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>>30482251
You lead a dangerous life. You fight mavericks--insane, murderous criminals, or zealous, unrelenting revolutionaries--risking your life every time you go on mission. In true 'those-who-fight-monsters' fashion, your superiors have begun to suspect you might be one yourself, due to an unrelenting stream of bad luck.

But right now, none of that matters, because you're home. Liberty Labs, out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Your parents--or most of them, being a team of ten men and women--have gathered from their many tasks to be here for you. Not bad for what could just be a simple in-and-out replacement job.

Well, maybe not 'simple.' You lost a solid third of your entire body in your last battle, the most intense of your life, and have been clunking about on cheap stand-ins. Not any more--and while they have you on the table to provide the full replacements, you've also worked out a list of upgrades to go in for.

"So," Mom 2--Scholten--says, looking over the list one last time. "Phase shielding, some adjustments to your busters--probably should have done that as soon as you and Cath got separated--modification to this T. Coil retraction system, an emergency reserve battery for your capacitors...are you going with the saber pack?"

"Nah," you reply. "Thought about it, but I just don't have the kit to justify it right now."

"If you change your mind, I'll forward the specs on the C. Cap variant we talked about to the hunters," she says with a nod. "So that's everything?"

"I think so, yeah."

She puts aside the datapad. "In that case, I'll be disabling...what's left of your locomotion, so we can get started. Do you want to stay awake?"

>Stay awake. Make some small talk. Feel alive again.
>Tell you the truth, all I really want to do is rest.

>Stay awake. Make some small talk. Feel alive again.

this. we're toeing the line into shell shock or PTSD or whatever you want to call it, we need whatever help we can get in staving it off, at least for now.

>Stay awake. Make some small talk. Feel alive again.

Let's have some nice, casual conversations about our constant near death experiences

>>30482285
>>Stay awake. Make some small talk. Feel alive again.
Never been under during repairs with strangers, no reasons to be under when with family.

>>3048228
Stay awake. We haven't had a good talk in a while. Can we go full disclosure about our ops and Hunter politics?

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>>30482389
>>30482481
>>30482531
"I'll stay awake," you decide. "I mean...to be honest, I've just wanted to talk to you guys for a while. It's hard to get outside work. Besides, I can watch your faces when I tell you about all the scrapes I've been through."

"Can't argue with that," Singh adds from the back. He always did have a sick sense of humor. You think you get yours from him.

"So, what's to talk about?" asks Robledo quietly.

"I dunno," you reply, feeling your body going dead as you're prepped for work. "What is there to say? I died once. I don't think I can recommend it."

He frowns. "That had to have been..."

"It was like waking up a toaster and feeling them turn my brain back on in installments," you add. "But hey, silver linings."

"You're still here," offers Harewood, even as she begins typing up a diagnostic you recognize just by the sound of the keystrokes.

"Well, yeah, but I meant more I saw my serial number while I was out. I've finally got one up on Cathode."

After a long, quiet moment, they all start laughing.

"What? What?" you ask, feeling like you just missed something.

"We were just talking about this, and--well, we wanted to show you something."

Your eyes--now hooked up to the same diagnostic bed as everything else--are filled with some text.

>LLN133-RN01 DIODE-ONE "Anode"

"And," adds McCaskey, "Here's Cath."

>LLN134-RN00 DIODE-TWO "Cathode"

You blink, even as the serials fade (and your sight with it). "Wait, what? The Reploid Number is lower but the project count is higher?"

"Meaning..."

"...Meaning I don't know that I'm the older sibling after all. Dammit, way to ruin a guy's fun."

"We told you," Boyd pants from somewhere on your right, still a bit wheezy from laughter, "that the age difference was academic, and we meant it."

"Come on!" You protest, feeling a laugh coming on yourself. "I died to get this info!"

"And it didn't do you any good," Singh replies, clearly amused. "Moral of the story? Don't die next time."

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>>30483102
"If only Fred were here. He'd have come right back with 'many Bothans died to get this information,'" notes Robledo.

"Hey, yeah," you realize. "What's he up to, anyway?"

You go on like that for a while (a long while--your internal clock tells you it takes hours), but you don't really notice. To be honest, you haven't really felt like time flows quite right since you were revived. You can't stop thinking about the bits and pieces of technical readout shunted through your head as you were cobbled back together. Labels, specifications, tolerances, manufacturers. Each bit of you, part and parcel, something less than alive.

You keep that to yourself. No need to get into that now. It's probably a normal response for revivified Reploids. You'll look it up later. Yeah.

It's not hard to drive it from your mind in either case--your parents give you a quick primer on the changes, and show you through it once your optics work again. They suggest you get familiar with your shielding and your new buster priming--new timings, new overheat concerns, higher recoil on charged shots, and of course, more damage if you build up to full. The downside there is that you now fire in two-round bursts, rather than the three you've grown accustomed to. You won't be able to fill the air with "lead" like you used to, but you'll be capable of damaging most targets more easily. If you'd had this against Saetos, maybe things would have been easier.

Man, Saetos. Fucking Saetos. Even dead, he's been nothing but a pain in the ass. At least Frog vouched for you instead of throwing you in the slammer. You briefly wonder how you would have reacted to that sentence getting handed down--you were in a bad place. And you still owe your CO some kind of thanks.

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>>30483120
You make mention of that--or, well, what you can.

"I hate to say it, but I understand that they have to be paranoid," Singh admits. "I mean, I'd probably have two words for whoever treated you like garbage, and they wouldn't be 'good morning,' but..."

"Well, this Doppler thing could be a game changer. I'd love to meet the man," McCaskey adds.

Glatz, usually quiet, speaks up. "I sat a seminar he gave once. If I hadn't been recording it to watch another three times at home, I wouldn't have made any sense of it."

"That was before the Philosophers went maverick, wasn't it?" asks Boyd. "I seem to remember them being listed as attending."

"They never did show up--though you know, thinking about it, maybe they had just defected."

"Dodged a bullet," Scholten says.

"Yeah, maybe. Speaking of dodging bullets, are Cath and Blitz still in hot water with that Moose guy in their unit?"

"I doubt it," you add, "especially after the Himalayas. Who's Blitz?"

"Blitz Chiroptera," Harewood explains. "Member of the First."

Chiroptera. Bats. Baaaaaaaaaats. "So what did they get in trouble for?" you ask.

Your parents share a look. "She didn't tell you?"

>...wait, you aren't saying that they're a...
>NOPE. NOT MY BUSINESS. NOPE NOPE NOPE.
>Other?

>>30483146
>...wait, you aren't saying that they're a...

>>30483146
"......You're fucking with me."

>>30483146
>>Other?

Good on ya, little sister.

Doesn't mean where not going to scare the fuck out of him if we meet him, though.

>>30483222
>where

We're.

>>30483146
>...wait, you aren't saying that they're a...

Great, now we're going to have MURDER charge on our rap sheet too!

>>30483146
>...wait, you aren't saying that they're a...
Dear brother has a meeting to make.

>>30483220
Seconding this, cute quip kinda shows off our humanity.

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>>30483180
>>30483220
>>30483222
>>30483247
>>30483292
"You're kidding me," you whisper.

"Anode..."

"You're shittin' me."

"Anode!" Mom 2 Voice activated. Whoops. Too far that time.

"She found herself someone, and she didn't think to tell me? Her darling Schrodinger's Older-Little Brother? ...Quantum elder? Heisenberg's Uncertainty Sibling? Ahem."

"Listen, Anode, I know you have a ... thing, about bats--" Boyd trails off.

"Oh God. He's smiling."

"I'm not smiling."

"You're totally smiling."

"Okay, okay, you got me," you confess. "I'm not mad. Actually I'm proud of her. Doesn't mean I'm not gonna terrorize this... guy? Girl?"

"Guy."

"Right, I should have known, Blitz is clearly a masculine name. Anyway, no, for real."

"Be nice," warns Scholten.

"What kind of brother would I be if I didn't interrogate him like he was Sigma 2: The Revenge of Sigma?"

"If he was Sigma 2, you wouldn't be interro--"

"Semantics!" you bark.

"In any case," Harewood interjects. "Turnabout's fair play. You can expect her to give every bit as good as she gets when you settle down with somebody."

"Man, settle down. You haven't seen the Fourth. Nothing is settled. It's just chaos. Even taking booze out of the equation, there's India."

Mestayer (who was grabbing a few supplies in the other room this whole time) comes back in on that. "Wait, India? I know that name."

"She kind of made a name for herself, yeah. Vienna."

"Good Lord."

"So, why do you bring her up?" Singh asks, a sly smile in his tone once again.

"I told you, because she's insanity incarnate. She replaced the reasoning center of her brain with more aviation crap."

Boyd guffaws. "Really? Come on, Anode, fess up. We're your parents. Is there anything going on there?"

"Definitely not."

"Any interest, then?" asks Glatz quietly.

>Man, I haven't had the time.
>Maaaaybe.
>Not a parental discussion topic. Nope, nada, uh-uh, not happening.
>Other?

>>30483603
>Man, I haven't had the time
She's interesting but weve barely been around long enough to do anything other then get drunk and watch movies a time or two

>>30483603
>Her darling Schrodinger's Older-Little Brother? ...Quantum elder? Heisenberg's Uncertainty Sibling?

Hah.

>Man, I haven't had the time.

>>30483603
>>Man, I haven't had the time.

