>>22253486
We need visual confirmation that the space marines fighting the Protoss are Thousand Sons and not Ultramarines.

Also, can we raise the Protoss through the ART comm link?

>>22253486

What forces are attacking the Toss again? Are they Thousand Sons or Ultramarines?

Have we ID'd whether the skeletons are Necrons or Terminators?

>>22253486

Are the protoss wearing standard issue protoss armor with the golden decor? Or are they more darkly armored?

The scout MI should be able to send firing solutions on the enemy forces to the other MI for them to launch nukes as well.

>>22253664
We have a positive ID on the second space marine force heading towards the portal as being Thousand Sons.

>>22253633

We have confirmation.

MetaOP posted a pic last thread.

>>22253664
>>22253633
Your scout can confirm Thousand Sons fighting the Protoss.

You cannot positively ID the robots, though they lack the green glowy bits and designs that would mark them as Necrons. Maybe Terminators, but you're not sure.

>>22253848
Your scout can indeed do this.

For reference, Team 5 is...

Elaine, Redemption Squad, Marc Lecointe, Mouse, Isel, Rodger Young Crew, Yuna, Aurors, TG Soldiers, X-Com NOVA Commandos, MI Squad B, X-COM NOVA Veteran 1, 2, 3, Yamada

>>22253993

Have him spot for a tac nuke strike.

The comm channels to the protoss should be the same as when we were in fleet combat.

Tell them to get their heads down and pray for not-1s.

>>22253993

Plot tactical solutions for low-yield strikes on the heavy concentrations of marines, then flank with our MI and X-COM troops. Have Elaine on standby to heal, Lecointe has field command of the X-Com troops. Aurors will provide concealment and anti-psyker support.

Rolled 29

>>22254023
>>22254059
Your plot tactical solutions for the marine reinforcements on their way to the fighting and give the order. Your Mobile Infantry takes to the sky, leaping up as their jump-rockets flare with power...

>>22253993
Have Elaine and Yuna cast ReRaise and Shell on the remaining members of the MI squad, respectively.
Have the Aurors cast Protego Horriblis on them as well.

Then have the MI squad move to meet up with their scout while the rest of the team moves towards the Protoss shuttle.

Then it should be safer for the MI to fire their nukes at the Thousand Son forces.

Can we fire on the Thousand Sons engaged with the Protoss without catching the Protoss in the nuke?

>>22254135

Its kind of sad when I see 29 as: Not Bad.

>>22254135
Your X-COM troops scramble to get into position in time, the Mobile Infantry giving them a bit of a head-start before unleashing hell. A rain of tactical nuclear missiles falls on the reinforcements to the fighting.

Sand turns to glass as several mushroom clouds rise into the sky courtesy of your Mobile Infantry. However, several Rubric Marines and assorted support troops escape the devastation by the MI's targeting being slightly off. Disordered by the heavy assault, they don't last long when Marc leads the X-COM Commandos in a flanking assault, firing plasma rifles that eat through the Marine's ceramite plating with ease until nothing is left. The remaining Veterans sniper from longer range with their phaser rifles, taking only a few losses to lucky Bolter fire before the Marines are overwhelmed. Those losses are easily restored by Elaine, her healing powers enhanced by the Raise-prolonging power of the RED-2.

>Thousand Sons reinforcements obliterated.

>>22254303

How's the remaining marine's dispersion? And the protoss?

>>22254303
Get on the comm with the Protoss.

"Protoss group, this is Task Force 38. We are moving up to your position to provide support."

Provide the support magic from here >>22254158
Then provide the Protoss with long-range fire support.
Make sure that the spellcasters are safe behind a dune.

>>22254303

If those are terminators, the EMP pulse should have fucked them up.

>>22254403
>>22254303

The Redemption Squad can form energy shields too, can't they?

If there's return-fire from the Thousand Sons, or from another hidden source, they could form a sort of energy-shield phalanx to help protect Elaine and the rest of the casters and/or support personnel.

>>22254303
What's the situation with the remaining Thousand Sons? Also, the robots; are they still moving?

File: 1356657506427.png-(39 KB, 300x300, 1322648488402.png)

>>22254328
The other group of Thousand Sons is still laying into the Protoss. Lines have been broken and it's more or less a free for all, making nukes not an option unless you don't mind hitting your allies.

>Wehavereserves.jpg

>>22254403
"En Taro Adun, Task Force 38. We are glad to have your aid in this battle!"

>>22254432
They don't seem to be affected.

>>22254403
Elaine begins casting, and occasionally Yuna manages to summon the power to get off a spell as well.

>>22254602

Begin discriminatory fire, feed telemetry to the Toss via our Scout MI.

Try to reform the line so the Thousand Sons are inside an L, us on one line, them on the other.

>>22254602

Then open up on the enemy.

Concentrate fire on units that are not currently in close-combat with the protoss and clear areas that the protoss can consolidate and fight together instead of piecemeal where they might be flanked and killed.

>>22254602
Attempt to position our forces so that the Thousand Sons are in front of us, and the Protoss either to our right or left.
That way we can get the TS in a cross-fire, without threat of friendly fire.

Also, have all soldiers take aimed shots, with a preference on Thousand Marines in the back of their group, or those not engaged by a Protoss.

Give priority targeting to any detected sorcerors.

Yuna, stick with Elaine, her Reality Emitter will protect you from Chaos magics.

Rolled 70

>>22254725
>>22254708
Your forces begin advancing on the Thousand Sons/Protoss position...

>>22254602

Aurors, jinx their asses off.

Roger Young crew, Yamada, provide covering fire but keep your heads down, for christ's sake.

File: 1356659160906.jpg-(41 KB, 200x311, 200px-ThousandSonsPost-Heresy.jpg)

Rolled 81, 63 = 144

>>22254811
Using one of your MIs as an observer, you attempt to feed the Protoss information to reform their battle lines, but the Thousand Sons counter with their own movements each time, keeping the fighting a chaotic brawl. Psi-blades slice through ceramite armor as heavy bolter fire batters down plasma shields, the fighting intensifying.

Cresting the final dune standing in the way of their line of fire, your forces enter the fray, firing plasma guns and phasers while your Aurors hang back and attempt to jinx them. With the supporting fire from your units, the Chaos Marines begin to lose ground. A Dragoon successfully explodes a Chaos Dreadnought with an Antimatter charge as Marc manages to blow a Chaos Sorcerer's head off with his plasma rifle.

"KNOCK KNOCK!" he shouts, reloading while charging. "IT'S MOTHERFUCKIN' X-COM!"

>>22254443
Keeping close to Elaine and Yuna, the ladies of Redemption Squad maintain several energy shields to deflect incoming fire, saving the casters from stray or aimed bolts several times. Using her healing magic, Elaine keeps your forces up and active despite the firepower being brought to bear against them.

>>22255073

Now Marc needs to jump on a drone.

Rolled 31, 92 = 123

>>22255073
Your Aurors manage to successfully jinx a few of the Rubric Marines, causing them to drop their weapons and clumsily stumble around, useless in combat now. Another manages to successfully counter a bevy of malevolent spells thrown at the team from a nearby group of Chaos Sorcerers with a Protego Horribilis spell. The warp wizards roar in frustration as one voice rises over the others.

“You again!" Ahriman shouts over the din of battle. "I've come to know that foul stench your touch brings with it, damnable spirit of Order... Come to foil me again? I suppose it only fitting we fight once more, but I will not be defeated this time!"

Ahriman begins gathering power to himself, raw Chaos crackling around his armored form.

"The answers... All the answers I've ever wanted are beyond that portal! More knowledge than even the Black Library can offer will be mine! My quest will finally end and all I have to do is kill your minions! And when I'm down with them, for the humiliation inflicted upon me, I'll find a way to snatch that disembodied mass of soulstuff floating through time and space you're using as a form! And the things I will do...”

>>22255167

/sends him a goatsee as well.

>>22255167

Yeah, no, we're gonna kill you here, just like we should have back on Middle Earth.

If there's a line of fire, I want blaster bombs or other support weapons to hit Ahriman with what we've got.

>>22255167
Yuna, Elaine! Holy on Ahriman!
Aurors! Protego Horribilis Maxima! This is going to be a big one!

MI Squad, all of your heavy weapons on Ahriman!

Redemption Platoon, energy shields and reality emitters to maximum.

