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>>36841826
"Yang's moving up and cutting those bastards to pieces," Moreno says, weariness and regret dragging at her voice as she scans through the data flashing across my tactical display, "Didn't save the third infantry regiment though. We'll need to look for survivors in a bit."

As the hour comes to a close, all that remains on the field is the battered remnant of the last Enemy armor regiment, and the Tezrach infantry that still advances, no matter their losses. I can respect their bravery at least, and prepare to end this battle once and for all. My hellbore raises, the hatches of my VLS tubes flip open, and the cherry red barrels of my infinite repeaters track for targets as I bellow my hatred at my foe, and roll forward.

{Give me one last roll, 5d6-3}

What shall we do immediately after the engagement?
[ ] Contact Tiperrary and organize relief parties to the remaining cities
[ ] Travel towards Raleigh and offer support until the Tezrach are eliminated
[ ] Stop and speak with Moreno and Yang, we need to take stock and eliminate any straggling Tezrach

Rolled 3, 5, 5, 6, 2 = 21 (5d6)

>>36841853
>[ ] Travel towards Raleigh and offer support until the Tezrach are eliminated

>>36841853
Oh, and as a bit of a treat and me tweaking the system entirely too late, I'll choose the best roll off the winning vote.

Rolled 4, 4, 5, 5, 1 - 3 = 16 (5d6 - 3)

>>36841853
[x] Contact Tiperrary and organize relief parties to the remaining cities

>>36841988
You're too nice! Hopefully we do well enough not to really need it.

>>36841853
>[x] Travel towards Raleigh and offer support until the Tezrach are eliminated
Time for Bolo!

>>36842140
What about the roll, anon?

Rolled 2, 3, 3, 3, 3 - 3 = 11 (5d6 - 3)

>>36841853
>>36842140
Ooops yeah

Rolled 5, 2, 3, 5, 3 - 3 = 15 (5d6 - 3)

>>36841853
>[ ] Travel towards Raleigh and offer support until the Tezrach are eliminated

>>36842353
>>36842305
>>36841930
We shall not rest until the last Tezrach lies dead at our feet!

Writing now.

At least we got one good roll.

>>36842370
I'm off to sleep, thanks for running!

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>>36842370
With no need to hold back, no other disaster about to befall the planet that I and its military had sacrificed so much for, I unleash the full weight of my arsenal upon the foe. My mortars and missiles change the landscape itself as I advance, turning what was once a nature preserve into a cratered moonscape, the bomblets and 30cm shells sending plumes of dirt and cobalt blood flying through the air. I vent my grief on this last, lone remnant of the foe that had ripped so much away from this world, my hellbore making the atmosphere warp and scream as I pump burst after burst of plasma into the squads and skimmers that cower before me. I am Badb Catha, the hooded crow, sower of panic and the destroyer of nations, and I bring the fury of a god down upon the butchers of Carthen.

I finally come from the trance of full combat reflex mode after 37 minutes and 56.21 seconds, my remaining treads stained blue with the blood of the Enemy and steam lifting from the barrels of my guns. Catha looks at my display, a wan smile on her face, and gently strokes the arm of the command couch that she is seated in. "I think we need to visit Raleigh again, Catha. We need to make sure not a single one of these bastards escape, not after all they've done."

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>>36843178
My broken treads at last roll to a stop outside of Raleigh, and I watch proudly as the volunteer regiments from Tiperarry stream into the ruins, the last of the Tezrach infantry falling by their hands after my bombardment broke the back of their resistance. As the seventh hour passes, my sensors pick up the flashes of exotic radiation that are the tell-tale signature of warp entry, and Captain Moreno and I watch as the relief fleet picks the Tezrach troop transports out of the sky, each bulky ship sending shooting stars streaming towards Shanti as its wreckage breaks apart in the atmosphere. A few hours later, and three shapes detach from the fleet and roar to the planet on wings of fire, and it is with a warm rush of pleasure that I feel fellow Bolos link onto the same datanet that I am using. I send a hail to my younger siblings, Mark XXXII's from the information that we rapidly trade each other, and watch them contentedly as they hunt the scattered remnants of the Enemy.

