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Emphasis on sorely. You get to experience the joy of having no arms for a few minutes as they examine the damage to your remaining limb and simply remove it, shoulder and all, to effect the repairs. Wren, perhaps unsurprisingly, cut deep. Your other arm is actually in better shape--taken straight off, it's mended and reattached before the one you came home with.

You have a lot of time on that bed to let your thoughts chase each other around--you opt instead to focus on upgrades, even comming Susan and talking about plans to kit out the squad a little further.

He's genuinely baffled when you mention some of the possibilities. "I'm not going to pretend dash systems wouldn't do us wonders in the field," he says, "but that is a whole hell of a lot of money to just give to four glorified mooks. Sir."

In the end, you make plans to start with some specialty gear--some shields and a slaved Lockon Hunter rifle--and sequester away about forty grand towards that. If you change your mind, you can always just take it back, but you doubt the team is going to have time to get familiar with their gear before they deploy with you next.

For yourself, you opt to upgrade your ailing Skippers--they never had an issue with speed, only damage, and now, with Wren's data, you've made a monster. The arguable weakest weapon in your toolkit has just becoming a contender for the strongest, with massive projected damage against any target vulnerable to wind, explosive, or shrapnel-based attacks. The ammo counter has been halved, but you're not entirely sure you care. You also replace your expended battery, and ask for some improved buster parts while your arms are in the shop--an enhanced compressor that will play hell with shield systems that would have scoffed at your cyclers before.

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>>47367647

However dark things got in France, they can't be all bad, you muse as you finally return to your room, hefting one of the bottles of wine Rosé sent you. You never really 'got' wine, but you feel like this is as good an excuse as any to start.

>You were itching for an excuse to hit the bar anyway. Allons-y.
>Business first. You're in a war, you may as well stay informed.
>Go check on someone. (Specify)
>Other?

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And good morning, everyone. Like I said on twitter, this'll be a bit of a slow thread. Lots to get through but no real hurry.

Work has been a demon lately, and will continue to be for the next six months. In the meantime, now that OP is up, I'm gonna knock out my daily routine and check back in shortly.

>>47367659
>Business first. You're in a war, you may as well stay informed.
Information is important and it's hard to get it while drunk. Besides, we could use the data in figuring out who is next. Though, personally I'd like to go for Sabomole. Wren made his mission easier and we could do some fun things with his weapon. Would also unify a war front in general.

>>47367659
>Business first. You're in a war, you may as well stay informed.

Welcome back, HC.

>>47367659
>Business first. You're in a war, you may as well stay informed.

Yeah, would make sense to figure out our next move. Then with time permitting, we can either check up on people or head to the bar for a quick break.

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Woo, made it to a thread before it was dead! Have a colored version of someone else's art which I'm not sure is ok or not!

Fun Fact: there is in fact only one reference to Grach that refers to his coloration. He has brown eyes.

>>47367659
>Go check on someone. (Specify)
Therapist

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And of course every silver lining has a cloud. Good day all!

>>47367874
Good afternoon, Cain.

>>47367659
I'm with this guy >>47367822

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>>47367822
Also, this alternate I made while bored.

>>47367647
>that is a whole hell of a lot of money to just give to four glorified mooks
Hey, what's better than a guy who doesn't die? FIVE guys who don't die!

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>>47367822
>>47367929
Niiiiice.

>>47367822
Seconding therapist, then on to the intel-gather.

Then we gather an elite team to assassinate some good wine.

>>47367659
>Business first. You're in a war, you may as well stay informed.

>>47367659
Stay informed.

>>47367659

>Business first. You're in a war, you may as well stay informed.

As glorious as getting right proper drunk sounds, first make sure that all our people are still in the right number of pieces.

>>47367659
>Business first. You're in a war, you may as well stay informed.
learn about how shit is going then once we learn about that THEN we can go to our therapist or go for a drink to celebrate or forget depending on the news.

>>47367659
>Business first. You're in a war, you may as well stay informed.

Anode really ought to talk to therapist soon, but info gathering will let us know how soon.

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Just about done with the regimen, will be writing again soon.

>>47367659
>Business first.

Always go for intel!

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>>47367822
Changing my vote from this
>>47368238
to his idea

>>47368961
Err, sorry, that may have been confusing, I meant that I (the second linked post) was changing my vote to his (the first linked post)

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>>47367721
>>47367740
>>47367756
>>47367822
>>47367894
>>47368124
>>47368224
>>47368238
>>47368259
>>47368350
>>47368411
>>47368695
You decide to get the bad news out of the way first--repairs had you in for the better part of a day, and then upgrades took up the rest. You’re about to turn on the news when you frown, remembering something.

You’ve been through the wringer--Frog told you as much, and then shit just kept getting worse. And worse. And worse.

You’re looking for that appointment calendar your therapist--Cling, his name was--sent you, only to find it hasn’t been updated since sometime last week.

The last data entry is a note, formal and prim.

“To whom it may concern,

I regret to inform you that MScOT Cling was fatally wounded during the attack on Maverick Hunter Headquarters. As there are personnel and funding shortfalls in every branch and department, at this time the number of patients far outweighs our capacity to provide health services. While I am stepping into his role and continuing outreach to all his patients, we request your patience in arranging for occupational therapy sessions. If you have a pressing need, please contact us to book an appointment in our queue as soon as possible, and if it is critical, please call local emergency services.

Thank you,

Phillip Tversky
Doctorate of Occupational Therapy“

That’s…

That is just a giant kick in the soul, right there.

He was going for a doctorate, you remember--the old fashioned way, classical education in a university. He was going to be done sometime this year, he’d said. ‘If things go to plan.’

God damn it.

With the bad news already rolling, you scoff and toss your datapad away sourly, flipping your wallscreen to the hunter internal network, reading the crawl as you listen in.

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>>47369332
The war has progressed…

Hunters struggling on US West Coast
Critical energen fields recaptured by 17th Commander X
Fighting nears WPRC borders
0 Unit Commander Zero retires Philosopher lieutenant Javelit Whitestride
Abidjan imposes curfew in wake of Maverick crime spree.
Researchers dispute "Maverick Virus" theory
Maverick Hunters 9th Rangers forces ambushed in Borneo
Defiant Doppler broadcasts message declaring "war of pure purpose"
Vladivostok's children present wreath honoring "Zelenyy Geroy"
Flaminglow admits Doppler airstrip "won't be taken from the sky"
Popular performer Stellar Atlantica still missing
Reploid engineering community mourns loss of prominent Californian scientist and family
Deadly Maverick put down by Hunters, armed forces in France
Tensions rise at Paris Panel
Strike against Urbis Caelestis repelled
Halcyon promotes "great leap forward" in military Reploid design
Local tesla coil painted blue, has stupid look on face

...wait, wh--

You plummet to the floor beneath a sudden falling lump of steel, thrashing reflexively as you find Soul Foxfire sitting on top of you.

“Blue spark plug located,” she declares in her best news anchor voice, “researchers report high likelihood of jelly, experts attest ‘jam don’t shake like that.”

>What.

>>47369353
>Put it in.

>>47369353
Wrestle her down. Pin her to the ground.
Ask how the hell she got out of custody.

>>47369332
>comrades are dead
>nearly died
>put down mav who didn't want to live
>go to therapist
>therapist is dead
the suffering never ends.

>>47369353
>No aggressive action, not after the last few ones have been relentlessly lethal.
>"I....you know what, I think I'll just sit here and digest the news."

