>>22759879

Archive:
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=mechengineer+quest

Or just search foolz for MechEngineer Quest.

What do we still need to do again?

>>22759879
Spend some time going over the HZP to ensure its quality or areas that can be improved on.

>>22759920

>All you have left to do is set up the wiring, choose an armament configuration(s), and configure the armor plating

>>22759879
Go over the wiring, begin trying to design a compartmentalized, clamshell conduit system that can provide ruggedness, protection, and ease of repair and maintenance.

>>22759879
When was the last time we ate?

If it's been over 8 hours get a snack, if not then work on dat wiring.

>>22759879
Begin wiring design.
Make sure wires will be unbreakable and protected.

>>22759924
>>22760048

You pull up the overlay of the chassis, and start looking at possible routes for your conduit to run. Obviously, you've been designing with durability and ease of maintenance in mind this whole time, and now is no exception.

You've bounced some ideas around in your head already about hollows in the chassis to run wiring, or layering like with your myomers, or using said myomers as an overlay for the conduit in areas where that is possible. All these sound viable, but you need to be sure to maintain flexibility, ease of maintenance, and durability. No easy feat in this era of PPCs and other EW concerns. Plus there is no way to know what the future holds, so making something that holds up 50 years from now is also a concern.

>>22760077

(you just had a midnight snack around a half hour ago)

>>22760098
Rub spirit dog for inspiration.

And how easy is it to detach the myomers?
Is it feasible to run wires underneath and still make it an easy repair?

>>22760110
Awesome.

>>22760098
This is too complex for what we're doing right now, but since Myomer is already going to have electricity going through it at some later point we might be able to develop Myomer bundles that are produced with the wiring inlaid into them.

We need it to be rugged, hard to knock out, but still easy to repair.

Given how the Myomer sheeting for our guy works it's pretty easy to remove and replace. We might be able to stick the wiring under the first few layers and add an EMP protection with it. It won't be as easy to replace as putting it on the very top, but it'll be harder to knock out with a PPC. As always we want to compartmentalize as much as possible for ease of replacement.

>>22760159

(myomer need solid connection to the frame, because they are 90% of the movement strength of the 'Mech, so making them easy to remove isn't terribly easy if you want them to function well. Think human muscles. Your layout is easy to maintain because you can GET to them easy, but removal is still a necessary pain)

Holy crap'oly! this is the first 2 since the first thread I've actually been here at the start.

Anyway, putting any sort of weapon on this thing and modularity has been a staple so I'd say make the wiring able to provide ample juice to the arms. I'd love for there to be a "Wall of Light" model if we every have double heat sinks available with torso made of medium laser racks and smalls on the arms but that is probably not a great idea. Wiring and armament should go hand in hand but redundancy, high capacity and general toughness seem like things to strive for.

What armament do we have available again? Did we scavenge anything off that spider? We have space for 3 weapon mounts on each arm and how many slots in the chest?

>>22760188
>>22760198
Even with it being hard to repair, I think running the wiring underneath (or in) would be the best solution here. Just for all around protection.

>>22760188
Myomer with inlaid wiring is going to be hell on any field repair.

>>22760098
Probably the best approach is a strict pragmatism. Where possible, take advantage of the existing structure to shield the wiring, then give it additional protection in the remaining areas.

>>22760198
>>22760188
Okay, disregard what I said about it being easy to remove.

Hmm, it might still be best to run it underneath. Compartmentalized bundles of electronics in flexible EMP resistant tubes maybe, if there's an error you just have remove one tube section and place a new one in. Have it running under the surface, maybe find a way for the Myomer to open up a bit and provide a gap for the electronics to be placed without much extra work before being close up. We're doing flat sheets of myomer, maybe there can be a gap in the middle of them going lengthwise that can easily be sealed back up.

>>22760198
Hmm, could we wire some power under the frame for propulsion systems and run weapon power over it? Might make them easier to knock out but if the myomer is still on it can at least get away if need be. It is still a light mech and living would let it warn others in a garrison.

>>22760098
Could we do a two-tier electronics wiring system? It might be bulkier, but fit one under the myomer as an emergency power that can't be PPCed out, and one that is in a less protected area but is easier to reach and maintain.

>>22760211

You haven't asked about the Spider yet, and they just got it secured into the MechBay yesterday for analysis. The Torso has significantly more space, and with your layout is essentially a weapon box waiting to be filled.

>>22760227

Keep in mind that running inside the myomer means all-or-nothing; you lose the myomer, you lose the wiring. And if the wiring isn't shielded properly, the myomer will produce a lot of interference.

>>22760244

Your biggest concerns in that regard will be the joints.

>>22760282
OK, but think about the poor bloody field tech. What happens when she finds that the propulsion wiring has developed a fault and the 'mech's left foot isn't responding properly. How much of the thing needs to be disassembled to sort that out?

Fuck yes, started reading this last week and finally am caught up! Now to catch up with this thread. Anontech, keep up the awesome work!

>>22760321
I'm not familiar with battle tech. What exactly is the wiring doing? Just power for weapons?

Damn I'm working on a technical diagram for the layout which I was hoping to have finished for the thread. But at this rate it should be done by the time the thread is over. I'll try to rush it out so I can show you guys.

However I DID manage to finish something else which you guys should enjoy immensely.

>>22760321
Joints are a drag anyway. Hmm. If I'm trying to put this thing back together, one thing I would be grateful to the designer for is some extra wiring cable built into the 'mech.

So... how about we give it redundant wiring across the joints? Most of the 'mech's limbs have less vulnerable surfaces (under-arm, etc.), so the main-line can go that way. Then give it a secondary power-line opposite.

>>22760349

(The wiring carries power and signals to all essential components. It makes the myomer move with electrical pulses, it powers the lasers, and it makes the running lights work. Everything in the 'Mech is electrically operated, so it is basically the most crucial main system in the entire design.)

>>22760345

(hey, thanks. glad you're enjoying it anon. welcome to the thread)

>>22760335
Good point. What about back and front power systems on opposites of each other outside of the joints with a low power emergency line in the frame itself?

Kinda like >>22760302

>>22760409

(redundancy is never a bad thing, just be sure you don't clutter the chassis up either. you have a very finite amount of space to work with in the limbs especially.)

>>22760441
Well fortunately the limbs likely won't house weapons anyway, since we spent all that time making the rail system to make weapon exchanges easier in the torsos. Which kinda makes people sperging out over not being able to mount weapons in the arms and wasting time with it seem odd in my mind but meh. Anyway, bitching aside, why don't we take some notes from the Awesome, if we have the specs for it available in AutoCAD: Mech edition? It's an incredibly reliable mech that can take tons of punishment, right?

>>22760441
Right.

>>22760409
>>22760388

We seem to be agreed on redundant wiring for the most exposed parts of the 'mech. Taking a core line through the whole of each limb is heading towards over-complicated, but we could use that approach in some places.

>>22760441
What i we just run a back up line to the legs and through the body?
Just so even with weapons down you can still make a break for it.

>>22760474
Awesome gets a lot of its durability from all 'dem heat sinks. When they get shot up, they're a whole mess of coolant - but that's better than having to repair a PPC or the fusion reactor.

