So, here we are. If I get a chance, I want to run again very soon, within the week. Hopefully things go that way.Prior Thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/30482251Archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Maverick%20Hunter%20QuestThe IRC: suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com, #MHQThe Twitter: https://twitter.com/HunterCommandYou are maverick hunter Anode, and it's that time again.
>>31062869You dislodge India from your shoulders with a casual mention of going to the Feelings Doctor to discuss your very deep Emotions (you don't think you've ever seen anyone jump that quick), and head off to the Lifesavers. After a quick examination, they "repair" your shields (which is to say, they quickly top up your LIFE cell, which it's a massive draw on), and quickly buff out that tiny little bullet dent--one mentions that the damage was, for once, entirely superficial. The other--and of course it's the scary, dour one--adds drily that maybe, just maybe, they'll be able to fix you up without dropping everything for a massive hours-long job for a change.You opt to remain silent at that. Instead, you listen in to a news show for the brief few minutes they take. Something about a massacre at an Opera house in England, something about copycat killers, and before they send you off, something something related trouble in the Vatican. Lots of somethings, with more coming, none of which you really have time to pay proper attention to just now, because you have a shark waiting on you.Speak of the devil... "Anode," he comms, "you ready yet?""Yeah," you reply, "good timing, just got topped up at the medbay. On my way to the pad now." "Hah!" he barks. "Just finished, glad I picked a short one. Meet you there."You go to reply, asking if he needs repairs--but you already know his answer to that, so you opt to just head down to the command room.Looking him over, the big bastard looks none the worse for wear. "So," he greets, arms folded and leaning against a console that doesn't look like it can support him, "to sum up, Skipjack, you and me, no 'loid force or backup."That's the plan, anyway. It lines up with Frog's orders--frankly, between a full hunter contingent and Tanker, you know which you prefer. Plus, with 6th deployed and containing the threat, they have local manpower assets.>Yep, all set. Let's go.>Actually, hold that thought... (Specify?)
>>31062926>Yep, all set. Let's go."As much as I'd like the bravely broken to get their feet wet. This is a bit more literal than I'd like."
oh boy im here at the start!What's going on with our squad? Are they not going into this op? how's their refits going?
>>31063048Taking a green squad into an aquatic mission is NOT the greatest idea.
>>31063154They're not green. Half of them were with us when we took on solstrikeThat's as far from green as can beGranted they're maladapted for underwater and I'm sure tanker would be pissed if we brought "weaklings" along, but giving them some vehicle and having them on standby is not a bad thing at allalso I'm just wondering how their upgrades are going
>>31062926>Yep, all set. Let's go.This is gonna be awesome
>>31062926>Yep, all set. Let's go.
>>31063048The squad is still equipping, though they could begin the mission without the ablative armor hardpoints, if you opted to bring them.Though, like >>31063154 said, Steel Berets have only the minimum in water environment operations training. If you need them, the 6th will have specialty variants, equipment, and infantry, while the Berets will be having difficulty keeping up with two high-ranking officers.Either way the choice is yours.
>>31063270If they aren't even upgraded they'd be more of a liability then. Nevermind
>>31063270Does the 6th have some Frog variant ride armors?
>>31063367The Frog is a variant chassis of the experimental Chimera frame, which was lost when the 8th was wiped out. Unfortunately, no water-operable ride armors available.
>>31063009>>31063240>>31063261You nod. "Ready to go. Hit it." He gives an unsettling, steely grin as he turns and finishes punching in the data with surprising finesse, fingertip clacking against the terminal with each input. "Okay, sending word ahead, deployment site is... 6th Marine forward operations center.""So like a temporary position coordinating a secured perimeter?" you ask, suppressing a grimace."Yeah," he says, hopping up onto the beamout pad. "Standard procedure. Why?""Just sounds really similar to how my last op went," you explain, joining him. He guffaws loudly as the two of you beam out."Kid," he says, re-materializing at your side in a bolt of blue-gray and hazard yellow. "That was an S. This is a B.""Yeah, I know," you agree, looking around at the indoor beam-in site. "Still, best not to leave anything to chance.""True enough," Tigershark replies. "That's why you've got me, and we've got 6th. And speaking of..." He turns to a nearby hatch (heavy-duty, perhaps some kind of pressurized seal for breaches?) as it opens, revealing what seems to be a deflated puffer fish Reploid. "Needler Blowfish, acting commander for the site," he greets. "Tanker. Who's your friend?""Fourth's new guy, Anode," he replies. The puffer turns and gives you a polite nod."You two know each other, then?" you ask."Yes," the Marine officer says. "As you can imagine, Tanker is deployed on quite a few water missions. We've met, once or twice.""So let's get cracking, here," Tigershark says. "What do we need to know?"
>>31064124"All business, as always," Blowfish replies. "Follow me." He leads you out of the small room and out onto what seems to be the deck of a ship. Warm air laden with sea salt greets you as you look out on the Pacific ocean, sparkling green-blue under a clear, almost cloudless sky. "Skipjack is operating out of an abandoned research facility, repurposed from an offshore oil platform. From there, he's been launching torpedo attacks personally.""Don't you guys have a perimeter?" you ask. "Yes, but unfortunately it's a containing force," Blowfish explains, looking irritated. "We're making sure the mavericks can't expand any further than they have, and can't punch through if they try. And Skipjack himself is fast. He's gotten by the blockade repeatedly. He got off a torpedo attack yesterday. To be honest, we're expecting another one any time."You frown at that. "Intel said his targets are cruise liners and coastal cities, yeah?""He runs a gauntlet of small island settlements, yes. We've had some limited luck foiling his attacks, but we barely have any warning before--" Abruptly, Blowfish puts a hand to an ear. "Speak of the devil. He's going for it again. Sonar nets pinging in a line." He looks at you. "How fast can you move?""Very," you reply. "We'll finish the briefing later. I want you back on the pad. I'm going to send you ahead to where he's going. Any objections?">?
>>31064153>GOGOGO!
>>31064153Time to see if we are faster than a fish.
>>31064153>DEEP STRIKING
>>31064153>Begin operationsShould we try to take him down or keep him occupied long enough that everyone is present to keep an eye open for tricks
>>31064272>>31064373>>31064419>>31064537"Not a one," you reply. "Where's Tanker in all this?""Sending him ahead to the facility," Blowfish says. "With luck he'll actually be there to catch Skipjack on return." "Sounds good to me," Tanker grunts, before unceremoniously leaping from the balcony and into the water about a hundred feet below. You head back to the pad with Blowfish. "Rules of engagement?" you ask."Not going to come up. Skipjack launches from a few miles out. You're just shooting down his ordnance. Get there and we'll coordinate, send you where you need to go."You hop back on as the 6th officer punches in the coordinates and, quickly, whisks you off to a very clearly civilian beam-in. What looks like a bellhop is suddenly very, very surprised by the appearance of a tall, heavily armored maverick hunter."I, uh--" he stammers."Anode, 4th Overland Maverick Hunters," you say quickly. "Intercepting an incoming torpedo attack.""Oh!" he exclaims--and after a moment, holds the door open for you. "...Thanks," you throw over your shoulder, as you hit a crowded resort street at a sprint. You ignore passerby, who probably haven't finished wondering about a very abruptly commandeered beam room.
Hey, I finally managed to catch a thread after catching up a couple weeks ago. Neat.So I've been a little worried that Tigershark might be Maverick. It's been mentioned several times that people who operate like him go off the deep end (haha), and he's coming in as our only backup, in his element.Hoping I'm wrong.
>>31064749"Anode, are you receiving?" you hear over comms."I copy, Blowfish. Where am I going?" you ask, opting to avoid running into traffic by dash-jumping clear over two lanes of it. "East, to a marina. Head out that way to the end of the docks, I'm sorting out things with the island authorities now.""Roger that. How visible are these torpedoes?""Very. The civs have nothing that can burn them down from range, and the netting we set up doesn't seem to do a thing.""How many am I looking at?" "Can't tell from here, it's usually three. He'll be launching any moment now, civilian radar will be calling it in to us. What have you got for range?"You think about what might work from a distance as you arrive in a busy tangle of civilian ships, of all shapes and sizes. "Blind-fire countermeasure rockets, grapple coils, long-range anti-armor laser, maybe my busters at full charge.""Anti-armor laser sounds like your best bet. If you can hit their fins from far enough out you'll knock them off course, but otherwise you'll need to get through some armor to disable the thing."That's bad news--you only have 16 Lockon Hunter shots. 8 if you go for the sure bet and overcharge them. You'll be firing from extreme range, too, unless you can work out a solution, and fast. You head out to the furthest end of the furthest dock, ignoring protests from a very confused worker."Civs are reporting three pings coming in," Blowfish warns. "You're in the right spot."You squint and look out at the calm ocean waves--so far, nothing as far as you can see. Any last-second plans to pull this off without a hitch?>
>>31064777Any way we can get the radar fed directly into a HUD of sorts?
>>31064849Not directly, no.
>>31065105Bananas. Let's get our lasers ready and keep an eye out. Don't assume the torpedoes are just going to go in a nice straight line, be ready for anything.
>>31064777Focus on them one at a time, don't get flustered. Worst case scenario we can always body the last one full on Dr. Strangelove style, only with less nuclear extermination.
>>31064777I can't really think of anything.I'd say go with regular charge lockon hunters and just snipe the hell out of them.
Could we blow them up with an electrical charge? Or at least somehow jam whatever guidance system they have?
There was something about us and our water mobility a while back, wasn't there?
Couldn't we use the chaff field to destroy the torpedoes safely, and just aim for where they're going to be?
>>31065443Does it work underwater?
>>31065443I don't think they do enough damage to cut through something we might need to overcharge our lasers for.
>>31065482Maybe it couldn't cut through the main torpedo, but what about the wings on it?
>>31065505We'd have to do it at range so civs aren't harmed as Blowfish said.>>31064777See how many LH it takes to drop one then respond accordingly. If we run out keep a charge shot ready
>>31065435BTW, how's our super dash? We could charge up on the way if we had to, just by using an electric line if there's one along the way, property damage be damned!
>>31065720You don't have enough charge for a raikousen of any meaningful distance just yet.
>>31065732We've only got ~20 posts 'til autosage.Might as well make a new thread.
>>31066212What?
>>31066212Uh
Rolled 15>>31066212It's only page 2.
Rolled 19>>31066408Nevermind, page zero. Stupid 4chanx.
>>31066212You should probably get your head checked out, man.