Everyone else, Reality Emitters to maximum!

>>22255167

Ohhhh!

Tellmetellmetellme!

What depraived things shall we partake in?

Fisting with your helm? Guro? NTR?

>>22255167

So... I guess we can't talk this over this time?

Quite a shame. Aside from you, there's only been exactly one enemy that was willing to settle our differences through a chat or some other way than fighting.

>>22255232
>>22255167
Mouse, if you've got a bead on Ahriman, shoot him with your mass rifle. Make sure your Reality Emitter is set to max and you're behind the Auror wards.

Isel, get behind their cover.

TG Soldiers, Mass Rifles, target Ahriman!

>>22255232
Aurors should cast Protego Maxima in combination with Fianto Duri and Repello Inimicum.
That produces a near-impregnable defense.

File: 1356660350703.png-(586 KB, 384x708, THIStimeIllgetthemdamnelves.png)

>>22255203

>31
Ahriman's energy reaches a crescendo and he raises his arms and staff, curtains of pink and blue fire erupting from the ground and from rifts in the air to slam against the Protego Horribilis barrier. The streams of warp-fire press and press and press until finally the barrier shatters and the firestorm bathes one of your X-COM NOVA Veteran Squads in it, causing them to scream and shout as their flesh runs like wax only to twist and reform into terrible shapes.
>Lose 12 X-COM NOVA Veterans.
>12 Chaos Spawn enter the fray.

>92
Despite Ahriman's fearsome show of power, the Protoss continue to cut through the Thousand Sons now that your forces are aiding them. A Chaos Marine with a heavy bolter sprays fire at one Zealot, but the alien warrior leaps into the air to avoid it, bringing his psi-blades down to bisect the warrior as he turns and lands behind him. A Dragoon reduces another to atoms with its phase-disruptor as the High Templar summons a Psionic Storm to tear apart a trio of wounded Obliterators nearby. Between this ferocious counter attack and your own assault, the enemy's forces are nearly depleted.

>>22255394

Elaine, Esuna those spawn, we might still save them.


Everyone else, fire on Ahriman, we can't let him keep fighting. Aurors are on anti-psyker and proection,

File: 1356660668271.jpg-(121 KB, 500x367, ComeatmeBROOOOOOOOO.jpg)

Rolled 26, 38, 51, 75 = 190

>>22255232
Your Mobile Infantry fire phasers, autocannons, heavy flamers and more at the arch-sorcerer, hitting the ground all around him as they drop from the sky in a perfect firing circle.

>>22255237
>>22255257
"Talking here will solve nothing. My quest WILL end!" Ahriman roars, the ring around his finger glowing as a shrill shriek echoes around the battlefield, a hooded and armored figure bursting from the sand near Elaine and lunging at her with a black blade.

>>22255273
"Got it!" Mouse says, nodding to the others. "Come on boys, time to bag us a baddy!"

>>22255383
Your Aurors begin bringing up additional defenses in addition to re-erecting the Protego Horribilis barrier.

>>22255439

Or her cures.

Her 'It counts as healing' might do something.

>>22255470
Nazgul?! Ahriman, you bird fucker!
Redemption Squad! A-B Gas Grenades, right on Elaine! The gas won't hurt her, but it should hurt the Wraith!

>>22255504
>>22255470
In addition, Elaine has Sylphie's Clothes, and still has the Spellcaster Armor gauntlets; she can active their shields reflexively to protect her from the Nazgul.

>>22255470
Really? A Nazgul? Someone set the damn thing on fire and let's get on with shoving a boot up Ahriman's ass.

>>22255470

Elaine.

Its a Nazgul.

Just stab him.

Arsehole dies due to cooties

...

Unless you have something down there between your le- /gets brainzapped

>>22255470

Redemption Squad, form up around Elaine!

One or two of you fly Elaine to a safe distance away while the rest carefully engage him.

If one or two of the Aurors aren't busy, should we have 'em cast a Patronus charm at the Nazgul? It'd conjure a creature especially suited for fighting dark entities such as Nazgul.

>>22255653
The Redemption Squad should already be around Elaine. The anti-evil properties of Aglaophotis-B Gas Grenades should weaken the Nazgul to allow for it to be defeated.

And the Aurors, are setting up a defense ward right now, that rivals Hogwarts, so their hands are full. Though I suppose we could order one of them to cast Patronus on the Nazgul.

File: 1356661831881.jpg-(27 KB, 279x500, ahriman.jpg)

>>22255470
Ahriman erects a psychic shield as the Mobile Infantry unload, their weapons reflected or absorbed by the barrier as the ancient warlock laughs. The attacks of Mouse and the others' do the same, the squad hitting the deck as tiny black holes sail over their heads... for the most part.

Ahriman growls as a single Mass-Rifle shot penetrates the barrier and strikes him in the shoulder, annihilating his pauldron and ripping up the shoulder beneath.

The Aurors manage to get their defenses up just in time as Ahriman exhales a billowing cloud of dark smoke at the Mobile Infantry around him. The barriers shimmer to life, repelling the spell until it dissipates.

Elaine's eyes widen as the monster with the Morgul blade nears her. Even more so as a beautiful woman with short, sea-green hair and rippling muscles interposes, attempting to parry the blade and failing. A scream rips from her mouth, both Elaine's and Heat's as the weapon slips past her armor and into flesh, shattering into many shards of metal that worm their way into her flesh as another sword appears in the Ring-Wraith's hand.

Heat crashes to the ground as her sisters scream and charge the monster, breaking formation to tear it apart...

>>22255698

I guess we should see how it goes. Defending against Ahriman's attacks is probably a priority, given that he's nearly at full strength with no gellar fields or any goddesses nearby to wrassle him to the ground.

>>22255744
Aurors! Now that the defenses are up, Patronus charm against that Nazgul!

Ballistae, throw an A-B Grenade between us and the Chaos Spawn, and another one at Elaine's feet to protect her!

Yuna, can you cast an Esuna on Heat before the curse takes effect?

Elaine! Use your Spellcaster Armor gauntlets to put up a shield to protect yourself!

Redemption Platoon, use phasers to set the Ring-Wraith's robes on fire, then use Aglaophotis-B Gas Grenades to weaken it!

>>22255744

Hit the Nazgul with fire, all other units keep hitting Ahriman, keep him on the defensive.

>>22255804
>>22255744
Mouse, TG Soldiers, X-COM Commandos, Mobile Infantry B, continue firing on Ahriman.

Protoss High Templar, can you aid us by stripping away Ahriman's psi shield? Without his protections, we can take him down.

File: 1356662678794.png-(58 KB, 640x480, AisforAglaophotis.png)

Rolled 47, 12 = 59

>>22255592
"Fire..." Spark growls, flames suddenly dancing to life around her and the other Squad members.

"I think we can handle that!" Blasta snarls, directing a torrent of supernatural flame towards the Nazgul.

>>22255653
"I've got her!" Ballistas shouts, grabbing Elaine and flying off.

>>22255698
"Grenades! Got it!" Spark calls, pulling the grenades and tossing them amidst the fiery assault.

>>22255958
Ballistas! Be careful you don't leave the protective fields of everyone's collective Reality Emitters!

Aurors, use Patronus Charms against the Nazgul.

>>22255958

Arrrrrggggghh

Clumsy Auror Strikes Back

>>22255990

Seconding this.

Which one of you fuckups suggested LEAVING OUR REALITY EMITTERS IN A CHAOS BATTLEFIELD?

Airlock for you once we get our bodies back.

File: 1356663303688.gif-(28 KB, 287x275, Chaos_Spawn_2.gif)

Rolled 27, 66, 62 = 155

>>22255804
"Hands are full! I'll do so once I set down!" Ballistas reports.

"Let me go! I have to save her!" Elaine pleads from Ballistas' arms.

>>22255804
"I... I don't... I'll try..." Yuna mutters.

"Expecto Patronum!!!" an Auror shouts as a glowing bird-spirit soars towards the Nazgul.

The Nazgul manages to bury the blade into another of the sisters, Spark falling to the ground with a scream as the Nazgul attempts to maintain its ground against the magical and physical assaults. The Aglaophotis and Patronum charms only seem to slow it down, but then the furious counter by the remaining Redemption Squad members hits him, streams of fire burning cloak and flesh, melting armor and steel as the Nazgul lets out another shrill shriek before being reduced to cinders.

