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Frog's goodbye came and went, and so did Frog. Just like that, your CO is gone.

It's bright and early the next day, your senses relatively clear for lack of intense drinking. India trudged off nursing a weary "hangover," and you're pretty sure Em got wasted, purged his systems, and left on a hunt again two hours before you were up.

You'd made up your mind to go after Sabomole next.

>Any business to take care of first?

>>49147823
Aww shit. It's happening. +5 sword of retardation supporters represent!

Now if only I remembered if we had any plans.

Fucking great seeing you again.

A shame I'll probably have to go to sleep soon for work, so chances are I'll be missing most of this thread.

Woo, ground floor of new thread!

>make sure a certain prisoner didn't fuck with your stuff in the night

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>>49147840
Damn. There's always at least one.

>>49147849
2, actually. Since you start at 10pm over here....

>Send India a shortlist of whatever DNA/resources that would help with the plane. She can go over those later.

Woo, thread?

What happened with Seek Parrot?
>Ping Beret team, tell them to sober up for mole-hunting

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>>49147823

We're taking the broken this time, yeah? We should probably get them up to speed on all we know and get a battle strategy set up before we beam in, might not have time otherwise.

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>>49148031
Nothing as of yet.

>>49147823
>Ping the Bravely Broken.
>Assemble to discuss Sabomole strategy.
>Maybe a quick check just to see if Foxfire didn't mess with anything.

Welcome back, everyone.

>>49148340
Oh, shit, it's Cain Labs! Deploy the smooth jazz!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0wzA8qf6bU

>>49148403
You cannot stop me forever, you can only delay the inevitable...

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>>49147823
Battle Prep with the Bravely Broken

>Get home form work to a new Maverick Hunter quest thread awwww yeah.
>Immediately have to go to bed so I can go back to work Such is life
Best of luck Hunters

For pre-mission preparation, I vote we play Whack-A-Mole.

>>49147823
>>49148186
this, basically.

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>>49147845
>>49148031
>>49148053
>>49148186
>>49148529
After a cursory check-in to make sure a certain asshat fox didn’t touch anything of yours, you ping your squad. Unsurprisingly, Susan is the first to answer.

“Morning, sir. We doing this?”

“Yeah, get everybody and their stuff together. You guys hung over from the party?”

Susan chuckles dryly. “No, but Flak spent about two hours trying to figure out why drunk humans barf. And one imitating.”

“Oof.”

“Yeah. Out.”

Gopher is on the comms as you walk into the command room bright and early the next day, finishing up a call with some kind of human military. You salute as he cuts the line, turning to you.

"The pad is ready when you are," he says.

"Yes, sir. My team is en route, they’re coming with.”

Gopher nods, placing another call or two--you distinctly recognize some German in the background. Once the Berets are in, he turns back to regard them all expression level even as he inspects their modified loadouts.

They certainly cut a heavier profile than their fellows, clad in those modular armor kits you bought. Susan’s Lockon Rifle is fresh from the workbench, the finish gleaming bright as he adjusts the sight with his thumb. Opposite him, Flak is hoisting the heavy tube of his Blackout Launcher. The other two--Marx and this Derby guy, you don’t know them as well--are checking their buster rifle and their tool kit, respectively.

“Here’s what we know,” Gopher says. “Disruptor Sabomole was a civilian infrastructure expert, no history of violence. Specializes in electrical systems, cable replacement, and so on. He and his construction firm disappeared about three weeks ago while contracting for law enforcement, testing and improving defenses against physical intrusion. We’ve got verified sightings underground here, collapsing highways and bridges.”

“How are the casualties?” you ask, Wren still fresh on your mind.

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>>49149091
“Surprisingly, next to none. A few injuries, no deaths yet. He’s not trying to hide where he’s going, so the seismic readings are telegraphing what he’s about to turn into a sinkhole.”

Susan raises his hand. “Groundside support?”

“German and French special forces,” Gopher replies. “They’ve already sent a few teams into the tunnels to reconnoiter and map. They’ve lost contact with a few. Reports coming back topside suggest a huge tunnel network, reinforced by heavy mechaniloids. Sabomole’s been busy.”

“Any change since Wren was put down?”

“None. Initially, we’d thought it was coordinated to keep local assets from helping with her, but if anything the activity has increased since she went down. They seem to be heading generally into Germany, towards some urban centers. Someone got it into their head that he’s after a research facility a few kilometers upstream, but we don’t have anything concrete.”

“What’s the plan?” Susan asks.

“German army has an entrance to the tunnels secured topside,” Gopher replies, pulling up a small (and woefully incomplete) map of what must be the tunnel network, as mapped. “They breached about two days ago, but progress is slow. They can’t send an army down there, and the deeper you go, the harder it is to get a signal out. You won’t be able to rely on a navigator after the first few hundred feet.”

“Lovely.”

“Ain’t it just. Any questions?”

>

>>49147840
Same here

>>49149104
What kind of support does Sabo have, does any of it stand out among the rest?

>>49149104
>Anything special about that research facility we should know of?
>What do we know about the composition of Sabomole's support?

>>49149104
Anything specific to advice for live capture? Sounds like Sabomole is at least non-aggressive enough to tease some info out of.

How fast can he dig midcombat? Would tunnel blockades even do anything?

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>>49149243
seconding

>>49149351
thirded

>>49149104
>>49149243
fourthed

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>>49149154
>>49149243
>>49149278
“What kind of support does he have?”

“So far, it’s all been mechaniloids, as far as we can tell. Heavy stuff, Sabomole himself was never much of a fighter, as far as we can tell. You have to be careful with civilian models, though, eyewitness sightings have said it looks like he’s been modified. Never know what you’re in for there.”

You frown. “Heavy--are we talking pure firepower, or digging in?”

“Digging in. It looks like he’s daring us to come pry him out. That says ‘stalling for time’ to me.”

“What about that research facility?”

“Classified. The German government’s sent someone to divulge information to a hunter representative for discretionary need-to-know. So far she’s been forthcoming, but not with us directly. We’ve been promised that anything we have to know we’ll be informed of.”

“And will we?” you ask, before you can stop yourself--this isn’t Frog you’re dealing with any more.

Fortunately, Gopher shrugs. “Germany’s been good about this sort of shit in the past, but go in expecting a curveball. You’ll live longer.”

You resist a snort. “Noted. Any specifics on maverick makeup?”

“Confirmed Drill Wayings and Hamma Hammas. One team reported incoming laser fire down a corridor but couldn’t get a visual sighting of the attacker. It’s cramped terrain down there, long straight shots and poor visibility. Lots of ambush potential. I’ve done a lot of those--sounds like a murder hole waiting to happen.”

“He doesn’t sound all that hostile. Kind of defensive, really,” you note. “Plus, he’s a B-class. Any advice if I wanted to bring him in?”

“If it’s ever in question, put him down,” Gopher replies immediately. “I can’t afford losses with a war to fight, and even if you live, the less downtime, the better. Don’t take any chances.”

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>>49149812
You nod. “Okay, what about his digging speed? Can he bail on me mid-combat?”

“Maybe. It’d take him time to chew through denser strata, but he’s built for it. He’s had time to set up, he might dig into premade tunnels to exfil.”

“What about us?” Susan asks. “What’s our scope in this?”

“They did say they had missing teams,” Flak points out.

“Missing teams, and a whole tunnel network. You can’t cover the whole thing at once, and if he’s smart, Sabomole will use that.”

>Fire support. I lead, you follow.
>Independent fireteam. Task on other objectives as they appear.

>>49149824
>Fire support. I lead, you follow.

>>49149824
>Let's split up and investigate the spoooooky tunnels, team
>Just kidding, fire support.

>>49149824
>Fire support. I lead, you follow.
We definitely shouldn't throw them out on their own on the first actual mission they're with us.

>>49149824
>Fire support. I lead, you follow.
trying to think of weaknesses to digging, and the best I can come up with is abrasives. Crystals, glass, diamond dust....that shit fucks up your drills bad.

Would we be able to plant them in walls we think Sabomole might dig through?

Sabamole deals with electricals as well. Could be a good or bad thing.

We really should have learnt Cath's trick for signal-boosting.

>>49149824
>>Fire support. I lead, you follow.
The extra eyes will help more with counter ambush. We can always split up later if needed. Plus comms are unreliable down there.

>>49149824
>Fire support. I lead, you follow.
Splitting up sounds like guaranteed bad times. Any other objectives should be considered expendable before our team's safety.

>>49149868
Oh come now, splitting the party always works, especially in spooky tunnels!

>>49150007
Watch out for cave ins!

