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>>1889613
Reclining on the repair slab, you dial in through your datapad--the Lifesaver side-eyeing you in stony silence, but ultimately allowing it--and patch through to your new meeting room.

Even through the little window of your pad, you can tell the building is unfinished. Missing wall panels, exposed panels, hanging nests of wiring. You get the feeling that the unit is being shoveled into the new quarters. The audio feed picks up (the right-side channels annoyingly intermittent) and you hear quiet murmuring from the room. A moment later, Gopher’s mug fills the screen. You see him eye the damage on your chassis still, and mercifully, doesn’t question why you’re still on the slab. “Okay, we’re ready.”

Gopher steps out of panel, only to step back in as your camera feed changes to a front podium in front of a large screen. “All right, everyone’s here. Anode is in for repairs, so he’s in via call. Crankshaft is joining us from Japan. We’ll get straight into it.”

The screen stutters, and then switches to what you presume is what Gopher’s got up on the big screen.

“Let’s be quick. First off, major moves. We’ve made good headway in Central America and Asia operations. We’ve got some big wins, Recon’s confirmed major enemy withdrawal in those theaters. High focus remains on India, where we’re deadlocked. The biggest lynchpins in Africa have been dealt with, and maverick activity there’s been blunted.”

You hear India chime in. “So what’s the bad news?”

The feed doesn’t switch off the map full of colors, stripes, and arrows, but you can hear the glare Gopher shoots her. “The bad news is our resources are thinning, and they weren’t great to begin with. Mavericks are conducting ongoing action in North and South America, and all throughout the polar regions. We don’t have enough bodies to cover every op, and we can’t even manage full deployments. Which brings us to the important shit.”

The slide winks over to a large, bold-face heading: STRATEGY, followed by a wall of boxes, each bearing your names--checkin. A panel pops up on your pad, requesting your “signature.” You tap the button and your name lights up on attendance.
>COL FIRESTORM GOPHER
>FLASH REZADOR
>MAJ URALMASH URSA
>CPT EMERALD
>CPT ANODE
>LT INDIA
>LT FLARES FIREFLY
>LT TEMPLAR MADILLO
>WO CRANKSHAFT
>PSC SPIDER

One by one, they all check in. “Good,” Gopher says. “Okay, straight to it. The maverick strategy here is hunting the hunters. They know what shape we’re in, and they’re aiming to take out as many of us as possible while they carry off whatever objectives they can get away with.”

>>1889613
Afternoon Hunter Command,
Man it feels like it has been forever since I caught a thread live

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>>1889626
“Business as usual, then?” Asks Spider.

“Not like this. We’ve never been so close to parity.” You resist a snort at that--Gopher’s too professional to just out and say ‘the mavericks are taking on the world and winning.’ “We’re also seeing more attempts at live capture. They’ve always made plays for our upper echelons, but never any target below at least a seasoned A.”

That gets a nice round of uncomfortable silence from them. You glance up at the Lifesaver, who looks at you out of the corner of his eye for a moment unsettlingly before returning to work straightening out your innards.

“Our response is to narrow our focus,” Gopher continues. “We can’t afford to lose any more officers--and we definitely can’t afford any converts. I’m now authorizing multiple officers per engagement, at your discretion. We’re going to focus on the critical objectives and the more conventional hunts, and leave stable situations or protracted battlegrounds to the local militaries.”

Oof. You don’t doubt they’ll fill the gap, but… it’s more with numbers, than anything. If Wren was any indication, conventional doctrine outside of the hunters just isn’t built around combating a maverick threat. The camera winks back to the room display.

“Any questions, save them for later,” Gopher says, plowing straight through. “A few more major topics before we adjourn. Rezador?”

“The Captain can handle our report,” the mantis says coolly, tone cold with impatience.

“...Right, fine,” Emerald replies, stepping up to the front of the room as Gopher stands aside, arms folded. Standing beside the podium, Em’s posture is a good match for Rezador’s voice--I Don’t Want to Be Here. Still, he straightens up and starts properly enough.

“Rezador and myself were deployed to the US West Coast investigating a string of missing hunters. Right now, 4th’s the only unit with enough officers to even risk--”

“Captain,” Gopher interrupts.

Em shoots him a withering glare, but relents. “Yes, sir. The two of us went looking at the last known coordinates from Hulk Hornbill--14th--and the first thing we found was a combat casualty. A maverick one.“

Gopher interjects, as a dossier and mugshot blinks before you. “Dart Vermillion. A-Class, first active about four months after Sigma went down.”

“Him, yeah. He was pretty badly beaten, and melted. The damage profile matched Graverend Moloch’s weapons.” You pull the datapad a little closer to your nose, listening intently. “We reported in and opted to investigate further. We encountered maverick resistance in an evacuated urban center. The first guy we ran into? Opens up on us with Hornbill Hook.”

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>>1889638
He side-eyes Gopher, waiting for him to speak. “We spoke with Grapple and confirmed that Hornbill’s DNA was not flagged recoverable. Which means he was disabled and, still alive, flagged after the engagement in order to capture the data.”

Emerald nods, his grudge temporarily forgotten. “We cleared out the building and continued down into a sublevel, an old industrial complex. They’d reactivated it and started building...” He shrugs. “Custom mechaniloids. Most were in some state of half assembly, but all of them went active when they hit the alarms.” He frowns, rubbing his face with one hand. “Not sure how long it was--there were a lot of them. And midway through--”

Gopher turns the slide over, revealing a massive, red-and-white Reploid, with a ring-and-circle motif and wicked looking semicirclular blades on either arm. “Brama, G-class,” he explains. “This is the first direct contact with him since the coordinated attack on Rhodes in their opening gambit.”

“He mostly just stayed back, cranking out mechaniloids from himself,” Em continues. “He threw a few blasts in, but he was just trying to overwhelm us with numbers, then sweep in to clean us up while we were saturated.”

You hear Templar speak up. “How did…?”

“He broke off first,” Em replies. “When he came in close, we counterattacked, and after sustaining light damage, he opted to disengage.“

You switch camera views to pan the room--and you don’t miss the irritable look in Rezador’s narrowed eyes.

Gopher speaks up again. “So, in closing, we have mavericks capturing hunters alive and dead, developing their data for their own VWES systems, and significant maverick investment in the Pacific Northwest,” Gopher finishes. “The factory was shut down, but no idea how many completed models rolled out before we got there. The fact that Brama was there at all is telling.”

Flares raises her hand. “What about that first maverick you found, the melted one?”

“We suspect that was a little blue-on-blue,” Gopher replies. “We’ve gotten a handful of reports of dead mavericks in Oregon and Washington with similar wounds. It matches what little we have of Moloch’s behavior profile. Apparently, he doesn’t play well with others.“

“Except for giving them data off his kills,” Spider observes in the back, eyes shaded under his hat and feet kicked up on the chair in front of him.

“Best guess is incompatible DNA, or he just didn’t want it. Which in turn makes us think...”

“...That Moloch might be taking valuable maverick data for himself,” Em finishes.

Terrific.[\b]

“So that’s at least one answer to missing hunters, but there’s more going on in Africa and Europe. Anode? You’re up.”

...Shit, right, he wants you to talk about PHANTOM.

>Keep it direct and to the point.
>Speculate a little. Get the room involved.
>Other?
Remember to mention specifics or anything you want to highlight.

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And at LONG last, good evening everybody!

As usual, expect sloth, poor time management skills, covering nowhere near as much ground as I wanted to, and an embarrassing number of mistakes.

>>1889644
Speaking of, there it is!

>>1889628
It's been forever since I even ran a thread, but yeah. Happy to have you here!

>>1889626
>High focus remains on India, where we’re deadlocked. The biggest lynchpins in Africa have been dealt with, and maverick activity there’s been blunted.”
>You hear India chime in. “So what’s the bad news?”
That's gonna get confusing

>>1889644
>Speculate a little. Get the room involved.
Right now everything we know about PHANTOM is either speculation or things they told us directly, a bit more won't hurt.

>>1889644
>Speculate a little. Get the room involved.
They're invisible, though as nails and seem to be using other Maverick operations as a cover for whatever they're doing. I can't imagine they are up to anything good

>>1889644
>Speculate a little. Get the room involved.
I'm in the mood for some chat with the gang

>>1889644
>Speculate a little. Get the room involved.

>Speculate like a tinfoil-hat-wearing conspiracy theorist

Welcome back, HC!

Calling it for the crazy conspiracies now, Schwarz is Phantom number 1, long-term Maverick infiltrator.

>>1889644
>>Keep it direct and to the point.
Big room, lots of rank, unfounded guessing will probably be a waste of time.
Be sure to mention how Clyde could be seen by the Recon dude, and the apparent lack of teamwork between Clyde and Mortarphant.

>>1889613
IT'S ALIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE

Ahh, it's good to be back. Nice to see everyone again. I promise nothing bad will happen.

>>1889749
Seconding this.

Welcome back. Good to catch MHQ again.

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>>1889749
>Clyde could be seen by the Recon dude
I thought he couldn't

>>1889797
Shit, I don't recall. I'd have to thread-binge. But either way, how well the recon dude did or didn't see them.

>>1889797
Recon guy saw him, Sabomole couldn't.

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>>1889797
>>1889803
The Recon guy reported that he could see Collide, but Sabomole could not.

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>>1889644
>Speculate a little. Get the room involved.

Main things besides strength are that PHANTOMs are invisible to most, and serving as boss handlers, particularly when the boss in question is less-than-reliable.