>>31065614>>31065307>>31065262>>31065138You decide to start with Lockons and adapt from there, if you need to. The sputtering, hapless dockworker scrambles away when he sees you raise your arms and ready your busters, looking out over the sea. You don't really have time to pity the poor guy, because you see them coming in fast. From here it's very, very long range, but your lasers are up to the task--you think.You sight carefully, forcing yourself not to rush, sighting ahead of the torpedo, and then open fire with a single laser. Even from out here, you can see it hit, square-on, as you ignore a sudden chorus of gasps from around you as you shoot. The torpedo, unfortunately, though beginning to smoke, continues on. From this far out, you can't really do much but aim at the vague cigar-shape cresting a distant wake. You fire another, and sure enough, the thing lists off and explodes, a gout of water kicking up and drawing a few shouts of surprise behind you.So unless you wait until they get closer and then aim for the fins, it's going to take two regular shots to bring one down. And unfortunately, with your luck, you get the feeling you're going to need your lasers again later...>Try to damage both remaining torpedoes from here, and then finish them off up close to conserve Lockon ammo.>Play it safe, and just blow them up straight away.>Other?
>>31066869Ehhhh. I don't like it, not one bit.Blow them down.
>>31066869>Play it safe, and just blow them up straight away.
>>31066869>>Try to damage both remaining torpedoes from here, and then finish them off up close to conserve Lockon ammo.This guys fast, we'll prolly need that ammo.
>>31066869Take out one of them with a charged shot, but on the remaining one we can try to conserve ammo.
>>31066869>Play it safe, and just blow them up straight away.being near a torpedo when it blows up is a bad idea.
>>31066869As much as I'd like to see Anode damage, then ride, a torpedo back through 6th's containment and into Skipjack's base, or something else tricky, I doubt we have the skill for that just yet. At least, not without a risk of the torpedo hitting the city.Blow them up.
>>31066869Blow 'em out of the water.
>>31066958>>31067105>>31067150>>31067183>>31067306You mull it over and don't like what you come up with. No, in lieu of anything else, you have an imminent threat to civilian lives and infrastructure, and anything less than a guaranteed intercept isn't worth chancing.Hoping against hope you don't need them later, you write off four more Lockons. The first missile you carefully line up and use an overcharge shot on, by which time the second missile is close enough to more easily aim for and knock down with a paired shot. "Anode here," you comm back to Blowfish, "Torpedo threat's done.""All right, get back here. Nice wo--damn!" "What? What is it?" "Skipjack's not going back to the facility. He's making a beeline for another island. He's never done that before.""Shit. Tell me you're prepared." "We accounted for the possibility, yeah. Get back here on the double. We're getting a ride chaser prepped for you, you're going to have to play catch-up for this one."You break back into a sprint--this time, to a round of applause as the tourists realize what just happened. "Can't beam in?" "Only access to the island is by helicopter," he says. "And it's privately owned. They refused any hunter assistance, even after taking a hit last week.""And let me guess, no hunter access, either?""Bingo. Probably some exec hideaway or something.""Whatever," you reply, hopping a decorative plant in a giant stone pot, "Not my business, not my problem.""Better question," Tanker interjects, "if they don't want our help, why are we bothering? Let the fat cats burn, if they want." "Maverick ordnance in international waters is our problem until they impact. Do you want to be the one stuck with accountability when the media asks why we let them impact without even trying to intercept?"You pull a face as that same bellhop hastily pulls the door open for you once again, dashing back onto the pad. "Been there, kind of. I'll pass."
>>31067799"Thought so. Okay, we're receiving beam request, stand by--"You arrive back on the pad to find Blowfish holding the door open for you. "This way, take a right. Follow the signs."You brush by him and take off at a jog, letting your loping strides charge your capacitors while you can. "How much time do we have?"Blowfish trots along after you. "A decent amount, but we need to move fast if we're going to cut him off.""So what's his game plan? Retreat?""Doubt it, unless he's got maverick buddies on that island. Would explain a few things, I suppose. No, I think he knows the jig is up. We repositioned some water assets earlier, that must have tipped our hand."You hop a railing and drop down a long flight of stairs, springing back up to continue making for this chaser bay. "So what's he doing, then?""Were I to guess? He's using his torpedoes while he can. Doing as much damage as possible.""Lovely." "Too right." Blowfish slams a fist into a large button, opening a hatch at the back of the room you've arrived in. You mount up on a ride chaser, prepped and running already. "Tiger, redirect. Head West, there's an island that way, the next-nearest he could hit." You hear the grumble in the Shark's voice. "On it.""Anode, we're scrambling some officer support to give you some relays in the water. I'll be giving you directions in the meantime. You're heading Northwest. Ride fast.""Any tips for taking out the next salvo?""You'll be faster with the chaser. If not fast enough to catch them, at least enough to keep up and get some hits in. The chaser's gun won't do you much good."With that, you're off.
>>31067840"You're on an intercept course right now," Blowfish explains over comms. "It should give you the largest window to hit Skipjack directly, if you get the chance at all. If you want, you could try to get in on him earlier, or divert right for the island to have more response time. Any questions?">Intercept is good.>I'll try to pressure him, maybe I can get him to offload his torps early.>No sense chancing things, I'm going right for the island.
>>31067857>I'll try to pressure him, maybe I can get him to offload his torps early.
>>31067857>I'll try to pressure him, maybe I can get him to offload his torps early.I want to tension could the torps together and whip them back at him.
>>31067857Unless we know the max count of torpedos this guy can haul, trying to pressure him seems like it would lead to a swarm we haven't the resources to stop.>play it safe, head for the island
>>31068074Not to be cynical or anything, but if he dumps his payload at an island that REFUSES maverick assistance... and we help them anyway... it makes us look good.
>>31068211Pretty much this.If he has a massive number of torpedoes then he's going to be fucking shit up regardless. If we can jump him into blowing his load early, then he won't be able to screw us over with them later, in a more tactically sensitive scenario.
>>31067857Does Tigershark have any ranged ordinance with which to destroy the torpedos? If so, let's try to pressure Skipjack.
>>31068430He's a brawler. Though I just had a bad idea regarding the tension coil, if we can pressure him to dump and then get ahead of them, we could probably trigger a premature detonation by channeling current through the coil... if we can do that yet. Would probably be more efficient.
>>31067857>Intercept is good.Take Skipjack out and end it fast or he could have deadman switch like Hunter Spider
>>31068479That's actually pretty fucking brilliant. Let's see if we can't get this set up.
>"Doubt it, unless he's got maverick buddies on that island. Would explain a few things, I suppose.Find some way to double-check this possibility, perhaps by using your Phone-A-Wellington lifeline. Refusing assistance from, and denying access to, the Horrible Murder-Robot Stoppers is *kinda* unusual behavior, and 'maybe it's some kind of corporate executive retreat' is an excuse rather than an explanation.
>>31069253>Phone a wellingtonWe haven't we done that already? Man we are rusty.
>>31069253It's probably one of those "I don't want police snooping in my business" deals, the sort who are VERY insistent on their privacy.
>>31069343Well, Wellington's not on oversight for this mission. Can we call him if we already have oversight from someone else? We'll just have to owe him for it if we can.Man, have we made a beef wellington joke yet at him yet? If not, I think we should.>>31069359Rich people wanting police to not snoop in their business is a cover for shady stuff like half the time. Even if we're not at the forefront of it, one less creepy old rich guy doing quasi-illegal stuff is always a plus.
>>31069437>He gets snarky on us.>"Hey, level with me, whats the beef, Wellington?"
>>31069437So yeah, let's see if a ring from the Hunters that an attack is imminent and as verified as possible gets them to acknowledge Hunter support. If not, they're either crazy or hiding something.
>>31069437Needle Blowfish is acting commander for the *site*, and he's certainly in communication with us, but I don't think he's 'on overwatch' in the same sense that a Navigator is. Navigators seem more about purely informational/intel support rather than acting in an order-giving capacity.This is something that makes sense to offload to some REMF back on base, rather than burdening someone who's getting shit done and shouldn't be distracted. It's *probably* nothing, and it certainly shouldn't distract Needle Blowfish from handling the cordon/coordinating you and Tigershark. But it *might* be important, and someone should check. I think that kind of thing is what Navigators are for- but shit, man, I don't know. I'm just a fucking dog.
>>31069696>>31069591Pretty sure its agreed, lets give Wellington a ring then. We could probably get hooked up while we ride to catch this bugger.
>>31067879>>31067902>>31067945>>31068479>>31068581"I'm gonna try to catch him early," you decide. "Might get him to offload them earlier, give me more time to deal.""Could work," Blowfish agrees. "But be careful. Without that ride, it'll be a while before we can collect you from that far out." The ride is fast, but without any landmarks nearby, it seems almost sedate. You find yourself with a few minutes. "So," Blowfish asks, "What brings both you and Tanker out for this op?""He's interested in me, I guess," you say. "Wants to see how I do.""Oh, you poor bastard," Blowfish says with a chuckle. "Have fun.""Gee, thanks," you grumble. With that, you resume steering in to cut off Skipjack. After a moment, though, you realize what you've been forgetting--a call to Communications. "Anode to 5th," you start. "Wellington, are you free to navigate?""I certainly am," he replies after a moment. "What's your situation?" "Tracking a mav out in the Pacific. Pull up what you've got for Splashdown Skipjack's operating area.""Underway, and...I see." "I've already stopped one torpedo attack and am on my way to block another. The island is refusing hunter access and the mav is making a beeline right to it.""You think it might be a front for them?""It's a possibility worth exploring, don't you think?" you ask. "Good point. Worst-case, the Marine cordons the island on our authority until we get permission to search, on suspicion of aiding and abetting a known maverick.""Unless they have an off-the-grid beam pad, or something," you note."Also a good point.""Do we have any records on this place?""Checking...someone with the 6th did their homework. The island's been scouted--one dock, a drainage outlet on the far side--someone covertly put a sonar beacon there, clever--and a whole lot of records we're not authorized to access."
>>31069858"Maverick?""Not likely. It's happened before, but to be able to stonewall hunter investigation is usually just a sure sign of old money and illegal activity. Not our problem, of course."You sigh. "Can you let them know an attack is imminent, see if it changes their tune?""6th has already done so," he replies. "Only response was that they have defenses 'well in hand' and will take care of the matter themselves, if it comes to that. Though, of course, 'hopefully it doesn't,' he just had to add.""Of course," you grumble. "What's the sonar got?""Getting close," you're told. "You're going to wind up right on top of him like this.""Hold up," you reply. "I think I see him."Sure enough, up ahead you merge in a gentle arc, lining up with a shape cutting through the water with flawless grace. After a moment, it turns and rolls up, surfacing to show you what can only be your target. He looks surprisingly sleek for a tuna. Greens and blues, darker than the water that sparkles in a cascade behind him, the most fishlike things about him are his head, large and wide-mouthed, and his tail--long and crescent-finned. Under one arm, he has some kind of massive box tucked away, almost as long as he is. He pulls up a few dozen feet away beside you, almost lazily, eyeing you underneath optics that look like they have thick swimmer's goggles. "Hello, hello," he says briskly, "lovely day for a swim, isn't it?" >...Well?
