>>33790842
You are: (Choose one of the following three. Most votes picks PC)

Gideon Mihaylov: A twelve-year-old Fomin Colonist on the planet Salvador, the last planet colonized by the Fomin before announcing their neutrality and the end of their colonization effort. The Mihaylov family works in Salvador's mining industry, responsible for overseeing the export of various ores to other planets, and insuring imports have been certified and taxed in accordance with Fomin regulations.

For the most part, Gideon's life has been unremarkable. He spends most days outside of the residential areas of the colony, preferring to explore with his friends the vast wilderness not far from the mines his planet has made itself famous for. Today we find him yet again in the wilds with his friends, tracking local wildlife known to gather in packs.

>>33790857
Selah Yamada-Heinberg: An ICON fighter pilot, new to the ICON Naval Service. Having grown up a member of a governmental system that rules itself by putting the needs of the individual planet first, Selah has had some difficulty adjusting to not only the rigid atmosphere of ICON naval doctrine, but dealing with the widely different cultures that she had never been exposed to prior to joining up. She has no particular drive to continue on the political ideals of her home planet, nor the aspirations of ICON at large, but joined the Naval Service for the opportunity of seeing new worlds without having to pay out of her pocket, or having to take up the shovel and become a frontier colonist herself.

Selah isn't particularly adept at combat, having to recycle through basic combat training several times before meeting the requirements of graduating to Advanced Training. However, her reflexes are above average and she ranked among the top ten pilots in Advanced Training. In addition, she's quite intelligent, skilled at breaking through security systems. When she isn't in a bird, she works as a data analyst for ICONINT

As of now, Selah is stationed aboard the dreadnought Nasari, on a routine patrol route on the edges of ICON space.

>>33790863
James Quire: A member of the CTP Marine force, Staff Sergeant Quire is a member of the Landfall Brigade, a near-legendary force tasked with the job of swift and agressive colonization on planets whose claim is in contention, or swift regime change in planets already claimed and inhabited by ICON loyalists. James is an accomplished demolitions expert, preferring heavy machine weapons and large, devastating ordnance to achieve his goals in a timely manner. Many have, over the years, commented on his stature. While the man is a mountain of muscle, he stands at a less-than-impressive stature of 5'6". Comments about his height are prone to set him off, and have on more than one occasion been the catalyst for bar brawls, engagements that turned into excessive examples of slaughter, and there are even a few rumors of casualties and other incidents within CTP military forces.

Landfall has brought Sergeant Quire to a remote system where two planets have been discovered, as yet unnamed and especially coveted since both planets orbits reside within their star's habitable zone. Because of this, ICON-on-CTP engagement is especially high as supply lines and bases of operations try to find strategic footholds within the planets as well as in the system.

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>>33790863
I pick this one. Shota and Manlet a shit

OP here. Grabbing a trip for this.

>>33790871
>>33790863
Either of these two, I don't really care which.

>>33790842
>James Quire: A member of the CTP Marine force, Staff Sergeant Quire is a member of the Landfall Brigade, a near-legendary force tasked with the job of swift and agressive colonization on planets whose claim is in contention, or swift regime change in planets already claimed and inhabited by ICON loyalists. James is an accomplished demolitions expert, preferring heavy machine weapons and large, devastating ordnance to achieve his goals in a timely manner. Many have, over the years, commented on his stature. While the man is a mountain of muscle, he stands at a less-than-impressive stature of 5'6". Comments about his height are prone to set him off, and have on more than one occasion been the catalyst for bar brawls, engagements that turned into excessive examples of slaughter, and there are even a few rumors of casualties and other incidents within CTP military forces.

>>33790863
This

>>33790863
This

>>33790863
Best pilot is ago

OP is kill?

>>33791925
OP has been kill for a long while I think.

>>33791925
>>33792060
OP was kill, yes. Sorry, I abandoned thread after I saw no one replied after the first two. Doing something now, but will be around a little while later.

>>33790857
Voting for shota.

>>33790871
This one.

>>33790871
Yo.

>>33790863
Your years on Thessaly hasn't really prepared you much for the rigors of life working for the Icon Naval Service. Planetside, people generally specialize in one area, and are expected to keep to that profession to the end of their days, always advancing their field, or making sure their skills are at the cutting edge. That's perhaps the biggest difficulty for you as you become a member of the Fleet.

You were trained as a fighter pilot, to practically hack time itself with only your reflexes and what little equipment ICON could jam onto these things. It's exactly what you expected to be doing when you arrive on the dreadnought Nasari, though your expectations are quickly dashed.