>>22760487
Better idea. We aren't using our arms as is, at least to my understanding. What if we take that room the wiring would require and instead install rocket arms? Or hatchet arms? We have arms damnit! That may as well be useless weight or additional Torso Shielding unless we do something cool with it like Hatchetman arms or rocketpawnch arms.

>>22760515
Hands are useful for peacetime shenanigans.
Use your multimillion C-bill war machine as a forklift.
Even during war, it can lug supplies around

>>22760511
They're also pretty covered in armor. And slow. What if we fill the internal structures with coolant?

>>22760511
Well yes, I realize how it works by the game mechanics, but I figured since it's also considered a tough and reliable mech in canon, and since it's an all energy mech it might have some neato wiring and layout tricks we could crib.

>>22760534
Aren't there already industrial mechs for that? And... Well, what timeperiod is this?

>>22760538

(poaching ideas off of other successful designs? what is this wizardry?)

>>22760548
Why buy another expensive hangar queen when the one you already have is just as effective and can also be used in combat?

It's only 1:40 am as opposed to 3:30. Still, cannot participate much, dammit!

What else do we need to run in the limbs? Coolant? Ammo feeds? We only have laser mounts in the arms, and no heatsinks in the legs, so wiring we can double up on.

Just make flexible rails down the inside of the myomer, and then attach rings to the insulator. Then for techs to replace wiring they just need to strip out the old cable and slide in a new one. If the rail itself breaks then the myomer would need replacing too anyway.

>>22760538
FASA was pretty good about fluff-mechanic transparency.

>>22760535
Let's not pump the thing full of coolant. Even if it never goes wrong, it's too embarrassing if it ever gets punctured in the groin.

>>22760548
3040. And think of it this way. If you can save 2-3 million cbills by not needing an industrialmech in the first place because the garrison mech(s) you have are able to do their job anyway, then why not?

>>22760548

>The year is 3040, and you are Daniel Holdt, Battlemech Engineer.

(also keep in mind you are designing this mech for utility. making it a single purchase that can do a multitude of things in this era is a golden goose waiting to happen)

>>22760515
That's a stupid idea. Besides the expense and complexity of designing a completely new system that's never been made before, something like that would be expensive to maintain and difficult to repair, what are you going to do about targeting and guidance, and it goes against the idea of a workhouse garrison mech that can be used in construction and S&R.

>>22760577
Sadly, your precious FASA is dead, DEAD I SAY! Muahaha, prepare thine anus for Catalyst Game Labs!

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Oh dear, I can't believe I forgot to post this. I requested it from a drawfag maybe a month or two ago, and just left it lying in my image folder. Danny, everyone.

>>22760567
Well, I'd think the name of the game is specialization, especially in these sorts of warfare.
>>22760577
How is that at all embarrassing for the pilot? After a victory well deserved, perhaps taunting is in order! Why not have locks blast off of the mech's groin and leak coolant onto the remains of your fallen foes?

>>22760615
Not really. A mech that has utility is more attractive than a slightly more effective mech with no utility.

>>22760615
It's bad if it happens right before they're ordered to withdraw.

>>22760592
>what are you going to do about targeting and guidance
I fail to see how this would be a difficulty. If you design a rocket arm to fire with such force and achieve a certain velocity, then surely you can aim the damn thing. If nothing else I'm sure a computer could aim it along the same lines of aiming a laser on your arm.

Such a rocket arm design would be modular as all hell. Oh, what's that? Lost a rocket arm? Here, let's such attache a spare rocket arm! We've only got fifty of them lying in this warehouse.

Hell, the more modular you can make it, the better. Imagine, a veritable army of Frankenmechs throwing their arms at their enemy. Oh, Cataphracts... <3

>>22760610

(coffee: check. cigarette: check. bags under the eyes: double check.

Age: 24. apparent age: 54.

Perfect!)

>>22760636
I demand additional crotch seals for my mech liquid so that it only leaks when I will!

>>22760615
It really depends. If you only have 4-5 mechs, like maybe a merc company? Then you want generalists. This is our main target buyers. Because you lack the numbers to make specialization really work; sure you can have a specialist ranged dude, but if he gets fucked up, you're down your long range support. Big enterprises like a major merc company or House taking interest have more leeway with using specialists because they can deploy in large enough formations to make the lose of one or two mechs be bad, but not irrevocably terrible. This isn't our target, but if the CC wants to buy from us anyway, more power to us for getting bonus sales.

>>22760673
If we want truly generalists the hadn't we ought to re-look at the fact that this mech will focus on lasers?

I don't mean to say we should invent omni-tech, but... You know... Though I'm sure the counter-argument is ammunition.

Wait.

Waitwaitwait.

What happened to the medium lasers in the arms? I thought we were going to port the leg design over to the arms and mount weapons on them!

The center torso rails can mount SRMs or LRMs for a tiny bit more harrassment at short or long range.

>>22760650
"So we'll just sign you up for the standard Lance package, 4 complete 'mechs, plus 4 spare legs and 30 spare arms..."
"Wat? No, forget it."

>>22760699
The real counter argument is weight; we have 6 tons pod space, 7 if you cut down a ton off max armor. That's enough for a single AC/2 and a ton ammo. And we are NOT putting an AC/2 on this thing.

We can manage to fit SRMs, but LRMs are really only effective at the 10 range, so personally I consider those out. Honestly, I'm in favor of flamer, Large Laser and Medium laser. Flamer for infantry, Large Laser for hard hitting firepower, and medium laser because backup weapons.

>>22760718

(the preferred weapons layout keeps changing every other thread. this is why it seems most people are willing to wait till we get to that part (probably next phase) to argue over it, since it will likely take multiple threads. it'll be the biggest debate because personal opinions)

Replacing the hands with a pair of RL/10s is not going to make a better mech.

>>22760673
>generalists
No.

Those "generalists" set upon by a properly mixed force of specialist, will get fucked, badly. They won't be bale to compete with any brawlers who rush in, they'll never out-pace an opposing scout or harasser, and they won't out-duel or be able to close on a truly skilled long range fighter.


Jack of all traces is mater of none, and dies horribly when set upon by several masters working in tandem.

>>22760784
Any of those masters will die to two or three Jacks.
Most mechs don't fare well when outnumbered.

>>22760784
That would be true if warfare never progressed past the skirmish level.

Think a bit harder.

>>22760754
Your arms will get wrecked eventually. May as well make sure you have spares. This seems sorta common-sense in that rocket arm kind of way.

>>22760757
What sort of tonnage are we talking about with the mech we're making here? I'm not in the loop on the quest thread. If we only have six tons of pod space... Yeah, that really limits our use of projectiles as a whole save for machine guns.

Is there any additional work that can be done to increase possible tonnage?

Could we design some kind of mech-segway that sports a strong enough engine to move itself and our mech, support the mech standing literally on it, and throw on as many weapons as possible?

>>22760757
Fuck the medium laser, just use the weight to bette ramror the housing for the LL.


If we lose the large laser against any seriously protected force, we're fucked anyway, medium laser iwll just scratch the pain while we die.

(so you guys see suggestion about what to do with the wiring that you like?)

>>22760784
Which doesn't help when the budget only allows for one new mech.

>>22760784
Yeah, you clearly have no idea how battletech works.

>>22760804
We've got a 35 ton chassis, and the speed is locked in at 7/11.