>>31069909>Play along, see if you can get him to let slip any useful information
>>31069909Give him the spiel about him giving up peaceably. We've done it for every single maverick up to this point, even Saetos, I don't see why we wouldn't for this guy.I'm tempted to mention that we can't really swim, not being fish, but I don't want to goad him into trying to tip us off of the speeder.
>>31069909"I'm more the hunt and fish type, myself. Drop the box and put your hands on your head."
>"Oh, absolutely. Water's blue, the sun's catching the waves just right...lovely day, absolutely gorgeous. >Say, I hate to be one of those guys who can't talk about anything but work, but...I'm looking for a Maverick, name of Splashdown Skipjack. Supposed to be a bit of a milk run compared to my last assignment- but then, it's tough to top beating the piss out of *Solstrike fuckin' Saetos.*>Anyway, he's supposed to be somewhere pretty close. Think he'll surrender, or am I going to have to kill his ass?">Smile sweetly. Then shoot him in the face.
>>31069909"This ain't Waterworld, you're no Kevin Costner, and thank GOD for that. Pull over, or you're getting a ticket for speeding."
>>31069909WHOOP WHOOP PULL OVER THAT BASS IS TOO FAT
>>31069909"You don't strike me as the zealot type. You and I both know the jig is up, and I've got backup. Why don't you make this easier on both of us?"
>>31069909Can we gauge how many torpedoes that box of his is capable of holding?
>>31070796It looks like it might hold four to six, but you shot the prior ones from way, way out.Also, writing now.
>>31070060>>31070099>>31070125>>31070230>>31070233>>31070359>>31070418"Sure is," you reply. "Don't suppose you're going to come quietly?"He raps on the massive box under his arm. "Wasn't planning on it." "Would it help if I said please? You don't seem like a frothing viral lunatic. You gotta know the jig is up.""I knew the jig was up this morning," Skipjack replies. "But I've got a job to do, and dammit, I'm gonna do it. Smoke 'em if you got 'em, right?"You grimace. "Come on, do us both a solid. I just came from bringing down an S-class in the Himalayas. I can take you.""Oh, I know you can," he observes wryly. "But that relies on one very important thing. Can you catch me?"He rolls over just as you snap your buster up and fire, your shot hitting the water where his face was a second before. "Hint," he calls over open comms, below the waves. "No, you can't!"Three dull 'whoomphs' resound as three more torpedoes go live underneath you and streak towards the island of Rich Assholes. "Anode--" warns Blowfish."Yeah, I got it," you reply. "The gentleman guppy's cutting away, right?""Yeah, changed headings fast. Fast is the word--he's moving even quicker than before. Deal with those torpedoes first."You're a lot closer, but the torpedoes are slowly outpacing your ride chaser. How do you want to bring them down?>?
>>31070924Tension coil lasso and zap/slice, didn't we have an ability that allowed us decent surface movement?
>>31070924Since we're this close, hit one with the tension coil and slam it into another one. If the explosion doesn't take out the third, Lockon Hunter it.
>>31070924wire them and surf them back at the guyIf Em could do it...
>>31070924Hit 'em with a shield missile?
>>31070924LH one of them, TC the other two, go podracing after our maverick
>>31070990Throwing in my vote for this
>>31070985>>31070990Something along these lines.
>>31071131PODRACING PODRACING PODRACING
>>31071583Okay, changing my vote to this. We must outdo Em.
>>31071131ENGAGE MAXIMUM STUPID COOL
>>31071131...This will not work. It's a bad plan.Why would you suggest this? >>31071583>>31071692>>31071733Why would you encourage this? Oh fuck it. Let's do it. This is a horrible plan.
>>31071131we should come up with a lie for when the life savers ask us what happened this time now. Because if we tell the truth they are going melt us down to make Darwin awards.
>>31071891Horrible plans have a track record of doing pretty well around here.
>>31071931Appropriated maverick assets for temporary mobility boosts and neutralization of attacks targeted at civillian assets.
>>31071941It's narrative causality."This plan is irrational, irresponsible, highly dangerous, exceedingly risky and all-around stupid."..."When do we start?"
>>31071962>>31071941>>31071975Why do I feel like this might work?This is a bad idea, god damnit.
>>31071981Well, due to the potential for damage to the chaser, India would certainly disapprove. I see no better or worse reason for us to do it.
I love you guys.Don't worry, this isn't a Tomb of Horrors.It's more of a Mr. Bones Wild Boat Ride.
>>31072015See that?That's how you get me onboard with a plan. Let's do this shit.
>>31071962you were able to make torpedo surfing sound sane in one sentence. God help us all if you ever use your gifts for evil.
>>31072025I'm picturing a steamboat flying over a waterfall when you say that. It makes me giddy.
>>31072137FAVORITE RIDE OF: 4 HUNTERS
>>31072154>India>Crankshaft>Dodo singing Katyusha the whole while>Cathode
>>31072154Jesus. If we pull his off, half the Hunters we know will hit us very hard in the face, the other half will worship the ground we walk on, and I'm pretty sure several will do both.
>>31071131UhhhYeah. Let's do it.
>>31072213We have to one up India and Em somehow
>>31072086I could probably do more, but let us see how Skidoopedo works.
On a scale of 1 to India, how insane is this plan?More importantly, how many hours of therapy are they going to assign us?
>>31070985>>31070990>>31070998>>31071131>>31071366>>31071435>>31071583>>31071692>>31071733>>31071891You aim a pair of coils up and snap-fire, snagging two of the torpedoes before they get far enough off. You feel them yank on your arms as the lines go taut, and you lurch as you get a small but appreciable increase in speed.Well, if nothing else, as long as they continue in a straight line, and you don't yank them off it, you can match pace with the salvo. Unfortunately, just from this, you can tell that guided movement once you divert them is going to be another matter entirely. With that you swing your right arm around, and slam the torpedo into the unsnagged one. The two detonate together as one, having been armed already. The sea jumps and rocks, but you hold on, riding out the blastwave. "Two of three down, got the third snagged," you report. "Actually, hold on..."Carefully--very carefully--you retract the wire spool with the zipline bracket. The torpedo strains, but the line holds, and you carefully reel it in. It's still in the water, but now it's much, much easier to control. "And," you add triumphantly, "for as long as this torpedo lasts, I have a speed boost.""Anode," Wellington asks cautiously, "has anyone told you that might be very slightly completely barking mad?""It's come up!" you reply gleefully, slowly wheeling the left-hand torpedo around and turning with it. "Come on, where am I headed next? What's Skipjack up to?""He dived deep," Blowfish replies, "we picked him up on the sonar buoy after the next. Bet you anything he has a few torpedo caches around here.""What makes you say that?" you ask, following vaguely in the direction you saw the fish skip (heh) off to. "That ordnance is big, and he speeds up after shooting it," Blowfish replies. "It's not a system integrated into his body.""I can confirm that," you note. "He had a big fuckoff box tucked under an arm."
>>31072533"On his current bearing he's heading right for this last island in near range. But you're making decent time." "What's this island?""Preserved habitat, minimal native presence in a small fishing village. No outside interference.""Oh, good, I'm sure Skipjack will respect that," you remark drily. "Naturally. And I've got more bad news.""Hit me.""I'd rather not, because you've got some mechaniloids deploying in the area. Scans show explosives as well as their signatures, and based on their movement patterns, I'm guessing they're Mine Tortoises.""The hell is a Mine Tortoise?" you ask, bewildered."Well, it's a tortoise, that's also--""Of course.""More practically, when the 'loid goes down, it releases the clamps on the 'shell,' which floats to the surface. Makes a nasty mine. They're being deployed all through the channel you could take to cut Skipjack off. It runs close to the research facility perimeter. If you made it through, though, you might be able to cut Skipjack off at the pass."Risky. "Where's Tigershark in all this?""Trying my best," he replies. "In open water, I'm not as fast. Dollars to donuts, he'll blow right by me. Here's another question: What's his plan in all this? We can't keep playing catch-up.""Hell if I know," you reply, "but he said he knew we were onto him, and we'd never catch him. That suggests an exit.""Then you gotta get ahead of him," Tiger says."That still leaves this torpedo attack. What's your call, Anode?" Blowfish asks.>If you lose the chaser, you lose any chance of stopping his third torpedo attack. Chase him the long way, get ready for a hard intercept.>Take a gamble, try to cut ahead through the mine tortoise field.
>>31072590>We didn't wrangle a torpedo to play it safe. FULL SPEED AHEAD
>>31072590Let's try cutting through the minefield. Maybe cut the torpedo loose before heading in proper, see if some of it won't be cleared out.
>>31072590Could our default buster damage them enough to detonate? We did just have it improved for damage. Just a matter of ride 'n shoot.
>>31072590MINEFIELD
>>31072590>Take a gamble, try to cut ahead through the mine tortoise field.We already made one stupid decision. Let's go the whole ten yards on this one.
>>31072590>Take a gamble, try to cut ahead through the mine tortoise field.Explosives meeting explosives are risky business, having to navigate a literal minefield at such high speeds. Then again, we were created by Hunter specifications for nothing.Plus, Anode saying he rode a torpedo-powered chaser sled to catch a Maverick is one thing, but Anode saying he rode a torpedo-powered chaser sled THROUGH A MINEFIELD to catch a Maverick is a lot more impressive.
>>31072590Take a gamble.
>>31072666Actually, maybe we can use the coil to help us clear a path as well, Use it to yank and pull the shells out of the way?
>>31072698>weren't created
>>31072648This
>>31072590Hard intercept sounds terrible. Like, "hard as in we'll be pulling the chaser bodily into the torpedoes to stop them," terrible. Ride our torpedo for as long and as far as it'll go, but be ready to cut it loose and pull our line in the second it starts to slow. We don't need it showing us its bottle rocket impression if it goes up after its fuel runs out.Besides, the chaser should have a forward mounted gun that we can add out own firepower to while we're riding. Three shots, one to clear the middle, with another two to pick off drifters, should give us enough coverage to cut through.
>>31072744What if... what if we use the momentum of the torpedo as it's beginning to slow down to slingshot ourselves forward, and using the force of the detonation timed with a dash boost to increase our speed by an... EXPLOSIVE amount?
>>31072698>"But yeah, after I wrangled the torpedo with my tension coil, I rode it through a minefield. Oh, sure, I coulda went around, but I wanted to be home in time for happy hour."Let's rock.
>>31072875Buddy, I think it's time for some appropriate music.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrjbeE90vVY
>>31072875Damnit Carlos, I had intended to put that in, but doubted the scientific accuracy of slingshotting ourselves from a slowing projectile, and you use it for a pun?If I didn't love your idea, I would hate you.
>>31072953As long as we release our grip at the earliest possible time, it might work. Otherwise, we can always chalk it up to rule of FUCKING AWESOME.
>>31072875You mean it's time to use our last resort?
>>31072875Carlos you glorious little shit, I both love and hate you so much right now.LET'S DO IT.We're probably gonna get an earful from our moms and dads for being so reckless, especially after we just got our body fixed and upgraded, but hey; as long as we don't die, right?
