannon fire thunders through the complex; your camera feed warps and shimmers from accumulated heat-discharge.Neither of the prototypes complete their attack. The first unit - intent on catching KERBEROS during an untimely reload - misjudges its approach and charges headfirst into a pair of spooling rotary cannons. In less than five seconds, KERBEROS puts several hundreds explosive-tipped shells into the advancing prototype. A chain of explosisions saws through its midsection before a critical generator explosion cores the crippled frame. The second unit maneuvers to flank SNOWMAN but almost immediately takes a hit from a second metallic hydrogen slug. This time, there is no shield to serve as a buffer: the hyperdense projectile penetrates the prototype's armor, blows out an arm actuator, and exits in a shower of burning metal. The damaged frame tumbles, barely righting itself before mustering the generator output to perform one final, desperate attack. Outside of the forge complex, a massive detonation shakes the Martian crust as the remainder of your forces bring down the second elevator hub. This time, one of your more reckless mercenaries succeeds in severing the mammoth support-cables responsible for holding the hub in place. The entire structure collapses in a rather dramatic manner, with the sparking elevator cable itself whipping back upwards from residual tension. GCC wastes no time in certifying the completion of your contracts. The overly-casual representative in charge of your contract forwards your the completion notice to your data as soon as he receives the orbital image capture.That said, your company still had some time before the forward elements of the SHIN-RAI quick-reaction force was slated to make landfall. The depot was big, and much of it was still technically intact. Several of your mercenaries begin tagging wrecks for caryall drone retrieval, while the remainder start pinging the sprawling complex with their search radars. CORVID detects some kind of stockade that your infantry company - now seemingly tired of target-painting - is more than willing to breach, provided that one or two of your mercenaries was willing to provide direct fire support. Another one of your mercenaries spots an ultralight mech lingering around the border of the SHIN-RAI perimeter. The unit broadcasts a MOCA ID code but otherwise refuses to respond to your comm requests. It was unusual, but you felt certain that your company was on solid footing with MOCA, at least relatively speaking, after fulfilling two contracts for the laconic AI.
//BETA 2SALVAGE:>TURRET WRECK 2 [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-7 2-14 MU | 8 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//GATE 1SALVAGE:>TURRET WRECK 1 [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-7 2-14 MU | 8 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//D2SALVAGE:>STOCKADE [Roll 1d6 for salvage. 1-4 4-16 MU | 5 CORPORATE INTEL PACKAGE | 6 SHIN-RAI EXECUTIVE]//D3COMBAT:>SHIN-RAI REDLINE PROTOTYPE 1 - HEAVY CONFIG [5 HP | DC 11 | [HEAVY][-2 HP ON FAIL]] [ENGAGING SNOWMAN]SALVAGE:>CACHE (2). [Roll 1D8 for salvage] [1-7MU CREDITS | SCHEMATIC/SPECIAL/UPGRADE on 8]>SR READLINE PROTOTYPE WRECK [Roll 1d8 | 1-2 10-20 MU | 3-6 PROTOTYPE SCHEMATIC | 7 PROTOTYPE SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE | 8 SCHEMATIC OR PILOT AUGMENT OF CHOICE] [UNSTABLE-DISAPPEARS AFTER 2 TURNS]//D4COMBAT:>SHIN-RAI MISSILE CARRIER 2 [6 HP | DC 7 | [RANGED][RELOADING 3/3]][THIS UNIT WILL FIRE A MISSILE AT A RANDOM UNIT EACH TURN UNTIL EXPENDED]>HAB COMPLEX [21 HP | [CIV] [20 MU BOUNTY]][-12 RAD]SALVAGE:>MISSILE CARRIER WRECK [Roll 1D6 for salvage. 1-5 2-10 MU | 6 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]>SHIN-RAI HEAVY WRECK [Roll 1D6 for salvage. 1-5 2-10 MU | 6 SCHEMATIC/UPGRADE]//D5:SALVAGE:>MISSILE CARRIER WRECK [Roll 1D6 for salvage. 1-5 2-10 MU | 6 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//D6:COMBAT:>HAB COMPLEX [25 HP | [CIV] [20 MU BOUNTY]]//E2:SALVAGE:>ELEVATOR SPOOL [Roll 1d2 | 1 0 MU | 2 50 MU]
Rolled 5 (1d6)>>6449852> salvage D4>>SHIN-RAI HEAVY WRECK [Roll 1D6 for salvage. 1-5 2-10 MU | 6 SCHEMATIC/UPGRADE]
Rolled 2 (1d6)>>6449852>//D2SALVAGE:>STOCKADE [Roll 1d6 for salvage. 1-4 4-16 MU | 5 CORPORATE INTEL PACKAGE | 6 SHIN-RAI EXECUTIVE]"Gorgon t' Sons of Olympus, providin' direct fire support for yer breach. Any-thing putting up a fight y' can't handle, tell 'em they get ten seconds 'fore they have t' win the lotto t' even be told whose they were from their teeth."
>>6449756"Sign me up! Bet there's all kinds of neat crap being tossed back at base. Neat crap that can be worth something! Beats the usual day-drinkin' and tinkering with my Mech.">>6449783"Don't act all humble, Scar--you and Og have probably been killing since back when half the team was wearin' diapers. You've definitely got a method down, I'll be the first ta' say it!">>6449852"Huh. MOCA's acting shy, guys. Welp, what can ya do, right? Moving to ruin some Corpo's day. Man, can't believe I'm getting PAID to do this!">MOVE D-6>ATTACK HAB COMPLEX
>>6449852MOVE:>//D3B: "Target destroyed. Mission complete. Heading to Extraction Point."T: "You said it! Let's get out of here. These vultures can pick over the salvage if they want, but we're heading home. A real soldier doesn't scavenge."
Rolled 5 (1d6)>>6449852"...." >LOOT MISSILE CARRIER WRECK (It's such a small piece of spec, I might as well loot it so someone else doesn't waste a turn doing it.)>MOVE TO D-3"Wish we could've scouted more of the facility. WE COULD'VE GOTTEN SO MUCH MORE MONEY!!!">>6449900"Real soldier this. Real soldier that. We're merely disposable pieces of flesh and bone and metal for a system we have no true control over.""The only thing that truly matters in a situation like this is raw capital. Raw resources. Raw nutrients. Raw flesh.""To leave money on the table is not some act of heroism. It is the childish bravado of a simpleton who refuses to see how the world truly is.KRRRRR.KRRRRR."...TREAT TREAT.">>6449752"See? SHE UNDERSTANDS THE TRUTH OF TREAT TREAT. Delicious.">>6449743"WHY NOT STEAL EVERYTHING THAT'S BOLTED DOWN? Besides, Ru-Ru, how else are we going to afford upgrades for your big, 'manly' weapons? Considering I heard that you almost failed to hit a stationary building with them...""Speaking of. I believe you should help out your Gambler Friend and Corvid with the HAB COMPLEX.">>6449441>>6449438"STILL. It is better to keep an eye out. For UNWANTED GUESTS. AT LEAST MOCA has left. THAT IS A GOOD SIGN."
Rolled 1, 3 + 8 = 12 (2d4 + 8)>>6449852"Nice job, we made good time on the objectives! Now let me just deal with this pest and I can loot to my heart's content">Attack Redline Prototype
Rolled 2 (1d2)>>6449850"Nicely done lads n lasses... I'll just help myself to this big ol' tether wreck.">LOOT ELEVATOR SPOOLGashadokuro says, holding back curses as he finally got his mech to respond again. He spent the last turn running diagnostics on his mech's electronic system - something must've been damaged worse than he thought.
Rolled 6 (1d8)>The unit broadcasts a MOCA ID code but otherwise refuses to respond to your comm requests.OOoooOoo, the clanker is watching. Fuck's his deal?>>6449852>MOVE D-3SALVAGE>CACHE (2). [Roll 1D8 for salvage] [1-7MU CREDITS | SCHEMATIC/SPECIAL/UPGRADE on 8]
>>6449852>MOVE to D3“I’m gonna leave the salvage work to our quicker elements. Doris may be good at laying down fire, but she’s got a weight problem. I gotta burn hard to get her back to the shuttle in time.”>>6449923“You’d better make sure we get a scan of whatever the hell that thing is. Looks like a nice addition to the Dust Walkers garage.”>>6449874“Nah, any old head worth his salt will tell you that it’s the people you fight with that make you great. You can be the biggest hot-shot pilot this side of Sol but you’ll still get dusted by ten conscripts with homemade rocket launchers. That being said, Scar’s one of the best damn shots I’ve ever served with - makes it easy to charge headlong into danger knowing that someone solid is watching your back.”
Rolled 2 (1d6)>>6449784
>>6449746"..." As the Sons of Olympus get to work breaching the panic room he uncovered, Sailor takes a moment to catch his breath. Not quite the good deed he had in mind, but he supposes a stockade might contain something more incriminating of Shin-Rai's misdeeds-- until another mech's method of entry caves in the entrance and half the building. It is as he's mulling the sight that another frame, one-quarter his Valiant's size and easily over six times faster, skids to a halt beside him, a flurry of status queries buzzing over his rattled speakers."... Loud a-and clear. Cabin is, nominal." His response is lo-fi as fuck between the system shocks and the alarms still blaring in the pilot chamber. But there's no mistaking the shallow quality of his voice. "Resuming... recon and reth, retreat.">>6449852>SCOUT - autosuccess with OCULUS>MOVE - D-2 -> GATE-3
>>6449968>>6449171"Sailor, Komodo be advised that Missile Carrier up north will be soon ready to fire again.""Our mechs are not in good conditions, with mine in the worst, and those are pretty fast and intelligent missiles. If that carrier crew has enough brains they might be able to figure out to mark our mechs has targets.""I dont think they have any brains, but keep an eye on it. Ah, also good work both of you.">>6449874"We did that. But I like more the successes of the Dustwalkers, than my own achievements. I like to see you, Ruin and other youngbloods putting in the work and showing they are true dusters. Or making sure the Commander can count on my help. Or anyone i can help of our company.""A lot of my and Ogre experience was a large number of defeats and death. We might have been Vanguard, and are still alive. But thats it. Too many regrets, and not enough done.""Aye that i do, i have a method. Nothing refined, but it works. Rough and simple. Beats anything this SHIN-RAI rats ever learned. Or for that matter the enemies i have put down.">>6449922"Since i'll be sitting in the Dropship, i'll keep an eye on the map of my mech computer. Cant do more than that for now.">>6449951"Taken the words out of my mouth.""Hopefully my marksmanship will be good enough even for the next year."
>>6449852>MOVE GATE 3>Go Repair inside Shut-eye dropship "Full repairs required. Entering repair bay."
Rolled 3 (1d8)The Shin-Rai mech lay in two pieces before him, almost unrecognizable from it's pristine condition just a little while ago after the barrage and it's reactor core meltdown. The chase had seemed to last forever to Kerberos, but couldn't have been more than one or two minutes at most as he ducked and weaved between rubble to try and shake his pursuer. Eventually his little assistant had informed him that his weapons were ready, and he had not hesitated to unleash almost all of the ammunition as quickly as possible in an attempt to be rid of his hunter.He could feel his heart in his throat, and it's thumping in his ears as the dread slowly sank away. He found himself breathing hard. He remained motionless for a moment, trying to bring himself back under control.Almost as if on purpose, a voice slithered out of the terminal to interrupt him:>>6449752"S-shut up, OK! He was all over me, I had to do it or else I'd be toast!" Kerberos responds defensively, his head snapping swiftly towards the terminal that displayed the audio visualizer for incoming communication.He keept the glowing cannons spinning in an attempt to cool them off before they deformed under the thermal stress."...I got him though. I actually did it!" He continued; relief obvious in his paltry, breathless voice. It was almost too soft to be picked up on the comms. Almost. His heart still pounded relentlessly in his chest from the close encounter. He took a few deep breaths to steady himself before he made his machine move again.He manueverd closer to the fallen mech, half expecting it to spring back to life and reassemble itself as he approached. He gave the machine a prod with his EMP Rifle just to make sure there were no tricks. It lay still. He prodded it again, more assertively this time. The slagged, left shoulder piece began sagging off it's joint as the molten metal couldn't find the strength to hold it in place any longer, but otherwise there were no movement.Satisfied by this, Kerberos began slowly picking through the two halves of the destroyed prototype. These were state of the art corpo mechs, surely there would be something worthile in the wreckage...>>6449852>Salvage SR READLINE PROTOTYPE WRECK [Roll 1d8 | 1-2 10-20 MU | 3-6 PROTOTYPE SCHEMATIC | 7 PROTOTYPE SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE | 8 SCHEMATIC OR PILOT AUGMENT OF CHOICE]>Bank 1 Movement
Rolled 5 (1d6)>>6449783“This is high praise. I can do nothing but continue to strive and hope to live up to your expectations. Indeed, little expense was spared even in fashioning into a worthy warrior one such as I, so often eclipsed in measurements of aggression and precision. With the exception of acceleration tolerance, that is. Even before conditioning and augmentation, my results on this metric were near anomalous. To play to one’s strengths, in a manner of speaking, is universal, is it not?”>>6449874A pause lingered as the Spacer tried to formulate a cogent response. “You...you intend to peruse...the refuse...? Why...? I had in mind amusements in the vein of opening the chute from hiding to startle a passerby. Or tests of skill, wherein you hurl a spent drink packet or some such at the chute from the other end of the hall and try to open it remotely, just in time. I will not affect precisely zero interest in what people choose to discard, but...is inspecting such directly not...undignified in the extreme?”>>6449968“I am glad to hear you are unhurt.” Hexe considered forgoing the facsimile voice for a moment, but quickly decided against that. What would such a gesture signify, in the first place? “I shall keep myself abreast of your course to the egress point.”The Lancer’s boosters, warming up and ready to launch the frame skyward, were unceremoniously cut. Hexe had noticed something curious regarding the box launcher on the tank-frame’s left shoulder.“You did not launch your nuclear weapon. Why?” >>6449852With the second elevator crumbling at last, Hexe had to admit that the engagement was over. To remain longer would only be an unseemly exercise in avarice and bloody-mindedness. Still, there were still some far-flung wrecks left to tag on the way to the dropship.>MOVE to D-4>SALVAGE MISSILE CARRIER WRECK [Roll 1D6 for salvage. 1-5 2-10 MU | 6 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]
Rolled 6 + 3 (1d6 + 3)>>6449850>Move + scout D5Jobs just about over. We did pretty well, but we have to remember to scout frequently and often. Just leaving money and chances on the table otherwise.
>>6449900Well its literally my name... But there are plenty of MU waiting to get picked up on the way back to extraction
>>6450002"**acknowledged**unable to comply**evasive action**">>6450082In that window of silence before they head in separate directions, Sailor pauses halfway through perusing his radar readouts upon receiving Hexe's question. A glance is spared towards the horrendously old-fashioned missile authentication panel, custom built some time ago by a schoolkid with more naivete than smarts. A keyhole to unlock the glass covers, manual toggle switches for up to eight launch vehicles, a gaudy yellow round button to send them hurtling into the dark."Wasn't... needed. C-Could not justify th, the collateral. Too many. People living here. Whhill explain later" Off he trundles without further elaboration-- it'd take too long, and they have places to be. The unused YOSEMITE warhead hangs heavy off his frame like all his poor choices in the name of playing at heroics.
>>6450005“You got the right idea kid, I’ll tell Slug to get you some extra coolant lines. Then you can properly burn those barrels out.”“Those were some slick moves against that monstrosity, it takes guts to keep cool under that kind of threat. You’ll fit in well here!”
>>6449850Looking at the vast destruction around him, the various comms chatter, and the hab units being raided, Ruin pauses for a second. Picking up on Sailor's chat with Hexe (>>6450250), and Kerberos' relief (>>6450005), he considers his actions for a moment."Did plenty of worse stuff, and this is all Shin-Rai property, but... Blergh, it's probably just my combat performance getting me down. I'll call it early here and head towards the exfil point. You guys better hurry too, you never know what kind of force they'll throw our way.">Move D3>Move D2
>>6450250Nothing to be ashamed of Sailor. Systems a messy place, but one of the perks of flying Vanguard is that in the moment, only you have the ability to decide how to use your power. You don't need to justify not pulling the trigger, not to me.
>>6449900>>6450262"Good thing we're hired guns, then. Desperados. Mercenaries. Pretty sure my sensors just picked up one of those fancy Papasan Chairs in this Hab I'm vaporizing--that'll be a damn good find once they hose off all the blood, debris, and radiation. Ru, be a dear and bring it back to the dropship for me when we're finished here, yea?">>6449922"Oh I understand 'TREAT TREAT', alright--'TREAT TREAT YOURSELF', that's what I say!">>6449932"Oh good, was worried you spilled jam on your instrument panel or something. You good, big guy?">>6449945"Seriously. Thing's got satellite coverage of all of Mars and then some--why bother?" GAMBLER pauses for a moment, though whether it's to ponder the situation, light a fresh cigarette or both remains to be seen. "Gives me the heebie-jeebies.">>6450002"Shit, Scar, gonna make me blush... but hey, I'll take any awards y'all throw at me.">>6450005"Okay, okay... read ya' loud and clear, kid. Nobody's gonna fault you for wasting a target..." GAMBLER answer with a mid-smoke grimace. Where did The Commander find these guys?>>6450082"Oh yea, yea, totally! We can totally do those things too!" The comms goe dead for a moment bordering on uncomfortable. "... Course I'm dignified! I'm the classiest lady in the whole damn company! Ask anyon--ACK NEARLY SWALLOWED MY SMOKE"
>>6449852MOVE:>D-2"heading over to evac, have fun looting crew"
>>6450005Please roll 1d4:1. ARM/PARTICLE RIFLE2. ARM/BEAM RIFLE3. ARM/RAILGUN4. ARM/HEAVY PULSE BLADE
Apologies for the delay. Update will be up tomorrow.
>>6449922T: "Disposable pieces of flesh and bone... Really? Is that all you see yourself as? I'm not Martian, so this doesn't apply to me, but I thought you all had a dream you were fighting for. Saving your home. That alone means you're more than just numbers on someone's screen."B: "It is childish to lack self control and let greed jeopardize your own life. Money is worthless if you are dead. Significant enemy reinforcements are inbound, yet instead of leaving, you would delay your departure just to pillage? Dangerous and unwise.">>6450110T: "You are an exception. At least you're honest about it."
>>6450082"I am sure you will live up to them. You have the stuff and the guts to back up your ambition. And the other newcomers? They have it too. The Commander picks well.""Yeah, quite so. You ain't seeing me grabbing any weapon for close quarters, for example. Too good at shooting.""It's best to specialize in something, in my opinion. Let your fellows cover other duties.">>6450250"Don't worry, just something I kept an eye on.""But as I said before, I don't believe that carrier crew has brains, so they will probably not be able to target us. Keep rolling; the repair bay of the Dropship is near enough. Shut-eye should be able to deploy flares if missiles come near us.">>6450377"Good. Don't forget that.">>6449900"Most soldiers I have seen in my experience scavenged and looted. Professional, newbies, disciplined or not. Hell, I ain't no educated professor, but you can read through history how soldiers scavenged and looted all the same.""The only thing left standing here is that lone missile carrier; all areas of the Supply Depot are under us. This situation is under control, and our EVAC ain't far away. We are taking what we can before getting out.""Besides, everything we can grab before leaving helps our efforts. It makes the Dustwalkers stronger." "Some of the gear we are using? Taken from the battlefields. Some of the gear we acquired? Bought with credits thanks to salvage. The schematic I secured from one of those prototypes? It's more valuable than this whole place we just smoked. And there is a third prototype mech to salvage now."
Rolled 4 (1d4)"...eugh, is there nothing here still in one piece?" Kerberos said quietly to himself as he rooted through what little remained intact of his foe, seemingly to no avail. He sighed heavily as he lifted over yet another piece of half-melted metal only to find nothing of value beneath. Maybe he shouldn't have been so trigger happy after all—He gave himself a quick slap on the cheeks with both hands. No, no use thinking about that now. Gotta focus.He returned to trawling through the wreckage. With the torso having proved to be nothing but scrap so far, he set his sights on the lower half that had lodged itself into a wall further away after it tumbled away when the core exploded. He rolled towards it while the comms continued to buzz with whoops of celebration and banter as the final space elevator crumbled on the horizon.>>6450256"Ehehe..." He let out a little nervous laugh at the approval of the veteran pilot, rubbing the back of his head embarrassingly despite knowing no one could see him. "It was no biggy, really. I just pointed my guns at 'em and fired, is all. Maybe these corpos aren't all they're made out to be?">>6450377"..yeah." Kerberos responded in a low tone to the talkative, slightly crass pilot. He couldn't help but notice their demeanor was slightly different from before. A little bit of shame came over him when he though about how quick he'd been to tell her off in his paniced state. Maybe he should apolo—He gave himself another quick slap on the cheek. { No you idiot, do you want to make it more awkward by apologizing on the comms? Just hold it until after the mission. Maybe she'll forget and you won't have to say you're sorry. } he thought to himself, as he picked at the remaining half of the Redline prototype with his cannon in an attempt to disloged it from it's crash site. After a little bit of effort, it flopped out and landed unceromoniously in a shell crater below, it's legs twisted almost beyond recognition. A small part of what must've been the central core still clung defiantly to the leg joints.He went to work examining it.>>6450457The tiny voice chirped to life again as he poked around indiscriminantly in the lower parts of the fallen machine, beckoning him closer to the remains of the central core:"Intact dataset detected. Preparing data transfer, please hold..."A screeching sound mixed with low, droning tones erupted out of the speaker. Kerberos hurridly shut off his communications equipment to spare anyone in proximity from the cutting noise.After a few minutes of the infernally shrill clamor, a small *ding* echoes through the cabin."Data recovered." Announced the small voice triumphantly. "Data corruption: Negligible. Schematic ready for transmission and exploitation.">Rolling 1d4 for schematics, the railgun sounds cool...
