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Finally time to get that sweet sweet VENGENCE

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After a moment, Fairchild's remaining soldiers follow her, trooping behind her in a desultory gaggle quite unlike the crisp formation they had when they arrived. Perhaps no one wants to be the closest to her right now.

“Let us speak again after this matter is resolved. Perhaps at the concert?” Asim suggests.

You just nod, your mind already a full day ahead of everyone else. You can practically feel the Knuckle Kaiser tearing Cabot apart already, but fortunately Rosita is considerably more politic.

“You won't be able to hear a thing over Lysa and I.” She jokes, “...But after that, I'm sure Roarke will be feeling more calm and we can do...whatever it is the League actually does besides bothering us here in the Belt.”

“We'll have a meeting to discuss the state of the war, most likely.” General Hatsheput chimes in. “I can't promise anything, new orders may come down the pipe, especially if the Chairman really is going to appoint a War Marshall. I can, however, tell you that the most likely course of action is that you're asked to send a token force along with the next offensive against Avalon as proof of alliance. Getting your banner on JNN would send a strong message to the people of the United Jovian Colonies. I don't expect Fairchild will be very happy about this, and I don't want to speculate at her emotional state after the duel...but I don't see how we can keep her out of this. Like her or not, she has a lot of power, a lot of soldiers, and a lot of sway over the war effort right now.”

“You're both awfully confident that he'll win. What happens if he loses? Hypothetically speaking, of course, is there still a Phaeton? Who would be in charge of it?” Colonel Luxol, the one you gather is one of the Chairman's sons or something, inquires, “Major Cabot is quite the skilled pilot according to my sources, and whatever this Nightmare is, it's going to be of SOUL quality at minimum.”

“You mean you don't know what it is?” You notice his insignia, “Aren't you with SOUL?”

Colonel Luxol smiles and shrugs, “General Fairchild isn't exactly the most forthcoming woman, what goes on in the mechbays of her personal battleship are something even I'm not privy to. Colonel Stern, sir?” He turns to the other Colonel.

[Continued]

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>>1661875

I can't remember, did we ever play Don't Fear the Reaper during a fight?

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Stern shakes his head, frowning, “She's kept me even further in the dark than you. An old grudge, I think. I'm afraid you're on your own, Roarke, and at a disadvantage. She knows just what your mech is capable of, unless you've had another miraculous upgrade since you fought the Praetorian Guard, and you don't know what her new mech can do.”

General Hatsheput frowned, “I still can't believe someone uploaded that footage to the holonet, honestly, morale has been awful.”

The soldiers behind her, all nod. They have an insignia on their shoulders, not SOUL, but a Roman-style helmet whose horsehair crest forms the shape of a bird's wing, white lined in silver. It must be the emblem of the Praetorian Guards.

Rosita smiles her sweetest smile, “Oh dear, what a pity~”

“But my question remains, what if he loses?” Colonel Luxol is polite, but persistent.

“Bakana! You don't understand aniki's spirit at all!” Oda breaks his silence, shaking his head, “He won't lose. His spirit is full and hers is empty.”

You nod, but inwardly...this isn't such a sure thing. You've faced truly difficult opponents before, and that sense of invincibility you had when you first acquired the Knuckle Kaiser has worn a little thin after encountering truly challenging enemies with zero backup. The first Slayer managed to wound your mech and could have destroyed it with a bit more luck, it wasn't prepared for your armor. Rashad damaged your powerplant. Loriette's dance with you was the most difficult battle of your life.

Colonel Stern looks you in the eye as the various delegates stand up to leave, shaking hands all around, “I'll tell you something I told one of your wives, once.” He says gravely, “Revenge is a thorny, muddy road, and it leads you nowhere. It doesn't bring back the people you've lost, it doesn't make you feel whole again. You have a lot more to protect now, if you said you were joking about the duel I'm sure General Fairchild would happily accept it.”

“No.” You agree, surprised by how sad your voice sounds, “No, it doesn't, nothing can bring back my brother or my captain or my squadmates, or Oda's old First Mate, or any of the crew we lost fighting the Green Skulls. Yes, it's true I have a lot to protect now, but that's why I have to do this. As long as Fairchild has her hatchetwoman around, none of us are truly safe. It's time for an ending, and fate's delivered me the chance to deliver it. I won't turn it down. Even if I don't feel better afterwards, this is the right thing to do.”

He nods, a slight smile appearing, “As one man to another, I can't gainsay your decision. Good luck, Admi-er, Pirate King Starwind.” He bows, and you bow back.

[Continued]

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Leaving the meeting, Miles and Captain Flint wait until out of earshot of the delegates and both start speaking at once. Moses Flint closes his mouth, perhaps out of respect for Miles' new position, and she preens a little before she says it plainly, “Dude, Fairchild is going to cheat. She's going to cheat her ass off and you know it.”

“I know, I'm prepared for that.” You respond firmly, “Twenty-four hours to prepare Cabot's mech? She's plotting something...but if she thinks another one of those weird drone mecha will fool me, she's wrong. I know what to look for when I see them now.”

“Sir, with all due respect.” Flint interjects, “I advise you launch an immediate military strike to seize General Hermione Fairchild, her subordinates, and her starship. It's up to you whether you have the duel, it's your way even if I think it's a damnfool thing sometimes, but there's no sense in just letting her scheme. I think her own people there aren't exactly her friends, we could have their support with a few words and a carefully-prepared story.”

Captain Oda shakes his head, “You don't understand aniki either! He'll let her line up her scheme and then cleave it down the middle! It's the only way to crush her evil soul! To truly defeat someone, you have to beat them at their strongest!”

You glance at Beckingham, “What do you think, Harold?”

Captain Beckingham looks up from his PC, his prosthetic eye swiveling towards you, and frowns, “Sorry, sir...I mean, your Majesty, I've been trying to reach Bruce Kelly. Apparently his woman, Rebecca...”

“I always thought her name was Sheila?” You remember her vaguely. Short, kind of slender, rather unusual accent.

“No, no, in Bruce's dialect that just means 'woman', he says she's been missing since the start of the Tournament. Went off into the woods on a hunting trip after they had a tiff and vanished, he's gone looking for her. He's supposed to be my First Mate, but he's utterly irresponsible sometimes.” Beckingham clicks his tongue in dismay over his friend's behavior.

[Continued]

>>1661924
Hope we get our 10 in reflex and mech fighting with this.. along with unlocking some of that kung fu magic. We are going to need it if she decides to pull out a thick barrier.

>>1661935
Cool Bruce ended up joining.

>>1661860
So, do we officially get called "Your Majesty" now?

We might want to drop the Pirate part eventually.

>>1661935
Time for a sidequest, also fuck yea Bruce Kelly.

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>>1661948
Drop the Pirate part?

>>1661935
Welp, she is probably going to try and blow up the colony again. That device was likely her getting orders and now she's fled to not die. Considering her character, I should have seen it coming.

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As you're exiting the palace, a Jovian soldier leaps from the window above and lands in front of you in a crouch. She has a pair of curved monoswords dangling from her belt, with a Lieutenant's insignia and the mark of the Praetorian Guard on her shoulder.

“What is it now?” You ask, wearily...but she doesn't even acknowledge you, stalking forward and removing her helmet. You recognize her, “Ah, Lieutenant Jane Mappa, wasn't it? Sorry about deceiving you, it was all part of a heist...” Your voice trails off as she walks past you, pushing Red Siren aside with her forearm. The idol squawks indignantly at her, but she doesn't seem to care. Jane Mappa walks right up to Oda and grabs him by the neckline of his kimono.

“Ryan! You...you...” Her expression can't seem to choose between happy and enraged.

“Eh? Gomen nasai, I know you from somewhere, don't I?” Oda scratches his head, looking confused and uncomfortable. “What Ryan?”