Could we flood the tunnels with sonic-based weaponry?

>>49150038
You don't have the Spin Wheel...

>>49149824
>fire support
Comms are fuzzy down there and a squad is better for repelling ambushes in this scenario. Something to note is that the tunnels are cramped so single file is going to be a thing for a lot of it (we space hulk now). Susan at the back with his lockon rifle might be a good move since he'll be able to hit precisely at all ranges.

>Asume he is now A class due to black market upgrades.
>Pick your weapons and weapons loadout carefully.
>He is an electricity expect, you are an electricity based Reploid, be careful.

>>49150007
Flak is clearly a bard, not sure about the others.

>>49150167
This. Last time we went "Is just a B class" we got fucked and only survived because that damn Fox planned to surrender anyway and killing a Huntet would have gone counter to that.

>>49149824
>Fire support. I lead, you follow.
This is Alien, not Scooby Doo. Stick together.

>>49150330
Also this. But really nothing we are going to do when we were told the one we are hunting is an electricity expert? Like going with stuff to counter that?

Also once we get the cash, one in our team should carry a BFG to destroy those giant annoying minibosses from distance.

>>49150330
>inb4 custom-made Monty Mole-style mechaniloids pull a facehugger on one of us

More serious note: Do - Not - Split - The - Party.

>>49150393
> Do Note: Split The Party

FTFY. I am extremely helpful

Ironically, diamond saws have a much harder time cutting into soft things than hard things - using abrasives means they require the material to stay in place to be cut away. Skin just indents a little bit and avoids being cut. So you can touch a spinning diamond saw with your skin and it won't get cut (though your fingernails will).

Long story short, this is the sort of weird edge case that human aces would love.

>>49150393
>Gentlemen our enemy is specialized in electricity, expect electric traps, giant bug zappers, and enemies that jump out on nowhere to give you a literal shock. Also sone underground themed stuff since he is a mole.

>>49150244
"No Flak, I don't think he will have a labyrinth or be dressed up as the Globin King, is not that kind of Underground. Although if we survive I will recommend that one for movie night."

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>>49149850
>>49149868
>>49149874
>>49149888
>>49149980
>>49149987
>>49150121
>>49150228
>>49150244
>>49150330
“Right, well, until I hear evidence to the contrary, I’m treating him like he’s an after-market A,” you reply. “We’ll travel together, you back me up, I’ll get shot in the face.”

Flak giggles, and even Susan snorts. “Sounds like a plan, sir.”

You turn back to Gopher. “Lots of tunnels, you said?”

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean they won’t have a few wider spaces. Keep in mind they may have been at this for weeks.”

You briefly entertain the image of a subterranean Saetos lair before discarding it with an inward shudder. “Okay, I’ll keep that in mind for my loadout. And this guy’s an electrical expert?”

“That’s why I’m sending you. Based on what little data we have to go off, you’re going to be immune--or at least resistant--to the worst of his tricks.”


“But we won’t,” Susan notes.

“That armor won’t do you much good if you take a direct hit,” Gopher warns.

“Nothing really does,” Susan mutters.

“And be flexible. We don’t know what we’re going to find down there.”

Choose VWES loadout (4 slots):
>Blackout Rocket
>Tension Coil
>Lockon Hunter
>Tumult Shell
>Hurricane Bomb

>Anything else before deploy?

>>49150524
>Asume he might have something to screw up your electricity atacks like lighting rods or something like that. After all, he probably bought an outdated black market sim of us.

>>49150524
>Blackout Rocket
>x Tension Coil
>x Lockon Hunter
>x Tumult Shell
>x Hurricane Bomb

>>49150575
This. We got introduced to black market sims just recently. And we, with help, took out a SA. Since that guy wasn’t a P despite that super dangerous weapon. And we do have the unfortunate tendency to have bad intel on targets.

>>49150608
Seconding this.

Let's hope he can't call in his construction union representatives as back up.

>>49150644
>Since that guy wasn’t a P
I should fucking hope not, considering that the only P on record is what Sigma would have been if his new body had been completed.

That said, I still say whatsisface was a G and Team Diode is just that fucking good when not split up.

>>49150608
This sounds okay.

>>49150685
>We also get underpaid because out targets are under ranked.

>>49150608
This works unless someone has a goodreason why we should try something else.

Presuming we survive this, do we want to give Indy first dibs on the data? I'd rather git gud with what we already have unless it's something spectacular.

>>49150761
>Remenbers who else we have in the list. Wonders if we can call our sister to take out that G class. Or otherwise if we can just refuse if we don't get enough backup saying that we aren't X or Zero.

"Look if the data we have says G class, you cannot expect me to take on that guy alone. Specifically since any restraints it had are most likely removed. Besides when it comes to G class, the minimum is a whole team of As or at least a couple of SAs."

>>49150407
>I am the literal devil.
Same to you, mang.

>>49150858
We could use the data to further upgrade our electric sistems as we are an electric Reploid. We can always give her a copy as it will probably have a way to improve the electric systems of her ship.

We honestly cannot drop a direct upgrade like this will most likely be.

>>49150993
Agreed. Plus a way to improve the efficiency of the power consumption of the ship can be easily adapted from data that improves our control of electricity. Asuming of course that's what we get.

>>49150793

What effect does blackout rocket have on electricity? IIRC it amplified our own electric attacks, so leaving it out seems like a good idea, since it could become a friendly fire disadvantage.

Then again, if the enemy uses electricity too, then maybe there's electrical equipment that can only be used with strong charges?

I'm trying to play devil's advocate, but I can't think of much that would support Blackout Rockets in this situation. The only thing I can think of is that they probably don't have the disadvantage of their navigators and intel being jammed like we do. The blackout rockets could even that particular playing field, but it'd only be for a moment, and they've got the setup time to where that might not matter much.

So yeah, I'll support this.

>>49150993
If we use the data can we give her a copy? I thought it was a one-use thing since HC disallowed us from buying an extra copy.

>>49151100
>IIRC it amplified our own electric attacks
It was less an amplification and more that chaff happens to be more conductive than open air. Not sure if it makes a meaningful difference outside of rewiring the rockets to leave a chaff trail or something.

>>49151103
What? Since when we can't give away a copy of weapon data we already have?

Also, weapon data copies is okay, what we cannot get copies of is the raw data, right?

Otherwise, let's cash in that favor the Fox owns us for not just killing her and make a copy of the processed data of this Boss.

>>49151103
>>49151176
I think that was just for Saetos, actually. In-game Hunter Command may have told us that we couldn't have more than one copy of it because restrictions.

We do have to pay for extra copies, though.

>>49151100
Blackout Rockets against a Mole? Yeah, no thanks. Even without black market upgrades he probably can fight better in the dark that we can.

Also as far as I remember, is raw data what's restricted, not weapon data.

>>49151234
That is kind of true Raw data is even hrder to modify than weapons data and is what you need to resurrect a reploid but IIRC you can normally copy it but the fire chicken did some BS on how he gave us his data to make it perfectly uncloneable.

>>49151211
Since the Fox is authorised to have access to data we can't due to now legally working for the High Command, she could give way more weapon data to totally not our girlfriend than we can, without costing her a cent.

Of course she has no reason to do that and she only owns us a single favour.

We still should mention it, just because.

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Gonna be in and out for a little while. No worries, I've got a long weekend, so I can actually run into tomorrow if necessary.

>>49151317
>owes us a favor
I thought that went out the window when she decided to fix the Crossmore.

>>49151353
That thing wasn't our baby, it was totally not our girlfriend baby. Well we liked it, but not as much as she does.

Also she uploaded a video of us being humiliated that has millions of views by now. Doing a favor to her new girl friend as opposed to doing a favour specific to us doesn't count.

>>49151406
Since when we are a rules lawyer?

But yeah just the Crossmore doesn't cover the video. Since even if she had cared to delete it, the damage is done, thousands have downloaded it and some even have edited it and reuploaded it for fun.

>>49151452
Do we know if it was uploaded or if she's hanging on to it for blackmail? Seems like something that would have been plastered all over the unti's tv screens by now if it were public.

>>49151490
I'm having flashbacks to the Chaff Weasel op where, when we got back, blind from busted optics, we were made to hold things that were funny, the pictures uploaded to the base's monitors.

>>49151579
In a few years, there'll be 'Funniest Anode Moments' compilation videos on YouTube. Good for PR, not so good for us!

>>49151608
I'm sure, given a few years, even Anode will find it funny.

But tracking down the assholes who made the videos and enacting prankster vengeance will be funnier.

