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Gopher looks over your submission--thought over and transmitted for his approval--and looks up at you over his datapad, incisors agleam in the screen backlight. “You want three officers?”

“Two,” you correct. “And one deniable asset.”

He whistles through his teeth. “So… you, Spider, and this Grach, plus some hangers-on.”

You nod. “We’ve got a lot to cover and a mav who likes to go into hiding. If I go in like I do, odds are good he just bails as soon as he gets word.”

“Makes sense. What about your contingent, though?”

You gesture at the list of active or suspected maverick activity. “Honestly, if I were the bad guys, I’d be more worried if there was no hunter presence at all. They can go after little fish and report any leads they come across. Same with the 1st, out on recon.”

“Tenth?” He points out--Grach offered to bring in his fledgling Civic trainees.

“With Big Blue at the helm, it’d be easy to pass off as a milk run,“ you reply. “Plus, they fit the bill. I figure we let them operate publicly while we chase leads. Once we get something concrete, then I can come down on them hard.”

Gopher slides his datapad across the table, turning back to the screens around his desk. “Solid plan, but this is going to take time.”

“If he bails or something comes up on priority, you can recall me,” you point out. “Vancouver’s hardly occupied territory. It’s not even locked down.”

“Beaming is,” he notes. “And any unusual traffic volume would catch their eye. If you want this to work, once you’re in there, you stay there.”

“What about local law enforcement? We could get resources on the ground.”

“Need to know basis only. I do have a few strings I can pull.”

And pull them he does. Six hours later, you trundle into Vancouver not by beam, but in a mover’s truck.

“So we’re grungyfucking this one,” you tell Spider, reclining in the passenger seat tilted as far back as it will go, boots up on the dash. “Grach got us a flophouse to serve as a base of operations.”

“Just like home,” he replies, swaying lazily in his seat as you turn and slowly climb a one-lane alley at a grade that must be at least fifteen degrees.

“Beam embargo means no Lifesaver response. All repairs are going to be local--that means hours, not minutes of downtime.”

“Yep,” Spider chuckles again. “Just like home.”

Swinging the wheel back around, you look out over the street ahead--crowded, busy, bustling, noisy. Civic. Through the windscreen, it doesn’t look like a city in the throes of a maverick uprising. Even still, here you are.

Here you are, and in command of a sizable force of maverick hunters. This is the second time you’ve been in this position--and the last time, it was in the Himalayas, and a hundred Reploids died. Yourself included.

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>>3146131
Once again, you’re in charge. Gopher has given you authority and autonomy on this op--calling home more than once a night to report in will risk blowing the lid off your would-be clandestine operation. For the duration of the operation, it’s all you.

Which brings you to your first call. You’re keeping this off the grid, hoping to surprise your target. That means that local civilian law enforcement has no idea that you’re here, or in what capacity. ‘Need to know basis,’ Gopher said. It’s up to you to dictate what that means.

>A white lie up front. Announce yourself, but not what you’re here with or who you’re after.
>Better to ask forgiveness than permission. They’ll figure out you’re here quick once the shooting starts.

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Hey. Happy new year.

In true form, my evening nosedived hard in just the last couple hours, but hell with it. Welcome back, /qst/. I'm going to go sit on my porch for a few minutes to ring in the new before I conk out for the night. This'll give people time to trickle in (it's only been what, half a year since the last "main" thread?)

>>3146133
>Better to ask forgiveness than permission. They’ll figure out you’re here quick once the shooting starts.

>>3146138
Happy new year.

>>3146133
>A white lie up front. Announce yourself, but not what you’re here with or who you’re after.
>>3146138
Happy New Year Hunter Command!!!
Half a year is better than a whole year...

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>>3146133
>Better to ask forgiveness than permission. They’ll figure out you’re here quick once the shooting starts.

If the Mavericks really are in control of this area, we have to assume they're listening. So saying "Hi I'm Anode" aloud to anybody will stir things faster.

I mean, stop if the cops spot us and flag us down, absolutely, but don't seek them out for hellos.

Also, hello. Good to be back in a voter/reader capacity now that Shooting Star is over.

>>3146133
>Better to ask forgiveness than permission. They’ll figure out you’re here quick once the shooting starts.

>>3146133
>Better to ask forgiveness than permission. They’ll figure out you’re here quick once the shooting starts.

The mavs probably have a mole, let's keep this quiet.

>A white lie up front. Announce yourself, but not what you’re here with or who you’re after.

This, but only the 10th trainees. If we intend to use them as a feint, and mavericks would be more worried if there's no hunter presence, it will save us the bad blood with the locals should things go South and put out our first move on the board in one swoop.

Welcome back HC! Glad to finally catch a thread live.

>Better to ask forgiveness than permission. They’ll figure out you’re here quick once the shooting starts.

We've never checked in with police before, why start now?

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Right, back from my traditional sit-and-think on the porch.

Now seems an ideal time to throw some shoutouts to a few other works.

Scarab's awesome Shooting Star has run to its conclusion, and can be viewed in its entirety on the archive, here.
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Shooting%20Star

And Aquarius, one of our readers, has started Maverick Quest over on SV. I'm actually a few pages behind because the holidays have been bedlam, but give it a read and see things on the other side of the coin.
https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/threads/maverick-quest-mmx.52129/

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>>3146133
>>Better to ask forgiveness than permission. They’ll figure out you’re here quick once the shooting starts.
Rule 1 of trying to stay hidden, if they don't know you're there, they can't tell the bad guys about it.

>>3146133
>Better to ask forgiveness than permission. They’ll figure out you’re here quick once the shooting starts.

Better operational security this way, and with our luck with that we'll need all that we can get to start with.

>>3146196
Adding to this now that I think of it, if we get stopped by the local law enforcement, claim that our boss was supposed to let them know we were coming. Gopher ought to be clever enough to play along if they do the ole actually check on our story routine.

>>3146133
>Better to ask forgiveness than permission. They’ll figure out you’re here quick once the shooting starts.

I was thinking about the other option but >>3146210 convinced me that this is a better way.

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>>3146189
Aquarium, even. Wouldn't be me if there weren't dumb typos.

Because I was asked to do so, im reposting the link to the VWES bank doc!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Vi3L_8MuATO4paK4X9Wy7SemcTes8-yBBB67vLO_k98/edit?usp=sharing
As always, comments and submissions are welcomed.
If you've read Shooting Star, youve probably already seen it, but new bits are being added often. Recent ones include:
The beginning of the addition of Shield upgrades for DNAs.
More entries for Combined Data weapons.
Entries based on the case of Shooting Star!

>>3146133
>Better to ask forgiveness than permission. They’ll figure out you’re here quick once the shooting starts.
Corruption and Mav moles aren't exclusive to the Hunters, after all.

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>>3146138
Happy new year lad. How's the injury?

>>3146287
Actually, changing my vote to this.
>>3146180

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>>3146133
>A white lie up front. Announce yourself, but not what you’re here with or who you’re after.
>>3146180
And this, one of the 10th guys should be our face. A few of the incidents, mainly the attack on the airport and the stolen Victoroids, are serious enough threats on their own to warrant multiple officers investigating.

>>3146180
I'm absolutely fine with modifying my vote to include this.

>>3146133

>Better to ask forgiveness than permission. They’ll figure out you’re here quick once the shooting starts.

>>3146133
>Better to ask forgiveness than permission.

>>3146189
Neat. It kind of feels like a game of Shadowrun thus far.

>>3146133
>>A white lie up front. Announce hunter presence, but not what you’re here with or who you’re after.
Do the 10th trainee thing

>>3146189
Now that's a serious wall of a backlog to get through. Neat MC though.

>>3146526
riiiiight, I forgot it's a pain in the ass to even get an account on SV.

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Happy 2019, everyone.

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>>3146698
You too, Satan

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>>3146698
Happy new year, robot satan.

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>>3146291
I've been better, to be honest with you. The hip injury has healed but it's one of those always-there-permanently deals, I've been setting it off to one degree or another for weeks. Not gonna get into a ton of detail when there's robot fuckery to spread, but long story short is I can expect new and exciting spins on these all over the place for the foreseeable duration.

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Right, looks like keeping your presence mum takes it, though there was enough interest in using 10th as the public face of things that I'll keep that in mind when it comes up.

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>>3146133
“We may have neglected to inform the proper authorities we’re here,” you tell Spider. “And we may be keeping it that way for as long as possible.”

He gives you a sly side-eye and a smirk. “I hear you. Like I told your buddy Halcyon, the services I offer are very discreet.”

That’s actually a good point--as far as you know, hunters have never hired mercenaries in their entire history. Even with his name on the roster, he’s probably still an unknown. You can use that.

“Perfect. And Grach isn’t going to have any trouble, he was made for this kind of op.”

“How about your boys?” He asks. “Berets are a little hard to come by outside the 4th.”

“Marine has an outpost next to Steveston. And let’s find out.” You tap your earpiece and ping your squad on comms. “Susan, you there?”

“Yes, sir,” he replies. “We just made it to the Vancouver branch. What’s left of it, anyway.”

That doesn’t sound good. “What’s left of it?”

“Looks like it got firebombed. No real signs of a fight.”

“Think you can get it in working order?”

“Yessir. But I was thinking. Once things get loud, and they know we’re here?”

“It’s the first place they’ll look?” You ask.

“Bingo. Got any ideas?”

You’re going to need a place for your enlisted to stay--and between 1st, 4th, and 10th, you’ve got a fair few to worry about. You could have them reinforce it, like a proper garrison--that would be fairly standard hunter procedure (and help sell your gambit), but it could be risky if mavericks reprise in force. On the other hand, there will be some abandoned residential and industrial zones in the Hydrocity or the Downtown Eastside, where you could set up a fallback. The Link Rider scouts could report trouble and your enlisted could displace to a secondary location.

>Make it into a strongpoint. When they stick their nose in there, it gets cut off.
>Look for something abandoned for a secondary quarters.

>>3146756
>Make it into a strongpoint. When they stick their nose in there, it gets cut off.
The mavericks have been here longer than we have, we could be sending them into deathtraps already planted.

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>>3146756
>Make it into a strongpoint. When they stick their nose in there, it gets cut off.

Because "look for something abandoned" strikes me as unwise in a place where hostiles know the terrain well.

>>3146756

>Make it into a strongpoint. When they stick their nose in there, it gets cut off.

>>3146756
>Make it into a strongpoint. When they stick their nose in there, it gets cut off.
If possible, let's set it up with escape routes and a means to trap Mavs inside in a killzone. Nobody's too cool to take a page from Perturabo.

>>3146756
>Make it into a strongpoint. When they stick their nose in there, it gets cut off.

>>3146756
>Make it into a strongpoint. When they stick their nose in there, it gets cut off.

Don't blindly stumble into enemy traps. Also, happy new year.

>>3146756

>Make it into a strongpoint. When they stick their nose in there, it gets cut off.
The doubling-down option seems counter to our prerogative to stay quiet, because hunter activity is hunter activity and shoring up a base is going to get noticed, but since everyone is voting that way I'll second it with the corollary that we're using the 10th thing as a public excuse to set it up. That way when the Mavs hit it they'll ideally only be expecting the light fighters and be doubly unprepared to deal with our full force.

Firebombed as in like, a mail bomb, or as in like, artillery?

Because if it's arty, we can booby trap wherever their previous firing point was.

