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>>4046370
The bumbling comic relief is never supposed to get the girl, and yet here you are, getting ready for your first date. Still time to faceplant terribly and fulfill that little movie script checkmark, at least, you tell yourself. Just nerves, really--though it helps that your date admitted to feeling much the same.

Your date, as it happens, is a giant lightning-slinging bear. Reploids being what they are--what bodyform diversity enthusiasts broadly call “whatever the hell we want to be,” it’s not particularly unusual, even if you know your friends will immediately leap on the sass train if you wind up hitting it off.

And you hope you do--you don’t know much about her, but that’s what the date’s for, right? She worked well with you in the field, and you’re hoping she’s your type in more ways than one.

Arc Ukumari’s face is a bit less expressive than yours, but her pupil (the other being a massive special optic array) betrays a hint of the metaphorical butterflies as she grins and tosses you a clawed wave. “Hi there,” she says.

Ukumari’s not all that fancied-up, but then again, neither are you--plus, the contrast between her heavy armor and heavier-armed chassis, and the careful, high-register enunciation of her words is sort of endearing. “Nice to see you again. And less likely to shoot me this time, too!”

She smiles. “Less.”

“So,” you say grandly. “What’s the plan?”

“Well, I have some ideas, but I think maybe first we should get away from those two.”

You turn to follow her pointed claw to see India and Soul Foxfire on a park bench. Both have elected to disguise themselves with fake mustaches and absolutely nothing else.

India waves.

“One job,” you mutter. “You had one job, Em.”

Ukumari exchanges a glance. “What’s the plan?”

>Violence. Incredible violence.
>Fight shenanigans with shenanigans.
>Ignore them. Ride the wave.
>Other?

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I'm terrified. Hello.

How y'all doing today?

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>Fight shenanigans with shenanigans.

Oh shit we're aliiiiiiiiiiiiiiive!

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Ahh, it's good to see thread #99 is here. Welcome back, everybody!

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>>4046372
>Fight shenanigans with shenanigans.

"This is to get to know each other better, right? Step one in knowing me is knowing my friends, and how to juggle them."

Welcome back, sir.

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And we're back!

>>4046372
>Ignore them. Ride the wave.

We can do this. We can have a normal date.

I hope.

>>4046376
Pretty good, actually! Back on a normal sleep schedule at least. Seeing your tweet definitely helped me wake up.

>>4046372
>Other?
Call in the Bravely Broken. Impromptu field training, objective is to keep two assholes away from your commanding officer or he makes you all watch "Jack and Jill" starring Adam Sandler.

>>4046376
Don't be nervous, HC. We promise we'll be gentle.

>>4046397
I missed you most of all, Satan.

>>4046372
>>Fight shenanigans with shenanigans.

What better way to make the date memorable?

>>4046372
>Ignore them. Ride the wave.

Good to see you back, HC.

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>>4046413
Good to be back. It's been a journey.

On the one hand I reread a bunch of old threads to bone up on details and get back into the flow, and winced at all the "hurrrrrgh everything is terrible and I'm in paaaaaain" from myself, but on the other I always feel like I should at least offer some kind of explanation when I can't get a post or a thread out. I dunno, how far back do you guys prefer the curtain drawn!

>>4046372
>ignore them ride the wave
It's been too long HC, good to have you back.

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>>4046385
>>4046399
>>4046411


>>4046403
>>4046413
>>4046484

First vote back after like nine months and we tie just as I'm about to close vote.

I'm honestly not even mad, that's awesome. It feels good to be right back where we were.

In the meantime--and seriously, no rush, I'm sure as shit planning to stay--does anyone want recaps on what's going on, where you've been, what you've done, basic or not-basic questions on lore or tech or etc?

>>4046489
I would be up for hearing how you and Cain Labs are doing since the last thread at least.

>>4046372
> fight shenanigans with shenanigans

I'm HYPE

>>4046497
That'll do it, writin'.

>>4046494
I shall also get to this!

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>>4046497
>>4046385
>>4046399
>>4046411
“Well, they can smell annoyance--”

“I actually can, there’s a thing for that,” Foxfire comms cheerfully.

“--So we’re going to have to get creative. Shall we?” You offer her your hand.

She nods, daintily placing a steely claw in your palm to hold. “Let’s. So, who are these?”

You set off at a leisurely stroll towards the edge of base. “Well, one is a menace to society who should never have been set loose, and the other is Soul Foxfire.”

“I think I recognize that name.”

“Ha--”

“Hardened criminal, mercenary hacker, recent hunter captive,” you interrupt, stealing Foxfire’s thunder. “World’s okayest informant, according to a coffee mug they somehow let her have.”

“And a friend of yours?” Ukumari asks.

“Oh, no. God, no. She’s basically a popup I can’t close.”

She nods, understanding. “Better than Raine, he’s a pop-under. The kind that pulls task focus and then just sits there.”

You groan in sympathy, as a supply ship passing overhead shades you briefly. “This is still all the warm-up for my sister, too.”

“Ah. A bit overprotective, is she?”

“No, she’s a beast that wears a gentle face. It is her sworn duty to traumatize anyone I might bring home one day.”

“I see.” Arc pauses. “So, do you feel the same--”

“Absolutely. She’s got a boyfriend and I am going to destroy him.”

She gives a laugh as you pass through one of the transport gates leading towards Geneva. Foxfire and India are close at hand behind. You glance back to see them whispering, not a cheerful titter, but a businesslike hush of dark machinations.

You comm them both. “So shall we just make a channel for this and get it over with?”

“Capital idea, old sport!” India declares, before dropping her tone an octave, down to a faint, even sportscaster’s voice. “And here we are at the East gate promenade, winds are calm, conditions fair…”

Foxfire joins in with her own golf announcer impression. “Captain Anode with the Fore Overland is teeing up to try to win Ukumari’s hole--”

“Jesus,” you mutter.

“--par is ‘below average’ and this looks to be a longshot, even by Ukumari’s clearly-dismal standards, let’s see him take his shot and make his play for a place on the stage of terrible hookups.”

Arc shoots you a flat look and a slightly pained smile. “Always like this, is it?”

“All the time.”

“--clearly trying to use a putter instead of a driver, frankly I’m not sure he has a driver…”

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>>4046583
Finally, your slow walk comes to an end at the civilian UNIRESO stop, the “blue line” shuttle leading into Geneva proper. Ahead, a small gathering huddle at the bus pickup, waiting patiently for the double-wide ‘RepliBus’ to disgorge its passengers. A few look your way, but a few hunters catching the line into the city is nothing unusual here.

You give Arc another little I’m-up-to-something grin as you climb onto the bus. Amused, she follows suit. The terrible twosome isn’t far behind as each of you crowd into seats at the middle and back, respectively.

“So what was Raine saying before you… hung up?” You correct. She looks away, scratching her cheekplate with one of those claws. Under the overhead light, you notice plenty of little scrapes under her eye from repeating the habit. Kinda cute, honestly.

“Well,” she says hesitantly, “there’s an, uh, term, for people who misuse that tradition about buying people drinks…”

“Yeah?”

She nods, looking steadfastly out the other window. “You know, people looking for, uh, a quick score. We call that a ‘frag and shag.’”

You bark a laugh at that. “Apt enough, I guess.”

“Raine’s my oldest friend and an absolute nuisance,” Arc explains, grinning a bit at distant memory. “And the one who put me up to this when I mentioned you. Probably the only reason he’s not back there with the twins is that he can’t really get out of the office.” The engine ra-da-da-da-das up a notch and with a gentle lurch, the TPG bus trundles out towards Geneva.

You nod at that, looking out the window at the tall tower stretching over the outer wall.

“...Erm, Anode?”

You turn back to look at Arc.

“So, um… what are we going to do about…” she glances back at your pursuit, four rows back and making aggressive kissyfaces at her.

“My God,” you say in a deadpan tone. “We have to lose them.”

Arc blinks, then her expression breaks into a whooping laugh, caught off guard. You grin as you meet India’s eye, her raised eyebrow suggesting that on some level, she’s impressed.

“I don’t know,” your date finally manages, “I think they’re gaining on us!”

“Not to worry,” you declare boldly. “I have a plan.”

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>>4046585
Your plan is seven minutes of the world’s worst car chase, followed by disembarking at the civilian transit station and joining the queue for the beam pads. Foxfire and India join the line, but they’re a few spaces behind you, leaving you just enough time to key Arc in on the plan (who helpfully shields your destination with her wideset frame), and the two of you are whisked off.

...Straight on back to Maverick Hunter Headquarters.

“That ought to do it,” you declare.

“Can’t Foxfire just hack it to find us?” Arc asks.

“Sure, but she’s got to find someplace out of sight for that. By the time they get here, we’re gone.”

She nods approvingly. “Clever. So, what now?”

>So, you said you had an idea for us?
>I’d had a thought for where to go. (Write-in)

>So, you said you had an idea for us?

