JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOBS

And the streak goes on. Mad props, man - It's been a wild ride.

hmm, i really should finish playing that armored core snes rom

>RASAFRACKING ROUTER.
>ALSO: RECORD BROKEN. ROCK OUT TO APPROPRIATE PARTY MUSIC.
>Expect thread to be slightly slow to start with here. Trying to play Shadowrun, since my group actually managed to get together once.
>Previous threads here: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=AC%20Quest

YOU ARE ALEX RASTON. You just got back from a nice afternoon on the town with Elsie Winters, your long time friend and recent lover.

When you get back to the Hangar, you notice Mooch giggling while typing on a computer, and Lawrence and Dave are at a separate terminal conferring over something.

[ ] Talk to Mooch.
[ ] Talk to Dave/Laurie.
[ ] Go to bed.

>>18995243
[x] Talk to Dave/Laurie.
Don't want to get mixed up in the crazy that is Mooch.

>>18995243
[X] Talk to Mooch.

If he's up to something, which he surely is, then we need to stay informed of whatever chaos is going to come our way.

>>18995243
[x] Sneak up behind Mooch and scare him

>>18995243
>Mooch giggling.

I want nothing to do with this. Sleep immediately.

[ ] Talk to Mooch.
CODE BLACK. CODE BLACK. MOOCH GIGGLING. ALL HANDS PREPARE FOR IMMINENT NUCLEAR DETONATION.

[x] Talk to Dave/Laurie.
maybe something to do with the hope survivors or with what happened in alaska

>>18995243
[x] Talk to Dave/Laurie.

We want nothing to do with Mooch and his insanity. Besides, its always funnier when it surprises us instead.

>>18995243
I want to go with Mooch, but I will instead vote for
[x]Dave/Laurie

>>18995243
>Bedtime
Seriously, when have we ever just slept?
Plus we might trigger an event.

[x] 'Go to bed'.

might as well finish a date the traditional way.

[x] Sleep

We keep getting into other people's business all the time, might want to just give it a rest for a night.

You walk over to Dave and Laurie. they appear to be looking over some sort of schematics system.

"What's this then?" You ask as you approach.

"This? It's this new thing Duke sent us. Apparently it's some sort of active parts swapping program. Let's you check and test tolerances for different parts configurations, meaning you can see how a build performs without spending weeks programing it, or actually buying the part." Lawrence explains.

"Sounds convenient."

"Massively. Even with people like Mooch running tech it saves hours of work. As soon as it's bug free."

"What kind of bugs?"

"Occasionally it blanks out and demands to be fed a live cat." Dave answers conversationally. "Or trying to sell me parts that don't exist."

[ ] Investigate further.
[ ] Check in on Mooch.
[ ] Go to bed.

>>18995715
[X] Check in on Mooch.

>[ ] Investigate further.
Alright, one more thing. Then we snooze like we never snooze before.

>>18995715
> "Occasionally it blanks out and demands to be fed a live cat."

...

[x] Investigate further.

[x] Check in on Mooch.
i see why he was giggling now

Don't you just love tie votes?

>>18995715
Let's Mooch it. He's giggling too much.

>>18995715
[x] Mooch

rolled 1 = 1

>>18995791
We meet again, Tie.
1: Mooch
2: Investigate

rolled 17 = 17

>>18995715
>Demands to be fed a live cat
Investigate.
Ask "Are you using a Mac?"

We have to investigate this thing. ...We don't have any cats, do we?

"Soo..." You say, approaching Mooch. "What're you up to?"

"I am bastardizing American history for fun and profit."

"...Explain further."

"Oh, remember that terrible show idea I had? I just bribed a couple of celebrities over in Japan to say it's the next big thing. Because of this we can make most of the population follow like the little sheep they are and make tons-o-money."

"You should feel ashamed of yourself."

"I'm planning on using the money to help Hope."

"So no shame?"

"Maybe a little. I'm buying Morgan a pony first."

"I... alright. This is really MY fault for asking."

[ ] Investigate further.
[ ] Go to BED.

>>18996279
Let's see how deep this rabbit hole goes.

>>18996279
Investigate further.
Is it bad that if it was a comedy I would TOTALLY watch Mooch's crazy anime?

>>18996279
bed

>>18996279
GOD DAMMIT WE ARE NEVER GOING TO GET TO SLEEP
ALRIGHT ACGUY, >Investigate further. GODDAMN

>>18996293
No, because it sounds hilarious.