Oh, Command, can we get the target's threat level and briefing again? It's been a while. I kind of want to know if navigational support is available to coordinate, since there are so many parties involved.

>>3146928
From the previous thread:

Graverend Moloch (A-class)
Known weaponry: Earthrend Spike. Designed to shift earth and rock, this weapon is capable of both punching through heavy armor and causing grievous injury to the systems beneath.
A new maverick, seemingly purpose-built, has begun a campaign of terror along the Pacific coast of North America. Associated with attacks on civilians and targeting of Hunters, he has evaded capture in the wake of repeated activity. Support hunters are already deploying to aid in the civilian evacuation, while local law enforcement are seeking help tracking the maverick down before he slips away once more.
Moloch is a relative unknown, only becoming active approximately one month ago, and only beginning his attacks in earnest in time with the raid on MHHQ. Survivor accounts have described him as brutal and erratic, seeking carnage and destruction for its own sake.
Available support: 3rd Deploy, 1st Advance

UPDATE: Moloch has been confirmed to be operating in the Vancouver area, at the head of a small but violent gang of likeminded mavericks. Satellite outages over the region have prevented us from tracking his progress, but Recon confirms recent visual contact and he has not yet gone to ground. Similar attacks from California, Oregon, and Washington states suggest a wide area of operations, appearing and disappearing at random within them. He does not seem to be moving North as much as striking where there is damage to be done. Moloch and his gang have been implicated in the deaths of several maverick hunters, and forcible reappropriation of their combat assets. Proceed with caution.

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>>3146765
>>3146769
>>3146786
>>3146805
>>3146871
>>3146889
>>3146920
“Set up shop and fortify,” you tell Susan. “When they come looking to knock over an outpost, you hit them with an entire garrison.”

“Copy,” the Beret replies, mild amusement reading in his voice. “But what happens when they meet ‘stick’ with ‘bigger stick?’”

“Biggest stick,” you reply. “You don’t have to hold out forever, just as long as it takes to send in a heavy hitter.”

“I’ll plan accordingly. Bravely Broken out.”

“That’d sort of tip your hand, wouldn’t it?” Spider asks, sitting up as you pull in to your base.

“Not if there’s no one left to report. If I do it right, in the chaos of the attack they won’t get anything concrete. And if they do, then we cut off something important, and that will force a move.”

“Coverin’ all the angles, aren’t you?” the mercenary chuckles as he turns to look back out the window, sliding his legs off the dash.

“One tries,” you reply, swinging the door open and yourself after it.

Grach nods as you walk in the door, carrying a few hundred pounds of field kit to assemble. Two Reploids--one a Beret, one seemingly a civilian model, salute and take them off your hands, breaking them down to begin building the first of two charger beds.

“Captain,” he greets, affecting his accent as ‘normal.’ “Nothing to report yet, our entry was quiet.”

“Good to hear. Grach, Spider, Spider, Grach,” you introduce. “Everything ready?”

He nods. “With your permission, I’d like to take tonight to go out, get a feel for the city.”

That would preclude him from scouting, but you remember his pedigree--and his audio transcripts. “Let’s see what we’ve got before we make that call.”

[u]AVAILABLE ASSETS[/u]
OFFICERS
Anode
Spider
Grach

ENLISTED
The Bravely Broken (4th Overland Steel Beret squad)
Tenth Recruits (10th Civic scouts, low-profile anti-collateral training)
Link Riders (1st Advance military recon, fast response)

ACTIVITY/INTEL
• We have received a tip that a hacker named Dalet is planning to attack the Vancouver SkyLoop, and is gathering assets in Sisiutl, a hydrocity district. Anticollateral weapons are extremely important for any staging in this zone.

• The Richmond area of Vancouver Megacity is under sustained evacuation due to repeated guerilla attacks on the area, centering on Vancouver International Airport. Putting down the attackers will free up police resources. While we do not have any confirmed ties, the nature of the attack suggests higher-level coordination from a larger maverick operation, as suppressing air access to the city limits the volume of response across the entire theatre.

Cont.

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>>3147711
• A shipment of Victoroids has been delayed and there is no word from the crew of the cargo vessel that was to be bringing them in. Local authorities believe that criminal elements have brought them in on an unrelated ship and are planning to sell them to Doppler's forces. One senior Detective Sergeant and his partner have already gone missing while pursuing leads on this incident.

• City Councillor Envision is suspected by local authorities to have been involved in a night-time attack on Kitsilano by two shadowy Mavericks in order to boost his profile and gain the sympathy vote. While they will not act without evidence and Envision has enough money not to be touched, he's been taking more secret meetings late at night and ordering the building cleared. His schedule suggests another of these "meetings" is imminent; if he could be discovered in flagrante with known Mavericks, he can be detained for further questioning. If he's falsely accused by trespassers who don't find anything on him, the result would be an ugly blowback.

• A well-known local pianist has been kidnapped by a Reploid named P1C0, who is believed to have gone Maverick. The attack occurred in Gastown and the attacker is not believed to have gone far.

• A handful of Mavericks are believed to be sabotaging food deliveries in Burnaby, destroying delivery Mechaniloids and in at least one case leaving behind a dead delivery operator. Food deliveries have been suspended in the area pending further study.

• Local Maverick activity seems to have spiked chatter about a "bomb" under development which is planned to be used in a major attack. A device which could be used as an accelerant component is being moved by police away from UBC and into a safe storage facility until further notice in hopes of preempting an attack on the campus to steal it. Police are expecting a Maverick attempt on the transport and will be using decoys.

TASKS/LEADS: Can be completed by one person/unit.
• Set up officer quarters (Anode, Spider, Grach, 10th)
• Set up enlisted barracks (1st, 4th)

OTHER/OPTIONAL
• You have not yet requested Navigator assistance, but could do so without compromising mission secrecy.
• A ping on your datapad reminds you--Baccarat’s final transmission left a marker somewhere within Vancouver.

DIRECT ACTIVITY
WARNING: While scouting for intel will be necessary, sending recon out to all corners of the city may attract unwanted attention and reveal your presence quickly. Some operatives (e.g. yourself) are more overt than others (e.g. Grach). Bear this in mind when deciding on activity.

>Anode: Available.
>Spider: Available.
>Grach: Available. Has requested time to reconnoiter the city rather than scout for mavericks.

>1st: Available.
>4th: Available.
>10th: Available.

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>>3147717

Okay.

10th:
>Set up officer quarters.
Gives them something to do that would seem innocuous and wouldn't trip over things out in the city.

4th:
>Set up enlisted barracks.
Gives them something in-character to do at the outpost.

1st:
>Set up enlisted barracks.
It'll look natural, and keep more Maverick eyes side-glancing at the outpost instead of us.

Spider:
>Investigate Envision.
Go super-sneaky. Assuming Spider can cloak, lean on that.

Grach:
>Recon.
Give him what he asked for.

Anode:
>Request Navigator assistance.
>Follow up on that Baccarat data.

>>3147771
I second these.

>>3147771
These

That's a lot of information, okay.

First off, definitely ask for Navigator assistance. They have access to higher-level readings (power surges, etc.) that could give us valuable intel and help us coordinate between units. That will free up Anode from having to manage that directly, letting him make decisions and issue orders.

Anode is like the least covert single unit, so we should be careful where we send ourselves lest we tip our hand. He might be the best unit to leave behind to set up officer quarters, because he could be pulled from that to provide backup to another unit if things get hot. Same with the Bravely Broken, as they're directly associated with Anode if the enemy has any half-decent intel.

Given how tight our assets are versus the amount of ground we have to cover, we're going to need to pick our battles wisely. To that end, I propose allowing Grach to do his recon. It will help us get a better bead on what events are a higher priority or related to Moloch even if they might not seem to be at first glance. We can also afford to send units in to deal with the larger attacks more freely, because they'll seem like normal hunter response, if I'm reading the situation correctly. (Con't.)

>>3147798

> Skyloop Attack
Low profile. Could be a trap, but relatively high priority given the consequences of an actual attack. Possibly a good fit for Spider, but I kind of want him on the Baccarat tip.

> Vancouver Int'l
High profile. If it would free up police resources, could get us connections or cred with the police once our cover is inevitably blown. We could send in the 1st here and it wouldn't seem out of place.

> Victoroids
Low Profile. I say wait until we have Grach available to chase this one.

> Envision
High Profile, high risk. We should stay away from this until we're not spread thin and have an idea of what leads are important to chase.

> Pianist
Relatively Low Profile. We don't have any evidence yet that this is connected to anything else, so unfortunately low priority compared to everything else.

> Food Delivery
High Profile, high exposure to the media, lowish priority. I think this might be a good place to put the 10th, as the unit is supposed to be "in training" and putting them on a bigger op might raise some flags. Plus, since it's not related to Moloch it might send enemy intel chasing a dead end.

> Bomb Under Development
High Priority. This is another great place to put the 10th or the 1st.

> Baccarat Data
Low Profile. Spider, or, if we do send out Anode, Anode.

>>3147717
Once again, the airport and Victoroid incidents are higher profile, actual acts of war and would warrant an open response if it came to that. I also don't see anyone but Anode faring well in a fight with a bunch of Victoroids, so he should at least be on standby for them.

Grach should scout out the city, but he also definitely needs to be the one to investigate Envision when the time comes, since that's where a low profile is most important.

>Anode: Baccarat (alternate: Setup officer quarters)
>Spider: Hydrocity (alternate: Gastown)
>Grach: Scout city

>1st: Airport
>4th: Setup enlisted barracks
>10th: Setup officer quarters (alternate: investigate Victoroids)

>>3147717
mostly following Scarab, buuuut

10th:
>Set up officer quarters.

4th:
>Set up enlisted barracks.
1st:
>Set up enlisted barracks.

Spider:
>Investigate Envision.

Grach:
>Recon.
Give him what he asked for.

Anode:
>Request Navigator assistance, prioritize Dalet and Richmond
>Follow up on that Baccarat data.
Even if nav investigation is caught, it helps sell the idea that we're not gunning for Moloch. Next step I'm thinking of pairing different units up. 10th and spider for Dalet, Anode and Bravely Broken for Richmond, 1st and Grach waiting for the bomb protection to get hot.

I'm expecting the Victoroids to get sent to Richmond or the bomb attack, and splitting people up to save the pianist and the food deliveries is too risky and suspicious.

Now who's ready for this all to go up in smoke when investigating Baccarat leads to a 1v2 with Moloch and his manipulator?

>>3147771
Backing

Since so many are backing my vote, some rationale:

The way I see it, any stealth risked by sending decidedly non-stealthy Anode afield anywhere is mitigated by navigator support and the attention-noise being made at the outpost.

Grach knows how to be invisible in a city, but Spider can literally turn invisible, so tasking them to jobs which are definitely not about Being Seen might leave a few more eyeballs to follow Anode, but few enough to risk taking care of the Baccarat ping right now.

Besides, if the Mavericks have compromised somebody in municipal leadership, removing him from play (via sneak-tactics) will deny every Maverick in the area some support.

Clearly we need Spider to steal the component first.

>>3147717
As is, I think the situation is one where setting up a stable operation zone and assets is important. The victoroids, police support, and helping the populace are important and can help us. The victoroids especially can make that barracks a death trap for the enemy.