>>31073046Well, I'm pretty sure what he was suggesting is effectively surfing...
>>31073046And now this plan has my vote.
>>31073095>>31073046>>31072875
>>31073046>>31073095>>31073133Shit.Shit!SHIT!SHITSHITSHITSHITSHIIIITLet's do it.
>>31073209Oh, and just for reference. I hate you all.We're so fucked.
>>31073095Surfing a torpedo?YES YES YES
>>31073236You know you love it, baby.
>>31073329Why must you be so dandy? Fine, fine. Let's do this. Gotta go with the flow, baby. Live life while you're alive and all that.
we are going to die, and then the lifesavers are going to break down the gates of Hades and storm the underworld just so they can kill us again.
Oi, oi, oi. Hunter Command. You better not die laughing.
>>31073407Hah, we would be so lucky. Because then, we could hitch a ride back with them.
>alladosevotes>>31072590"Fuck it," you reply, "let's give this a whirl. Going to try to cut through the mine field.""Hah! That's the way," Tiger whoops. "Just imagine the look on Skipjack's face.""That's assuming I pull this off," you grumble. "Here I go." You bank off, still riding high on the torpedo surf. Sure enough, up ahead you see some mechaniloids bobbing in the water and--"Wait," you call, "those are just the mines, not the tortoises." "Oh, hell," Wellington replies. "They must be tearing themselves apart underwater. More just keep coming, too. That minefield is getting bigger by the moment."No time to delay, then. You spur the bike forward, holding the bars one-handed as you sight along the first mine, charging up a full blast, and fire--And it just tinks off."Oh, shit." You frantically switch to Lockon Hunter and fire an overcharge shot ahead, veering off to the side. In the ensuing explosion, the chaser rocks, the mine explodes, and your torpedo goes with it. You barely hold on, stabilizing just in time to avoid another mine. "Jesus fuck, those things are armored?" you ask incredulously. Grimacing, you realize you're down to half your Lockon Hunters--but at least you still have your chaser, and you're lucky to have that.>This just isn't going to work. Back out while you can and resume ordinary pursuit.>Fuck it, out is through. FORD THE MINEFIELD.>Navigate the mine field, using up your remaining Lockon Hunter to blast your way through any mines you can't avoid.
>>31073407We are going to be Dandy, and then the Lifesavers are gonna go 'fuck, you're so Dandy' and follow in the wake of our Dandy so they can be as Dandy as us.
Maybe Anode is mentally unstable, after allMaybe we should take a step backMaybe we should realise that this is a terrible ideaFuck it,>Surf the Torpedo
>>31073563>Fuck it, out is through. FORD THE MINEFIELD.THEY KILLED TORPEDO-KUN
>>31073563>Fuck it, out is through. FORD THE MINEFIELD.This has the potential to be the MOST DANDY option.
>>31073563FORD IT
>>31073563Who cares if they're armored. We have our busters and the gun on the chaser.The only way out is through! Soak the field with fire to clear a path!
>>31073563I'm struck by the idea of using our shells shots as a plow to nudge the errant ones out of the way, I'm just wondering if the thing conserves momentum so it will be faster than us.
>>31073563>Fuck it, out is through. FORD THE MINEFIELD.I mean, we're already here, and we can afford to be a little more careful now that we're not getting towed by a torpedo.
>>31073649Good idea.
>>31073583THIS. VICTORY THROUGH AUDACITY. Like pic related, on water.
>>31073649Much better Idea with a weapon we have loads of ammo forSure if it goes wrong we're dead as fuck but since when is that a new concept?
You're all completely insane. But WHILE we implement this insanity, let's try to make a suggestion for our allies to do the sensible thing:So Tigershark can't catch up with this Mav in open water. Can we try tasking him, and possibly some other forces under Needle Blowfish's command, to finding Skipjack's other torpedo caches and booby-trapping them? Ideally with explosives, such that the booby-trap explosive sets off the torpedo warheads when he picks it up?Of course, all this assumes that Tigershark has some kind of sonar/sensory capabilities, and that he hasn't just been spending his years and years of workaholic Hunter upgrade pay on MORE DAKKA and MORE HUEG. Given his personality I wouldn't put it past him, but he can't be THAT much of a dumbfuck if he's lived this long.
>>31073683Worst case scenario it slows us down when it saves us from dying.
>>31073744Or we could just have wellington try and pinpoint them while working with the 6th and tiger.
>>31073744What Would Schwarzhund Do?This, that's what.
>>31073744Why try to scan open water to find the caches when Skipjack is going to reach them and deploy them before anyone can get there anyway? At that point, you may as well just shoot for Skipjack directly and cut the whole thing off.Plus, I'd imagine considering how long Blowfish has been tailing Skipjack, he'd have found these caches himself by now. We're probably not going to find them.
>>31073563>>Fuck it, out is through. FORD THE MINEFIELD."Forward is the only direction I can go."
>>31073744>>31073794Wellington working with the 6th's intel and resources should tell us right where this guy's caches are. Tiger's already in the area, and can't catch up with the maverick, so he lays the charges. Yeah?
>>31073583Uh, didn't MHHQ tell us a few threads ago that the training wheels are off, the tutorial missions are over and Anode can die now? DAMN THE TORPEDOES, FULL SPEED AHEAD doesn't sound like such a brilliant idea with that in mind.
>>31073818>RaoulIt's... it's Raoh.
>>31073837Blame the Italian translations.
>>31073832And a few posts back, he said, and I quote, >>31072025.
>>31073832AFTER this mission, give or take.
>>31073649Since it might alter your strategy, I'm going to chime in here and say that's probably not going to work, and you probably don't want to test it on the fly here, given the situation.That said, let me know your final verdict with that in mind.
>>31074009Comparatively, how much time would each of the routes take would we estimate?
>>31074061Minefield is definitely faster, even if you take it the safest possible way. That said, because you made good time with the podracer trick, you have a bit more lead time than you would have otherwise, enough that you should be able to catch up to the torpedo launch.
>>31074083So we're ahead of schedule, then. Let's maintain the pace and ford the minefield.
>>31074083So we have time to spare? Might be better to take it cautiously through the minefield.
Public opinion appears to be overwhelmingly slanted towards 'through the minefield', so I won't bother trying to fight it- but if there's a 'safest possible way' through the minefield, then let's take it.
I'll vote safest way through minefield.
We're ahead of time, we're going to be even MORE ahead of time going through the minefield but the rider isn't cheap and if we lose it we're fucked for a long whileSo safe, but through. Try to save as many lock ons. Try to use the coils to knock them into each other or just push them away
>>31074083You know, if we're ahead of schedule, there's nothing wrong with playing it (relatively) safe and navigating through. Not like we're the only ones on the line here.
Welp, it's bedtime for this reader. Hope the thread is still going when I get home from work, but it probably won't be.
Backtrack out of the minefield. We're ahead of the game, and we can afford to burn the extra time to go around. we cannot afford to be burning S.Weap to get through a minefield when we've got a fight coming up, and we cannot, CAN NOT, afford to lose this ride chaser right now. Back out, bypass the minefield.
Carefully go through the minefield.
>>31074334Well he seems to be all about speed, not so much armor. I don't think we'll have to rely on lock on as much as we usually do.
>>31074376Plus, everyone is favoring the "go carefully" method through the minefield, since we're already ahead of schedule.
>>31074376And we still shouldn't be taking the unnecessary risks with the one piece of gear we have right now that gives us the flat mobility we need. We have the time, we can go around instead of shooting for some high score by taking totally unnecessary risks and going through the field 'safe route' or no.
>>31074432Problem is, backtracking now will set us further behind as the other path is longer. We are already in the minefield, worst thing we can do is waffle about the decision. Just take it slow, slow is smooth, and smooth is fast. We'll get through easily enough.
>>31074432The problem is that back tracking could make things very close. We have no idea how many torpedos he has hidden. If we make it there quickly, we can set up a trap of our own, using the tumult shields as means to flat out deny him. Maybe even using the coil to drag a few mines to counter him. This guy is going to go fast. He can very likely dodge our lasers, but he might not be able to dodge explosions or slam on the breaks for SUDDENLY SHIELD WALL.
>>31074482>Dragging mines with us as we leave the field to use as wrecking balls on him.This has enough mix of crazy and awesome to just might work.
>>31074503It reminds me of the end of Galaxy quest.
>>31073046Isn't batshit crazy our first resort though?
>>31074503We also have to remember one important thing as well. At the end of the day, if we can get him to slow down and delay him long enough, tanker pops in and we get a nice tuna sandwich. Besides, mavericks keep trying to slow us down. Bout time we give them a taste of their own medicine.
>alladose votes, part 2>>31073563You take a moment to look at the field, bristling with spiky, exploding death. "Blowfish, how much time do I have?""Some," he says. "Not a lot, but some."Whatever you do, you need to do it now," adds Wellington with a barely-restrained urgency, "those mines are coming up from below, fast.""Fuck it, no backing out now."Wellington sighs. "You need to not incorporate 'fuck it' into your logical--" "Relax, would you, Wellsey? I've got a plan. Just call out if a mine is going to be coming up right in my path.""Roger."You test-fire your weapons on passing mines--a tumult shell keeps the chaser's speed, but it doesn't, unfortunately, push the things any, instead plinking off and burning up on impact. A coil slides right off the damn plating without finding a purchase, even with the spikes to snag on. Plasma does fuck and all to the shell. And considering the only thing that's gone through at all is a full-overcharge Lockon Hunter, you're not even going to waste a blackout rocket. You definitely discard the notion of trying your lance on them.You navigate as quickly as you can while still responding to the abrupt appearance of the shapes from under the water, popping up here and there. Wellsey warns you off a few, and you're forced to waste precious Lockon Hunter shots clearing your way. By the time the last mine in your path goes down, you're empty. But you're through, with time to spare. You gun it, even as dozens more mines rise to the surface behind you. "I'm clear," you call. "That was a lot more tense than I thought it would be."
>>31074798"Get a move on, Anode," Blowfish says. "He'll be launching any moment. I've got patrols down there looking for his torpedo caches, and a spare officer on her way to assist Tanker.""I'll link up with him there," you reply.You make good time, and hope you surprise the hell out of Skipjack with your early arrival. Unfortunately, once again you never see him for the salvo--only a warning by comm and the emergence of three wakes in the water.But suddenly, Skipjack leaps, giving you a flash of fin and flipper, before he launches a pair of canisters out in front. They sail through the air towards the island, hit the water...and bounce. And continue bouncing, skipping like stones on the surface. Skipjack's gone just as swiftly as he came, leaving no less than five explosives toward the fishing village. You're out of Lockon Hunters and already straining to catch up. You have to hope Tanker and whoever the 6th has on deck can help on this one. >?
