>>972678
>>Instruct Katya to stay on the ship.

HERE'S YOUR (YOU) MERC

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>>972678
>>Instruct Katya to stay on the ship.

She isn't really made for combat unless a certain someone installed hidden weapon ports.

>>972678
>>Bring Katya with you.

Happy holidays!

>>972678
>Bring Katya with you.

>>972678
>>Instruct Katya to stay on the ship.

>>972678
>Bring Katya with you.

>>972684
Let's get Scott to install internal weapon bays later.

>>972678
>>Bring Katya with you.
She can be repaired

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>>972678
>>Bring Katya with you.

>7 other people who ain't busy on Christmas
Merry Christmas ya'll

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>>972678
"All right, Katya, you can come with us." You nod. Even if she was an alien AI, what she was speaking made a lot of sense. "Elizabeth, what can we do for her?"

"Hmmm, well..." Elizabeth activates her datapad. "I suppose we can disguise her as an officer like us, or a technician or specialist of some type."

"What would fit best for her?" You ask.

"If you want her to have the same security access we do, she would dress as an officer, but three officers traveling around together would pick up a lot of scrutiny. Technicians can access areas officers normally aren't often seen, and nobody would pay much attention to her, but we'd have to figure some way to sneak her into the more secure areas." Elizabeth explains.

"Can't we just have her tag along as a secretary of some type?" You raise an eyebrow.

"Only if you're a VERY high ranking officer." Elizabeth chortles. "Remember, we're just a backend freighter crew. We're not going to be getting a lot of perks."

"Point." You sigh.

>Disguise Katya as a technician.
>Disguise Katya as an officer.
>Other

>Unfortunately, I'm going to have to pause the thread here for an hour or so, since I've just been roped into some last minute holiday plans. I'll be sure to keep you guys updated on Twitter or in the thread if anything comes up! So we'll try to start up again at 8:30 or 9:00pm PST! Sorry for the inconvenience, and happy holidays!

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>>972771
>>Disguise Katya as a technician.

>>972771
>Disguise Katya as an officer.

>>972771
>>Disguise Katya as a technician.

>>972771

>Disguise Katya as a technician.

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What are the odds of Nat being the owner/inventor of multimillion dollar 'Designer Body Mod' company in some section of space?

>>972771
>>Disguise Katya as a technician.

>>972771
>Disguise Katya as a technician.

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>>972805
I figure she doesn't own anything but a dubious medical license. If she was the head of a company, she wouldn't need us to be a willing test subject. And since she was at the academy with Sam, she couldn't really be much older than her. Unless you're talking about an 'heir to a vast fortune' kind of thing?

>>972805
>>972830
At the very least, she's making money on the side.

But just wait till she gets her hands on a sample of alien dna.

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>>972846
>she doesn't find Alien DNA, she finds they uploaded themselves into BIONIC BODIES to fight some vague greater threat.

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>>972856
>uploaded themselves into BIONIC BODIES

>>972771
>Disguise Katya as a technician.

How many fate points do we have in this quest?

>>972939
none, there aren't any implemented for this quest iirc.

>>972942
Good

>>972949
>>972942
Makes it rather exciting if things go pear shaped. Like pulling off a Clone Wars tier boarding mission.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THFxKwUrBYY&feature=youtu.be

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>>973003
Certainly one way to get ourselves a new ship if in the event we need to evacuate.

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Okay, I am back, so we'll get things going once I write up the new post!

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>>972771
"I think we can just dress her up as technician. It'll at least explain the way she talks." You note.

"All right, I'll get the fabricator to print out something that will fit her." Elizabeth grins. "Anyways, we should be dropping out of FTL soon."

And right on cue, the freighter decelerates out of FTL, revealing a massive blue orb. A supergiant ocean planet. In orbit, you could see several Hegemony ships. Mostly support ships and freighters, but more than a few warships, including a squadron of destroyers, a cruiser, and what you could only assume was a dreadnought. A massive block of grey steel with guns and missiles pods covering every square inch of bare space. Not something you would want to tangle with.