//VULTURE: Wreck SALVAGED. Value: 10 MU//GORGON: STOCKADE BREACHED. Value: 8 MU//GAMBLER: MOVE D6. Hit SUCCESS. 4 DMG inflicted against HAB COMPLEX. 8 RAD inflicted!//COBALT: MOVE D3. //FAMINE: Wreck SALVAGED. Value: 10 MU. MOVE D3.//SNOWMAN: Hit SUCCESS. 9 DMG inflicted against REDLINE PROTOTYPE. Target destroyed!//GASHADOKURO: Wreck SALVAGED. Value: 50 MU//EARTHLING: MOVE D3. Cache SALVAGED. Value: 6 MU//OGRE: MOVE D3. //SAILOR: Scout SUCCESS. Tech cache revealed. MOVE G3. //SCARAB: MOVE G3. 1 HP repaired! //KERBEROS: Wreck SALVAGED. Schematic obtained. 1 MOV banked. //HEXE: MOVE D4. Wreck SALVAGED. Value: 10 MU//CORVID: MOVE D5. Scout SUCCESS. Info cache revealed.//RUIN: MOVE D2. //PILLOW: MOVE D2. ENEMY ACTIONS://SHIN-RAI QRF MOVING G2//SHIN-RAI MISSILE CARRIER MOVING G2Total Salvage: 185 MUSCHEMATICS:FRAME/HTNR-REDLINEARM/HMGAUX/SUBMAGBACK/TRACKING DARTARM/PULSE DRIVERARM/HEAVY PULSE BLADEBounty Log:ECLIPSEx3 - 36 MUADMINx3 - 30 MULOGISTICS HUB - 10 MUCOMM RELAY - 10 MUCOMM FACILITY x2 - 24 MUFORGE - 24 MUSTATION - 12 MUAmmo Expenditure:2xYSMT - -8 MU4xYLWST- -4 MU
The last REDLINE prototype skids to a halt. Coruscating arc-discharge plays over the ruined frame, holding it in a place before a final shell from a sniper rifle cores the midsection and ruptures both hip actuators. The machine collapses to the ground and begins to burn, showering magnesium-white sparks onto the floor of the manufacturing complex. You notice that fracture-seams in the prototype's armored midsection begin to seep an off-pink fluid. It boils into vapor as soon as it comes in contact with the rarified Martian atmosphere.For a few minutes, a curious silence falls over the supply hub. The REDLINE units were the last significant source of resistance in the facility. Several of your mercenaries seem to take a moment to reflect on the destruction they have caused. You do the same. Unlike some of your pilots, you were experienced enough to understand the ramifications of taking a contract like this well before your forces had even made planetfall. GCC was paying you to inflict damage, and collateral casualties was both a specific incentive and an inevitable outcome. You sigh. SHIN-RAI was a particularly egregious example of post-plague profiteering, and you owed the earth-based corporation few favors after the way they handled your second contract. However, you weren't delusional enough to believe that every indentured employee or low-rung researcher working for SHIN-RAI deserved what your company had brought.You pan the video feed to show the dull-red horizon. Your scarred-down input ports ache. If the plague had taught you anything, it was that Mars was a poor accountant of moral debt. The red planet had a particularly brutal way of rewarding pragmatism, and your choice to take this mission certainly reflected that fact. While you don't feel particularly remorseful over your decision, part of you wonders if you should.An alarm from your transport interrupts your train of thought."SHIN-RAI QRF has made landfall," reports your comm operator in clipped tones. A video feed shows a plume of dust several kilometers from the northern perimeter of the depot. An initial wave of drop pods disintegrate in midair, releasing elite SHIN-RAI hunter-killer units thawed and dropped directly from orbit. A trio of ECLIPSE platforms descend behind them, shedding glowing ablative tiles during their transition to atmospheric flight.SHUTEYE - your ever-sensible dropship pilot - mass-pings your forces for urgent extraction. Unless you had any intention of fighting the QRF, you had only a small window of time to complete your salvage operations.[UNLESS YOU COLLECTIVELY CHOOSE TO FIGHT THE QRF, THIS WILL BE THE LAST TURN.]
//BETA 2SALVAGE:>TURRET WRECK 2 [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-7 2-14 MU | 8 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//GATE 1SALVAGE:>TURRET WRECK 1 [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-7 2-14 MU | 8 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]//D2SALVAGE:>TECH CACHE (1). [Roll 1D2 for salvage.] [10 MU CREDITS on 1 | WEAPON SCHEMATIC SLOT OF CHOICE on 2]//D3COMBAT:SALVAGE:>CACHE (1). [Roll 1D8 for salvage] [1-7MU CREDITS | SCHEMATIC/SPECIAL/UPGRADE on 8]>SR READLINE PROTOTYPE WRECK [Roll 1d8 | 1-2 10-20 MU | 3-6 PROTOTYPE SCHEMATIC | 7 PROTOTYPE SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE | 8 SHIN-RAI PILOT] [UNSTABLE-DISAPPEARS AFTER 2 TURNS]//D4COMBAT:>SHIN-RAI MISSILE CARRIER 2 [6 HP | DC 7 | [MOVING G2]>HAB COMPLEX [9 HP | [CIV] [20 MU BOUNTY]][-12 RAD]//D5:SALVAGE:>INFO [Roll 1D10 for INFO. 1-10 1-10% DECREASE in SHIN-RAI MONTHLY SHARE PRICE]//D6:COMBAT:>HAB COMPLEX [21 HP | [CIV] [20 MU BOUNTY]][-8 RAD][If you wish, you may preemptively perform salvage options. If there is a valid salvage target that is scouted this turn, I will allow the salvage.]
Apologies for the lack of art - I am trying to model some of the new part that have been acquired through salvage.
>>6450795"Aaaaand here come the party poopers... right on schedule. Think it's time to bug out, boys--we've all seen how these tend to end. Unless Gor's got any more thermonuclear tricks up his sleeves, I say we grab what we can and get while the gettin's good."
>>6450794"Not keen on seein' who they had in reserve just fer this...headin' t' extract, my ord'nance is long spent.">MOVE to GATE-3
Rolled 8 (1d10)>>6450796>>6450795Assuming we don't fight...>LOOT INFO CACHE"Time to update my portfolio~"
Rolled 5 (1d8)>>6450796> move D3>SR READLINE PROTOTYPE WRECK [Roll 1d8 | 1-2 10-20 MU | 3-6 PROTOTYPE SCHEMATIC | 7 PROTOTYPE SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE | 8 SHIN-RAI PILOT] [UNSTABLE-DISAPPEARS AFTER 2 TURNS]If people at D3 move to D1 and scout/attack, could maybe squeeze out some extra MU this turn before withdrawing to the dropship
Rolled 5 + 3 (1d6 + 3)>>6450794>Move+scout E2That is a lot of metal that I do not want to be anywhere near. We've done what we came here, pop off our last scans and grab the last bits, we're done here.
Rolled 7 (1d8)>>6450796I don't want to fight this QRF. Seems like a terrible ROI.>Salvage Cache (1)>Move to D2
Rolled 2 (1d6)>>6450794"Calcuating....I ONLY Have a 50% chance of hitting any of the elites. Most other units either can NOT hit them, or require a maximum roll to hit them.""SS-TE-SAT plus YOSEMITE would be ONLY PATH TO KILLING THEM. Would still leave ECLIPSES in a functional state.""...RECOMMENDATION TO ANYONE WITH 2 OR MORE MOVEMENT: Pop the HAB COMPLEX in D-6. Your mechs are fast enough to kill it.">MOVE to D-1>SCOUT. If I reveal a scavenge target, offer it up to anyone who can reach D-1. >>6450532"DELAY is one thing. Not even attempting to salvage what we have is another. To take 'pride' in leaving money on the table is what disgusts me the most.""AS for my DREAM? Feh. I HAD A DREAM WHEN I WAS FLESH AND BLOOD, instead of this horrible abomination of metal no one can love. I fight so I can become something greater again. Something beyond this husk of metal.">>6450377"...INDEED. Have you been treating yourself? Are you doing okay?"
>>6450797Not an issue
Rolled 2 (1d2)>>6450796>LOOT TECH CACHE>MOVE TO GATE-3 and Exfil"Please be a weapon... I'll need at least that to show for it this mission."
Rolled 4 (1d8)>>6450796"Detaching from Repair Bay.""I am near enough to get away with this, and the mech got enough plating on it now.""Shut-eye keep the doors open, i'll jump back in a moment after taking this with us. Its close enough to justify it.">MOVE BETA-2 >SALVAGE >TURRET WRECK 2 [Roll 1D8 for salvage. 1-7 2-14 MU | 8 WEAPON SCHEMATIC]"Should cover those fuel, repair and ammo costs. "
>>6450377“A lady?” For a moment Hexe considered the possibility of Gambler being literal. No, that was not likely. The Martians almost certainly did not practice one of the anachronistic stripes of the archist mode of organization that allowed for ‘lords’ and ‘ladies’. They seemed a ...working people, if anything. “Just so. I shall make inquiries, as requested.”>>6450875 “Ruin. You are well-acquainted with Gambler. Confirm, if able, that she is the most dignified, classiest lady in the Dustwalkers. Over.”>>6450870“Acknowledged, Famine. Target telemetry received. Pulse Lance set to demolition pattern. Attack trajectory plotted. Ingressing.”>>6450796Though they parted with a token acknowledgment from her, Hexe did not understand Sailor’s reluctance. A true warrior never hesitated, no matter the target, for hesitation courted death. There was little use in dwelling on it. Hexe focused on the target before her. A close flyby of the hab unit scattered tiny thermal signatures and revealed high radiation readings. Several load-bearing structures of the complex were thoroughly embrittled by a concentrated neutron bombardment. Hexe marked the undamaged supports, locked the Lancer’s right arm into the attack position, and sent her frame into a steep dive.>MOVE D-3 -> D-5 -> D-6 (+9DMG/ALL from SUNSLAG)>ATTACK HAB COMPLEX. 20 dmg (1 + 2 (SUNSLAG) + 8 (GLIMMER) + 9 (SUNSLAG bonus))The Lancer exploded skyward out of the spreading dust cloud of pulverized concrete mixed with substrate. Hexe zoomed in and watched as the complex developed a conspicuous list. Its final collapse was a matter of minutes, if that. From her vantage, she scanned the desolation once more and found her gaze fixed upon one of the space elevators, massive even in ruination.“Nothing beside remains. Round the decayOf that colossal wreck, boundless and bareThe lone and level sands stretch far away.”Hexe bit back a curse at the involuntary co-processor recall. She resolved to at least try to have it serviced, even if there was likely no recourse without the Controller’s firmware bypass keys.
>>6450796Before he can stew too much on the clash between ideals and reality, a welcome distraction presents itself. A distraction of several unambiguously valid targets. Valid targets approaching from a vector devoid of non-combatant structures or traffic. It's almost enough to make Sailor stop moping altogether."**preparing**cover**exfil**" Just an arguably healthy distance from the dropship, his VALIANT deploys its stabilizers and readies the YOSEMITE cell for launch. With the telemetry of his comrades' earlier intrusion paths, the radar blips confirming the approach trajectories of the QRF, and the delightful haptic feedback of his doohickey, the young pilot is prepared to give SHIN-RAI a very, very warm welcome.All he needs is the right moment to press the big yellow button. "**be advised**danger close**on target**">PREPARE - Launch YOSEMITE at GATE-2 when QRF arrives on node
>>6450794MOVE:>GATE-3
>>6450897"...WHAT IN GOD'S NAME DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING???? We are not in any state to chew on these treat treats!" FAMINE, for once in her life, finally has to be the voice of reason here. "ARE YOU TRYING TO GET US EATEN ALIVE?""MOST OF OUR CORP CAN'T EVEN HIT THEM! Are- Are you experiencing cyberpsychosis? I heard drilling a hole in your brain helps with that."
Rolled 4 (1d4)>>6450794>Move D-6>Attack Hab Complex
>>6450826Please roll 1d3:1. ARM/PARTICLE RIFLE2. ARM/BEAM RIFLE3. ARM/RAILGUN
>>6450875Please roll 1d7:1. ARM/HEAVY PILE DRIVER2. ARM/SCATTER LASER3. BACK/LASER CANNON4. BACK/PARRY SHIELD5. BACK/DRONE LAUNCHER6. FRAME/FENCER7. FRAME/NEBULA
Rolled 7 (1d7)>>6450986
Thanks for the two free mechs, SHIN-RAI !!!!
Rolled 8 (1d8)The Shin-Rai weapons platform floated over the partially collapsed wall with easy power. It was effortless to distinguish them as they approached, as it seemed almost like they absorbed all light around them as they moved. A black void. Underneath them burned small stars, the engines of more hostile mechs. Elite forces, for sure. Kerberos felt a little bit of sweat forming on his brow, anxiety slowly making itself at home in his chest despite his vehement protests. Most of the Dustwalkers didn't make any moves, instead remaining still as the Corpo assets made it over the outer walls and towards the wrecked gates. His breathing quickened. { They're not really gonna try and fight that, right? ...right? } The thought kept echoing in his mind as none of the pilots around him moved or even made a sound as the Shin-Rai forces crept ever closer."...that don't look good." Kerberos muttered to himself just as he recieved the ping to retreat from command, and like that the spell was broken. Some of the Dustwalkers began withdrawing in good order away from the approaching Shin-Rai mechs; though more opportunistic pilots had dashed off into the ruins, hoping to score just a little more loot or carnage before the escape. { Looks like we're not sticking around today. } He thought to himself as he fell in at the rear of the column as they rolled out of the facility.A small sigh of relief escaped him as the waiting shuttle came in to view in the distance. Despite only fighting one foe, this was still his first drop. He felt he had gotten more action than he had bargained for with that prototype pilot, and he wasn't interested in looking for any more beneath those weapons platform. He shuddered at the notion, as he waited to be hoisted up from the surface.The magnetic clamps slammed down on his machine, lifting it up into the safety of the transport craft. Time to get out of here...>>6450796>Move D2 > GATE 3
>>6450794"Welp, party's over lads n lasses, the cunt wagon's arrived with the bloody bobbies in tow.">MOVE D3/EXFIL
>>6450377"Yeah, had a lil' electronics issue, nothing major but is quite annoying.">>6450870"Heh, then dream on anyways, Fami! You do know you got admirers on the Merc-net forums right? Though 'admirers' might be lowballing it...">>6450897"Woah woah woah, hold your fire there, you mad lad! Got a death wish or something?! Don't throw your life away, Hexe'll be sad, don'tcha know?!"
Rolled 1 (1d3)>>6450985"Lets see what we get"
>>6450796>MOVE to GATE-3 “Doris can do a number on one Eclipse, but three of them and those escorts? Not a chance in Hades. Just one more thing before we leave, though…”Ogre’s mech fires into an intact section of the perimeter wall for an extended period of time, making wild swings of the rotary cannons’ orientation as it goes. It only becomes apparent what he has done when the smoke clears from the wall that now reads in four-meter tall letters:SHIT-RAIIt would seem that every pilot deals with the moral weight of “the job” in their own way… no matter how infantile.>>6450897“Kid, pull out now! You’ll never outrun them in that chunky Frame of yours and I’m not keen on cleaning you out of that cockpit. Now MOVE!”>>6451047“Free? Shit, we got paid to pick these guys up!”
>>6450870"FAMI, my dear, I'm gonna be MORE than okay when I buy up a majority share of SHIT-RAI's crap-ass shares... crud, gonna need to invest in some Business Attire, aren't I? Ru, look up something cute but professional. You already know my sizes.">>6450890"Yea, Ru-Ru... be a dear and confirm for the curious lady, hmm?">>6451047"Not a bad day's work, huh, Scar? Honest pay fer' honest mayhem.">>6451093"You betcha, man--gimme a holler when we get back if you want me ta' take a peek under the hood. I won't charge. Much! Haha, just kiddin'!">>6451102"Huh. Anyone ever told you you coulda' been a street artist, Og? Bullet Graffiti is an untapped market."
>>6450796MOVE:>GATE 3 >EXTRACT>>6450870>instead of this horrible abomination of metal no one can loveT: "That isn't true, and you know it. Hell, I'll cash in my one (1) Fami Point to ask you to not say that about yourself Famine point acquired here: >>6408774 . Just because some body parts were replaced with metal doesn't mean nobody would love you."B: "Correct. Data supports this. Pilot Thea has achieved eleven sexual interactions after receiving cybernetic implants and prosthetics."T: "DON'T FUCKING TELL THEM THA- *radio cuts out*"B: "Regardless, not being the same as you once were doesn't make you less of a person. Having wants, goals, desires, hopes and feelings are what make a person. The amount of flesh and blood are irrelevant. Trust me, I know better than anyone.">>6450554T: "Yeah, soldiers of lesser armies whose nations were too weak to supply them properly. A Ferrum warrior is above that, and wouldn't disgrace their home with the shame of foraging."B: "I carry out my orders, and not a step further. I am not going out of my way to further the interests of the ones who put me in chains. Inaction is one of the few ways that I can experience freedom. Furthermore, I will especially not partake in optional objectives when they endanger my own life."
>>6450962>>6451093>>6451102"**delaying**enemy advance**friendlies** ...Agh, where's th-the. Friendlies, still afield." The VALIANT's torso pivots to face the dropship, as though confirming he's still well-within evac range and not on a suicidal charge like some of his peers think he is. "Just, just a defensive bombardment."
>>6451174"Too weak ? You really didn't experience an all out conflict. The Vanguard did, and we fought tooth and nail. Any resources was needed for our war, and anywhere we could take them.""And I'll be frank.""Disgrace ? I am not sure whats important in your colony even if I have an hunch ..... but from where i am from Disgrace is when you don't follow the duties to protect your home. Not when you fight for it and ensure your home has resources for keep fighting.""Thats real soldiers. Anything else ? Playing Pretend.""Do that machine. No one in my kin ranks has force your two pilots or you to help. No one even requests your help. You two followed orders. And we simply answered back to your comment.""Huh chains ? Talk with your pilots about that and dont include my kin machine. We of the Dustwalkers didn't even know you, we use standards battle computers in our mechs and nothing fancy like you.""Oh good to know. No one will take your inaction away, and now we know that you will leave when orders are done. Glad you made that clear."
>>6451102"Sure, but getting out of here with two mech blueprints feels almost too good to be true. We don't need to spend a single credit for the blueprints, and can just forge them.""Hell the Commander could sell that prototype blueprint if he wanted. Its already ours anyway.">>6451104"Most of it has been a good day. We have improvements to make but we did well, this place is destroyed and we get out with more than what the contract give us."
>>6451209(ah, oog I should probably explain) Trying to narratively bridge from Core of Steel quest to Vanguard Quest wouldn't make sense since Beta was tied to Earth. The only way to explain why he's here is that his country took an interest in what's happening on Mars, and thus sent the Cobalt-1 frame/pilot/copilot to participate. In which case, Thea and Sophie are here as soldiers, and are following orders to join a mercenary group that is steering events in the direction that Ferrum wants things to go. However, Thea is under orders not to loot and pillage. Her claims of patriotism, loyalty, and a "true soldier" are because her logs are being recorded and reviewed by her superiors. In truth, she doesn't really care, but has to pretend like she does in order to cover her own ass. She has been on thin ice, and upper command might sack her if they think that she hasn't fixed her disobedience/behavior issues. Beta on the other hand has to obey the pilot and the pilot's superiors no matter what, else he'll be killed or worse. Pathologically he has been conditioned to only complete mission objectives and nothing else, because any time he did anything else he got severely punished. At the same time, he doesn't want to be here at all, and thus wants to leave his mission the instant that he is allowed to. Now, whether any other anon's pilots would know this is up to whether or not they would have socialized with Thea and Sophie offscreen. I had originally hoped that people would ask questions which would spark RP or beget lore-dumping, but that didn't pan our and I've been busy irl lately so I haven't had as much time to dedicate to coherent story stuff.
>>6450890>>6451104"Gambi? Dignified? Classy...?" Ruin catches himself before he can act snarky. He's already on thin ice. "Well, uh, considering the various other ladies in the Dustwalkers, you're the only one who could give her a run for her money in terms of dignity..." Ruin tries really hard not to remember the time where she crawled under a car to catch a cigarette dropped by a hurried salaryman that one time. "Yeah, no, she definitely has got every other lady beat. Sorry, Hexe, that includes you.">>6451034"Eh eh eh eh... Well, well, well, well. Would you lookie that. I've just found my ticket to forgiveness."Pushing his comms to the maximum radius allowed by his radar, opening broadcast to every channel, he takes a deep breath."I, Ruin, ace of the mercenary company "Dustwalkers", would like to dedicate this find of workable NEBULA-class frame blueprints to the one and only lady who is near and dear to my heart - designation GAMBLER. May this gift, from me to you, be the proof of my appreciation, and let all, but especially SHIN-RAI, who gracefully offered these to me, be witnesses to it."Turning off his comms, he lights a cig of his own. "Heh. Chicks dig displays like these. Ruin, ain't no way you're sleeping alone tonight, eh eh eh...">>6451104"I certainly wouldn't mind a peek under MY hood... No innuendo here for once, you saw today's combat performance. Can't wait to get off this deathtrap.">>6451213"I think intellectual property laws would have MOCA on our asses or something if we tried selling those. Bunch of bullshit, if you ask me. Somehow getting them from the charred bits of the enemy is fine, and so is producing them inhouse, but selling them isn't? Fuckin' legal loopholes.">>6451261Honestly I always thought Beta and Thea/Sophie were here on a multiverse errand type thing, like, as guest characters. But hey, I'm a big Core of Steel fan, was there in the first thread, so I'd be content if their world was shared with ours!
