File: Mission_14_Start.jpg (2.63 MB, 1736x1205)

2.63 MB JPG

Cognis Status:
>Armour Integrity: 45/45
>Missiles: 3/3
>EMP Missile: 3/3
Extended Stats:
Movement: 4+1
Defense: 10
Electronic Defense: 12+4
Sensor Range: 12

Current Equipment:
>Skypiercer Railgun System (Offline)
>>Range 12, RoF: 1, Damage:10 Special: Mag Rail, Penetrator
>AESR Ion Cannon
>>Range: 8, RoF:3, Damage:2, Special: Beam, EMP, Exponential Damage
>Twin-Linked Smart Guns
>>Range: 5, RoF:2x2, Damage:2
>6 Tube Vertical Launch Missile System
>>Range: As Sensor Range, RoF:1, Damage:10 Special: Guided, Limited (6)
>>EMP Missile, as above, but with 5 Damage and EMP special quality.
>ECM Suite
>>+4 to EDR, Enables Hacking
>Adaptive Camoflague Plating
>>+2 to terrain defense bonus
>Missiles: 3/3
>EMP Missile: 3/3
>Railgun Rounds: 20/20

Storage:
>4 Railgun Rounds
>Gauss Rifle
>Twin Linked HMGs

[Tactical Combat Display Online]

[Manual Control Enabled]

Input Pilot Actions: (Select 2 in any order, you may not do the same action twice.)
>Move (Move up to 5 hexes, directions are given as N,S,E,W,NE,SW etc..)
>>Run (Can only be taken after a move action, move an additional 3 hexes and gain +3 to defence)
>>Charge (Can only be taken after a move action, move an additional 3 hexes then make a melee attack with extra damage.)
>Ranged Attack (Fire a single weapon at an eligible target)
>Hack (Choose a mech and sub system to hack: FCS, Motive Systems, Drone Control, Sensors, High Tech Equipment)
>Lock on (Gain +2 to hit locked targets, enables the use of missiles.)

Input Co-Pilot Actions:
>Write in

>>42851876
>move 4NW
>Lock Onto Target if possible
>Co-pilot launches own attack is possible

I don't know what is up, but I say we just pour everything into shooting shit. Zanvra will no doubt restock us once we get there.

>>42851937
and by own attack, I mean a normal missile

>>42851876

>>42851937
Seems as good as anything I'd think up. At least for the moment.

>>42852014
>RB-02 Proxy: Cognis's more refined sister unit.
It sucks we don't have the sky piercer online... We could just, you know, aim it at THAT thing.

Anything precise enough and strong enough to snipe satellites from the ground would have been hilariously short to deploy right here

>yfw the multiple sonic booms of the shot suffusing into plasma from air friction overturns our get away plane too.

>>42851937
Seconding, this guy sounds like he knows what he's talking about.

>>42852063
Yep. Woulda just voted for that. But sent a burst of laser fire to make sure it's the real thing not a hologram first.

>>42851937
>>42852014
>>42852116

Hooray! I knew I had fans out there somewhere.

Processing...

File: Mission_14_T1.jpg (2.66 MB, 1736x1205)

2.66 MB JPG

You cautiously advance, so does Proxy, looks like both of you are still too far off to try any...Holy Shit! what are those!?


Cognis Status:
>Armour Integrity: 45/45
>Missiles: 3/3
>EMP Missile: 3/3

[Tactical Combat Display Online]

Enemy Status:

Unknown, distance: 22

[Manual Control Enabled]

Input Pilot Actions: (Select 2 in any order, you may not do the same action twice.)
>Move (Move up to 5 hexes, directions are given as N,S,E,W,NE,SW etc..)
>>Run (Can only be taken after a move action, move an additional 3 hexes and gain +3 to defence)
>>Charge (Can only be taken after a move action, move an additional 3 hexes then make a melee attack with extra damage.)
>Ranged Attack (Fire a single weapon at an eligible target)
>Hack (Choose a mech and sub system to hack: FCS, Motive Systems, Drone Control, Sensors, High Tech Equipment)
>Lock on (Gain +2 to hit locked targets, enables the use of missiles.)

Input Co-Pilot Actions:
>Write in

>>42852390
>>Ranged Attack (Fire a single weapon at an eligible target)
The red circle thingy with the laser
>>Move north in an attempt to mess with targeting

Have them figure out what the fuck those things are!

Oh crap... I for got to ask who your co-pilot was for this session:

>Anya (+2 to locks and hacking)
>Lev (+2 to gunnery)
>Sang (+2 to stealth)

>>42852556
>>Anya (+2 to locks and hacking)
>>42852390
Move s
Fire laser at red square
Anya hack it's controls

>>42852556
>>Anya (+2 to locks and hacking)

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>42852509
>>42852621
Red Square? You mean circle right?
>>42852656

Anya it is, gonna have roll my D2 for this.