A communication's request reaches me over the Brigade channels, which I immediately accept, and a smiling face appears on my tactical display. "Good evening, you two," the woman says, a Major Eva Reyes from her identification codes, "And here we thought we'd land in the middle of a massacre. You seem to have done most of the hard work for my troopers and I though, for which I thank you. I'm currently working with General Bradshaw's government to figure out the situation on the ground, where we can land our humanitarian supplies and such."

Questions?
[ ] What will happen to the Tezrach now that we've driven them off?
[ ] General Bradshaw's government? We thought that Chancellor Pacquette was the planetary leader?
[ ] Are we needed for anything?
[ ] Write-in

>>36843197
>[ ] Are we needed for anything?
god how much did i miss?

Rolled 6, 1, 3, 4, 1 = 15 (5d6)

>>36843197
>[ ] General Bradshaw's government? We thought that Chancellor Pacquette was the planetary leader?

>>36843197
>[x] General Bradshaw's government? We thought that Chancellor Pacquette was the planetary leader?
>[x] What will happen to the Tezrach now that we've driven them off?

>>36843197

General Bradshaw's government? We thought that Chancellor Pacquette was the planetary leader?

>>36843197
>[ ] What will happen to the Tezrach now that we've driven them off?
>[ ] General Bradshaw's government? We thought that Chancellor Pacquette was the planetary leader?
[deadpan voice] Oh, No. Bradshaw pulled a coup. How terrible.

>>36843266
This.

>>36843197
So what is this about a new government, and more importantly, how are we going to make the squishies pay?

Writing now.

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>>36843529
Lisa's eyes narrow as she hears the general's name, and she asks, "What is this about Bradshaw being in goverment? I thought he just ran the defence forces?"

The Major's smile becomes a bit more strained, and she laughs awkwardly before replying, "Well, I guess that makes sense since your comms mast was knocked out during the fighting and he probably didn't want you to know anyway. He uh...well let's just be blunt, he overthrew that useless bitch Pacquette for refusing to start a draft to keep Tiperrary safe."

My personality center rocks with guilt as I realize the subtext in the general's last rushed message to me. Before I can ask any more of the hundreds of questions that race through my circuitry though, Eva continues, "Last I heard, he was planning on holding her accountable for letting some of the cities near the Tezrach LZ burn with no attempt at a defence, and for holding off on opening the armories," she pauses, rubbing at the ports in her neck, and looks almost sheepish as she adds, "We're uh, just kind of going along with it at this point. The Concordiat has ordered that we set up a garrison on Shanti since it's near a major warp node that the Melconians have been thirsting after for a while now, and he seems a lot more cooperative than the dearly departed Chancellor."

The sheer breadth of the implications are shocking. Shanti would no longer be an unaligned planet, or be able to hold true to its original charter's pacifist ideals, and from the data that had been given to me about the Melconian front, it very well might become a target again in the future. My optical pickup trains on Lisa, and while I do not necessarily approve, I can understand the look of sheer vindication that has made her face glow with triumph. "And what about the Tezrach, Major Ryes," she asks, sitting up ramrod straight in the command couch, "Are we going to butcher those slimy fuckers on their home world for what they did here?"

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>>36843922
The Major's bites at her lip and faces away for a few seconds before managing to bring her eyes to meet Lisa's. "They've actually surrendered, of all things. Seems the evil little bastards were trying to take Shanti and negotiate with the Melconians for protection in a position of power since they were kind of squashed between the Concordiat and the puppies, but once this fell through here, they just kind of gave up and opened their worlds to occupation under the agreement that we keep them safe from Melconian reprisals. It's really...kinda messy, honestly, but I guess once they figured the dice weren't rolling their way here, and seeing a Bolo in action, they'd go for the next best thing and have us on their side. And since this wasn't technically a Concordiat world...well, the higher ups decided to overlook the entire attempted genocide thing and take what was offered. It'll open up the entire Aradin front, and we just couldn't give up the chance with us being pressed so hard."