>>4046589
>>So, you said you had an idea for us?

>>4046589
>So, you said you had an idea for us?

I am halfway around the world from home, but i am NOT missing a thread of mhq.

>>4046589
>So, you said you had an idea for us?
I am curious to see what it is!

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>>4046660
Goddamn, man. Thank you.

>>4046589
>>So, you said you had an idea for us?

>>4046589

>So, you said you had an idea for us?
Good Morning Hunter Command and you too CL
MHQ Returns, this is gonna be a good day

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>>4046589
>I’d had a thought for where to go. (Write-in)
So theres this place thats got a lot of thunderstorms....

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>>4046589
>So, you said you had an idea for us?

Let her take the lead. Surprise us!

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>>4046597
>>4046600
>>4046660
>>4046672
>>4046701
>>4046723
>>4046769
You roll your neck. “I seem to recall you had some designs?”

“Phrasing,” she shoots back, though smiling. “And yes. I figured after you had to deal with standing under a whole lot of artillery, you might like to see what it’s like on the other end.”

“Yeah?” You ask, interest piqued.

“Right this way,” she replies.

HQ9, more commonly known as Archangel Base, lies in the White Sea, a modern dome construction overlooking Dvina Bay. Arc guides you off the pad as you take in the sights, screens facing out on the dome displaying the skyline outside. It’s late afternoon, with the lights still off and the view still clear. A major operation for 13th Polar, the facility itself was something of a sore spot for the Russians, though given the attack Sigma staged on Arkhangelsk during the rebellion, the need was plain and the security appreciated.

“So this is where the magic happens, huh?” You follow her out as a few enlisted--artillery Reploids, the latest Muzzle Crash generation--salute crisply and part to let the two of you past.

“Not too many bases with the space,” Ukumari explains. “Not for full live-fire, anyway.”

The signs are all stark and uniform, identical to the ones now adorning the newly-remodeled Geneva buildings. All except one--a brass plaque, stretching almost from floor to ceiling, featuring a large disk of eyes, with a pair of wings sprouting from the center. Around it, it reads in tall block letters:

DO NOT BE AFRAID

DO NOT WORSHIP ME

“Welcome,” Arc says, “to the Halo.”

The “lanes,” if you want to call them that, are actually small floating platforms in the ocean, runway lights leading out to the open water on strings of buoys. Displays overhead show distant targets over each lane, with units in kilometers. You’re not sure how far out they go, but the distance hasn’t stopped increasing by the time you look away from the feed.

“So I figured we should start small,” she says, hefting what looks like a satellite dish on the end of an I-beam. Clustered around the central point are three gunmetal grey spheres, with single inset seamlines across their centers.

You take the weapon and shoulder it--it’s every bit as heavy as it looks. A small optical lens opens from a spring latch and winks on, drawing a reticle as you press the stock to your shoulder.

“This is a lightning pod cannon,” she explains, grabbing another for herself. “Short range. Give it a few test-fires, try to hit the 2km buoy out there.”

You carefully aim out to sea through open storm shutters that put the largest hangars on earth to shame.

“Aim up,” she adds helpfully.

>Want to make it interesting? Let’s make it a competition.
>Stay relaxed and play around. Talk shop on the toys.

>Stay relaxed and play around. Talk shop on the toys.

Ooohhh, shinies!

>>4046958
>>Stay relaxed and play around. Talk shop on the toys.

This seems better for a first date. Also still plenty fun.

>Lick it.

>Stay relaxed and play around. Talk shop on the toys.

>>4046958
>Stay relaxed and play around. Talk shop on the toys.

>>4046958
>Stay relaxed and play around. Talk shop on the toys
Try to resist making movie quotes
The key word here being try

>>4046958
>Stay relaxed and play around. Talk shop on the toys.
Oh FUUUUUCK you're back! Glad to see ya both!

>>4046958
>Stay relaxed and play around. Talk shop on the toys.

HE'S ALIVE. Welcome back, HC.

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>>4046958
>Stay relaxed and play around. Talk shop on the toys.

It's good to be back.

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>>4046971
>>4046980
>>4047029
>>4047068
>>4047086
>>4047179
>>4047205
>>4047267
Taking Arc’s cue, you sight up, the circular reticle blooming into a series of chevron-arrows shrinking into the distance to an estimated distance.

“Lightning pod cannon, huh?” You ask. You’d debated challenging her to a shooting gallery, but no need to key things up just yet.

“Does what it sounds like. Central pylon tracks the payload and sparks it off at the destination. Works as AA and saturation. Here, try it.”

You lift the cannon just a few degrees higher, wavering between 1.99 and 2.01 km on the indicator, and squeeze the trigger.

Your conduits tell you that the projectile is mag-launched; it streaks out with a modicum of recoil into your shoulder and a bloom of hissing static behind you, ringlets of energy surging down the back of your legs. The triad of orbs streak into the air, spinning together in a cohesive group until they fade to pinpricks and vanish altogether. A moment later, the sky surges white as a clean geometric triangle crackles alight and slowly drifts down like a dandelion seed.

“Hit the trigger again,” Arc says with an encouraging nod.

You hit the release again, and the triangle breaks, the solid fill exploding first into stark white lines, then glittering sparks silently in the distance, and raining down a cascade of bolts from each one. You don’t know the particulars on the area it covered, but it definitely hit the 2km marker and a whole lot of ocean around it.

“It’s pretty interesting,” Arc says. “We have this whole net system managed by three countries to keep the shallow-depth wildlife clear of the lanes. There was actually a major 22nd-century deadzone there, a mass cryromer leak from a derelict sub in the area…”

The next gun to test out is a “gravshift cannon,” and it looks roughly like a heavy rocket launcher you’ve seen in one of those ancient pre-robotics relic games India likes to play. Heavy piping and two canisters along the outer side dictate handedness, though Ukumari hefts a similar model with the positioning reversed.

“Only two of these we’ve got,” she says with a grin. “I keep trying to get them to let me take them out to the field, but they won’t sign off on it. We call them Dexter and Sinister.”

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>>4047371
You presume you’re holding Dexter as you sight it and aim down scope, an old-style optical lens with a holographic overlay. It paints a 100 meter circle in green out on the gentle waves, locks the location in, and then tells you to remove your hand from the stock and toggle the thumb stud.

Your gun isn’t even aimed out to sea when a hammer of graviton force pistons the water down in an impossibly perfect cylinder, compressing the water out the bottom and flying up around it from all sides. It reminds you of watching the maverick airfleet sink into the Bosphorus in Turkey.

“I think I see why they’re hesitant to field this one,” you offer, as Arc sizes up and punches three neat holes in the ocean around yours. The tides rush in to reclaim the space an instant after, and you note the gun has warmed a few dozen degrees in your hands.

You have to admit, that’s pretty fucking cool, and a lot of fun besides. Ukumari knows how to pick them.

Looking over at her, you share a big smile. So far, so good, Captain Anode…

>Chat history. Ask about her model specs, talk about your own.
>Talk interests. What’s she into, what’s she up to?
>Talk tech. What does 15th look like from the inside?
>Other? (Write-ins welcome)

>>4047373
>Talk interests. What’s she into, what’s she up to?

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>>4046494
So, perhaps unsurprisingly, things have been less than great in HC-land, which is most of the delay. I traveled for work, had to travel again for work, and in the course of things my body crapped out on me a bit, which I'm still re-learning to deal with. I've elided around having a condition in the past, but TL;DR is that it's just doing what it do more and more as I age.

I've got some better tools to deal with it, but one of the most effective also happens to be a bit of a sticky wicket. I call it Space Drugs for short, and it's definitely an additional complication on the writing formula. Suffice to say when it comes to HC disruption, Player 3 has entered the game.

My job's also kind of gone aggressively downhill--without going into overmuch detail, I find out sometime between this month and next how bad things get. Odds are good I'm going to need to jump ship. It's not a disaster, I've got some funds banked and plenty of networking, it's mostly just the annoyance of waiting for the disruption to shake out.

Anyway, that's been life over here. Still alive, still super-fighting.

>Talk interests. What’s she into, what’s she up to?

>>4047373
>Talk interests. What’s she into, what’s she up to?

>>4047387
Big Oof man, hope things work out well for you

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>>4047373
>Talk interests. What's she into, what's she up to?

>>4047387
That's rough, buddy.

>>4047373
>Talk interests. What’s she into, what’s she up to?

>>4047387
Here's hoping things end up getting better for you, man.

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>>4047373
>Chat history. Ask about her model specs, talk about your own.

>>4047371
Because you're messing around with that thing X has to go out of his way to get the Triad Thunder before he can go fight Crush Crawfish

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>>4047373
>Talk interests. What’s she into, what’s she up to?

Surely she has interests beyond really impressive artillery.

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>>4047383
>>4047388
>>4047411
>>4047420
>>4047605
>>4047782
“So what do you do?” You ask. “Off-duty, I mean.”

