>>44528933

The door to the lecture hall slides open, and you’re already mentally preparing an apology, only to find that hardly anyone has noticed you enter. The class is far smaller in number than you had imagined, all of them are split off into groups excitedly discussing whatever’s on their individual desk screens. The proctor walks up and down the lecture hall’s steps, assisting students wherever needed.

He notices you as the door slides shut behind you, and approaches. “You’re the new student…” He pulls out his Assistant to check the roster. “Oren Fisher?”

“Yes I am.” You respond firmly. “Sorry I’m late.”

“It’s fine. Just try to be on time, as we go over crucial material at the beginning.” He turns back to look at the students. “For now…Join up with Yukari over there, and see if you can catch up.” He points to the only solitary student in the class, who's hunched over her screen.

You nod in acceptance and ascend the stairs to where you were directed.

“Casting the new guy out into the fog…”

“…poor guy.”

“Why is she still here?”

“…Lost.”

The murmuring of several students catches your ear as you pass by, not a single one positive. Their words become unintelligible as you sit down next to her.

[2/3]*

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>>44528977

At first, she’s entirely occupied with the problems on her screen, but quickly turns when you sit. Her hair is slight mess, and her clothes look as if she slept in them.

“You shouldn’t be late, new kid, Fluid Dynamics is tough enough.” She smiles politely and dexterously spins a pen between her fingers. “Don’t worry about that. This is my third time taking this class, so I’m an expert.” She announces proudly.

You look down at her work to see many failed attempts at starting several problems, and even more doodles flanking the problems.

However, when you examine the problems, you note that they are actually simple, at least compared to what you practiced on Peugue.
This must be some sort of warm-up.

A crumpled piece of paper lands on your desk.

You turn to try to identify who through it, but nobody sticks out, so you unwrap it to see its contents.

“Sit anywhere else. The Lost drag others with them.”

You lean back in your seat and consider the note. To accuse someone of being Lost is a serious thing, but to actually be Lost is far worse. You hardly know her, but she doesn't seem that way to you. Then again, you just got here...

>Work on your own. The problems are easy enough.

>Work with her.

>Move away, and work with a different group.

>Write in.

>>44529051
>Work with her.

Innocent until proven guilty, right?

>>44529051
>Work with her.
we're already what, 30 minutes late by this point? May as well go all the way.

>>44529051
>Work on your own. The problems are easy enough.

>>44529051
>>Work on your own. The problems are easy enough.

Hello and welcome to the first thread of the year, everyone! In case you haven't noticed, there are new pastebins in the opening post.

As there is a tie, I'll wait a few minutes before resorting to a roll to break it.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

Rolling to break the tie.

1=Pair work.
2=Solo work.

>Writing the winner.

>>44529360

Those types of accusations are enough to warrant some concern, but as you haven’t seen why she may be Lost, you decide to work on your own for now.

“No thanks.” You answer civilly. “Wouldn’t want you to do all the work for me.”

She lets out a small laugh and rubs her eye furiously. “Don’t be afraid to ask if you need any help.”

You nod and pull up the problems on your screen.

Six problems, apparently to be worked on for the rest of class, with the anything undone to be finished before next class meeting. You breeze through the first four problems, and the fifth, while taking much more work is essentially just a combination of the concepts in the first problems.

It isn’t until the last problem that you have to pause and really think about it, but pulling on some more obscure knowledge, you’re able to make the problem more approachable and finish it flawlessly.

You drum your fingers as you check your work, there’s still a few minutes until class is dismissed. Maybe you’ll leave early and pick up something to eat before your mission.

“You’re done, Oren?” The proctor asks, skeptically.

You snap back from your thoughts. “Yeah.” You pull up the problems and allow him to check over your work.

Yukari not so subtlety looks over your work as well.

He checks all of your work carefully before speaking. “Excellently done, and the first one finished.” He marks something is his Assistant. “Your foundation is completely solid.”

Yukari slips back to her work and begins writing frantically.

You did study this all before. You guess the Vice Admiral was right about having an easy class. “Thanks.” You reply, modestly.

As he walks off, you pack up to leave. As you do, you feel the eyes of several people upon you now, their thoughts their own, but in all honesty, your mind is hardly concerned with anything other than your mission right now.

