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The railgun fired with a massive thunder clap. Outside it was as if a trail of fire pierced the heavens as the de-orbiter burned through kilometers of atmosphere in the span of a minute.

You, didn't get to see any of it. All you saw were the outlines of the cockpit interior under the glow of red emergency lights.

"Sergei is this supposed to happen?"

"No, no it is not."

Drawing on the mech's meager auxiliary power you perform a diagnostic. System status checks are showing red across the board. Total power plant failure, damage to the railgun, no motive power.

"SHIT!"

"Mr. Boystov!" great, Anya on the radio, at least that still worked. "Why aren't you moving? After that display our pursuers almost certainly know where we are now."

"I dont' know what to say Anya. I think we broke it."

------------

>cont

You are Captain Dorian Graves of the Blood Dragons PMC. Under your command are some of the most undisciplined dipshits you've ever seen. You've already had to slap around some pilots for goofing off and chasing a random bounty. Not only did the morons fail to nab the target, one guy trashed his mech and they damaged their mobile server farm.

Their antics had already cost your unit a good chunk of change and you were wondering how to cover the costs when your phone rang.

"Graves speaking... uh huh... you don't say... you're damn right I'll do it!... alright-alright, now fuck off I need to get my shit together."

You hang up and smile. It was a high priority sortie order, deployment to the mission area ASAP with no battlefield intel available and no questions asked... one of the most dangerous contracts a merc could get... and one of the most lucrative.

You look at your roster, within the time frame the client wanted you had three mechs and...

>Two Mobile Gun Platforms (Up armored AFVs with tank cannons.)
>One Squadron of Helicopter Gunships
>Two Self Propelled Mortars

Better move out.

>Previous threads:
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?searchall=Cognis+Quest
>QM Twitter
https://twitter.com/CognisQM

>>41891770
>>One Squadron of Helicopter Gunships

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>>41891786
We're just getting to the exciting bit and only one player turns up.

Well since I'm not popular. I'll run a quest in one player mode.

Writing...

>>41891770
>>One Squadron of Helicopter Gunships

File: Mission_9_Opening.jpg (1.69 MB, 2719x2133)

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Your mech touches down on a hill side. Behind you is a large mech of a design you've never seen before. It was larger than most mech and had a massive railgun pointing skyward. Two figures stripped down to their waists were popping in and out of maintenance hatches, occasionally stopping to yell at each other and point frantically... whatever, they didn't pay you to ask questions.

You open the team comms.

"Alright you cock suckers! Time to earn your pay! Our mission is to defend that thing behind us from whatever comes our way! If anyone feels like getting themselves killed be my guest, more money for the rest of us."

"Holy... Gerty it's them! That's our bounty."

"And what Hank? You itching for some payback?"

"Those fuckers wrecked my Wimp! Now I have to drive this GGA garbage."

You decide to put a stop to this right now.
"I don't know what your prior relationship with our CLIENT is and I don't care. They could have a fucked your mama and kicked your puppy for all I care, but if you open fire on the customer I'll kill you myself. UNDERSTAND!?"

"...Yes sir"

"Good. Air Hog Squadron Sound off."

"Hog Leader reporting sir, squadron is ready to go and standing by."

Your Mech:

LHI Linebreaker-Custom
>Armour: 22/22
>Hunter Killer Missile: 1/1
>Light AP Sabot Cannon
>Blast Shield
>Impact Hammer

Your Minions:

Hank
>GGA Komodo
>Armour: 20/20
>Hunter Killer Missile: 1/1
>Fragmentation Cannon (Giant shotgun)
>Tactical Shield

Gerty
>GuyeCo Pugilist
>Armour: 20/20
>Hunter Killer Missile: 1/1
>Power Fist
>Chain blade
>Extra Punching arm
>Guidance Disruptor

Air Hog Squadron:
>3x Gunships equipped with:
>Auto cannon
>Long Bow Missiles 4/4
>Chaff Launcher

>Cont

>>41892391
You survey the battlefield in front of you. Looks they have three mobile gun platforms, a summit class mech and two combat drones with a Nimbus class mech acting as the drone controller.

[Tactical Combat Display Activated]

Enemy Status:
>Summit-B, Out of Range
>MGP-B1, Out of Range
>MGP-B2, Out of Range
>MGP-B3, Out of Range
>Nimbus-C, Out of Range
>Combat Drone 1, Out of Range
>Combat Drone 2, Out of Range

Mech Status:
>Armour Integrity: 22/22
>Missile: 1/1

Your Actions:
>Charge! Try to get in Melee
>Tactical Advance, lock your shield and open fire. (Roll 1d20, choose any target.)
>Move to cover and set overwatch.
>Write in.

Minion actions:
>Let those chucklefucks do what they want.
>Gerty should try to close the distance, while Hank forms up on you.
>Mass Charge
>Have the mechs engage, but hold the gunships back for now.
>Write in...