The Nasari is a relatively old ship, one of the last D-Class Dreadnoughts still in commission by ICON. It's enormous by fleet standards, and could probably raze entire cities from orbit on its own, but its electronic defenses are woefully out of date by today's standards.

But then, especially for ICON, the military makes due. As soon as they read your line scores and Instructor Reports from the Naval academy, you were put on double duty. Six hours in the hangar bay a day working to become an effective member of your new squadron, and another six sitting at a comm terminal, sifting through endless strings of code in order to find what doesn't belong, what could be a weakness, what needs updating to be up to standard.

It's boring work, mostly, but people seem to like you. Your off-hours mostly comprise hours spent making small vids to send home to your folks and siblings or getting as sloshed as you reasonably can with the members of your element.

It's yet another routine day aboard the Nasari. You're currently in transit through a small solar system whose planets were incapable of supporting life, and as such been largely ignored by ICON. Still, it's technically within ICON territory, and lays conveniently between two major planets within the Organization.

>>33798602
Where were you 10 hours ago, OP?

>>33798602
Logically, merchants have set up a shipping lane that intersects with the system, and closer in is a neglected refueling outpost. The Nasari was there recently, but now is heading back onto the main patrol route, headed to Maelstrom, the closest major port on the route. Before they make the jump into Hyperspace, however, many fighter elements have requested the time to practice combat maneuvers within a star system environment, and now it's your element's turn.

You aren't out long. Even though you just refueled, the stuff isn't cheap. And even though it's been fun, feeling the constant change between weightlessness and the sudden crush of G-Force as you speed along through the vacuum of space in a playful game of tag, it's time to go. You'd already spent much of the day updating security systems, and you're tired.

Your squad leader gives the signal to form up once more, and you set a course back to the gleaming hulk in the distance that is the Nasari. You go through the motions, flashing an IFF and identifying yourself. "Orange 3-5, requesting permission to dock." Your call sign. Orange Squadron, third element, 5th pilot. It's not uncommon to hear personalized callsigns, but you haven't earned the right to one, yet. Only those who have actually engaged in combat earn one, and it's a badge of honor amng rookie recruits.

Just as you're about to go into a docking pattern, however, the sensors on your ship begin to trill lightly. It's not unusual, and this isn't exactly a quiet lane, as far out from the center of ICON as it is.

>Alert your element lead that something's registering on sensors, and follow his lead.
>Check to see if it's worth noting.
>You're tired. The damn dreadnought can check it out for itself. Do nothing.
>Break formation and take a look with your own eyes.

>>33798623
I wasn't going to start on 2 votes, anon.

>>33798652
>Alert your element lead that something's registering on sensors, and follow his lead.
>Check to see if it's worth noting.

>>33798652
>Check to see if it's worth noting.

>>33798681
You started pretty late. I'm surprised you got that many, honestly.

>>33798652
>>Alert your element lead that something's registering on sensors, and follow his lead.

>>33798863
>>33799099
>>33799140
>Check to see if it's worth noting.

You decide focus more on the display set up on your fighter's control panels. After all, this is a patrol mission. You should probably do your job and, you know. patrol. Seven ships of various size spread out in a standard formation. It suggests a civilian group, possibly a vanguard element for some trading vessel further out on the transit lane. You bring up their signal frequency, and recognize their IFF as being an ICON civilian group. Weyland Industries from the looks of it.

You're about to brush off the entire thing and concentrate once more on the docking procedure- this isn't a quiet route, you remember- when something else grabs your notice. The formation's pretty standard, yes, but there's something more. Judging from the projected course, this group is headed straight for you. Most ICON civilian ships generally leave a wide berth for military vessels. ICON and the CTP are at war, and it seems as the months go by, more and more ships get attacked on patrol routes. This holds even truer for ships on patrol on the outskirts of ICON space, like the Nasari is.

Another is that most ships as small as the varying classes you detect here are either attached to larger trading ships in order to conserve their own fuel, or stick to shorter transit routes than the one you're currently on. It could be nothing, but still, this might be something worth noting.

>>33799852
>Alert your element lead that something's registering on sensors, and follow his lead.
"Anvil, this is Orange 3-5," you state in a clipped fashion. You're generally easier around your fellow wingmates, but Major Kwesi Anan is something else. You've seen vids of Third Element in battle when you were first assigned, and and Major Anan's personality is the same as his battle tactics: Blunt, efficient, and brutal. His callsign was well-earned, in your opinion, and you give him the deference it commands.