Her face decides 'annoyed' is a fine expression to wear, “Don't give me that! Even if you changed your name, I'd know you anywhere! Don't you remember me? Jane? Jane Mappa?” She bunches her hands in her hair to form the shape of pigtails, “Remember? I used to look like this?”

Oda takes a step back, shrugging, “Ah, were you the girl who worked at Blue Oni Sushi back when I was first studying the blade? I'm sorry, I really don't know you.”

[Continued]

>>1661982
Oh mappa hows it going~

>>1661982
>“Ah, were you the girl who worked at Blue Oni Sushi back when I was first studying the blade? I'm sorry, I really don't know you.”
being Mappa is suffering.

>>1661991
We must help her in our quest.

And at the same time snag oda a waifu.

>>1661993
Anon, sometimes there are challenges where even Thunderbird rolling a 10 won't help. Getting Oda to indulge in 3D women is one of them.

>>1661860
Does Phaeton have a flag yet? Before someone posts the Kestrel flag, that's the Kestrel's flag not the national flag.

Rolled 6 + 5 (1d10 + 5)

>>1662032
We can try

>>1662034
It can be our Navy Ensign. The kestrel flag that is.

>>1661982
I say we support Lt.Mappa in her pursuit of her Husbando

Rolled 5 + 5 (1d10 + 5)

>>1662032

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>1662032
We can try~

Basically we get her to cosplay.

>>1661860
I kinda want to expand Roarke's titles. King Roarke Starwind I, Lord Admiral of Phaeton and Master of the Belt.

Lord Admiral, because he's the supreme military commander of Phaeton. Master of the Belt because he's laying claim to it's ownership. Two titles that actually matter and can be passed on.

>>1662034
It can still be the national flag.

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Her expression becomes confused, “No, Jane MAPPA. I became Master O'Leary's pupil a year or so after you? We had classes together? I was always a few steps behind you? Don't you remember?”

“Gomen nasai again, it doesn't ring any bells.” Oda adjusts the collar of his kimono.

“I made you lunch!” She snaps, “Three separate times! THREE!”

The big guy pokes his index fingertips together, “Uh, um. I remember a lot of tasty lunches.”

Jane Mappa's confused look becomes a scowl, one eyebrow twitching, “You...you mean...all of that time and you didn't even NOTICE me!? Draw your swords, Ryan! I'm here to deliver divine punishment!” Her swords flash from their scabbards, only to be intercepted by Oda's own. Hers have atypically long handles. She grins, and with a flourish...reveals the reason why, twisting the swords around to remove the shorter sheaths covering the short, dagger-like blades sticking out from the pommels of her monoswords.

Oh, right, she did say something about spending her life developing a four-swords style to impress some boy, but you must have deliberately forgotten it, it seemed dumb then and it still seems dumb now.

Flint starts to draw his gun, but Red Siren smacks his hand away, “Let it be, right darling? Oda can handle his problems himself.”

“Aniki! W-what is this? Uwaaaa!” Blades flash as the combatants dart back and forth, avoiding each other's blows, “Yamete! YAMETE!”

You could help him, but...you don't. This really is something he and Lieutenant Mappa have to work out for themselves. You need to see Karen, you need to check on your mech. “Good luck, Captain! Don't lose, Lieutenant!” You call out over your shoulder as you and your comrades trudge away, Red Siren to a rehearsal, the Captains to their ships, and you back to the Rhinehawk for the sake of your mech.

[Continue]

>>1662056
That would be dumb.

The national flag needs to feature a ring somehow.

Maybe a golden ring on a black field?

>>1662063
Needs to have a skull and crossbones somehow too.

>>1662061
Go mappa~ Fight to conquer your man~

>>1662065
Just the skull. The common theme with pirate flags is that you put a variation on it but include the skull.

>>1662073
Which we already have.

>>1662075
Pretty sure the Kestrel's flag doesn't have a skull.

>>1662078
Check again my dude.

>>1662078
>>1662073
>>1662065
Our current flag has a skull in the eagle, look closely, its badass!

>>1662078
Wait, you dont see the skull?

>>1662063

You know, a golden ring around the Kestrel insignia could be a good way to distinguish it, but you don't want your national flag to be too far from your fleet flag if you have one.

>>1662086
>>1662087
>>1662088

... Huh, I never noticed that before.

So, white skull surrounded by a golden ring on a black field?

>>1662095
We can do it the bong way. National flag in the top left corner of the kestrel pirate flag as the naval ensign.

>>1662095
I thought the Kestrel's flag was for the Kestrels and Roarke only with the other pirate groups keeping their flags.

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>>1662095
>>1662098
Is there a symbol fairly synonymous with the belt itself? A ring (or is the orbit more ovular, I forget), symbol/rune/kanji, asteroid something or other? Maybe an item usually onlt found in use by belters, like a charm? I dunno? Needs to be simple enough to work for a national flag that a grade school student can actually draw and is easy to make out from a distance other than right next to it. Ohhhhh could we have a non rectangular flag, like a square, or maybe something more Nepal like? Oh here's a nice unrelated pic.

>>1662114
>a non rectangular flag
Boo

>>1662113
Regimental flags man.

>>1662113
We could do as the British empire did and have our symbol incorporated in a corner, or just have fleets and groups run 2 flags, ours and theirs. Either works really.

>>1662114
I wanted to go with a ring to symbolize the belt and the unity of the various pirate groups and belt colonies.

Speaking of which, how many known colonies are actually in the Belt and how many are part of Phaeton?

>>1662121
>>1662122

State flags are a thing and I'd rather the groups keep their flags to emphasize their origins.

Phaeton itself would get a new flag in order to emphasize that they're all part of it. All groups run the Phaeton flag and their own flags.

>>1662130
Having them keep their own flags is a bad idea since it goes against the new identity as one unified state. We want to make this into one giant pirate band and not dozens working together.

>>1662130
They can keep their flags but they'll be flown internally or at parades.

With the formation of a new state, they are folded into the national militia. Which needs a single unified flag.

>>1662136
Tell that to the US. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_the_United_States_Armed_Forces

>>1662136
Howabout >>1662137 then?

And I'm pretty sure that the original 13 colonies kept their flags when the US was formed.

>>1662145
They all use the US flag, the Flag Officers flags are different from this because those flag officers we're never part of an autonomous nation like these pirate bands were.

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You head straight for the mechbay. One of the technicians, trying hard to look like he's working rather than slacking off, gives you a sidelong look, “Ey boss. Uh, any chance we get the night off? I mean, for celebrating our independence and stuff?”

You hesitate, chewing over a response, “I need my mech completely ready and prepped for a combat engagement tomorrow. Once that's taken care of, sure. If you tell me who told you what happened at the negotiations.”

The mechanic looks uncomfortable, “Well...it was just in passin', some of us boys were playin' cards with the Bosun, and he got a message from his girl. Was it supposed to be a secret?”

You think about it and shake your head, “Not really. Go spread the news, then go have yourself a party. Hoist a pint for me, will you? I wish I could be there.”

“You need to take it more easy, boss. Time was, you'd have been the first one drinkin'. All of this bein' King stuff and bullyin' the UJCIDF, don't let it change who you are. Us old hands looked up to you even back when we were one ship and you piloted a Harpy, we're already impressed enough.” His ugly face twists in a smile.

You grin, “Thanks for the advice, I promise not to stay sober. After all, a duel at high noon is traditional, I don't have to wake up that early.”

“That's the Dude I know!” The tech crows.

Karen, overhearing, skips over, nearly tripping in a tangle of plastic piping, “Hey, what meatheaded idiot left this here!?”

The technician vanishes so quickly you'd expect he had a stealth system of his own.

Karen grumbles, making her way to you with a smile, “So, how did it go? You don't look like they chewed you up too much?” She circles around you like an inquisitive terrier around a german shepherd, “So, you're a King now? You still just look like Roarke to me, messy hair and all.” She grins.

[Continued]

>>1662165
It literally says they are displayed together.

