>>2339050
scope mouse is in our hearts
[x] I am a robot

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>>2339050
Schwarzhund took Istanbul with him when he left, mission and mortality slipping into the dark with his passing. Time has one foot on either side of the line--you don’t know if you’ve been here an hour or an era. All you can feel, vaguely, is its passage.

The alarm-bells and critical integrity warnings your systems scream at you have faded into nonsense words and empty noise. The smoke curls overhead, ever onward with your thoughts.

Emerald lies beside you, staring into that deepening dark as it goes. Unmoving, unblinking, and utterly silent, still pinned to the ground by his own weapons. At first, you weren’t even sure he was still alive. You tried to talk to him, but he hasn’t said a word since his teacher--your teacher--left. His claws, stained with the blood of the human who started all of this with his end, are all that remain. You can almost imagine them tinged with vaporized blood, crackling politely where the Black Dog left them, buried in his student’s palm.

You steal another look over at him. Those green eyes have fallen dull, almost tranquil-looking on Em’s impassive, expressionless face. What seems like a lifetime ago, you remember them wide and broken, the twin pupils composing either optic almost separating as they shuddered in place, take it all in and finding too much.

Not that you’re doing much better. It’s hard to do much at all, really. Your comms occasionally squeal and snarl at you, but you’re guessing they went out when you took that hit to the face. Your ear is still present via absence, audio only coming in on one side. Not that there’s much to hear, just the soft crackle of distant flame.

But then, finally, crunching boots over rubble and glass. Flares Firefly kneels over you, helmet receding to reveal the concern plain on her face. She kneels and offers you a hand. Dimly, you realize you must have taken it, because you’re suddenly back upright, her shoulder bearing your weight as she rises.

Like a band pulling taut, time seems to jump forward to account for prior laxity. Lifesavers, triage, a quiet huddle aside as they evaluate Em. Being eased back down, sitting, beside him, as they tell him not to move. At his lack of response, they repeat themselves, clearly and slowly--do not move. Your shielding is critical. Do not move.

He never replies, never looks away from the sky and whatever he isn’t finding there.

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>>2339062
More crunching infrastructure, and Gopher’s legs fill your vision. What looks like asphalt clings to his boots, cast, cooled, and hardened. Glass flakes glitter within like diamonds in obsidian, bonded to the tar. You look up at him, and he nods, then tilts his chin over to Emerald. You shake your head, and he nods again, eyes narrowing slightly as he kneels beside you both.

“They’re calling you the hero of the Bosphorus,” he says. “You and Vidra. She cut their water force in half mid-retreat. The bridge she built helped evacuate civilians from the worst part of the fighting. She says she would have never made it if you hadn’t handled Amphitrite.”

Emerald says nothing. The Lifesavers mill and mull, examining him from all angles. Gopher checks a sigh, even the stolid veteran betraying the weight of combat fatigue, looking back and forth between Overland’s Captains.

>Remain silent. There’s nothing to say.
>...How’d we do?

>>2339066
>...How’d we do?
Evening Hunter Command, Great night for a sad thread.
How are you doing?

>>2339066
>>Other
>Vent. Not for your sake, but for Ems, because he's incapable of it right now.

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>>2339077
Good evening, and hello one and all!

I'm doing okayish--very unstable time for a while there, but things are finally calming down. That said, I wound up being slapped on a real bastard of a diet today by my physical trainer--a little salty about it, but it's the kind that ends after one month, so my usual skepticism is disarmed.

How's everyone doing tonight?

>>2339080
>>2339062
>>>Other
>>Vent. Not for your sake, but for Ems, because he's incapable of it right now.
>But also for your sake, your therapist is dead, you could use a good vent.

>>2339066
>>...How’d we do?
Gotta pull ourselves together enough to look after Em. We're not ok, but he's an order of magnitude worse.

You're back!
your reference to SWQ on Twitter sent me on a month and a half archive binge; thanks, I think.

>>2339066
>>Other
>Vent. Not for your sake, but for Ems, because he's incapable of it right now.

>>2339084
Doing pretty good now that we're back!

>>2339084
Doing pretty good
Excited to have a new Maverick Hunter Thread

>>2339066
>...How’d we do?

>>2339066
>Remain silent. There’s nothing to say.
I have no mouth and I must scream

>>2339084
Pretty well. Excited like all the others about this thread!

>>2339066
>...How’d we do?
>Vent. Not for your sake, but for Ems, because he's incapable of it right now.
>But also for your sake, your therapist is dead, you could use a good vent.

>>2339066
>...How’d we do?

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>>2339084
Quite well. I'll have the recap updated shortly.

>...How’d we do?

seven outta town

>>2339066
>...How’d we do?

Hearing about the things that went right is much better than stewing in misery. Also, someone has to keep doing the talky thing. We already have enough tough-but-laconic characters in the Fourth.

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>>2339066
>...How’d we do?

Always happy to see a MHQ thread.

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>>2339066
>...How'd we do?

HO SHIT ITS HAPPENING!
>>2339066
>...How’d we do?

>>2339066
>...How’d we do?

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>>2339066
>...How'd we do?

Good to see this back.

>>2339050
And with that, MHQ is running more frequently than MHX season 3.

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In case it wasn't obvious, no other update posts tonight, just going to get the ball rolling and give people time to check in. It's been a spell, after all.

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>>2339845
Lies, by the time I tab back to this page there will be 5 new updates as always.

Glad to see MHQ back. Hard to believe this quest is over 6 years old.

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>>2339884
Welcome to the Fourth, Megatron.

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>>2339916
And always fun.

>>2339066
>>Vent. Not for your sake, but for Ems, because he's incapable of it right now.
how's the dolphin? She didnt get black dogged, did she?

>>2339918
... Is zero gonna kill the pizza guy

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>>2340050
"The site specifically said thirty minutes or less."

>>2340050
If he's another 10 minutes late.
>>2339066
>..How'd we do?
Is everyone alive? Everyone except psycho mantis, Tanker and Seven?

>>2340060
If it would mean more Maverick Hunter Threads, I would bake you a pizza and drive it down from Canada to you

Damn, I'd been too busy to really get into figuring this out.

>Arrest Buster
I'm guessing we don't stick the butt end into our buster, because that's nothing like a couched lance. My current assumption is that there are two little indents in the Lance. One slots into a small mount on the buster, while the other slots into a similar mount on the armor


>Channels carved in for the electric lance shenanigans
I'm guessing they're on the inside, but now I'm stumped on how to visualize it on the outside.
So far, I'm thinking about a spiral pattern along the handle, which doesn't quite match Anode's general look, but spirals are commonly used for EM resistance and outputting a singular focused signal

Into each life a little Cain must fall.

Welcome back, everybody.

>>2340192
Heyo fucker.

I probably listened to that song you chose a few hundred times after the last thread. My emotions were expertly dashed sir, bravo

>>2339066
>>...How’d we do?

For those who missed the previous thread, here's a quick recap of how it ended:

https://i.imgur.com/cwizaR8.mp4

Since we're not getting DNA for this fight, I'm not expecting much new things in the shop list.

So I'm angling for any of these:
>Jumpjet - Extended Charge Projection
gottagofast

>Shred Zone
>Redshift
either of these provide zoning if we want to purposely spec for beating Em.

>Improved Conductivity
I still think we should do small upgrades to open up to things like saber resistance.

>>2340404
If there is a Mass Shriver upgrade, we take it.

>>2340404
Buddy, we'll be lucky if we get -paid- for this.

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>>2339066
>How's Em's sister?

She should be informed. Also, practice for an Em saber! Maybe the flambard next.

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>>2341027
That is amazing.

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Okay, I need to cook a bunch of stuff I really don't want to cook (have I mentioned I already hate this diet?) but I'll put off 90% of it to after I get a post out. That said, right now I need coffee like Anode needs a new therapist.

>>2341037
diet? You mean nut flours, coconut flour, that kind of thing? Or just leafy greens?