Any time spent on love is less time being an crazy action hero.

>Maaaaybe.
>Not a parental discussion topic. Nope, nada, uh-uh, not happening.

One of the two. Whichever's funnier.

>Maaaaybe.
"I have word from a reliable source India has the hots for me."

>>30483603
>>Other?

I mean, shes gotten to first base on us but I think we were just a stand in for the jet.

>>30483603
>>Man, I haven't had the time.
"Besides, I think she's critically allergic to anything remotely close to feelings."

Possibly mentioning the ride chaser snafu.

>>30483603
I dunno, the coffee machine in the lobby has been givin me the eye for weeks.

>>30483603
>>Other?
Well there is this ride armor we just got...

>>30483603
>Man, I haven't had the time.
I've been in enough SNAFUs to win contests with decades old hunter vets.

>Maaaaybe.
>Man, I haven't had the time.

"I mean, she's one hell of a gal, but we don't interact nearly enough for me to figure out if it's honest to god love, or just a crush."

>>30484055
Might not even be that, it might just be pure swagger.

>>30483603
>Maaaaybe.

"But I think I'd probably need wings and maybe a cockpit before she'd even think about it."

INNUENDO!

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>>30483675
>>30483693
>>30483704
>>30483750
>>30483977
>>30484055
"Well, there's a coffee machine in the lobby that's been chatting me up for weeks," you offer. Singh chokes on a glass of water. "And beyond that, we got a new ride armor that we're all fighting for the affections of. I'm the only one who's actually taken it out for a spin, so I think I'm winning. Is that how it works with military equipment?"

"Come on, I was being serious," Boyd says.

"So was I." You shrug (or try to, you only have one arm attached right now and the shoulder is disengaged). "Honestly? I've been getting shot at, screamed at, or fixed...at, for pretty much my entire time in the business. I haven't had time to think about this crap beyond cursory maybes and wonderings."

"Maybe it'd do you some good."

"Honestly, I don't even know whether India's capable of feelings that don't lead to hilarity."

"Sounds like a good match," observes Scholten.

"Well, no, I mean--first off, she's not really interested in anything, as far as I can tell. A whole lot of bluster and swagger. I dunno. She probably wouldn't be interested in me unless I had wings and turbines anyway. Plus, I think I mentioned, we kind of destroyed some of her ride chasers."

McCaskey starts affixing your new arm (goodbye, ill-fitting standin). "Right. If not her, what about someone else?"

"I dunno," you repeat. "Aside from a few movie nights and some working relationships there's nothing else to go off. I don't even know what I want, if I want anything."

"Well, if you ever want to talk, you know you can call us. I bet Lauren could give you some advice."

Singh snickers. "With two kids? Probably."

"Please, God, not more diagrams," you insist, earning a laugh. "Though I'll think about it."

The repairs continue like that--the most intensive part after the replacement pieces are installed is watching your old leg get opened up, gutted, and the "tibia" bone replaced with the modified version, with an in-line K. Coil.

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>>30484525
"Like I said," says Boyd, "this will be more efficient on building charge, open up some leg room, and probably help your landings. It can even be clamped into place to disengage the charging, so you don't have to ground yourself out from a lot of walking around. Just remember to practice, get a feel for it--everything's different."

"Speaking of, what about this shielding system?"

"It's in this new chunk of your torso," he says, rapping on it with a knuckle. "Ask your unit-mates about the particulars sometime, you already know the basics and they'll be more practical than our explanation. The big thing is that your LIFE cell has another duty to pull on--you'll probably feel a bit tired until you adjust, won't be long. And you'll need to recharge a bit more often."

"Wasn't really gunning for efficiency anyway," you say with a nod. "It won't be a problem."

"I think we're just about done," says Harewood, "Avis is just finishing up the modification to your T. Coils and the spool motors. Do you have any questions for us, while you're here?"

>Yes, actually... (?)
>No, I think I'm set.
>Other?

>>30484547
>No, I think I'm set.

>>30484547
>No, I think I'm set.
Would like to chat more, but eh.

>>30484547
>>No, I think I'm set.

Also, I didn't comment on it before but:

>Well, this Doppler thing could be a game changer.

Damn it if it's not like watching a train getting closer and closer to a stalled school bus.

>>30484547
>Yes, actually... (?)
Anything interesting in the scientific circles lately? Did they finally discover a use for the appendix besides hacky sack?

>>30484685
Yeah, I'd be interested in some science gossip.

Also, see if anyone can recommend a hobby.

>>30484547
This
>>30484685
>>30484771

>>30484771
Also get a picture of everybody that wasn't here when we rolled through with Em.

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>>30484685
>>30484771
"Nothing upgrade-wise," you say, sitting up and rolling your shoulders as they re-engage your body. "Anything going on with making science?"

"Eh, most of it's big waves about the prospects of widespread Cyberspace tech," McCaskey explains. "Not really our specialty."

"I have to say, it does sound interesting," Scholten adds. "They're calling it a second Internet, at least in terms of the boom they think is going to happen."

"I dunno, it sort of reminds me of talk about the singularity," Singh adds. "And that's still a work in progress."

"Still, people seem to be trying to focus on it, finding applications," says Harewood. "There's all kinds of wild conjecture flying around, as one does when they have a PhD and no pension."

"Ooh, damn!"

She shrugs, grinning sheepishly. "Wasn't really an insult. It's just kind of what bored science-types do."

"What kind of conjecture?"

"Real world overlap, entirely digital living beings, mapping and designing a Reploid's DNA in cyberspace, capturing and recording it to prevent any Reploid from fully dying--ever--a lot of it seems to be geared towards trying to incorporate it into Reploids. There's a few new grants coming out specifically for cyberspace research."

"Way above my pay grade," you say with a shrug. "Unless they can build me a holodeck. Speaking of, you guys got any ideas for hobbies?"

They share a few 'uhhhh' glances. "Models?" offers Boyd.

"Pets?" suggests Scholten.

"Trick shooting?" asks Harewood (earning a glare from Scholten). "Cooking?" she amends.

"Stand-up?" Singh contributes.

"So, 'anything' and 'nothing,' basically," you note. "Not surprised, kind of in the same boat."

"Boredom is universal," says Glatz. "Just try something, and if you like it, stick with it."

"I guess I'll try that. Thanks, guys."

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>>30485128
With that, there's a round of hugs, a quick picture, and a trip, together, back to the beam-in room. You test your weight as you move, your legs feeling springy (suitably enough) as you adjust to your new in-line shock absorbers.

"Maybe take a few days off soon?" suggests Mestayer. "We were thinking we might try to get you and Cathode back here to celebrate your birthday together."

"I'll try, but I can't promise anything," you warn. "That sounds nice, though."

"I guess that's that, then," Glatz says, pulling you into one last hug.

"Take care of yourself, young man," Scholten adds in Mom Mode, before her tone softens just a bit. "And for heaven's sake, practice with everything we just gave you before going back out there."

"I will," you promise. "I was planning to do some melee training later anyway."

"Take care," she repeats, as they send you back on your way.

Well. That's that, then. You step off the pad, back in 4th's HQ, and it's like you never left. Though, you realize--you're back, and you are, quite literally, better than ever.

>Where now?

>>30485152
Go test out our new upgrades.

>>30485152
First off, we hit the range and test this stuff. Doctors orders.

>>30485152
Lets hit the range

>>30485152
>you're back, and you are, quite literally, better than ever.

How much better? Let's find out!

>>30485152
Does the 4th have an obstacle course or something? Barring that, they have that holo training thing I think?

>>30485298
You suggesting a rematch with X?

>>30485329
He'd just kick our ass again, that'd be no way to tell how much better we are.

>>30485298
We'd have the sparring room. See who's loitering around there.

>>30485366
That simulation seems to have a grading system and clock so it should tell us if we've gotten better.

>>30485298
to the holo trainer for Revenge!

>>30485329
it doesnt have to be X

>>30485469
>>30485433
>>30485370
Can we try and get used to this stuff before we try and use it in combat? I know it's fake combat, but still.

>>30485433
We really want to see if we've gotten better we should gather up our new squad, enter the simulation with them, and take another run a Wallaby and his men to see if we can win through something other than dumb luck.

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>>30485152
You stop and think, prioritizing what you have to test out.

You need to figure out how your new shielding works--you know it's going to reduce your ability to absorb energy for your capacitors to some extent, but it shouldn't be much. Hopefully, it's counter-acted (or even exceeded) by the improvements in your Kinetic Coils. Speaking of, you need to test them, too--you know you're not going to get more jump height out of them, but learning how to take falls on them will be important. After that is your busters--they feel a bit different. If you had to sum it up, it feels like they catch more air when you move your arms around, though that might be the weight. Outwardly they're identical. You should test that zipline speed on your T. Coils--you're giddy about the prospect of that one. You have that new Emergency Battery, but you can't test it--you know it's there, though, waiting to give you that emergency 25% juice-boost to your Capacitors in a pinch. Hopefully you don't need it often, as it's equal parts disposable and expensive. And then, last of all, you have the flambard Em lent you, and his offer to help teach you the finer points of using it.

Shielding, coils, buster charging, ziplines, and flambard.

Most of those you'll probably not really be able to test as much as get a feel for. A few of them require a partner. You head toward the range, first and foremost. You're not back on roster just yet, so you have a good bit of time to do this.

>Start with?
>Call someone (?) and see if they're free to help out?
>Go with a combat sim instead.
>Other?