Processing...

File: Mission_14_T2.jpg (2.64 MB, 1736x1205)

2.64 MB JPG

Anya: They appear to be a drone of some description... oh it looks like the others just cloaked.

Cognis Status:
>Armour Integrity: 45/45
>Missiles: 3/3
>EMP Missile: 3/3

[Tactical Combat Display Online]

Enemy Status:

Unknown, distance: 21

[Manual Control Enabled]

Input Pilot Actions: (Select 2 in any order, you may not do the same action twice.)
>Move (Move up to 5 hexes, directions are given as N,S,E,W,NE,SW etc..)
>>Run (Can only be taken after a move action, move an additional 3 hexes and gain +3 to defence)
>>Charge (Can only be taken after a move action, move an additional 3 hexes then make a melee attack with extra damage.)
>Ranged Attack (Fire a single weapon at an eligible target)
>Hack (Choose a mech and sub system to hack: FCS, Motive Systems, Drone Control, Sensors, High Tech Equipment)
>Lock on (Gain +2 to hit locked targets, enables the use of missiles.)

Input Co-Pilot Actions:
>Write in

Rolled 1, 14, 10 = 25 (3d20)

>>42852823
Shoot the drone 2 spaces below where the one we shot was ion cannon

Move N

Anya hack it's drone controls.

>>42852823
Do we still have the lock on proxy and did the drone we shot blow up?

>>42852975
Proxy is too far away to lock but the drone did blow up.

(Lock range is 12 BTW)

>>42852823

>>42852894
Best available option here gets us away from the rest of the drones and keeps us moving.

>>42853103
roll buddy 3 d20

Rolled 4, 17, 11 = 32 (3d20)

>>42853103
Been a while since I caught this live I forgot.

>>42852975
>>42853153

Actions received

Processing...

File: Mission_14_T3.jpg (2.65 MB, 1736x1205)

2.65 MB JPG

Things explode

Proxy Advances

Cognis Status:
>Armour Integrity: 45/45
>Missiles: 3/3
>EMP Missile: 3/3

[Tactical Combat Display Online]

Enemy Status:

Unknown, distance: 15

[Manual Control Enabled]

Input Pilot Actions: (Select 2 in any order, you may not do the same action twice.)
>Move (Move up to 5 hexes, directions are given as N,S,E,W,NE,SW etc..)
>>Run (Can only be taken after a move action, move an additional 3 hexes and gain +3 to defence)
>>Charge (Can only be taken after a move action, move an additional 3 hexes then make a melee attack with extra damage.)
>Ranged Attack (Fire a single weapon at an eligible target)
>Hack (Choose a mech and sub system to hack: FCS, Motive Systems, Drone Control, Sensors, High Tech Equipment)
>Lock on (Gain +2 to hit locked targets, enables the use of missiles.)

Input Co-Pilot Actions:
>Write in

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>42853269
Move North west
Rail gun it when it comes into range
Anya lock onto it

Rolled 3, 1, 6 = 10 (3d20)

>>42853269
Move north west then run west.

Anya try's to hack the proxies movement to slow it down allowing us to flank.

>>42853327
Proxy is unhackable. The same technology that allows both the Cognis and Proxy to function without server farms also makes them unhackable.

>>42853405
Okay she goes after the drones then.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>42853298
>>42853327

Rolling the d2

Processing...

File: Mission_14_T4.jpg (2.65 MB, 1737x1216)

2.65 MB JPG

Enemy Lock! Oh shi...

Whew, looks like it was just a glancing hit.

Anya: I've lost track of the remaining drones and can't find them.

[Tactical Combat Display Online]

Enemy Status:

Unknown, distance: 12

[Manual Control Enabled]

Input Pilot Actions: (Select 2 in any order, you may not do the same action twice.)
>Move (Move up to 5 hexes, directions are given as N,S,E,W,NE,SW etc..)
>>Run (Can only be taken after a move action, move an additional 3 hexes and gain +3 to defence)
>>Charge (Can only be taken after a move action, move an additional 3 hexes then make a melee attack with extra damage.)
>Ranged Attack (Fire a single weapon at an eligible target)
>Hack (Choose a mech and sub system to hack: FCS, Motive Systems, Drone Control, Sensors, High Tech Equipment)
>Lock on (Gain +2 to hit locked targets, enables the use of missiles.)

Input Co-Pilot Actions:
>Write in

Rolled 14, 1, 1 = 16 (3d20)

>>42853592
Lock onto the proxy then head east.

Any launches an emp missile at the proxy.

