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>>30056796

HOLLOW SUN: 21.7%

http://pastebin.com/z93fyLYa

RED COMET GUIDE:

http://pastebin.com/7vzY4Zp2

(UPDATES:
- TACHYON DISINTEGRATOR's information updated.
- Codebursts now arranged in alphabetical order, with minor alterations to the cost.
- Statistics updated.

edit: Updated with Nihl Sphere's new charge level.)

http://pastebin.com/6MPL2nwh

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>>30056796

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7T_YtklLyyo&list=RDv-EOyRCgzRg

Welcome back, JQOP

>>30056825
>After your reconciliation with CYBELE, the Nihl Sphere's charge has been entirely exhausted, reduced to the dull grey of cracked quartz.

Great job, guys, we just depowered one of our most valuable assets because you wanted to fuck Cybele.

>>30056829

>- After your reconciliation with CYBELE, the Nihl Sphere's charge has been entirely exhausted, reduced to the dull grey of cracked quartz.

Frag.

Guess we're punching correctors to death today.

>HOLLOW SUN: 21.7%
So close to the emulator module, but so far away.

>Second Void Anchor?
>Muletta?
>Save for emulator module?

Finderte cylinder

My vote is for the Anchor. Might as well have a backup in place if we lose one, or we might have a chance to plant TWO in the shitstorm about to hit over the next few threads

Evening OP. Been looking forward to this.

>>30056847
I don't think anyone got what they wanted out of that scene. Tactically stupid, too. Oh well.

>>30056871
Just the one should be enough, if we plant it deep enough.

>>30056905
>Just the one should be enough, if we plant it deep enough.

Thats what we thought last time, mister 'throw it in the line of fire as a bomb'.
Also, i'm saying get two because in the shitstorm to follow, we may not get a chance to revisit the sun to get a second, to plant on another stage.

JQOP, if we put a second Void Anchor in the Hellion Armory, we could Arsenal Beacon it out to us later, right?

>>30056871
Save up for the module.

Anyone taking bets as to who is dieing today? I've got my bets on Rook.

(Gentlemen: My sincerest apologies for the delay. There was something I had to take care of, and it took far longer than I initially expected.)

>>30056829

(That's an amazing image, by the way.)

>>30056825

The sky has gone out.

Far, far above, thunder rolls: A wall of dust fluming across the crimson horizon, like smoke. The skies churn with heavy black cloud, with the rotation that threatens a storm - Some fluke atmospheric interaction makes the air feel heavy, charged, sullen flickers of lightning strobing through the darkness, wavering shadows flitting across the ground below.

Visibility is nearly zero, in the Red World - Today is a day for shadowplay, it seems. Directly ahead, entrance D-4 yawns before you: A flight of cracked steps descending downwards into a concrete pit, vague shapes half-glimpsed within the gloom. Even through the cool green of your mono-optic sensors, there's little to see...For now.

The labyrinth beneath promises to be rather more interesting.

You wait without impatience. You're shielded from the storm by a metal wreck, the carcass of some great leviathan of unknown provenance - Now just a tangle of debris, hollow and charred by barrow-flame. Hot, scorching smoke boils up from the perpetually-smoldering hulk, streamers of black whipped away by the moaning winds.

Not much longer, now. Not much longer at all.

(Continued)

>>30056926
http://pastebin.com/v0WcMF0K

Reposting from last thread. Some great thoughts on the hollow sun here.

Particularly, Muleta sounds amazing because it lets us use the cloak to manipulate and harm things

>>30056938
>(That's an amazing image, by the way.)

I'm glad you like it! i've got a few more i can share if you like

>>30056920
My only defense is that the explosive capability was added that thread. Well, that and I'd been reading the older pastebins for the episode guide, but that's not much of an excuse.

>>30056926
Why not pick up something? We'll have more than enough charge by the time we get back. We could get two of the weapon researches and get them to us via the Arsenal Beacon later. Or we could unlock a Hellion type, or do a weapon research and a Talon.

My vote goes for the Essence Accumulators though. Chance at more experience? Yes please. Pity it won't help for this encounter.

>>30056928
Not this thread. By the end of this arc he's got a decent chance of dying, though. Gigant's probably done for too, he seems too cool to survive.

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>>30056920

(Yes: After paying the usual cost for the Void Anchor activation, though.)

>>30056938

"-Joker."

Palladium Rook's voice is filled with crackling distortion, as he steps into the dubious cover of the charred hulk: The filthy smoke has tarnished his scuffed silver armour, badging him with dust. Loose stones crunch underfoot, green tracers flickering beneath the grille of his helmet - The segmented blades on his shoulders lifted to an attack position, ready to be launched.

You can hear the relief, the taut anticipation, through his carefully-filtered voice: He's looking forward to this. Clamped to his left arm, his tachyon sword glows with neon light, already primed; An Ion Blaster maglocked to each side. His choice of arnament says it all - To him, killing Correctors is secondary.

He's here to murder as many Smilers as he can.

(Continued)

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>>30056995

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>>30057022

>>30057020

Joker, dont forget to post the thread on twitter.

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>>30057052

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>>30057067

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>>30057078

>>30057078
I think you got that one from OP, that's Bell Zephyr.

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>>30057089

and i think I've almost exhausted anything that screams 'joker quest aesthetics' from my folder

>>30057095
Do you have any more in the same vein as the one here? >>30057067 I'm running a game where the enemies look like that. An artists' name, or a tag you used to find it would be great too.

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>>30057020

Rook's head cants to the side, as he nods to an unseen figure; A lanky form marked with a white-and-violet checkboard pattern, light carapace giving way to myomer weave. Next to Palladium Rook, he looks positively underdressed, vulnerable - Faint wisps of purple vapour oozing from the vents on his back, the slitted triangles of his eyes glowing a sulphurous yellow.

And a name: DISTORTION HAZE.

Haze has a Maser Emitter in his left hand - He holds it gingerly, like a live scorpion, betraying his discomfiture. His right arm is entirely encased in armour, all the way to the shoulder; A biohazard symbol impressed into the matte-grey metal, a sombre counterpoint to his eye-clashing livery.

He doesn't look happy to be here.

At all.

"-Glad you could make it," Haze offers - He sounds tense, worried; His gaze wandering back and forth, from Rook to you, again and again. He breathes out, a rasping sigh; Shoulders slumping, letting the tension drain from his form, clearly struggling to compose himself. "If you didn't show-"

"It's too late for that," Rook growls; "We're committed, now. The only way out is through."

Haze looks down at the ground. "...You're right," he mutters. "-I wish you weren't, but you're right."

[ ] "-Having second thoughts?"
[ ] "Rough night, Rook?"
[ ] "How much time do we have left?"
[ ] "Are the others in position?"
[ ] "Where's the rest of the squad?"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

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>>30057109

Let me go digging. I might. Sadly, poor organization strikes.

Color me curious, though - what are you running?

>>30057112
>[ ] "Are the others in position?"

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>>30057109

>>30057112

[ ] Free " I held up my end. I hope it's enough."

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>>30057109

>>30057112
>[X] "Are the others in position?"
>[X] "Where's the rest of the squad?"

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>>30057144

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>>30057146

>>30057109
Google says it's GW2 concept art by Kekai Kotaki.

>>30057112

"When we get through this we should bang I mean hang."

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>>30057156

and even a doggie!

running out tho. Hope i'm not spamming too much! is this helping?

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>>30057162

[X] "Rough night, Rook?"
[X] "Where's the rest of the squad?"
"Follow my lead and you'll do fine, Haze."

Did we want to see about lending Distortion Haze the Immolator?

>>30057122
It's a homebrew game, rise of the machines setting. The twist is that the machines and the humans go back and forth on who enslaves who--the "humans" are not, strictly speaking, human, being descended from biological creations of the machines. The machines that are rising were lobotomized, but a few of them managed to regain sentience and are trying to acquire FTL communication technology to inform the rest of their species.

The picture you posted is similar to what one of the robot types they could meet much later look like in my head.

>>30057162
Some good stuff here. The exploding head one is neat.

>>30057196
>Did we want to see about lending Distortion Haze the Immolator?

No :V

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Found this for Rusty, btw

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>>30057196

Oh excellent. That actually sounds pretty sweet and something I'd play

Found this for you, then. Save it for a good moment!

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>>30057112
>[X] "Are the others in position?"
>[X] "Where's the rest of the squad?"
>[X] Free
"So am I safe in assuming that Rook let you in on the plans for the day?"

>>30057226
Nah, man. Kraken's the only one doing any horse whispering.

Can't help but think Rust Kaiser's a little more along these lines.

>>30057241
>Nah, man. Kraken's the only one doing any horse whispering.
>Can't help but think Rust Kaiser's a little more along these lines.

Mixed my stuff up

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> "Follow my lead and you'll do fine, Haze."

Haze stiffens, when you address him directly; A moment later, he nods, tautly. He's worried, you can tell - But not just for himself.

> [X] "Rough night, Rook?"

"-Just a little," Rook admits, a trifle grudgingly. "Still can't sleep. After this, though..." His eyeslits glow a little brighter, as he lets his voice trail off.

>>30057125

> [X] "Are the others in position?"

"-They ought to be. It's too late to get cold feet."

Rook's answer is hardly reassuring. He gestures, with an armoured glove: "It's the damn storm, Joker. Staying in contact is impossible. But they'd be there, if they know what's good for them."

He can't smile, but there's a dark amusement to his words:

"If they back out now, they know they'll have to answer to *everyone else*.

