File: 1366232056694.jpg-(9 KB, 320x180, CrassusReady.jpg)

9 KB JPG

>>24300774

A fine day in this man's Empire at last.

Let us find Melon and the others, and discuss Demi strategy. Today is a working holiday.

>>24300774
PT all day.

>>24300774
Welcome back Doc, I was worried you might end up getting hit by a meteorite with your luck.

Get some breakfast of course.

Can't start a day on an empty stomach.

>>24300861
>>24301004
You stretch and drag yourself up. Might as well get the day started. You change into fresh clothes and get a move on. First order of business: Find some of the other pilots. This is easy enough, as you find Rock (or Roll) sparring with Melon in the usual place. The other twin is off to the side, shouting encouragement as Melon tries valiantly to tag the sparring twin with a wooden dagger.

"How's it going?" You ask the twin outside the circle as you stroll up. "Not too bad. Cheshire is decent with a knife, and might make a good close combat fighter with a bit more training." She explains, and you nod happily. "You're a sniper team, so it's good to have atleast one of you competent at close range. You wanna step into the ring once they're done? You could do with some more practice yourself."

Take her up on the offer?

>>24300861

Must depart for dining, gentlemen. Carry on, I shall return before the end of the night.

oh shit I've been waiting for this

>>24301174
second

>>24301228
Sure why not?

>>24301228
Sure, while close combat isn't really our thing, we can't avoid it forever, so we may as well make sure we've got the skills to not die when it happens.

>>24301228

Offer to join her for some sparring once we break fast.

>>24301228
Time for round two.

>>24301174
>>24301256
>>24301285
>>24301294
>>24301298
>>24301306
"Sure. Want to get something for breakfast while we wait on them?" You ask, looking towards the mess hall. "Kinda, but I want to watch more. Grab me something, would yah?" She asks, and you nod as you head off.

You get to the mess hall and grab several slices of bread and cooked ham, making a few sandwiches for yourself, Melon, and the twins. You turn and find yourself with your face in something... soft. You pull back and look up. Huh. You hadn't known that Pitcher, real name Morda Sola, was so much taller than you. Every time you can think of having seen her she was sitting down. "Imperator! Funny bumping into you here." She smirks. You try to stammer out an apology and she pats you on the head. "Don't worry about it, it happens more than you would think. What are you up to?" She asks.

"I was taking Melon and the twins something for breakfast. We were going to do some sparring." You explain, getting your wits back about your. "Oh, fun! Can I join?" She asks, bouncing a bit. You try to keep your eyes on her face. "Sssure?" You say, and she finally steps to the side, following you as you head back to the ring. The fighting is almost done, but you have time to make conversation while you and Roll (or Rock?) eat.

>>24301600

I'm a bit scared about a sparring match with Pitcher. Not because of some animu-level joke where we end up suffocating in her boobs, but because someone that tall and that exuberant could probably beat us black and blue with just a bit of carelessness.

>>24301600

"So that ehh Pitcher umm is she really ok with me accidentally ohh."

>>24301746
Alex is terrible at close combat, every single other demi pilot here has a good chance of beating us black and blue.

>>24301600
Sure, sit down and chat a bit while we watch the fight.

>>24301755
Please don't say this, I'd rather Alex Hanger not sound like some awkward anime protagonist.

>>24301746
>>24301755
>>24301770

death by snu snu

>>24301779
hes not an anime protagonist hes already extremely awkward unless it comes down to IMPERIAL PRIDE!

>>24300774
>Ladies and gentlemen, unless something falls from the skies and kills me, I welcome you to Demi Quest.

NOOOO YOU FOOL

NEVER CHALLENGE FATE

>>24301820
He's never seemed particularly awkward before about anything, I just don't like the idea of him umming and stammering like he's thirteen and has never seen a woman before.

>>24301600
Ask her fighting specialty is.

>>24301916
'what her fighting specialty is.'
Dropped a 'what' there.

>>24301746
>>24301770
>>24301916
You eye Pitcher. Aside from the obvious distractions, you make a few notes. She's nearly seven feet tall, and she always seems to show so much energy. Combine that with, you know, being an experience pilot, and you figure she's going to be a force to be reckoned with. "So what sort of fighting style do you guys usually use?" You make conversation.

"Me and Roll have a tag-team style normally, hitting from two directions in tandem, keeping the enemy off balance, one distracting while the other attacks... What you would imagine from twins who spent most of their lives training together. When alone I tend to be a bit too reckless, put everything into my swings. Roll is the opposite, she is too... hesitant for her own good." Rock explains.

