https://pastebin.com/9Mzamp0B

>build above, first time, let's do this

>http://the-power-armor-cyoa.wikia.com/wiki/Mecoptera

Ryman shuffles uncomfortably in his seat.

"Exactly how many rescue teams do ve send to one place before we just call it a lost cause? This isn't exactly inspiring much faith."

>>2359296

Now, the hell is that over there?

>Marauder checking in
https://pastebin.com/W2gFafVK

File: ScreenHunter_95_Jun._17_14.02.gif (869 KB, 1920x1080)

869 KB GIF

>http://the-power-armor-cyoa.wikia.com/wiki/Intersect_Thunderbolt

>>2359326
"You're welcome to back out if you're scared. I'd be more at ease if you did, actually.

>>2359296
>http://the-power-armor-cyoa.wikia.com/wiki/Silver_Knight

"As many as it takes." Silver idly taps his finger against his arm. "Because if whatever's down there's taken more than one, we're taking it down with extreme prejudice."

>>2359296

Not sure but I don't like it.

https://pastebin.com/gJxJr1GU

>>2359341
"And turn my back on you?" Ryman snorts. "The idea's tempting, but I'll have better odds staying"

>>2359296
Leaning against the wall of the drop ship is a mech that looks like it was stripped bare, then hastily put together into a shape that's not quite right.

"I'm sure if we just keep throwing bodies at it, the problem will go away eventually."

>https://pastebin.com/wyBp9LRV
>First time in a while. I'll sign up for reserve if there's not enough slots.

>>2359325
>>2359326
>>2359341
>>2359344
>>2359378
>Welcome helios. Long time no see. We have room for 7 players total.

>Response team

>>2359351
>>2359338
>At tree

As the dropship returns a second time, the snow is sent up into a blizzard as the ship lands. It's hangar door lowering to show the response team leaving. It's been two months since the last team was dropped off, and their stasis systems are warning it cannot go for another 2 months.

For the team exiting the dropship, they can see already the massive hatch to the base already blasted open, with the last team already next to the distress beacon at the bottom what looks to be a cargo loading area.

>MISSION START

Rolled 32, 42, 89, 47, 79, 67 = 356 (6d100)

>>2359387
"Well... there's our missing team. I'll see what I can find. Link up with me, *stay* on comms this time, ja?"

>Offering commander link to all
>Scanning with ASS, Hawkeye, Thermal and Radar
>Scanning for open networks
>Rolling to drop spyware on the first open network I find.

>+/- 20 to scanning/hacking

>>2359387
"Now, who the hell are they...? Yuki, keep 'em covered, I don't like the looks of these wierdos."

>Eyeball the figures around the tree, try to distinguish anything about them

>

>>2359420
"Roger."
>Watching the figures.

>>2359408
"Keep an eye out, and lemme know as soon as you find them," Silver walks out into the snow, a firm grip on his sword. "I don't want to stay here longer than absolutely necessary.

<Running Thermal Scans. Shouldn't be, like, too hard in this blizzard, right?> Pally chimes in, somewhat nervously.

"Let's leave that to Mechoptera. I haven't fully healed from the last time they blew up on me," Silver sighs, instinctively rubbing his temple.

>>2359387

The Loose Sexkiller's pilot, callsign 'Loose,' just stares blankly at the sight of the still power armors.

"This can't be right. No-one just stands still for two months..."

>accepting Commander, keeping watch on the mechs.

Rolled 91 (1d100)

>>2359387
Helios idly whistles.

>Activating BIS and Radar.

File: Silent_Avalanche_Mission_Icon.jpg (416 KB, 1000x438)

416 KB JPG

>>2359387
Intersect Thunderbolt hits the ground with a dull thud, the snow thrown up by its impact catching with the dropship's engines and spinning in a flurry around it. The suit's sensors blaze as the pilot quickly looks around. His eyes settle on the figures standing idly in the distance.

"If that's the away team over there, I swear to god-"

>>2359408

As you scan, your hud picks up a lot of things in total. The snow ontop of the last team is thick, but they are alive and well. They need a refill on their stasis nutrition system however otherwise they will die in time. The sunlight from the roof must have helped keeping them alive...

There is a open radio network among them, but you have not connected to it yet as something on ASS is saying it's not normal as it's not on normal AC frequency. Radar stops at the door into the facility as well..

>>2359420

They seem still and non-moving.... Only that's only what you can see at this distance...

>>2359434
>BIS and radar show nothing in the closed off cargo area. And nothing in the snowy wasteland you are in.

>>2359408
>Command Link denied!
"Like hell I'd let you fill my HUD with god knows what mid-mission."

>>2359452

Marauder squints at the figures in the middle distance.

"Goddamnit. I hate awkward silences."

He readies his weapons.

"Yuki, heads up, I'm heading in there. I'm not going to sit around waiting like with the door outside."

>Advance towards the figures until I can get a good solid high definition look at them

>>2359452

Loose continues to keep a steady eye on the snow-caked power armors but otherwise does nothing but strafe them at a distance.

"Got anything on 'em, Mecoptera?"

>>2359467
"Understood."
>Covering the figures from ontop of Marauder still

>>2359480
(You're actually outside with the new team, I'm inside with Yuki)

>>2359452
Ryman scratches his chin. Part curious, part paranoid about the mystery network.

>Rolling to drop spyware and spider on the mystery network
>Preemptively rolling for defense maze
>Deploying heavies in formation around the Mecoptera
>Moving to the shaft

>>2359461
"I would never! Unlike some, I wouldn't put my precious comrades at risk." Ryman sniffs.