>>49151490
Is a video about a Reploid acting weird and reacting to things that aren't there. Remenber the setting, videos like that aren't uncommon.

>>49151579
Ah yes with your good friends Seven and Tanker.

>>49151821
Tanker actually never pranked us. He just loved to beat the shit out of Dodo and us.

And honesty Tanker going Marverick was no surprise. Seven was like "Oh why didn't I see this?"

>>49151883

Tanker helped Seven with the Lady Liberty op.

>>49151925
Really? Since he wasn't such a jerk afterwards I kind of forgot.

And really what was the damn problem with Seven Buster? Is just a gun, the fact he suposely had so much trouble to fix it never made much sense to me.

I mean you can get external weapons with way more payload than the average buster anyway.

>>49151925
He helped with that other jaunty prank too. Operation Kill Everyone You Love And Betray The Hunters. Boy that was a funny one.

>>49151983
And that should have given us a hint that something was wrong with the faulty Buster story. If the thing really was doomed he would have got an external weapon. Is not like he lacked the credits for it.

>>49151983
Seven's buster is why the Crossmore is fucked, Anon. His, "spud gun," as India called it, has a shit-ton of power in it.

>>49152011
What a rip-roaring riot!
Ripping up and roaring at all those Hunters, what a hoot!

>>49152044
And did the guy who usually did the "medical" check ups go Maverick too? Because there is no way he could have hidden his Buster as faulty for so long otherwise.

Goddammit there are so many things I want to say that I can't because they are spoilers.

>>49152125
I will take that as "Yes the Fixer bot was a Maverick" or as "Seven Buster was detachable so he swiched for a faulty one when it was time for his check ups."

Also, did we finally buy that Mettool?

>>49152213
Neither of those is accurate. Seven's always used the same buster.

>>49152091
I think his buster legit didn't work for most of our time with him. I remember he got it working for a bit, but according to Hunter Command there was a scene we missed that exposed that the way he did was incredibly dangerous and risky to himself, and was told to stop using it. He could have improved the process but kept that under wraps.

We spent so little time with Seven, we really don't have much to go with. We still haven't asked Frog about what was up with his gun in the first place.

>>49152261
So Seven might end blowing himself up? Greatest news I had all day.

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>>49150608
>>49150655
>>49150730
>>49150793
You opt to leave Blackout Rockets behind--Flak will have his launcher in a pinch, but more to the point, you doubt the squad will appreciate having to wade through a field of blinding razor chaff if you fill up a tunnel with one.

“Got any plans for close quarters?” You ask Susan as the squad makes their final checks.

“Sure,” he replies, stepping onto the pad first. “Stand behind you.”

You don’t get much time to tour scenic Germany, such as it is--the destruction is clear, with the army base camp poised on what looks like a giant plate. Large pylons have been driven through into the earth, acting as stakes and stabilizers--and, presumably, some kind of protection to prevent Sabomole from just dropping the entire place from below.

“Captain?” A voice calls. You turn with your squad, the Berets in close formation, uniform and ready. A mild-looking German--Reploid--with military bearing and decor to match greets you.

He salutes crisply. “Captain Drang, Deutches Heer. I’ll get straight to it--I am tasked solely with maintaining a perimeter while French and German special forces attempt to locate and retire the maverick.”

You’re given an unpleasant reminder of the last such infantry perimeter you visited, in the Himalayas. “A perimeter, you say.”

He sweeps his arms out theatrically. “Yes, to prevent a subterranean digger from escaping, I am maintaining a very orderly sewer cap over the ground. Brilliant, yes? But orders are orders. And on that note, I must also tell you that my superiors have decided to leave matters in your very capable hands.”

“That doesn’t sound good.”

“It isn’t. What that means is that they are letting you do the heavy lifting--which is to say, all of it--and my orders are to only expend resources as absolutely necessary.”

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>>49152694
You roll your eyes. “Lovely.”

“Just so. But the KSK have cheerfully radioed home to inform them that they cannot receive those orders, as they are belowground and out of communication range.”

Susan laughs out loud at that, then rather steadfastly remains in parade rest, leaving the German officer to guess which identical-looking Beret did it.

You suppress a dirty little chuckle yourself. “Give them my thanks.”

“With luck, you can do it yourself. We have three teams down there, and one from France. Major Lucas sends his regards from hospice, by the by. They had to double his sedatives to keep him from coming in person.”

“So what can I expect down there?”

“For support? Unfortunately, very little. If you can meet up with one of our teams, they may have intel for you, but there are only about a dozen men accounted for down there for what must be kilometers of tunnel network.”

You nod. “Any further news from the enemy?”

Drang shakes his head. “The only team sent past what we’ve already encountered is not responding to hails. Our only guess is that he isn’t doing all the digging himself, by the sheer volume of it. If he is, then he has been very busy.”

>Ask anything else?

>>49152713
"Do you know what model of mechanoids he is using or have a general idea at least?"

>>49152713
"What's the most expensive thing I can wreck here? Last mission I scored a dragon, hoping I can at least smash up some tanks or something."

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>>49152765
This is fucking hilarious and I cannot tell you why yet.

>>49152713
"Do you have any idea were your teams are underground, general cordinates at least?"

>>49152812
>We end wrecking a whole city don't we?

>>49152812
Welp, time to make the entirety of Germany collapse underground.

>>49152835
"If I wanted so much colateral, I would just called that damn Bear and his team!'

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>>49152812
Now you've got me all excited

>>49152713
Thought of an actual question
"Any ideas how to keep in touch with you or my squad while I'm down there?"

Judging by how OP seven's buster is, my guess is they mounted a S-class weapon on a B-class reploid, and he just didn't have the raw power output to actually use it.

>>49152885
I can't believe Seven had a black paintjob and we were STILL surprised he was a traitor.

>>49152885
"Do you have a roll of cable that's several kilometres long? Otherwise forget it cause that's the only way we could remain in contact."

>>49152713
>Nothing else. Time to fuck this chicken, er, mole.

>>49152929
>Several uses of Tension Coil later...

>>49152907
No is more that he suffered from a design defect and he did a dangerous upgrade that made his energy core unstable.

>>49152955
We don't have infinite ammo you know. But yes using cable comunications is a way to stay in contact, if impractical and expensive.

>>49152713

>What sort of equipment did your guys take down there?

>If he's not digging alone, what could that mean?

>Any idea where his resources are coming from?

...these were just questions that popped into my mind, not sure how much good they'll do.

>>49152995
>Mole had a deathman swich.
>ALL THE TUNNELS!

>>49153094
With our luck? Even rying to take him alive won't work and the tunnels will go down anyway.

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Dinner and exercise break. Plus CL had to go do real-life things.

So, as long as I'm a bit busy to write, welcome back, everyone! Sorry as always for the long delays.

>>49153881
That picture is slightly lewd

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Eh have a girl instead.

So who's ready to go whack a mole?

So, anyone here ever watched Time Bokan also know as The Time Nachine or something like that? Because the designs there greatly remenber me of Megaman. Heck it even had skull themed time machine!

And in fact one episode had a robot rebellion.

Considering this series aired in Japan in 1976, it might have served as inspiration for Megaman, besides the evidently Astroboy influence.

>>49154521
You mean go after a mole in his home turf which he's had plenty of to prepare against assault?

Yeah, I'm sure nothing can go wrong.

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>>49154648
I've been telling CL, someday I'm going to give you a standard, by-the-books operation with no sudden curveballs and no unexpected threat.

You'll tear each other apart in madness looking desperately for the other shoe to drop.

>>49154648
> Yeah, I'm sure nothing can go wrong.

What, you think that some sort of sea creature is going to be lurking in the depths? Cause I can't fathom anything else you might be afraid of in a cave, underground, inland.

>Any fault lines nearby?

>>49154699
There's a giant underground lake filled with mechaniloids, gotcha.

>>49154720
Why do you think the local authorities are placing us in charge? So thry can wash their hands when the deathman switch goes on!

>>49154775
That would compromise the tunnel stability and would also be an avoidable obtacle. No is worse than that, the Mole recicled underwater bots and since they are kind of useless inland, filled them with explosives.

>>49154775
>filled with mechaniloids and Tanker
Fixed.

I should've said bird, I know how much you all enjoy underground birds.

>>49154699
If there was ever a reason to name a maverick Land Shark...

Alternately, and I am ashamed I didn't think of this one sooner since I did it, sewer gator mechaniloids or as a secondary boss if Sabomole is being strong armed somehow into this.

>>49154928
Water + Tunnel = Tunnel instability

Even if he has a deathman switch and he is crazy he would rater die that let his tunnel compromised that way.