>>31074816Our best bet is the coils. Worked great last timeAs for the bouncers, we have buster burst machine guns. If they're light enough to bounce on water AND armored then we would have been fucked anyway
Keep in mind that the bouncing bombs aren't necessarily as tanky as the torps- for all you know, they're thin-walled to pack in as much explosive as possible, which is not an uncommon way to build a bomb.So test them out with an uncharged buster shot each before panicking too much about them.After that, try wiring up one of the explosives and steering it into another.
>>31074969If they are lighter, the flak missiles might work. It would likely shred them up. Other than that, coils as before, with maybe some tumult shells.
Gonna pause here for the night, and resume tomorrow. Will throw this into the archive first off.Also, damn, how about that almost-200 posts in one night?
>>31075219Great thread, OP
bump
>>31075219You've gained at least one new reader/contributor. I just finished marathoning through the archives, came here on a whim, and was absolutely *delighted* to see a MHQ thread up and running.
bumpin'
>>31079277
Dammit, I was going to bump with boomer kuwanger and gravity beetle holding pinsir and heracross plushies, but lost the pic.
>>31082132After digging around in the archive, hopefully this was what you were looking for?
>>31083570Yep! Thanks, pal. I'll save it when I have a computer nearby.
>>31083959Not a problem, happy to help and bump the thread at the same time, so it's cool.
Back-from-work-bump
I'm back and reasonably functional again, let's resume the murder. And hey, thank you very much, >>31078317. That goes for everyone who reads, it's very much appreciated.>>31074957>>31074969>>31075175You quickly size up the threats and open fire, hoping to catch as much of the ordnance as you can. A coil sent at one of the torpedoes snags it--but unfortunately, as you swing it around, you feel it suddenly jerk and fall slack as something in the water slashes through it, sending your half of the broken line lashing back upwards. "Not today, sorry," Skipjack taunts, as the torp continues on toward the island at a new angle. Shit. Rather than waste time staring, you gun the chaser and open up on the bouncing canisters. One hand goes to the handlebars as you shed away the broken coil, letting you use the front-mount blaster to open fire on those bouncing canisters. Eventually you catch one, which lists to one side, bouncing wildly away and exploding in midair. For the other, you rake it with buster-fire, before switching to a blackout rocket and sending it at the surface of the water just ahead of the last canister. Releasing the handlebars, you fire a charged shot right after it--the moment the rocket hits the water, it slows just enough to be caught by the explosion, going up in a whirlwind of plasma and chaff, taking the second canister with it.The torpedoes are getting further and further out, though--two in a swarm, one off to one side heading toward what looks like a storage shack. "You guys ahead up there?" You call frantically, "Five attacks this time, two down, three incoming. Two are clustered up, one's listing left. I think I can just get one of them, what do you guys have?" "I can catch one," Tigershark grunts from somewhere up ahead."Marine here, I've got another," replies a feminine voice. "You take the oddball." "Got it, go." With that, you veer your bike after the straying shot, lean forward, and then you do something stupid.
>>31085432You set the chaser to coast just as you plant a foot on the handlebars and leap off it, feeling the sudden shift of momentum as you leave the bike behind. It immediately starts to turn lazily in toward one side, as the deep void of blue yawns out beneath you, giving you a moment of dizzying vertigo. Instead, you look ahead, tensing as you await the splash of water from your landing. The second you feel yourself start to drag, you force your leg forward and trigger your dash. You're obliged to find that the difference in density works as a very, very strange floor, letting you rocket ahead again, soaring into the air. You bear down on the third torpedo, broken coil still trailing from it (and mercifully, slowing it down). Your dash system is primed again in midair, just a bit before you need it--you hit the water again and blast off from the surface, leaving huge geysers kicked up behind you as you skip on the surface of the water at full speed. As you catch the air again, you charge your busters and check your capacitors--34%. More than enough.On the next landing, you trigger a raikousen, the water beneath you coming alive as it seethes and boils, crackling and hissing as you feed unfiltered energy through your heels and rocket ahead so fast you can barely register. You outstrip the torpedo from above, already bobbing up erratically from the current that you just sent through it and the water. You have to stretch and twist to angle down and keep your busters on it. Finally, though, just before you crash headfirst into the sea, your paired blasts of energy strike and destroy the last missile, sending the sea into a seething roil between dash, electricity, plasma, and explosion. After that, you plunge into the blue. Distantly, even as you feel the water cool around you, you hear two dull thumps, unseen past the bubbles the explosion has kicked up. But you continue to sink, and sink, and sink, the water slowly darkening as the sun falls away.
>>31085470And then, you feel a pair of hands come up under your arms and lift you up. "Hey there," That Sixth officer--Sapphire--greets, mouth moving silently to match the voice in your comms. "That was really cool and stupid." "My specialty," you reply with a grin. "Did it work?""Barely," she replies. "We got lucky.""I'll take it. Is the chaser okay?" She nods, hauling you up--you note some kind of turbine cowlings in her arms and legs, helping propel her forward as she returns you to the surface. "Yeah, it's just circling.""So what's our move now?" you ask."Skipjack made off again," Blowfish replies. "This time, we're sending you to storm the research facility. Tanker is already en route." "What if he has more torpedoes?" Sapphire asks."No more immediately available islands, and even if he doubles up, we've called in some support to watch the lanes. We've destroyed, captured, or sapped every cache we've found. He might have more, but he has to go back home sometime.""Should have kept me there in the first place," Tanker replies irritably via comms."And," Blowfish adds, ignoring that comment, "The cordon is reporting that the mavericks seem to be pulling back. We think they're either turtling up or pulling out.""Wait, back to the research facility? Does that mean--""They probably have a beam-out pad ready, yes," Blowfish replies. "Skipjack's probably going to try and evac.""The hell he is," you snarl, as Sapphire helps you re-mount the ride chaser."I'm going to go by the seafloor," she says. "You take the surface and get there ASAP."Once again, you have a few minutes of frantic, slightly nervous travel. You gun the jet-bike as hard as you can, leaving a huge spray in the wake of your passage."So," Sapphire asks from somewhere below, "How's my big brother?">?
>>31085508"Still fixated of getting his hands on long, phallic objects to sheath. And swords too, I guess..."
>>31085470>>31085432You know, considering this was a water-based op, I was half-expecting Marty/Merti/Marti/Martei/However the fuck you spell her name to show up, just because.But then I couldn't remember if we were incorporating characters from the manga or not.
>>31085576I honestly might have included her, if I had read them all.Though let's be real, this is the same manga where Blizzard Buffalo goes mavericks because of his evil horns.
>>31085508>"With any luck, he'll be put out that I one-upped his torpedo riding."
>>31085508He gave me his biggest sword.Oh, and he gave me a the Flambard.
>>31085783*gave me the flambard
>>31085595Well, you don't have to incorporate EVERYTHING from the manga.Cameos here and there would be cool, though.Although, considering X is supposedly the one who designed her X2 body, I wonder if he designed her subsequent bodies, though, I don't remember if she had a different one for X3, or if X designed yet another new one for her if so.
>>31085508>Which one or are you the middle child?
>>31085508Still nursing that Napoleon complex of his, with way too many "compensators" to his name. He even gave me his Flambard as a loaner.
>>31085573>>31085654>>31085783>>31086731>>31086745"Em, you mean?" you ask, receiving a nod. "Can't remember which of you was which. He's good. Still swinging around his compensator collection."She giggles. "I would imagine, it's kind of his thing. I think I recognized that one on your back, in fact.""Yeah, it's a loaner. He gave me his biggest stick. And the flambard, too." If one could spittake underwater, you bet she did, judging by the tone of her voice. "Wahait, what?!" Distantly, Tanker bursts out laughing in an over-the-top guffaw over open comms."Hopefully he's going to be steamed that I outdid his torpedo-surfing trick," you go on cheerfully, blithely ignoring Sapphire's sputtering."I remember that!" Tanker says. "Have to admit, I was impressed by his nerve.""Are you having some kind of irresponsible-off with my brother?" Sapphire asks, indignant. "For God's sake don't encourage that.""Focus, people," interrupts Blowfish. "You're getting close to the site. Skipjack's making a beeline back for it, and it's going to be close.""What have we got for resistance, Wellsey?" you ask your Navigator. "Not much," he replies. "Low-speed screws, moving back and forth--guessing they're Fishern. Most are a few hundred feet below, probably warding off an undersea assault.""That's an option," Sapphire replies. "We've picked out an underwater accessway as well as a direct approach onto the deck. At this point either would work.""With 6th and me down here, water's pretty evenly covered. No way he's getting out down here.""Airspace is completely clear, recon and satellites concur," Wellington adds. "He's not getting evac'd by that way." "Meaning we're free to pick how we engage, particularly with 6th moving in," Blowfish agrees. "Anode, up to you again. How do you want to breach the facility?">I'll go in by the surface and work my way in.>I'll take the underwater approach, we're done chasing.
You know what would be simultaneously awesome and terrifying?If our melee skills caught THE Zero's attention and he wanted to go a few rounds with us, just because. Em would turn green... well, GREENER with envy, while simultaneously being thankful it's not his ass facing off against Zero.
>>31088197>I'll go in by the surface and work my way in.Water reploids can handle the water entrance, and anyone trying to escape to the surface (since they know 6th is inbound) has to go through Anode. Covering their exits will hem them in.
Let's give underwater a try. Maybe we won't be expecting it.
>>31088197>I'll go in by the surface and work my way in.>>31088311I don't see that happening anytime soon. Besides, we're not really anything special in regards to melee.
>>31088197>I'll go in by the surface and work my way in.If we go by videogame logic, when you have the option to take a dryer route when in a water stage, there's usually secret goodies to be found along the way.
>>31088311We aren't that special. We don't have any technique.
>>31088377Dude, Anode was built specifically with melee combat in mind; our sister Cathode was meant to be the ranged specialist. We've mainly just been covering our weakness ranged-wise, or giving us a tactical advantage when it came to acquiring new weaponry.Though it seems that we have been working on sucking less at Melee, thanks to Em.
>I'll go in by the surface and work my way in.Better to go the route we're more capable to handle and let the others handle the water route. Also >>31088388 , that'd be interesting.
>>31088479Nnnnot really. Anode was built for heavy melee combat COMPARED TO HIS SISTER. On the whole, Anode is very well-rounded, which Schwarzhund repeatedly insists is his single greatest strength.
>>31088479Speaking of which, We should get a Halberd instead of a new beam saber. It fits our style a lot more, and I can think of a lot more fun things to do with one. Like different beam types for the Axe head and the spear head
>>31088570Alright, I'll concede that point. The point is, we're not -too- shabby melee-wise, and Em's teaching us some technique, so we can really USE our close range beam weaponry, rather than just swinging them around and hoping they do something. Couple that with the fact we're somewhat famous (or infamous, depending on the individual's point of view...) around Maverick Hunter HQ, and some of the A Class and higher hunters might take notice.On another note... you know that "totally not 4chan" imageboard the Lanceteamers and Steel Berets use? Imagine if some of the higher profile Hunters, like X or Zero, posted on there anonymously...