>>30057129

> "I held up my end. I hope it's enough."

Haze makes a low sound - A cough, a stifled laugh. Rook shrugs, the vicious blades of his pinions articulating at the motion; "-You can be sure of that, Joker. They're *all* armed, now: Good thing you're paying up front, eh?"

"...How good they'll be at *using* their new toys, though - That's a different story."

>>30057142

> [X] "Where's the rest of the squad?"

Close by, a twisted nest of fallen girders and struts takes form - A shape cohering from the tangle, the sensor profile flickering into existence on your sensors. Rook turns, with a low hiss of chagrin; He wasn't expecting that.

"-In cover."

Vector Geist moves with a whirr of servoes - Vernier thrusters angling beneath his armoured skirt, his optic visor buzzing as his gaze settles on you. His weapon racks arch over his shoulders, his blue-grey armour marked by the scouring winds; Even his voice seems eroded, low and rasping.

"No sense in being out, in a storm like this. Every little bit helps, Joker."

(Continued)

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>>30057217
Good. First new gun we've had in an eternity, and we've only had one chance to use it.

>>30057157
Oh god it is Guild Wars 2, no wonder that exact image was stuck in my mind. Bless you for your common sense.

>>30057236
Entirely different technological paradigm than I had in mind, but man that looks cool.

Are we going to dump robots for the rest of the thread?

>>30057281

I wasn't planning on it. I'll let JQOP decide the theme of what, if anything i dump, since I dun wanna derail things

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Here is some inspiration for what our combat style today should look like.

Also, does anyone else think that rocket kness would be an awesome Scrander upgrade for us?
Just think of the possibilities.

>>30057281
>Good. First new gun we've had in an eternity, and we've only had one chance to use it.

Something that stuck out to me at the end of last thread

>>Let's fight with as much style as we did in earlier portions of the quest. Lately, our combat style was way too rough around the edges.

This is going to be a long, drawn-out slugfest, and we need to keep our energies and our meter up to act as the cavalry.

We need to build meter up, and not really use it.
We're also gonna want to conserve, if not save cobalt booster and make sure not to use it every round so it recharges.

Practically, this means we should stick to Vulcans, stay away from shotguns(we reach for it every time, but they never really seem to come out ahead).

Friction Axe and Sinistral for melee.
Vulcans and Immolator for ranged.

Speaking of friction axe - we did change our loadout a thread or two ago, after the discussion, right?

>>30057329

Think we still have the EMP/Arc Gun combo.

>>30057329
>We need to build meter up, and not really use it.
>We're also gonna want to conserve, if not save cobalt booster and make sure not to use it every round so it recharges.
>Practically, this means we should stick to Vulcans, stay away from shotguns(we reach for it every time, but they never really seem to come out ahead).
>Friction Axe and Sinistral for melee.
>Vulcans and Immolator for ranged.

I agree with this.

>>30057358

I think we wanted to swap to Friction Axe (Gravygun/Bazooka), and then something else

>>30057272

He inclines his head in a brief nod: You note the glint of your symbol, on his dark cuirass. He hasn't primed it, not yet, but the moment is fast approaching.

"Ten of us, Joker - With the three of you, that makes thirteen."

Geist takes a knee; The heavy, chopping blades of his paired machetes are clamped to his sides, matte-black and nicked from a hundred butcherings. He has rather more modern weaponry in his shoulder racks, the metal panels of the pull-to-unlock sheath humming with charge.

"Vermilion Ray's humping the Solaris Array." Geist's words are clipped without being curt, matter-of-fact. "Bombard Valkyrie and Blast Scarab are our nuclear options - I'm keeping them behind the press, where they can do the most good. Meridian Hand, Shell Bullet, Nova Drake...They're our firing line. Echo Saber, Mauler Sledge, Brass Manticore - They're at their best up close."

He glances up: "-That's SOP, Joker. With your permission, that is."

>>30057160

Geist chuckles - A low, scratchy sound.

[ ] "You know your people best, Geist. I'll leave it to you."
[ ] "Rook knows the tunnels. He should take the lead on this one."
[ ] "I'll be taking point on this one."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>30057367

(Gentlemen, a quick addition: Feel free to change your loadout at this point - I'll rule that it happened between sessions.)

>>30057370
>[ ] Free

"You know your people best, Geist, but rook knows these tunnels, and everything goes to shit if we get lost. He's on point, your guys back him up, I'll be the cavalry. Sound good?"

>>30057365
>>30057329
Just make sure not to post off the wall suggestions involving cobalt boosting everthing, or if you're just discussing possibilities in the same post, label em as such so JQOP doesn't execute the kitchen sink when processing an update, yeah?

Remember! STYLE!

>>30057370
>[ ] "I'll be taking point on this one."

>>30057317
Wouldn't be a Scrander upgrade, I think. Built in flight capability would be Vernier Thrusters, and we (correctly) chose the Cobalt Booster over those.

>>30057329
By shotguns, do you mean the bits? Because I agree. The other weapon we use frequently is the Annihilator, and that tends to live up to its name.

>>30057370
[X] "Rook knows the tunnels. He should take the lead on this one."
"When we reach the Hive proper, I'll take over."

We should ask: "Do any of your people have advanced detection capabilities? Anyone with any other secondary powers?"

Also, prime everyone's weapon as soon as we're in, since our secondary reactor regenerates. We passed out the insignias, right?

>>30057388
Less style, more efficiency. Style is what lost us a leg fighting Kraken.

>>30057365
But let's do it in a way that looks awesome.

Then again, limiting ourselves to basic equipment DOES look awesome.

And we do have plenty of equipment without associated costs.
Let's list it:
- Vulcans
- Tau
- Hollow Sun equipment (What is our loadout?)
- Sinistral (All levels or just lvl 1?)
- Carnifex (Yes, it sheds HP and armor)
- Scrander
What did I forget?

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Can we get a catgirl JQ OP please please please~?

>>30057370

"You know your team better than me, can't argue with your logic. On that note, where do you want me specifically? I'm all around decent at any range, but work my best at medium to danger close. My main plan from the get-go was to take the biggest threats."

>>30057386

Friction Axe(Fusion Cell)
Photon Lance (its a grenade! Its a stabby grenade! it has style. Not fusion celled because its explosive.)
1 Light Fusion Cell in inventory - slot it later, into something we pull out.
Void Anchor
And then.... ??? for heavy?

Gravcannons our standby, but this is a) underground and b) we need to try new things

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>>30057418
>Wouldn't be a Scrander upgrade, I think. Built in flight capability would be Vernier Thrusters, and we (correctly) chose the Cobalt Booster over those.
It could be Scrander affinity.
Just like Carnifex affinity, which changed our armor. That upgrade could allow the Scrander to power thrusters that are added into our armor.

>>30057418
>By shotguns, do you mean the bits? Because I agree.

No, the plasma caster. It does take meter to fire, and it tends to be one of the first guns we reach for.

>>30057425
>- Tau
Tau costs meter

>>30057386

Our loadout is fine. The Maser will cook the correctors and the arc gun is a smaller version of our Scrander Crash. Which we never get to use except at the very very end of a fight. Gravity Gun is still our best bet for aoe squashing multiple correctors and pulling them off the ceilings. Our melee options are good enough.

>>30057449
>No, the plasma caster. It does take meter to fire, and it tends to be one of the first guns we reach for.

Rather, to explain this - when we break it out, we tend to hover around 12-18% meter and never really climb

>>30057433
.... I'd say Bazooka. Its cheap, 5 shots, high damage, and we CAN one hand it.

>>30057449

>Tau costs meter

No it doesn't. That's our railgun.

>>30057457

I disagree. This is gonna have a lot of zergling melee, and we want at least one hollow sun melee weapon - sinistral alone isn't good enough. We want something we can parry and fight with, and EXTRA bonus points if it doesn't take meter or booster

>>30057425

>Carnifex

If we're going to get the full use out of it, we should pop it RIGHT NOW. and start regening our armor before we even enter those tunnels.

>>30057386

Get at least one friction axe.

Replace the lightning gun, we can always summon more up.

>>30057476

Yeah, but it reduces our HP cap. We can't regenerate it anyway. Our current loadout is fine.

>>30057370

JokerOP, is this our final point for any shopping before we enter the hive?

>>30057425
What we use all comes down to what we encounter though. Carnifex isn't such a great idea either, the activation is EXPLOSIVE. Meaning it'll hit the people around us. Useful later on.

>>30057386
I'd like to start the Essence Accumulator research.

>>30057433
I'd rather not. The weaponized Sinistral is a better weapon than the Friction Axe, and we already have two Fusion Cells. I really don't think we need another Void Anchor, either. We're looking to destroy one Hive, not multiple stages.

>>30057476
Doesn't work like that, it reduces your MAX HP and armor, until the power up effect ends. It's only after you've stopped benefiting from it that you can regenerate it.

>>30057486

(Yes.)

>>30057418
>Less style, more efficiency
This. So much this.

>>30057475

Point. Which is the reason we got the Immolator for the aoe prometheum to clear out the tunnels.

>>30057481

We're at 260%. I'll take a little bit of reduction in total HP to get 50% more dodge chance. Plus we'll regen the armor giving us our full AC bonus back.

>>30057492

Damn.

Suggestions, guys?

Emulator module is out of the question now.

>>30057492

Research. Or unlocks. I'm not scrolling back up on my phone to copy/paste the pastebins.

>>30057489
>I'd rather not. The weaponized Sinistral is a better weapon than the Friction Axe, and we already have two Fusion Cells. I really don't think we need another Void Anchor, either. We're looking to destroy one Hive, not multiple stages.