>>22255832
"A worthy plan. I will begin," the Templar states as your troops continue to pour the fire on. This is made problematic as the Chaos Spawns surge towards another of your X-COM Veteran squads.

>>22256106
Redemption Squad, throw A-B Gas Grenades to hem the Chaos Spawn in.

Ballistas, let Elaine down and let her try to Esuna Heat and Spark.

Aurors, continue keeping up the Protego Maxima charms to keep the defenses up, Ahriman is only going to get more desperate.
One of you, and not Pennysworth, cast a jinx on Ahriman.

>>22256106

Elaine, Spawn first, curses second, triage, you know this.

>>22256172
Wait, scratch that last action.

One of you Aurors, cast Finite Incantatem on the Chaos Spawns to try to break the spell.

>>22256106
>>22256172
Redemption Squad, you've got canteens of Holy Water, use them on Spark's and Heat's wounds, it'll slow down the curse!

>>22255990
"Oh! Right!" Ballistas responds, choosing a spot near the Aurors and setting down.

The Protoss Templar curses in an alien language as he fails to overcome Ahriman's power. At the same time, Ahriman laughs as a surge of warp lightning dances around the battlefield, cancelling out the Auror's protections.

Meanwhile the X-COM NOVA troops fight bravely against the monstrosities their fellows have become, firing again and again into the shifting chaotic masses of flesh, maws, and bone-blades. More than once a hapless NOVA troop is overwhelmed and scooped into a hungering mouth, screams echoing through the air as bones crunch and flesh is torn. At the same time, the phaser rifles are effective in burning away huge chunks of the demonic flesh.
>Lose 4 X-COM Veterans.
>Chaos Spawn reduced to 6.

Rolled 22, 6, 22 = 50

>>22256237
"R-roger!" Blaze responds, fumbling for her canteen as Blasta begins to pour the blessed water on the wounds. The others begin tossing A-B grenades at the Spawn, while Ballistas grabs Elaine and carts her over to the Squad.

"I'm not a... a parcel!!!" Elaine protests as she is carried again. When she hits the ground, she wastes no time in attempting an Esuna on the Spawn.

>>22256207
"We'll give it our best shot!"

>>22256172
"Right!"

>>22256291
Elaine, Yuna, try to cast Holy on Ahriman. The sooner we end this fight, the sooner we can heal the wounded.

Redemption Squad, you've got canteens of Holy Water, use them on Spark's and Heat's wounds, it'll slow down the curse!
Others of the Squad, use A-B Gas Grenades to stop the Chaos Spawn from moving forward.
X-COM Veterans engaged with the Chaos Spawn, retreat into the Aglaophotis Gas.

Aurors, recast the Protego Maxima charm with the Fianto Duri enhancement.

File: 1356664460792.png-(236 KB, 640x480, 1282918451499.png)

>>22256355
Dammit!
Marc! Shoot Ahriman in the head! Then open your canteen of holy water, and throw it at Ahriman!

File: 1356664959011.jpg-(128 KB, 636x427, 1353608600502.jpg)

>>22256355
"It's... it's no good, I can't restore them!" Elaine says, the Esuna failing to work.

"Me neither!" an Auror reports. "They're resisting too strongly!"

"Whelps of spellslingers, you can't retrieve them once Tzeentch has a hold of them," Ahriman laughs. "Now, prepare yourself!"

"Jinx him!"

"I'm busy trying to get another ward up!"

"Wait, the commanders said something about Pennysworth and the jinx!"

"That can't be right!"

"That's what they said! 'One of you, Pennysworth, cast a jinx."

"Don't worry, guys, I've got this!"

>6

That Dang Auror casts a jinx... and Ahriman's laughter rings louder as he manipulates the spell right around back at the Aurors, completely disrupting the casting of new wards and causing them to collapse to the ground as their legs become like jelly.

Ahriman draws in another breath and exhales a dark cloud around the Mobile Infantry that eats through their armor and causes their flesh to twist and writhe, mutating until all that's left are puddles of goo. Only two of the six Mobile Infantry deployed are able to jump jet back fast enough to escape this fate.
>Lose 4 Mobile Infantry.
>Aurors disabled for this battle.

>>22256355
Was Yuna capable of casting Esuna on the Chaos Spawn?

>>22256519

Goddamnit Fumbles.

Elaine, raise our MI, and cure their suits.

Everyone else, KILL.

THAT.

FUCKING.

SMUG.

BASTARD.

Redemption Squad, kill the spawns.

>>22256519
Elaine, Yuna! You have to cast Holy on Ahriman! We can't sustain these losses much longer!

Templar! You must try again!

Ballistas! Have the Redemption Platoon now fire their Toxiguns at Ahriman! One of his pauldrons was blasted off and his shoulder should be exposed! A few of you also throw gas grenades at him!

X-COM NOVA Veterans and Commandoes, take out the Chaos Spawn and keep them from interrupting Elaine, Yuna, or the Redemption Platoon!

File: 1356665544268.jpg-(46 KB, 539x347, Lacointe2.jpg)

Rolled 66, 12, 90, 30, 52 = 250

>>22256402
"Sonnuvabitch is going DOWN!" Marc roars, taking careful aim with his Heavy Plasma.

>>22256534
Any other White Mage would find it impossible to pull a person back from a puddle formed by utter Chaos. Elaine is not 'any other White Mage', and thus has a chance to succeed at this nominally impossible task.

"Payback time! Come on, girls!" Blasta shouts, leading the charge on the Chaos Spawn as the X-COM Veterans attempt to pull back into the gas cloud generated by Elaine's biggest fans.

Yuna attempts to pull herself together to join the fighting as the Protoss continue to battle the rest of the Thousand Sons.

>>22256633
Once the Chaos Spawn are taken care of, we should have the Redemption Platoon take advantage of the opening created in Ahriman's armor by that lucky Mass Rifle shot, and pump him full of Aglaophotis-B.

Also, lots of the gas, too. I'm pretty sure he doesn't even wear his helmet most of the time.

>>22256633
Don't forget that Marc is supposed to throw his canteen of holy water at Ahriman after he takes that shot!

File: 1356666078167.gif-(1.82 MB, 405x430, 1321833651906.gif)

>>22256633
Despite her extreme skill and power developed over the long battles fought with the Task Force, even Elaine cannot restore the Warp-tainted flesh to life.

The Redemption Squad flies over to the remaining Chaos Spawn, emerging from the red gas cloud near them like avenging angels, wielding shields, axes, hammers, swords, and maces of pure burning energy. Cruel fangs impact on ethereal shields as the girls carve up and smash down the beasts with expert strikes, flying around the brute-force blows of the Spawn with ease. In no time at all, the monsters are slain, their remains melting away to nothing as the Chaos magic destabilizes it.

"That's for Spark and Heat, you fucking FUCKERS!" Blasta spits.

>Chaos Spawn defeated.

Spurred on by the success of their leader, the Thousand Sons fight back against the Protoss with sudden ferocity, several Zealots exploding into psychic fire as a Dragoon explodes into a goo-spattered shell.

(Cont.)

File: 1356666540227.jpg-(125 KB, 281x483, 1326363481068.jpg)

Rolled 38

>>22256768
>Who Dares activates.

Marc's plasma gun fires, the bolt of superheated matter punching through Ahriman's shield mid-laugh and into his gut. The sorcerer doubles over screaming as Marc straightens and tosses his canteen at him. The water hits arm and dribbles uselessly over the heavy metal... until some of it seeps into the breach created by the shot. Ahriman's screaming doubles in volume as this happens and he glares at the hero.

"You... will pay..." Ahriman hisses, tossing a bolt of Warp-power at the hero.

>>22256883
The Bolt of Change strikes Marc squarely, knocking him off his feet as he begins to convulse, his flesh spasming and twisting as mutation begins to take hold of him.

>>22256883
>>22256768
NOW!
Redemption Platoon, toxiguns and A-B Gas Grenades, all on Ahriman!

Mouse, TG Soldiers, Mass Rifle volley on Ahriman while his shield is down!

X-COM NOVA Veterans and Commandoes, support the Protoss and mop up the remaining Thousand Sons presence.

Yamada, Rodger Young crew, provide some fire support from a defensive position.

Elaine! Esuna on Marc to stop the changes!

