>>21262907
So what was the "weird burn-y smell" you mentioned on twitter?
(I look at your twitter but don't actually follow you as I have no twitter. Not sure if that effects your "horrible realization" awhile back)

File: 1351047772580.png-(Spoiler Image, 267 KB, 717x533)

I CARE

there was something i was going to post for you ac guy

but i forgot it

except i didn't forget it

i was just going to shoop that stupid comic of "MY HIPS ARE MOVING ONMY OWN" with "MY CORE IS MOVING ON ITS OWN" etc

and also lots of lurkers

i'm sure it's just lurkers

pic related, mfw new ac quest thread

>>21263001
Damn, beat me to it.

>>21263001
>>21263119

>I have no idea what the smell was. This worries me slightly more than KNOWING.

>>21263001

>The realization was mostly along the lines of 'where are all the fans?' line of thought. I mean, based off the math on twitter at the time of the posting, there are a minimum of like 30 people just lurking.

>I mean, are these people who live in a different timezone and can't contribute? Are these people who have enough interest to skim by but not actually post?

>Are they too busy? Do they think themselves too dumb?

>I am genuinely curious as to the whos/whys here.

>To whomever reads this post and follows this quest, threads tend to live for days at a time. Please, pop in and say something. Even if it's just to say that you don't have much to contribute.

>>21263145
I can say I've read every single one of the threads to date, and posted a whole shitload, but I rarely actually vote in regards to quest decisions aside for voting for the obviously winner option CRAZY IVAN just to make it look funnier

that said I love this fucking quest and it's almost always the highlight of my day

>>21263198

>Man, you're gonna be really disappointed when this turns out to be the setup to an 'Aristocrats' joke.

>On an unrelated note, we'll get the quest proper underway after I eat dinner.

>>21263250
i don't get it even though i know the joke

EAT FASTER

File: 1351049285133.png-(26 KB, 300x210, rg-cartoon-1c[1].png)

FASTER I SAY

>>21263145
Timezones are the killer for me, the threads start right in the middle of my work day so by the time I finish Work it's all over usually.

Don't worry, I still care.

>Sometimes I hate consistancy.

>Sorry, needed to look up an obscure fact I posted in passing to confirm I got the detail right, since it matters.

>>21263145
I've followed every thread when I could, but lately I've had trouble being on at the same time as story posts so by the time I get on a decent reply has already been posted and there's not much to do but wait for an update :

File: 1351050262676.jpg-(78 KB, 522x399, rainbow vomit.jpg)

>>21263691
I live for this kinda shit

YOU ARE ELIZA MCALLISTAIR.

And you're bleeding.

The Diomedes is on fire, and you're bleeding and it hurts-

You hear voices.

"She's over here!" One calls. A man? He sounds familiar...

"Oh thank God." A second voice, softer. A girl?

Getting harder to think, head hurts, and you're just so damn tired....

File: 1351050445756.jpg-(125 KB, 551x391, everything awful.jpg)

>>21263742
I DON'T LIVE FOR THIS SHIT

I TAKE IT BACK

>>21263145
I've started following this recently, and haven't caught up through the archive yet.
I participate when I can catch the timing, but don't offer much besides votes, as I'm not really familiar with the characters yet.
and I don't trip up here because my trip is meaningless outside MSQ.

>>21263742
Don't fall asleep, you sleep you die. Stay awake, try to staunch the bleeding, try to call out to the people.

You wake up in a field.

It's beautiful and sunny, with soft grass and a large Oak tree.

"Hello Eliza." A voice calls to you from over your shoulder.

You turn and see a man. That he's TALL, is the first thought that comes to you. Seven feet tall if he's an inch with a shock of red hair. He smiles at you.

"Sorry if this comes as a bit of a shock, but it's past time that someone spoke to you."

[ ] Who are you?
[ ] Where am I?
[ ] .... this isn't right....

>>21263807
>[ ] .... this isn't right....
This isn't where I left my giant robot.

>>21263807
...I should mention I also don't post lots because I'm the guy who likes to do flowing-dialogue-option-selection.

So I choose all three and you can veto my vote

>>21263807
>[X] Who are you?

>>21263807
[x] ... this isn't right....

He's not gonna tell us who he is, and if he does it won't have context anyway.

We aren't in a real place.

Therefore option three.

>>21263807
[x] Who are you?

>>21263856
Ooh! I like this guy's reasoning. This is good. Unveto >>21263839 and I'll go with this

>>21263807
>[x] .... this isn't right....
inb4 For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

"... This isn't right..." you say, taking a step back from him and looking around. "I was- I...." You look down to where you had unconciously placed your hand on your stomach. "I was bleeding." You look around. "I remember this place."

"Oh?" Says the large man, propped against the tree.

"My Uncle had some land that used to be a big farm or something in southern Virginia. My Dad took us here when I was just a little girl." You answer looking around. Then what bothered you strikes home. "Time place dosen't exist any more. There was an earth-quake. It ripped all the ground open and-" Your eyes trace the path along the ground where the pictures showed you. All the way to the house where-

"I didn't mean to bring up painful memories." The man says placing a hand on your shoulder. He looks like a mountain in motion, but the touch is surprisingly gentle.

"Am I dead?"

"A curious question." he responds "What made you draw that conclusion?"

"This place isn't real, I was in serious pain and bleeding, and I'm fairly certain I've never met you before."

"You seem calm about the prospect of dieing."

"I'm in the military. Shit happens."

He shakes his head. "So young, what a place this world's become." He lets out a deep sigh. "No Eliza, you aren't dead. Not yet anyway. You're having a near death experience, and I've decided to co-opt it instead of forcing you to suffer the normal flash-backs and delusions." He looks appraisingly at you. "You have questions."

>What ask?

>>21264092

>Why the balls did 'This' get auto-corrected to 'Time'?

>>21264114
I think this calls for a big ol' 'who are you'

>>21264092
"You probably won't give me a straight answer but who/what are you?"

>>21264092
"So, first is, 'Who are you?' Next... Past time some one spoke to me about what?"

>>21264092
Who are you? Really, I mean?

>>21264126
>>21264142

"My name is Alexander." He responds calmly. "What I am... Well, given the fact that I've managed to interrupt your normal dream-time and deathbed hallucinations for a little chat, you've probably guessed I'm not exactly human." He looks you over. "What I actually am is fairly complicated. To be honest, some of the details escape even me. Have you heard of something called a 'Conductor?', Eliza?"

"...No...."

"Then attempting to explain my nature would be counter productive at the moment. Know this, I'm not human, but I'm not hostile." His warm smile almost makes you believe him outright.

Almost.

>>21264195

"Past time for what?" Is the next thought on your mind.

"There's a situation developing, and we noticed that you're connected to several key players. It's a complicated web where everything seems connected." He says, shaking his head. "Logistics were never my specialty, so I don't fully understand it. But apparently something big is brewing, and Vegas was where it finally began t break into the open. But it was changed from the intended disaster by a man we discarded and a player we never noticed."

"...What does that mean?"

"You'll know soon enough. I'm afraid I can't tell you much more than that. Knowledge is power, but knowledge can also be dangerous. And we need you safe more than we need you informed right now."