"Go for Anvil," is his clipped reply.

"Roger, Anvil. My sensors are picking up an element-sized civilian force on a direct path for Nasari. Requesting we survey their activity before docking, over."

It's a few moments before Anan answers you. "Solid Copy, 3-5. I am seeing them, too. Ignore them and keep current course, over."

You let out a small breath. "Roger, Anvil. Orange 3-5, out." You return your attention to the controls once more. If Anan says it's nothing, it's nothing. Still, something's nagging you.

>Follow orders and keep with the docking procedure.
>Your instincts aren't letting this go. See if there's anything you can make out from your sensors.
>Fuck this. I came out for adventure! Engage them directly.

>>33799852
>>33799878
I don't even remember removing my trip.

>>33799878
>Follow orders and keep with the docking procedure.

>>33799878
>>Your instincts aren't letting this go. See if there's anything you can make out from your sensors.
Might as well.

>>33799878
>Your instincts aren't letting this go. See if there's anything you can make out from your sensors.

OP died again?

>>33802096
No.

>>33802096
Still here. I was waiting to see if there were more replies. Typing up the next part now.

>>33800899
>>33800718
>>33800718
>>33800899
>Your instincts aren't letting this go. See if there's anything you can make out from your sensors.

You comply with Anan's orders at first, but it's stilol bugging you. Still have some time before the hangar is cleared, so you look again. Same as before, Registered ICON civilian IFF, belonging to Weyland Industries. And even now, the ships are still closing in. It shouldn't be bothering you. It obviously isn't bothering anyone else, but still. Worth a shot to look into it.

You thumb the comm device built onto your uniform, one made for interpersonal communications within the Nasari. You're close enough now that you're in range with the majority of ship's personnel. With a brisk command, you're connected to Petty Officer Jessica Wilkins, one of the people who report to you when you're working as an analyst for ICONINT. You don't even wait for her confirmation before you start talking. "Wilkins, hey. It's Lieutenant Heinberg. I need you to look something up for me. Are you still on shift?"

"For the next....ten minutes or so. Why?"

"I need you to look up a company for me. It could be important, it could be nothing. Weyland Industries. See if you can look up anything regarding their current shipping routes," you tell her. Already Wilkins huffs over the comms. "No need," she responds. "I used to work for the bastards before I joined up."

"And?" Your annoyance carries over the feed, and Wilkins goes a bit more serious.

"Weyland's been dead in the water for four years, ma'am. They laid off everyone and filed for bankruptcy before going completely out of business," she replies.

The words make you freeze. "Are you certain? Weyland hasn't gotten back on its feet at all? Any new companies with that name?"

"No, ma'am. Let me....Nope. Nothing on ICON registry, anyway." You curse to yourself under your breath.

>>33803658
"Wilkins, your priority, after what goes down in the next few minutes, is to update every goddamn IFF ICON currently recognizes, and get rid of defunct codes. Standing order. Heinberg out." Wilkins starts to protest but you cut her off, switching back to the comms on your fighter.

"Anvil, this is Orange 3-5. I've been looking at the civilian IFF. It's out of date, over." Your voice is tight, laced with the urgency that's starting to fill your gut. It must be obvious even here, because Anan replies almost immediately.

"This is Anvil. What are you on about now, 3-5?"

"Anvil, there are a few errors native to Nasari. It seems they exploited them. Those are not civilians, over."

The radio is dead a few seconds before Anan replies. "Anvil to all stations this net. Nasiri has confirmed exploit. Leave docking pattern and converge on civilian IFF. Disengage training locks on weapons systems and be ready for defensive action."

One by one, your element complies, forming a v-pattern heading away from Nasari and toward these unknown ships. You count them all around you. Anvil, leading the formation. Siegfried and Hrathgar next in the formation, best friends and two pilots who work so naturally together it still astonishes you. You, coupled with Bridge. No one ever really told you why that was his name, but it is what it is.

You come together, a group of hunter-killers, ready to strike down prey, and even though this is your first real flight where danger is present, you can't help but feel a true member of this team. What would they call you? Maybe Thunderstrike. Space Falcon! you're near completely caught up in your fantasy that the adrenaline ebbs away and you barely realize you're within hailing distance of this small formation until you already are.

>>33803695
You and your element fly around the group, altering your course to adapt to theirs. They barely seem aware of your presence, altering only ever so slightly when Bridge's bird comes too close for anyone's comfort. Anan issues the customary identification request, and you maintain course, waiting for something to change up. There's silence from the ships, and Anan speaks again.