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>41892610
>>Tactical Advance, lock your shield and open fire. (Roll 1d20, choose any target.)
>Summit-B, Out of Range
>Gerty should try to close the distance, while Hank forms up on you.

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>41892610
>>41892651
simply going to support.

>>41892651
>>41892688
Alright let's do this.

Also wanted to post this earlier, felt it captured the moment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oDXFOp0-7g&index=18&list=PLpTiDdAF70fJoLo1VLil5W7YcETW45Zou

Writing...

File: Mission_9_P1.jpg (1.51 MB, 2719x2133)

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You decide to take a more cautious approach and by Blood Dragon standards that means charging a little less slowly into combat. Except for Gerty, the dumb bitch never mounted any ranged weapons so she'd have to get into melee ASAP.

You take out the lead MGP with a penetrating hit to the turret ring, the crew must have lost their nerve because you see them pop the hatches moments later and run for the woods.

The gunships move up easily matching speed with you and lay down some missile fire on the enemy gun line, damaging an MGP and taking out a drone.

(Resolving enemy phase, stand by...)

File: Mission_9_E1.jpg (1.31 MB, 2719x2133)

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>>41893014
((Resolving Enemy Phase))

The enemy response is swift. Weapons fire streaks out of the woods as the MGPs shoot back. A missile streaks towards one of the Gunships but narrowly misses as it deloys chaff at the last moment.

Gerty takes a hit from a cannon and her mech starts to slow. You think that she might have busted a leg actuator before you hear her voice over the radio.

"Fuckers are hacking me! Motive systems are acting like they've ben soaked in concrete!"

On your right side the Summit moves towards Hank and fires it's laser at him. The laser burns through his shield like it isn't there, you can tell from his cries of distress over the comms that he's taken a big hit.

As if that wasn't enough aerial recon is tracking two Cirrus class mechs coming in from the north.

[Tactical Combat Display Activated]

Enemy Status:
>Summit-B, In Range of Cannon and Missile
>MGP-B1, In Range of Cannon and Missile
>MGP-B3, In Range of Cannon and Missile
>Nimbus-C, In Range of Missile
>Combat Drone 1, In Range of Cannon and Missile


Mech Status:
>Armour Integrity: 22/22
>Missile: 1/1

Your Actions:
>Charge the Nimbus, hackers and drone are pain in the ass. (roll 1d20)
>Save Hank. He's fuck-up but he's your fuck up. (Roll 1d20)
>Keep closing the distance and fire on one of the other targets. (specify target, weapon and roll 1d20)
>Write in.

Minion actions:
>Let those chucklefucks do what they want.
>Pull the gunships back to intercept.
>Worry about it later.
>Write in...

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>41893514
>Save Hank. He's fuck-up but he's your fuck up. (Roll 1d20)
>Pull the gunships back to intercept.

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>41893514
>>Save Hank. He's fuck-up but he's your fuck up. (Roll 1d20)
>Pull the gunships back to intercept.

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>41893514
Those things

>>41893539
>>41893630
>>41893655
There's my hivemind :)

Writing...

File: Mission_9_P2.jpg (1.4 MB, 2719x2133)

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Fucking Hank...

You swing your mech round and activate your charge boosters, the enemy is too preoccupied with taking out Hank that he doesn't notice you until you smash your impact hammer into his right side, crumpling his arm and a bit of his torso.

Hank capitalises on the opportunity you bought him and finishes the Summit off with twin blasts from his frag cannon.

Gerty grunts in annoyance as she runs recovery routines on her mech before plodding onwards to enemy lines.

Despite the loss of the Summit you were in danger of being flanked now, but you needed the Gunships to head back and defend the client. You'd make do somehow...

(Resolving Enemy Phase... standby)

File: Mission_9_E2.jpg (1.28 MB, 2719x2133)

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>>41894103
The tide was starting to turn, in saving Hank you had made yourself vulnerable. Cannon and missile fire slammed into your left side, blasting chunks out of your armor, warning indicators started to flash on your HUD as the damage started to mount.

Gerty wasn't faring much better. The Nimbus and MGP had gotten a lock on her and were starting to concentrate fire. her mech was weathering it for now but if she didn't take them out soon she'd eventually go down.

[Tactical Combat Display Activated]

Enemy Status:
>Summit-B, In Range of Cannon and Missile
>MGP-B1, In Range of Cannon and Missile
>MGP-B3, In Range of Cannon and Missile (target obscured)
>Nimbus-C, In Range of Cannon Missile (target obscured)
>Combat Drone 1, In Range of Cannon and Missile


Mech Status:
>Armour Integrity: 10/22
>Missile: 1/1

Your Actions:
>Fuck Drones!. (roll 1d20)
>Fuck MGPs!. (Roll 1d20)
>Fuck Elctronic Warfare Mechs! (Roll 1d20)
>Run away! (Increase speed and Defence)
>Write in.