"Unidentified freighter, please transmit your authorization code." You hear a bored but stern operator over the comms.

"Transmitting." Elizabeth responds as she presses a key on the console. Hopefully the code worked.

There was brief, almost unbearable pause.

"Freighter 636, code confirmed. Where is your escort?"

"Oh, um, some Confeds were prowling around one of our jump points and he stayed behind to chase them off." You lie. Well, it wasn't a total lie...

"...roger that." The operator responds. "Please follow the nav beacon."

The console lights up as your new waypoint is set, on the planet's surface.

"What is this place? You ask Katya.

"Planet 66492-5 is a completely aquatic biome. The high hydrogen content in the water makes it an ideal catalyst for the reactors that power the Collector, so it was only natural for a fueling platform to be constructed here."

The freighter continues downward into the planet's atmosphere, and there you saw it. It was like a giant metallic mushroom jutting out of the sea, the saucer-like top having to be hundreds of kilometers in diameter.

"It's massive..." Elizabeth gasps.

"It had to be. This facility was meant to service multiple Collectors." Katya explains nonchalantly.

"And why's it built like that?" You point to the narrow stem supporting the whole structure.

"Due to the number of moons in orbit, this planet experiences extremely turbulent tidal forces." Katya further explains. "Sea levels can fluctuate hundreds of meters in a matter of hours."

The freighter finally manages to dock with the massive structure, snuggling into a small bay carved into the side of the saucer section.

"All right, time to get to work." Elizabeth smiles as she straightens out her uniform. Outside the viewport, you could see a low level officer flanked by a pair of guards approaching the ship. "Would you like me to do the talking or do you want to handle it?"

>Handle the talking.
>Let Elizabeth handle it.
>Other

Merry Christmas!

>>973130
>Let Elizabeth handle it.

>>973130
>>Let Elizabeth handle it.
We got zero experience for this.

>>973130
>>Let Elizabeth handle it.

>>973130
>>Let Elizabeth handle it.

>>973130
>Let Elizabeth handle it.

>>973130
>Let Elizabeth handle it.
>Other
Is there any way to make the cabin smell of smoke? We WERE ambushed, and some light damage caused a little fire, and Sam can't talk because of some smoke inhalation, if the officer gets suspicious on why the freighter's first mate is doing all the talking instead of its captain.

>>973159
We could always try to pull a Han Solo.

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>>973130
"Well, this is your specialty, Elizabeth, so I'll let you handle it." You shrug.

"Okay, well, that means we have to make a few changes..." Elizabeth winks as she yanks the Captain's pin off of your shirt and pins it on her own. "All right, Lieutenant, it's time to greet the welcome party!"

That kinda stung, but you knew it was all for the show. You follow Elizabeth as she confidently walks out of the bridge, Katya obediently following in her new disguise. The three of you stride out of the freighter's loading ramp, where the Heg officer is waiting impatiently.

"You are behind schedule." The officer says, just barely holding back a contemptuous sneer. "Can I trust that the cargo is at least safe?"

"Of course, sir." Elizabeth responds with a salute. "Unfortunately, my First Mate was sloppy with the jump coordinates."

"I see." The officer turns his eyes on you. "I hope her negligence doesn't extend to care of the cargo."

Okay, that REALLY stung.

"The cargo is safe, as you can see." Elizabeth grins.

That's when Tank takes his cue, talking the massive armored suit down the ramp, its two gigantic feet shaking the ground as it moves.

"Excellent." The officer smiles. "With this new weapon we will expel the Confederates from this sector and secure it for ourselves. Store it in Bay 3 and proceed with unloading the rest of the cargo."

With that, the officer spins on his heel and marches off, his bodyguards following closely. Elizabeth then nudges you.

"He has high security clearance." She whispers. "Want to jump him? It's your call."

>Jump the officer.
>Leave the officer be.
>Other

>>973187
>Leave the officer be.