>>30485605
>>Start with?

Ziplines! How is this even a question?

>>30485605
Snakes and ladders or Ziplines and coil tests

>>30485605
Zipline ( and when we inevitably fall, the Kinetic Coils)

>>30485605
>Start with?
Coils

Lets get a good feel for all our new gear before a combat sim

>>30485605
>Start with Shielding

Ziplines are going to be the most fun, so let's save that till last.

>>30485702
We need charge for that, which we'll get by ziplining around and falling like an idiot.

We should call Schwarz, see if he'll teach us how to batman.

>>30485778
Best idea

>>30485778
Agreed.

>>30485605
Zippity dippity

>>30485778

Gotta vote for THE SHWARTZ

>>30486777
Holy shit, has he seen Spaceballs? We have to show him Spaceballs.

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>>30485653
>>30485690
>>30485697
Well, you figure you can knock out a few things at once. Most involve figuring out how they work with your capacitors. Which means, you need to build some charge and compare how the energy gain rate follows.

Which means, motherfucking ziplines.

Despite the halls being mostly clear, and being sorely, sorely tempted to use them down the corridors toward the training room, you resist the impulse. Command probably wouldn't be thrilled with you technically firing a weapon as you traipse through the building.

Just as well, then. You pass one of the on-duty rosters and frown as you notice Schwarz is still out on mission. He did say it would take him a long time, at least a day, but damn. So much for learning Batman techniques from the Black Dog today.

You arrive at the training room to find it mostly empty. However, you notice a new addition to a terminal here, as well--an official designation for your fireteam on the listings.

Lieutenant Anode, and the Bravely Broken. Hell yeah.

Speaking of, you notice a fourth name on the list:
>Susan
>Flak
>Marx
>Derby

Well. You'll have to meet him sometime, though right now he's marked as unavailable.

With that out of the way, zip-fucking-lines.

You square away the Range, make sure Looey isn't about to drop kick you, and establish some space to test in. You fire a T. Coil, the spool bracket on your wrist making a faint whine as it engages. You feel the coil impact through the line, which slackens for a scant moment on hit and then goes sharply taut.

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>>30486937
Well, here goWHOOOOOOOOOOO THIS IS SO AWESOME.

You fly across the range like a shot--not as fast as the pure thrust of a dash, but the sharp jerk of momentum through you feels just as heady. You fire another one in the other direction, and find to your glee you can zipline from either arm, either disengaging the first cable or simply spending more ammo to give yourself more line. You fire one high and, carefully, hoist yourself up--just as quickly, and capably holding your weight.

You can rappel now. You can do so many things. This might be the best upgrade of all time.

Your fall has benefits, too--you notice your Capacitor reservoir practically jump up from the shocks, giving you a few percent with just those scant moves. You have to adjust to sticking the landing, which feels almost spongy, but you find yourself coming up and ready for more quickly. A few more experimental jumps and bounds, and you're starting to get the hang of it. Nailing the timing will take some time, but in theory you're faster on your feet now, at least when recovering from a fall. No improvement to jump height, though, like you expected.

If your new shielding system is taking away from the charge, you haven't noticed it. You get the feeling you won't until it's actually put into use.
>Run a sim. See how things handle.
>Call someone (specify), get their input.
>Put aside the shielding for now. Try your new buster charge level.
>Other?

>>30486953
>>Put aside the shielding for now. Try your new buster charge level.

Lets see what our new gun can do.

>>30486953
We're already at the field, we should go to busters next. Logical enough step.

>>30486953
>Call someone (specify), get their input.
"India, get to the firing range, I need you to shoot me for a few minutes."

>>30486953
>Put aside the shielding for now. Try your new buster charge level.

>>30487045
Yes.

>>30486953
>>Put aside the shielding for now. Try your new buster charge level.

>>30486953
>Put aside the shielding for now. Try your new buster charge level

>>30487045
Changing my vote to this

>>30487045
Something tells me Looey will drop kick us for that.

Also, since we're here, didn't we say we were going to pour some resources into this place?

>>30487045
Hell yeah

Hide on the roof above the entrance. Batman her when she arrives.

>>30486953
>Run a sim
Let's give Sigma a try, see how long we live.

>>30486953
>Call someone (specify), get their input.
>Schwarz, Grach, Emerald
Anyone ded killy who can give us a fair assessment.

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>>30487443
I've been waiting for someone to suggest this.

ALL OF MY YES.

>>30487395
We should start doing that to everyone.

So many opportunities to mess with people have opened up with the installation of a zipline.

>>30487465
Schwarz is out on a mission at the moment.

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>>30487037
>>30487042
>>30487095
>>30487105
>>30487126
Before you call anyone, you have a perfectly serviceable shooting range here. And two newly-primed busters, ready to rock. You take a booth on the range, sending a metal target back to medium range.

The new busters, like everything else, feel different but not wrong. It's like all the balances are off in all your parts--and thinking about it, they probably are. Even after your brush with death, you have no idea how much of your insides are symmetrical, and you're not sure you want to. You examine the barrels (without looking down them, as you can practically feel Looey staring holes in you), and then turn them downrange.

You fire, holding down the 'trigger' and note the difference--one-two, one-two, your shots come in quick pairs from either side. They sail down and hit like they always have. One less per burst, but still decent area saturation--you'll have to be more careful with your shots, and you can't fill the air with phase quite as effectively, but it will certainly be enough to block anything with some decent aim. Now, for the important thing.

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>>30488096
The charge rate feels decent enough, though you're sure it'll feel painfully slow if you're ever waiting for a pivotal shot to be ready. The audible whine of the plasma buildup grows and grows, past the loudest you've ever heard it before, and you can feel your arms brimming with stored energy for the shots. Already aimed and sighted, you let the two shots fire, side-by-side.

Ahead, two roiling waves of energy surge forward, and you feel the strain in your elbows as the recoil bucks your arms up after the initial shots. The blasts are each about two-thirds as tall as you are, the air hissing and burning with ozone, electricity rolling off the shots and leaving a crackling wake as they streak downrange. They impact soundly on their target, which reels back under the force, two new, deep scorch marks showing where they landed.

...Well. Not bad. It's not exactly the hand-cannon you saw X fire, but it's close--and your shots are 1: primed for rapid fire, and 2: paired. On a hard target you'll have trouble (not as much as before--you wager even Saetos would have felt that), but anything without sufficient armoring is going to suffer.

No sir, not bad at all.

>Call India.
>Call India, and try to Batman her.
>Do something else?

>>30488141
>Call India, and try to Batman her.

Rolled 16

>>30488141
BATMAN!

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>>30487443

RUB A DUB DUB

LETS GET FUCKED LIKE A SCRUB

>>30488141

We're batbot. Call india.

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>receive powerful new upgrades
>will likely need to use them in battle soon
>obvious decision?

CALL UP OUR NOMANCE CANDIDATE AND SQUEAL ABOUT OUR NEW TOYS

>>30488141
>Call India, and try to Batman her.

Really, is there any other option here?

>>30487045
this is the best plan ever.jpg

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>>30487045
>come down here and shoot at me

She's going to reach the firing range shortly ahead of her own fucking sonic boom.

>>30488141
>Call India, and try to Batman her.

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>>30488186
>>30488215
>>30488238
>>30488353
>>30488401
>>30488442
>>30488966
Heh. Heh heh heh.

"Yo, Indy," you comm.

"Yello," she replies smoothly. "Back already, huh? I had you pegged for being gone all night."

"Yeah, I'm back. Come on down to the range, I wanted to talk shop with you about what I got."

"I'm in the middle of something."

You roll your eyes. "Stop harassing the enlisted at ancient video games, and you can actually shoot at me." A brief silence. "India?"

"ON MY WAY, OUT."

You snicker, top off your coils at the range's VWES charger, and then fire one into the roof above, climbing up and into the rafters.

Oh yes. This is the best plan ever.

After a minute (not even; girl can sprint when she wants to), you see India barge into the range down below. She looks around, frowning, and then keys her comms. "Okay, I'm here, where the hell are you?"

"Hold on," you reply, covering your mouth (semi-theatrically for your own benefit), "I'm under the stands, I dropped a sparring weapon and it rolled."

She wanders over that way, directly underneath you. You grin widely, and pounce.

The Batnode strikes.

"I AM THE NIGHT," you roar triumphantly as you descend, landing facefirst on the ground as she lightly sidesteps.

"Hello, luv," India says lightly, examining her nails as you haul yourself up unhappily.

"Oh come on, what was that?" you protest. "I waited until I was halfway down to start yelling!"

She smirks. "And you didn't stop and think that maybe a pilot might have some extra sensory equipment installed for keeping tabs on her peripherals?"

You sit upright, grumbling. Well, you guess the Batnode Rises.

And that's when Looey drop-kicks you, sending you tumbling across the floor.

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>>30489012
"FIRING A WHEPON INTO THE CEILING IS A VIO-LAYSHUN OF RANGE SAFETY!" he roars with the fury of a thunderclap. "ATTEMPTING TO DROP ON A FELLOW HUNNER IS A VIO-LAYSHUN OF RANGE SAFETY! REQUESTING BEING SHOT requires prior notification of rangemaster, Lifesaver support, and acting Commanding Officer," he finishes (relatively) smoothly.

"...Noted. So, can I?"

"Yes," LT says cheerfully, and skips away.