>>22760810
I still say boot up AutoCAD: Mech edition and see how the Awesome does it. Worst comes to worse, we lose a couple hours. We've got 4 days, I think we can afford that.

>>22760801
>skirmish level
>we only have a lance
Lance on lance fights ARE skirmishes.

>>22760818
Now watch as I substantiate my claim...

Any day now...

>>22760810
Is there any way to proof our wiring against the affects of PPC and typical EM jazz? How much would sacrificing a ton for backup wiring get us?

>>22760784
That's nice. We're specialising in SKORVEK TOUGH and RELIABLE in multiple scenarios.

If specialists always beat generalists you'd never have anything but aerofighters, tanks and infantry.

>>22760809
ML does 62.5% of the damage that a LL does.

>>22760832

(if everyone else is on board, and the plans are accessible, then sure. of course, that assumes you can find the blueprints someplace. most designs aren't public domain even if they are 400 years old)

>>22760836
Do you know what "logistics" means?

>>22760784
We already went over this.
The specialist mechs all have purpose-built chassis and are fine-tuned for their roles in their weight class.
We are limited to making a light mech with only the weapons and fusion engines at our disposal.
This is what can be built, and fulfills the role of a rear-area garrison mech and support mech.
Of course specialists are best at what they do, and a balanced group of specialists is better than an equivalent group of generalists.
But this is just after the 4th Succession War, militaries are spent, they need something that can keep pirates and raiders at bay more so than something to field against another House military.

>>22760809
Weapon arguing later. Wiring now.

>>22760810
See if we can make a gap in the first layer or two of myomer that can be sealed up easily, since it's a pile of tubes in a sheet we can easily make a gap that can be sealed and opened easily and not impede its function. Make the tubes of wiring as compartmentalized as possible with EMP protection and layer even more on when it comes to the joints.

>>22760880
Yes, and the modern day's specialist military has a lot of it. It's also used to great affect.

>>22760845
No, that's what would happen if battletech actually made sense.

>generalists
Your....
fuck it, centurion lance is attacked, by two hunchbacks and two trebuchets. The hunchbacks have advanced forward of the trebuchets, which are well back and situated to provide cover fire.

Who wins?


Probably not the centurions, because they won't match either at their preferred ranges, and the opposing lance of specialist designs actually complement each other.

>>22760810
Anontech: Keep it Simple, Stupid.
As per >>22760576
Run a cable down the inside of the myomer, so cables can be pulled free and replaced for inspection. Cabling doesn't need to be checked in place when you can physically pull it out and push new ones back in!

>>22760844
A PPC will burn through half a tonne of armour, even before you get into the EM effects. I do not like the idea of making the 'mech more vulnerable to catastrophic failure in order to make it less likely to start walking funny.

>>22760892
Fair enough, moving on.

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Okay forgive the horrible quality but I just threw this together in like 10 minutes. It should get the point across.

Basically the leg and upper arm bones would be hollow in roughly a C shape. Kinda like an I-beam.The myomer wraps around the top and bottom. Inside the C are three conduits. The secondary power conduit, and the secondary signal conduits for each myomer bundle. The open end of the "C" shape holds the primary conduit with the second "main" set of signal and power cables.

Do you get how it works? The primary conduits would be mounted facing inwards. So they would be harder to hit, but placed for easy access. The inner secondary conduits are the backup, it's hard to get in there but anything that damages them would have to shoot through the myomer AND the frame.

I'm working on a much prettier version that shows more than cross sections. Should be done by next thread.

>>22760844
Okay. A generalist works because for us because we've only got enough to make one mech. We can't afford to design a group of 3-4 which can cover each other. Also, from a fluff perspective, IS loves generalists, because they can do anything. Does a single SRM 2 and LRM 5 suck mechanically? Yes. But people buy the Shadow Hawk anyway.

Also, specialists are harder to do in 3040 without lots of level 2 tech. What's your bruiser? A hunchback? Sure it's got armor and a big gun but it's slow. AAlso, let's say we go with your thing. You've got a specialized land, a Yoeman for long range, a hunchie and kintaro for close up, and a Lancelot for medium range skirmishing.

Opposing it are 4 "generalist" mechs. Call it a Vindi, a Cataphract, a Crab and a Cronus. Now, while the enemy comes in piecemeal, the generalist force can fire upon them as they close, and out number them once they've engaged. While they might get damaged doing so, I find it more likely than not that after defeating the hunchia and kintaro 2:1, they'll be able to advance on the Lancelot and then the Yeoman with little worry. Of course, how both sides play and how good the commanders are greatly effects this, but as a generalization I think it works fairly well.

Avoid running the wiring along the myomers. Every myomer contracts and expands as the mech moves. That means simply moving your mech around would exposing your wiring harness to wear points along almost the entire length of your wiring system.

A far better option would be to run the wiring along the heatsink coolant ducting. Not the heatsinks themselves, but the cold stuff that services those heatsinks. Other than the necessary joints of the mech, those paths will not have additional articulation joints, and more importantly, they travel to every essential location of the mech, and are already designed in such a way that they are modular, easy to maintain and remove.

Trust me, I'm a tech.

Sorry if this has already been answered, but I just now caught this.

What did we end up doing with the arms? Did we back-track and somehow end up with god-tier arms or are they still shit?

>>22760897
So I take it that you know about how House (let alone Merc!) forces run on a logistical shoestring? Any 'mech you can't cannibalize is a bad 'mech. Any 'mech you can get to run a variety of different roles is a good 'mech.

>>22760917

(with the way you have the myomer set up now, with the sheets, it's hard to fit anything between them except as a sandwich, in which case, you have to remove layers of myomer since they are compartmentalized, to access the wiring.

progress: great until you realize why it doesn't always happen. because you need to figure out how to make everything else work around your newfangled idea.

this is why there have been so few advancements in battlemech design, and only two new designs really in about 100 years. it's hard to figure out how to make things work around other things when you shirk the established. not that this is a bad thing, because where would the fun be in 'we just submit our senior thesis as our design' be as a quest?)

>>22760955
Sounds good.

>>22760955
This.

Thisthishtisthis

Makes use of pre-existing design features and greatly reduces wear, meaning maintenance and liftime running costs of the mech, the need for pare parts, and could conceivably be make a proprietary system, used in future designs or license out for money if it works.


Trust me, I work maintenance. Low maintenance machinery is always a selling point.
Always. Forever.

>>22760955
Genius! But wont rapid heat/cooling make the wires brittle?

>>22760981
If that's the case than Cataphract is bestphract. It is a literal Frankenmech.

I love how you act like a sperglord by refusing to actually follow through with your statements.

>>22761017
Copper already heats/cools pretty rapidly. Different metals do different shit, it's not like we're forging a piece of steel.

>>22760950
THIS GUY. RIGHT HERE. I THINK HE DESERVES SOME KIND OF RECOGNITION FOR NEATLY DEALING WITH PLACEMENT.

i.e. eye liek pigsure!

>>22761017
No matter where we have them they'll heat up as the Mech heats up. If we put them in some compartmentalized tubing that can dump all the heat back into the coolant it ought to be okay.

>>22760971

(the arms were re-designed successfully with three universal weapon brackets on each one)

>>22760955
1. What is the coolant? Will it obstruct with the flow of electricity should the wiring become somehow exposed?