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>>2341268
Whole 30, it's called. TL;DR you spend a month ommitting dairy, grains, legumes (WHY), alcohol of any stripe, and any added sugars, natural or otherwise. After that month you reintroduce food groups one at a time so you can figure out if you're having adverse reactions to any of them that you may have been dealing with unknowingly your entire life.

My biggest vexation with it is figuring out decent breakfasts for the incorrigibly lazy. I predict a lot of eggs in my future.

Also stand by, I've been writing and revising for two hours straight now. This one has been tough.

>>2341285
HAH, I've done that before. I can tell you about my experience and what I recommend on IRC so it doesn't clutter the thread.

The short answer is meat and veggies though. You are technically not restricted at all in those 2 categories....but in practice it's a bit more complex.

>>2341285
>ommitting dairy, grains, legumes (WHY), alcohol of any stripe, and any added sugars, natural or otherwise.

That one's a bit different than the one I was on a few years ago—I omitted all grains and all sugars—but in 4 months, I dropped 50 pounds, and though I was (as you'd expect) a lot hungrier than usual at the start, after a month or so on it, I definitely felt like I had more energy.

It's a bear to keep up, though, not just because you can't eat stuff you like, but because it's ridiculously hard to find food that you haven't made yourself that fits the diet.

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>>2340163
I've been meaning to answer this for ages and kept forgetting, let me get on that while I try to shake down a proofreader.

Arrest Buster does in fact go down the buster barrel, but then Anode can lock his arm against his side like you suggested.

The channels are similar to those on Anode's armor, most noticeable in S1's portrait. They run along the surface planes as little grooves with the channels recessed inside. They glow when charged.

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>>2341303
Yeah, I'm no stranger to dieting and weight loss--though now I'm trying to actually build muscle, have been for a year or so--but I've never had a restrictive food group diet before. It's a hassle because my go-to quick foods are all off-limits now so I have to change up the game.

Is there a compilation anywhere of various descriptions/fanart done for Emerald or Anode’s weapons? Just need appearances.

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>>2341370
There's not a ton that I know of, but somebody semi-recently drew the updated Flash Freeze Misericorde.

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>>2341370
>>2341388
Or maybe that was the old one and this was the updated. I should've noted such in the filenames when I saved them.

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>>2339077
>>2339080
>>2339087
>>2339093
>>2339131
>>2339167
>>2339214
>>2339265
>>2339364
>>2339415
>>2339433
>>2339546
>>2339582
>>2339734
>>2339792
>>2339990
>>2340065
>>2340332
Grimacing, you pull yourself up more fully, claw the world back to you and force it to make sense. You try to tap into that fury as Schwarz turned his back on you. “It was Schwarzhund,” you say, feeling the creeping heat in your voice--and beside you, Em’s eyes open more fully.

“I know,” Gopher replies. “Kangawa was broadcasting live.”

“Of course he was,” you spit bitterly. “Am I looking forward to another suspension?”

“Over my dead body,” your CO says bluntly. “That goes for both of you. Not after tonight.”

That gets your attention. “How bad is it?”

He snorts. “Taking things from the wrong side of this, Anode.”

“We did well,” Flares adds. “Really, really well.”

“Casualties well under estimates, doubly so for infrastructure. We disabled or eliminated a number of officers. Vidra penned in half their water force and Sixth demolished them.”

“Silver linings,” you mutter.

Gopher reaches out and takes you by the shoulder, and gives you a sharp shake. “Listen when I’m talking to you. This was Overland’s most successful urban op in its history, by far.”

“Doesn’t--” You pause, remembering prior conversations just like this one--of course it doesn’t feel like it. “Yeah.”

He nods, apparently satisfied. “If you absolutely have to have some bad news, Tanker got away. Somehow.”

Rezador--you hadn’t registered his presence until just now--stalks into view with a growl, looking every bit as mangled as you (if not more). “Tanker Tigershark will not be dealt with by the Fourth,” he says bluntly, casting a disdainful glance across you and Em.

“What, because you couldn’t manage it?” you ask, a little too pleased with his damage.

He casts a scathing glare your way. “Think, for a change. Anyone with the strength lacks the mobility to bring him down. Anyone with the mobility lacks the strength. And you,” he adds, “would be torn apart with both.”

You meet his challenge--he’s not fucking with you, not today. Pushing Flares away gently, you draw yourself up to meet his eyes. “Fuck with me, Rezador. See what happens.”

He scoffs dismissively and strides right by, ignoring your challenge and rounding on Gopher. “And how did Vidra let him get away? His delayed retreat was the opening she exploited.”

“Punched right through,” Gopher replies, his tone suggesting Rezador reexamine his attitude before he throws accusations. “He’s dashed a blockade or two in his life. Still, he just accidentally made a chokepoint for the rest to get caught trying to squeeze through. And Amphitrite--”

“Amphitrite got away,” Emerald says quietly.

>>2341391
Forgot about these, I’ll check the previous thread for them. Thanks!

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>>2341415
Rezador’s whole body pivots as his eyes snap to cold-blooded rage.

“I had a choice,” Em murmurs. “Drew her out of the shallows and away from the city. Couldn’t catch her out that far. She was too fast.”

Rezador takes a purposeful step closer. Behind him, Gopher tenses up, and Flares steps between the two of you, raising an arm.

“Then why did you engage there?” He asks, deliberate and razor-edged.

“Less damage. Let Marine get through in case I went down. Fewer casualties.”

Rezador is stock-still for a long, long minute. “I see.”

Then he turns and kicks the saber buried in Em’s shoulder full-force, the blade carving a deep wound out and through.

Instantly, all weapons are on Rezador as the Lifesavers move to body-block him, Emerald’s hissed breath vanishing in the chaos. Dimly, you make out the blade guttering and dying in its arc, the hilt disintegrating into broken components in the sky.

Ignoring them all, Rezador simply strides away, pushing through a pair of Berets manning a beam pad. “Clearly, you learned nothing. We will start again from the beginning.”

“Em?” You ask. “Are you okay?”

“No,” he mutters, eyes still skyward. “No, I am not okay.”

“Stay still,” one of the Lifesavers says. “We will have to wait until the batteries…”

But Em doesn’t stay still, simply reaching over with his unpinned arm and pulling another saber up and out. He does the same as they try to stop him, freeing his legs, and finally tears his hand through Schwarz’s discarded claws, fairly well shearing it in half. He stands up, cool as you please, expression dead even, and turns to follow after Rezador.

“You don’t have to deal with him, Captain,” Gopher says.

Em looks at Gopher, expression finally softening, just a little--for a scant moment, he looks apologetic. “Yes, I do. He’s my only ticket to Diamond. I have nothing else left.”

Silence reigns as the night deepens over Istanbul.

>...

>>2341421
>Lets get back to base.

I really hope that one day we get to make Rezador pray in fear of us.

>>2341421
>”Your sister might dispute that.”

I didn’t think Rezador would top my shit-list over Seven and Schwarz, but there he goes! Let’s kill him discreetly.

>>2341421
"You have your sister. You have your friends. And you might not value it highly, but you have you. Besides, the way you look right now, even I could kick your ass."

>>2341421
"I swear I will noogie you through your helmet if you start that again. I'm right beside you, your sister is alright, India and Flares have your back, and in the end, Gopher is right. We did good, as much as I want to take a fishing trip picture with Tanker dangling by his legs and smack some sense into Schwarz.
War is hell, and it sure seems to want to drag us into it. But, no way am I going to let it. I'll keep fighting, and keep doing what I can to help. That includes you too, Emerald."

Incidentally, if we are the hero of the bospherous, do we get the sort of stuff India got? Probably not as much hazard pay, but man if a upgrade or two from the good boy bin would be nice.

>>2341421
>Tell that to Sapphire, asshole.

Em, jesus shit on stilts, don't start with us. You will not finish.

>>2341546
Aren't we scheduled for some cutting edge prototypes at some point already?