"I ought to just start coming here after I drink. It's a laugh a minute," India offers helpfully. "So what am I shooting you for?"
>No time to explain! Just shoot me.
>Maaaybe I should explain the shielding. No more dropkicks please.
>Other?

Rolled 13

>>30489038
"I gots me some shields. You can't just shoot me ounce anymore!"

>>30489038
>No time to explain! Just shoot me.

>>30489038
>Maaaybe I should explain the shielding. No more dropkicks please.

>>30489038
>No time to explain! Just shoot me.

>>30489038
>>Maaaybe I should explain the shielding. No more dropkicks please.

>>30489038
>Maaaybe I should explain the shielding. No more dropkicks please.

>>30489038
>>No time to explain! Just shoot me.
why talk when you can shoot?

>>30489012
Well nuts. We'll have to try that with someone that doesn't have extra sensors.

>Maaaybe I should explain the shielding. No more dropkicks please.

>>30489038
>>Maaaybe I should explain the shielding. No more dropkicks please.

We are now, somehow, even harder to kill.

>>30489038
>No time to explain! Just shoot me.

>Maaaybe I should explain the shielding. No more dropkicks please.
Knowledge is power

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>>30489072
>>30489127
>>30489141
>>30489154
>>30489483
>>30489707
It's tempting, just for the audacity, to ask to simply be shot, but with LT right there (and hellishly quick with those dropkicks) you figure it's best to explain.

"Got some new defenses," you reply. "Should do a lot less to me, and I need to test it out."

"So let me get this straight. Rather than just, say, run a sim," India looks at you sharply, "You figured you would rather call me up and get shot for real."

"Well...when you put it that way--"

She grabs you in a big, overly exaggerated bear hug, actually lifting you. "Oh, Anode, I knew you cared."

"Yeah, yeah, are you gonna let go and shoot me, or do I have to have another awkward conversation with my family?"

"Sure, let me just--wait, ANOTHER?" she balks.

"My sister got a boyfriend," you explain.

"And they're wondering when you'll catch up?"

You shrug. "It's not a race."

"Too right," she nods emphatically. "Besides, that's the one you're supposed to finish last, if you get what I'm--oh, never mind. Stand over with your back to the range."

Makes sense--if she misses (or you dodge like a jerk) the stray fire will go down the shooting gallery, rather than into, say, the stands or the weapon techs.

"So, I assume this is just to test them out?"

"Partly," you nod. "Need to figure out exactly what they're going to do to my charge on impact."

"Gotcha." She raises her pistol--that giant fucking thing she put a hole in that custom Disk Boy's head with in one shot. "Hah, I saw that flinch. I'll aim center-mass, you big baby."

You throw your hands out wide. "Come at me, si--"

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>>30489925
Whoof. Well, it doesn't bowl you over, but you felt that. The gunshot rings out, the casing jingles as it sails through the air, and you are currently flickering.

She casually flicks the safety back on her weapon and collects the spent brass. "Aha! The FNG finally wised up and got proper shielding."

You have a new ding in your armor, but it's... well, it's not a gaping hole. "Terrific. So how does it work?"

"Reactive particle net field. You'll REALLY like it if you get caught out by a machine gun nest. Just don't get grabbed. Doesn't do shit against being thrown around like that. Oh, and you'll want to get that fixed, however tiny the hit was. Just be grateful you're so sturdy under the armor."

"I'll do that. When I'm done."

She raises an eyebrow. "What's your next move, then?"

>Em promised he would help teach me how to swing his sword--STOP LAUGHING.
>Honestly, was thinking of taking a break. Maybe I'll get it fixed up now after all.
>Other?

>>30489944
>>Em promised he would help teach me how to swing his big sword--STOP LAUGHING.

>>30489944
>>Em promised he would help teach me how to swing his sword--STOP LAUGHING.

Just an ordinary guy learning the finer details behind his friend's tool.

>>30489944
>Em promised he would help teach me how to swing his sword--STOP LAUGHING.

Just for that.

>Em promised he would help teach me how to swing his sword--STOP LAUGHING.

It's time to oil up with our heterosexual life partner.

>>30489944
"Wanna watch me get owned by Sigma?"

>>30489944
>Em promised he would help teach me how to swing his sword--STOP LAUGHING.

>>30489944
>Em promised he would help teach me how to swing his sword--STOP LAUGHING.
"And I think he was going to talk about birds and bees, which is weird. The only thing they have in common are that both can fly and are annoying."

>>30490035
We're not gonna win this one, but seconded.

>>30490017
Honestly, when he whipped out his big hot thing and said "take it" we didn't know how to respond at first.

>>30490061
>>30490035
I'll keep it in mind for the future, promise.

Just remember that you're going to get your nonexistent cock rocked.

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>>30490115
>impossible odds

The Sigma simulation should probably be the only training sim we run anymore, you know?

>>30489944
I kind of want to get some sparring in with Dodo, really.
Skipjack will probably be a mother fucker to catch.

Emerald's slippery but he doesn't got the go fast

>>30490035
I personally would be delighted to participate in our protagonist's ass being handed to him by Sigma.

(or we could always win who knows, nothing is impossible)

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>>30489989
>>30490017
>>30490027
>>30490029
>>30490037
>>30490038
"Well, Em promised he was gonna show me a good time."

India's quirked brow enquirks harder.

"You know, just take me out back, swing the saber around, you know how it is."

"No," she says, "I'm afraid I don't. Please, continue."

You key comms. "Hey, Em?"

After a moment, you hear him reply, seemingly around a pen in his mouth. "Chyeah?"

"India's curious about what we do with our sabers."

"Yeah," he returns, "I bet she is."

"Oh, please, don't let me intrude," she adds on her own line. "I wouldn't want to come between you two."

"No, no, not at all, the more the merrier," Em says. "And putting aside the thick-cut innuendo for two seconds, you suck to fucking shit in melee. You might want to sit this class."

"Unless you can mount an outsized beam saber to my jet, I don't intend to ever need to," India replies calmly.

Em pauses. "...Can I--"

"No."

"Damn. All right, suit yourself. Meet you on the range?"

"I'll be here," you agree.

Sure enough, Em arrives, you explain some of your upgrades. "Dude," he asks, "can I shoot you? My buster sucks."

"Wait, that's right. I never did see what my capacitors--oh. Huh."

"What?" India asks.

"My capacitors didn't go up. Like, at all."

"What, through the shielding?" Em asks. "Yeah, that makes sense. You're not supposed to be getting much force through that, it's trying to quash it all."

Okay, good to know. Shielding, when engaged, prevents you from gaining Capacitor charge by getting hit, but in exchange, you charge much, much more from general environmental shocks. Interesting trade-off, one you're not sure of. Whether it's a net gain or not is unclear, but your combat durability has definitely gone way up. With that settled, you take Em up on his offer of melee training.

All right, so," he starts. "For Reploids, there's more or less two schools of thought--and I know you're about to make fun of my height again--but they're called 'Little' and 'Big.'"

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>>30490657
"Wasn't gonna make fun of your 'height,' per se," India offers from the sidelines.

You hold up a hand--you're actually kind of interested in this. "Okay, so what's the difference?"

"Well, as I'm sure you've noticed, Reploids are stronger than humans. Some are a lot fucking stronger than humans."

You think back to Saetos ripping Vector Addax's horn straight from his head. "Yeah, I've got that part."

"Well, on average we're all stronger, but some more than others. 'Little' is mostly combat techniques that have been tested and used for hundreds of years--with some adapted qualities for sabers. Weightless blade, different balance, and all that. But basically, a 'Little' fighter uses finesse as much as strength, if not more so. Schwarz and I are Little fighters."

"Okay, so let me guess, Big is...?"

"Big is Hammer Frog. Or Flame Mammoth, if you ever saw his sims. Someone with the strength to flip a fucking tank, or knock down a building, or someone you just don't want to get near at all. You don't generally block a Big swing. Big techniques are less about precision and more about zoning, area control, and managing range. Generally, if you hit that hard, you're also built like a fucking rock, so you don't have to focus as keenly on defense."

"What about me?"

Em sizes you up. "You're definitely stronger than me or Schwarz in pure muscle, but you're not like, say, Tanker or Frog. To be honest, you're kind of sitting right in the middle. What's the biggest single act of strength you've ever done?"

"Well, India's gone un-strangled," you suggest.

"I mean physical, not spiritual power. Otherwise you'd be P-rank."

"Har," India remarks drily.

"I flipped a Cannon Driver on its ass via a T. Coil," you recall.

India nods. "I was there for that. Surprised the shit out of me."

Em frowns. "That's the most it's come up?"

"So far, yeah."

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>>30490691
"You might benefit from some Big technique, but... no, I'd definitely instruct you like a Little."

"So Big's about ranging, Little's about fencing?"

"Sort of. You definitely learn more melee defense, because you go in with the intent of not taking any hits at all, if you can help it. Doesn't matter what weapon you're using--go watch a re-enactor swing a twohander and you'll see what I mean. Even a solid metal blade can really get moving."

"Yeah, but don't they, like, grab the blade and use the pommel?" you ask.

"Generally, yeah, there's a grapple component. There's one in saber techniques as well, but as long as you don't go full jedi toolshed, we can get to that later."

>Let's start simple, then. Basics?
>I'm semi-familiar with my lance, show me how this flambard works.
>Other?

Rolled 73

>>30490723
Start simple.