Honestly, the 4th is likely the best for setting up the place. They are used to digging in both in the himilayas and during doppler's attack. The 1st are good at hit and run while the 10th are still new.

I would say have the first be used for sudden attacks like the sabotage or when lone mavericks are in the open, the 4th for bigger or defensive ops, and the 10th for smaller but visible ops with hostages or stings.

>>3148064
So where would we put the 1st for this? The pianist and food delivery seem like too low priority to task them, but-

Hmm. What about 10th, 1st, AND Grach for capturing the hacker? 1st for pursuit, 10th handling most of the firepower to prevent collateral, while Grach organizes them and positions himself exactly where he needs to be.

>>3148089
Too many in one spot. Would draw attention too fast. Honestly, the Victoroid or Bomb delivery might work but as a sort of sudden ambush team. If they plan to launch a raid on the convoy, hitting them by surprise could knock them off kilter and make it so the police can take them.
Unless a situation is sour and we are fully open, we should try to keep the teams smallish and easy to move.

>>3148128
good point, good point. I'm also for 1st on the bomb delivery.

>>3148291
Really, this is going to be a mission where trading resources will set the tone. Too much noise and the mavs come. But we need to make some noise to get intel and get stuff done. If our men get hurt, they are out for a bunch of time, time for preparations, intel, and taking down mavs. As time ticks, mavs get shit done and put together their plan. We do this right and we could set up a nasty trap for Moloch and any PHANTOM. Do it wrong and shit hits air man.
Issue is figuring our time frame. Would hedge my bet on how long the planes can stay in the air being how long we have.

>>3148128

Solid reasoning on the bombs, but the reasoning behind sending someone to the airport is to make a strike on their plans AND free up friendly police resources. I believe given our limited Intel it's the most efficient use of our forces at the moment.

>>3147717
adjusting >>3147807 a bit
10th:
>Set up officer quarters.

4th:
>Set up enlisted barracks.

1st:
>Support Richmond, Vancouver

Spider:
>Investigate Envision.

Grach:
>Recon.
Give him what he asked for.

Anode:
>Request Navigator assistance, prioritize Dalet and Richmond
>Follow up on that Baccarat data.

Keep the 1st on minimum risk aid, mainly supporting the police with more bodies and firepower. We don't need them to solve the guerilla attacks by themselves, and we can use it as a feint for the next step: sending them back to base for repairs, but actually preparing them for a fast response reinforcement on the bomb delivery.

>>3148443
The airport is too big and obvious to rush in. A singular mav getting taken down, a shipment going missing, and a sudden hit and run? Those are small things that can be mixed with the chaos of the situation. But those planes are flying over head and the airport is both a large area and an important one. To take it will require all our resources and intel on top.

We do the airport and save those people, the jig is up. The mavs will be on high alert and any stealth is thrown out the window. Its too big a target to take down quietly and should be the last thing we do.

>>3148460
That's why we send in the 1st or no one. They're our only heavy hitting unit with plausible deniability; just because the maverick hunters sent the first responders doesn't mean they have a whole contingent in the area. I'd suggest the 10th, but I doubt they have enough firepower for that mission.

>>3148468
Its not a matter of sending or not, its visibility. Those are planes full of civilians flying over head either held hostage or serving as Moloch's next big thing considering his love of terror attacks.
Hell, that seems to be the case in general here. Being unable to protect civilians from any of these threats and proving hunter inability.

With how easy it is to see if planes still circle, it is likely the center piece, and the airport is a perfect place to fight. So,unless those planes are coming down soon, we need to make sure we are ready, secure and able to flip moloch the middle finger.

>>3148479
This is a high profile operation, which I already said in my initial assessment. My logic is that while sending the 1st in is loud, due to the larger effect on the theatre of war a hunter response from the first responders won't necessarily be linked to us, a larger covert force in the area. It also has a lot of bang for our buck strategically in that it takes down potentially a key piece of the maverick plan (which we're guessing at, because we haven't done any real Recon) and also frees up the police.
However, importantly, there is no mention in the intel we got about hostages or circling planes.

>The Richmond area of Vancouver Megacity is under sustained evacuation due to repeated guerilla attacks on the area, centering on Vancouver International Airport. Putting down the attackers will free up police resources. While we do not have any confirmed ties, the nature of the attack suggests higher-level coordination from a larger maverick operation, as suppressing air access to the city limits the volume of response across the entire theatre.

Air access to the city being suppressed more likely means that planes aren't taking off and air traffic is being diverted to other airports. This isn't a Die Hard 2 situation, this is a sustained series of smaller strikes.

So basically like how that airport got shut down IRL because somebody might have seen a drone

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Right, trying to get the vote count going now. Stand by.

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>>3149238
Fortunately, this was a relatively easy tally thanks to a lot of unanimous sentiment and the backing of Scarab's vote.

The winning votes are:
>1st to enlisted setup
>4th to enlisted setup
>10th to officer setup
>Anode to request navigation, investigate Baccarat
>Spider to Envision
>Grach on personal recon

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>>3147717
Looking down at your intel, you think it over. It doesn’t take terribly long. “Granted,” you tell Grach. You trust him to know his business more than you do.

He nods. “I will be back before sunrise.”

“As for your recruits, they can help us set up shop here before things get noisy.”

“Understood, Captain.”

That done, you tap your earpiece again and ring the Berets. “Susan, I want you and the 1st to dig in together there. No tasking, yet.”

“Copy,” he replies. “We’ll get cozy.”

“And for me?” Spider asks, arms folded, leaning against a stack of crates.

You tap your datapad and toss it over to him. “Go make some friends. See what you can dig up on Envision.”

“Rubbin’ shoulders with a Councilman, huh? Hunter work really is the way up in the world,” he replies good naturedly.

You snort. “It has its ups and downs.”

“I bet. I’ll go find a speakeasy in the nicer part of town. Don’t wait up.” Spider tosses you a salute by way of a two-fingered wave as he strolls out past.

As for you… You’ve got some business of your own, before things get busy. Starting with ops requisition.

“Anode to 5th,” you comm. “On-site and requesting navigation.”

“Acknowledged, Captain,” returns a voice you didn’t expect--it’s Rho. “I have been appraised of your operating parameters and will be routing your task accordingly. Please stand by.”

You’re surprised again by the actual wait for a response--usually anything directed by the Replibrain behind the Maverick Hunters is somewhere just a hair south of instant. A few minutes go by, and then--

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voCCCrD96b0

“5th to Captain Anode,” comes a female voice, high and bright--and sporting what you can only describe as a strong British accent. “Navigator Iris, reporting for duty!”

Um, well. She certainly sounds … enthusiastic. “Right, uh… I’m on-site and getting my teams squared away.”

“Roger that!” She replies, excitement plain. “I’ve been assigned to your operation for the duration. Command is relaying me the mission files now.”

“All right, Iris,” you say, grinning a little at the chirpy exuberance radiating off her every word. “I’m sending you signal data coming from somewhere within the city. Can you help me track it?”

“Leave it to me!”

Iris works as fast as she talks--and announces helpfully as she isolates, triangulates, filters, and reconstructs the location and resting place of Baccarat.

You find him.

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>>3149594
The dark, clouded-over sky is a billboard on which the spotlights play, cast in neon pastels from underneath. A long stripe of shadow cuts the nightscape, a small islet of black in the sea of city lights saturating the atmosphere. Overclock Conda’s friend sits beneath an underpass, back propped against the grubby arch wall. Were it not for his utter stillness, and the droplets of condensation on his body, you might think him simply asleep, head bowed and drooping over his chest.

The light reveals the full story, of course. Two blades--one still clasped tightly in his hand, broken halfway down the length, the other lying at his side, pitted and scored, suggest a battle hard fought.

“The bridge up above has been closed for three days,” Iris says quietly, as you inspect the body. “News report says it was damaged in the local fighting.”

His armor is cut in sleek, low-profile lines, cast in dark hues--no wonder no one found him down here. The smooth lines are broken up by the telltale scarring of repeated plasma impacts, but no sign of shield failure. Gently raising his head, you’re taken aback momentarily by absence. His midsection is just gone, cored out, with only what looks like pooling, cooled solder filling his emptied chest cavity.

“A...analyzing,” Iris manages. “Traces of graphene, vanadium-tungsten alloy, and titanium.”

“Local materials,” you note grimly, examining the hole in the hunter.

“I suppose so,” she says, disquieted. “I’ll call it in.”

Baccarat was Recon, as it turns out--Iris leaves you alone with him as she gets in contact to report in, and arrange collection of his remains. Without much else to do, you inspect him further, remembering his last words in his message to Conda.

You’re surprised, then, when your fingers pass over a rent in his side and your capacitors tick up a percent. There’s still energy in his armature.

You lean forward and gently turn him to the side, inspecting the damage. Iris’s signal chimes in your ear again as you look for signs of life. No such luck--just trace energy filtering through his few undamaged subsystems.

“Captain? The 2nd just told me that right before he went missing, Lieutenant Baccarat called home. He said that if any hunter found him, they were entitled to… to what could be salvaged.”

“Salvaged.” You repeat.

“Salvaged.” She sounds very uncomfortable. “The exact wording was, erm…’”

Despite the grisly scene, you can’t help but chuckle darkly. “Never mind. I’m not sure there’s much left, anyway. Even his weapons are toast. But… hold on.”

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>>3149596
You realize in twos--first, his shields never failed. They can’t have, he never detonated. Second, the system--the entire system--is still active and on standby. “I’m transmitting the passlock he sent…” Iris says, her voice becoming indistinct as you’re suddenly focused on a new and entirely alien not-quite sensation that reminds you unpleasantly of your time in postmortem after Saetos got done with you.

>READING
>PASSLOCK ACCEPTED
>BYPASS ACTIVE
>CHECKSUM FAIL
>SHIELDING COMPATIBILITY DETECTED
>UPDATING SHIELD ALGORITHM
>UPLOAD COMPLETE
>INSTALLING
>CHECKING…
>CHECKSUM PASS
>UPDATE COMPLETE
//GOOD HUNTING

...He upgraded your shielding. The system is only as good as the two wheels on the metaphorical cart--the power draw, and the algorithms that read incoming and reply with exactly the right level of energy. Baccarat seems to have given you a small, but concrete boost to the latter.

“Did you know him, Captain?” Iris asks quietly.

“No,” you reply, gently setting him down. “He was a friend of a friend.”

“I see. … Recon asks that you leave him here. To preserve operational secrecy,” she adds, uneasy.

The viral had set out to ‘die hunting,‘ he’d said, in his final transmission. With luck, maybe this will help you avoid that fate for yourself. You play his message back one last time, straightening up to go.

“See you,” Baccarat signs off.

“See you.”

-----

No squads have yet reported back. No one is overdue for contact.
>Return to base.
>Head towards an objective, arriving for early tomorrow morning.

>>3149598
>>Return to base.

I'm still glad we saved Rho when we did, but seeing Iris so early is making me nervous.

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>>3149598
>Return to base.

Grach will have gathered intel on the city, while Spider will have gotten a yes or no as to whether Envision's late-night meeting was worth pursuing. By morning, ideally, all allied units will enjoy a fortified position and a better grasp of prioritization from which they can be tasked. Including Anode.

>>3149625
>Return to base.

What Scarab said. We need to get our intel in order before going after the next objective. Not to mention Anode is still one of the loudest assets and we're trying to keep a low profile.