~

[1/2]

>>44530247

“Alrighty!” Ivan shouts out as you line up with the others of your squad. “Our frames have been loaded up in the bird, and it’s just about time for us work our magic.” His voice carrying over the cacophony of the deployment hangar.

The busy hangar at the edge of the academy is filled with numerous transport aircraft, and land vehicles of all sizes. Soldiers and secondary personal busily march in all directions around you, as the howling sound of aircraft taking off over the nearby sea drowns out the waves.

“The target has been spotted by the scouts hiding out in a rocky cove about two hundred and fifty miles northeast of our location.” The fluctuating noise hardly affects him. “Retrieval of his gear is the primary objective, undamaged.” He puts emphasis on his last word and stops for a moment in front of Blissless before continuing. “Command recognizes that this might not be possible with his hostile status, and suggests any attacks to be focused on limbs or the head, and only on the torso as an absolute last resort. He has his frame, and is suspected to be carrying numerous explosive ordinances with him, so don't take any chances.” He stops before Luca this time.

They must really want his armor back.

“Second Objective is securing the Squad Five runaway alive, and bringing him back here. Same as always we’ll be marked for how well we complete these objectives, and receive bonuses depending on our performance.” Ivan stops before you. “So do your best!” He gives you a strong thumbs-up.

Aren’t you just going to be watching them do all the work?

“Any questions?” Ivan crosses his arms.

>Load up on the transport aircraft.

>Write in.

>>44530317
Do you think he suspects an attack? He might have set up some explosive traps if so.

>>44530408
This question and then heading out.

>Writing

>>44530317
Any protocol for us? Who do we get behind if he starts gunning for us?

And in the event that it becomes relevant: is the crotch considered part of the torso frame? Say, when we get in kneeing distance?

>>44530547

If you’re too loud, you’ll spook off the fish, but when it comes to humans… You almost hate yourself for still thinking about fishery even now.

“Do you think he suspects that we’re coming?” You swiftly ask. “He might have set up some traps if so.”

Ivan gives you a short and completely serious round of applause. “You’re thinking ahead, that’s the kind of thinking that keeps you alive.” He stops and continues pacing. “The scouts were careful not to set him off, and that’s why command is sending only a single squad for this.” He stops and sighs quietly. “In case he does get tipped off, Oren, get as far back from the fighting as possible, no matter what. And if in the extremely unlikely case that you find that you can’t get away from him, the throat is the most vulnerable part of a standard frame.”

Observing and staying out of the way is the ultimate goal.

"But, the more difficult the task, the more glorious the tale.” He nods confidently to himself. “Keep your eyes open.”

“Understood.” Luca and Blissless respond in unison.

“Well then…” He signals to the pilot to open the hatch of your transport. “Let’s go create our legends!”

The three of you choose not to respond to that as you board the transport.

~

The crisp odor of the sea slides up upon you like an old and forgotten friend. It’s been less than a week since you were face to face with this subtle familiarity, but time has marched on for a whole rotation without you. So, as you watch the calm tides of this early afternoon, you wonder if you’re smelling this air for the first time in a few days, or longer.

Luca taps the shoulder of your frame, snapping you back to reality.

You hold up a hand to excuse your lack of vigilance, and Luca merely laughs lightly.

[1/2]

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>>44531497

It’s a problem that you’ve had for as long as you can remember, you’d always lose track of the time when you were watching the tides. They’ve always been mesmerizing, something about their primordial and constant nature, beyond that, sometimes you’d swear that they were trying to tell you something.

You shake your head and focus as the aircraft quietly approaches a rocky beach.

Ivan signals for everyone to get ready.

It hovers low, and the back hatch opens. Blissless rushes out just as Ivan motions for her to do so, Luca follows after, and Ivan pulls you close by the shoulder.

“Don’t try to fight it.” He says as he pulls you to the end of the craft. “Let the frame take the impact.”

You hardly get a chance to respond as he pulls you out with him, and you both fall to the beach. Your eyes slam shut, instinctively, and you feel as you whole body is lightly jarred as you land, you feel your feet begin to slip on the sand, but Ivan holds you steady.

“Not so bad, right?” Ivan asks as you open your eyes. “It’s almost all mental.”