Isel, Mobile Infantry, throw Holy Water onto Marc!

>>22256908

SOMEONE DUMP HOLY WATER ON HIM

>>22256924
Scratch that for Yamada and the Rodger Young Crew: have them throw their canteens of Holy Water at Ahriman as well.

>>22256908
I was hoping that the Reality Emitter Mk. III would be enough to stop these kinds of Warp powers.

Do we really need the Mk. IV?

>>22257084

Yes.

The fact that Marc can resist sectoids easily I was hoping would help, too, even if he doesn't have a Mind-Amp.

Rolled 69, 51, 62, 45 = 227

>>22257084
Oh it would for most psykers. Ahriman isn't your run of the mill warlock.

>>22256924
>>22256986
Your troops scramble to take advantage of this opening.

File: 1356668024373.jpg-(49 KB, 300x322, 1340247546461.jpg)

>>22257154
It must be /tg/ Meta Quest when decidedly average rolls are a cause for celebration.

>>22257216

My threshold for ...acceptable is 30+

>>22257154
The Redemption Platoon pull their toxiguns out and fire, a hail of armor-piercing darts slamming into Ahriman and pumping him full of Aglaophotis-B as a few others toss A-B grenades at him, filling the air with the reddish gas. Ahriman begins to gasp and breath heavily as his connection to the Warp is cut off by the potent stuff. Elaine races to Marc's side and casts Esuna, her boosted power allowing the spell to wipe away the mutations induced by Ahriman's curse.

The NOVA Veterans and Commandoes operate with consummate skill, moving into flank and cut apart the last remaining squad of Marines available to Ahriman as the Protoss destroy the two Chaos Dreadnoughts that remain.

"Buh-bye now!" Mouse shouts with glee as he leads the TG soldiers in firing a Mass Rifle volley at the wounded magician. The ground around him is torn apart as the first shots go wide, then one takes off his arm, another a leg, and the final shot, the head.

The last of the Thousand Sons lies slain as the Protoss move towards you.

"Our thanks. We were holding our own, but they were wearing us down. If you hadn't come when you did, we'd be taking even heavier losses... and in the face of that one's power, our victory was not assured," the High Templar says. "We will link up with you for the time being."

>Gained 1 High Templar, 2 Dragoons, 8 Zealots.

Rolled 67, 53 = 120

>>22257287
Meanwhile Elaine kneels down, laying a hand on both the downed Spark and Heat, her face taut.

"That... that was stupid of you," she scolds. "I'm not that frail... I could've taken that hit, you didn't have to risk yourselves."

"We couldn't risk YOU," Heat murmurs. "What if... what if that blade cut through your spells and armor? It did ours... You can't be hurt like that."

Elaine winces. "Heat..."

"Besides..." Spark murmurs, smiling. "You... you'll heal us up. Just like new. Right?"

Elaine laughs, a tear dripping from her eye. "Yeah... I guess I will. All right... Give me a moment..."

>>22257287

Glad to have you.


I take it you have not been able to make psychic contact with Tassadar, then?

>>22257287
Elaine, please tend to Heat and Spark, the Holy Water only slowed down the curse.

"Thank you, Templar. We will have you with Tassadar soon.
"Yuna, if you can, please tend to the wounded."

Have the Aurors, once they're back up, create more water to refill everyone's canteens with more Holy Water.

Isel, send a drone to check on the robots.

Mouse, can you do any repairs on the shuttle?

>>22257329

/tears hair and eats hat

>>22257287

Have Elaine aid the fallen Redemption Squad members by casting Esuna on their wounds. Yuna should help with Esuna as well; I can't begin to imagine what she went through, but there are lives at stake here.

>High Templar

High Templar, would you mind telling us the events that led to this battle?

>>22257329
"Heavenly wind, carry us to the fountain of power! Esuna!" Elaine chants, putting a hand on both of the girls' wounds. The black metal shards in both tremble, then disintegrate under the shower of green sparks that bombards them. Both girls sigh with relief as the curse is wiped away. Elaine keeps her hands on the wounds and focuses, her voice tight and controlled as she chants once more.

"Blessing Breeze, blow in energy!" she calls out, blue waves washing over the forms of both Heat and Spark, and restoring their flesh. They blink and begin to stir, getting up under their own power. They cry out, happily and both hug Elaine at the same time.

"See! I knew you could do it!" Heat says.

"You're the best, Elaine!" Spark exclaims.

"Girls... please... not so... tight!" Elaine gasps, trying to breath.

>>22257386
Let's see, how many of the Cortical Stacks did we recover?

This stage is only half-done, and we've lost:
4 MI
16 X-COM NOVA Veterans

"Yuna, can you please tend to Marc and some of the other wounded?"

Isel's scouting ahead with a drone. Aurors refilling our canteens.
Mouse seeing if the Shuttle can fly again.

File: 1356669109344.jpg-(73 KB, 800x600, protoss-shuttle.jpg)

Rolled 21

>>22257332
>>22257348
>>22257375

"No, we are still cut off from the Fleet," the High Templar shakes his head. "Our shuttles were caught in a strange wave of energy that blasted out from the site of your ship's crash. The next thing we knew, our automated pilot was malfunctioning and we crashed in this desert. We were taking stock of things when those soldiers crested a dune and assaulted us."

"No dice boss," Mouse reports. "It's in salvageable condition, but we just don't have the gear necessary to repair it... That and none of us knows diddly about 'toss tech."

"Launching recon drone," Isel murmurs, distractedly.

>>22257360
How's it taste?

>>22257475

Tastes of Engineer.

>>22257473
You recovered the four from the eaten X-COM Vets. The rest were transmogrified.

>>22257475
The drone only manages to get a little closer to the robots before one turns and fires a thin beam of energy that slices the remote apart. Isel sighs.

"They look like Terminators, but they're not Terminators," Isel says. "Dunno what they are, but if they're shooting at anything they see, they're probably not on our side."

File: 1356669244557.jpg-(14 KB, 640x480, 1303869997480.jpg)

>>22257475
>21

Can Elaine heal the shuttle back to usable condition?

>>22257522

Hey, its not so bad.

We'll only lose the drone.

>>22257475

Wait wait wait.

Terminators that aren't Terminators and using energy weapons?

Please tell me this isn't Labbrate's successful autonomous drone test.

>>22257548

ALL OF MY WHAT

>>22257519
"Isel, can you display what the drone last saw on your ART specs? One of us might be able to identify them."

>>22257560

Zerg Quest.

They were always trying to iron out the autonomous terminator functions so cyberbrate wouldn't need to babysit.

>>22257519

>Mouse

I don't suppose you'd know of some way to contact The Doctor? With all the reality-breaking and stuff going on, we could really use his help right now.

>Not-Terminators

Do we have any binoculars or some way to zoom in to their position? Perhaps we can see if there are any identifying marks or such.

>>22257561
"Sure."

The picture of a large number of semi-skeletal robots appears on a projected hologram. As Isel said, they look similar to the infamous Terminator robot, but thicker, more armored, with built-in weapons in addition to large rifles carried in the hands.

>>22257639
>binoculars or some way to zoom in to their position
ART Specs.
Federation Image Magnification technology, as part of their off-the-shelf ocular implant tech.

>>22257639
"Why do people keep asking me that?" Mouse wonders, annoyed. "Just because I'm UNIT doesn't mean I have him on speed-dial!"

>>22257639
ART specs.

>>22257669

Do those terminators match what we'd know to be Terminators from Skynet Quest, or logical evolutions thereof?

>>22257597
Zoom in on them using the ART Specs. I want to know if any of these traits are on them.

1. One looks like Kim Jung Il.
2. Fleshy core in the middle.
3. Liquid terminator around a normal one.

>>22257669
"Can you blame people? You're from UNIT!
"Anyway. Team, rest up in the shade of the shuttle. Mobile Infantry, can you zoom in those Terminators? How many do you count?"

We could just nuke them from here.

>>22257654

Have the Aurors recovered from Pennyworth's reflected jinxes yet? If so, then perhaps a Mending Charm on the shuttle would help.

We could also attempt to communicate with the Terminators using a "Sonorus" spell to amplify voices. If there's an entity driving them, then it could possibly be interested in talking to us.

>>22257669

Did any of the terminator weapons survive?

Scan them and see if they're usable. The rodger Young crew and Yamada could do with something more beefier than sidearms.