2. Will the materials that compose of the wiring be able to function should the coolant heat up? If so, to what temperature?

>>22761017
Depends on the loadout of the battlemech. Ballistic/missile boats don't have as much of a problem with heat. Also, placing the wiring directly adjacent to the cooling ducts means that the wiring is closest to the thermoregulator. Every other part of the mech will necessarily get hotter. Frankly, since we're talking about a battlemech here, thermal stress is a fact of life.

>>22760950

(this is awesome, regardless if folks here go with it or not. nice work.

Gonna give Daniel a bit of a skill boost as a reward for a great contribution, between this and the anon that requested daniel be drawn by a resident drawfriend.)

>>22761040
This isn't a wisdom of the crowds thing, but multiple people are arguing with you here.

I think you're a retard who doesn't consider anything beyond your idealized scrap. Just one fight, where everything is set up as you like.

Doesn't happen. War is complicated and unfair. Having a single design that can perform multiple missions is highly advantageous.

>>22761074
I don't know what the formulation of mech coolant is, but it is necessarily dielectric, non-reactive, and non-combustible. It's safe enough to be sprayed directly to the exterior of damaged, badly overheated mechs to rescue them.

>>22761085
>Actually rewarding players for doing good things and being good players/contributers.

It IS 2013, right?

>>22760950
>>22760955
These two ought to be able to be combined and work rather well.

>>22761074
For thta to happen it would have to be more conductive than what is presumably copper (please god no) or fiber-optic cables (using it ijn thea brams drops weight by TWO TONS, let alone in a mech), which is EXTREMELY unliekly.

>>22761061

So approaching god-tier correct?

Does it still have the modular hands that allow it to be a defacto construction / salvage / whatever the fuck it can be used for mech?

>>22761053
>>22761041
>>22761015
>>22761017
>>22761009

(this seems to be a favorite idea. gonna go with this then?)

>>22761101
It's also, I believe, incredibly toxic. So, you don't want to like, let it touch you or be ingested or anything...

>>22761119
Mechs are move valuable than people. Toxicity isn't a significant concern.

>>22761116

(yep, forgot to mention that)

>>22761101
I think there are a few types.
For instance, the coolant vests pilots wear use a less toxic version than general use coolants, and there are a few different types in use depending on the army/manufacturer/whatever.

>>22761135

Nice, so our mech really is a badass and so far, in design, far outclasses every other light mech commonly seen.

>>22761096
The war is over. The House militaries are spent.

Also, how do you claim to know that multiple people are arguing with one person when all are Anonymous? I think you're full of shit. As such I will not tell you to eat shit, as you are, verily, full of it. Such is your state, full of shit as it may be, that one must bring attention to the balking amount of shit contained within your girth.

Having a single design that can preform multiple missions is only as highly advantageous as unable your manufactorers are to create specialized pieces of equipment.

Having a specialized military is simply superior, especially when you deal with equipment that requires more and more know-how to actually use.

There's a reason we don't have a bunch of grunts flying helicopters and jets and submarines. There's a reason not every man in the Air Force flies or drives.

>>22761118
Sounds good to me. Go with it man.

>>22761085
All of the technical pictures and documentation I could find on battlemech internal structures taught me that you can basically make the shape whatever the fuck you want. The Mad Cat leg and arm bones are literally made out of endosteel popsicle sticks and marshmallows.

So I went with an I-beam as an inspiration. It's VERY basic, you have an inner conduit and an outer conduit fit into a hollow in the mech's bones. The outer conduit is easier to access, but the inner conduit is harder to damage. Redundancy!

>>22761156
Save that kind of talk for the marketing department. We shouldn't go believing our own press. We should be well aware of the limitations of our own design, that way we can design and market update field refits when commanders start asking for fixes.

>>22760950
Better then The one I was working on. The inner yellow bits are the buck up lines and I left a lot out.

Shamelessly based of the diagram from last thread.

>>22761124
Mechs are every bit as useful as your pilots make them. There's a reason mechs have ejection seats.

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>>22761181
Got captcha'ed, posting it.

>>22761118

How many bonuses are we getting for it before you inevitably fuck it up with a nat 1000000?

Love you Anontech

>>22761156
Does our mech have an electronic warfare suite as advanced as a Raven?

Or legs as fast as a Jenner?

Leap that Urbanmech if you're so great.

>>22761116
>construction/salvage
We should REALLY consider playing up a low maintenance/ammo need angle then.

This would be excellent for outnumbered forces trying to dig in and hold out who want to get field defenses in place, or people in need of giant, multiton sappers to attack fortifications.

Also, more flamers

>>22761209
Actually yes, our mech IS as fast as a Jenner, though it lacks the Jump jets. And while it lacks any kind of actual tech level 2 EWAR tech, it's still got some nice electronics, from what I understand.

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I have to go get some food. So I'll just leave this here to creep you guys out. Enjoy!

>>22761225
YEAH WELL... JENNER CAN BE MORE MOE THAN THIS CRAP 3D MECH. Y-YEAH!

The real question is simply, which light mech looks manlier? Ours or a Commando?

>>22761209

Our Mech is as fast as a jenner, no jump jets so far, and Raven's are specialized as fuck and back for that suite.

And he said "Commonly seen" which means shit like Fireflies, Jenners, Urbies, Commando's, all that jazz.

>>22761239
Oh buckethead mechs. How I love thee.

>>22761233
Battletech laymen here, what's that supposed to be?

You crack your fingers and get down to it.

First you run checks on the structure, looking to pare it down to create channels beside the coolant system connected to the heat sinks. Since most are located on the back of the HZP, this is pretty easy to do. You manage to shave some minor weight, which is then replaced with a channel system beside the existing ducting that will be used to house redundant wiring harnesses. You also take note to double-rig the joints, issuing each one a bypass to affect redundancy into the system further, and also to save money and time on complex couplings. If successful, you will manage to shield the wiring partially by using the structure itself, while saving weight, making an open work area for techs, and making very simple and obvious channels for your harnessing with minimal need for connectors except at key points, minimizing noise and signal loss.

(if you are ready to roll, will roll next post, with a +5 modifier for doing precise layout of the components in proximity, and for minimization of exposure/noise profile)

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>>22761239

Our Chassis is similar to a Chrysalid and has the Intimidating positive quirk.

We are a light mech.

Our mech looks like a chrysalis from X-COM

>>22761267
It's a Chryssalid from X-Com. Our Mech has some resemblance to it due to how it got its Intimidating Quirk.

>>22761273
Let's do this.

>>22761273

Let's DO THIS!

>>22761273
Let's roll. What could possibly go wrong?

>>22761273
Give us your worst Anontech, roll that die.

>>22761273
Go go go.

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>>22761307

>>22761267

(there is a vocal group that want the HZP's head to resemble a chrysalid, presumably with the eyes as spotlights/running lights and the grin as the cockpit sapphire plate.

>>22761317
What can I say, I love doing that.

>>22761322

Oh come on Anontech, even you have to admit that the Chrysalid's mouth would make a pretty good cockpit viewing window.

>>22761233
Oh man, that would be the coolest fucking cockpit window.