"Great fucking job on that, by the way."

"What just happened to you is nothing compared to preventing genocide." He responds.

>>21263145
Well swinging by to answer part of that
I contribute when I can/remember to/am awake while the thread is running

I have read every thread so far as well because it has been awesome but sadly my life seems to slap me around in the time department every time I want to organize a regular game/meeting etc

>>21264367
I thought we got everyone in on the Conductors? Or was that just like, Alex and Dervish or something?

>>21264367
>a player we never noticed

Seriously how did they miss Dervish?

>>21264396
That was just Alex's group. We're Eliza right now.
>>21264403
Nonono, Dervish is the one they discarded (well, he told them to fuck off, but still...), Alex is the one they never noticed.

>>21264403
I think Dervish is the one that was discarded, and Alex the one that hadn't been noticed.

>>21264396
Eliza has yet to meet or interact with the other gang of characters.

I'm foggy on her crew, but there is a girl she is in a relationship with, and some guys, at least one of whom we shouldn't trust and is likely some kind of murderer or doppelganger or something.

Gotta hit up them archives onea these days.

>>21264423
Legion had no idea who he was though. He seemed to know a whole lot about Alex.

>>21264423
...fuck, right. For some reason I read "Eliza McAllistair" as "Elsie Winters."

I'm retarded sometimes, I really am.

>>21264433
Remember, the Conductors are factional. I'm guessing that Alexander here is of the same faction within the Conductors as the one who contacted Alex (wait a minute... Alexander, ALEXander, nah I'm reading too much into this that would require some crazy time travel bullshit) after the events with the Arms Fort, rather than Legion's faction.

>>21264489
Never rule out stupid time travel scenarios until we know we won't accidentaly cause one in the future

>>21264489

>It hasn't come up, but Alex's full name is Alexander.

>It isn't really significant in any plot related way.

>Also, Archimedes, the guy who Alex spoke to claimed he left the Conductors and no longer considered himself one.

>>21264527
>>Also, Archimedes, the guy who Alex spoke to claimed he left the Conductors and no longer considered himself one.
Oh yeah. Hmmmmmmm. So what does "Alexander" have planned for Eliza then?

>So anybody else have questions they'd like to ask?

>>21264526

>No time travel, I promise.

>Nothing in the quest will have contrived excuse plots or unexplained circumstances.

>>21264554
You best believe I'm quoting you on that last part

>>21264561

>Go right ahead. If you look back over the archives, every plot twist thus far has had some form of foreshadowing.

>Even the brief mention of Dave once having a crush on Elsie.

>So, uh, any more questions for him guys?

>Waiting on you here.

>>21264659
What does he want us to do and what should motivate us to do what he wants?

"What do I do?" / "Who are the 'Conductors'?"

I'mnotgood with the open-ended shit

>>21264367
"Wait, what was that about 'preventing genocide'? Genocide of who?"

File: 1351054372548.jpg-(62 KB, 578x628, reaction26.jpg)

>>21264678
>>21264680
>>21264684
ALL OF THESE!

>>21264678

"At the moment I desire nothing more than for you to live, be happy, and possibly clear your good name." He answers. "It's not hard to motivate someone to do something they were planning on anyway. Just a word of advice: no matter where your search for truth might lead, there's a difference between justice and revenge. I've already seen one rather promising young man lose that struggle with hate."

>>21264680

"The Conductors are.... people, for want of a better word, who are substantially different. For one, we weren't born in traditional sense. Or at least, not born as Conductors. We were, each in our own way, changed and shaped by the hands of men to serve a greater purpose in the world." He sighs. "There are some things a normal human simply can't do. We were created as a way of working around certain limitations. Or at least that was our original purpose, we've strayed a bit since then." He shrugs. "To be honest, none of us are really alike in terms of origin or ability, we merely chose to come together under one banner since there was nowhere else in the world for us to be."

>>21264684

"The attack on Vegas was something we had no idea was coming, or even who was behind it. But due to what little leaked information was gleaned after the fact, someone's trying to implicate our involvement. The involvement of the Conductors."

"Were you?"

"No. All were accounted for, save the Prodigal. And he's a coward and a fool. Such a monstrosity is beyond him."

>>21264795
Wait, so is he saying Legion is either not a Conductor, or is he this Prodigal character who can't do shit except for small-scale genocidal war?

Dese twists.

>>21264826
Likely Archimedes is the Prodigal, since he said he left the Conductors.

>>21264795
Sooooo, is this "Prodigal" fella Legion or Archimedes? Or neither? But if it's not Legion, then either "Alexander" is lying to us, or Legion was lying about being a Conductor

>>21264867

>Eliza doesn't know who any of those people are.

>>21264878
Yeah, that was me speculating. Shoulda made that clear.

>>21264878
Do you want us to speculate or not, damnit?

It's not like you prompted a
>what say?

>>21264878
No, but we do.

>>21264846
Oh. That would make sense. I seem to remember it, but man whenever I remember things in AC Quest I just remember the giant robots, not the talking AI plot devices.

Not to hate on the Conductors or anything, AC Guy. They're sweet. They're just not giant robots.

>>21264893

>Feel free to speculate, the way it was phrased made it look more like a question.

>As was said >>21264889 I misinterpreted.

>>21264938
Yeah, I, I was joking. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

>Anything by way of questions you guys think of?

>>21265069
Who are players and why are they chosen?

Why me?

>>21265069
"How is this all happening?"

>>21265099

"We don't exactly choose them, it's just a matter of significance in the grand scheme of things. Referring to them as 'players' is more, as I understand, a cultural thing that we picked up along the way somewhere." He responds. "But that's not really what you asked. The truth is Eliza, you aren't important. But you are directly connected to several important people. Which makes you important. We just didn't realize how... fragile your situation was." He responds, his eyes glaze over for a moment. "Hmmm... looks like our window for conversation is dwindling. I am not like some of the others. If you desire it, I can provide a covert way for us to keep in touch so you aren't totally in the dark."

"Really?"

"Yes." He says, and gives you a serious look. "But there are conditions. Let's worry about that later, and take full use of this opportunity that we have right now."

>>21265111

"That depends on what you mean. Us here, talking? The events in Vegas? Conductors? Your Exile? The attack that left you wounded? I don't have all the answers Eliza. If you could narrow it down for me a bit I might be able to help though."

>>21265255
"Well, us talking is what I meant, but if you could shed some light on the attack, that'd be nice, too."

>>21265303

"It's fairly simple in concept, if extremely complicated in execution. When you synch with the core of your machine, your mind is, in a sense, becoming one with the computer inside the core. Since the human mind isn't really meant to work like that, your brain learns to... cope. Often by presenting the data as a form of symbolic hallucination."

"Like seeing cross-hairs where I'm aiming, even if it isn't on a screen."

"Just so." He responds with a nod. "This is something similar. Your mind, in large part due to your somewhat extreme trauma and near death experience, became a bit unhinged. I managed to form a connection with you in this unhinged state, and moved a bit of where your conscience mind... elsewhere. Like when you synch with a core. This allowed me to both numb your pain and speak with you."