Arc shrugs, setting down Sinister (now venting hazy purple vapor from a two-cylindered front chamber). “You’ll probably laugh. I’m relentlessly boring.”

“No judgment!” You insist. “Well, maybe a little judgment, if it’s funny.”

She chuckles. “I like math and puzzles.”

“Hah, really?”

“Really.” She gives the weapon one last glance with her optic and then gently presses the sight back into its housing with a smooth click. “They go kind of hand in hand. Lots of trig, mostly. Geometry mostly for fun.”

You nod. “Makes sense. Puzzles too?”

She looks over at you bashfully. “I think they’re cute.”

You laugh, despite yourself. She seems to shrink a bit into her armored collar, but she’s still smiling. “Sorry, sorry. But… cute?”

“It’s okay, I get that a lot. Puzzles… well, not for kids, but the ones kids get?” You nod. “Like that. Rubiks cubes--3x3, 4x4, 9x9s. The little metal links puzzles. A little cannon with a tiny cannonball pellet you have to get out. Oh--you remember that model buster that was huge last year?”

“The one you can disassemble and get a cross section? Yeah, I remember. We got one for one of my moms’ newborns.”

“Right, one of those. I’ve got mine blown up on a diorama stand, makes a nice bookend.”

“Cute,” you say honestly.

Arc doesn’t reply for a moment, busying herself priming the next weapon to use. “Try this one,” she finally manages.

The twin-forked Magnator rail system fires an invisible lance of paramagnetic energy--you can feel it, OPAL pings it, but nothing registers on optical. One of the feed cameras out on the range shows a lingering trail of wavering distortion.

“Good for anti-air barricades,” she explains, a bit more verve in her voice now that she’s talking shop. “Get a few of them in a cross and you’ve basically got a whole theatre tripwired.”

“Nice,” you say earnestly--a few more of those overhead would have helped you out on an op or two.

“Now,” she says, enthusiasm plain as she lifts a bulky rectangular contraction with a long tube from the back. “How about something with a bit more kick?”

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>>4047797
The Stheno-class missile lives up to its name, the recoil impressive even through your armor, concussing the everloving shit out of an unlucky platform out at the 500m marker. The explosion runs a clean 50 in every direction from it.

“Part of the Gorgon series,” Arc says. “So what about you? What are you about, Anode?”

“Who, me? Bad decisions and good movies.”

“Movies, huh? What kind?”

“Yes,” you reply. “Old stuff, new stuff, you name it. I keep trying to drag my unit into it, but they’re all heathens. Heathens, I say!”

She laughs lightly. “No offense, but I don’t know if I could shut my brain off long enough to get into one either.”

“Fool!” You shout. “You’re all fools!”

Her laugh gets harder. “Stop, stop--”

>FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLS! TREMBLE IN FUTILITY!
>Okay, okay, I’ll behave. If you catch one with me sometime.

>>4047801
>Okay, okay, I’ll behave. If you catch one with me sometime

>>4047801
Ukumari we get you're trying to tell Anode something but the date just started, you can wait to hand Anode all the big giant cannons you can find

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>>4047801
>FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLS! TREMBLE IN FUTILITY!

Tough call. She doesn't seem into passive activities, but we could probably name some edge-of-your-seat action films, BUT, being an active participant in the conversation seems better for Relationship Points.

>>4047801
>Okay, okay, I’ll behave. If you catch one with me sometime.

>>4047886
Perhaps instead of an action flick a puzzling murder mystery film would be more her speed

>>4047801
>Okay, okay, I’ll behave. If you catch one with me sometime.

>>4047950
What are some good movies about math?
Also note that we got that one logic brainchip last thread, which we may or may not want to wait to mention to Arc.

>>4047995

A Beautiful Mind might be good.

>Okay, okay, I’ll behave. If you catch one with me sometime.

>>4048012
I'm sorry
I meant to ask if there were good movies about math AND BEARS.

>>4048038
The Meme answer to that is one of the carebear movies
They have bears AND counting

>>4047801
>Okay, okay, I’ll behave. If you catch one with me sometime.

>>4047801
>Okay, okay, I’ll behave. If you catch one with me sometime.

Could always split the difference and see a current release. I'm sure that's to Anode's taste...

>>4047801
>Okay, okay, I’ll behave. If you catch one with me sometime.
Gotta go with a mystery or thriller (not that I really know of many). I saw The Game once and I thought it was pretty good, but I also don't really have a benchmark to measure against.

>>4047387
Damn dude, good luck. I hope things work out in your favor sooner rather than later.

>>4047801
>FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLS! TREMBLE IN FUTILITY!

She's laughing, so just be a goof, Anode. You know, default.

>>4047801
>FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLS! TREMBLE IN FUTILITY!
It's a bit early to be talking about a second date.

>>4047801
>Okay, okay, I’ll behave. If you catch one with me sometime.
We'll find something a bit on the cerebral side to watch, maybe? Also damn I slept through the start of the thread, but it's good to have you back.

>>4048419
We're trying to be better than Foxfire and/or India

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>>4047827
>>4047913
>>4047964
>>4048013
>>4048103
>>4048310
>>4048348
>>4048676
“All right, all right, I’ll be good,” you say, rather pleased with yourself. “One condition, though.”

She takes a steadying breath as she hands you another missile--’Power Overflow Waste debridement reducer.’ “Okay, shoot.”

“Help me find a movie you might like sometime?” You ask.

Ukumari smiles. “I think I can do that.”

She loads another POWdr shell into what looks like a stripped-down mortar tube, hoisting it comfortably with one arm. “Pick a number.”

You look out over the sea, lights now starting to wink on at the distant ballistic markers. “Two.”

“Two klicks, got it.” She taps a few buttons on a side console, and a small hatch in the distant panel opens, filling the air with a gaggle of mechaniloids. “On your go.”

The two of you sight and aim, hold, and then fire. The payloads detonate in the distance, one low, one high, and the ocean seems to freeze in a cloud of…

“Snow?”

“Snowfall, that’s what we call it. Look.” She indicates the overhead screen, focusing on the 2km pad. A Scriver and a Jamminger labor under a grey-white blizzard, moving sluggishly. The Jamminger droops low as it labors to stay airborne, sinking down to rest in an inch-deep blanket of the stuff.

“No damage,” you note.

“It’s no fun to slog through, but no. Good for larger engagements, and harmless to humans.”

“Nice.”

“Not as nice as this,” Arc replies. “I’ve got one more for you. It’s my favorite.”

Ukumari hands you a rifle that reminds you a little of Cathode’s ray barrels. The power pack is half the body of the thing--a bit bulky and cumbersome, definitely not something you’d use frontline.

“Flak’s gonna be so jealous,” you declare, examining the gleaming chrome.

“This is the Stellarizer Fragmentation Pulse Weapon.” She says grandly. “Two stage cycle. First hit primes…”

She gestures at the screen again, and you take the cue to aim. The targeter is a newer holographic indicator, reading a laundry list of details in the top left corner including distance, occlusion, and atmospheric humidity. OPAL reads a designator laser reading out downrange even as it paints a hazy picture of the camera feed from eye level--the Jamminger is slowly rising back up, propeller whirling the POWdr charge in a ring around it. It serves as a perfect target as you pull the trigger.

>CHARGE ACTIVE
>PAINTING TARGET
>READY

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>>4049194
Two seconds later, the trigger loosens under your finger, and you squeeze it to second stage.

A whoomph of recoil with a crackling whine course through the bay as a purple-white sphere streaks downrange, glittering down to a pixel in the distance before blooming into a globe. The backpressure wave blows the POWdr out in all directions, along with the remains of two very, very dead mechaniloids.

You whistle. “Niiiice.”

“Right?” Arc says excitedly. “A little hard to set up, but with a good position and forward cover--”

Her enthusiasm is blunted rather harshly by a screaming jet intake overhead. Over the dome, a Reploid streaks out, as range techs frantically call warnings.

“[Cease fire”

“Friendlies on range, friendlies on range--”

“Ukumari,” interrupts a voice on comms--all channels.

The bear scowls. “Euler.”

“Enough wasting ordnance. Even 15th knows how they work by now. Out.”

“Ugh.” Arc groans.
“You’ve got one too, huh?” You ask.

“Oh jeez, who’d you get stuck with?”

“Rezador.”

She sucks air between her angular teeth. “Ouch.”

>Have a bitch-fest about Los Mortales. What’s the owl like?
>Bah, forget them, we were done anyway. What now?
>Other?

>Bah, forget them, we were done anyway. What now?

>>4049196
>Bah, forget them, we were done anyway. What now?

>>4049196
>Bah, forget them, we were done anyway. What now?

>>4049196
>Bah, forget them, we were done anyway. What now?
As much as I'd like to know about the owl, we don't need that kind of negativity right now.

>>4049196
>Bah, forget them, we were done anyway. What now?

Let's save the bitching for when there's a nice set of barstools to relax on.

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THERE'S LIFE! LIIIIIIIIFE!