You watch his dark brown and grey frame as he checks the area, the model is an entirely custom made piece, heavy weapons stored upon each shoulder. You wonder if Diana had fun making it.

Ivan calls you all in close. “Two approaches. “He points to the towering rocks in the distance. “The beach and the cliffs; he’s going to be in hiding along one of them.” He looks toward Blissless.
“Take the cliffs, and I’ll take the beach.” He then turns his attention to you. “It’s first mission, Oren.” He says excitedly. “Which path calls out to you?”

So, he’s asking you to choose who you want to search with. Neither option appeals to you, but it’s clear that he doesn’t want the two weaker members of the team heading off on their own. Time to choose.

>Take the cliffs with Blissless.

>Take the beach with Ivan.

>Write in.

>>44531553

>Take the cliffs with Blissless.

>>44531553
>Take the beach with Ivan.
Water good. Water nice. And Ivan might keep a tighter lip about that whole weapon thing.

>>44531553
>Take the cliffs with Blissless.

>>44531612
>>44531670
Taking the high ground.

>Writing

>>44531769
Lets just hope this guy doesn't try to spin.

>>44531769

As you recall, the weapon that Diana lent doesn’t work underwater, so the further away you are from it, the better off you might be.

“I’ll take the cliffs.” You announce and Ivan gives you a light push.

“Then it is settled.” He pulls out a small metal object from his frame. “Comms might get messed up with the high cliffs. In case you get separated, just set this off, and we’ll get to you as soon as possible.”

You accept the flaregun and store it away into your frame.

“Be careful.” Luca cautions you.

“Take care of each other.” Ivan salutes before heading off with Luca in tow.

Blissless scoffs heavily at Ivan’s words. “Keep up.” She utters coldly before swiftly moving toward the cliffs in the distance.

You sigh, and rush to keep up with her careful stride. You seem to have to exert yourself far more than she does to close the distance, especially with the numerous jagged rocks dotting the beach, which she seamlessly weaves between.

After the long run, Blissless stops before the cliffs, eyeing them carefully, before deciding upon a path upward.

You hardly get a moment to catch your breath before you have to take off after her again. The unsteady footing troubles you at first, but it seems that the legs of your frame gradually begin to adjust to the terrain, allowing you to easily keep your balance.

However, even with the frame’s assistance, you lag behind Blissless, who impatiently waits for you at the top of the approach.

[1/2]

>>44532499

She huffs, annoyed when you finally do arrive, and then takes to observing the clearing the two of you find yourselves on.

Again, you take the time to catch your breath. You look down at your frame to see that it’s already heavily stained with dirt and sand, far different from her frame which only has dirt caked to the bottom of its legs.

Her head turns quickly toward you. “Keep an eye out on your surroundings, not my frame, you burden.” Her quiet words, still plenty cutting.

You pull your gaze away and start checking the area.

Goddamn her.

“She really doesn’t like you.” Ena laughs amused.

Yeah, maybe you were a bit distracted, but…fucking hell. Whatever.

You feel anger slowly steam in your chest as the two of you head off again to reach the top. But, that anger does motivate you to keep up with her this time.

Once at the top of cliff line, the ground levels off for the most part, but several jagged rock growths block the path ahead. Blissless carefully watches her step as she walks around the numerous piles of flaky rocks on the ground, and moves to the edge to peer down toward the beach.

Damn it, stop watching what she’s doing. You look toward the narrow path ahead of you, and see that it’s covered with small piles of rocks everywhere. It’d be pretty easy to eat it, if you’re not careful.

>Explore the area ahead.

>Check the beach with Blissless.

>Write in.

>>44532518
>>Explore the area ahead.

Seems like a good place to either hide or for us to explore in.

>>44532518
>Check the beach with Blissless.

>>44532518
>Explore the area ahead.

>>44532518
>Check the beach with Blissless.

>>44532518
>Plan out a way back down

So, we're at a two-way tie right now. None of the options can really be synthesized, so as much as I don't want to, I'll probably have to roll to break the tie.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

1= Exploring the area ahead.
2=Checking the beach with Blissless.

>Writing the winner

>>44532788

You shamble your way around the crumbling rocks on the ground and eventually make your way closer to the edge.