>>6451282>multiverse errand type thing, like, as guest charactersI'm not CoreQM, so that's probably the best way to think about it. The oog explanation I gave is just the context I'm using for RP stuff, since it'd be weird to chat with other anons whilst Thea acts like she's from another universe.
For the investment accounts that you placed funds in last round, could someone (or multiple people) make the following rolls. As this is meant to be random, I will take the first roll only (no best of).> NEST INDEX [+5% - +16%]. Roll (1d11).[NO MODIFIERS]> STOCK - GCC INTERNATIONAL: 50 MU [-25% - +50%]. Roll (1d75 + 15) [+15 CONTRACT COMPLETION BONUS]> RISKY SHORT - SHIN-RAI: 50 MU [-100% - +180% RETURN] Roll (1d280 + 98)[+25 ORBITAL ELEVATOR LOST][+25 ORBITAL ELEVATOR LOST][+3x3+2+3x3+5+2 INFRASTRUCTURE LOST][+3x5 PROTOTYPE LOST][+2x3 LABOR SHORTAGE]
>>6451291Rolling for shinrai
Rolled 43 + 15 (1d75 + 15)>>6451291> STOCK - GCC INTERNATIONAL: 50 MU [-25% - +50%]. Roll (1d75 + 15)
Rolled 25 + 98 (1d280 + 98)>>6451294bro my roll???
Rolled 6 (1d11)>>6451291Roling for the safe option, NEST INDEX.Wouldn't it be insider trading if we shorted Shin-Rai and then went and blew up one of their production facilities? I guess the Commander is the one who has to dodge those consequences...
>>6451296Oh my god
>>6451296As expected, when asked to perform Ruin is the man to call when stocks need a quick collapse.>>6451297>Wouldn't it be insider trading if we shorted Shin-Rai and then went and blew up one of their production facilities?There is no government nor rule of law on Mars, so no court will prosecute us. Especially not for engaging in corporation-sanctioned assaults.
>>6451174"Heh, ONLY elev-err, I uh... I mean, erm... that's... woah, girl, that's... bananas...">>6451282"D'awww. Ain't he great, folks? Sweet as sugar, smooth like butter, tough as nails... and a Rider of the Goddamn Apocalypse when he's handling a mech! Keep spoiling me and see what happens, Ru... Which reminds me: got a few tricks up my sleeve that I think'll iron out those targeting system discrepancies in your Frame! Free of charge, of course!" >>6451291ougkh... achkhgh..
>>6451213“Do not speak the unspeakable, lest it comes to pass. You’ll have to restrain me to keep me from piloting that angry beast of a Frame.”>>6451282“Kid you are overcompensating so badly. But keep going. It’s like watching a guinea pig try to crawl through a tube that’s too small for it.”
>>6451297“Buddy, we just fatally irradiated a bunch of civvies. I don’t think insider trading is a concern.”
>>6451297"I've got enough recorded blackma--err, MISSION FOOTAGEof pretty much everyone on payroll committing enough war crimes to put us away til' the heat death of the universe, kid--don't worry your pretty lil' head about white-collar crimes!">>6451313"You gotta admit it's a lil' endearing, though... in a pathetic, kinda' cute way. It's definitely working on me, I can tell ya' that much. Guess I'm a sucker for the sappy stuff... and mountains of praise and compliments... and fancy gifts... and undivided attention... and bank account information... and back rubs...What can I say? Yer' gal likes being spoiled!">>6451303"Gor's right--in a weird, roundabout way we almost ARE Mars' Government, aren't we? Like... a band of loose-cannon Sheriffs, or something!"
//GAMBLER: INFO obtained. 8% reduction in SHIN-RAI stock.//VULTURE: Wreck SALVAGED. Schematic OBTAINED.//CORVID: MOVE D2. Scout SUCCESS. Cache revealed.//SNOWMAN: Wreck SALVAGED. Value: 7MU. MOVE D2.//FAMINE: MOVE D1. Scout SUCCESS. Material cache revealed.//RUIN: CACHE SALVAGED. Schematic OBTAINED.//SCARAB: Wreck SALVAGED. Value: 8MU//SAILOR: YSMT > G2. AMMUNITION EXPENDED!//PILLOW: MOVE G3.//BUTTONMAN: MOVE D6. Hit SUCCESS. 11 DMG inflicted against HAB COMPLEX. //KERBEROS: MOVE G3.//GASHADOKURO: MOVE G3.//OGRE: MOVE G3.//COBALT1: MOVE G3.
To the chagrin of your dropship crew, this mission extraction is only marginally less chaotic than the debacle she had complained about a month ago. Vanguard frames flood into the hanger bay minutes - or even seconds - before her launch deadline. Engineering crews struggle to stow each mech into its designated transport frame in time to accommodate new arrivals. The last few stragglers - hoping to secure a final helping of payment or glory - skid into the launch bay well after the dropship is airborne, eliciting a string of uncharacteristic language from SHUTEYE's open comm feed. The last mercenary to board, SAILOR, manages to prime and launch a YOSEMITE cruise missile directly in the path of the incoming SHIN-RAI QRF. The thermonuclear detonation isn't sufficient to disable the advancing element, but there were few insults more unambiguous than stripping nearly a dozen tons of ablative armor from every mech in a fresh-dropped unit. The lead hunter-killer units accelerate on an reckless intercept course, coming within ten kilometers of your dropshop as it shrieks into the Martian stratosphere. Distant tracer fire pricks against the dull black sky - too distant to pose any real threat. The conspicuous, looming shadow of an orbiting quarantine constellation dissuades the hunter-killer mechs from pursuing any further. No pilot, fresh-thawed or not, would violate a weapons lock in direct orbital observation. You shrug, and think back to the observer unit that had shadowed your force briefly during the last mission. It was difficult to know precisely how much attention MOCA paid to human affairs, but you liked to think that the presence of the satellite constellation over your operational area wasn't entirely random chance.
The dropship's steep climb levels into a more reasonable ascent that eventually brings it to your orbiting transport. If it wasn't before, your company was certainly a well oiled machine now. Your mechs are brought into the engineering bay by fresh engineering crews while you aggregate an after-action report from your mercenaries to send to your employer. For this particular representative, a full report seemed more like a perfunctory gesture than a necessity. The GCC representative calls you as soon as your transport breaks low orbit, trademark cigar smouldering in an ash-stained grin. "GODDAMN Your boys and girls do great work!" he exclaims "I'm happy, and I want you to know the ones up top are pretty darn happy too.""SHIN-RAI's orbital shipping is going to tank this cycle, and your good friends at GCC" he says, with a flourish of smoke. "Are all too happy to take up the slack. Gotta use one of our elevators now, unless you wanna schlep your cargo up into orbit yourself.""Anyways, I'll leave you alone so you and your boys and girls get some R&R. We'll transfer over your well-earned payment shortly."The line cuts off with a click. After a few seconds, you get a brief summary of your income for this contract. In spite of your company's rather straightforward stream of earning income, your decision to diversify some of your savings had made your financials slightly more complex. You sigh as you begin to look over the documentation, and the amusing thought of hiring someone with actual accounting experience briefly enters your mind. A problem for a later time, perhaps. For now, you had a very respectable sum to work with.
--- C O M P A N Y | L E D G E R ---//MISSION REVENUESALVAGE 200 MU x 0.5 CONTRACT SHARE: 100 MUCONTRACTS GCC INTERNATIONAL IO 10488126: 500 MUBOUNTY BREAKDOWN ECLIPSEx3 - 36 MU ADMINx3 - 30 MU LOGISTICS HUB - 10 MU COMM RELAY - 10 MU COMM FACILITY x2 - 24 MU FORGE - 24 MU STATION - 12 MU HAB MODULEx2 [CONTAMINATED STRUCTURES COUNT AS DESTROYED] - 24 MUTOTAL: 770 MU//MISSION COSTSVANGUARD REPAIR REPAIR, STANDARD: 10 x 2 MU: 0 MU REPAIR, CRIPPLED: 4 x 3 MU: 12 MUEXPENDABLES: 3xYSMT - -12 MU 4xYLWST- -4 MUFUEL/AMMUNITION/TRAN: 16 x 1 MU: -16 MUTOTAL: -64//MONTHLY INVESTMENTS1. NEST INDEX: 50 MU [+5% - +16% RETURN] => 56 MU2. STOCK - GCC INTERNATIONAL: 50 MU [-25% - +50% RETURN] => 67 MU3. RISKY SHORT - SHIN-RAI: 50 MU [-100% - +180% RETURN] => 62 MUTOTAL: 185 MU//BUDGET TOTAL: 891 MU//SCHEMATICSFRAME/HTNR-REDLINEARM/HMGAUX/SUBMAGBACK/TRACKING DARTBACK/FLAK CANNONARM/PULSE DRIVERARM/HEAVY PULSE BLADEARM/PARTICLE RIFLE
VOTE ON FUND ALLOCATION:> ALL. Spend all your funds in the shop next vote.> 80%. Invest 20% of your funds, spend 80%.> 60%. Invest 40% of your funds, spend 60%.> 40%. Invest 60% of your funds, spend 40%.
>>6451344>80%. Invest 20% of your funds, spend 80%."712 MU IS STILL MORE THAN ENOUGH TO PLAY WITH. also holy shit our investment barely paid off our missiles and transportation costs. WE'RE GOING TO GO FUCKING BANKRUPT!!!! WE'LL HAVE TO HARVEST ALL OF OUR ORGANS AND SELL THEM ON THE BLACK MARKET FOR PENNIES!""THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. We need to get BETTER at invesTing. WE need to create our own cryptographic coin that will be worhththhhh as many MU as we say it is.""LISTEN HERE: FUCKERS. We need t oSCOUT mor E to get MORE MONEY AND MORE MONEY MEANS MORE MONEY DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME AIE AIE AIE-">>6451174Her schizophrenic gibbering abruptly stops once she hears what Cobalt 1's pilots said. There's a heavy silence in the air as she spends a good, good long while processing the information. When she does finally speak, her voice is laced with confusion and mild disgust."What. Why did you feel the need how many times Thea fucked. Why is that relevant- You know what. Whatever. I wanna appreciate the sentiment, but I really don't need to hear about how many times Thea got porked.""Regardless, I suppose that is...relevant data for some people. I guess. One day, I will remember the feeling of actually being hugged. But until then, I shall continue to focus on getting as much money as humanly possible. Without killing myself, obviously."That was probably the longest stretch of coherent dialogue anyone has ever heard from FAMINE.>>6451093"...OF COURSE I HAVE ADMIRERS. EVERYONE LOVES ME. Unless you mean 'admirer' in the way people 'admired' Thea. In which case. Gross.">>6451201"...couldvesavedmoneybynotlaunchingit" FAMI mumbles over the line. "couldveboughtacoolswordoracuteplushie.">>6451104"OF COURSE I DID. PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO LOSE ANY MORE WEIGHT UNTIL I AM ABLE to [Collect] the [Business Attire], lest I have to spend even more [MONEY]."
>>6451344> 80%. Invest 20% of your funds, spend 80%
>>6451344> 80%. Invest 20% of your funds, spend 80%."Hm. Nope, FAMI's right--even if that was a small gig, we're running a little low... and while I'd love nothing more than to do some more violent insider trading, it's tricky to strategize if we don't know who we're up against next... shoot, man, and I just dumped my rainy day creds into buying SHIN-RAI penny shares! What am I supposed to do now--NOT buy real Synthmeat at restaurants? Forego buying my favorite conditioner? No way, bub!We need to hedge our bets for the next sortie--means we gotta' be ready for anything! And that means paying a bit to play a bit! Buy some edges, y'know?On that fine note, though, welcome to the shit, newbies. Ya' survived--that's worth celebratin'! Normally we get really trashed and burn through our budget, buuut.....Wait, nope, I think I've got some hooch lyin' around somewhere. Might as well drink to something before I start messing around under the mech hoods."
>>6451344>> ALL. Spend all your funds in the shop next vote.I lost my faith in the free market. Need more money? Kill people and take their stuff. Investements are a scam, I'm telling you.
>>6451344> 80%. Invest 20% of your funds, spend 80%."we aren't going to become bankrupt just... financially unstable in the foreseeable future, and besides as long as we can pay are expenditure we should be fine more or less."
>>6451344"I've never seen a corpo stock as resilient as Shin-Rai's. They barely fell! Did they do a quick buyback or what?"> 80%. Invest 20% of your funds, spend 80%.We need to buy those accuracy-raising implants
>>6451344> ALL. Spend all your funds in the shop next vote."Jus' t' put it out there, I like th' idea a' riggin' th' market, fer what it is, but we were fightin' some nasty pieces this time. We might not have th' time for more money over time, depen-din' on what happens next. We need better gear now, an' even if throwin' out nucle-ar missiles deals with plenty a' what's out there, we gotta absorb that cost, and we might not be able t' op-rate without...pre-cision, later.""Plus, if GCC likes us 'nuff after this, they've got a new frame fer us that's a missile special-ist, definite'ly want t' take ad-vantage a' that."
>>6451343Ahhhhhhhhh, a desperate evacuation while canned sunshine is being lobbed off. Just like the Plaguetime. Still, not a bad op, got a lot of good schematics to use. But for now, we should put a little money down. Also did anyone remember to leak that infocache we found? Last I checked it contained some fairly sensitive stuff, will def help with shorting the stock.
>>6451344> 80%. Invest 20% of your funds, spend 80%.
>>6451344>> 80%. Invest 20% of your funds, spend 80%.>>6451261Okay, no issues. Admittely i didn't read Core of Steel so it wouldn't make sense for my pilot to know anything of Thea/Sophie/Beta beside what you posted so far. And I cant really see them interact offduty with Scarab lol. I suppose I could ask questions in the future, or i will just keep Scarab on his own circle (which makes more sense anyway for a fall vet). Not having read Core of Steel kinda doesn't give me a good way to interact. I might pick it up when i can. My bad !>>6451282"Cant even make money with that, bet GCC would have throwed us some MUs our way....">>6451313"Fine fine. Ain't gonna talk about that possibility anymore old pal. Just wait for the ship forge to make it, and then you can try it out.""Think it is has a looong time coming birthday gift from me."
>>6451344>80%. Invest 20% of your funds, spend 80%.
>>6451344> ALL. Spend all your funds in the shop next vote."M-Markets are, devious. The players... know how to, um, hide their wounds." To illustrate, Sailor holds up his datapad. Amidst a flurry of argumentative comments about numbers and stonks is a graph of SHIN-RAI's stock price, minimally budged despite the loss of critical supply chain infrastructure. "We should, stick to our, ex-expertise.">>6451353"... If, if it helps. I could give, one of mine?" Reaching into a convenient ruggedized container, he pulls out... a fucking holo-idol plushie, one of those indie one-time crowdfunded production runs. Its vacant stare and empty smile are about as hollow as Gambler's savings account.
>>6451344> ALL. Spend all your funds in the shop next vote.“Was one dalliance with capital markets not enough? Let us put the payout from this operation to full use whilst also sparing ourselves further disappointment and moral degradation.”>>6451282“Oh...you truly see a destitute pariah such as I to be dignified...? Truly? I do not know what to say. Thank you. You are far too kind...” Following a brief silence, Hexe remembered the purpose of this exchange. “Oh. Thank you for the prompt answer to the requested confirmation. It has been noted.”
> 80%. Invest 20% of your funds, spend 80%.After some careful consideration, you continue your strategy of investing only a small fraction of your earnings into the local market. The DUST WALKERS were a mercenary company first and foremost - you found it wiser to invest in your collective profession rather than the notoriously volatile Martian orbital exchange.Your decision meant that you had a very respectable sum to spend on weapons and equipment. It was good timing - the recent influx of terran mercenaries had driven a general boom in the local arms industry, and the completion of several large contracts had increased the reputation of your company by a fair margin. The equipment manifest that NEST sends you is full of both new and retrofitted hardware. At least a few notoriously restrictive sub-manufacturers have listed their products for general purchasing. You let your mercenaries and engineers judge the dense technical data that accompanied each product but - at first glance - everything look promising. Railguns and railcannons typically reserved to hunter-killer units were on open inventory. GCC showcases a fairly generic selection of ballistic weapons with a few stand outs, including a HEAT grenade launcher and a tri-barreled rotary cannon intended for lighter frames. MOCA's dedicated manufacturing branch had granted you access to several unconventional energy weapon as well as a dedicated assault armor module. SHIN-RAI, however, was conspicuously absent from your listing - a sign that your prior contract had yielded more than just transient negative sentiments.
--- N E S T | S H O P ---//BUDGET: 716 MU>Items marked with hash marks [##] are items you have already unlocked by mission completions or reputation. //CORE> CORE/FENCER. Medium/light biped frame. Fragile, but well optimized for evasive combat. [220 MU] [ORBITALE]> CORE/CAVALRY. Heavy biped frame. Melee-specialization with rechargable boosters. [350 MU] [##ICARUS DRIVE YD##] > CORE/BALLISTA. Heavy tetrapod frame. High LOAD. Bonuses to missile weaponry. [350 MU] [##GCC-INT##].> CORE/EUROPA. Experimental heavy biped frame. Inbuilt shield/assault armor module. [450 MU] [##MOCA##] //FCS> FCS/SIEGE-X Poor targeting performance. Grants option to attack twice per turn. [70 MU] [##GCC-INT##]//BACK> LAS/POLARIS. Laser cannon. Weight efficient. Cooldown. [45 MU] [HLT PREC LABS]> LAS/CYGNUS. Heavy laser cannon. Weight efficient. Long cooldown. [65 MU] [HLT PREC LABS]> SBEAM/ICARUS. Dual mode scatter beam. Light bonus on standard attack; can be overcharged for massive damage boost against all targets. [110 MU][##MOCA##].> ARC/ZEUS. Heavy arc flail. Guarenteed multihit. Recharge. [100 MU][##MOCA##].> GLH/ANVIL. Heavy HEAT bazooka. Multihit to original target on max roll. [120 MU] [GCC INT]> MSL/MICRO-SWARM. Ultra-heavy swarm rack. Light bonus but effective against all targets. [90 MU] [##GCC INT##]> SHLD/RIPOSTE. Medium shield, provides hit bonus after taking damage. [50 MU] [HLT PREC LABS]> SHLD/BASTION. Heavy area shield projector. Protects all allies in node. [110 MU] [HLT PREC LABS]> RAD/ROVER. Scout radar. Significant scouting bonus, scouting actions are free. [80 MU] [RAYLEONARD]> CIW/HOUND. Kinetic anti-missile drone. Protects allies in node from missile attacks. Assists in combat. [90 MU] [##GCC INT##]> RML/TUNDRA. Neutron missile cell. Heavy radiation area damage. 1 use. [160 MU] [##VNC RESEARCH##]> ASA/BOREALIS. Assault armor module. Inflicts damage to all targets in node. Long cooldown. [120 MU] [##MOCA##]> RGUN/VENDETTA. Railcannon. Occupies back and arm slot. Inflicts heavy %MAX HP damage. Cooldown. [170 MU] [##KE-ANGELS##]
//ARM> HGL/IRIS. Laser pistol. Exceptional damage for weight, but long cooldown. [35 MU] [##MOCA##].> PGL/ZINC. Plasma pistol. Inflicts [HEAVY] tag. Cooldown. [35 MU] [##MOCA##].> RCC/SHRIKE. Light rotary cannon. Effective against all targets. [30 MU] [##GCC INT##]> M-THR/ATLAS. Dual mode thermal rifle. Can be overcharged to inflict plasma damage. [110 MU][##MOCA##].> M-PAR/SELENE. Dual mode light particle rifle. Can be overcharged to inflict radiation damage. [70 MU][##MOCA##].> RGUN/WRATH. Light rail. Inflicts %MAX HP damage. Cooldown. [85 MU] [##KE ANGELS##]> RGUN/VANITY. Railgun. Inflicts %MAX HP damage. Cooldown. [115 MU] [##KE ANGELS##]> ACC/KIRATUMI. Heavy autocannon. Effective against all targets. Cannot be fired while moving. [75 MU] [GDM HVY INDUSTRIES]> CML/ZION. Light cruise missile. 2 uses. [40 MU] [GCC INT]> TBLADE/SUNBURST. Heavy thermal broadsword. Occupies R arm and R back slot. Inflicts devastating multi-target damage. [120 MU] [##DFS MATERIAL CORE##]> DSRP/DSR2. Light disruptor rifle. Increases damage inflicted on subsequent hits. [95 MU] [##VNC RESEARCH##]> IRB/SOLARWIND. CQC neutron projector. Irradiates targets. [95 MU] [##VNC RESEARCH##]//UPGRADE> WEAPON TUNE UP. [5 MU]. Minor improvements to select weapon schematics. > HUNTER SERVO REFIT PACKAGE. [180 MU]. Limited upgrade package for the HUNTER frame +LOAD. > ERRANT SERVO REFIT PACKAGE. [240 MU]. Limited upgrade package for the ERRANT frame +LOAD. //AUX> AUXILLARY COOLANT CELL. Refresh up to 2 turns of combined cooldown for any combination of weapons. [40 MU] [GENERIC]> SERVO OVERLOAD PROTOCOL. Exchange -2 EVASION/+1 LOAD for up to +2 LOAD. [70 MU]> SECONDARY RECON MODULE. Salvage and scout actions permitted after attack actions. [25 MU]//PILOT:> AUG/AXONAL HYPERTROPHY. +1 to all hit rolls. [650 MU] [MIRAI GENETICS]> AUG/ADRENAL AUGMENTATION. Removes combat penalty for crippled mechs. [300 MU] [MIRAI GENETICS]
"SUCKS TO SUCK, SHIN-TARDS. As a REMINDER, my lovely friends, WE GOT A BRAND NEW big shiny laser mech [taps at the thing named 'Nebula'][CORE/NEBULA-C. Medium biped frame, shield/energy weapon specialist. Acceptable load but fragile. Onboard heatsinks for cooldown mitigation.]"So we should get MORE COOL LASERS. 'tis only fair." >>6451691>LAS/POLARIS. Laser cannon. Weight efficient. Cooldown. [45 MU] [HLT PREC LABS]>LAS/CYGNUS. Heavy laser cannon. Weight efficient. Long cooldown. [65 MU] [HLT PREC LABS]>HGL/IRIS. Laser pistol. Exceptional damage for weight, but long cooldown. [35 MU] [##MOCA##].>PGL/ZINC. Plasma pistol. Inflicts [HEAVY] tag. Cooldown. [35 MU] [##MOCA##].>M-PAR/SELENE. Dual mode light particle rifle. Can be overcharged to inflict radiation damage. [70 MU][##MOCA##].>M-THR/ATLAS. Dual mode thermal rifle. Can be overcharged to inflict plasma damage. [110 MU][##MOCA##]."FOR NEBULA.">WEAPON TUNE UP. [5 MU]. Minor improvements to select weapon schematics."WHY NOT?>TBLADE/SUNBURST. Heavy thermal broadsword. Occupies R arm and R back slot. Inflicts devastating multi-target damage. [120 MU] [##DFS MATERIAL CORE##]"COOL SWORD. I WANT COOL SWORD. PLEASE GIVE ME COOL SWORD.">RGUN/VENDETTA. Railcannon. Occupies back and arm slot. Inflicts heavy %MAX HP damage. Cooldown. [170 MU] [##KE-ANGELS##]"IT IS BIG. IT IS HORRIFYING. IT IS COOL.">SECONDARY RECON MODULE. Salvage and scout actions permitted after attack actions. [25 MU]"WE DO NEED TO SCOUT AND SCAVENGE MORE. The other radar would be useful for this, but this does only consume an aux slot."THAT IS ALL I WANT. I do think we should pick SOME COOL AND FUNNY LASERS, but alas. I can not control the whims of my LOVELY FRIENDS WHO LOVE ME BECAUSE I AM HAPPY AND EVERYONE LOVES ME AND-" Someone break her out of her logic loop, please.>>6451481FAMINE offers her own vacant stare to the idol plushie. The neon blue hair, the idol outfit, the fox ears poking from the top of the plushie's head...it is the embodiment, an effigy, of wasted money. FAMINE picks up the container with the same level of caution she'd do if she was holding up something biohazardous. "Uh. I appreciate the gift."The moment SAILOR's gone. She mumbles something about how it's going to cost her 20 MU to clean this damn thing.