>>2359477
"Some odd network between the second team. Probing it now. Will keep you updated."
>

Rolled 18, 44, 29 = 91 (3d100)

>>2359486
>I am stupid.
>+/- 20 to hacking/scanning

>>2359484
Ah, my bad. I thought everyone was in the new squad.

File: targetverified.jpg (10 KB, 299x168)

10 KB JPG

>>2359486
>>2359452
"Right, well, its been two months already, so let's not waste any more time."
>boosting ahead and attempting to give one of the figures a shove.

Rolled 59 (1d100)

>>2359477
"Excellent. Doing nothing is my specialty."

>>2359486
"Oh really? Lemme have a look"
>Rolling for spyware hack.

>>2359514

"Hey, hey. I'm not the type to charge at a situation until I know what's happening. Can't take that kinda risk."

>>2359467

As you jump down the hole, your radio pops and crackles as you hit the ground. As you look up, you see the hatch is fixed and that everyone is gone, but that a tunnel leading to a light is ahead of you with the team there.

The second team sees Marauder land and go limp however like the others. Ryman sees this as this is.... A hack.

>>2359486

You get a massive headache for back attack from the network, but where just shy from getting in.... The defense maze you could tell prevented an actual attack. The heavies seem to work as intended until they jump down the hole, and just shut off..

>>2359511
As you jump down you hear a crackle and pop and see everything marauder did, except you both see each other.

>>2359536

>correction. It seems Intersect Thunderbolt doesn't have brainwave harness or a cyber brain. So he actually sees something else.

As he jumps down he sees the room as it is..... Completely as it was before, but the door ahead of him has a seal lock, and the others are standing still to nothing. You hear something on your controls, and you radio cracks up on you, but you still have some control... Expect....

>HACK DETECTED

Oh. So that's what is happening....

Rolled 66, 85, 90, 21 = 262 (4d100)

>>2359536
After suddenly feeling like someone just poured ice water down his spine, Ryman decides that the best course of action is to do it again.

"Absolutely NOBODY go down that hole, there's something shady afoot."

>Drop spyware and spider on that network.
>Making two preemptive defense maze rolls.

>+/- 20

>>2359553

Loose tenses up. "Great, something technological's getting at 'em? Alright..."

Loose sighs. "Well, there's worse things that could happen."

>>2359553
"... Bit too late for that, I think we lost half our team already." Silver leans in, somewhat confused.

"At the very least we could have used those drones but-" he stops, suddenly. "Say, Ryman, theoretically hacks only work through comms, right? A completely isolated suit cannot be hacked, unless physically interacted with?"

>>2359553

The spider doesn't get to much before it's stopped, but the spyware manages to get further before you notice it's being blocked by unnatural speed. You would need to try and get to a worm port and spam your way though to have a normal chance, or try something else besides normal spyware. You learn however that there is a facility in this area, and can get directions if needed if you searched again with a target in mind.

File: 491246605.jpg (50 KB, 588x612)

50 KB JPG

>>2359546
"Well, fuckin' found everybody, and-"
>HACK DETECTED
"Oh no you don't."
Gavin quickly operates the controls around him in the suit's cockpit. Outside, the "horns" on its head flip forward and begin resonating a signal-jamming frequency.

>SIGNAL JAM POST 6/6

Rolled 38, 73, 64 = 175 (3d100)

>>2359586
"I suppose. If you shut off your comms, you might be safe." Ryman peers down into the pit. "But I've got a weird feeling about zhis."

>>2359598
>Dropping spyware on the network to find the facility
>Preemptively rolling for defense maze x2

>+/- 20

>>2359603
Ryman glares angrily at the dark spot on the comms network that has just appeared.

>>2359598
>Marauder closes in on the figures around the tree

"Now, what's your deal. Survivors from the AC team? Or baddies."

He levels his gun.

"ID yourself or I start blasting, I'm fast running out of patience with today. I just want to blow something up, collect a paycheck and go home."

>>2359611
"... Got it." Silver takes a deep breath, before letting it out, the light coming from his visor dimming. Giving Ryman a final thumbs up, he simply leans back and lets gravity do its job.

[SILVER KNIGHT: COMMS OFFLINE]

>>2359611
>>2359623
"Good lord you maniacs. We don't even know if this network is the only-"

Helios stops his hack early as he watches his comrade jump into some dark pit.

"Great, he can't even communicate what he finds down there."

>>2359611

"OK then, it looks like that if we'll want to investigate further, we'll have to shut down all coms and dive in. I mean, we don't know how long the stasis techs' gonna hold, do we?"

then SK jumps, and with Intersect in the hole already...

"...Welp, I can fly out if need be and I have little in the way of comms to begin with."

[LOOSE SEXKILLER: COMS OFFLINE]

Loose switches to plain speakers. "Alright, time to shine..." At this, he grabs hold of the edge of the door and tries to lower himself in without landing on any of the suits.

File: 4ffa5c15ea8a73ea69872e044(...).jpg (70 KB, 1280x720)

70 KB JPG

>>2359603

Well you weren't hacked yet, and you sure aren't now, You blocked off your signal and those around you. Making radio; and therefore what hacked you , useless.

That being said, the suits around you are still not moving, and seem to stay still....
Except.....

Yuki is pulled out of the hack and is with the group, his head pounding from being pulled out of WHEREVER he was....

Not only that, but the strange suit in front of the door is pulled out, making it squirm around wildly until it morphs into the pilot you know as Joumun. "OH ODIN THAT IS A POWERFUL HEADACHE!"

>>2359612

They turn to you (and you alone.) and they activate their weapons. "WHO THE HELL ARE YOU! How did you find our bas..... I mean whatever the fuck this place is! AC team? Baddies?" He points to the symbol on his chest. "Do you even know who we are?" He says in a mocking tone, "But you better answer our questions seeing it's three of us vs one of you...."