>>42853628
pretty much this

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>42853592
Railgun the Prxoy
Move East
Lock on it anya

>>42853628
>>42853705
>>42853715

Looks the majority of the players are not ready to fire the railgun just yet...

Processing....

File: Mission_14_P5.jpg (2.65 MB, 1737x1216)

2.65 MB JPG

Lock Successful!
Enemy Activated Anti-Missile System.
Interception failed, Missile hits!
...
It's not very effective

Resolving Enemy Phase

File: Mission_14_E5.jpg (2.64 MB, 1737x1216)

2.64 MB JPG

>>42853949
It was chargin it's Layzor!

Cognis Status:
>Armour Integrity: 29/45
>Missiles: 3/3
>EMP Missile: 2/3

[Tactical Combat Display Online]

Enemy Status:

Unknown, distance: 12

[Cognis is Suffering EMP Shock]
[All Weapons Offline]

Input Pilot Actions: (Select 2 in any order, you may not do the same action twice.)
>Move (Move up to 5 hexes, directions are given as N,S,E,W,NE,SW etc..)
>>Run (Can only be taken after a move action, move an additional 3 hexes and gain +3 to defence)
>>Charge (Can only be taken after a move action, move an additional 3 hexes then make a melee attack with extra damage.)
>Ranged Attack (Fire a single weapon at an eligible target)
>Hack (Choose a mech and sub system to hack: FCS, Motive Systems, Drone Control, Sensors, High Tech Equipment)
>Lock on (Gain +2 to hit locked targets, enables the use of missiles.)

Input Co-Pilot Actions:
>Write in

>>42854118
Run East
Copilot recovers

>tfw we lose cause no one wants to sue our fucking railgun

>>42854118
distance to the Proxy is actually 9, my bad.

>>42854118
Run southeast Anya tries to boot the weapons.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>42854149
>>42854259

Rollin d2, because east vs south east is a significant decision at this point.

Processing...

File: Mission_14_P6.jpg (2.65 MB, 1737x1216)

2.65 MB JPG

Another glancing hit, something explodes on your hull. Looks like the drones are some type of self destructing demolition model.

The good news is your systems are back online.


Cognis Status:
>Armour Integrity: 20/45
>Missiles: 3/3
>EMP Missile: 2/3

[Tactical Combat Display Online]

Enemy Status:

Unknown, distance: 12

[Manual Control Enabled]

Input Pilot Actions: (Select 2 in any order, you may not do the same action twice.)
>Move (Move up to 5 hexes, directions are given as N,S,E,W,NE,SW etc..)
>>Run (Can only be taken after a move action, move an additional 3 hexes and gain +3 to defence)
>>Charge (Can only be taken after a move action, move an additional 3 hexes then make a melee attack with extra damage.)
>Ranged Attack (Fire a single weapon at an eligible target)
>Hack (Choose a mech and sub system to hack: FCS, Motive Systems, Drone Control, Sensors, High Tech Equipment)
>Lock on (Gain +2 to hit locked targets, enables the use of missiles.)

Input Co-Pilot Actions:
>Write in

>>42854149
Why the fuck are we not using our rail gun? We learned this lesson early on goddamn it.

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>42854448
>Open up with Railgun
>Take evasive maneuvers, doesn't matter as long as we remain within firing distance of the Proxy
>Co-pilot locks on

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>42854448
>>42854467
this

>>42854467
>>42854566
This indeed

Processing...

File: Mission_14_P7.jpg (2.66 MB, 1737x1216)

2.66 MB JPG

Anya! Less Q-Q more Pew Pew!

[Target locked]
[Missile Launched]

Thank you!

Resolving enemy phase

>>42854827
THIS IS HOW WE FUCKING DO IT PEOPLE!

We dicked around doing stupid shit rather than HAMMERING the fucker. So now it's all up in the air if we can do this. SO KEEP EMPTYING RAILGUN ROUNDS INTO IT

If we can let's get it's laser thing.

File: Mission_14_E7.jpg (2.66 MB, 1737x1216)

2.66 MB JPG

>>42854827
FFFUUU!

We have to end this now!


Cognis Status:
>Armour Integrity: 2/45
>Missiles: 2/3
>EMP Missile: 2/3

[Tactical Combat Display Online]

Enemy Status:

Unknown, distance: 7

[Manual Control Enabled]

Input Pilot Actions: (Select 2 in any order, you may not do the same action twice.)
>Move (Move up to 5 hexes, directions are given as N,S,E,W,NE,SW etc..)
>>Run (Can only be taken after a move action, move an additional 3 hexes and gain +3 to defence)
>>Charge (Can only be taken after a move action, move an additional 3 hexes then make a melee attack with extra damage.)
>Ranged Attack (Fire a single weapon at an eligible target)
>Hack (Choose a mech and sub system to hack: FCS, Motive Systems, Drone Control, Sensors, High Tech Equipment)
>Lock on (Gain +2 to hit locked targets, enables the use of missiles.)