Down on the beach below, Ivan and Luca march a little bit ahead of your position, but Ivan still turns and notices the two of you. He holds a hand up and waves enthusiastically.
Blissless arms begins to awkwardly move, just until she notices that you’re right behind her. She stomps off, leaving you to quickly wave to Ivan and Luca.

“Is that how it is?” Ena asks, laughing.

“What?” You ask her quietly as you head back to follow Blissless.

“Oh, don’t worry.” It assures you, still laughing. “It’s not important.”

You sigh heavily.

Then don’t mention it in the first place.

Blissless slows down as she explores the area ahead of you, which as you can tell is filled with nothing but crumbling rocks.

You catch up with her more and more, but she suddenly stops, and you suddenly find yourself falling backward on your ass.

“What the hell?” You demand aloud as you look up and see her outstretched arm as the culprit. “What the hell is your problem?”

She doesn’t speak a word, but instead chooses to point directly down to spot you were about to step on.

You see nothing but the same old rocks, at first. As you look over the area, you see a thin metal lip of something small and flat. Most of it has been colored to blend in with the surrounding rocks, and it’s very likely that you would’ve stepped on it, had she not stopped you.

[1/2]

>>44533360

How fucking insidious.

Blissless crouches down to look at the trap, but her gaze soon wanders along the path, stopping occasionally, before moving again.

She’s stops suddenly and gasps. “There’s too many...” She quickly rises and points back down where you came. “Get back!” She rushes to edge of the cliff. “Squad Leader Ibedo!”

You hear her over the comm. “Squad Leader Ibedo, you’re walking into a trap!”

You carefully follower her to where she stands. Ivan and Luca barely visible far below, but this time they don’t notice you.

No response.

Her gaze turns down to the jagged rocks beneath before boldly jumping down, and leaping from rock to rock, somehow perfectly maintaining her balance, until she eventually reaches the bottom.

She sprints down the beach.

Get back, was all that you were told, but it doesn’t help you at all as what to do next. If it is a trap, then you’re not too sure how much help you’d be down there, but if it isn’t, then you’re on your own for no reason.

You carefully consider what to do next.

>Head back the way you came.

>Try to descend the cliffs like she did.

>Write in.

>>44533379
>Get some more height, try to act as a Comms point that's not interrupted.
>handgun's probably bad at this range, but the flaregun should blind an attacker for a good deal of time.

>>44533379
Shoot our railgun or flaregun to get their attention?

>>44533379
>>44533436
Seconding this. Plus get back away from the explosives.

>>44533379
>Head back the way you came.

>>44533436
>>44533530
Backing up, trying to get clear of the rocks, and then trying communicate to them.

>Writing

>>44533638

First thing to do is to get away from all of these explosives, and then maybe if you get clear of all these damn rocks then you reach the others over the comm.

You fall back, trying to take the path that will get you the most altitude, but the sheer amount of jagged rocks rising into the air makes this a difficult task. You make sure to note the direction of way back, in case this whole thing doesn’t work.

After much hiking, you find a rock pillar that lends enough of itself to climb, and is probably high enough to get comms past these cliffs. You look around for the best approach.

“Come on… You should be working!”

A nearby voice freezes you cold in your tracks. Your heartrate picks up rapidly as you duck down and try to pinpoint source of the voice.

There’s no sounds other than the wind breaking upon the cliffs for agonizingly long seconds until finally you hear the voice again.

“No! They’re here already. Just speak!” The frantic voice of the unknown man is closer than it was last time.

[1/2]

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>>44534357

Your arm clenches reflexively as the micro-railgun slides out of your frame. You begin to slowly crawl away from the rock pillar, listening out for the voice again.

A fatigued sigh startles you, and you immediately cease moving. A single man in a heavily beaten frame steps into your view. Large chunks of the limbs of his frame are missing entirely, and the holsters for the heavy weapons on his torso are snapped in half. He shuffles in the direction where you came from, with a single heavy handgun gripped in his hand.

He walks past, not noticing you.

A cool and tingling sweat chills your entire body.

“No choice then…” He looks far ahead toward the edge of the cliffs, and then raises his damaged right arm.

You're breathing heavily, you unsteadily raise your weapon and point it at his legs.

Your throat is too dry, the sound of the sea is almost overwhelming even you where you are.