>>2359650
>>2359623

Both of you land with no issues, and see the everyone with no issues as well!

>>2359687

"One of me?"

He glances back over his shoulder, Elena is nowhere to be found.

"Now, don't that beat all out..."

He shrugs.

"Well, whatever. The one of me might be enough."

He eyes their emblem and something clicks.

"Hang on a tick, that looks familiar. I do believe I've run into your lot before. Did some freelance work against the AC for them in fact."

He cocks his head.

"Strange setup you've got here. What's the deal with it? Pretty sure you're hacking my brain, but I've never seen anyone manage something quite like this before."

>>2359687

Loose lands, realizes nothing is happening, notices the two suits that just got bounced out of the hack. He turns back up to the hatch and shouts through speakers,

"OK, this solved much more than it should have," Loose says to himself. He turns to the yelling pilot that he does not know is Joumun because he doesn't know who Joumun is, and speaks through speakers.

"OK, let's make this quick: you've been gone cold for two months at least, the snow should attest to that. Why? Big hack going on here, and I think it's causing whatever froze you up. Can you tell us why you're here?"

>>2359687
Silver slams into the ground, landing on a three point position, and staring around, his visor suddenly flaring up.

"..." he remains in that position, for... some reason.

>>2359726
Before noticing the rookie, suddenly almost jumping back, startled.

>>2359687

>Correction. Yuki has cyber brain and is still in the "hacked" area.

Rolled 23 (1d100)

>>2359687
"Well peer pressure is one hell of a killer."

>Deactivating comms.
>Levitating down into base.
>Pinging with sonar (+/- 5 TECH).

>>2359715

They lower their arms for a second before shouldering the removable arms. "PC huh? And has history no less.... How about we trade answers? I'll give one for one. And we'll give the easy stuff first."

The middle medium suit waves his arms around him. "We're trapped in a virtual world created by our A.I. But it's not working for us anymore it seems." He then points to you. "Now who are you and who's possibly WITH you? Answer both and we'll explain who we are in basic terms."

>>2359726
The medium snake suit coils up before speaking, and when does so after trying radio and failing and continuing on speakers. "I am Moqaddas agent Joumun, infiltrator sent to this area to investigate the rumors of a rouge group that has access to bioclass danger 6 WMD. I arrived here and after getting past the hatch seemed to have been hacked and tricked into believing one second was a week."

>>2359736

Sonar is blocked by the door up ahead. Otherwise you notice the cargo hold is empty with only snow being beyond normal.

>>2359784

"Alright, great. Looks like we've got work to do here..."

He takes a mental note to charge extra for saving the world from a 'bioclass danger 6 wmd' as he eyes up the sealed door.

"Hrm, the door here looks stubborn. I can crack it open-this suit packs a lot of hidden muscle. Looks to be the only way forwards, either way."

>>2359784
Marauder eyeballs them, then shrugs. The truth, then.

"Alright. I'm Marauder of the Phoenix Corps Ravens. As for who's possibly with me; well, there were some AC guys frozen out the front, so I assume they're stuck in here somewhere as well."

He sets a hand on his hip.

"Now that we've sorted out who we all are, shall we move past the wary distrust and get to working on a way out of here? Obviously I have no beef with your group and I don't want to be stuck here any more than you do."

Rolled 18, 71, 57, 4, 33, 73 = 256 (6d100)

>>2359784
"Zhis plan is stupid. I'm not turning off my comms. I have a better idea."

>Jumping down into the pit
>6 preemptive rolls into defense maze

>+/- 20 to hacking

>>2359812

Joumun nods past the shielded part of her suit as she moves to the side of the door as Loose tries to open it and types something onto the terminal next to it. The door then opens to reveal a hallway that leads north, west, and south.

>>2359842

Jumping down into the pit gets nothing but silence as the jamming signal continues for another 4 turns. However you see everything around you clearly.

>>2359857

Loose watches as the door opens and the way forwards reveals itself. Or, the three ways forwards. Loose flips out the ultra greatsword, now ready for adversaries.

"Well then, the ages-old dilemma, which path to choose... Eh. Go North first?"

Silver silently walks around from side to side, the sound of metal footsteps echoing all around the room as he impatiently moves all around the room.

>>2359857
"Alright, door's gone. Let's try this again"

>Pinging hallways with sonar (TECH +/-5).

"Where's the second team, Moqaddas? The one sent to rescue your sorry ass?" Gavin quickly snaps at the serpentine suit, frustration evident in his voice.

Rolled 26 (1d100)

>>2359915

>>2359857
Ryman floats over towards the rest of the team.

Ryman flicks on the Mecoptera's speakers. "Hey! Vhat's happening?"

>>2359927

Loose turns to Mecoptera.

"Uh, big hack responsible for sending all the suits static. Snake suit is Joumun, Moqaddas op, here for some 'class six bio-WMG' thing. Gotta find that here too."

File: map without names.png (11 KB, 616x510)

11 KB PNG

>>2359895

As you step forward you notice the hallways leading west, north, and south are rather short, so you get to the north room door rather quickly.

>>2359915
>>2359919

This time you do get a bit of knowledge of the are around you. The software for maps is a bit crude, but it works.

>>2359917

Joumun points to the still unmoving suits in the center. "Where do you think they are? We might want to move them later to prevent them from being hacked again.... Then again they should have woken up...."

>>2359927

The Moqaddas suit speaks up first. "Well you got a guy moving ahead firstly."

>>2359838

The suits look at each other before looking back at you. "What do you mean the AC members frozen out back? Are you working with AC now? We can't work past this 'wary distrust' when we don't even know who you're working for!"

>Scrambler will fail in 3 turns!