>>31088197Take the surface route.>>31088377Physically Anode is an A-Rank middle weight mid/close range fighter, experience-wise Anode is barely a green belt. In comparison I suspect Louie would be a 1st dan black belt, Em a 6th dan and Zero a 10th dan.>>31088613Multi-element beam weaponry seems to be non-viable until a postX3/preX4 breakthrough.
>>31088731Pretty sure it's more like a forum than an imageboard. I could be remembering wrong, though. I'll have to go through the archives again...
>>31088754No, Having a Single blade be multiple elements isnt possible. Having two different blades on the same weapon should be doable. maybe not cheap, but doable. At least thats what ive been led to believe.
>>31088754I don't think they're talking about different elements, but different beam TYPES, like Low-fi or high-fi, or whatever they're called... like Em talks about here and there.But yeah, a modular beam halberd would be pretty cool.
>>31088371>>31088377>>31088388>>31088541>>31088754"May as well try a split," you say. "I'm not as worried about being overcome as much as him slipping out. I'll go in topside.""Copy that. Hit them fast.""We're picking up a power spike from inside," Wellington warns. "Stand by, it's--yes, they have an operational beam-out site."Blowfish curses. "They're bugging out. Get in there before we lose Skipjack.""Status on him?" you ask, as the research facility comes into view. Large-bore guns rise up from recessed floor panels and start to track you."Coming in quick. Quicker than I've ever seen him move." "Tanker, you go in," Sapphire offers. "I'll take the outer perimeter.""That's the plan," he barks, clearly much more enthused now that the fight is on. "Keep me posted on new signals, Wellsey," you reply, banking as the guns open fire--green lasers streaking your way, difficult to see against the bright sky. "And a blind spot between these guns, if you've got one." "Searching... just keep banking around the side, there's a small inlet. It's not manned right now."Above you, the bolts of compression beams start to take off like a rocket as the mavericks evacuate. You coast around, feeling your stomach lurch with the cornering. Ahead you see the only maverick resistance yet, just as Wellington calls it in. Wall Cancers---scuttling crabs--emerge around the sides of the entry and begin to lob purple plasma orbs your way from the tips of their gem-emitter claws. You're pulling in toward them at high speed on the back of your ride chaser.>Wat do?
>>31088197Go in by surface.
>>31089517Start strafing, those crabs most likely don't even have enough armor to resist the chaser guns.
>>31088479Whatever we were built for, we have gotten our asses kicked pretty damned comprehensively in every melee training exercise we've ever engaged in. Gratch, Schwarzhund, Em, *and* Tigershark have all pushed our face in at one time or another. We need to take some more educational asskickings before getting that ambitious.Oh, and I vote for an underwater approach, since we need some time and experience in fighting underwater and going after a B-class with backup is about as 'safe' as a live-fire situation is ever going to get.
>>31089517Tumult Shell, break through them. Time is of the essence.
>>31089606This. Charge in.
>>31089517At this point, he already knows you're coming but you don't want to waste any more of your weapons (we'll probably need it for the fight itself) so come in fast, deal what damage you can and unleash specific weapons if it's the last resort.
>>31089606>>31089646 Oh, And Pull out a charged Buster shot on our way through if we need it
>>31089517As others have said, try to blow past/through them. They're trying to stall for time.
>>31089517Push through quickly, and try to get Wellington to pin down the power source's location.
>>31090065Part of me wonders that if we are quick enough and manage to deal with Skipjack that we would be able to figure out where the beam out goes to. Might help us find a secret maverick safe house or something.
>>31088613I think what we need is a glaive. Or a guan dao, maybe?
>>31089579>>31089606>>31089646>>31089653>>31089743>>31090030>>31090065You definitely don't have time to waste on small-fry. As you bank around you take a few potshots with the front-mounted blaster, damaging but not destroying one of the two crabs. You dismount at a run as the chaser slows, firing a tumult shell at either to foil their shots, switching back to follow that up with a pair of charged shots.Interestingly, they seem to return the favor, building the small orbs in their claws until they become massive, blinding energy spheres. Fortunately for you, the tumult shell dislodges the injured one from the wall before it fires, which falls to the ground as it breaks down, leaving you to turn both busters on the remaining one, just before it fires. Both are wiped out, leaving you unscathed."I'm aboard," you report. "Where's that beam in source, Wellsey?" "You should have an almost straight shot to it," he replies. "This place is a boneyard. Entrance ahead, drop down a maintenance shaft--live mechaniloid signals inside--and then a hall directly adjacent to the room."You make tracks, letting each pounding footfall charge you up a percent or two--you cut through the entrance hall, and with Wellington's guidance, find the access hatch to the maintenance way. Down below, you see small, wobbly-legged things clinging to the walls--looks like three of them, with a body tipped by emitters that angle out. "Barite Lastars," Blowfish explains. "They see a lot of use in water environments. Three-way lasers, good for crowded paths.""Like this one," you note.>Fuck it, you can take a hit to get through at top speed.>Clear them out.>Tap your capacitors, fry them all in a hurry.
>>31090564Anode's "lance" is one of of those. It is a pole with a fairly decent energy blade on it.
>>31090587>Tap your capacitors, fry them all in a hurry.See if Wellington can't get a bead of the generators, if they are closer we might be able to fry their beam pad before they can escape and charge up our capacitors again.
>>31090587How heavy would a hit from these things be? If they're small fry, take the hits and get through.
>>31090587Can we like... do a lightning dash DOWN?
>>31090668We are made to take hits, but didn't we just have a lesson from Em about avoiding it if necessary?
>>31090587>Tap your capacitors, fry them all in a hurry.Our capacitors are gonna get a workout today. Don't take needless damage, but don't get hung up on minions, either.
>>31090709Well, that's what I'm curious about. Avoid what we can but if these things are pretty much tiny peashooters, a couple of small hits to get to the prize could be worth it. I'd be more worried about losing our built-up charge before the actual fight, is mainly the concern.
>>31090617Yeah, Em kept telling us to stop stabbing and focusing on the tip of our 'lance' so much, to slash more and stab less. I think beam lances *are* functionally 'glaives', since the whole blade is dangerous.>>31090587Toss a Blackout Rocket into the confined space and drop through that at top speed while they're blinded. We don't know how hard these things hit, but we *know* we can tank a brief exposure to our own chaff with only superficial injury.
>>31090796Sounds good to me. Time is of the essence here, so better to leave them to the cleanup crew.
>>31090709>>31090668You don't know for sure, having never been hit by one, but the laser emitters it uses are small and it doesn't have any charge capacity. It can't be grievous.>>31090796This would work too, though you'd still need to blow a little charge to pull it off.
>>31090869>>31090796Make is so!
>>31090869What's the max distance on our tension coil grappling trick? Couldn't we Bateman down hella fast and stick the landing for a mass charge?
>>31091065Somewhat, it's not quite a clean drop. You could use that in conjunction with some of the above tricks for a good navigation through, and recoup some charge, but don't expect a huge boost.
>>31091111Let's do exactly that then.
>>31091111Ok cause I thought that was too slow. Above tricks added is fine. Spider-Man slingshot after kicking off the ceiling was next idea
>>31090796>>31090855>>31091005>>31091162You sight down the confined tunnel without waiting and loose another blackout rocket, the ping of shrapnel off the walls by the hundreds ringing through it like an echo chamber. Without waiting, you hop down right after it, firing one coil below--you feel it snag on the scaffolding lining the tunnel, and you pull yourself sharply down, letting off a bit of electricity as you plunge through the shrapnel. The already-blinded mechaniloids are disoriented even further by the blinding flash of lightning arcing off you and onto every surface, between the chaff, and through them. You swing your feet back under as you impact and fire another coil down, unfortunately just as blind for a moment in the fireworks. Still, you feel it snag on the ground below, and you feel the sharp jerk through your arms as you retract once again, landing hard and replacing the energy you lost. "--Node! Anode, can you hear me? You're under the waterline now, Skipjack's coming--" Your vision comes back just in time to see Skipjack sprint right past you with a gleeful laugh. "Ooh, close one! Better luck next time, hunter!" he crows as he barrels through the door ahead----Only to stop short as Tanker looks up at him, his water-drill fist punching straight through the center of the beam-in pad assembly. "Oops," he offers, with a grin like a mouthful of daggers.
>>31091911Skipjack looks back and forth between you as you interpose in the doorway. "...Fine," he snaps, before he quickly hits a button on his arm. Abruptly, the entire platform lurches and the observation window behind Tanker shatters, flooding the room. He hunches forward as you stumble, but still manages to remain at the ready, foiling Skipjack's attempt to dart by him during the explosion. As the water reaches your chest (pouring in from both sides), the maverick hops up, floating atop the water as he prepares to move. "If we do this, we do this my way," he growls. "All yours, Anode," Tanker replies as the room finishes filling, hopping backwards through the window into the open sea. "He's not getting by me. Show me what you can do, kid.">WEAPON STATUS:>Lockon Hunter: 0/16>Blackout Rocket: 6/8>Tension Coil: 26/32>Tumult Shell: 13/16>Equipped with: Busters, lance, flambard>Go.
>>31091960Blackout Rockets first off. Then T-Coil to close distance and lance sweep.
>>31091960As much as I hate using T-Coil, we could probably use it to set up area of denial tpye things, guy moving that fast, won't take much to do some damage if we set it up right and dont give our hand away.
>>31091960The fishing puns that are possible right now. Still, this guy is speed based so our main method of dealing damage is area control. Slow him down, deny him room to move. AOE with the black out rockets and shell bumpers to pin. Coil can be used to drag him close..Or if we want to take a bad joke far, use our lance and the coil to go SPEAR FISHING!
>>31092056>>31092001This guys is faster than us, we should probably start using some of the basics Em taught us. He's going to try and wear us down
>>31091960He's a fish. We're surrounded by water, and we can conduct electricity.If we can manage to get close to him, we can just electrocute him to death.
>>31092056... Can we move our chaff with the shell?
>>31092175Nah. If anything you'd just clear it out.
>>31091960As others have suggested, use our T.Coils to create some "nets" and set up fierce area denial. No space means no speed, and no speed means a dead Skipjack. Be ready for him to slice those wires with something.
>>31091960His big thing is his speed and maneuverability. We need to limit that as much as we can. From what we've seen, though, he can cut through our coils, which, unless we can bait him into pulling us in and frying him with whatever's left in our capacitors, makes them less useful.I'm leery of using the Blackout Rocket, too, because the water resistance will make the shrapnel and chaff basically useless. Outside that, the explosion's nothing to write home about.We're out of Lockon Hunter, which sucks, and the Tumult Shell isn't that much stronger than our usual busters.We need to close and make this a melee fight, and quick. If we can bait him into pulling us towards him, then fry him up close before letting loose with either the flambard or the lance, we should.