>>18996279
[x] Investigate Further.

>>18996279
>[X] Investigate further.
I wish to see this show

[ ] Investigate further.

OP is dead.

>>18996577
Naw, he's playing Shadowrun.

>>18996615
>>18996577

Games over hes just heading home. TILL THEN YOUR STUCK WITH ME.

>>18996753

>you're

>>18996779
No i meaan your.

I do not mean you are. Im not a idiot.

>>18996779
Man, way to be a dick about it.

>Just got home. Will be typing in a minute.

>It's weird writing Mooch as a character, since in order to do so, you must get into Mooch's head to understand his motivations.

>Mooch's head is an..... interesting place to be.

"So... a cartoon thing? I think."

"Kinda. turns out that kid Jesse on the other team knows some people over in Japan because he went over there to try and become a Ninja when he was younger. Anyway, we've got some animators lined out, and shit's rolling."

"Do I want to know what it's about?"

"Tesla and Edison as magical girls. Or more accurately 'sufficiently advanced technology' girls."

"What."

"I know right? It's the perfect plan!"

"I fail to see how making a cartoon show DELIBERATELY bad is supposed to be a 'perfect' plan."

"That's because it's less of a serious show in it's own right, and more of an 'affectionate' parody of the Genre. Allowing us to brutally mock everything they hold dear in the form of satire."

"That's.... actually kinda evil sounding."

He lets out a sinister cackle. "Isn't it just?"

Deciding that you've had enough Mooch for one day, you go to join Elsie in bed. On the way, Lawrence tells you that apparent the Tournament's back on the day after tomorrow, with two rounds left: Next fight's against the Wolf Pack guys.

>Spend a minute wondering why nobody's posted anything.

>Realize I didn't put up a what do.

>Fuck me, 46 hours no sleep is beginning to catch up to me.

>>18997104
>46 hours no sleep
Holy shit. How much of that was caused by trying to break LG's streak?

rolled 6 = 6

>>18997104
jesus, dude. go get some damn sleep.

also,
>Tesla and Edison as magical girls. Or more accurately 'sufficiently advanced technology' girls

What you did there? I fucking see it.

>>18997104
We should probably see if we can get any information on who we're up against next. Preparation and all that jazz. What their ACs are like, what they're armed with, how they've fought, how good they are and so on.

The next day you get up and do the usual morning routine, and over a quiet breakfast with Elsie, you ponder how to spend your day.

[ ] 80's training montage with Ari.
[ ] Look into core customization.
[ ] Go help colonists on a personal level, build up support on the home front.
[ ] 'Team building exercises'.
[ ] Relax with Elsie, make sure you're mentally prepared for tomorrow.

rolled 6 = 6

>>18997134
WE'RE GONNA NEED A MONTAGE!

>>18997134
Let's Colonists.

>>18997134
MONTAGE

I hope Mooch can scrounge up some Eye of the Tiger for us...

>>18997022
>>18997126
>'sufficiently advanced technology' girls.

I know I used that in an earlier thread, but I stole it from someone else's description of Nanoha, actually.

>>18997134
There is only one choice for true pilots
80's training montage with Ari
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWEGd7PkZuM

>>18997134
Look into core customization, everything else we're not on a clock with, customization we want to know our options, look through them and make the decisions before the next round, all the other stuff doesn't have a strict time limit on it.

>>18997121

>Virtually none of it. It's mostly been 'Well, I'm awake now for one reason of another, and have no reason to NOT run. Might as well run.

>But like, Yesterday? Had to get up early fix my car so I could haul lumber.

>Today? Got like 15 minutes of sleep before my fucking nightmares woke me up by giving me an anxiety attack.

>>18997126

>In an hour or two. I should get more sleep, but I'm not really tired enough yet to sleep without dreaming.

>>18997134
montage time

>>18997134
[ ] 80's training montage with Ari.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEjgPh4SEmU

>>18997161

>I don't REMEMBER getting that from somewhere else.

>I might have heard something similar and ran with it though.

[ ] 'Team building exercises'.

eye on the prize

>>18997181
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/18891776/#18892584

>>18997169
>Today? Got like 15 minutes of sleep before my fucking nightmares woke me up by giving me an anxiety attack.

Is it me, or is AC-Guy exhibiting some NEXT/Raven qualities.......We don't want you pulling a Heath Ledger on us AC-Guy.