>>2359945
Intersect Thunderbolt turns to Mecoptera
"Got any ideas, hackerman? The scrambler should have cut off any transmissions to or from their suits, right? I don't care about whatever else is in this facility, my job is to get the first and second teams out of here; nothing more and nothing less."

Rolled 73, 30, 85, 99, 77 = 364 (5d100)

>>2359979
Ryman shrugs.

"I can't be sure what's going on, and for what it's worth, I don't much like the idea of sticking around much longer. But any transmissions should be cut, provided your scrambler's half way decent."

>Scanning with thermals, radar, ASS, and hawkeye
>Scanning for other open networks.

>+/-20

>>2360003
"Well, whatever; let's just get these guys loaded up and you can figure the rest out later."
>grabbing Yuki and Marauder and loading them into Mecoptera's hangar

>>2359945
Marauder rolls his eyes, exaggerating the motion with his whole head so it's noticeable even with his helmet.

"I mean, the AC members frozen by your AI countermeasure out in front of your door when I got here? Some kind of infiltration team? Probably sent because they caught wind of whatever was going on down here?"

He shakes his head.

"This doesn't seem like a particularly altogether little operation being run here."

He folds his arms as he stares them down.

"Now, *I* was sent here by a certain interested party that caught wind of this missing AC infiltration team and was curious about what they could find out about it."

He cocks his head.

"Maybe you think that makes me an enemy and you don't want me to know anything about you because of operational secrecy. So let me tell *you* a little about yourselves."

He gestures around him.

"This secret base-sorry, my bad, this 'Whatever The Fuck This Place Is'? It's working on bioweapons derived from the fungus in South America. Bioweapons that you were only able to start developing in the first place because of a sample that *I* stole for you from right under the Armor Corps noses in Chile. I'm no friend of theirs and this whole project was only possible your people hired my efforts."

He looks around, theatrically.

"Glad to see the fruits of my labour went to such good use."

He looks back over at them.

"Now, we Ravens prefer to get shit done and go home. So are we going to put our heads together and do that, or are we going to keep jawing for another...what was the time lag you said, two months? Because even if you want to be paranoid about me, the Armor Corps already beat me here. They know where you are now, so one way or another this place is a lost cause. The only thing left for you now is getting out while the getting's good."

>>2360058

Hearing commotion in the back, Loose returns to the first room to see Intersect start to load up people into Mecoptera. "Oh, right. Seems smart enough to just get them out of there."

>Loose helps load up any other suits into Mecoptera.

>>2360003

You get a good feel for the hallway with those scans, seeing that the place has so much dust that it's been silent for a very long time. That is until your hawk-eye explodes right then and there! Sending debris from your face-plate!

Without tools to enter the network however, you cannot get a feel for it without a wormport and a terminal.

>Hawkeye broken!
>HP 14/15

>>2360058

>noted.

>>2360062

As you go on their faces range from nods of understanding, to a little bit of anger, to shock. The heavy of the group speaks up first.

"T-two months! That can't be right! We where just forced in! I wasn't set up for field ops! My suit doesn't have a stasis system! What abou-"

Is the last he gets out before he is punched by the medium. The light looks away before the medium grabs it's face. "Right. Working with you has become a necessity rather then an option." It seems to pause to take a breath. "The A.I. we captured to set up our operation went rouge and trapped us in this virtual palace. And likely what trapped you too. We where about to try and take down this tree which we know is the representation of the A.I. If you want to help to get out? Well then, we're not going to harm you in anyway. Hell we'll pay you when we get out. We just have to shut it down and see our project though. Sounds good?"

>>2360095

>There is another fort there, but yes. All are loaded in one way or another.

>>2360142
The heavy suit picks up Yuki in one hand and drags Marauder with the other, pulling them into Mecopter's hangar.

"Ryman, I'm riding along too; try any funny business and I'll tear you apart from the inside out. Got it?"

Rolled 75, 38, 12, 6 = 131 (4d100)

>>2360142
Marauder nods appreciatively to the medium.

"Now you seem like you have your head on straight. Let's get cracking then."

He cracks his massive metal fingers and flips out all his weaponry.

>Spend 2 POW to max actions
>Fire on tree
>Metalstorm Charge Shot (Com +39, 12 Dam)
>Rocket Charge Shot(Com +41, 12 Dam)
>Railgun Charge Shot(COM +43, 12Dam, AP2)
>Cross Charge Shot (COM +41, 18Dam, AP8)

Rolled 70 (1d100)

>>2360142

"Alright, that's everyone in Mecoptera... I'm gonna suss the place out, search for the Bioweapon or anything else of value."

>Loose Sexkiller heads north into the base, up into the north room if possible.

Rolled 73, 91, 50 = 214 (3d100)

>>2360142
"Danke. I'll get these guys out of here... then unfuck my hawkeye." Ryman grumbles, before sliding open the bridge airlock and jumping down into the cargo hold.

"Let's get to work..." Staring at a cargo hold of mish mash mechs in various states of consciousness Ryman somewhat loses heart.

>Ryman and a scavenger investigate Yuki and Marauder.
>Another scavenger goes to investigate Mike.

>+/- 10 tech

>>2360174
"You dare-" Ryman looks up from Elena's suit to stare down the mech infront of him "And so help me God I will print out your search history and pin it somewhere where lots of people will see it."

>shit, forgot. Rolling for ye olden sonar scan.

>>2360174

>noted, but the suit's hanger is full.

>>2360183

As you fire and the other suits fire at the tree, and the shots connect, the tree lets out a giant hiss as a black mist comes out rapidly and envelops you all.

For a moment everything becomes dark as it seems your own voice and thoughts are reflected back at you.