The fierce smile slips from Lisa's lips, replaced with something brittle and uncomfortable as the Major fidgets on the screen.

Reaction?
[ ] Denounce the deal for being cowardly and ruining all that was sacrificed here
[ ] Gently get Lisa to go along with it, since we need every advantage against the overwhelming might of the Melconians
[ ] Just say nothing and cut the connection
[ ] Write-in

>>36843941
>[ ] Denounce the deal for being cowardly and ruining all that was sacrificed here
and open fire on the remaining enemy forces.

Rolled 5, 2, 5, 3, 3 = 18 (5d6)

>>36843941
>[ ] Just say nothing and cut the connection
FUCK THEM ALL

>>36843941
>Gently get Lisa to go along with it, since we need every advantage against the overwhelming might of the Melconians

>>36843941
>[ ] Gently get Lisa to go along with it, since we need every advantage against the overwhelming might of the Melconians
But at least demand for their leaders and commanders to be stripped bare and punished for their transgression.

>>36843941
A little bit of this, a little bit of that, we're beyond pissed.

Writing now.

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>>36844296
I see the furious scream building in Lisa before she even consciously thinks of it, the way the muscles in her neck flex and the hard flat look in her eyes, and I swiftly cut the connection before she could express what I was feeling as well. The Major's surprised face drops from the screen, and Lisa roars and howls into the darkness of my command center, hours, years of rage pouring from her in a tide of barely linked words and phrases. Finally, after long minutes of unmitigated rage, the woman who had commanded me through this brutal campaign comes to a halt, breathing heavily as she rocks in the command chair. "It's a fucking betrayal, Catha," she whispers hoarsely, breath rattling in her throat as she tried to drag air into her lungs, "The fuckers stab us in the back, butcher cities, murder Colonel Fowler like he was a fucking pig in a slaughter chute, and the brass expect us to just smile and shake the slimey's filthy tentacles like nothing happened. Just for a few systems and an advantage against the fucking Melconians."

I feel the tears spatter against the malleable fabric of the chair, and I do one of the most unpleasant duties that I have ever had the misfortune of attending to. I make excuses for the government that I serve. "It's the only way, Lisa. You've seen how badly we are outmatched by the Melconians first hand, you know that we need every advantage we can gain against them."

Lisa coughs harshly, trying to clear her throat before croaking, "I didn't hear anything about punishing the Tezrach though, no repartitions, nothing. Just the Concordiat moving in while everyone's distracted and scared. Hell, half these people moved here to get away from the war, and it just showed up on their doorstep."

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>>36844900
A feeling of dirtiness seeps through my personality core as I force my voice to say, "And how many will we have saved by making this deal happen, Lisa? How many humans, how many planets, how many Katja's?"

The last part causes her breath to hitch in her throat, and her fingers dug into my couch. "We just have to accept being a bunch of hypocrites, right? Smile and bear it so that we can keep a few more people alive," she says before lapsing into silence for a few minutes.

Finally, a bitter laugh seeps out of her, "Well, what the fuck do useless old leftovers like us care, right? Our honor and dreams don't matter, so long as we save someone else. It's a nasty pill to swallow Catha, but I'll do it because it needs to be done."

What next?
[ ] Get back in touch with the Major and discuss the deal, see if we can add some demands (write-in demands)
[ ] Get in contact with Yang, go hunt some Tezrach or see if we can maybe try to find survivors.
[ ] Talk to General Bradshaw, see if he's really okay with all of this.
[ ] Write-in

Rolled 6, 4, 6, 2, 6 = 24 (5d6)

>>36844931
>[ ] Talk to General Bradshaw, see if he's really okay with all of this.

>>36844931
>[ ] Talk to General Bradshaw, see if he's really okay with all of this.

>>36844931
>[ ] Get in contact with Yang, go hunt some Tezrach or see if we can maybe try to find survivors.

>>36844931
> [X] Get in contact with Yang, go hunt some Tezrach or see if we can maybe try to find survivors.