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>>22761330

Rolled 66

>>22761273
>>22761287
>>22761304
>>22761307
>>22761314
>>22761315

(rolling for design, wiring harness layout/conduit/internal structure setup, lower is better)

(according to captcha the name of the mech is the Aphool and the cost is $11.50 per mini)

>>22761336

This is why we are doing that as our cockpit window.

Also we should roll now.

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>>22761343
>66

>>22761343
Not terrible, not particularly good either.

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>>22761343

I was worried we were going to roll good on the first try for a moment there.

>>22761335

(i will confirm nor deny. i just hope the clans neveer played X-Com though or the invasion might not happen when the Dragoons send back footage of HZPs running around all over the Inner Sphere)

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>>22761343
Well... It's not terrible. And doubles. I can work with that!

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>>22761370

You don't say?

Do we get a circumstantial Intimidation quirk on the cockpit when illuminated in complete black or infra-red?

Just...mild curiosity you understand.

>>22761393
Anon, we already have a quirk for looking recognizable and intimidating. How... How do we stack intimidation on intimidation?

>>22761343
>>22761357
>>22761360
>>22761364
>>22761373

After several hours of work and the passage of dawn, you finish your layout work, and all tests run green. Structure is sound even with the cutouts, and the chassis itself is arranged in such a way as to provide shielding from EW and PPC fire, as well as to make maintenance fairly easy, though replacing some of the more buried lines might still take time. Overall, nothing amazing, but then again, making it work is always the paramount concern.

Max awakens, and you scratch his tummy a bit before clicking on the 'New Email' popup on your screen. It's from Hatamoto, and he requests that you send him your initial layout and he will go over it gladly and see that there are no errors, and offer advice for improvement if he sees room for it.

The sun is fully up now, and you are pretty hungry, and maybe a bit tired. Max probably needs to pee too.

>>22761452
We stack intimidation on AWE! Suddenly, the band Queen preforms in mech form! Surely even the most bittervet pilots will look upon such a display with fear and cowardice!

The trick will be in getting the hip gyros to gyrate just so...

>>22761460
>hungry
>pet want to pee
>tired
Eat pet. Easiest solution. food is at hand, no need to take him outside to pee.

>>22761460

Send Hatamoto what we got, go get a snack and walk the dog, chat a bit, prepare to take a short nap and then back to the grind.

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>>22761393

>>22761284
>>22761287
Ah, thanks.

>>22761460
We should probably take care of the dog first. Make sure he doesn't pee on anything important/essential. [paranoia]

>>22761460
Awesome. Let's take Max to pee and then get ourselves some food. Then shoot offf an email and sleep. We done good.

>>22761460
Send Hatamoto our layout.

Get up, stretch, pet the puppy, take him for a walk while smoking, let him pee, get food.

>>22761460
Send Hatamoto the layout we've got so far.
Then take Max outside to pee and take a walk, and then we'll go and get food.

>>22761460
Take max, go pee, eat food, nap.

Eat max, sleep pee, walk food.

>>22761542
>>22761527
>>22761522
>>22761519
>>22761500

You ass Max if he wants to go out and he yips, spinning around a few times and hops. So you light a smoke and take him outside, and he trots off to relieve himself.

You can see the crew is crawling all over the Spider and the Urbie, diagnosing the former and repairing the latter. You can see the Spider better now than before; the cockpit is swiss cheese, with numerous low-caliber holes puncturing the faceplate. The torso is fairly intact, but you can see dark ribbons of fluid leaking from gouges in the armor. The arms are basically gone; the left one is a stub and the right is lost at the shoulder, though you see a pile of scrap at its feet you presume are the limbs in question. The left leg is torn apart, and the right is almost pristene.

The Ivan's hip looks better than it did, with fabricators welding new plating onto the section the Banshee's hatchet tore through.

After a few minutes Max wanders back to you, and you finish your smoke. Food time? Or while you're out here you could talk to the crew of the Spider, since you were interested in the MLas and their condition. Or you could do whatever else you want, since the day is ahead of you and you're waiting on a response from Hatamoto.

>>22761608

>ass Max

(this is what happens when you switch from a laptop keyboard to a new ergonomic one after building yourself a new system. lawl)

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Btech players will get this one.

This was fun to make, I basically started with a blocky white :D smiling face and started drawing teeth using >>22761274 as a starting point. It got progressively creepier and creepier and creepier until I finally arrived at this.

I tried drawing irises on the eyes and it turned out to be too scary, I couldn't bear to look at it.

>>22761608
Get FOOD, see if ILSA is there and ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION IF SO.

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>>22761608
>ass Max
what, like so?

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>>22761622

You know what must be done.

>>22761608
Let's talk to the Spider crew, check on the MLs. Then get food, see if Ilsa is there, introduce her to the Max.

>>22761622
Add the irises, I want to see it.

>>22761608
Talk to the crew about the MLas to see if it can be used in the Hazard Pay.

>>22761622
Yes yes but why isn't it thermal red?

>>22761622

(i dunno i think it's scarier this way. also a good template for the faceplate since it's basically a vector, only jaggy)

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Hmm, what happens if I-AAAAAAAAARGH!!!

>>22761608
Yeah lets check on the medium lasers.

>>22761756
You have been eaten by a grue!

>>22761654
>>22761643

You decide to head over to the Spider, to take a closer look.

Max bounds alongside you as you hoof it across the tarmac, arriving at MechBay 3.

Up close, you can readily see the Spider is painted in faded FWL purple, with the aquila splashed on the chest. It has seen better days though, and a crewman approaches you, and asks you what he can do for you.

>>22761768

Just checking on how the salvage operation's going, you know what the status of most of the systems are like?

>>22761622
>>22761756
Now combine the two and make a .gif

>>22761768
"So, I heard that there was a Medium Laser that might be salvageable."

>>22761768
"Just was wondering what could be salvaged from the Spider. Especially if any of the MLs are in usable shape."

>>22761776
>>22761781
>>22761796

"Well, what I can tell you right now is we won't be salvaging this thing for anything but parts, unless you all want to spend money on it. It's pretty shot. We checked the fusion reactor first, to make sure it wasn't dangerous, and it's basically intact. Some of the shielding has been damaged but we can fix that no problem. The magnetic field emitter still works, and the heat sinks are all intact. I'd rather just yank that bit out and use it in one of your prototypes.

"As for the weapons, well we're pretty sure both lasers are still functional, but the optics are shot. We'd have to replace them, but the emitters are fine. So they are usable, we just need to get them some new optics. Ivan says he can handle that part; he's got a precision lathe he can use to fashion new stuff, and he'll see if he can use some of the optical sapphire from the cockpit to do it. It'll change the color of the beam, but does that really matter?"

>>22761895
That's good. Ask if they can remove and repair the lasers for possible installation on the Hazard Pay.

Then go and get food.

>>22761895
"What color will it be? A cool scary green?

Please get that set up, we'll be using them on Hazard Pay. Thanks."

Then to the mess hall, for food!

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>>22761756
I tried to make your original look creepier but I'm terrible at these kinds of things.
>>22761756
and now that I've seen this...

>>22762052
That's terrifying. We need to make that its IR signature when it's running hot.