Speculate little, but do note that someone who couldn't be located was probably sending out guys to keep Wren topped off. And considering the targets where the previous two identified PHANTOMs showed up, it stands to reason Moloch has one too.

>>1889644
>Speculate a little. Get the room involved.

I mean, don't go off of a tangent or anything (we don't even know where the Phantoms are from...yet), but we know there are 3 or more of them, and they've all had some degree of invisibility so far.

You kind of want to ease people into it a bit, and to leave room open to questions and such, when telling them about invisible spec-ops ghost mavericks.

>>1889803
>>1889807
>>1889810
Poor Recon whatshisface. What was his name, again...? Computer Ass? Yeah, poor Computer Ass. He didn't deserve his fate, of... that thing that happened to him... which we all remember. We will remember you fondly, guy.

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What combat rank would Reg have?

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>>1889940

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>>1889644
>>Keep it direct and to the point.
>Moloch isn't the only one not being a team player, Clyde walked away from a fight he would have won.

>>1889940
hes honestly probably a high B, his weapon is stupid stronk but hes not very durable and hes not anywhere near the fastest thing.

>>1890114
He's fast and durable, his main weakness is that his weapon has a long charge time.
And that he's missing an arm.

>>1890129
hes durable in relation to his universe but considering the megaman X universe is completely batshit at times when it comes to reploids, and even in MiA reg sometimes has some serious problems with getting his shit slapped and hes got energy use problems when he uses his super gun.

>>1890139
He's been injured by non-bullshit in precisely one location. Even against Ozen he stayed aware until the timer ran out. You say he's not durable, but we haven't yet seen anything that can punch through his skin anywhere but the bellybutton that isn't already an irresistible force.
Either way though, I don't think he falls well into the ranking system. He'll either instagib his target on the first shot or be mostly useless.

>>1890159
i had put him as high b rank precisely because i feel that is the highest he could consistently beat, reg no doubt can hit way the shit above the rank class yes, but not consistently.
he'd be one of those weird ass cases where hes consistantly a B rank then he suddenly one shots a G, then proceeds to get his shit slapped by an A class or some shit.

>>1889644
>DNA Mimics, particularly of ANODE'S kills
>Inky was recovering some special minerals
>He's also so jacked on stealth that his super special is to become even STEALTHIER. That tells us that PHANTOM can afford this kind of hyper-specialization.

>>1889940
He's a very low B as of the anime, a weapon well above his ranking but with far too many flaws and none of the skills to compensate.

Manga-wise, he could make a play for low A, even with particular....losses. He gains a level of speed and agility that is more inline with Hunters, although he has no actual dash. His innate weapon requiring such an obvious windup is still bad though, so he'd spend a lot of time not actually hurting the opponent very much and thus risking huge amounts of collateral.

If he had a stable exterior weapon and EAS, he could be a more consistent A. Full use of all his base abilities would also put him around A is raw specs, but he'd be like Anode was: all defense/mobility and no pow.

>>1889644
>Speculate a little. Get the room involved.

bit late, but welcome back, HC.

>>1889651
>Speculate a little. Get the room involved.
Aw yeah, a mavhunt day is a good day indeed.

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>>1889664
>>1889675
>>1889689
>>1889707
>>1889712
>>1889848
>>1889850
You decide to just roll slowly into it, even as your pad chimes once and a red ON FEED indicator blinks in the corner.

“Looking as good as ever, Anode!” India calls helpfully, earning a few knowing snickers from the old guard.

“I know my brand,” you reply with a grin. “All right, all right. So, on two of my ops now--Disruptor Sabomole in Germany, and Barrage Mortarphant in Algeria--I’ve run into members of a group called PHANTOM.”

“Spooky,” Spider offers.

“Invisible,” you reply. “Mostly. I’ve got some optic hardware that lets me see them. And two for two, they’ve been built like a brick shithouse.” Flares giggles audibly at that, and Rezador seethes in annoyance.

“Early indications are that they’re likely A- to S-class,” Gopher adds. “And in one case we believe a VWES was in play.”

“Right. The first one, Ink Stylist, was acting as a handler for Sabomole, who was being forced to assist against his will via human hostage--”

Rezador scoffs, loudly, and you, Emerald, Flares, and Gopher all scowl as one single, rather mutlicolored brow.

“--which, as Mr. Mantis has observed, was obviously an empty promise. He had his own objective that he was attempting to steer attention away from, which was Sabomole’s primary role.”

“In his prior depositions, Sabomole indicated that he was attempting to avoid causing loss of life by telegraphing his tunnel collapses long enough for evacuation. Since it helped distract from Stylist’s objective, he let it go, but he was aware of what Sabomole was doing.“

...Poor bastard. “Stylist made off with a core from an abandoned energen probe, making his mission a materials one. When we engaged, I had to try to guide my Beret squad to target him. I was able to disable his cloaking briefly with Blackout Rocket, which causes sensor scrambling. Only for a few seconds at a time, once he left the cloud,” you add. “On exfil, he overcharged his system or something, blued out and vanished.”

“What kind of capabilities?” Rezador asks bluntly.

“Solid alloy pole weapon, skill to use it, tentacle lasers, hallucinogenic ink that shorted my capacitors, he froze and melted the ground…”

“And, Captain, the cinderblock privy…?” Asks Templar.

“Right, he was tough as nails. I did some heavy damage to him, but he took it without much complaint. I did manage to shred a few of those tentacles off him with ceratanium shrapnel.”

“Strong, sturdy, agile, equipped with VWES, an advanced stealth system,” Gopher ticks off on his hand.

“And,” you finish, “He introduced himself as ‘PHANTOM number three.’”

“Of…?”

You shrug. “At least two, probably three and up.”

“At last, a puzzle just for Anode,” India singsongs.

“That joke doesn’t really work if you’re not human,” Crankshaft observes.

“Anode IS the joke,” she replies drolly.

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>>1890596
“Focus, Lieutenant,” Gopher warns. “Captain, as you were. The African mission?”

You gesture down at your battered chestplate. “That brings us to Collide.”

“Apt,” Spider observes, tipping his hat up to unshade his eyes for a better look.

“Collide was a twelve foot beetle made of ceratanium and being an asshole,” you offer bluntly. “He was like the solid alloy Rezador.”

Em chokes laughing, and Gopher shoots you an I-should-reprimand-you-but glance. “Sometime today, Anode.”

“Yes sir. Collide was also commanding DNA Mimics--both Reploid and mechaniloid. They had, what was it, Shotgun Ice?”

“And Strike Chain, and Tumult Shell,” Gopher adds.

“The owner of which is yours truly,” you reply, waving a finger in the air dully.

“Those are brand new, right off the line, right?” Asks Crankshaft.

“Can’t have been very wieldy fighters,” Em notes.

“...Yeah, actually, thinking about it,” you reply. “They were pretty slow, didn’t move much, weren’t very evasive, easy to catch out. The problem was they were coordinated with the big bad beetle borg.”

Crankshaft pauses. “The wh--”

“We don’t have all year,” Gopher interrupts. “Get on with it, Captain.”

“Collide… had his shit together. He was shrewd. Canny. Any time I actually got a decent hit on him, he’d back off and re-evaluate. Hell, he only retreated because Mortarphant shelled the shit out of him. Not that he paid her much mind, it was losing his Mimics that pissed him off.”

“I can’t imagine they’re very cheap.”

You think back to the 5,000-zenny-a-head bounty on your last mission paycheck and nod. “He had the stealth system, based on how his opening attack shook out. Sabomole--helping us dig under the artillery bombardment--couldn’t see him, but our Recon specialist could.” You pause, and look away for a moment, having just reminded yourself of Compass. “He didn’t make it out.”

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>>1890604

“If I may,” Em interrupts, breaking your unpleasant reverie, “I talked his capabilities over with Anode, and I think his stealth system couldn’t be as effective as Stylist’s.”

Gopher and Rezador both give the same sort of nod. “Bearing what the Captain has told me, that aligns.”

“His objective was to support Mortarphant, or at least I think so,” you offer. “Until she made herself too much of a pain in the ass to be worth protecting. He did a very good job of it,” you add bitterly. “She was definitely too insane to do more than shoot at whatever moved.”

“That any stealth at all works on such a…” Templar pauses, gesturing as he tries to find a suitable word. “Juggernaut, is… troubling, at the least.”

Gopher nods again. “Agreed. We believe the mavericks deploy PHANTOM in support of high-profile operations, and have probably taken down a fair share of hunters on the job.”

“They were both good,” you note. “Very, very good. Stylist was arrogant, but he could back it up. Collide was all business.”

“To me, at least, that suggests veterancy,” Gopher says.

“Veterancy and resources,” Rezador adds behind crossed arms.

“All the more reason to double up,” Flares notes. “Who here has good sensors?”

You raise a finger, while across the room, India, Rezador, and Spider all raise their hands. “Almost 50-50,” Crankshaft notes. “Not bad.”

“Assuming they’re all capable of catching this stealth technology,” Gopher adds. “Not something I care to bank on.”

“Still, it’d make sense to pair us that way, where possible,” Flares notes.

“Consider that when making your teams,” Gopher agrees. “But remember availability and who’s on mission when.”

“We can’t be ready for Stealth Assholes on every mission,” you point out.

“No, but we can hazard guesses based on the mission parameters.”

You nod. “Sabomole needed a handler and Mortarphant couldn’t change her own diapers. I almost wonder if there was one calling the shots on Wren.”

“Maybe, but at this point, it’s done. Any questions so far?”

>

Not a question in character, but is Flash's rank (if any) purposefully omitted?