>>1662179
"A king means I can do what I want. And we all know what kings do to queens"

>>1662180
They are but they aren't flags that represent a different nation, they are flags given to certain members of their nation.

>>1662191
I dont see the problem. The other lads are just military groups, they arent even close to being big enough to be nations on their own.

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“And that's all I want to be.” You pull her pigtails, “Yeah, everything went just fine, we got what we wanted...so far...and tomorrow...tomorrow.” You grin like your mech does, “Tomorrow I'm going to smear the woman who killed Cassius across space like the mosquito she is.” You clench your fist, heart pounding with anticipation.

“Oh, great. Another duel.” Karen tries to play deadpan, but she's smiling, “I'll have the Kaiser prepped and ready, then.” She goes up on tiptoe to kiss you, “Just...keep coming back alive, okay? Don't make me avenge you. I'd have to fight the others to get there first and that wouldn't go well for me.”

“Don't sell yourself short.” You joke, kissing her.

A girl makes her way through the crowd. A girl in a familiar uniform, one you've worn plenty of times, the garb of a mail carrier. She has long legs, a youthful smile, and even makes the cap look jaunty over her two long, ink-black sidetails. She's holding some kind of thin, flat package wrapped in yellow-tan paper, “Personal missive for the Pirate King Roarke S. Starwind.” She chirps.

Karen grabs it and runs it under a scanner.

“Hey!” The girl protests, “Don't you have manners!? He hasn't signed for it!” She proffers her PC with a holoscreen brought up for you to sign with your fingertip.

“Huh, just paper and vegetable ink.” Karen shrugs, “Manners, sure, but I also have a wedding day coming up, and it just won't be the same without him. I'd rather be bitchy and careful than sweet and careless.”

You give the girl a large tip and a small apology. She smiles, thanks you, and vanishes back into the crowd. You open it. There are, indeed, just a few sheets of old-fashioned paper inside, with apparently handwritten writing. You take out the first sheet, which is in different handwriting and has your name clearly written in the heading.

[Continued]

>>1662197
They we're all autonomous groups before us that followed their own way of doing things. That's in the past they need to now hold Phaeton as more important than their old groups.

>>1662197
Still I think breaking up their fleets and removing all their individuality would be a poor move in this. Baring a major reorg of our military forces to create standardised units, our current fleets are still going to work together in their current configuration as small militia groups working under a combined umbrella. Which means their current captains still hold much political and military sway.

Let them keep their old flags as regimental or fleet unit standards and have them fly the new combined naval forces flag.

>>1662199
Rin what are you doing.

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'To His Sovereign Majesty, Roarke Starwind, Pirate King of Phaeton, Protector of the Solar Asteroid Belt, Woe of the Unjust and Defender of the Dispossessed, fond greetings and reluctant farewells.

Alas, protocol and the need to serve the Queen as best as I am able prevented me from speaking candidly of my reasons for abandoning Countess Loriette le Kennedy before the other parties at our last meeting. It was difficult to determine how to tell you and Loriette the truth, and after much soul-searching and realizing that it is a task a worn-out fighter like myself is poorly suited for I decided to copy the orders I was given and attach them to this missive for Loriette's perusal. Be kind to her when she reads them, she will need you. To summarize, her rank as a Paladin has been stripped from her, along with the lands and privileges her rank confers, although it has not been formally removed. This act, which I had not believed possible, is apparently sanctioned by the Lady. You must know, Roarke, that I was there when the Lady fell from the sky. I have always believed that she is kindness and justice incarnate, and fought for her on many battlefields, yet since our orders were given to raid the Solar System we have received numerous charges that carelessly breach the bounds of honor, including the injustices done to Naomi Heim, which I am attempting on my own to rectify in my way. Children in love deserve a happy ending, and perhaps I can in some small way deliver it to them. As perhaps I am giving it to you and Loriette. I digress, however, even in writing I find I do not want to confront the truth that has occurred to me, the vile thought that will not let me rest in peace. Is there anything more patient than an immortal being? Would it not be possible for a woman whose intelligence and cunning outmatch that of any regular human to adopt a saint's facade for decades, only to discard it when the need arises? Perhaps I am wrong. I pray earnestly every night that I simply fail to understand, or that someone has counterfeited the instructions we have been given. Whichever way those pieces fall, however, my course is clear. I am a Paladin and a Duke of Avalon, I must deal out justice to those deserving of it. What has been done to these girls was not simply cruel, it was unfeeling, an emotionless and calculated act for maximum benefit at the cost of the innocent, and I cannot let it lie. This course may damn me, but it is one I have set and cannot turn away from now. This may be the last time we speak, but despite the adverse circumstances preventing us from being comrades, know that I hold you in the highest esteem. I cannot ask for the Lady's blessing on you any longer, or on me, but I earnestly hope things go well for you. May your enemies tremble before you, and may your friends know joy in your company. I wish I could have stayed long for the wedding, but alas we must leave promptly.

Sincerest regards, Duke Eustace de Rothschild-Beauchamps.'

>>1662223
Is...the Duke going rogue? Or is he gonna try and talk and get merked?

>>1662223
Goddammit. Stop being so likeable Kirito.

Don't die.

Theres this suspicion of mine that he knows exactly who Caesar is.

>>1662223
That.. is a lot of death flags, Eustace.

>>1662237
Him saying he's trying to give Naomi and Caesar a happy ending feels like he knows.

>>1662244
sure seems that way

>>1662244
Eustace really isn't as dumb as he looks. Let's just hope he lives to use that against our foes instead of us.

>>1662283
Eh I still don't want him to join us, he'd make a shitty pirate. Besides I want to completely cannibalize the KoG for the Kaiser.

>>1662283
If it goes well he might create a rebel avalon faction that tries to sue for peace.

Soooo, what's the plan for eliminating Fairchild's cheating attempt?

Sneaking someone aboard the Iula Maesa to get an in-depth look at the Nightmare? Also, we should send someone to track down Bruce's girl because she's probably going to attempt sabotage.

>>1662312
We're probably taking care of Bruce's girl.

>>1662321
yeah we should open up the cock pit just to make sure it's cabot before crushing it

>>1662328
I don't think they'd go with a remote mecha again since they know we know about it, not without some sort of twist to it

>>1662312
I was thinking a more simple approach. Both duelists face each other, no helmets, in person, and watch each other get in their Mecha. From there, it's just riding the elevator out... With camera drones watching both Mecha the whole damn time

>>1662337
I'm more worried about a pilot switch last minute

>>1662337
no i was thinking more of fatima headband situation
wouldn't want to kill an innocent person

>>1662337
She'd probably put someone we like in the cockpit in the hopes of us killing them.

>>1662343
Fair point

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...That's a lot to take in. You don't read the part of the message that's for Loriette, that's for her eyes, not yours, but something else is bothering you.

“Karen, what was the name of that technician?” You ask, quietly, “He claimed to be an old hand, but...I don't remember him.” He did look the part, middle-aged, weathered grey hair sticking out from under a faux-wool cap, squinty eyes, wrinkles that looked deeper than they actually were. For some reason, the image of the girl who delivered the package lingers in your mind, an oddly incongruous recollection...

“Uh, I don't know. He joined right around the time we beat the Green Skulls, I think. Blitzen or something, I really don't remember.” She scowls, “I do know that he's lazy, he's already left to go celebrate and I've hardly ever seen him work on a mech as much as he seems to like looking at them and their blueprints. I always pegged him as more of an enthusiast than someone with real skill.”

...Until you remember the last time you dressed up as a mail carrier, disguised as an old man. No wonder those wrinkles only looked deep!

A cold hook sinks into your stomach as you realize why, exactly, the man you're supposed to be chasing for that bounty looked so familiar. It's him. Pale Slayer Meridian has been on your goddamned ship for months.

>[Chase after him]
>[Get his description to the guards and have him detained if he returns]

>>1662352
>[Calmly Follow After Him]

Patch into the security systems and see if you can suss him out.

