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>>24880951
You have just defeated the maverick Winter Wolfspider, who chose to rip himself to pieces in a net of Tension Coils rather than submit to capture. Seconds after that, one of his dimmed optics re-lit, blinked on and off, and then the avalanche triggered.

News reports come fast and furious as you trudge out of the maverick's lair, having disabled the few systems there in a half-daze. They're saying explosive charges, remote-detonated in sequence once the first blew. Buried high up in the Alaskan mountains, they ran from just outside here to just outside Anchorage. Wellington somberly reminds you that there's nothing more you can do here. For what it's worth, though--Linda and Calais report in, having made it to safety while you dealt with Spider. They... probably owe you their lives, and they say so themselves when they pick you up.

From there, it's a quick check-in, an okay to rinse Wolfspider's blood off your front in a small shower stall in O36, and then a beam back to Geneva to get looked at by the Lifesavers. You must look a sight, stripping off the tattered remains of the camo poncho you used, cradling your own shattered breastplate in your arms as you step into the bay.

>Let them put you under for repairs. You need the rest...
>Opt to stay awake. Get updates on Anchorage while they work.

>>24880956
Stay awake. We can tough it out.

>>24880956
>Opt to stay awake. Get updates on Anchorage while they work.
None of this news can be good.

>>24880956
Fuck that noise, sleep before the next assignment.

>>24880956
Stay awake. You need to hear the news no matter how bad it is.

Fucking Wolfspider. Chose a coward's way out. Now people die for it.

>>24880956
Stay awake. I want to know how bad this is.

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So did you guys know MHQ has a TVtropes page? I didn't. Feels pretty cool, though at first I was mad because I thought Cain Labs made one after I told him we shouldn't.

>>24881078
If I recall, we've been awake for nearly all our repairs except critical ones. May as well at least stay with the pattern. That and I'd rather not end up solely living for assignments. We've got downtime to look forward to.

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>>24881174

Wait what

>>24881238
I found it too, and funnily enough it looks like all mention of Grach have been pointedly not added or [Redacted]

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>>24881109
>>24881103
>>24881068
>>24881037
You decide to tough it out--after all that, getting patched up won't be that bad.

They deaden systems as they work, which is uncomfortable in its own way, but it certainly doesn't hurt--and after a moment's consideration the chief 'Saver in the bay grunts and lets you get some updates on what's happening, between a little terminal screen he sets up and maintaining comms with Wellsey.

Anchorage is...well, it looks bad, not that you've seen many avalanches that weren't in movies. Dozens of injuries and tons of damage, but they're projecting "only" single-figure deaths. So hooray for that. You debate telling Wellington having him navigate for you is bad luck, but you don't feel like you could pull that off without sounding like you mean it.

Speaking of serious, the damage to your breastplate was pretty extreme--they can repair it, but it won't be easy. Rather than deal with a nonmedical issue, they suggest sending it along either to R&D, back home, or maybe just a short hop to the lab, if Em thinks he can do anything with it. In the meantime, one of the 'Savers confirms what you suspected--if you hadn't seen that attack coming, if those liquid nitrogen injectors had punched a little deeper, more than your armor would have been shattered. You turn one of the bigger fragments over in your hand, contemplating that.

Wellington keeps you posted--he's just telling you Linda's getting that broken arm mended when he's cut off.

"Anode?" It's Frog. "Command wants a debrief on Wolfspider as soon as you're ready. It's probably going to be ugly." He sighs. "They want me to come in to hear it in person. I can pass that off to Schwarz, he's authorized, but only if I catch him now. Might make it a little less rough on you, you know he'd take your corner."

>I'm ready. Let's just go.
>Sorry boss, gonna need a minute.

And

>Schwarz would be very much appreciated.
>No sense making things any harder than they already are. You do it.

>>24881203
oh we have a pattern in the works? okay then stay awake, talk with the brass, see about the upgrades we were in talks about and dont let WS deadman's trigger fuck with us too much

>>24881326
>Whichever makes your job easier boss.
Frog seems like he needs a break more than we do.

>>24881326
lets get it done boss, Schwartz would be helpful

>>24881378
Seconding this.

>>24881378
I like this, leave it up to Frog.

Should we make ourselves presentable, or go along all messed up?

>>24881326
>>No sense making things any harder than they already are. You do it.

I don't want Anode to get accused of wiggling out of this.

>>24881523
>>24881406
Messed up is fine, we will also mention attempting to take him non lethally, and him ending HIMSELF on our cables. Also as for our armor, we should get in touch with our parents and see if any of their ideas are applicable to armor before we leave our 'laundry' with them so to speak.

I find that this is appropriate music for this scene.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=8Ebv9bJ3pJM

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>>24881378
>>24881389
>>24881406
You heave a sigh yourself. It'd be nice to have the Black Dog doing this, you're used to him being perpetually scary-looking, but...

"Your call, sir."

"I hate when people say that," he replies dryly. "Right. We may as well do this one by the books. I'll head for the pad, be there in around fifteen. See you then."

You relay this to the medical team. "With respect to the Commander," one of the Lifesavers says, "I'm not letting you leave my bay just yet. You can do it here." Doesn't need to tell you twice--you're too wiped out, mentally and physically, to argue.

15 minutes is just too short to do anything, and just long enough to let you build up a healthy dread--and then you get a message, a few interminable minutes through.

It's your pay--Z34,000--and with it, a small attachment.

NOTICE: Hunter personnel are strongly discouraged from commencing operations without a mechaniloid or infantry detachment. For future missions, you are advised to utilize hunter resources and assets. They increase survivability and odds of successfully completing your objectives.

That's...

You...

STUPID--

"MOTHERFUCKERS."

You damn near crush the datapad in your hand, ignoring the stern glare from the Lifesavers at your outburst. You settle for flinging it aside, clattering off the wall beside the door.

Stupid.

Absolutely fucking stupid. Take on a murderous psychopathic frost spider with nothing but a pack of goddamned rabbits and--

"Everything all right in here?" Frog asks, stepping carefully over the discarded datapad. He pauses and looks you over. "You look like hell."

>Hunter SNAFU, typical bullshit. Let's just get this out of the way.
>Everything's perfectly all right now. We're fine. We're all fine here now, thank you. How are you?
>Other?

>>24881940
Read this! Look at this bullshit!

>>24881940
Point this out to him. This isn't the first time shits gotten cocked up. Its making me paranoid.

>>24882005
Naturally saying we can deal with it after the briefing.

>>24881940
"Can you pass me that data pad? I need to throw it again"

>>24882013
No, this is part of it.

Once is an accident. Twice is coincidence. Three times is an enemy action.

Show him the datapad, he needs to see this nonsense.

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>>24881972
>>24882005
>>24882028
>>24882185
You gesture angrily at the datapad. He carefully picks it up in his giant hand, examining its contents.

"They sent me out there with a notice telling me to get local support," you explain before he can ask. "This is half past bullshit."

"It's happened to all of us before," he says plaintively. "Don't get too excited."

"Excited? I've almost died every single time I've gone out, and I'm starting to think it's not just me."

"I'll look into it--yes, really," he adds, holding up a hand as you go to speak up in protest. "I'm not going to tell you you're being paranoid, but..."

"But I'm being paranoid? Is that it?"

Frog makes a rumbling noise in the back of his throat. "Anode, as CO, I'm ordering you to go get some counseling from HQ. You've been put through the wringer more than your fair share in the last few weeks, and the strain's starting to show. But that can wait."