>>2341546
Em is the hero, not us.

>>2341421
>Em looks at Gopher, expression finally softening, just a little--for a scant moment, he looks apologetic. “Yes, I do. He’s my only ticket to Diamond. I have nothing else left.”

Gotta be honest, his determination to hide up his own ass here is pissing me off.

Is "pour your angst into your work and drink heavily in your off time" seriously his biggest takeaway from Schwarz? Because it doesn't look like it worked all that well for Schwarz.

Also, "nothing else left"? What the hell does that make Sapphire, or even Anode? Chopped liver? Spare change? I don't know how that metaphor works for Reploids.

Has he even tried asking Flares out? He could just compliment her sleek design and flying skills and see how she reacts, it ain't rocket science.

I can't vote on this, everything I can think of would result in a shouting match in the middle of a burning city. Is the subtle approach too subtle for him? At least a fiery row would still be better than Sullen Emerald being all murder-zombie around the place.

>>2341421
I think he means "nothing else left" as far as leads to Diamond's killer.

Do we even know if they're still alive? Or even a big target? We would have gotten done in by a Steel Beret with a beam scalpel on our table if we hadn't woken up in time.

>>2341448
You're welcome.

>>2341662
Rezador confirmed for Cain Labs self-insert! Next target: actual Satan.

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>>2341662
>>2341680

>>2341421
I feel like we should agree to take Em's bro's place in the triangle.

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>>2341421
>>...
>"Emerald, if you get yourself killed chasing your demons, I am going to bang your sister and you won't be alive to stop me."

>>2341775
... This could actually work.

>>2341775
Well there's a declaration
Lets do it

>>2341775
Voting to support.

>>2341775
Changing my vote from
>>2341448
(different wifi and ID) to this one.

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>>2341421
>>2341775

I can't *not* vote for this option now that I've seen it.

>>2341448
Going with this one.

>>2341421
This one.
>>2341775
It is the only hope we have left.

>>2341775
Yeah, I can't not vote for this either. This is rich.

>>2341775
Oh this so very this. If Em still has his snark he'll say the same to us.

I don't really know that now is the time for snark, considering the circumstances.

>>2341919
This is exactly the time to go full ham, he has never not shrugged off regular 'hey don't be a dumbass' commentary. If he's gonna force us to have to explain to his sister that we couldn't stop him from running off to suicide by maverick, the least we can do is offer her some emotional support. Plus knowing HC's wordsmithery we can probably get 'ride the lightning' in there somehow.

>>2341919
I feel the same way. This isn't really the time, amusing as it is.

>>2341950
>ride the lightning
A storm is coming...

>>2341919
>>2341970
I think abject desair is the best time for snark. Have you people never watched MASH?

The greatest thing about >>2341775 is this can lead to a lot of potentially funny scenes in the future when Em starts moping about Diamond especially if we can get Sapphire in on it.

>Em starts moping.
>Call up Sapphire start talking about part compatibility, arranging dates, call her cutesy names, have her tell us humiliating little sister stories about Em, etc.
>Em goes into protective elder brother mode and chases us around.

>>2341919
No, it is the perfect time for snark. Humor, even the blackest, can bring light in the darkest times.

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>>2341767
Not that ink was signed on it or anything, but you did. On condition of Em upgrading (which, in return, was on condition of you being able to consistently beat him), you agreed to take care of retiring him if he goes maverick.

Also stand by, writing shortly. I'm having a very late lunch and finishing up my day of cooking.

>>2341996
What did you cook, if you don't mind me asking?

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>>2342081
A bunch of steamed eggs (works a treat better than boiling, yolks stay tender and the shells come right off, roasted some potatoes, some coffee beans while I was in the kitchen, a chicken/turkey chili, cauliflower. Requisite dishes before/during/after as needed, knocked out some cleaning and maintenance while I was at it. Little bit tired, and I'm not out of the woods yet.

As a result, I'm eating a can of salmon. Just as-is. Comes with extra spine!

>>2342104
That sounds fantastic, actually!

All I'm having is a frozen pizza for dinner myself.

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Okay, so maybe not writing "shortly." I'm feeling rather ill. I'll try to get one more post out tonight at the least.

>>2341775
4thd.

>>2341775
Goddammit, I can't not support this.

>>2341421

Gonna go with >>2341775

It IS inappropriate, but Em's been kind of an ass and deserves a reminder that Sapphire lives her own life and he is a part of that life.

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Update is slowly churned, buuut I seem to be missing a Cain Labs.

Fuggit, I'm taking this as the universe recommending I sit on the post overnight and see if it develops any further. Hopefully I'm not getting sick, but if I am, I'll take a day off work and maybe we can get more content that way. Either way, we've gotten started, so I'll get into the groove and run us until our next good breakpoint.

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Sneaking a small post in from work. Sorry about yesterday--still not feeling 100% but damn it, I'll see this through.
>>2342935
>>2341421
You try to lean on your anger like you leaned on Flares. Unfortunately, the best you can manage, tired and low as you are, is sullen. “Em, I swear to God.”

He doesn’t look back, marching toward the field pad Rezador disappeared through.

You press on, voice sullen and humorless. “If you keep on like you’ve been keeping on, two things will happen--you’ll die, and I will rail your sister.”

He pauses at that, before he chuckles weakly. “Yeah, all right.”

“Damn,” you mutter.

Geneva is a sight both welcome and alien, when you return--you’re gently steered the opposite of the usual path to medical, and you realize you’re in the new quarters, with the repair facilities moved to match.

Ursa--battered to hell and gone, hydraulic fluid running in rivulets down cratermarked plating--gives you a hearty cheer and a wave, nearly clearing the decks of two Lifesavers with the barrel of his gun. Flares--mostly fine, wing aside--smiles tiredly, arms folded and leaning against the wall.

You’re technically second-up on the slab, but Rezador (third) jumped the line rather forcefully--and Emerald’s nowhere to be found.

>Go track him down. He’ll be in the Dodo.
>Let him have his tantrum, you have shit to do.
>Other?

>>2343762
>>Let him have his tantrum, you have shit to do.
Did Ursa or Flares know scwarz well? Maybe we should ask them about him.

>>2343762
>Go track him down. He’ll be in the Dodo.
On the way we should try to put a comm through to our dolphin friend, see if they're alright.

>>2343762
>Call our sister, then Em’s. Then check whether the Kangawa tape is public.
>Try not to punch Rezador.

>>2343762
>Let him have his tantrum, you have shit to do.

>>2343762
>Go track him down. He'll be in the Dodo.
I honestly don't blame him all that much.

Don’t forget to vote for most recent thread!

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Maverick%20Hunter%20Quest

>>2343762
>Other?
Blow off some steam. If Anode can't work up a good snark, he's in no shape to help anyone else. Chat with the other team members, shoot up the firing range, hack up some weak sims, just get the anger out.

>>2343762
>>Let him have his tantrum, you have shit to do.

>>2343762
Track him down, then check the news. See how famous we are.

>>2343772
Actually, let me change my vote to
>>2343833
If threatening to plow his sister didn't break him out of this shit, I don't think anything we can do will.

>>2343924
Also aren't there a bunch of people we haven't met yet since a lot of units are in the same place? Let's poke around and meet some folks from other units too.

>>2343762
>>Go track him down. He’ll be in the Dodo.

Unless I'm missing something significant, Em very badly needs to be in that repair bay too, whether he likes it or not.

>>2343762
>Let him have his tantrum, you have shit to do.
Anode's let this shit drag him down too long. At some point, you've gotta get on with *your* life instead of worrying about someone else's.

>Go track him down. He’ll be in the Dodo.
Getting real sick of your shit friendo.

Emerald is just gonna be sitting at the bar, frantically chugging as the booze keeps flowing out of all the holes in his body.

Basically one of those fountains.

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>>2344286
You're not far off.

Stand by, writing shortly. For real, I hope.