>>1890618
I can't think of anything good to ask

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>>1890753
Yup.

>>1890618
Should we assume that Yamatoad is working on some custom naval troops? He hasn't done anything unusual so far, and this could be it.

What kind of facilities would you need to make DNA Mimics? Maybe we can search for those.

If we find another PHANTOM, is there an automatic change in priority or do we just play it by ear?

>>1890618
Just really if any of the others have had ANY inkling that PHANTOM exists on their own missions, even if previously they couldn't put it to name.

>>1890618
not sure but if spider is a merc maybe he got some contacts who have info on at least mercs workinf on the maverick side also we could know how Anode ranks in the maverick shit list.

>>1890753
Flash Rezador is from a unit of maverick hunters who went vigilante a very long time ago because of disputes with the hunter commandeer of the time, Thomas Wong. They came up in one of the scenes in the interlude between seasons.

That unit, Los Mortales, decided this shit going on is so dire that it was time to come help the hunters directly instead of seeking out targets independently.

>>1890825
Yeah, but even Spider, who if I understand correctly is only signed on temporarily on a contract, seems to be a Private Second Class.

>>1890825
>That unit, Los Mortales, decided this shit going on is so dire that it was time to come help the hunters directly instead of seeking out targets independently.
That and the new leader of the Hunters said 'yeah you guys can be utter shitheads, who cares about professional standards'

>>1890835
This is a Megaman game, hes going to turn out to be the villain/or end up getting killed by the villain, so no worries!

>>1890753
Flash is honestly probably high S rank.

>>1890856
Talking about military rank.

>>1890865
in b4 he outranks literally everyone there.

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>>1890618
Asking round-robin where everybody feels their roster would be tough for them would be useful, in order to coordinate help, but it feels like something to do after the Important Meeting and not during.

Sounds like Moloch is the point of greatest need for us right now.

>>1890835
Gotta love eight highly dangerous essentially unchecked professional murderers.

>>1890865
The Los Mortales' (and I will continue calling them "the The Mortales" until someone stops me) combat rank is something I'd like to know more about, though. Assuming they are S-rank, how did they get the resources to keep themselves there after leaving the Hunters? Did they just upgrade themselves all those years?

>>1890794
>if any of the others have had ANY inkling that PHANTOM exists on their own missions
I'm guessing Ink Stylist was the only PHANTOM based off of a squid, though

>>1890892
> Sounds like Moloch is the point of greatest need for us right now.

This. We really need to take the hint.

>>1890892
>>1890973
Of our current list of targets, yeah.

But I really don't wanna leave that Baccarat thing hanging any more than we've already let it.

>>1890973
>>1890892
I wonder. A VWES opponent is much, much more of a risk as a hunter. So why not throw conventional forces at them?

And I don't mean that in the sense of sending them to die, but in order to stop the means to kill more conventional forces than Moloch would ever be able to: Yamatoad and his army.

>>1891002
I imagine the conventionals are already re-positioning thanks to the Algeria-sized door we've opened.

>>1890973
On the other hand, Em and Rezador neutralized the biggest threat Moloch posed: the mechaniloid factory that he was running along with Brama. It also makes it sound like he'll hinder Maverick activity by attacking his allies in his quest to collect the most VWES data.
I'd also like to see another one of those news updates, especially concerning Yamatoad's status since that's the next most likely to have changed after Moloch's.

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>>1891088
>news
Not to worry, big news update coming with this thread.

>>1891124
That's right!

>>1891155
Is this the time when we finally learn that Cain Labs and Hunter Command have been the same person the entire time?

>>1891723
Theyve always been 3in1. The father, the son, and the crazy robot virus

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>>1891124
Schnoice

>>1891124
>>1891155
Welp, time to panic.

>>1892469
Wait, when did it stop being that time?

>>1892507
Sorry, correction: it's time to enter ULTIMATE PANIC OVERDRIVE.

And then die.

>>1892568
ACTIVATE ALL THE SHADOWRUNS, GET DOWN TO FULL ON END OF THE WORLD SCENARIO, SIGMA HAS COME I REPEAT SIGMA HAS COME, HUNTER COMMAND IS FUCKED!

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Okay, I'm awake...ish... and currently resolving several problems along the lines of "where the fuck is coffee" and "where the fuck is breakfast."

Post to come probably in a few hours.

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“I’m worried about Yamatoad,” you say. “Broadside Yamatoad, he’s been camping out on Malta just massing a fleet. With Mortarphant uncapped, he’s got to know his shipyard’s vulnerable. But so far, he hasn’t been doing anything.”

“About that,” Gopher replies, tapping a button.

The war has progressed...
• Commander X uncovers “significant” armor technology afield
• Doppler space forces have expelled Hunter operations from L5
• Pacific Northwest in the grips of a “Maverick Renaissance”
• Al Magest claims "big victories" to come in Turkish election
• "Ultimate Reploid" project encounters difficulties
• Fleet massing off Malta expands, begins shelling Sicily
• WPRC offers Shenzhou protection, membership to Vietnam
• Hawaii Tectonic Control destroyed in attack by Shiva's forces
• Norway loses contact with Arctic patrol
• Peru claims no knowledge of armed force that confronted Hunter squad
• Russian ambassador gifts Cossack archive to UN in lauded peace gesture
• Stalemate with Mavericks in Kashmiri standoff continues
• Material transit detected from submerged concert hall to occupied Overland base
• Krieg Euler in recovery after assault on known Philosopher outpost

The room goes quiet, and then bursts with activity.

“L5?” India asks. “How the fuck--”

“‘Maverick renaissance,’” Em mutters dully. “Maverick fucking renaissance.”

“X did it again. Looks like I owe Dodo five more zenny, rest him,” Crankshaft murmurs.

“The archive!” Ursa notes, speaking up for the first time. “Some much-needed good news.”

“Euler, you idiot,” hisses Rezador.

You don’t miss that Yamatoad’s armada is taking action. But “occupied Overland base” and “submerged concert hall” get your eye.

Gopher whistles sharply. “Back to it, people.”

“What was that shipyard equipped with?” You ask. “Any odds on Reploid manufacture?”

He shakes his head. “No chance. Mechaniloids at best, but that shipyard is built to do what it sounds like.“

“So no possibility the Mimics are coming from there. What kind of facilities would you need?”

“Good ones, and if they’re playing with weapons data, expensive ones. They wouldn’t dangle them unsecured. Best bet is Philosopher facilities and Doppler’s own laboratory.”

“What about these PHANTOMs?” Flares asks. “If we think one’s showed up, or we’re attacked…”

“Call it in and engage at your discretion,” Gopher replies. “Try to play defensive and hold out for hunter backup. If you have to, retreat. That’s an order.”

“Copy,” she replies grimly.

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>>1893250
“Right, parting shots,” Gopher calls. “We’re seeing some old friends back in the fray, HVTs that have been in hiding since the first Maverick war. They’re only just coming online now, which makes us think it took them a while to warm up to Doppler. It also happens to mean they think he’s capable of getting the job done, and aligned with their own goals. Watch each other’s backs, and if you want to pair up on your ops, run it by me first. Final questions, then dismissed.”

>?

>>1893256
>Is the occupied base Glacier Gibbon's?
>Any specifics on Moloch's location right now, or is he still lying low?
>Mention we're up for team-ups with whoever's in need of sensory goodness.

Is Glacier Gibbon's data in the sims?

>>1893256
If the occupied 4th base is Gibbon's, we might need to change priority: First Glacier, then Yamatoad and Atlantica
No idea where to fit Moloch, though

>>1893256
I actually meant custom naval mechaniloids, but okay.

No questions from me. Not terribly sure who we'd partner with though. Em might be able to manage some laser deflecting against atlantica, but for the other targets we need more dakka.

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>>1893256
>>1893290
>>1893250
Well shit.

>Norway loses contact with Arctic patrol
>Material transit detected from submerged concert hall to occupied Overland base

Stuff moving from the boss with a kidnapped laser tech to the boss with a laser. A stage connection that should have been more obvious in retrospect.

I still say we hit Moloch first to make up for lost time. DNA mimics are being supported by his trophy-hunting, which suggests there will be fewer after him, but in the bigger picture Maverick Renfest can't go on. Just because we've only had one target up there doesn't mean it hasn't been as big a threat as Yamatoad's operation.

At least with Yamatoad we'll have investment from France and Germany and ground forces under Algeria's clear skies. Moloch > Yamatoad > other two.

>Peru claims no knowledge of armed force that confronted Hunter squad

Sidequest?

>Final questions, then dismissed.

None come to mind.

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>>1893281
There's only one occupied Overland base, so yes.

Moloch is appearing at random within a zone and disappearing just as quickly, but they've got his operational hunting grounds down to a radius they're trying to tighten.

Gibbon's data is not in the sims.

>>1890926
They remain powerful and influential due to their connections to former Hunter Commander Valdivieso, and have significant means (and no qualms about shady methods) to go about getting what they want.


>>1890830
Private Security Contractor. Not that he's part of a large corp, he's a member of an LLC of two, it's just that the hunters have no proper rank for mercenaries, having never employed them before.

>>1890865
>>1890871
Flash Rezador and Los Mortales as a group predate the military ranks that were instituted as the Maverick Hunters changed over time. They hold no ranks and wouldn't care for them anyway.

As you might expect, that doesn't do Gopher any favors.

>>1893292
Partnering is a new mechanic that sounds like it could save us, but it would help to get the Partner Select screen clarified. So on that note...

>>1893334
What's everybody's updated skillset?