>>18997193

>Oh. I've actually been using the term for longer than that, that's probably why I didn't notice it.

>Still, I find it amusing that somebody else has said more or less the same thing.

>>18997195

>I'm not crazy or anything.

>Well, not CRAZY crazy. I've got something like mild OCD and stuff. I've just been having extremely vivid and intense nightmares pretty much every night since I was 15. I average about four hours of sleep a night, generally catching up when I finally get too tired to dream.

>You get used to anything eventually.

>Anyway, people want Montage. Give me a minute.

>>18997216
>>Oh. I've actually been using the term for longer than that, that's probably why I didn't notice it.
>
>>Still, I find it amusing that somebody else has said more or less the same thing.

I figured it was something like that. It's not a very hard jump to make, really.

You decide to spend the day training Ari personally.

You start off with something basic: giving everyone except Ari a paintball gun, and giving her a foam padded boffer-sword.

"Uh... not to criticize your training technique bro, but what exactly is this supposed to improve?"

"Lots of things. First off, situational awareness: You need to be aware of us as we sneak up to shoot you, and from unconventional angles. Secondly, reflexes: You're in good shape physically, and paint-balls like these are actually rather low velocity projectiles. It's not impossible for you to use the sword to bat them out of the air, or dodge them without getting any paint on you given the cover rich environment that is this half of the hangar. Thirdly: Paint-balls hurt, and leave an immediately obvious mark when you get hit. It's motivation to improve, as well as a handy index of exactly what your shortcomings are. Now, rules are simple: We either go until you give up, or you've managed to hit ALL ten of us with that sword."

After about an hour, she managed to both complete her transformation into a horrible rainbow monster, and take out the last of the shooters. When she got out of the shower, you went straight into a Simulator session. Keeping with the them of avoiding getting hurt, you stick her in a high mobility suit without weapons and see how long she can play hide and seek against your team. The answer for the first six rounds were as follows: 26 seconds. 54 seconds. 2 minutes 30 seconds. two minutes 50. 11 seconds (Jumped above the buildings, right into Elsie's crosshairs). 5 minutes and 32 seconds was the final round, right as she really started to hit her grove. So you immediately changed tactics to throw her off balance.

>>18997305

You continued training with some hand to hand combat on foot. She turns out to be roughly on par with Mooch, meaning that pretty much everyone else on the team could beat he down easily. You decide not to crush her spirits with knowledge of the rankings system.

After that you move onto a shooting gallery for her to practice basic marksmanship principles. After about an hour of that, you find it's time for lunch. You, her, and Dave jog the mile and a half to the diner you like to eat at, and then make her jog back while carrying the food of not just the piloting corps but all 10 members of your support crew as well.

>>18997329

After she managed to catch her breath and eat a light meal, you went back to the sims with random conditions against varying team members and objectives. After a while, she really starts to get it, and then you immediately make her go against the whole team to bring her ego back down to manageable levels.

At the end of the day, you wait for her by the doors and watch as she approaches.

You are Ariana Raston.

You watch your brother walk up to you as you head for the doors to go home for the evening.

"So Ari, what was the point of today's lessons?"

[ ] There was an overarching point?
[ ] That you're a bastard?
[ ] (Insert dialog of choice here. Is only option that can be interpreted as a correct answer.)

>>18997369
[c]General basic combat skills?

>>18997369
To teach me situational awareness and how not to die in a core. General combat skills and principles.

Also you wanted to drag my ego up and down, show me that no matter how good I thought I was, when I got overconfident you showed me that I could still get smacked down.

>>18997369
That I a) need to keep training and b) am not done being hazed?

It's better to be part of the group shooting than the one being shot at? Oh, and you're an ass, right? Those both seemed to be valuable lessons today.

>>18997410
This.

"It's better to be part of the group shooting than the one being shot at? Oh, and you're an ass, right? Those both seemed to be valuable lessons today."

He smiles at you. "Now for the non sarcastic answer?"

"Improving my situational awareness, and constantly testing my abilities while trying to improve them. That and hazing."

His smile goes away as he shakes his head. "Hazing? I think you've missed the point entirely. Let's break it down. What was the point of the first exercise?"

"Improving situational awareness?"

"And the second?"

"Ego destruction?"

"Mostly dealing with evasive tactics. When you're seriously out gunned or outnumbered, you can't solve every problem with a wall of bullets. You need to learn how to better evade and counter your opponents."

"And you did something like this? How well did you do?"