>>6451691> CORE/BALLISTA. Heavy tetrapod frame. High LOAD. Bonuses to missile weaponry. [350 MU] [##GCC-INT##].> MSL/MICRO-SWARM. Ultra-heavy swarm rack. Light bonus but effective against all targets. [90 MU] [##GCC INT##]These two are frankly made for one another, and we may as well use that high rep with GCC while we have it. Opens up more potential build variety too.> CML/ZION. Light cruise missile. 2 uses. [40 MU] [GCC INT]And unless this Ballista doesn't have arm slots we don't have a missile choice for arms, so.> ACC/KIRATUMI. Heavy autocannon. Effective against all targets. Cannot be fired while moving. [75 MU] [GDM HVY INDUSTRIES]If we're going to be using these tank frames more, they're gonna need more weaponry that's most effective used by them and them alone. We're a bit short on ways to take up their full combat load.> RAD/ROVER. Scout radar. Significant scouting bonus, scouting actions are free. [80 MU] [RAYLEONARD]> PGL/ZINC. Plasma pistol. Inflicts [HEAVY] tag. Cooldown. [35 MU] [##MOCA##].> RCC/SHRIKE. Light rotary cannon. Effective against all targets. [30 MU] [##GCC INT##]Light build toys.> WEAPON TUNE UP. [5 MU]. Minor improvements to select weapon schematics.And too cheap not to be a decent deal.
>>6451691>>6451696"D'aww, poor widdle Shin-Rai doesn't wanna pway anymore... oh well! Not the first company that's blacklisted me and it sure as hell won't be the last--'sides, we probably stole half their inventory in the last mission. How's THAT for a discount?... Huh. MOCA's being pretty darn generous. How about that..."> WEAPON TUNE UP. [5 MU]. Minor improvements to select weapon schematics.> SBEAM/ICARUS. Dual mode scatter beam. Light bonus on standard attack; can be overcharged for massive damage boost against all targets. [110 MU][##MOCA##].> ARC/ZEUS. Heavy arc flail. Guarenteed multihit. Recharge. [100 MU][##MOCA##].> MSL/MICRO-SWARM. Ultra-heavy swarm rack. Light bonus but effective against all targets. [90 MU] [##GCC INT##]> RCC/SHRIKE. Light rotary cannon. Effective against all targets. [30 MU] [##GCC INT##]> DSRP/DSR2. Light disruptor rifle. Increases damage inflicted on subsequent hits. [95 MU] [##VNC RESEARCH##]> SECONDARY RECON MODULE. Salvage and scout actions permitted after attack actions. [25 MU]
>>6451705Oh, totally forgot to grab this too. Also voting to obtain>SBEAM/ICARUS. Dual mode scatter beam. Light bonus on standard attack; can be overcharged for massive damage boost against all targets. [110 MU][##MOCA##].
>>6451691> RAD/ROVER. Scout radar. Significant scouting bonus, scouting actions are free. [80 MU] [RAYLEONARD]> SECONDARY RECON MODULE. Salvage and scout actions permitted after attack actions. [25 MU]These two will be great if we like double move and scout, or attack and scout/salvage. Every time we salvage some good tech, it means we don't have to buy it.> CIW/HOUND. Kinetic anti-missile drone. Protects allies in node from missile attacks. Assists in combat. [90 MU] [##GCC INT##]> FCS/SIEGE-X Poor targeting performance. Grants option to attack twice per turn. [70 MU] [##GCC-INT##]> RCC/SHRIKE. Light rotary cannon. Effective against all targets. [30 MU] [##GCC INT##]> WEAPON TUNE UP. [5 MU]. Minor improvements to select weapon schematics.> SERVO OVERLOAD PROTOCOL. Exchange -2 EVASION/+1 LOAD for up to +2 LOAD. [70 MU]
>>6451691BACK:> LAS/POLARIS. Laser cannon. Weight efficient. Cooldown. [45 MU] [HLT PREC LABS]> RML/TUNDRA. Neutron missile cell. Heavy radiation area damage. 1 use. [160 MU] [##VNC RESEARCH##]> RAD/ROVER. Scout radar. Significant scouting bonus, scouting actions are free. [80 MU] [RAYLEONARD]"one for me two for crew"ARMS:> HGL/IRIS. Laser pistol. Exceptional damage for weight, but long cooldown. [35 MU[##MOCA##].> RCC/SHRIKE. Light rotary cannon. Effective against all targets. [30 MU] [##GCC INT##]> M-THR/ATLAS. Dual mode thermal rifle. Can be overcharged to inflict plasma damage. [110 MU][##MOCA##].> CML/ZION. Light cruise missile. 2 uses. [40 MU] [GCC INT]> TBLADE/SUNBURST. Heavy thermal broadsword. Occupies R arm and R back slot. Inflicts devastating multi-target damage. [120 MU] [##DFS MATERIAL CORE##]> RGUN/VANITY. Railgun. Inflicts %MAX HP damage. Cooldown. [115 MU] [##KE ANGELS##]> PGL/ZINC. Plasma pistol. Inflicts [HEAVY] tag. Cooldown. [35 MU] [##MOCA##]."with this many lasers we could play a game of laser tag"UPGRADE:> WEAPON TUNE UP. [5 MU]. Minor improvements to select weapon schematics."improvements are always helpful"
Also I will add another set of colors to the palette. As a reminder, current palette options are here:https://rentry.org/VanguardQuestIf you have suggestions for >BASE COAT>HIGHLIGHT>GLOWPlease post the color or hex code. I will try my best to add the most popular votes to the loadout option screen.
>>6451739"time for another Pillow suggest a Wacky color pallet" BLACK because no color exist in my cold ,deep, dead heart but when they see the real me the turn in fear as they cant withstand my [glowing YELLOW] aura AWOOOOO"
>>6451691//BUDGET: 716> SBEAM/ICARUS. Dual mode scatter beam. Light bonus on standard attack; can be overcharged for massive damage boost against all targets. [110 MU][##MOCA##].> SHLD/RIPOSTE. Medium shield, provides hit bonus after taking damage. [50 MU] [HLT PREC LABS]> SHLD/BASTION. Heavy area shield projector. Protects all allies in node. [110 MU] [HLT PREC LABS]> M-THR/ATLAS. Dual mode thermal rifle. Can be overcharged to inflict plasma damage. [110 MU][##MOCA##].> RGUN/VANITY. Railgun. Inflicts %MAX HP damage. Cooldown. [115 MU] [##KE ANGELS##]> ACC/KIRATUMI. Heavy autocannon. Effective against all targets. Cannot be fired while moving. [75 MU] [GDM HVY INDUSTRIES]> DSRP/DSR2. Light disruptor rifle. Increases damage inflicted on subsequent hits. [95 MU] [##VNC RESEARCH##]> WEAPON TUNE UP. [5 MU]. Minor improvements to select weapon schematics.> AUXILLARY COOLANT CELL. Refresh up to 2 turns of combined cooldown for any combination of weapons. [40 MU] [GENERIC]> SECONDARY RECON MODULE. Salvage and scout actions permitted after attack actions. [25 MU]//TOTAL: 710
>>6451739>>6451752+1 to this. Slay, king
>>6451691> AUG/AXONAL HYPERTROPHY. +1 to all hit rolls. [650 MU] [MIRAI GENETICS]We need to buy this sooner or later, because the DCs are only growing> WEAPON TUNE UP. [5 MU]. Minor improvements to select weapon schematics.> SECONDARY RECON MODULE. Salvage and scout actions permitted after attack actions. [25 MU]
>>6451690>SHIN-RAI, however, was conspicuously absent from your listing - a sign that your prior contract had yielded more than just transient negative sentiments.NOOO, I wanted their tetrapod sniper frame FUUUUCK. >>6451691Second try on the "shoot on one turn, salvage on the other turn while waiting for cooldowns" energy weapons build.> LAS/POLARIS. Laser cannon. Weight efficient. Cooldown. [45 MU] [HLT PREC LABS]> LAS/CYGNUS. Heavy laser cannon. Weight efficient. Long cooldown. [65 MU] [HLT PREC LABS]> HUNTER SERVO REFIT PACKAGE. [180 MU]. Limited upgrade package for the HUNTER frame +LOAD. > AUG/AXONAL HYPERTROPHY. +1 to all hit rolls. [650 MU] [MIRAI GENETICS]>>6451705>MORE COOL LASERSTrue and real.Gang, Let's raid a FOUNDATION base next mission. We have a bunch of their coordinates, and stealing their shit is very profitable. Why work for a corporation when you can do armed robbery?Just avoid the evil teleporting god-tumors this time and we're golden.
>>6451696> ASA/BOREALIS. Assault armor module. Inflicts damage to all targets in node. Long cooldown. [120 MU] [##MOCA##]> RGUN/VENDETTA. Railcannon. Occupies back and arm slot. Inflicts heavy %MAX HP damage. Cooldown. [170 MU] [##KE-ANGELS##]> RCC/SHRIKE. Light rotary cannon. Effective against all targets. [30 MU] [##GCC INT##]> M-THR/ATLAS. Dual mode thermal rifle. Can be overcharged to inflict plasma damage. [110 MU][##MOCA##].> M-PAR/SELENE. Dual mode light particle rifle. Can be overcharged to inflict radiation damage. [70 MU][##MOCA##].> DSRP/DSR2. Light disruptor rifle. Increases damage inflicted on subsequent hits. [95 MU] [##VNC RESEARCH##]> WEAPON TUNE UP. [5 MU]. Minor improvements to select weapon schematics.> SECONDARY RECON MODULE. Salvage and scout actions permitted after attack actions. [25 MU] These look useful.
>>6451845That sounds like a good way to get an assassination contract on our asses
>>6451897So.... business as usual, then?
>>6451901When was the last time you were shot at in the bathroom?
>>6451902Like... every time I go to a club on shore leave
>>6451897"WE ALREADY HAD A CONTRACT ON OUR: FAT AND ROTUND ASSES." Famine pulls out a glistening wet slip of paper from god knows where.(> UNIT TERMINATION. [UNKNOWN]. "We have placed a public bounty on an independent mercenary company [THE DUST WALKERS]. Additional details provided after contract acceptance." [240 MU, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, YOU MAY NOT ACCEPT THIS MISSION] )"WE ARE: ALREADY GOING TO GET SHOT IN THE ASS FOR: USING THE PUBLIC BATHROOM.""We might as well burn and pillage their base. Should the need arise."
>>6451907Hear me out: what if we establish a shell company, accept this bounty, find out who placed it, then hit them?
>>6451910"Hmm... could be fun, yea... the banks won't let me take out any loans anymore, though. Just a heads up."
>>6451344"I humbly decide to sit out of this vote.">>6451691> FCS/SIEGE-X Poor targeting performance. Grants option to attack twice per turn. [70 MU] [##GCC-INT##]"Poor performance? All you need is a bit of skill."> LAS/CYGNUS. Heavy laser cannon. Weight efficient. Long cooldown. [65 MU] [HLT PREC LABS]> SBEAM/ICARUS. Dual mode scatter beam. Light bonus on standard attack; can be overcharged for massive damage boost against all targets. [110 MU][##MOCA##].> RAD/ROVER. Scout radar. Significant scouting bonus, scouting actions are free. [80 MU] [RAYLEONARD]> CIW/HOUND. Kinetic anti-missile drone. Protects allies in node from missile attacks. Assists in combat. [90 MU] [##GCC INT##]> HGL/IRIS. Laser pistol. Exceptional damage for weight, but long cooldown. [35 MU] [##MOCA##].> PGL/ZINC. Plasma pistol. Inflicts [HEAVY] tag. Cooldown. [35 MU] [##MOCA##].> ACC/KIRATUMI. Heavy autocannon. Effective against all targets. Cannot be fired while moving. [75 MU] [GDM HVY INDUSTRIES]> TBLADE/SUNBURST. Heavy thermal broadsword. Occupies R arm and R back slot. Inflicts devastating multi-target damage. [120 MU] [##DFS MATERIAL CORE##]> WEAPON TUNE UP. [5 MU]. Minor improvements to select weapon schematics.> SECONDARY RECON MODULE. Salvage and scout actions permitted after attack actions. [25 MU]>Total 710 MU>6 MU left"Wow, if only our Shin-Rai stock maneuver worked out, ha ha ha...">>6451659"Well, uh... You always speak all proper like, and you seem to not get into stupid shit like the rest of us, so I think it's plenty dignified by my standards. Although I wouldn't be opposed to seeing you let loose once in a while. You should come party with us on shore leave one of these days!">>6451705"Hey, if you don't want it, I'll keep it. Love cute shit like this.">>6451910"I mean, it's gotta be foundies, right? I guess now Shin-Rai could put out a few hits, too..."
>>6451927Yeah, but we don't know who the foundies actually are.
>>6451691>CORE/BALLISTA. Heavy tetrapod frame. High LOAD. Bonuses to missile weaponry. [350 MU] [##GCC-INT##].> GLH/ANVIL. Heavy HEAT bazooka. Multihit to original target on max roll. [120 MU] [GCC INT]> MSL/MICRO-SWARM. Ultra-heavy swarm rack. Light bonus but effective against all targets. [90 MU] [##GCC INT##]> RAD/ROVER. Scout radar. Significant scouting bonus, scouting actions are free. [80 MU] [RAYLEONARD]> ACC/KIRATUMI. Heavy autocannon. Effective against all targets. Cannot be fired while moving. [75 MU] [GDM HVY INDUSTRIES]>>6451845"Fine by me. We have more equipment and firepower now.""I want to take out another one of their secret places. Raze it to the ground, and loot everything we can. It will pay us well. This time we will need more prisoners and data.">>6451897>>6451902"They stalk and monitor us already from a distance. And like Famine pointed out, they even put a contract to kill us. Paying some people on foot is easy enough for them.""Unless you are walking out alone, with no gun or armor on your suit when you go into the Nest Station, and go in the worst sectors possible, then you should be good. I can kill any gunman they send at me, and I can count on backup being from Dustwalkers or fellow martians I know. Just call us, or some of the Sons of Olympus boys and gals.">>6451928"We know they are filthy bastards, that prey on our kin and are putting Mars in danger. And they are most likely from Old Earth.""We destroyed one of their ships, and know another one. We have the location of more of their hidey-holes.""It's enough."
>>6451978forgot name
>>6451691> CORE/FENCER. Medium/light biped frame. Fragile, but well optimized for evasive combat. [220 MU] [ORBITALE]"The upgraded Lancer chassis is sharply limited in terms of practicable configurations it allows and the avionics are still, at best, mediocre. I have perused the combat logs of your encounters with Foundation frames and note that they often exhibit very high maneuverability. This deficiency in our force structure must be remedied if we mean to take the fight to them."> LAS/POLARIS. Laser cannon. Weight efficient. Cooldown. [45 MU] [HLT PREC LABS]> SBEAM/ICARUS. Dual mode scatter beam. Light bonus on standard attack; can be overcharged for massive damage boost against all targets. [110 MU][##MOCA##].> SHLD/RIPOSTE. Medium shield, provides hit bonus after taking damage. [50 MU] [HLT PREC LABS]> HGL/IRIS. Laser pistol. Exceptional damage for weight, but long cooldown. [35 MU] [##MOCA##].> PGL/ZINC. Plasma pistol. Inflicts [HEAVY] tag. Cooldown. [35 MU] [##MOCA##]."That Nebula looks awkward in the core roster, for there is scarcely anything in your fabrication catalog that can take advantage of the design's peculiarities."> IRB/SOLARWIND. CQC neutron projector. Irradiates targets. [95 MU] [##VNC RESEARCH##]"What is this...thing...? I must confess that I am taken with the terrestrial obsession with radiological weaponry."> SERVO OVERLOAD PROTOCOL. Exchange -2 EVASION/+1 LOAD for up to +2 LOAD. [70 MU]"Very interesting and familiar. True heavy frames are rare among the Clades. My line certainly never deployed any. Heavy firepower in a frame section was provided by a medium chassis subject to a protocol similar to this."> SECONDARY RECON MODULE. Salvage and scout actions permitted after attack actions. [25 MU]> WEAPON TUNE UP. [5 MU]. Minor improvements to select weapon schematics. Total: 690
>>6451739FAF9F6 for HIGHLIGHT since there aren't any light color options right now. There's gotta be at least one person in this thread that wants to go all white and cosplay as White Glint.
>>6451691> CORE/BALLISTA. Heavy tetrapod frame. High LOAD. Bonuses to missile weaponry. [350 MU] [##GCC-INT##].> SBEAM/ICARUS. Dual mode scatter beam. Light bonus on standard attack; can be overcharged for massive damage boost against all targets. [110 MU][##MOCA##].> MSL/MICRO-SWARM. Ultra-heavy swarm rack. Light bonus but effective against all targets. [90 MU] [##GCC INT##]> RCC/SHRIKE. Light rotary cannon. Effective against all targets. [30 MU] [##GCC INT##]> SECONDARY RECON MODULE. Salvage and scout actions permitted after attack actions. [25 MU]> WEAPON TUNE UP. [5 MU]. Minor improvements to select weapon schematics.>>6451724“They sold to us whether they wanted to or not. Top shelf, cutting edge shit too!”>>6451752“I think it’s time to lay off the uppers, buddy.”>>6451845“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I agree with Earth. We’re the only group that we know of that even knows about these guys, let alone resisted them. Mars will only heal when they’re dead.”>>6451897“I wouldn’t worry about it. I’m still miffed that they thought we were only worth 240 MU, less than a damn Frame license.”>>6451978“Hear hear brother, they are bastards rotten to the core who will have their insides vented into the fine Martian atmosphere! Hopefully at the hands of present company.”>>6451987“I’m perfectly good at fighting maneuverable opponents. The trick is to fill the air with so many bullets that they cannot dodge you.”
>>6451691>CORE/BALLISTA>RML/TUNDRA>IRB/SOLARWIND>SECONDARY RECON MODULE"Market day always looks very bright, innit?"