>>3149598
>Return to base.

>>3149598
>Return to base
Anode's too noticeable to show up suspiciously unannounced and early on any of the objectives that suit him.

>>3149598
>Return to Base
Nice, a little boost to our systems helps, but an attack that can rend right through shields.. think this is Moloch's weapon. Best keep an eye out.
>>3149625
This is around the time for her to be active and I bet she was part of the ultimate reploid project. She was a pretty good navigator, so her aid will be useful and is better than Alia.

>>3149714

Alia was originally in R&D.

Her boss didn't like some of the reploids being built by a different member of her R&D team (not because they were dangerous, just because he couldn't understand their design), so he told Alia to take care of them.

She killed them all, and in every case made it look like an accident.

Alia only gets dropped into navigator work because she creeped out the black ops people too much.

She'd probably be a lot more useful on this mission, because she'd know the best places for Moloch to bury his bodies.

>>3149745
Or spend the entirety of the mission telling us to shoot, jump and that holes are dangerous.

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>>3149745
She wasn't responsible for ALL of them mysteriously dying off, but yes, she could teach Anode a couple things.

>>3149745

I had to look up her backstory again to remind myself how fucked up it is.

Fuck, no wonder she's so good at getting me killed in X5. I wonder how many of those "accidents" were her calling the reploids to warn them about spike pits as they were on the edge.

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>>3149598
>Return to base.

>>3149745
Nah, she only snitched, planted fake evidence, or played innocent to the "accidents".

She only shot ONE of the dudes straight in the back.

>>3149777
>I wonder how many of those "accidents" were her calling the reploids to warn them about spike pits as they were on the edge.

Well, Yammark fell to his death...

>>3149863
Alia learned from Seven then improved on it.

>>3149598
>No squads have yet reported back. No one is overdue for contact.
Well yeah, there's exactly 2 people out and about. The fortifications were both one-team jobs, so are we able to retask some of our enlisted?

>Return to base.
>Deploy 1st troops to Airport

>>3148498
I'm pretty sure the Mavericks aren't even in the airport itself, they're operating throughout the whole neighborhood.

>>3149770
I thought she only had a hand in a couple of their deaths. Shark Player and Heatnix were doing unambiguously Maverick things, Scaravich trespassed in a place with a 'shoot on sight' policy for trespassers, and Sheldon and Turtloid killed themselves.

>>3149898
Right, that's what I'm saying. Alia wasn't involved in much, but she was involved.

>>3149918
Even in the Wolfang conversation, Alia first tried to deflect blame onto unspecified other people before admitting she was the one who killed him and dumped his corpse in a frozen lake. Then, realizing she revealed too much, she immediately backpedals and claims she was somehow 'tricked' into doing so (despite having previously said she was following orders from her boss).

Given her detailed knowledge of how the murders were conducted, the only reasonable conclusion is that Alia orchestrated all of those reploids' deaths, including cyberbullying poor innocent Sheldon into suicide after the death of Dr. Jim

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Now now, I think you're being too hard on poor Alia.

>>3149982

Maybe she was mostly just part of the Murder Gang group chat?

>>3150041
Murder Gang chat was probably hosted on XXchan by cyber peacock.
>>3150026
Cain, you're robot satan. You probably have a scenario already written for Wolfang and his unit's death with about 50/50 chance of birds.

>>3149596
Actually, do Baccarat's injuries match up with Moloch's weapons? We can see if we can go 3 for 3 in PHANTOM encounters here.

>>3150057

>>3149714 has a guess on it being Moloch's weapon based on how it went right through the shields. Maybe keep an eye out for Baccarat's DNA on any mechaniloids...

>>3150057
Im pretty sure him being cored out by "Local materials" was meant to imply that it was due to Graverend's seismic spike gimmick.

>>3149598
>Return to base

>>3150114
What do we know about Baccarat's weapons, anyway?
>>3149598
Can Iris pull up the profile on his stock weapon?

I'm also curious about how they managed to kill him without setting the Shields off. PHANTOM might have a hand there, but it's also possible that Moloch's whole twist is having a weapon purpose built to disable Shields and re-enable DNA capture.

>>3150168
Thaaaaat might be a good thing to ask Iris if we have records of. Good thinking.

In that case, we might have a crude advantage because Anode has strong natural defenses even without his shield. An earth-spike type weapon might also be mitigated with a good battlefield to zipline around in, if it comes up from the ground.

>>3150168
Few ways to do it. The shields lessen the damage, not null it. Losing limbs and parts can still happen if enough damage is done and some reploids have their important bits in their chest like that one beret way back who had his head shot off.
Sides, it would make it easier for him to take trophies if they don't explode.

>>3150206
This is the internals, though. Everything the Shields need to protect is in there.

The only "normal" ways I can think of would be that spikes ignore Invul Frames or the spikes do so much more damage to Shields compared to physical matter that it's just more efficient to take the hit and pray.

>>3150248
Could very well be a case of bleed out. Reploid or not, there are plenty of non energy things one would need to function.
In either case, getting hit by it would be bad. It's definetly a anti defense weapon, something incredibly useful against Yamatoad and Tanker who are big beefy boys. Getting him into the air might be a good idea alongside ourselves. Did we bring the wrenades?

>>3150248
I think that shields maybe aren't so effective against actual kinetic force and can only do so much if you're hit by, like, a wrecking ball. I guess it could prevent a Reploid frame from deforming, but if the force is also piercing or cutting then it's still going to do serious damage.

Alternate theory: the Earthrend Spike is of the electromagnetic instant death variety of spike.

>>3150273
Mortarphant punch might be better for getting him into the air, but chasing it with wrenades should be plenty good.

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Stand by, post probably coming tonight. Cain Labs got kidnapped by those horrible "real life friends" I hear so much about. Some sort of torturous ritual called "dinner."

Even if we miss posts here and there, though, trust me. I'm fairly sure you'll be pretty happy with how things go.

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Posting a small update tonight, sounds like CL’s festivities are gonna run long.
>>3149625
>>3149642
>>3149657
>>3149659
>>3149662
>>3149714
>>3149826
>>3150161
You debate taking advantage of the evening to get a bit more fact-finding in, but the truth is you’re the least-qualified wrecking ball on this operation for the sneaky bits. Deciding to leave it to the pros, you head back for home right away, leaving you some time with your thoughts.

First and foremost among which is that you never really appreciated what ‘megacity’ meant.

Vancouver is larger by far than you’d even imagined a place could be. You’ve flown before, seen the tiny grains become pixels become sand become dots become trees, but this place seems to run infinite in every direction. You’re never at the top, nor at the bottom, always another stratum above, always another walkway below. Population runs from layers belowground to cloud-piercing spires, wide platter and spheroid residential towers strung like distant ornaments on garland strands of streetlights. Roads curve up, down, around, and go on forever, massive thoroughfares full to capacity even in the dead of the night like this. The air is the stillest thing about the place, you realize--with the embargo up, aloft drones or vessels are few and far between. Inactive transit signs, mile-high cargo dock hatchways like broken wheelspokes, and posted notices of airbus routes being down suggest that on a normal day, the place ought be milling on every altitude.

It’s not surprising that there are reports of maverick activity. What surprises you is how there could be so few.

>Talk to Iris on your way back.
>Keep quiet, take it all in.

Any specific questions or comments for her welcome.

>>3151749
>Talk to Iris on the way back.

She seemed a little shaken.

>>3151749
>Talk to Iris on your way back.

>>3151749
>>Talk to Iris on your way back.
Ask if this is her first time. She seems pretty chipper and was shock about the scene. Her thoughts on the situation in genral would be good too.

>>3151749
"So. Iris. You new? Know a guy named Wellington?"

>>3151658
It would figure that Rezador would be the one person Anode's met who also was big into movies

>>3151749
>Talk to Iris on your way back.
Find out if she's cleared to know about PHANTOM. No guarantee there's one here, but if one is we need to know who's informed.

>>3151749
>Talk to Iris on your way back.
Pull up Baccarat's profile like I asked earlier.

>>3151749
>Talk to Iris on the way back.

No reason *not* to.

>>3151795
Seconding this, and also ask about Baccarat at some point, but at least get a read on how she's feeling after that whole Thing That Just Happened.

>>3151969
We should tell her not to feel too bad, at least Baccarat died on his own terms.

>Give Iris the cold shoulder

We know Iris's taste in men. If Anode is gonna have a chance with her, he'd better play hard to get like Zero.

>>3151969
To be fair, she's handling it a lot better than we handled Art Class.

>>3152388
I had to stop and laugh for a full minute before I could type this.

But this is the wrong thing to do. Clearly, we must point her to our moody, broody, sword swinging green buddy who could give Colonel a proper saber duel. This will totally go over well when Em needs to cut her down.

>>3152463
To be even fairer, she wasn't standing knee deep in human and reploid bodies.

>>3151749
>>Talk to Iris on your way back.

>>3152388
We already have a date set up with LightningBear lady from Artillery when this job is done

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>>3152464
Yeah, that sounds about spot on for Emerald's love life.

>>3151788
>>3152464
>>3152472
>>3152626
Speaking of which, why do you all have bright green colored IDs?

>>3152631
The real question is, why don't you?

>>3151749
Well, we know from the news that Iris is a new recruit and that she has a sibling unit, whom we have the perfect chance to learn more about right now.
On the other hand, we also might catch something important if we take in the scenery. This is actually a hard call for me, but I have to go with
>Talk to Iris on your way back.
We'll be thankful once we're close enough to her and Colonel that we can convince Repliforce to stand down.

>>3152636
I dunno, some sort of really narrow range red-green colorblindness?

>>3152388
>>3152464
>>3152626
I'm dead of laughter

Please god let this never happen, Em's got enough on his plate.

>>3152626
>Em regrets not getting that endo

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>>3153238
"WHAT AM I DATING FOOOOOOOOOOR?!"

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Okay, should be able to get a post out tonight. Just doing errands, GDQ prep, and doing some cooking.

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Boy THIS was an animated evening.
>>3151763
>>3151785
>>3151788
>>3151795
>>3151846
>>3151866
>>3151886
>>3152495
>>3152675
“Hey,” you say gently, imagining Iris jolt on the other side of the line. “You okay?”

“I--” Her tone sharpens abruptly, as she catches herself. “I’m sorry, Captain, I didn’t even think to ask.”

“I’m fine,” you reassure her. “Comes with experience.”

“It just feels… wrong,” she lands on. “To just--just leave him like that. You’re sure you’re all all right--to have to…”

“I’m fine,” you repeat, checking the worry-spiral.

“But…”

“He went out on his own terms. That’s worth something.” You try to push a surety you’re not really sure of into your voice. “Okay? You still with me?”

The line crackles, live but empty, before Iris finally gives a heavy sigh. “I’m okay, Captain. Thank you.”

“Just Anode’s fine,” you tell her.

“Yes. Cap--Anode. Have you ever had to, er… do this sort of thing before?”

“Find a friendly? No, but I’ve got a few stories just the same.”

As long as you’re not sortieing anywhere before morning, you’ve got a little time to actually sit down. You pull up a patch of embankment, looking out over the hovering orbs of decorative lampposts of a park in the near distance.

“This your first mission, Iris?”