>>36844931
> Get back in touch with the major and discuss the deal
We need them to throw some bodies on the fire of the apocalypse war. They don't get out that easy. They institute a draft and those bodies are put under Concodiate command.

>>36844931


>Talk to General Bradshaw, see if he's really okay with all of this.

>>36845184
Changing my >> 36845122 vote to this, the Tezrach need to pay blood with blood.

>>36845254
>>36845033
>>36844986
Talking to the general it is!

>>36845184
I may use this one a bit later though, that's an interesting write in.

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>>36845352
Lisa mutters to herself, which I avoid trying to hear out of courtesy if nothing else, before she looks fiercely at my camera. "Can you get the good General on the line," she asks, sneering as she speaks Bradshaw's title, "I've got a few questions for him."

While I fear that my commander may say something untoward to the new leader of the planet, I can understand her frustrations and confusion at how rapidly things changed while we were defending Oosterbeek, and am not a small amount curious myself as to how General Bradshaw would justify his actions. With this flimsy reasoning in hand, I open a line to what was once the Chancellor's office, and the supreme commander's florid face comes into focus. "Ah, hello Captain Moreno, I cannot thank you enough for all that you've done for Shanti..." he starts, before Lisa cuts him off.

"So, I heard there was a bit of reshuffling in the planetary leadership," she says dryly, fixing the man with a glare that could freeze a flame.

To his credit, he looks somewhat ashamed as he nods slowly, but his words do not match his body language. "I simply could not let that woman leave you, Yang, and Fowler around Oosterbeek with no kind of support or insurance that your sacrifice would not be in vain. I watched her sacrifice our chance to prepare our defenses, cities, and the lives of my personnel for her ideals, Captain Moreno. To stand by and do nothing again would have been unconscionable."

Lisa grimaced, obviously agreeing with the man internally at least, before pushing forward, "And this deal with the Tezrach and the Concordiat? Shanti being dragged into the fold, the Slimies getting of scot-free. Are you okay with all of that?"

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>>36845900
It is here that the General looks down at his desk, clasping his hands tightly as he seemed to ponder over the question. My commander impatiently waits, a fierce scowl on her face as she waits her one-time ally's answer, but it takes 37 seconds for him to finally muster the strength to look back up. "I don't see how I have a choice, Lisa. If you haven't noticed, I have no military any more. The marines are dead to a man, the infantry took something like 80 to 90% casualties, and Yang is only a commander because the rest of the cavalry's senior leadership died during the initial landings. If it isn't the Tezrach trying again, it would be pirates, or maybe even the Melconians. To keep this planet and its people safe, Commander, I must sell its soul," he says, weariness and fatigue exuding from him.

What to say?
[ ] Did you at least make demands of the Tezrach? (offer suggestions)
[ ] You could buy outdated Bolos and patch up Catha instead of relying on the Concordiat
[ ] Maybe you should demand a planet so that you can resettle, with this one so damaged and taken by the military
[ ] Write-in

>>36845919
>Maybe you should demand a planet so that you can resettle, with this one so damaged and taken by the military

Rolled 1, 1, 2, 1, 4 = 9 (5d6)

>>36845919
>[ ] Did you at least make demands of the Tezrach? (offer suggestions)
Force them to help reconstruct the cities that they have destroyed.

>>36845919
>[ ] Did you at least make demands of the Tezrach? (offer suggestions)
and
[ ] Write-in
"You insult the colonists here general, they were willing to take up arms and fight to defend their homes from these fucks, why not use them instead of selling the soul of your world"

>>36845919
> You could buy outdated Bolos and patch up Catha instead of relying on the Concordiat.

>>36845988
>>36845979
They wrecked the place, they pay!

Writing now.

>>36845919
>Start rolling and searching for survivors while talking.

Pretty sure a Bolo can multitask, and finding anyone still alive to help might help the mood.