>>30490723
"Instruct me in the ways of the oversized compensatory device, oh sensei

Rolled 14

>>30490723
Simple sugers are the best for you! Same goes for saber fighting! *Insane face*

* }
]
* }

>>30490723
>>Other?

Is the fact that we're normally a lance fighter going to hamper our sabre use? I mean, is there much overlap in the types of movements you do? I don't want muscle memory screwing us up.

Other than that:

>Let's start simple, then. Basics?

>>30490723
>Let's start simple, then. Basics?
Walk before you run.

>>30490723
>Let's start simple, then. Basics?

I would NOT be surprised if we've been doing it wrong this entire time

>>30490723
>Let's start simple, then. Basics?

Learn the basics first. We probably don't have the best groundwork. Be sure to ask how using a lance differs from what we're learning.

Anode is going to be terrifying once he gets better at melee, he's pretty fast and can manage absurd bursts of speed, between his general toughness, the phase stuff on his lance, and our new shielding it's hard to seriously hurt him and prevent him from closing the distance, the ziplines give us a lot more maneuverability, and with the charge busters we can do serious hits from a distance or cover our advance with giant balls of energetic death.

>>30491073
Can't wait to do some sort of zipline charge. Grapple onto an enemy, couch lance, and reel ourself in at speed.

Maybe flying kick them at the same time.

>>30491178
That really seems like a less efficient way to do what we already do though...
Also it wont have as much power as our charge since it wont be getting any power from our legs

>>30491432
Yeah, but it'll look fantastic.

>>30491432
No, see, we hit'em with the line, then reel in and dash. More speed and they can't escape! that's how that works, right? right?

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>>30491073
>>30490946
>>30490915
>>30490858
>>30490845
>>30490843
>>30490784
"Let's start from the basics," you say. "All I've got to go on is the basic combat drill stuff they taught me before I became a hunter."

"Eesh. Yeah, okay. First off, when you go for the lance, what prompts that? Why are you going melee?"

You shrug. "I saw an opening, usually."

"More broadly. What's your goal?"

"To take the other guy down, I guess," you say.

"Partly correct. If you close to melee, it should be with the intent of dispatching an enemy while minimizing harm to yourself."

"What, at all?"

He nods. "In theory. Sometimes you have to trade a hit, or you're choosing the lesser of two evils, but you shouldn't ever be juggling your life when you mix it up. Go in expecting to get hit, and you're just going to be worn down."

"Even with my durability?"

"Yeah. Plus, it's harder to disengage if you pick a fight you can't win. Let me guess, you know basic movements for melee defense, but not much other than that?"

"Pretty much. I know how to properly block, parry, shit like that...is anything you teach me going to be relevant to my lance?"

"When you're using it to duel, yeah. If you go jousting you're on your own, but until then, it's just a big sword to me. On that note, point up, keep your guard ready."

You ignite your lance and hold it in front of you in a ready position. "I take it this is a lo-beam technique?"

"Pretty much. You can do it with a high-beam and just hold the hilt like that, ready to ignite. Anyway, get familiar with the length from hilt to tip, and keep the tip up and ready, towards your opponents. And as for your posture..." Em whips around, one of his own sabers off his back and in his hand faster than you can see. Before you've even reacted to the sound of the blade igniting, it's past your guard and at your throat. "Loosen up a bit. You need to be limber."

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>>30492121
"Point taken," you mutter as he cuts the blade and stows it again, "but couldn't you just slap my guard away if I do that?"

"Yes and no. You want to be able to move fluidly. You'll need to manage when you tense up. Second--get better at dodging. Even if you're stronger than I am, sabers are tricky--they don't always catch on one another, you might be dueling someone with a hibeam, they can slide off each other easily, and they don't react like solid swords do. In general, never block what you can redirect, never redirect what you can dodge, and never dodge if you don't have to. Any committed melee engagement is about denying the other fighter options until you can land a hit. If you can leave yourself the freedom to disengage, you're coming in at a strong advantage."

You nod, taking that in. "So what do most exchanges end up at?"

"Redirection. You can try to create or exploit an opening, or defend yourself if you've been left open. The best defense is keeping your balance and being able to quickly step away from a hit. Your best offense is waiting until you have an opening and exploiting it in a way they can't avoid or ignore. You hit hard, take advantage of that. Leverage your strength while avoiding theirs."

"So, manage my range, keep my business end ready, don't plant my feet, don't be more concerned with offense than defense," you summarize.

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>>30492141
"And that is the basics," Em says. "Now. Advanced shit: To tell you the truth, you CAN get away with those dumb Hollywood flourishes, because you don't need raw force driving the blade into something. You only score light hits and you can be easily disarmed, so use it with care. The balance in a saber is all in the hilt, as well. Remember that--old trick is to cut the blade rather than let it be pushed aside, then re-engage it right away. Don't try that in chancy situations until you know what the Christ you're doing. Next, you CAN block strikes head-on, just make sure they can't re-angle into you. And make sure you're strong enough to shoulder whatever you've opted to get hit by. We can get into shit like in-combat dashing later, too."

"This is a shitload to remember," you can't help but note.

"Well, yeah. I didn't get good overnight. If you plan on keeping melee part of your game, you need to do it a lot. If I had to start you on one thing...I'd say footwork, evasion. Most enemies don't go for stand-up slugfests any more. Learn how to approach and disengage."

>Is now good?
>Okay, what about hi-beams?
>Get to the Blazing Sword, Emtron.
>Other

>>30492180
>Is now good?

Anode needs better footwork, good footwork combined with Lightning Dashes will be a wonder to behold.

>>30492180
>Get to the Blazing Sword, Emtron.

>>30492228
Hmm

Any way to shorten the length of the dash burst and limit it to only one foot at a time? I'm imagining a sort of lightning sidestep or dash thrust. Basically, a short, sharp boost used to increase momentum without any real travel beyond rotational motion and stepping. Sort of like a dance, if you will. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.

I still think Iaijutsu would be cool, but that'd work as a decent consolation prize. Develop a unique style, because it means you have a trump card against the people who have read the manual through a thousand times.

>>30492180
>>Is now good?

Let's have him help us with our footwork.

Also, I love it when Emerald goes all wizened blademaster like this.

>>30492180
>Is now good?

>>30492355
Nah, EAS is finicky. You could get a similar effect just between regular footwork and quick bursts of EAS angled properly.

>>30492542
Well, that's basically what I meant.

Maybe something to think about though. EAS on every limb, and then use it for combat breakdancing.

>>30492893
Now that's a thought. Anode starts a fight by turning on an old beatbox and ends with him flipping and whirling everywhere.

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>>30493042

>>30492893
>combat breakdancing
sped up capoeira?

>>30493068
Now imagine that, but with beamsabers everywhere

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>>30492228
>>30492368
>>30492529
"How's now?" you ask.

Em pauses, looking you over, before he leans over and pulls your lance out of your hands. "Now's fine," he declares, turning it over in his hands before taking a ready stance.

"Um."

"You don't need a blade in your hands to learn footwork."

"I do need one to not get stabbed with my own lance."

"I'll go slow! You'll be fine."

India nonchalantly (and loudly) keys her comms. "Twenty zenny to the first guy to bring some popcorn from the kitchens out to the range."

"Gee, fuckin' thanks," you mutter.

"No, really, I could start a betting pool or something, winnings go to upgrading this dump."

"With what?"

She shrugs. "Maintenance? There's always something."

Em taps you on the shoulder with the pommel of your own lance (how the fuck did he even get in that close?). "Focus. Serious business time. Pay attention or you could actually get nicked."

"I can take it."

"Well no shit you can take it," he says, exasperated, "but maybe I don't wanna carve up my friend."

"Awwwwww," India catcalls.

"When this is done we both rush her," Em mutters darkly. "Ready?"

"Sure thing, boss," you shrug.

So. Em is small, fast, and wielding your own lance as comfortably as if it were one of his little dueling sabers. You're currently unarmed. He squares himself, lance-tip held forward from his side, ready to come in with a swift strike--probably a thrust or an upward cut.
>Wat do?

>>30493263
Take some advice from Piccolo, and DOOOOOOODGE!

>>30493263
Lance has reach, but is weak up close. Sidestep, step forward.

>>30493263
Remember, Em will be willing to hit us with any part of the Lance, don't get so distracted by the tip that we can smack us in the gut with the haft.

The tip can move really fast, try to pay attention to his shoulders and his grip to determine where he's going to attack.

And dodge, side step thrusts, try to get him to over extend so we can counter, but mainly focus on not getting hit.

>>30493263
Take a light boxer's stance and follow their cues. If anyone has good footwork, especially in a stand-up fight, it's a boxer.

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>>30493320
>>30493338
>>30493541
>>30493607
You shift your weight forward on your feet, careful not to set your legs too narrow or far apart. You try not to telegraph with light hopping, though you don't doubt Em can already read what you're trying.

He starts to come in with a thrust, and then re-angles into a broad, upward slash--you step past the blade, ignoring the familiar crackle of distortion, using your longer stride to get around. Sure enough, Em abruptly grabs the hilt by the back and reverses the angle, moving to strike with the back. You hop backwards, and then hop backwards again as he uses the new grip to swing the blade back forward even faster, only just missing.