“Higher.” Ena states with heavy voice. “You’re all safest if you take him out completely.”

Your entire body shakes with adrenaline as her words seem very far away, but he seems very close indeed.

Make a decision.

>Aim and shoot for his legs.

>Aim and shoot for his head.

>Rush and take him out hand-to-hand.

>Write in

>>44534417
>Rush and take him out hand-to-hand.

>>44534417
>Rush and take him out hand-to-hand.

>>44534417
>>Aim and shoot for his head.


As they say in gun safety courses, every shot is a kill shot, shooting for his leg will probably kill him via blood loss and shock, might as well kill him properly.

Also he intends to kill us.

>>44534417
>Aim and shoot for his head.
No messing around.

>>44534417
>Aim and shoot for his head.

>>44534492
>>44534511
>>44534599
Going for the head.

Roll 1d20 please. Best of three.

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>44534617

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>44534617

Lets unleash our Inner Chris Kyle!

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>44534617
Here we go.

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>44534617
come on

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>44534617

>>44534659
13-1 (from Blastback) = 12

>Writing

>>44534659
damn dude why did you have to roll a second before me

>>44534678
at least this should be a super easy shot

>>44534457
>>44534458
Fun fact: the average modern day rail gun shell that the military launches moves at .00000083391 c, do you really think you can outrun a future one?

>>44534710
bitch I run 5 miles at 2c every morning

>>44534806
You should consult a physicist, not even the flash can run that fucking fast.

>>44534824
I'm pretty sure the flash can run at at least 13,000,000,000,000c.

>>44534710
The target was distracted and disoriented. His reaction would have been a tad too slow.

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>>44534824
forgot my image

>>44534887
>>44534924
I take it all back, do whatever the fuck you want, everything ever is a fucking lie!

>>44534678

That’s it, isn’t it? He was perfectly fine setting up traps that could’ve killed you or any of your squad members, and now he’s going to set them off. You eye his weapon, and wonder briefly if it isn’t possible to disarm him. Maybe, if get the jump on him, one mistake however…

You raise your arm until you’re aiming right at the back of his head. Your legs dig into the ground and you feel your entire body brace for the shot.

That’s it, isn’t it?

A wave of heat engulfs your body as your vision is filled with nothing but furious torrent of flame venting from the side of the weapon. You can’t hear yourself breathe anymore, only the bounding echo of your weapon’s blast off the cliffs.

But your blood still pumps all the same, you can feel surging madly through your body.

After what feels like forever, you get up and shakily walk over to the frame.

The torso is intact, as are the limbs, but the head is gone. A simple shattered base remains, charred along the edges, and the original contents, gone.

You collapse to your knees, your breathing becomes erratic before you eventually empty everything from your stomach on the cool ground.

The sounds of the tides reach your ears again, how they continuously roll on the beach over and over and over again.

~

>>44534952
>>44534924
>>44534887
>>44534806
Wait wait! Hold the phone! Wouldn't you go blind if you ran above the speed of light?

Light literally couldn't reach your eyes to allow you to see.>>44535096

Fuck I thought he was drawing on us!

>>44534806
Haha, that must not take you very long, anon.

>>44535096
Okay, that's where I'm going to end it for tonight. Your choices were very interesting to write, and I want to thank everyone who played today!

Not as per usual, I stop now to ask you all if you're enjoying the quest, or if there are any issues that you want to bring up. Please don't worry about hurting my feeling or anything like that, and be as vitriolic as you wish, but also be constructive too!

If you don't wish to do that, then I wish you a good day/night, and hope to see you again next time!

>(Twitter)
https://twitter.com/QM_Auri

>>44535179
thx runin budi gud thred

I am enjoying the quest as always

Why is Blissless so blissless? Why are all our AI's defective? When do we get to run an analysis on the one we have?

>>44535179
Thanks for running, no complaints really

>>44535253
You're very welcome!

I'm glad you're enjoying the quest.

Claire is the way she is for a reason, but for now at least, that reason will remain hidden. Your second question is a very interesting question... Well, right now you might be preoccupied by other recent occurrences, but you can get a diagnostic for Ena in your free time.

>>44535321
You're also very welcome, and that's good to hear!

Okay, I'll be stepping out for the night. Until next time!