"I work only for coin." as the image of the mining bases interior comes into focus "Loyalty is for the weak." as you escape with the samples. "Who cares what happens as long as I get paid." comes as the image of a brown earth comes into view.
Then some faceless people come into view "All I need is war. The only thing that's done anything for me is money." "I have never needed anything but myself." "My life is my own. I don't need anyone else."

Then the mist and the people fade back to show a charred and flaming battlefield with a suit that looks just like you, but without a face, in the distance. It's weapons prime and fire on you!

>dodge 4 times!

>>2360202

>You arrive at the door. you see Joumun already there working on the terminal. She looks at you. "Well? Waiting on me or are you gonna bust it down?"

>>2360215

The scavenger from mike reports something strange. Holding a scanner it has made to investigate, it notes that it has little brain activity. Way below what REM allows. When you scan the others in the same way, you notice that anyone with cyber brain and was hacked is the same way.... As it stands, they are braindead at the moment despite having functional brains.

Rolled 46, 30, 41, 30, 10, 58 = 215 (6d100)

>>2360240

"If you insist."

Loose grips any part of the door he can and tries to rip it open.

>COM Rolls to burst down the door with bare hands. I'll try to continue until (a) it's open or (b) something goes wrong enough to prevent me from trying further.
+10 from Soldier AI

Rolled 38, 27, 51, 41, 92 + 10 = 259 (5d100 + 10)

>>2360240

https://youtu.be/HR5TXoxRA18

Marauder's face twists into a scowl behind his visor.

"Aw, I know what you're doing here you giant synthetic cunt! Fuck this VR vision quest Confronting Your True Self Bullshit! You don't know nearly enough about me to make me question myself, you glorified toaster!"

>Pop Nanites (+3 Dur)
>Harden
>Dodge x4 (-10 DEX bonus)
>Fire metalstorm at doppleganger (Com+39)

"You think money is all that matters to me? You think there's *nobody* I'm loyal to? You think I don't care about getting a mission done properly? Wrong on all counts, friendo. You want to fuck with my mind, try digging a little deeper next time."

Rolled 73, 4, 69, 85, 88, 4, 74, 91, 7, 20, 24, 20 = 559 (12d100)

>>2360240
"...alright, I've got a plan... hopefully Mike forgives me."

>Entering siege mode
>Rolling to scavenge Mike's armour and use it to make a worm port.
>Attaching said worm port to a scavenger
>Using the worm port on Mike
>6 preemptive defense mazes.
>Dropping 5 spyware on Mike.

>+/-10 for tech
>+/- 20 for hacking/scanning

>>2360301
"Whatever you're doing, the jammer's about to drop, so get ready."

>>2360308

“... well, considering what it’s done to them, I’m not looking forward to it.”

<Don’t worry, Billy! Whatever happens, I’ll pull you back!>

“... right. Thanks, Pally.” Knight sighs, a bit more relaxed.

>>2360267
>Com or Dex is fine, but really it's dex with hands, but you succeeded anyway with time.

Punching or forcing the door you break it open, showing a room that looks like a command center. Three suits of different sizes are surrounding a giant server tower with their guns outstretched, they seem to be stuck still in stasis as the computers around them buzz loudly.

>>2360271

Some of your attempts to dodge fall short, but your harden pics up the slack, when you fire on however you get some good head shots and the face implodes before reinstating with a barked face. It's mouth opening with a howling sound like your own coming out before spitting golden blood. it's weapons continuing to fire as it's armor hardens like yours!

>CRIT
>dodge 4 more times!

>>2360301

As you make a ramshackle worm port, you dig into the cyberbrain of mike to know the issue, only to find NOTHING. The logs of the cyber brain detail a complete transfer of the mind and suspension of the bio parts of his mind. The transfer is detailed to be to the server farm near, but not on the A.I. itself.

>>2360308

>JAMMER DROPS IN ONE TURN!

>>2360330
Elena hangs on as her perch shifts under her unpredictably, attempting to see through a thick fog while holding her gun in one hand.

Rolled 29, 71, 17, 27, 11, 13 = 168 (6d100)

>>2360330

"Hrm, looks like Mecoptera's specialty."

He puts his head back into the hallway, trying to project his voice into the initial room via speakers.

"YO! MECOPTERA! I FOUND SOME SERVER FARMS AND SUITS IN STASIS BACK HERE! MIGHT BE WHAT'S CAUSING ALL OF THIS! GONNA CHECK THE OTHER ROOMS REAL QUICK!"

Loose nods at Joumun, heads up to the room at the Map's left and once again attempts to bust it open.

>Rolling DEXY to bust open a door again, if its needed.
>-10 from Soldier AI
>-10 from Lynx Faction Bonus
>-10 melee bonus, if applicable.

Rolled 63, 87, 1, 40, 47, 56, 41, 30, 74, 74, 47, 100 = 660 (12d100)

>>2360330
"That is... odd."

>Sending drone to hack terminal with worm port
>4x spyware 4x spider on the terminal
>4x preemptive defense mazes

>+/- 20 to hacking

Rolled 87, 15, 38, 7, 7 = 154 (5d100)

>>2360330

Marauder laughs bitterly.

"What, out of smack talk so soon? That's strike two against you, you shoddy knockoff! The *real* me would never have shut up that easily!"

>Dodge x4 (DEX -10)
>Manoeuvre behind the doppleganger and attempt to grapple it so it can't get any of its weapons pointed at me (DEX -10)

"Ngh, what, you trying to bait me into playing 'stop shooting yourself'? Nice one, but I've consumed enough cheap fiction to try that out."

>>2360400

Behind his helmet he grins viciously.

"Whatdya know, looks like you're just as bad at close combat as me. Lucky break, this never would've worked on Gavin."