I mean, we know Em and can hazard a guess as to what Rezador can do, but has Flares's armament changed? What's Ursa's skillset? How's India now? etc.

>>1893256
>Time to take Moloch.
>Request everybody's stats.

>>1893250
>• Material transit detected from submerged concert hall to occupied Overland base
FUCK. I KNEW we should have been more on top of that one.
Was so busy thinking how tough Atlantica or whatever might be getting that we didnt consider she might just be making everyone ELSE more dangerous too.
And I bet there going to kill the scientist and all the data we might use to combat whatever they made as soon as theyre done too.

>>1893511
Hindsight. I would've gone for Atlantica at the very first, but that ship has sailed and formed a fleet parked above her.

This whole game has been prioritizing least worst options. It's clear now that anyone would be a terror if left for last.

I mean, imagine what Foxfire could've gotten up to by now with that stolen project and unanswered access to Rho.

>>1893334
This >>1893364 would be nice to know, but to save on writing, we only really need to know the skills of hunters without improved sensors. Redundancy is great, but not when it takes the option to have a lookout away from someone else in the 4th who might need the help.

I'm partial to working with Flares. She's high mobility, like Anode, which counts for a lot more than a B-rank would suggest when things get really hectic.

>>1893596
No. We must have everyone's fully detailed character sheet. All of them. Right now.

GET TO WORK, COMMAND.

>>1893596
Pretty sure Flares is A-class, she was on the A-only mission where we ran into Doppler.

>>1893588
Yeah, we're mostly aiming for damage mitigation rather than long-term strategic brilliance. That's sort of what the Fourth is for, in a lot of ways. But we're still managing to make some longer term gains.

I don't regret taking on Foxfire first. I can't even begin to imagine the trouble she would've caused given free reign.

I did think it was dumb going after Wren second, until I saw the astronomical numbers of people she was butchering. Public support for the hunters was desperately needed, and taking her down undeniably helped. It's kind of nice to try balancing the karma for that "humans killed" tally we've kind of got.

After that, Sabomole and Mortarphant segued efficiently into each other, even if both missions got unexpectedly hairy.

I've got no regrets. Feels unhealthy to spend time stewing over every missed opportunity.

>>1893679
I seem to remember HC saying in the past that Cain Labs does a lot of the character writeups. So... maybe be careful what you wish for.

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>>1893679
>>1893725
Hell no he doesn't, that misery is all on me.

Incidentally, all of you can die in a Cain Labs-related fire if you actually demand full on sheets and status tracking per hunter.

>>1893588
For added fun, remember that several non-maverick hostiles were given resources (forcibly or otherwise) that were viral. Picture a Foxfire who wasn't toying with you.

Also, back from the gym. At some point I need to go stir fry some chicken, but that can wait a spell.

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>>1893292
>>1893596
Mysterious phoneman suggests we call up Hammer Frog for at least one mission

>>1893806
>our next 4 targets might have started off non-Maverick as well
We never even met Gibbon god damn

>>1893806
Hear that everybody? I've got free rein to start the knifing.

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>>1893973
No, HC specifically only permitted you to start fires

>>1894015
The good (bad) news is that fires on a ship are rare!
And horrifically deadly! Especially if they reach a magazine!

Oh god, naval ammunition explosions. If we don't see at least one ship spontaneously becoming a cloud of shrapnel and smoke on the Yamatoad op, I'll be sorely disappointed.

>>1894015
Knife + flammable liquid + lighter = mini-flambard.

>>1893806
NO K-POP, ONLY RAMMSTEIN

>>1893935

IIRC, it was something like "Be their shield and they will be your sword." or some such.

Well, we *are* good at taking hits.

>>1894274
The reverse, Anode as sword, 8th as shield.

>Ask what type of zappy opponents other nonsensory guys are facing

Anode's got a great matchup against electric enemies, might as well offer it.

(ID keeps changing due to home/away.)

>>1893806
Not so much a full-on sheet as a bullet list of "Can Do This Now" as necessary/relevant for memory-refreshing. For instance, I don't recall anything of what Ursa can do besides ride an uppercut like a champ.

>>1894274
> THE REFORGED HAMMER WILL NOT BREAK TWICE.
> BE THEIR SWORD, AND EIGHT WILL BE YOUR ARMOR.

>>1893250
Alright, so no mention of Foxfire's hunch, so PHANTOM's are officially someone's dirty little secret.

Yay.

>>1893935
I'm leaning towards Gibbon as the next target just 'cause he's the kick to the nuts I DON'T see coming: Yamatoad's gonna keep building his fleet, Moloch is apparently gorging himself and the Mimics on DNA, & Atlantica is making herself Queen of Lasers, but I have no clue what Final Stage Gibbon looks like.

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>>1894484

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>>1894527
>save gibbon for last
>his LIFE cell runs out of charge before we find him
>since we didn't retire him, we don't get complimentary DNA salvage rights

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>>1893256
“So, anyone want to buddy up?” You ask.

“Well, maybe,” Flares hedges. “I mean, we already got our jobs lotted based on being the best fit available--where relevant, anyway.”

True. “Still, backup never hurts.”

“No kidding,” Em replies. “Terapin would have killed both of us if we hadn’t both been there.”

“Okay, so, specialties. Lightning, obviously,” you point a thumb at yourself. “With a side of range defense, high mobility, and being generally chunky.”

Em snickers at that, before tapping the saber on his shoulder. “Yeah, I don’t think I need to remind anyone what I do.”

Flares giggles. “Fast short-range flight, tanky, good in close quarters and intercept. Ursa…?”

“Heavy ranged support,” the massive bear offers, pausing and frowning for a moment. “...Heavy.”

You remember vaguely that Uralmash is S-ranked, and are suddenly very curious to see what the range would look like after he used it. “Spider, what’s your deal?”

“Throwing cards,” he drawls lazily, legs still kicked up on his seat. He raises one arm and fires a card from his armored sleeve, nimbly catching it between two fingers. “Suppose you can think of me as a midrange skirmisher.”

“India? What kind of tricks are you rocking lately?” Flares asks.

She chuckles, audibly preening. “It’d be faster to name what I’m not, luv. The best sensor package this side of God, top-of-the-line armor and shielding for my size, heavy buster rifle, customized service pistol, nice shiny VWES-4 I’m trying to fill out...”

“...And you’re still a B,” you observe.

“Well, yes, it turns out they only teach space pilots knife fights in the thousands of kilometers range bracket.” She raises an eyebrow in a way that suggests novelty that someone might dare question her, rather than actual annoyance. “Ideally you would want me along on any mission with a craft to man.”

“...How ‘bout you, stranger?” Spider asks, kicking back upright (just in perfect sync with the Lifesaver tapping your smashed armor out from the inside, ow). “Templar, wasn’t it?”

Templar’s silent for a moment. “Heavy support, of the close variety,” he says, rather similarly to when he first introduced himself to you.

That’s when you receive a private comm from Gopher. “Speaking of, stay where you are. We need to talk.”

Well, that can’t be good.

The Lifesaver vacates as Gopher enters the bay. “Right, so the cat’s officially out of the bag. Now that you know what Templar can do, for obvious reasons, you’re liable to keep it secret.”

“Yes, sir,” you reply.

“You should consider no one else in Overland as cleared for this information--especially Rezador. That would not go well.” Understatement of the year. “And, while we’re at it, you’ve been greenlit for some additional classified info,” Gopher says. “And no, you don’t get a say.”

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>>1894622
“Joy,” you observe from the tone in his voice.

He gives a dark little chuckle. “You don’t know the half of it. So, because we already had to clue you in to get you out of Algeria in one piece, the General is adding you to his guinea pigs.”

You remain silent, shooting him a quizzical look.

“Short version, he has any number of pet projects, and you’re proven, reliable, and a high-ranking A. You’ve got a max theoretical electrical output that’s near the top of the charts. Which means he wants your help testing one of them.”

“Testing… how, exactly,” you ask, already wary.

“Combat,” Gopher replies bluntly. “I’ll tell you when, but right now it’s not a priority.”

He calls the Lifesaver back in, asks how long until you’re back to 100 (“Sooner, once you get out”) and departs.

You’re actually a little surprised when you’re given a clean bill of health--it takes a while, sure, but you got pretty damned beaten up. You certainly still look worse for wear, paint scratched and dinged out of you, but no time to pretty your plating back up.

>Hit the Dodo, see who’s there.
>Look for someone. (Specify)
>Other?

>>1894627
Wooo combat prototypes

>>1894627
>Find Grach
>Check with Indy if she got our delivery

Is that the same Lifesaver we saved during the invasion, or are they all hilarious, disrespectful assholes?

>>1894627
>Look for Cathode in order to say hi and decompress after killing somebody else's sister.
>Look for how to begin mid-game sidequests.

And did India ever get the parts?

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>Check in with Cathode
>Head for the bar

>>1894627
>>1894692
>Look for Cathode in order to say hi and decompress after killing somebody else's sister
I'll second this

Just some thought on who had PHANTOM support, and might in the future:

Foxfire: perfectly capable of running her own op, even if she was slated for infection.

Sabamole: Was unwilling, thus had a PHANTOM actually running the show.

Wren: Didn't need one, honestly. She was basically wound up and pointed at a large enemy. Pretty sure any PHANTOM handler would have intervened at the end, just to keep their killing machine going.

Mortarphant: crazy as shit, could not be trusted to manage an important support operation.

Moloch: Fair question. He clearly doesn't cooperate per se with the other mavericks, but a PHANTOM could be shadowing him, if only to grab the DNA he leaves behind.

Yamatoad: Doesn't need one, obviously.