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>>36846395
While the extent of the casualties is true, it makes the numbers no less easy to bear. Each of those deaths was one of my failures, and to have such a sacrifice be used so callously makes me interject. "Have you made any demands of the Concordiat or the Tezrach, General Bradshaw," I say, continuing even as the man startles in surprise and looks at the screen uncomfortably, "There is precedent for alien species being forced to pay repartitions for being the aggressor in a conflict, and the case cannot be clearer here. The Tezrach invaded this planet with no formal declaration of war in order to barter it to our worst enemy. Surely they must realize they are treading dangerous ground and will be willing to negotiate somewhat."

"Um, Captain Moreno," the man says awkwardly, every bit of his body language exuding discomfort, "The tank is..."

"Badb Catha," Lisa says, stressing my name while looking the man dead in the eyes, "Is offering you good advice, General. I'd suggest you pay attention to what she has to say."

I continue as the General at least has the good grace to look abashed at his actions, "Additionally, General Bradshaw, you are not in a position of complete weakness. Most of your citizens are veterans of past conflicts, and were brave enough to volunteer to stand against the Tezrach menace with mere hours of notice. You do them a dishonor to not count them amongst your forces."

I pause, before adding, "And the Concordiat can ill afford to trample on veterans with a war going on, especially ones that held back an invasion by themselves. If you demand repartitions to rebuild the cities and buy more Bolos, maybe for the Tezrach to bear some of the burden of fighting the Melconians, they will have to listen."

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>>36846880
Even Lisa looks shocked at my suggestion, though she quickly covers it up and looks back to the screen, "See, Bradshaw? You've got some options here! Don't let this fucked up situation get to you, and if you are going to sell Shanti's soul, at least get a good price for it."

The man nods slowly at first, then more firmly as my words sink in. "You...you're quite right. Yes, I've been hasty, I will get back on the line with this Major Reyes woman. Thank you Captain Moreno...Badb Catha," he says, though his tongue does trip slightly over thanking a death engine like myself.

What now?
[ ] Contact the Major to see if we are needed for anything
[ ] Spend time hunting for survivors, maybe launch some of our drones
[ ] Ask about Chancellor Pacqutte's trial
[ ] Write-in

>>36846902
[ ] Spend time hunting for survivors, maybe launch some of our drones
and
[ ] Contact the Major to see if we are needed for anything
we can multitask.

>>36846902
>[ ] Spend time hunting for survivors, maybe launch some of our drones

>>36846902
>[ ] Write-in
Recomfort our dear commander

>>36846902
>Spend time hunting for survivors, maybe launch some of our drones
>Ask about Chancellor Pacqutte's trial

>>36846902
Spending some time hunting for survivors, maybe contact the major. And the fucking hug couch as usual.

>>36847282
If you don't want /tg/ to cuddle, you must either establish the character as psychotic or never give them the chance.

>>36847403
Even with psychotic characters /tg/ will still want to cuddle.

>>36847426
True.

You must establish them as psychotic and not liking to touch people.

Then surround them with people who are exactly the same.

They'll still probably try but it's the best you can do without simply removing it as an option.

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>>36847282
"And Chancellor Pacquette," Lisa asks, her tone slightly unsure and apprehensive.

"Jailed for negligence of duty and wilfully endangering lives. Her trial will be held the moment that Shanti is somewhat stable," the General says, moustache bristling, "Do not worry Captain, I will ensure that she answers for her crimes."

With a few more farewells and pleasantries, the line goes dead, and Lisa sags back into my command couch, which I shift into a more comfortable reclining position. She stares at the ceiling of my command compartment for a few moments, before I ask, "Permission to send my drones out, Commander? I believe they might be useful for finding more survivors, and might be invaluable due to the destroyed satellite net."

Lisa smiles wearily, turning and snuggling into the strange semi-solid furniture that had protected her during the battle, "You can never rest, can you, Catha? Sure, feel free. I guess we should also get on the horn with that Major Reyes, see if there's anything to do or if her shiny little Bolos have things in hand."