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>>2344308
Or not. After vote-change accounted for, that puts as at 4/4 for the leading options (and 2 for "blow off some steam").

>Go track him down. He’ll be in the Dodo.
>>2343807
>>2343919
>>2343935
>>2344091


>Let him have his tantrum, you have shit to do.
>>2343771
>>2343786
>>2343848
>>2344090

>>2344374
>Go track him down. He’ll be in the Dodo.

This help?

>>2344374
Well then, Go Track Him Down. He'll be in the dodo.
Honestly, I want to pick this for two reasons. One, we also need a drink, and two.. I think we need to for once see the bright side. We had a pretty good victory for once and Em is Hero of the Bospherous.

>>2344374
Changing to track Em down as well, but can we do a quick check to see if the Kangawa tape is public? Our human family is probably cropping themselves if it is.

>>2343762
>Go track him down. He’ll be in the Dodo
I kinda DO blame him, his reckless attck without regard for his own life almost got Anode killed as well, and if he doesnt realize it, he needs to. We could have been a little less curb-stomped if he kept his head a bit in that initial Schwarz attack. I dont think we could win, but I dont think we would have lost as badly, where only his whim kept us alive.

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>>2343762
...No. No, not this time.

You remember the last time Em nipped off to the Pond to get trashed instead of repaired--and he was a lot better off that time. Somehow, though, you doubt you’ll be hauling him out of here this time.

You hadn’t really fully processed the damage (physical and otherwise) on his tiny frame when you enter. The place is hushed, and you don’t miss a lot more eyes on you than you’d expect, even coming off a big-ticket mission. The crowd’s already parted, leaving a clear shot to the bar. Even from back here, you can make out the grievous injury he isn’t getting fixed.

His back is bare metal gray, helmet to boots. You actually see the glint of bottles in the lamplight through his chassis, holes punched clean through his shoulder, his chest, one arm, either leg. One hand dangles at his side in two halves, connected threadbare by his wrist, palm split from the ragged wound left by Schwarz’s claws.

In his good hand, he’s nursing a glass.

You march up, heat building, and you see his posture stiffen as he hears you. “Wait.”

“The hell wi--”

”Wait.”

Max approaches almost reluctantly, leaving the small back room, his ancient face incapable of expressing the worry in his tone. “I turned off the news after you left, it was riling up the crowd. What happened?”

Em casts a glance over to you, head bowed low. “... You do it. I can’t.”

You grimace. “It was Schwarz, Max.”

He goes very, very quiet, and very, very still.

“I just…” Em closes his eyes, and takes a huge gulp of what you now realize is an entire bottle of nanite suspension. You realize his hand is shaking, and you doubt it’s from his injuries. “Wanted you to know.”

“I see,” Max says quietly.

You grab Em’s bracer, and push his glass back to the counter. “This isn’t helping.”

He leans away from you, trying to lever enough strength to pull his glass up. “Nothing’s GOING to help, Anode.”

“Bullshit!” You force his hand back down. “Do you think he’d want you moping like this, if he was in his right mind?”

Em whips around with a snarl, taking you aback at the burst of ferocity. “Do you think he WASN’T?” he shouts. “Did he SOUND out of his fucking gourd to you?”

“No, but you did,” you snap back hotly. “What the fuck was that, Em?!”

He goes silent, turning away from you and the bar. “I don’t know.”

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>>2344642
“Bullshit.”

“Anode, I have never lost it like that before in my life,” he says glumly. “I saw him, and Kangawa, and I just… I wasn’t trying to kill him. I was trying to hurt him. As fast and as badly as I could.”

He clenches his fists, a spark jumping between the two halves of his split hand at your side, actually jumping your capacitor a percent. The handle on his glass comes off with a dainty little ‘clink!’ and Max discretely slides the drink away.

“Fine,” you reply, breaking the uncomfortable silence again. “What about Sapphire? Fuck, what about me? That’s ‘nothing left?’”

He glances up at you from the corner of one eye. “That’s... not what I meant.”

“Then what was it, huh?” You ask, resisting the urge to smack him as you finally release his arm.

He exhales. “I wasn’t saying I had no one left. I was saying I don’t have anything left. I’ve got nothing, Anode. I can’t… deal with this any more.”

Max looks between the two of you, and graciously retreats, leaving you some semblance of privacy (after a shouting match in a crowded bar, at least).

“What’s next, huh?” Em continues, looking up at you--from what was left in that bottle, you’re guessing he’s got a good, hard drunk ahead of him, and it’s just hitting him now. “What next? Who next? Is it gonna be Sapphire? You? ...Me? Dead? Maverick? Both, either?”

>...Hey Em, turn your shields off, I’ve got something to say to you.
>Feed him another bottle. Get him hammered enough to drag in for a repair.
>...Grab a glass and join him.
>This isn’t working. You need to tap in someone else for this. (Specify)
>Other?

>>2344647
>Feed him another bottle. Get him hammered enough to drag in for a repair.
As much as I want to go for the good ol' "passionately smacking sense into your mate" animu trope, the more callously kind option is probably the way to go. What better way to be cruel to be kind than to shanghai someone by force-feeding them robo-drugs?

>>2344647
>>This isn’t working. You need to tap in someone else for this. (Specify)
... X? (Anode had that one joint op fling with him, and we DID save him from Mac, should be worth a Favor...)

>>2344647
>>Feed him another bottle. Get him hammered enough to drag in for a repair.

what's the shield option? smacking him?

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>>2344690
Yep!

>>2344647
>... I need a new therapist. Want to see if they have a two for one deal going?

>>2344647
>>...Hey Em, turn your shields off, I’ve got something to say to you.
Bar Brawl with Em?
Bar Brawl with Em!

Actually, maybe Frog would be a good guy to call in?

>>2344681
You think Em ever just drinks a vial of nanites straight up?

>>2344647
I really want to bring in someone else to speak with him but have no idea who, we don't know what kind of shape everyone else is in or how much help they'll be (except Rezador) since we went straight for the Dod- >>2344686
-this could work.

>>2344647
>>...Hey Em, turn your shields off, I’ve got something to say to you.
Clench your teeth Em. If words of brodom cannot reach you, we will apply the brofist orally.

>>2344755
As a add on, I also say we take one drink to say we are drunk, and power down our shields as well. He wants to throw punches, he can throw them right back. Both are frustrated after all, and they need to clear their heads of this damn gloom because gods if its not helping.

>>2344647
>This isn’t working. You need to tap in someone else for this.

I imagine X is busy.

Call India. If nothing else, she'll be another friend present.

>>2344647
>This isn’t working. You need to tap in someone else for this. (Specify)
X but if he's busy then i guess india

>>2344647
fuckit. We DO need the nuclear option.

>This isn’t working. You need to tap in someone else for this. (Specify)
X. He knew Schwarz. Probably better than Em and Anode does combined.

>>2344686
>>2344834
>>2344841
I can't help imagining that conversation going something like:

"Hey, X, can I grab you from your super-fighting to counsel my friend?"

"new comm who dis"

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>>2344854
Yeah, uh. You guys are reaching a little bit high on this one, I won't lie.

>>2344865

I always say, if you're going to have delusions, you may as well make them the really /satisfying/ ones!

>>2344647
>>2344865
Nope. Nothing I can think of saying sounds like it would come out of Anode. It's all psyche terms or words from people who've lived like that and know what they're talking about.

I'm still pushing to call X. Even if it exceeds authority or practical application of resources and X's time, right now we're acting as Em's friend....not a captain. Maybe take a swig of nanites for plausible deniability.

>>2344865
>>2344883
I'd blame the dissonance in real world time and game time.

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Honestly, there's some low-level hunters that probably COULD casually call up X, but Anode isn't on that list.

>>2344921
How about we pause a moment here, realize that we barely know X (or Zero), and call Frog instead? You know, Em's old friend? Vested interest in his well-being? Also friends with Schwarz?