>>4049385
Which one is Anode? .... and India?

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>>4049208
>>4049233
>>4049327
>>4049334
“To hell with the both of them,” you say. “We’ve had our fun.”

“Yeah,” Arc agrees. “Though I still owe you that drink, Captain.”

“Sounds good to me. Let’s load a few more rounds.”

Almost every base you’ve been to has had its own officer’s club, and Arkhangelsk is no exception. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it continues the theme, with a holographic sign bearing a chalice cup, bearing the numbers 414 beneath a snake’s head hanging down from the rim.

The motif is equal parts seraphic and bombastic--sleek modern lines with clean lines and muted colors, and blue-white lightbars along every surface at the top and floor. Angel wings atop tilted halos mark the walls around old-style newspaper poster frames. The floor tiles are backlit with more crisscrossing neon-blue lines, forming a grid--and each table, you note, aligns to an X-Y. An upper level adds a Z-axis, overlooking a central bar from behind a frosted glass railing. The bar is built into an island with only a single back wall, filled with attractively-underlit bottles of glittering liquors. Seats evenly dot the remaining sides.

“Three bars,” Arc explains. “A little nod to the Russian church. Hey, Ivan! Two at my coords!”

A rare Muzzle Crash without his cannon arm nods from behind the counter as Ukumari leads you to her usual table. You pass one of the newspaper posters--a demake of a conventional headline screed--reads DIREWOLF REPELLED, HQ9 CONSTRUCTION RESUMES. More modern news runs on the overhead TVs as you sit down opposite your date.

>...INJURED IN BATTLE WITH SHIVA. HUNTER COMMANDER REPORTED ‘IN GOOD NICK’ BY PERSONAL TECHNICIA…

“Huh, Halcyon was out?” You ask.

She twists around to look behind, moving her claw to reveal coordinates 4, 2 on the tabletop. “Ah. Yeah, looks like it.”

“Wonder how that went.”

“Probably pretty well,” she guesses. “He’s--yeah, there’s the photo op.” Halcyon’s face beams at you with positivity despite chassis damage, a less dinged, less dour recollection of Rhodes’s somber presence at the Geneva memorial.

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>>4049592
A few groups followed you in, but it looks like the bar is only just starting to fill up, so you don’t have long to wait. Ivan rolls up to your table with a small tray and two smoked glass cups and what looks like a stainless steel sake decanter.

“Huh, not what I was expecting,” you admit.

“Look again,” Arc says, gently tipping the mouth of the bottle your way.

You lean in to get a look at silvery-black liquid inside. “Nanites?”

“Neat.”

You whistle. “Damn, 15th knows how to party.”

“It’s my usual,” she explains. “No hardware to actually taste it.”

“Aw,” you say--er. “I mean, uh--not that…”

She smiles at your dopey floundering. “No worries. Peruvian combat builds are pretty no-frills.”

Phew. You catch Ivan’s eye and nod appreciatively as Ukumari pours up your shots. Perching hers delicately between her massive claws, she raises it out over the table.

>Toast?

>>4049598
Hmmmmmmmmmmm
Part of me wants to go with, "Cheers to Frags, shags and movie nights"
But that seems Hilariously awful
Soooo
>To success in spite of awful overseers
God I'm rusty at this

>>4049598
> To a world where we have to find new jobs

>>4049598
>To Danger Close and Awful Friends

>>4049598
> Absent Friends.

A bit sombre for the mood, but important to pay respects.

>>4049598
>To keeping your friends close, and your enemies closer in the form of upgrades.

>>4049598
>>4049992
This.

>>4049598
So this is why she asked out Anode. She has no sense of taste.

>>4049598
>To Danger Close and Awful Friends

I like >>4050047, but I think it's a bit wordy.

>>4050066
You thought there could be any other reason?

>>4050100
My thought was that Anode smelled like honey and Arc wanted to bite his head off but you've confirmed that's not the case

>>4049992
Seconding

>>4049598
>To the things that spark joy.

Switching my vote from >>4050047 to >>4050286, the first submit didn't sit well after thinking about it.

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Back to the old salt mine tomorrow, so no further posts tonight.

Glad to be back, though, damn. Not having the story going has weighed on me the whole time since I stopped.

How's everyone finding it again so far?

>>4050434
Fun as usual.

Hard to believe Thursday is the 8 year anniversary of the first thread and Anode's creation.

>>4050434
Missed having you around man, it's always a highlight of my day when you post an update
Missed Partaking in Anode's life, the highs and bottom of the barrel lows, the abject soul crushing near death experiences
Good times
But I understand life is a bitch and gets in the way, Just glad to have you back even if it's for a weekend

>>4049598
>>4050286
This.

>>4050434
Glad to see you back. Having fun in the thread.

>>4049598
>To Danger Close and Awful Friends

>>4049598

>>4050286 is clever, go with it.

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>>4050434
I missed this quest so much you don't even know. There was a Maverick Hunter Quest shaped hole in my heart that I had to fill my occasionally seeing if Cain had added anything to the wiki.

But yeah, I'm really, really enjoying it. I think it was fortuitous that when we picked back up it was in downtime so we could ease back in.

>>4050286
This one.

>>4050434
New thread is good. Better to see you around.

>>4049598
Im fine with either of >>4049970
And >>4050286

What would Anodes peace job be? Emergency power reserve by night, traveling birthday clown by day?

>>4051231
Motivational speaker.

>>4051231
>Peace
*Laughs in Elf War*

What is a ringfoil and how does it work?

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>>4051231
Therapist.

>>4051677
Flares Firefly's bag, right?

A ringfoil is basically a ring-shaped plasma conduit mounted out at the ends of her arms. Her flare canister shots are accelerated through the center when shot, mag-rail style, and ignited. They also double as a melee reinforcement that add additional damage and force to her strikes.

As for update tonight, stand by, just got home and need to take care of the trash.

>>4051870
Oh how I missed this. And honestly, joke or not, Therapist makes sense for Anode. By the time peace comes, he'd have faced every form of mental trauma and survive it if he makes it that far.

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>>4050286
>>4050288
>>4050551
>>4050678
>>4050860
>>4051231
You grin, and clink your cup to hers. “To the things that spark joy.”

She blinks, then hoots as you down your shots. “That was pretty bad, even for you.”

“Hey now,” you return, throat burning a little. “You haven’t seen how bad I can get. Plenty of time for that later.”

Arc pours another round. “I’m dreading it.”

You take this one a little more slowly, though Arc knocks it back fast. She’s probably twice your mass, of course, so she can probably pack it away.

Probably not the sort of thing to dwell on, your shiny new logic chip informs you. Or maybe that’s your common sense. Or the nanites.

Nah, it’s the nanites. New topic!

“So I like the decor. The newspapers were a nice touch.”

She nods. “For one of the newest bases, Archangel’s got a lot of history.”


“Yeah? Give me the rundown.”

“Sigma attacked this place personally,” Ukumari says. “Almost the last time anyone saw him alive. The popular theory is that he was disabling defenses as cover for maverick shipments going to the North Pole.”

You nod--the infamous Point 00 base they’re still studying today.

“Before that, Ice Direwolf tried to destroy the place while it was still under construction. Some kind of climate control weapon mounted on a train.”

You crane back to look at that poster you passed. “They do love their superweapons, don’t they?”

“I mean, we’re the ones with the Ottawa Protocol,” Arc points out. “And Measure 81, and all that stuff.”

“Does 15th do that?” You ask. “Ottawa, I mean.”

“Only a handful of times, fortunately. It’s really just a perimeter. The only difference is…” Arc trails off.

“Boom,” you finish. Arc nods.

“I’ve never been part of one, but I’ve done the after-action reports. I’m hoping it stays that way.”

She could use a diversion. “So… what happened to the train weapon?”

She sets her cup down, a little wobbly. “Straight to R&D. We have a little model of it in Commander Snowlight’s office.”

>Talk about work. Shots make kvetching festive!
>Talk about friends. You’ve got your gang of maniacs, what about hers?
>Get silly. Drinking games?
>Other?

>>4052321
>Talk about friends. You’ve got your gang of maniacs, what about hers?

>>4052321
>Talk about friends. You’ve got your gang of maniacs, what about hers?

>>4052321
>Talk about friends. You’ve got your gang of maniacs, what about hers?

>>4052321
>Talk about friends.

Particularly the ones teasing her.

>>4052321
>Talk about friends. You’ve got your gang of maniacs, what about hers?

>>4052321
>>Talk about friends. You’ve got your gang of maniacs, what about hers?

The Usual Gang Of Idiots...

>>4052856
Everybody's got one. Mine plays boardgames. Come to think of it, I've got two!

>>4052321
>Get silly. Drinking games?

>>4052321
>Talk about friends. You’ve got your gang of maniacs, what about hers?

Oh hey this is back, great! I've had to hiatus MQ because I'm teaching students but assuming I don't get assigned to teach shit over summer break I'll have time then :)

Anyway

>>Talk about friends. You’ve got your gang of maniacs, what about hers?