You only just bite back a response about if it can wait until after the blindfold and cigarette. Frog looks tired, not angry, but it's pretty much the first time he's given you a direct order. "...Yes, sir."

"I'm not going to give you a timetable, but don't blow it off. Now," he looks you in the eye. "Let's get this business dealt with. Record begins here. Go ahead."

>What do you say for the mission debriefing?

>>24882370
Keep to the facts, mention involvement of lower ranked hunters and how we got the to disengage, and the attempt to take non lethally before it came out.
Also was it just me or do these little terror cells with deadman switches look like it could be standardized? I mean hell, with a small beamin pad one could slowly build up cells in all sorts of remote places and just fuck it up if things go wrong. Might want to mention them wanting to look out for it.

>>24882370
Everything from the moment we beamed in to the fight in the cave. We tried to take Wolfspider alive and got damn close to doing so.

I think the bombs may have been on some sort of dead-man switch, because they didn't go off until after he'd ripped himself completely apart.

Also, Linda and Calais should get commendations for how they handled the situation. And some more fucking funding.

>>24882370
Key points, dont get to personal we already had our outburst for today

>>24882503
I'd rather we didn't get reamed for negligence when we did try to take him alive.

>>24882486
Fuckin' This.

"Crazy bitch twisted her own broken arm just to get a more realistic scream. I don't know whether to be terrified or impressed."

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>>24882460
>>24882486
>>24882503
You decide to give as accurate an accounting as you can, everything from beginning to end. Just the facts, ma--

You know what? No, this isn't a time for references.

...

Maybe you DO need that counseling.

You go down the list, from the mission selection (you can't help but mention you received notification that you'd be requisitioning O36 assets), to the personnel and Navigation linkup, the tense stalk through the forest, finding Wolfspider's backup piecemeal, the chase, the cave, the fight... You try to deliver it all as punctually and accurately as you can. You feel the emotion creep into your voice a few times--Linda's injury and her use of it to act as a lure, Wolfspider's ambush and threats, incapacitating him and watching him...saw himself to death. And then, the explosions and the avalanche...

Frog remains silent, neither nodding nor speaking. "I need to ask you some questions you aren't going to be happy about."

"That ship has sailed, boss," you reply. "Hit me."

"Why did you attempt to capture Wolfspider?"

"I thought I could," you say. "I always try to offer them a chance to surrender."

"Yes, but you didn't make an attempt to subdue Weasel, Wallaby, Jagwire..."

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>>24883032
"...Or Bloodhound, or Terapin," you finish, before ticking them off one-by-one on your fingers. "Weasel, I was blind. Wallaby had me on the ropes, Jagwire was... fucking Jagwire. Bloodhound it was over too fast once India backed me up, and Terapin nearly killed us, had two A-ranks wailing on him for ages, and he still wouldn't go down."

Frog pauses before replying. "Let me rephrase the question. Why is it that you claimed you attempted to capture the one maverick who had a deadman's switch?"

Claimed t--no. No, don't blow up. He's just doing his job. You take a steadying breath and look pointedly up at the ceiling. "I didn't know he had remote charges rigged."

Frog's expression remains fixed. "You understand the reason for the concern? Your first capture attempt, combined with the explosives?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I do. But it was the first time I had a straight-up slugfest with the target. I never had an opportunity to try, and I didn't know. It was just...chance. Unhappy chance. And I know this is after the Grach extraction. Am I being asked this because I killed human combatants?"

"Partially," Frog admits. "Preliminary investigations show that Wolfspider's deadman switch was well-obscured from sensors. Your navigator mentioned the scrambling in his debrief. The Outpost 36 personnel have both attested to your actions. Is there anything else you'd like to add for the record?"

>Get personal.
>Stay professional.
>Nothing at all.
>Other/any of the above/specify?

>>24883038
Say nothing

>>24883038
>Stay professional.
Something along the lines 'My personal opinion on the matter is not something that pertains to the report as they are assumptions on my part.' It conveys we aren't particularly happy with the situation, but not that we are hiding anything. Or something to that effect.

>>24883038
>>Nothing at all.

We just got accused of being Maverick. What are you supposed to say to something like that?

>>24883162
>We just got accused of being a Maverick
Either we talk to someone who was also accused of being one immediately, or we cut all ties with them.
I'm thinking drinks with Grach and Mike in the pond ASAP, get everyone who gives a damn in our corner before its too late, India, Em, Schwarz, fukken everyone.

Stay professional.

Grach... Grach... what was that issue again? It's been too long, I just don't remember.

>>24883356
Atop siding with an accused maverick and successfully bringing him in, a deniable-ops killteam was sent to kill both him and you. The team was comprised of both humans and reploids. Anode opted to use lethal force against them.

>>24883381

Right, yes! I remember Grach now! Damn, can't believe I forgot that guy...

>>24883432
Being forgettable is kind of the point.

>>24883038

Its a damned if you damned if you don't situation full of circular reasoning.

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Gonna strike a balance between nothing and professionalism.
>>24883132
>>24883137
>>24883162
>>24883356
"I feel that my account and my record will speak for themselves," you decide, feeling the ice creep into your voice.

"Right," Frog says. "Closing the file. And I'm sorry I had to pull that on you. It's not the first time."

"Guess that doesn't surprise me," you reply. "Thanks, I think."

"Well, it'll all get sorted out in the investigation." He turns to the nearest Lifesaver. "Is he about done here?"

"Shortly," the dour medical unit replies. "His armor will take some work to repair."

"Just as well, I'd rather give you a little extra time before your next deployment. Get that sorted when you can, and don't forget what I said about the counseling services."

"I won't," you reply. "...Sir." Not sure whether you need to be formal again after all of this. Might as well play it safe.

"If you're set, I'm going to take care of some things that need doing while I'm here, though I'll probably be back in Vienna by tonight." As he turns to leave, Frog hands back the datapad you threw across the room. "You missed a page behind that notice, incidentally."

With that, he turns and heads out while the 'Savers do some last checks on your systems' integrity. You look over the message you missed--projected weapons data from Wolfspider. At least all the attention meant that had a fast turnaround.

>Head to the lab. See what Em can do with your broken armor and the data from Wolfspider.
>You don't even want to think about work right now. Go hit the Pond.
>Go look for someone. (Specify)
>Cool your head with a walk around base.
>Other?

>>24884192
I meant damned if you do damned if you don't

>>24884193
>Cool your head with a walk around base.

I'm thinking that Anode needs to go for a run. Just run around the outside of the base as fast as he can. Charge up first and sprint around the base, get some fresh air and not focus on anything except moving.

>>24884193
>>Cool your head with a walk around base.

>>24884193
>Go see Em. Weapons, armor and drinking buddy.

>>24884193
>You don't even want to think about work right now. Go hit the Pond. Grab as many folks not working along the way as you can.

The ne'er-do-well convention is about to start. Maybe look into the options for counseling while at our room if we so chose the head there first.

>>24884289
here, maybe do these
>>24884255
>>24884248
first, conducive to gathering the band of merry men.

>>24884289
Do this, but only after we cool off from our run.

>Head to the lab. See what Em can do with your broken armor and the data from Wolfspider.

This investigation, Jagwire mission, the Russian mission. Those accusations might float around. Better to be workin on weapons with our bro maybe plan a vacation.

Maybe we could get replacement armor instead of fixing it? Something bulky? More space for weapons systems? Maybe modify the shell to upgrade it?