"So why... here?" You ask with a gesture.

"I didn't choose the local. I basically asked your subconscious for a place that you would find quiet and soothing, and this was the image it provided. My desire was to create a place where you would feel safe and unthreatened, to try and avert some of the trauma associated with extremely stressful and/or near fatal experiences."

"Oh..."

"As for the attack... sorry. I know nothing." He shakes his head with a sigh. "I didn't even realize you were in danger until the connection was made. Just a sense that you would be more open to it for some reason."

>Anything else? Or should we move onto the next bit?

>>21265451
I don't have anything else.

>>21265451
Can't think of anything more.

>>21265451
Let's move.

We are experiencing technical difficulties, please stand by.

>Back. Fuck this router, and fuck people needing to watch three different movies in three different rooms with three different Netflix accounts.

>What part of 'our internet connection is bullshit' is hard for people to grasp? It takes me two days to download a file 2-3 gigs across. And people want to stream MULTIPLE movies across it?

Alexander pauses for a moment. "Seems like they're stabilizing you. Do you wish to stay in contact with me? If you do, I can't allow you to tell other people of our connection."

"Couldn't they find out on their own?"

"Our correspondence would be almost entirely digital, and I can cover up anything that isn't you acting suspicious."

"... What about Will? Or Abby?"

He shakes his head. "Simply knowing we've had a conversation might be enough to mark either of us for death in the future. Maybe even both, depending on how the cards fall. I can advise you and help try and protect you from the worst if you let me, but I can't risk endangering both of us by doing so."

>Stay in contact?
[ ] Yes.
[ ] No.

>>21265976
[x] Yes.

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>>21265976

I'm just gonna go with 'yes' here, damn I wanna know what is going on!

>>21265976
[X] Yes.

We are not in a noir setting, what's the worst that can happen.

>>21266008
>tumblr

>>21265976
[X] Yes.

>>21265976
>[X] Yes.
Liz needs someone looking out for her. Her own Dervish for lack of better phrasing.

File: 1351061569145.png-(1.81 MB, 967x1011, Asuka Is Smug.png)

>>21265976
>[ ] Yes.
I'm certainly not afraid of anything that doesn't scare >>21266008

>>21266010

>What's the worst that could happen?
>Tempting fate.
>Grim ass setting.
>AC-Guy.

[ ] Nope, running away cause that shit just got jinxed.

>So, six for 'yes' and one for 'no'.

>Guess we're going yes then.

>... why the fuck am I so tired? It's barely 11 here.

He nods, and you hear a beeping noise. Looking over, you see that it's some type of ECG machine.

Turning your head away from it, you realize that you're in a hospital, apparently having woken from your dream. Shifting on the pillow, along with giving you a sudden fit of vertigo as you realize you're laying down, makes a crinkling noise alerting the other two people in the room.

"Doc?" Ryan leans out the door and calls as Abby sits next to you. "She just woke up."

"Hey." Abby says as she takes you hand. "How are you feeling?"

[ ] It hurts.
[ ] Better.
[ ] Confused.

>>21266184

"Confused, but that seems to be the default state of my existence."

"What happened?"

>>21266184
>[X] Confused.

>>21266184
>[x] Confused.

>>21266184
[X] Confused.

>>21266184
>[x] Confused.

>>21266184
>[ ] It hurts.
Some one should say it.

>>21266184

[x] it hurts

"Confused. But that's normal." You respond with a smile.

Abby snorts, and then you both lose it, letting all the tension out of the room by promptly laughing your asses off. Which really hurts actually.

"Bad time for jokes I guess." you finally say with a slight wince wiping a tear from your eye.

"You gonna be alright?" Abby asks, humor gone as fast as it came, though the tension went with it.

"I think a doctor would be a better judge, but I think so." You respond. After a moment, a thought occurs. "Hey-"

[ ] What happened?
[ ] Where's Will?
[ ] Hows everyone else?

>>21266373
[x] what happened?

promptly followed by:

[x] where's will

>>21266373
[X] Hows everyone else?

I just like the idea of the girl in the hospital bed asking after everyone else.

>>21266373
>[ ] Hows everyone else?

File: 1351064434722.jpg-(101 KB, 500x635, KITTY!.jpg)

>>21266387

my girlfriend was like that last week, she nearly died and was all "I hope you're sister is ok! she's really Ill I'm so worried about your gran too, "

damn girl worry about yourself first!!

>>21266387
You've convinced me to back

>>21266373
>[ ] Hows everyone else?
as well

>>21266373
>[X] What happened?

Good night, AC-Quest. Don't get Liz killed while I sleep!

"How's everyone else?"

Abby winces slightly. "Fine. Mostly."

"Mostly?"

She looks away. "We're still doing a headcount. The Diomedes had almost a hundred crewmen. We don't know how many people we might've lost. As far as we can tell, we only have one MiA from anyone 'important' or higher ranked, and most of our friends got out with minor injuries."

You look at her for a moment. "You're avoiding something."

"It's John. He took a couple of bad hits on the way out. One of his eyes were partially crushed, and they're gonna have to take most of his right leg below the knee. Luckily, since he was the cook it's not as debilitating in the long term as if it happened to someone else...."

"He's gonna lose an eye and a leg? What happened?" You ask, concern for your friend making your blood run cold.

"They might be able to save the eye actually." She says, trying to comfort you. "He... we found you in the wreck and got you out. He looked around and realized Will was missing, so he went back in to look for him." She shakes her head. "Stupid fucking thing for him to do. I mean, Will? Will's the one I worry about the LEAST in a crisis situation. But in he went, and one of the bulkheads exploded into shrapnel around him. Apparently it's a miracle it didn't kill him outright."

>What say?

>>21266373
[ ] What happened?

>>21266404
>That expression
What is she doing with that cat?
>>21266512
What's that? "get Liz killed while you sleep"? OKAY!
See you in twenty minutes Udz.

>>21266516
"I'll have to thank him for saving me and apologize for him getting hurt. I should have been able to do something.

I'm just glad his hands are alright, not being able to cook would hurt him more than it would hurt us."

>Sorry guys. I literally fell asleep at the keyboard there.

>I'll pick this up tomorrow, if you guys keep the thread alive.

>Sorry.

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>>21266642
Dammit stop apologizing AC-GUY!

>>21266642
Hey Ac guy, I think the reason that you don't see many people participating is because most of the quest regulars are from Europe and the quest usually starts really early in the morning or when they are at work..

So don't feel like that noone likes the quest or anything, its just timezone shenanigans.

Let's try and keep this alive until tomorrow

Didn't we run away from the diomedes?

bump

>>21269147
No, we ran away WITH the Diomedes, away from Alaska and The Pack.

Page 8 bump.

File: 1351128407403.jpg-(888 KB, 1920x1080, 1333188012288.jpg)

live thread LIVE!

>Back.

>Well, back-ish. AC-Quest returns as soon as I eat dinner.

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>>21277891

"I'll have to thank him for helping save me, and apologize for him getting hurt." You respond after taking a long moment to absorb the news. "Good to know he'll survive though, and that it's nothing to debilitating."