>>1662352
>[Chase after him]

Wait anons, if we get the head back to the guy he might be able to give us info on the Nightmare and its tricks.

>>1662352
>Write-in
Do nothing.

The next time we see him, we fuck him up.

Actually taking some action would be found out. He must have some handle on our security.

>>1662352
>>[Chase after him]

>>1662352
>>[Get his description to the guards and have him detained if he returns]

>>1662352
>>[Chase after him]

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>>1662359
>Member of a bunch of pilots that banded together to oppose us
>Just letting him go when he's been flying underneath our security for months doing god knows what

>>1662061
>but you must have deliberately forgotten it, it seemed dumb then and it still seems dumb now.

I will never get tired of Roarke being the straight man for all of the anime shenanigans that happen around him.

>>1662352
>>[Chase after him]
I agree with >>1662355 though. We do need to take this calmly and be ready for him.

>>1661860
How valuable is that +1 to accuracy that Beam Weapons get for a grunt soldier?

>>1662430
Any increase to accuracy is a good one, IMO.

Strictly speaking, unless you want the advantages that specialized projectile ammo can bring, it's best to stick with beams.

>>1662430
Its pretty good. Makes them more likely to hit in the first place and to crit.

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You turn and sprint after him, “Karen, run a complete check on the Rhinehawk's security systems! He's a spy!”

“W-what? Hey, Roarke!” She yells after you, but you're already gone. You sprint to the exit of the ship, ignoring the questions from your crew, and struggle to get through the milling crowd of technicians on their way to the shore leave you just gave them. Apparently Meridian told them all you'd generously given them the night off. You're surrounded by smiling faces, cheers, and arms reaching up to pat you on the back, along with unsolicited opinions about what's next for the Kestrels after becoming a country.

The ship is currently docked, connected by an umbilical to the Colony, and as you exit the tube you see him standing there at the door of the spaceport. With a mocking smile, he pulls off his cap and bows to you, grey hair hanging over his face, then reaches up to his jaw. Slowly, while maintaining eye contact, he peels the skin off his lower jaw, across his chin, and up the upper side until it's gone, revealing gleaming steel and sharp-looking exposed teeth. Whoever designed his extensive prosthetics had a flair for the macabre. Straightening his back, which makes you realize he'd been intentionally hunching his shoulders in to feign bad posture, he turns away, shrugging off his coat and tossing it behind him as he walks out the door and into the reveling crowd of partygoers.

>[Continue to pursue, maybe he'll get cocky and slip up]
>[Back to the ship, you still need to show Loriette that missive and can't be running around after ghosts all night]

>>1662491

Damn it /k/ and also damn it dinner for distracting me.

>>1662491
>>[Continue to pursue, maybe he'll get cocky and slip up]
Can't give up just yet, have Roarke throw around his weight as king if we have to catch the guy.

>>1662491
>>[Continue to pursue, maybe he'll get cocky and slip up]

>>1662491
Told you we should have calmly pursued him.

>[Grab a vehicle and then pursue.]

>>1662496
>>1662498

Goddammit guys, don't just blindly pursue.

>>1662491
Hey Wong, are prosthetics EMP shielded?

>>1662502
He's a cyborg he shouldn't be too hard to spot, plus the longer he's out of our eyesight the harder its going to be to tell where he went.

>>1662461
>>1662465

Yeah, I figured as much. I'm just trying to come up with some designs for Bucephalus's grunt beam rifle. I'm thinking a bog-standard 6K gun.

>>1662509
>shouldn't be too hard to spot

Did you miss the part where he infiltrated our ship months ago?

Ignoring that, I'm worried he's setting a trap for us. Somehow, he knew that we were following him.

>>1662491
>>[Back to the ship, you still need to show Loriette that missive and can't be running around after ghosts all night]

>>1662519
>Did you miss the part where he infiltrated our ship months ago?
You mean, while in disguise? That's just a tad different from a metal man walking around on the street.

But he's obviously leading us to a trap if we follow.

>>1662491
>>[Back to the ship, you still need to show Loriette that missive and can't be running around after ghosts all night]
Why tonight of all nights? He's going to ambush us and we really do not have the time for it.

>>1662502

You probably would have lost him, then. Also, if you grab a vehicle, that's letting him out of your sight.

>>1662557
Have we a radio or something that we can shout into? Let people know we are chasing down a cyborg spy?

>>1662557
If he's actually still in our sight, can we pursue him above the crowd? Jumping off of shoulders and shit.

>>1662568

Right now, he's actually broken LoS by leaving the building. He's wearing clothes underneath the coat, by the way, so you're not just looking for the gleam of metal.

>>1662566

You can yell for the guards if you want to do this 100% non-subtly and let people know there was a spy on your ship.

>>1662578
In that case, forget it. If he's broken LoS, there's no point in pursuing him.

Can we put Sam and Clemmy on the case?

>>1662578
I'm not 100% sure why we would want to do this subtle. Its not like we arent hilariously easy to infiltrate right now anyway.

>>1662578
Scream out into the crowd your offering a bounty on a man who is a cyborg and then watch for someone to start running.

>>1662491
>[Back to the ship, you still need to show Loriette that missive and can't be running around after ghosts all night]

>>1662593
There's probably a bunch of cyborgs in that crowd you know.

If you shout, "That girly-looking guy with the metal jaw," you'd probably have more success.

>>1662491
>[Back to the ship, you still need to show Loriette that missive and can't be running around after ghosts all night]

Fuck chasing him now.

>>1662601
Either or, point is to get the crowd searching for him.

Hey Wong since the vote lost, if we did take Raiden's head back to the tech would we have been able to find out info about the Nightmare from him?

>>1662578
Fuck that. Scream out a bounty. A kiss from either your or Rosita and a bunch if money.

>>1662606
>>1662634

All you're going to get is a bunch of dead people that way.

Alright, it's a bit hard to tell what the actual vote tally is with all of the clarifications and stuff.

Vote here on whether to follow him or go back. Keep in mind that you've heard of this guy and even on his own he's supposed to be bad news, so don't say I didn't warn you.

...That's also a good argument against just yelling out "a thousand credits if you grab that guy with the metal jaw", some of your crew might die if they went for it.

>>1662643
>[Go Back]

Put Sam and Clemmy on the case.

>>1662643
>Chase after him
I'd rather catch him now then give him a chance to escape and cause more problems down the road.

>>1662630

I'm not entirely sure it did lose, yet, people changed a lot of their votes. I guarantee this wasn't your one and only opportunity and I consider it a given that you're going to quietly ensure he doesn't sneak on a transport off Auditorium or something.

Why would you have been able to find out anything about the Nightmare, a mech Fairchild has, from a member of Five Man Band?

>>1662643
Don't follow. we have a duel to concentrate on.

>>1662650
No I meant the exec who told us to get his head for him.

>>1662643
Go back

>>1662643
Go get him.

>>1662653

Maybe, but it might cost you.

>>1662643
Go back.
We have people perfect for this, now that we know what he's about. No way are we going to catch him without it being a nasty trap. You want to catch a spy, send a spy.

File: Spoiler Image (1.87 MB, 288x288)

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After some months of troubles i finally managed to have some time to finish the thing i wanted to make to all of you! I still need to work more on it, but here is a preview of it!

sorry for the shitty gif quality.

>>1662696
Damn, that's pretty cool.

Although, is it possible to increase the size of the arms at all?

>>1662675
At this point it'll be hard now that he knows hes been rumbled.

>>1662696
Sweet man! That's a lotta effort right there. Some parts seem off but its so beautiful it is beyond criticism. You da man! Pirate for life!

>>1662643
> Supporting >>1662646

>>1662699
yes, i can do that.

>>1662704
please tell me what parts seem out of place. I might be able to replace them (to be honest, the only description of the knuckle kaiser was that it was the kabakali with a different head)

I'm still going to texture it, and maybe add small details. if someone has any ideas, i'm open for suggestions.