>>24885126
On that same line of thinking, maybe we should give the folks back home a call. Noone quite like our creators to give us some ideas about new or modified armor.

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>>24884248
>>24884255
>>24884336
"Everything else is back online and good to go?" You ask.

The chief Lifesaver nods. "Just don't push it. Even you can only take so much."

'Even' you. Great. Yeah. You nod and get ready to depart, resolving to look over the weapon info later. For now, you just need to work out some stress.

It's been less than a full month since you started this gig. You've seen, what, eight deployments? Six dangerous mavericks, six near-death experiences? You met the progenitor of your race, and got into a Mexican standoff with a G-rank. Countless mechaniloids wrecked, a bunch of maverick reploids, even gotten the blood of a few humans on your hands with that Grach thing. Met the commander of the Maverick Hunters and nearly caused a catafuckingstrophic diplomatic incident with Russia.

And now they're asking you loaded questions about dead people. Dead people you couldn't save.

Fuck that shit. Fuck all of that shit.

Your footfalls hammer across the flat surface around the 4th's HQ, pounding the ground with wild abandon. You ignore the looks the personnel shoot your way as you all-but-sprint across creation. Fuck Winter Wolfspider, fuck Hunter Command, fuckin' FUCK Spin Jagwire.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Fuck.

You metaphorically phuck your way across the base, end to end, building and offloading charge whenever you're clear of people to accidentally zap or run over.

...Huh, that's a thing. Someone waves at you, and beckons you over.

As you get closer, you think you remember his face. He grins at you, face free of suspicion or paranoia or judgment. Just unabashedly, unquestioningly happy to see you.

And as you get closer, you see why. It was hard to recognize his face because this time you're seeing it without a sheen of sweat and the sickly white pall of blood loss and fever. He also had one less arm and leg at the time.

It's Rob, that human you rescued from Spin Jagwire's 'art' projects.

"Hey there," he says, extending a bionic hand to shake.

>>24885245
Unfiltered JOY. Shake that man's hand, remark that it's great to see him.

Shake this man's hand. Greet him. Make small talk. Bask in the knowledge that we've helped someone. Eventually get why he is here. Is he going to join Hunter Command?

>>24885319
This, and ask him what he is doing here while we are at it.

>>24885319
>>24885421
Third.

>>24885382
pretty much this

>>24881174
There are a lot of Megaman fanworks with TVTropes pages for them, surprisingly. Legacy of Metal has one, for instance.

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>>24885245
You take his hand and give it a firm squeeze as you come to a halt, run forgotten. "Dunno if you remember me--"

"Oh, I remember you. How you doing, man?"

He holds out his arms, showing replacement limbs from the torture he went through. "Well, about how I look, I guess. Pretending not to be tired of hearing jokes about costing an arm and a leg."

"You poor bastard."

He grins. "Heh. Yeah. I'm glad I found you, actually, I was looking for you in particular."

"Yeah?"

He nods. "I got out of the hospital last week. I wanted to thank you in person."

"Er--thanks. Just doing my job."

"Hell of a job, man." He pauses and looks you over. "Looks like it's still been one. Where's your armor?"

You shrug. "In a little satchel in about four big pieces, waiting for me to figure out how the hell to get it fixed.

"Yeesh. Well, good luck with that. I also wanted to tell you. I've decided to join up with the Hunters."

Phwoo. "It's dangerous work, and they can't put you back together so easily. ...Most of you, anyway."

"Yeah, I know, I know. Heard that a lot in the hospital, too. But I'm set on it." He looks down at the mechanical hand. "That friend of mine, he didn't make it."

"I remember," you nod grimly.

"The way I see it, a lot of reploids die protecting humans. But it's not just humans getting hurt."

"Not just reploids protecting them, either," you note.

"Yeah, but it's still, what, 90-10?"

"Probably less," you have to admit.

"Either way, I got lucky. Abe--my friend--didn't. So I decided to join up. They're not just throwing me into the fire, either--before they even attach me to a unit I have to do a few months of training. It's gonna be brutal, there's a lot of washouts. Even then they'll still probably put me at D-class."

"You sound confident you'll make it."

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>>24885789
"That's because I am," he says, grin returning. "I survived everything that sick bastard put me through, what's the worst they can do to me?" Heh. Yeah. "Just wanted to come and see you and give you the news. I owe you my life, and I'm gonna pay that back."

You wince. "Just don't get yourself killed, all right? I've got enough weighing on my conscience."

He waves that off. "If I do get myself killed, that's on me, not you. I'm joining because I want to. I'd be dead if you hadn't shown up, so anything after that is strictly a bonus. Don't blame yourself, whatever happens, huh?"

"I'll try."

"No, seriously, man. You've got enough to worry about. My life and death are on me, and no one else."

"I--yeah, all right, thanks, Rob. I think I needed to hear that."

He claps you on the arm. "Hey, no problem, and thanks again."

"No problem. Hey, I was gonna hit the bar sometime today, want to come have a few drinks?"

He shakes his head. "Nah, no alcohol for the entirety of the program. Gotta take it seriously, right?"

"Yeah," you agree. "Definitely. No problem."

"I should probably get going anyway. Just remember you saved my ass, and at least one person out there is grateful for it."

"I will. Thanks, Rob."

"Maybe I'll see you around. No idea where they'll put me," he says, before turning to leave. "Good luck, Anode."

You manage a smile and wave as he heads back towards the vehicle bay. "You, too."

Well. That helped a bit. Small favors.

>Go see about those drinks.
>Back to work. Armor and upgrades.
>Other?

>>24885814
>Those feels

>Go see about those drinks.
Doctors orders are more time off, and our best ides come drunk. We just need to get someone to record it so we don't forget.

>>24885814
Time to go drown our problems

>>24885814
>other
try to find someone to get drunk with, pretty much anyone will do

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>>24883570
Ahuehuehue

No new shoops today, on a mobile. Sorry.

>>24885921
This.

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>Back to work. Armor and upgrades.

Get the armor repair process going. The automated fabricator may have to run through the night. Maybe make it lighter or bulkier. New Configuration. Maybe think about drones maybe look into the network for WEP data for an armor upgrade. I think we might be going a little stealthy on this one. Graphene is the strongest materal known right now and it can store a charge. Maybe a recoil charger for firing guns. Maybe go predator style. Is there active camo. Our shoulder mounted missile launcher could do with some upgrades. Maybe add a plasma caster. Electricity and magnetism are related right. Maybe look into magnetic tricks such as that magnetic poison. Maybe a forcefield. Lot's of possibilities.

We could get drunk but we seem to get sent on missions soon after. Better get drunk with friends visit Em. Get the project going. Lock up the shop and get to drinking. Not too badly. being an angry drunk will only get us into trouble

>>24886106
We've got some time, if em's just bullshitting around the quartermaster's shop we can outline our ideas to him while drinking. We really need to unwind. And Frog pretty much just ordered us to get more downtime this time.

>>24886199
We had been on 8 missions. And story shit just happened. It's sigma fortress time soon fellow hunter!

>>24886415
oh god plz no, we'd never survive 5 stage back to back without repairs

>>24886415
>Saetos is going to be our sigma
Let me just scream into this pillow for a while.

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>>24885868
>>24885913
>>24885921
>>24885989
>>24886106
>>24886199
You're feeling better, but that still only escalates you from "fuck everything" to "fuck this thing in particular." Given that's where you usually end up after a mission, it only follows that you go where you also end up after a mission--to the Pond to get drunk.