"Yeah," Abby agrees. "I just hope he doesn't let himself get too down over it."

At which point the door opens, and John enters the room. His appearance is jarring, with a temporary prosthetic pin and a crutch, and an eye-patch over his eye. More jarring is the giant burlap sack with a Jolly Roger crudely painted on the side, and the fact that he somehow acquired a pirate hat and a parrot.

"Yarr..." He growls by way of greeting, with a smile on his face and a twinkle in his one visible eye. "Either of ye lasses want to help me divvy up me bounty?"

[ ] Yes.
[ ] Ay Cap'n.
[ ] What?
[ ] No, seriously: what?

>>21278311
[X] What
[X] No seriously: What

>>21278311
[X] Ay Cap'n.

He got injured helping us and Will, we ought to play along.

File: 1351136342987.jpg-(1018 KB, 2000x1125, Asuka Is A Pirate Now.jpg)

>>21278311
>[ ] Ay Cap'n.
PIRATES!

>>21278311
[X] Yes.

File: 1351136769676.png-(57 KB, 243x316, scale of yes to no.png)

>>21278489
for got pic

>>21278311
[x] Ay Cap'n.

"Aye, Cap'n." You respond, forcing the hospital bed your in to sit up.

Smiling, he drops the sack on the foot of the bed and the two of you open it. Abby meanwhile, seems to be in a staring contest with the parrot on John's shoulder.

"Fine meads and sweet meats, not the cheap stuff they want ya choke on in here." He says, handing you a sandwich and a bag of chips from a local Deli. Followed by a can of Mountain Dew roughly the same size as god. The sight almost makes you weep in joy. He tosses a similar package to Abby, where it bounces off her chest and onto the floor, while she continues to watch the bird. He then pulls out a portable video player of some kind, and what looks like a game-boy. Then some magazines he pushes back before you can get a good look at it.

It might as well be full of gold for the joy it brings you.

[ ] Thank John.
[ ] Ask about the parrot.
[ ] Other.

File: 1351137798739.png-(882 KB, 1025x639, Shinji Gets The Dew.png)

>>21278694
>>21278694
>[x] Thank John.
and
>a can of Mountain Dew roughly the same size as god
Like this?

>>21278694
"You're a wonderful person.

What are the magazines you didn't let me look at?"

Nothing accusatory, just a bit of innocent confusion.

File: 1351138145471.jpg-(54 KB, 750x600, emergency_induction_port_(...).jpg)

>>21278694
>[ ] Other.
There wouldnt happen to be a bend straw in that bag would there?

>>21278694

[ ]Other.

Is Abby Ornithophobic?

>>21278694
[x] Thank John.
[x] Ask about the parrot.

>>21278882

>Ornithophobia

I didn't even know that was a thing. Nice catch.

>>21278694
>[x] Thank John.
>[x] Ask about the parrot.
Wait, shit, just one. Uh. Shit.

>[x]Ask about the parrot, while thanking-
Damnit.

>[x]Thank John.

>I have no idea what's winning.

>>21279030
Looks like some combo of thanking him while asking about the parrot. If one must be chosen I vote for
>[x] Ask about the parrot.

>I think thanking John edges it out slightly.

>Unless the 'is Abby afraid of birds' is meant to count for 'ask about the parrot'.

"Thanks John." You say with a smile patting him on the arm.

"Ah, it was no trouble. I was getting sick of siting around in my hospital room after the first couple days anyway. Even if I WAS supposed t-"

"You." Says a nurse glaring at him "Are supposed to be resting. Not- where did you get the hat? And the Parrot! Pets aren't allowed in the hospital!" She continues, indignant as the someone opens the door.

Meanwhile the nurse attempts to retrieve the contraband from John, and the bag begins to rip with a papery thump as the magazines are deposited in your lap. The noise startles the parrot, which in turn startles Abby.

Which is when Ryan returns with the doctor, taking in the scene and summing it up quite nicely.

"What."

>What do?

>>21279547

Examine the magazines.

>>21279559
Agreed

>>21279547
Look at the magazines.

If my guess about what they are is correct our expression will gradually shift from confusion to understanding and finally to utter embarrassment and blushing a very deep shade of red.

>>21279547
Shrug at Ryan, THEN look at the magazines.

And, damnit, I gotta be to work out in the morning. So I'm off.

You look at the pile in your lap.

There's one about classic cars that looks interesting, and you pick it up. As you pick it up, the rest of the pile shift, and you realize what John was trying to conceal from you.

The cover just has a girl smiling on it, but flipping it open you see a girl and a man talking on a couch. Then a picture of them... kissing? Followed by...

Oh.

Oh my.

Quickly you realize nobody's yet noticed what you're doing, focusing instead on the parrot having decided to attack your ECG machine.

[ ] Ask John about the magazine.
[ ] Hide the magazine.
[ ] Out the window.

File: 1351141961864.jpg-(65 KB, 400x465, Why must it be so.jpg)

>The arm of my chair just fell off.

>>21279731
>[X] Hide the magazine.
We need to save them for John or keep them and learn

>>21279731
>[X] Hide the magazine.
for later research

>>21279731
[X] Ask John about the magazine.

Very innocently ask John if the man and the woman love each other while paging through it.

File: 1351142251393.jpg-(41 KB, 294x500, Invader Soryu.jpg)

>>21279731
>[ ] Ask John about the magazine.
In the most naive and innocent way possible.

>>21279731
[x] Hide the magazine.
Research materials.

You shove the magazine under the blanket and turn to face the Parrot.

The room is quickly turning to chaos around the bird. Abby's huddled up against you on the opposite side of the bed, Johns trying to calm the bird down while everybody's yelling at it, The nurse is yelling at everybody for not taking hospitals seriously, The Doctor's trying to shoo the bird awayt from the medical equipment, the bird himself is flipping the fuck out from the sudden panic, and Ryan....

Ryan seems to have decided not to get involved, and is instead watching the situation with a cup of coffee in hand from the doorway.

>What do?

>>21280049
Hug Abby, watch on in amusement.

Ask Abby if she's afraid of birds.

>>21280094
This sounds pretty good

>>21280049
Give Abby the magazine, tell her John wanted her to have it.

>>21280094
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OemNp6hgX4

>>21280165
We should probably only show her the magazine once everyone else has left. They might try to take our spoils of war.

You opt to follow Ryan's example and stay out of the confrontation. Putting an arm around Abby, you realize she's shaking slightly.

"... Are you afraid of birds?" You ask her.

That seems to shake her out of her sudden shock and put her into a new one as she turns to you. "Wha? Afraid of birds? Don't be-" Her blatant lies are exposed immediately as the Parrot flies past her head and she lets out a small 'eep' before ducking into your side.

With a gesture, you shoo the bird away, and he flaps to the door where Ryan's holding a couple of Saltines for it.

When the Doctor grads the nurse and tells her to calm down, the Chaos that was the room vanishes. John, grudgingly allowed to be lead back to his room if he got to keep his swag, leaves with Ryan to plunder again another day.