>>22257813

There's a risk of Chaos taint with the weapons. Maybe some of the Thousand Sons weapons would be useable due to Ahriman's Rubric, but it's still no strong guarantee.

>>22257845

Hence the 'scan first' part.

>>22257709
There are a few like number 3, but you don't see the rest.

>>22257690
Logical evolutions? Possibly.

>>22257744
"I'll blame anyone I like for whatever reason I like!" Mouse declares, turning to point at Blasta. "Blasta! You're super loud, and also violent!"

*SMACK*

"See?! Ow..."

"About... About 18, sir," one of the MI reports, needing to jump jet up a bit to get over the dune blocking the robots from most of your sight.

>>22257752
They're recovered thanks to Elaine and Yuna, and the charm doesn't help.

>>22257813
Some of them look like they might be usable.

>>22257893

>There are a few like number 3

Well at least is the Cerebrate Anon.

As long as our protoss allies don't out and attack the shit out of them, we should be ok...

>Some of them look like they might be usable.

Run the scans and confirm it.

Then arm our underarmed fighters with 'em.

>>22257923
Terminators wrapped in liquid terminators is Skynet quest.

It was our specialty actually.
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Skynet

>>22257893
>There are a few like number 3
Yep, Skynet Quest.
After the fall of Skyshark, it seems.

>Some of them look like they might be usable.
The weapons are still meant for Space Marines; I don't know if regular humans, even with Lazarus' soldier boosts, could use them well. Though the MI might be able to.

Make sure that they're sprayed with Holy Water and checked for Chaos and Warp taint before being picked up.

>>22257951

Well as long as we don't run in a Butler call susan.

>>22257893
It's 18 of them. We should try to destroy them from a distance rather than engaging them within their own weapons range.

Isel, are you able to pick up their transmissions, in case you and Mouse need to hack into them?

>>22257951

Then we're in trouble.

>>22257966
Indeed the Terminator weapons are far too large, and also designed to be built into powered armor. Your Mobile Infantry do not lack armaments, so...

Rolled 48

>>22258005
"Trying..."

>>22258040
"Sorta, it's heavily encrypted and using a multi-spectrum transmission code, but I think I can get it if Mouse helps."

>>22258048

Get on it, mouse.

Rolled 55

>>22258061
"OK..." Mouse says, hooking into Isel's transmitter.

>>22258104
"It's no good, I can't get into their systems," Mouse reports. "But I did manage to find two things. First off, they're Void Engineer HIT Marks, not Terminators. Second, they're malfunctioning something fierce."

>>22258133

Malfunctioning how?

>>22258133
"Mouse, Isel, you got one of the Borg Nanite Network Taps on you?
"Is it just the IFF on them that's screwed up, or is their entire AI malfunctioning?"

>>22258152
"They're identifying everything that moves and isn't a HITmark as hostile."

>>22258179
Mobile Infantry, can you take a look at that area where the HITmarks are again; are there any downed HITmarks on the ground?

>>22258221
If there's a downed one, we could Accio it, and have Isel and Mouse take its transceiver and cypher module, and hack the HIT Marks using their own network.

>>22258221
"Doesn't look like it."

>>22258298

Well can you spoof the hitmarks and tag us with it?

>>22258298
Mouse, do you think you could hook into the Protoss Shuttle's communications suite and use it to get into the HIT Mark's network?

Otherwise, we might have to simply destroy them from range.

As a precaution, X-COM NOVA Commandos, can you begin preparing waypoints for blaster bombs, and TG Soldiers, prep Fat Man launchers.

>>22258400
"Sorry boss, I don't think so."

"We'll either need an MI to spot or go airborne ourselves," a Commando warns.

"Loading," a TG soldier responds, breaking out the Fat Man as he and his mates start trudging up the side of a dune.

>>22258329
"Sorry boss, no can do," Mouse apologizes. "I already tried that in the first round."

>>22258529
Elaine, could you please provide the Mobile Infantry with ReRaises?

As much as I'd like to take the HIT Marks intact, we may be better served by just destroying them.

Mouse, do you think you could take the phaser rifles dropped by the fallen X-COM NOVA Veteran Squad, and set them to overload and send out an EMP pulse?

Aurors, with a Wingardium Leviosa spell, do you think you could move the modified phasers to within range of the HIT Marks? Perhaps by moving them high above the robots, then dropping them on top of them?

>>22258851
Wait, instead of Wingardium Leviosa, Waddiwasi might be better since it's a high-speed version.

>>22258851
"Right away," Elaine says, beginning to cast.

"Uh... Yeah, I think I could. The EMP might not do much, but the explosion should, set up right," Mouse nods.

The Aurors look up from their work tying up and gagging Pennysworth. "Righto," they say. "We'll wait for your signal."

>>22258949

Have the MI prepare a long-range bombardment on the Marks, assuming the rest of the group is at minimum safe distance. Have Marc ready to lead our remaining forces to mop up, Redemption squad is on defense.

Aurors are to try and create barriers and/or disable enemy machines as possible.

>>22258949
Yuna? Do you think you can summon something? Or is that still blocked.

Rolled 71, 61, 95, 37 = 264

>>22259281
>>22259388
Yuna shakes her head, but the rest of your troops swiftly fall into line.

"All right... Phaser drop NOW!" Marc shouts as the M.I.s leap into the air.

>>22259595
Propelled by magic, the phaser-bomb lands among the mass of robots and detonates, damaging all of them and destroy the third that were closest. Blaster bombs and mini-nukes come next, tiny lasers deploying from the remaining robots' bodies to strike and detonate the explosives prematurely.

A few still get through.

As another round of explosions hammers the desert, Marc roars a battle-cry and leads the remaining infantry forward. The six HIT-marks still remaining open fire with their rifles, thin beams of energy cutting through the defenses of several soldiers only for them to be brought back to life by Elaine moments later. Seeing this, the robots change tactics and begin to fire miniature missiles from their backs at Elaine, but Redemption Platoon manages to bright up an energy barrier to shield her. The missiles crash against the barrier, which shimmers, then dissolves, much to the surprise of the Platoon, who shout in shock as some of the missiles break past and strike two of the Platoon, who shimmer and fade from existence.

Several of the HIT-marks appear to be rebuilding themselves with nanites as Marc's attack succeeds in destroying the remaining 6.

>Lose 2 Redemption Platoon.

>>22259932

Continue pouring fire.

Aurors, jinxes please. Have them drop their missiles launchers or foul them up.

All troops, missiles are top priority targets if launched. Knock them from the sky.

Mouse, can you mess up their targeting?

>>22260025

They're all down.

Now they STAY down.

>>22259932

All troops on anti-nanite duty. I want every bit of their remains reduced to a molecular level.

>>22260042

Leave a missile or two.

If they spilled out.

I want to know what the fuck it was.

>>22259932

If any X-Commers or other infantry have Phaser Rifles, they should use them on the remains. Disintegration and/or incineration should stop the nanites fairly effectively.

Rolled 80

>>22260042
>>22260135
Your troops attempt to destroy the remains.

>>22260076
Unfortunately once the body reaches a certain level of damage, it seems the nanites disassemble the main weaponry.

>>22260203
The 'Commers manage to use their phasers to atomize the nanite puddles before they can regenerate.

The portal stands before you.

>>22260025
>>22259932

Aurors could use Incendio spells to burn/melt nanites. Alternatively, they could cast Supersensory charms on the troops to make them more aware of their surroundings.

>>22260221

Regroup, check for injured and rearm.

Elaine, how are the girls? They might not be taking this well.

>>22260221

I think the Aurors should cast Supersensory charms on everyone. The extra awareness will help with whatever they have to deal with on the other side of the portal.

Who should Elaine cast "ReRaise" on?

>>22260221

Did Elaine try to raise who we lost? We should at least try.

>>22260257
"They aren't..." Elaine says. The girls look at the battlefield dully.

"But... but we were unbeatable..." Blasta mutters.

"Elaine... Elaine, bring them back! You... you fixed me, you can fix them... right?" Heat pleads. Elaine winces and shakes her head.

"There's nothing left to Raise, or I'd be putting my heart and soul into it, Heat... I... I'm sorry..." Elaine says.

"But... they were our sisters..." Spark says, tears leaking from her eyes. "How... how could this happen?"

>>22260358

Girls, thats why we installed the stacks and made backups.