Atlantica: Possible. If she's in some weird crazy diva mindset, and PHANTOM might be around keeping her on track, and basically upgrading her into a killing machine.

Gibbon: Not enough information to be sure either way.

>>1894627
Oh, there's a vote, too.
>Hit the Dodo, see who’s there.

>>1894712
Atlantica feels the most likely to me. I'd lay money that her aquatic lair has been re-purposed into a factory of some sort, and even if she isn't nutso that might well be important enough to merit PHANTOM support regardless.

>>1894627
If not a full hang session: hit up Ursa, Templar, and Spider on their interest in a Hunter Fight Club

>Hit the Dodo, see who’s there.

Find Cathode's boyfriend and throw her present at the back of his head

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I've updated the recap with all the news items from this and past threads.

https://pastebin.com/wMtuXJM2

>Check in with Grach about the PHANTOMS

They're a dirty secret. He knows dirty secrets. And even if he doesn't know the exact details, there's gotta be tradecraft he can share.

>>1894627

Unexpected Sloth

B Class

Don't be fooled for his appearance and lazy actitude, he can go from zero to a hundred in nanoseconds (or maybe less if he upgraded) and yes we don't know why he is part racekart. Well actually we do, he was a mascot... yeah of that stupid game.

Reason he is still a B is because his armor is crap, too much lightweight stuff focused on speed. So hits and runs mostly. That doesn't mean he won't lead you to traps or even try to snipe your ass.

He has been "killed" more than once so he should change his name to Unexpected Possum.

One might have been a solid hologram, the other might be one of those copies. So is he finally dead?

No clue, he is not a priority target, guy just tends to follow orders and work for money.

Last time I saw him in person was with that factory deal, it might even have been the real deal.

Overall nothing a big guy like you should worry about, unless he has backup. If you see a lot of racing mechanoids is probably him, specially if you see a few karts.

>>1894627
>>Look for someone. (Specify)
A therapist that's not dead.

>>1895022
"We have a chatbox for that."

"That's the best you can give me?"

"No budget, but I can put the program in a stuffed Met if you want."

"Okay?"

****You have adquired Doctor Hugs****

>>1894979
Nice

But you forgot Warhead Wisent man, what did the poor bison did to you

Also
>A new background mission has been unlocked!
Did we check this?

>>1895065
>It's just a program that waits for audio input and then asks 'And how does that make you feel?'

>>1894627
Cath seems like the person to find

Stand by, dinner cooking is afoot.

>>1895100
Got captured is what. I don't expect to see him again, but I'll amend.

If we're not going to look into the co-ordinates left on Conda's terminal way back, we should at least tell Gopher so he can get someone on it.

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>>1894692
>>1894699
>>1894706
>>1895275
You’re just getting ready to head to the Dodo when you realize--you still haven’t seen Cathode since you made special torso friends with Doppler. She was unavailable before the meeting, but maybe now…?

You give her a ring, wondering vaguely when the half-disassembled command room will finally have the plug pulled.

You’re just about to give up when the line connects, and she picks up.

“Hey, bro,” she says with a tired grin, beneath a cracked helmet with a broken fin. “Calling me while you’re all dinged up again, I see.”

“Look who’s talking,” you fire back. “I just got off the slab, what’s your excuse?”

“What, this?” She picks at a chip in her crest. “Just cosmetic. Haven’t had a lot of downtime for repairs.”

“You sound beat to shit. How you doing, Cath?”

Her smile fades. “Not so good. Advance is busy. Really busy.” She pauses for a moment, and then… “We lost two officers this week.”

Two? “Jesus.”

“Yeah. There was a new guy, Zone Scandiac, transferred in from 2nd Americas. He went on an op on the West Coast. We think he ran into--”

“Graverend Moloch?” You ask, and she balks, taken aback, before nodding slowly. “Yeah. He’s... he’s on my roster.”

“Be careful,” she says. “Please. Zone was only a B, but…”

“I will. I promise. What about…?”

“Bullet Gantlergun. Yesterday. One of our old hands. He went missing, we still haven’t found his remains. We did find a comm recording he left. He was wounded, said he knew it was a one way trip. We have no idea what happened.“

You take a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”

“Me too,” Cathode murmurs, eyes down. “He was a good--they were both good guys.”

“What about you?” You ask.

“I haven’t had a proper charge since. I try, but I can’t stop thinking about them when I’ve got any downtime at all. Then it’s right back to it.”

“Are you safe?”

“As safe as an A-rank in Advance can be,” Cath says bluntly.

“Yeah. It’s… not far off in the Fourth, but...”

“Yeah.”

You’re both quiet for a second, as you swear you feel your sister’s exhaustion seep through the comm line and into the room with you.

“You know,” she finally says, “this is the first we’ve been able to talk since… you know.”

“Yeah, I just realized that before I called.”

“I’m really glad you’re all right, Anode,” she says, looking up slightly from her duldrums.

“You too. Are you going to be okay?”

She shrugs. “Gonna have to be. We’ve still got more targets downrange.”

“I hear that. So hey, on the bright side, I think we missed our birthd--”

You’re interrupted by flashing klaxons--on Cathode’s side of the line. She groans and rolls her head back to stare at the ceiling, pushing away from the desk with her hands.

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>>1895848
“Cathode?”

“That’s the priority alarm. I’ve gotta go. Love you, bro.”

“I l--”

The line cuts sharply, first blinking AUDIO ONLY and then NO CARRIER. The lights in the room dim a moment later, and for a moment you wonder if another attack on Headquarters has begun--but no. They just finally offlined the old comm room.

You trudge to the Dodo, feeling rather slower and heavier than you did before you placed your call. You enter to … Silence. Uncharacteristic silence. Everyone, enlisted to officers, is staring at the screens.

“What’s going on?” You ask, carefully working your way over to India and Flares.

“Riots in Turkey,” India mutters. “That lunatic Kangawa finally went and did it.”

>Literally who?
>Watch in silence.
>Other?

>>1895860
>"Politics what?"

Turkey was mentioned in the news. If the whole room is attentive, we should get the broadstrokes for context.

>>1895860
>Watch in silence.
This seems important, ask when the quiet stops.

>>1895860
>Watch then context please

>>1895860
Watch first, then ask.

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>>1895860
Is Kangawa a Reploid? Has he gone mav and ordered the nation to respect the robot?

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>>1895860
>Watch then context please

FINALLY get to play in a live MHQ for the first time in forever.

>>1896103

Sounds like it to me.

>>1896126
Could also be the opposite, an anti-Reploid activist who started riots for the sake of disrespecting robots.

>>1896135

Or it could be a false-flag opp for something more sinister involving the upcoming Turkish PM elections... Possibly to halt them so whoever's orchestrating the riots could co-op with the military for a coup and put the whole nation under a dictatorship...

Argh, SO MANY IDEAS!

>>1896103
No, silly. Kangawa is a country, and Turkey is the reploid.

>>1896153
Must be hard to have politics as usual when the world is at war with killer robots.

>>1895860
Watch quietly.

>>1896161
thought the Turkish reploid was Kebab Roach.

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>>1896162

I would think so, yeah.

>>1896176

That's just an alias for Ground Scaravitch.

>>1896162
It does not help when said killer robots also get into politics.

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>>1896229
Wonder how many countries have non-military reploids high up in the government. Reploid senators, reploid cabinet members...

>>1895860
>>Literally who?

Data. Give it.

>>1895860
>Watch then context please

>>1896624
this

Oh, I get it. Hunter Command is playing X-Com and Turkey just surrendered to the aliens.

>>1895860

>Watch then context please

>>1895860
>Watch first, context later.

>>1895860
Okay, so with Kangawa being a Japanese human surname, and that Al Magest is a Turkish politician who was predicting big wins and sounds like a reploid (name based on the Almagest?), I'm guessing Kangawa is some kind of UN leader who's used the recent Maverick troubles to ban reploids from political positions.

If s/he's been aiming for this for a while, it's no wonder everyone else has been following this for a while.

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Post(s) today will probably be a little later on. I'm also not going to be able to get as much done this thread as I'd hoped, but what else is new? The good news is we have everything planned out so it'll be easy to run again as soon as time permits.

So, you know, 2020.

Not done with the thread yet, plenty more to come, just that I'm flying the hell out of here on Thursday morning, bright and early.

>>1895200
No, but is not more advanced that a chatbox you can get with 2017 tech.


Budget cuts in middle of a war, do they want us to lose?

>>1898220
I can think of someone who wants you to lose.

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>>1898226

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>>1895900
>>1895914
>>1896091
>>1896126
>>1896175
>>1896624
>>1896769
>>1897360
>>1897446
Frowning, you pull up a chair and watch the screen. An international broadcaster, human, sits at the desk, voice a polished neutral as she reports.

“After a hotly contested and controversial electoral season, Turkey’s vote yesterday is coming under heavy scrutiny both at home and abroad. The anti-Reploid movement Al Magest is claiming victory after a surprising upset in the polls, with leader Altan Çelik Kangawa set to take the Presidency from incumbent and rival Ayla Adalet Zengin. Kangawa’s electoral success was not projected by any observers at the outset, and insiders claim that Al Magest was bolstered by an arrangement reached with MHP leader Iskandar İhsan Jahani to form a coalition with Jahani as Prime Minister in exchange for MHP backing of Kangawa’s ambitions and agenda. Border observers report numerous buses entering Turkey in the days leading up to the election and social networking shows calls from Al Magest Turkey to the broader regional organization, asking for support to ‘end the unhuman threat.’ Pro-Reploid protesters have taken to the streets in many cities, particularly Izmir and Istanbul, two cities widely expected to vote Zengin but which saw violence and demonstrations during the vote.