You're misreading.

I"m saying Sinistral + Axe in melee. That's way better than only the sinistral, and we can leave it on our hip until we need it.


I'm also not suggesting we make another anchor, but bring the one we have along.

At this point hollow sun weapons aren't necessarily as powerful as our main ones, so we need to use em to either a) get free meter or b) shore up capabilities.

>>30057516

Honestly, we basically have everything we need on hand, right now. Our current loadout's okay: We were never big on melee, anyway.

I vote that we start researching something.

>>30057503
>
My Votes

Friction Axe
Some gun we wont use because its not vulcane
Scatter laser, because indoor richochets and cheapness, and we have an arsenal beacon anyway
Maser for cooking calamari, or photon lance for being a meterless grenade

Do not spend hollow sun energy at this time, since we want codebursts next session.

>>30057537

God stop spamming that.

We never use those sideguns, and we always use the same loadout.

Why would we research new guns if all we ever say is 'use the same loadout lol'

>Indoor combat
>lots of melee-centric correctors
>not taking melee weapons
>not taking the line launcher for containment, aliens style. Contain and burn

Fuck that. Optimize for the situation. Ditch the heavy weapon that will bring the house down, stop whining about the loading being perfect when a)is not and B) we have an arsenal beacon anyway.

If we need to parry something, we want a sword at our hip for quickdrawing far more than we want a pistol we're not gonna use cuz its not the immolator, or the tau gun, or even vulcans

>>30057370
[X]Free
"Fine, but leave the navigation to Rook, he knows these tunnels. And make sure your nuclear options watch their back. We could be flanked or attacked from behind.

I'll be taking point with Rook, as I have a pretty good radar system.

Guys, Muleta.
It gives us melee without removing a weapon slot.

>>30057557

We took the flamethrower specifically because we are in confined tunnels. Our close in options are fine.

>>30057537
>: We were never big on melee, anyway.

thats a dumb stance to have when your enemies are and you're fighting close quarters.

Shape up, scrub!

>>30057503
Do research. It takes time and provides side benefits. Essence Accumulators are my vote.

>>30057516
Ah, you're right, I misunderstood. I wouldn't worry about using the Crisis Arm though, the meter it earns has always surpassed what it costs. But sure, I'll vote for a Friction Axe. Drop the Arc Gun, swap the fusion cell over.

>>30057539
I wouldn't worry about having enough energy for the Module. We won't be back for several sessions.

>>30057565

Oh holy shit yes.

>>30057566
>We took the flamethrower specifically because we are in confined tunnels. Our close in options are fine.
No, they aren't.
Efficiency, remember?

Flamethrower is in ONE HAND.
ideally, our left hand. We can cover the gun volatile gun with the shield, and then free up or other hand for more guns.

>>30057569
>Accumulators
Don't you mean Assimilators?

>>30057576

Either one. I'm voting for the Muleta, myself.

>>30057569
>>30057576
>>30057584

If it gets us closer to turning the Comet into a mobile essence miner, I'm for the Assimilators.

> "Do any of your people have advanced detection capabilities? Anyone with any other secondary powers?"

(I'll be collating a pastebin with a writeup for each Player in the squad.)

> [X] "Rook knows the tunnels. He should take the lead on this one."
> [X] "When we reach the Hive proper, I'll take over."
>>30057558

Geist fixes Rook with a long, searching stare - And then he nods, slowly, as he draws himself up to his full height. "-Very well," he rasps, in his gravelly voice. For a moment, it seems like he's about to say something more...But he seemingly thinks better of it.

>>30057429

"At the front." Geist glances over his shoulder, with a smooth swivel that comes from integrated targeting sensors. "-The Red Joker, in the front line? That should put some real steel in the others. Besides...That way, our biggest gun gets to make the first shot."

He chuckles, without humour - "...I get the feeling that you'll be earning your keep."

>>30057480
>>30057329

(Exchanging the Arc Gun for the Friction Axe, then. Also, the MULETA upgrade for the Asault Shroud.)

You can't fault Geist's appraisal. You're loaded for bear, the Friction Axe's haft mag-clamped in place; At your thought-command, the nanomaterial of the Assault Shroud shifts - Forming fractal blades, rustling with the metallic chime of chainmail, before they revert to their hexagonal tiles.

(Continued)

>>30057492

Alright guys, I've parsed everyone's thoughts on the matter, and assigned us a loadout by our carrying capabilities and by
Current Loadout
Left Hand: Immolator, Sinistral L2.(l3 on demand)
Left Holster: Maser (Cell)
Right Hand: Maser.(summoned in+primed ahead of time, but intended to be dropped for better guns so no cell)
Right Holster: Friction Axe(cell)
Back: Bazooka/Line Launcher/scatter laser???
Back: Void anchor

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>>30057576
Yes I do. Pardon me, sudokuing.

>>30057584
My preference is for Capa actually, because that one could boost the Shroud's energy resistance.

>>30057590
The more I think about that idea the less sure I am I like it. The Comet is a weapon of war, this could significantly compromise its ability to fuck up everything it looks at.

>>30057593
I think we had three votes for research...

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>>30057593
>(Exchanging the Arc Gun for the Friction Axe, then. Also, the MULETA upgrade for the Asault Shroud.)
RIP 'N' TEAR
TIME FOR STEROIDS

>>30057604

I personally favour the Muletta, too. I think we should focus on what we can use, now, not what may be useful in the future. By the time we come out of this, we're going to have a LOT of energy.

>>30057604
>I think we had three votes for research...

You can start your research after we have extra void anchor income, wata.
Its 10%, it'll come up early. Right now we need to get ourselves stuff that we'll survive with.

>>30057604
>The more I think about that idea the less sure I am I like it. The Comet is a weapon of war, this could significantly compromise its ability to fuck up everything it looks at.

It has a passenger compartment in the back.

Its free space we can stand to fill with essence miner equipment, and take it out if we're not using it in that role

>>30057600
>Left Hand: Immolator, Sinistral L2.(l3 on demand)
Doesn't work. Immolator needs a charging element, Sinistral 2 needs a charging element.

>>30057616
This actually reminds me of a question I had: OP, can we mount multiple mods on a Relic simultaneously?

>>30057622
No, it's fine. I just thought we had to be in the Hollow Sun or have downtime to start research.

>>30057625
If it's that easy then sure, no problem. I doubt it'll be that easy though.

>>30057604
>Yes I do. Pardon me, sudokuing.
>>30057604
>My preference is for Capa actually, because that one could boost the Shroud's energy resistance.

Why would the explosive upgrade to that? I think you are double-sudokuing

>>30057641
>Doesn't work. Immolator needs a charging element, Sinistral 2 needs a charging element.

No, it doesn't. Immolator is an Artifact, not a primary gun or a secondary gun. It doesn't need to maintain contact, or a charging element.

>>30057641
>Doesn't work. Immolator needs a charging element, Sinistral 2 needs a charging element.

Even so, we can connect both and swap which gets the power anyway.
JQOP may throw us a bone if the booster gets involved, too.

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>>30057593

The faint clatter of tongues of razor-sharp nanomaterial, interlaced into an armoured garment...The sound is chilling. You've shed the Gravity Cannon for the Revolve Bazooka, the bulky smoothbore launcher clamped to your back - It's reassuringly solid, heavy, a weapon meant to belch smoke and flame and explosive shells.

In a very real way - You're girded for war.

"-It's almost time."

Haze's voice is soft, hushed - but it cuts through the tension like a knife. He's looking up, at the churning skies; Rook follows his gaze, as does Geist. The storm seems to have quietened, for a moment - As if the world itself is holding it's breath, in anticipation of the slaughter to come.

[ ] "Rook; Send up a flare."
[ ] "-Wait for it; Give them a moment more."
[ ] Activate your Joker Emblem.
[ ] "Geist, get your people moving - We're going in."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>30057651
You can't hear it but I'm making frustrated noises in pitches that are damaging to the human mouth and throat. Yes, you're correct, I don't have a sudoku large enough to cover that one.

>>30057653
It is a primary weapon actually. I was surprised by that too.

>>30057666
>You can't hear it
Get a mic and vocaroo.

>>30057663
>[ ] Activate your Joker Emblem.

>>30057666
>It is a primary weapon actually. I was surprised by that too.

We unlocked it from the relic vault. Getting it to free up charging elements from all these weapons we can't hold was one of the main reasons we did (besides being a flamethrower)

>>30057663
>[ ] Activate your Joker Emblem.
>[free] explain friendly fire and how it works

IT IS TIME

>>30057666
>I don't have a sudoku large enough to cover that one.
Maybe Tetris would work.

>>30057666
>frustrated noise

i was following the converastion last time, and what i think you meant to say was 'reactive plating research' because it will nearly certainly have applications for the already incredibly adaptive assault shroud

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>>30057666
>It is a primary weapon actually. I was surprised by that too.

You're kidding me! its a relic!
that's about as dumb as the apex blade needing a charging element

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>I have enough skill points to start using assault dropships in Dust 514
>Joker's raid is finally starting
Today is a good day.

>>30057663

"Let's get this party rolling. It's an honor, gents."

>>30057593
>He chuckles, without humour - "...I get the feeling that you'll be earning your keep."

"I'm feeling hungry today, and I owe the smilers a red nose or three."
"If you like the new guns, well, just send a few finishing blows my way.

>>30057663
[X] "Rook; Send up a flare."