It takes a bit of work to get the damaged hatch along my flank open, but soon my four remaining drones are streaking towards intact cities and hunting for body heat and communications signatures and feeding them to search parties, some even finding isolated squads or the remnants of broken regiments, which is always cheering when the thought of the horrifying casualties that the Shantians suffered comes to my mind. I turn and slowly rumble towards the radioactive ruin that Oosterbeek had become. My armor was already glowing faintly in the darkness with the extensive damage that I had incurred from the Enemy's lasers, a bit of exposure would do me considerably less harm than a human search party.

While we travel, I open a line to the woman in charge of the new bolo brigade that had landed. "Hello, Major Reyes, Captain Moreno and I were wondering if you and your charges needed any help or support."

>>36847853
"Not at the moment, thanks, but I'm glad you two checked in," she says, shuffling a few pieces of paper on her desk before glancing back up, "I have some rather...hefty topics to talk about."

I quietly nudge Lisa awake from her position on the couch, and she reluctantly upright and looks at the screen. Once she appears in focus, the Major smiles and states, "While we don't need to worry about you two now, there is the question of what we have to do with you in the future."

Lisa's weary face quickly hardens, worry replacing the mild irritation that had been furrowing her brow. "Wait, I thought we were supposed to stay on Shanti..."

"That's...well that's kind of changed in light of recent events. You two have done amazing work, but I'm going to be quite blunt with this," the woman says, taking a breath before continuing, "Catha's a wreck. I checked the reports, and even to begin to fully repair her would require us to wait a few years for her radiation levels to drop. It was bad enough the repair crews that patched you had climb around in that, but at least they only had two hours of exposure. We could order in some decontaminant supplies, but it would take ages to get to a backwater like this, and even if we manage to get her levels down, I'm not sure they even make a good deal of Mark XXVIII parts any more. At this point, per our contract of providing a Bolo to patrol Shanti, it would be cheaper to send a new one than to patch Badb."

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>>36847885
The horrid, awful dread that had always lurked in the back of my conciousness now rushes to the fore, the awful idea that one day I would no longer be useful, no longer be needed, and be thrown away like so much trash. Lisa's mouth hangs open, trying to form words, but the Major continues before she can get her rebelling vocal cords to work, "So due to that, we're going to have to relieve you of command, Captain Moreno, and we're going to have to ask you to stay in Oosterbeek, Catha. It's awful, I know, and I'm so sorry, but you're dangerous to unshielded humans right now."

She holds up the papers that she had been shuffling on her desk and says, "I'm prepared to offer you a few choices though, in light of all that you've done here. Anything less for the heroes of Shanti would be shameful."


Choices for Captain Moreno:
[ ] Go back to the academy and become a trainer for the new recruits
[ ] Return home for more psychological work
[ ] Volunteer for the Melconian front once again
[ ] Stay and command the next Bolo they send

Choices for Badb Catha
[ ] Have her core pulled out and used as an instructor and template for future Bolo marks
[ ] Have her core placed into a newer mark so that she can continue to serve against the Melconians
[ ] Remain on Shanti and help it rebuild as she can
[ ] Other

>>36847919
>Choices for Captain Moreno:
>[ ] Go back to the academy and become a trainer for the new recruits
>[ ] Return home for more psychological work


Choices for Badb Catha
[ ] Have her core pulled out and used as an instructor and template for future Bolo marks

>>36847919
Choices for Captain Moreno:
[ ] Go back to the academy and become a trainer for the new recruits

Choices for Badb Catha
[ ] Have her core pulled out and used as an instructor and template for future Bolo marks
From the ashes the future will be bright!

>>36847919

>Volunteer for the Melconian front once again

>Have her core placed into a newer mark so that she can continue to serve against the Melconians

Maybe, in light of their exploits here, they'll even get to serve together again.

>>36847919
>[ ] Go back to the academy and become a trainer for the new recruits


>[ ] Have her core pulled out and used as an instructor and template for future Bolo marks

>>36847939
>>36847964
>>36848227
We shall be the example for the next generation!

Writing now

>>36848340
Lisa stares into the screen, fighting as hard as she can to fight back the tears that are threatening to spill from her eyes. "You've got to take even this from us," she asks, gesturing helplessly.