>>47369353
>Reploid engineering community mourns loss of prominent Californian scientist and family
Please, someone reminds me where exactly we are from

>>47369353
>"You've got five seconds to start explaining before my regrets of not killing you catch up to me."

>>47369438
Either the scientist Atlantica stole, or....yeah, probably that.

I don't think they'll call forward to Gate or Ciel Eugenics just yet.

>>47369353
>What.

Well someone seems to be in a good mood, at the least. They let you roam about for awhile or were you just that eager to visit?

>>47369438
If it helps, you're thinking of the wrong coast. Still sucks though.

>>47369353
It seems our reason to drink has tripled in the last hour. Shenanigans aside, how did you get out of custody and aside from your unhealthy desire of spark plugs and your ass, what do you want?

>>47369438
We're from Philly. It's none of our moms or dads.

>>47369353
"They let YOU out of custody faster than Grach? I call bullshit."

>>47369470
>>47369461
Oh, thank god. Also, seconding this vote >>47369481

>>47369353
More seriously, the only correct answer to this creature is a pleasant greeting without acknowledging her BS.

>>47369481
Third this.

>>47369353
First off, isn't Flaminglow dead?

Second off, tell her that a lack of bullshit right now gets free booze and booze like products because we just got to hunt a suicidal ex S. And then shenanigans on others.

>>47369353
News-report quip back at her.

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>>47369687
Yes, yes he is. Whoopsie!

We're good at this.

>>47369687
>>47369759
He got better.

Or worse.

>>47369353
>"First chance I get, I'm strapping you into a chair and making you watch cheesy movies. The worst I can find."

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>>47369786
...In the not-too-distant future, somewhere on Hunter Base?

>>47369687
That's on me. Checked the wrong roster list.

...or maybe it's a MORE DIFFERENT Flaminglow!

>>47369332
>Therapist dead
Godammit Cain Labs

>>47369353
"I am not going to ask. I am not going to ask because there is no reason on Earth that will be good enough. I am going close my eyes and count to 10, and if you're still here, I'm going to start shooting and not stop until this entire base is nothing but molten slag. And then I'm going to go full Maverick and conquer Disneyland."

>>47369759
>>47369783
Must have made for an awkward press conference
"We're not going to be able to take the airstrip by sky."
>"Sir, aren't you dead?"
"…Shit."

>>47369822
Reploid designers went 'fuck it' and start making recolors.

>>47369823
>Breaking News! Maverick infiltrated Hunter Headquarters, self-destructing on live television before authorities could apprehend him!
>They say he was dressed up as the deceased Flaminglow, managing to make it all the way to the public conference before anyone realized.

>>47369804
Indeed.

>>47369866
>>47369822
Thus was the rise and fall of Schrodinger Flaminglow, maverick infiltration specialist

>>47369804
Where are we going to find a token human?

>>47369912
It'll be one of the troops from the Wren op insane enough to get back onto the field.

He survives improbably well.

>>47369960
We really ought to send something for them. Especially for the families of those who died for us to succeed.

>>47370202
I think the greatest thing we could have given them was a dead Wren. We don't really need to do anything else.

>>47369353
>Soul Foxfire
Huh. That's convenient.

I was going to suggest that we contact Wellington about our new OPAL thingy, ask him for input on how to use it. If he doesn't know, he could definitely direct us to someone on Recon who would. Asking an information specialist for tips seems like a better plan than just blundering about the battlefield waiting for it to werk reel gud.

But we could definitely grill Foxfire. She should know more than anyone.

We'd still have to talk to Wellsy later, though, because like hell do I trust Foxfire.

>>47370357
We should definitely call up Wellsy if we're going to drink that wine the French sent us.

Also, is Spider still around? 'Cause I feel like he should definitely be making sure former Maverick mercenaries aren't roaming the halls unsupervised.

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>>47369353
“So, I seem to recall arresting you,” you say calmly, craning an arm around her side to channel-surf.

She mock-pouts, curling her face into an expressive frown as she taps a few buttons and releases the hack on your terminal screen. “Is that all I am to you, Lieutenant?”

“Captain,” you correct dryly.

“Captain? Just a convict? I thought I was the Valjean to your Javert.”

“You can be the Gavroche to my senseless, unfeeling musket volley,” you reply. “So what, time off for good behavior?“

She breaks the coy act to just shoot you a smug grin. “Do I seem like the ‘good behavior’ type to you?”

“Not really, no,” you shrug, sitting up despite her sitting on you.

“Good. No, I just up and snuck off. Nice Cloud Man figure, does he spin?”

You ignore her commentary on your decor (how long was she in here?) and continue with your unfazed routine. “You know I could probably just yell and get you killed, right?”

“I can run pretty fast. Plus, your esteemed leader still needs me, Yeouiju or not. I’ve been pushing his buttons early and often.”

“Are you trying to get him to kill you as soon as he’s got what he wants?”

“Well, he could do that,” Foxfire replies, tapping her chin. “Orrrr, he could let the current foremost expert on the project with hundreds of hours playing with the thing help him develop it even further.”

You blink. “I… guess that makes sense.”

“He’s pretty thrilled about it, you know?” She taps a button on her arm panel (didn’t you force her to lose that?) and the news crawl returns, rewinding back to Halcyon’s name. “Personally, I thought he should have called it a Five Year Plan instead, but…”

“Seriously, what brings you here?” You ask, twisting away as she reaches for the remote. She takes the opportunity as you roll over to swat you on the kiester-plate.

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“Actually, believe it or else, I wanted to drop by to give you some news. Is that wine?” Foxfire practically drips off your side like an ooze, reaching for the basket before you grab her tail.

“What kind of news?”

“Maverick-y news. Turns out those mechaniloids they gave me for a steal? Viral.”

You pause and turn back. “You don’t say.”

“Makes sense, in hindsight--they told me that to shut me up. It worked, too--for a minute, at least.”

“Scared straight, I can tell,” you grumble, pulling one of the wine bottles out of her hand.

“There, but the grace of god. By the way, you have a call coming.”

“Wh--”

Foxfire hits the ‘answer’ button as soon as the screen flashes, and immediately busies herself wrapping around your front and rather abruptly kissing you on the mouth.

“Captain? Is th--am I interrupting something?” You recognize the voice from the wallscreen as Commander Albatross, new leader of the 7th.

“No,” you cough, grabbing Foxfire and bodily flinging her against the wall with a ‘hyeek!’ and a crash. “No, you are not.”

“Right…” Albatross clears his throat. “First, I wanted to inform you that Stillwater Phasian was successfully recovered and has returned to service.”

“That’s a relief,” you reply. “That mission was rough.”

He nods. “Second...on behalf of my unit, I wanted to send you my thanks for helping take care of Wren.”

“She died sane,” you say, momentarily forgetting Foxfire. “She wanted to send her thanks and tell you she was sorry.”

“I suspected as much,” Albatross replies gravely. “We’ll try to make sure she gets the respect she deserved.”

You fall into silence for a moment… disrupted only by Foxfire upending something to try on your met helmet.

“So…” Albatross asks, eyeing her.
>Just an ex-maverick prisoner of war. Welcome to my life.
>Hold on, what did you mean about Wren and “getting” respect?
>Other?

>>47370480
>Just an ex-maverick prisoner of war. Welcome to my life.

>>47370480
>Just an ex-maverick prisoner of war. Welcome to my life.
>Hold on, what did you mean about Wren and “getting” respect?

>>47370480
>Just an ex-maverick prisoner of war. Welcome to my life.
>Hold on, what did you mean about Wren and “getting” respect?

>>47370480
>Just an ex-maverick prisoner of war. Welcome to my life.

