>>38158597
>"Let's start with Gaul's racket. He might give us a discount."
It would probably help us to start sooner since if we wait too long the good stuff could be gone by then.

>>38158597
>"Let's start with Gaul's racket. He might give us a discount."

>>38158597
>"Let's start with Gaul's racket. He might give us a discount."

>"Let's start with Gaul's racket. He might give us a discount."

Hello OP. Thanks for Hosting!

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>>38158597
"Let's start with Gaul's racket," you say. "He might give us a discount."

"I wonder if he still has explosives." Willie chuckles.

"Willie, don't by discounted explosives."

"But their explosions are always so much more impressive! When they do explode anyway."

Sergeant Gaul is out in the open selling what's left of his wares. Most of his military equipment is still there, but not so much the other luxury goods, especially the alcohol. One wonders what people are doing so early in the morning.

"Sergeant!" You call out to him. "How about a discount? It might lighten your load."

Gaul laughs. He points at you and laughs. In front of about a hundred soldiers. He keeps going long past the point where everyone is shuffling about awkwardly.

"Are you insane?" He asks. "I upped my prices for everything but military equipment. A few people are getting a vacation, but most people are being reassigned elsewhere and this is their last chance to get some of my good stuff.

"Fine, fine," you say. "Just tell me what you've got."

"We can start with the equipment," he says. "We'll talk about smaller upgrades if you have any money left afterwards."

>Your current equipment is level 1 and provides a bonus of +1 to Accuracy, Range and Damage for weapons and +1 to Evasion, Movement and Defense for Uniforms. Upgrading to level 2 equipment increases these bonuses to +2.
>You have 8461DCT to spend on the following:
>Grenades II [1900DCT]
>Lances II [1900DCT]
>Machine Guns II [1900DCT]
>Rifles II [1900DCT]
>Sniper Rifles II [1900DCT]
>Swords II [1900DCT]

>>38159115
>Rifles II [1900DCT]
>Sniper Rifles II [1900DCT]
>Grenades II [1900DCT]
>Lances II [1900DCT]

>>38159115
Can we get tier II uniforms or not?

>>38159194
learn to count
>>38159115
>Lances II [1900DCT]
>Machine Guns II [1900DCT]

>>38159234
Yeah, Uniforms II are supposed to be in there.

>>38159304
>>38159115
Uniforms II
Rifles II
Swords II

>>38159283
Huh?
4x1900 =7600 which is less than 8461

>>38159322
>>38159115
Add Lances II

>>38159194
>>38159234
>>38159283
>>38159322
>>38159401
Looks like Rifles II, Lances II, Uniforms II and Swords II for 7600DCT has the most support.

Is this acceptable?
>Y/N

>>38159490
Sounds good!

>>38159490
Y

>>38159490
Y

>>38159115
"Let's go with the rifles, lances, uniforms and swords," you say. "That looks like the most effective way to do it."

"That'll be 7600 ducats," Gaul says. "I'll be tagging along with you for your next assignment, so there won't be any issues if you get any new people on your team."

"You know where we're going after this?" You ask.

"No," Gaul says. "Just that we'll be sticking around."

That leaves you with 861 ducats to spend on smaller upgrades and little customizations to get just a little bit more out of your equipment. They don't do much, but they're cheap and they add up after a while.

>Look at the Grenade upgrades.
>Look at the Uniform upgrades.
>Look at the Lance upgrades.
>Look at the Rifle upgrades.
>Look at the Machine Gun upgrades.
>Look at the Sniper Rifle upgrades.
>Look at the Sword upgrades.
>Save your money for next time and head to the training field.

>>38159711
>>Save your money for next time and head to the training field.

>>38159711
>Look at the Uniform upgrades.

>>38159711
>>Look at the Uniform upgrades.
It effects everyone after all.

>>38159711
>>Look at the Sniper Rifle upgrades.

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>>38158597
>all those Dutch names
>province with the name of a village
>city with the name of a river
>even some typical errors, like mixing up l and r
>Terneuzen is on the map twice

Most names on that map are real life Dutch and Belgian places. The rest are German, with some exceptions. I don't even. Wat.

>>38159794
It's Jap's doing Not!Europe. Don't expect a lot.

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>>38159794
Japan is really bad at geography.

Look at Europe.

>>38159711
"How about the uniform upgrades?" You ask. "I don't think we have any of those yet."

"I have a few things," Gaul says. "Padding, camouflage, lighter materials, that sort of thing. It's not much, but if you keep investing in better and newer materials, it'll add up quite quickly."

"How much for all the upgrades?"

"About 285 ducats altogether," Gaul says.

You take out the rest of your cash. That still leaves you with a decent sum of money.

"Do you have any equipment for sniper rifles while I'm here?"