It's just a temporary separation, you'll see them soon once we return to the fleet.

Unfortunately, no one is invincible.

Not even Spike.

>>22260402
The girls fall quiet at your pronouncement.

>>22260358

Not all is lost, Redemption Platoon. There are ways to bring them back, even from this.

Reality is ripping itself apart, and there are many others like Ahriman who are using this chaos to try to control all of creation. If we do not succeed in repairing the damage here, then everything will be lost. All of you here now fight to save your fallen sisters, and to ensure that everything will have a future to live in.

>>22260501

Right, so lets finish this so we can all go home together.

[x] Portal

File: 1356681092248.png-(132 KB, 393x396, Rucks.png)

>>22260527
Your troops begin to file into the portal as your awareness is once again pulled elsewhere...

>-Team 3
Darius, Agrias, Lavian, Alicia, Sonia, Aeshma, KI Tactical Squad A, Abjurers, Techno-Wizards, White Mage Squad A, Devastator Squad A and B, X-COM NOVA Veteran 7

"They wake up... If waking up is what you can call it... tagging along with their good buddy Darius as he races along the ruins of a modern city."

"Well, a modern city in pieces, floating above a multicolored abyss. A big old chunk of Sarajevo, streets and all just taken apart and put back together like one big dungeon. Streets of asphalt act as bridges between buildings that float unsupported over endless air. Sidewalks rearranged and reconnected from the window of one warehouse to what was once a library. A maze of buildings and streets flying over the very stuff of creation itself."

"Kinda reminded me of home, to be honest."

"But this ain't about me. This is about those poor kids in Task Force 38, and how they're gonna get home."

>>22260724
That is nothing like how Rucks talks.

>>22260724

Good evening, gentlebeings.

How is everyone doing?

/begin infodump + ordersto reconfigure stacks

>>22260736
If you can point out to me the errors so I can fix them, I'd be obliged. I'm running off of my memory.

>>22260774
"Kids give Darius quite a start. They get to explaining real fast, and Darius listens. The Cap'n tells 'em the group's hold up in the warehouse just over yonder. He had stayed behind to act as overwatch while the rest of 'em made a break for it. City's full of devils and demons... and worse. New Chaos got here before the Force did, and they've been making life difficult for just about everyone that ain't them. They reach the warehouse and the usual round of explanations get done. Thing is, this time there's no obvious trail to the portal. At least, not yet."

>Calling it here for the night, picking up tomorrow at the usual time.

>>22260882

Thanks for the session MetaOP.

Night.

>>22260724
Shouldn't Egon be in this group?
Either him, or the Salarian Field Engineer Team.

Well, at least it's mostly demons. We can handle those.

>>22262973
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/22189474/#p22190102

>adjusted for losses
>-Team 1
Tosh, Cheryl, Farseers, Avatar, Char, SCP Squad, X-COM Squad, Prawn A, Sandmen, KI Tactical Squad C, X-COM NOVA Veteran 4, 5, 6, MI Squad A, White Mage Squad B, Salarian Field Engineer Team

>-Team 2
Star-Lord, BLU, Star Fox team, Spike*DEAD*, Seifer, Fujin, Ryu, UNIT Squad(7/11), Shadowrunners A(10/12) and B, Psions(4/6), Dystopian Squads, Metpharm Secs*DEAD*, Lyla, Matthias

>-Team 3
Darius, Agrias, Lavian, Alicia, Sonia, Aeshma, KI Tactical Squad A, Abjurers, Techno-Wizards, White Mage Squad A, Devastator Squad A and B, X-COM NOVA Veteran 7, Egon

>Team 4
Douglas, Data, Solus, Vitun, Doc Lazarus*DEAD*, Three Gurus, Delta Greens(9/12), Prawn B (16/36), X-Com NOVA Elites A(2/12) & B.

>-Team 5
Elaine, Redemption Squad(18/20), Marc Lecointe, Mouse, Isel, Rodger Young Crew, Yuna, Aurors, TG Soldiers, X-Com NOVA Commandos, MI Squad B(2/12), X-COM NOVA Veteran 1*DEAD*, 2(8/12), 3, Yamada
1 High Templar, 2 Dragoons, 8 Zealots

>Team 6
Holtz, Finalon, Mustadio, Pellaeon, Dr. Cossack, Jack, Mitsune*TAKEN*, Kanako, Zombie Hunters, KI Squad B (19/20 4/4), Confed Marines (3/4)

>>22266363
Seeing it laid out like this, we're really taking heavy losses on both heroes and soldiers.

I'm still reading through the archives, (damnit, how could I let the backlog get over 30 threads long?) but I just want to say that I love you MetaOP for the Captain SNES reference during the Sector HQ battle. Captain SNES is my favorite webcomic and it was rather surprising to see that others on /tg/ read it too.

and now I shall go back to reading the archives.

>>22268213
I've put together our losses.
No difference between Heroes and Troops in this calculation; it's straight up numbers:
>Team 2
20% losses
>Team 4
48.5% losses
>Team 5
22% losses
>Team 6
6% losses

Average Casualties:
24.125%

>>22266363
Ah, something that nearly got forgotten from the battle in Bosnia: two of the Abjurers are equipped with the Warsong Battle Drums and Aleria's Flute of Accuracy.

We also need a report from Darius and Egon on the opposing forces here, besides New Chaos. This Team doesn't have Aglaophotis, but they have lots of phasers, all of whom have the Proton Phaser Modification.

>>22268285
Spoilers below.

Actually, it wasn't a Captain SNES reference even though we thought it was.
They were from a being called Dark Falz from Phantasy Star who has the ability to cancel healing magic.

>>22268815
>Rucktalk Disabled.

"Devils, demons, and New Chaos," Darius reports. "We cut through a patrol of each of them on the way here. No losses yet, we've been lucky and the White Mages have been skilled."

>>22269825
Why about the phaser modifications? We're you able to test them out?

>>22269905
"Yes," Egon says, pushing up the glasses on his head. "The phaser modifications works fine on anything incorporeal, but not so much on anything possessing a body... by whichever meaning of that you use."

Aeshma and Abjurers, any specific demons, devils and daemons you recognize?

Knowing what they can do can help us take them down far faster.

>>22269905
Stupid autocorrect.
"What about the Proton Phaser Modifications? Were you able to test them?"

We need to figure out where the portal is located.
Do any of the Abjurers have a hawk or raven familiar? Something that flies and that can carry an ART specs in its talons and give us an aerial view of the area.

>>22269992
"So far we've encountered and slain Erinyes, Cornugons, Barbazus, Hezrous, Incubi, Glabrezus, Vrocks, and more Dretches and Manes than I care to count," Aeshma reports.

Well, Otikas the Abjurer has a Parrot named Walnut.

>>22269935
I was hoping for some better results against New Chaos daemonhosts.
Just thinking of all if that A-C sitting back on the Relentless that is going to waste because no one had it on them at the time, makes me wish we were just a little less reckless.

>>22270141
Otikus? Isn't he the Pennysworth of the Abjurer Squad? Can't we get someone other than him?

Or the Techno-Wizards; can they scry for the portal?

>>22270189
The other Abjurers never informed me of what their familiars were.

I suppose we'll have to ask them.

>>22270226
Alright, so we ask the Abjurers about their familiars, see if the Techno-Wizards can scry for the portal.
Also maybe see if the X-COM Squad can get on the roof and use the zoom function on their ART HUDs to look around the area.

>>22270360
Wait. Ask the Techno-Wizards if they have any kind of cloaking or invisibility spell they can cast on the X-Commers before they go on the roof.
We don't want our group to be spotted by the myriad enemies here.

>>22270360
I was going to roll for it, but birds are very common, so one of the Abjurers has a Raven familiar.

>>22270399

Can the Tech-Wizards cast this spell?

Wraith Blade:
Range: One Weapon by Touch
Duration: 2 Melee rounds (30 seconds) per level of experience
Saving Throw: None
P.P.E. Cost: 25

This spell enchants a weapon so that it becomes intangible or ghost like. The weapon can be any kind of weapon, blade or blunt. Arrows can even be enchanted by this spell. While enchanted with this spell, the weapon can pass through non-living solid objects as if they do not. This includes body armors and the weapon is limited by its normal reach. A sword could be driven as far as the wielders hand but no deeper. This means that a sword could usually strike the wearer of body armor or a person in power armor but simply not have the reach to hit the crew of a conventional vehicle or a robot vehicle. The enchanted weapon cannot penetrate magical materials, such as enchanted body armors, and force fields, magical, psychic, or conventional. The weapon inflicts normal damage direct to hit points against most mortal beings. Against supernatural creatures and magical creatures, the weapon is even more effective.