>>21280375

The Doctor stays with you and Abby. "To be clear, before we worry about anything else, you're going to be fine. You're going to have a bit of a scar under your left breast which might make you write off Bikinis, but beyond that nothing serious." He looks up. "We might even be able to do something about the scar down the road if you want, after you're fully healed." Looking back down at his paper he continues. "Luckily, the piece of metal that went through you didn't do any serious damage. Nicked your lung a little bit, but it seems to be healing fine. Biggest problem was blood loss. We were a little bit short, but luckily both your friend Ryan and Abby here are both Type O. Critical information aside, anything you want to know?"

>What ask?

>>21280383
Start by hugging Abby a bit tighter and thanking her for the blood.

"How much physical activity am I supposed to refrain from for how long? When am I due to be released? Not that I really care about it being there but what would the procedure for dealing with the scar be?"

>>21280383
So theres a Bit of Abby in my veins......

>>21280383
So, part of Abby is inside me?

>>21280431

She smiles at you and returns the squeeze as the Doctor answers your questions.

"You should be alright to be walking around later this afternoon. As for your release...." He checks his clip-board. "Today's Tuesday, so you should be cleared to leave by Friday, assuming you promise not to climb right back in the cockpit or something. Couple days of taking it easy at home, and you should be in the clear. As for the scar..." he says, scratching his chin. "Generally we just cut part of the scar tissue out and treat it so the scarring is less visible. bigger scars it can take years, but with a little one like yours we could probably do it in one treatment with one as small as yours." He says with a shrug. "The process is slightly less intensive and dangerous as getting a face-lift. In all honesty, it's a purely cosmetic thing. Some people prefer battle scars."

>>21280524
>>21280548

"In a sense." He responds with a slight smile. "Scientifically I can't say it makes a hell of a difference, but some people take comfort from having family and friends be the organ and blood donors."

>Anything else for the doctor?

>>21280642
"I think I'll keep the scar. It's unlikely to be the only one I get so why bother. And I promise I won't get right back in the cockpit unless it's really important.

Am I going to be on medication for the near future?"

I can't think of any other important questions to ask the doctor.

>>21280642
Mostly questions about any medications we'll have to take, and if we need to come in for physical therapy.

>>21280642
"I'll keep the scar. It's not like I won't be getting more, might as well not waste time getting rid of this one. Are there any medications or physical therapy I'll need?"

"I'll keep the scar." You decide after a moment. "I'll probably just get more anyway, so it seems silly to worry too much about this one. Anything else I need to know? Medicine, physical therapy?"

"Some mild painkillers and a light steroid to make you heal faster." The doctors says, making a few notes as he does. "You aren't so bad off that you'll need any actual physical therapy though. Your friend John might need some crutches or a walker, and I'll probably recommend he keeps a cane just in case." He looks up at you. "I also get the feeling he'll listen better to you two than me when it comes to taking it easy, so I'd appreciate it if you helped him settle in a bit more." He smiles at the two of you, and slowly backs towards the door. "For now though, I'll give you your privacy. Feel free to hit the beeper for the nurses station if you need anything."

Alone, Abby gives you a kiss on the cheek. "That's a relief. I mean, I knew you were gonna be alright..." She almost seems like she's trying to convince herself as she says it. "... but at the same time, what does 'alright' mean? I mean, you could live but be stuck in a wheelchair or something."

"Sorry I had you worried." You respond weakly, squeezing her hand.

She shakes her head. "Don't worry about it. You're fine, so I'm fine." She looks away for a moment "It's just I- we lost too many friends recently...."

>What do?

>>21280838
"We have. We've lost too much. I got off easy with this."

Then try to change the subject to something less sad

"I managed to nab this magazine when the commotion happened, I've never seen one like this before. I wonder if they love each other."

>>21280860
This.

>>21280860
This

>>21280860
Also posting in support of this.


Also, regarding
>>21263145
Hi, I guess. I don't usually post, because I have very little free time and even less of that overlaps with while the thread's running. But I caught up reading the archives back around thread 40 or so and have been following ever since. It's just easier and faster for me to read through the archives afterwards - at the moment I've got about an hour free before I have to do something else, and that's a little unusual in my current schedule, so given the speed the threads move at I'm mostly only in an active thread for a few decisions at most.
But I wanted to post to say I love the quest, and you're awesome.

"Yeah, we have." You respond, rubbing your thumb along her knuckles. For some reason the simple action seems to calm her down. "I got lucky, simple as that."

She looks at you.after a moment. "... That's a kinda bleak way of putting it."

"Not really." You respond. "Even if it was a gamble, I've already won. When was the last time you saw someone get mopey about winning the lottery? More importantly, John dropped some weird magazine during the commotion a minute ago."

"Weird how?" She asks as you fish it out. Then she sees it, a blush creeping across her face. "Oh..."

"I mean, look at this, he's got her over the couch and-"

"I'm looking at it." She responds, clearly embarrassed.

"And 's got her face against the-"

"Please don't-"

"And then he's putting in the WRONG hole!" you exclaim. "That's not how babies happen!" You lean in conspiratorially. "You know, there isn't a wedding ring in sight either. I'm beginning to suspect that this isn't loving and wholesome at all, just some wanton debauchery." You accuse the book with the most pious voice and straightest face you can manage.

Abby turns to you with shocked disbelief and the beginnings of a almost deranged disbelieving grin that doesn't quite reach her eyes, choosing instead to fix you a thousand yard stare. "Are you shitting me?" She asks, finally finding her voice.

"Duh." You respond, giving her a kiss. "You need to lighten up a little bit."

>>21281072

Apparently that was too much for her, and she finally cracks up laughing.

"Seriously though. I know I'm weird already, but is this SUPPOSED to be titillating? I mean, why would you want to flip upside down and put a belt around your-" you continue twisting the book sideways in your grip as though examining a map you've never before encountered. "I mean, look at the way she's balanced here. I don't look at that and think 'oh baby', I look at it and think 'imminent spinal injuries."

The two of you poke fun at the silly little book for a little while, when suddenly Abby freezes mid laugh, and looks at the door. Looking up, you see Ryan, one eyebrow slowly raising as he looks at you, well...

>What do?

>>21281077
Pull him into the discussion of how frankly impossible/not-at-all-fun actually trying to have sex like that would be.

>>21281077
Look straight at Ryan, the complete picture of innocence. More innocent than a nun who works at a condom factory thinking she's making homes for little mice.

"Ryan.

Is this how babies are actually made? I don't think I'm ready for anything like that."

>>21281077
With how we have played Liz in the past I honestly did not guess she was joking until she said she was.
Also
>>21281094
This

>>21281106
>"Ryan.Is this how babies are actually made? I don't think I'm ready for anything like that."

Do this.

Plainly we start with >>21281106 before moving on to >>21281094

Hey AC-guy, just wanted to tell you how much I love this quest.
I never contribute because I live in a different timezone (I'm Italian) and I'm always busy with university, so I mostly catch up through the archives whenever I have time.

Keep being awesome, bro. And refine your latent pyrocinetics powers.