>>2344647
>This isn’t working. You need to tap in someone else for this. (Specify)

X is usually busy, and way above our pay grade. India is too abrasive to be useful here.

The only person I can think of that could work with this is Frog. He's known Em and Schwarz for a long time... but I don't know if we even have a way to contact him, now that he's retired. Maybe Comms would know? We'd probably owe some big favors after this, but it is kind of a personal emergency...

>Feed him another bottle. Get him hammered enough to drag in for a repair.
But if Frog isn't an option, then this.

>>2344968
My Man.

>>2344966
NINJAS
NINJAS EVERYWHERE

>>2344981
He's not retired btw, Frog transferred to the 8th.

>>2344966
....I just realized that Anode doesn't know about that Frog Schwarz interlude. It's conceivable to call Frog, but man will Anode be unintentionally guilting him bad.

Do not call in X. Why the fuck would calling in X help anything? Em doesn't goddamn know X. WE don't know X, not really! We've seen him maybe twice, thrice in our career!

But call in SOMEBODY, for Chrissakes. Because we are out of our depth.

>>2344982
Really? I thought he was retired. Why was there a big going away party, if he was just getting a transfer?

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>>2344991
Because he was CO of the Fourth Overland from the very start of the Sigma Rebellion until then, and didn't step down by virtue of being killed, crippled, or turned.

Also, since it's still being discussed, I'll go ahead and be a wet blanket and let you know you wouldn't be able to get ahold of X.

>>2344647
>>This isn’t working. You need to tap in someone else for this. (Specify)
Grach: he's lost all his siblings to questionable circumstances and he's surprisingly well adjusted

That human guy who joined after Jagwire if he's alive : lost his friend and his arm, still kept going.

Frog: he's got the best rapport with Em, though he might be shook by the news about Schwarz

Susan and the Bravely Broken: they just saw a huge number of their comrades either turn traitor or die. They're still going.

>>2344991
Because the Hunters are military-ish and thus most of the time the 8th would be out doing stuff, very rarely working with the 4th. Think of a beloved boss going to work for another branch of the same company; sure, he might pop by once in a while. But he's not around anymore.

>>2344997
HC, if that's you, you forgot your trip.

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>>2344997
>>2345000
Whoops! Yeah, that's me, was voting in another thread.

>>2344997
>help anything? Em doesn't goddamn know X. WE don't know X, not really! We've seen him maybe twice, thrice in our career!
>But call in SOMEBODY, for Chrissakes. Because we are out of our depth.

The idea behind X was several pieces together:

>1
We had a shot at it due to prior events.

>2
It'll take a fresh face and enough shock to get past Em's mental armor to get through. X would be sufficently so?

>3
And lastly X has demonstrated he really cares and tends to have the right words for things, it's in line with his modus operandi.

If the ideas a non-starter, I guess thats that, though!

>>2345020
Whoops, meant to reply to >>2344997

>>2344997
>>2345000
Man. That just makes it sadder for me, in retrospect.

Retirement parties can already be kind of morbid, but a "Fine job! You're still hard at work and you didn't go insane and kill your friends!" party is on a whole different level of existential horror.

>>2345020

X is a really swell guy. But Em isn't alone in this, X has a full workload (we X3 now), special missions too, and he's also the face of the Hunters no matter how smug Halcyon gets.

Asking him to come talk to some dude he barely knows by a guy he met for like 15 minutes is pretty presumptuous considering we're asking reploid Elvis/Adam/Jesus all in one.

>>2345159
Speaking of this, I have a lore question for Cain Labs. Remember when Cain Labs talked about lore in addition to feasting on misery? Because that was a thing.

Where is X right now in the X3 storyline? It would be interesting to see what progress we've made relative to his.

Honestly, I don't think that's such a good idea. If anything, Frog would make way more sense. And I really can't agree with a bar brawl. That shit would be worse, in opinion.

I'd go with either
>>2344647

>>...Grab a glass and join him.
Talk him down, eventually get the guy to fix himself or drag him off when sufficiently plastered.

or

>>This isn’t working. You need to tap in someone else for this. (Specify)

Find Frog

>>2344647
>>2345189
I'm going with this guy's choices.

>Ask him if he found any cool swords

>>2345181
Hey, I'm still open for lore questions.

That particular one would take some time to assemble, mind. I never did finish the X3 route.

>>2344647
>...Hey Em, turn your shields off, I’ve got something to say to you.

>>2345282

So who's the first reploid Cain built? Anything interesting about that guy?

>>2345504
I know quite specifically that I cannot answer that. Yet.

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>>2345504
This guy?

>>2344647
>This isn’t working. You need to tap in someone else for this. (Frog)

Seems like things have been pretty thoroughly discussed, and I don't really see/think-I-can-come-up-with any better options.

>>2344647
>>This isn’t working. You need to tap in someone else for this. (Specify)

Frog

>This isn’t working. You need to tap in someone else for this. (Frog)
I'm honestly surprised we didn't immediately think of Frog for this. He knows Em, he's been down this road before, and he has Em's respect. Also, it'll be good to see how he's doing.

Off topic, but did we ever get a description of Dash Dodo besides him previously being a delivery business' mascot?

>>2346052
My mind has always had him as the same build as chill penguin but as a dodo.

>>2346052
We know his loadout

>basically civilian-grade busters that can maybe kill a mechaniloid....eventually. Mainly used to stun.
>RAS, which gives more consistent and overall faster speed than reagular EAS dashes, but lacks instantaneous pow
i forgot if he had specific sensors and stealth options.

>>2344647
>call the froggo
Changing my vote to this. I wake up and people are trying to call X? What the fuck?

>>2345512

Fair enough.

how about this - in the x4 flashbacks we hear that zero slaughtered Gamma's unit. Was that Gamma one of the earlier greek division projects?

>>2345282
How big are LIFE cells? They seem common and omnipresent, and there's a bunch of clear drawbacks to taxing one, but can you just make... a bigger one, or have several in serial?

>>2346882
>or have several in serial?
A few of our S rank opponents have had multiple LIFE cells.

>>2345282
Not sure if this fits into lore; but when Anode first showed up, Frog said he was replacing Mongoose. Who was Mongoose and what happened to him?

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So I'll be unavailable tonight, but here's our update. Cain Labs is planning to be in and help with lore questions and whatnot in my stead.

>>2344647
>This isn’t working. You need to tap in someone else for this. (Frog)

You hate to do this to him, but you need an expert. Someone close to Em who isn’t you, who he’ll actually listen to. Sitting quietly beside Em, you say nothing as he helps himself to the bar--tossing his datapad, whole, behind it without much of a thought. As it tumbles, you see a lot more digits than you really know how to process.

Hammer picks up quick, mercifully. “Anode?”

“Hey,” you comm (in silence, watching Em as you go). “I’ve… I don’t know how to tell you this.”

He rumbles a sigh, his voice suddenly familiar with fatigue and weight. “You don’t have to. I’ve got Crucifer with me.”

Right--Schwarz’s oldest friend, the one who spoke at the memorial. “Ah. Well, listen, I’d like to say I just called to do right by you, but I really need your help right now.”

“I’m listening.”

“It’s Em.” You quickly detail what a mess he is, physically and otherwise, and can imagine Frog’s expression darkening with each word.

“Thanks, Anode. I’ll take care of it.”

He switches comms--with you still on the line. “Gopher? Frog. Mind if I come by and pick up your problem child?”

Gopher’s response is equally brisk. “One, you don’t need to ask. Two, thank you for asking. Approved, Major.”

“Keep an eye on him until we get there,” Frog tells you as he cuts the line.

Not that there’s much to do. He sits there, silent, stormy, looking more and more like the mentor who just turned on you both. He begins to sway lightly in his seat, well and truly gone, eyes sliding disconcertingly into and out of focus.

In the meantime, you get a chime on your own datapad, mirrored (muffled) by the one Em tossed over the counter.