>>31092906To build on this, basically turn this into a counter-melee fight. Force Skipjack to engage in melee, then strike back with counters. Wear him down over time with these counters. We have to be able to predict when he's coming, mind you.
>>31092970Fish, in the water, telegraph their movements, because they have to move their entire bodies to get any appreciable speed. If he relies on his speed, he may not have ever needed to train himself to not telegraph his moves. It's a little weak to bank too heavily on, but it's something.
you know, it just occurred to me that so far we've seen the megaman robot master weapons weakness at work. lockon bloodhound was weak to blackout, the phase disruption neutralized the spider guys 8 blasters, tarping was weak to lock on, and the shell let us neutralize straotes mini suns. that means we have a weapon that is going to be super effective against this guy. we know its not Lockon hunter , blockut rocket , the distortion thing we got from the kangaroo, or Tumult shell. I'm too tired to think of what that leaves beside tension coil, but unless he's weak to whatever we would make from solar stratoes data (witch be hilariously overkill if true) we have something he's weak against.
>>31092001>>31092045>>31092056>>31092091>>31092794>>31092970You don't wait for him to make the first move, instead snap-firing a pair of rockets around him. He jukes forward as they impact in the corners, filling the area with slow-falling chaff, like razors in the water. He responds by darting straight for you like a javelin, his back-fin springing up to serve as a blade. You hold your ground, snapping your lance off your hip and bringing it up to meet his charge. You rock back on your heels as the fin clashes against the blade's edge, discoloring and scorching, but holding against it. You grunt and shove him backwards, as you realize that his eyes weren't on you, but your back.The door you came from is still open, back into the flooded research facility. He still means to escape. He curses and sweeps around, trying to rake you with his tail--you redirect the strike away, and come back up with your lance on the follow-up, catching his side as he disengages. He backs off in a hurry, looking tensely between you and the window behind him, with Tanker waiting just outside.You respond by turning and firing a few coils into the hallway at your back, filling it with netting to trap him on if he makes a break for it. Skipjack narrows his eyes...and then his head ratchets down at a ninety-degree angle, his jaw opening and revealing a blaster cannon, not unlike the one on your ride chaser. He "spits" a flurry of shots at you.>Go aggressive. Move by the attacks and counter-attack.>Stand your ground. Use your lance defensively, See what else he's got.
>>31093062>Solar Saetos's dataWe didn't get his data yet. HQ's being butts about it since they're, "not," investigating us as a potential maverick.We have the flambard on loan from Em to make up for it until they let it go.
He's a B-rank, and we just got an upgrade to our busters. I don't think we're gonna be plinking here. Remember to treat your lance like a hibeam since you're underwater, and fire off some charge shots at him when you can.
>>31093062If he is "weak" to Stratoes' data type we did receive a substitute in the form of the Flambard.>>31093098>Stand your ground. Use your lance defensively, See what else he's got.See if the lance can disrupt his shots.
>>31093098>Skipjack narrows his eyes...and then his head ratchets down at a ninety-degree angle, his jaw opening and revealing a blaster cannon, not unlike the one on your ride chaser. He "spits" a flurry of shots at you.Did these attacks of his happen to break apart the impromptu web-barricade we made to block off the exit?
>>31093177that might be it actually, our halberd visibly damaged his fins, the flambard might just cut though his blades.
Defend with the lance, for now, and fill as much of the area with T.Coil netting as possible. (Leave the opening towards Tigershark, just in case Skipjack gets stupid.) Drain the tank. Making this an underwater phone-booth fight not only plays to our strengths, it plays to Tigershark's as well. Once the area is as small as it's going to get, fill half of the remaining space with razor-sharp Blackout Rocket chaff, forcing Skipjack to either take damage and swim blind or engage in an even more contrained space. If he opts to take the damage and go blind, make this a turkey shoot with your standard buster. If he opts to engage you in the small remaining space, draw Em's flambard, remember your lessons, and attack with motions that are as clean and non-telegraphed as you can manage. Close with Raikousen or dump your charge into surrounding water if opportune.
>>31093187almost certainly, he knows he can't win so we can probably assume everything he's doing is with the goal of getting away.
>>31093187If we dodge most likely they will. Defensive interception should prevent that.
>>31093098>Stand your ground. Use your lance defensively, See what else he's got.He wants us to overcommit so he can blow past us and make a break for it. Make sure he knows there's no escape.
>>31093529>>31093527>>31093356>>31093177You can tell Skipjack's desperate. He's running out of options and is still fixated on escape.No, that isn't going to happen, you decide, wheeling the lance in front of you and batting aside the opening strike. The distortion fizzles the second and you parry the third before restowing your lance, remembering the warning about running a beam blade too long underwater. Skipjack fires as you do, anticipating your next move--he fires another flurry of shots from his mouth, aiming around you to destroy the ordnance as you fire it--he manages to catch a pair of coils before you snapfire some tumult-shells at his face to slow him up. He weaves over the top of them, body undulating as he builds up speed, and streaks over your head. You hop back to cut him off, but he doesn't go for the door--instead, with each stroke of his body he drops a hefty-looking disk, each drifting down lazily."Depth charges," Wellington warns. "They just went live." "Any idea how strong they are?" you ask. "Their casings?""Negative." Skipjack retreats to the back end of the room again, coming out of his move, but still hasn't followed up, as the charges sink down closer.>What do?
>>31093631Shoot one with a standard buster, just to see if we can detonate them. If yes, we can use explosions from the depth charges to disrupt Skipjack's movements if he's ever near one of them and seriously mess him up.When "shooting fish in a barrel," it's not the shot itself that kills, but the shockwaves it creates.
>>31093631What's our capacitor at?Probably too much to hope that the charges are crude enough that Skippy can't try and swim past without them going off. Assuming they're far enough apart that splashing one isn't likely to chain the rest, try popping one to see what the payload is like.
>>31093631Blue Sky's plan sounds good. Also, look closely at the disc's surface for a moment. Does it look like there are fold-out legs, water jets, or some other propulsion system?
>>31093631Oh.. oh man, can we use the shells to PUSH THE CHARGES RIGHT AT HIM? Because that sounds like an idea. Just.. push them right into his little corner and give him a bomberman death.
>>31093755I love you. Voting this.
>>31093817Let's check to see what detonates them, first.
>>31093743Capacitor's at around 45%.Also, just so you guys know, Tumult Shells don't really push. They move through the air, ablate or deflect weak shots, and then detonate/plink out on large energy attacks or physical objects. Not sure whether I had them push something before, or whether I was consistent, so I'll clarify to make sure.
>>31093977Hmm.Buster a depth charge to see if you can pop them, and also how big of a pop they make. If the shockwave from the detonations cranks your k.coils, pop a few more. Otherwise, start being more 'animated' in your defense to work that charge up. Once you've got enough charge to be a likely killshot, bait him into making a run for it, then light up his night as he passes by.
>>31093716>>31094025>>31093836>>31093817>>31093755>>31093746You turn your attention to the nearest of the mines--they have a faint cross-shaped indentation and a small recessed center, likely the charge itself--but they don't seem to have any vents or thrusters. You only look for a moment as you pour on some fire. It takes a good few bursts from both barrels to put the thing down, but it finally goes up in a small, concentrated blast. You lob a tumult shell at the next, which hits it and both of them go up in the explosion, so there's that. It leaves you some maneuvering room, which is good, because Skipjack doesn't let you capitalize any further, as he casts what seems to be a small ring-foil at you, tethered to a long line. There's a flurry of bubbles as the ring kicks up, a tiny, motorized propeller that sends it flying at you. You dodge to the side, into the newly evacuated space, just an instant before a bright green blade ignites on the end of the foil, a miniature hi-beam weapon lancing through the spot you just occupied. He snaps it back as the blade cuts back off, reeling it in as he throws another. You bat it aside with a swing of your lance, building charge in your off-hand buster as you prepare for his next move.He's not dumb enough to keep trying that trick, instead leveling his own busters on you and firing a pair of those canisters--they tumble ungainly through the water, in a thoroughly unpredictable pattern, both coming at you. At the same time, he retracts the busters and goes on the move again--whether an attack or another escape attempt, you can't say.>Defend?
>>31094193Watch his position, and try to pop one of his depth charges when he's next to it. Otherwise, keep your space between those funky canisters and you. If they don't detonate themselves, we'll have to shoot them down.Skipjack's trying to lay his own area denail, between the mines and canisters and all that good stuff. Find a way to turn his own defenses against him.
>>31094193Assume he's still planning an escape, and act in the interests of stopping said escape. If our shells cover a wide enough area to make it a good safe bet, fire one off to handle the launched charges.Do our chaff missiles still manage to fuck visibility underwater? Might not be a bad idea to fire some more into his 'safe' spot when he's on his way back to it.There isn't really a way to communicate without tipping off Skippy, but it'd be nice if we could get some of the local hunters to come in the same way we did to block off that exit. For that matter, does the door have a button to close it?
>>310943676th is already in a perimeter around the complex, and Tanker is personally watching the only other exit out of this particular room. Skipjack's not leaving without a struggle.
>>31094381I don't think he's watching the entrance we used, or did we destroy that?>>31094193Defend as long as it doesn't give him an opportunity to slip by.
>>31094193Defend.Blackout Rockets in front of him while we deal with the canisters.
>>31094247>>31094367>>31094824>>31094914You hold your ground once again, releasing the charged shot at him to switch to and fire a chaff missile out in front. You keep the second on standby, and after a moment, fire it as well. The delay pays off--he makes to maneuver around the first detonation, only to wave off to avoid the second. By then you've turned your buster fire onto the canisters. They track erratically, but you're able to gun down one of them, catching it in a scissor of plasma as your shots rake up and down. The second makes it through, detonating right beside you as you turn away from the imminent blast. Your shields flash, and you grit your teeth--though the brunt of the damage is negated, it certainly didn't tickle. The turbulence clears in time for you to see him bearing down on you again, fin leading. You twist back to meet his attack as you grab your lance off your hip again, snapping it alight and coming up with a hard, two-handed swing--you see his eyes widen behind the goggles as he contorts in the water to catch it on his bladed spine-fin. The force of your strike pushes him back off-target, up and just barely over his own depth charges as they finally sink to the ground and explode harmlessly.>Charge. He's wide open.>Keep wearing him down.
>>31094193Beam out pads require a lot of power, right? What's the feasibility of dashing to the center of the room where Tiger made a mess of the beam out pad, grabbing a power conduit, and doing a full power discharge into this area? It should detonate the erratic mines at least. Either that or link the two mines together via T. Coil for an explosive bolos. Snagging Skipjack in it would be difficult,but the T. Coil line would offer a safe purchase to grab and redirect the mines trajectory. If it doesn't hit the fish, they'll at least explode on the far side of the fish tank. If Pirate Man's boss room from Rockman & Forte is anything to go by, high powered flame weapons create high temperature whirlpools when used underwater. If that holds true here, it might be good for mine redirection / Smoking a Kipper. I'll be back in the morning, good to see this running as always.