>>47370480
>>Just an ex-maverick prisoner of war. Welcome to my life.
>>Hold on, what did you mean about Wren and “getting” respect?
One leads into the other for us really. More a 'enough about me and my shenanigans, what do you mean' sort of thing.

>>47370480
>Hold on, what did you mean about Wren and “getting” respect?
Ignore the fox, I suspect it annoys her.

>ex-maverick prisoner of war
I thought she isn't a maverick, just a royal pain?

Remind me what the Yeouiju project is? Is it basically an upscaled V-WES?

>>47370480
>Hold on, what did you mean about Wren and “getting” respect? (AnotherAnon's vote, since they can't post atm)

>>47370480
>Hold on, what did you mean about Wren and “getting” respect?

Denial play all the way.

>>47370480
>>Other?

"A hunter who got infected. The virus used her to kill a few hundred people while I was dealing with you."

I don't like foxfire. It seems that she doesn't really seem to see what she did as bad because she didn't kill anyone, even though the opportunity cost of dealing with her can be measured in blood.

>>47370554
Maverick is a surprisingly flexible term in this situation. I mean, she was working for mavericks at the time, and has shown affinity with performing deeds that could end up fueling terrorist acts, basically.

>>47370480
This >>47370548

Hopefully it's just some hurt feelings within the 7th and not Halcyon/Los Mortales

>>47370573
That's because at the end of the day, Foxfire is a freelancer. She was only a Maverick in that they signed her paychecks at the time. That, plus Foxfire's entire character is "irreverent hacker who toys with her foils."

>>47370597
Could mean that they're going to try and have her remembered as a Hunter instead of a maverick.

>>47370573
>>47370619
As long as she's both a) paid, and b) not dead, she's happy.

>>47370480

>>47370548
Rolling with this.

>>47370480
>Just an ex-maverick prisoner of war. Welcome to my life.
>Hold on, what did you mean about Wren and “getting” respect?

Deflect.

>>47370619

right, and she was cheerfully assisting in mass murder. Amusing personality asides, she's something of a monster.

>>47370828
Not directly. Foxfire was trying to make inroads on command's central computer. She was expectig the Hunters to send someone after her, and she was planning on merely repelling them. Once she was bested, she immediately surrendered.

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>>47370559
Instead of adapting DNA from external bodies, it rapidly adapts and reconfigures the user's own. That turned Foxfire's middling B-rated abilities into a really, really diverse bag of tricks that she employed to good effect to be disproportionately dangerous. Imagine that kind of versatility on a bigger, heavier-built combat model, an S- or a G-rank.

>>47371058
Or... Anode, for example.

>>47370828
Should we blame the people who make guns for all the deaths that they cause.

Sure, it's a moral grey area, but 'monster' is going a little far. Amoral bitch would be a better phrase.

>>47370480
"She stuck to my boot and I can't get her off."

>>47371256
this guy is right.
I as a player like her and Anode has a weak spot but until she is repentant for all the death and destruction she has caused I dont think Anode should be emotional able to be buddy buddy with her. Once she dose that at though it would be cool if we slowly and accidentally become tsundre and get in a relationship with her.

>>47371272
I think she wants us to get her off.

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>>47371311

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>>47371311
She is a hacker, she is not our waifu.

>>47371349
No one said anything about waifu, just what she's doing. I really just want to see what happens when she learns about India's allergy to feelings.

>>47371023

she's a merc, who knowingly took a contract to provide hacker support to a bunch of genocidal mass murders during a war. She also had absolutely no trouble trying to kill us when we tried to stop her.

not everything is black and white, but doppler and his ilk are petty godam pitch black, and she was find with helping them for chump change. At best she's deluded, at worst she's a sociopath.

>>47371424
Foxfire is indeed being weirdly affectionate, though. Probably because Anode is one of the only Hunters who won't immediately throttle her now that she's in custody, especially since she knows for a fact that he really could.

>>47371457
She was playing the field. Don't forget that she's the only person in the world with the keys to the Yeouiju project. That's why she struck a deal with the Hunters before Anode arrived that should she lose, she immediately surrender herself to Hunter custody and give them the project. Between Hunters, Mavericks, and most world governments, the Hunters are her safest bet.

>>47371516
Which is why Foxfire is teeeeeeeeechnically now on our side.

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>>47370529
>>47370544
>>47370548
>>47370644
“Just an ex-hostile I captured and delights in giving people grief,” you reply.

“I see. ...Is she succeeding?”

“There is no good answer to that question,” you reply honestly, as she perks up and looks your way. “So what was that about Wren?”

Albatross sighs. “As 7th’s head officer to a Captain of another unit, no comment. As an air cavalryman to a friend of the unit... “ You nod, giving him the go ahead. He sighs--you can tell immediately he’s wanted to get this off his chest. “We’ve been fighting Command to let us honor our maverick dead for years. Even before the virus came out--call it tradition from Eagle. He was fair, and calm, even when we had to dispatch traitors. And Eagle himself… well, I won’t bore you with history, but he didn’t have a choice. Commander X letting us mourn him was the kindest gesture in the history of this unit.”

You nod, remembering the 7th’s empty caskets at the memorial. “So what, they don’t want you to? They let you at the funeral.”

“There was one unmarked officer there, Captain,” he replies grimly. “Foxwing Blue. He was the last of his series, and all nine of them have now gone maverick. We were ordered directly not to bring out a casket for him.”

Ouch. “Same problem for Wren?”

Albatross heaves another sigh. “I’ve disciplined four of my enlisted for brawling. In truth, they were provoked in a barfight with some of the other units, rather insulted by our practice of honoring the lost. I suppose I can’t say I blame them, but...”

You frown--even Foxfire seems to be paying attention, her shenanigans quieting behind you. “So treating your traitors as more maverick victims isn’t winning any friends. And Wren…”

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>>47371639
“Hurricane Wren served dutifully since the inception of the Maverick Hunters as an organization,” Albatross replies, words cool but eyes hot. “She was there to put down some of the first S-class threats in existence, before we even had that distinction. She turned with Sigma--and now, with Doppler and his virus, we know why. She may not be blameless, but tell me she isn’t another casualty of this war.”

You think back to her remorse, to Blanc’s vengeance turning to ice when he saw her guilt. You shake your head. “I get it.”

“I know you do, Captain,” he replies. “And I promise you, the Air Cavalry will never forget it.”

The conversation is short, after that--a bit of talk about Diamond, and Em’s vengeful hunt for his killer--but ultimately, there’s nothing to gain and nothing to say, and Albatross breaks the call, once again citing his gratitude. You sigh and pinch the bridge of your nose, feeling the stress built up from the heavy talk.

A bottle of wine taps you on the shoulder, outstretched from Foxfire’s hand.

“Now seems like the time,” she offers helpfully. Even she can have a little tact, apparently.

>Thank you, but really, get the fuck out.
>Well, fuck it, consider yourself under armed escort. Wanna go see the Dodo?
>Other?

>>47371655
>Well, fuck it, consider yourself under armed escort. Wanna go see the Dodo?

Never not.

>>47371655
>Well, fuck it, consider yourself under armed escort. Wanna go see the Dodo?

>>47371655
>Well, fuck it, consider yourself under armed escort. Wanna go see the Dodo?

>>47371655
>Well, fuck it, consider yourself under armed escort. Wanna go see the Dodo?

Screw it, no better time than the present. Let's go.

>>47371655
>Well, fuck it, consider yourself under armed escort. Wanna go see the Dodo?