"I have new barrels," Gaul says. "I do have new scopes that should increase the range of your rifle a little. They're Imperial models, but I have spares. You don't want to know what I had to do to get them. That'll cost you another 95 ducats "

>Buy the uniform upgrades.
>Buy the sniper rifle upgrade.
>Buy both upgrades.
>Buy neither upgrade.

>>38160184
>>Buy both upgrades.

>>38160184
>>Buy both upgrades.

>>38160184
>>Buy both upgrades.

>>38160184
>Buy both upgrades.

>>38160184
>>Buy both upgrades.

>>38160184
Buy both upgrades

>>38160053
It's probably a translation issue.

>>38160184
>Buy both upgrades.

>>38160184
>>Buy neither upgrade.
"You drive a hard bargain, Gaul, but I'll take the lot."

>>38160184
"We'll get both," you say. "Can you make the proper arrangements? We need to drop by the training fields."

"Sure, sure," Gaul says. "Have fun! I'll have you sorted out just as soon as I'm done squeezing ducats out of the place."

You wave goodbye to Gaul and head over to the training fields.

"Gaul's a greedy bastard, but he treats our supplies better than the army does," Karl says. "Makes you wonder what the world's coming to."

"I guess that's what happens when your supplies are being handled by people who are hundreds of miles from the front lines," you say. "Anyway, let's get to work. We have a lot of ground to cover."

>You have 12264XP to spend on the following:
>Engineer Level 4 (1200XP)
>Fencer Level 4 (1950XP)
>Lancer Level 3 (1500XP)
>Scout Level 4 (1650XP)
>Shocktrooper 3 (1500XP)
>Sniper 4 (3000XP)
>Officer 4 (2400XP)

>You may also learn the following Orders:
>All Accuracy Boost (1800XP)
>All Evasion Boost (1800XP)
>Range Boost (900XP)
>Defense Boost (900XP)
>Damage Boost (900XP)
>Movement Boost (900XP)

>>38160419
All of the class upgrades but Sniper 4 for 9900

>>38160419
>>Engineer Level 4 (1200XP)
>>Fencer Level 4 (1950XP)
>>Lancer Level 3 (1500XP)
>>Scout Level 4 (1650XP)
>>Shocktrooper 3 (1500XP)
>>Officer 4 (2400XP)

and

>>All Accuracy Boost (1800XP)

Comes out to 12000 XP.

>>38160419
Seconding
>>38160529

>>38160529
>>38160419
Thirding.

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>>38160419
>New Level Gained: Engineer 4
>New Level Gained: Fencer 4
>New Level Gained: Lancer 3
>New Level Gained: Scout 4
>New Level Gained: Shocktrooper 3
>New Level Gained: Officer 4

You review the missions you completed at Ghirlandaio and spread your attention equally across all your subordinates. In your time here, you fought everywhere from the trenches to the mountains and you have more than enough combat experience to show for it. After a few modified training drills, you feel ready for your next assignment, whatever it turns out to be.

"That's all for today," you say. "I need to see the major about our next assignment. Everyone, pack your things and get ready."

"Yes, sir!"

Most of Major Lenier's things have already been packed up and shipped off, but he still has his actual office. He's waiting for you there along with Captain DuLac.

"De Velde, welcome," the major says. "I was just about to send someone for you."

"Sir."

"We've been assigned to support our troops to the south now that northern Gallia, but the situation is still fluid, so I don't have a permanent assignment," the major says. "However, several units, including your team and Captain DuLac's squad have been granted a vacation. I was hoping you could spend it at Velde."

You frown. Velde is your home and it's a beautiful city, but it's not a military city. However, it is centrally located, so it should be easy to deploy troops from there to wherever you'll be assigned.

DuLac remains silent and waits for your answer.

>"I don't think that's a good idea, sir."
>"I'll go along with your decision, sir."
>"I can make arrangements to accommodate as many people as possible."

>>38160878
>>"I can make arrangements to accommodate as many people as possible."

>>38160878
>"I can make arrangements to accommodate as many people as possible."

>>38160878
>>"I can make arrangements to accommodate as many people as possible."

>>38160878
>>"I can make arrangements to accommodate as many people as possible."
"I think that my family can make room for a few more of our comrades-in-arms. What's the phrase I'm looking for? 'Civic duty to the state'?"

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>>38160878
"I can make arrangements to accommodate as many people as possible," you say. "The family manor's big enough and people will have been conscripted to join the war effort. It shouldn't be hard to find room. I should be able to call in favours for food, too."

"I'm quite thankful for your cooperation, Lieutenant," DuLac says. "We've all been fighting hard here, and there's a different between time off and a real vacation."

"I know what you mean," you say. "I can promise you, the coffee won't taste like whatever we had last night."