>>22761779
>.gif
nopenopenope

>>22761691
The cockpit is actually quite a bit smaller than the faceplate. It's mostly there for effect and to cover up the sensors. I'm thinking that the "hallway" we designed is centred on the bottom middle panel. That way the pilot is less exposed and he doesn't have a big bar running down the middle of his vision.

>>22761895
Although it wouldn't really be useful in combat, we could implement an optic switching system to create a Medium Rave Laser.

>>22761929
>>22761948

"Blue, actually. Sapphire and all that. Actually almost violet, but the damage will still be there. Anyway, I'll tell the crew you want to use these things on your prototype, and we'll get them to you ASAP."

You thank him, and turn to head back to the commissary to get some chow, with Max in tow.

Inside, you see Hatamoto getting something to eat and he nods at you to come sit with him once you get some grub. You also see Ilsa and Wanda getting food, with Dieter, over in the corner.

>>22762110
Let's sit with Hatamoto, talk shop, and then after we talk some and eat our chow let's hang out with Ilsa, Wanda and Dieter, we can show them the puppy.

>>22762110

Let's sit with Hatamoto, and see whether he calls us geniuses or retards.

>>22762110
Get food, then sit down with Hatamoto to see what he thinks of our electrical design.

>>22762125
>>22762131
>>22762153

You grab some food (sausage and kraut... must me some Lyran holiday) and proceed to sit with Hatamoto.

"Good morning, Daniel. Thought it is likely evening for you. I received your email, and my initial reaction is that of mild impressedness. Your system seems sound, and there seems to be adequate shielding for the harnesses, and not too many connections to cause signal noise. The choice to place the panels on the interior of the legs was a good one as well. I dare say that I would be proud to be associated with this machine when it is finally finished."

You ask him if he sees any room for improvement and he shakes his head.

"I have my nitpicks, certainly, but the system functions as intended, is within tolerances, and aside from some redundancies I believe not to be necessary, is cost-effective enough to fit into the philosophy we seem to be aiming at with this chassis."

>>22762246
"Thank you, I know you wouldn't say that unless you actually thought it was good.

If you can think of any ways to improve it, nitpicks that could be fixed to make it more efficient, anything like that, please either tell me or send me a mail about it. I want this to be as good as possible.

In case you were wondering the puppy is Max, he's my spirit animal."

>>22762246
"The redundancies are a selling point. A 'mech that makes it back to base with heavy damage is obviously better than one that gets destroyed due to immobilisation. Or worse, gets captured and fielded by the enemy."

>>22762246
"No, please, nitpick away. I want to be able to squeeze every drop of efficiency and ruggedness out of this design that I can."

So just to recap, the impression I'm getting is that we basically cut trenches in the mech's "bones" parallel to the existing cooling lines and rigged them up with wires. Sorta like my design only not as symmetrical. This should work well for maintenance, the stuff on the bottom is harder to get to but less likely to be damaged. So it evens out.

>>22762110
Current canon colour for small and medium lasers seems to be red and green, large lasers are blue. Don't the different colours of laser correspond to different wavelengths and stuff? I seem to recall green being more powerful than red, and blue more powerful than both of them.

I don't suppose we could add some extra sapphire lens covers to protect the laser optics? It would just be another piece of sapphire, only cut flat. If it get damaged the techs can yank it out and you can use the laser as normal. Easier than cranking out another lens.

>>22762304
>>22762306
>>22762334

Hatamoto clears his throat.

"Personally, I would have made a single, more robust system instead of twin redundant systems to save on cost, but that is a minor thing, and from what I have seen of your own philosophy, you are committed to making something that continues to work under all adversity. I commend that, even if it is not my own personal viewpoint.

Regarding your new animal... I find myself curious as to where he came from. Cute, as he might be..." he says as he scratches Max under the chin with his bionic hand.

>>22762419
"He's probably an alien, scouting our society and technology for weaknesses."

>>22762419
"His name is Max. I just woke up and he was sleeping on my chest. I've decided he is my spirit animal."

>>22762419
"I haven't a clue. He was in my office when I woke up, and no else had seen him before."

>>22762386

(video game canon has set the laser colors as that, yes. wavelength is indeed the determiner of color, but the optics affect the wavelength as I see it, plus tinting, so unless someone wants to science me into retconning, these mediums will be blue instead of green simply because of the new optics, but the damage is the same.)

A heavier protected single system isn't a bad idea on something like a zombie mech. But since this is a light mech multiple systems are better because damage is pretty much unavoidable. Better to use redundancy to survive that damage and be easy to repair.

>>22762467
I don't remember enough of my optic science to comment either way. Purple lazers ftw.

>>22762445
>>22762448
>>22762459

"So long as he doesn't distract you from your deadline he is a welcome addition to the team. Could be a good guardian for you, keen senses and all. Assuming he's not a lazy beast."

Max tilts his head and barks.

"No no, I know you're not," Hatamoto replies, while getting up. "I have to go see to more tests, but if I see anything else that I believe needs your attention regarding the wiring and energy systems, I will contact you. Also, let me know when you plan to begin selecting weapons so I can monitor your choices and run tests on the output of the fusion core we are using to ensure maximum efficiency. Now, if you'll excuse me.."

He bows slightly, and walks off, leaving you with Max, who seems to have an eye on your food.

>>22762592
Give Max some food, then go introduce him to Wanda, Dieter, and Ilsa. He'll be getting some food and plenty of pets from four people, he deserves it for being a good dog.

>>22762467
It honestly, HONESTLY does not matter. Yes, blue has a slightly shorter wavelength than red, but you are going to have to put all that energy into the photons anyways.

>>22762467
>science
Lasers should barely be visible at all. The only energy emitted in any direction except straight out of the barrel should be excited ions from the intervening medium (air), and these would pretty much always be blue. Any energy not delivered to the target is energy that is wasted.
The atmosphere would need to be really fucking dense to form the kinds of plasma that look like a solid beam, and at that point your beam would maintain cohesion for a few feet at best.

>>22762592
Give Max some food, then see how Ilsa, Dieter, and Wanda are doing.

>>22762642
>>22762690

(well, there's dodgy game science and then there's blatant "i can't enjoy this because universal laws are being violated' level science. I am trying to avoid the latter)

>>22762736
Who are we waiting on for information about Goddards location(s)?
Are the police handling it?

>>22762625
>>22762723

You pick up your tray, pass a piece of sausage to Max, and walk over to the table where Wanda, Ilsa, and Dieter are sitting. Dieter is the first to notice, as it seems he's not talking that much.

"Ah, Daniel. Hello, hello. Please sit down."

You greet everyone and take a seat, and Ilsa immediately notices Max and seems to be repressing a serious gushing fit.

>>22762776

(yeah, they had a tracking beacon planted on the banshee, and were scouting the location it stopped to see if they could locate the HQ of the pirates. no word yet though)

>>22762792
"This is Max. When I woke up he was sitting on my chest. I have no idea where he came from."

>>22762792
"You can gush all you want Ilsa, Max won't mind."

>>22762792

"He's my spirit animal. Probably."

Eat food.

"Cute little bugger, isn't it?"

>>22762792
"Everyone, this is Max. Max, this is Ilsa, Wanda, and Dieter. I found him on my chest when I woke up yester...today?....ah, sometime in the past 48 hours."