"Good," he says. "It's a big bright glowy death stick, lots of rookies get caught up staring at the business end and get disoriented. Tip two--in the right environment you can backdash to safety a little quicker, and throw up a good dustcloud to disorient your attacker back. Don't get too attached to dashing out, though. Gizmos don't beat technique, and they usually don't leave you enough time for a countermove. Plus, if they follow you in, your system's cycling and they're bearing down on you with theirs."

Em disengages the lance and tosses it back to you. "Nice weapon, by the way. Pretty solid, good and defensive. I'd use it in a two-handed style."

You catch it and nod. "So what would you do if I had been coming at you, just there?"

"I'd probably have stepped into your guard and put a foot on your hand or the hilt itself when you reversed," he says. "If they can't lever it they can't hit you. Plus, I'd be in perfect position to grab a weapon off your back, or kick you in the face, or grab one of my knives, or something."

"Ow."

"Heh. Yeah. You're a bit bigger, so you probably wouldn't be able to get away with moves like that."

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Probably gonna stop for the night here. With luck I'll run more tomorrow, though I have to wake up earlyish and I've got a project planned.
>>30494237
"Okay, so next question: If you were my size and weight, what would you have done?"

He pauses for a moment. "Could probably go for a grapple, grab their wrist, force their weapon down or past you and go for a blow to the head, slow 'em up. With your busters you could probably make an opening and then get off a shot. That phase tech in the blade can't help if you fire at point-blank range."

"What about defense?"

"Huh? Oh. Pretty much what you did, maybe some guarded strikes to ward them off."

Well shit, maybe you're not so doomed after all.
>Keep practicing? Work on [defense/lobeams/hibeams/offense]
>Ask about stuff?
>That's enough for now.
>Other?

>>30494270
>Keep practicing? Work on [defense/lobeams/hibeams/offense]

Focus on offense, closing distances with our spear, engaging and disengaging from melee fights, and so on.

>>30494270
Thanks for running, good to see you're still alive.

>Keep practicing? Work on [defense/lobeams/hibeams/offense]
Maybe get some experience with our temporary flamesword?

>>30494270
>Keep practicing? Work on [defense/lobeams/hibeams/offense]
Get our defense down first, then once we know how to handle incoming blows, we can shore up our offense.

>>30494270
>Keep practicing? Work on [offense]

Why do I have a feeling that Anode and Cathode were brought online at the exact same instant for maximum parent trolling? Also I bet they have a bet going on who figures it out first.

Keeping this alive

>>30494795
I can't wait to meet her boyfriend.

>>30496297
We are going to ruin his day so hard.

>>30497437
"Guess what's in my hand."

HC should probably archive the thread when he gets back online

You can never be too careful

Bamp

I stand ever vigilant, guardian of this thread.

>>30499740
I'm also passively monitoring this thread

>>30494270
Thanks for running. Good to see your not dead.

Should we show him our zipline now, or save it for batman times later?

>>30500454
If given the option, always take the batman route

>>30500454
We could introduce ourselves by Batmanning the bat.

>>30500830
We totally should.

>>30500846
Bump

Okay. Good morning/afternoon, all, I am awake and only mildly hung over. Let me get semi-human again and we'll get back to it.

>>30501518
Can't wait for getting to that Sigma fight.

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>>30494336
>>30494419
"Okay, let's work on offense. Not getting hit won't do me much good by itself."

"You'd be surprised on that, but... well, offense is both easier and harder," Em starts. "First, you need to know how not to overextend."

"I know some about that," you note.

"Yeah, but you leave yourself way open. Personally, I think you're too used to your armor holding up for you."

You shrug. "Well, it's not going anywhere."

"Nor should it, just don't let it be a crutch. A lot of S-ranks do contact spars with human aces so they don't get too comfortable. Anyway--throw a swing, let me see your form."

Taking a one-handed grip, you do so, and he actually grimaces. "Yeesh, that bad?" you ask.

"Kinda, yeah. I see what you mean about using it like a lance. You, uh, don't want to do that. Not unless you're moving at high speed. And even then, you need to watch your guard."

"Okay, so what should I do?"

"First, you're hitting from here, and you should be hitting from here," Em instructs. "Using the whole blade is good, but you should be closer when you're striking. Gives you better leverage, too. On a good hit, you should be able to just bowl someone like me over, even through a block."

"Well, I don't really fight anyone like you on the job," you reply. "They're all as strong, or stronger. Usually tougher."

"It's not always that way. Be ready for anything, and all that garbage. Okay, second point, don't telegraph. You should be able to switch directions on most strikes, foil their timing."

"So, being that close, footwork is more important too, right. Got it."

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>>30502599
He takes you through a few routines, this time letting you come at him. It's a bit weird, given that Em isn't armored like you, but he defends just as ably (probably much better, let's not lie).

"Okay, that's getting better. Keep in mind, this is all just basics. I can do shit you're basically not supposed to do, but I know what I'm doing. Wouldn't recommend it for you."

You stow the lance again, folding your arms. "Okay, so what kind of advanced shit should I look into?"

"You've got good gun. If you can use that up-close, you'll do some damage. It also keeps them worrying about your off-hand instead of the lance. Should help you compensate for mavs getting inside your guard. So either two-hand the lance for melee, go for buster-and-lance, or just prioritize defensive melee so you can disengage and start shooting again."

"My busters aren't that strong. I needed melee on the Saetos op--speaking of, that LN knife saved my ass. Punched a hole right through his chestplate."

"Yeah, I bet. For all the problems with that thing, at least it does what it's meant to. Anyway, on the busters, you probably won't be one-shotting anything you're in a prolonged duel with anyway. It's about wearing them down for a decisive strike. So, getting the picture?"
>?

>>30502614
>Yeah. Use my buster for cheap shots.

>>30502614
>Keep mobile, redirect, fight dirty, redirect, get close, redirect, don't telegraph, redirect, replace redirect with applicable conserved energy damage avoidance.

>>30502614
Getting it. If we set up a weekly sparring/training session how long would it be before we're not getting our ass kicked by you?

>>30502614
It's a work in progress.

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>>30502911
>>30503176
>>30503198
"I think so," you say. "Basically, conserve, don't do more than I have to, keep my defense a priority, use what I got."

Em gestures vaguely in assent. "In as many words. Putting it into practice is a different beast."

"Speaking of, you up for some of that? Weekly practice or whatever?"

"Shit yeah, man, as long as it keeps you alive. I need a new partner anyway. Frog's too slow (and too busy), Schwarz just doesn't have anything left to teach me in melee, he beats me at range--"

"He beats EVERYONE at range," you note.

"Well, yeah. He's a fucking S."

"What about Tanker?" you ask.

"Yeah," says the shark himself, "What about Tanker?"

"Tanker's not interested," Em says, folding his arms. "That was what you told me, yeah?"

"Uh huh, and I meant it, too," says the shark, beside and towering over both of you in three long strides. "You need some meat on those bones if you want to start scrapping with me again. There's no more sport in it."

You examine Tanker--given his pristine armor, and the fact that he's positively brimming with impatience, he's probably just out of repair bay and on his way back out. "So what brings you here?" you ask.

"You, kid," he says, turning to regard you with a massive, hydraulic-driven grin. "I was in the shop when I heard that chatter over comms."

"Think you'd be able to show me a thing or two?" you ask. He snorts.

"Nah, I'm not much of a teacher. But you're getting close to interesting. Maybe once you're a bit more skilled we can have another rumble. In the meantime--" he hooks a thumb behind him at a wall terminal. "I hear you're going after a water mav next."

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>>30504171
Right--Splashdown Skipjack. (Currently) the last maverick on your target roster. "Might be, yeah. Why?"

"He's only a B, but what say you the two of us go hunting? With two officers and 6th doing the heavy lifting, we could leave the troops home, let them get put somewhere they'll actually be helpful."

"Well, maybe." You probably wouldn't be able to field your Beret team on this mission, anyway. They're hardly water specialists. And going with Tanker would be complying with Frog's standing orders for pairing off if you lack a detachment, at least...

You look at Em, who shrugs. "Dude's scary enough out of water, I don't envy whoever fights him in it. You'd probably be back home quick."

"Come on, what do you say?" Tanker asks. "It'll give me a chance to see what you can do. Since I heard you took down that S, I've been curious."

>Well shit, let's do this thing. ... Shortly. Very shortly.
>I have some stuff to square away first. Why don't you go take care of one more op and I'll be ready by the time you're back?
>No go, sorry.
>Other?

>>30504222
>I have some stuff to square away first. Why don't you go take care of one more op and I'll be ready by the time you're back?
We just got back from critical reconstruction and aren't fully tested yet with our new tools. Skipjack can wait.

>>30504222
This is hard. I'm exited for facetime with Tanker but Schwarz has been recommending some real time off and running out just as we've been repaired is the exact opposite of that advice.

>I have some stuff to square away first. Why don't you go take care of one more op and I'll be ready by the time you're back?

I wonder how long one op takes him?

>>30504222
Yeah, first time basically after a nearly full rebuild, getting a bit more used to how our body is now would work well. Join up in a couple hours?

>>30504460
Well, nothing says we can't clear the roster first. All our other jobs had some variable that was a nasty surprise for a lot of people. Might be best to put this one down before we take some time off.

>>30504222
>>30504460
> but Schwarz has been recommending some real time off
That he has. We still need to figure out a hobby that doesn't involve work. Any ideas? I've been kicking around the idea of a tinkerer (mechaniliods, assorted vehicles, but small scale).
just an idea though.