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>>1662675
I mean. Is he even a spy? Maybe the dude is just trying to GTFO and, well, Pirate Ship is a great way to do so.

Can we offer him a job?

>>1662696
Dueces.

>>1662715

Drill fingers / knuckles?

>>1662715
Probably thicken up the neck a bit, it looks like a lollipop right now.

>>1662696
Neat.

>>1662696

That's amazing even if personally I envision the Kaiser's chest and arms being larger since it's a big, hulking mech. Fantastic work!

>>1662731
>>1662724
>>1662718
ok, i can definitely change that.

>>1662715
Well the initial base model the kaiser came from was a heavy jovian model that was essentially a UC gundam Dom so the torso, while likely somewhat different now after all the customization (so some leway for interpretation), should be beefy like a Dom's square-ish torso (although again, lotta possibilty for slight variation). And the rip and tear hands should be much beefier, think abaddon's powerclaw from 40k. You put so much work into that beauty though I almost don't want to offer these criticisms, great job!

>>1662696
Considering what Wong said, you could bulk up the torso and arms, keep the shields the same size and shrink the legs. That might be the most accurate version of the Kaiser.

>>1662738
>>1662737
I think it's the Jesta that would have the most accurate chest.

>>1662739
Eh, even if he expanded the chest and arms alone the head and legs would still be proportional, and a bigger chest (assuming the arms are beefed up but not lengthened) would slightly widen where the arms joined, so they're not so close to the torso, so they can be beefed up without crowding or cliping into the chest. Just thinking of what would take the least effort. Keep in mind I know jack shit about 3d modelling. Anyway though I see where you're going with the legs, but I think it will look proportional after the chest and arms are adjusted. I could be wrong though.
>>1662737
Oh and again, great work anon, love that model.

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As much as you want to go after him, you have a predator's instincts for danger and stop in your tracks. Yes, the urge to run him down is there...but you know firsthand that prosthetic legs in the modern era don't necessarily slow you down, and if he was built to be more advanced than a human he might actually be faster than you. Besides. He wants you to follow. You saw that with how he taunted you with his reveal. He's counting on you coming after him, and you're too canny to be baited into that trap.

Briefly you consider promising a bounty for whoever grabs him, but you have the feeling that would get a lot of people killed messily. Besides, you have better options. You're already messaging Samantha as you make your way back onto the ship, with the picture you were provided and a timeframe for the relevant security footage to get a good image of the target together. First things first, you'll have any ships leaving Auditorium screened to make sure he doesn't slip away, then you can get to searching the colony itself. Patience and thoroughness, those are the games to play right now.

There are a lot of people who you could fill in on the current situation, that you're now an independent country with all it entails...but they'll hear about it anyway. You have some papers to deliver, and no amount of stalling will make this any less your responsibility, even if none of it is your fault.

[Continued]

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You find Loriette in the gym, just finishing up. She's perky and cheerful, “Mon Rowarc! I missed you tres sorely on mon run!” She hugs your arm and kisses your cheek, apparently not caring that people are watching. Her eyes, though, are sad, “You 'ave spoken with le Duc? I...should I begin gathering mon zings, zen? I suppose...zis may be adieu, if I am to go with zem.” She hugs you tight, surprisingly strong, or perhaps not so surprisingly when you remember what she is. “I...I will not forget. I will always miss you, always zink of you. Even as I return to Avalon...mon cour I leave as a token in le asteroid belt.” She shakes her head, cutting off your attempts to speak, “Non, non, I know. Zis is unfair to us! I finally understand mon poor cuzzin and 'ow I 'ave wronged 'er...if she felt zis way, zhen...I am le villainess unjust, and deserve le ironic fate of separation from le man I...le man I...” Her face slowly turns red, “Rowarc, I love you. I always 'ave, I always will. Even before our dance amongst le stars, I was yours for le taking, I am shamed to admit.” She presses the knuckles of one hand against her lips, eyes shining with starlight, “Oh, mon cour, you look so pained! I know, I feel le same!” She strokes your hair, “It must be hard, non? Le duty of a Paladin...it is not always easy for zhose outside le order to grasp.”

“That's not why.” You manage to get a word in around her.

“Mon duckling...un more night. Just un. For us. Le Duc can wait zat long at least for mon Anseis to resume its duties.” She coos.

“Loriette, you're not going back.” You break it to her gently.

She smiles tremulously, “Oui, you are le pirate superb, who does not relinquish 'is treasures...but go I must, mon sweet peasant prince. Le Lady requires mon blade and mon valor, to vanquish 'er enemies. Do not deny reality, life is 'arsh and separation painful, but someday...per'aps some sweet day your Countess Lori shall see you again, non?” She kisses your cheeks, then your lips. You feel your heart twist.

>[Just hand her the papers]
>[Try to explain first]

>>1662764
>[Just hand her the papers]

>>1662767
Also
>[Employ comforting half hug-half hand on shoulder your dog just died posture]

>>1662764
>[Just hug her then hand her the papers]

We're a Pirate King, right? So we can now hand out titles?

>>1662764
>Hold her and tell her she needs to prep a wedding dress
>Then give her the papers

>>1662764
>YOUR GOD DOESN'T LOVE YOU ANY MORE
>Turn 360 and moonwalk out of the room
That should do it just fine

>>1662777

S A S U G A

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>>1662771
>>1662779

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>>1662779
Also I found this while looking for >>1662781

and now I can't unsee as that one chick who was the Ladies representative.

>>1662782

It's supposed to be like a nun's habit and wimple, but all in black. If I'd found that image beforehand, though, I probably would have used it.

>>1662764
Can we please also clear the room so that no one else will see this scene.

>>1662786
WAR FORM

I mean.

She's nobility. No way they don't have occasion specific clothes.

>>1662738
>>1662739
>>1662742
>>1662751
Thanks for the feed back! I'm gonna work on those points tomorrow.
If you have any other idea or suggestion please let me know!

Specially with the drones. i have no other input other than they are the forearms of the kaiser strapped to a RCS

>>1662796
I think there the pauldrons of our cape

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You hug her. You hug her tightly, the papers in your hand. By Jove, Allah, the Christian Lord-God...this isn't easy. You've never been great at delivering bad news, and time hasn't made you much better. As always, all you can do is your best.

“M-Mon Rowarc? I know, le sadness is mutual, but...what is zis? Something is wrong, non?” She asks, quietly.

You release your hold, and hand her the papers, one hand still on her shoulder.

She looks at it, and flips through, “Zis is an official dispatch from le Lady, but...” Then something in it catches her eye, and a sound escapes her throat. You've never heard the noise a rabbit makes when it gets caught in a snare, but you imagine it's similar. The indrawn gasp of sheer shock and pain before the screaming. Her lips quiver, and she starts over from the beginning, “Non. Non. Non non non non nonononononononon!” She shrieks, her legs giving way and spilling her onto the floor. Her chest heaves as, unabashedly, she begins to cry.

You sit down with her, take her into your arms, and hold her tight. You didn't know all of the details, but...you know enough. The gym empties rapidly, people can respect the Pirate King comforting a grieving noblewoman, until it's just the two of you and the sound of her tears echoing off the wall. She looks up at you, an almost childlike expression of loss and abandonment on her face, “Rowarc, I...I failed a goddess, ze only goddess, ze...ze only one who believed in me.”

“No.” Your voice shouldn't be angry, you didn't intend for it to be anything but comforting, but you can hear the anger in it like a thick, red blot spreading through soft gauze, “No you didn't, and no she isn't. I believe in you, Lori, and you didn't fail. Nobody deserves this.”

“Non!” She shakes her head vigorously in denial, “I...I am...non, I was a Paladin, a warrior without peer...”

“Well, three have been shot down, and one went missing, right? You're hardly the first.” You regret the words slightly once you've said them, but it's true.