Just so we have more named characters for CL to horribly kill off.

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>>4052330
>>4052352
>>4052397
>>4052806
>>4052856
>>4053940
>>4054102
“So I know I have a gang of lunatics, but what about yours?” You ask.

Arc groans, but with a smile. “Oh, boy, here we go.”

You tilt the decanter her way, and top her up when she nods. “Who was that on your call? Rain?”

“Raine, Dresden Raine,” she says. “Veteran since just after the Rebellion, scorched-earth expert, lunatic, complete and utter jackanape... and my oldest friend.”

“Sounds like Em and Indy--well, as ‘old’ as I am,” you append.

She fishes out her data tablet and pulls up a photo--her and two Reploids, one a Muzzle Crash with a strange skeletal prosthesis in place of his cannon arm, and the physical expression of India’s rampant air weebery. Arc, the largest of the three, sits in back with a massive claw hanging over one’s arm.

“You on the left?” You ask. She snorts.

“No, that’s Dull. The dork with the bomber jacket and the shoulder pads is Raine.” She taps him, and as her meaty claw covers his eyes, you can practically see the aviators blossom atop his wide, cheesy grin. “I think there’s a debrief out there on the record somewhere, where I told him that he looks like a Hell’s Angel ate a 20th-century airman, and he smelled like Nascar.”

You burst out giggling at that--Arc seems pretty tidy ‘on the clock,’ so he must be a tough customer. “Really? How’d that go?”

“He told me he didn’t know what Nascar was. I swear, American and he doesn’t even know his own history…”

“My sister once asked if we could visit the Gettysburg Address,” you tell her solemnly. She loses it.

“Okay, but--” you interject, and her laughter redoubles. “Okay, but--seriously, what was ‘bent fin?’”

“Here we go,” Ukumari repeats, covering her face with her claw.

“Come on, come on, out with it,” you grin, feeling bubbly from the nanites.

She downs her shot and lets her head droop to brace herself. “Okay, okay. So… ‘bent fin’ is a bit of unit jargon. Bent fin, broken wire, ordnance off target, a couple other variants. Basically it means a friendly is about to beat the stuffing out of you.”

You nod. “Back home, whenever something goes wrong, we say ‘welcome to the Fourth.’”

“I like that.”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah.”

You both pause, catch your breath, and top up. Sensing the storm has passed, Arc sighs and raises her glass again.

“So was he right about the frag-and-shag?” You ask sweetly. Arc chokes.

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>>4054381
“That was mean,” she sputters. You bat your eyelashes, and she groans. “I have to keep you and Raine from meeting, ever.”

“Better to make sure he never meets up with Em,” you counter. “Picture the very notion of impulse control, and then picture literally anything else.”

“Uh-oh.”

“Just the worst. Well, when we hang out. We’re full of bad ideas.”

She giggles. You continue to feel not-at-all-indistinct pangs of pride each time you get her to crack up.

This is going pretty well. Maybe you should push things a little further?

>Ukumari seems receptive, but slightly nervous. Cautious advances, if any, might be appreciated.

You blink--your Jardine logic whatsit just chimed in with that, like an intrusive thought, but distinctly constructive.

>Steady as she goes. It’s only the first date.
>Broach more intimate topics, but keep it at that.
>Other?

>>4054384
>>Steady as she goes. It’s only the first date.
Oh god the Logic chip is going to end up being a built in straightman isn't it
Just what Anode needs, a little voice constantly being analytical and unreceptive to all his jokes...

>>4054384
>Steady as she goes. It’s only the first date.

>>4054384
>Steady as she goes. It’s only the first date.

>>4054384
>Steady as she goes. It’s only the first date.

>>4054384
>Steady as she goes. It’s only the first date.

>>4054418
I thought that was our job?

>>4054418
Shh. Jardine has no luck with women. Wing it.

>>4054384
>Broach more intimate topics, but keep it at that.
Global Rule 3's been amended since last thread, let's roll out.

>>4054622
I don't have any idea why, don't the ladies love printed circuits and advanced situational evaluation?

>>4054384
>>Steady as she goes. It’s only the first date.

Okay, OBVIOUSLY the Sardine is being hacked by foxfire.

Probably one of those things where the advice starts off good and then just gets catastrophically bad at a crucial, hilarious movement. The question is how long we listen to her dating advice before the trap hits.

>>4054786
>Sardine
I choose to believe this means Skipjack got to it first. That sneaky infectious little Mav.
I bet that's why Tanker went nuts! Bad, bad sushi.

>>4054384
>Broach more intimate topics, but keep it at that.

No danger-close, but get her range.

>>4054384
I think we can push a tiny bit.
>Broach more intimate topics, but keep it at that.

Worse comes to worse we can back off. it IS the first date after all.

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>>4054418
>>4054486
>>4054499
>>4054503
>>4054585
>>4054751
Perhaps a little overcautious, but you don’t feel all that rushed. Or all that much like rushing into things. This is fine. This is nice, even--a hangout with someone outside the usual, with the prospect of more. And maybe more after that!

… You’re getting fairly confident they tuned this thing for optimism.

“Okay, back a step,” you say. “We’ve been on a deployment together, that’s a start.”

“True,” she nods. “That’s what brings us here, after all.”

“Right. So, there’s something--what exactly did you fry me with?”

“Arc Astrolabe,” she says, looking a bit chagrined. “High-phase ionic sphere that rapidly shifts into plasma blooms at extension.”

“Ah, so not a lot of zap in there. That makes sense.”

“Oh, there’s plenty of zap, but it’s an afterthought. What about you?”

True, she showed you yours--bad internal narration, bad. “Conduit Capacitor. Basically just a big battery I can dump into a few systems or output into a big electric attack.”

“Huh--Japanese part?”

“American. With French LIFE model,” you add. “Why Japan?”

“Most electrical systems I don’t recognize come from over there,” she explains.

You nod. “Right--Middle America’s where most of the big electric work comes from, right?”

“Mostly Mexico and Brazil,” she says, “but there’s enough regional experts that small labs can do well for themselves.”

“Like yours?”

She shakes her head. “Nah, I was a Peruvian contract with Lanix. They do lots of the high-end stuff. Armored Armadillo comes to mind.”

You know that name. One of X’s earliest hunts. “Wait, he was electric?”

She takes another sip--she’s slowed down, but so has her speech. You’re probably not exactly speaking the King’s English right now yourself. “No, but his systems were. His armor was polarized against conventional plasma, repelled almost anything. Though it had a bit of a backfire when hit with a strong enough current, though.”

“A bit?”

“It repels just fine, but… well, the armor’s polarized, the frame beneath it is not. Total expulsion of the entire outer layer as you get snap-demagnitized.”

“Ah. That would explain why it hasn’t been picked up as a new standard.”

She giggles. “That it would.”

You finish your drinks, and Arc makes a low pouty noise when she tilts the decanter, finding it empty. You’re good and loose, but you’re not sloshed just yet. Might be time to move on… unless getting sloshed is on the agenda.

>You’ve got the second round. Reload!
>Ask her if she’d be interested in a movie.
>Other?

>Broach more intimate topics, but keep it at that.
If it goes terribly, then we can at least know that we need to tune the Jardine... Though I feel like "I got brain surgery before our date" will make for a somewhat lame excuse.

>>4056125
Whoop, got in a bit late.

>You've got the second round. Reload!

>>4056125
>You've got the second round. Reload!

Nothing can go wrong.

>I'd like to totally expel YOUR entire outer layer, IYKWIM

>>4056125
>You’ve got the second round. Reload!
Ahem, since we are getting a second round, it's obviously time to challenge the lightning bear to drunk arm wrestling
What could possibly go wrong
If nothing else it's a terrible excuse to hold hands

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>>4056125
>You’ve got the second round. Reload!

Boldness!

>>4056125
>>You’ve got the second round. Reload!

>>4056259
Oh my god, this.

You'd have to be drunk enough for it to work, but then you use the shriver a bit in order to make it not over in like three seconds (giggity), and if you hopefully don't break the table and embarass the both of you, drop the hand line.

then pray that india and the fox aren't somehow in earshot

>>4056478
>then pray that india and the fox aren't somehow in earshot

They never need to actually be within earshot
One of them has obviously installed a wiretap in Anode. They've had umpteen chances with how frequently Anode has been down for repairs that require his exterior plating to be removed

>>4056259
>>4056478
I don't think we can engage our Conduit Capacitor systems now without unloading electrical discharge, now. Could be harmful to bystanders and the bar itself.

>>4056655
Ah, lame. Yeah, even if the lightshow isn't immediately harmful to our surroundings, (It might not be, that'd be a hell of a gamechanger on missions, worth asking about later possibly?) an obvious display like that would probably get us thrown right the hell out of that bar.

Guess if drunken arm wrestling occurs, we have to hope she's having enough fun not to just flip us on our ass.