"Depending on the side of my opponent, I either grapple or use my longer reach." Pitcher explains, stretching her arms. "My Demi has chainsaws built into compartments in the arms to help do damage when I grapple." She notes. "Feel bad about talking about Volunteer while he isn't here, but the jist of it is he's an assassination expert. Guy disappears until a knife or spear shows up in your back." She finishes.

You look back as you here Roll apologizing, and see her helping Melon out of the ring. "You're up, Imperator. You wanna tangle with me or Pitcher?" Rock asks.

Well?

>>24302050
Let's try something new. Fight Pitcher.

>>24302050

Pitcher might as well get the grappling out of the way.

>>24302050
"I'll try sparring with Pitcher since she asked first."

>>24300774
FUCK YEAH!
I've been waiting for this moment for quite a while now. Demi quest is back!

>>24302085
You don't like wrasslin'?

>>24302050
We haven't fought Pitcher yet, so let's go get our ass royally kicked by another melee expert.

>>24302050
let's go! we've fought the twins before, let's try pitcher

>>24301895
Yes.
He may be a nerd but he is also a natural networker and leader.

>>24302050
pitcher

Rolled 68, 62, 94 = 224

>>24302078
>>24302085
>>24302111
>>24302126
"I guess I'll try and take on Pitcher, since I already sparred with one of you." You say, stepping into the ring. Pitcher bounces in after you, actually ending up doing a cartwheel as she happily gets ready. She takes a low, wide stance, both arms out and forward, ready to wrap around something (probably you).

I'll need 1 die, for your melee.

>>24302282
And remember, guys. 60+ is a success.

>>24302282
>1 die versus 3 success

Yeah thats an auto failure.

Rolled 88

>>24302282

Rolled 97

>>24302282

>>24302282

all dat softness

>>24302324
You bolt in, and punch her square in the gut with a jab. Then... you're not entirely sure what happens. She grabs you, you're upside down, and then you wake up with the twins, Pitcher, and Melon kneeling or crouching around you. "Yeeeah, maybe you should NOT spar with Pitcher just yet." Rock and Roll muse, and they help you up. Your head, neck, shoulders, and upper back all hurt. "In happier news, I've never pulled off that perfect of a pile driver before." Pitcher cheers. Rock and Pitcher decide to spar as you recover alongside Melon.

What say or do while you wait?

>>24302414
"A wise friend once told me, sucking really bad at something is the first step to becoming sorta okay at it."

>>24302414
Ask how she likes our book. Try not to sound overprotective fail to not to sound overprotective.

>>24302414

"All I remember was the world spinning upside down then softness."

>>24302414
"Impressive..."

Rolled 81

>>24302478
Might as well.

>>24302470
Say this, then pop the crick in your neck.

>>24302494
She drove our head into the ground, I wouldn't imagine it was that soft.

>>24302470
"A wise friend once told me, sucking really bad at something is the first step to becoming sorta okay at it." You muse, rolling your neck, trying to get the stiffness out. You're rewarded with a satisfying pop. She snorts. "Then we're on the right path, yah? From what they were telling me earlier, the twins, Pitcher, Volunteer, and Retter are all close combat experts. We're the only proper gunners on base." She muses. "Figures they'd all be good at this. Atleast it gives us plenty of teachers."

You nod in agreement, then frown. "Sooo, how you liking my book? Done with it yet?" You try to casually ask. She chuckles and looks over at you. "It's good, but I'm not done with it yet. About two thirds done. Don't worry so much." She teases, grinning. You sheepishly nod.

You're feeling good enough you think you could go again, and just in time as Pitcher catches Rock and lifts her up, then brings her down in what you think is called an 'atomic drop'. Rock curls up and rolls around, swearing violently. "Two for two! Who's next?" She grins, bouncing on her feet. "...wanna try and double-team her?" Melon asks, standing.

Wanna try it?

>>24302470
Seconding this.

>>24302705
We go high she goes low? Sounds like a plan.

>>24302705
Let's go for it.

>>24302724
>>24302732

sure

Rolled 94, 70, 23, 91 = 278

>>24302724
>>24302732
>>24302742
"...sure. I'll go high, you go low." You say, stepping into the ring with her. Pitcher grins and motions you forward.

3 dice. First is for your attack, second and third for Melon.

Rolled 83

>>24302820
We can miss with those huge tracts of land to grab hold of.

Rolled 57

>>24302820
not fair

Rolled 47

>>24302820

Rolled 31

>>24302820
Let us fail spectacularly.