“It’s that obvious?” She asks ruefully, before a hasty appendment. “Well, yes, but--but I’ve done lots of simulations and trial runs!”

You grin. “You know, on my first op, I got my eyes blown out by a B-class and I spent fifteen minutes stumbling around trying to find the beam jammer so I could go home.”

“Goodness!” She replies, aghast.

“Yeah, it was a good time. I guess what I’m saying is it gets easier. For now, let’s get back on track.”

“Ri--roger that, I’m ready to navigate!” She declares, resolute.

“Are you briefed on…” You pause, trying to decide how best to ask. “Possibly-classified enemy contact I’ve had?”

“Cross-referencing your file… yes, I think so. Are you referring to the PHANTOM group?”


“That’s the one,” you reply. “I can’t shake the feeling they’ve got a hand in Vancouver somewhere.”

“I’ll keep my eyes open,” she promises. “And I’ll notify you of any patterns or information I can find in the files.”

“Thanks. Got anything for this mission in general?”

“Vancouver Megacity Area, population 12 million, some 1.5 million of whom Reploid. Primary languages English and Chinese, launchpoint for 17 Black Skies satellites. It boasts the Skycity and SkyLoop train systems, and Sisiutl remains one of the largest hydrocities in North America. Local landmarks include the Victoria Seawall, the Museum of Anthropology, and the Six Canoes Monument out in the harbor. Campbell Centre Three holds the distinction of the tallest arcology in Canada.”

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>>3154363
“So where does that leave us with the mavericks?” You ask.

She sighs. “I have absolutely no idea. Looking at activity patterns… It can’t possibly be for terror value alone, there’s any number of monuments they could have struck. No focus on habitated areas, so not simple casualties…” Her mic clicks on and off a few times in silence as she starts and aborts thoughts mid-formation. Frustration creeps into her voice, seemingly stymied. “Not a single push on an armory or an attack on local government, no interest in a coup, no occupation...”

“Meaning they’re here for something, and they haven’t got it yet?” You ask.

“I suppose so. I certainly can’t think of anything.”

You chuckle. “Iris?”

“Erm, yes?”

“You’re aware you were just very helpful, right?”

“I don’t--oh! I see, you mean--er, thank you. Wow--I…” The rookie navigator wisely cuts her comms before she can continue to fluster.

You wonder, distantly, if this was how you were when you first disastered your way into service. You wonder somewhat less distantly if this is how your more veteran unitmates look at you now.

With Iris working on cross-referencing city activity reports, and back-researching PHANTOM, you suspect she’s a little more tasked than she lets on. You probably shouldn’t give her too much more homework, though at the same time, you’re always hearing that 5th is underutilized…

>Ask her to give you some data on Baccarat.
>Ask her about Wellington and the other navigators.
>Other?

>>3154365
>Ask her to give you some data on Baccarat.
just the basics of his stock weapon, no need to get into his VWES loadout or anything.

>Dalet. Get a read on his escape routes and what collateral we can steer him away from.
I don't think we need info on the guerilla attacks that badly, that's a lot of cross-referencing to find very small chunks of forces.

>>3154365
>Ask her about Wellington and the other navigators.

Or, if she's not actually that busy, ask her about that "chatter" about a bomb under development.

>>3154396
that's a good point, if we just find the bomb dev lab, the risk to the transport is almost erased.

>>3154365
>>Ask her about Wellington and the other navigators.
(I am pretty curious what names come up there.)

>>3154365
>Ask her about Wellington and the other navigators

>Ask about Baccarat's base weapon

We have a datastealer here, we should be a little practical.

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>>3152388
>>3152464
>>3152626
>>3152936
>>3153238
>>3153507
Pic related

>>3154365
>Ask her about Wellington and the other navigators.

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>>3154624
And a request from HC to go with it.

>>3154365
>Ask her about Wellington and the other navigators.

>>3154387
>>3154365
Support

>>3154365
>Ask her about Wellington and the other navigators.

>>3154396
And also this

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>>3152936

Well, we could set him up with the crazy chick and see if he survives it.

>>3154365
>Ask her to give you some data on Baccarat.
Wouldn't hurt to know Baccarat's tactics, get an idea what doesn't work on Moloch.

>>3154365

>Ask her about Wellington and the other navigators.

I want the info about Baccarat too but I'm really curious as to what the 5th can dpppppbbbfth let's be honest I want her to spill that tea.

Also the bomb as per >>3154396

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So as you all know, GDQ is this week. I’m going to try to get at least one post out while hosting the festivities for my locals, but if we get quiet, fear not.
>>3154396
>>3154547
>>3154561
>>3154624
>>3154686
>>3154832
>>3154977
“So,” you pick up the conversation after giving Iris to cool down. “How are the navigators treating you?”

“Everyone’s been very kind,” she replies, sounding genuine. “Corporals Nokia and Starmobile have been giving me the tour on breaks. Lieutenant Splice also invited me to join the team for dinner after this mission’s concluded.”

“Friendly bunch. You met Wellington yet?”

“Ah, no, I’m afraid I haven’t. I’m given to understand that the Captain has recently been promoted, and is in training for his additional duties.”

“Probably just as well,” you reply, briefly entertaining the mental image of Wellsey’s posh sarcasm running right over her earnest inexperience.

“Er, I’m sorry?”

“Nothing, don’t worry about it.”

“Captain?”

“Yes?”

“I’m worrying about it.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” you reassure her. “He’s just… a very different sort of British than you.”

She giggles. “My brother could give him a stern talking-to. He should enter service any day now.”

“Yeah?” You ask. “I’ve got a sister, Cathode.”

“Older, or younger?”

“Depends which of us you ask,” you reply. “But younger, totally younger. Older-siblings-five, right?”

“Actually…”

“What, was he out ahead of you?” you ask.

“No, no, but--well, it’s complicated.”

“I’ve got time,” you offer.

“Well, all right. Originally we were built to be a single model, but during sequencing, the matrix started developing… complications. I’m none too sure on the details, but there was some kind of fundamental incompatibility. Eventually they opted to split the developing matrix off and let the ‘healthy’ portion continue on, but both halves proved viable on their own. Rather than terminate one, they let them both run, and here I am.”

“Huh.”

“I’m told we’re the closest thing to human identical twins.”

You scratch your nose. “So how are you out first but ‘younger’?”

“The second sequence required a few additional cycles to develop. My chassis build was also less resource-intensive… and had more lead time, since they were only expecting one of us, so I was ready first. They say that once he’s active, my brother will be more ‘mature’ as a result of those extra cycles.”

Less resource intensive… “So your brother’s probably a combat model, I’m guessing?”

“I am too… technically,” she adds glumly. “But yes, he will be. I’m very much looking forward to meeting him.”

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>>3155391
“As far as I’m concerned, you’re the elder, and don’t let anyone tell you different,” you insist--even if she probably doesn’t get why, it matters to you, dang it. “Be sure to give him all manner of grief.”

She giggles again. “I could never.”

“It’s your birthright!”

Her laughter dies as quickly as it came. “Ah…”

You pause. “Something up?”

“No, it’s just… well, I’m sure you’ve noticed, this is a rather… top-flight operation, and I’m brand new.”

“It hadn’t escaped me, yeah…”

“I was handpicked for this, and I’m worried.”

“You’re doing fine,” you promise.

“Thank you, but it’s not just that. It’s… I don’t want any preferential treatment over my unitmates.”

“Hey, it wasn’t your choice.”

“I know, but…”

“Look, if anyone gives you any grief, just send them my way. You can set me and your brother on them.”

That puts a little more enthusiasm back into her voice. “Thank you, Captain.”

That settled, you look out and see the very beginnings of dawn--not from the sun, but from the artificial horizons of telescreens on buildings showing an orange line bloom across the middle. “I should get going. Can I get you to look into the local maverick chatter about a bomb?”

“Already on it,” Iris says, confidence back. “You can count on me.”

Grach is waiting for you when you get back to base, hands in the pockets of a leather jacket, looking for all the world like the human man you know he isn’t.

“Captain,” he greets. He eschews a salute--thinking about it, probably best that way when out and about.

“What’s the word on the street, Grach?”

“The city is terrified,” he says plainly. “Everyone is still going to work, things are still getting done, but you can feel the anxiety in the air, the dread. People wake up wondering if this will be the day it’s them on the evening news. Did you see anyone while you were out?”

“No,” you realize as he says it.

“In a city this size, for everyone to keep indoors?”

You nod. “Any word on specifics?”

“Point Grey is under heavy patrol by civilian law enforcement. No activity there, yet. Mayor Kermod is keeping a tight lid on things, but it can’t last forever. Envision has been giving him no end of grief, and the Skycity has been pushing about the evacuation process. Things are already beginning to boil over.”

“Where?” You ask.

“The Harbor,” he replies. “And Richmond. I would focus there as soon as you can.”

If tension’s already high, you’ll need to either be very, very discreet, or very, very indiscreet.

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>>3155395
UPDATES
• Baccarat’s remains have been flagged for recovery.
• The Enlisted quarters have been set up.
• The Officer quarters have been set up.

TASKS/LEADS: Can be completed by one person/unit.
• Grach believes imminent trouble is coming in the Harbor and Richmond areas.
• Civilian law enforcement has deployed in force in response to the bomb threat.
• There have been no signs of Dalet or data intrusion yet.

OTHER/OPTIONAL

DIRECT ACTIVITY
WARNING: While scouting for intel will be necessary, sending recon out to all corners of the city may attract unwanted attention and reveal your presence quickly. Some operatives (e.g. yourself) are more overt than others (e.g. Grach). Bear this in mind when deciding on activity.

>Anode: Available.
>Spider: Unavailable.
>Grach: Available.

>1st: Available.
>4th: Available.
>10th: Available.

One thing to consider about Iris/Colonel is that Anode and Cathode might be more closely related to them than it first appears.

The Diode project was originally intended to make a single Reploid but due to events, "Diode" was split into the twins Anode and Cathode. There is a good chance that the secret project that the parents were working on was using the "twinning" data from the Diode project. Iris and Colonel may be Anode and Cathode's half-siblings.

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>>3155397

We're in a position of about as much readiness as we can have at this point. The question is to what extent we want to apply it. Remember also that nobody knows we're officially here yet, and revealing our presence will surely stir and focus Maverick activity.

Therefore, I say we go in with a light rumble and get ready to quake.

>Anode
Move -- alone -- on Richmond, with Iris watching out for you. Element of surprise. Taking the Broken would draw more attention. Make the guerrillas go "Who's attacking us?!" rather than "Look, here comes somebody to attack us!" If Moloch were there, we'd know it, and better to deny him and his people a point of strength from which to counterattack when inevitably they find out we're here.

>Spider
Maybe quietly ping him for an update on his task. Harassing police response means Envision is starting to stink more, if you ask me.

>Grach
The harbor is where a local monument is. I'm worried the bomb might be delivered there. Send Grach to keep an eye on it from the shadows with license to intervene.

>1st (military recon, fast response)
Stay put. If something goes seriously hot, they can roll out anywhere and assist. If the fort gets slammed first and hardest, they're already there to assist.

>4th (Bravely Broken)
Hold the fort.

>10th (anti-collateral)
Deploy to the harbor, but don't make a big deal of it unless and until the cops ask questions. If/when that happens, have them politely go "Hello, we're the Maverick Hunter 10th come to help, we're good at bomb threats." If they get attacked by something heavy, Grach is there.

