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Last Time:

“Arco, Wynn. Take a look at this thing, will you?”

They both probe the metal for a bit. Arco starts to absorb part of it. Wynn takes the other half. They meet in the middle of the shard and part again. The shard dissapears.

“Hey, are you supposed to feed MAGs metal like that?” Ash asks. “I thought they needed Photon.”

“You'll just have to tr-” Your mind is suddenly filled with images. Experiences from the eyes of two strangers. A gruesome image of a man killing his daughter them himself. The next image, a decaying monstrosity in a lab.

The last image is more vivid. Many strange men fill a room,, all dressed in alien robes. “Welcome to the spaceship, Noah.”

The voice of Rudo cries out. “We shall make you see how it feels to lose something that you love!”

Hugh joins him. “You have shown me the ugliness of continued existence.”

You come back to reality, shaken and confused, but you feel stronger for it. Ash looks terrified.

“It happened again! Are you okay? I think we need to send you to med bay.”

Current stats: 7 STR/7 DEX/13 MIND

Weapons
>Handgun
>Wand

Armor
>Giga Frame
>>Heat Resistance
>>Support Technique

Techniques
>Foie - Single fireball [Easy]
>Zonde - Single bolt of electricity [Easy]
>Barta - Line of icicles [Easy]
>Resta - Temporarily patches up the wounds of one person [Moderate]
>Shifta - Increase the speed and strength of party members [Moderate]
>Deband - Increase density and shear strength of skin and armor of party members [Moderate]

Meseta: (0 Purchases)

Feeding unidentified apocalyptic metals to your MAGs is totally safe. TOOOOOTTALY safe.

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The shuttle lands. The three of you rush Elenor into the dock. Maiawynn manages to find someone to take Elenor to the Lab on a cart.

“We'll do everything we can to preserve her A.I. while we repair her.” the man assures you. “She'll be in good hands.”

Ash brings the topic back to you. “Pheonixia, Elenor is going to be taken care of. Will you please go to the med bay, now? You scared me back there on the ship. Getting knocked around by that dragon might have given you a concussion or something.”

> A. You're not leaving Elenor's side

> B. Go get checked out in med bay

> C. Go home to rest

>>40785590
>A. You're not leaving Elenor's side
It's my fault she's like this.

>>40785590
>B. Go get checked out in med bay

>>40785624
Switching to B for expediency's sake.

>>40785833

Based anon.

SO, should we keep focusing on support skills, and if not, what kind of strategy are we going with?

Ice to me seems like the least dangerous for friendly fire. Lightning has obvious problems for CAST whose insulation has been broken, and melted circuits are a lot harder to repair than frozen ones. Deals about the same to living tissue, though.

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“Fine, I'll go.”

You can't help but worry about your friend, but that only helps you empathize with Ash.

…

You and Ash arrive at the med bay, and request a hunter's checkup. You sat on beds while the nurses take vitals.

Just before your eye exam, you notice Ash removing his frame. His body is covered in scars, and it looks like he's been heavily bruised and burned. There's no way you'd be able to take that level of punishment.

“Well, it looks like you're in tip-top shape!” The nurse gives you a big smile. “It looks like your friend did a good job keeping you out of harms way.”

It looks like Ash is being taken in for some sort of treatment. Your MAG gives you a mail indication.

> A. Check the mail

> B. Check on Ash

> C. Check on Elenor

>>40786052
>A. Check the mail
If we go and report, the others won't need to be interrupted during treatment.

>>40785998
We're going for an all-purpose mage look.

>>40786052
>A. Check the mail

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You bring up the mail. It's an encrypted message from Principal Tyrell requesting a report.

You give him the details of the fight against the dragon, including Elenor's condition. A response comes within a minute of sending it. He could hardly have had time to read it. He requests you come to the Principal's Office at your “soonest possible convenience.” You take that to mean now.

> A. Check up on Ash

> B. Check on Elenor

> C. Check on Maiawynn

> D. Go to the principal's office

>>40786444
>C. Check on Maiawynn
THEN
> D. Go to the principal's office
Tyrell will want to know their conditions, anyway.

>>40786490
Seconded.

>>40786444
>>40786490
sure

>>40786683
oh thank god. I need to leave in a few hours and I'm not sure how much voting I'll be able to get done on a phone.

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You decide it's best not to keep Tyrell waiting, but you can still make a pit stop to check on Maiawynn. A quick call reveals that she's at the lab with Elenor.

…

Exitting the shuttle to the Lab's section of Pioneer II, you notice that everything seems to have a much sleeker look to it. Even down to the information kiosks and bulletins. There is also heavy security here. You walk up to the main desk to find...Nol?