>>4056655
I hadn't thought about using the MassShriver
Just drunk Battery in Bear handholding action
Although now that Anode's lightshow disability has been mentioned, after operation get drunk has finished its bar stage, we need to go show her Anode's oneman Discotech performance

>>4056765
Are our hands even big enough to hold Ukumari's properly?
And anyway, if we're going to do something so brazen we should seclude ourselves, so that our reputations can stay intact:

>Ask her if she’d be interested in a movie.

>>4056784
I'm sure we can drunkenly wander off far enough into the polar wastes as to not cause all the locals to think the aliens are invading

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Probably no update tonight, work shenanigans shuffled my schedule around today and tomorrow, and I think CL has one of those alleged social lives still.

>>4057789
fug

>>4057789

Social life? I don’t think those exist.

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>>4058154
> Social life? I don’t think those exist.

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Stay calm, there's NO way you can be socially awkward in an arm wrestle...

>>4058880
We are the one who always comes back. We are the last man standing.

We will find a way

Pooossibly no post again tonight folks, just got home from a team outing, and I've got to be up early for some work stuff tomorrow.

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>>4056134
>>4056238
>>4056259
>>4056394
>>4056424
“This was nice. This is nice,” Arc says, after a moment.

“We’re not done yet,” you reply with a grin, flicking your datapad between two fingers. “If you’re good for more?”

She beams. “Fire at will..”

You have to laugh when your second round isn’t delivered on a platter, but by artillery strike. Over your table, a tinny little jingle and whistle-kaboom notifies you before another bottle parachutes down, alighting gently on the table right atop a holographic bullseye, accompanied by a slot machine ding ding ding! and a tiny ’yaaaaay!’ as the shots land on target.

“I’m so glad he actually put that in,” Arc heartfeltly declares.

Even the bottle is vaguely reminiscent of a mortar shell crossed with a tokkuri, and this time you pour up for the two of you. You slide her drink over and meet her claw with your hand, looking up into her eyes and sharing another grin.

“Moving a bit too fast, sorry,” you joke. “I’ll behave.”

“See that you do, Captain,” She retorts with mock-sternness. “You wouldn’t want an ex in the 15th.”

You snort as you raise your drink. “I’ll try to keep that in mind.”

“So what’s it like?” Arc asks.

“Hm?”

“The nanites,” she replies, tapping the rim of her cup. “What do they taste like?”

You frown, trying to piece it together. “A little oily… kind of astringent. Coats the tongue, then dries out and feels kinda sooty for a moment.”

She mulls that over. “I’m not sure that I know anything I could use for comparison, but it sounds interesting.”

“Curious?” You ask.

“A bit,” She admits, examining her cup under the light. “But I always told myself, if I go in and get a gustatory package, I’d force myself to like the taste, whatever it was.”

“Takes a bit of getting used to. I usually take mine with beer. … Usually,” you add.

The conversation’s become warm and mellow, the edge of new territory taken off and the two of you just good and comfortable. Neither of you seem to be in any hurry to push it, which is weirdly freeing in its own way. Em’s advice always sounds better after a few drinks, and that ‘just be yourself’ thing is making all kinds of sense right now.

You have most of a bottle of nanites and a good strong buzz going. You suspect one will be consumed to bolster the other, but the method of payload delivery is up to you.

>Find new topics (write-in)
>Drinking game (write-in)
>Bar game (write-in)
>Head out and find something else to do (write-in)

>>4060495
Agh, I can't really think of anything big.

...Darts? Do they have a dart board?

>Bar game: Darts

>>4060495
Feel like most drinking games and bar games are better with more people. We could play "Never Have I Ever" and hope she doesn't say "Never have I ever killed a human" and kill the buzz.

Finding new topics to talk about, I think, would be the most productive. Not being a Datemaster myself, I'd venture to guess the first date is mostly for learning more about each other.

Posting again. Maybe she'd be game for beer pong? Her motor control seems pretty good even though she's got big claws, and as artillery it feels like it'd be in her wheelhouse.

>>4060495
I'll support >>4060879
>Bar Game: Darts
Maybe add a wager or something, winner of each round gets to ask the loser a must answer question?

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>>4060883
Supporting Never-have-I-ever type drinking games.

Darts doesn't sound very fun when your opponent is designed to play lethal darts from over the horizon.

>>4061238
Maybe Two Truths, One Lie?

>>4060495
>Bar game (write-in)
I vote for Jenga. If that seems unfeasible, Quarters or Chandelier (although we're probably gonna lose those, but it's about having fun instead of winning).
Never Have I Ever or >>4061250 seem a bit too personal for a first date, but maybe not?

>>4060879
I support darts because this sounds like it'd become a game of extreme distance darts. I want to see how that shit works.

>>4060495
>>4060883
I like the idea of never-have-I-ever. It feels authentic to Anode's brand of goofiness.

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Hi guys! Not dead, just medicated.

And dead.

>>4060879
>>4060883
>>4061111
>>4061238
>>4061615
>>4061763
“How do you feel about a round of something? A game, I mean.”

She nods. “Could be fun! Neither of us are exactly in tip-top shape.”

You grin. “Exactly. What’ve you got?”

“All the pool tables will be full by now, Quarters is a bit tough for me, darts…”

“Darts?” You ask, lighting up. It’s got to be something special in a Reploid officer bar. For artillerymen, no less.

It is not, as it turns out.

“This is fine,” Arc declares unsteadily, carefully steadying a regular-ass throwing dart on the tips of her massive claw. After a few lopsided attempts and resecuring the fins each time they fall off, she realizes she has a perfectly average other hand, and swaps it over.

“Shall we make it interesting?” You ask. “Put some stakes on the event?”

She glances over at you, piqued. “I’m listening…”

“Never-Have-I-Ever. Highest-scoring toss goes.”

Ukumari beams. “Deal.”

While the both of you are expert shooters, neither of you was exactly designed around throwing these little fuckers. Arc graciously motions for you to take the first throw as she steps aside and fills the cups. The bullseye wavers the opposite way your hand goes, each time you go to aim.

Steady… steady…

YEET!

The dart thunks hard into the wedge at a whopping six. “Shit.”

She giggles. “My turn.”

Arc is slow and careful, trying to line up the dart with her higher eye level, wrist cocked back and fingers perched. Finally, after a steadying moment, she throws.

15. Damn.

“Okay! So, let me see…” Arc taps her chin. “Never have I everrrr… been kicked out of a bar.”

“Gah!” She laughs at your frustration as you pick up your drink and down it. “Next time. Go again?”

She does. 13.

“You’re good at this,” you say.

“I was aiming for the middle,” she admits, stepping aside to let you past.

6, 15, and 13. You’re both listing a bit rightward on the board, so you take a small step to readjust.

9. “Too far over,” you grouse. She claps against the back of one of her claws.

“Okay, never have I ever disobeyed a superior officer.”

“Haha! I’m clean!”

“That was an easy one,” she replies. “You throw.”

10. Back over to the right again, but at least there’s a small chance she might cock it up.

She doesn’t. “16!”

“Fuuuuuuuck,” you opine, already throwing your drink back.

“I haven’t even asked yet!” Ukumari protests.

“Oop, right.”

“Never have I ever… been to cyberspace.”

“Does that last drink count for that one?” You ask hopefully.

“Nope.”

Damn. 0-3 to the bear.

A bit frustrated, you step forward quickly, throw, and...

20. “Holy crap!” You exclaim.

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>>4063974
“Nice!” Arc says earnestly.

Her win streak finally breaks with a big fat 4, and you grin through the muzzy brain fog. “Okay, okay, finally. Never have I ever… never have I ever run the Sigma sim.”

You gape as she lifts her cup and downs it. “What?” She asks, giggling a bit at your stare.

“You? Really?”

“Raine wouldn’t leave me alone until I did it,” she replies. “Your throw again.”

You throw a 19 to her 12. Hell yeah, bring it around, Anode! “Never have I ever been to Japan.”

You pump a fist as she drinks again, then allow her to go next.

Arc has never been Lifesavered, blown herself up with her own weapon (really?), or had a limb replaced. You, on the other hand, are wasted.

“I think,” you admit blearily, “I think you won that one.”

She giggles again, a bubbly drunk. “Your aim was getting better the more shots you took, did you notice?”

“This,” you declare, “this isn’t even my final form.”

...Then again, maybe it should be. You’re definitely not good for another bottle without getting a cold system flush, and you’d rather not make a complete ass of yourself on your first date besides. You could break things off here, or see if she’s up for a movie… though you wonder whether a cerebral film in your drunken condition is going to do any good.

>Pack it up, pack it in. Save it for next time.
>Bahhh. Invite her to a movie.
>Other?

>>4063980
>>Pack it up, pack it in. Save it for next time.