>>3155397
Let's see. If the Harbor and Richmond area are the ones that are in trouble that would be the victoroids and the airport. That means fast response and siege response. Anode can handle Victoroids, and Advance could work well as a counter shock against gurillas.

10th would be useful for the bomb threats both in calming people down and reducing collateral. Riots are what we don't want.

As for Delet, Grach would be the best bet. Low profile and intel gathering. Bravely broken are going to serve as back up for any one operation or switching with Recon or 10th if the airport requires sustained support or if non collateral is needed.

>>3155518
I'll back Scarab

>>3155391
A guy named Nokia should be in the 8th

>>3155526
Agreed on the Harbor, gotta be Anode there. At the same time, this could be a matter of bringing the most muscle to the fight, so our Berets should at least be on standby.
>Anode: Victoroids
>4th: Victoroids
The Richmond evacuations are directly affecting the most people and most in the public knowledge, so this is where the intervention should be public as well, if anywhere.
>1st: Airport
>10th: Airport
Dalet's still a high threat, but he'll have to wait if there's no way to find him. We can tackle one of our other objectives instead, try to 100% the mission, or we can set out bait.
>Grach: Hydrocity (alternate: Gastown)

>>3155605
>>3155518
The issue with Scarb's plan is it leaves openings. While having the Advance serve as back up is good, the Harbor with the victoroids would be too much for the 10th and their weaker weapons designed for low collateral.

We also want to prevent riots from forming in general. Riots would make doing our mission harder, add fuel to the fire, and increase general casualties. The 10th are good at dealing with lowering collateral, and their low profile makes them good for the more public riots.

Any chance our stealth specialists can give anode a bit of a makeover to render him a little less easily identifiable?

>>3155397
>Anode: Harbor
Victoroids are tough.


>10th: Airport
Anti-guerrilla, large potential for civillians. Best fit I can see.

>Grach: Bomb Threat
Good investigator, good chance of not being noticed.

>Link Riders: Stand-by
Back up for which ever group goes tits up first.

>Bravely Broken: Hold Fort
Don't leave home base empty.

Also, don't bug Spider. He's a professional, and we could blow his pursuit. Let him do his work.

>>3155512
Maybe that's why she was handpicked for this OP, then.

>>3155727
A cloak might be nice. A reploid shrouded in a hood is still less of alarm bell than someone blatantly sporting hunter insignia and weapons.

>>3155397
Anode+Bravely Broken
>Richmond
I don't think it's all that high profile, given that they're all still 4th. Plus, we need the experience working together.

Grach
>Start reconning Dalet
One guy will be harder to find than a full unit. We'll send more firepower soon enough, though.

1st
>Rapid Response
That should get them ready for the bomb, for Victoroids that start hitting the harbor early, or for an attack on the base.

10th
>Harbor/Victoroids
We don't want to activate the victoroids in self defense mode. Low collateral might keep things low profile, too.

>>3155611
As much as this leaves no one home, I have to back this. We need the 10th on the most public task and we need Grach digging for our next move. Backing this with the addendum to ping Spider.

Also, Command, I love that in one fell stroke you made me like Iris. Now instead of "uuuuoooh no I can't be rational about this situation" it feels more like "You killed my baby brother, Zero. You're a dead fucking man."

>>3156447
M-maybe she won't go batshit in this timeline?

>>3156487
It's not like someone around here is known for relentless viciousness toward characters and driving them ever deeper into an unending spiral of madness.

>>3156487
I don't like to hope for nice things too hard. Not when Cainlabs is watching.

That was a good conversation, though. We need to try to remember to use the navigators whenever possible.

>>3156505
>>3156503
you son of a bitch I was writing that post as you posted that. I hate being right

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>>3156503
Yeah I know, you gotta watch out for Hunter Command

>>3156513
>>3146756

>>3156513
I'm glad someone didn't blame me.

>>3156506
I mean he's YOUR QM, I just make his monsters...

>>3156184
Anode is a A rank hunter. His very designation makes him high profile especially for milk run missions. Baby sitting might work for the 10th, but his own personal unit will stand out.

As for the 10th, the risk is too much. If they already are activated, their weapons would not be good enough against victoroids. Anode can at least charge in fast enough to take them by surprise.
Way I see the missions, its
Harbour: High chance of heavy mechanoids, still underwraps. Good for Anode
Airport: High profile, enemy hits and runs. Either Anode, Recon, or 4th.
Helping the police: High profile, but issues are mundane for now; 10th
Delet: Low profile and intel gathering; Grach.

Recon or the 4th are good for the base since they can either rush in or protect it.

>>3156603
While I get your point about the risk to 10th, I don't think we should completely plan that choice around destroying the Victoroids. Low collateral or not, if those wakeup at all bits of the city WILL get destroyed.

Bah, fine. If Anode is so high profile, the airport can wait until we're tackling everything at once. I don't think it's a good idea to put him on the harbor, though.

>>3155397
adjusting >>3156184
to

Anode
>stay in base
Maybe set up some T.Coil traps

Grach
>Start reconning Dalet
One guy will be harder to find than a full unit. We'll send more firepower soon enough, though.

1st
>Rapid Response
That should get them ready for the bomb, for Victoroids that start hitting the harbor early, or for an attack on the base.

10th+Bravely Broken
>Harbor/Victoroids
We don't want to activate the victoroids in self defense mode. Low collateral might keep things low profile, too. If the Victoroids DO wakeup, the BB's added firepower will remove the armor off any customs and keep things more manageable.

>>3156703
Not changing my vote (Really think we need his firepower to knock some of these threats out early despite the risk) but I would just like to point out that even if he weren't a Captain of the Maverick Hunters, Anode's fighting methods tend to be... well... ziplining and throwing hurricane grenades and all sorts of ordinance around. If he runs into serious trouble wherever he goes we're going to have to fight conservatively.

>>3156724
Conservative Anode would have to be "just" melee and Raikousen. Shriver might crack the pavement, and I'm a little worried that the jumpjets will set things on fire.

On the other hand, we will get a LOT more use out of that Misericorde.

>>3156703
Well, no we still want people at the airport. These zones are going hot now even if I wanted to hold back. We do nothing, they will go sour.

Anode is the best for this situation in the wharf because yes he is high profile, but the wharf is likely the best location to bring him out. Lots of buildings, not a very public area, and no police so no leaks in case of Envision shenanigans. Two units worth of hunters would certainly catch their eye and have them react early, but Anode is fast enough and mobile enough to take out the controller.

As for the bomb stuff, right now it seems to just be police helping with public order and being strained due to Envision. We send the 10th there, we can get some intel, keep the pressure low, and might get more intel on how they will handle the bomb.

We should not send more than one group to a mission right ow, and we should cover all 5 missions.

>>3156724
We either brought our shells or our sniper rifle with us so we have the means to protect and do pinpoint damage. We may need to go loud to preserve strength/limit collateral. Better to drop a building to prevent a city block from dropping. Even without our backpack we are still pretty fast though.

>>3156775
Even if the media doesn't get the Anode spotlight, the mavericks could recognize electric batman. He's not taking out the Victoroid mastermind without at least the iconic Raikousen.

On the other hand, maybe it could work if he goes to the airport and sticks to Lockhound Lasers and Blackout. Lasers, Rockets, and Busterfire are generic enough that maybe we can pose as a high B or something. Take out the Rockets if it's still not enough.

>>3156795
For them to ID anode, they would need to be able to get the call out. Take them out fast and they can't do anything, which is Anodes thing; lightning bruiser.

The issue with the airport is that even if he doesn't use those things, his profile is still pretty easy to tell. Police would likely have body cams to and would want to talk. If the Mavs can recognize us already, being there will still have them recognize us. Also, blackout rockets I don't think we brought cause collateral and flaaak.

>>3156876
I'm still skeptical about lightning bruiser. There shouldn't be many hunters who are big and have a second electric-themed dash.

On the other hand, "Big guy with lasers and busters" sounds like pretty much any hunter with a VWES. Talking to the police WOULD get tricky, I concede on that one.

>>3156886

Also a legitimate concern: What if there's an opportunity to lay out a serious quip? Can we resist it? Anode could be ID'd by his sass miles away.

>>3156886
We are a big blue guy with a lance, a backpack, and a A on our chest. We are pretty unique. Our original mav code name was double A.

There is another thing to consider; the enemy is doing hit and run tactics at the airport. They aren't sticking around once the attack is done. The 10th cannot persue them fast enough and for anode we would need to use our dashes.

If there are too many people there, they might not come at all since that seems to fulfil the 'keeping people pinned' condition. If it's just the 1st, we can sandwich them, cut off their escape and take them down.

>>3156915
I think we can still make it work. Cover the A, get a lot more misericording done now that they're inlined and properly wieldy, and we won't seem very much like an A.

I really don't think Anode can get the Victoroid job done without waking up the Victoroids, and if we have a firefight with those, then lightning bruiser or not we'll get the mavs' attention.

>>3157018
We have dealt with infiltration and dealing with hostages before. The hostages are just the giant mechanoids and the detective and his buddy this time. A squad comming in will draw attention no matter what for them.

The entire situation with the airport is one that will require speed to do. They are not going to stick around. They are not going to stay in stab range. They will attack and run. If we wish to chase them and catch/retire them, we will need to use our wires and dash which will show who we are. The wharf at least provides less eyes and damage can be placed on the victoroids.

>>3157040
We don't need to chase after the guerillas. Lasers are instant, busters are cover fire. We wear them down just as much as they're trying to wear us down, and we buy enough time for everyone else to get their job done.

The squad in the wharf will get attention, but not "A rank hunter" attention, and that's bad: we need to make SOME noise to push Moloch to reveal himself.

>>3157091
Yes, and that same instant sniper rifle can take out the people controlling the victoroids before they can activate it. If the squads draw close and do get their attention, they will not be able to take down victoroids. 10th's buster fire is too weak and our squad has weapons based off our kit, especially the flak gun.

Moloch will easily show once things start falling apart, but we should not risk our men ike that. This is a long mission and each crippled soldier puts more pressure on us.

We also don't want to wear them down as much as we wear them down. Thats a bad trade for us because we are resource limited. We want to make it so we prevent them from doing other attacks on that location so we don't need to keep trading shots. Our resources are limited and recharging our weapons might not be a option. Wasting sniper shots on fleeing trouble making mavericks is a waste and limiting our weapons means anode takes more hits and still has a good chance of drawing attention.

>>3157091
*that's NOT bad

>>3157127
I really don't think Anode is stealthy, to the point that a squad of not particularly stealthy guys is still less likely to get caught.

I already conceded on 10th alone maybe being risky, but they've got backup and they don't need to bring the bigger weapons. They've got the tumult shields and the weird kit consumables, which are literally generic.

When I said wear us down, I was referring to the police forces. The most Anode could lose in the airport is Laser ammo and a bit of shield, which will also give charge. Compare this to 1st being at the airport and taking casualties.

>>3155397
does the Hunter outpost have VWES/Shield recharging?

>>3157157
You have limited supplies via some portable cells brought with your teams. These aren't infinite, but you do have resupply. Do bear in mind, you are literally surrounded by civilian infrastructure--being overly liberal with your arms is not going to do you any favors.