Given that our therapist is dead, friends are the next best thing. Frenemies third best, which is, I think, where Foxfire stands at the moment.

>>47371732
Pretty much. She's still a brat, but now she's a brat in Hunter custody.

>>47371753
Attention starvation feels like her motivation... not that I'm saying we should give her attention since I'm pretty sure that'd only encourage her, but yeah.

>>47371655
>>Well, fuck it, consider yourself under armed escort. Wanna go see the Dodo?
Save who we can and be happy we saved them. S'all we can do.

>>47371655
>Well, fuck it, consider yourself under armed escort. Wanna go see the Dodo?

>"This bottle is my therapist now."

>>47371812
Fuck off.

>>47371783
She's as eccentric as any stereotypical "hacker on steroids." She's not what you call socially aloof.

>>47371655
>Well, fuck it, consider yourself under armed escort. Wanna go see the Dodo?
We should assign her to endlessly irritate Emerald so he can't keep his glum mood going.

And while we're there, pour one out for the Viral Fallen.

>>47371655
>Well, fuck it, consider yourself under armed escort. Wanna go see the Dodo?
Maybe call some others so it doesn't look like you're becoming TOO chummy with a former Maverick.

>>47371655
"So hey, ever gotten hammered on [SNOOTY BEER OF CHOICE HERE]? I know a place."

>>47371655
>Well, fuck it, consider yourself under armed escort. Wanna go see the Dodo?
And both arms are even freshly attached! That's how you can tell we take our security very seriously here at Hunter HQ.

>Well, fuck it, consider yourself under armed escort. Wanna go see the Dodo?

There's no possible way that THIS could go wrong!

>>47372270
Nothing ever goes wrong when I'm around.

>>47372357
I smile.

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>>47372270
We're a mentally exhausted war machine about to take an internet troll with little to no concept of self-preservation to a bar full of already drunk war machines in order to express sympathy over a controversial figure on the heels of a major attack caused by secret traitors.

What COULD go wrong?

>>47371866
>We should assign her to endlessly irritate Emerald so he can't keep his glum mood going.
We should introduce the two by reminding Fox of that time she stabbed us with Em's sim data

>>47372483
Why don't you tell her he likes last-century J-pop anison, too? Better yet tell her the whole bar does.

>>47372535
HQ would be mad if we got Foxfire lynched, no matter how justified it was.

>>47371655
>>Well, fuck it, consider yourself under armed escort. Wanna go see the Dodo?

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>>47371699
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>>47372270
You look back at her, and she offers a toothy grin. “Fuck it, why not,” you reply, taking the bottle by the neck. “You’re under arrest, et cetera. C’mon, I’ll show you the bar.”

You comm Emerald--and actually recoil in surprise at his response. “What.”

“Whoa, uh--it’s Anode. You okay, man?”

“Oh. Shit, sorry. What’s up?”

“I’m escorting a furry to the place of booze and song,” you reply. “Want to come along?”

“...There is no good answer to that question,” he replies, echoing you. “Yeah, I’ll be there.”

Em’s face is a thundercloud to match his voice when you find him--already surrounded by three empty steins the size of his head. You’re actually a little bit alarmed--you’ve seen him angry, but he looks like he could glare down Schwarzhund right now.

“Dude,” you greet. “Seriously. What’s wrong?”

“Fucking Rezador,” he replies. “Don’t hunt with him. Ever.”

“Why? What’d he do?”

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>>47372843
-------------------

Sector Goregaff was a millipede-built body with an enormous arsenal of gaff hooks and deployable drone segments, guilty of raiding a shielding lab and making off with a prototype that rendered him nearly impervious to any conventional or energy ordnance.

‘Was,’ because he had been hacked to pieces by the combined efforts of Flash Rezador and Emerald. Now was a simple cleanup, the primary threat dealt with, and the last of his small cadre of followers. The last of which hit the wall, hard, having barely fended off a probing assault from one of the two hunters. He was outmatched, and he knew it.

Rezador advanced first, blades ignited and ready. Emerald was not far behind, watching the maverick size them up--damage negative.

“I surrender,” the Reploid declared.

“Well,” Em replied. “That’s a nice change of pace. Okay, disarm, and--”

Rey’s blades streaked out to either side, and an instant before the impact, Em filled the space between them, saber in hand and catching the cross-slash at their axis.

“Are you fucking insane? He surrendered!” he growled. Rey looked down imperiously at his ‘fellow,’ levering down harder and pushing him back a step. “You…”

The maverick took another instant to size up the opportunity before his own saber snapped up and he went to skewer the pair of hunters through the middle.

In one motion, Emerald whirled, a second blade springing free and deftly knocking the thrust aside, impaling the maverick center-mass. He sparked and buckled, sliding cleanly off the blade and collapsing dead.

“...Well.” Emerald shook his head, turning back. “I guess that settles tha--”

He turned back to find another energy beam at his throat.

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>>47372863
“You know, most people are too stupid to block two blades,” Rezador observed calmly.

Em tilted his chin back as the blade pressed close to his neck, gritting his teeth as his eyes flit from Rey’s eyes to his weapons

“You are merely too stupid to block three.”

After a long, tense moment, Rezador cut the beam, stowing the weapons and turning away, stalking back toward the entry corridor.

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

>>47372898
>>Maybe using an angry, drunken Em like a cudgel is not a good idea. Try to defuse him.

yeah, lets not poke him right now.

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>>47372880
“...Don’t worry about it,” Em growls, taking another pull from his beer. “So who the fuck is this autobot?”

“This is--”

“Soul Foxfire, hacker for hire,” the mercenary interrupts--before seeing your glower from the corner of her eyes. “...Until juuuust now,” she adds helpfully.

Em narrows his eyes. “Uh huh. Is this another Grach thing, or…?”

“No, Grach surrendered without actually trying to kill me,” you reply. Foxfire rubs the back of her head.

He shakes his head, swaying a little--he’s already a couple deep. “Whatever. What’s that, wine?”

“Yep. Want to help me find out if I like it?”

“Sure.”

>Get some revenge on Foxfire. Mention the “borrowed” combat data, duck and cover.
>Maybe using an angry, drunken Em like a cudgel is not a good idea. Try to defuse him.
>Other?

>>47372922
>Maybe using an angry, drunken Em like a cudgel is not a good idea. Try to defuse him.

>>47372922
>Maybe using an angry, drunken Em like a cudgel is not a good idea. Try to defuse him.

>>47372922
>Maybe using an angry, drunken Em like a cudgel is not a good idea. Try to defuse him.
More for Em's sake than Foxfire, he don't need more shit
>Other
Call Wellsy, Flares, Ursa, Spider, Louie, etc. We keep losing people we hardly know, meet some more.

Plus if this results in a brawl, we'll want backup.

>>47372922
>>Maybe using an angry, drunken Em like a cudgel is not a good idea. Try to defuse him.
Well, we managed to survive a melee murder bird. Got her to talk, but no luck for who harmed Diamond. Also managed to somehow enter a martial trance and spook the bird into retreating once.

>>47372922
>Maybe using an angry, drunken Em like a cudgel is not a good idea. Try to defuse him.

>>47372922
>Maybe using an angry, drunken Em like a cudgel is not a good idea. Try to defuse him.
Regale him with our tale of amazement and getting cut the fuck up.

>>47372922
>Maybe using an angry, drunken Em like a cudgel is not a good idea. Try to defuse him.

>>47372922
>Maybe using an angry, drunken Em like a cudgel is not a good idea. Try to defuse him.
>Other?