You jog back into the base, recollect your broken breastplate, and swing by the lab looking for the Littlest Swordsman.

Sure enough, you find him, announcing yourself with a deep, guttural invocation of "beeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEER."

Em doesn't look up from the table, hunched over as he taps buttons on a small pad. "Yeah, okay."

"So what are you up to, mastering some quarters?"

"Mastering all of the quarters. So many of them." Finally, he kicks back, chair rolling out toward you as he turns to look for the first time. "What, are you trying to institute reploid wet t-shirt contests or something?"

You drop your armor on his foot. He yowls and keels over, chair and all. "I just got my shit wrecked again, jagoff. Hence the need for beeeeeeEEEEEE--"

"Yeah yeah, okay," he grumbles, flipping upright. "You hear about this shit in Anchorage?" You just stare blankly at him. "...God damn, again? You have the worst luck East of West."

"I noticed. BEER."

"Fine, fine, leave your chassis doggybag here. So, you want me to try and fix this?"

"If you can. After--"

"Yeah yeah, I'm walkin', I'm walkin'."

The two of you head off as you explain the just ducky afternoon you've had. The Pond is starting to get busy--possibly busier now that Frog's here, running contrary to logic.

"Heads up," Em mutters. "Schwarz is sulking in the back."

>Oh hell. Better see what's up.
>Well, he's in good company.
>Let's just give him some space.

>>24886415
Holy shit, I hadn't realized we were at 8 Mavericks.

That's like a cosmic hint that shits about to go down.

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>>24886553
On the bright side, Saetos isn't your Sigma.

On the other hand, Saetos isn't your Sigma.

>>24886576
>Well, he's in good company.
>Oh hell. Better see what's up.

>>24886583
Oh boy, this can only end well.

>>24886600
I just had a brain fart who's saetos again?

>>24886583
8 missions: 6 mavericks, 1 Ally recruitment, 1 elite intro.

We have 2 more before the castle.

>>24886576
>Oh hell. Better see what's up.

>>24886660
Solstrike Saetos the A to S currently on our list.

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>>24886660
Solstrike Saetos is a motherfucker on toast.

...I'm using motherfucker too much today. But yeah, he's the strongest target on your hitlist, and one of only two remaining enemies, the other being Splashdown Skipjack.

Also, special assignments don't count towards your 8 maverick roster.

Let's visit with Schwarz.

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I've got plot bunnies crowding my brain. Some combo of Magneto, Iron Man, Static Shock, Predator, Halo, and man sized Armored Core. Combined we might end up as a cheap knockoff of X and Zero. There's got to be something we can pull. Maybe we need to want it more. Maybe we need a supplementary ability like magnetism. How about hacking. Maybe take a look at night vision and infrared. My be a good idea to use electromagnetism to detect metals.

>Well, he's in good company.
Misery does love company. Having a higher close by will make this less crazy.

>>24887056
He's sulking because we still didn't die, no matter how much he sabotages our mission

>>24887081
There paranoia and then there is this.

>>24887081
You shut right the hell up good sir

>>24887081
Paranoia approaching Shadowrun levels.

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>>24886936
>>24886672
>>24886635
"Aw, hell," you say, seeing the infamous Black Dog's head down on the table. "Well, I guess misery loves company."

If misery loves company, it sure doesn't look like it. Schwarz looks up as you approach without a word, eyes narrowed through a nanite fog in a forest of empty glassware. It's still just as terrifying as you've seen him, if not moreso.

"Hey man," Em tries, "What's on your mind?"

"Him," he nods at you, "You. Things."

Figures he'd be in the know. "News travels fast around here."

"Had some words with Frog."

"What's this about me?" Em asks.

"Thinking," Schwarz mumbles. "About how you're going to die."

Wat.

"Oh, not this shit again," Em growls, turning around. "I'll go get us drinks, what are you having, Colonel Harshgroove?"

Schwarz lets his head fall back down to the table. "Two of anything."

"What's this now?" you ask, still baffled. Apparently they've had this out before.

"Em's going to die in one of two ways."

You shrug. "Shooting or stabbing?"

Schwarz glowers. "No. Either in one surprise shot, or he'll see it coming ten moves away with nothing he can do about it." He looks away. "Specialist's death. Hope I'm not alive to see it."

>What about me? How am I going to die?
>Fuck it, we need a topic change.
>Other

>>24887130
>>24887180
Well SOMEONE is betraying us. Shark is too dumb, EM is too low level, so that leaves Frog and him and Frog is in Vienna most of the time.

Or maybe it's someone higher on the ladder or just some clerk noone would assume.

>>24887216
>Who did we lose? I know I'm going to die when my luck runs out.

>>24887216
What about me? How am I going to die?

>>24887272
Or that is what Shark wants us to think. It could also be Seven.

>>24887272
We could be the Maverick. We just haven't told ourselves yet.

>>24887272
Or maybe we have inherited the Lancers luck from Fate/ seeing as we are a lancer

>What about me? How am I going to die?

captcha:memsQwi cried
no cpatcha robots don't cry, the sulk

>>24887314
I was entertaining similar thoughts as well. We may have gotten infected already; I'm not sure there are diagnostics around to determine that at this time. We had lots of close contact with Mavs (and we don't have grandad's immunity) so it's not entirely out of possibility.

>>24887216
>Other
How'd you work out how Em's going to die?

>>24887272
> EM is too low level

You are forgetting about Double.

>>24887272
I'd rule out Schwarz on the grounds that if he wanted us dead we would be dead.

Am I the only one who finds it odd a LOT of the shit got cocked up a little before and after we picked up grach? It could be him or the russians taking it personal.

>>24887431
what if it is some clever plan that doesn't kill us at least until we do something?

>>24887314
>"No! I must kill the mavericks" he shouted
>The radio said "No, Anode. You are the mavericks"

>>24887431
Yeah, I was joking.

Though, he'd want us dead in a way that doesn't even leave a shadow of doubt on him so he can continue his shenanigans.

Also... I'm starting to feel like we need to start making plans to kill everyone we meet and work with.

>>24887497
>Also... I'm starting to feel like we need to start making plans to kill everyone we meet and work with.
>>24887495

>>24887497
>>24887431
>>24887427
>>24887366
>>24887314
>>24887299
>>24887272
God damn it, we really do need counseling.

>>24887497
>>24887509
We're onto you, Maverick

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>>24887497
Now that's DEFINITELY not maverick mindset or anything.

>this entire exchange
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh_shsRfXqk

>>24887478
Guns Wallaby was under classed.
Lock On was bad data (tracking missiles instead of sniper) + Nuke.
Terapin knew we were coming and Em could have let us die if he was maverick.

>>24887531
Well it makes sense, doesn't it? Everyone is a potential maverick. That's the entire reason Hunters leave a weakness and don't patch it up, so it can be exploited if they go Mav.

>>24887574
E-rank luck im telling you

>>24887574
>Em could have let us die if he was maverick
unless it was a ploy to put us off guard

>>24887574
>Wallaby
>Mislabled Data
>Lockon
>Data
>Terepin
>Data leak
I'm sensing a pattern here.

>>24887610
WELLINGTON.

>>24887610
Add Wolfspider
Data

>>24887216
>What about me? How am I going to die?
I'd like to know so that I can laugh when it happens... and I survive. As usual.

>>Also... I'm starting to feel like we need to start making plans to kill everyone we meet and work with.