>>4063980
>>Pack it up, pack it in. Save it for next time.
It is interesting to know that being Less sober somehow improves our shots. Maybe its a instinct thing? Stop thinking about the lil things and all of the issues that cause.
Still, ya did good Anode. Ya had a good date and weren't a mess. This can go in the good times book.

>>4063980
>>Pack it up, pack it in. Save it for next time.
Anode a better date than 90% of us

>>4063980
>Pack it up, pack it in. Save it for next time.
It's been a good night so far. Don't fly too close to the sun, Icarus.

>>4063980
>Pack it up, pack it in. Save it for next time.

>>4063980

>Pack it up, pack it in. Save it for next time
Every once in a while it's nice to go home from a mission and not be in need of immediate medical attention

>>4063980
>Bahhh. Invite her to a movie.
In your condition, maybe let her choose?

>>4063980
>Pack it up, pack it in. Save it for next time.

I'd say that's been enough for one date. Gotta save something for next time!

>>4063980
>Pack it up, pack it in. Save it for next time.

Quit while we're ahead on this one. She'll have plenty of time to realize we're a disaster later.

>>4064429
>She'll have plenty of time to realize we're a disaster later.
Or at least however long it takes for her to witness Em and Anode's MechaShiva maneuver

>>4063980
>Pack it up, pack it in.

LET ME BEGIN
I CAME TO WIN
BATTLE ME? THAT'S A SIN

>>4064279
Actually yeah, this. Let her decide if we're done or not.

>>4063980
>>4064731
Not a bad idea, though if she says ok with the movie we should pick something fun.
On a future note, next time we get sloshed with em, we need to show him Kung Pow. If we haven't already.

>>4064731
>>4064765
I meant let Arc pick the movie, but yeah.

Fourthing lady’s choice

>>4063980
>Bahhh. Invite her to a movie.
Something stupid to laugh at together.

>>4065203
Great time to tell about the 'they hacked my eyes!' mission.

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>>4064007
>>4064042
>>4064073
>>4064082
>>4064158
>>4064160
>>4064411
>>4064429
Right. Okay. This is going well, time to quit while you’re ahead.

“Okay, it might be my final form,” you confess, reeling a bit. “Though that offer to see a movie stands. Anytime, anywhere.”

She giggles, and you have to admit, it sounds pretty sweet. “Maybe next time. I certainly hope there will be a next time.”

You nod. “I’m game if you are, for sure.”

Arc grins toothily. “It’s a date.”

Taking ‘maybe next time’ to heart, you opt to go for the hug instead of attempting a kiss--this wasn’t exactly an explosive romance, but you feel better in a way that’s hard to really pin down. It was all stuff you could’ve done any day in Geneva, but it could be you really just needed a hangout without anything clattering around your head. Craning up a bit to get your arms around her, you give her shoulders a big squeeze and step-stumble back.

“I’ll walk you to the pad,” she says. “...Maybe punch the coords for you, too.”

“Good call.”

Your warm fuzzies last through the walk back to the beamout room, through waiting to step in and lock back in Geneva, last as you toss one last dopey grin and a wave, last as Archangel Base flickers out and evaporates as Arc Ukumari sends you on your way.

It curls up and dies a shrieking death the very moment you set foot back in Overland, and slam facefirst into the brick wall that is your asshole friends.

“YOU,” India snarls, leaping onto your shoulders, boots closing around your neck as she twists, hurling you facefirst into the floor. “Tell me about your zoophilic ways!”

“Hullo, India,” you say to the ground. Apparently they’ve been drinking over here, too.

“Ditching us like that was a pretty smart move, Wubsy,” Foxfire says from somewhere to your left--you crane your head up to see her leg dangling from atop a comms console. Each is accompanied by the back and forth sweep of her tail. Each flick punches another set of buttons.

“FOR THE LOVE OF--” a voice interjects abruptly, some random Steel Beret beamed into the room by the hacker’s errant swishing.

Swish, and he vanishes in a beam of light.

Swash.

“--MEBODY HELP ME!”

Swish.

”CALL A LIFESAVERRRR--

“So?” India pulls you up and shakes you like a terrier. “Did you sweep her off her feet? Take her to pound town? Saddle up and mount the bologna pony?”

“India.”

“DID YOU SNORKEL HER PU--”

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>>4066807
You stand up, flipping her off you and back onto her ass. “Why are you like this? Why can’t you just be normal?”

She looks up at you, blinking quizzically. “I don’t understand.”

“Other people are normal.”

“Other people being bears?” Foxfire asks sweetly.

“Yes, actually. She was nice. Like actual decent living being nice, not whatever this clownshow is.”

“Yeah, you’ve lost me,” Foxfire agrees. India nods solemnly.

“So what, did you give her yon courtly love before you slipped her the third rail?” India asks.

“Do you just contextualize everything as dick jokes? Because we have someone for that,” you reply. Shit, speaking of--

“Em?” You comm.

“I’m here,” he returns.

“What happened to running interference on these jokers?”

“Yeah, sorry,” he replies, sounding genuinely apologetic. “I was gonna, but I realized you probably don’t want me threatening to actually hurt them, and they realized that’s pretty much all I got.”

“...Yeah, that tracks. Thanks for trying.”

“I’ll get you back sometime. Out.”

“So? Sooo? After-action report. For your--”

“Don’t say it.”

“Grizzly encounter.” You groan. Foxfire flashes a thumbs-up.

“I can see it now,” she says, arm thrown out wide in wonder. “She’s sitting there at the coffee shop, fifteen minutes early, tender heart aflutter with love. And he just saunters up, hooks an elbow on the table, and goes ‘hey baby, what’s ursine?’”

“Em, use of force is back on the table.”

He chuckles. “Copy. I’ll get the hot plate of learning.”

“I’m waiting for an answer,” India declares.

“Yeah, keep waiting.”

“Oho, a gentleman does not kiss and tell, is it? Did she… bear all?” She asks, voice in scandal.

She’s not gonna let go of prying details out of you, is she.

>India, I will stab you.
>Okay, fine, if it’ll get you off my case.
>Other?

>other Redirect. She loves talking, ask her how here date with Foxy Woxy went, and what base she got to. ... maybe a return salvo of baseball and/or fox puns.

>>4066808
Supporting this >>4066816

>>4066808

>>4066816
I'll thrid this

>>4066808
>>4066816
Support. Fight (fox)fire with fire.

>>4066808
>other Redirect. She loves talking, ask her how here date with Foxy Woxy went, and what base she got to. ... maybe a return salvo of baseball and/or fox puns.
>...Okay, fine, if it’ll get you off my case.

That Redirect option is perfectly hilarious, but I'd definitely want to say it went well.

>>4066816
>India, I will stab you.
>With snark.

>>4066808
>>4066816
All aboard the tables turning

>>4066808

>>4066816
Going with this

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>>4066816
Counter with bear puns of our own first, we gotta leave fox puns as a fallback.

>>4066807
>It was all stuff you could’ve done any day in Geneva
>shot giant cannons at targets multiple kilometers away then got chased off by one of Los Mortales

>>4066816
No one knows who started the snark wars, but the casualties are still being tallied to this day.

>>4066808
this >>4066816
the real vote is for type of puns. I choose geography:

"India, I will Calcutta you."
"Goa away, Foxfire."
"What happened on the date is between the Bihar and myself"
"I don't ask if you've popped your Puducherry."

>>4066808
>It went well. She's cute. The bar launched our drinks like mortar shells.

There's not really a whole lot to tell, is there? It was a solid first date. Nothing untoward or heated really happened.

>>4066808
>>4067179
>>4066816
Can we get both of these?

>>4066808
>>Other?

> I got a second date, and you're not invited. That's all you need to know.

>>4067609
India's a Brit.

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Bear with me, bad day of news at work, though not wholly unsurprising. Hoping to get an update out tonight but can't guarantee.

On the other hand, I CAN say that we're going to try something new and weird and interesting for thread 100.

>>4070088
>I CAN say that we're going to try something new and weird and interesting for thread 100.
Anode stays Sober for an entire Thread?

>>4070097
He said new and weird, not strange and barbaric

>>4070088
Are we going to play as Cathode's boyfriend?

>>4070088

Someone’s going to therapy?

>>4069324
I know. I just liked "Calcutta you" and this might actually make her angrier

>>4070088
We play as Raine and have to listen to Arc complaining about her terrible date

>>4070088
Oh gods, it will be a mission where nothing goes wrong and we are all pleasantly surprised!

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>>4070088
We're playing a Maverick this time?

>>4070769
I mean you've already literally played Maverick, at least briefly.

Who knows, maybe I'll take over and then all the things can be Mavericks. Wouldn't that be the best?

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>>4071168

>>4071168
I'd actually love to play as a maverick in a mmx quest. You know, just not In this one.

Please.

>>4072057
Flame Hynard quest

>Burn
>BURN
>BURN INTO THE GROUND
>Don't burn?

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>>4072335
All shall burn...

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>>4066816
“I dunno,” you shrug. “I was too busy crying.”

Foxfire hoots.