“Mon lands...mon...people...le castle and le towns and...and all who looked up to me, everyzing and everyone I fought for, zhey're all...” Her fingers dig into your shoulders, and she buries her face in your chest, a wet spot spreading across your shirt from her tears of pain and grief, “All of mon effort...even ze lives of mon cuzzin's sire and beau...all of it, wasted. In le end even with zhese legs I couldn't take a single step forward.”

>[What say?]

>>1662696
Damn nice son. 3D modeling is not easy.
>>1662764
>[Just hand her the papers]
And be there for her. Explaining things doesn't always help, but being there as support will.

>>1662800
>Find something new to fight for, as long as you just keep going forward everything will be alright.

>>1662800
>Hold her and let her cry herself out, tell her She may not be a lady of Avalon anymore but she is a lady of the Belt now

>>1662800
>>Hold her and let her cry herself out, tell her She may not be a lady of Avalon anymore but she is a lady of the Belt now

>>1662800
>All of mon effort...even ze lives of mon cuzzin's sire and beau...all of it, wasted. In le end even with zhese legs I couldn't take a single step forward.

Stand her up.

"Are you not Loriette Kennedy? Do you care for your people? Do you want them to live in peace? You still have your Anseis, you have your skills. You have your legs. You have the means to take back what's yours. Take those steps, Loriette."

>>1662800
They aren't gone. They are still there. It is simply a matter of getting them back. You put effort and worked hard for it, getting it back is just a inconvenience. Sides, you aren't alone there.

>>1662819
We really shouldn't be promising to get them back considering we realistically won't get them.

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>>1662800
>Hold her and let her cry herself out, tell her She may not be a lady of Avalon anymore but she is a lady of the Belt now. The love and dedication she's shown, her effort and nobility given to her people, are not in vain. They've made her who she is, and we could not think better of such a noble paladin.

>>1662800
>>>Hold her and let her cry herself out, tell her She may not be a lady of Avalon anymore but she is a lady of the Belt now

I'll back this shit. She WAS a Lady. Now she's a Pirate Queen.

She should talk to Rosita. She knows what it's like to be cut loose. And what it's like to make it own your own in spite of it.

>>1662223
>His Sovereign Majesty, Roarke Starwind, Pirate King of Phaeton, Protector of the Solar Asteroid Belt, Woe of the Unjust and Defender of the Dispossessed

Incidentally, these are some good titles. Although, I like "Sol Ring" better than Solar Asteroid Belt.

Still want to fit Lord Admiral in there somehow. Lord Admiral of the Kestrel Privateers?

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“I...I should never have strayed outside...” She sobs, and for several long minutes, you're not sure quite how long, all you do is hold her.

Eventually, though, you find the right thing to say. You stand up with her. She leans on you, her legs wobbly, “You can stand, right?” You say softly. It means more than just those four words normally do.

She nods, but doesn't say anything.

“If you stayed where you were, in that castle, as someone who couldn't walk for herself...we never would have met.” Your voice is raw, and you take off your sunglasses to look into her eyes, “I don't know the Lady or...or how she sees the galaxy and the people in it. I don't know and...and you know my feelings on her people to begin with, but...I know you. I know you and I know that you are one of the strongest people I know, and you'll keep on fighting even if you're fighting for something new, for a tomorrow shaped by your hands and nobody else's, or for a cause you believe in. I know, saying anything at all probably isn't welcome right now...but it's true.”

Her lower lip trembles, “Non, Rowarc, non...you are lovely, but I, I am nothing! I 'ave no lands now, no castle to show you, no green fields to run through with you, le lake where I would feed ducks...I can never...I dreamed...I dreamed someday I would show you...it...it's so silly, non? Zhese tiny, fragile wishes should not mean so much, and yet...oh Rowarc, mon cour breaks to lose them.”

“A lady of the Belt can take what she wants, even if she is no longer a lady of Avalon.” You're not sure where the words come from, but they're just...there, and they ring with undeniable truth.

[Continued]

>>1662830
We aren't necessarily a "Woe of the Unjust" we've robbed plenty of just people. Besides Roarke isn't the kind of guy who would want tons of titles.

>>1662838
Hey, the Green Skulls, the Martian Guy, and Fairchild were all unjust and we're definitely a woe to them.

I wouldn't mind switching it out for something with actual meaning though. There are duties associated with being Lord Admiral and Protector after all.

>>1662837
I mean.

She has free reign to steal them back now.

Also, how much popularity would we get in the extra-solar colonies if we posted reaction pics of Fairchild`s face when we joined the SSL, or Rosita`s rant.

>>1662838
Woe is far worse than "pay a ransom" or "lost some shit".

We never took anything people couldn't afford to lose.

>>1662842
We're still not that much of a just person.

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“B-but I am no more a Countess!” She babbles, “Rowarc, even if mon title is not rescinded, a noble is more zhan zat, mon land and mon status as a Paladin is...mmmph!” Her words are hushed as you kiss her.

Eventually, you break the kiss, “I don't care. That's part of being who I am, the sort of noble I have become, someone who can take what he wants...and someday, I'll feed those ducks with you, and see your castle, and everything. We'll take it back.”

She blinks at you, big blue eyes wide and tearstreaked, “H-how?”

“Marry me.” You state plainly, “Become my wife.”

She blinks once, then stammers, “B-but ze ozzers...zhey don't...”

“Half of them hated each other when they met.” You inform her with complete and total honesty, “Karen likes you, and Rosita thinks of you as a dear friend. You should have heard her stand up for you in there. The Duke even gave us his blessing.” You smile, “...He even threatened to fight me if I didn't take responsibility.”

She giggles through her tears, “I despised 'im so, once, le Rothschilds are a vile family and 'e and mon teacher did never see eye-to-eye...but in 'is way 'e is a good man. I 'ope le Duc survives zhis war.”

“As a Queen, you'll outrank him.” You point out.

She stares at you in confusion.

You explain, “We declared our independence and the formation of a new country. And...we joined the Solar System League. Jupiter and Mars can't touch you now, or us, at least not legally.”

She sighs, and smiles sadly, “I suppose you 'ad no choice...”

“Lori, the love and dedication you've shown, your unrelenting courage and the way you care for your people...none of it was in vain. You won me. Even if I'm just a poor pirate from the streets of Io who's had some fortune in life, I can see that who you are is a woman worth following, a woman worth loving, a woman who IS noble whether or not she IS a noble...and I want you to be my wife. Please marry me.” You take her hands in yours, and squeeze them.

She looks up at you with a heartfelt, teary smile, and this time it's not just sadness making her voice quiver as she nods, “Oui, mon peasant King. Mon beloved Rowarc.”

>>1662848
... I still don't like her.

>>1662849
I'm sure everyone has one they don't like.

>>1662849
Too late. Learn to love her as you would your best girl.

They're all our girls.

>>1662851
Who's yours?

>>1662852
I'll accept her, but I doubt I'll ever like her.

>>1662855
Still Karen

>>1662849
Sam has a penis.

Karen is a socially retarded unhealthy chubby balloon.

>>1662860
The penis only adds to Sam.

>>1662858
> Fat greasy nerd

Worst girl. Only went her route for the sweet Mech unlocks.

Rosita is clearly best girl, so #1 waifu.

>>1662862
> Doesn't defend Karen

I'll accept your position on Sam.

Electro-net-tan, when will we meet you?

>>1662849
Karen and Fatima will never be best girls

>implying clemmy isn't best girl

>>1662860
>Sam has a penis.
You say that like it's a bad thing.

It's fun to bully Karen and she has that childhood crush thing going for her.

Loriette just feels... extraneous.

>>1662864
As Head Wife Fatima is considered #1 if we we're doing Primogeniture her son would inherit first.

Oh, right, Loriette is the 6th waifu. That's the real reason I don't like her. Because we went over the reasonable limit.