“‘I got an electronic message telling me the voting site was changed,’ says S366, who lives in the Kağıthane district of Istanbul. ‘So did a lot of my friends and neighbors, and we were all for Zengin. Some went to the new site, but I was suspicious so a few of us went where it was announced originally - and that’s where the poll was. There were men outside with signs, blasters, they were hassling Reploids.’

“Kangawa’s celebration may be premature; the military has already declared that any recount will not take place until Turkey has been stabilized and rioting in Ankara ends. Speaking at Istanbul’s city hall, Kangawa lashed out at claims he has been behind electoral tampering:

“‘The people of Turkey have made their wishes clear. They want a strong, stable government for the people which will serve human needs in the 22nd century. This business out of Ankara is a Zenginist coup. Robots and children must learn their place; this is what the voters have said. Let them make all the noise they will, we will meet them with our strength and our faith. There will be no recount and no second election. Al Magest has won fairly. The time of robot sympathy is over in Turkey. Those who fight us are all Maverick and we will put the law to them.”

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>>1898591
“Al Magest counter-protesters, armed and decked out in protective gear, have been seen in the streets, supporting MHP and Al Magest candidates and waving signs including the racist terms ‘Cihaz’ and ‘Sahipsiz,” the latter the Turkish word for Mavericks. Experts say that these demonstrations are likely to incite Maverick sentiment among Reploids, and some are worried about civil war.

“‘Kangawa and Jahani have declared war on Turkish citizens,’ said Musa Zağnos Abidi, who came in third in the polls. ‘When the fighting starts, will the racist Kangawa allow Maverick Hunters into Turkey? You will see him refuse, and then the real Mavericks will come from outside. He will forsake the great Turkish nation to gangsterism while blaming all the crime he has invited in on our friends, our neighbors. The Turkish people did not want this. They did not invite this enemy of the peace to take the presidency. There must be a recount. I support the military peace until the rioting ends, and then we will see the truth.’

“Shares in Reploid manufacturers in Europe and Asia took a sharp dip, prompting leading figures in the Turkish business community to ask what Kangawa thinks he will be delivering. ‘It’s regrettable,’ said Rafael Candemir, the international business figure whose Candemir Group produces medical devices in the Anatolian region. ‘Mr. Jahani and Mr. Kangawa have come forward with a discriminatory social agenda, but I see no economic agenda forthcoming. It does our great nation a disservice to think of men like these taking over from Ms. Zangin.’”

“Christ,” you mutter.

“Yeah, they’re real winners, huh?” Flares agrees.

“Kangawa’s a special brand of asshole,” India mutters, eyes locked on the screen. “Multinational rich kid type, leans on Turkey as ‘the homeland,’ which is funny because he was born in Japan. He set up shop in Istanbul.”

“‘Cradle of humanity,’ right?” Flares asks, and she nods darkly. You glance back up at the TV as the report continues.

“The Turkish military is already stretched thin, its navy having deployed forward to answer a maverick advance in conjunction with Greek forces. The fleet, originating from Malta--”

The footage cuts rather abruptly from the desk reporters analyzing what they know of the Turkish election, to what looks like a BBC team on the ground, beside what looks to be a road-blocking protest. The sun’s just gone down, the last vestiges of light stretching out over the water. “--ur cameraman just saw movement, coming from the water, a periscope, we believe it’s a peri--there!”

The camera zooms in on the glinting waves, as what can only be a conning tower crests from the sea. It rises, water cascading from the planes. Behind it, another breaks the surface. Then another. Then three more.

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>>1898596
And then, three silent streaks of white sail out from the lead sub, stretching across the water like slender fingers, and the camera trembles as three distant thuds and three distant geysers spring up into the darkening sky.

And then, the base alarms begin to sound all around you.

“All available officers, report immediately,” your comms urge. “This is not a drill.”

India and Flares sprint it for the door, with you right behind them. The alarms seem to echo from the headquarters building in the distance, spotlights on and sweeping.

Gopher’s voice fills the comm. “Overland, report in.”

“Em here,” he calls from somewhere. “Already at the pad.”

“Rezador.”

“Uralmash Ursa!”

“Flares, India, Anode,” Flares comms.

“No Templar, no Spider... Fine. All of you, prepare to sortie to Istanbul. This one’s going to be a fucking mess.”

You arrive to see the holographic map blown up wide, the North Aegean and Turkey on display. “Thank you, Chekhov,” you mutter darkly.

“We don’t have a lot of time. We have maverick land and sea forces moving on the city from both the European and Asian sides. We have visual confirmation on at least two S-Class mavericks, and a third in support range. They’ve already breached the Ionian Gate and are continuing to move in.”

Shit… “What about that shit with Sicily? Just a feint?”

“A sideswipe, more like, to get our attention on Italy and away from Greece. It gets worse.”

A window winks into being on the map, and your stomach lurches as a familiar, grinning face meets it.

“As you can see, we have Tanker Tigershark, moving ahead of his fleet, setting up shop on the Dardanelles. Further in, we’ve got eyes on Amphitrite taking the Sea of Marmara.”

Rezador strides past you on his way into the room, eyes honed on her name onscreen. “Finally.”

Gopher ignores him. “6th is already scrambling, but they don’t have the resources to commit to both, so they’re taking the inland to make sure the mavericks don’t push us out of the water entirely. Advance is setting up a forward camp at Maslak, at the University there. The army is evacuating civilians and trying to contain the riots concurrently.”

“Groundside?” Em asks, all business--though you don’t miss his clenched fists.

“Coming in from the Asian side, making straight for Istanbul. And in numbers. We’re looking at CF-0s, including what looks like a newer revision of the model.”

Flares scowls. “Terror weapons. This is going to get ugly.”

“It’s already ugly. The rioting has boiled over, and we’ve seen a few known maverick agitators in the mix. There’s a lot of civilian clashing, Al Magest targeting Reploids. If you’re in the city proper, all of you need to stay sharp and hold your fire until we have confirmation of your targets. Rezador, I need you on Tanker. Flares, India, join up with the air wing-”

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>>1898602
“I am going after Amphitrite,” Rezador interrupts coldly.

“No, Emerald is going after Amphitrite. You--”

“Do not take orders.”

Gopher meets his challenging glare unflinchingly, the room filling with tense silence, before finally: “Fine. Emerald, you’ll need backup. Pick…”

“Wait.” Em says, gesturing at Rezador’s prey. “Marine’s going inland? After her?”

“Yes…”

He turns to Rezador. “Let me go.”

“Amphitrite escaped from me once. She will not get another chance.”

“I’ll take care of her,” Em says. “You know I can.”

“And why should I?”

You know why. Marine doesn’t have much in the way of an officer corps, not like Overland does.

Sapphire will be there.

“You don’t take orders from him, Captain, you take orders from me,” Gopher warns.

“And I’m trying to follow them,” Em replies hotly. “You want me there. I’m a better fit further inland and I know I can’t take Tanker.”

“...You will do this right,” Rezador finally relents, all threat and no concession, “and you will owe me for this.”

Em looks back at the Mantis, eyes just as steely and unbroken. “Yeah.”

“...Fine,” Gopher declares, wresting the room back. “Anode, I want you in the urban centers. You have the mobility to get around roadblocks. You need absolute discretion. There will be protestors. There will be fighting in the riots. Some may attack you. Do I make myself clear?”

>Yes, sir.
>... Send me to the outskirts.
>Other?

>>1898606
>Yes, sir.

>>1898606
>Yes, sir.
>If we have a Turkish language program, download it now in case of blocks/jamming when we get there.

Will our Berets be deployed, or officers only?

>>1898606
>Yes, sir.
"I'm going to be dealing with those Maverick agitators, right? How should I pick them out?"

>>1898682
They're the ones that say "Die, hunter scum!" and shoot at you.

>>1898606
>... Send me to the outskirts.

"Going inside the city will be suicidal, I can't fight Mavericks and a Civil War that includes humans at the same time. For all I know they might even order nukes, not nuclear, but that guy looks the type to destroy a city and then blame it on Reploids don't giving him a choice."

>>1898606
>Yes, sir.
I'm thinking maybe we shouldn't bring the screaming shrapnel bomb on this particular op.

>>1898606

>... Send me to the outskirts.

So Em will killed and the city gets nuked and blamed on Mavericks with us in it?

Yeah sounds like MHQ.

>>1898710
No, no. Sapphire will die in Emerald's arms, he'll go completely nuts, and Ursa will be the one to accidentally set a nuke off. Again.

>>1898746
Ursa can't legally get closer than a mile to a nuclear nuke.

>>1898606
>Yes, sir.
As unfortunate as it is, we'd be a good fit for this.

>>1898865
They are indeed those things. Several of them.

>>1898606
>Yes, sir.

We're a big, tough guy. We can weather some rocks thrown at us. Plus, now we have the senor package to pick out real-ass threats.

>>1898873
>>1898682
>>1898692

I dunno if picking off agitators really meshes with "discretion". I'm guessing we're going to be dealing with those terror weapons. If protestors start clashing with each other, uh, I dunno. We should minimize harm on anything that isn't clearly military in nature and not a mechaniloid.

Now is also a good time to keep in mind what Dodo said a long time ago, about anti-Reploid weapons.

>>1898873
Ahh. I deleted it on second thought because I thought I might have been robbing you of your fun.

>>1898606
>Yes, sir.

They'll watch you die to save their lives. They will not stand here by your side.