Could update him on our mission since he told us about his. Might as well also get into that bottle of wine.

>>47372922
>Maybe using an angry, drunken Em like a cudgel is not a good idea. Try to defuse him.

>>47372922
>>Maybe using an angry, drunken Em like a cudgel is not a good idea. Try to defuse him.
Later, when he's not so worked up.

>>47372922
>Maybe using an angry, drunken Em like a cudgel is not a good idea. Try to defuse him.

Maybe we talk to him about Wren a bit?

>>47372922
As entertaining as it sounds...
>Maybe using an angry, drunken Em like a cudgel is not a good idea. Try to defuse him.

>>47372922
Now's not the time for siccing best friend on worst nerd. Bring up Wren.

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>>47372945
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>>47374030
You see a potential disaster coming, and decide to derail it by plowing right back into miserytown. “So, Wren is done.”

“I figured.” Em leans forward. “Did she…?”

“She ‘woke up’ after I hit her enough. She didn’t remember anything.”

His fingers grip the table. “I guess I should have expected that.”

“Albatross just called me to talk about it.”

Em looks up. “Did he mention me?”

You shake your head. “Why?”

He sighs, and turns away, steadfastly examining the horizon. “I went and… had a talk with Parrot. You remember, they sent me after him on that shitshow op?”

You side-eye Foxfire… who looks up from her wrist datapad and taps it. “Two factors going on here, bubsy. One, I can probably figure out anything you try to hide from me. Two, I really don’t care. I won’t tell. Amoral mercenary’s honor.” She gives you a grin so unconvincing it has to be intentional, and a thumbs-up.

“...Bubsy?” You ask.

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>>47374531
“Whatever,” Em declares. “I don’t give a shit any more. Parrot was also the only other one on the ground with my brother when--during the attack,” he finishes. “So I went and… fuck it, I shook him the hell down. Damn near pinned him to the wall and grilled him about anything he knew.” He takes another massive gulp from his glass, emptying it. “I’m not exactly proud of myself.”

“Jesus, man.”

“I had to know,” he insists. “I had to be sure. I already feel like shit about it. I’m gonna go and call him up to apologize, okay? I was gonna after this round anyway.”

Em stands up, wobbling a little, and thunks down his datapad on the counter. “Just bring that back to me after Max cashes me out. Whenever, I trust you.” He turns to go, pausing midway through the action with a slight, sluggish wave. “You’re sure Wren didn’t know anything.”

You nod. “She actually asked me if she’d done it.”

“Okay. All right. Okay… thanks. An--shit, I didn’t even ask you how it went.”

>Don’t worry about it, Em. Go make things right with Parrot, I can tell it’s bothering you.
>Take a seat, we’ll crack the wine and talk about it. Not sure I should leave you alone right now.
>Other?

>>47374545
>>Don’t worry about it, Em. Go make things right with Parrot, I can tell it’s bothering you.

>>47374545
>Other?
>Take a seat, we’ll crack the wine and talk about it. Then you can go make things right with Parrot.

Get Foxfire's opinion on weaknesses of the other bosses; specifically, who is weak to the OPAL system

>>47374635
I am seconding this. Have a drink and celebrate the things we have accomplished. You did save his life and thats the important thing. Don't lose it.

>>47374545
>Don’t worry about it, Em. Go make things right with Parrot, I can tell it’s bothering you.

>>47374545
>Don’t worry about it, Em. Go make things right with Parrot, I can tell it’s bothering you.

>Chat with Foxfire about the OPAL system.

>DRINK
>EVERYTHING

>claim OPAL gives you X-ray vision, ogle everyone, start bar riot

>>47374545
>Other?
>Take a seat, we’ll crack the wine and talk about it. Then you can go make things right with Parrot.

Letting him talk to Parrot straight away seems like a bad idea at this point.

>>47374545
>Don’t worry about it, Em. Go make things right with Parrot, I can tell it’s bothering you.

>>47374545
>Take a seat, we’ll crack the wine and talk about it. Not sure I should leave you alone right now.

>>47374545
>Other?
>Take a seat, we’ll crack the wine and talk about it. We'll go later and help you make things right with Parrot.

>>47374545
>Take a seat, we’ll crack the wine and talk about it. Not sure I should leave you alone right now.

It might help him to know we came back from a trip completely fucking wrecked. That way he'll know that some things haven't changed.

>>47374545
>Take a seat, we’ll crack the wine and talk about it. Not sure I should leave you alone right now.

>>47375189
Adding that maybe we can help him think about what to say to Parrot.

>>47374545
>It was, uh, pretty bad.
>But you look like you need to make things right with Parrot first, before helping me with my problems.

Hey fox, can you hack my profile? Change my threat category to "mostly 'armless"

>>47374545

>Take a seat, we’ll crack the wine and talk about it. Not sure I should leave you alone right now.

Em can apologize later, when he's sober(ish), and probably won't make it worse.
Optionally, send parrot a "Emerald was an ass. Proper apology to follow." message.

>>47375407
I like the way you think, sir.

>>47374545
>Take a seat, we’ll crack the wine and talk about it. Not sure I should leave you alone right now.

>>47375476
This. Don't want to let it snowball.

>>47374545
>Don’t worry about it, Em. Go make things right with Parrot, I can tell it’s bothering you.

"We can talk about the fiasco that was Wren later."

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>>47374635
>>47374773
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>>47375189
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>>47375519
“Hey, hold on,” you say. “You’re pretty trashed.”

“Yeah, I guess I am,” he replies. “Can’t go sleep it off. Can’t sleep.”

“Out is through?” Foxfire offers, popping the cork on the wine bottle with a clawed finger.

“I guess.”

You nod. “When you’re up to it, I’ll go help straighten things out. Probably not a good idea to try to talk to Parrot schnookered anyway. C’mon, take a seat.”

Em accepts this with a shrug and falls bonelessly into the chair behind him without even looking, and for a moment, even drunk, you have to admire the coordination involved. He fishes out a slightly greasy-looking rag from somewhere and gives one of his beer steins a quick swipe, “cleaning” it a moment before nonchalantly dumping in what looks like an entire flask of make-robot-drunk nanites.

Lacking a glass at all, you shrug and take a swig, feeling vaguely guilty, as if you could feel the fists of angry, theme-named French Reploids hammering your shoulders for your sin. It’s--different, for sure. Tart and twangy and it sort of coats your mouth with a weird, drying finish at the end. Foxfire watches your face in amusement, watching your reactions.

You pass her the bottle by way of a ‘shut up,’ and she takes her own. “So, Wren?” Em asks.

“Total shitshow. Hacked me to bits in like ten seconds. Chewed her way through thousands of people before I got there, and mostly just using those knives. She almost had me a couple times.”

“What happened?”

“First time, I had backup. Second time, Phasian was down and… I dunno, I guess I got lucky.” You try to remember it all with the same clarity of that frozen moment of time, and it just isn’t coming to you. You can’t piece it all together. “All I really remember is moving back to gain ground and getting a hit in when she followed up.”

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>>47377032
That prideful professional in Em glimmers through the drunken fog, just a bit. “That’d be pretty tough. Seen her fight before.”

“She punched a fuckin’ hole in a mechaniloid dragon,” you add. “I can’t imagine how fucked France would be if she’d been in her right mind.”

“Mechaniloid… one of those UN ones?”

“I think so, yeah,” you say. “They were talking about needing to get authority to use it.“

“Did it... live?”

“Uh, no. The other one did, but it was pretty beat up.”