Minion actions:
>Let those chucklefucks do what they want.
>Write in...

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>41894355
>Fuck Elctronic Warfare Mechs! (Roll 1d20)
Hk missile it and get your shield up.
hank kill that drone!
Gertie finish up that Apc!

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>41894355
>Fuck Elctronic Warfare Mechs! (Roll 1d20)
I will differ the rest to others.

>>41894385
>>41894495

Alright

Writing...

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>41894355
Fuck you electronic warfare bitches>>41891525

File: Mission_9_P3.jpg (1.31 MB, 2719x2133)

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You turn your mech towards the Nimbus and flip on the targeter for your hunter-killer. Generally it was not a good idea to use missiles on ECM mechs because they tended to have really good ECM, but today was your lucky day. Within a second you got a target lock and sent your missile slamming into the side of the Nimbus.

"Ha! Take that you cowardly hacking, drone molesting fuck! Where is your ECM now!?"

Unfortunately your subordinates failed to follow your shining example. Despite having what was effectively a giant shot gun Hank somehow failed to hit the drone while Gerty was having trouble punching the puny MGS.

(Resolving Enemy Phase, Standby)

File: Mission_9_E3.jpg (1.41 MB, 2719x2133)

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>>41894979
((Sorry for the late reply. Something came up.))
What you hoped would be a quick battle was turning into a full on slugfest. You get your shield up just in time to intercept another missile. Fortunately for you the MGP's follow up shot goes wide, you're not sure if you could take another hit.

Gerty continues to soak up fire from the Nimbus's twin smartguns, it's a good thing her armour was as thick as her skull.

To make matters worse you're getting chatter from the Air Hogs.
"Captain this is Hog Leader, we're engaging two Cirrus class mechs. This guys are faster than anything I've ever seen, they might just blow right past us."

-------------

Dunlop Falkner squinted as his visual feed. Up on the hill was what looked like a massive railgun on legs, certainly matched the profile of the machine they'd been tracking. His thoughts were interrupted by a message from his wingman and brother.

"Dunlop, I'm tracking multiple units engaging our response team across the field. Their insignia and camo patterns match those of the Blood Dragons."

The Blood Dragons, of course those amoral butchers would be mixed up in all of this.

"Stay on target Dundee and let our colleagues do their jobs. Time to enforce the peace."

(Resolving Eney Phase, Standby)

[Tactical Combat Display Activated]

Enemy Status:
>MGP-B1, In Range of Cannon and Missile
>MGP-B3, In Range of Cannon and Missile (target obscured)
>Nimbus-C, In Range of Cannon Missile (target obscured)
>Combat Drone 1, In Range of Cannon and Missile
>Cirrus-X1, Out of range.
>Cirrus-X2, Out of range.

Mech Status:
>Armour Integrity: 5/22
>Missile: 0/1

Your Actions:
>Finish off the Nimbus. (Choose weapon) (roll 1d20)
>Attack the MGP (Melee or ranged) (Roll 1d20)
>Kill the drone (Melee or ranged) (Roll 1d20)
>Run away! (Increase speed and Defence)
>Write in.

Minion actions:
>Let those chucklefucks do what they want.
>Write in...

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>41896014
>>Attack the MGP (Melee or ranged) (Roll 1d20)
>ranged
Hank better kill the drone this time

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>41896014
>MGP-B1, In Range of Cannon and Missile
cannon
Gert kill that fucking Nimbus!
Hank kill the drone!

>>41896080
>>41896101
Let's do this

Writing...

File: Mission_9_P4.jpg (1.38 MB, 2719x2133)

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"Hank Why is that drone still alive!?"

He answers by finally blasting it apart with his frag cannon.

"Took you long enogh you giant butt munch! Now come and help me with this gun on wheels."

You fire a shot at the MGP with your cannon and score a clean hit, perhaps too clean as the vehicle continues to fight on despite the damage.

"Gerty! Take out the Nimbus!"

Clearly she had the same idea as she stops chasing the vehicle she'd been so ineffectually shooting and rounds on the Nimbus. The ECM mech didn't stand a chance. Gerty all but pulverises it with the combined assault of her various melee weapons.

Air Hog squadron continues to please. Taking down one of the incoming Cirruses with concentrated missile fire, forcing the pilt to eject. Maybe next time you should just go into battle with an entir wing of choppers behind you.

(Resolving Enemy Phase Standby)

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>>41896606
It turns out that you would lose this particular cannon duel, no sooner does Hank manoeuver to flank the MGP does it let off one last shot with it's cannon that punches through your battered shield and slams into your torso proper. Sparks and smoke erupt from the side of your cockpit even as garbled warnings flash across your hull, your mech's had it, stay here any longer and you risk going down with it.