But yes a second Maverick helping is possible.

Rolled 3 + 5 (1d20 + 5)

>>49154866
The trauma of facing minions that remind us of Dodo will have to happen other day.

>>49154974
Who said anything about a Maverick? I mean like the Loch Ness Monster kicking it underground in Germany.

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>>49155009
"Well, I gotta give it to him, I didn't see that one coming."

>>49155067
But then it would be weak against electricity and since when type advantage has worked so well for us?

No, is gonna be a huge super dura plastic monster that's invulnerable to electric atacks. And weak against fire, but we forgot to bring any fire themed weapon.

>>49155137
Our fire weapon is integrated into our dash system, man. We can literally just lunge forward and be on fire whenever we want, unless the last time was too recent.

Rolled 1063 + 8 (1d2000 + 8)

>>49155158
Wanna bet they damage our Dash system first?

>>49154699
>>49154775

Is this the same underground lake as in MMZ?

>>49155336
That's 100 years on the future, so most likely no. Also unless they damage our Dash system first. We can just fly over.

>>49155376
And we are so paranoid lately that we might as well drop a whole charge on the Lake that risk going in. Then drain power from one of the Mole power lines and repeat.

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>>49147838
PRESENT AND ACCOUNTED FOR

Retard Greatsword best option, never forget. This could have been Anode.

>>49155429
Still could, if we drop great big fistfuls of cash on it. Anode has some interesting potential options in that regard because the sword that would kill essentially any other Hunter is a viable weapon due to his EM Shielding.

>>49155462
And we would get it on use restricted only, and that would fuck us up with our luck plus traitors. Also a Maverick with nuclear grade shielding will steal it.

Forget the sword, it will end in tears.

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Okay, most of my present business is dealt with, back to writing. We'll almost definitely be running into tomorrow.

>>49155462
Any other not electric themed hunter, that is. Anyway, we chose the option Command would let us carry, but maybe we can find some electric mavs later to shove into a sword? Mainly because imagine us with any electric weapon that could have area effects that may include us.

>>49155526
Yeah. I can totally see it.

NUCLEAR BEETLE
RANK: A to S Class

Formely a Reploid designed to both operate nuclear plants and help recover areas with a high amount of radiation. Due to being build to work in areas with high radiation, it's shielding is good enough to survive a nuclear bomb as long as he doesn't get a direct impact.

Weapon: Gentleman Antlers, Retard Sword stolen from Anode.

>>49155586
Is a bad idea to overspecialize.

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>>49154699
>fighting an evil digger in germany
>he has unknown mechaniloid backup
>the excavations are huge
we're getting smashed to bits again, aren't we.

>>49155687
Hence why we should get the BFG for one in our team as soon as we can. We hust have to figure what weapon data would make the best mini boss killer in rocket form.

>>49155687
Obligatory

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azEvfD4C6ow

>>49155869
God dammit I'd forgotten all about this fucking video

>>49155687
The enemy is electricity based. Hopefully we will have a lot of enemies to steal power from.

And if you guys really want a finisher move, we should upgrade our buster again. But for now I prefer better control of our electricity since that data also helps India.

Also I still have to decide if Bokan was a reploid like AI that was supposed to run a spaceship and then got stuck in a Reploid body due to funding cuts or a Reploid created to run aerospace comand than then was left without purpose due to funding cuts.

>>49155686
The entire concept in the conversation is over specialization, though, as HC has said we would have to invest in more protections just to use the sword without radiation killing us instead of the EM field. Bearing in mind the electromagnetic field is the only thing we have any kind of defense against in the entire concept. That said, my version is aiming to be more reliant on what we have and synergizing with that instead of gearing up to hold a small star, as well as looking to see if we can find ways to add to our capacitor charging abilities in a pinch.

>>49155869
Seven has a BFG.

>>49155942
Why not both? I mean having your chraracter unsure of his or her origins could be interesting.

And yeah we could use another buster upgrade but not right now.

>>49155942
Mix the ideas. Reploid frame acts as an "endoconstruction" frame designed to interface with a star ship.

>>49155982
And as pointed by that Anon and me. A Maverick with even better shielding, aka a Reploid that was build to handle lots of radiation, could steal the sword from us. Also even if Hunter Command is not as cruel as to do that >>49155645

There is the fact that eapon runs counter to us having a team and the fact that such weapon would be restricted in use by the highter ups. And with our luck the one time we really need it we won't have it due to traitors and bad intel.

>>49156011
You didn't read the part about budget cuts, did you? I mean there is no way they would build such an expensive Reploid body and then not use it.

Plus the fact that it being an AI fits better with the whole Reploid pilots being reasigned.

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>>49152753
>>49152814
>>49152885
>>49153055
>>49154720
“Any idea what models are being fielded?”

“Wayings and Hamma Hammas, like your Commander said,” Drang replies. “No other visuals aside from military-grade weapons fire, what little our scans have picked up suggest the heavier stuff. Nothing that can’t be set up or brought down by a small crew, but they’re clearly dug in. They’re in no short supply, either, this is a military operation.”

“So who’s backing it?”

“Doppler, we’d imagine. The attack is too well-coordinated; with the business in France and the timing. Plus… well, you’ve seen the dossier. Sabomole had no record before he and his crew fell off the radar.”

“Do you have a ballpark of where your teams are?”

“We have them checking in once an hour. One team hasn’t called in for five.”

“Once an hour?”

Drang nods. “That means they can’t get very far down before they have to come back up. We’re setting up relays and boosters down there, but the deeper you go, the harder it is to link the signal.”

“We can use those to keep in contact with one another down there?”

He nods. “We’re already sending your navigation the joint operations encryption keys. Once you’re out of range, though… well, if they’ve been down there long enough, maybe the mavericks have their own facilities.”

“You said he might not be digging alone. What might that mean?”

The German officer shrugs. “Excavating an automated Wily foundry from a hundred years ago, for all I know. Or digging for Berlin, or making a giant sonic bomb, or maybe Doppler collects very pretty geodes.”

>>49156124
Well, here's the thing. They could still use the body if they then adapted the system to interface with more systems, which sounds like the kind of job he would want in the first place. That said, it would require more information about Bokan and his intended design, as I just have either AI shoved in a reploid or reploid designed for mechaniloid aerospace command. Both of which imply, to me, that he could interface with rogue mechaniloids and then hijack them so they're his current drones, which means highly variable power, as if he got, say, a Dino Tank, he suddenly has a lot of power at his disposal.

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>>49156255
You put up your hands. “Right, right, okay. Any fault lines around here?”

He laughs. “I’m not a geologist, but no, not without walking and swimming for a few hundred kilometers. As far as I know, there’s nothing of value down there. The company that owns the rights to the land didn’t even bother surveying.”

“Noted. All right, I guess we’re ready to get in there. Is there anything else?”

“We have semi-regular seismic readings from Sabomole. We can send you his way, but… If you can find our missing team, I would be grateful,” he says. “But don’t risk yourselves or the mission for it.”

>They’re our first objective, then. Give us their last heading.
>Sabomole comes first. We’ll have plenty of time for search and rescue when the tunnels are clear.
>We can split off. Susan, you’re squad lead.
>Other?

>>49156290
>Sabomole comes first. We’ll have plenty of time for search and rescue when the tunnels are clear.
Maybe if we were solo, but not this time. Gotta tackle the job like a big boy.

>>49156011
As pointed by the Anon, it would not fit with the whole budget cuts idea. Sure it sounds interesting but it would not fit this universe. Maybe I could make it so that was the original idea but the Bokan AI got delayed by years and by the time it was ready they decided to just replace pilots by simple AI piloted ships.

Then they just put the AI in a Reploid body to save it. Not the body it was originally designed for as that was never done. But a generic B class pilot body.

Hence you have a Reploid that doesn't act quite like a Reploid, that can't do the job it was programed for and that got stuck doing some job she really doesn't want to do as a way to survive.

Dear lord, poor Bokan ended as some idiot secretary didn't she?

>>49156290
>Sabomole comes first. We’ll have plenty of time for search and rescue when the tunnels are clear.

>>49156290
>Sabomole comes first. We’ll have plenty of time for search and rescue when the tunnels are clear.

>>49156259
While that sounds great, they probably diched the idea after Sigma. Hence one of the reasons why Botan expend years in development hell.

Also

>They’re our first objective, then. Give us their last heading.

All seems to indicate the Melo prefers to avoid killing when we can so no reason to not save people first. That will soften the blow once the Mole hits the deathman switch and things go to hell.

Also this is X, rescue misions done well improve your general score.