Em snorts, which dissolves into a long string of giggles as he rests his nose on the tabletop. “Holy shit, you really are just the most destructive motherfucker.”

“Wren was a wrecking ball the whole way through,” you agree, ignoring the annoyance. “Skimmers, armor, humans, Reploids, whatever. She just chewed through everything. Until she woke up.“

He looks back up. “Yeah?”

“It wasn’t great. It was like someone just...switched her back on. From mindless killing machine to person. She wasn’t too thrilled about it.”

Foxfire chimes in--maybe with that near-miss with the virus, she’s more alarmed than she’s letting on. “Was she still maverick? Normal?”

“She was herself again. Didn’t remember anything since disappearing in the attack. She asked us to kill her, Gopher ordered it.”

“‘Course he did,” Em spits bitterly. “Did she…”

You close your eyes and take another swig of the wine. “Took two charged shots with her just standing there taking it. Barely even twitched. I don’t regret having done it, but that wasn’t fucking easy.”

“Fuck,” Em mutters, tilting back in his chair to stare at the ceiling.

“Yeah, man.”

“...FUCK!” he exclaims.

“What? What?” you ask, bewildered.

“Frog’s goodbye thing is supposed to be tonight.”

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>>47377052
It is? ...Shit, it is. “Well, we’ve got some time, right? Enough for you to sober up.”

“If I start now, yeah,” Em replies. “I guess…”

“Heads up, dears,” Foxfire interrupts sweetly. “But something wicked this way comes.”

“Mother--”

You hear a muffled voice from outside.

“FUCKING--”

Foxfire closes the datapad on her arm with a crisp little click, a bare instant before the door is kicked in.

“CUNTS.”

India crashes in like a tidal wave, her wrath practically filling the bar around her, drowning all conversations. Silence hushes over the room as she sights onto you and stalks forward, murder in her eyes.

Shit--the ride chaser. Oh shit oh fuck.

You’re just scrambling out of your chair to run when she’s on you--

And sweeps right past, grabs the wine bottle in one hand and Em’s nanite-laced stein in the other, and chugs them both. At the same time.

You sloooowly turn your head at the same time Foxfire does, the both of you faintly amazed.

>...India, this is Foxfire. Get acquainted; I’ll be killing myself before you get acquainted.
>Okay, what’s going on for YOU, now?
>Other?

>>47377064
>>...India, this is Foxfire. Get acquainted; I’ll be killing myself before you get acquainted.

>>47377064
>I see we've all had bad days...

>>47377064
>...India, this is Foxfire. Get acquainted; I’ll be killing myself before you get acquainted.
>I see we've all had bad days...

>>47377064
>>Other?
Chug quickly! Deep intoxication will numb your psyche to the pain that is sure to come!

>>47377064
>...India, this is Foxfire. Get acquainted; I’ll be killing myself before you get acquainted.

>>47377064
>Okay, what’s going on for YOU, now?
Anode's therapist is dead. Our friends need therapy. Which means... Anode's the new therapist now! Excellent, excellent. Where's our hat? We'll need a therapy hat, or no one will respect our authority.

>>47377064
>...India, this is Foxfire. Get acquainted; I’ll be killing myself before you get acquainted.

New best girl, meet your senpai.

>>47377064
>India, this is Foxfire. You two will get along like a house on fire.
>But what's going on for you now?

>>47377064
>You sloooowly turn your head at the same time Foxfire does, the both of you faintly amazed.
...India and Foxfire know each other?

>>47377032
>You try to remember it all with the same clarity of that frozen moment of time

Oh yeah, I kept meaning to ask about that. When they were fixing Anode's guts, they said something about black boxes. Any connection?

No, the blackboxes are just there to record cause of death.

The fact that it always says 'terminal stupidity' is not a bug.

>>47377064
"India, Foxfire, Foxfire, India. I'll just be under the nearest tank treads if you need me."

Oh dear. It looks like it's happening. Why did I engineer this again?

>>47377469
Yeah but the whole sudden boost to Anode's perception and reaction speeds, enough to match fucking Hurricane Wren the Unstoppable Murderbird, combined with the diagonistic team, who would probably be fairly familiar with the anatomy of a hunter, being confused enough by the black boxes to make note of it...

Well, it's enough to lead a man to believe that the 'rents have some skeletons in their closet regarding Anode's design.

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>>47377588
Jem and the Holograms.

>>47377588
I actually enjoy the character drama more than the fighting drama. So thank you.

>>47377588
I lack a reaction picture for this.

>>47377588
because you are a dark and fell thing, who delights in the suffering of others.

>>47377064
>...India, this is Foxfire. Get acquainted; I’ll be killing myself before you get acquainted.

I know it's a bad idea, but I still just want to see it happen.

>>47377064

>Okay, what’s going on for YOU, now?

On the plus side, it'll be easy to start sobering up since India is apparently going to start drinking all the alcohol.

>>47377618
Outrageous, sir.

Truly, truly, truly outrageous.

WHOAAAA JEM

>>47377064
>>47377618
Just got home. Pretty fucking trashed. Is it worth waiting up for the next update, or should I just hit the sack?

>>47378163
Nothing's going to explode if you crash. Probably going to wrap up shortly, and probably put in the vote for the next maverick early.

>>47378313
>next maverick
right. That was....a thing. Umm.

My money's on mortarphant.

Between all the defensive stuff Anode's got, and our four shields just sitting around in the back distracting with sniper fire, I think we're good. The new weapons seem solid enough once we actually face Mortarphant.

>>47378430
I'd rather go sabomole. We do not have the shields yet, her artillery is far too strong for our berets, and that fire will not be long enough.

Sabomole? With the french helping the germans and his tunnels still small, we can quickly end him and possibly acquire his digging machines. We could use them to possibly get closer to her.

I do agree we should do her soon, but let's deal with the softened mark and create a secure spot in europe.

I say we hit mortarphant and then yamatoad. that fleet he's building has me really worried.

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>>47378545
I say Sabomole too. Dude's the lowest-class of our remainder, and we could use a breather after Wren.

>>47378545
I worry that the digging will be too slow.

If the shields haven't arrived, there's no helping it, and it's true that I wasn't relying on the sniper fire being particularly useful. Just a way to juggle threat and take as much pressure off Anode as possible without killing off our dudes.

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>>47378605
It worried me too, but with Germany in our debt we can hit Mortarphant and then Yamatoad from a position of greater strength.

>>47378646
Mortarphant is going to be a pain no matter what and we do not need huge tunnels, just spots to break up our approach and make it harder to pin us. Cover, little tunnels, safe spots, anything to make the approach safer. Sniper fire will not work at that distance and that threat won't work if she can one shot them.

>>47378605
As for Yamatoad, I would like to gather a few armor piercing options for him. Sabomole works wonders on shields and moloch on armor. Could possibly combine them, but before Moloch, we get mortarphant to free up the 3 officers of the artillery who are being held up.

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>>47377064
“Shitty days for everyone, huh?”

“I dunno, I had a nice lunch,” Foxfire offers helpfully. Yep, she and India are going to get along fine. … Once she calms down, anyway.

“MotherFUCKING Halcyon,” the Brit growls, venom and fire in her throat. “And his motherFUCKING bullshit.”

“You’re, ah, gonna have to be more specific,” you say.

She crashes in her seat (come to think of it, have you seen her since she was re-limbed?) setting the empty beer glasses a-clatter. “That absolute fuck just tried to kill my jet.”

“Tried?” Foxfire asks. “Take it from me, he’s a gent who’s very good at making sure he gets what he wants, one way or another.”