I will probably update and close the shop vote tomorrow so I have time to model everything. If you haven't voted on shop items and would like to, please try to do so before tomorrow night
Finally stirring after some kind of prolonged slumber, KOMODO and its comms seem to register some kind of voice."...working?" *ksssh* "...hear...?" *krrrshhhh*The voice going through KOMODO's comms sounds distorted-- low, raspy. Almost human, but... uncanny, somehow. After a few more minutes of similar calling phrases being repeated and suppressed by static, the comms go quiet once more. As the mech moves to participate in new purchases, nothing more can be heard.--->>6451691>>6451696> RML/TUNDRA. Neutron missile cell. Heavy radiation area damage. 1 use. [160 MU] [##VNC RESEARCH##]> ERRANT SERVO REFIT PACKAGE. [240 MU]. Limited upgrade package for the ERRANT frame +LOAD.> M-PAR/SELENE. Dual mode light particle rifle. Can be overcharged to inflict radiation damage. [70 MU][##MOCA##].> FCS/SIEGE-X Poor targeting performance. Grants option to attack twice per turn. [70 MU] [##GCC-INT##]> SECONDARY RECON MODULE. Salvage and scout actions permitted after attack actions. [25 MU]
Though a day in the medbay restored her homeostasis quite handily, Hexe was still on the verge of having her stomach lining dissolved with the dosages of non-narcotic painkillers supplied by her medical subsystem. The lingering aches and pains were the least of her problems, however. Not wanting to bother the Commander, Hexe resolved that there was only one member of the Dustwalkers who could help her.Still, someone of such import demanded deference even in the most trivial matters. After (quite unsubtly) shadowing the cyborg for the better part of an hour, Hexe decided that conditions were right for her to approach,>>6451907“Hello...Famine. I wish to inquire...regarding the lack of a specialist cyberneticist among the crew of this transport. Given your corpus and the maintenance requirements thereof and this situation that sees us targeted by the Foundation, have you a trusted specialist on the NEST that you could recommend? I have been having...difficulties.">>6452032“Volume of fire fails to overcome a maneuverable target when there is a manifest discrepancy between the effective traverse rate of the weapons system and the rate of lateral or vertical movement of the target. This is only compounded by the long flight time of primitive ballistic projectiles.”>>6451927“It is very heartening to hear such things, especially from those I hold in high esteem. I am honored that you would deign to invite me to ‘party’ during this ‘shore leave’. Luckily, I had the presence of mind to secret away my dress uniform among what few personal belongings I could abscond with. It is eminently fit for formal occasions. I have had license to wear it but four times. Three of these were events of great significance or edification, which I cherish.”
>>6452588"BWUH? THERE WAS ANOTHER GUY HERE?" The robotic entity formerly and currently known as FAMINE picks up on the muted call. "HELLO, YES, WE HEAR YOU. WHERE DID YOU COME FROM, WHERE DID YOU GO, WHERE DID YOU COME FROM COTTON EYE KOMODO?""I HOPE YOU'RE NOT ONE OF THOSE EARTH GUYS. I hear GAMBLER calling them words I can't repeat on this Christian station. Even if I see no reason why earth dudes should be disliked.""REGARDLESS! HELLO, THE LIZARD THING! PLEASE, I WISH TO MEAT MY NEW FWIEND.">>6451927"FEEL FREE." FAMINE hastily stuffs the soulless plushie into the waiting hands of Ruin. "THIS THING IS A DEMON AND I THINK IT SPOKE TO ME IN LATIN. YOU UH. YOU MIGHT WANNA CLEAN THAT, RU-RU.">>6452659"Hm?" The cyborg cranes her head down at Hexe. Seems like she caught her at a good time, since she's actually coherent for once. "I do most of my repairs by myself. This body I have is handmade and I do not trust half of the freaks and degenerates here to PROPERLY tend to it." She pounds her fist against her chest, with every knock ringing out hollow. "However, hmmm.""I believe I have a contact in the NEST. Family friend, though I do not recall a family friend of who." FAMINE wrenches a plastic card from a slot somewhere on her body. "He doesn't ask questions. Pricy, very pricy, but he might give you a discount if you tell me I sent you. Whatever ails you is certainly lesser than what's happening to you-""To...Ngh." FAMINE places one hand on the side of her head. She drops the card into Hexe's hand without another word, hoping it'll be enough to help her out.
>>6452588"Might want to check on your transmitters there. Can't hear a word you're saying. How about you get off your mech and come say hi? Don't get shy, plenty of people like Sailor got used to us.">>6452659"A dress uniform, you say... I'm not certain this would be the best for the sort of partying we tend to partake in, unless blood and vomit stain come off the fabric easy." He ponders for a moment. "Well, unless we make it an extra special outing, like that time at Waffle House, but fancier..." He pulls out some sort of comms device, types on it for a moment, and puts it to his ear. "Yo, Gambi. You got any idea for a place to spend the evening in that's a little more high-brow than the usual? Got a request from a very fancy lady, ysee...">>6452666Receiving the plushie, Ruin snickers. "What, you think our boy Sailor would go and dirty something like that? Surely that's not his style." He gives it a sniff, and recoils immediately. "...will do, Fami."
>>6452470Nice thanks for the hard work.
The noise from Komodo's comms prompts the pilot within to attempt some kind of reply. A sharp whining sound can be heard in most other mechs-- a whistle, then more static. Eventually, after a loud pop, something clearly comes through. >>6452666The loud proclamations of cotton eyes and lizard things confuse the pilot briefly-- mumblings and repetitions are the first things to be heard from the cockpit, but are soon joined by words! Real words. Real words, spoken by that same raspy voice from before."...hello. Sorry-- seems I've only gotten my comms to work just now. Radiation must be interfering with them somehow," the pilot pauses to cough."I'm no lizard thing, stranger. Just a man from orbit in need of a job. Certainly not from Earth." More static interferes with what comes next, and an angry grumble follows it minutes later. "It's still giving me some trouble. I'll have to work that out later." >>6452831A second voice appeared soon after, so the pilot shifted his attention appropriately. An invitation to leave his mech...?"Don't know about any Sailor, here." The pilot grumbled again, tapping something and prompting another round of static across his comms. "Think I've got the problem. I'll see if I can sort it out."Despite the lack of reply to Ruin's invitation, anyone looking towards Komodo might see a slightly clearer windshield in the cockpit. No longer shaded to the point of obscurity, anyone still watching could now see what seemed to be some sort of specialized space suit tinkering with Komodo's control panel.
>>6452831"Fancy, hmm?" Purrs GAMBLER as she puffs a fresh cigarette with a wry grin, "Well if we're talkin' fancy I know a place near Io where they've got this big fish tank, yea? Looks like an ocean from the surface--sand and all--and you point out a fish that looks tasty and BOOM--the staff spears it for ya' and prepares it any way you like!"The girl licks her lips as what you can only assume is a sumptuous memory graces her mind. "Frickin' decadent, man. I still have dreams about that sashimi. Probably cost more than three of me, too--thank god for dumb, drunk, easily-suggestible corpo execs..."
>>6452831"The sword. Ruin, ask if I can bring the sword. It is very important. I would be incomplete without it."
>>6452919“No dress uniform is complete without a blade of some kind. I’ll take mine if you take yours.”Ogre withdraws a roughly seven inch blade from a crevasse deep in his personal locker. He draws it and makes a show of having it catch the dim light of the crew lounge.“Meteoric iron with nickel-chromium alloy. Taken straight from one of the meteors that formed the Hellas crater. So we always have a chunk of home with us.”>>6452831“Now let me see if this dress uniform still fits, I’ve put on a bit more muscle since then…”Ogre also withdraws a sleek black and red suit from his locker. It has been folded for so long that permanent creases cross its smooth surfaces.It will most certainly not fit.
//PURCHASE ORDER:> SECONDARY RECON MODULE. [25 MU]> WEAPON TUNE UP. [5 MU]> RCC/SHRIKE. [30 MU]> SBEAM/ICARUS.[110 MU].> RAD/ROVER. [80 MU]> PGL/ZINC. [35 MU]> CORE/BALLISTA. [350 MU]> MSL/MICRO-SWARM. [90 MU]TOTAL: 725 MU REMAINING: 0 MU, 9 MU withdrawn from investment accountAfter spending several weeks deliberating with your mercenaries, you submit a final requisition list to the NEST supply office. The bulk of your equipment order was comprised of tried-and-true designs from GCC: A lighter variant of a rotary cannon, a mid-tier scouting radar, and a BALLISTA-class missile tetrapod. You hoped that the latter would improve your company's ability to sustain guided missile fire, particularly when paired with a heavy MICRO-SWARM missile rack you had included as a last-minute addition. You had also - perhaps against your better judgement - spent a considerable sum of your earnings on one of MOCA's schematics. Though the inscrutable AI had provided few details prior to the purchase, you are sent a fabrication blueprint for a back-mounted scatter-beam weapon that - according to specifications - could be overcharged to slag an area the size of a small habitation block. It was high risk, high reward weapon that would hopefully mate well with the NEBULA-class frame you had salvaged from your last contract.Though your company had made some efforts to increase the capacity of your transport's forge-vats, there was no way to overcome basic mass and time constraints. Even operating at maximum capacity, it would take two or three weeks for your transport to fabricate all of the new equipment you had ordered. Slug - one of the engineers - had also been less than enthusiastic about fabricating the SHIN-RAI REDLINE prototype without validation testing, which would add at least another week to the timetable.In other words, your company would be staying in orbit for the near future, and your mercenary pilots were in a state of enforced R&R until the timeline narrowed enough for you to commit to a new contract. Few of them seem to be terribly upset about the delay. The ever-laconic Major even shows a rare moment of laxity by putting her infantry on a reduced drilling schedule. After you finish managing hires, salary, and the various other less-than-glorious tasks that came with running a mercenary company, you find yourself in a remarkably similar position as your pilots. An excess of time. A rarity for a Martian. >MERCENARY INFO. Attempt to gather information about other mercenary companies.>PLAGUE INFO. Attempt to gather information about the status of the quarantine perimeter.>R&R. Attempt some kind of company-wide R&R?
>>6453126>MERCENARY INFO. Attempt to gather information about other mercenary companies.
>>6453126>>PLAGUE INFO. Attempt to gather information about the status of the quarantine perimeter.
>>6453126>PLAGUE INFO. Attempt to gather information about the status of the quarantine perimeter.
>>6452907"Can hear you much clearer, but, uh...You got some sort of condition or something? You don't have to suit up, those mech pods are vacuum-sealed.">>6452912"Oh, shit, do you think they'd let me spear it? That sounds pretty good, and plenty fancy for Hexe... Any chance the dress code would accept flower shirts?">>6452919"Yeah, I mean, probably. If you don't go swinging it around like a madwoman there's no reason for them to deny you entry - everyone has a weapon in their pocket anyways, yours is just bigger than most's.">>6452992"Phew, pretty good looking. Might need a bit of ironing, and you might need a bit of exercise, but it's looking clean.">>6453126>R&R. Attempt some kind of company-wide R&R?"Fuck work, at this point."
>>6453194"I mean... if you're paying for the meal they'd HAVE to let you spear it yourself, ri-">>6453126>R&R. Attempt some kind of company-wide R&R?"C-COMPANY-MANDATED R&R!?!?!?!? COMPANY-MANDATED R&R!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"The comms channel auto-adjusts to its lowest volume as it registers the ensuing shrieks at damaging-level decibels.
>>6452907"HE DOESN'T KNOW THE TELL OF THE COTTON EYED ONE? THAT WAS THE BEST EARTH SONG OF ALL TIME...""REGARDLESS," The shrill voiced android dismisses her own incoherent train of thought. "YOU DO KNOW THERE'S A SPECIES OF LIZARD CALLED KOMODOS, RIGHT? I THOUGHT THAT'S WHY YOU PICKED YOUR CODENAME. LIKE HOW SNOWMAN LIKES SNOWMEN, OR HOW GAMBLER KEEPS RUINING RUIN'S BANKING ACCOUNT, OR HOW-""NEVERMIND. WE ALWAYS NEED NEW FACES AROUND HERE. STRANGE LITTLE SUIT YOU GOT ON, THOUGH. HAVEN'T SEEN ONE OF THOSE IN A WHILE.">>6453126>PLAGUE INFO. Attempt to gather information about the status of the quarantine perimeter."CUT OUT THE SICKNESS THAT PLAGUES THIS WORLD."
>>6452032"Ogre Ogre Ogre... don't worry, I only took like 3.. or was it 6? it it doesn't matter the pills, vapors, liquids that enter my body I know with a... 46 percent certainty wont have any long term effects that I know of.">>6453126>MERCENARY INFO. Attempt to gather information about other mercenary companies."it would be useful to know what are maybe enemies could be with that good ole bounty still on us"
>>6452831"F-Formalwear? I'll, stay behind. Cadet suit wouldn't. Fit." Sailor is thankfully distracted by the whole kerfuffle about KOMODO, sparing him the slander levelled at him by Famine. All he'd done with that plushie was have it sit atop his lithography workbench as a good-luck mascot. Just some lingering caustic fumes, no biggie.>>6452907"Um, Sssailor here." Looking at the wayward mech, he has to fiddle with the audio dials on his headset's flank to compensate for the signal distortion. "Need... help with, egress?">>6453126>>PLAGUE INFO. Attempt to gather information about the status of the quarantine perimeter."Corps are just, opportunists. Li-like secondary infections. We should aim for. What's, killing Mars."
>>6453194Hexe’s features twisted in a grimace as far as the ocular implants immobilizing the upper half of her face allowed. “Perish the thought! It is an article of dignity, only to be drawn in exceptional circumstances, to say nothing of deigning to play the fool and swing it. It is not a battlefield weapon, in actuality, and I am not trained in its use.”“I am reminded of when I was offered an absurd sum for it on Ganymede. The would-be buyer was, unfortunately, under the misapprehension that it was an ultrasonic blade. I informed him that such was the remit of boarding section commandos and, besides—” Hexe tapped the dorsal side of her wrist. “Integrated, more often than not. They do not, in fact, make a habit of breaching stricken vessels with sword in hand outside of fanciful terrestrial depictions of our depredations upon their shipping. His disappointment seemed immeasurable.”>>6452992“Fascinating and...economical,” Hexe said, looking over the small blade as Ogre showed it off. “The sentimental value inherent in it is familiar. The swords we were issued when commissioned as warriors carry a similar idea through their material makeup. High-entropy alloy, fabricated into a seventy-centimeter blade. The process is essentially inimitable under terrestrial conditions. The hilt is…”Hexe looked to the side and shrugged. “...less cohesive, in sentiment. An enlarged D-guard to accommodate a two-handed grip, supposedly an artifact of some transitional style from pre-spaceflight Terra that Progenitor Wingate was unreasonably taken with. Guard and backstrap are rhodium-plated, of course.”The sight of the Martian dress uniform and, in particular, its color scheme, gave Hexe a start. “Oh my. This is quite the surprise. The colors of our respective uniforms are an uncanny match. As per the writ of the parent Clade: black, for the boundless void we call home; red, for the sacrament of blood with which we nourish the former. Somewhat trite; very common notions among the Clades. The Conjunction I attended saw at least six score Clades represented. At least a plurality of the warriors at that gathering, by my reckoning, came dressed in these same colors."
>>6452666Hexe looked down at the plastic card, her implants scanning it in vain for any barcodes or active circuitry. The charming archaism brought a smile to her face. Such could be expected of a venerable—...handmade!? And maintained by herself!? She looked back over to Famine. It simply did not compute, but she had to admit the evidence before her. A rustic, ancient chassis of her imagination was replaced by the reality of Famine’s makeshift shell. Her own equipment woes momentarily forgotten, Hexe was incensed on the admittedly strange cyborg’s behalf.“Who would do such a thing to you? The time and capital expended in furnishing this body for you, such as it is, indicates no small amount of esteem. And yet to then leave you to fend for yourself...! Such dishonor! Why and by whom was such an indignity inflicted upon you, Famine?”how tall is Famine, if you don't mind? Who's looking up/down is usually pretty cut and dried for other interactions, but I'm not 100% sure here. It's alright if you don't have the exact number, since I only have the ballpark figure of over 7' for Hexe. As a side note, definitely not natural and a clear indication of whatever geneticists were responsible prioritizing aesthetic/ideological sensibilities over optimizing performance.>>6452907“From orbit? What orbit, exactly? Could it be that we are, perhaps, distant kin?”>>6453594“Are you certain in this course? May I not be able to change your mind? I wish that you would accompany me, in truth. If the cadet dress is the Vanguard uniform writ small, I can only disagree with the assertion that it is undignified for such occasions. Ah, and we have yet to discuss why you did not deploy your nuclear armament against the contracted targets. I remain mystified as to your reasons. We can discuss that and more besides if you choose to come along.”>>6453126>R&R. Attempt some kind of company-wide R&R?"Commander, I am told there is to be a 'party'. It is imperative that I attend. I need to make the necessary arrangements for this formal occasion."
>>6453647FAMINE is a freak of nature. 7~ feet, give or take. So I assume they would be roughly eye level, with FAMINE probably being slightly taller given she's a full borg.So probably less craning and moreso tilting her head down slightly.FAMINE tilts her head, like the equally tall girl just asked her if the sun was neon blue, or if you can safely breathe in space with nothing more than a fish bowl over your head. "It is a matter of pride, mostly. Besides, there is a certain...tenderness that must be required. To repair me. For this shell is both a way of making me stronger, and a way to...sustain what it is inside." A hiss of steam erupts from a port on the full borg's neck.Anyone with any degree of mechanical expertise can tell that whoever made FAMINE's body was either brain damaged, had little to no experience with crafting robotics. or both. The materials used, and the techniques selected to cobble it together, are not that of an expert's hand. It would almost be considered outsider art, if she was a statue and not a living, 'breathing' entity. The fact she is able to carry herself with seemingly little issue is a miracle in of itself."I knOW MY OWN BODY, and the ROTTEN MEAT inside, more than ANYONE ELSE. I DO...not wish to..." There it is. That crack in her facade. The subtle twitching of cyberpsychosis kicking in. With a shudder, FAMINE tries to ground herself. "This...frame, by the standards of most, is akin to the archaic Lancer and Rook mechs we used. I have a...perverse sentimentality to it. Perhaps that is why I tend to...stick to self maintenance. I will admit, it is not optimal. Nor is it healthy.""I could point out the same about your altered genetics." FAMINE points out, hovering a blunted claw right over HEXE's head.
>>6453126>>R&R. Attempt some kind of company-wide R&R?Builders know we need it after the last few contracts.
Update tomorrow apologies for the delay. Here are some more new parts.
>>6453647"... Eh?" Sailor is not prepared for this situation; most people are perfectly happy to leave him out of social obligations. At least, since he got his visor installed. He hadn't anticipated that Hexe would try to drag him out again given her adverse reaction to the NEST foray. Lenses shutter and zoom every which way, flipping through every perceivable spectrum in search of an escape route. "I. We co-could. Text? Don't think I'd, be good, uhh, company."Boy, he sure wishes he'd saved that YOSEMITE right about now. Riding it straight out the hangar would be the most conclusive way out of this. With no way to gracefully escape the cyborg with a solid fifteen inches of reach on him, his excuses devolve into mumbles, the most audible snippets sounding something like 'sprout' and 'ankles' and 'hangover'.
>>6453612“I don’t think there’s anything quite that fancy about my colors, black just makes people look damn good and the whole planet has a “red” thing going on. Now that you mention it, it’s funny how often they appear next to each other.”Ogre lets out a low whistle upon seeing the blade. “Now that is a damn nice piece. That guard there, if I remember my schooling days well enough it was used for dueling blades as well as cavalry sabers. I guess us Vanguard pilots are a bit of both, it suits you well.”
Rolled 1 (1d2)Kerberos slept soundly in the humble pilot's accommodations he had been assigned after return to the transport ship. It was much better quarters than he had been used to growing up a vagrant on a planet such as Mars was now, and anything was better than sleeping in garbage heaps or inside rusted pipes to escape acid rain.He didn't just sleep well because of the cabin's actual bed; he had been up many nights these past few weeks theory crafting a blueprint for what he could do with his Errant if they bought in to the service package for the old machine. Better handling, improved suspension and most important of all, better weapon loadout. The EMP Rifle he had brought along had underperformed, and he very much wanted it replaced by something more impactful, though he lacked any acceptable substitute. The FURY Sniper Rilfe was his go-to replacement, but a trial outfitting right before the past mission had seen the left shoulder joint of his machine almost snap in half due to the weight, and the engineering crew had to put in significant effort to repair and rearm the machine to ensure he didn't miss the drop entirely.He snored loudly as he rolled over on his side, his mind deep in his own little dreamscape.A siren cut through the air like a warm commercial laser kitchen knife through cholesterol free substitute butter. Kerberos, startled by the noise, sprang up from his bed in a panic and consequently hit his head on the lamp just above the bedpost. Rubbing his forming bump in annoyance, he vaulted off his mattress and went over to his computer terminal to turn off the alarm. The sound of silence filled his room again. He let out a tired yawn as he stretched his arms to attempt to banish the dream daemons from his mind.Deciding with a great deal of mental effort against going back to bed, he blearily went through the shipboard communique to see if he had missed anything important during his nap. Cargo Manifests, Damage Reports, Final Requisiton List, Ammunition Expenditures, Food Stock Manife—His gaze snapped to the Final Requisiton List message, his previous drowsiness all but forgotten. He opened the message and saw the agreed upon purchase list. His Errant service package was not on there. He looked at the message send date: 12 hours, 43 minutes ago. He'd forgotten to submit his proposal.His head hit the metal desk dejectedly. Now his planned upgrades would have to wait for who knows how long.As he lay there wallowing in misery of his own make, another message appeared in the inbox. It seemed the comapny would be stuck for rather long in orbit, and two options for the pilots had been presented to ease boredom. He had no particular interest in either subject, but considered it better to engage in either over doing nothing. He retrieved one of his old mementos, a Martian Coin from before life had been so bad, and flipped it. Chance would decide for him.>>6453126Coinflip!>Heads (1) - Plague Info>Tails (2) Company R&R
>PLAGUE INFO>R&RThere is no escape from the plague. The diamond-bonded windows encircling the NEST station offer a constant panoramic view of your homeworld and its ugly, equatorial belt of plague contamination. The flicker of irradiator fire plays over the planet's atmosphere. The flash-rumble of orbital irradiator fire had - after years - become as familiar to you as the boom of distant thunder to a child of Earth. As a result, you don't need anyone to tell you that the situation was deteriorating. You superimpose the image in front of you with a capture of Mars you had taken a week ago. The quarantine perimeter had expanded. Worse, the border of the plague zone had a ragged appearance similar to blotchy ink: a sign that the quarantine satellites were still failing to fully sterilize the equatorial latitudes. As your transport had docked, you recall seeing the foundries in high orbit glow with dull-red heat as they operated furiously to replace entire constellations of expended satellites. However, there were some questions that you couldn't answer through observation alone. It had taken you several days to arrange a meeting with the NEST representative. A magnetically driven elevator sweeps through the NEST station's central transit corridor before depositing you in a familiar, nondescript office occupied by an equally nondescript man. His ocular augmentations had - by your estimate - been upgraded or replaced since you last met. They whirr gently like fine clockwork."...it's a simple question" you state bluntly. "based on the number of terran mercenaries here, it's obvious that Earth tracking the situation carefully."The representative nods. "That is an accurate statement. You may be interested to know that NEST only pays a minority of their contracts. The majority receive support entirely from off-planet accounts, almost certainly Terran."He pauses, considering your question again. "I will tell you this. The matter is strongly being considered. The corporations are supportive of direct military intervention. The current level of plague activity is unsustainable, and it exceeds the capacity of the closure authority to manage. The mercenaries they have sent are not yet expended, but I doubt they will be sufficient to assure any specific outcomes. There are reports of terran naval assets being concentrated in the lunar docks."You sigh. It was probably the most specific answer that someone in his position could give. "A bad outcome." You say simply.The representative smiles mirthlessly. "For everyone involved. I have seen your service history, Martian. I apologies if this evokes particularly unpleasant memories."You don't offer a response to that statement. "We will be looking for new contracts in a week's time."He smiles, genuinely. "Very well. I have arranged for a few clients that my be of particular interest to you, given your prior contracts."