>>22762792
"This is Max, my spirit animal. He's utterly adorable and just showed up on my chest a day or so ago, feel free to gush over him Ilsa, he's a great help in my work."

>>22762467
If each laser type normally has a different color, in-universe, then the HZP's altered medium could fool opponents into thinking it's armed with a large laser. Even if it only works for a moment, that could provide an advantage by taking the enemy off-balance.

>>22762880

It's just for our prototype model, future versions will probably have generics.

>>22762880
>>22762969
Hmm, we'll have to make sure we mention this when we demonstrate it.

>>22762838
>>22762843
>>22762856
>>22762865
>>22762876

Ilsa picks Max up immediately and hugs him tight, and Max nuzzles her back enthusiastically.

"He's a cutie," Wanda chimes in.

"I concur," adds Dieter. "You say his name is Max? I had a terrier named Max once. Good dog."

You explain to them how he appeared on your chest after an odd dream and you used an online Ouija board to determine his name since you believe him to be your spirit animal, and he should pick his own name.

Ilsa giggles, Wanda raises an eyebrow, and Dieter seems confused. "I didn't know you were tribaly blooded, Daniel. Always thought you were caucasian..." he mumbles.

Ilsa pipes up. "Max is a good name for a good puppy. A short name for a cute shortie!"

>>22762969
Wait. No... Wait. I know what we must do. Obviously we must change the color of ALL of our lasers. Large lasers produced to look like small lasers, mediums to look like large... The enemy will be confused as all hell. Muahaha.

>>22763027

Keeping doing some talking, catch up, be friendly, make small talk. Once we're done eating, go back to the office for a nap, then back to the grindstone.

>>22763027
"No tribal blood as far as I know. But that doesn't mean I can't have a spirit animal, it's a concept found in a great number of cultures."

>>22763027
Oh, let Dieter know that we're close to getting the electrical wiring done, and if there's any special considerations we should make for the computer equipment in the cockpit.
Does he need extra shielding, or more power?

>>22763049
>>22763079
>>22763080


You have a nice chat with the three of them, and Ilsa says she's almost done with some of her sketches, and will email them to you soon. You thank her and tell her you're looking forward to seeing them.

You let Dieter know you're almost done with the wiring, and ask if he needs any allowances or special considerations for the command console.

"Well... perhaps. I haven't figured out where the couplings are going to be located yet, so I can't tell you just now. It should be an easy task to add them to the blueprint though, once I'm done."

You speak for a few more minutes, then you and Max head back to the office to get some more work done. You get to the office door, and Max starts sniffing around.

>>22763189

Let him go, see what he finds.

>>22763030
Yeah but so will allies.
Maybe good for a lance composed entirely of Hazards, though.

>>22763189
Let him do his sniffing thing, he's a clever dog.

Man, we're almost done, we can get the armor done next.

>>22763189
If we've still got that gun, it might be time to move it somewhere we can reach in a hurry

>>22763206
>>22763252

Max sniffs around the door jamb, and you hear a rustling noise coming from your office.

>>22763298
Knock.

>>22763298
COMSTAAAAAAR

>>22763298
If we have a pistol on us put our hand on it, if not make a mental note to keep one with us.

Then very sneakily look into the room and see who it is, if it's not someone we recognize quietly leave and obtain goons.

>>22763298

Open that door! probably just some wind, isn't our window still kinda busted?

(inb4 we get shot)

>>22763291
>>22763314

(you aren't carrying it now that the garrison left a detachment of guards)

>>22763346
Is there a keyhole we can look through?

>>22760950
wouldn't the far end of the c-beam want to crumple inwards?

>inb4 slowpoke is slower than a terminator

Max doesn't seem to be growling or anything, and the sound has stopped. He's still sniffing furiously though.

>>22763397

Well, let's go on in.

Maybe it's Janine with our futon.

>inb4 oonts oonts oonts

>>22763377
Yeah that's why there is a truss reinforcing it. The truss is used because it has gaps the techs can fit through. It's a pretty crude drawing though. In retrospect I think it might be better to just make it a full I-beam and use the gap on one side to fit the conduits.

>>22763397
Open the door. If Max is only curious, and not on edge, then it may be safe.

>>22763450
Or he's just a dog and doesn't really know much about shit.

Our spirit attack dog will protect us.

>>22763450
>>22763422
>>22763410
>>22763317

You open the door, and Max immediately scampers off to the other side of the couch.

You scratch your head, then feel something poke into the small of your back.

It is metal. Not sharp, but you have your suspicions as to what it is. You hear a growl from behind you.

"Shut that door. And not a sound, desk jockey."

You half lock up, and you see Max turn around, tilt his head, and bark, panting.

>>22763492

Shit.

Well, we'd better shut the door.

>>22763492
...

Shit.

Do as the man says.

>>22763492
why didn't you knock first aaaaaa
Do as he says.

>>22763492
"Would you mind telling me why you have a gun to my head?"

>>22763512
>>22763517
>>22763527
>>22763533

You shut the door, and frown at Max, who garbles at you, tilting his head.

"Can you think of a better way to keep someone from doing something stupid? Now forward, and no heroics."

>>22763577

He's either that one fuck Goddard fired before hiring us, Comstar, Goddard's Shark-like friend, or one of the Bandits.

Either way he KNOWS that if he fires that gun he won't get off this compound alive.

>>22763577
Is our coffee pot full?

>>22763577
"I never was heroic. Mind telling me what you're after."

>>22763599
If he's comstar, it's silenced for sure.

If he's that retard Goddard fired, trash the computer if we can, because he's most likely here to steal our designs, and we have backups.

>>22762516
micro>radio>IR>red>green>blue>purple>UV>xray>gamma

>>22763599
>>22763602
>>22763606
>>22763611

"What do I want?"

He shoves you forward with a hard poke to the lower back, and you turn around without thinking. In front of you is a dirty, skinny, disheveled male with a very real gun pointed at you.

"I want a damn job," he says as he lowers the gun and slumps his shoulders a little.

>>22763691
"Well, this isn't exactly a good way of getting one, is it?"

>>22763691
Can we throw our pot of hot coffee in his face and then put his arm into our ash disintegrator?

>>22763691

"Can't say this isn't the first time I've felt like having a gun pointed at my head during a job interview, first time for the interviewee doing the pointing though."

>>22763691

"And you figured you'd put someone at gunpoint for it becuase...?"

we're tired, we're hungry, we're engineer. Fuck it, snark.

>>22763691
"So... bodyguard audition?"

>>22763691
... Richard?

"You screwed the pooch on that one when you fucked up your mech design. Nothing personal, but that thing was... Pretty damn terrible. Rode in here by a little business blackmail, and not skill. Want a job? Learn a trade. That's my friendly advice, bub."

>>22763720
That's not likely.

>>22763691
"Who are you? What is your skillset?

I don't do hiring decisions. Goddard would, since he's gone Janine would be in charge of that."

>>22763741
>>22763737
snarkmind

"Put the gun away. I just work here. Goddard's the one in charge."

>>22763691

Time for diplomacy!

"Well, you have determination. And a gun. Got something resembling an elevator pitch I can hear? You have my full and undivided attention right now."

>>22763720

(you're not really close enough to reach it, and he has a gun. you are not faster than bullets, probably)

>>22763712
>>22763732

"Do I look like I have experience getting a damn job?"