“Pheonixia! Didn't think I'd ever see you again.” You can't really tell if she's happy to see you or not.

“What are you doing here?”

“The government 'offered' me a position here after our excursion down to Ragol. I'm constantly under watch, but at least they're paying me ok.” Another forced smile. “Can't ever contact anyone who works in the media again, either... Anyways, what brings you to the lab?”

“My friend Elenor. She's a cast that got hurt pretty bad, they took her through here to get patched up.”

“Oh her? She looked pretty banged up. Go up to floor 12,” Nol motions toward the elevator. “You'll want to speak to Elly Person.”

> Continued...

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You emerge from the elevator to be created by a somewhat unnerving sight. Elenor is on a table surrounded by scientists with various tools. Her head seems to be wired to some device. You spot Maiawynn talking to a young looking FOnewearl. You walk up to the two, who stop their conversation to great you.

“Hey Pheonixia. Good to see you up and well. This is Elly. She's helping out with Elenor.”

Elly extends her hand. “Nice to meet you. I'm Elly Person. I'm an assistant here at the Lab.”

> A. Is Elenor going to be ok?

> B. What are they doing to her?

> C. Ask Maiawynn if she's been looked at by a doctor yet.

>>40786741
An investigative reporter who got burned so bad, she got a government job.

Ouch.

>>40786888
>C. Ask Maiawynn if she's been looked at by a doctor yet.
>I need to report to Principal Tyrell, so just give it to me straight: Is Elenor going to be ok?

>>40786894
yeah, that mission could have gone better

>>40786888
> C. Ask Maiawynn if she's been looked at by a doctor yet.

>>40786888
>C. Ask Maiawynn if she's been looked at by a doctor yet.

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“I'm Pheonixia, nice to meet you. I don't have a lot of time, so can you tell me if Elenor is going to be ok?”

Elly sighs. “Well, her chassis is totalled. Luckily, we are confident that her A.I. Can be copied and preserved using a new technique. I have my friend, Calus, consulting remotely on the transfer. He's a genius when it comes to A.I. We'll keep you both informed of any progress we make. Just have Nol forward your guild mail address to me.”

“Thank you, Ms. Person. That makes me feel a lot better.”

She smiles and returns to the table to assist the scientists.

“Maiawynn,” you turn to your friend, “have you been to the nurse yet?”

“Elenor's injuries are way worse than mine. Just figured I'd prioritize.”

“Well, Ash and I already got checked out. You should, too.”

She gets up, eliciting a groan and limping onto her un-ignited sword as a crutch. “Yeah, I suppose you're right.”

“I have to head to the Principal's office. We can split shuttle fare.”

…

After dropping Maiawynn off at the clinic, you go to meet with Tyrell. Irene shows you in, and you find Tyrell looking at live footage from Ragol. His view screen is plastered with images of the Central Dome, the rotunda, various rooms, and most notably, the dragon's corpse.

He speaks, still looking at the screen. “Magnificent beast, isn't it?”

> A. Yes, I suppose it is

> B. That thing ate my friend

> C. You wanted to discuss something, sir?

>>40787193
>I'm sure Elenor would disagree.
Resisting urge(me, not Phoenexia) to make about "what's on the inside that counts".

> C. You wanted to discuss something, sir?

>>40787193
> C. You wanted to discuss something, sir?

>>40787193
>C. You wanted to discuss something, sir?

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“You wanted to discuss something, sir?”

“Hmph,” he sits back in his seat and swivels to face you. “Good work on taking out the dragon. Thanks to you, the area appears to be safe enough to establish a permanent presence. We are working on repairing the data burst dish on the Central Dome to transfer any information Pioneer I may have had to our computers.

“By permanent presence, you mean?...”

“An outpost, as it were. We move in WORKS and some Hunter's Guild personnel to secure the area while my people prepare the buildings for colonization.” He presses a button, a blueprint of the Central Dome pops up on the view screen. “A vital part of this operation would be the mining facility Pioneer I set up deep underneath the Central Dome. I would like you to go ahead of the other Hunters to search for any survivors.”

“Is this about Rico, sir?”

He doesn't answer.

> A. Once I've recovered from this last job, I'll take a look underneath the Central Dome

> B. It is still way too dangerous to go down to the planet

> C. We have more pressing concerns. (Explain Mother Brain)

>>40787545
>A. Once I've recovered from this last job, I'll take a look underneath the Central Dome

>....Sir, we may have to prepare for war. Against this planet. (Explain Mother Brain)

>>40787545
> C. We have more pressing concerns. (Explain Mother Brain)

>>40787545
>C. We have more pressing concerns. (Explain Mother Brain)
Doubt he'll listen to us, but let it not be said we didn't tell him.