>>31094999Charge.I don't think this is a feint.
>>31094999>Charge. He's wide open.Finish him
>>31094999Kill the fucker
>>31094999>Charge. He's wide open.
>>31095031>>31095047>>31095117>>31095342>>31095352Stowing your lance, you size it up--Negligible damage, good charge, wide opening. You realize that this is it. You lean forward and dash, taking off in a blast of water and flash steam, leaping high as your hands go to the heavy hilt on your back. Skipjack recovers just in time to catch the full length of a blade almost as tall as you are, swinging the great beam flambard down with all the force of your body motion behind it. Even underwater, liquid fire springs alight inside the magnetic envelope and refuses to dim for the elements, flooding the blue-grey room with bright orange that flickers across every surface. The maverick makes a strangled noise, too stricken even to cry out, as you carve a deep, molten streak through his entire front. You power through the strike, the follow-through sending him rebounding into the far wall--he opens his eyes just in time for you to hit the ground and activate your Raikousen.This time, he gets a scream in--you tackle him midbody, straight into the searing line you just burned into him, and unload all the rest of your capacitors the instant you make contact. The room is alight again, brighter than day, water seething and roiling as the remaining, drowned electronics flicker and short, explosions cascading through the components with a torrent of bubbles. You don't stop until your reserves bleed completely dry, every last joule arcing through the fish's body. You kick off of him and hop back, once again interposing between him and the door as his body bonelessly sinks to the floor, broken. "All right," Tigershark says as he calmly slips in through the broken window, "That's a wrap. Good work, kid."
>>31095634Skipjack--not dead, but probably feeling it--slowly hauls himself upright, only one eye still ... extant, looking up as he turns to see the massive S-rank hunter slowly marching across the ground towards him. "I--I surrender." Tigershark doesn't stop, nonchalantly lifting the half-paralyzed fish with one arm. "I surrender!" He repeats, eye widening, trying to push him away feebly. "Did you hear me?! I said, I--"Tigershark takes a two handed grip on the maverick's body as his jaws part with a small string of bubbles. "Tanker--" "I surrender! I surrender! I--" Skipjack screams again as Tanker's steely teeth snap down on his arm, and he begins to rip the maverick apart."Tanker!" Blowfish calls, voice suddenly very tiny and far away in your ear.He doesn't stop, jaws snapping and drill snarling as he rends the terrified maverick to pieces, ripping him to shreds in his bare hands. It's over in a horrifying, grisly second, Skipjack's oily blood pooling out and staining the room yet one more color, a deep, ugly red."What the FUCK, Tanker?!" you howl, completely disbelieving that--that any of this just happened."Oh, come on," he grunts--not in anger, but simple, everyday annoyance--a piece of Skipjack's hand still stuck in his maw. "Do you really think he was going to surrender? Has that worked, even once?"
>>31095645You sputter. "It--yes, it damn well has! On a special mission, as soon as I met him he--" "You mean he never tried to fight you. What about after? Didn't you wind up walking around topless for a day because you took a 'surrender?'" You glower at him, but can't muster a response. He just chuckles, spitting out a thumb. "Thought so. Let me tell you something, Anode. Mavericks? Mavericks are dead men walking. And not just because we kill them. They have no rights. They have no country. They have no legal protection--not really. When we capture them, most of them wind up 'retired.' And don't give me that garbage about trying them. You knew damn well he was guilty. They're all bullshit kangaroo courts anyway. Once they make the switch, their days are numbered, and they know it." He looks at you coolly, even as ... scraps of silicate and metal that were once Splashdown Skipjack drift free and fill the air around him like a bloody halo. "And they'll do anything--anything--to cheat the reaper another day.""I--that's--he couldn't have even fought back--"Tigershark rolls his eyes. "Come on, kid, I was new once. I tried to let them surrender. That one got away and wound up destroying a United States nuclear submarine. That was it, for me. Lesson learned. They don't want to surrender. They don't change their ways. Ever. Not for some bright-eyed, fresh-faced rookie maverick hunter who's gonna change the world. You know what we are to them, Anode? Race traitors. We're 'holding the Reploid race back.' Kowtowing lackeys to our human overlords."He turns his back, putting a foot on the shattered windowsill as he drops what's left of a mangled torso. "And they sure as hell aren't going to let YOU surrender, the day they kill you.">Sounds like a lot of justification for someone so damn sure of themselves, Tanker. >...
>>31095657>Sounds like a lot of justification for someone so damn sure of themselves, Tanker.
>>31095657>Option 3"That might all be true, Tanker, but we are NOT Mavericks. We're better than this. We're the God damn heroes, for christ sake. There's no future for us if we just keep mindlessly killing each other over and over again. So you go ahead and mock me, but I'm gonna keep believing in something better for all of us."
>>31095657>Just... wow. So atrocities are alright because they committed them first? What the fuck is wrong with you?>I don't care if it works or not, this is simply not how it's done. It's not how we do it, and that's one of the things that sets us apart. But enough talk, it' not my place to judge. Let's get back to HQ.Just get out of the water asap. He's totally mav.
>>31095938Hes either mav, or gonna go mav. Not the smartest man either way. If that shit doesnt raise questions, eventually it will.
>>31095938>>31095963Just because he's brutal doesn't mean he'll go Mav.
>>31096026In MMX? Yes it does.Or at the very least increase his chances, especially since he's not only brutal, but outright vicious and just comitted a war crime.Also, if I were an undercover mav and another mav was trying to surrender... would you take the risk of him outing you once he's captured? This is probably paranoid conspiracy level of thinking, but it fits.
>>31096111And it fits our character
I think the paranoia that just popped up is misplaced, guys.If anything, Tanker is just old and experienced and has seen this shit before.>>31095657"... It still doesn't seem right."
>>31095657>...>He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you.
>>31095928This feels like something Nite Owl would say, I support it
>>31095928>We're better than this. We're the God damn heroes, for christ sake. There's no future for us if we just keep mindlessly killing each other over and over againHm, okay, I really have to doubt this part. It's coming off as too preachy and way too unrealistic.Mavericks flip out and start killing people. Compared to that, you want to... what, just not fight them? Because that's what "There's no future for us if we just keep mindlessly killing each other over and over again." sounds like -- as if fighting Mavericks is wrong somehow.Frankly, given that we don't engage in terrorism and mass-murder? We are NOTHING like Mavericks. I don't even know why you'd bring that up, except because it sounds like something "an idealistic hero" would say, rather than because it's something that makes sense in context.We can probably reasonably bitch about what we feel was unnecessary brutality.
>>31095657>...>He who fights monsters should see to it that he himself does not become a monster.
>>31096317>>31096365This isn't the point to suddenly become philosophical
Hmm... The "He who fights monsters" line is certainly appropriate, but... is it something we want to say?I mean, if I remember correctly, Maverick Hunters are at high risk of going Maverick themselves.It would be a legitimate worry for any Hunter. And I think implying something like that may not be very nice/calming/helpful.Though yes, it does feel like it works here.
>>31096337it does sound a bit preachy, now that i read it again. I'm not saying its our fault that we're killing each other. It's our job after all. It's just Tanker is suggesting our only option is an endless chain of fighting.(sadly, if you look at the games of the franchise, he's essentially right, but we don't know that in character)Basically Tanker is personifying what we probably don't want to become, and I was trying to put refuting that in words, and kind of stumbled.
>>31096392>Tanker is suggesting our only option is an endless chain of fighting.Well... Yes.And frankly, I think that everything Anode has seen so far from Mavericks, would lead Anode to believe that, yeah, you have to keep fighting Mavericks.Frankly, I don't think Anode would disagree with a statement like "Mavericks have to be fought". Because Mavericks are destructive lunatics and monsters.Honestly, I think he's just surprised at Tanker's brutality here, is all.
So I probably should have said this a long time ago, but I think I'm going to end this thread here. That said, please do continue discussing, this was kind of a Big Deal for Anode. In the meantime, I've got some morning errands to run, and there's that "sleep" thing I hear is all the rage these days, but I'll be at the computer for a while yet, if you have any questions, comments, votes, or anything.Hope you all enjoyed the thread, and thank you for reading.
>>31096418Hmmm. Well I have a headache and need to sleep soon myself...But I'm curious about this bit here: >>31095645>"Tanker!" Blowfish calls, voice suddenly very tiny and far away in your ear.Was Blowfish objecting to this too in someway?What does Blowfish think about this?Actually, what is the general MH outlook on Mavericks and surrender and finishing off enemies like this?
>>31096483Blowfish was trying to get his attention on comms as he heard the concern in Anode's voice, and connected the dots. And yeah, that was him trying to object.The hunters are a very mixed bag. The most important thing is that, on paper, nothing Tanker did was wrong. The hunters aren't a military outfit, and the mavericks aren't a recognized state or what have you. You're not obligated, by duty or law, to ever offer a maverick terms of surrender, unless otherwise stated. Most hunters aren't even cleared to make the attempt, unless they're A-rank or higher. A lot of older hunters adopt a very cutthroat attitude about the matter, since that's often how they've made it that far. But even among the oldest hunters you'll find those with a merciful bent, and they're by no means united on the topic, at any level.
>Little late to the closing scene here, but, better late than never. Sir, a part of me realizes you've told me the truth as you've seen and lived it: hard, brutal, and merciless. You could even be attempting to show concern for a fellow Hunter who's had his shit kicked in more often than not due to 'Bad Judgment'. Sir, I could have agreed with a clean execution. I could have agreed with an enemy that succumed to his own wounds. You savaged him to death. You let him die in terror, screaming and begging for mercy.I'm too new to lecture you, sir, but in my opinion that was the most terrifying thing any sentient could inflict upon another.I hope his blood quieted your demons, Sir, because you've certainly given me a few more.
>>31097116That seems to be the main line that'll come up in the ensuing debrief."You executed an enemy who surrendered and was openly helpless!"In this day and age, that's a textbook war crime.
>>31097152Even past the brutality and all, he could have been a valuable source if intel. We _know_ there is a/are mav agents on the force. Even if he doesn't know who, he could have been used as bait.
>>31097152Issue is, we are sort of in the witch hunt era of Maverick Hunting. We have no idea what the maverick virus is, nor the major signs of someone going maverick or even how to STOP reploids from going maverick aside from a very small number. If we ever guess wrong, people die.. and we've seen that happen a lot. War crimes tend to involve weak civilians being tortured or killed when they cannot defend themselves. But what about monsters like Saetos? Imagine he said he surrendered and then went 'naaah' and used our drop guard to kill a HELL of a lot more people?We save who we can, but if we can't save them, we move on. As is, we have saved hundreds of lives today. We have done a good job so let's not focus on the fish that got away.
Can we at least point out that there was absolutely no reason he had to tear the tuna apart while Skipjack was alive? I mean, if you want to do no mercy, that's one thing, but that doesn't mean you have to drag it out like that...