>>30504509
To reiterate, we just came back from critical reconstruction literally a couple hours ago with a new suite of tools that are untested. It's too soon to rejoin the hunt.

>>30504222
>I have some stuff to square away first. Why don't you go take care of one more op and I'll be ready by the time you're back?
Near and post death experiences gave us bit of things we want to take care of.

>>30504509
Before anyone asks, Lockon had a nuke, Terapin had a train in his convoy, Jagwire was...Jagwire, Wolfspider had Anchorage, Saetos was planning to sap comms and the base set up around him. Guns was upfront with his huge fuckoff cannon, and chaff was intro chaff.

>>30504601
I was one of the guys saying take a bit longer to test them, but don't blow off Tanker completely. Given a few hours in a sim, we should be ready. I am just weighing it as I think it could be considered IG-our previous list had the stuff in >>30504643. Who says this guy'll be any different?

>>30504222
>>Well shit, let's do this thing. ... Shortly. Very shortly.

>>30504222
>Well shit, let's do this thing. ... Shortly. Very shortly.

>>30504222
>Other?
"Not a bad idea, but I had something I wanted to do to really get the motor running first. Want to watch me get owned by the Sigma sim?"

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>>30504799
By god, we are doing this, some day, some how.
Seconded.

>Other?
"Not a bad idea, but I had something I wanted to do to really get the motor running first. Want to watch me get owned by the Sigma sim?"

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Well. I need to go and start cooking dinner, and it seems like you guys want to run the Sigma sim. This one, I need Cain Labs for, and he'll be a little bit. I'll check in when I can, and if he shows up, I'll get the info, but otherwise you guys might need to take a rain check. I promise it'll get done at some point, though I don't promise it'll be much more than a "roll to see if you cry, and if so, how hard" moment.

>>30505004
Let's save it for later

Vote:
Do it now, do a few hours prep if needed.

Reason: We just got new upgrades, might as well take no next boss ASAP to test this intel leak. If Next Boss knows about our NEW NEW upgrades, ALREADY, that's info we can use. If he doesn't know - that's also info we can use.

And also - if we're going underwater next, do an underwater sim, with Tanker in Controller 2, to get your feet wet. Which'll pass the few hours and make us used to underwater which is probably pretty valuable if we're going after an underwater boss.

Then is everyone else willing to table Sigma for something that takes less prep time for Hunter this time, with an understanding that we'll go fight him after Slipjack? Which may be after a warmup mav like lauch octopus to get used to water and body mobility?

>>30505166
Yeah, we can hold off on Sigma. TBH I don't know why everyone wants to do the sim when we know we're just going to get our shit kicked in and not really accomplish anything.

>>30505203
My guess would be that it's because we've seen him in the games, so we wonder how that translates. First form would also be a bot running on pure skill.

>>30504674
I don't think any of us want to blow Tanker off completely. We want to go out with him (shut up India). I really want to see this beast in his element.

>>30505166
Suggested course of action:
1. Do a underwater sim
2. Fight Slipjack
2. a) Make jokes about "doing" Em's siblings
2. b) Extended amounts of therapy if needed if the Slipjack op goes bad
3. Sigma sim

>>30505267
It's only appropriate to fight Sigma after we've cleared our Mav gallery.

>>30505166

I wholeheartedly support this. We should get some in water experience before going after a swimming robot.

>>30505331
Alright, I'll agree to hold off on the sigma sim in favor of this schedule.

>>30505331
We did make that speech about how the information war was the most important part of any battle. Would be a bit hypocritical to head out underwater without any idea how that's going to effect our systems after that.

Now, for something completely unrelated. We know Em's buster is crap, but if he had something like Lockon's data in there, it could help him out when you need a hole to take advantage of in somebody's armor. Or if he had a harpoon style setup with a good throwing saber, or something, for his range game. I dunno, just was an idle look at our melee buddy's arsenal for hunt ideas after slipjack, sigma, and a week in the Bahamas or something.

>>30505969
We could suggest something like that if he wasn't dead-set against covering his own weaknesses.

Don't forget we need to get our chest plate re-repaired due to being handcannoned

>>30506127
Admittedly why I brought up a ranged stabby idea. Though shit like Saetos plume darts or a ninja mav could have interesting end results. Mostly just ideas that he may actually go for. Tunnel Rhino drill missiles and Blizzard Buffalo icicle missiles for the ranged stabbing would possibly tempt him.

>>30506977
Well, part that, part suddenly envisioning Em with Kratos's swords.

So. The electricity using reploid is going to be in a water-based op. If we're above water, this could be good. Like, REALLY good for us.

Now, if we're UNDERWATER, this could be very, very, VERY bad, because we have the very real danger of electrocuting ourselves and Tanker if we try to go zap-happy underwater.

Good news: Got ahold of Cain Labs and I should have everything I need to run the Sigma sim, if you want to do that.

Bad news: Dinner prep was a disaster, albeit a delicious one. The battle rages on.

>>30508028
We do, but probably AFTER we come home from our latest mission... and any sort of therapy we might need because let's face it, it'd be par for the course with Anode's luck.

>>30508028
Cool, and delicious disasters are the best kind. You may want to get the Sigma sim figured out while you have Caine Labs on hand for the future, since it will happen soonish. Just after other, potentially more useful business like a water sim to get used to our new bits in water.

So current consensus is water sim, barring any other sim to test the rest of our upgrades?

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>>30504299
>>30504460
>>30504485
>>30504603
You tap your chin. "I'm definitely game, but I need a bit of time. Big rehaul and repair. Still getting my legs back." Somewhat literally, even. "Run one more op, and then I'll catch up with you when you're back?"

Tanker grunts, somewhere between acceptance and annoyance. "Yeah, all right. Gives me a chance to pop in on Dodo anyway, see how the little guy's doing." He turns and departs, forcing Em to quickly hop over his sweeping tail as he walks over beside you, watching the shark go.

"Ever get the feeling he's the crocodile, and Dodo's the bird that picks his teeth clean?" he asks.

You shrug. "Somethin' like that. Isn't that just a myth?"

"Bet there's a Reploid team like that, so not any more."

"Well, that hardly counts."

Em punches you in the shoulderplate. "YOU hardly count."

"YOUR FACE hardly--wait, there's no commentary telling us to kiss. Where's India?"

"She slipped out during the last exercise," Em replies. "The pansy."

"Well, knowing her, she's up to something."

"Probably. So, Tanker said your next mav's water?"

"Yeah. Will your flambard work?"

He grins. "Shit yeah it'll work. Just treat it like a regular hi-beam, only keep it on for short periods of time. Ideally, during a swing only. And you'll be fine, too. Hell, if you're worried, you can ask 6th to tune you for salt-water operation, but you shouldn't need that."

"They can do that?"

"Yeah, Sapphire was telling me about it. It's more an option for long-term underwater operating."

"Well, cool. Though speaking of, I was thinking of running a water sim. Haven't done any aquatic ops yet."

"You haven't? They're fun. You're gonna jump like three times higher. Range of engagement is generally shorter and visibility can go to shit, but..."

"...But that's not a problem for Emerald, the angry green can opener, right," you say drily.

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>>30509851
"Har. Well, more seriously. You'll fall slower, and if you've got a good dash--and you do--you can actually waterskip on the surface, but the timing's finicky. Ice weapons tend to freeze shit--you probably don't want to take the misericorde with you, or if you do, disengage the LN reservoir and just use it as a clunky-ass knife--and flame weapons are extinguished unless they're very, very strong."

"Like this flambard?" you ask. He nods enthusiastically.

"I put some fucking money into that thing, believe me. Frog once told me it could have been a gift of station to General Rhodes. I almost thought about doing that too, you know?"

"Why didn't you?"

"Because then," he says slowly, "I wouldn't have a giant flaming fucking saber."

You nod sagely. "You make a sound and reasoned argument, my friend."

"Damn right I do. So, what kind of water sim do you want to run?"

"Dunno. Open ocean?"

"Well, there's environment and then there's just wading right into combat. I think they still have Launch Octopus and Bubble Crab's data in there. Let's go get it fired up, what d'you wanna fight?"

>Octopus!
>Crab!
>Look for something else.
>Other?

>Octopus!

Face the classics first and foremost. Also Octopus had a wide variety of attacks and strategies, more than Bubble Crab in my opinion. Since you've got to watch out for all ranges, we might learn more.

>>30509878
How does the Mav we're going up against fight? We should pick something similar to that, with Similar conditions.

>>30509878
Octopus, so we can listen to his bitchin' theme.

>>30509878

>>30510015
This. If we know what we're going to be dealing with, then we can properly prepare a sim and get some good practice out of it. Barring that, Octopus is fine.

>>30510058
As of your last briefing, several days ago:

>Splashdown Skipjack (B-rank)
Multiple coastal cities have suffered attacks on islands in the Pacific. 6th Marine has traced the activity to the site of a decommissioned research lab, and scans indicated power to the facility. Investigation revealed a sizeable maverick presence underwater, which the Marines have deployed to contain. Meanwhile, the pattern of targets has suggested another attack is imminent. The attacker, Skipjack, is responsible for torpedo attacks on shipyards and civilian liners. He is fast and maneuverable in the water, with considerable strength and a penchant for attacking on the run.

>>30510325
Right, in that case.

>Look for something else.

We should find someone that uses similar tactics to Skipjack. From what I remember from the X games I woul'nt describe either Octopus or Crab as the hit and run type.