>>49156335
>>49156369
The Mole is doing delaying actions so why the hurry?

>They’re our first objective, then. Give us their last heading.

Also he might have a death switch, better save who we can first.

>>49156490
Less a hurry, more that it has a definite location. My understanding is that find the team will require more wandering, which means more potential for separation and traps.

>>49156338
I'm glad I'm not the only one who spends their free time thinking up reploids

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>>49156290
>Sabomole comes first. We’ll have plenty of time for search and rescue when the tunnels are clear.
i hope we've been practicing our poker face in the mirror instead of funny faces.

>>49156290

>They're our first objective, then. Give us their last heading.

If we find them, maybe they can help with the mole. Block his progress or eliminate his options or something.

>>49156560
But we could wander as a team.

>>49156290
>Other?
We'll keep an eye out, but until we see any signs were going to head for Sabomole. If we happen to see them we'll help them out though.

>>49156716
Ditto, plus information is power and we need information badly. Jumping in blind is a very bad idea.

>>49156560
Bokan

AI of Reploid like intellect originally designed to act like a "Mother Ship" that controled spacecraft. The original project had Bokan having a humanoid body with could interface directly and remotely to control space ships and a "mothership" that would greatly amplify Bokan capabilities. The idea was not to have Bokan control every single ship directly but to have each ship have a simple AI and that Bokan would act like a master control in case of errors or emergencies.

However when Sigma turned Maverick it was feared what Bokan could do if it turned Maverick too. So the almost finished AI was modified to only being able to control a single space ship at a time. Unfortunately the delay caused by that doomed the project as budget cuts in the aerospace program made it so the custom body was deemed too expensive to be built. Desperate to save Bokan, it's creators uploaded the AI into a B class Reploid pilot body, a female one.

And somehow somewhat a very confused Bokan ended as secretary of an asshat. Since while her social skills were almost null her organisation skills extraordinary.

>>49156290
>Sabomole comes first. We’ll have plenty of time for search and rescue when the tunnels are clear.

Eliminating the threats down here will be more certain to help them than wandering lost in the dark, anyway.

>>49156900
No one is taking the death switch thing seriously despite that comment from HC uh?

>>49156883
Do I have a new friend joining me in writefaggotry?

>>49156921
It's simple. We just take him alive.

>>49156290
>>They’re our first objective, then. Give us their last heading.
Information is going to save us time in the long term and chances are where there's stuck teams, there's likely a mav beachhead.

>>49157068
....define 'alive'

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I used to write Megaman and Megaman X fics before Megaman X7 also know as Megaman X Axl turned me off the franchise for a long time.

>>49157086
Technically still powered.

>>49157068
With our luck? Are you serious? Better save everyone we can than to risk HC going "Maverick kills itself, all tunnels collapse."

>>49157092
...Have you. Have you read the Ori stories yet?

>>49157156
Nope. Should I? My last X fic was situated in an alternate version of X2 were Dark Zero wasn't destroyed as a way to have him act as Sigma's dragon. Were the world had divided itself in city states as even without Sigma around the number of Mavericks keep increasing. It wasn’t very popular.

>>49157238
I dunno about 'should' or not, but they're MHQ's one and only lonely bits of fan writing and I lust for feedback the way India lusts for jet upgrades. Um. Fair warning: this quest is 9001% of my Megaman exposure, though Hunter Command has been gracious in helping me out. If you care to read and offer your feedback, the list follows.

All future reference, the unnamed protagonist of the first is Ray Rat. You meet him again later.

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

>>49156290

>They’re our first objective, then. Give us their last heading.

We've already agreed on not splitting up and keeping more friendlies in the field is always a good idea.

>>49157238
Sounds like you wrote the Worm of Megaman X fics. "The world's shit, everything keeps getting worse, and no one can stop it," as a general style rule? The only thing you'd be missing are huge, impossible monsters that seem to just appear and exist solely to wreck everyone's shit, with more appearing whenever one is killed.

>>49156883
I don't have a full write up and am on a phone, but long story short: Dardick "Donut" Steele. Attempt to create a competing system to VWES, as well as a study in the reploid brain's ability to adapt to new abilities and weapons. Feature creep, budget problems, and conflicting egos in the development team led to Dardick having many problems, chiefly being unable to adapt to his different weapon systems. Sigma's rebellion happens, Dardick is ruled to not be worthy the cost, and is not given a commission. After Sigma's first defeat, he is sold to the PMC group "Scrap Guard", where he is given the nickname Donut.

>>49157487
I stopped writing it more or less when Megaman X 7 was released, what Worm?

Also compared to the end of X5, is not so bad.

>>49157629
Worm's a web serial, basically a novel on the internet posted one chapter at a time. It's set on a dystopian Earth where people have superpowers, but everything's constantly getting worse. Lots of gray-and-gray morality.

It's at parahumans . wordpress . com if you're interested.

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>>49157629
Wow that was a long time ago. Anyway got any plans for your character besides being a secretary?

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Perhaps obviously, no more updates tonight. Tomorrow, though, we'll get running, and I'll be up for a little while more if you have questions or comments or the like.

>>49157710
I was referring to the fact I wrote that fic ages ago before Worm but whatever.

>>49157737

If you guys give the names of asshats with power and or money that aren't Mavericks that she could be the secretary off, maybe I could write something.

>>49157753
I wouldn't mind some basics on VWES: when was it first introduced, how prevalent is it in the Hunters/Mavericks (I think it was required for Anode's commission, but is that standard?), why don't the canonical MMX Mavericks not seem to use it (or do they)?

>>49158087
It seems to be based on the system Megaman used. And since Reploids are based on X who had that system included...

>>49158087
It was explained before that's based on the VTS: Variable Tool System that Megaman used. This Quest is not 100%:faithful to the games. Reverse engineering just like the X armors and is slow going since a VWS-8 is extremely expensive.

>>49158087
Answer is written up but pending on this until CL and I are available to make sure we're on the same page.

>>49158253
Are robot masters still outlawed? And even if they are, how much trouble would someone be if they build a robot with a robot master like positronic brain but that couldn't control other robots?

>>49158135
>>49158135
Right, but it doesn't seem to be universally applied. I assume the cost of the system is the reason why it's not on grunts like the Steel Berets, and it doesn't seem to come standard on older hunters, as if I recall correctly neither Dodo or Emerald had VWES. But as we've seen with Anode, Cathode, and Tanker, it is a useful multi-role tool that allows for a lot of utility and helps compensate for a Hunter's weaknesses. I'm just wondering if it's just a matter of cost that seems to limit its use, or other factors such as being relatively new to the Hunters or as Schwarz mentioned, that most Reploids prefer to bolster their inherit strengths rather than cover their weak spots.

You know I was thinking that Bokan could end transferred to the Maverick Hunters at some point. But the thing is, they already have a Reploid like Intellect in RHO. What could they use her for? Considering her lack of social skills and that. Sure she has very good organisational skills and maybe she is good at problem solving. But that's it.

>>49158528
Replacement for that Database machine after one of those Xtreme games?

>>49158647
She isn't a expert in RNA. She can organise data, direct mechanoids and Reploids and solve problems (and pilot any kind of flight capable vessel) and thats it. Besides isn't that what the Fox is around for? To fix the database she screwed up?

Now she could have been hired to organise things just after Sigma was defeated the first time, while someone else took all the credit for her hard work.

Oh poor Bokan, you been THAT asshat secretary all this time?

Of course with the unification of the Hunters headquarters to be much closer to each other, if that guy is indeed her boss, then we might eventually see her. Also while she has a Reploid brain, her mind practicaly runs a entirely different OS, is one of the reasons project Bokan was delayed so long. First they wanted to make it secure, then they wanted to limit it, then the budgets cuts... all it ended in a poor girl that would be way more comfortable up there directing air traffic than down here dealing with confusing people.

>>49158919
exactly

They would want someone who can organize all the reploid data but be absolutely crap at directly interfacing with them, so that there's little risk of another rampage.

You could then have training simulations where she controls and directs AI enemies instead of ships.

So anyway, no one will post one of the usual fillers? Nuclear bear adventures, magnet lobster? Anything?

>>49158966
As said, isn't that the Fox job? It would be redundant to hire another person. AI battle simulations rarely involve teamwork so having her controling several AIs would be somewhat pointless.

Unless the job is an excuse to have her there.

Is the asshat Bokan mentioned is Rhodes replacement, then it makes perfect sence. he gives her a basically pointless job while she also keep doing her real job of organising the Hunters and he keeps taking the credit.

>>49159067
Fox didn't destroy any database. She took over a cyberspace research facility and supplemented it with reploid data she purchased on black market deals.