Be polite, Be efficient
Plan to kill everyone you meet.
Plan escape routes.

Maybe download some science for dummies and go over it when we have some down time. Em had to learn how to make those swords. We can learn a bit about electrical weapons. Maybe configure our weapons so that they have a larger power source. That way we can drain a little of the top for dashes. What's preventing us from use a graphene super capacitor in our legs to give us incremental boosts We've got a calculator in our brain. Any ideas we have can be put on an internal notepad. If we sit down and meditate I think we can run AutoCad. We are made of SCIENCE. To truly get the ball rolling we must know ourselves. Our weakness and strengths. We simply shore up those weaknesses

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Maybe we need to go around to the places we've already been. Learn about the reploids we destroyed. Learn their tactics. Make counters for similar enemies. Unfortunately there aren't any capsules for us to use. We might need to visit our makers and learn robotics and electro weaponry. We are robots right. How long would it take us to learn SCIENCE. First robot first aid, then paramedics, then life saver, then specialize. Maybe add a utility belt. See how the humans do it. Add hidden wrist blades. Pack grenades. Flash, Flash/Bang, Smoke, Chaff, Incendiary, EMP, Concussion, Remote grenades. Maybe convert our rocket launcher into a grenade launcher or alter the rockets with these grenade loadouts. Maybe our grenade launcher could run on a separate power source, maybe make it run on WEP Data. My muse is out of control here.

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>>24887355
>>24887283
>>24887281
>>24887640
"So what about me? How do I die?"

He looks up at you. "Simple outclass. Newer model, higher specs, better moves. Probably where I'm heading, too."

"You've been hunting...like ten years, dude."

He grunts. "Something like that."

"No one is going to kill you."

Some focus seems to return to those old, tired eyes. "Everyone dies, Anode. No reploid has died of old age. Especially no hunter."

"Jesus, you ARE cheerful today."

He grimaces. "Would apologize if I were sorry."

You take a seat beside him. "Fair enough. What's got you so grim?"

"You, Em, rough mission, bad morning, other things." He looks over at the bar, to Em waiting to get Max's attention from a steadily growing number of drinkers. "I'm proud of you both, you know."

You laugh. "Weird way of showing it."

"If I lied, you'd never see it coming. At least you keep your options open. You'll live longer."

"With the way I get my ass handed to me every outing?"

"You're tough. And it'll happen less. You're already learning. But... you need to learn more."

"Yeah, I've noticed. So Em reacted like he's heard this before."

"He has. Get into it a lot. His own worst enemy."

"Yeah?"

"Won't upgrade his armor. Won't upgrade his buster. Trying to leave his weaknesses."

That's... you've got nothing to say to that. "So I'm a maverick suspect now."

"Doubt that. Frog had to ask. Did it to me, once."

"No shit?"

"No shit." Something about Schwarz swearing puts it all in perspective, how miserable he is right now.

>So wait, Em's intentionally leaving his weak spots open?
>Met a few interesting humans today...
>I think someone's out to get me.
>Enough gloom and doom. Happy hour begins right the hell now.
>Other

>>24887956
>Don't call me crazy for this but, I think someone's out to get me.
Even in the off chance it is him, There will be hat eating if it is, I think he would be disappointed if we didn't acknowledge it.

>>24887956
>>So wait, Em's intentionally leaving his weak spots open?
>>Met a few interesting humans today...
these

>>24887956
>I think someone's out to get me.
3 different versions of bad data and 1 case of leakage. I think that is confirmation of enemy action.

>>24887956
I think some ones try to off me

>So wait, Em's intentionally leaving his weak spots open?
It must have something to do with how light his armor needs to be. Light titanium is going to be expensive. Then there are the really good metals. Though if he can afford all those swords than he can afford new armor. He doesn't need to be a knight in full plate. He can be a samurai that uses guns.

I think we oughta just kind of air out if someone's out to get us, just so we can have the comfort of him telling us not to worry.

Or that we should be, in which case P A N I C

Also, maybe we can ask him about his mission if it's not classified or anything.

>>24887956
>>So wait, Em's intentionally leaving his weak spots open?

So, he's been pouring all his upgrades into sabres?

>>24887956
>I think someone's out to get me.
this also a side of ask EM why intentionally leaving his weak spots open.

>>24888063
Maybe not us: Ask him him how often he's been getting bad data. Any spikes recently.

Hell wait for Em to come back and ask both of them.

>>24888084
Actually not a bad idea. It flies in the face of how to actually handle someone trying to drop you telling a good number of people that it just might work.

Maybe there really is a traitor to worry about.maybe you're right.

Or maybe, just MAYBE, theMaverick hunting business is a giant horrifying unmanageable clusterfuck and all this bad information is somehow related to the organizational difficulties of an agency that's constantly getting knocked on its ass.

Not saying it's a guarantee, but it's worth considering.

>>24888166
Hanlon's razor: Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

>>24888166
Either way it is worth mentioning if we suddenly vanish during a recharge.

>>24887956
Wait, what happened to Em?

>>24888249
He is trying to get the bartender's attention at a busy bar.

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>>24887996
>>24888010
>>24888021
>>24888032
>>24888042
>>24888063
>>24888064
>>24888076
>>24888084
>>24888114
"I think someone is trying to kill me. Someone here."

Schwarz sits up. "Hell of a thing to say, after Sigma."

"I know, I know, but--god damn, dude, like half my missions have been compromised by bad intel, or the enemy knowing we were coming. More."

"Happens more than you'd think. More than I'd like."

"Why? How?"

"Mavericks have intel, same as us. You're new. You're young. Command is Command. Job is dangerous." He pauses, looking more thoughtful. "It's possible."

"Well yeah it's... what do I do about it?"

"Expect ambushes and complications. Always believe they have the drop on you. Never expect you have the upper hand."

"What about here? What if it is someone?"

"They'll slip up. Stay alert. Just don't go crazy."

"How d'you mean?" Goddamn, Em, where are those beers?

"If you spend your downtime believing your friends are your enemies, you will go insane." He sighs. "Happened to Weisshund. My guess, anyway. Might've been viral. Never asked." Well, there's one thing that's clearly been on his mind... "Anyway. Just keep your options open. Flexibility will save your life. Specializing is easy. We get..." He fishes for a word. "Hard-coded into what we do. Gets us killed."

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>>24888461
"Like Em?"

He grimaces. "Biggest idiot."

"What was that about his weaknesses?"

"He knows them. Wants to keep them."

"Pride?"

"His family." Schwarz raises a glass to his eye, inspecting it fruitlessly for more to drink. "Oldest of three. He kills his sister. His brother kills him."

"Wh--oh, the Rock Paper Scissor thing?"

"Yeah. Joined the hunters at a ... bad time. Right after Sigma."

"Bad why?" Christ, beg a few more questions, Schwarz...

"Anti-reploid backlash. A few movements to stop making us all together. Built with contingency flaws. Doesn't want to remove them."

"...In case..."

"In case Diamond needs to put him down."

"Jesus." You try to imagine Cathode being forced to kill you. You don't even want to contemplate having to kill Cathode.

"Yeah." Schwarz rubs his eyes. "Taught Em everything he knows. Was here when he first joined. Know where he started? C."

"Bullshit."

He looks up at you, expression clear again. "If he hits S, he'll be the first to ever make it from a C." And then, just as quickly as it came, his features fall again. "Never will."

"Because he won't upgrade."