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>>2347189
To whom it may concern,

On behalf of Candemir Group and myself, I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to the brave maverick hunters who came to Istanbul’s defense today. While this isn’t much, please understand you have my gratitude, as well as that of my firm. For service not just to the region, but to the people and spirit of Turkey as a whole.

In addition, we have seen fit to open our inventory reserve to your organization. You may, individually, requisition company hardware and equipment totaling up to one hundred thousand zenny at cost, with any remainder being divested to you in a cash sum. If you are uninterested or unequipped to mount any of our upgrades, please feel welcome to simply take the entire total in one lump sum. It is the very least we can do in return.

Thank you,

Rafael Candemir
Candemir Group
Ankara, Turkey

Sure enough, a second message follows from Halcyon himself to all hands, congratulating the involved hunters on a successful operation and authorizing your acceptance of the gift. A third notice tells you a product catalog of Candemir Group and its affiliates is being prepared and will be presented shortly.

You’re considering telling Em that to lift his spirits when the doors swing open, and a small scattering of cheers and applause goes up for the unit’s former commander.

Almost unnoticed behind him, however, is a diminutive figure, almost like someone downsized Frog’s chassis and kept going, leaving him one of the only Reploids you’ve ever seen actually smaller than a human. His silhouette is broken up distinctly by a black coat, ends barely clearing the floor, and a matching, ridiculously tiny hat. Frog leans over and mutters something to him, and he nods, then taps his earpiece, pursing his lips.

Instantly, Em blinks, sits upright in his seat…

...And then promptly pitches sideways off his chair, completely unconscious.

“Um.” you say, mildly dumbfounded as the pair approach.

“That’s one thing dealt with,” the smaller frog says grandly, nudging the unconscious Emerald over with his boot. “You got him, Hammertime?”

“...Suppose I do,” Frog finally manages, giving you a shrug. “We’ll catch up later. I’ll take care of things here.”

“So hey, let’s take a walk,” the little guy says by way of greeting, with a voice like a choir of angels was sucked into a jet intake and spat out under a truck.

>Um. Nnnnnno?
>...Yeah, all right. I’m Anode.
>Other?

>>2347195
>...Yeah, all right. I’m Anode.

>>2347195
>...Yeah, all right. I'm Anode.

Time to meet the crazy frog proper.

>>2347195
>>...Yeah, all right. I’m Anode.

>with a voice like a choir of angels was sucked into a jet intake and spat out under a truck.
That is a fantastic description.

>>2347195
>...Yeah, all right. I’m Anode.
"Probably not the best way to start off, but Spring Peeper?"

>>2347195
>As long as I get to stay conscious for it.

Not sure if CL can answer this one, but is the flambard's blade white-hot or some other colour? And far more importantly, will we ever give Cathode her damn present?

>>2347195
>...Yeah, all right. I’m Anode.
"Please don't melt my brain too."

>>2347195
>>...Yeah, all right. I’m Anode.

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>>2347195
>...Yeah, all right. I’m Anode.

>>2347195
>Um. Nnnnnno?
What if he just put roofies in Em's drink? That's not really how Reploids work, but Crucifer might have pulled it off anyway.

>>2347522

Crucifer is the based on the Spring Peeper frog. One of his abilities seems to be to put others to sleep with targeted sonics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXTI692RKLs

>>2347195
>>...Yeah, all right. I’m Anode.
listen to the gravely words of wisdom he has.

>>2347195
>...Yeah, all right. I’m Anode.
eyyyyyyyy

>>2347195
>...Yeah, all right. I’m Anode.

>>2347195
>...Yeah, all right. I'm Anode.

>>2347195
>...Yeah, all right. I’m Anode.

I am decidedly interested in learing more about this one.

>>2346770
Yes indeed.

>>2346882
Standard ones range in size from about "egg" to "half a loaf of bread." Specialty LIFE cells exist for certain purposes that can get fairly small, and there are bigger ones for dedicated purposes.

There's a bizarre sort of "dip" in effectiveness based on size, where at a certain point sizing up the LIFE cell doesn't result in meaningful gains in utility unless the jump is massive, at which point it's not really a "cell" anymore. Serial and subordinate LIFE cells are a much more common solution to the problem of needing more energy for a mechaniloid or Reploid.

>>2347179
Mesa Mongoose is a Lieutenant in 4th Overland Americas. A rocky terrain specialist, he headed a Lanceteamer squad operating out of Geneva and taking point on operations in the dry regions of the Mediterranean. With the African Union running specialist teams in the northern coast and 4th Geneva needing a dedicated generalist, Mongoose put in for a transfer so that he could lead operations in Mexico and the Southwestern United States.

>>2347242
Bright orange, bit washed-out.

>>2347195
>...Yeah, all right. I’m Anode.
O shit waddup

HAH, we got PAID

>>2347195
>...Yeah, all right. I’m Anode.

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>>2347960
Any new information you could give on the state of 21XX geopolitics would be wonderful.

>>2347960
What's Rhodes been up to?

Top three most famous currently living and loyal maverick hunters that aren't X or Zero?

>>2348298
>loyal
>living
those 2 don't go together. TRUST NOONE

>>2348298
How did Dr. Cain get around the DNA Resurrection ban to bring back Zero?

Apparently i have some ground to cover. I'll try to tackle questions tomorrow. Came back late tonight.

>>2348316
Zero isn't a REPLOID per se, so maybe the reploid DNA laws don't really apply to him.

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>>2348316

>>2348316
Could have been dead in the same way Anode died twice now.

>>2348316

His official file states that Zero 'never actually died' and that he 'hid himself while he tried to repair himself.'

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>>2348439

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>>2348475
Fuck's sake that line makes me laugh every time

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“Sure, why not,” you reply, glancing over as Frog carefully lifts Em’s battered body from the floor. As you turn to leave, Max nods at you on his way back to the bar. “So, I’m--”

“I know who you are,” Crucifer says. “You were a favorite topic of you-know-who. Well, as much as he ever says about anything, so about three words, instead of two.”

“Right. And you are…”

“Madhouse Crucifer,” he replies brightly, pushing through the doors with animated verve and holding it open for you--a little strange, considering he’s about waist-height. “I was looking to run into the two of you, albeit sober and in one piece. But given neither was my fault, we’re already starting on a higher note than my usual.”

You snort. “At least someone’s having a good day.”

“Buuut, with the Kangawa footage--”

“That’s out?” You ask. Shit.

He shrugs. “It’s in-progress, just starting to hit the big-time now. I just know a few of the right people--they do right by me so I can do right by Fido.”

“Like who?”

He blithely ignores your question, continuing his train of thought. “Old Snoopy, though, he’s gonna be a tough one for you. See how you feel after our chat and get back to me. But here’s one for free.”

He clicks and whistles, and your eyes swim--a moment later, a video he sent begins autoplaying.

It’s from Istanbul, and it’s recent.

“Eviction has close support until we find a good opportunity for him,” Seven says, the feed swaying back and forth with thunderous footfalls that you will never mistake for anything again. This is being recorded from Seven’s command CF-1. Someone hangs from the canopy, unmarked. "Seism, you’re staying with me until he’s gone, then we’re cutting you loose in there.”

“Understood,” the now-dead maverick says. “What about the hunter response?”

“It’ll be Fourth, probably Geneva for numbers and ranks,” Seven replies. “First is busy in Ankara and we drew Marine and Grapple out to sea.”

“Bo-ring,” Crucifer drones, and the feed fast-forwards. “--oody two shoes that he is, Anode will go for the civilians, every time. You can use that against him.”

“Copy,” Cryoseism says.

“My friend also got a little footage of her putting that into practice,” Crucifer explains, waving a hand in front of your face theatrically as the video clears from your optics. “Got it all wrapped up with a pretty little bow, sent off before anyone could start calling for your head.”

“Uh. Thanks?”

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>>2349384

Crucifer waves it off. “Point is, kid--we take care of our own, on this side of the fence or the other. Now, let me ask you something.”