"Geist: I will do everything I can to bring your people through. You have my word as the ground zero survivor."

>>30057700
>>30057677
The meter weapons are the ones that don't require a charging element. Check the pastebin, it's a primary weapon that happens to not be a part of the Red Joker frame.

>>30057674
Having made that sound I'm incapable of vocalizing for 24 hours.

>>30057690
Tetrisphere?

>>30057692
That too. I *think* that Capote's integration with the frame could provide some measure of energy resistance, but I could very possibly be wrong.

>>30057727
>That too. I *think* that Capote's integration with the frame could provide some measure of energy resistance, but I could very possibly be wrong.
A shroud with all three upgrades might become self-aware and deadly.

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>>30057727
>Having made that sound I'm incapable of vocalizing for 24 hours.
I can wait, Wata.

I can wait.

>>30057727
>The meter weapons are the ones that don't require a charging element. Check the pastebin, it's a primary weapon that happens to not be a part of the Red Joker frame.

I am reading the pastebin. and the immolator makes no mention of charging elements. You're losing your words, tho, bro - go get a drink or something.
>The meter weapons are the ones that don't require a charging element.
that's pretty blatantly false, though. the meter weapons are WHY they use elements, and special ones (like the tau gun) suck up enough power to use BOTH elements.

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>>30057722
>>30057726

Geist salutes - It's an odd gesture, a rigid fist-to-chest. Of all the Players you've seen, it's strange to see one who prides himself on his military bearing...But Geist certainly fits the role, to the hilt.

> "Geist: I will do everything I can to bring your people through. You have my word as the ground zero survivor."

"Good hunting, Joker," he growls. "Let's get this done."

> [X] "Rook; Send up a flare."

Rook nods. He draws a deep breath, one he doesn't need: The tension, at last, is getting to him. Or is that anticipation? There's a click as his Tachyon Zauber reconfigures - An electronic murmur, "BLASTER MODE.", at the very edge of your hearing. His footfalls clank against the dusty ground, as he raises his weapon high...

-He fires.

The tachyon blast is an emerald comet, rocketing skywards. It leaves a shining contrail of particles, bright and actinic on your visual field - Rising, in defiance of the howling winds, a new star amid the swirling darkness.

When it reaches the maximum height - When it loses cohesion, at last - it detonates.

The sound of the blast breaches the stillness: Like a thunderclap, echoing with dire portent, motes of green light sifting down like snow. For the close to fifty Players scattered around the area, it's the signal they've been waiting for...

-The raid has begun.

(Continued)

>>30057804
>-The raid has begun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQs48dvebck

>>30057804

HIGHWAY TO THE DANGER ZONE

>>30057747
I'm paraphrasing since I don't recall what thread it was in, but we had a discussion on charging elements and what needed one. At its most basic it went "All weapons need to be paid for. You pay in meter, Cobalt Booster, or by hooking the weapon up to a charging element. Some weapons need two of the above."

The example given was the Tau Gun and either the Caster or the Annihilator. You needed both charging elements for the gun, but you could use a meter weapon in one hand since it didn't need a charging element. The trade off was that the meter weapon had a hard cap on how often it could be used.

This is a long and roundabout way of saying that the Immolator's got to be powered by something, and since it doesn't cost meter...

Come to think of it, the tachyon weapons were probably self contained, since the generator went into them and they were independent of the Player frame, but I'll leave that theory up to the future or OP to explain.

>>30057804
>-The raid has begun.
I've got popcorn and AC/DC ready. Let's rock!

>>30057882

It was tau gun and caster. The tau gun takes up both elements, and the caster takes up the element in the arm its deployed on.

And yeah, I find the idea that an independent-from-player relic gun needing a charging element about as likely as a hellion gun with a fusion cell needing one.

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>>30057685
>>30057675

> [X] Activate your Joker Emblem.

There's a distinctive hum as the Emblem engages: Your field of vision flickering with rapid test patterns, streamers of code scrolling across your HUD as your sensors recalibrate - Geist, Rook and Haze echo your gesture, a series of low whines answering you: An enervating vigour throbbing through your crimson-sheathed limbs, the reassuring flood of targeting data as new information floods the bright green display of your visor optics...

Every squad leader carries an Emblem, each one with their own distinctive signature. With your icon engaged, you're connected to them: Not enough to communicate, but enough to sense their presence, intuitively - Their direction and heading impressed upon you, in a heartbeat.

They ring the area, scattered around the circumference of the Original Hive: Each one in position, about to make entry.

Agite Striker. Iron Ogre and Titanium Gigant. Ivory Zoauve, the closest signature; Vertigo Trisagion, the furthest away.

Silver Cross-

...Wait.

Silver Cross's signature flickers across your field of vision - Far, far below, far from his designated position. He's supposed to be moving in support of Agite Striker, but he's nowhere in the vicinity - His signal patchy, coming back at irregular intervals, but present.

Silver Cross is *already inside* the Hive.

You hear a muffled curse from Geist - From Rook - and you can tell that they sense it too.

"Shit," Rook hisses, under his breath - "I told him to *wait*-"

(Continued)

>>30057905

Haze starts, his head tilted to the side: "What does that mean? I don't understa-"

"Joker!" Geist's voice is curt, cutting through their surprise - His optic sensor glows red, his posture stiffening; He's wrong-footed, but he's also furious. "-Cross's gone ahead. Your orders?"

[ ] "-We'll move to reinforce Agite Striker."
[ ] "This changes nothing - Keep to the plan."
[ ] "God knows who they might have alerted. We need to scrub the mission."
[ ] "We need to link up with Silver Cross's squad. Get your men moving, *now*."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>30057917
>[ ] "This changes nothing - Keep to the plan."

>>30057917
>[X] "This changes nothing - Keep to the plan."

If we are lucky we will be able to meet up inside the hive.

The clusterfuck begins.

>>30057917

"Stick to the plan. We'll link up with Agite when we can - if we can once we get into those tunnels. We can't alter the hand we've been played. Agite's reckless but smart. She won't die that quick."

>>30057927
>>30057936

bad idea, we're leaving agite striker out to hang.

We either need to reinforce that flank, or hit a place doubly hard to they have to react to it.

Tactics!

[ ] "-We'll move to reinforce Agite Striker."
My brain says this is the tactical paly
[ ] "We need to link up with Silver Cross's squad. Get your men moving, *now*."
My gut says this one is the right play, and its usually right.

Get to silver cross.

>>30057917

>[ ] "This changes nothing - Keep to the plan."

God damn it. No need to panic yet, though. It's not like they're dead.

>>30057917

"We'll move to Agite and reinforce. It'll slow us down, but I'm not losing anyone right from the start of this clusterfuck because someone got impatient. Rook, your man better have a damn good reason for going on ahead."

>>30057901
Even with a fusion cell the regular Hellion weaponry needs a charging element though.

Still, this is silly, OP, could you tell us whether the Immolator requires a charging element?

>>30057917
I actually thought he'd be the least likely to pull something like this. Wonder what it is we don't know about him.

The problem is that everything is going to be waking up behind him. He's tripped the alarms and now the real surprises are going to be ready. We need to reach Silver Cross ASAP, if only to keep down the number of threats we fight on our way there.

[X] "We need to link up with Silver Cross's squad. Get your men moving, *now*."

>>30057917
>[ ] Free

"We can use this. That dumbass will be the first to alert defenders - so we go in fighting, and cut the defenders off when they counterattack."
"Thaat means backing up *insert player name here*, move move move!"

>>30057917

> [X] "This changes nothing - Keep to the plan."

DON'T PANIC. EVERYONE STAY COOL.

Oh, forgot to say, the reason we don't want to join up with Agite is that it will increase the number of teams in that tunnel to three, drastically increasing the odds of detection.

Real quick, they were A-1, right?

>>30057975
We're not panicking, we just know that the plan is fucked. The Correctors are going to fill the tunnels behind him unless we get there fast.

>>30057964
>Even with a fusion cell the regular Hellion weaponry needs a charging element though.

Wata you are SERIOUSLY OUT OF IT today and making mistakes I don't expect you to.

>http://pastebin.com/z93fyLYa
>light fusion cell
>attached to a Hollow Sun light weapon (Or Melee weapon), a Light Fusion Cell automatically primes it, and removes the need for the weapon to remain in contact with your armour's charging elements.

That is literally its function, to make the ghostweapon that disintegrates if we let it go able to be juggled and fired and thrown around without any contact from the player
and artifacts are like that but BETTER

Agreed tho.

>>30057975
>>30057949
>>30057936
>>30057927
Voting against not changing. We CANNOT let two squads hang out to dry at the START.
Gonna be a bloodbath even WITH full strength.

>>30057917

"That didn't take long. I was expecting something to go awry once we were IN the tunnels."

"Whatever the hell is down there, Cross has pissed off or is in the middle of pissing off. We need to move now and kill whatever he's stirred up before he's overrun."

>>30057946
>>30057964
>>30057986
You are wrong, there is no need for us to do anything. The whole plan was to enter from different entrances but then meeting up at the entrance to the next level. Not sticking to the plan will only lead to more confusion and even more correctors waking up.

Speed is the key here. We need to reach the next level if we want ANYONE to survive.

>>30057985
>The Correctors are going to fill the tunnels behind him unless we get there fast.

And the other tunnels will have less correctors as a result. We need to be swift and go through now.

>>30057998
>Speed is the key here. We need to reach the next level if we want ANYONE to survive.

But we went for the non-stealth non-tactical/communicative approach and instead got All The Guns and IFF.