>>2360357

As you leave to break open the doors, you find joumun going to the computers. "I turned my comms off, so know I'm going to be working on seeing how I can figure out..."

When you reach the door you break it open to find the living quarters and hangar. A small container of sludge as a "recharge" option being the only thing out of the normal when dealing with a hangar.

>>2360368

As you attempt to hack the server, you feeling your head hurt and FEEL a crack and pop. Knowing that you have been transported into the A.I.s virtual world. In the distance you can see the tunnel leading to the tree...

>>2360400

Charging forward, you rush the doppelganger to pin it, bobbing and taking a bit of fire, you get behind it and put it into a full body arms hold. As it wrestles to fight the grip, you have little options to fire yourself...

>>2360404

>Roll dex to keep the hold if you wish too.

Rolled 28, 75, 57, 45, 86, 69 = 360 (6d100)

>>2360414

Hearing no response from Ryman, Loose shrugs for now and opts to open the remaining door to the 'right' of the map.

>Rolling DEXY to bust open a door again, if its needed.
>-10 from Soldier AI
>-10 from Lynx Faction Bonus
>-10 melee bonus, if applicable.

>>2360414
Elena, still unable to see, jumps from her position and flies in the direction she's fairly sure is up in hopes of clearing her vision.

Rolled 45 (1d100)

>>2360414
"Vell." Ryman looks around this strange new world he finds himself in, and is thoroughly unimpressed. "I'm not falling for that." Ryman muttered.

Ryman taps his feet, huffs, then begins to move forward.

>Ryman investigates the world.

>+/- 20 for scanning

Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>2360414

"I might not be able to get out of this on my own without risking my brain."

>Detonate Harden EMP
>Retain hold (-10 DEX)

"But I don't need to. Because you were wrong. It's not just me any more. Gavin will come, sooner or later. He likes to act as if he doesn't care, but I know him better than that. And the where he goes, the Armor Corps will follow if only to try and mitigate the collateral. And his meaty, meaty brain is *way* retro for your sorry ass to get your claws in."

>>2360357
With the hangar suddenly having gone very quiet, Gavin waits for a few minutes, before Tazz's shouting gets his attention. Rising from its kneeling position, the suit leaves the hangar and passively boosts its way to the server room.

'What's the commotion, scrub?"

>>2360416
As you open the door you see something that gives you pause. It's a long silo of converted ICBMs. You can't see the payload, but something has been switched out for the nuclear core that was there once before.

>>2360433

As you escape the fog, you see the tree, but nothing below you.

>>2360453

As you walk around looking for something to break the boredom, you notice one thing.... The AI left the terminal in the cargo room intact and functional.... Command prompt and all.

>>2360454

You're hold doesn't break, but your harden does point blank, causing it's harden to fail and break as well. As the suit stumbles forward and turns, it's as long as needed to get you all on the same level...

"You are just like them, and you will die just like them..."

The figure speaks, before the fog parts long enough for you to see the three suits fighting themselves. They are losing quite badly, and won't last for long as they are.

"I will not die alone, because you of all kinds will die with me."

>>2360474

You see tazz in the silo room as you pass, but you see Joumun in the room first. She looks up at you before saying. "Oh. Seems to be the A.I. went rouge and took everybody who wasn't aware prisoner. I don't know how to get them out. Tech wasn't my thing...."

>>2360454
Gavin sneezes.

>>2360480
"Fucking AI, big surprise. Ryman's working on it, for all the good that's worth. For some reason AC decided to send the craziest motherfucker in their arsenal for a sensitive operation like this"

"YO! FOUND THE BIOWEAPONS! BIG-ASS ICBMS HERE."

Loose pauses. He realizes he has no way to actually deal with this, and moves back to the server room.

"Joumun, found the bioweapons. Room to the left from this one. No clue how to disarm or dispose of 'em..."

He looks at the server. "Is that the AI, the server farm?"

>>2360480
Elena first gets some distance from the fighting before circling the tree, keeping an eye out for an opportunity.

>Weapon ready at a distance.

Rolled 63, 24, 53, 88, 43, 74, 70, 83 = 498 (8d100)

>>2360480
Ryman's face lights up in a childish smile. "I can work with this." Striding up in an exaggerated swagger, Ryman cracks his knuckles, and gets typing.

'/help'

>Try to get everyone *bar* Ryman out of the machine/server and back into their bodies (x3)
>Make a Ryman back up, send that back to his body.
>Dump any useful data into the Mecoptera
>Sabotage every critical system the AI has
>Spawn 9001 rolls of cheese in the simulated world, for the sole purpose of forcing it to do more physics simulations
>Get back into his brain.

>+/- 20 to hacking

File: Spoiler Image (105 KB, 706x1000)

105 KB JPG

>>2360480
“... fuck it, I’m done waiting around.” Silver stretches out, before his entire body crackles with red lightning.

“Thunderbolt, if I take a tumble feel free rip off my arms and legs. Don’t touch Pally. Oh, and don’t let that thing,” he points at Joumun. “anywhere near my unconscious body. In situations like these, the only way to break a lotus eater machine is a good, decent slap.”

SILVER KNIGHT: [COMMS ONLINE]

File: jet_jaguar___hold_the_fuc(...).jpg (79 KB, 1076x742)

79 KB JPG

>>2360523
"...Why would I touch your AI? Why does everyone suddenly think I have a thing for AI? I think I've made it damn clear that's not the case!"

Making a note of the location but otherwise finding nothing of interest, the suit idly makes its way back to the exterior of Mecoptera.

>>2360480

Marauder glances impassively over to the other suits.

"Well, evidently I'm not. Which doesn't surprise me and isn't much of an accomplishment anyway, this group seems like a low bar to pass."