"Personal best? Three kills."

"....With no direct ability to attack?"

"Redirection and misdirection. More goes into piloting than a high synch score. Now the third exercise?"

"Hand to hand? Wasn't that just basic CQC?"

"More or less. You need to learn how to better defend yourself. Plus having good instincts in a melee carries over to core fights in similar straights."

"Huh. So did all of the exercises have some sort of double meaning like that?"

>>18997476
>"Personal best? Three kills."

>"....With no direct ability to attack?"

Didn't we have that sim fight recorded?

>>18997476
We're not getting trained by a chump. we're getting trained by a rather competent team of pilots, granted they like screwing with us, but they're also teaching us an awful lot at the same time.

I think we might have a renewed respect for our brother at this point.

I bet we DO have it recorded, because... REASONS. Like training purposes. We'd NEVER break out that video as blackmail, bragging, or to impress chicks, right? That would make us Dave.

"More or less. Same principals apply to the shooting range. Making you run back and forth, as well as the so called 'hazing' was to measure and build up your mental and physical fortitude. Then the constant rush of combat in the sims was to force you to do what we had been doing all day more explicitly: Learn to adapt to constantly shifting conditions and objectives. At the same time honing your overall skills and teaching risk aversion."

"How so?"

"I've seen you in the sims. You fly crazy."

"Hey, so do you. AND I've got the skill to back it up, just like you."

"That's the problem: you actually think that. And if you go out onto a real battlefield with that attitude you life span will be measured in seconds. You aren't 'just like me' in the cockpit. You are at best, a C class pilot in terms of skill. I'm approaching A class. I am roughly four times better than you in most measurable aspects. You being able to wreck people in that beast of a core you have comes down more to your hilarious amount of firepower and such more than actual skill. I'm not saying this to be mean, I'm saying it because you need to learn. There's also a reason it's generally called 'flying like an asshole'. when you come in dramatically through the window and nobody expects it, it looks awesome and is highly effective. When everybody KNOWS you're coming in the window, you're serving your own ass up on a platter and asking them to kill you in a method as painful as it is humiliating."

"So when you do something crazy..."

"It's a calculated risk. If the current situation is unwinnable, you only have two options: disengage, or try to redefine the rules of the game. Somebody with a sword rarely expects a boot to the head, that's why it WORKS as a tactic. It's so stupid that nobody thinks to prepare a countermeasure for it. Because nobody is crazy enough to try it. And then it happens, and suddenly people realize it's actually really fucking effective, as the kick to the face sends them flying."

"So if it works, why don't you want me to do it?"

"Because before you can learn to properly fly WRONG, you have to learn to fly RIGHT. Relying on crazy gambits like that makes you extremely vulnerable outside your element. Like that bandit guy we got Laurie's flail from. It's a bad habit to get into. Occasionally spiking a logical combat doctrine with some crazy cowboy tactics is fine. But watching you fly in the sims? There is a point where it needs to end, and you have clearly crossed it." He looks at your slightly sunken expression. "Hey, finding out shit like this is why we're running sims. Here, we can spot your mistakes and beat the bad habits out of you. Out there, somebody spots it, you wind up getting shipped home in a box. Now go home and get some rest. Tomorrow I'm going to need you looking over our shoulder and help Mooch run over-watch."

You head out the door, and as you do, you see Elsie pull Alex in to talk to him about something. You can't help but feel a pang of jealousy, in part because he seems to have found something really good for him. Also, he get's some of THAT every night? DAMN. It continues to amaze you how she doesn't really understand how beautiful she is when she puts even the slightest effort into it.

>I think I'll end it here tonight. Sorry that it's a little shorter than usual, but next thread, which will be either Monday or Tuesday since I need a break for a day or two, will be bigger, and feature mech combat.

>As always, any questions, comments, and even suggestions should go in the crunch thread.

>>18997638
SLEEP!

>>18997638
Get some sleep you crazy fool!
If you go and die it'll be problematic for us players!

>>18997638
Get some fucking sleep you loon. Make sure to take care of yourself, we've already had too many close calls.

>>18997646
>>18997643
>>18997651

>I'LL SLEEP WHEN I'M DEAD.

>Seriously though, I'm taking a day or two for R&R after this, other than popping in to check on the crunch threads. I'm going to bed sometime in the next hour, after I take a shower and such.

>>18997661
You beat the record and you did it with the best quest I've ever seen on /tg/, you deserve all the R&R you want.