We need to play to our strengths, and that means using our firepower instead of LOSING our firepower.

>>30058003
>And the other tunnels will have less correctors as a result. We need to be swift and go through now.
This guy has winner winner chicken dinner.

If they provoke correctors, then the correctors respond to them, and there are less defenders on other paths.

In short, we need to move in on one of those paths, bail them out, and then proceed to target twice as strong as >>30057967
said

>>30057998

Lets put it this way.

if we DONT move, some other dumbass from his mercenary group is going to, and then everyone is gonna go to shit even more than it already is.

if its not US, ts gonna be someone less competent.

>>30058003

Thirded

>>30057964

(No: As a Relic firearm, it contains it's own integrated power source. The Moros and Eos would have had similar properties.)

>>30057927
>>30057936
>>30057940
>>30057975

> [X] "This changes nothing - Keep to the plan."

"-Then let's *go*," Vector Geist rasps. His optic sensor swivels, as he boosts his speakers to carry above the moan of the wind: "Move out!"

Metal groans, as his squad emerges - They arrange them into a vague formation, osmosis pushing you and Palladium Rook to the front; With a grunt from Mauler Sledge, hefting his accelerator hammer as he shuffles aside to give you space. Brass Manticore keeps looking at you with something resembling awe - It's almost funny, in a bulky Player with a lashing mace-tail and a head's height above you.

Snatches of conversation reach you, from behind:

> "...Moving already?"
> "...heard that...thing's wrong?"

Vermillion Ray's Solaris Array engages - He seems to be almost bent double beneath the weighty backpack, but there's the answering hum of Hellion weaponry going active; Your footfalls clopping on the stairs, as you begin the descent. It's a strange feeling, being part of a group - Assembled in an almost-circle around Ray, to get the maximum benefit from the Array's aura.

The darkness beneath beckons.

(Continued)

>>30057986
Oh, I see. Used to just reduce the Booster cost, I think.

>>30058003
That's what I mean. He's in the undertunnels, or will be by the time we get there. All the guardians that are supposed to stop people from getting in are waking up and preparing to go after his team. We need to go through our path now, and with prejudice.

>>30058027
Duly noted, thank you kindly.

>>30057998
>Speed is the key here. We need to reach the next level if we want ANYONE to survive.

I'll disagree here. Right now theres two squads in danger - one off overextended by himself, and one charging off themselves in a different direction.

If we're to survive this whole ordeal, we need to get all squads to target, intact, with advancing firepower, aggressive-advancing to target, and coordinate our way to the next level.

if anyone gets cut off, they die, we lose firepower.

>>30058034
>If we're to survive this whole ordeal, we need to get all squads to target, intact, with advancing firepower, aggressive-advancing to target, and coordinate our way to the next level.

We aren't going to go saving everyone that might be in trouble. Everyone knew what they were signing in for, if they fuck up its their fault.

>>30058048
>We aren't going to go saving everyone that might be in trouble. Everyone knew what they were signing in for, if they fuck up its their fault.

Remember the prophecy

We NEED to be a hero, damnit.

This isn't about making our fuckup allies pay for being dumb, its about killing as many correctors as possible, and then killing as many smilers as possible.

If one of our allies is dumb, it creates a situation we can capitalize on.
So CAPITALIZE ON IT.

Move up! go go go

> "Rook, your man better have a damn good reason for going on ahead."

Rook turns his head - He sounds like he's grinding his teeth.

"-He's a scout. That's what he does," Rook growls; Then shakes his head. "...That prick." He falls silent, as his brief words seem to echo - The thin sliver of light vanishing, at last, as you enter the passages beneath.

The places beneath the iron city of Dis, curiously enough, seem to be the least affected by the transition to the Red World. The hall beneath - Squat and ugly, streaked with grime - isn't a million miles away from the abandoned underground mall; Though the main entrance is filthy, neglected, with now windows, no markings, just the single rusted entrance serving the whole bloated labyrinth.

And it *is* a labyrinth. Cave-ins, and the shifting passages, have compressed and crushed themselves into a maze of concrete walls and cracked slabs; Even with low-light vision, phantom images flicker at the corner of your vision, an articulating clatter of armour plate and servoes humming in a nervous chorus.

"...It's too quiet," someone mutters, from behind - You'll never know who. There's water, here - Or at least the Red World equivalent. A foul, chemical fluid welling up from the Hive below, evaporating into a greasy mist that forms a grim drizzle of corruption...

(Continued)

>>30058027

The first part, at least, is easy - The only way ahead is down. The winding steps give way to a long hallway; It slopes downwards, extending to the end of the level - Forming a corridor between rows of long-abandoned stalls, now fragmented and crumbling. Vector Geist has drawn up besides you - A Pulse Carbine gripped in each fist, cold focus radiating from him...

"Ah, hell," Rook mutters. He glances over at you - "Something's spooked Cross. He's moving *away* from the first rezendvous point; Heading towards the second." When you concentrate, you can confirm it - His signal receding into the distance, descending...

-And then, sounds. Panting, from beyond the veil of darkness; The skitter of frantic footfalls, coming from right in front of you - Then either side, scurrying and scraping. The clatter of debris being dislodged-

"What was that?" Vector growls; He leans to the side, to peer past Echo Saber. "What was *that*?"

Again the scraping, frantic now. Racing footfalls, faster and faster, a flicker of motion in the gloom.

HP: 260.0%
COBALT BOOSTER: 150%
ASSAULT SHROUD: 150%
METER: 12%

TIER ONE WEAPONRY UNLOCKED

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>30058149
"Correctors. Keep calm and aim carefully."

>>30058149
>"Ah, hell," Rook mutters. He glances over at you - "Something's spooked Cross. He's moving *away* from the first rezendvous point; Heading towards the second." When you concentrate, you can confirm it - His signal receding into the distance, descending...

"He's being chased *into* a killzone. "

Argus system using Booster to ON. we can afford a slow drip drain.

Sinistral L1(ready to L2), immolatior in left hand. Right hand.... Free. We'll use the assault shroud stabbings, punches, and exec_consume(it builds meter and we can stabpin things with our shroud now) with our right hand.

>>30058149

"That'd be the homeowners, friend. Tell your crew it's about to get hot."

Argus system on. If the Nihl still works, get a local sweep to see behind walls. Don't want to get caught in a surprise round. Be ready for anything

>>30058168
DON'T USE THE BOOSTER ALREADY

>>30058149

We'll want to let the Nihl feed constantly throughout this entire thing since we exhausted it's entire charge with Cybele. Keep it ready.

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Is this about mechas or are their xenos as well?

>>30058172
>Argus system on. If the Nihl still works, get a local sweep to see behind walls. Don't want to get caught in a surprise round. Be ready for anything

It doesn't, but this is an excellent time to Consume things with punches to charge it.
It also builds up Meter

>>30058181
I'm the guy who SUGGESTED THE CONSERVATION, anon, and we can a: afford the 2% cost or whatever for the argus to pulse it on once and >>30058185
we have -literally zero- nihl powers, and consume feeds our meter directly.

So yeah. We can afford that expenditure, as long as we don't do anything else (like willy nilly crisis arming), and recharge next turn.

>>30058192
It's Accel World.

>>30058149
FIRST use the Argus System (pay Booster). See what's coming. If it's Correctors, warn the others and pop the Vulcans.

If it's a lot of Correctors, go Sinistral 2, draw the Immolator and aim at the back of the mob in alt-fire mob, Cobalt Boosted.

Real quick OP, does using Muleta's close combat function drain the reserves? I know the flechettes do.

>>30058185
Good point. If close combat starts, get to draining.

>>30058181

Disregad this, feed the nihl

>>30058192
Correctors are fairly xeno looking.

>>30058194

Consume is when we're sucking the essence out to heal ourselves. Just jamming the Nihl into something doesn't cost meter.

>>30058201
You aren't me mate, if you disagree say that you veto to it.

>>30058192

Accel World, [C], a bit of 40k and Tony Taka art. So yeah.

>>30058206

Consume is more efficient at it, tho, and it feeds us too.

>>30058213
Pardon, that was a turn of phrase, not an attempt at impersonation.

>>30058197
Agreed with everything except the cobalt boosted immolator - conserve that as much as possible.

>>30058206
Pretty sure they have to be cracked open for the sphere to react. With Exec_Consume you just need to grab them. If there are any survivors (presuming it's a hostile mob of course) we can feed the sphere.

Of course, we could have found Players already.

>>30058216
>a bit of 40k
Not really.

>>30058197
>FIRST use the Argus System (pay Booster).

Hum.

If we use argus on meter, that means the booster recharges.

If we draw from the booster during a turn, it doesn't - has to be left alone with no drain.

Doesn't matter just yet, but something to keep an eye on in subsequent turns.

>>30058240

Mainly referring to the 'Nid stand-ins.. Or Zerg.. or BETA.. the only thing we're really missing for a Hive Infiltration at this point is the TSF's and the crotch nukes.

>>30058158
>>30058172

Geist twitches his head - "Fan out," he says; "Firing positions-"

You hear the hum of weapons going active, Vermillion Ray hunkering down as the air grows charged - "For what we're about to receive..." he mutters, as Bombard Valkyrie's missile launchers angle upwards, targeting data flickering across her sensors...

>>30058168

Your Argus sensor engages, an actinic green wave roiling outwards from you: You make out a flurry of scuttling shapes, close to the ground, loping - There's a *lot* of them, the sound growing louder, like a cresting wave...