With practiced swiftness you yank open the mech's emergency escape hatch and jump down between it's legs, then you run. You run like a little bitch and you don't look back until you finally reach the cover of a tree on the hill.

After the destruction of the Nimbus it looks like the MGPs were making a fighting retreat, they were too damaged to continue the assualt. Hank and Gerty were badly damaged too but you reckoned they'd still win the day if they had to fight on... not so sure about Hank though. On the other side of the hill the remaining Cirrus was breaking off.

Good fucking Riddance.

----------

Dunlop was caught completely by surprise when a full squadron of attack choppers came over the hill and took down his brother with a barrage of missiles. He himself had only just escaped a similar fate by pulling a dangerously tight turn and boosting out of there. He could taste the metallic tang of blood in his mouth as the high Gs took their toll on his body.

Once the immediate danger had passed he did a quick check of the battlefield. He was relieved to find that Dundee had ejected in time, half of the western response team had been wiped out while the survivors where in retreat.

Fucking Blood Dragons. One day... the IF would find an excuse to annihilate them, but today wasn't that day.

[Tactical Combat Display Offline]

>cont

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>>41897222
You are Sergei Boystov and you've just spent an entire battle performing emergency repairs on the Cognis. You knew a thing or two about mechs but you were no tech. You and Lev had spent the past couple of hour fumbling around in the bowels of the Cognis making stop gap repairs.

Fortunately most of the damage seemed to be confined to the railgun. It wasn't too hard to get all the other sytems back online. Looks like there were some unforseen issues with power couplings or something like that. The Cognis would run again but the railgun was out of comission until you could find a good technician and a proper repair facility.

Anya and Sang come walking up the hill as you close the last maintinence hatch and give Lev the go ahead to start up the machine.

"I hope you managed to fix it." says Anya. "I called in several favours and exhausted the last of my savings to bring in those mercenaries to guard us."

You sigh
"The railgun is fucked until we can get it to better facilities, the rest of the machine works though." you offer a weak smile. "Well looks like those mercs were worth every penny, the enemy barely touched us. I feel like I've seen them somewhere before though..."

Despite this set back Sang seems to be looking pleased. "Even though the technology seems a incomplete I've just received word that the satellite was succssfully shot down. You've caused quite an up roar in the world Sergei."

Suddenly you draw your service pistol and train it on rather dishevelled looking pilot who was walking up the hill.

"Relax cow boy, I'm one of the guys you hired. Any of you shit- err I mean fine people got anything to drink?"

((And that's the end of the session. Stick around for a bit and I'll show you the complete mech almanacs for Exo Terra and GGA. How did you guys like this session? Sorry if some posts were a long time coming. Preparing each shot of the battle takes a while. I decided to try something a little different, did you enjoy it?))

>>41897686
Quite good, thanks for spicing things a bit every now and then. Can't wait for Gerty and Hank's chat with Sergei

>>41897686
I liked it twas good.

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>>41897759
They'll be staying in their mechs for now. The Blood Dragons don't really talk with their clients directly seeing as most of their combat personnel are massive douchebags.

Captain Graves has more decorum then most, which is probably one of the reasons why he made Captain.

There was supposed to be a bit of a boss fight at the end there, but... let's just say you guys made a really good call when you decided to take the helicopter squadron.

Anyway, enjoy the full declassified exo-terra almanac.

>>41897953
Exo Terra mechs are a nightmare if you decide to stay in one place it seems, and even if you're mobile they're quick and nimble enough to keep up

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>>41898287
It's more like they will screw you badly if you have weak ECM. They fight like advanced warplanes, heavily reliant on missiles, target locks and evasive manoevers.

Well what you guys fought today was Nimbus and a Summit. The Summit class is made by Apex Warfare, you might remember that from a few sessions back.

Here's the full GGA almanac. Hank had to replace is mech with a Komodo after you wrecked it.

>>41898409
can we see the apex list as well?

>>41897953
>>41898287
>>41898409
The big thing about hacking though is that most of what it does is fuck with one's ability to move about and react. So it's like they hammer you after they blast you with EWF.

>>41898511
Ah heh... heh. It's not ready yet. I didn't really put much time into making these pics since the first two had a luke warm reception.

I can give you a general description here though.

The Apex Mechs are as follows:

Predator: Quadruped Hunter Killer Mech, signature systems include a rail gun and cloaking device.

Summit: You've seen this guy in action. General purpose frontline combat mech, generally more powerful at short range since it's signature systems have high damage but shorter range.

Zenith: Quadruped Support mech, usually mounts artillery rockets or a battlefield munitions fabricator.

Fun fact about Apex: so far they're the only company that makes railguns. They were the ones that built the Skypiercer system for the Cognis.