>>973187
>Leave the officer be.

>>973187
>>Jump the officer.

>>973187
>>Jump the officer.

>>973187
>>Leave the officer be.

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>>973187
"Let's leave him alone. They might get suspicious if he turns up missing." You whisper back.

"Understood." Elizabeth nods.

"Eliminating three hostiles without arousing suspicion would have a 46% chance of success." Katya adds in helpfully.

Tank stomps the armored giant to the side of the bay, while Carly's crew being "unloading" the cargo crates, the majority of which were basically empty since her crew helped themselves to it. It wasn't your property. Who were you to stop them?

The cockpit of the giant armor then opens up. Tank pokes his head out and glances at you, waiting for new orders.

>Have him accompany you.
>Have him stay behind with the armor in case you need really big guns.
>Other

Rolled 30 (1d100)

>>973223
>>Have him stay behind with the armor in case you need really big guns.

>46% chance of success
Rolling with those odds

>>973223
>Have him stay behind with the armor in case you need really big guns.

"Just pretend to look busy.

>>973223
>>Have him stay behind with the armor in case you need really big guns.
>>973228
pffft

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>>973223
>>Have him stay behind with the armor in case you need really big guns.

Maybe he'll find a mechsized weapon.

>>973228
Don't doubt Katya, I guess.

>>973223
>Have him stay behind with the armor in case you need really big guns.

>>973223
>Have him stay behind with the armor in case you need really big guns.

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>>973223
"Tank, you stay behind in case we need the big guns." You point to the giant armor.

Tank nods and salutes as he withdraws back into the armor.

Heh, an armor driving an armor. That was kinda funny.

"Captain, we're going to be entering the main section of their HQ." Elizabeth nudges you. "Try to look professional."

"I'm always professional." You insist.

Elizabeth barely manages to hold back an amused snort.

Katya just tilts her head curiously, still confused by your banter.

"Neither of you seem to fit your dictionary's definition of the the world 'professional.'" She points out.

"Shut up." Both you and Elizabeth respond.

Elizabeth again takes the lead and opens the interior bay doors, and almost immediately you're met with a rush of activity as Hegemony military personnel shuffle back and forth, like a crowded office building. So many black uniforms packed together you couldn't keep track of individual people. It was overwhelming. Completely unlike the almost abandoned halls of Gullinbursti.

"Where do we go, Katya?" You ask.

"ERROR. Layout has been significantly altered since this unit's last activation." Katya blinks. "However, I must activate the central data core at the center of this facility."

"Here!" Elizabeth waves as she points to a helpfully posted directory. "I think we can cut our way through these areas..."

>ADMINISTRATION
>RESEARCH LABS
>ENGINEERING
>BARRACKS
>Other

>>973268
>>ENGINEERING

Probably a few engineering passageways leading everywhere on this base.

>>973268
>>RESEARCH LABS
Time to see what the Hegs are cooking up

>>973268
>ADMINISTRATION

In the distant future, secretaries that are bored out of their minds guard offices.

>>973268
>>ENGINEERING
We have a technician disguise for Katya, thus it should work best for infiltrating through engineering.

>>973268
>>ENGINEERING

>>973268
>ENGINEERING

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>>973268
"Let's try to cut our way through Engineering, then." You point at the map. "If our luck holds, nobody will question a couple officers and a technician walking through."

"All right, we'll follow your plan then." Elizabeth nods. "Katya, did you get that?"

"Affirmative." She nods.

"And remember, Katya, DO NOT SPEAK unless we tell you to, okay?" You turn to the AI. "Is that clear?"

"Clear as crystal!" Katya nod. "Is that the correct way to say it?"

"...close enough." You sigh as you head for the Engineering section.