>>22270360
Speaking of the ART Specs, we've got somebody setting up the stacks to upload to someone's set here, right?

Also, I'll be doing this from my phone, so forgive me if I'm slow on replies.

Would it be worth the PPE to make the Raven invisible?
It's a bird, but we're dealing with daemons and demons here. They might put two and two together if the see the bird.

>>22270501
Yes.

>>22270522
Yes, the stacks were reprogrammed.

>>22270931
Though it uses up a Level 2 spell slot, I think we should have the Abjurer whose Raven we're using for scouting purposes cast Invisibility on the bird before it flies up with a pair of ART Specs set to record, and have it fly a circuit of the area, at a fairly high altitude so that it won't be detected.
Also, tie the specs to the bird before the Invisibility spell, so that they also get affected.

>>22270472

alright, Darius, have you been able to get any idea on where we need to go? I'd like to minimize time taken and engagements, we have bigger problems to deal with and we can't afford any more losses.

>>22271067
Sounds good.

>>22271175
"We've been attempting to reach this warehouse to use as a staging area since our arrival. I was planning to begin scouting operations, but it seems you have that well in hand, now."

>>22271067
Are you giving the bird any specific instructions?

>>22271237
Fly up to an altitude of 175~200 feet.
Fly in an expanding spiral pattern around the area.
If you see a glowing tear in space-time, try to get closer to it, but no closer than 100 feet.
Return in 12 minutes.

>>22271283
Seconding. Also familiars have almost human levels of intelligence so it should be able to identify anything interesting/dangerous to focus on/ stay away from.

>>22271311
Thirded.

Rolled 41

>>22271283
"Be safe out there, Nevermore," one of the Abjurers whispers as he lets the bird loose.

>>22271351
The bird flies around the mass of buildings, noting several clashes between devils, demons, and New Chaos troops as it goes. However, it also manages to see something unexpected. There is a platoon of Grand Crusade troops pressing through a group of demons deeper into the city. The bird does not see any portals out in the open, which probably means they are in a building somewhere.

>>22271402
Nevermore could land nearby one of the Grand Crusade soldiers, and we could attempt to make contact.

But do we want to make contact with them?
They're in this for the STOB as well; they'd change this entire sector to what they want it to be, rather than leaving the inhabitants alone.

We need to discuss this first.

>>22271429

They may also be unfriendly to us due to our less-than-ideal handling of this situation. Is there some way we could send a hologram or some sort of magical projection to chat with them? I don't want the raven getting shot down in the crossfire.

>>22271479
We could drop them a note or a pair of ART Specs. The specs use a tritanium frame and diamond lenses; you'd need a Baneblade to break them.

>>22271479
We still come back to the question:
Do we ally with the Grand Crusade, or are we competitors in this race?

As much as the former would be helpful, we can't ignore the fact that they ARE a Meta-Aware Faction bent on bringing their brand of justice to every Canon they can get their hands on.

Anything we do to contact the Grand Crusade group will warn them of our presence here.
And as nice as they are, they're still Crusaders on a Crusade. They are on a righteous quest to right wrongs and bring punishment to the wicked.

We're here to make sure that the entire fucking Forest doesn't go up in flames; if that means that in order for a Tree to stay healthy, that a girl has to die, then the girl has to die.
Sure, sometimes we can get away with letting the girl live; but that's not always the case in this corner of reality, and the Crusade doesn't understand that.

>>22271789
Still, we'll probably need all the help we can get, and we are supposed to be building up an alliance with them. Considering their Lawful Good tendencies, they may try to take the STOB, but we should try and see id they can be convinced to let us put things back the way they need to be.

>>22271789
Technically, we don't know that.
Like we don't actually know what really causes Reality Distortions/Paradox do we?
Seeing as most of our information on the matter was doctored by Black Ops?
Like Cheryl gleamed as much from Dr. Grimm didn't we?
So acting all high and mighty as if we know the correct course of action, even though we've been deceived seems foolish.

>>22271855
True.
It's not in the Crusade's interests to fight with us yet, when we can assist them in reaching the S.T.O.B.
So far, the Crusade has acted in the genre-savvy and realpolitik manner expected of a Meta-Faction.

>>22271930
I mean we know that SUEs cause reality distortions, but we don't know if changing the canon does.
Remember that the Grand Crusade has reality emitters.
Much better reality emitters than we do, in fact.
Hell, they may have made the originals.
So I'd say they'd have a pretty good idea of what actions do or don't damage the canon.
That's why I think working with them is a good idea.

>>22271930
We know what causes reality distortions, but not why.
And while Cheryl found out that the rule of Canon is not absolute, Grimm's own research showed that there's still enough instances of Canon disruption causing reality distortions that the idea of a canon timeline can't be entirely discounted.
So there's still a basis for trying to have a Canon stick to canon.

>>22272005
True.
I'm just saying that we shouldn't really assume we know how to do things right just because we're player characters.
Like that doesn't mean the Void Engineers or Grand Crusade don't know what they're doing.

>>22271943
Exactly. Do the Abjurers have a messaging spell? I think one of them is called "Calling"?

>>22272043
>Grand Crusade don't know what they're doing.
However the G-Man explicitly said that this corner of the Meta doesn't work like the Grand Crusade thinks it does.
Now, he could have been lying, but what does he gain from having the two sides fight each other rather than having them both keep the Combine at bay?

>>22272118
Oh right he did say that.
But if reality doesn't work the way they think it does, in our sector of the Meta at least, won't they realize such a thing when their methods stop working?
Like I doubt they got as far as they did without learning how to innovate.

>>22272171
They just got here, and Chaosbringer's worlds were the first worlds that they were starting their methods on. They haven't had a chance to use their methods on worlds that HAVEN'T had their Canons so far derailed that they'd have been torn apart like Vaderverse was about to when we got to it.
So, no, they won't realize that their methods are causing as much problems as they're fixing until they enter a Horror Movie Canon, or something similar, or where the Canon is still reasonably intact, and then they start messing around with it.

It's called message and it's a cantrip.

>>22272326
Can't 3.5 wizards cast certain spells through their familiars?
I can't remember the rules for that; could the Abjurer cast Message through Nevermore?

Make sure Aeshma casts protection from evil communal on the party.

>>22272368
Don't Abjurers have a telepathic bond with their familiars?

>>22272326
Catnip?

>>22272411
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/classes/sorcererWizard.htm#familiars

They have an Empathic Link, not a Telepathic one.

And it looks like they can only deliver touch spells.

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/message.htm
Message doesn't require line-of-sight, though.

MetaOP, how far away are the Grand Crusade troops? We might still be able to talk with them if they're within 220 feet.

Or we drop a pair of ART specs on their officer's head.

>>22272326
Thanks Codeki. Okay, let's have Nevermore land near the GC troops in the least amount of danger. Have him bow in greeting, then deliver the message through him "Forces of the Great Crusade, this is Taskforce 38 of the Transpace Guard. We see that you are under assault and wish to move in our forces to assist. Please relay your answer to this familiar."

Sound good?

>>22272583
Limitations of the spell are that, with Level 12 casters, it has a range of 220 feet, and the familiar can't be used as a relay.

Also, for the message, I'd prefer a more brusque "Grand Crusade force, this is Task Force 38 of the Transpace Guard. Do you wish assistance?"
We might be willing to ally and share the STOB, but that doesn't mean that the GC will reciprocate.

>>22272529
They're much further than that away. Did you want to drop the ART instead of trying the bird-talk then?

>>22272708
I'm for dropping the ART Specs. That way, Nevermore can get the fuck out of there instead of sticking around in a firefight.

>>22272708

Seconding ART specs.

>>22272766
>>22272751
Nevermore drops the ART specs and flies back to you.

Alright.

Now what should we do in the meantime while the Great Crusade decides what to do with the ART specs?

>>22272783
"Great Crusade force, please pick this up and have the ranking officer get on the comm."