>>1898875
Do we have mariachis and the hat for the senor package?

>>1899066

https://youtube.com/watch?v=fVFHNAhpoJg

We don't.

>>1898606
>"Yes sir."

Because say we prevail upon Gopher to let us take the outskirts instead. What's the consequence? Who's left to take our place?

Uralmash Ursa, in urban combat and a riot situation.

Yeah, no thanks.

We've been in urban combat before, we can live. Ursa can hit the mechaniloids coming groundside. Em can Em himself at this new S-class... and probably get courtmartialed for saving Sapphire instead, but shit, that's narrative for you.

Incidentally, glad we didn't take Yamatoad already. Tanker would've been at his doorstep.

>>1899161
Come to think of it, maybe Seven is here too

>>1898606
>Yes, sir.

>>1898606
>>Yes, sir.
Halfpoint mission, yay! I'm sure nothing utterly horrible could happen in this absolute shitshow of a situation!

>>1898606
>Yes, sir.

This feels like the kind of place that a PHANTOM might well be skulking around in, waiting to wreak havoc.

>>1899161
>Incidentally, glad we didn't take Yamatoad already. Tanker would've been at his doorstep.

Drat, you escaped from my deadly scheme. This time.

>>1899229
Seven is an intelligence officer. Even with his sick-ass buster, we won't be seeing him doing field work any time soon.

>>1899283
Ha,we're probably going to see him in the last stage aren't we?

>>1899283
Or he becomes the manifestation of CL and cause of all misery and woe for Anode.

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>>1899299
Considering he tried to sabotage more than half of Anode's hunts, I wouldn't be surprised if Seven was keeping an eye on him.
>IT WAS ME, ANODE! ME!

>>1899283
Isn't his sick-ass buster still fucked?

>>1899334
He unfucked it, which is how he fucked Overclock Conda, India, and the Crossmore.

>>1899334
No, he killed Conda with it.

>>1899299
>IT WAS ME, ANODE
>IT WAS ALL ME

Seven is the real final boss of Season 2

>>1899343
Surprise twist, Seven killed our therapist

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>>1899466

>>1899466
>What every therapist you'd ever had was killed by one maverick?
>IT WAS ME, ANODE! ME!!

Reminder: if we fight Tanker, we need to play this while we kill him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SLvtP6KMUM

>>1899541
What the fuck makes you think a fight with Tanker would be anything other than him pushing our robot shit in, our resident midget melee expert can't manage it.

>>1899552
I don't think we're necessarily capable of soloing him. However, if Tanker appears, we have a few factors that might be in our favor.

1. Tanker likes fighting. He isn't going to beeline for us and ignore fights on the way. He's also a big target. He'll probably take battle damage beforehand.

2. If Tanker heads to our position, we'll probably have forewarning (barring our comms going out AGAIN, which is all the time desu) and can prepare/get backup

3. We have a couple more tricks, especially our super strength shit, that he hasn't seen. Our jumpjets might also hit his elemental weakness, and I don't think we have unloaded charge into him directly to see if he's weak against that either.

4. We could have reasonably beaten Collide, who is also a melee monster. I can't imagine him at less than S (also can't recall if HC/CL told us he was S.) I don't think HC/CL would put us in a truly unwinnable fight.

4a. The reason Em loses to Tanker is because Em is too frail. We aren't too frail, but we're less experienced in melee; we HAVE improved since we last fought Tanker in a sparring match.

Don't get me wrong. I don't think we'd stomp Tanker. But I think we stand a chance now, whereas before we were chum. If it happens, we need to go pull up Em's notes from "how to fight collide and other beefcakes" and pay very close attention, including that thing about luring them into a false sense of security with a pattern before we engage super strength and make them unhappy.

>>1899588
Collide would have fucked us eight ways from sunday if he didn't just get pissed off and leave. That was pure luck, straight up.

>>1899626
We lost the fight and he decided to leave; but per the authors, we could've won. We just didn't.

I think it's time for a flash to the past, during our patrol with Dodo in Geneva.

-

"So what kind of improv weaponry are we talking about?"

Dodo scratches his nose--well, beak. "All kinds of stuff. I remember the first one I saw was something like a car battery wired up to an electromagnet spike. Stupid, really, you'd have to wear the thing as a backpack, but I guess it makes people feel better. I remember hearing something about a buffer-inverter or something like that--they were calling it a spike-spike, since it'd only work once and short out a city block. Last I heard, it was still pretty much unfeasible. Then there's stuff like ceratanium knives, they're not that uncommon. Usually too heavy for a human, but a lining usually works. You can wire up a civ buster pistol to fry the coils and put out military-grade damage once."

"All of that sounds pretty far-fetched, though." That said, you're pretty glad that glint of steel was just that, and not currently embedded in your forearm. That said, probably the best place for it--you have two busters and nothing critical there.

"Just saying, it's out there, and not terribly hard to make if you're paranoid enough. Scramblers, burst-discharge, they all kinda fall along those lines. I'm probably forgetting one or two big ones, I can forward you a thing when we're back in Geneva."

"In the meantime, I'll keep my eyes open for anyone wired up like a ghostbuster, I guess," you shrug.

"Hey, just remember not everyone's built as tough as you," Dodo reminds you. "These are serious threats to civvie reploids, and a few of them could probably give me a bad day."

-

On that note, did he ever forward us that thing?

>>1898606
>Yes, sir.

Man I wish Grach was here

>>1899902
Ooh, putting a reploid who can pass as human in a powderkeg of anti-reploid misery and suspicion. No way that can go wrong.

>>1898606
>Yes, sir.
Free charging? Man, these Turkish are such nice people.

Tanker might put every effort to be near civvies, locking down our fire dash unless we risk collateral. Either way, it's a good fucking thing we took those Mass Shriver lessons, because Shell Driver might be a little....incompatible, with so many people around.

>>1899161
>Incidentally, glad we didn't take Yamatoad already. Tanker would've been at his doorstep.
Yamatoad/Tanker vs Anode/Cathode would have been cool.

>>1900040
I was personally thinking, if we do fight Tanker here, if we get into a grapple we find out how far we can launch ourself and a dancing partner with all our shit.

>>1900083
that's one benefit of no airdash I suppose: Tanker shouldn't be able to change trajectory too much if we pull it off.

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>>1900083
>>1900100
Definitely looking forward to our first Falcon Punch, whoever it is that eats it.

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>>1900133
Hell, wrong gif, but still related.

>>1899654
Good question

>>1900140
>>1900133
That said, I do not think we are going to be the ones to take Tanker on. Despite all the potential, story wise it does not make much sense because it would involve him passing up Rezador, which for all the shit against him is a bigger fight than us by far. No, if anything it feels more likely that we get our own special shit show while the others handle what they have to. Potentially a PHANTOM, potentially a mav we never met, maybe we get the giant mechaniloid boss this time, who knows. But HC and Cain have never made the show entirely on us, everyone always has the part they have to play.

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>>1900342
You're probably right, yeah.

But I *really* want to see Anode fighting Tanker. Dodo must be avenged.

>>1900417
All of Fourth has a grudge with Tanker for killing Dodo. Everyone has as much a right to kill him as we do.

>>1900417
We don't have anyi anti tank weapons or do we?

We should probably upgrade our lance do it can cut tanker pretty good.

>>1900504
We've got the Shell Driver, we've got the Mass Shriver, we've got our Lockon Hunters, and we've got our Icicle. We're decent on AP.

>>1900520
>Lockon Hunters
we've had very few options to upgrade that thing's AP. It's either overcharge or bust.

>>1900342
>No, if anything it feels more likely that we get our own special shit show while the others handle what they have to.

No doubt.

>"We have visual confirmation on at least two S-Class mavericks, and a third in support range."

Bet we get the third. And wow I'm glad Mortarphant's not around to be that support.

>>1900612
yeah, mortarphant would be utter hell in this place.

>>1900619
Would be something to tell the psychiatrist about.. if we had one.

>If Ukumari is sortieing as well, I'd like to request her as fire support against the aquatic forces.

Remember, these are water-based mavs, and from the seastar sim we've learned that pokemon weaknesses still apply. If we have a constant charge from uzumari I think Anode can really kick some serious ass.

>>1900673
But we're going into the urban centers, aren't we?

>>1900682
Someone needs to be in the urban centers, and Anode has plenty of experience with urban combat and non-lethal takedowns. All he has to worry about here are violent riots in the streets between pro-Reploid and anti-Reploid factions.

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>>1900673
If pokemon weaknesses applied, we wouldn't have any problem with birds

>>1900469
Except Rezador, who is a cunt

>>1900520
Doesn't mean a sharper lance wouldn't hurt. Is our main weapon after all, we really should use it more.

>>1901183
Our capacitor is our main weapon, innit?

>>1901183
The only way we can make it 'sharper' is to turn it into a hi-blade. Which is a terrible idea.

>>1901184
The capacitor is Anode's primary gimmick, yes.

>>1901193
Or add more power.

>>1901316
adding more power IS hi-blade. It's not getting any stronger that way without a specific saber-related DNA, or advancing technology for everyone.

And even then, I'm pretty sure the lance is capped for those kinds of mods.

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>>1900520
>>1901183
>>1901193
>>1901316
>>1901346
SWORD

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>>1901405
SWORD?

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>>1901409
SWORD!

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SWOOOOOORD

>>1901346
Actually tech advances all the time so our lance can still be upgraded, the problem is the cost.

>>1901447
SWORD?!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qulN52bR9vk

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>>1901405
>>1901409
>>1901439
>>1901447
>>1901662

>>1901665
The swordfags will rise again!