It takes a full 5 seconds for my own roiling emotions to be calmed enough to analyse my choices accurately, though I find myself agreeing with my commander. Even in this moment of victory, the brutal reality that humanity was in a war with a force far beyond its reckoning colored all things. Parts of myself, this conciousness that I had created over two centuries of service to the Concordiat, were at war with one another. The part that longed for death, to join my sisters by lying broken on the field of battle called for me to volunteer to fight the Melconians. My experiences on the colony that I spend decades on urged me to stay, to help the brave, foolish, wonderfully idealistic people of this planet survive the coming trials that they would be sure to face. But the most basic part of me, the duty and drive to serve that had been instilled in me since my creation knew that there was only one option. I must serve where I could do the most good, and that was in raising the next generation to be strong, to be able to fight their Enemy to the best of their ability.

"I would like for my core to be extracted, Major Reyes," I say quietly, "And to teach the Bolos and humans that are trying to hold back the Melconians every skill that I've learned over my life, to make sure that they survive that awful war."

Lisa rests her hand on my command couch and nods, the tears finally running freely, "Yeah, that's about the best I could do too. I'm a fucking wreck, I could barely ride with Catha without shaming myself, I don't know if I'm stable enough to go back to the Melconians. Or ever would be. I'd like to enter the hospital again, Major, get some of my issues worked out, then I can teach the poor bastards that you're going to throw into the meatgrinder."

>>36848826
The Major smiles sadly at us both, the battered remnants of the wars that humanity had fought against the hostile universe, and nodded. "I'll get to work on that once you two sign off. Lisa, we can get you on the next boat out, maybe two or three days from now, but Catha? We're going to have to wait a few years for you to cool a bit and for a retrieval team to be available. I'm so sorry, Badb, but resources are horribly thin right now and that's the best I can do. I'm sure Shanti will find you valuable while you're here though. I'll be in touch."

With that, she signs off, and I'm left alone once again with Lisa. She murmurs into the darkness, "I could've just quit Catha. Just given up and gone home. Hell, you could have just taken a retirement on this bloody planet and helped out these idiots and made sure they didn't mess up too badly. Why didn't we, I wonder?"

If I could smile, I would have in that moment. Instead, I fill my voice with as much warmth as I could and stated the creed that had guided my kind since our earliest history. "For the same reason that we've given up so much, Lisa, why we have fought so hard for so long against such dreadful odds."

[ ] For the honor of the regiment

>>36848858
[ ] For the honor of the regiment

>>36848858
>For the honor of the regiment

I'm actually a little moved by that. Cool ending.

Any idea of when you're going to run again?

>>36848858
>[ ] For the honor of the regiment

>>36848858
And that's the end of Bolo Quest! Thank you so much for joining in everybody, I hope that you enjoyed what I came up with and that you fell in love with Catha and Lisa like I did.

And sorry for not including all of the fun adventures that you could have had with Lisa with two free days, but I think that would be more fun to leave to all of your imaginations.

>>36848935
Don't know yet, actually. I've got another quest in mind, a few characters and a setting that I could easily flesh out, so you might be seeing that in a few weeks. I'll post it on the Twitter, the hugbox, and maybe the Spooky G when the time comes.

>>36848927
Thanks! No matter what the end of the quest was, whether you all lived or died, that was going to be the last choice. It just felt so right for Catha.

>>36848949
Thanks for the run! Any further plans?

>>36848949
While I do like an epilogue, this is a pretty good ending. I'm looking forward to your next quest.

Can you give us any details about it?

>>36849019
Sure, the concept so far is basically the MC is an HR manager on a penal colony/station, and it's her job to keep the various people under her care from killing each other or messing up so badly the harsh environment does it for them. So a bit more lighthearted, and much more focused on character interaction

>>36849071
It doesn't sound very lighthearted, but it does sound interesting. I'll definitely give it a look when it's ready.

Thanks for running.

>>36848949
I just woke up and caught up one this, fucking great run OP, many thanks for running this quest, very enjoyable. I'll look forward to whatever you run next, so please keep in touch with your twitter.