"Yeah." Schwarz closes his eyes, huffing in annoyance. "Maybe you two should go."

"Why?"

"I'm bad company."

>Til the day you die?
>...Yeah, all right. Feel better, Schwarz.
>Other

>>24888166
It's a shame that this post appears to have been kinda brushed aside pretty quickly, because I think it's worth reading.

>>24888470
>>Til the day you die?

All I can think of is the new version by Five Finger Death Punch that has the shotgun hands... speaking of where the hell is Grach I wonder. The intell on the op with him was leaked too, so add that to the list of data issues.

>>24888470
>Til the day you die?
>Six string sound will be your claim to fame.

Im a sucker for a lot of things, Bad Company is one of those things.

>>24888470
If you want. But we just want you to know that we love you, man.

>...Yeah, all right. Feel better, Schwarz.
The quick blue bot walked over to the gloomy dog.

>>24888595
Seconding, he obviously has a bit of a music bent

>>24888470
>Til the day you die?
& >>24888597 if he is unappreciative of the reference and wants us gone.

>>24888470
"Wouldn't call you bad company, just depressing company, sometimes that's what you need. Sometimes you need to know that everyone is going through the same shit you are. It helps in a strange way.

Me and Cath are the opposite of Em and his siblings, strange to think about. We're meant to support each other, she keeps me charged up, I take the hits and am pretty much immune to her main weapon. Jesus fuck, they'd probably send me after her if stuff went bad, but wouldn't send her after me."

>>Other
It would be nice to know my weaknesses. With those details we won't have to resort to those gambles. Maybe have a backup plan. Right now our electrical powers are on the low side. We only thing we have going is capacity and maximum output. Maybe if we had energy tanks to store energy...

captcha:detail alinkse

Signs Hunter Command has eaten dinner and is getting slammed by food-coma: It's been well over an hour since the last post.

Still writing, slowly. We actually covered a lot of the important stuff and had a very, very visceral reaction to it. There's only one thing left I really want to cover, and given your extended repair and downtime cycle, I could easily devote a whole thread to it along with other stuff. Strongly considering cutting it off on this next post.

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>>24888546
>>24888595
>>24888625
>>24888627
Despite yourself, you crack a grin at that. "Until the day you die?"

After a moment, Schwarz chuckles thickly. "Something like that."

"If it's the same to you, we'll stick around. At least for a little while."

He manages to smirk back at you. "Would appreciate that."

You clutch at your un-armored chest. "Be still, my nonexistent nonbeating reploid heart." He gives a short bark (heh) of a laugh at that, which helps immensely. "Besides," you add. "You're not bad company. Just a bit depressing. Kind of helps knowing I'm not the only one in the hole, I guess."

"Thanks, I guess."

You settle for a mostly-comfortable silence until Em (finally) gets back. Sure enough, he brought four beers, two for Schwarz. You consider razzing him about what you've learned, but it seems like an actual sore topic--and possibly a divisive point between them. Apparently they were closer than you thought. Once no further talk about getting killed is forthcoming, Em's slight scowl vanishes and the table starts markedly cheering up. Schwarz stays mostly quiet--business as usual there anyway--and you passingly mention the data you got from Wolfspider as a matter of course. You pass the datapad over the table ("bastards," Schwarz contributes as you explain the situation with the support requisition for the mission), and Em looks over the info.

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>>24889656
"Yeah, sounds like that cryo tech would go great on a saber. Too bad you don't have one," Em jibes.

"Lance wouldn't work, but the knife would. Not like I have much else to do with it yet. It's probably that or..." you tap the screen. "This buster supercoolant. Or, I had another idea..."

"How much have you upgraded your melee?" Schwarz asks. "Remember what I told you."

"Oh, hey," Em says. "Eyes up."

Entering the bar (for the first time, that you know of) is Conda. A second later, Dodo follows him in.

Makes sense, now that you think about it--with Hammer back in, Dodo's probably grabbing a break where he can find it. You still barely know either of them, though particularly Conda.

>Wave 'em over!
>Let 'em be.

>>24889671
>Wave 'em over!
What could go wrong.

>>24889671
>Wave 'em over!

The more the merrier, or something.

>>24889671
>>Wave 'em over!
Let's get to know these two a little more.

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Thread's archived, if it doesn't survive. Which, lately, they tend not to. No big deal. Remember to vote up if you read, it always helps.

Also, I swear I actually have been planning to bring Conda and Dodo in more prominently for a while.

Any questions or comments for the night?

>Wave 'em over!

Come on over, sit a spell.

>>24889901
If we had actually managed to take Wolfspider alive, would we have avoided the avalanche?

My question is how fast can we learn. Em makes his custom blades. It might be a good idea to make custom weapons, gadgets.

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>>24889935
If you could have. Wolfspider HAS been the only one with a deadman's switch thus far, and thus was fully prepared not to be taken alive.

I will say that there are enemies that you will be able to capture, but even if you try for it, they will be very few and far between. When Sigma first instituted reclamation protocol, he only granted that clearance to ranks A and above. That may as well mean it's not even doable below that level, and it's never a sure thing.

>>24890026
Reploids learn very fast, particularly early in their lives/careers. If you want to start working toward a specialty, all you have to do is declare interest in it, get the readerbase to side with you, and start. Anode will eventually be a rather skilled drillmaster and infantry trainer, if he keeps up with his work at the range, for instance.

You know, I'm starting to think that Anode's current paranoia is the first stages of the Maverick virus, and that maybe that LN injection last thread was a cover for a more interesting and invasive agent.

>>24890174
I don't think so. Anode's fairly genre savvy, and Terrapin semi-confirmed that there was a leak.

Bump

>>24890070
Question: I came up with the superconductor/LN idea last thread and since everyone wants to hold it off until we get the KCoil 2, is the backpack likely to be compatible with it?

Keeping this alive.

>>24890255
Hey, the rules say that someone close to us has to go Maverick; we're self sacrificing enough that it should be us!

>>24894839
I can almost, not quite, but almost see Anode deciding that he has to go evil because of a need to fulfill genre conventions.

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>>24895826
>>24894839
That is delightful.
>>24893585
Yeah, the two will be compatible, since they're effectively distinct systems. Coils will continue to be slow, passive charging, the supercooled critical superconductor would be a one-shot-per-mission apparatus.

Also, good morning.

>>24897057
Morning. Are we going to continue?

>>24897191
I think so, yeah, though probably more relaxed pace. Might as well wait a little while, ain't hardly nobody here to play this early.

>>24897199
True.

Once again, I want to thank you, Hunter Command, for running MHQ.

>>24897199
Well, I'm awake.

Timezones!

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>>24897219
D'aww, shucks, thank you.

>>24897243
Hmm, so you are. Let me try to get my head on straight and wait for Cain to be about. I can always start early and just wait for sufficient replies. Still going to be incredibly slow, I can't brain good even at the best of times.

Also, it occurs to me I need more happy Mega-images for situations like these. I already used most of them.

>>24897243
I'm here too, must be all the non-Americans up. >>24897057
Nifty. How much would it cost?
Also inquiring about the cost for requisitioning a lockon laser, phase disruptor and target drone to make a point defense drone.