"Ryan." You say, thankful that you stopped on a rather interesting one, featuring two guys and three girls apparently trying to play something that resembles 'twister' only with colored ropes and handcuffs "Is this how babies are actually made?" You ask, as levelly as possible, before letting a little tremor enter your voice as you show him the picture"Because I don't think I'm ready for anything like that."

He spends a long moment looking at you, and then the picture and then back at you. "Alright, I know you're screwing with me. I walked in on you laughing at it." You curse under your breath. "So I'll answer your question with another question: Since when can you act?"

"I had to get something like 10 elective credits back in high School. Since I hated sports, was tone deaf, and am a terrible artist, I ended up taking four years of AV-Club stuff and stage acting." You respond with a shrug. "It was fun, but I never really expected it to be a career or something. It's just one of those many little things you know that don't come up." You turn back to a particularly weird one. "More seriously, how could you do that without putting your back out?"

>>21281263

He leans over, and points out a few things. "Notice the way the ropes are tense here but not here? He's basically sitting on it like it's a stool and using her as a counter-weight to keep the balance."

"And this?" You ask, pointing to another one.

"It's hard to tell from the angle, but she's leaning on that dresser a little bit. you couldn't actually keep someone up like that with just their hair."

".... How do you know all this?" Abby asks after a few more pointed explinations.

He shrugs. "Used to work in porn." He responds, sipping his coffee.

>Questions?

>>21281263
And he might have fallen for it if he hadn't heard us laughing. Still, great fun and a useful skill to keep around.

>>21281277
"Production or acting?

How do you end up working in porn one day and piloting an AC the next? That seems like a big career change."

>>21281277
"Crew, or talent?"

>>21281322
>"Crew, or talent?"
This is important and we must ask it immediately.

>>21263145
Love your quest. if this phone wasn't my only way to visit 4chan i'd x xontribute votes more but i always kwep up to date with the archive
What did daves comment about crushing on elsie forshadow? Its been a while since then

"Like on screen?" You ask, surprised by this new information.

"Only a couple of times. Mostly I was in the crew, you know Working the camera, ordering Pizza. Occasionally, I got called in as a stuntman."

"A... stuntman?" You respond after a moment. "What?"

"Yeah, mostly the traditional type. Apparently a lot of guys in the industry are a little prissy about things like kicking in a door or something."

"Why would you need to kick in a door?" Abby asks, looking at him.

"Because of contrived porn scenario number 87,000. 'I suspect my wife is cheating on me, so I'm going to kick in the door and catch them in the act!' Which is usually followed by 'It's with another woman, suddenly I'm completely fine with this and want to join them!'." He responds with wooden, almost robotic gestures and acting, before going back to his normal form. "One time, in the middle of a scene I was told we needed to re-shoot it because my acting was TOO convincing, and I was told to 'ham it up ' a bit."

"Going from porn to the military seems like a weird move."

"Not really." He responds. "I got one of those 'Military pays for everything if you join after graduating.' Scholarships. But that didn't leave much in the way of pocket money, so I did it for some extra money on the side." He takes a sip of his coffee. "I was asked to stop when I graduated though, since we like to keep our image of the troops clean. Sadly, 'really patriotic porn' wasn't an acceptable compromise."

>Anything else?

File: 1351152537937.jpg-(53 KB, 450x442, Rudy Reyes Calendar.jpg)

>>21281415
>Sadly, 'really patriotic porn' wasn't an acceptable compromise.
Oh it wasn't?

>>21281415

"So you were actually on camera? Being filmed?"

"In what, something I'd know you from?"

>>21281415
Start giggling at the idea of 'really patriotic porn'.

"Thank you for the blood. I really appreciate it."

>>21281415
"Thanks for giving it to me, by the way."
Let him be confused for a moment then,
"Your blood, I mean."

>>21281473

"Only a couple of times actually starring in a scene." He responds, looking at the two of you. What's with the sudden interest? I thought you two were lesbians."

Abby blushes and mumbles something about PREFERRING girls while looking at her feet.

You just shrug. "Meh, I'm undecided. It's just rather surprising is all. You don't really seem the type."

"Pretty much nobody in the industry seems the type of set, despite what rumors and speculation might have you think." He responds.

"Well, sorry if it got awkward. And thanks for giving it to me." He gives you a blank look. "Your blood!" you blurt out, realizing what you were implying. "The doctor said you donated some."

"Yeah, of course I did. What was the alternative? let you bleed to death?" He responds with a shrug. "Don't worry too much about thanking me, you and I both know you'd do the same. And it's not really awkward to to talk about my past. I just don't go out of my way to bring it up. I'm not ashamed or anything, It just tends to put the wrong impression on people." He grabs the magazine. "And this shit is pretty ridiculous, even by porn standards. If you want I could bring you something less.... stupid." He says, thumbing through the pages.

You look at how Abby wants to find a way out of the conversation, and decide to pass on the offer.

[ ] Ask Ryan he's doing.
[ ] Ask Ryan about John.
[ ] Ask Abby how she's feeling.
[ ] Ask about what happened.

>>21281637
[X] Ask Ryan he's doing.

>>21281637
[X] Ask Ryan he's doing.

>>21281637
>[x] Ask about what happened.

>>21281637
>[ ] Ask Ryan he's doing.

>>21281637
[x] Ask about what happened

"So Ryan, how are you holding up with all of this?" You ask, as he sets the magazine back to the side.

He shrugs. "Couple bruises, nothing serious. Most the people I knew and cared about personally have made it, even if you and John got it a little rough." He looks away. "I mean, I feel vaguely concerned about the rest of the crew, but a lot of them were just faces in the hall, you know? I try not to get too attached to people at work here because shit like this can happen."

"You don't care?" Abby says, confused.

"I care, just not in the same way I care about you and Liz. I mean, I wish them well and all, in the same way you just kinda wish everybody well. but you guys are my friends, and that's different. They're just.... people." He finishes weakly, sitting down next to you, opposite Abby. "So, how are you feeling, Liz?"

[ ] Better.
[ ] Still a bit out of it.
[ ] Worried.
[ ] Tired.

>>21281939
[X] Better.

We don't want to make him worry about us.

>>21281939
>[ ] Tired.

>>21281939
>[X] Better.

>>21281939
>[X] Better

>>21282013
>>21282020
Fucking CAPTCHA

>>21281939
>[X] Better.

"Better." You respond, with a smile.

"Good, you had us worried for a little bit there."

"Why?"

"You were... asleep. for a long time."

"How long?"

"Almost three days." he responds, and then sighs. "I hate to start asking questions while you're in this condition, but do you remember anything? From... before we got attacked?"

You hesitate. "Kinda. Where should I start?"

"Is this really-" Abby begins, when you hold up a hand to stop her.

"I can handle conversation." You tell her gently, but firmly. "Besides, Ryan wouldn't ask if it wasn't important." You frown, and turn back to him. "It's weird though, I can't really remember what happened before the attack. The closest thing I can think of is when I told Will about the attack on Vegas."

Can you remember the part that came after that?" Will asks. "Maybe we can come back to how we got here like that."

"I... I think so." You respond uneasily.

"Then let's start there. You saw a lot of things I didn't, so maybe we can have a more complete picture from here."