>>1662875
I consider it the 6th ranger rule. It's alright so long as she wears either the white or green pilot outfit.

>>1662868

It goes Fatima=Sam=Clemmy------>Karen->Rosita------------------------------------------->Loriette

>>1662873
I can't say that you're wrong about her being head wife.

But I CAN say you're wrong about best Waifu.

Loriette is, I would say, 4th?

Rosita, Fatima, Clemmy, Lori, Sam, Karen.

>>1662877
>>1662868
Er, for me that is.

>>1662878
Ranking Lori above Sam is unforgivable.

>>1662878
Never said she was the best
Clemmy>Sam>Rosita>Fatima>Lori>Karen

The first four as incredibly close though.

>>1662879
Ranking Rosita second to last is just as bad.

Oh man, I totally forgot that Roarke just being Roarke completely fucked up another thing Fairchild tried to do and it hasn't come up at all yet.

I fucking loved this thread.

Am a big fan of the mecha action but you do write characters I enjoy reading Wong. you made me actually care about Lori as a character, a lot.

Also, I've been thinking of how to stat up the Alteisen Reise and the Rein Weissritter in Mekton Zeta now. Any thoughts on what the weaponry would scale to be if they were built in This setting Weiss would probably be slower, which would just have to to be reasonable. am not sure if the speed of the Weiss is stat-able in Mekton, not sure how it scales up.

>>1662877
> Talking shit about the Best Girl who gave us a bio-core.

She's EASILY replaced Karen.

> Talking shit about our Pirate Queen

Only one who can be considered to really be our equal in having made something of herself with Auditorium.

Fatima? Grew up RICH. Sam? Grew up slightly less rich. Clemmy? Awesome murder-hobo, but that's where it ends. Karen? Queen of her mech-bay, scrub everywhere else, and even then she stands on her Grandpas shoulders. Indeed, Loriette should probably take her under her wing socially.

Loriette comes in second for capability, since she took back her household as a young crippled child with no allies.

>>1662881

Do tell. I desire more fairchild tears.

>>1662877
Clemmy=Sam-->Red----->Lori---------->Karen and Fatima

>>1662880
It's not that I don't like her, it's that I like the others more and I just plain don't like Loriette.

This isn't even taking into account looks, just personalities.

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>forgot my pic

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>>1662881
Seriously.

How much political capital can we get by releasing Rosita cutting Fairchild down dead, and her reaction to us joining the league. Like, VietNyan would love that shit given they hate her right?

>>1662881
I do like the idea of messing up Fairchild's plans more. She likely has a dozen, but hey, if it messes with that trap..

I like all of roarke's wives for different reasons. They're all great.

Oh, wow, the Karenhate still exists.

Without taking sides, I'll just say that she isn't greasy, she takes hygiene seriously even if she's a shameless nerd girl with all of the associated social problems and is responsible for Roarke doujins ending up on samubuy.

>>1662889

It'll gain us loads of negative political capital. Remember we're technically allies now and this sort of dirt belongs in the boardroom and the boardroom alone. Not aired in public.

>>1662883
I'm not talking shit about anyone. I just don't like Loriette.

>>1662893
After playing Persona 5 and meeting Futaba, the archetype grew on me. That said, Futaba is far more adorable than Karen.

>>1662889
We're part of Sol so they're going to hate us on principal alone.

>>1662882
For speed and weaponry I'd say look at where you want it to fit in the grand scheme of overall strength. Look at what your strongest mechs are and where you want it to about be on a difficulty ranking and keep testing it against other mechs until its where you want it.

>>1662893
>Karenhate
Mmmmmm I think hate is too strong a word, she's just far from my favorite character let alone waifu

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>>1662887
That's because you're a fucking peasant.

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>>1662899
Futaba a shit, Makoto a best. Hifumi is also acceptable.

>>1662896
"anonymously" on the net.

>>1662900
But you gotta love someone who talks shit to Fairchild.

>>1662901
>>1662897
I'm just talking shit. Karen is alright. More interesting than Sam "I have a penis and I'm sneaky" which I feel has an in-joke somewhere around it, but I can't find it. Maybe it's in Roarke's butt?

>>1662883
>talking shit about the rest of the waifus

Way to be a cunt.

My reasoning for Loriette has nothing to do with her character but the fact that I feel she is one too many. If one of the others had been last, I'd have probably felt the same way about them.

>>1662904
Hey, I think Makoto is best girl too but I can still appreciate Futaba.

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Clemmy is best girl.

Karen is a very, very close second.

>>1662907
>"anonymously" on the net.

Theres only so many parties who could release that footage. Also to the lay jovian, I believe Fairchild still has a decent reputation. Remember shes the one who gave that address after lori was beaten.

>>1662904
Makoto is best girl, Truth

>>1662904
Kawakami best girl.

>>1662912
Don't give a shit about best girl, but talking shit about any of them is a dick move.

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>>1662907
>Thinking Sam ever tops

>>1662915
Kawakami pleases old men for loose change and dry erase markers.

>>1662918
Thunder, be nice. Kawakami gives one of the best Confidant rewards and is a moderately sympathetic character.

However, romancing her is creepy.

>>1662915
Brother.

>>1662918
You shut your whore mouth.

>>1662899
Futaba is like, 15.

>>1662884
>>1662889
>>1662890

I'm just going to tell you so when it comes up later I can mention it in passing.

Remember that big implied scheme she had at the tournament? Well, she found a way to bring resources to bear on the Iron Kestrels without directly engaging them, namely by using her clout with the Senate to get a bill introduced in the interests of keeping order in the Belt and reducing wartime costs. Namely, any mech in Jovian-patrolled territory larger than Superlight and not specifically licensed for civilian purposes like construction would be commandeered as military property. In short, Jovian troops would no longer need a crime to be going on or any evidence that you're pirates to get a priority call to confiscate any mecha they encountered. Sure, it's unlikely the Knuckle Kaiser would be caught and anyway, you have (or had) a huge bounty on your head so you'd be fair game to begin with...but good luck getting new mecha in without attacking the UJCIDF, and it would definitely cut down your ability to recruit.

...and then Roarke joined the SSL and that bill collapsed immediately because it would be violating the rights of a sovereign nation.

>>1662882

Thank you!

>>1662907

A lot of Samantha's character development was very early on, which is why she's popular with many of the older players. Also Karen might not have worked up the courage to actually try to be open with Roarke about her feelings if Samantha hadn't befriended her and given her some confidence. Part of Karen's problem is that her growth is subtle and there are a lot of girls who are very up-front and make it harder to see how she's growing. For example, her grandpa is on 16-Psyche now, she's in charge of the mechbay and has had to go from "cute bay mascot" to "bay boss".

>>1662922
Which puts her in acceptable range for Akira.

>>1662924
Is that what the default PC name is? Because it came up blank from the start for me.

And anyone who says Takemi isn't best girl is a liar. Death always makes best waifus.

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>>1662913
Blame it on Eustace.

>>1662909
your waifu? A shit. shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.

>>1662923

...Thats insane. That immediate outcome of that bill would lead to open war again pirate bands in the belt. You'll require significant amounts of manpower and war materiale to even attempt confiscating every mech you come across. And also directly push every pirate band in the belt towards avalons camp.

Was she fucking high? This would have been asteroid belt vietnam.

>>1662924
Futaba felt too much like a little sister.

It was even creepier when Sojiro wondered what it would be like if you married her right after mentioning that you were like a son to him

>>1662923
I'm just talking shit. I don't even know what I'm saying half the time.

>>1662928
Fairchild would LOVE a backyard 'Nam in which to commit war crimes and make herself feel like a big damn hero killing civilians and shit.

The Patton of her day.

>>1662926
It was blank for me too but the canon name is Akira Kurusu.

Takemi is very attractive, is one of the most valuable confidants, and has a great story and motivation but she doesn't resonate with me the same way as Makoto does. Also, judging from the way her and Akira's casual scenes go, she is heavily implied to be the canon romance.