+++++++++You return to the transport a few hours later. Despite the fact that your company had been shockingly successful over the past few weeks, it was difficult to escape a certain sense of despondency - real or imagined - that had settled in your mind. You scroll through a lengthy list of miscellaneous tasks before remembering - quite suddenly - that you had promised your mercenaries some proper, organized R&R several weeks before the previous contract. Granted, the concept was a bit of a misnomer without terrestrial access, but there were still things that qualified as luxuries even board a closed-loop NEST station. You supposed that the time window you were in now was as good as any.A few days later, based on the feedback of several mercenaries more experienced with these matters than yourself, you arrange a group reservation at one of the finer establishments located near the glittering apex of the NEST station. You had it on decent authority that the location served genuine, hydroponically grown food rather than the fungal reconstitution mixture that made up the bulk of your typical protein supply. It was also one of the few areas of the station too expensive to be occupied by significant numbers of terran mercenaries.You watch with bemusement as your band of pilots, recon infantry, engineers, and various support staff present in an eclectic mix of dress uniforms and assorted formal-wear. R&R ACTIVITIES [EACH PLAYER CAN SELECT 1]:> GAMBLE. Each mercenary receives 2 MU FROM THE INVESTMENT POOL. ROLL 1d26 [ODD: LOSE 2 MU | EVEN: GAIN 2 MU | 26 GAIN 15 MU]> SOCIALIZE - ENGINEERING TEAM. ROLL 1d10 [10 GAIN A SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE]> SOCIALIZE - DESIGN TEAM. ROLL 1d4 [4 CHOOSE NEW A COLOR PALETTE]
Rolled 4 (1d4)>>6454059Cyclops doubles over, clutching her eyepatch with an agony painted across her entire body. She staggers across the floor, coated in cold sweat and wracked with uncontrollable tremors, her face pallid and gaunt, as she barely manages to prop herself up against the wall.Almost on instinct she reaches into her vacant eye socket, casting her patch to the floor and pulling out... something. A stench of rot and rust fills the air as she chucks a lump of smoldering biomass onto the floor, quickly restabilizing as she does. Something is wrong with her, has been for a while, but for now, she can't do anything but keep fighting. Well, except clean up this mess, which she opts to do before anyone can see something amiss.---Sorry for being so absent the last couple missions. I should be back now and around more consistently.> SOCIALIZE - DESIGN TEAM. ROLL 1d4 [4 CHOOSE NEW A COLOR PALETTE]
Rolled 6 (1d26)>>6454059The overwhelming presence of FAMINE is undercut slightly when she staggers into the establishment, clad in a tacky, outdated and overly feminine dress. Its floral design and bright colors do not mesh at all with FAMINE's, well, new body. In the slightest. It's like the fashion equivalent of putting a tutu on a mangy stray. It's a miracle it hasn't torn itself to shreds by now.It doesn't take a genius to realize this was a dress she used to wear before she got turned into a gibbering cyborg. You suppose even a robot can feel the urge to feel pretty sometimes.>GAMBLE. Each mercenary receives 2 MU FROM THE INVESTMENT POOL. ROLL 1d26 [ODD: LOSE 2 MU | EVEN: GAIN 2 MU | 26 GAIN 15 MU]"I KNOW MY LUCK IS NOT. IS NOT. GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE OTHERS. LET IT. LET IT. LET IT. LET IT. LET IT. LET IT-" "RIDE."
>>6454068Cyclops has an in with one of the designers— and a surprising knack for chemistry. She realized that applying, then neutralizing a mild base could convert the existing purple pigment into a bright, almost garish magenta. She knows the commander wouldn't approve, but momma wants that pink mech
Rolled 21 (1d26)>>6454059'Company-wide R&R.'The minute the message hit company inboxes, GAMBLER was already tearing into a supply of bootleg hooch she claimed to have been saving for a 'Rainy Day'.The miniscule merc had been a live wire all the way to the NEST Station--the girl quaking in her seat like a Pomeranian loaded up with a silo of Bolivian Marching Powder. By the time the dropship reached the station proper, the merc was all but cartwheeling out of the ship with wide eyes and a bottle in hand!"R! AND! R!" she chants, cackling like a madwoman in her admittedly fancy-looking dress, "R! AND! R!" Her excitement would almost be infectious... if, that is, it didn't seem a bit more... forced than usual?"Company leave," She mutters as she places a freshly-lit cigarette between her lips, "Goddamn beautiful... right, who wants ta' come see me clean out some rich assholes at Martian Hold-Em?">GAMBLE, DUH!
>>6454074"Gambi..."
>>6454076"Oh hey, you're back! Say, spare a gal a few chips, wouldja? I can feel a streak in the air..."
>>6454077"Sorry, cashed in hours ago. The shit I need to make this pink paint in bulk ain't gonna buy itself."
Rolled 8 (1d10)>>6454059> SOCIALIZE - ENGINEERING TEAM. ROLL 1d10 [10 GAIN A SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE]
Rolled 10 (1d26)>>6454059Gashadokuro strolls into the lounge, clearly unaccustomed to the ill-fitting rental tuxedo he's currently in."Why'd they have to make these so bloody itchy, anyways?! Ugh, I ain't fit to be like them old Earth 'aristos'..."He idly scratches his neck and wrists as he spots the gambling floor of the party."This should make me forget my itch for a bit.">GAMBLE
Rolled 10 (1d10)>>6454059Komodo's pilot, never seen without the suit, seemed as quiet as ever during the crew's "mandated R&R." Bizarrely, he almost seemed more tense-- the pair of glowing orbs that would occasionally surface on the black surface of the suit's mask would never stay in the same place for long, always shifting someplace within a second or two of lingering. The eyes seemed to linger longest on those discussing what the crew had learned of the plague... but no greater consistency could be gleaned from them.> SOCIALIZE - ENGINEERING TEAM. ROLL 1d10 [10 GAIN A SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE]
Rolled 15 (1d26)>>6454058As I feared. The recent plague outbreak is scaring the Earth Sphere enough that they are marshaling the navy. Normally it's impossible to get them to agree to a singular course of action, what with all the nations and corpos influencing decision making. Plague changes the calculus. They know what a single spore could do to Earth given the chance. They won't take any chances, the fleet that comes won't be a scalpel, but a sledgehammer. It will take Mars centuries to recover, if it ever does...>>6454059> GAMBLE. Each mercenary receives 2 MU FROM THE INVESTMENT POOL. ROLL 1d26 [ODD: LOSE 2 MU | EVEN: GAIN 2 MU | 26 GAIN 15 MU]Well, enough with the doom and gloom. Been a long time since I had fresh grown anything. Also a chance to wear something that isn't a pilot suit. Gonna talk to some of the newcomers while I nom on some fish and chips. Builders bless the creator of practical aquaponics, without which we would be reduced to only synthetic crap.
Rolled 7 (1d10)>>6454059> SOCIALIZE - ENGINEERING TEAM. ROLL 1d10 [10 GAIN A SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE]“Those emergency coolant nozzles were a stroke of genius. Please tell me you have more ideas bouncing around in that head of yours.”
Rolled 9 (1d26)>>6454059Button Man arrived to the parlor dressed as he always was out of the cockpit: a grey coat over all his gear. He took the moment to glance at his teammates, a mechanical exhale reverberating from his mask as he took stock of the dysfunctional wardrobes. Truth be told he had little care for the event, he managed to relax between deployments well enough and as far as he was seeing this excursion was doing little to calm the other pilots. But nonetheless the company was here, and he had to move with it. Screwing a the filter off the right of his mask, he attached a small canister and inhaled with a hiss. He walked down to the pit, tossed his coin onto the table, and took a seat alongside his comrades as a cloud of acrid white smoke flowed out of his remaining filter. He let his darkened lens pass over his neighbors as his hand lazily moved to play the game.
Rolled 1 (1d10)>>6454059Arriving in a freshly bought and somewhat out-of-Martian-style suit, Sowman immediately sets course for the engineer's table> SOCIALIZE - ENGINEERING TEAM. ROLL 1d10 [10 GAIN A SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE]
>>6453650close enough to be a matter of posture in practice, with Famine holding hers better, as you said. Thanks.Not unlike the cyborg’s claw, Famine’s last point also went over Hexe’s head.“Thank you for your concern, but warriors of my generation are, in truth, remarkably stable. You see, only a third had to be culled and recombined into biomass. Resource and time constraints were quite lax then and geneticists spared little expense.”Anything more than an errant glance this close up at Famine’s chassis left Hexe’s implants confounded. Scan error readouts piled on one another at the periphery of her vision as her co-processor struggled in vain to identify anything cohesive in terms of make and model among the makeshift cyborg’s external modules. Was this decrepitude, Hexe wondered, the natural state to which much-venerated warriors similarly entombed regressed without support from their lines? That said, even in her more coherent moments, Famine seemed a good deal more sanguine than the rare ancient warrior she would chance upon whilst they were awake. Hexe disabled the automatic scanning subsystem and, with some trepidation, looked back up at Famine’s ‘face’.“Famine, how long have you...lived this way?”>>6453879“Thank you. I, too, was curious and thus perused the informational downloads, but was left more confounded. They mostly dealt with asinine old Earth politics surrounding the design.”A full-body tremor passed through Hexe at the mention of cavalry. “A-ah...that, too, was in the downloads. The giant, terrifying creature known as ‘Equus ferus caballus’. The only heartening thing in that informational package was the fact that the monsters are extinct, along with other Terran megafauna.”>>6453893“Nonsense. You have, with your actions, proven yourself to possess a great deal of kindness, erudition, and good sense. To say nothing of your skill at piloting a frame, so I will not stand to hear further self-effacement from someone clearly so capable. Indeed, I would be a fool not to request your presence at such an occasion. And, truth be told, I could scarcely ask for better company. All who would qualify are either dead or wish to see me so. I will not be forced into ignominious solitude by my circumstances. Then, if you continue in this self-effacement...”Hexe’s spinal implants activated in sequence, accompanied by whines and clicks, correcting the Spacer’s posture and drawing her up to her full height. She raised one arm, long fingers splayed out, the potential to reach out at speed and snatch something—or someone—implicit in the gesture. “I might be forced to insist, come the day of the occasion.”
Rolled 9 (1d26)>>6453612"Integrated ultrasonic blades? Shit sounds scary, what if some of the sensors went wrong and it started vibrating while still inside the body? Hell, I'm glad I was born on Mars, despite everything... It's got to be fairly cool to take on a vessel on foot still, though. Reminds me of those Earth stories of guys on foot pulling batteries out of mechs, and throwing grenades down the leftover holes...">>6454059>>6454074Seeing Gambler's disappointing results, Ruin comes up behind her, putting his hand on the diminutive mercenary's shoulder."Worry not, Gambi... I, Ruin, shall write your wrongs." Having noticed the way she seemed to be pushing herself with positivity, he elected not to mock her lack of luck."Alright, blow on my dice, for good luck. When I win, I'm taking you to the cool slot machines - the ones that only take the biggest ships."Downing a glass of whiskey, he shakes the dice in his hand with a confident smile...> GAMBLE. Each mercenary receives 2 MU FROM THE INVESTMENT POOL. ROLL 1d26 [ODD: LOSE 2 MU | EVEN: GAIN 2 MU | 26 GAIN 15 MU]>>6454192Waving the smoke away, Ruin looks puzzled at his fellow merc. "...You one of us Dustwalkers, right? Don't think we've talked very much... I'm Ruin." He looks at the man's mask. "Don't suppose you want a smoke?"
>>6454304"...maybe I ought to stay away from games of chance."Embarassed, he turns away from Gambler, all casual-like. "Well, since we're here, and I wore my special clothes..." His outfit is simply a slightly-less-worn version of his usual jeans, shirt and jacket combo, with brand new colors and a black tie, matching his black shades."How about we take a stroll and pick up the chips left behind by fellow players on the way to the bar? My treat. Well, really, the boss's - I asked the Commander for a raise and he obliged, seeing as he hasn't had to pay for repairs for my mech in forever...." How smooth.
>>6454304"Call signs Button Man." He answered "Been with the outfit since the start. Not surprised you haven't noticed, I haven't had much need to fraternize." He takes another deep inhale at the pilot's offer. "No thanks. Anything in paper outside of Earth's atmosphere has enough filler to function as rad packing.">>6454074>>6454185>>6454304Button Man turned his attention back to see his game turn for the worst alongside most of his fellows. "Bad streak. I'd call it fixed but I doubt this place gets enough arriviste to make it worthwhile." He reasoned with another puff of smoke.
>>6454147"If it were comfy you'd wear one all the time--means it'd be less of an occasion to see ya' in one!" Chirps GAMBLER as she cradles a drink no-doubt obtained from a cocktail waitress or a freshly-opened tab, "Lookin' spiffy, Gash. Stay away from that one table over there--it's got bad mojo. I checked.">>6454185"Decadent, ain't it? Been smelling that stuff ever since we got here, but I haven't pulled the trigger on ordering some yet. Say, spare a gal a french fry or three?">>6454304She blows on the dice with a foxlike grin, the scent of a fruity beverage interlinking with a hint of fresh cigarette smoke."Well go on then, tiger--dazzle me."The results, well... leave a little to be desired.>>6454308"Chin up, buttercup. Ya' only lose when ya' leave the casino a few thousand chips lighter." She shrugs as she gives her fellow gambler's shoulder a gentle pinch. "Chip chasin', hm? Now you're talkin' my language... might as well live it up and take in the sights while we aren't getting shot at, yea?"The girl loops her arm around one of RUIN's with a genial smile. "Lead the way, hotshot.">>6454335"Oho, the iceman cometh." Remarks GAMBLER as she eyes BUTTON MAN's smoke jealously. "Well the night's still young--plenty more drinks to drink and games to game. You too cool to join us, or didja' feel like tagging along?"
Rolled 9 (1d26)>>6454059Wearing a black and red Martian military dress suit, much the same of Ogre, Scarab also presents itself at the R&R location with a somewhat uneasy smile on its face, more visible with him having cut any facial hair aside from a simple goatee. The latest news is not the best to hear, but they still got it. They are still kicking; the unit is growing back again, and the Dustwalkers will become something more. They will think of dealing with any Old Earth military later on- he interrupts his mind by grabbing the first drink offered he finds, and taking a plate with seafood. Real fish. How strange.Moving in the dress suit feels weird; it's stiff, and the texture of the cloth feels rougher. It was good to be in a fit like this, for an occasion such as this one, but he couldn't shake off how much he would prefer to be in his pilot suit with attached plating. Or in a more comfortable synth leather jacket. He didn't bother to check on the dress uniform all these years, besides cleaning it that one time. Didn't feel right to do more than that.The cloth got older, like him. He sighs, putting a grin on his face and joining the others.>>6454059> GAMBLE. Each mercenary receives 2 MU FROM THE INVESTMENT POOL. ROLL 1d26 [ODD: LOSE 2 MU | EVEN: GAIN 2 MU | 26 GAIN 15 MU]"Well, since it's a special occasion, let's play Dustwalkers! Let's show this place what we got !">>6454147"Ah, you look fine! I didn't even think of finding something adequate like that; I just opened a box in my room and grabbed the first thing I found! Hahaha! Come on, let's just enjoy this fine dining and drinks. For the Dustwalkers !">>6454185"We will think about it when they arrive bigger....what is that Earth saying? Ah yes! Bigger fish to fry !""Come on, Corvid, you are even playing a good game there. Not as good as Gambler but hard to beat her !"
Rolled 4 (1d10)>>6454059The aforementioned ‘necessary arrangements’ included Hexe petitioning the Commander for an hour of privacy in the medbay, on account of her interface suit. It appeared that, even in its baggy ‘habitat’ configuration with the counterpressure system inactive, fully removing the combination plugsuit/spacesuit was a very involved affair.Hexe arrived at the venue looking suitably martial in an asymmetrical double-breasted uniform jacket, complete with a half-cape on the left shoulder. Her sword, sheathed in a carbon scabbard etched with a Widmanstätten pattern, was held close and tight to the body by a waist belt supported with a shoulder cross-strap. Hexe then lent strong material credence to nearly every stereotype regarding Spacers and their dress sense by rounding out the outfit with...skorts. Any rationalization that this was a mere sartorial misjudgment was laid low in the face of the garment matching the jacket not just in cut, but in coloring, with two-tone black-and-red pleats. The rhodium buttons with fraktur-like Clade glyphs removed any doubt that might have lingered.Hexe rested a hand on the obscenely reflective hilt of her sword, smoothing out her half-cape and adjusting then the tall standing collar with the other. Her head slewed from one end of the room to the other, lens stacks behind the anti-glare covers scanning feverishly for optics glint and very specific EM emissions.“Where are you...”> SOCIALIZE - ENGINEERING TEAM. ROLL 1d10 [10 GAIN A SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE]
>>6454264The question doesn't seem to register in FAMINE's mind at first. It appears the two share more in common than they thought, since the cyborg struggles to even think of a point behind the question. How long has she lived like this? How long HAS it been? Months? Years? Decades? To FAMINE, her memories were a blur of shattered recollections and blood lust. Pure animalistic instinct, only reined in by the fact she is given a steady stream of targets to hunt after.One of the many deprecated modules inside of her head whirs to life, processing a string of data that might as well be gibberish to anyone but FAMINE. Who's to say if even she knows what it is? *ThYexGo3_CvFoD2F**IL6caTHe.VTPz4cw**DwTHJPyG_MbKnwjr**ERROR.*FAMINE awkwardly shifts from foot to foot, as if the act of standing has become incredibly uncomfortable for her. "IT IS NO CONSEQUENCE HOW LONG I HAVE LIVED LIKE THIS. I WILL SURVIVE FOR DECADES, NAY, CENTURIES MORE. I AM IMMORTAL. I SHALL NEVER DIE. I SHALL NEVER BE HURT AGAIN.""It doesn't matter." All of the energy seems to drain from her body. "As long as I'm strong enough to stop anyone from hurting me ever again. As long as I'm strong enough to consume everything that stands in my way. That is. The rest is meaningless. Even if. Even if.""...Even if don't remember why I'm even here." FAMINE's gaze drifts towards the floor, like it's the most fascinating thing in the whole wide world. "Or the point behind any of this."
>>6454304"Astute as always, Ruin. You are correct. Unless grown from a monolithic crystal at exorbitant cost, an ultrasonic blade actively destroys itself every moment it is active. As such, the commandos' implanted blades are segmented. It is usually the frontmost segment that is activated and, in case of damage, the exceeding of median lifespan, or friction-welding to a metallic target, the segment is discarded and the one behind it takes its place. The quality control on the blade segments is good enough that an undamaged, non-defective blade will not activate early. In the event that one does, the emergency cut-off disconnects the blade segments from the main motor and ejects them from the arm. Or what remains of it. Both it and the blade are, ultimately, replaceable." Hexe shrugged and looked to the side."Besides, boarding section commandos rarely use their ultrasonic blades, despite the stranglehold this weapon seemingly holds over your collective imagination. For slaughtering crew out of battledress or ripping through thin compartment walls, the blade is efficacious even when inactive. Ah, but commandos can manage either of the tasks well enough with their hands, without putting undue strain on sensitive equipment. The blade is activated for close combat with their counterparts or other similarly equipped troops, cutting into armored bulkheads, and for close assaults on crippled or immobilized frames."Her head slowly turned towards Ruin upon mention of how commandos might be 'cool'."I do not envy their fate. Theirs is a benighted existence of being kept in suspended animation, roused only for brief moments of indescribable bloodshed, with none of the honor and glory of a frame engagement. That I almost shared in their grim destiny chills my soul to this day."
Rolled 5 (1d10)>>6454059> SOCIALIZE - ENGINEERING TEAM. ROLL 1d10 [10 GAIN A SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE]Vulture looks around to find where the engineering team are sitting and goes over to see about getting a music player installed in his cockpit...
>>6454059"Please approve of the banana mech Please!"> SOCIALIZE - DESIGN TEAM. ROLL 1d4 [4 CHOOSE NEW A COLOR PALETTE]
Rolled 4 (1d4)>>6454436forgot to roll
>>6454339Button man shrugs at the offer. He was here now and he didn't think there was much that could be done scuttling off to somewhere else on the station. With one final puff he unscrewed the canister attached to his mask and stuck it in his coat pocket as he went to enjoy a drink by straw.>>6454345The masked mercenary turned his darkened gaze towards the second "officer" waltz into the casino, making like the rest of the team and sending a few more bits of wampum down the drain. >>6454358The voice was no stranger but having a body to place it into roused Button Man's attention. "What's the S.C.U.D.'s story?" he asked his present drinking partners.