Rolled 34

>>22272912
Some time passes

>>22272947
Wait a minute, I thought we were dropping the spectacles onto a Great Crusade officer's head, so that he wouldn't miss it.

>>22272947
After about five minutes, a voice comes over the comm channel.

"This is Senior Crusader Claire Melliarde. Whom am I speaking to?"

>>22272990
Egon, can you get the diagnostic feed from those ART Specs? I'd like to make sure of who we're talking to.

"Senior Crusader, this is Task Force 38 of the Transpace Guard. We've worked with Admiral Veleth on matters of mutual interest.
"We noticed that you were in the area. To put it bluntly, do you want to work together with us? Both of our groups working together stand a better chance against the Blood War and New Chaos."

>>22273042
"I am not adverse to an alliance against such foes, but I would hear your terms, first," Claire says. The feed from the specs displays an elegant woman in her mid thirties in what looks to be some form of plate armor. The only adornment on the armor is a clasp that holds a white cloak to her in the shape of a circle of stars around a sword. From her body temperature and heart-rate, Egon informs you it is highly likely she has been in combat in the last twenty minutes.

>>22273221
"Our terms are simple. Our forces link up, provide fire support for each other, and make our way to the portal out of this area.
"When we arrive at our destination, these kinds of things always have a final boss. We then beat that thing up, and it's probably going to be either Kane, SHODAN, or the New Chaos Gods."

She's probably going to want to use the Retcon Button, or have the Great Crusade use it. How do we prevent them from shooting us in the back when we finally reach the portal?

>>22273271
If we don't set what we're going to do once we get to the STOB, then that's just asking for a standoff when we finally get to it.

But if we say that we're going to use the STOB up front, then the GC might shoot us as soon as we make it to the portal.

>>22273271
"I see. Do you know what is beyond that portal?"

>>22273348
Some weird device that can make all this normal again. We don't know much about it, though.

>>22273271

Not sure how to ensure their trust. According to the G-man, the Crusade is here for one express purpose, which we assumed was to deal with Chaosbringer.

We may just have to talk and convince them of our good intentions. If not, we'll have to gauge how they operate in combat and see how we can deal with them.

>>22273348
"Honestly, we're not sure. Information we got from a questionable source says that it's part of Kane's Temple Prime, and a device that can be used to restore stability to this sector.
"Beyond that other parts of our task force have been ordered to go through the portals, that's about all we know.
"The rest is conjecture based off of the principles of Narrative Plot."

>>22273370

Should we mention that there may be anyone and everyone who are interested in recovering a mass reality-altering device beyond the portal?

>>22273426
Sure, we may as well.
We don't know what's beyond the portal except what we've been told by a dubious source, and everyone else seems to be going towards it, so we should probably do so as well.

>>22273348
It's a device that was improperly activated during our assault on Kane's fortress. If we get to it and secure it, we can use it to reestablish the realities of has effected.

>>22273348
>>22273446

There is also a high possibility that any parties that are interested in acquiring such a device will be there. There is a much lower possibility that all of them will be civilly discussing on how best to use it to re-establish the integrity/stability of this sector.

>>22273348
How about this? (Note to MetaOP, don't have us say this if it's not approved of)
"It's something everyone seems to want. We had to kill Ahzek Ahriman to stop him from pursuing it, and faced the Combine as well. Haven't heard any hard facts beyond that, but a lot of vague metaphors,"

>>22273404
>>22273370
"I see. Very well. At the very least, I will consent to ally with you to keep that device out of the hands of such filth as we have encountered. Beyond that, we shall see."

>>22257548
*yawn* What's going on in he--WHAT?

>>22257966
>Skynet Quest

Oh, alright then. I enjoyed that quest. I still maintain that the African racial cleansing was perfectly in line with Skynet's goals.

>>22273486
"Understood, Senior Crusader.
"Captain Fortes, Nevermore's recon flight should have given us some aerial maps of the surrounding area. Can you pinpoint the Senior Crusader's position relative to our own?
"Senior Crusader, I assume that you've found the location of the portal since you were last seen moving towards the center of the city. Can you pinpoint the building on the tactical overlay map?"

>>22273486
Excellent. Thank you, Senior Crusader. Please, if you would, indicate to us by way of the ART Specs where you could best use our support.

>>22273486
"That's reasonable. So what forces have you encountered thus far?"

>>22273522

So, CA, when are you gonna make meta-zerg quest?

I know you're planning on it.

>>22273557
>>22273553
"Demons, mostly. And New Chaos troops. With encountered a few squads of strange aliens, but we dealt with them swiftly enough," Claire states. "You are correct that we've detected the portal. It's in a large auditorium here. We're cutting through to it in a straight line. If you hurry, you should be able to link up with us around here, midway. That will take you into some heavy fighting, though."

>>22273585
Metaquests are MetaQuest OP's business. I wouldn't want to poach in another man's lands.

>>22273634
Understood. Any ideas what we'll be encountering?

So time to move out?

>>22273681
"About the same as we have. Whatever force took us here also took assembled forces from the Baatezu, Taanari, and New Chaos. And with those chaotic lesser portals opening and closing, there is no way to be sure what we'll face."

>>22273634

Strange aliens?

Strange how? If we know what type we can adjust our tactics accordingly.

>>22273700
>>22273681
We're very limited on troops. We should avoid heavy fighting and try to meet up with the GC group some other way.

>>22273747
Agreed. Senior Crusader, can you please describe these aliens and their actions?

>>22273803
There might be a spell our Abjurers can cast to get us to the GC's location.

>>22273813
"They were like blobs of flesh, writhing and changing their form, but also wielding advanced technology. Similar to some form of lesser Shoggoth, I suppose, if they were truly sentient. We also encountered a group of Kittani, and a small number of oily armored brains with beaks and tentacles."

>>22273851

Teleportation and gateways might be real risky. What spell did you have in mind?

>>22273894
Yeah it was Teleport, and I agree that it might be risky.
Probably best to just fight our way there.

>>22273881
Wonderful. More horrors from Rifts.

"Crusader Melliarde, can you indicate on the HUD tactical map your estimates on enemy troop locations and sizes?
"Darius, do you see a way to get around most of the fighting and link up with the Great Crusade?"

>>22273881
The first thing made me think of changelings from SC2, but I don't know why they'd be fighting alongside demons. The last thing I'm stumped, although it sounds familiar somehow. Can anyone identify?

Rolled 6

>>22273952
"I can," the woman says as she sends the data.

"Give me a moment to study the maps," Darius says. "I'm no VP-98, but I'll try."

>>22274075
"This route here should take us underneath most of the fighting. Looks like an old subway system," Darius says, pointing.

>>22274075

Hahahah.

No.

No enclosed spaces. That'd be a deathtrap given the unknowns.

>>22274102
Subway systems have a tendency to contain unwelcome surprises.
If we had some drones to scout it out, I'd go for it. But as it is, it's too dangerous, and with that many tunnels, too easy for us to get flanked and torn apart.


Actually, we got any rat or bat familiars?
We could have them scout it out.

Also, MetaOP, can we follow the familiars like we can others of our troops? We could do extra scouting that way.

>>22274188

NO

NO NO NO

WE ARE NOT FUCKING GOING UNDERGROUND. DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS UNDERGROUND WHEN YOU'RE AMBUSHED?

>>22274188
We could have an Abjurer cast Arcane Eye and scout through it?
http://www.imarvintpa.com/dndlive/spells.php?ID=3021

>>22274217
It could, but the problem is that it's a 4th level spell. That's in the range of a lot of good attack spells.
Also, the arcane eye doesn't say anything about low-light or dark vision. It may not be effective in subway tunnels that don't have working lights.

>>22274188
>>22274209
>>22274217
You can.

Darius is a little taken aback at your strong reaction, but swiftly composes himself and points.

"Then this series of back alleys should do the same for most of it, but we might be beset from the air."

>>22274289
Ask Darius how good he is at dunking.

>>22274289

Air we can deal with, and I assume that those alleys have good lines of retreat should we be ambushed from a flank or the front?

>>22274310
"...I do not understand?"

>>22274318
"Not as good as I'd like but that's the tradeoff for an attempt to bypass the worst of the fighting."

>>22274318
They're alleys. They're narrow, and are generally easy to cut off. They're as bad as subway tunnels.
And no, having power armored infantry dropping grenades down onto our heads from rooftops is not something we can easily deal with.