That said, VWES swap is NOT an option. And since we didn't vote for your loadout before deployment, we'll do that before your first personal sortie. Once picked, it's fixed for the remainder of the op.

>>3157157
We are as stealthy as we need to be since covering our chest and not using our weapons can make us seem like a B and the sniper rifle is instant. Less people is also less suspicious and makes it so they are not on guard.

As for the Advance, why would I have them go there head on? They would be flanking or coming from behind when they move in. Hit them where they'd be weak and force the enemy to lose their movement and back off if things get hot. I don't think Mavs will have back mounted weapons on their vehicles if they are a motley band. Hit and run requires the ability to run. Deny that and they can be easier to clean up. Anode on his own won't be able to chase if they scatter or split. The Advance can.

>>3157212
Wait, so who are you planning to send to the airport? You said the 10th is too slow to give chase.

>>3157212
>>3157217
Link Riders are recon specialists in addition to combat, so they shouldn't get caught out so easily.

>>3157217
the 1st Advance. The fastest guys aside from us. Advance goes to Airport, 10th helps the police, 4th guards and surveys.

The 10th are still untrained and their weaker arms can help against aggitators and the like. This gives us another avenue for intel from the police and also from anybody stirring trouble. They are way too green for covert action, too slow to chase, and lack the power for threats. Their duty is helping with civil issues, so let them do what they are good at as well as hostage situations.

>>3157212
>>3157230
okay, I think I understand better. And I posit that it bears similar dangers as the 10th going for victoroids. While the 1st is good at pursuit, one of the common guerilla tactics is exactly to retreat and ambush the pursuers who are caught separated from the larger mass.

And that's without something bigger joining the fray, like Moloch.

>>3155397
>Anode: Harbor
>Bravely Broken: Harbor

>Grach: Richmond
>10th: Richmond
>1st: Richmond

At Grach's discretion, he can identify himself and the forces under him to the authorities to secure their cooperation and avoid any misunderstandings.

The accelerant for the bomb still hasn't been jacked yet, so I'm not worried about it going off while we focus on where Grach is predicting the trouble to be. Let Iris work and when she has something, or if they move it, we'll come back to it.

>>3157270
And yet they can back off just as easily to prevent it. You are also missing the point of using their higher mobility to box the enemy in and prevent them from running and luring. The moment Moloch joins the fray any unit that isn't us is in deep shit. With Advance they can at least run away.

>>3157330
Which is why neither the 10th nor the BB are going alone. As rapid response, 1st will be better prepared for the expected twist wherever it is, instead of only at the airport.

I feel like your option will turn out better for airport and worse for Victoroids, but I don't think either of us are budging any further on the matter.

>>3157351
Rapid response does not mean instantaneous response. Keeping them in a neutral position, only having them react after the fact will still mean they will be late. If they aren't nearby when the guerrilla fighters show up, they will likely be too late. The city is big after all, and even a 5 minute drive would be too long if we wanted to keep them in place. Mind you it's a good idea for other situations, just not this one.

The other reason I am against you putting so many units together is it leaves openings. While a improper unit might mean the situation could get worse, no units will mean that whatever happens happens without us. Leads can vanish, evacuations can be attacked, riots can occur.

As is, the police situation is tense and stressed. We have a means right now to alleviate that until we can get the guys from the airport here. If the situation gets worse however, that won't help and it could become a situation which can hurt operations.

I will stick with my guns on Anode doing the Wharf since in the worst case he prevents the enemy assets, but can you agree that having the 10th help the police with Point Grey while the situation in Richmond is handled is a better use of their skills and talents?

>>3157428
I'm afraid not, but only because I'm digging in on 1st as Rapid Response which leaves the other leads a bit in the immediate vulnerability.

>>3155397
tweaking >>3156703
to put Anode on Richmond, focus on picking off targets from a distance rather than routing the guerilla attacks entirely.

Is it too late to request more support from HQ?

Because there's one reploid ideally suited to play the pizza delivery guy. We need the help of Largescale Mustang.

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Stand by, folks, tallying votes. Definitely need to get that in before GDQ starts or good luck focusing on it enough.

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>>3158141
So we're looking at a tie on where the 1st goes, between remaining on standby for rapid response, and joining the 10th at the airport. Given that there was a strong preference to keep someone on-base, my thinking is to keep the 1st in reserve. That would put us at:
>Anode: Harbor
>Spider: Pinging re: Envision
>Grach: Hydrocity
>1st: In reserve/at base
>4th: Harbor

Advance's Link Riders can make the best time in the city unless Anode opts to go Extremely Loud, so keeping them for a fast response is reasonable.

Unless there are any strong objections, I'll go with this. I'll work on what's set first, so I'll have time to keep tabs on the thread if you really want 1st deployed.

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>>3158177
>10th: Airport

>>3155397
>Anode: Harbor
Fuck Victroids taking out our dudes. We should stay low profile somehow (a cloak? I have no clue. Get suggestions from Grach or someone), but if we find a puppeteer then we'll need to cut his strings before he makes a real mess.

>10th: Richmond
Urban operations should be their specialty, and keeping civvies safe should be a good first op for them. If they have something to say about the situation though, listen to them. They may be rookies, but they may still have valuable insight to give.

>Grach: Bomb threat or Dalet, whichever he thinks his specialty would lend itself better to. He's experienced in urban espionage: listen to his advice.
Him keeping his nose to the ground should be good, perhaps provide a tip to the authorities or us, depending on what he finds and in what condition.

>4th: Hold the fort. Just in case. Be ready to respond if need be, so keep ready to deploy fast.

>1st: Observe guerrilla attacks. They do recon, find anything they can on these guys without getting snubbed. Unless they can get a good read on who's attacking and figure that they can be taken out, do not engage. There are rogue elements in play and we can't afford to lose people, especially when we have no clue how large the hostile force is.

Make sure Iris keeps her ears open for chatter.

>>3158177
If Anode and BB are going harbor I'd push for a fairly different plan, but since that just makes things too complicated I'd rather the 1st at the airport for outflanking the guerillas on breaking the tie.

>>3158179
Dude, you're 20 hours late.

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>>3158181
Speaking of, I foresee this is going to be a slow process. ADHD, GDQ, a headache, and work combine forces.

Story will be ongoing whether it's at full speed or a tenth, .I might see about doing partial updates per day if possible.

>>3158177
I'm still leaning on having the 1st in reserve. They're used to quick deployment, and we honestly don't know yet which area will go the hottest and need them the most.

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Guess who's back on their bullshit? It's been awhile y'all, but I've got a new Ori story hot off the presses and I'm dying to share it with ya. The others will be included for context/completeness, and as always your time is appreciated and your feedback welcome.

ORIGAMI - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qNONH8nmHk9ZCoLUtrO10FrSnBQemTJYe8fj-_Y1q0o/edit?usp=sharing

PAPER CRANES - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1B-vm_HLUk7kPGD5as-QS-3Nr_mVK3NUVgGG26YzcXYo/edit?usp=sharing

TISSUE FLOWERS - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Stu2e6Lc3hOoE0jZ85Nwar2STgHq1OWQ3f1DlAh5IoA/edit?usp=sharing

MARCHING PAPERS - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EdQ2Srurx2Y2DOquQZUKCb82kYB1KEqVHeLrVGm5Ua4/edit?usp=sharing

>>3159188
Good as always, Origami.

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Working on an update, but I got some heavy news today and Cain Labs caught the maverick virus, so it's slow going.

Again, don't panic, missed days are gonna happen, the show will go on, etc.

>>3162256
I'm sorry to hear that, man. I hope you both feel better soon.

>>3162256
You gotta do what you gotta do. Hopefully things get better soon for you both.

>>3155397
wait, but that's a sunny side up, not an omelette.

>>3163257
Well yeah, that's why he's gotta learn.

>>3163442
A frenchman seeing someone cook a sunny side up and call it an omelette.

No wonder a firefight happened.

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>>3155397
RICHMOND BOROUGH
10TH CIVIC UNIT

“Spacing,” Mastiff reminds you.

“Copy.” Dammit. You slow your pace, giving up a few meters of distance. You already feel like a one-off among your milspec squadmates, rookie mistakes aren’t helping.

If he’s got any grief to give you for it, your team lead doesn’t let it show, keeping his rifle shouldered.

You missed spacing, but you can get corners. Creeping through the back alleys, you enter minute four of the tense, silent approach. It was that silence that gave it away first--the already scant morning chatter gave way to an uneasy absence. Someone, somewhere had seen something, and the panic had quicked steps and hushed talk until everyone had gotten far, far away.

Mastiff holds up a hand, pinging his comm channel once. Then three quick blips, and one long one. Four contacts, one heavy.

“Weapons check. B, forward.”

Baroque steps forward, the Steel Beret’s movements mechanically precise as he takes pointl. The P903A buster rifle that feels so heavy in your hands slings about like a lightweight toy in his, sweeping the square ahead.

You resist the urge to crane over his shoulder, and then the urge to spring back.

Mavericks. You’ve never seen them up close before.

Baroque’s gruff voice jolts you back to the situation at hand, your brain still swimming inside its case. “I have a shot. Orders?”

“Not yet,” Mastiff orders. “Pratt?”

Your radio man shakes his head. “They’re talking. Out loud. They really don’t care, do they?”

“Nothing to be afraid of,” Baroque notes. “Could change that.”

“Cool it. Anyone we know?”

“3rd has a dossier out on the big guy,” Pratt replies. “And he’s not a big guy, he’s a small guy in a suit. That’s Crewd. A-Cruise.”

“What are they saying, P?” Your lead asks.

“Grid squares. … For bombing,” he adds grimly.

A-Cruise… you try to remember your model recognition. Vehicle operator, combat engineer role…

”MOVE!”

Repeated trysts between your skidplate and the gym floor taught you to move before you think; you’re rewarded with a few more scant seconds of existence as a plasma shell blooms where you stood a moment before. Secondaries scatter and ping everywhere around you, slashing chunks of masonry out of the walls. Mastiff’s warning about spacing saves you twice over.

“They’ve got a spotter,” Pratt says, as a cascade of fire splashes over your heads.

“They’ve got a Ride,” you hiss, peeking up at a lull in the fire as the maverick squad lazily fans out to cover the alleyway. “What are we supposed to do against that?”

“Not much,” Mastiff replies coolly, the calm in his voice impossible. “Break off, they’ve got us pinned.”

He’s right--this alley is a killzone.

The squad practically dissolves, right before your eyes--one moment a fireteam, the next just gone among plasma scoring and the plink of a cinderblock rainfall.

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>>3164258
“Red.” You glance over to see Baroque wave you over to a side street. “Here.”

You don’t need telling twice, leaving the dumpster you’d sheltered behind to join him. “What’s the plan?”

“Flank. Pratt’s squawking for help.”

“What are we supposed to do?!” you cry.

“Stall.”

You’re not--you’re not built for this. You’re not MADE for this. What can you possibly do?

“Focus, rookie.” Baroque’s hand chops hard on your shoulder, jolting you to your senses.

Thirty seconds late, you finally find your head. “R-right. What do I do?”

“Two teams, displace opposite sides. Draw them out and in.”


He’s right--it makes sense. And that Armor can’t get into these alcoves. A boom and a rain of rubble corrects that to ‘can’t get into these alcoves yet.’