"I'll leave the arrangements to you," the major says. "I'll be traveling separately. I'm assuming you can lead people there?"

"The road's not too hard to find," you say. "Velde isn't a major trade city, but it does see quite a bit of traffic. We can leave when everyone's ready."

"Glad to hear it," the major says. "I don't know how much free time you'll have, but I'm hoping you'll be able to enjoy yourself up until the Feast of All Spirits."

The Feast is in more than a month. The way the war's going, that's a long time to keep you away from the front lines. A really, really long time.

Still, there's nothing you can do about it, so you might as well enjoy it. There's probably a delay because of the amount of time it'll take to set up the supply lines.

"Understood, sir," you say. "I'll inform my people."

"Then you're both dismissed," the major says. "Enjoy yourself."

Captain DuLac saunters off, humming lightly to herself, while you go find your team by the trucks.

"So, which hellhole are we going to now, sir?" Nina asks.

>"None. We're going on a vacation!"
>"The Gallian Army is sending us on a critical mission to assassinate what's left of the Imperial family."
>"Nina, I think it's time I introduced you to my family."

>>38161386
>"Nina, I think it's time I introduced you to my family."

>>38161386
>"Nina, I think it's time I introduced you to my family."

>>38161386
>"Nina, I think it's time I introduced you to my family."

>>38161386
>>"None. We're going on a vacation!"

>>38161386
>>"Nina, I think it's time I introduced you to my family."
yes we need jokes

>>38161386
>"Nina, I think it's time I introduced you to my family."
straightface, then burst out laughing, then say we're transferring to a new front on an important mission, tell no one until we arrive. HAHAHA

>>38161386
>>"Nina, I think it's time I introduced you to my family."
"My mother has been nagging me to- oh, what's the phrase she likes to say?- 'settle down'."

>>38161439
This

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>>38161386
You grab Nina and wrap your arm around her shoulder.

"Nina, I think it's time I introduced you to my family," you say. "My mother's keeps going on about how I need to settle down and I think now's as good a time as any."

"Wait. What."

Nina's face is burning red and everyone else in the team is just staring you.

"Yeah, my mother's been telling me to settle down, and I'd like to have something to look forward to once the war's over."

"Wait-but-wha-who-whe." She stops and peers at you. "Wait, this is a joke, right?"

"Yeah, it's a joke." That gets you an elbow in the ribs. Thankfully, Nina scuttles away before the next part. "The truth is, we're going to the desert. I don't trust logistics with anything, so I want each and everyone of you to grab as many containers as possible and fill them with water. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Good! Dismissed!"

Your team scatters and you decide to sit in one of the trucks and wait for them. They'll figure it out eventually, but for now, you can watch them go.

It takes about an hour for everyone to come up, along with DuLac's squad and a few other teams. Your own team got three trucks for transportation and everyone is wondering why they're loaded with barrels and bottles of water.

"Lieutenant de Velde!" Captain DuLac calls out to you. "You know the way there, so we'll follow your lead."

She specifically avoids mentioning where you're all going. She must have overheard your orders.

"Yes, ma'am." You get in the driver's seat of the lead truck and turn on the engine.

>Take the usual route.
>Take the scenic route.
>Take a few detours.

>>38161878
>>Take the scenic route.

>>38161878
>Take the usual route.
Nope, not fucking around with Esdeath

>>38161878
>>Take the usual route.

>>38161878
>Take the usual route.

>>38161878
>Take the usual route.

Usual route it is. Roll 1d100.

Rolled 48 (1d100)

>>38162169
wonder what this is about.

>>38162169

Rolled 10 (1d100)

>>38162169
roll

Rolled 98 (1d100)

>>38162200
God it's been a while

>>38162214
if this is best of three then what ever it was you killed it.

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>>38161878
You decide to take the usual route. It's just normal civilian roads with little to see, but they're well-trodden and there are a lot of villages along the way, so you'll be able to find shelter. Still, it takes you a while to get out of Ghirlandaio's shadow.

"It's nice, not being on the front lines again," Jetje says. "I guess we should enjoy it while it lasts. I hear deserts are brutal."

"They are," you say. "Desert training is horrible. At least with forests, you have the opportunity to scrounge for resources."

You make small talk the rest of the way until the sun starts to set. You're still far away from the nearest town, but you should still be able to make it at something resembling a reasonable hour.

Then you hear it in the distance.

The whistling mortar.
The explosion.
You see the bright lights of a burning fire.

"Shit!" Jetje says. "How the fuck did the Imperials get this far into Gallia."

You clench your teeth and grip the wheel so hard your knuckles turn white. Everyone in the convoy is a trained soldier and none of them will lose their cool because of something like this, but you're the lead truck and that puts you in charge.