"Unidentified vessel, this is the ICON Naval Service. Please identify yourself and--"

For a moment you don't realize anything's happening. In fact, the only thing that warrants attention is a quick flickering of all your systems, but they sputter back to life. But then you also notice that Anvil hasn't finished the scripted ID request. Apparently, so have the others.

"Anvil, this is Siegfried. Is there any trouble, over?"

"Shiiit." That comes from Bridge, and then you see it. It would have been obvious sooner, but as your course changes with the silent ships, you notice that Anvil's moving as if the change never happened. And then you notice his fighter's thrusters aren't firing. Did he-?

"3rd Element, this is Bridge. Anvil is currently down. I repeat, Anvil is down. Converge on Anvil and maintain defensive posture." You start to move to follow his commands when light streaks through the speckled darkness of space, arcing through Anan's fighter before...nothing. Still, you know what it is already. Not only has his ship been disabled, but Anan has been killed. Suddenly the network shrieks alive, and you're scrambling to follow orders.

>>33803737
Bridge is in your ear, shouting for you to take up position as his wingmate, while Siegfried seems to be shouting over something, and then another arc of light, and it dawns on you that Hrathgar met the same fate. Two down, and three left. You follow Bridge's command and Siegfried seems to have the wherewithal to form up as well.

"What the FUCK was that?" Siegfried practically shouts over the comm system, and you wince at the sound of it.

"No clue, Sieg, but it looked like it killed their power," you tell him.

"No shit, 3-5. Do you know anything that could-"

"You two, shut up! We still have these guys to take care of! I radioed for assistance. For now we keep them busy!"

Indeed, it looks like the steady formation the enemy ships have taken has changed course, something more offensive, and converging on you.

>Agree with Bridge. We need to protect Nasari.
>It's a fucking Dreadnought. We need to get out of here before that happens to us, too!
>They just killed Anan and Vickers (Hrathgar). We need revenge.

>>33803765
>Agree with Bridge. We need to protect Nasari.

>>33803765
>>Agree with Bridge. We need to protect Nasari.

>>33803765
>>It's a fucking Dreadnought. We need to get out of here before that happens to us, too!
Do the smart thing and get out.

Moved to my ipad. If my trip is different, that's why.


>33803815
>Agree with Bridge. We need to protect Nasari

Roll for initiative. 1d20+3 dex

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2014-07/31/nasa-validates-impossible-space-drive

Hijacking this thread to let you know we could have ~0.2c rocketless sublight drive within the next couple of decades.

Rolled 12 + 3

>>33804828

Rolled 11

>>33804828
Best of?

Rolled 11, 3, 7, 8, 5 = 34

>>33805088
Highest roll against mine. Rolling again since it didn't seem to go through last time.

Rolled 15, 17 = 32

>>33805127
And now rolling for Bridge and Siegfried.

>>33805153
Those are some good rolls.

>>33805004
The three of you wheel around, managing to flank their formation before they have the chance to maneuver out of the way. Only three of their ships seem to be fighters, and of them, they're civilian grade, and just as outdated as the IFF they hid behind. If it weren't for that mystery weapon, this would be a cakewalk. No matter. You're prepared for it now. All you need to do is keep aware of it and it shouldn't be any sort of problem.

Siegfried manages to take the lead in the counterattack, firing upon the first fighter that manages to come to bear. All three of you pilot Zenith S-26 ICON fighters, perhaps the only cutting-edge tech aboard the Nasari. They come equipped with dual machine railgun weapons that can fire so much munitions that an intact element could turn an unprotected CTP capital ship into Swiss cheese in under a minute. You've seen it happen in training. In addition, it comes equipped with a heavy weapon in the form of a large plasma cannon, good for wearing through heavy playing and disrupting several shield types.

Indeed, Siegfried's target shows exactly what the Zenith is capable of as it takes a direct hit from his fighter's gun, practically disintegrating under the sheer force and volume of munitions being fired against it. Bridge's own target, another fighter, suffers much the same fate. The third fighter has finally made its way around and is attempting to flank you.

What do you do?

>Railguns. I don't want to see a speck of these bastards intact.
>Plasma cannon. They should feel what's happening to them.
>Outmaneuver him. See if I can take out one of his guys with him.

>>33805980
>>Railguns. I don't want to see a speck of these bastards intact.

>>33805980
>Outmaneuver him. See if I can take out one of his guys with him.

>>33805980
>Outmaneuver him. See if I can take out one of his guys with him.

Bump

RIP OP.

>>33810297
Bump

is this quest still running?