"Alright..." you say, letting your mind drift back to that first solid moment, on the Command deck....

>Seems like a good a place as any to leave for the night.

>I'll be sure to put a character interview at the end of the thread tomorrow, and I'll even write a little bit of Omake.

>Assuming of course, the thread survives the night, but I have faith in you guys.

Alright, this might seem a little off topic, but can somebody explain Dave to me?

I mean, I feel like I just don't quite... 'get' him as a character.

>>21282180
>Alright, this might seem a little off topic, but can somebody explain Dave to me?

He is a bisexual doctor that can pilot robots

>>21282246
Isn't he also older than he looks due to cryogenic shenanigans?

bump

>>21282180

Dave can be summed up pretty easy, after having met him: He's like Tony Stark, just not quite as intelligent.

>>21282246

>Bisexual

I doubt it.

>>21287021
Recovering alcoholic and greedy arrogant weapons dealer who tries to be a superhero but instead ignites a massive civil war?

>>21288606
Try a little more iconic than that, I think.

Page 7? Haven't you been told how dangerous those higher number pages are thread? Now why don't you be a good little quest and go back to the first 3 pages.

Also I can't remember any evidence of Dave being bi, you might be thinking of Laurie.

>A touch of bonus content before the main thread. http://pastebin.com/mfzC2RJg

File: 1351220369597.png-(23 KB, 1333x700, wallpaper-1376808.png)

>>21288606

>Best part? This is currently my wall paper.

>>21291485
I have that one in 1600x900 for my wallpaper rotation.

>So, AC-Quest starts in just a couple of minutes. Just need to get my notes and stuff in order.

>Also, I have a surprise for later on, right before we do the Q&A session.

You're standing on the command deck, unsure of your orders. Will had just returned to the room, and he motions for you to follow. Soon, you're standing in the hangar along with the other pilots.

"We need to move quickly, so I'll be brief." He said, as soon as the two of you entered the room. "I want to send a squad to Vegas to help repel the assault and investigate what happened there. I will be needing some of you to stay behind to protect the Diomedes. It's an active war-zone, and I'll be throwing you in blind. I won't order you to go, I'm asking for volunteers."

[ ] Step forward.
[ ] Stay behind.

>>21291686
[X] Step forward.

We're best on the offense.

>>21291686
Step forward. The lance demands blood.

You step forward, along with a half-dozen other people. Will nods and orders the crew to load the suits into a patrol skiff.

Abby comes to see you off with a good luck kiss, and you're on your way to Vegas in less than an hour, and with the skif you should be there in about 45 minutes.

After boarding you decide to...

[ ] Get a soft synch so you're ready.
[ ] Talk with other pilots, hard synch when you get there.

>>21291940
[X] Get a soft synch so you're ready.

We've got a big job to do, we don't want to go in unprepared or have to hard synch, hard synchs suck.

>>21291940
>[X] Get a soft synch so you're ready.
Not hard synching again if we don't have to

>>21291940
[x] Get a soft synch so you're ready.

>Soft Synch it is.

>Gimmie a sec, I need to find Liz's character sheet.

File: 1351223980840.gif-(Spoiler Image, 755 KB, 320x240)

>>21291769
>The lance demands blood.
It is a thirsty weapon indeed.

>>21290876
TIME FOR WILD SPECULATION! YAY!
The way he took them down, and that "If I had my way? no one of consequence" comment...
I think that may have been Dervish.
Perhaps.
Hmmmmmmmmm...

Eliza McAllistair, F, 20.
Intelligence: 20.
Strength: 15.
Agility: 35.
Toughness: 15.
Determination: 40 [base]
Synch Ratio: 52 [base]
Perception: 25.

Ballistics: 15.
Melee: 20.

Fate Points: 3 / 3

Skills:

Piloting: (Advanced)
Tactics: (Advanced)

Masteries:

[Impossible Reflexes] Eliza can spend an action point to immediately activate a combat trigger.
[Thundering Charge] Eliza can use a charge action for either a move OR Attack cost. She can also choose to use normal charge rules for double damage.

Feats:

[Danger Sense] Eliza can't be caught flat-footed by a surprise attack.
[Speed Demon] If Eliza makes more than one move action in a row, all but the first in a new direction (by more than one angle) are at half cost.
[Weapon Mastery] Eliza can use spears without penalties.
[Tactic Mastery] Eliza can add a strafing attack to a charge without penalty, at normal attack cost.

Traits:

[Striker] Eliza takes a -5 penalty to normal defensive actions, and penalty attacks (such as suppressive fire) affect her twice as much.
[Gentle Soul] Eliza takes a -10 penalty to attack actions unless provoked.

Aspects:

[Cold Berserker] Eliza can choose to ignore penalties and boost her synch/determination by ten, for a cost of a spirit point and a level of fatigue per-round.

>>21292214

CORE

BODY TYPE:

Torso: Prancer 2a: AP 40.
Legs: Feather-step: AP 15.
Arms: Scorpio (SPECIAL: Each supports a built in secondary weapon, can be used without losing the Primary.)
Head: Hoplite: Sensor rating 10.

WEAPONS LOADOUT:

Primary 1: Gungnir Force Lance: DR 6-2, Ammo N/A.
Primary 2: AR-227hc: DR 12, Ammo 20.
Secondary 1: KE-DEAGLE: DR 6, Ammo 10
Secondary 2: KE-DEAGLE: DR 6, Ammo 10

>>21292219
>>21292214

>More crunch, yaay~

[A Mastery is a form of advanced feat. Masteries are difficult to acquire, cost more, and are significantly more powerful than normal feats.]

[Unlike Feats and Aspects (which can be changed or over-written), Marteries, like traits, are permanent and represent a skill/talent so honed it's become engraved into the very fiber of a character's being.]

>That aside, we now return to a quest already in progress.

You sit in the cockpit and slowly nurse the heart of your AI-Core to life. After a moment of sitting back in the seat, you feel a cold tingling along the back of your neck, which slowly goes down your spine, almost feeling like an ice-cube sliding down your back.

As it goes down and down, you can feel smaller tingling sensations branching out and away, through your chest, over your arms, across your stomach, down your legs.

It feels like it's completing a circuit, as every nerve in your body tingles like a small electric charge is being run through it. New sensations open up as you begin to feel like new appendages grow out and away, little tendrils to connect you to the beast you ride in while a light but growing pressure begins on your brow. The tendrils feel like they're growing, interlacing and becoming almost like muscle around and through a skeletal colossus that slowly regains life and power.

After what feels like an hour, the pressure recedes and you're left with a renewed feeling of life and power. You shudder slightly aat the almost alien sensations and....

>Give me 1d10.

Rolled 10

>>21292331
Rollan'
>>21292214
>[Thundering Charge] Eliza can use a charge action for either a move OR Attack cost. She can also choose to use normal charge rules for double damage.
GUNGNIR CRIES OUT FOR BLOOD!

>>21292334
I'm not going to roll. Not ever.

>>21292367

>Someone has to. We're averaging these.