Rolled 4 (1d10)>>6454059In the end, Sailor is somehow convinced, or maybe coerced, into attending the shindig. Something about not neglecting the 'power of, ca-camaraderie'. To meet the bare minimum of the dress code, he's polished his steel-toed boots to a passable shiny black, paired with dress pants and his least stained button-up shirt. Topping off the ensemble is a garish green cadet beret, leaving him more visible than he'd prefer-- not that he had any real chance of stealth with the several glowing optics on his face.> SOCIALIZE - ENGINEERING TEAM. ROLL 1d10 [10 GAIN A SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE]Clutching his ever trusty datapad like a castaway clinging onto driftwood, he tries to strike up conversation with the crew that runs the ship's forges. Opportunities to chat with them are exceedingly rare after the foreman banned him from the compartment entirely. Turns out trying to DIY improved irradiator outputs without sign-off was frowned upon, even after his own small-scale testing showed promising results.
>>6454059>> SOCIALIZE - ENGINEERING TEAM. ROLL 1d10 [10 GAIN A SCHEMATIC OF CHOICE]I love gambling, but there's this 2 meter tall(fucking hate how tall everyone on mars is) nerdette with giant glasses that I need to swingle into giving me a laser rifle for free.
Rolled 1 (1d10)>>6454641
>>6454642Right. Got slapped again. You know, the usual.
Rolled 17 (1d26)>>6454059>> GAMBLE. Each mercenary receives 2 MU FROM THE INVESTMENT POOL. ROLL 1d26 [ODD: LOSE 2 MU | EVEN: GAIN 2 MU | 26 GAIN 15 MU]In this age of simulations, augmented senses and the arms race of electronic and signals warfare attempting to create and pierce illusions simultaneously, the idea of luck in battle remained as it had since early man had first gone hunting for dinner. The Homesteaders engaged in it as a sort of holiday- off the grid as they tended to be, access to network digital gambling was a non-factor, and culturally speaking it was an excuse to go do something "back in the hive" for those who needed to get away from the bunker homes and moisture collectors. Nobody ever expected to win big, but losing it all was impossible too- it was a chance to live with complete abandon where doing such on the frontier would be suicide. Gorgon never much liked doing it, but now, it was a refuge back to a lost past. Win or lose.Army people also liked gambling as a refuge, but Gorgon did not have his uniform anymore. His memories of service were not fond, yet he couldn't destroy the colors, the ideals represented even if he thought his unit had done them no honor. So he'd put them in a rent locker somewhere and left. Not like there was a red flag army anymore anyways.
>>6454264I mixed up the replies in this post. The second was meant to go to Ogre >>6453893 and the third to Sailor >>6453879. Sorry for the confusion. Call it a bit of method acting for Hexe's incipient cyberbrain problems.>>6454631Hexe was left alone at the bar after the pair of technicians she had offered to buy drinks for excused themselves in the wake of an unproductive conversation. They were, ultimately, not receptive to the idea of modifying the Lancer frame to accept larger Orbitale/Rayleonard pilot capsule modules at the cost of halving the effective thickness of its main booster propellant tanks. As Hexe swilled the liquid of unknown provenance around in a tall, skinny glass, she wondered how much longer she would be subject to the purgatory of that tiny cockpit. She raised the glass she had no intention of drinking from and considered herself in the reflection. To add insult to the injury of a failed pitch, her search of the premises had come to naught, and she found herself presently unaccompanied. Just then, the customer to her left stood to leave, revealing the telltale optics signature of his now-former conversation partner.“Oh, hello, Sailor!” The Spacer brightened uncharacteristically and all but scrambled over the freshly vacated barstool. “So you came after all. That makes me very glad. Were you otherwise engaged up until now? I looked for you.”Hexe glanced over her shoulder at the man who had just left and noted that he was also a member of the Dustwalkers’ engineering team. “Ah, I see that you had no luck as well. In truth, in the midst of my own proposals floundering, I could not help but overhear a few utterances that I now realize came from your discussion. Just what is it that has you Martians so enamored with radiological weaponry? I no longer judge, but remain mystified all the same. Is it the writ of some Martian Vanguard doctrine, predating the advent of the Devourer?”
It was, all things considered, a surprisingly relaxing occasion. After your company gathers in the atrium, a small fleet of waiters and waitresses begin serving morsels of seafood and fresh produce - all colorfully arranged inside tiny serving containers formed from compacted silica. Armatures whisk overhead, mixing and decanting assorted spirits into reflective drinking bulbs. A faint, nostalgic melody filters between half-heard conversations facilitated by proximity and free alcohol. As the night continues, your party begins to fragment into smaller groups. A slim majority of your pilots spend their time - and bonus earnings - on varying games of chance with equally variable results. The remainder linger in the atrium, spending their time conversing with each other or members of the support crew. You note with a fair amount of amusement that several conversations begin to resemble engineering discussions more so than leisurely chats. You consider making a comment about mixing work and leisure before realizing that you were in no position to judge. For the rest of the night, you sip at something vaguely alcoholic while watching the stars circle overhead. You open a worn scratch-book and pay respects to a few friends you knew well and a great many you did not. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++It was a sign, supposedly, of your company's repute that a portion of your contracts are now hand-delivered. The NEST representative explains that it is a measure of confidentiality - a way to ensure that private contracts reach you through a secure data-chip rather than an open network. Evidently, at least a few of your clients were satisfied - or desperate - enough to give you contracts too sensitive for the public contract board.Of course, there were also downsides to having a reputation. The public bounty next to your company's identity hash serves as a obvious reminder that successful mercenaries also command high bounties. For you, that number has nearly doubled after your last mission. An optimist would consider that to be a great metric of your company's success. You, unfortunately, were not an optimist. Regardless of what kind of contract you chose, trouble would be there to find you.
--- C O N T R A C T | S E L E C T ---PUBLIC BOUNTY: 550 MU//REPUTATION: IIIII [You are offered some high-risk contracts and private contracts unavailable on the open board]/MIRAI: I/SHIN-RAI: X/INDEPENDENTS: III [YOU WILL BE OFFERED SOME SCHEMATICS]/MOCA: IIIII II [YOU WILL BE OFFERED RARE SCHEMATICS]/GCC: IIIII II [YOU WILL BE OFFERED RARE SCHEMATICS]> ARCOLOGY EVACUATION [RAYLEONARD]. "A class IV plague incursion has compromised the defensive perimeter of an affiliated arcology. Multiple heavy combat forms have breached the outer districts. We request assistance to assure timely evacuation of all essential staff." BASE PAY: [480MU, 100% SALVAGE SHARE FOR EVACUATION OF ESSENTIAL STAFF, ADDITIONAL BONUS FOR NON-ESSENTIAL EVACUATIONS.]"> AMBUSH [INDEPENDENT]. "We represent a coalition of independent settlers who have placed a pooled bounty on an unknown military unit implicated in the destruction of several unarmed outpost settlements. We request aid from any true-born sons of Mars in organizing an ambush against this mongrel force. [280 MU, 100% SALVAGE SHARE + INTEL]"> UNKNOWN FACILITY EXPLORATION. [### PRIVATE - MOCA/MARTIAN ORBITAL CLOSURE AUTHORITY###]. "Potential geographic anomaly detected within the Noctis watershed network, coordinates as follows. Favored recon contract offered due to prior contract completion record. " [500 MU], PLAGUE SALVAGE FORBIDDEN." > ASSASSINATE EXECUTIVE. [### PRIVATE - GCC###]. "An heavily armed transport carrying a SHIN-RAI executive team will be conducting an emergency fuel transfer at a asteroid-based station outside of MOCA's nominal jurisdiction. Ambush and destroy the transport. [660 MU, 100% SALVAGE SHARE]> PLAGUE SAMPLE COLLECTION [MIRAI]. "ARCOLOGY HELLAS-BETA has been overrun with plague contamination and is expected to be placed under orbital quarantine. We wish to recover samples prior to imposition of quarantine protocols." [500 MU FOR RECOVERY OF AT LEAST 5 PLAGUE MODULES, ADDITIONAL BONUS FOR SAMPLES AND EXTRA MODULES, EXCLUSIVE PURCHASE RIGHTS FOR ALL PLAGUE SALVAGE COLLECTED]. > LABORATORY LAMBDA SEVEN. [Location of interest identified via trawl. No data, but expect very heavy resistance.]> TERRAFORMING TOWER 47. [Location of interest identified via trawl. No data, but expect extreme resistance.]> TERRAFORMING GUILD RUINS. [Location of interest identified via trawl. No data, but expect overwhelming resistance.]--- N E S T | P O R T F O L I O ---INVESTMENT OPTIONS:> NEST INDEX [RELIABLE: +5% - +16% RETURN]> STOCK - MIRAI INTERNATIONAL [-35% - +80% RETURN] [BONUS for POSITIVE EVENTS that happen to MIRAI]> SHORT - RAYLEONARD [-120% - +185% RETURN] [BONUS for NEGATIVE EVENTS that happen to RAYLEONARD]> RISKY SHORT - SHIN-RAI [-140% - +290% RETURN] [BONUS for NEGATIVE EVENTS that happen to SHIN-RAI]> FUTURES - FUEL [-300% to 400% RETURN] [BONUS FOR ACTIONS THAT REDUCE FUEL SUPPLY]
>>6454829> AMBUSH [INDEPENDENT]. "We represent a coalition of independent settlers who have placed a pooled bounty on an unknown military unit implicated in the destruction of several unarmed outpost settlements. We request aid from any true-born sons of Mars in organizing an ambush against this mongrel force. [280 MU, 100% SALVAGE SHARE + INTEL]""Full salvage? Shootin' a buncha bastards who have it comin'? Sounds like a party."> STOCK - MIRAI INTERNATIONAL [-35% - +80% RETURN] [BONUS for POSITIVE EVENTS that happen to MIRAI]
>>6454829For the first time in ages, GAMBLER actually seems hungover when she emerges from the dark recesses of her mech clad in grimy maintenance coveralls and a sweat-stained welding mask."Euch... think I overdid it on the R&R... damn fine fish, though. Gonna be dreaming about that meal for the rest of my short, sweet life..."> UNKNOWN FACILITY EXPLORATION. [### PRIVATE - MOCA/MARTIAN ORBITAL CLOSURE AUTHORITY###]. "Potential geographic anomaly detected within the Noctis watershed network, coordinates as follows. Favored recon contract offered due to prior contract completion record. " [500 MU], PLAGUE SALVAGE FORBIDDEN.""Hear that? Watershed. Enough Plague seeps into the groundwater and we can kiss Mars goodbye. Couldn't hurt to do the Bot a solid either, especially after they were watching us last mission."The girl swears as her half-spent cigarette tumbles out of her mouth thanks to the funny angle she's at."Dangit. Oh, and that shit posted by the settlers? Might be my headache talkin', but it smells like an ambush, alright--for US. 'Unknown Military Unit'? 'Several Unarmed Outposts'? 'True-Born Sons of Mars'? Shit, you get us a meeting with the job posters and we can coax some actual info outta' em. I don't like vague job postings. Never did."
>>6454829>>6454852Oh and:> RISKY SHORT - SHIN-RAI [-140% - +290% RETURN] [BONUS for NEGATIVE EVENTS that happen to SHIN-RAI]RISK!!!
>>6454829> ASSASSINATE EXECUTIVE. [### PRIVATE - GCC###]. "An heavily armed transport carrying a SHIN-RAI executive team will be conducting an emergency fuel transfer at a asteroid-based station outside of MOCA's nominal jurisdiction. Ambush and destroy the transport. [660 MU, 100% SALVAGE SHARE]> RISKY SHORT - SHIN-RAI [-140% - +290% RETURN] [BONUS for NEGATIVE EVENTS that happen to SHIN-RAI]Double down on SHIN-RAI
>>6454829I suspect the unknown facility may be Foundies, so it's tempting, but it probably can wait, while arcology evacuation can't> ARCOLOGY EVACUATION [RAYLEONARD]. "A class IV plague incursion has compromised the defensive perimeter of an affiliated arcology. Multiple heavy combat forms have breached the outer districts. We request assistance to assure timely evacuation of all essential staff." BASE PAY: [480MU, 100% SALVAGE SHARE FOR EVACUATION OF ESSENTIAL STAFF, ADDITIONAL BONUS FOR NON-ESSENTIAL EVACUATIONS.]"> NEST INDEX [RELIABLE: +5% - +16% RETURN]
>>6454335"Yeah, don't blame ya for not touching these." Ruin lights up a cigarette on his own - tonight, they're black with a white ring delimiting when the tobacco ends and the filter starts. Fancier brand than usual."You seem fairly down to earth. Guys like you a pretty handy to have around in a mercenary unit." Regarding his comment about the gambling results, Ruin smiles. "Considering the price of admission, they really could have rigged it a little in our favour. I guess they're confident in their security detail, if they're willing to swindle mercenaries out of their savings."The mercenary takes a drag, quietly lamenting his loss. "Do enjoy your evening, and I'll see you next on the battlefield. Look for the guy who's really loud and really good at his job." With this, Ruin turns around, giving him a goodbye wave.>>6454339Even though the two of them had been seeing each other in a non-professionnal setting for a few missions now, the blond mercenary's heart couldn't help but skip a beat as she linked her arm with his. Hiding his coyness behind his shades, he returns her smile, eager to make her forget about their poor results in games of chance, and whatever else may have caused her worry.In spite of his generally bad luck, he thought to himself about how fortunate things had turned out to be, for him to parade around, with this deliciously attractive and lovable woman in tow in a fancy restaurant.>>6454345"Would you lookit that! All the oldheads are showing up and giving me a run for my money." Ruin seems to be in an incredibly good mood. Perhaps the few drinks he's had have had an effect, but he does seem to be genuinely enjoying his time. He toasts his own drink along with Scarab. "For the Dustwalkers!">>6454366Listening intently to Hexe's explanations, Ruin lets out an impressed whistle. "You sure know a lot about all that... Education opportunities up there seem pretty good. That system's really thought of everything, from safety to ease of replacement. I doubt anything made over here in Mars would be as thorough or safe. You mention quality control - I think only a few companies still bother with it. Just you look at my performance last mission..." He sighs."I admit, their life seems like it'd suck to live through, even if the martial exploits make for some good tales. Do they know any better, though? Happiness is really about the gap between the worst you've lived and the enjoyable moments - if they don't know what they're missing out on, well..."He looks deep in thought for a moment. "Anyhow, I'm glad you're with us and didn't have to go out in a boarding in outer space. Cheers to that!" With this, Ruin clinks his glass with Hexe's.
>>6454631Catching the green beret from the corner of his eye, Ruin turns over to face Sailor. "Well, well, well, well, well! Didn't think you'd bother to come, but I'm glad to be proven wrong!" A clearly tipsy Ruin brings Sailor closer in a friendly embrace. "You should get some of that sashay-me. Some of the best food I've had in my short and uneventful life. Oh, by the by, I've had a chat with Hexe earlier - she should still be over by the tables on the left there. You should go talk to her, I figure she doesn't let loose very often. You two get along, right?" Ruin pushes him forward with a friendly slap on the back. "You've got my blessings, eh eh eh eh... Go and enjoy the evening!">>6454644"It's rough out there...">>6454661Noticing Gorgon's pensive expression, Ruin decides to keep him company for a bit."Genuinely, I think some are some of the worst odds I've seen in a while. Fucked up how almost everyone is bleeding cash... Don't let it get you down too much, lad.">>6454829>ARCOLOGY EVACUATION [RAYLEONARD]. "A class IV plague incursion has compromised the defensive perimeter of an affiliated arcology. Multiple heavy combat forms have breached the outer districts. We request assistance to assure timely evacuation of all essential staff." BASE PAY: [480MU, 100% SALVAGE SHARE FOR EVACUATION OF ESSENTIAL STAFF, ADDITIONAL BONUS FOR NON-ESSENTIAL EVACUATIONS.]""Man, it's hard to pick between all these... But that second mission definitely glows to hell and back. Smells like feds from Earth like nothing else.">NEST INDEX [RELIABLE: +5% - +16% RETURN"I've had enough gambling for now, I believe..."
>>6454829> ASSASSINATE EXECUTIVE. [### PRIVATE - GCC###]. "An heavily armed transport carrying a SHIN-RAI executive team will be conducting an emergency fuel transfer at a asteroid-based station outside of MOCA's nominal jurisdiction. Ambush and destroy the transport. [660 MU, 100% SALVAGE SHARE]> RISKY SHORT - SHIN-RAI [-140% - +290% RETURN] [BONUS for NEGATIVE EVENTS that happen to SHIN-RAI]
>>6454829> NEST INDEX [RELIABLE: +5% - +16% RETURN]> TERRAFORMING TOWER 47. [Location of interest identified via trawl. No data, but expect extreme resistance.]Stealing shit from foundation, let's go!I'm the martian highwayman now!
>>6454829Actually....Swap>>6454852to> ASSASSINATE EXECUTIVE. [### PRIVATE - GCC###]. "An heavily armed transport carrying a SHIN-RAI executive team will be conducting an emergency fuel transfer at a asteroid-based station outside of MOCA's nominal jurisdiction. Ambush and destroy the transport. [660 MU, 100% SALVAGE SHARE]I like how Vulture thinks! Also totally ties into that RISKY SHORT!>>6454913"You look better like this, y'know." She remarks, looking up at RUIN with a sly grin. "You're actually kinda charming when you aren't puffing up your feathers, Ru."She lets her head rest against his arm. Fuck it, man, R&R."You said a while back you were doing this gig for your family, right?" She asks in an alarmingly-sober tone. "Is that your real reason, or are you just telling yourself that? Paid Killing ain't a job people usually flock to on a whim."
>>6454626"HM? ARE YOU REFERRING TO ME?" Seems like even the merest mention of her is enough to get her attention. "PLEASE, EVERYONE HERE LOVES ME. I AM AN AUTHORIZED DENTIST, SURGEON, ACCOUNTANT, CHEF, VET, MECHANIC, AND ORGAN HARVESTER. THAT IS MY STORY, YOU FUNNY LITTLE MAIN.>>6454829The sharp, metallic tang of blood floods the room as soon as FAMINE stumbles inside. Who knows where this beast has been ever since R&R ended?> ASSASSINATE EXECUTIVE. [### PRIVATE - GCC###]. "An heavily armed transport carrying a SHIN-RAI executive team will be conducting an emergency fuel transfer at a asteroid-based station outside of MOCA's nominal jurisdiction. Ambush and destroy the transport. [660 MU, 100% SALVAGE SHARE]>RISKY SHORT - SHIN-RAI [-140% - +290% RETURN] [BONUS for NEGATIVE EVENTS that happen to SHIN-RAI]"Estimated investment fund is 163 MU. +290% return would be 472~. Combined with 660 MU, that would be 1132 MU, even before salvage...""These two combined should OFFER a VERY SIMPLE AND VERY TASTY AND VERY YUMMY AND VERY IDEAL combination of money."
>>6454829>> AMBUSH [INDEPENDENT]. "We represent a coalition of independent settlers who have placed a pooled bounty on an unknown military unit implicated in the destruction of several unarmed outpost settlements. We request aid from any true-born sons of Mars in organizing an ambush against this mongrel force. [280 MU, 100% SALVAGE SHARE + INTEL]"> NEST INDEX [RELIABLE: +5% - +16% RETURN]
>>6454915"HhhhHHHHhhhi." Only knowing that he is surrounded by his fellow warriors helps Sailor to maintain his composure and not shriek when Ruin accosts him without a five-second heads up. The topic of food piques his interest enough to keep him from immediately excusing himself; he was at a loss when the dinner selection didn't include synth-nuggets. "Sash, sashayme? Let's see... Erk." A quick search query is almost enough to dissuade him-- poor guy's allocated all his adventurous spirit into his career path, leaving him pretty squeamish in all things unrelated. Especially so for things expected to enter his mouth without being deep-fried. Thankfully, the same webpage helpfully informs him that citrus juices can 'cook' the thin slices of fish. Harvesting every lemon slice within reach, he gets his impromptu chemical soak underway while pondering Ruin's words. "Oh, um. Yes, I owe her. A ch-chat. Cultural exchange, I guess? Blessing will mmmaybe help.">>6454785Through a series of comedic near misses, he ends up only coming across Hexe after the engineers remind him that he only has a chance of accessing the forges after he 'gets through a mission without using up all the ablative, seriously, how the fuck'. The exuberance of her approach is somehow less alarming than he's used to, maybe thanks to the half dozen or so cocktails he's imbibed to sustain all this talking to people. Miraculously, his speech patterns aren't any worse for it."Hi, yes. Series of un... fortunate events. Sor-- no, um. You look. Good." A hand gestures towards the lemon juice stain on his shirt; one doesn't need multi-spectral target recognition to see the difference in their dress standards. It's good that Hexe has a lot of questions to keep the conversation going, lest he stew too much in his own thoughts. "Rad weapons, stemmed from responses to. Initial Plague mmanifestations. Nuclear con-contingencies proved better in slowing spread. We had to, develop countermeasures quickly. Ideas of. Restraint, precision? Didn't survive."A wistful sad smile. A memory of panicked escape. Best to change the topic and while away the night with good company. "Anyway. Err, have you tried, th-he daquiris? First time tasting strrrawberry in years.">>6454829> UNKNOWN FACILITY EXPLORATION. [### PRIVATE - MOCA/MARTIAN ORBITAL CLOSURE AUTHORITY###]. "Potential geographic anomaly detected within the Noctis watershed network, coordinates as follows. Favored recon contract offered due to prior contract completion record. " [500 MU], PLAGUE SALVAGE FORBIDDEN.">sailor here. agree re: ambush being sus. hate 2 say it. mocas stretched, wont b many up 2 help it. reckon we shud hit found sites soon.Why is Sailor delivering his opinion via a monitor welded on a cargo roomba? Where is the little goober? Surely one night out didn't incapacitate him, he's a vanguard pilot, for Mars' sake.