Input Co-Pilot Actions:
>Write in

Rolled 4, 13 = 17 (2d20)

>>42854972
Move south fire the railgun. Anya shoots emp missile.

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>42854972
Move East
FIre raligun
Anya missiles it

>>42855121
>>42855199

Let's do it

Processing...

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>42855121

File: Mission_14_P8.jpg (2.65 MB, 1737x1216)

2.65 MB JPG

You strafe south exchanging fire with the Proxy, opening up with everything you had. Your last railgun shot cripples it and the follow up from the missiles and smart guns put it down.

Just like when you first fought it the Proxy is a smoldering wreck at your feet. As you consider destroying it utterly you get a message from Sang:

"Leave it, we'll send someone for it later. You've got a plane to catch."

--------

The flight was tense, and you never truly allowed yourself to relax until the plane touched down again in Zanvra.

You had made it, and you were about to become rich.

Out on the tarmac you are greeted by a stern looking officer carrying a briefcase. He nods respectfully to you before handing it over.

"The Republic of Zanvra thanks you for your services. Please accept this as a token of our... gratitude."

You nod in return and open the case. Fat stacks of cash stare back at you.

Behind you can hear Anya gasp in delight. Lev comes up next to her and gives her hand a squeeze. She doesn't even bother to hide it anymore as she wraps her arms around him and gives him a deep kiss.

Heh... you'd always suspected but whatever.

You had made it, you had ALL made it and it was time to enjoy your reward.

>cont

File: seele.jpg (22 KB, 720x480)

22 KB JPG

>>42855538
Somehwere in an undisclosed location a cabal of ambitious and influential individuals were having a conference.

"This is a disaster, the Cognis is now beyond our reach."

"It was beyond our reach the second the IF got involved. What I want to know is how it was stolen in the first place."

"A motley band of disaffected personnel with ambitions way beyond their station." the person chuckled "A shame, we could have used people like them."

"I don't find the irony amusing, their little stunt has cost us dearly. This mis-adventure ended with us losing both the Cognis AND the Proxy."

"I would not say this is a total loss, we know that Sky Piercer works and the Zanvrans have the Cognis now. They are no allies of ours but they have no love for the IF either, this could still turn to our advantage."

"I agree, after all the Cognis was just a proof of concept."

"Indeed, but we will have to accelerate our timeline. The Peace Keepers have become aware of us, only vaguely for now but they are launching investigations. They will find us eventually and when they do we must be ready."

"Unit 03 is already under going field trials and based on the combat data we've collected our engineers tell us that they will be able to make vast improvements to the mass production models."

"Excellent..."

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

And that's a wrap. Congratulations and thank you to everyone for sticking with me till the end of this quest. I hope you all enjoyed it.

And while I've mentioned it in passing before I'll make it official: This quest was a beta test for a full mecha mercs skirmish system. Did any of you think it was suspicious that I had all those Company Catalogs complete with pretty mech pictures?

Well when I finally launch the full quest you will get to buy and pilot those mechs yourself! However that might not be for a while. Uni just started for me and I have to temporarily turn my attention to RL stuff.

Anyway I will linger for some Q&A. Did you enjoy the quest?

>>42855710
Thanks for running! Been a ride and I enjoyed it!

>>42855710
Thanks for running and I can't wait for the real deal!! Also happy we got to the end.

>>42855761
>>42855783

You're welcome

I actually have some questions for you guys.

Is there anything you felt the crunch handled badly? Early on I hid it behind prose to make things more accessible, but gradually transitioned from writing descriptions to dumping raw stats in order to speed up turn processing.

Also you guys have seen 6 out of the 7 almanacs for the world's arms manufacturers. Got any favourites?

>>42855852
No real favorites, but they are very well done. As far as crunch it was fine. It's going to take someone with a brain to figure out what's going on anyways.

>>42855852
Everything is balanced out it seems. Like if you just take one manufacturer another could come and wipe the floor with you.

>>42856033
Some manufacturers are meant to be better than others, but this will be offset by the high cost of their equipment. That and the high lethality of the game means even crappy mechs can pose a threat to high end ones.

so is that art work original

>>42855852
Post them again?

>>42855852
I loved the entire ride. In the full version of the quest will there be planetary travel, perhaps the ability to purchase interstellar ships ranging from rust buckets only able to have a bay or two and the appearance of an explosion in a girder factor to big fancy ships with the ability to run and maintain a small army? Or is the quest mainly gonna be on one planet, maybe shifting to another at a big moment in the plot?

>>42859815
I think he said before they had just reached long term orbital capability? I don't know if they have a colony even on the nearest satellite.