“Tried,” India hisses. “I have my ways. I’ve got more heat and hate and heart than he’s got hot air.”

“What, did he give you a direct order?” Em slurs.

“Yes, you know me, I’m all in for direct orders,” India replies sarcastically. “All about them, really. No, he ordered all hunter funding for the project pulled.”

“That’s…”

“Bullshit!” she roars. “I flew a fucking RELIC and did more in an afternoon than he’s done with his fancy G-rank in his entire, shitty life, and ‘I have to accept that the age of crewed flight is over.’”

“Hoooooo boy,” Em mutters, sliding his helmet back over his eyes, chin resting on the table.

“Well, he can fucking take it, is what he can do,” India snarls venomously, practically pacing without moving an inch. “I’ve got favors and offers out the fucking door. I was on a call with fucking Boeing last week. Boeing!”

“Well… uh… good luck with that?” You offer, regretting it instantly as her head snaps around, fixing you in her sights.

“You’re not wriggling out of this that easy, little 9-volt,” she coos, her voice a deadly purr. “You’re gonna help me.”

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>>47378790
“I am?”

“Anything you find on your missions that could be helpful? I want it. I’m getting this jet built by myself, if I have to.”

“Sort of defeats the purpose of ‘by yourself’ if you conscript him, dunnit?” Foxfire asks, tapping away on her datapad again--a moment later, the Jukebox changes song.

“I’m serious, Anode. I need to do this. It is my mission in fucking life. I’m going to prove him and every one of those boots-on-the-floor fucks flat fucking wrong about all of it. All of it!”

“Liiiiittle megalomaniac?” Em points out, pinching a finger and thumb and looking through.

“I don’t have patience for this political bullshit,” India seethes. “He’s pulling this because I don’t play his game. I’m not letting him kill a more effective program because he doesn’t like what I do.”

>I’ll look, okay? I can’t promise a damned thing, though.
>Listen--this is your crusade, not mine. I have enough problems.
>Other?

And:
Next maverick?
>Disruptor Sabomole
>Graverend Moloch
>Barrage Mortarphant
>Broadside Yamatoad
>Glacier Gibbon
>Stellar Atlantica

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>>47378743
The danger with Mortarphant is on the approach, so I agree.

Sabomole > Mortarphant > Yamatoad > Atlantica.

Gibbon and Moloch don't seem vitally important yet.

>>47378804
what's India's modus operandi inflight again? Is it all dogfighting, air-to-ground superiority, scouting?

>>47378804
>>I’ll look, okay? I can’t promise a damned thing, though.
Actually, there IS the data from Wren. Even at it's weaker form it could serve as great anti air and a shield against heavy projectiles. Could even use it as a boost.

>Disruptor Sabomole

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>>47378804
>Can't promise a thing, but what would even BE useful?

>Disruptor Sabomole

>>47378804
>Other?
"Sure."

>Disruptor Sabomole
TIME TO DIG FOR AIRPLANES FOR INDIA
that's how planes work right?
ok good

>>47378804
>I'll look, okay? I can't promise a damned thing though.

What song did Foxfire change the jukebox to? Should we be worried about a bar brawl?

Also voting for Disruptor Sabomole

>>47378804
>I’ll look, okay? I can’t promise a damned thing, though.

Leave no bro behind.

And... which is doing the most damage?

>>47378933
This is a good question to ask as well.

>>47378913
And this is an excellent note. Bring up the data for Wren.

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>>47378911
She's primarily an intercept/fighter pilot, but 11th pilots have to be at least proficient at every task due to long relay patrols. Reploid pilots are built with that proficiency and get better from there. After being grounded, India has run all manner of piloting sims and kept abreast constantly. Gomeister times Tuskeegee Airmen equals India.

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And with the vote for next mav, that'll be the thread. We'll pick up soon, I hope, with the results from the India vote, Frog's farewell party, and then hopefully proceed from there.

In the meantime, I'm told someone's got a little extra for us this week!

>>47379003
>intercept/fighter
ah, nevermind then. I was considering chucking in Mortarphant's data, but it seems inappropriate if speed and accuracy is more important than volume of ordinance.

Wren's data, even the inferior one, is definitely a better choice here.

>>47378804
>>Other?
bring up Wren's data

>Barrage Mortarphant
I still think the risk is worth it.

>>47379003
So, as is defensive/offensive options might trump what we have. Mortarphant is too heavy, but yamatoad and Stellaris might be perfect with the guns/lasers combo. Could use OPAL for targetting/alerts and of course the blackout rocket is always handy.

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>>47379051
Danke HC. It's been awhile, but I'm back! With a new chapter! I never exactly dropped Origami's stories but real life and other things got my attention. Hopefully next thread I'll have the one I'm tinkering on now done. The previous chapters are being linked for context, for folks that may have missed the work before, and because I'm in the habit by now.

ORIGAMI: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qNONH8nmHk9ZCoLUtrO10FrSnBQemTJYe8fj-_Y1q0o/edit?usp=sharing
PAPER CRANES: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1B-vm_HLUk7kPGD5as-QS-3Nr_mVK3NUVgGG26YzcXYo/edit?usp=sharing
TISSUE FLOWERS: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Stu2e6Lc3hOoE0jZ85Nwar2STgHq1OWQ3f1DlAh5IoA/edit?usp=sharing

Emerald used with the gracious permission and advice of Hunter Command.

Feedback is, as always, welcome and appreciated!

>>47378804
>I’ll look, okay? I can’t promise a damned thing, though.
>Graverend Moloch

Hunters seem to be having issues on the West Coast, and it wouldn't be good for things to go ass-up before we get there.

>>47379103
blackout rockets might need to be set to explode on a timer, though. They're too slow to actually hit.

Atlantica's DNA might be useful for more all-around functions, both scouting and firepower.

>Age of crewed flight is over
Now, this is going to be a headscratcher. Normal pilots I could get, but India is a reploid. She doesn't pass out on excessive G's and she has literally wired reflexes. What could she possibly be replaced by? Did Halcyon buy into a meme?

>>47378804
>>I’ll look, okay? I can’t promise a damned thing, though.

Indina in the air behind the stick of some fancy new fighter bomber would proably do as much as X to fuck up the marvhriks.

also aircraft tend to be hanger queens, so assuming that's still true the marvs would be at a disadvantage if maned craft made a comeback.

>>Barrage Mortarphant

He's going to be a bitch, but I really don't see the point in delaying unless we have a good guess about his weakness.

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>THE SERPENT
THOUGH GONE TO US, THE SERPENT MAY AID YOU ONE LAST TIME, WHERE HE WAS COILED.

>THE SLEDGE. THE RIDER. THE FORTUNATE. THE RUNNER. THE KNIGHT. THE SLAYER. THE PEACOCK. THE LANCER.

>>47379153
its the disposability. Sure a wing of bombers could do a lot more damage, but why bother when you can just send a bunch of cheap loids on suicide runs and get (on paper) the same results?

also he's defending his patch. The hunters have a monopoly on high class combat reploids, but i'm fairly certain that pilot reploids can be made by other countries. If manned aircraft are proven to be viable the hunters lose a bit of ground as national millites get at least one arm that won't be nearly useless against mavs.

>>47378804
>I’ll look, okay? I can’t promise a damned thing, though.

>>47379242
The hunters aren't a country...

>>47379242
Okay, I could see the disposability angle.

But making a good unmanned fighter doesn't really prevent other countries from making good manned fighters. Far from it, even; it increases the need for good fighters.

>>47379215
is the serpent one of our MIAs?