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>>1902012
Can't we talk about Reploid butts instead?

>>1902091
Only if the butts have built-in sabers

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>>1902091
>>1902098

>>1902091
>>1902098
>>1902169
Careful or you might anger the CL

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>>1902184

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>>1902184

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Right, home from work. I've got today and tomorrow, then I'm free-ish Wednesday, and then I'm outta here. I can possibly monitor the thread intermittently from then on but running is almost guaranteed to be straight out.

For now going to do some stuff that needs doing and then crank out some update.

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>>1898659
>>1898674
>>1898682
>>1898700
>>1898862
>>1898875
>>1899058
>>1899240
>>1899253
>>1899270
>>1899902
>>1900040
“I’m on it,” you say grimly.

Gopher nods. “Scale walls and keep to rooftops wherever possible. Go around blockades--or over, if you can. We have the skies, for now.”

“Now and forever,” India declares, fire in her eyes. “Get us in there.”

Istanbul Technical University looks more like an armed camp than an academy, tents and barricades up (and still being raised in place). Ringed on all sides by solid, square walls--even old ones--this place does look like a suitable fortress. By now the sun is long gone, but the night is lit from beneath, fires and floodlights alike below sirens--and smoke--in the air.

Overland strides into Istanbul, one by one, Em casting a glance around as India sweeps the air. Gopher is already speaking with what looks like a lightly-armored wasp Reploid, who follows him back to the gathered officers.

“This is Işik Eşekarisi,” Gopher says. “Dean of the campus here.”

The wasp nods. “Thank you for being here. We’ve opened the campus as a staging ground for the Maverick Hunters. The Turkish army is deployed throughout the city, but they were able to provide us some local support to protect the student body. We’re nearly done with the evacuations, at which point we are turning over the grounds to the military to set up an aid station.”

“Meaning those resources are now free,” Gopher continues. “We’ve already sent most of them abroad. I’ll be taking the field with you. Işik will be your point of contact and relay orders.”

“The situation is getting worse, fast,” he says. “We’ve--”

“With respect,” India interrupts, “We should start getting ready to fly. Can you brief us as we move?”

“We have a catapult ready. Go.” Işik replies.

Flares salutes and takes off after India, wings fanning as her boosters warm.

“We have maverick assets, air and sea, coming in over the Black Sea.”

Ursa glances up sharply. “What? How?”

“From near Sochi, and that’s all we know.”

“We have a submarine fleet roving the waters. They’ve collapsed Eurasia Tunnel 1.”

“They can’t do more than strafe without ground assets… what are we looking at?” Em asks.

“We’ve classed the incoming carriers as CF-1s. They’re deploying mechaniloids and infantry on their way into the city.”

“Izmir is in a full riot, and maverick insurgents are moving north, pushing the military back. The majority of our forces are engaged in Ankara and Izmir.”

“Which is why the Turkish government has requested our help,” Gopher adds. “We’re going to try to cut them off in a pincer before they can secure the peninsula.”

“With what, though?” Em asks. “It’s like Flares said, those are terror weapons.”

“They’re announcing on all frequencies that they are here to protect the Reploid populace,” Eşekarisi explains.

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“Citing no confidence in the government’s ability or interest to protect its citizens, they are ‘liberating’ Istanbul.“

Rezador pieces it together first, voice tinged with understanding and disgust. “Their timing is perfect.”

Gopher nods. “We have human-on-Reploid and Reploid-on-human fighting throughout. Al Magest affiliates are releasing their own mechaniloids; hacked turrets are firing on any Reploid in sight in the older parts of the city. Which brings us to these critical objectives.”

A similar, if rougher, topical overlay holomap winks into existence from the field command post, with six blinking red spots across the city.

“We’ve got mavs entering from the Asian corridor. Al Magest is contesting them for the city’s Northernmost bridge, attempting to collapse it. I’m sending Flares to bypass the front lines and take out the maverick field command.”

“Copy,” she comms. “Once we know what’s overhead, I’m sortieing.”

“Ursa, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but you’re going to Rumeli Hisar Museum. Get transport to get there fast. Right now it’s unoccupied, but that won’t last. It’s overlooking a bend in the Bosphorus that will give a commanding fire lane.”

“Da,” Ursa replies, already turning to leave. “I know the rest.”

“Anode, you’re heading to Beşiktaş District. Commercial, residential, and lots of civilians. The CF-0s are going straight for it by the highway.”

“Yes, sir,” you acknowledge.

“Emerald and Rezador will be accompanying you on their way to their own objectives by the water...”

You let the briefing go on, as you prepare to move out. A field charger station is rapidly being set up, and you arrive just in time for the VWES bank linkup to go live.

You frown. It’s going to be chaos. There are civilians, true, but there are going to be a lot of mavericks--a lot of them. To make a push like this, they did not hold much in reserve. There’s going to be heavy hitters, maybe a lot of them.

>Choose VWES loadout

AND

Local onsite support is available from Turkish military elements.

>Choose local assistance (one)
Işik Eşekarisi, Hornet Reploid, dean of Istanbul Technical University. Manipulates light with advanced optical camouflage system.
Ateş Kurt, Wolf Reploid, Albay (Lt. Col) in the Turkish Land Forces. Melee combatant who unleashes deadly fire attacks.
Mŭlniya Lŭv, Lion Reploid, Captain in the Bulgarian Army. Throws medium-grade bolts of electricity and has shocking melee attacks.
Dijamant Lav, Lion Reploid, Captain in the Macedonian Ground Forces. Has powerful armor and projects crystalline repulsor field attacks.
Pândi Umbrâs, Lynx Reploid, Major in the Romanian Land Forces. Fires shadowy bolts that interrupt beam weapons and don’t register on sensors.
Delphi Delphini, Dolphin Reploid, EYP office. Projects logistical holograms and can concentrate them into photonic ray blasts. Analytical and an expert at predictive modeling.

>

>>1902960
>Delphi Delphini, Dolphin Reploid, EYP office. Projects logistical holograms and can concentrate them into photonic ray blasts. Analytical and an expert at predictive modeling.
There's no better edge in urban ops than knowing what's about to happen ten seconds from now.

What would you say are our smallest-footprint VWES abilities? We can't make a mess, not with humans in the immediate vicinity.

>>1902977
> What would you say are our smallest-footprint VWES abilities? We can't make a mess, not with humans in the immediate vicinity.

Wrenades. Definitely bring Wrenades.

>>1902960
>Mŭlniya Lŭv, Lion Reploid, Captain in the Bulgarian Army. Throws medium-grade bolts of electricity and has shocking melee attacks.
You give us the BEST TOYS, you wonderful bastard. Nothing says winning like being able to juice up by having our accompaniment punch us in the face.

I'm less certain about VWES. This is a situation where we REALLY need to keep our collateral damage down, and three of our six weapons seem particularly ill suited for that. I'm making a preliminary vote for
>Tension Coil
>Lockon Hunter
>Tumult Shell
>Blackout Rockets
Blackout Rockets are the easiest of our three big blast weapons to use responsibly, since they can be airbursted easily and the chaff gets much less hazardous to civilians and architecture as it disperses. If we absolutely must swap out the depreciating Tumult Shell for another big blast, I suspect Stake Driver will be easier to keep under control than the wrenades.

>>1902986
Luv is tempting, but keep in mind that our lightning is not the most discriminate weapon.

>>1902960
>Pândi Umbrâs, Lynx Reploid, Major in the Romanian Land Forces. Fires shadowy bolts that interrupt beam weapons and don’t register on sensors.
Sneak attacks, that can disperse enemy attacks? Why not?
>Choose VWES loadout
>Tension Coil
>Tumult Shell
>Lockon Hunter
>Shell Driver

>>1902992
That said, we'll almost certainly need to use our signature electricity to bring down those CF-0 big boys marching down the street.

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>>1902977
T. Coil is fairly difficult to inflict direct harm with unless you're trying, and it will give you some big mobility boosts in an urban environment.

Lockon Hunter is precise by nature and you can dial it back to guarantee no overpenetration of a soft target.

Tumult Shells are slow defensive weapons, but remember they've been upgraded to accumulate energy and release it on shatter.

Blackout Rocket is not going to be pretty in any civilian-occupied space, it leaves a floating cloud of razor chaff-shrapnel that lingers for some time. That said, it could be used to disrupt tracking on things like those hacked automated turrets.

Shell Driver is a relatively small explosion, but it's still a mortar/falcon punch. Since you can hold onto the shell (and only decide to use it in hazard-free zones), this is the most discrete of your loud options.

Wrenade is a fast-flying blender that happens to explode into a bigger, meaner, angrier blender. On the one hand you don't want to misfire one. On the other hand, you could probably shear the head off a CF-0 with one.

>>1902986
>You give us the BEST TOYS, you wonderful bastard. Nothing says winning like being able to juice up by having our accompaniment punch us in the face.

Oh no, he's one of mine.

Also, looking through the character sheet, why not grab a couple spare armor sets for the Bravely Broken, while we definitely have the zenny?

>>1902960
>Mŭlniya Lŭv, Lion Reploid, Captain in the Bulgarian Army. Throws medium-grade bolts of electricity and has shocking melee attacks.

>Loadout
Coil, Tumult, Lockon, Wrenades

With the potential risk of figthing a heavy hitter I don't want to go in without the 'nades.

>>1903015
Shopping trip later. Maverick terror mission now.

>>1903029
I meant after the mission, but OK

>>1903007
er, ..thank you Cain Labs.

that just felt weird to say.