>>1662932
>Judging waifus by the confidant abilites
If you did that it would just be the twins.

>>1662932
You know she locked that door and gave him one hell of an examination. Makoto is pretty great, though, once you bust through her autism barrier.

MC's canon name is dumb as hell.

>>1662927
Jokes on you, Neo is my waifu of waifus.

>>1662930
Yeah, she's the groups imouto but I definitely appreciated her Character type more in a romantic sense afterwards.

>>1662923
Just throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks Fairchild?
>>1662928
It'd also force militarization into mercenary forces or make mercs go rogue too since they aren't civvies.

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>>1662926
Akira is canon name, yeah. In context of japan or even just life anywhere 17 and 15 year olds dating isn't exactly cause for alarm.

Takemi isn't my favorite girl, but that's ok. They're all Best Girls, from different perspectives.

But I'll say she's one of the better ones Hews drew for P5 >_>

>>1662931
It would also be directly detrimental to the overall war effort against avalon, considering that significant resources would have to be diverted instead of sent to the front.

This would have effectively open a second front. The SSL's Barbarossa.

>>1662928

Open war against the Iron Kestrels, yes. She'd love that. Remember that originally it was going to be the Green Skulls wiping out or absorbing all the other pirate bands and then getting crushed by the military.

>>1662939

...With an offer of official licensing to mercenaries that would make them official UJCIDF auxiliaries under her command (and used as expendable vanguards)

>>1662935
It's a key factor. The Twins consistently had the least useful confidant upgrades for me, but I haven't finished ranking them up yet. Triad Fusion is almost useless for the first 2/3rds of the game.

>>1662936
What's dumb about the name? It's better than Yu Narukami.

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>>1662940
>Satan is the ultimate Persona of Akira
Did she/he finally break the time loop and win?

>>1662944
Ayup. Second front. If that had happened, we might very have been forced to side with avalon.

>>1662941
See, you're confusing Fairchild's goals with the SSL's. See >>1662944

>>1662946
No, because it's from a very Gnostic sense of Satan. Much like how Satan and Lucifer and Helel are different.

Persona 5 uses a lot of Gnostic specific stuff actually. the Demiurge concept comes from Gnostic stuff for sure as well.

>>1662944
The fact she managed to get so much power under her control while being such a crazy monster is both impressive and worrying.

>>1662953
Persona always plays fast and loose with religions.

Still, it really helps reinforce how Chinese Buddhism is really bad fanfiction of Hinduism.

>>1662953 Useful quote. Is from the real world book of Enoch.
"In the second Book of Enoch, Satanael is mentioned as a leader of the fallen angels that rebelled against YHVH, by refusing to bow to the human Enoch, leading to his imprisonment. Due to his name and role, he is considered an interpretation of Lucifer.

In some Gnostic traditions, Satanael is said to be an angel that once served the Demiurge. He rebelled when he realized that the Demiurge was not the true God and granted humanity the knowledge to liberate themselves from the Demiurge. In other traditions, he is said to have created the material universe as a second heaven to rule over and became the God of the Old Testament, making him an interpretation of the Demiurge. "

>>1662945
The Rank 10 bonus from the twins is bonkers and something Persona 3 and 4 should have had. but yeah triple triad is pretty worthless until you hit the high fiftys.

rank 10 bonus lets you fuse above your level for a fee

>>1662959
I mean as far as Devilman is concerned the first part is pretty much Satan, though they never deal with the Demiurge.

>>1662960
Wow, that's actually ridiculously useful. And I'm sitting at 500K yen too since I have practically nothing to spend it on.

Incidentally, I'm not the only one who thinks the twins are vastly inferior to Margaret, right? Is it ever explained how they relate to Margaret, Elizabeth, and Theodore?

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>>1662923

So. We done playing Roarke for the night?

I kind of regret the Wafiu shit-talking derailing everything.

Haha that's a lie.

>>1662967
Saving that. I too have trouble smiling.

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>>1662971
k.

>>1662967
>Derailing
We were pretty much done for the night anyway. And as longer as we're derailing there was something I never got about Devilman, why didn't Satan just make Akira remember their relationship as lovers, or just make Ryo into a chick and then win Akira over? She would have gotten everything she wanted and potentially have won in the end.

>>1662961
. . .Yaldabaoth IS the Demiurge.

>>1661860
Wong, are you willing to take weapon schematic suggestions that come with lore bits? Like the Bucephalus Mark II Beam Gun I suggested last thread?

When are we running again Wong?

>>1663881

Right now.

>>1664085
oh yeah!

Alright, we'll be ready in a few minutes. Bring your A-Game, everyone, this is going to be the hardest fight so far and I have no idea whether this will be a very short session or a very long session.

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KESTRELS, SHOW ME YE WAR FACE.

>>1664210
Hope Thunder ate his wheaties/sacrificed a virgin, or whatever he does, today.

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>1664228
Lets see how the dice are feeling

>>1664235
Oh dear
Better turn up the volume on our soundtrack Thunder

>>1664235
RIP.

Not a good sign.

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>>1664224

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>>1664224

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>>1664224

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Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>1664224
>>1664235
At least it cant possibly get worse than that.

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>>1664224

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>>1664224

Sam=Karen=Fatima>Clemmy=Rosita=Loriette

I like them all, though.

>>1664210
Right then, hope our arm bits can soak up the first few hits.. because I wish to make sure she cannot get a chance to hit us.

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You spend the night with Loriette, who cries herself to sleep. Sometimes the tears are happy, sometimes they aren't, you hold her all the same.

Despite what you told the disguised Meridian, the next morning you're up early, for an intense workout. Despite your reputation, you haven't fought in a lot of duels that were declared ahead of time, and honestly it's difficult not to get too far into your own head with this one and ruin your mental readiness. You are going to get revenge for Cassius, and that itself is pure elation, the knowledge that you are going to kill Bethany Cabot today. However, you don't become a successful pirate by being fearless. People who completely lack fear are worse off even than people who are ruled by it. Logically, there are things you know based on your prior experiences.

The old S-Slayer's missiles couldn't penetrate your armor. You bet the Nightmare's can.

The old S-Slayer's stealth wasn't good enough to sneak past you. You bet the Nightmare's will be, or more likely it will have stripped away the stealth systems entirely.

The old S-Slayer was bulky and slow. You bet the Nightmare won't be. Fairchild isn't stupid.

You want to go train with the Undefeated, but there isn't time for that, and frequently that training leaves you too exhausted and beaten-up for a mech battle. Instead you're about to call Karen after completing your run when she calls you instead.

“Roarke, it's done!” She interrupts your questions.

“Wait, what's done?” You try to pierce past her habitual enthusiasm.

“I didn't sleep a wink last night, I scoured the Kaiser entirely for any kind of traps, tracers, or other sabotage, completely took it apart, and...well...I added a little something in when I was done.” She sounds so comfortably smug, you can hear her humming cheerfully to herself under her breath.

“What?” You ask, a bit more tersely than usual.

She growls back, “What do you think? It! It's finally ready!”

“What's ready?” You're completely baffled.

“...Oh, that's right, you don't visit the hydroponics garden on the Rhinehawk much, do you?” She sounds very slightly apologetic for snapping at you.

You're even more confused now. “It's been closed for repairs, of course I haven't been there.”

“Oh, that's the official reason, yes.” She replies breezily, probably playing with her braids, “Unofficially, I've been doing a little...gardening. I asked Loriette to keep it a surprise for you, but she says she's never, ever seen a mandrake mature this quickly before. Um, I can disconnect it from the HMIS if you want, or I can enable it. It would definitely make your mech stronger, but...Lori says the first time can be a little...weird. The only time a non-Paladin activated a mech with a mandrake it...went berserk.”

>[Tell her to enable it for the duel]
>[Tell her to leave it disabled for now]