He stops and gestures around--your vaguely-aimless walk has taken you away from the barracks and out towards the now-empty satellite bases the larger units moved from.

“You’re worried about Smalls,” he says, jerking a thumb over his shoulder at the Dodo. “And not worrying enough about Biggie. You can’t fix him before you fix you, trust me.”

“So!” He claps his hands. “No cameras, no records, no Halcyon, no Frog, and no Gopher. How are YOU feeling about this little run-in?”

You pause, wary. You definitely haven’t really had time to process the grief, terror, anger, frustration… anything. Just one crisis after another, another fire to put out. Crucifer begins whistling, tapping his temple. You test your comms and find they’re dead and blinking JAM, the static on the line rising and falling with the notes of his tuneless, guttural song.

>Let it out. This is some BULLSHIT.
>Keep it to yourself.
>Other?

And if you opt to vent to Crucifer, writeins strongly encouraged with your general sentiments, so you can steer Anode’s character development more directly.

>>2349387
>Let it out. This is some BULLSHIT.

>>2349387
>Let it out. This is some BULLSHIT.

>>It doesn't feel like I saved anyone. I know I did, I know I chose to protect whoever I could, but I STILL couldn't do a thing to Schwarz.
>>Some part of me hopes that Schwarz is doing all this on orders from higher up....but then I'd STILL fight him for actually going through with it.
>>UP YOURS, SEVEN. It doesn't actually feel good proving him wrong, but I'll take what I can get.

>>2349387
>>Let it out. This is some BULLSHIT.
>That time Command had a bug up its ass thinking that you might be a mav
>India having to buy you a replacement part because Command wasn't willing to
>Hurricane Wren
>MY THERAPIST IS DEAAAAAD

>>2349387
>Let it out. This is some BULLSHIT.
>Maybe its because I was built to actually work in a team, but it really drives me nuts that pretty much everyone else is a solo act. My first instinct is to almost always ask who's got my back and whose back do I have.

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>>2349387
>Let it out. This is some BULLSHIT.

Complaints to the effect of "Why now? How dare he!"

Getting mad directly at Schwarz not just for the murder but for switching sides after doing so much for, and meaning so much to, so many.

Not sad for the loss of him, livid for the choice he made. Such a waste of his time and everyone else's.

>>2349468
>>>2349387
>>Let it out. This is some BULLSHIT.
>Complaints to the effect of "Why now? How dare he!"
>Getting mad directly at Schwarz not just for the murder but for switching sides after doing so much for, and meaning so much to, so many.
>Not sad for the loss of him, livid for the choice he made. Such a waste of his time and everyone else's.

This, plus a side order of,

> "I was still hoping...hoping that somehow, someday, he'd come back and maybe actually help us /win/ this god-fucking-damned clusterfuck of a war."

>>2349418
>>2349445

This, and

>Everyone sees something in me. Tells me I have potential. But I'm not sure I can last long enough to make it into something. Almost every mission feels like I'm coming back from it. And the two people who helped me make it this far, the one that's not a fucking Maverick is doing everything he can to get himself killed. And asked me to do it, if he turns.

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>>2349387
>Let it out.

EVERYBODY KNOWS SHIT'S FUCKED

You know what's worse than being paranoid and pessimistic? Being paranoid and pessimistic and JUST right enough that it feeds into itself.

>>2349387
>>Let it out. This is some BULLSHIT.
Where to start..
There's Seven, who tried shit once more and is still a cocky bastard who has done all he can to make the lives of the 4th hell because he had issues firing his cannon alongside his buster.
There's Tanker, who ripped apart good people doing as he pleases, and gets away with it because while the RPS system is a thing, no one seems to have the counter to giant shark.
There's Rezador who NOT only acts above everyone and is making things worse for both Em and me, but then proceeds to try and one on one the murdershark, says WE can't do it and kicks my friend while he's down for caring about the bigger situation.
The old bugger who held us at gun point, making it so we can't do our job, dies from it and was very likely using highly illegal mechanoids to parasite his own reploid citizens to cause further polarization of the issue, which was a SPECIAL bit of fuck you right there.
Schwarz who came out of nowhere, Em who freaked out and almost died because of it, Doppler for Ripping me a new air hole which could have gotten me grounded, being the punching bag for Command, some spooky ghost squad and whatever inferiority complex seven has for the day. Seriously, this is what, the fifth, sixth time Seven had tried to screw me over?
Fuck Seven, Fuck Tanker, Fuck Rezador, Fuck the entire Kangawa situation, Fuck Doppler, his war, and his cold doctor hands, Fuck seven AGAIN with a enigma cannon, Fuck Emerald for wanting to rush to his death and not thinking about how we'd feel losing our best friend, and FUCK SCHWARZ for not even giving us a reason why and just all of THAT!
The hell are we even suppose to do? What can we do? Because booze does not seem to be helping and I am sure and hell not going to let this break me!

>>2349387
>>Other?
... I need a plan. There's too many things spiraling away and I can't find any direction. Any ideas?

>Schwarz went missing trying to track down a conspiracy within hunter command

>Now he shows up mav

>He was doing that to help me.

>So yeah I feel a bit culpable

>But command is trying to take me down for shit that was totally NOT my fault

>Also I'm being stalked by a group of pac-man themed mainiacs

>And my sister is dating a goddamn bat, and I understand this is The Year of Our Lord Twenty-One-Ecks-Ecks but some things should still be socially unacceptable

>Oh, and I'm also getting cryptic messages from some guy who's stalking me, who PROBABLY isn't Schwarz because he's too verbose.

>Also, command hates me so much the one time I take down a G-rank opponent they downgrade him to S just to ruin my satisfaction

>>2349387
>Let it out. This is some BULLSHIT.

>Schwarz, Collide, Wren, Fucking Saestos. Everyone tells me I'll get good "eventually." I don't have fucking time for "eventually", I need to start winning NOW.
>Moloch and Yamatoad. Did I fuck up not taking them out earlier? Would it even have mattered? How the fuck do you win against an enemy who just wants death and destruction?
>Last man standing. I can't run a single mission without a team of medics patching my sorry ass back together, how am I supposed to keep Em from falling apart?
>Schwarz. When did he turn, did he turn? Did I ever really know him? Do I have to just keep testing everyone I know to see if their traitors or try to live with the knowledge that one day a random glitch makes them my enemy? Why the fuck does Command keep riding me about being a secret traitor when apparently everyone else can just turn at the drop of a goddamn hat?

reposted because spoiler text did not spoiler properly
>>2349387
>Let it out. This is some BULLSHIT.
>"I think the worst part is that it feels like for each pound of shit that I clear off, each question I get an answer for, I get another 10 dumped onto me. Let's go ahead and ignore the mad scientist starting a global war for a moment. A bunch of other Hunters went missing around at the same time as Schwarz- are they Maverick too? Did they all start themselves a little club that the Hunters are going to have to close down? And what's going to happen to us, for that matter? New commander, may or may not be running the Hunters into the ground, invited in some old pals who happen to be bigger psychopaths than most Mavericks to replace everyone who fucking died.
>"And then there's the conspiracies that are targetting me specifically. Again, ignoring Doppler and he stole my kidney, there's the emails I'm getting from the stalker who gives me vague advice about dealing with people I know- I assume it's not you who's sending those. Or the squad of invisible fucks who decided to assassinate an unexceptional A-Rank hunter who zaps to the extreme.
>"What I'm saying is, it feels like everything is just becoming more and more convoluted, and nothing ever gets better because time is gradually slowing to a crawl, prolonging the madness until reality consists of infinite fields of nothingness, broken up every few months by lumps of trauma and despair, for all eternity. That, or I die tomorrow."

>Oh and Emerald mentioned that when he attacked Schwarz he felt like he was full of burning uncontrollable rage, and I am training to be his Old Yeller Buddy and what if he's going maverick already and I'm not good enough to put him down like I promised?