Your stripped-down rifles are designed for minimum collateral, for whatever that’s worth against this barrage. They’ll toll a shield, but it will take coordination and, worse, time--time you just don’t have right now.

Which is why Grach’s lessons centered around buying and spending it well. To overcome the shortfalls in the 10th’s damage race, he taught you how to maximize what you can do when given half a chance. Pratt’s calling in what he can, opposite you--meaning your half of the squad should be giving them hell to take the pressure off him.

Speaking of hell… You duck again as a chorus of bombardment walks overhead. “I counted that, there’s no way Crewd reloaded that fast.”

“Second contact,” Pratt says tersely. “Looks like a Muzzle Crash.”

That’s another hunter model, damn it. But--

Baroque voices your thought for you. “So why aren’t we dead yet?”

“He’s aiming high.”

“Bastard,” growls Baroque.

“Crewd seems to think so. They’re having a shouting match about orders.”

Two blocks over, a building’s foundations give out and it buckles inward, disintegrating as if consumed from below, not so much as listing--those shots were aimed to drop it straight down just for the fun of it.

“Here we go,” B says. “Contacts right.”

You sight on, creep forward, and wait for his go.

Go he does. His first shot cracks as he advances forward, squeezing off a second and third with pinpoint precision. The first and third shots hit, the second fading on flashing shields. He shoulders low, right into melee range, his beam knife flashing out and finishing what he started. The other mav sights on him, about to retaliate.

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>>3164261
Your own rifle bucks in your hands as you fire in anger for the first time. The kick claps against your shoulder, the barrel cycling, the balance sliding down the muzzle with the accelerator ring’s trip downrail. It comes back up, cycling for another shot. You take it. The maverick’s shot goes wide between you and Baroque as he tries to retarget. Your first shot splashes across his chest. Baroque’s pistol snaps up as his first target crumples, burning away. You fire again, breaking right. A plasma globe the size of your kneeplate flies through where you’d stood. Your rifle cycles, and you empty the chamber again, the ring slide fighting against recoil climb. The wall behind you shatters. You fire again. Another hit--yours or B’s, you’re not sure--sizzles across the mav’s chest, biting into the metal as the shields falter. You fire again.

“Down.”

You look down--were you hit? Was Baroque? You feel for--

Baroque’s voice is as icy as ever as he sheathes his knife. “Two down, good effect. What have you got, Pratt?”

“Crewd’s calling the other guy Raschen. They don’t get along. We can use this.”

“Analysis?” Mastiff grunts.

“They’re sloppy. Not coordinating at all. Raschen’s keeping his goons to watch his own hide.”

Baroque slams his fist into his palm. “Then let’s fold back and hit them.”

“Agreed,” Mastiff replies. “Can’t do much shelling with us on top of them. B, with me when we hit them, Red in the back. Pratt, you come out from the side when Raschen’s team comes in to assist.”

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>>3164265
Pausing mid-scene here--no vote yet. More to come.

>>3164258
Ouch. BB has tumult shields, but even they probably wouldn't do so well against that.

If Anode ever meets Colonel, he should give him endless shit about his name: it's not in the same theme as his twin and is based on his rank. Does he have to legally change his name every time he's promoted/demoted?

>>3164261
Also, is our 10th guy Red from X7?

>>3165289
There's also Axl the Red. I don't think Red is a particularly unique name.

>>3165289
>If Anode ever meets Colonel, he should give him endless shit about his name: it's not in the same theme as his twin and is based on his rank. Does he have to legally change his name every time he's promoted/demoted?

Well he could just be embarrassed to be referred to as his "real" name. It would be tricky to be imposing with a name like Hermadactylus, Moraea, Ferraria or Dietes (the other members of the same tribe as Iris).

>>3165289
As cool as it'd be, I'm sure his name's just a coincidence.

>>3165583
His name is actually "Cornea", people kept mispronouncing it and the nickname stuck.

>>3165849
I see what you did there.

Wiki's got some new entries lads
>SP0C
CAAAAAAAAAIN

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>>3167204
If it makes you feel better, one of my side hustles is menacing the shit out of him with puns.

Hoping to get some writing done today, called out of work sick. Thanks as ever for the patience.

>>3167204
What did I do? Recently?

>>3167989
I mean, you're Robot Satan. What ''haven't'' you done recently, really?

>>3168016
Good deeds.

>>3168019
...well played, Satan. Well played indeed.

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>>3164265
“...Roger that,” you reply. “What’s our move?”

“ACPs and APBs. Demarc as directed. B, pick your spot.”

“Already got one,” he replies with a murderous chuckle. “You go high, boss.”

“On it. Tinsel and garland?”

“Deck the halls. B out.”

Your advance redoubles. Without turning to look, Baroque draws his field kit from his pack and hands it to you. He sets up in what even you recognize as a beautiful killzone--a wide clearing that all but invites that Ride in, the natural shape of the buildings directing the path of ingress.

A considerable portion of your training was risk assessment--analyzing the battlefield for vulnerable areas that needed shoring. Enter the APBs--Antiplasma Barriers, deployable shields with a robust battery to soak the worst of the punishment. Right on their heels, the Anticollateral Pylons. Staking one down, it hums on and shimmers with blue light before dimming, looking more like an inactive solar lamp than anything. By itself, no good, but you creep ahead, leaving Baroque behind to finish setting up shop.

Overhead, unheard and unseen, you know Mastiff is setting traps of his own--and you note a fire escape you’ll undoubtedly be scrambling up in just a few minutes. Aside from the occasional crack of exchanged buster fire, nothing. The guns have stopped, for a moment. The only possible reason is the push.

“They’re coming.” Baroque’s gravelly voice scythes the tension.

You slam down and online the last pylon, a single light blinking green and FIELD READY as you sprint by, grabbing a gutter and wrapping around a building corner, planting your feet against the side of a dumpster for purchase on a pell-mell climb.

“Hit it,” Mastiff says.

Gunfire erupts from above. The confused return sizzles over windows and crawls its way up the building as the mavs retarget. Baroque, lying in ambush, opens up from the opposite side, bolts of plasma clawing at them in a crossfire. Between the two sides, they break for Baroque--the team’s overwatch shots fizzling into nothing at the outside of their range, bubbles evaporating to reduce collateral--the poor bastards run right into Mastiff’s trap.

The antiphoton skoton curtains bloom right over their heads, plunging the would-be killteam into darkness. They’re shouting now, visual range cut off at the knees, just in time for a wild shot to thud into the gutter you’re scaling.

You hit the ground again, that Armor staggering out of the blind grenade field and right into you. Over an ocean of gaudy lights and draperies obscuring his form, Crewd’s eyes lock with yours. As you scramble to get to your feet, he grins wickedly, a massive over-the-shoulder cannon lowers, sights on you, and thuds.

So, too, does the plasma shell thud into your torso dead-center with a bright flicker of your shield.

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>>3168140
A flicker as it burrows into the outermost microns of your armor--and then clatters to the ground, mewling a pathetic sizzle. You glance down at it, and back up to Crewd. His eyes register confusion before you shoot him in one.

He lunges.

You bolt.

The pin on your antiphoton jingles a merry song as you roll it on front of you and leap clear--Crewd howls in impotent fury as he’s blinded again. The cracks of buster rifles very near, now, tell you that your partners are taking his Ride apart piecemeal from above.

“ACPs live!” You shout, snapping a shot over your shoulder just for the sake of it.

“They’re strung out,” Pratt’s voice urges, heat rising in his normally level voice.

”Hit them!”” Mastiff shouts.

You stop short as a lobbed shell crashes through the cobbles in front of you, blooming into a plasma rain. You dive to one side, into the wall of the nearest building, catching the secondary on your armband before it can smash through the buckling foundation. The repulsor field crackles and sparks out, and your arm wrenches and stops reporting sensation. You terminate the roll and come up in a crouch--it still moves--and shoulder your rifle, squeezing off one, two, three shots as that Ride Armor just keeps coming and coming, shredded cloaks billowing wide and burning in patches from the sustained fire.

He lunges again. You roll aside, spiking another grenade down and bouncing it to his eye level. Crewd’s hulking limbs fold around his face to block the flash, leaving him immobile as you surge forward and dig your knife into and through the straining kneejoint on one side. It buckles and lists, the A-Cruise lurching with the move, and you only just clear his thrashing swipe for you.

“Two down!”

“Three down!”

“Raschen’s bolting!”

You’ve got this. You’ve got this you’ve got this you’ve--

“New contact! He’s right on top of us!”

You cut eyes between Crewd--you have him, damn it, you HAVE him--and your fellows. Gunfire and a howling gale rise from inside the skoton curtain.

“They’ve got help,” Pratt mutters urgently. “Too perfect, it’s too perfect…”

“M! Need an assist!” Baroque shouts, the volume the only thing belying the urgency in his throaty growl.

“VWES,” Mastiff reports, as icy cold as ever--even as fire impacts so close to him you hear it in the surge of static on his line. “Flyer. Fall back, fall back, fall back--”

Even in retreat, Raschen’s shells rain down, casting blind havoc on already-unfettered chaos. A grey-black cloud of something filters its way into the sky from the rooftops. Across the alley from you, Crewd’s eyes lock to yours--and for once he hesitates, his invulnerable chariot now smoking heavily from one side.

>

>>3168149
We need to vote. For Red. Sounds Fun.

Get in close. Whatever that help is, it's outputting a power tier well above what Red can do or run away from. Use Crewd as a giant meatshield and just pray for friendly fire while hacking away with melee.

>>3168149
Break off break off do not engage
VWES implies the unknown is Moloch, and Anode isn't available to reinforce at this stage.

>>3168293
Wrong! Intel on Moloch states that he'll kill subordinates over trivial matters, such as "being in the way" or "having a nicer weapon than me".

>>3168340
You got the wrong idea. I WANT him to friendly fire Crewd, so we have the opportunity to play dead underneath Crewd's corpse. Well, that's assuming he uses VWES and not that earth spike to kill us.

Sidenote, I don't think Moloch flies. It might be another guy entirely.

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>>3168361
I don't think having a meatshield is going to help Red either way, much less the other 3 guys in the squad.
implying Seven hasn't told all of Anode's targets to get wings and jetpacks installed right away

>>3168361
Assumptions get you killed, especially considering Moloch has been a massive wild card alongside PHANTOM units.
Withdraw, see if we can get a evac with advance, but do some parting shots. If we can cripple his ride, it might be enough to help us withdraw and fuck him over. SURVIVAL comes over a Pyrrhic victory.

>>3168389
>Assumptions get you killed
exactly. Assuming we can evac against a flying VWES user is also dangerous.

>>3168481
A flying unit is incredibly obvious and not necessarily fast. While it would have better view, it would also be a singular unit. As such, it can only chase one separate group if it isn't trying to do its job. Keeping us close to the objective means he WILL come for us and can easily mop up the weakened unit.

>>3168149
>Disengage Crewd, assist team.
Don't abandon your team mates. Especially don't abandon your team mates who have first-hand intel on a VWES equipped Maverick.

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I'm not sorry.

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>>3168898

>>3168149
>Disengage Crewd. Exercise guerrilla tactics in evading the flier.

10th is all about urban combat, let our environment help with some of the load but not so much as to evacuate into enemy turf blind.

I got a question.

Did anyone else parse sending 10th to Richmond as helping with evacuations, rather than trying to rout the guerillas, or was that just my mistake?