>>24897543
Well, making a single drone would be easy. Pay for the base frame, buy copies of the weapons data, integrate them, and off you go. The problem is that if it blew up (and let's face it, it inevitably would), you'd lose it permanently. The way around that is constructing a system that pumps out little fabricated duplicates once you put in a template, but that's much more costly. If you wanted it to have very full functionality and durability, even moreso. It's also worth noting you couldn't really combine the lockon hunter with phase tech--Lockon is a laser weapon, phase is applied to a buster's plasma discharge or a saber blade. You'd want to give it a weak, low-capacity and high-refire buster if you wanted point defense.

As for the superconductor system, it'd cost a bit to assemble a reusable system and a cost to restock the LN after use, but the weapons data implementation would be free. You could upgrade it as time went on, too.

Basically, both are entirely possible, but constructing a point defense drone you won't permanently lose the first time it's destroyed will be a much longer-term goal.

>>24897625
I'm guessing by the time we could mass produce the drones, they would probably work better as a support mechaniloid.

>>24897625
Great! I'll put the drone on the backburner then, there's more immediately useful stuff like modifying Terrapin's data to get an electrified riot shield, Lockon's data for a helmet gem mounted laser dazzle sight, integrating the misericorde/lance so we parry with low and strike with hi powe etc.

>>24897769
getting extra data copies is hard though. also i kind of want to get the shoulder module if we get another copy of teplans data. The not-Proto-shield is fun to.

I say we use this data to get the buster supercooling not the superconductor system as i don't see much use for it.

>>24897870
I'm for upgrading the Misericorde for armor piercing/sundering. We've pretty heavily upgraded our ranged power and Swartz has been suggesting melee upgrades.

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>>24889707
>>24889775
>>24889834
>>24889912
"Hell with it, I'm getting a good evening out of this if it kills me," you declare to nobody in particular, standing up. You wave them over from across the bar, using your height to get seen over the crowd. Conda sees you and nods, his serpentine body exaggerating the motion.

You almost jump when you hear Schwarz's voice in your ear. "Will look into this more later. You might be right--the intel leak. Thinking about Bloodhound's missile."

"Y-yeah," you manage. "Thanks." You remember he said he'd look into it--hopefully with a fire under his S-rank ass now. Unless he's in on--no, no, down that road lies madness.

Yeesh. You do need counseling.

Dodo impatiently waits for Conda to make his way through the crowd, somewhat encumbered by having to use his legs and maneuver his tail through the increasingly busy Pond.

"The boss shows up and everyone goes off to get drunk. No wonder he hates his job," Dodo grouses by way of greeting.

"Hello, hello," Conda adds lightly. "and how is the Fourth's newest little ray of sunshine today?"

>I accidentally Anchorage, is that bad?
>Oh, I'm grand. Going nuts, almost dying, going out to bars topless. Pretty much business as usual.
>Other

>>24897929
that is my second choice thank you i forgot it I need sleep.

>>24897967
>I accidentally
>oh, I'm grand
>I need counseling

>>24897967
>Oh, I'm grand. Going nuts, almost dying, going out to bars topless. Pretty much business as usual.
Plus
>Hide the data Dodo will want to drink it.

>>24897967
>>I accidentally Anchorage, BUT!
>>I'm grand. Going nuts, almost dying, going out to bars topless. Pretty much business as usual.

If a new Megaman game was ever made I would want it to be like MHQ.

>>24898096
so would I

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>>24898096
>>24898200
I love you guys.

>>24898096
how would you balance the roleplaying and stage design? Seems too deep to be a 2d sidescroller.

>>24898257
just make it a megaman legend like game, thats how I picture it at least

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>>24897999
>>24898016
>>24898027
"Well, for starters, I caused an avalanche--"

"Ouch," Dodo offers.

"But I'm ducky. Juuuuust ducky. Feeling pretty...what's the word? Oh, right, it's--" You slam your forehead into the table for emphasis, rattling Schwarz's collection of glassware. "I need heeeeeeelp," you mutter into the tabletop.

"Anode," Cobra says appraisingly, "you have the second-worst luck I have ever seen in my life, and I am sorry." He gives you a bracing pat on the arm as you sob into a coaster.

"So I assume that has something to do with the chassis?" Dash asks, sliding over a chair.

"Shattered it right off my body. Need to get it fixed."

"I could take a look," Em offers, sliding his half-full beer over to Conda, who declines.

"Yeah, maybe," you mumble. "I was also thinking of sending it home, seeing if I could do anything with it."

"Egh, I dunno," Dodo says, "Armor upgrades are a nightmare unless it's designed for it from the get-go. Besides, yours is pretty solid anyway, right?"

"If it wasn't, I wouldn't be here."

"Honestly, the most you can hope for is endo work--not that kind--and just paying top dollar for improved metallurgy."

Em rubs his chin. "Might be able to swing some modular components, alternate loadouts, that kind of thing. Maybe even look into a magnetic buffer, since you're already mostly insulated. Just remember to keep the damn thing off near me."

"What about, like, Tumult Shell?"

"Would cost a dickload," he replies. "That haptic armor-in-armor trick was... crazy."

"Sort of want to see about remaking it, see if we can lift some of the principles from Terapin's chassis."

"That would be a pretty penny," Conda contributes. "How long did you have to save up for your armor upgrades, Schwarz?"

"Two years," the dog replies quietly, "And I've done it three times. Weight."

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>>24898422

"Right, Terapin weighed a fuckin' ton, didn't he. You'd take a real mobility hit."

Dodo looks you over. "What, is he fast?"

"Not as fast as you, but yeah, dude can motor."

"You don't look it."

"Looks deceiving," Schwarz adds wryly.

"Oh, dear," Conda says. "He's taken another padawan."

Your eyes widen as you look up at him. References?! "Conda! You--you KNOW?"

"Guilty pleasure," he smirks at your reaction. "I was going to catch your movie night, you know, but duty called."

Hey--a movie night. Maybe you could do one of those, assuming you didn't have a nervous breakdown and start looking for betrayal in your soup or something.

Accursed minestrone, it's betrayed you for the last time.

>What do? Drink? Movie? Race? Spar? Find friend? Hang out with friend? Do baseside work?

>>24898427
Movie night!

>>24898257
Z1 pretty much did the home base. A much larger one with larger cast(with developed personalities) with a variety of interactive downtime events (sparring matches, pranks, drunken shenanigans, etc.) between maverick stages is all you really need.

Maverick stages need multiple paths or be semi Metroidvania, and you need to take other MH partners (similar to how X3, X7 and X8 do so)

>>24898297
It can be 2D you just need to be able to explore.

>>24898427
movie night, I'm thinking a Godzilla movie one of the silly ones if at all possible or any comedy really

>>24898464
oh yeah I forgot the Z's had a kind of mother base it'd need to be cut off the rest of the world a bit like the flying ship of ZX though seeing we go about the world and we don't stay in a defined area.

>>24898427
>Command used my image
Fanguy sqwee time.

>>24898427

Watch movies, eat minestrone.

>>24898532
That really depends on the area covered (X1, X2 and X3 were basically single cities), but I understand what you mean and that problem can be solved a couple different ways.

>>24898610
yeah it's not a very big problem

>watch us turn this quest into a video game

>>24898633
I've pretty much wanted to do so since the third or forth thread.

>>24898661
can't say I never though about it

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>>24898454
>>24898502
>>24898561
You slap your palms on the table, abruptly standing upright. "We need," you declare, "a kaiju flick."

Dodo looks at you blankly. "...Gesundheit?"

"Come on. Godzilla? King Ghidorah? Rodan? Mothra?"

"I think we've killed half of those," Overclock notes.

"King of the Monsters?"