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“We have more pressing concerns.”

“What do you mean?” He folds his hands underneath his chin.

“There is an artificial satellite somewhere in orbit around Ragol is controlling the climate and biosphere of the planet. I have reason to believe this satellite, Mother Brain, will create more aggressive wildlife.”

“How could you possibly come to know this?” He seems receptive, but skeptical.

“It's hard to explain, but it's related to an artifact I found. We aren't the first intelligent life on this planet.”

“Let me stop you right there.” Tyrell stands up and walks around his desk toward you. “It's been like herding cats trying to keep this ship from falling apart. I understand that you may have found something, but that must never be shared outside this office. We cannot have the people of Pioneer II worried about aliens, among all these other things.”

> A. This place was a desert planet before Mother Brain turned it into a death trap. We have to be cautious!

> B. Fine, I'll go down to the mines, but don't say I didn't warn you.

> C. Either way, it's not a good idea to start migrating this soon

>>40787988
> A. This place was a desert planet before Mother Brain turned it into a death trap. We have to be cautious!

>>40787988
> A
> C

>>40787988
>A. This place was a desert planet before Mother Brain turned it into a death trap. We have to be cautious!

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“This place was a desert planet before Mother Brain turned it into a death trap! We have to be cautious!”

Tyrell stares at you, silently contemplating. You continue.

“It is way too early to migrate to the planet. We don't even know where the dark matter wave is coming from.”

Tyrell responds, “You say this planet was a desert before this...teraforming satellite started to alter it. Then what would you have us do if we found it?”

> A. Secure it so that we know what it's up to

> B. Destroy it

> C. Try to alter its programming

>>40788347
> A. Secure it so that we know what it's up to

>>40788347
I don't know. At the least,
>A. Secure it so that we know what it's up to

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“At the very least, secure it so we know what is going on.”

Tyrell pinches the bridge of his nose and grumbles. “Fine, we will scan the system for any signatures that might indicate a satellite. But I will not interrupt progress on the outpost. You are dismissed.”

…

The following day, you are mailed three sets of coordinates and a note.

“Do with these as you will. You have permission to use an interplanetary shuttle. I expect daily reports via data burst.”

The coordinates seem to correspond to the three major features of the Ragol system. One of them shares an orbit with Ragol I (the planet you are in orbit around.) The other shares an orbit with Ragol II (the ice planet further out from the star.) The third seems to be somewhere within the asteroid belt, closer to the star.

> A. Recruit some friends to join you. (Write in who you wish to bring in order of preference. Up to three of the most popular choices will join you.)

> B. Go on your own

> C. Wait on the satellite, take some missions planet-side to build up some cash

>>40788828
>B. Go on your own
Just some initial scouting. If things get heavy, we can bail out and come back later with support.

How was the hazard pay on that dragon op?

>>40788863

Enough meseta to cover two major purchases. If you guys want to go shopping before heading wherever it is you want to go, be my guest.

>>40788920
Nothing wrong with window shopping, at least.

>>40789067

A quick look through some of the inventory available:

Weapon Shop:

Stick (Offensive cane)
Autogun (Stronger handgun)
Rod (Long offensive technique focus, less casting benefit than Wand)
Staff (Stronger casting focus)
Saber (Plasma blade weapon)

Technique Shop:
Gifoie (Fire technique that projects in a circle around the caster)
Gizonde (Electric Technique that arcs towards additional enemies)
Gibarta (Cone of extreme cold and icicles)
Jellen (Reduce target's offensive capabilities)
Zelan (Reduce target's defensive capabilities)

Armor Shop:
Soul Frame (2 Slots, stronger protection than giga frame)
Booster Unit (Small jets that can push you and allow hovering for short bursts)
Technique Unit (Boosts effectiveness of one technique type: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Support, Healing)
Barrier (Provides instant point deflection of an incoming attack, enhances defense against attacks with small area)

Well, if no one wants to shop...It's getting kind of late on a week day, so I'll end it here and continue on Sunday night.

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You decide to scout the nearest satellite. You use Ragol as a gravitational slingshot and coast towards a satellite on the other side of the star.

You don a space suit after docking with the ancient satellite. The airlock mechanism hisses, and you are met with two casts with human looking faces. The one on the right appears to be a large and heavily armored male. The one on the left is female, with daintier features.

“Hello. You seem to be the first visitor we've had in a long time. Nice to meet you!”

> End of part 8

>>40789567
thanks for running

>>40789262
Well I did say I would leave

Per my suggestion to reduce risk of failure:
Staff
Soul or Booster

>>40789567
See you next time