>>2349387
>Let it out. This is some BULLSHIT.

>"No matter what I do, people seem to end up fucking dead."
>"At this point, any and all accomplishments feel absolutely hollow because everybody around me is either going crazy or mav."
>"People above me are fuckwits and egomaniacs."
>"People also love to play 'Blame Anode' because of all the ensuing death."
>"Did I mention that I just want to go one fucking mission without nearly getting my head ripped off and crammed into a newly-ripped asshole in my chassis?"
>"Speaking of which, I'd also love if freaks would stop popping up out of the woodwork to all but specifically kill me."
>"I still want to smack the shit out of Em. Hard."
>"More than anything, what in the actual fuck, Schwarz? This wasn't supposed to happen. He was supposed to be there for us. I'm just so... I don't even know anymore. I just want to fucking scream."
>"...goddammit, my therapist is still dead. God fucking dammit."

>Rant

>All the above shit

>>2348241
We haven't discussed it. Probably ignoring Halcyon with all of his might.

>>2348298
I'd like to get HC's input on that one. I have a bad habit of turning them disloyal, so...

>>2348316
I suspect, and I need HC to concur before this is official, that Cain told his colleagues that the Mavericks rebuilt Zero and weren't able to breach his programming without the control chip that X removed. In other words, "yes it would be very bad if I did it, but I didn't, so..."

>>2349387
>Let it out. This is some BULLSHIT.

This
>>2349667
With a side of
>>2349536

Maybe something about how
>At this point Occam's razor suggests that God exists and he hates me.

>>2349958
Ey Cain, whats Anode's salary? He should be due some months of back pay, right?

>>2349639

>Can I just get this out of the way first: Are you currently part of a secret conspiracy? There are at least three that I know of, they all want to make my life miserable, and if people don't start wearing nametags I'm going to lose track of the plot entirely.

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>>2349958
Have you ever considered not being the reincarnation of Hitler?

>>2349973
Sure, let me just take out residence, energy, maintenance, gross repairs, bar tab...

That'll be 900 Zenny, please.

>>2349983
Oh please. Heydrich, if anyone.

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>>2350067
It takes a special sort of man to compare himself to arguably the worst of the worst of Nazi High Command.

Very special indeed.

>>2350084
If it's a choice between a monstrous human being and notorious tactical idiot who gets the blame for everything, and a monstrous human being actually responsible for everything, may as well take the latter and win at chess once in a while.

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>>2350163
Or, hear me out on this, you could be a decent person.

>>2349387
>Let it out. This is some BULLSHIT.

Just pick whatever you like from all of the above and I'll be happy.

I personally think it's funny that no one's mentioned Foxfire. But she really is one of the least stressful irritants in Anode's life, sad as that is.

>“Bo-ring,” Crucifer drones, and the feed fast-forwards. “--oody two shoes that he is, Anode will go for the civilians, every time. You can use that against him.”
>“Copy,” Cryoseism says.
>“My friend also got a little footage of her putting that into practice,” Crucifer explains, waving a hand in front of your face theatrically as the video clears from your optics.

"Little footage" is right. I'm still feeling good about how abruptly her rampage ended. And now it's an ironic end, too, because we actually didn't go for the civilians in that fight; we went ultra-Rambo on HER.

>>2350182
http://www.webtoons.com/en/comedy/adventures-of-god/ep-97-visitors/viewer?title_no=853&episode_no=97
The Cain Labs origin story

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Aw, he's not Josef Satanhitler. He's just misunderstood. All Cain needs is a little love and appreciation for his hard work in challenging us, that's all. All this evil rubbing of hands and scheming our downfall, I tell you, it's a call for attention. A cry for help! Deep down, he's soft, like a marshmallow.

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>>2350245

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>>2350254
I heard Cain donates to charity. Charities for orphaned puppies and kittens. Who have diabetes.

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>>2350260

>>2350245

As a marshmallow, this sounds completely correct.

>>2350260
Does he donate dog and cat candy?

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Hey guys, what's going on in-

>>2350260
Well I mean SOMEONE has to give them the diabetes...

>>2349387
>Let it out. This is some BULLSHIT.
I can't add anything others haven't already said. Shit's been fucked from the word "go." It's almost like the entire Maverick force is conspiring against us, and yet we somehow still roll with it all. I want us to be a good person, honest, but the world is making it REALLY FUCKING HARD to break us of that train of thought.

>>2349387
>>Let it out. This is some BULLSHIT.

Hesitate for a sec, I mean we don't know the guy personally.

Vent, mostly see above. This is shitty, but with the understanding as a Hunter the world (well Mavericks mostly) is out to get us, not specifically us personally as Anode. Just that we've had a shitty hand and it's been hard. Yeah, this is our job. Get punched and deal it back harder. It's good work, meaningful work, but it seems like whenever things start looking up, shit gets fucked some more. Yeah, getting beaten up sucks, but that's not even the biggest issue, only a smaller part of the shit pile. Honestly, what's worse is the shit that's going on around us, the latest being Em falling apart and now FUCKING Schwarz. Also, fuck Seven. He can suck his buster.

I don't know how right I feel about being angry at Schwarz, by the way. I still think it's the virus or some other coerced defection, rather than a planned thing. I feel like Crucifer would have picked up on something like that, he seems fair canny.

Tanker said we don't know what the viral looks like, not really. I mean, he went Maverick not long after that, probably because one of his weapons is big sharp teeth that chew up reploids which probably ain't a great thing to have when you've got a virus with an unknown means of transmission, but yeah.

It's all just so fucked and we haven't had the time or space to sort it out.

>>2349387
>le bullshit
>the working solo thing
>muh therapist a kill
>I signed up to kill my friendo
>there's a maybe-mav cyberstalking me and I probably should have told someone
>halcyon a shit
>schwarz an overdramatic idiot who should give a PowerPoint presentation on wtf he's doing
>fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck
>can I go get drunk now?
>nice hat btw

>>2350549

>I don't know how right I feel about being angry at Schwarz, by the way. I still think it's the virus or some other coerced defection, rather than a planned thing. I feel like Crucifer would have picked up on something like that, he seems fair canny.

It's a black op, and Crucifer is in on it. This whole conversation is happening only because he wants to figure out how much Anode knows.

>>2350577
That's supposition, not fact.

>>2350577
I'm not sure it's a good idea to 100% trust Madhouse.

>>2349387
Uh, hold on a minute. Are we ignoring that the Dog's best friend, who should have seen his defection coming, has physically isolated us from other hunters and has just now cut our comms?

Yes, it could easily be to make sure we're not overheard, but what could we possibly say that nobody is allowed to hear? Either this IS a black op and Madhouse has to kill us if we suspect that, or the crazy frog is a mav himself and has drawn us away from everyone for nefarious purposes.

>>2350921
Honestly? If Madhouse infected Schwarz, he infected most of the black coats. And I don't think we can do much to stop him in our current condition.

>>2350926
Knowing Cain Labs, is the infection of a significant portion of the black coats really something that's out of the realm of possibility?

>>2350921
If Hammer Frog trusts him, we may as well go along with it. Plus, if we vent like it sounds like we're about to, we'd get buried in insubordination charges up to our big-ass shoulders. That's not to mention that Madhouse is fully aware of our current reputation as 4th Geneva's golden boy, so I guess he just wants to hear things from the horse's mouth.

>>2350939
I mean, when the Mavericks have you on a first-name AND personalized codename basis, you have to be worth paying attention to.

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>>2350939
>>2350944
I guess. Don't trust him too much, I say.

>>2350926

They aren't infected. They just picked someone to 'go maverick' during the next war, and 'coincidentally' kill off all the humans who are impeding the maverick hunters.

For the greater good, of course.

>>2350939
>4th Geneva's golden boy
As an aside, I'd love to know how Frog reacted whenever he heard Anode is Gophers current favourite. Probably wondered if there was another Anode running around.