>>6454829Corvid takes some time to stretch upon waking from last nights revelries. It has been a long time since he went gambling, and unsurprisingly he lost more then he gained. Still, it wasn't all bad, being able to relax was a rare commodity these days.> ARCOLOGY EVACUATION [RAYLEONARD]. "A class IV plague incursion has compromised the defensive perimeter of an affiliated arcology. Multiple heavy combat forms have breached the outer districts. We request assistance to assure timely evacuation of all essential staff." BASE PAY: [480MU, 100% SALVAGE SHARE FOR EVACUATION OF ESSENTIAL STAFF, ADDITIONAL BONUS FOR NON-ESSENTIAL EVACUATIONS.]"> AMBUSH [INDEPENDENT]. "We represent a coalition of independent settlers who have placed a pooled bounty on an unknown military unit implicated in the destruction of several unarmed outpost settlements. We request aid from any true-born sons of Mars in organizing an ambush against this mongrel force. [280 MU, 100% SALVAGE SHARE + INTEL]"Arco evacuation was critical during the Plaguetime, still important now. If the settlers are legit, then hunting down these vermin is critical. Still, even if it is a trap, we can turn it back on them and figure out who is hunting us.
Unperturbed by his fellows and left alone to work, Komodo manages to produce a blueprint of worth. It isn't done without his fair share of asking questions and lingering on certain parts of enormous textbooks (for far longer than one would expect of an expert), but it seems clear that the reptilian mech's pilot has had some kind of experience with this sort of thing before.[I have no idea how to format this and I am currently quite sick, so take this bulletpoint list of things and make something out of it. Please and thank you] >Two separate guns that become one when both are equipped>each is 1 load>if only one is equipped, +1 damage to light>if both are equipped, damage changes to 4 RAD. Doesn't kill infantry instantly like fulgent for balancing reasons>no matter whether there are one or two, always double damage against Plague enemies specificallycan choose between light damage and rad damage if both are equipped but will default to rad unless specified-->>6454829Komodo's pilot only considers two possible contracts-- the others are never even in question. It takes quite some time for the pilot to make a choice, but it is made with an utmost certainty... communicated with little more than a furrowed brow and a slightly-darkened suit window.> PLAGUE SAMPLE COLLECTION [MIRAI]. "ARCOLOGY HELLAS-BETA has been overrun with plague contamination and is expected to be placed under orbital quarantine. We wish to recover samples prior to imposition of quarantine protocols." [500 MU FOR RECOVERY OF AT LEAST 5 PLAGUE MODULES, ADDITIONAL BONUS FOR SAMPLES AND EXTRA MODULES, EXCLUSIVE PURCHASE RIGHTS FOR ALL PLAGUE SALVAGE COLLECTED].Investments seem significantly less certain for the pilot, and he eventually settles on what he believes to be the safest option.> NEST INDEX [RELIABLE: +5% - +16% RETURN]
>>6454626Scarab raises an eyebrow, but otherwise his wrinkled face doesn't seem to care. If Buttoman wanted to say something, he should have done that already. The old pilot will enjoy this occasion, and that will be the end of it.>>6454913"Huh, gave it a good try. Had to attempt to win something.""To them !">>6454829> ARCOLOGY EVACUATION [RAYLEONARD]. "A class IV plague incursion has compromised the defensive perimeter of an affiliated arcology. Multiple heavy combat forms have breached the outer districts. We request assistance to assure timely evacuation of all essential staff." BASE PAY: [480MU, 100% SALVAGE SHARE FOR EVACUATION OF ESSENTIAL STAFF, ADDITIONAL BONUS FOR NON-ESSENTIAL EVACUATIONS.]""Could go for the other one as well. If it's true.">NEST INDEX [RELIABLE: +5% - +16% RETURN
Oog question for other anons, but when do you guys want to go after any of those three >"[Location of interest identified via trawl. No data, but expect very heavy resistance.]" missions?If so, which one?
Rolled 8 (1d10)The atrium leading into the fancy restaurant was full of people belonging to the company as they crowded together through the arched entryway. Many were in resplendant dress coats, others in cleaned jumpsuits of the engineers or other casual business wear. Kerberos felt supremely out of place in his leather jacket and black undershirt, but it was the only clothing he could call 'presentable' in his wardrobe. He felt even more lacking as he saw an absurdly tall individual looming over the roulette wheel wearing a bright floral dress, while two men in polished and well pressed dress uniforms arrived in lockstep through the doorway. He unconciously made himself as small as he could, slinking back to a corner and doing his best not to be seen.He snuck himself some food from a passing waitress, cute as a button she was with short, blond hair and a slightly freckled face. Kerberos found his eyes following her as she went on her way along the crowds. He didn't think she noticed him when he took a smal platter of not-quite herring from her overfilled tray, but a small part of him hoped that she had as he watched her disappear in the crowded landscape.He moved along the wall towards the gambling tables, were there were a few tables where patrons played a few rounds of Blackjack. He'd always had a knack for cards, and it would be good to maybe blow off some steam, but he had second thoughts when he recognized the voice of that obnoxiously loud woman flowing from somewhere between the tables. He quickly turned the other way, towards the lounge area where he had seen the engineers gathering, but stopped again as he saw them already overwhelmed by others hurling their own requests at them.He slunk back forlorn to his corner and contended himself with snatching drinks and food from the passing servers for most of the evening.---A few days after the get together, the Commander was suddenly called out on urgent business. The whole outfit knew exactly what that meant, and immediately began making preliminary preparations for deployment. The forges ran hot for a whole day and night before he once more boarded the ship, the mission dossiers sent out within the hour of his return.Kerberos scrolled through the logs provided. Most of the contracts were some form of greedy play by some crop suits against another: assassinate this, harvest that. Yada yada yada.He squinted his eyes a little. One of the contracts was differen than the others… He opened it cautiously.>"A class IV plague incursion has compromised the defensive perimeter…"His eyes shot up in shock as he read the full description. This was just like what had happened—He couldn't save anyone back then, but maybe this time… This time, if the company went, maybe all these people wouldn't have to die…>>6454829>ARCOLOGY EVACUATION [RAYLEONARD]. >Rolling for fun to see if I missed a schematic for not socializing with the engineers due to being caught up in real life
>>6455100Oocly I think we're equipped enough to handle the first two. Sailor prefers to do humanitarian and moca missions but he'll go along with the majority.
>>6454339>>6454345"Yeah, you two got it right. Aside from this bloody itchy suit, it's time to R&R, yeah?"With that, Gashadokuro grabs a bottle of Martian liquor, opens a circular aperture on his 'respiratory' mask, and just chugs."Ohhh that's the stuff. Glad I got this mask, can't drink anything liquid otherwise.">>6454829>ARCOLOGY EVAC>RISKY SHORT - SHIN-RAI
>>6455100I would like to go on 1 but I don't see a lot of reception yet. I would try very heavy resistance first. Understand what we are up against. As far Scarab is concerned the Dustwalkers are entering in the phase of being well equipped. So he would go for what thinks is important. Defense of settlements, destruction of any and all hostiles to martians, damaging corpos and hunting down the Foundation. Any mercs in the way are targets automatically.
>>6454829> ARCOLOGY EVACUATION [RAYLEONARD]. "A class IV plague incursion has compromised the defensive perimeter of an affiliated arcology. Multiple heavy combat forms have breached the outer districts. We request assistance to assure timely evacuation of all essential staff." BASE PAY: [480MU, 100% SALVAGE SHARE FOR EVACUATION OF ESSENTIAL STAFF, ADDITIONAL BONUS FOR NON-ESSENTIAL EVACUATIONS.]"Easy corporate in, killing Plague forms and saving people from becoming goo. Sign me up!> NEST INDEX [RELIABLE: +5% - +16% RETURN]I don’t really know enough about investing to pick between the others.
>>6454970As Ruin tries to remain casual at this public display of affection, he leads the two of them to an aquarium wall panel, where fish swim freely in a - ironically enough - ruin-themed environment, with rubble and algae covering the sandy aquarium floor.Letting her question linger as he gazes at the display before him, he eventually starts talking, without facing her."Well, before I became a mech pilot, I had to do some real nasty shit to keep us fed. Killing people is a hell of a lot more comfortable on board a mech than with nothing but a lead pipe. Pays a lot more, too." He turns his gaze back on her. "Besides, I was a natural. Kept racking kills, not a scratch on the mechs. Companies wanted to keep me, and even with their cut, I started making good money from the bounties. Even now, most of my cash goes to my bitch of a sister to make sure everyone has a good life in a nicer martian city, if you could call it that. Sometimes they write back, they tell me about school... I used to work at a strip club - the only one around in miles, after the Plague. Hung out a lot with the workers... And I don't want my sisters to end up there. Poverty is ugly. Real ugly. So if I keep on stacking money for them, things can only turn out for the best."His free hand takes a hold of hers."Besides, I like the ego boost of being one of the good pilots. Knowing you're the big bad wolf people are afraid of, instead of the runt that's scavenging scrap like a carrion bird. Makes it easier to sleep at night." He grins, but without pride."I don't know how to do anything else anyways. Can't charm people or get my hands dirty in a workshop like you do. Can't do all that fancy computer programming, or cook properly, or manage a squad... I guess I could always be a babysitter if things don't pan out. Got plenty of experience on that end!"Bending over to kiss her forehead, he returns the question. "And what's a pretty lady like you doing here, risking her life in a mech in spite of her many talents? Don't tell me it's just because you need the adrenaline?"
>>6455100Ooc I think it might be difficult to convince the majority (me included!) to go on one of them unless there's more foundation involvement in our missions, the other mission options are not very good (exceedingly unlikely), or if there's time pressure to handle them. But maybe we can all agree to go on the first one after this mission?
>>6455100I suspect that when we attack any of those coordinates, security at the other, unmolsted sites will go up drastically or they'll start relocating any special goodies they have stashed (though of course I could be wrong about this). If we're ever going to attack any of those targets I think it's worth to go for the biggest one first so we can get our hands on the most loot if they do start moving assets around afterwards.
>>6455187GAMBLER takes a few moments to watch the fish in the aquarium pass by as she weighs RUIN's words--her expression drifting somewhere between satisfied... and resigned."Family's a hell of a thing." She mutters as she gives his hand a squeeze, "Y'know, I read somewhere once that we're genetically-designed to be altruistic towards those sharing our genes? Some old evolution shit, I guess. But you don't need genes to tell you to do that... do you? You're just built that way."She frowns, but not at RUIN. "Mars'll need those traits of yours when all this is over, Ru. Compassion. Stewardship. Sure, tightening a few bearings on a mech and coding? Those'll get you far, but you?"She sends a crooked grin his way. "You might not know where you're headed yet, but you'll get somewhere. You aren't the type to just fade into obscurity--you'll get shit done, I know it."The smile slips. "And me? Just... running out the clock, I guess. Building things? Like family? Community? Business? Those take time, Ru. Time I don't really have. But destroying? That takes no time at all."The girl shudders, but you doubt it's because she forgot to pack a jacket. "I'm not that old, Ru. Won't ever be that old. But I've spent most of my life hunting, breaking, and killing. It's what Mars needed and still needs, but once it doesn't?" She sighs as her eyes reflect off the aquarium's rainbow of ghostly lights. The answer to her statement never reaches the surface."... Fish are neat, aren't they?" She remarks in a quiet voice. "... think I need a few more drinks. I'm thinking too much." GAMBLER remarks as she gently leans more into RUIN."... Thanks for putting up with my shit, man."
>>6455023>fk u rite (not fk u i mean im backing u up) thx 4 d wakeup callChanging vote from >>6454989 to support:> ARCOLOGY EVACUATION [RAYLEONARD]. "A class IV plague incursion has compromised the defensive perimeter of an affiliated arcology. Multiple heavy combat forms have breached the outer districts. We request assistance to assure timely evacuation of all essential staff." BASE PAY: [480MU, 100% SALVAGE SHARE FOR EVACUATION OF ESSENTIAL STAFF, ADDITIONAL BONUS FOR NON-ESSENTIAL EVACUATIONS.]"> AMBUSH [INDEPENDENT]. "We represent a coalition of independent settlers who have placed a pooled bounty on an unknown military unit implicated in the destruction of several unarmed outpost settlements. We request aid from any true-born sons of Mars in organizing an ambush against this mongrel force. [280 MU, 100% SALVAGE SHARE + INTEL]"
>>6455100 Ogre will support taking it to the Foundies if there’s popular support for it. We can probably take on one of the smaller bases now, but once we hit the first one we’ll have kicked the hornets nest and will need to keep going till the end.
>>6454358Hurt. Of course. It made sense. None of the venerable warriors in Hexe’s line who were ensconced in full-body replacement shells had done so at their discretion. They either arrived at one over decades of wear and tear or, as was most often the case, after suffering an injury that was, by all rights, fatal. Now that she wasn’t bombarded by scan errors, Hexe could examine Famine’s chassis and could hazard a guess that she, too, fell into the latter category. After all, even a warrior peerless in their generation could scarcely fight a hundred battles and come out unscathed—…Famine was gone. In her stead, an ejected capsule spun around its major axis above gleaming nickel-iron plains strewn with narrow craters, their raised edges akin to bad solderwork. Each revolution of the capsule added to a spreading halo issued from a dozen high-caliber impacts: an outer ring of rapidly cooling molten metal, then fluorocarbon globules of immersion fluid on spiral trails of white froth. And, finally, innermost, a deep maroon spray of vacuum-dehydrated blood.The involuntary recall released its grasp on Hexe, dissolving the recollection of the capsule and the surface of Psyche in a blur of pixels. Shapes bled through the visual chaos, until, after a few seconds, they resolved into Famine and Hexe’s own outstretched arm. An “RPM: 6610” readout flashed red and angry in the corner of her vision. Pressure at her temples and behind her optics verged into pain. She snapped back her arm as though she had been burned and took a hurried step back.“I apologize...I lost my composure...I do not know...I…” She took another step back.“I hope you…”What was she supposed to say? I hope you find peace? Get help? Remember? None of those seemed like things Famine would have wanted. The conversation had become fertile ground for involuntary recall. Seeking a graceful exit, Hexe remembered the plastic card in her hand.“Your man. The specialist,” she said, taking a step forward and holding up the card. “I trust your word that he is good, and I do not doubt he can manage firmware conflicts in my optics or parasitic drain in implanted batteries. Perhaps he can even refuel my core when the time comes, but, ah...” Hexe tapped the side of her head with the card. “It is my co-processor, you see...nothing extraordinary: 10th generation adiabatic architecture. There is the matter of...hardwired strictures, chiefly there but also all throughout my body’s systems. This man, then, is he as good an intrusion specialist as he is a cyberneticist?”>>6454829> ASSASSINATE EXECUTIVE. [### PRIVATE - GCC###]"It was not solely out of the goodness of our heart that you took this outcast into your employ. Is it, Commander? An assassination mission in the littorals. It is always a pleasure to exercise my particular suite of skills."
>>6454913“I am a warrior. War is my business. It is natural that little expense or effort was spared in making sure I was well-equipped.” Hexe shrugged and looked down into the dark pink liquid in the tall-stemmed glass in her hand. “But I was lucky to be gestated during a ‘happy time’. Profits were high and casualties low; replacements were not urgently needed.”She shook her head. “Indeed, their lives are not the stuff of envy. Even their few waking hours are spent in a chemical haze. I doubt they know any better. Though there is, supposedly, honor in service and the fulfillment of one’s purpose...” “As for their exploits...the wanton violence loses its sheen quite quickly. I have the full footage of Wila’s final three assaults. She was a fellow frame pilot candidate. And a friend. ‘Downcycled’ into a commando after neural interface rejection.” Hexe sighed, passing the glass from one hand to the other. “She died well. We can peruse the footage at a time of your choosing.”Somewhat confused, Hexe mirrored Ruin and maneuvered her glass to meet his. “A-ah, yes, why, thank you…! Uhm...Cheers...?” Watching as Ruin drank, she brought the glass to her face and sniffed. A bright red readout from the medical subsystem dominated her vision.“WARNING: ETHANOL VAPOR DETECTED.” “CNSD / SYSTEMIC TOXIN IDENTIFIED.” “DO NOT CONSUME.”Hexe bit her lip as she looked down at the drink.
>>6454989Hexe accepted Sailor’s compliment with a nod.“As do you, Sailor. And to think you had said that you lacked the appropriate dress for the occasion. The headgear is especially fitting. It matches your primary optics cluster.”Hexe was only half-listening as Sailor expounded on the Martian preference for radiological weaponry. She couldn’t help but note several drained glasses next to him and regarded her own drink, still untouched. The toxin, if anything, made him noticeably more sanguine. Was it, perhaps, the secret component required to fulfill Ruin’s directive of ‘letting loose’? She nodded as Sailor finished his explanation.“I see. It follows that such radical change would be forced by the Devourer. At last, I understand.” The mention of restraint brought to mind Sailor’s hesitation at the Shin-Rai depot, but, sensing reluctance, Hexe desisted from broaching the topic. “...Daiquiris…?” She turned in response to Sailor’s query. “I have not the slightest idea what that is. Nor, for that matter, what a ‘strawberry’ is. I presume one of the two is a drink. And you are offering. I would be remiss not to try.”If either was anything like the drink she had been absently carrying with her for the better part of the hour, Hexe knew that her medical subsystem would instantly deploy countermeasures. That was not a function of her body that she could disable. She could, however, query its operating parameters. Without the interface suit, her off-gassing capabilities were sharply limited, as was her maximum operating temperature. A drink every three minutes, then. That way, she could ensure a stalemate with her medical system, which, operating under stringent thermal limits, would prioritize not cooking her over filtering the toxin.“A saturation attack,” she said, tapping the bar counter. “Sailor. I know what to do. I have ordered a dozen ‘daiquiris’ through the establishment net. I refuse to be cowed.”The Spacer steeled herself and threw back her drink in one go. Though the burning, dry sensation in her mouth twisted her face into a localized grimace and sent her hacking as her throat rebelled and closed up, a warmth suffused her core in its wake. A countdown timer she had set up appeared in the corner of her vision. Opposite it, the medical system readout was a cascade of red. In a strange new feeling of lightness, she found herself not caring very much about what the overwrought alert messages were saying about “EXOGENOUS TOXINS” and the deployment of “METABOLIC COUNTERMEASURES”.“I did not care for the taste, in truth,” Hexe said, resting her chin in her palm and looking over at Sailor. “I picked it for its seeming...sophistication. This ‘daiquiri’ of yours promises to be sweet, by the looks of it. I cannot wait.”
>>6455324"I--" Sailor seems dumbfounded at the assertion of his attire being anything more than barely adequate. A hand scratches at the faded green of the beret. The flush in his cheeks might not be just the alcohol. "Thhhanks. Was from, cadet days. Sergeant liked to, um, call us s-sprouts. Like... pushing up through, the soil."Thinking back to those days that feel like another lifetime, he prepares to give a wholeass dissertation about the origin, cultivation, and modern supply chain of strawberries. But before he can start on his spiel, a pair of words wholly unsuited for their current situation reaches his audio receivers. Saturation attack?"Sat, saturation?" Sailor's first instinct is to focus on his peripheral lens feeds-- scan the panoramic windows for oncoming attack, assess viability of bar counter as cover, see Hexe down her entire glass of what looked like a gargle blaster. Oh. By the time his inebriated mind understands that they're not expecting combat, the bartender has already started to serve the conga line of cocktails."You... don't have to. Force yourself, I muh-mean. The sweetness helps, yes, but. I don't mind..." Rubbing the back of his neck, right under the self-installed neural interface ports for his goggles' connection, he tries to think of how to best put her at ease. Or maybe it's him that needs that more. "Don't mind, talking. As we are, or... we can, um, share them. Too much for one is, can be b-bad."
>>6455324Could I get a complete physical description of Hexe? Or any references if you've got them.
>>6455312FAMINE, while not the most socially adept or cognizant person, has a pretty good idea what happened. That glazed look in the fellow cyborg's eyes as god knows what flashed through her eyes. The moment of dazed confusion that happens once it's all said and done. The twitchy movements that come when snapping back to reality.Something almost resembling sorrow washes over the cyborg's expression. Perhaps she sees herself in Hexe. Perhaps it's some remnant of who she was, before she ended up like this. She silently allows for Hexe to change the subject, not wanting to push for information that she feels would be...painful for Hexe to recall. She offers a curt pat on the shoulder, before pulling her hand back. She doesn't want to make this too awkward of course."IF YOU ARE INQUIRING IF HE IS ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE BIOLOGICAL HALF AS WELL AS THE TECHNOLOGICAL, YES. I MAY HAVE TAUGHT HIM SOME OF MY OWN SURGICAL SKILLS, AS TO HELP WHEN DEALING WITH MY...BIOWARE, YES. IT MAY BE DIFFICULT DEPENDING ON HOW **SPRAWLING** YOUR 'HARDWIRED' STRUCTURES ARE.""BUT, I AM CERTAIN HE REROUTE OR EXTRACT WHAT'S THERE, IF NEED BE. IT MAY **COST** A LOT, BUT ALAS, THAT'S LIFE. YOU CAN ONLY HAVE TWO OF THE THREE: CHEAP, FAST, AND GOOD." There's a pause. "I DO HOPE WHATEVER AILS YOU CAN BE ALLEVIATED, MY FELLOW WOMAN OF METAL AND MEAT.