“How about you? How’d your dinner-and-drinks with Yiffmaster Flex go?”

“Oh, smooth as silk, luv,” India replies, buffing her nails. “That tail is just marvelously versatile.”

“It’s true!” Foxfire declares. “Work it in there so deep--”

“Oh god,” whispers the trapped Steel Beret, no longer being beamed in and out.

“--came the Queen of England.”

You calmly fish out your misericorde, ignite it, and begin dragging it perilously closer to Foxfire’s tail as you helpfully punch in coordinates to get the Beret back whence he came. She keeps said tail in place for as long as possible before finally surrendering to the fact that you’re drunk and will absolutely cut a bitch.

“You seem to be exuding a rather strong aura of unfucks given,” India observes. “You sure you didn’t get laid?”

“Could be, I’m a heavy sleeper,” you reply with a shrug. “But mostly I just got a few sweet, blissful hours of seeing what the rest of the world is like outside the Fourth Overland Bug Jar.”

“I’m a fox. Clue’s in the name, dear.” She taps her noggin.

“I’m talking about the horrible scabies-chlamydia hybrid you’ve been cultivating in that substrate crevice you call your rancid, humid box,” you reply flatly.

“Ah. That would do it,” India agrees.

“You know, speaking of infections,” Foxfire says, “I couldn’t help but over-wiretap some news. Lots of frontier maverick activity just popped off, all within about sixty minutes of each other.”

“What, new offensives?” You ask.

“No, just much more aggressive activity, down on the individual level. Feels like a corner got turned.”

Your little logic buddy chimes in.
>Mavericks on multiple operations have been coerced, hired, or otherwise brought in from outside their ranks
>Several cases had mavericks delivering viral payloads indirectly
>Soul Foxfire is among them

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>>4072458
“Been keeping tabs on your fellow contractors, have you?” You ask.

“Maybe,” she hedges. “But it was interesting, don’t you think?”

“Mm.” Just what you needed, a whole new generation of true believers.

“I ALSO heard that some elusive mav operatives have been creeping around,” the hacker adds. “Familiar ones, squidlike, like.”

You narrow your eyes. “I didn’t get interrogated so you could just delve into Stylist’s bullshit, Foxfire.”

“Pretty sure you did,” she replies airily, mimicking India’s nail-buffing with her claws. “Collide, too. Both hazy, unconfirmed presences from unreliable intel. And both on failed missions.”

So they’re out there fucking things up too, huh? Great. “Got any good news for me, for a change?”

“I do,” India replies. “First prototype of my airframe’s almost ready.”

“And I suppose I could deign to inform you, the Crossmore is basically ready to deploy. Still a bit bare-bones, but…”

It occurs to you--while you were Canucking about, you got that Ox Ride Armor frame piece. Two crisscrossed beam blade foils, not unlike Collide’s flexile horns.

“You know, I did pick up a little something at the market…” you offer, pulling up the records on the part.

“Ooooooh, shiny,” Foxfire says. “That’d mount nice and easy, wouldn’t it?”

“It might,” India retorts, “But it’s tied pretty heavily to the mobility system on the mount. I could put that into the nose cone, get a handy defensive screen out front for the afterburners.”

“...But I only have one of them,” you say. Yes. Is this really happening?

“Well thank you, Anode, that’s very kind of you,” India replies lightly.

“Quite, a blade dash would help quite a bit, especially with that blade configuration you’re saddled with for now,” Foxfire adds.

Yes. Yes! FIGHT AND DIE FOR MY AMUSEMENT, HARRIDANS!

>Bestow your grace upon one of these jackals.
>Let them fight it out while you bugger off.
>Other?

>>4072460
>Let them fight it out while you bugger off

>>4072460
>>Let them fight it out while you bugger off.

They deserve no grace today.

(Foxfire never.)

>>4072460
>>Bestow your grace upon one of these jackals.
I do think that a literal cross for the crossmore would be good. We have lots of good range options for the vwes system it has, and we are going to be facing Yamatoad next. May as well further bolster out ability to be a Sword for our buddies.

>>4072460
>Bestow your grace upon one of these jackals.

India's plane's been too long in the construction to not be vital later on. Give it to her.

>>4072685
but so has the crossmore. With the fact we are facing Yamatoad and possibly Tanker, any boost to our weapon profile can come in handy. It could also be used to secure the materials India mentioned would be there.
We are going to need all the help we can get in the coming battle.

>>4072460
>Bestow your grace upon one of these jackals.

The 8th are going to need the Crossmore for when we face Yamatoad. We've given India enough toys as it is.

>>4072460
>>Let them fight it out while you bugger off.

>>4072460
>Bestow your grace upon one of these jackals.

Putting it on the Crossmore seems like the best option, I think... And whatever is at Yamatoad's base, I think India would prefer something from there more than a bastardized version of a saber-jousting jet like her and Em were joking about so many threads ago.

What's Indy got for VWES? Anything that would look lovely slotted into a massive trundling war machine? Taking her as Bro-Op on Yamatoad might be a good idea. She's got prior combat experience with it.

>>4072335
>Write-in
>Tri-Formation

>>4072460
>Let them fight it out while you bugger off

Could someone go over what the crossmore has in its barebones config? A blade dash is basically getting back what mobility we lose by riding it, so knowing what it gives besides PUNCH is important.

>>4072460
>Bestow your grace upon one of these jackals.

As obnoxious as she's being today, she's still one of our BFFs. Let's give her her nice shiny plane part before blowing this taco stand.

>>4073047
>>4073047
It has sword and the vwes system with endless power. Good if you want to throw endless missiles at some punk. A dash charge would honestly be really good for ride armor compared to the plane and by the sounds of it, since planes are not really designed for that.
We really should work on improving the crossmore though. For whats to come, it can be really useful in taking down bigger threats.

>>4073771
Compared to a defensive shield for the plane, letting it go facefirst into some heat and prevent cornering.

Which sounds good but doesn't help with telefragging. Would it be possible to add some sort of EMP or cyberspace scrambler to the screen? That might be more critical than chaff with the advances in technology.

>>4073771
Main thing stopping me is the question of pilot. Assuming we take it to the Yamatoad op, someone else has to be the one shelling the shit out of everyone unless we intend to scrap the crossmore on our way in.

Are we getting Crankshaft for that?

>>4073822
Honestly, with the way the op looks and the clue about hammer frog that we got, going full offense is not bad. If we clear the way, the 8th has our backs with their heavy armor, and that includes our old buddy. The means to further push into enemy forces is important for this sort of offensive.

Meanwhile, going face first into heat is usually bad for aerial types. Its predictable, and difficult to maneuver out of a charge unless you have the means to stop it. Mavericks that are strong enough can easily handle a kamikaze charge such as with the case of Wren, and protecting the front doesn't protect the sides. Any situation where charging head first into the enemy formation to breakaway is the best option, is the situation where air is likely not going to help. Sides, we already gave India the crossmore's last upgrade. Don't be greedy.

>>4073903
> THE REFORGED HAMMER WILL NOT BREAK TWICE.
> BE THEIR SWORD, AND EIGHT WILL BE YOUR ARMOR.

Just as a reminder for folks who might have forgotten.

>>4073921
Thank you. So far every lead we pursued with this mystery guy has helped us at least a bit. We even got a heart container for our look into Conda stuff. Following this advice, the sword config for the crossmore was considered the best idea. So further improving it might very well allow us to handle the situation a lot better.

>>4072858
This, for sure. On top of that, getting to be the first to break it in after it's revival by mashing a maverick would salve the wound your 'betrayal' would cause.

>Bestow your grace upon one of these jackals.

>>4072700
I value India piloting a plane she built herself over Anode piloting even a really nice ride armor.

>>4073921
Could the hammer be reffering to Frog?

>>4074131
And I value the fact that worst comes to worst, Anode will ram the thing he is in right into the enemy's face and wreck them. Having a item that not only makes it safe to do so, but further improves said action seems the wise move to me. Besides, India is a dancer. It would be better to look into options that allow her to pull off crazy maneuvers over brute strength ones.
>>4074145
Thats the gist. Each card was linked to someone we knew.

Get it into the Crossmore immediately. It’s not a favor for her, it’s a favor to ourselves.

Not really a vote, by the way, but I'd like to state that I don't think India's been given "enough". She pulled our fat out of the fryer in a big way by paying for our new C. Cap, at her own personal expense.

>>4075063
we can give her whatever salvage we can get from the Yamatoad op. Right now the secret message has me concerned about not upgrading the Crossmore.

>>4072460
>Bestow your grace upon one of these jackals.
Given the above, my vote goes towards the Crossmore. We can wait for a more appropriate one for the plane.

>>4072858
>>4075063
Since my votes are contingent on India both wanting to pilot the Crossmore and being best suited for the task, I'm actually going to change my vote to something more along the lines of "bugger off". Passing her over for jet parts again just feels like too much of a heel move, considering what she's done for us.