Of course, being a remote outpost, this Hegemony base has a very large and expansive Engineering section, as going back to home port for repairs was not exactly a widely available luxury, so anything that could be fixed onsite was done so. This was no different. The entire section was choked with the smell of smoke, oil, and sweat as Hegemony engineers toiled away making sure their machines were kept running smoothly. Funnily enough, you could see them working on not just weapons and armor, but paper copy machines, too.

Wait, these guys were still using fucking paper?!

You shake the thought out of your head as you try to focus. So for, nobody was giving you or your companions a second thought.

>Explore the place a little.
>Just cut straight through.
>Other

>>973311
>>Explore the place a little.

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>>973311
>>Explore the place a little.
Time for excuses:
>"We're here with the Union!"
>"Safety Standards Inspection"

>>973311
>Just cut straight through.

>>973311
>>Explore the place a little.

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>>973319
If it provides protection, it's good enough or maybe it projects forcefields I dunno

>>973331
If I barely remember that show, all of humanity is so augmented there is no point in comparing them with base humans. Plus, the tech levels are completely absurd where >>973319 really does count as a sealed suit.

>>973268
>ENGINEERING

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>>973331
Pretty much: >>973335

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>>973311
Well... you were here anyways. It couldn't hurt to explore a bit!

>Roll 1d20

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>973341
Hello?

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>973341
ROBOTS

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>973341
AYY

>>973345
Pretty good anon

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Two Nats when?

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>>973341
You stalk through the aisles of work benches and tables, trying to get an eye on everything that was being worked on here. Most of it was mundane stuff. Computers, weapons, armor components, and other things needed to take care of a base's everyday needs.

However, you do see something that catches your attention. A gigantic rifle, larger than one that you've ever seen. Clearly not meant to be held in the hands of a normal man.

But it looks to be just the right size for a certain giant armor you had just acquired...

You quietly note the presence of the weapon, which looked to be getting the last touchups by a team of mechanics and forward the data to Tank. He of course is happy to keep that in mind.

With nothing else to find and/or steal, you continue on through the Engineering section, with nobody batting an eye in your direction. Practically everybody here was a low level laborer, so they had no reason to question the presence of a pair of officers lurking about. The less they made themselves stand out, the better, you assume.

You make it through the Engineering section and exit the other side. Elizabeth navigates you through several more hallways until you come to a large, sealed door. Unfortunately, it looked like it wasn't the type that opened regularly.

"Damn." Elizabeth grimaces as she glances at the sign posted on the front of the security door. "Looks like we need much higher security access than what the freighter crew had to get through here."

"Can we bypass it?" You ask.

"Well, I got a few tools to use for situation like this." Elizabeth nods. "But the problem isn't the door, it's getting through whoever is behind it. If we don't have the right clearances, they'll be able to tell right away that we don't belong."

"There is an alternate path we can take." Katya points upwards. "However, it is an external maintenance hatch. At this altitude, the winds would be rather hazardous to small carbon-based lifeforms like yourselves."

>Bypass the door and try to sneak through.
>Try to obtain clearance for the door.
>Use the external maintenance path.
>Other

>>973369
>Bypass the door and try to sneak through.
Solid Snake time?

>>973369
>>Use the external maintenance path.

>>973369
>>Try to obtain clearance for the door.
I'd rather not risk going outside when we can try to get that clearance first. Both to get in and be able to get out with less fuss.

>>973369
>Bypass the door and try to sneak through.

>>973368
One too many.

>>973369
>>Bypass the door and try to sneak through.

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>>973369
Hmmm, well, it seems like the holidays have put quite a dent in the attendance today and it's already quite late, so I think we'll just call things early for tonight. We'll continue next week, as always. And don't forget, we also have a planned CIMQ Christmas special tomorrow, and it'll be Niko themed! Not to mention, there's still KanColle on Friday as well!

Happy holidays, everyone!

>>973392
Thanks for running Merc, I'm looking forward to the special tommorow.

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>>973392
Happy holidays Merc

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>>973392
See you tomorrow, Merc.

Happy Holidays!

>>973392
Happy Holidays.

Dammit, I had taken a nap. :(