Your fist clenches around the Immolator's grip, the Sinistral's hardlight field engaging - A wedge of radiance cutting through the gloom-

The sight of the first Corrector draws a gasp of disgust from Distortion Haze - It's a skinless thing, the size of a large dog...But longer and lower, with an eyeless head that's just a vast set of jaws filled with hundreds of transparent fangs. It has a gelatinous look to it, long sensort bristles and tendrils twitching and rippling - Stiff tail raised high as a counterbalance, blotchy organs roiling beneath raw, dripping muscle.

"Oh *fuck* - I'm going to be *sick*-" Blast Scarab gags; He's a towering armoured figure, encrusted in beetle-black armour, but in that moment, he sounds all of five years old. "*Look* at that fucking *thing*-"

(Continued)

>>30058253

..?

Can we feed sensor data to the squad?

Especially the heavy support so they know where to fire?

>>30058266

(Unfortunately, no.)

"Shut up!" Rook snaps - He's already levelling his Arc Gun, straight-arming his weapon right at the thing; His finger's tightening on the trigger, when it *howls*. The sound is shrill, high - And it's answered by the rest of the pack, yapping and snarling in riling motion as they drive forward, agitated by your presence: You can hear the wet splatter of reeking flesh as the lean forms emerge from the gloom - Loping forward as one, accelerating...

And that's just the first wave. They're vaguely canine, but there's something of the worm in them, something glistening and slimy - Grown fluid and eyeless in the eternal gloom. From below come a chorus of howls, the flickering light of your weapons glistening against their raw, suppurating forms.

HP: 260.0%
COBALT BOOSTER: 150%
ASSAULT SHROUD: 150%
METER: 12%

[ ] "Open fire!"
[ ] "-Hold your fire! Wait for the range!"
[ ] "Into them! Into them!"
[ ] "Fall back!"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>30058302
>[ ] "Open fire!"

>>30058302
>[ ] "Open fire!"

Haha, time to build up meter!

>>30058192
Sometimes we kill Kalamari.

>>30058302

>[ ] Free

"Gunners, open fire till i give the signal, then switch to area suppression, target correctors a few ranks back from the front.

"Echo Saber, Mauler Sledge, Brass Manticore! On my command, prepare to counter-charge!

OPEN FIRE!"

At the ranges of the

>>30058302

"Melee on me! Ranged on Rook! We stop we die! Move move move!"

Do what we do best and have the Correctors focus us. We're acting tank so the others can deal as much dps as possible. Lead in with nihl sphere to quickly suck up BETA and use Consume sparingly when we can to fill our meter quick. Use our melee options, crisis arm to bash, abjudictator to blind/bash/blast, the works.

>>30058302
Are they still not in range? I'm confused by the second option.

Regardless, if they're dogs then they have to close to bite us. We want them to stay out of range.

"Artillery, target the rear! Everyone else, fire!" Aim for groups of them in alt mode. Switch to the primary when they get in range.

When they get close, slice one open with the Sinistral and introduce the sphere to its guts.

>>30058339

(They're not in optimum range, to clarify.)

>>30058302
We have infinite ammo since we brought the helion weapon battery right?

Then: >[X] "Open fire!"

>>30058342
Oh, I see. In that case, have the artillery start the bombardment, wait for them to close to optimum range, then open fire.

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>>30058335
>crisis arm to bash,
That's a waste of meter.

Start firing with the tau. Once they get closer, use the immolator.
Any that get to close are cut open with Muleta and then fed to the Nihl sphere.
ZANDATSU

>>30058302

Time to put the new Shroud upgrade to the test in a melee. Keep the immolator out and our kite shield up.

>>30058359

Using Muleta is the waste.

We can regenerate both Meter and Booster.

What we cant is our assault shroud.

>>30058382

That's the ranged function. Expend shroud to shoot shrikes. Just using it in melee doesn't consume jack unless we're hit.

>>30058382
OP, does close combat shroud consume charge? I thought it's only the ranged attack.

>>30058359
Too many for the Nova Cannon moving too fast. We want to use that on singular larger and slower targets where FOR MASSIVE DAMAGE can really have an effect.

This applies in other situations too. Small+fast=use something else.

Just to check, we ARE using the Vulcan in our right hand, right? We're not just sitting there with an empty hand that could be holding a gun?

>>30058359
>Start firing with the tau.

That shuts out the sinistral.


Here's our opening move>

SinistralL2+immolator(nonboosted)
Right Arm plasma vulcan - its long range and free and we don't use it enough. Start shooting, never stop until they get close
THEN
Sinistral+Friction axe + Consume+Shroudstab(nonflechette)

>>30058398
>That's the ranged function. Expend shroud to shoot shrikes. Just using it in melee doesn't consume jack unless we're hit.

We need a better name for non-flechette.
How bout Spawn?

>>30058398
>>30058399

JokerOP, can you confirm this?

>>30058417
For the raid, I think Zandatsu works nicely. Because, hopefull, we will combine it with consuming souls.

>>30058302
>COBALT BOOSTER: 150%

This can't be right, but if it is?

Yeah, we can afford a little use.

Boost the right arm vulcan, go for multiple penetration on squishy targets.

>>30058407
Yeah pretty much my idea too.

>>30058429
Good point.
Booster regenerates.

Just set a fixed limit for each encounter.
I'd say 10% max for this one.

>>30058417

We have Funnels.. We have a colony laser.. We have the off-spring of the Tri-Stars.. We have Char's Mobile Suit.. It's gotta be Gendum related..

How about i-Field or the one ablative armor that resisted beam spam?

>>30058449

>ablative armor that resisted beam spam

Chobham Armor

>>30058449
>We have a colony laser.
We have Side 3. Sieg Zeon.

Also the shroud won't resist beamspam, energy attacks are its greatest vulnerability. That's not really appropriate.

>>30058470

>not really appropiate

I can't think of anything else that'd fit from the UC timeline. And I haven't watched Unicorn so I don't know if they added anything new.

(Gentlemen: Here's the Squad guide.

http://pastebin.com/UsmnfU7B

>>30058310
>>30058312
>>30058344
>>30058350

The darkness lights up with muzzleflash: Arc Guns and Maser Emitters and Ion Blasters spitting arcs of exotic energy, Pulse Carbines blazing chattering streams of fire at the approaching horde - The effect is cancophic, a massive exhalation of noise and fire, hurling a wall of death at the charging Correctors. The unnatural light banishes the gloom in flash-flickers of strobing illumination, the hail of gunfire shredding apart the lead creatures-

They crumple in midleap, as gunfire scythes through them. Hellion weaponry flashes and barks, and Correctors are snatched back in abrupt pink clouds: Others are scorched, hurled to the sides, flung back writhing and twitching as electric discharge crawls across their wretched forms...

And then you hear the roar of missiles launching, as Bombard Valkyrie's rocket packs spit fire and death. The range is short; The rockets arcing over your head, coming down and erupting in packed explosions of flame. Choking smoke boils forth, ash and sparks zooming crazily like fireflies - You see entire limbs detached, hurled up above the erupting fireballs as Correctors fragment like overripe fruit-

Still they come on.

(Continued)

>>30058443
>Good point.
>Booster regenerates.
>Just set a fixed limit for each encounter.
>I'd say 10% max for this one.

Excellent idea, but keep in mind it only regenerates when not in use. otherwise perfect

>>30058507
Haze is the scariest motherfucker in this game. And we've given him weapons so he can earn Essence for the first time ever. AWESOME.

When this is done, if he survives, we shanhai him and have the Hollow Sun reverse engineer the warheads. One bullet made of that and Rust Kaiser's gone for good.

>>30058507

>Haze

We are so taking him under our wing. Can we keep him?

Wow, those guys *really* profit from our equipment.

>>30058597

Which was quite the point. We'd made them a much more lethal force.

I wonder how the other teams look like. Almost want to see a pastebin of their makeups.

If OP ever does write up the full scene with Cybele and Anon, there had better be mollusks and seafood references peppered throughout.

>>30058422

(He's right: Close combat doesn't consume charge. Damage to the Assault Shroud, however, will deplete it.)

> "Echo Saber, Mauler Sledge, Brass Manticore! On my command, prepare to counter-charge!

The answering shout is a bellicose one: Carrying over the blasts that devastate the back ranks - The ones at the front cut down by the hail of fire, your crosshairs sweeping across the charging wedge as you squeeze the Immolator's trigger.

Gouting flashes of fire beard the front of the handgun's muzzle, accelerating to a roar: Each scorching bolt leaps across the distance, impacting with a CRUMP of detonation - Hungry flames roar up, as your right-arm Vulcan spits plasma bolts into eyeless heads, pummeling and blasting-

The Correctors come on. The rate of fire slackens, as weapons cycle: Sledge grips his hammer in both hands, Saber drawing his sword as the blade begins to chatter...

"Into them! Into them!"

You're not sure who yells it - It sounds like Geist. But then there's a Corrector lurching at you, needle-teeth biting...

(Continued)

>>30058597
Probably the most of any of the squads. These guys were equipped with real world firearms. Most everything from the Hollow Sun is a massive step up for them.

The other squads benefited of course, but for these guys it's nearly across the board.

>>30058624
For that reason alone I pray it never happens.

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>>30058646

>I pray it never happens

Where is your sense of adventure?

>>30058646

Which also meant we might have gotten potentially the best squad.

Since with their previous level of firepower that low, their teamwork must have been polished to a very high degree.