I am talking about the database computer from MMXtreme, which supposedly happens between X2 and X3

>>49159067
Yeah he would do that. It also explains a logical choice like moving everyone together. Since Bokan would not understand the emotional impact as the AIs she was originally designed to manipulate don't have emotions.

Anyway, how do you guys think this Quest would have gone if we had played it as Cathode from the start?

>>49159166
our upgrades would have been more dakka and less choppa... that and we'd probably have made a glass cannon seeing as we'd be part of the first and they're less about being able to take blows and more about moving as fast as you can while dealing as much damage as you can.

>>49159301
We still would have gotten more armor since we would be too much of a Glass canon otherwise and unlike Bro we can't take many hits.

>>49159342
yeah but it would have been light armor... or at least lighter then what we got for Anon.

>>49159365
As seen by what little we saw from sis lately, it would have been better than the one we got from our parents. Also I see a lot of speed and agility upgrades and not so much on weapons since our default weapon is powerful already.

>>49159406
*The one Cathode got from her parents

>>49159406
maybe we'd go more for shielding instead of armor because it still gives protection but is far lighter... plus since she was made to charge up anode anyways we'd probably have a way to recharge it.

>>49159425
Cathode actually got some totally sweet armor, the problem is Command took it away because they are dildos.

the armor is Anode

>>49159438
Probably both. Best light armor we could get, plus shielding since we can power up. Agility and speed upgrades. Eventually a main weapon upgrade after that wake up fight.

>>49159467
>Agility and Speed upgrades

>Anode?
>Yes, Cathode?
>Why do we both have tertiary dash upgrades?
>Because GOFAST brother, GOFAST.

>>49159442
>Cathode actually got some totally sweet armor, the problem is Command took it away because they are dildos.
My sleep-deprived and slightly drunken brain mixed that up into thinking that the armor was made of dildos, and immediately started coming up with names for it.

Like "Maverickfucker Armor G; fucks up Mavericks. Literally."

>>49159499
Cathode at least has the excuse of that being a thing on the First.

Also knowing HC, we would probably have to deal with the guy we didn't pick as boyfriend turning into a Maverick.

>>49159539
>Anode tries to make us to date Em

>>49159684
>"Look, he's probably entirely unsatisfying as a partner unless you happen to be a beam saber, but he really needs someone to mellow him out and all the girls in the Fourth are fucking insane."

>>49159806
we end up dating him to try and improve your close range skills only for him to wipe the floor with us and drive us even further into grabbing more dakka.

>>49159166
We'd have had to put up with the bullshit antics of Barracks 05, for one thing

It's where we're based in Guy with a Parrot's mmx rpg

>>49159994
Still less chances of death.

>>49159499
Where's that picture of Sanode Heghog when I need it

>>49160037
So, why would Bokan separate Cathode and Anode?

>>49160085
Because any A class Hunter needs to be able to defeat enemies on their own.

Not to mention that because both survived so far, they became stronger by being separate and even stronger together.

Had their remainined together they would be toast of any of the two took too many injuries.

>>49160150
Cruel but logical, as expected from the Mother Ship. What's the difference between Bokan and the HC computer? Does Bokan even have feelings?

>>49160085
Technically, if I remember the scaling right (2 Cs per B, 2Bs per A, etc) Our original setup could have been designed specialize in taking down S-class
>>49160150
conversely, while we now work better separate, we're less specialized. If we'd been working as a team, and upgrading accordingly, the team would be even more powerful, covering for each other's weaknesses, rather than our own.

>>49160248
Plus we've already had to deal with S classes (and worse) more or less on our own or without truly adequate backup.

>>49160248
dropped a bit after S-class:
There may not have had a need for a dedicated S removal team by the time we actually made it into the field.

>>49160224
Yeah she got feelings even if she has no clue how to deal with them besides trying to ignore them. And the difference is that the HC is under a lot more restrictions Bokan is. Not to mention the lack of emotions.

>>49160248
Is three As for S, not two. Is just that we had a traitor in the Fourth. Next S we fight we can ask for our sister backup. And we can justify it saying a Maverick than went Maverick as S can be basically be considered a S plus due to not following HC guidelines and black market experimental upgrades if it went rogue foe long enough.

>49156290
second >>49156845

They're our first objective, then. Give us their last heading.

>>49160150
actually if I recall right I think they split them up for 2 reasons. One being that command needed to reman some units and with reploids taking years to build one custom unit they tend to grab whoever they can and put them where they fit regardless of whether or not they were better suited elsewhere because bureaucracy.

the second reason is command has to always believe that any one of their units will go maverick at any time and they felt we were to strong together. I mean HC even said then when we work with Cath we both go up to a full S class ranking because we synergize so well.

>>49160754
Is true that Cathode and Anode were strong together but they would not have won against that S rank in their factory settings.

Not to mention that without experience fighting alone, all the enemy has to do is take out one of us.

>>49160546
Also this.

>>49160546
Voting for this. Information is power after all.

Sooo... Any chance they're digging for an X upgrade stash under Germany?

>>49160546
Also seconding/thirding. Good morning fellow Brits?

>>49161222
this brings up a question for me, what happens if WE find an X upgrade?

>>49161367
We sell it on eBay.

>>49161425
No, you fool!

We sell it on lightBay.

>>49161630
But we could make so much more money on Σbay

>>49161635
Σbay is just the hip version of wilyBay, don't be fooled. It's got the same history of negligence and fraud!

>>49161646
To avoid being cheated, let's make it cash on pick-up. They'll have to come to Germany, go through the tunnels and kill any remaining loids, but we'll offer a discounted rate for their trouble. 50 bucks, maybe.

Bokan sounds like she's hitting a lot of the same notes as Greer (my guy in Charge Tortoise's game).

He's an early model, from before they figured out how to consistently make a proper reploid brain, and has a rather skewed (he would say practical) viewpoint. He often writes letters to hunter command giving them formal recommendations.

"By definition, mavericks are willing to attack their former friends. Hunters, however, often experience difficulty and lack of morale when fighting former friends. As this harms our combat effectiveness and assists our enemies, I recommend measures be taken to prevent emotional bonds from forming between fellow hunters."

"As artistic expression and appreciation have been the cause of numerous maverick incidents (e.g. the recent Jagwire case), and has no combat applications, I recommend their removal from the specifications of all future models commissioned for MHQ."

The game's stalled because of lack of free time on my part, but sometime I'll put together a writeup of the mission I've actually completed.

>>49157238
>>49157369
Out of curiosity, would you guys want a place to try these concepts out?

>>49158528
You could be capable of remote controlling aerial vehicles of sorts still, admittedly, or be a useful Comms officer, to be fair.

>>49161951
I have negative available time for pretty much any form of gaming that isn't the chill and awful hellscape known as Play By Post. And in any event, Origami's story is not yet told.

I appreciate the offer, though.

>>49161961
It is play by post, though. I have a max of 68 hours at work this week, so yeah.

As for filler...well, I've been busy. Had to slow down a bit lately, but plan to try and get back to speed...maybe next week.

Like a sun made of blackness, I rise!

>>49163011
I want to say "good morning" but it seems likely that "good night" would be more appropriate.

>>49163011
Is a sun made of blackness anything like a blue stop sign?

>>49163080
Good night sounds more like a valediction than a salutation, perhaps good evening would be more adequate?

>>49163011
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mbBbFH9fAg

>>49163246
S'a good tune.

>>49163228
Yeah, good point.

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Good morning, folks.
>>49158087
The premise behind VWES has existed since Megaman--the first Megaman--has. An early adoption of the LIFE and WEAPON technology of Doctors Light and Wily, the first foray into variable weapons involved regulatory chips that the Master series robots shared, all designed by the same two men around the same basic philosophies, standards, and systems. This rendered them interchangeable if the available infrastructure were there--and Megaman, upgraded for combat duty, was just such an a candidate. The chips were compatible with his existing buster parts, but were not slaved to the WEAPON cell template in the same, locked configuration, thus allowing versatility at the expense of longevity.

From there, more dedicated systems were designed (the largest leap forward coming with the development from Bass, designed from the ground-up to defeat Megaman with his own greatest strengths), permitting templated weapons data to be interpreted and loaded into a WEAPON-cell based platform, the first real Variable Weapons systems.

Flash forward to the creation of X, the first "true" user of a Variable Weapons system. It was part of his makeup, but when first activated there was by definition no outside context for it. The analysis by Doctor Cain on what at the time was one of many black box systems provided a template for what would become Dynamic Neural Array data. This is why weapons data is developed from and compatible with VWES systems.