Rolled 4

>>21292387

Rolled 25

>>21292387
Ugh. Fine. Here's a roll.

Rolled 8

>>21292429
this ones a d10 man

>>21292214
I'll drop this in a pastebin when I'm home. But now is pathfinder time.

'Pilot recognized'. The display in front of you reads. 'Synch ratio holding steady at 59%.'

You breath a sigh of relief that the synch process is over, and push away the discomfort of the nerve invasion, and begin you pre-flight checks.

Shortly afterwards, you hear Cal's voice over the coms. Apparently he was given squad command.

"I just made contact with the local Raven's Nest, apparently they're organizing the defense. We've been asked to before a lateral attack on the incoming column of enemies and take out the long range artillery unit, since they're less equipped to handle those sorts of attacks. We've only got about ten minutes before we engage." The general com signal cuts out for a moment, and he opens a private line to you. "Liz, we've got a couple of heavy artillery units towards the back that are huge: any bigger and they'd be classified as C-type Armor."

A hologram appears on your screen. If the readings are right, it's almost three times taller than you and twice as wide as it is tall.. It's got a pair of artillery cannons over the 'shoulders' of it's crab like body half again as tall. There's no way that couldn't hit the city from the current range. "Not good."

"Worse, they've each got a pair red and gold looking cores, with Ace Patches guarding them. It's risky, but the only way I think we can take them out fast enough is if you go in low and fast to try and gut them before they can fire."

"What about the cores?"

"Ignore them if you can."

>Questions?

File: 1351228626407.png-(103 KB, 415x363, whats goin on in this kil(...).png)

Why do I feel like the inevitable impending meeting of Alex and Eliza is going to lead to things that can only be described as 'bad'?

>So, uh... Questions? Any?

>Or are you guys wanting to get into it?

>>21292752
Joy, this is not good.

Can we get any distractions to pull the Aces away? What type of AC are the Aces? Are there any known vulnerabilities on the Artillery units?

>>21292752
"You got any more intel on those Aces? The last thing I want is to get in a stern chase with a sniper pursuing me."

File: 1351229356223.jpg-(7 KB, 98x99, Mooch Joker Icon..jpg)

Aight I actually showed up this time....Sup guys.

>>21292879
>>21292890

"The AC's all look the same. High mobility mid and close range brawlers. We don't really have anything other that. I've never even heard of any one Ace with a core that looked like that, much less four of them." A pauses, and the hologram of the Artillery unit's stomach lights up. "As far as we can tell, the armor on top might as well be indestructible with the ordnance we're packing. The stomach though, which would be a good several feet over your head if it's standing at full height, seems mostly unarmored."

"Seems like an obvious weak-point."

"It's based off an older design for a All-terrain walker. The legs keep it above where any mines would affect it, and the top is designed to guard against artillery, since it would have someone there for close-range defense. I think you're fast enough to dodge them, kill the walker and get out. Killing them fast if our best chance of helping resolve this situation before it gets out of control." He pauses. "If you don't think you can do it, tell me now. I'd rather you backed out than blew the op half-way in ruining your core AND our element of surprise."

>What say?

>>21293029
There are 2 walkers and 4 Aces right?

"I can take them. I'll want some covering fire to make the approach but I ought to be able to spear the artillery units and get out of there."

>>21293029
"Alright, gimme some cover and I can lance the artillery and be out, just be ready to pick me up as soon as I'm clear."

>>21293080
>>21293116

>Sorry if it wasn't clear: surprise is your only hope of getting everyone into Vegas, since you're surrounded by enemies and flying under the radar..

>Covering fire would almost guarantee the deaths of everyone, including you. He's asking you to make a risky play because if it works they have to fight on your terms, not pound the city with artillery. The few people who COULD cover you are being deployed on missions with parallel objectives, so you guys can take out ALL the artillery in one go so one of the attacks doesn't alert them.

>Basically the mission is to take them out and haul ass back to Vegas to regroup with everybody. The Skiff's not even slowing down as it boots people off at designated point, you're getting your orders first because you're the first out the door. You're the only one fast enough to even consider it in the group.

>>21293166
Okay. We can still do this. We can't let them have that artillery so we have to trust in our absurd speed to keep us safe.

Ask if they have any AC sized explosives that we can stick on the Artillery units. That might be easier than spearing them.

File: 1351230971182.gif-(1.27 MB, 352x200, Your Sword Give It To Me.gif)

>>21293166
Fuck it, let's do this.

>>21292214
A few quick questions, how many action points do we have for Impossible Reflexes? What exactly are combat triggers? The Strafing attack on the charge, how exactly does that work?

>>21292214
Does Alex also have any masteries?
Also, are move and attack costs seperate now, rather than using an AP bar like earlier?

>>21293217

>AP are how you buy actions. It's been discussed as one of the things I keep tabs on in the back-ground so you don't have to. You get a pool of AP every round (let's say ten for an example) and then each action has a cost attached (like, say a melee attack costs four) which you buy with said points. I mean, there's a limit to how many points you can have at a time, but within those limits you can do whatever.

>Combat Triggers are things like when someone's knocked off balance or you have the drop on them, and you get an attack of opportunity. These triggers cost less than normal actions of the same type: so that attack might only cost 2 or 3 instead of 4-5. Liz spends one point on all of them, period. Think about that for a second.

>Strafing attacks are basically when you're doing a move action and attacking at the same time. Alex can do it without penalty, but Liz take it a step further and can do it while CHARGING.

>Let me run you through the math real quick: Let's say you wanted to Charge one target, shoot another one, and this triggers an AoO on a third. Normally it would cost something like 6(charge)+6(move+shoot)/4(shoot)+2(CT for AoO)= 12-14 AP cost.

>For Liz, it would be 4(Charge)+3(strafe bonus)+1(CT for AoO)= 8 AP. So she'd save 4-6 AP for the same actions.

>>21293285

>Nope, Alex has none right now. Getting one or more will be major sub-arcs in the future though.

>All actions taken in combat come from the same AP pool.

>So I guess we're moving on then?

>Just making sure.

>>21293482
Sure. Let's go kill some giants, Sancho.

>4chan fucking with anybody else right now? I just ate my post three times in a row.

>>21293702
Just got disconnected from 4chan.

>>21293702

I don't think so, atleast not for me.

You launch off the side of the deck and hit the sand at a decent clip.

[ ] Go straight in off the Sat readings.
[ ] Loop around so it's a straight run through to Vegas.
[ ] Get to higher ground, get a direct visual.

>>21293724
[X] Get to higher ground, get a direct visual.

Stay out of sight ourself but we want enough data so we know what route to take so we can get in, blow up the Artillery and bug the fuck out.

File: 1351235063841.jpg-(142 KB, 815x815, Biggs Darklighter.jpg)

>>21293724
>[ ] Loop around so it's a straight run through to Vegas.
We're going in, we're going in full throttle, that ought to keep those Cores off our back.

>>21293724
>Loop around so it's a straight run through to Vegas.
If we can get help from Vegas this would be preferable
otherwise,
[ ] Get to higher ground, get a direct visual.

>>21293724
>[X] Loop around so it's a straight run through to Vegas.