It looks like the mortar exploded in a nearby forest in the opposite direction of the nearest town. That could be very good, but it could also be very bad. There is a road that goes through there, so you can take the truck, but the Imperials - if they are Imperials - might see you coming.

>Lead the convoy towards the explosion.
>Get to the explosion on foot.
>Forget the explosion. You need to get to the village.
>Split the convoy. You'll head towards the explosion while DuLac's team will head for the village.

>>38162398
>>Get to the explosion on foot.

>>38162398
>>Split the convoy. You'll head towards the explosion while DuLac's team will head for the village.

Safety in numbers is great and all but when there's artillery incoming, it's best to scatter your forces and initiate a search and destroy maneuver as a counter.

>>38162398
>>Split the convoy. You'll head towards the explosion while DuLac's team will head for the village.

>>38162447
supported

>>38162398
>Split the convoy. You'll head towards the explosion while DuLac's team will head for the village.

>>38162398
>Split the convoy. You'll head towards the explosion while DuLac's team will head for the village.

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>>38162398
"We're splitting up," you say. "We're going towards the explosion and I'm sending DuLac's squad to the town. Inform the team."

"Right away."

You and Jetje both get out of the truck. She heads for your team's other trucks to inform them of the plan, while you run straight for DuLac's section of the convoy.

"Captain!" She's just getting out of her truck as you arrive. "I'd like to take my team to investigate the explosion. Can you head for the nearest town? They should be ready if there's an Imperial attack."

Captain DuLac sighs.

"I don't like walking away from this, but I suppose the town should be warned," she says. "Good luck, Lieutenant."

"Thank you, Captain," you say. "The village is that way. We'll be back as soon as possible."

Schreiner and Garcia both gives you a thumbs' up as you run back to the lead truck and jump back.

"We're ready to go, sir," Leifstel says.

You stomp on the medal and head straight for the explosion. You can't see anything through the trees, but you don't hear any more explosions or any gunshots, which you take as a good sign. However, you catch a few glimpses of ragnite flames.

You hit the brakes hard and nearly bash your skull against the wheel. You've found the Imperials' targets. The road itself is a crater, and there are four cars - fancy, expensive models - that are heavily damaged by fire and bullet holes.

You also see two flat trails leading into the forest. They're about the width of a light Imperial tank. It's quite impressive that they managed to get one of these through the trees, but it also means they can't be moving too quickly.

>Check for survivors.
>Pursue the Imperials.

>>38162967
>>Check for survivors.

>>38162967
>>Check for survivors.

>>38162967
>>Check for survivors.
It's not the best strategic decision, but there might be someone important in there

>>38162967
>Check for survivors.
Always confirm tank kills

>>38162967
>Check for survivors.
Fancy cars means most likely there is someone important inside. Also a tank in a forest is going to a nightmare for the Imperials to use

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>>38162967
"Keep alert and look for survivors!" You yell.

Leifstel, Schreiner, Stroheim and Garcia immediately move to stand guard on the side of the road in case any additional Imperials arrive. You, Nelson and Stroheim look around for survivors.

"Nelson, what do you think of the damage?" You ask.

"The tank used non-explosive rounds to take out the engines, and all the passengers where shot by bullets" he says. "If I had to guess, I'd say the mortar strike was to clean up after the attack. They wanted someone alive. Otherwise, the tank would have used explosive shells or shot at the passengers."

You nod in agreement. The cars were heavily damaged by the mortar, but it's clear from the wounds and the bullet wounds that the people were killed before the explosion. At least eight people died here. Even if they wanted to confirm the kill, it'd be less risky to confirm the target before attacking the cars.

"I found someone!" Stroheim yells.

You rush over to her side. She's leaning over a battered man and administering basic treatment. You look at the man's clothes. They're made out of very good silk. Someone important was here.

"Help… me…"

"You'll be fine," Stroheim says. "It looks like he crawled out of his car and got shot in the back. They must have left him for dead."

Hardly a commendable way to take a bullet wound, but he is just a civilian and you have bigger things to worry about.

You crouch next to the man and grasp his hand to get his attention.

"Listen to me," you say. "I need to know who you were with.

"Adeleine…" The man wheezes. "Adeleine Brightward… The Imperials attacked us… took her back with them…"

"Adeleine Brightward?" Stroheim asks. "I know she hurt the Empire's pride when she left them for Gallia, but why would they want her this badly?"

"I guess we'll find out," you say.

>>38163502
And that Chekhov's Gun comes back after 11 threads.

That's all for today's thread. As always, I will see you all next Wednesday at around 7PM EST. Now that the tedium level ups and gear is dealt with for a bit, it's time to really get into the next arc.

Good night and thanks for playing.

>>38163555
thanks for running.

>>38163555
Thanks for running.