He looks back, staring down the doppelganger coolly.

"I'll let you know right now that I'm not trying to help them. Once again you've picked the wrong kind of test. I'm no paladin, I'm a soldier for hire. I do my job and they're not it. Plus it sounds like they brought this down on themselves by messing with an AI so carelessly."

He folds his arms.

"Although, the same could be said of you, couldn't it? You seem so sure you're going to die, and at this rate you probably are, but that's only because you chose to lash out and make yourself a danger. If you want to not die, why invite that death upon yourself?"

He shakes his head.

"Your logic seems pretty faulty. Anyway, would you care to drop the charade already and stop hiding behind that lazy facsimile? It's embarrassing, face me with your own identity."

>>2360501

Joumun laughs. "Who isn't crazy in these times?"

>>2360508

"Good to know. Right now they don't seem to be an issue. A.I. would have fired them if it wanted too." She then points to the sides of the room. "The sides are for data." She then points to the center tower. "And that's the big fucker who has out friends. "Don't know how to approach this one...."

>>2360512
>Noted.

As you feverishly work to move the brains back to their minds while pissing off the A.I.. You mange to do a bit of both, you don't register the connection in mike's mind, but you get a download prompt before it is taken away from the A.I. Which you take it's moment of resistance to bombard it with viruses, errors, and cheese to mess with it. As the field around the tree start to fill with cheese, you know your brain is secure... Somewhat..

>>2360523

Joumun frowns as you hear a crackle and pop, and notice you appear in a mountain of cheese in a field before a giant tree and a black fog below it. You see yuki in the distance hovering above the tree.

>>2360541
>noted

>>2360542

The speech only seems to anger it as you go on, it lets out a roar (which SK and yuki hear) as it morphs slowly into a treant like fortress and rushes to crush you!

>DODGE 3 TIMES!

>>2360549
“... Well, this is not quite what I expected.” Silver shrugs, before grinning wide under his helmet. “Now... let’s say hi.”

And with that, his hip thrusters roar to life as they push him forward, towards the tree and the black fog.

>Using Jump Jets to cross the distance
>speed 8

Rolled 91, 23, 30, 32, 96, 94 = 366 (6d100)

>>2360549
Sensing weakness, Ryman presses his attack.

>Continuing to attempt to get everyone out (x4)
>Trying to download useful information.
>Sabotaging critical systems.

>+/-20

Rolled 77, 96, 70, 98, 9, 33, 32 = 415 (7d100)

>>2360549

>Re-engage nanites (+3Dur)
>Dodge x3 (Dex-10)

With a roar of thrusters he launches himself into the air, dodging and weaving, cackling all the while.

"Hah! And I thought the way this was supposed to work was that you tried to break *me* by talking. Man, that's great, it really does look like every part of this organisation is amateur! Their base, their plan, their pilots...even their crazy AI!"

He engages his weapons.

"Let's give it another go, eh? Try me straight on with your own strength and see if you can amount to anything!"

>Metalstorm Charge Shot (Com +39, 12 Dam)
>Rocket Shot(Com +41, 9 Dam)
>Railgun Charge Shot(COM +43, 12Dam, AP2)
>Cross Shot (COM +41, 15Dam, AP4)

Rolled 73 + 36 (1d100 + 36)

>>2360549
Elena fires on the tree with her rifle
>+36

Rolled 72, 24, 33, 80, 61, 72 = 342 (6d100)

>>2360549

Wordlessly understanding, Loose immediately uses his (still extended) blade to cut right through the central tower (and only that), and continues to do so with either the blade or his bare hands until it is destroyed (or he runs out of AAs).

>rolling to destroy central tower
-10 DEX for Soldier AI
-10 DEX for Lynx Faction Bonus
-10 DEX for Melee bonus
+10 DEX for use of Ultra Greatsword

>>2360563

You dive deep into the fog before you meet at the feet of the treant and find it attacking Marauder.

Before you can move to help, you feel something pulling at your legs, when you look down you see faceless bodies calling out to you. "Why did you leave us?" "Why didn't you save us!" "You left us to die!" "WHY!" Each body taking the face of people you knew, with pilots faces being one of them a headless kale being the face of the one dragging you down closer to it.

>>2360565

As you finalize the dragging out of a few minds, a face appears on the upper right portion of the screen. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" It yells. "THESE ARE TO DIE WITH ME!"

>>2360580

As the tree grabs you and slams you into the ground multiple times, you feel your systems crush around you and feel claustrophobic. The slamming however gives you a great target to shoot, it's arm! You shoot at it with your weapons until it breaks off letting you go. The living tree roars in frustration as it tries to slam at you again.

>HP 5/15
HP CRITICAL.

>>2360588

As your bolt slams into the tree, both trees roar again. The fog trying to encompass you in the sky, but having issues due to your speed and the air itself.

>dodge one time to avoid the fog.

>>2360601

As you slam into the sever bank you see joumun back off as the computers start to explode one by one. The screeching of the A.I. coming though the speakers of the base. While the lights stay on... Nothing changes on the real side of the world, but on the VR side. The tree seems to be cut into pieces and falls to the ground. The Treant screaming loudly as it starts to bleed sap.

"NO NO! I WILL NOT DIE ALONE!"

The fog seems to thin, but not completely dissipate.

Rolled 41, 56, 10 = 107 (3d100)

>>2360619
Ryman stares at the face. Thinks for a second. Then shrugs.

"Nein."

>Continue to sabotage critical systems.
>Downloading literally anything of use.
>Ensure everyone's out safely.

>+/- 20 to hacking

Rolled 49 + 27 (1d100 + 27)

>>2360619
Elena engages her rockets and executes evasive maneuvers, taking advantage of the open air.