>>47379215
The Knight

>>47379215
>THE RUNNER.

This one jumps out at me, for some reason...

>>47379364
Ostensibly it was Overclock Conda.

>>47378804
>I’ll look, okay? I can’t promise a damned thing, though. Pretty sure I owe you a million favors, might as well start.

My vote depends if Moloch has surfaced yet again or not. If so, that's a go. I'm going to be odd and recommend Gibbon after the conversations if that's someone we might be able to tackle and use the site later on.

>>47379215
>THE FORTUNATE

>>47379215
>THE RUNNER

>>47379215
>THE KNIGHT
Runner is dodo. Sledge likely hammer. Rider may be Indie.

Serpent might have been conda.

>>47379449
Fortunate sounds like Seven(lucky seven). Slayer is likely Tanker.

So any theories on that moment of heightened ability during the fight with Wren, or are we just completely ignoring that?

>>47379572
We temporarily got gud.

>>47379291
no but they get there funding from countries, and the less alternatives there are the more money they get.

>>47379360
the thing is governments aren't, and I can see trying to increase the number of lives in combat running into political issues.

conventional wisdom is that a loid air force works just fine. Maybe india's stunt over vienna was enough to get the ball rolling on turning that, maybe it isn't. But hayclon doesn't want there to be a lot more proof out there that manned aircraft can deal with high end combat reploids.

>>47379572
It can happen to humans, temporary cases of got gud.

It is, probably, the thing that's NEEDED to be proper A class hunters, regardless of specialization.

Or....someone paused the game and took the controller to show us scrubs how it's done.

>>47379620
It's a mix of publicity and control. He needs the hunters to be a absolute. Something that can handle anything. He is trying to sell the hunter brand. Any competition, even from his own, is bad.

Any thoughts on all the news?

>>47379596
>>47379653
I'm telling you guys, it has significance

I just don't know what yet

>>47379665
Then why is he killing a successful program, instead of sidelining it for other missions? India could quit and be working for a competitor in less than a week of turnaround.

>>47379686
I dunno, was Cathode nearby? Did we get some twinlink business all up in here?

>>47379215
>The Rider.

>>47379693
As I said, its competition. With that fancy program he is trying to go 'yes, our hunters are THAT good' and have them fill multiple roles. Anything that can take money away from that is bad since it lessens both his impact and the impact of his product. sure indie could go independant, but then she will lack hunter resources and R&D.. which are the most important thing she needs to make a good product.

His ego will not stand for any contenders. His entire plan counts on it.

>>47379215

>THE FORTUNATE.

>>47378804

>I’ll look, okay? I can’t promise a damned thing, though.

Halcyon's a jerk, we gotta stick by our own.

>Stellar Atlantica

>>47379215
>THE RUNNER

>>47378804

>I’ll look, okay? I can’t promise a damned thing, though.

>Disruptor Sabomole

>>47379120
I don't know if this is just me or not, but all 3 of those links take me to the first story.

>>47379683
Careful asking that, I'm dangerously narrative-savvy.

>Hunters struggling on US West Coast
Moloch. He'll be trouble, maybe important enough to slot in after Sabomole.

>Critical energen fields recaptured by 17th Commander X
TUN-NEL RHI-NO, TUN-NEL RHI-NO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9JQxhvFO5M

>Fighting nears WPRC borders
Not-China's having trouble. Likely where the Maverick forces were hiding out.

>0 Unit Commander Zero retires Philosopher lieutenant Javelit Whitestride
Zero's doing his own thing.

>Abidjan imposes curfew in wake of Maverick crime spree.
???

>Maverick Hunters 9th Rangers forces ambushed in Borneo
Neon Tiger?

>Flaminglow admits Doppler airstrip "won't be taken from the sky"
Clearly Foxfire was checking to see if we were paying attention. And a reference to Blast Hornet's stage.

>Popular performer Stellar Atlantica still missing
Gee, wonder where.

>Reploid engineering community mourns loss of prominent Californian scientist and family
Moloch victim. Hope they weren't important.

>Deadly Maverick put down by Hunters, armed forces in France
We made the news.

>Tensions rise at Paris Panel
"Nuke Doppler." "Uh, no?" "Uh, yes?"

>Strike against Urbis Caelestis repelled
Song reference; location? Individual? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjjm_46mF3s

>Halcyon promotes "great leap forward" in military Reploid design
Repliforce.

>Local tesla coil painted blue, has stupid look on face
no u

>>47379930
They work fine for me, friend.

>>47380094
weird.

>>47378804
>I’ll look, okay? I can’t promise a damned thing, though.
>Disruptor Sabomole

>>47379215
>THE RUNNER.

>>47379983
>TUN-NEL RHI-NO, TUN-NEL RHI-NO
Did you mean to link this song? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20tCUF-vHNI

>>47378804
>I’ll look, okay? I can’t promise a damned thing, though.


>Disruptor Sabomole


>>47379215
>THE FORTUNATE.

>>47379449
I will switch mine to THE RUNNER. Not sure what to expect, but maybe the old bird can help us as well.

>>47378804
>I’ll look, okay? I can’t promise a damned thing, though.
Combined with:
>What sort of stuff would help? Anything is pretty broad and I do not know what you would find useful. Wren's data might make a good baseline for a VTL system and a fair amount of VWES stuff could be very effective on an aircraft.

Next target:
>Disruptor Sabomole

>>47380127
Anyone else having this trouble?

>>47380971
no, all good here.

>>47380971
No problems here.

>>47379215
>THE RUNNER
One last time, Dodo…

Meaningless speculation:
>THE SERPENT
Overclock Conda

>THE SLEDGE
Hammer Frog

>THE RIDER
India

>THE FORTUNATE
Rob the human? Might be Max if Rob's dead.

>THE RUNNER
Dash Dodo

>THE KNIGHT
Emerald or Crankshaft

>THE SLAYER
Chernyee Grach

>THE PEACOCK
Almost positive Stillwater Phasian. Would be funny if it was Halcyon.

>THE LANCER
Emerald or Susan. Could be Louie if we get more literal.

>>47381245
The knight MIGHT be Aegis Garm but I doubt it

>>47380971
looks like I'm the only one with the issue then.
the weird thing is, I can access them from the archived version just fine. I think one of my plugins is doing something weird with google docs.

>>47381495
I'm sorry I couldn't be more help there, my friend. I, ah. I'm still interested in your thoughts once you've peeled through the stories?

I lust for feedback the way Emerald lusts for swords okay

>>47381791
its was pretty good. really drives home the point that the mavericks are as much a victims as anything

also the thing with the witch hunter was all kinds of messed up, like dear god the implications about when she mentioned endo... It appears that the entertainment industry has gotten no less skeevy in the year 20xx

the bit at the range was awesome, as was the bit with the schedule at the end.

>>47379653

Electric attacks + pausing = best combo

>>47378804
>I’ll look, okay? I can’t promise a damned thing, though.
I dunno, can we get a hold of the scrap from that dragon?
>Disruptor Sabomole
We just freed up a country to deal with this asshole, keep the momentum going

>>47378804
>I’ll look, okay? I can’t promise a damned thing, though.
I mean the only thing I can think of that we have that would help her jets is if we gave them the same fire dash ability we have so they could ram their enemies out of the sky or use it to live through a strong burst of fire one the craft or to stop a missile form blowing them up. Not sure if we could put it on her jet but again that's the only thing I can think of off the top of my head.

also
>Disruptor Sabomole

>>47381915
My thanks for the read and feedback, my friend.

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>>47383439
>"Because you touch yourself at night,"