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>>49163778
Without any prior experience or context, the system was deemed less interesting and feasible than developing specialists for each given task and role. The first generation of Reploids therefore had no commensurate VWES analogue or ability. At the time, X's combat rating was assessed low and he was deemed to have no outstanding characteristics. Very few looked into his VWS or saw the potential. Among those who did, of course, was Sigma.
After the first maverick war, X's VWS was examined again, having been proven in the conflict--all the moreso with its ability to mount Zero's buster and amplify weapon data output even further. Sigma had ordered his officers to leave their DNA in read mode, both so that they could be revived and to further test X's abilities. As a direct result, tests and development of the modern Variable Weapons Emulator System developed from the early second generation. Gathered DNA data was now used to make limited reserve weapons. As interim Commander, X never backed the widespread use of VWES, fearing escalation of the conflict. Rhodes, however, signed off on the project quickly, himself the showcase for the platform in the Hunter Killer crisis (and one of the most expensive Reploids ever developed, to boot).

Standards for VWES today have increased--as of this Reploid generation, a VWES-2 or higher becoming "standard" to all combat model commissions for maverick hunting, with rare VWES-4 units depending on operational role and budget requirements. While more prevalent and increasing in number, many models are still simply not designed to have the space or infratructure to house them. Coupled with fears of escalation and the possibility of VWES systems falling into maverick hands, only those with a "need" for a VWES--officers and up--are designed with them.

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>>49163786
Mavericks do also use VWES in limited capacity, but many are older generation models that were never built to interact with the devices. Newer models are also sometimes built for specialist tasks and lack the internal resources or real estate to mount a VWES system. Even those that are compatible often lack the facilities to process and adapt DNA data, if they can get it, and so they elect to upgrade themselves in other ways. Maverick hunters rarely if ever operate with their DNA set in a recoverable state, leaving mavericks only other mavericks to prey on for DNA data. However, even with all the difficulties, there have been several notorious mavericks armed with a VWES, and they consistently have been shown to inflict greater damage and harm--both to civilians and to the luckless hunter officers sent to subdue them. Going forward, it is a troubling but inevitable truth that there will be more and more mavericks armed with full VWES capability. In anticipation, Hunter Command has set a policy automatically classing any known maverick confirmed to hold a VWES as a threat of at least one letter grade higher than they may otherwise merit--and most typically, they simply default to an S, until contact for a full estimation of their abilities has been made.

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>>49158288
There are plenty of master/control unit setups, but as for actual Robot Master-esque units, there's no real reason to. At this point the technology is over a century old and the same job can be done better by conventional means of one form or the other.

Late question, but why do Hunters find going among civilians so weird? In Susan's interlude they seemed to consider going out in public uncomfortable. Is that just social conditioning or some kind of paranoia?

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Votes tallied, it looks like tasking for the missing recon team pulled ahead.

>>49163860
You know how soldiers returning from active duty have difficulties readjusting to civilian life?

That, except they were quite literally made to fight. Sometimes they feel like a bull in a china shop. It's a different sphere, and one they're not comfortable in. The feeling's mutual, since a combat model is built with weapons and armor, trained for service.

>>49163778
>>49163786
>>49163797
Thanks for the info, I always enjoy these QA sessions. Gonna have to modify my idea for Donut a bit, as it doesn't look like the timing would match up as much as I hoped.

Hunter, do you mind if I steal some of your acronyms? DNA meaning Dynamic Neural Array for being a robot's unique data is something I can use.

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>>49164277
Not at all. CL and myself are ourselves working off some "canon" terms (like the main unit names, for instance). VWS/VWES I'm sure I've heard for over a decade in the community at various points, DNA is CL's creation and triumph in unstupiding X5's "robots have DNA" malarkey.

TL;DR go for it.

>>49164305
The americans thank you Hunter, they'll now have something extra to fight German Mad Science with.

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>>49156481
>>49156490
>>49156716
>>49157081
>>49157411
>>49160546
>>49160840
>>49161094
>>49161236
“Let’s make them our first priority,” you reply. “If they’re alive down there, they might have some info for us.”

Drang nods. “Good hunting, Captain.”

There’s a small ingress, surrounded by bunkers, floodlights, and armed soldiers, who salute and step aside to let you pass. Susan looks down the small hole, capped with a ladder. “It really does look like a sewer cap,” he says.

“Welcome to the Fourth,” you reply, stepping up and hopping down.

Your boots hit earth about twelve feet later, more of the floodlights casting harsh glare on the tunnel out in either direction. The Berets begin to file in--carefully--after you, one at a time.


“Hope it’s not this cramped all the way through,” Flak mutters, as you get a call.

“Captain? Drang. You’re now patched into our frequencies. I’ll try to guide you as long as I can.”

Susan nods to you and taps his helmet, indicating the squad is linked as well. “Roger that, thanks. Which way are we headed?”

“Take a right--your South.”

Sure enough, the area is clear--you don’t miss signs of combat illuminated in the harsh floodlamp glare--and it does widen out, the tunnel now about 20 feet tall. You gradually slope down, the lights becoming fewer and further between.

“Crossing into unsecure territory, Captain,” Drang warns.

You make it another few hundred paces before you hear the chuff of exhaust, warning you that a hostile up ahead has gone active. The Berets raise their rifles at your back.

“Hamma Hamma,” Marx says. “I doubt they’d leave it unsupported.”

You nod, peering out into the dark, optics adjusting to low-light mode.

>You guys take it. I’ll watch for the catch.
>I’ve got it, cover me.

>>49164362
>You guys take it. I’ll watch for the catch

Ackbar-o-meter is off the charts.

>>49164362
>>You guys take it. I’ll watch for the catch.

>>49164362
>You guys take it. I’ll watch for the catch.

>>49164362
>You guys take it. I’ll watch for the catch.

Predicting it's a distraction.

>>49163786
>>49163797
neat

>>49164362
>>You guys take it. I’ll watch for the catch.
As the mission is just now formally started, our charge should be like 2-3% (due to the jump down), right?

>>49164613
Damn near zero, yes.

>>49164362
>You guys take it. I’ll watch for the catch.

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>>49164362
>You guys take it. I’ll watch for the catch.

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>>49164380
>>49164400
>>49164433
>>49164472
>>49164613
>>49164760
>>49164969
“You guys handle the big guy,” you say. “I’ll watch and wait for the ambush.”

Susan nods, shouldering his rifle. “Intervals,” he directs to the team.

Watching the Berets in action is interesting. ‘Intervals’ turns out to be a near-perfect enfillade, each shot coming on the back of the last. You realize it must be a tactic for beating down shields with poor refresh cycles--with the four of them spreading flank and firing from different angles, it can’t attack more than two, blocking some of the incoming but exposing itself to the rest. The Berets move crisply, but without hurry--practically marching, rather than dodging as those wrecking balls streak in out of the dark. It’s unsettlingly mechanical, the way they operate.

“Heads up, more mech signals coming online,” you hear a warning in your ear. Sure enough, you see them. About six of them, in fact. You snap your busters up to the ceiling and let fire a salvo as a swarm of

mother

bucking

BATS

Descends upon the fireteam.

The rapid fire of your busters scythes through about half of them, forcing the others to spin away ungainly, away from the burning wrecks. One dives from above, catching the end of your lance scything through the air. Another twists around that, barely, trying to draw your fire as the last swoops down at Susan--only to get swatted out of the air by Flak, his shot in the Hamma fusillade blocked. The last tries to flee before being caught in your buster raking across the ceiling, splotching it with slowly-cooling molten earth. Behind you, the Hamma is chewed up in a chain of explosions, the tunnel pitching and shaking as the ground beneath it gives way.

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>>49165083
“I think they were capping an entry point,” Derby remarks. “I’m getting a radio signal.”

You tap your ear--sure enough, you hear an automated distress beacon, broadcasting on the German line.

“Captain?” Drang comms. “Are you--”

“We’ve got it, yes,” you reply. “Light resistance so far. If they haven’t reported sightings, warn your teams to expect motherfucking bats.”

“...Excuse m--”

“Mother. Fucking. Bats. Fourth out, we’re ingressing.” You close the channel, turning to check on the team… and find Susan staring flatly at you. “What?”

He just shakes his head. “Moving on.”

You have a feeling they had time to shore up this place, and your guess is rewarded--as soon as you drop in, you immediately hear two distinct sets of sounds--a rapid, steady tick-tick-tick that grows closer, and the distant growling of machinery biting into stone.

“Incoming,” Susan warns.

>?