>>2360619

"Augh!" Loose says as the AI starts screeching. He's still smirking at his handiwork, though.

"...It's not like we needed the AI intact." He says to no-one in particular. "Now, uh, get ready-we may have to deal with those suits in stasis here."

He readies a stance next to the Heavy of the three suits, readying the Ultra Greatsword for another slash.

Rolled 24, 52, 29, 18 = 123 (4d100)

>>2360619

Inside the suit, Marauder reels from the heavy blows, shaking his head wildly to regain his senses.

"Oof! Well, you can be heavy, I'll give you that."

He braces his legs on the ground.

"But can you be light?"

>Activate Jumpjets

He suddenly launches himself into the air with a burst of blinding speed, rapidly accelerating to his full (far in excess of supersonic) speed as he shoots up, and up, aiming to break clear of the fog layer before flipping to angle back down with his arsenal.

"DON'T DRAW THIS OUT, DIE WITH SOME DIGNITY!"

>Flying up as high as possible, firing down with all weapons.
>Metalstorm Charge Shot (Com +39, 12 Dam)
>Rocket Shot(Com +41, 9 Dam)
>Cross Shot (COM +41, 15Dam, AP4)
>Reload Railgun

File: mission complete.jpg (34 KB, 220x215)

34 KB JPG

>>2360630

In the distance the tree is slowed even more by an unknown source. It's movements lagged by something. The minds aren't completely free, but you feel it's much weaker. "NO!"

>>2360640

You move much faster then the fog when you are aware of it, as it moves to try and stop you, only to fall short. You see the tree fall however the moment after. Wondering what is next....

>>2360672

As you rain down the last of blows, the treant starts to topple. It's sap covering the ground as the fog dissipates. As your bodies start to fade away from the server as Ryman collects them, you notice the cut up and blown up remains of the three suits from earlier. Unmoving and without life.

As everybody is removed from VR, The sound of silence reaches their ears. "Well..." Joumun speaks. "It seems like... We won?" She looks around. "I managed to grab a few things during the chaos, so I'll head back to finally eat and do a debrief. Good job guys. You just have to wait for command to send a relief team as I send out an 'OK' signal." She says as she slithers off with a wink and a stare at SK.

Hours later a dropship comes with a hazard and relief team. Taking the warheads and you home metal boxes and comfy chairs respectfully.

>Mission complete. Congrats guys.
>15 points, no deaths, and only headaches to go around.

Rolled 86, 39, 94, 32, 87, 74 = 412 (6d100)

>>2360619
Silver freezes, his eyes widening in shock and his helmet retracting... before a wild, mad grin slithers across his face. And then he... laughs.

For a good, solid minute, Silver Knight merely laughs, even as he’s pulled deeper and deeper into the void... before he crackles with lightning, the suit’s overwhelming power lashing out.

“Oh, now you’ve done it. I was gonna give you a chance but... Well, you really seem to want to die.” He spits the last word out.

>activating Celerity
>12 Dex/12 Speed
>rolling to slice 6 times
>-62 to melee

>>2360703
As Marauder comes back into the senses of his real body, he staggers to his feet, then stumbles around the base until he finds the other pilots...including Intersect Thunderbolt.

>>2360541
"Hey man." he says.

His voice is weary and tired. At the sight of the other mercenary he smiles a little, secure in the knowledge that his helmet conceals it completely.

"...It's good to see you. I've had a long day."

He looks over the other mercenaries: Loose and Elena.

"...And I could really use a stiff drink or twelve. Want to come back to Chicago, you lot? It's not a long flight and I think I owe you all a few."

>>2360722
Elena sits up, going through a few small test stretches.
"A drink? I'll take you up on that," She says with a grin.

>>2360722

Free Drinks? That's all he needed to hear. "Sign me up."

>>2360736
Carcer looks down approvingly at the elfish sniper.

"Good lady. I was pretty impressed with your stuff out there; you kept your cool and played it professional right the way through. Always a pleasure to work with another Raven like you. Y'know, I'm thinking me and Gav could use someone like you covering us. Hopefully we can work with each other again sometime, it's been a pleasure."

>>2360751
He glances to Loose.

"And you...I don't really know what your deal is, but you seem to know your way around a heavy weapon and that makes you alright in my book. Same goes for you."

>>2360703
For a while, Gavin watches, a fist buried into his cheek, fingers drumming over the controls of his suit with the other. He had signed on for this operation expecting anything, but what he hadn't expected was to find a missile silo silent as a tomb, save for the occasional shuffling of the allied AC suits. He would flit through his suit's cameras, but with its sensors being as mundane as they were, there wasn't much to see. Ryman, crouched in a corner doing whatever, the slumped over frame of Marauder leaning against Mecoptera's hull, and the ornament of a suit he'd found sitting on the heavy's shoulder.

Just as he was considering checking on the server room again, his suit picks up some other commotion from that direction. A minute later, the room begins to stir as minds find their way back to their bodies.

>>2360722
"Jesus, Carcer, I thought better of you than to sleep on the job like that. Welcome back to the land of the living, at any rate." Gavin replies with a smirk, but the tone of his voice tells that he's genuinely glad to see his friend again.

>>2360772

At that Carcer chuckles.

"Heh, yeah. I must be getting lax. That's just what happens when I've not got you around to make a lot of noise and wake me up, eh?."

He bumps Intersect Thunderbolt on the shoulder (which sounds like two cars colliding at high speed), then throws one arm around his fellow heavy and sweeps up the two light suits in the other.

"Now lets bounce. I've got a date with some hard liquor and it's a much faster trip if we all go together. Maybe we can discuss a potential merc franchise along the way..."