>>30058628

You wrenched the Sinistral up. The thing's needle-teeth shatter against the hard-light construct, and you rip the edge through the meat and gristle of it's neck, unleashing a torrent of gore: It makes a hideous sound as you carve the edge through it, twisting round to bathe another Corrector in a searing cone of glutinous flame-

Dimly, you realize that these creatures aren't predators: They're scavengers, driven berserk by the prospect of food. Some of the others have slowed to feast on the fallen, their sickening mouths gouging and biting and chewing through glutinous flesh. The Helix Gauntlet crazes with violet light, as EXEC_CONSUME engages - And you plunge your talons into the next Corrector that closes in, the Nihl Sphere flickering with the barest beginning of charge as you drain it dry, the thing's flesh sloughing off the bone, crisping and curling like burning paper.

You hear the crackling hiss of a tachyon blade, and gore splatters you: Palladium Rook's suddenly at your side, hacking and carving with his tachyon sword - He flicks his wrist, and actinic green flame lashes out like a whip, the stone igniting in a wall of roaring fire.

"Easier than I expected," he grunts, as he carves away - Another Corrector rams into your shield, and you send it sprawling with a kick; Your talons pinning the creature's jaw shut, leaving it to writhe and sear and blister as it crisps away to ash. Close by, Vector Geist has joined the fray - He's hacking with his twin cleavers, the edges glowing red-hot with each searing swing.

HP: 256.2%
COBALT BOOSTER: 137%
ASSAULT SHROUD: 146%
METER: 18%

[ ] "Things are looking up."
[ ] "-Don't get cocky."
[ ] "There's a *lot* of these things!"
[ ] "-This makes no sense: They have no *chance*!"

YOU HAVE CONTROL

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>>30058669
I'm trying to come up with a comeback and the only things that I can come up with are horrific. Have Extra Caster instead.

>>30058670
Not really quantifiable. You could say that Titanium Gigant's team has the best teamwork, since there's only four of them and they're trained to a high degree. Still, the Players in the squad pastebin sound interesting. Here's hoping they don't end up like Joker's pre-Joker crew.

>>30058722

>[ ] "-Don't get cocky. This isn't their normal behaviour.

Scavengers perhaps? That means they might have been driven away by something else. Something else that we're drawing closer towards."

JokerOP, how many more of the correctors are there?

If the tide is thinning, continue shooting for a while to help the squad build up some meter before we press forward.

Engage the Argus system again to double check the size of the horde and do a transponder check with the leaders of the various squads.

>>30058722

"This is level 1 of the dungeon. No sweat. Just don't get cocky, might be something bigger out there."

Keep draining them. Keep your head on a swivel and checking the Argus for bigger fish to eat."

>>30058722
"They look hungry. It would be worse if they were well fed."

>>30058722
"Do the words 'canon fodder' ring a bell? They have reserves. Don't take hits, they're going to keep throwing themselves at us until the real threats show up."

Do another Argus Scan and keep up the Consuming. But maaaaybe work a bit faster.

>>30058722
>[X] "-This makes no sense: They have no *chance*!"

>>30058755
>>30058757
>>30058758
>>30058768

You don't hear his reply - Just his tachyon blade searing through Corrector flesh, in scorching arcs; The front of your crimson armour is slippery with gore, as the Sinistral's blazing edge drives deep into a baying creature - You pin it against the ground as it twitches, a cone of flame roiling across the cracked concrete flagstones...

They're thinning out. You can feel it: A pulse from the Argus system confirms it, as the momentum recedes. The Hellion guns are scything through them like a hot knife through butter, and the weight of concentrated fire is too much - The Correctors simply don't have the time required to drag down a victim and maul him.

...Or so you think, as EXEC_CONSUME's talons sink into a Corrector, lifting it in your grasp - Until it disintegrates, falling apart in a slick welther, smoke coiling from the barrel of your incinerator.

> [X] "-This makes no sense: They have no *chance*!"

"They never had one," Vector Geist growls - You can hear the triumph in his voice, as gore boils off his machetes, the cherry-red glow of their hacking edges restored. He looks around, and you follow his gaze: The Corrector pack didn't even break past your countercharge, which cleared them out with the terminal efficiency of a nuclear blast. Some of the frontliners are sporting scratches and toothmarks...But nothing more than superficial damage.

The battle is winding down - There's the occasional crackling blast of Arc Gun fire, the pulse of a Maser Emitter...But from the thick, clotted smear of charred gore that slicks the ground, the dragging sounds as the Correctors limp away with their sickening meals-

...It's over.

(Continued)

>>30058904

Underfoot, the ground seems to tremble; The unwholesome gloom descending once again, your Argus System's pulse capturing only the most cursory contacts. There's a general feeling of exhiliration, amongst the group - You can hear the quicksilver chatter, back and forth, between the hum of weapons cooling, as the formation slackens at last. The few remaining Correctors - The ones too crippled to run away - are being dealt with; With brief, trunctuated blasts of point-blank shots, or the splattering impact of weapons being put to use.

[ ] "Did we lose anyone?"
[ ] "Fan out - We need to find another way down."
[ ] "We need to get moving again."
[ ] "-Get them back into formation. This isn't over yet."
[ ] "This place is infested - We need to get back to the surface, find another entrance."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>30058949

(My apologies, an addition:

HP: 250.5%
COBALT BOOSTER: 140%
ASSAULT SHROUD: 139%
METER: 23%

>>30058949
"Is anyone actually hurt?
We need to get going. It's possible that they will start coming in waves. These ones were too hungry to organize, but the next ones won't be."

>>30058949
>[ ] "Did we lose anyone?"
>[ ] "We need to get moving again."

GOGOGO

>>30058949


>[ ] "Did we lose anyone?"
>[ ] "We need to get moving again."

"Everyone. Good work but this is just the beginning. Grid yourselves. Not every battle will be this easy."

>>30058949

[ ] "Did we lose anyone?"
[ ] "We need to get moving again."

"Gotta move people or they'll counterattack."

Check the Emblem and see where everyone is.

>>30058949
>Underfoot, the ground seems to tremble
Hurk.

The infestation is a good thing so far as I'm concerned, means the area's compromised enough to have a Hive entrance. If there's an opening to the Hive though, there's an opening where something large enough to cause a temblor can move.

I think this was a location check. They know the path we're taking. If there's no other way down so be it, but we need to check quickly, so:

[X] "Fan out - We need to find another way down."

>>30058949

>tremors

That can't be good. Did it sound like machinery? Insectoid? Burrowing? What?

Try and pinpoint the tremors and see if there's an alternate route down. This way make be compromised.

>>30058974
>>30058994
>>30059019

> [X] "Did we lose anyone?"

Vector Geist looks around - His optic sensor tracking back and forth, as he takes in the scene. You follow his gaze; "No one," he says, at last. "-All present and accounted for."

"Scarab's fallen on his ass-" Meridian Hand snickers, only to be cut off by a growl from Sledge. A chorus of answering voices come, in rapid succession - The squad, so it seems, is in good condition. High spirits, too - Buoyed by their easy victory.

Haze, in particular, looks dazed: He's made a good account of himself, apparently, from the wedge of pulped forms that litter the ground - His form's a little more armoured, now, the myomer-weave thickening to carapace plate...Which means he must've received an upgrade, at the very least.

> [X] "We need to get moving again."

"-You're right."

Rook's voice cuts through the babble of white noise: He sheaths his Zauber, with a snap-hiss of receding energies. "...We can't let ourselves be held up - The others have moved ahead."

> Check the Emblem and see where everyone is.

A moment of focus confirms this: Zoauve's squad is the furthest down, having made their descent into the chasm - Iron Ogre's squad, with Titanium Gigant, have made substantial progress; They're down and to the right of Geist's team. As for Silver Cross...

-He's somewhere below you, now. That's about all you can make out.

> [X] "Fan out - We need to find another way down."

"Spread out!" Geist has a parade-ground voice, pitched to carry; It takes some shuffling, some jockeying for position, but the squad's moving again. Staying with earshot, peeling off in knots of one and two as the group proceeds down the long corridor - Less of an organized formation, and more of an amorphous mass.

(Continued)

>>30058968
>METER: 23%

Good work. Now keep building meter

COBALT BOOSTER: 140%
Argus to Off for a round, let it recharge.

>>30059146

Further in, the darkness thickens: You're navigating almost entirely by low-light vision, now, the careful advance lit only by the faint shaft of pallid light from behind - The exhiliration of victory doesn't last too long, as the ominous silence descends once more...

-The tremor again, beneath you. You strain to pinpoint it, but - There's just stone. It's hard to tell; It reminds you, vaguely, of the thrum of distant machinery...But you can't be sure.

"-Hold up." Rook's voice is a frustrated rasp, as he draws to a stop - The passage beyond, the one that would lead down to the subway station, has caved in. It's choked with rubble, a miasma of dust hanging in the air - A solid wall of packed rubble, compacted upon itself.

HP: 250.5%
COBALT BOOSTER: 150%
ASSAULT SHROUD: 139%
METER: 23%

[ ] "So much for the direct route."
[ ] "Can we blast our way through?"
[ ] "The Correctors must have come from *somewhere*. Keep looking."
[ ] "That can't be the only way down."
[ ] "We should head back to the surface."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>30059209
>[ ] "The Correctors must have come from *somewhere*. Keep looking."

See if the Nihil Sphere shows any fake doors.

>>30059209
>[ ] "The Correctors must have come from *somewhere*. Keep looking."
>[ ] "That can't be the only way down."

Does the argus show off the surroundings?

Can we use it to map out a possible workaround?

>>30059209
So this just happened? Damn.