>>24302837
>>24302838
>>24302842

so we succeeded and melon failed.

this is either going to be funny or hurt.

Rolled 14, 40, 15 = 69

>>24302837
You tackle her, wrapping your arms around her midsection as Melon tries to do the same with her legs. Welp, Pitcher just lifted up a foot and stomped down to push Melon down to the ground. And now she grabs ahold of you.

2 dice to try and escape.

Rolled 90

>>24302881

quick evasion action

Rolled 4

>>24302881
We actually have a chance! She failed every roll!

Rolled 3

>>24302881
Can't hold me down. I'm the gingerbread man.

>>24302705
>Pitcher catches Rock and lifts her up, then brings her down in what you think is called an 'atomic drop'.

Careful, you can break immersion with terms like 'atomic drop.' Unless the Empire actually has atomic weapons tech.

Rolled 42, 6, 57, 39 = 144

>>24302890
You manage to slip out of her grip when she tries to turn you around. She steps back, rolling her shoulders and motioning you forward again.

3 dice again!

Rolled 74

>>24302917

Rolled 72

>>24302917
It's time for wrasslin'.

Rolled 27

>>24302917
EVASIVE MANEUVERS

Rolled 54, 34, 97 = 185

>>24302929
>>24302933
You manage to knock her off balance with a haymaker, and Melon grabs her legs and pulls them out from under her. She ends up on her back, then rolls backwards and up onto her feet. "Niiice!" She darts towards Melon.

2 dice for her attempt to dodge!

Rolled 14

>>24302981

Rolled 11

>>24302981

Rolled 38

>>24302981

Rolled 91, 78, 61, 85 = 315

>>24302998
>>24303006
She grabs ahold of Melon around her middle and keeps going, lifting her up and throwing her back over her shoulder, where Melon hits the ground on her back. Yeah, that looked like it hurt. You dart around and now you and Melon are on opposite sides of Pitcher.

3 dice, +1 for getting her caught between you.

Rolled 48

>>24303060

Rolled 36

>>24303060

Rolled 17

>>24303060
let's go!

Rolled 45

>>24303060
Pfffft

Rolled 42

>>24303060
>Dem rolls

Rolled 39

>>24303060

So, yeah, Pitcher, maim or kill your sparring partners often?

>>24303093
>>24303095
>>24303100
>>24303106

Welp, now we die.

Rolled 19, 20, 99, 53 = 191

>>24303093
>>24303095
>>24303100
>>24303106
You both rush in, trying to punch her from opposite sides, she shrugs and chuckles a bit, turning to have her sides be to you both. She grabs both of your wrists and swings you up in the air, to where you're upside down. She pulls you down so your collar bones (between one shoulder and your neck) are against her shoulders, one on each side. Then she starts dropping.

2 dice, one for you, one for her, to see if you manage to get loose before she wrecks your shit.

Rolled 80

>>24303161

>>24303161
Goddamn, Pitcher is a beast.

Rolled 67

>>24303194
Oops, that's not how you roll.

>>24303161

Rolled 45

>>24303161
Come ooon come on!

Rolled 56

>>24303161
Shot

Rolled 8, 74 = 82

>>24303181
>>24303214
She has a hard time managing you both, and due to it, manage to get loose before her knees hit the ground. You still end up on your backs, but manage to scramble up.

3 dice to hit her while she is still on her knees.

Rolled 15

>>24303181
Oh good we're not going unconscious yet.

Rolled 2

>>24303251
Hopefully it connects.

Rolled 98

>>24303251

Rolled 62

>>24303251
Go

Rolled 35

>>24303251

Rolled 57, 68, 6 = 131

>>24303274
She manages to lean back in time to avoid your punches, though Melon's manages to clip her nose. She jumps up and grabs at both of your necks!

4 dice to dodge.

Rolled 87

>>24303363

Rolled 86

>>24303363

Rolled 45

>>24303363
Shit.

Rolled 84

>>24303363

Rolled 80, 86, 70, 29 = 265

>>24303369
>>24303377
>>24303395
You both manage to duck out of the way and scramble back, ending up side by side. "We mighta bit off more than we can chew here." Melon mutters. You swallow and nod slightly. You both dart back in for another go!

3 dice for your attack.

Well at least we're fast.

Rolled 34

>>24303430

Rolled 40

>>24303430

Rolled 78

>>24303430

Rolled 65

>>24303430
Here we go again.

Rolled 52, 18, 72, 55 = 197

>>24303458
She slips back as you both try and pull a haymaker, moving just too fast and you both end up off balance, still moving forward. She swings out both arms to the sides, smirking.