>>49165098
It must be hard to be Susan. First there was just Flak to deal with, then Anode came along...

>>49165145
It's not anodes fault that he's "special"

>>49165098
How narrow is it? Can we spread out or find cover, or are we basically single file?

>>49165213
You can spread out enough to send fire downrange together, but that's about it.

>>49165098
>Calm approach, Anode leading, Broken covering

>>49165098
Soounds like smeone running away from those bulldozer-type robots. Prepare your grenades to blow it up, IIRC the hurricane was pretty good against them in X1.

>>49165250
This. Or combine with the team to form BERENODE the Batbane, caver extraordinaire.

>>49165098
i'm expecting a swarming enemy that can walk on walls and ceilings, because god hates us and wants us to suffer.
can we climb back up and drop grenades down the shaft until the ticking stops?

>>49165098
Well, Berets spreading to provide cover support, some shields to help protect us incase of beam fire, and perhaps readying our new weapon the moment the unknowns can be identified. If friendly, cover them. If hostile, GRENADE OUT.

>a rapid, steady tick-tick-tick

A pipe bomb!

>>49165098
>Slow and steady Gentlemen, this is not a timed mission, let's be careful and remember to let me tank if needed.

>>49165556
Yeah, no need for speed runs yet.

>>49161881
Bokan is merely an Ai created to be a mothership, she wasn't programmed with emotions to start with. The emotions are a mere side effect of her reploid like hardware.
Actually her brain is a mix and match of robot master and reploid, they had to rewrire a gen 1 Reploid brain to work similar, if more advanced to a robot master, after they fried the regular replibrains with just an install and see what happens aproach. And yes her programers were bigger history nerds than Anode.Were caused they died in a Maverick atack. Or so the oficial history says.

>>49161951
Yes. What do you sugest?

>>49165661
Reploid girl is named "Mothership". She ends being really small because smaller pilots are more space efficient, right?

>>49165953
[img]http:images/1472953658270.jpg[/img]
This is what she looks like, when cosplaying, but that's her real hair. But I guess she could be shorter than India since she blew up the first few bodies they tried to install her in. Her parents were a tad too much like discworld wizards sometimes.

>>49166063
Can you have her react to the short jokes like Edward Elric from FMA once she develops a personality?

>>49165098
wait, is this that tunnel drilling machine with the giant spiked rolling pin that was in either X1 or X2?

... if that's the case we need to either A, get moving so it doesn't crush us or B, find some way to get behind it and unless hell onto it and blow it the fuck up.

>>49166488
Tension coil/zip line at the ready!

>>49165098
Light up that approaching nonsense. The further sounds are bound to be Wayangs, and we can't charge ahead at them without running into real-as problems given our current situation and team.

>>49166488
Hence why should get that mini boss destroying Bazooka as soon as we can.

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>>49165250
>>49165297
>>49165313
>>49165490
>>49165542
>>49165556
“Right, stack up,” you order, raising your buster. “Wait for my shot.”

The Berets hop to, filing behind you as you sight downrange. You’re about to call a challenge for friend or foe when a tumbling wheel of bladed death barrels into view, fast. Each spoke jabs through the earth in perfect sequence, tik-tik-tiking as it practically tills its way through the tunnel, straight at you. .

You have your grenades equipped, so that’s what you fire.

The imposing spokes of the mechaniloid are as suddenly put to shame as they are shattered to flinders, a shrieking whirlwind roaring downrange, wind buffeting back and forth as the Hurricane Bomb shreds its way through creation. The mechaniloid wheel is torn apart in the wind tunnel, scraps of it tumbling backwards after the grenade as it banshee-howls its way out of sight. You hear another explosion in the distance, as the screaming of the gale finally calms, the winds whistling down the hall coming to an end with a rapping of metal against metal far ahead.

“...Well then,” Susan observes.

“Blady,” explains Marx, pointing the barrel of his gun at one of the more intact pieces of the wheel mechaniloid.

“Ah.” You reply, pausing for a moment to appreciate the silence in the bomb’s wake. “...Mine’s bigger.”

Further in, you find the wreckage of another mechaniloid, green and vaguely lizard-ish. Marx posits that this one was an Atareeter, based on the trail of densified earth behind it, sharpened into points. “Area denial and zoning,” he explains.

“Aren’t we going away from Sabomole’s seismics?” asks Susan. Before you can respond, Drang does it for you.

“You’ve got incoming,” he warns.

A moment later, you hear and then see the earth shift. A few stray rocks part, and from the new entry comes Disruptor Sabomole.

>>49166514
Is not soft enough to stop the drill. Too bad we don't have a foam spray gun, that would stuck that sucker. We should get one later for the team, is grreat for crowd control and capture targets alive.

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>>49166878
He’s built… dense, more than heavy, with a surprisingly small frame that nonetheless presents angular, heavy-duty plating and sloped, segmented limb armor, joints encased and protected. More than anything, though, his claws--lanky and cumbersome, with each claw-finger about as long as your whole hand. Stripes of yellow and black suggest the construction model design you’d expected, with a dark blue armored casing across his back, running the undersides of his arms.

Sabomole turns to look over one shoulder with sleepy, heavy-looking eyes and a floodlight snout ringed with sensors, and wordlessly tunnels away.

>

>>49166894
>That was weird is he stoned?

>>49166894
huh, so he's stalking us. Well then I guess that means he'll always be close by while we look for the missing teams.

>>49166918
Yeah
>Gentlemen, we are facing a virus infected, crazy and stoned Maverick, expect underground atacks, tunnels colapsing and electric atacks that can kill you guys in one shot.

>That or he was... downgraded. The body works but nothing smarter than a war mechanoid is in the head. Brrr...

>>49166960
>>49166967
I don't know what option is more scary. A Maverick on drugs, a silent strategist or a "downgraded" Maverick.

>>49166960
>>49167005
>Silent strategist, stoned or downgraded? What the heck I know? Let's just be careful.

There changed my vote to this.

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>>49166894
PUT A PINEAPPLE IN THAT EXIT TUNNEL!

>>49167064
Bokan: The enemy can dig so is pointless. Once the current rescue mision is done we can lure the enemy to a room too hard for it to dig it's way out. Of course that after reviewing Anode past misions, I think the enemy might have a death switch that will colapse all tunnels.

>>49167064
Are you Cain Labs assistant now? The enemy can dig. Blocking tunnels is at most a delaying action.

>>49166894
Fire busters after him if possible, but nothing VWES. Proceed with rescue operation.

>>49167230
Don't waste ammo. Like Bokan say we can lure him to a location better suited to our advantage later.

I mean the "make the enemy waste ammo" was in our simulation program when we were still in the lab.

>>49167163
Bokan: think Magnet Lobster been pinning too many magnets to his head again. Just because he is resistant to electromagnetism it doesn't mean he is completely insulated like those radiation resistant models that work in zones with high risk of nuclear radiation.
>>49167230

Bokan: Wasting ammo in a target you are very unlikely to hit is inefficient. Specifically when said target has nit taken hostile action yet and left for the moment.

Pity we can't just send a Hurricane Bomb down his new tunnel.

>>49167338
Is a very basic make the enemy waste ammo strategy. We are Anode, killer of Ss, not the rookie still doing his first few simulations of combat.

>>49167369
>Let's continue the rescue mision for now. This looks like a basic make the enemy waste ammo on the mole part. Plus is not like we have a realistic way to defeat him without luring him into a dig resistant room. A tunnel colapse would not kill us but it would destroy our team

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>>49166894
Ask your operator if he was able to locate Sabamole"s signal popping up right in front of you, and if not mention ther's some heavy duty jamming going on in these tunnels.

>>49167450

Agreed.

>Let's continue the rescue mision for now. This looks like a basic make the enemy waste ammo on the mole part. Plus is not like we have a realistic way to defeat him without luring him into a dig resistant room. A tunnel colapse would not kill us but it would destroy our team.

We are eighter a team player or we aren't, also don't split the party until the boss room fight since there the team won't be able to do much.

>>49166894
>Keep plugging ahead, keeping a bead on Sabomole as much as possible

>>49167463
Also this.

>>49167463
Also this.

So...

>Let's continue the rescue mision for now. This looks like a basic make the enemy waste ammo on the mole part. Plus is not like we have a realistic way to defeat him without luring him into a dig resistant room. A tunnel colapse would not kill us but it would destroy our team.
>Ask your operator if he was able to locate Sabamole"s signal popping up right in front of you, and if not mention ther's some heavy duty jamming going on in these tunnels.
>Be careful and don't split the party unless is a direct fight with the Mole or another Maverick.