Em flicks a thumb at Schwarz. Schwarz whaps him on the back of the head lightly.

"Plebians, all of you. Come on. Get people together, it's movie night. ...And I'm going to the human cafeteria."

"For what?"

"Settling a score with some broth that has it coming."

"I--you--what?"

Em shakes his head at Dodo. "Don't question it. Don't ever question it. Just roll with whatever he says when he gets like this."

Schwarz grabs your arm. "Can't make it. But..." he slides a small datastick over. "Enough zenny to throw a party. Get some drinks from Max."

"I--thanks, Schwarz." He grunts. "Ever gonna drop in on a movie?" He grunts again. "Damn it."

He just pats you on the arm. "Feel better. Watch yourself."

He heads out alongside Dodo and Conda (both saying they'll make it for the movie), leaving you and Em to order up a staggering amount of alcohol, nanites, and "drugs" from the Pond. "Watch yourself?" Em asks. "What's that about?"

>Tell him.
>Keep quiet.
>Other?

>>24898903
I'd say tel him but I can't remember what it's about

>>24898903
Tell him.

>>24898561
Could someone explain this, please?

>>24898976
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minestrone

>>24899001
I understand its a soup but what does it have to do with movies?

>>24899021
I dunno, it's easy to eat it while watching?

>>24899021
Just referencing Anode's line about finding betrayal in his soup.

Never turn your back on a bowl of minestrone, son.

>>24899075
Ack! Missed that.

>>24898903
No need to worry them before fun. If Schwarz finds something then we can share it with the rest of the base.

>>24898903
Keep quiet for now. Deflect Em's question with a "You know Schwarz" or something.

>>24898903
Deflect.

No point getting people riled up. They already know we need counselling, they don't need to think we're a paranoid nut as well.

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>>24900470
>>24899235
>>24901124
"Enh," you say, waving Em off. "More bullshit. Nothing to get into before MOVIE NIGHT. I'll get into it later, maybe."

He shrugs. "Sure, I guess."

You proceed to order a prodigious amount of alcohol on Schwarz's cash ("Did you blackmail him or something?" asks Max), and he even throws in an order for some party food. You can pick it up at the cafeteria--all personnel, technically, but most of the time it's human-populated. Of course, humans can't run an auto-repair system on a protein bar for three weeks, an--this metaphor fell apart somewhere. More importantly, you get an order placed for your grudge soup. Max just stares blankly at you when you relay the order. You stare back, hoping he can see the vengeance, the desperation, the cold fury. He's slooowly reaching for his bat under the counter as Em takes you by the shoulders and gently leads you away.

"I'll handle getting it all to your room," he says placatingly. "Just... try not to freak out the help any more, huh?"

He doesn't understand. They'll never understand. They can't.

Not until they see the heartbreak and betrayal soup can bring.

...Okay, yeah, you almost believed yourself that time. That therapy is sounding better and better as you go.

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>>24901224
Half an hour later sees you sitting crosslegged in the middle of your floor in your quarters, a trolley full of appetizers and a wet bar on wheels to either side. And resting on your lap is a bowl of piping hot blood minestrone.

You raise your spoon with a careful, murderous grace. Oh yes, my friend. There has come a reckoning.

"Erm."

You look up from your ritualistic payback against all brothkind to see India in the door.

"So," she says, folding her arms and leaning against the frame, "I came for the movie, I guess I'm also getting a show. What in the hell are you doing?"

Your voice is deadly even, smooth as glass. "Don't ruin this for me, India. You don't know what he did. Who he killed. You weren't THERE."

She raises an eyebrow, bemused. "Christ, it's true. You really are cracking up."

>...Where did you hear that?
>Yeah yeah. Just having a little fun.
>Other?

>>24901232
>Yeah yeah. Just having a little fun.
>Explain it to India.

>>24901232
"I've noticed, yes."

>>24901232
>...Where did you hear that?

Never miss an opportunity to screw with people.

>>24901320
We've screwed with the crew enough. I'd prefer that our next comfy jacket be a black longcoat instead of a white straightjacket.

>>24901232
>...Where did you hear that?

Tell him, but later. It is motherfuckin movie time, bitches.

>>24901306
This.
I think it is about time we kicked off a bit of the goofballery. If we actually act serious folks might believe our suspicions more.

>>24901422
That and we should go with the plan of at least telling the folks we are solid with of our suspicions. If it is one of them, then they will probably go dark a while and leave us be, if not, more eyes are always better.
I'm thinking Schwarz, Frog, India, Em, at the very least. Also maybe asking Grach some leading questions. He might either have insight on shit like that.
Nevertheless movie night time.

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Infinite vote tie-ups today, huh?

Probably just as well, I'm running down on no sleep again, I need to go get some work done, and later tonight someone wants to meet up since he won't have the chance tomorrow or for most of forever.

Going to cut things off here, be it for now or for the thread, depending when I'm back. I'll check the archive for votes on what response you give to India, if there are any more between now and then. If not, I'll just combine the two when I start the next thread.

As always, thank you for reading, and sorry for the abrupt tiredness cutoff.

>>24901343
>>24901413
>>24901422
>>24901460
Seems like it is seriousface time. Next order of business after movie night seems to be briefing those close to us on what we are worried about.

>>24902414
Or not.
>>24902406
You have yourself a good one Command.

>>24902414
Letting her know we are joking is one thing but scouting for traitors should be kept secret even from your friends unless they are necessary for the search,

>>24902414
One idea would be to talk to X.

I'd like to point out -- "leak" doesn't mean "traitor". We (or someone else) could be bugged, or our comms could have been tapped.

>>24903155
Not paranoid enough.

Everyone is a maverick, anode. Everyone except you. Even the humans are mavericks.

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>>24903820
>Everyone except you.
Not paranoid enough.

>>24903820
It's Lt FullMetool!

>>24905675
Lt say it isn't SOOooo.
...
I will take your silence as an admission of guilt. Will you come peacefully?
...
so hard to get i see how it is.
Blam.

WHAT have I done?!?

Anode did you just shoot your stuffed metool?

bump, as well as a vote.

>Yeah yeah. Just having a little fun.
>Explain it to India.

>>24882079
Alternately, "one's an anomaly; two's a trend."

>>24910333
if we do that say 4 induces paranoia.

>>24913658
I'd go "One's an anomaly, two is a coincidence, three's a trend, four induces paranoia".

Wouldn't it be cool if the thread was around when MHQ comes back?

I like that modular armor idea. Wouldn't it also be cool if we can use a charge to break through jamming temporarily. Speaking of jamming there has got to be a way around that.

>>24924719
wha do you mean

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The turtle reploid and several others had weapons that popped out of their armor. That heavy called Megaton? also had interesting weapons within his body. We can't alter our internal body without work in the shop. But if we had modular armor we can adjust the amount of plates we need according to the mission. We can polarize the armor plating like the do in Star Trek: Voyager. We can place batteries inside the armor and drain them incrementally. We can connect the lightning dash to the armor battery. We can place graphene super capacitors instead of batteries. Charge quick, have a large capacity. It is the future. Graphene's the wonder material scientists are crazy about right now. Graphene armor won't break, but it will bend. We could still be crushed until oil is leaking. Maybe Increasing the batteries in all our weapons so we can take a little off the top. Maybe we can internalize multiple batteries into the spear. On another not maybe we can make a separate WEP system for our missile launcher. Turn it into a plasma caster, grenade launcher.