3 dice to dodge.

Rolled 61

>>24303502

Rolled 20

>>24303502
Ahhhh

Rolled 95

>>24303502
Try kicking next time.

Rolled 81

>>24303502

Rolled 36

>>24303502

Rolled 27, 99, 5, 94 = 225

>>24303505
>>24303517
You and Melon drop to the ground as she swings her hands together, missing your heads and clapping loudly. She hisses and shakes her hands, skipping backwards as you both scramble forward.

3 dice to attack!

Rolled 13

>>24303551

Rolled 44

>>24303551

Rolled 18

>>24303551

Rolled 27

>>24303551

Rolled 74, 30, 71, 47 = 222

>>24303561
>>24303567
>>24303568
You try a powerful swing as Melon goes for a diving kick, but Pitcher bounds back again, reaching down and grabbing Melon's legs.

3 dice, please.

Rolled 44

>>24303632
This won't end well.

Rolled 8

>>24303632

Rolled 75

>>24303632
Godamnit woman

Rolled 29

She is one hell of a fighter.

Rolled 20

>>24303703
Seriously, 4 dice in melee naturally, when she's actually piloting her Demi she must be a monster.

>>24303672
She lifts up Melon by the legs, moving her grip up to the knees, and starts spinning. You think that's called a 'giant swing'. Oh look, Melon's coming right at you-

You drag yourself up with Rock's (or Roll's) and Pitcher's help, and look over to see the other twin helping up Melon. "Ow." You simply say, taking to the sideline and sitting down. Melon joins you, rubbing her eyes. "Tell me when the world stops spinning." She asks you, as you nurse your side. Pitcher sits down on your other side, panting. "Not bad, guys! You gave me a damn good match! We'll have to try this again sometime." She cheers.

Melon lays back, covering her eyes with a groan as the twins bring you all cups of water.

Good news! Even though you lost, you did a lot better against a senior close combat expert than I thought, so you get 2 XP for your trouble. What do you say while you try to get back your ability to walk?

>>24303815
"We need to train for round two. Maybe we can do a tag team against Rock and Roll."

Also time to get 098 that G-harness.

>>24303815
I think it only makes sense we use those 2XP to increase our talent in melee.

Lay back, pant. "We'll win...eventually!"

>>24303815
"You're a hell of a fighter, Pitcher, I'd ask to go again, but I think I've had my ass kicked enough for one day."

Rolled 93

>>24303815
"How did you became so good at close combat? Are you some kind of natural prodigy?"

>>24303867
To clarify this is directed towards Melon.

>>24303877
I kinda want to spend the exp on maxing out our ranged stat, since we ARE a sniper. We'll never become as good in melee as a dedicated brawler, and our integrated shotgun arms are more than enough to defend ourselves in CQC. Basically, we don't want to become a mediocre jack of all trades, when we're especially suited for sniping/long range reconnaissance. Maybe an upgrade to our speed/agility over our sniping, but let's not focus on melee.

"remind me to stick to sniping, huh?"

>>24303867
"We should train for round two." You muse to Melon. "Maybe we can do a tag team against Rock and Roll. We'll win eventually." You say, laying back. "How did you get so good at close combat, Pitcher? I'd ask to go again, but I think I've had my ass kicked enough for one day." You say, looking over at her.

"Well, I may not look it, But I've been a pilot for years, not to mention a natural aptitude for it. Experience and talent, with more than a little training...? I oughta be good. I'm better in my Demi." She muses. You nod. "I probably should just stick to sniping." You say, sighing. She snorts. "Yeah, like that's going to happen. Most of us pilots in this base are close combat types. We spend most of our time practicing, and you're going to end up picking up something atleast."

So, it's about noon now. What would you like to do?

>>24304079
Time to go bug 098 about those upgrades.

>>24304079
Have we actually handed off all the letters to family and friends to whoever we give it to for the postal service?

If not, be sure and do that on the way to whatever else we're doing.

Rolled 22

>>24303815

Ivana "Pitcher" Drago

(Yes, I know that surnames have different endings for Russian men and women, but it's funnier this way, and I don't know the feminine version of 'Drago' anyway)

>>24304214
Drago is a pretty cool last name on its own.

>>24304079

Letters to the family need to be sent, if I recall.

Empire, Family, Duty.

>>24304120
You excuse yourself to go and see 098 about your upgrades. Heading into the temple hangar, you can see sparks coming from beyond the curtain, with a loud buzzing. "Oh Nine Eight? Can I speak to you?" You ask and after a moment, he comes out, wielding a massive tool with a glowing red blade-like tip. "I wanted to check up on how the upgrades were going." You explain. He nods.