He walks over to the sofa and plops. Max trots over to him and he scratches the dog's head.

You, are puzzled by all this.

>>22763769

Any chance that we just found Max's owner?

So, I am guessing he was a raider that got left behind and knows he is screwed. Might be able to trade him a job for our boss.

>>22763769
"Alright. What's your skillset? Any degrees or certifications?"

>>22763769
I shall reiterate

"So... you and Max doing a bodyguard audition?"

>>22763769

Uh oh. Did we just steal Richard's dog?

>>22763769
"Good for you. Look man, I don't do hiring decisions, but Max likes you so I'll ask Janine about it.

What type of job are you looking for?"

>>22763737
>>22763741
>>22763748
>>22763763
>>22763765

You inquire as to what exactly he means, and he looks up at you.

"Look. I'll be straight with you. I'm a pirate. Ex-Eight. I attacked your damn base. I might have shot someone, I dunno. I was just pulling the trigger in your direction. Kinda hope not, else there's no way you're gonna let me outta here a free man.

Anyway, short version is I've been skulking here since then, hiding, and snuck up here to steal something so I could leave, sell it, and start over someplace else. But you had to bring that mutt in here... who I never thought to see again. And plans change. Gun ain't loaded anyway. What I can tell you is that I am a criminal, and I know my kind. And I can protect you from people like me. I just wanna go legit, and have someone have my back in case what's left of the boys catches wind of me and gets pissed."

>>22763822
Well since he's capable of sneaking in without anyone noticing, he's perfect start to our non-existant security division.

>>22763822

Look man, we aren't the boss, we don't do the hiring, at best I can put in a good word for you if you are legit, was thinking we needed a security guy around anyway, but we just got done burying everyone (yesterday? Today?) so I'm not real sure how it'll all go down.

>>22763822

"So what you're saying is... you're a misfit that doesn't belong anywhere. You have few qualifications and a bad history with... basically everything. You're quite probably a wanted man somewhere, and even if you aren't in general, someone wants you dead."

Pause a beat, sigh.

"Lemme get Janine on this. Jesus christ."

>>22763822
>attacked you on payrole, now I'm dragging deserter hate on you too

"Uh, we might wanna make sure you don't have a hit on your head before I even start thinking about introducing you to the boss; then again, that was a hell of a performance - anything special you want to take credit for and show us how to patch up?"

>>22763854
How much do we make? enough to pay him under the table?

>>22763822
Rush, take coffee, apply to face, subdue, let authority handle this.

>>22763822
"I see. Problem is, lot of the crew are pretty damn cross about the fact that a good few of our crew got fragged. I'm not too happy about it at all, people got hurt, soured the mood, and made it pretty hard to work. Plus, you kidnapped our boss, which you should probably see about fixing. Though, considering how you got in here so easily, we probably need some security."

>>22763875
We're working commission. We don't get paid till we sell mechs.

>>22763875
ATM we make nothing, we're banking on HZP to sell, so we can actually make some money.

>>22763822

If he wants to go legit, we might be able to help. We do need to start a security detail at some point and an ex-pirate might not be the worst idea ever. However, we need a token of good faith. Everything he knows about Goddard. Now. Max likes him and we trust Max. But we need our boss back before we can do any "hiring".

Tell him to give you the gun. If he does, check that it's not loaded and get Janine up here.

"So, what should I call you?"

>>22763900
Actually nobody knows about it, if Janine agrees, we can pretend he's a security guy Janine hired to prevert further antics.

It's likely the Eights are pretty shattered as an organization right now.

Maybe they're looking for a chance to go legit.

>>22763854
>>22763866
>>22763867
>>22763875
>>22763900
>>22763909
>>22763913

He hands you the gun, and shrugs.

"You wanna know about your boss? I'll tell you everything I know. And you ain't gonna like it."

You sit in your chair, offer him a smoke which he takes, and pour some coffee for yourself, both because you could use it due to jitters, and also because it's hot and his face is made of skin, just in case.

"Name's Bruce, career criminal. Well, till I decided that life is too short to hide in caves and kidnap kids. We were supposed to be pirates, not saps who steal kids for money. We had 'Mechs and everything... coulda run this rock if we wanted to. But aspirations aren't the best thing when you're a thug, and people didn't like the trash I was talkin', and I didn't like the idea of going down for someone else's idiocy, so I jumped ship. Dropped my rifle and snuck off when that tank and your trashcan opened fire on the Spider. No one missed me either. The mutt here followed me, but I shooed him off to find his own way, cause he's noisy and woulda got me caught. Seems to have taken a shine to you."

>>22763963
Feed the hand that bit us? You are a way more lenient man than I, sir.

>>22763963

I am not really looking to give the organization a free pass, but we have a guy here who wants out. And potentially information on our boss' current whereabouts. Lets get boss lady in here and see what her thoughts are. If we are able to get Goddard back in one piece because of him, it might be worth making some sort of deal.

>>22763992
>"You wanna know about your boss? I'll tell you everything I know. And you ain't gonna like it."

Well, shit.

>>22763992
Do we have a phone or something to call people in on this? Ivan for one. People may want to here what's happening to boss man.

>>22763992
You must be good at sneaking around if you managed to go undetected for 2 days.

>>22764028
Call the lady in, suggest a multi-department debrief from this guy, a lot of people are gonna want info and it's best we get it all out real quick.

>>22763992
"I wouldn't suggest calling it a trashcan. From what I saw, it ripped your band's shit. Go on."

>>22764005
The way I figure it, what better way to stop thieves than having an ex-thief as security?

Hackers and Forgers often wind up in security professions.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitnick_Security_Consulting
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Abagnale

>>22763992

Go on...

(Should I archive this?)

>>22764124
Anontech does it.

>>22764028
>>22764029
>>22764030
>>22764051
>>22764053
>>22764063
>>22764087

You suggest that he tell his story in front of everyone, partly because you are leery about being in his presence alone and partly because you believe they all need to hear it to help ensure he's not lying. You only tell him the second reason though. He agrees, so you call everyone into your office that is available.

After a few minutes, Janine, Ivan, and Hatamoto show up, confused as to what's going on.

You lay out the situation, and Bruce sits there quietly. When you're done, Janine crosses her arms, and Ivan looks a little perturbed.

"So.. you're a pirate who wants to go straight? How do we know we can even trust you?"

"You don't. But I'm gonna tell you about your boss anyway, whether you have me arrested or not. So there's that."

Ivan starts ranting in Russian.

Hatamoto puts a hand on Ivan's shoulder, says something to him in Russian, and he calms down. Then he speaks.

"Hire this man, Janine. We know of the value of such men in the Confederation. Should he prove himself, we will be better off than we were. If not, then Ivan will likely castrate him wherever he runs to."

Bruce squirms a bit at that notion, you notice. He's either a really good actor, or else he's pretty scared of Ivan, it seems.

>>22764179
Laugh, then seriousfaec

"Alright, so let's hear what you've got."

>>22764179
I think Hatamoto's got a point.
If he proves himself, we get someone who can handle the sneakier side of security.
If not, Ivan gets someone to test weapons on.

>>22764179
I think we should take him to the authorities, get him to spill everything he knows about the Eights, and ask them to release him into our custody.