[X] "The Correctors must have come from *somewhere*. Keep looking."
[X] "That can't be the only way down."

Sounding like a broken record now, but Cobalt Argus scan? We didn't bring explosives and don't have the meter for anything impromptu...

Oh wait, we should have followed the Correctors, the ones that ran. Can we still try that?

>>30059209

Turn the argus off for a round. Gotta recharge the booster.

"Fan out and see if there's an alternate route. While you guys do that, I'll see if I can make a hole through this."

Whip out the Tau and start annihilating the blockage.

>>30059246

We didn't bring...

But we still have the arsenal beacon right?

>>30059251
>Whip out the Tau and start annihilating the blockage.

Better idea. Use the shroud and just rapidly start clearing it away, and brace the above entrance for the squad to pass through.

>>30059253
Sorry, it was one of the things we could have asked Tyrian about. We didn't. We also don't have Disintegrator weapons, which might be able to eat through this.

Of course, everything in the Red World is made of essence. Maybe we could encourage the Nihl Sphere to eat matter?

>>30059251
Booster's maxed out.

>>30059277
>>30059293

Tau annihilates matter. Depending on how big this blockage is, we could go over the top if we annihilate enough of it.

>>30059293
>Maybe we could encourage the Nihl Sphere to eat matter?

Exec_Swarm will handle this, actually

>>30059293
>Maybe we could encourage the Nihl Sphere to eat matter?
And then the Nihl sphere gets pissy and starts swearing at us.

>>30059293

>encourage the nihl sphere

We don't need to encourage it. Just J-J-J-JAM it in and let 'er go.

>>30059307

Let's not waste our Shroud on a blockage. Unless Cybele's Emblem can regen it. It can regen our Shroud right, OP?

>>30059339

we can pay for it on HP and regen it tho, no shroud required

>>30059351

keep forgetting that little bit. Then yeah. I'd say use it if nothing else pans out.

>>30059358

If we're doing that, why follow the paths set before us?
make our own instead

>>30059253

(You have the Arsenal Beacon, yes.)

>>30059226

The Helix Gauntlet irises open; The Nihl Sphere's light barely the beginnings of a flicker. The violet illumination is a little more than a spark, a gleam in a crystal of cracked grey quartz.

No help from that corner, then.

>>30059231
>>30059246

You scan - The humming green sweep of the Argus System sketching out the confines of the place. Stone, metal, cables - You're getting hard returns, but you persist.

> "...shouldn't *be* here much longer."

Manticore mutters, as he shifts uncomfortably; Even cleared out, this place is hardly welcoming. Blast Scarab turns, with ponderous grace - "I think we can..." he rumbles, the seething sphere of his concussive blast gathering...

>>30059251

You take aim with the Tau Gun, squeezing both triggers: The blast that comes is shockingly loud, echoing within the hallway. Dust trickles down from the ceiling - It's followed, an instant later, by an even louder exposion: Scarab's charges blasting rubble free, revealing *more* rubble beyond...And, at the very end, the faintest *hiss* of air through the passage...

You could clear the place, but it'd take time - With plenty of noise, too. You have the firepower necessary, but it's still quite an endeavour.

Metal groans, close by, as you turn away, towards a distant row of doors - Elevator doors. The edges crimp and bend, glowing cherry-red, then slagging away as Meridian Hand forces them apart. "Lift shaft," he offers, in a surprisingly cultured voice. "-We can head down *through* these..."

(Continued)

>>30059372

Glad we had the manpower to cover all of our options.

>>30059372

You see it first.

"Hand. Wait." Geist's voice is terse, as Hand glances back over his shoulder - "Why? What's..." His words die away, as you hear the low chittering sounds - The maddening surrusation of insect cilia, a taut hiss coaxed from his speakers-

The walls and floors of the shaft are black. Clicking, chitinous forms - Stridulating bugs - coat the surface in a black, churning mass, scurrying below. At first, it would seem that the shaft descends into lapping waters: Instead, it's filled with the fat squirming masses of swarming *things*, with the exoskeletons of bugs and the awful bloated shapes of leeches. The writhing weight carpets the floor beneath, swarming over the crushed remains of the shattered lift.

"Oh, *fuck*-" Meridian Hand turns away, violently; It sounds like he's retching, inside his helmet.

"-Found something!" Nova Drake's standing further down, the pilot lights of his flamethrowers shedding a flickering illumination - "It's...urgh..."

He doesn't have the words. It's a thing you have to see for yourself.

(Continued)

>>30059429

C'HAULIFLOWER GET

>>30059429

"What is it?"

It's a tunnel. There's a suppurating hole in the wall - A hole that gives way to a sloping passage, the rounded, curving edges slick with slime...But it's the floor and ceiling *before* it that's given him pause. There's a broken, mangled carpet of gelatinous flesh underfoot, forming an awful, glistening layer - The familiar forms of the Correctors from before nearly unrecognisable, crushed into the stone like paper mache.

There's the faint drip-drip-drip of fleshly threads, oozing down from above - Small pieces dribbling or splatting down, in a moist rain, as they yield to gravity at last.

"...What did this?" Rook murmurs - "It's like they were..."

He glances at you.

"-squashed." His words seem to echo, in the vast space - An uneasy shudder coming from the other Players. "It leads down, doesn't it?" Geist crackles, clearly short of patience: "Joker. We can't stay here."

[ ] "We'll blast a path through the cave-in."
[ ] "We'll descend through the lift shaft."
[ ] "We'll use the tunnel."
[ ] "We'll head back to the surface."
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>30059504

>[ ] "We'll descend through the lift shaft."

The most disgusting looks the safest.

>>30059429
>>30059504
>>30059372

Wow. This is flat-out disgusting. The sea of bugs, or the slug-tunnel?

>>30059532
I'm for bugs.
Those at least aren't slippery.

>>30059504
I don't like our chances against anything that can squash a Corrector flat. We're going through the lift, Immolator first.

They're probably leeches or something. We'll want to be especially thorough.

>>30059532

looks like a sphincter, actually

>>30059532
>>30059540

Meter's Meter. Torch it with the immolator

>>30059532
>>30059540
Yeah, look at this way:

The bugs are still alive.
Everything in the tunnel is dead.
Alive=Good
Dead=Bad

So the lift should be the prefered method of transport.

>>30059550
>>30059545

Better idea. Incendiary missile. Its cheap enough and one + incinerator should do the trick

>>30059504

"The last time I felt tremors from a Hive did not go well. At all. One time a giant Wyrm attacked me as well. Let's just.. let's just use the lift. Burn the shit off the walls. Don't let it attach it will suck you dry of Essence."

Take the lead down the lift. Purge and burn everything.

>>30059558
It's bugs all the way down. One won't cut it.

I have to get moving. Have fun storming the Hive!

>>30059587

Same here, sadly! Mornin shifts for the lose!

>>30059587

Think of it this way tho - it goes ALL the way down

>>30059530
>>30059540
>>30059545
>>30059556
>>30059571

"Through *there*?" Meridian sounds like - Yes, he definently sounds like he's going to throw up. There's a definent undercurrent of dissatisfaction, that ripples through the squad - The chittering mass below holds a kind of primal horror, the sound of their scuttling forms utterly repulsive, their riling motions the stuff of black nightmares to come...

>>30059550
>>30059558

Fire roars from your Immolator - You drag the slipstream of boiling flame across the shaft walls, a ruddy glow appearing wherever it touches, a ballet of orange fire circlets. The metal's too thick to succumb to the assault, but the bugs crisp up beneath the searing arc of fire; A sick vapour roiling up from their charred forms, the *sounds* of them expiring all at once filing the air with shrilling chaos...

The ground shudders, again.

Your Triskelion launchers spin open - One missile isn't going to be enough. You launch four, instead, into the packed mass below; They curve down, into the heart of the moiling black sea, and-

From beneath, a flash of fire. You pull back, as a vertical geyser of burning vapour spouts upwards; An opaque fog churning upwards from the flamespout, the shaft channeling the full force of the detonation, focusing it - You're glad you can't *smell* anything, as you step over the edge...

-And let yourself drop.

(Continued)

You hear the exclamations from above -

> "-he's doing it-"
> "Go go *go*-"
> "-just go already!"

Your Tempest Scrander ignites, red particles fanning out: You feather the throttle, slowing your descent - Your armoured boots crunching on charred husks, the roiling wave of fire momentarily clearing a path through the moiling sea of leech-creatures...

Behind you, there's a thump as Geist follows your lead. Then Rook. Then Drake, then Scarab, then Meridia-

He never hits the ground. It happens so fast - You glimpse a flickering blur, a strident thrumming noise, a thing that surges out with hooked limbs extended...

Meridian Hand screams, when the insect-winged shape seizes him.

It rushes over you, with a reverbrative, chopping drone - A head crest formed into a long, dark, malevolent hook, glassy wings beating so furiously it leaves churning afterimages. Twisting like a maniac, he's fighting to free himself - Fire and ice scorching the air, his voice an incoherent shriek-

"letmegoletmegoletmegoLETME*GO*-"

-There's more than one. Dozens of them, suspended upside-down; Sweeping out of the pitch-black, churning air above you, with hideous forms that merge the worst parts of cockroach and cicada and mosquito - Thorny, zinc-grey where they're not glistening black, sweeping down towards the new prey as the rest of the squad begins the terminal drop into the hideous nest...

And that's all you have time to see, as they surge towards you.

JOKER QUEST

EPISODE 79

TO BE CONTINUED

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>>30059771

oh god.

HANG IN THERE HAND.