"The radar has been upgraded to nearly double range. I still cannot compete with the one used by your partner back in the training camp, but it's better than average. The rifle is taking longer, I had to completely deconstruct it to get to the stabilizers. It should be done by... this evening, I think. You should be able to take a mission." He signs. You frown.

"Take a mission? Retter hasn't said anything..." You start, and he frowns, then sighs.

"You need to report there. He will supply you with a list of available missions, which you may select for yourself and Melon." He explains. "It's how these smaller outposts work, don't worry too much about not knowing. You can ask more from Retter."

So what do now? He ducks back under the curtain and lights up his cutter tool thing again and gets back to work.

>>24304131
>>24304572
I'm sorry, I should have noted, you already took care of that. My bad.

>>24304608

We have a mission, we have a Duty. Collect Melon and report the Retter as soon as possible.

>>24304608
Report as requested, and then it's time for lunch.

>>24304608
Go get Melon and explain that to her. Then the two of us can go get a mission.

>>24304653
>>24304679
>>24304695
You head to go grab Melon, dragging her along and explaining as you head towards the office. Retter is at his desk inside, reading from a magazine. He looks up and nods to you. "Afternoon. I was wondering when you would be in. These are the available missions." He explains, sliding them forward. "Do you need an explanation on how missions out in the boonies here work?" He asks, and you nod.

"Alright, here's the basics. You get five hundred Imperial a month, a decent sum, your basic pay for doing mandatory missions and helping keep the base secure. These are extras that you can do for pay and equipment we have shipped in now and then. Missions have ranks and different pay-outs and rewards." He holds up a file. "In example, this mission here is to go out and collect various herbs our base medics need to make painkillers. It's a D rank, low danger, relatively easy, and pays a hundred Imperial flat. Nice and easy, and it's nothing important, just helps get you out and about. Get the picture?"

You nod. "Right then. We got these three right now. The D rank to collect herbs up north, requested by the head pharmacist. A D rank to pull an extra patrol, requested by Pitcher. A C rank to attempt to hunt down a small pack of Abominations at what looks like a local mine." He lays the three files out for you.

What interests you, guys?

>>24304608
tomorrow we should get 098 to build his seat belts and our gili cloak.

>>24304933
Any particular reason we can't get the herbs while on patrol? Though if forced to chose I say we go patrol.

>>24304933

The abominations at the mine. Alex "Ace" Hanger is many things, a man who chooses the easy way through not among them.

>>24304933
herbs, helps everyone on base,
or
the mine, highest rank
I say

>>24304933
>D rank to collect herbs up north
If only cause we need something easy after our ass whooping.

Also sending a sniper into a mine seems unwise to me.

>>24304989
true but like i said>>24304997
the herbs help everyone.

>>24305026

The way I see it, we should be looking to avenge our previous mauling. Collecting herbs is a pretty ignoble task, unlikely to advance our career. Remember that Alex is concerned primarily with helping his friends AND advancement.

>>24305083
True bur making friends with the head pharmacist is a good move as well.

>>24305083
I agree, let's take a shot at these abominations. Remember, every abomination killed is an abomination that can't kill our comrades later.

>>24304933
C rank.

Although we should probably confer with Melon before we make a decision, don't want to sign her up for a mission she's not comfortable with.

>>24305142

Agreed. We are partners, she is not our subordinate.

I am running an errand, sorry guys. I will be home in a short while.

File: 1366246760081.jpg-(361 KB, 720x810, CrassusSurprised.jpg)

361 KB JPG

>>24305784

I though some ill fortune had again befallen you, gratitude given that it is not so.

>>24305864
indeed

>>24305142
>>24305167
This, let's hear her opinion on the missions before we make a decision. If she's willing to go for whatever, then take the C rank one.

>>24305784
Take your time, watch out for falling pianos.

>>24304933
pick some herbs in the woods.

>>24307239
>Join an elite military organization
>Go flower picking

C'mon guy, let's not turn Alex and Melon into the joke of the outpost.

Sadly family issues mean I cannot continue tonight. If someone could archive this, I would appreciate it. See you guys Friday.

>>24307314
See ya Doc

>>24307314

Anyone doing the archive or should I again?

File: 1366252220226.png-(108 KB, 500x280, CrassusRespects.png)

108 KB PNG

>>24307633

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/24300774/

And done. Until next we meet, Ave Imperator.

>>24300774
>arthritis
Oh god it's like every time I open up Demi Quest I learn that you have something else shitty about your life.