If there's no one like that though, Octopus.

Just so everyone knows, the animal Slapshdown is implied to be based on is a Skipjack/striped tuna.

>>30510042
Too bad X3 hasn't happened yet, Crush Crawfish had the best theme out of all of the aquatic mavericks.

>>30510325
What rank was Octopus? He specialized in explosives too, so practicing against him could be helpful.

>>30511074
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/18543990/#18554490
And from a few posts later:
>Launch Octopus can fire ridiculous numbers of powerful missiles in a huge spread, siphon energy, create whirlpools which in the open ocean would be just devastating...

Going off Cain's analysis, Octopus was an S-rank. This is largely due to his considerable energy drain ability. Any system involving energy control on that scale is a huge game-changer. He's also just damn well suited for the water, and can turn the improved mobility against his enemy with missile spam from all directions.

X was only cleared to fight him because 1) their options were really that limited and 2) mission parameters limited Octopus's mobility, dropping his threat rating slightly. And by slightly I mean "in normal circumstances still an S-Class Threat but we're in Lying To Ourselves territory right now."

>>30511243
Good thing for us, then, that we're a little more melee oriented than X. Octopus comes close to us for the vampire routine and he's getting a saber in the eye.

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>>30509878
You frown. "Octopus was missiles, right?"

"Missiles and energy leeching, yeah. Bubble Crab was... well, kinda weird. Underwater close-combat. X got him, too. I bet it wasn't even close."

"Was he fast?"

"Kinda? I've run his sim. He could move pretty quick, but not really FAST fast."

"What else is there?"

"Those two are the ones I always think of when I think of water ops, but--oh. Oh, wait. Hang on, let me see if..." Em leans over and roots through the available data. "Hah! Yes!"

"What?"

"Got one for you, if you want it. Ever heard of Bright Seastar?"

"Nnnnnope."

Em chuckles. "Yeah, didn't think so. He was one of mine."

"No shit!"

"Yeah. He was fast as hell. I had some naval support from the 6th, warped out to a big old floating command center."

"How'd the fight go?"

"Mostly he'd duck and run, range me out, summon a fucktillion drones. Really good at being where you weren't, way faster than I was in the water."

"So how'd you bring him down?"

He grins. "I surfed a torpedo into him."

You balk. "You fucking what?"

"You heard me." Em grins. "Got him right in the middle of a thing. Anyway, you want to run his data? No torpedoes, unfortunately."
>Let's give it a shot.
>Eh, I'd rather fight Octopus.
>Nah, let's try Crab.
>Other?

Rolled 10

>>30512189
Other
"Dude... TORPEDO SURFING CONTEST! MUST SURF TORPEDO!!!!!!!!!!"

>>30512189
>Let's give it a shot.

>Eh, I'd rather fight Octopus.

Octopus is gonna be the best practice for us, I think.

>>30512189
>Nah, let's try Crab.
Schwarz said I believe that our ranged defence was our strength, so we should fight an enemy different than that.

>>30512189
>>Let's give it a shot.

Considering we're going to be fighting someone quick as hell, this will be perfect.

>>30512189
>Let's give it a shot.

Skipjack's probably gonna also be fast as fuck, so
>Let's give it a shot.

Interesting thing I discovered while looking at the comments of a tool assisted MMX run. Apparently, shots fired while dashing do slightly more damage than shots fired while standing still.

>>30512694
Yep, 2 damage instead of 1. Speedrunners use that a lot, actually.

Now, if you want to talk crazy, look at Zero's saber-dash-cancels in the Playstation games...

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>>30512286
>>30512330
>>30512361
>>30512497
"Well, shit, I gotta step up my game," you note. "Let's start by fighting the starfish."

He punches up the command while you climb into the sim pod. "Sure thing. I'll watch and give pointers, but I won't spoil you on his gimmick. Fast reflexes, and all that."

"Hey, wait. Don't I go in with some intel?"

"Sure. You've got his name and you know he's a starfish." With that and a grin, Em closes the lid.

"Fuck yoooo--"

SIMULATION ENGAGED

Once again, reality is replaced, line-by-line with the direct-sensory-input. You feel as if you just hit water and kept going, and you find yourself in a featureless plane.

"It's using the underwater physics," you hear Em inform you. "No walls."

"Well, shit."

In front of you, the sim generates your opponent--definitely a giant starfish maverick. His head apparently serves as one of the limbs, using a shaped helmet that segments down to cover his head. The rest of his arms and legs are quickly covered as coppery, angular plates swivel around to protect them. A large, red gem gleams in his stomach, serving as the core of the starfish. Small propelling jets run along the corners of the core, with a larger one at the end of each limb.

He begins to spin rapidly and takes off for you like a sawblade.

Don't block what you can redirect, don't redirect what you can avoid, right?
>Fight's on. What do?

Give him a dose of buster fire, but keep an eye out. We know he's fast, but we need to see exactly how he moves.

>>30513571
Get vertical and let him sail past. Let's see how much vertical we can get.

>>30513571
Try to pin down his movements while evading and send some buster fire his way. Once we've got any sort of pattern he may have down, we'll be able to strike harder.

>>30513792
I'll support this.

>>30513808
Try and aim for the jets.

>>30513571
for now, dodge around, look for patterns.
>>30513909
might not be a bad idea

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>>30513671
>>30513792
>>30513808
>>30513896
>>30513909
>>30514016
This time, you go defensive, leaping to one side as the starfish bears down on you like a windmilling blade. You notice that even a short lateral hop takes an appreciable amount of time longer for you to land--almost enough, in fact, for the maverick to reverse momentum with its jets and fly back at you for another pass. You trigger your dash, getting clear only by virtue of your enhanced system.

So far the water feels...thick, but you're able to power through it at full speed. You expect you're drawing more energy from your LIFE cell to do it--or, well, you would be, if this were real. You fire a few shots at the retreating starfish, which plink ineffectively off the edges of his spinning arms. Natch.

He comes out of his spin, plates rotating back to reveal his arms--a moment later he deploys a small drone and turns to face you, the gem on his stomach glowing as it charges up and releases a quick-flying laser bolt.

You jump it more fully, getting a feel for the immense height you can gain underwater. It's great, but you notice you're not charging as quickly now, since your impacts seem somewhat cushioned by the slow falls.

You return fire as you sink, firing on the maverick sim. The drone goes down quickly, but a moment later, two more have taken its place. Seastar gets the hell out of dodge while you're preoccupied, moving up to the top of the simulated space.

>Continue defending. Keep his drone count down.
>You've got his basic patterns down. Go on the offensive.
>Any tips, Em?
>Other

>>30514560
>You've got his basic patterns down. Go on the offensive
Maybe use chaff or coils to limit his movement.

>>30514560
>You've got his basic patterns down. Go on the offensive.

You definately want to limit his movement if at all possible, so something in that vein sounds about right.

>>30514560
>>30514560
>>You've got his basic patterns down. Go on the offensive.

Once he starts spinning he's invincible so get your hits in now. Lockon Laser him in that big red weak spot. If he charges again, dodge and use that time while he's coming back around to do drone control.

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Okay, gotta end for the night. Hopefully more tomorrow, but I have an appointment deal to work out. Thread's been archived if it doesn't survive, and the sim against Seastar won't take very long. In the meantime, if you have any things on your mind to take care of after the sim and getting a feel for your upgrades, go ahead and start thinking about them.

As always, thanks for playing and reading.

>>30515173
We had a list:

>1) get memorial or something for those lost in the battle. and/or donate to the lifesavers
>2) Revisit weapon data we already have (we're fucking rich) we're already missing a lot of our parts so call up the mom's and dad's. Lets upgrade (and make are parent's some dosh in the process)
>3) Find a way to repay frog for keeping us out of jail
>4) Learn better CQC.
>5) track down calender
>6) Check in on those two guys under us. Get them drunk as well as find out more in depth what the hell happened while we were out
>7) INVESTIGATE OLD DOGS OLD FLAME

But I don't think this was the most recent version of the list.

>>30515438
>1) get memorial or something for those lost in the battle

I still don't know why this is a thing. Surely Hunter Command already has something like this.

>>30515438
2 is done, 1 can get off to an even better start post payment on slipjack, 4 has a process starting. 3 is tricky, maybe talk with Em, Schwarz, and Dodo on what Frog likes. Maybe even Tanker, or include getting something for Seven after he tried to get us more support. More to just show we aren't always assholes, maybe reverse the introversion. Maybe ask Tanker for Sev, they were together during that prank. 5, does that mean find out the date? 6 is doable or lready happened. 7 requires us to get a pipe, magnifying glass, hat, and mustache for Em while we begin calling him Watson.

The memorial's because it's the first time we have lost those under our command, and that hurts. Anode wants to do something personal in their honor.

>>30515677
The calender refers to the "cursed" Maverick Hunter pinup calender India was in that most of the sexy participants ended up Maverick, Dead or India.

>>30515438
>3) Find a way to repay frog for keeping us out of jail

I like this one.

>>30515778
kind of makes you wonder which is worse, huh?

>>30520077
India, no question.

Her punishment for surviving is having to deal with the 4th.

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32 KB JPG

>>30514560
>others
Use his own drones as a grapple point to rappel ourselves after him and take him by surprise.

also try our electricity to see how water effects it

Bamp

>>30521058
bump

>>30521975
Bump.