>>2943248

“You think they’re here to go after the M-types?” Lis keys in, “How do you figure?”

“They’re toying with the bots. It’s suicide to try that kind of crap against something with brains. They know exactly what they’re fighting. My money’s on a smash and grab: They don’t care how badly they wind the critters up because they ain’t gonna stick around to clean up.” He updates the waypoint, directed towards the proto-knight’s path. “Stop me if you’ve heard this one, but you get ahead of an unsupported unit and set up a crossfire…”

“It’s not a bad idea. Any way to test it?” You authorize the course change and throttle up into full stride.

“Just a hunch. Maybe we can spook ‘em with a flare?” Jennings tone is less than serious.

“I’m a lil’ out on the whole “Please shoot me” strategy recently. Might as well just make good time and see if we can get to them before the giant does.”

“We could have Durga force a detour. Put a shot on the path and they’ll both have to re-deploy. If it’s far enough away, the bots won’t even know what cratered the road. Then we can catch up…. That is if she’s up for it.” Lis puts down a rough target halfway between the sites.

“That’s a big if, and we’d be waiting on her to mount up…” You drum your fingers on throttle. “We could simply spread out and see if we can catch any transmissions. We’d be running a bit behind, but we’d still be concealed.”

>Prod: Engage the known IRH vehicles to provoke a reaction. It means exposing yourself, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing as long as it doesn’t include home base.
>Vanguard: Outpace the proto-knight and try to disrupt any ambush. Could be risky but minimizes M-type experience.
>Detour: Call in a strike between here and Site 12 to force any hidden craft out of position and shift the protoknight’s route.
>[#SCAN]: Put power to EWS and look for synchronization signals. A bit of directional antenna trickery will give you a pretty good vector.
>Write in?

Archive:
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Panzermagd%2C+Mecha%2C+Collective+Game

Twitter
https://twitter.com/FernglasQ

>>2943253
>>Vanguard: Outpace the proto-knight and try to disrupt any ambush. Could be risky but minimizes M-type experience.
# options make me nervous.


Welcome back.

>>2943253
>Vanguard: Outpace the proto-knight and try to disrupt any ambush. Could be risky but minimizes M-type experience.

>>2943253
>>[#SCAN]: Put power to EWS and look for synchronization signals. A bit of directional antenna trickery will give you a pretty good vector
What could go wrong?

>>2943253
>Vanguard: Outpace the proto-knight and try to disrupt any ambush. Could be risky but minimizes M-type experience.

>>2943253
>Vanguard: Outpace the proto-knight and try to disrupt any ambush. Could be risky but minimizes M-type experience.

>>2943267
>>2943296
>>2943361

>"We can catch up quickly enough. Let's see if we can find our counterparts."

>>2943340

“It is so much simpler when orders are just followed…”

Writing

>>2943384

“They might have speed, but we don’t need to outrun them, we just need to outrun the M-type. What’s the range, Jennings?”

“Almost two kilos. We can make it up by four and change if we hustle.”

“Then we hustle. Lis, get on the horn and give Durga an update. She’s still standing down but tell her to stay alert.”

She grumbles, but she opens the channel.

In the meantime, you adjust your systems to track the Hanguo craft more easily. The EWAR pod throws a error, which you clear with a soft reboot. Your sense of the M-types fizzles but comes right back up afterwards. Apparently, there’s a joint component. Makes some sense if you’re pulling the signal through your Magd. The Proto-knight specifically comes back up with reasonable accuracy, just about where Jennings said he’d be. Maybe a bit close: Perhaps it slowed down for terrain?

“She reads us. Told me to tell you she’s “on speaking terms.”, Whatever that means…” Lis cuts into your focus, sounding slightly smug. She probably is reading too deep into the line.

“Good enough. Let’s go.” You can make do with the configuration you have at this point. “Did you spot anything on the hull when you went close Jennings?”

“It’s all aligned to the surface, but I saw a few common elements: A handful of smooth domes that looked like turrets and two rather beefy manipulators. Any ideas?”

“It hasn’t had the time to learn anything fancy. Most likely it’s just beefed up the energy output designs from the base model. A heat gun basically; not a threat unless you get pinned down or bracketed by multiple. ”

“Not like the Cicada design?” Lis sounds concerned.

Definitely. It’s a primitive IR laser, not some phased wave bullshit. Your skin itches thinking about the attack; A microwave weapon of that power output is a strange beast.

“I think so,” You softball, “It might compromise the polymer matrix with enough time, but the ceramic armor elements should hold.”

“She reads us. Told me to tell you she’s “on speaking terms.”, Whatever that means…” Lis cuts into your focus. Sounding slightly smug. She probably is reading too deep into the line.

“… Alright.” You blink a few times. A quick check of the system informs you that your changes went through. Everything’s nominal.

“Let’s go.”

File: 32.jpg (191 KB, 1920x1080)

191 KB JPG

>>2943584

As you approach the intercept, you go wide around the machine, giving it a hundred odd meters of empty forest. With its size, the unit isn’t going to have a good angle to spot you through the foliage, even using IR. Of course, that obstruction is beneficial to the IRH machines as well… at least until they actually need to make a shot. Your scanners inform you that the proto-knight is the only target in the region, still broadcasting regular pulses. Circling the unit, you see it has discarded portions of its armor, probably for speed. It makes sense; if the IRH units penetrate the plate normally, there’s little point keeping the armor.

As far as the map goes, you’re about a third of the way to Site 12. The straight shot is relatively flat, which will probably force the IRH machines to form in a clearing to get a good shot. Of course there’s no shortage of those, but once they’ve fired, they’re going to need to crest the trees to move quickly: You have no such difficulty, bullying through the foliage with your terrestrial design.

“I’m getting those harmonics again. We’ve got a lift fan.” Lis designates 2’o clock. “At least two, they’re out of sync.”

“Keep an ear out. I doubt they can fire in the air. Jennings, move closer and warm up the PD. Lis, stay on my elbow, if we get a target, we swat them out of the air.”

“We’re escorting? What a pain.” Jennings pulls ahead. “Is the thing going to hit me if I get spotted?”

“It’s not sure we’re a threat. Last time they spotted you, they thought you were a jungle gym.” You drift closer to the machine, judging your visibility with your own IR system.

“What do we do after we handle the IRH? Let the thing go?” You see Lis’ camera slew towards the machine. “I know I said we stick to soft targets, but maybe a backstabbing is in order.”

“We’ll play ‘em as they’re dealt. Who knows, maybe he’ll go quietly.” You chuckle.

Your C3 blares an emergency signal; an international band missive, you patch it into your comms.

>>2943588

[Ramin Djawadi – Ops 2]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MHavPjRQ5E&

“You’re in the way.” A breathy, thin voice wafts through your speakers. “Move.”

“That’s kinda the point. Identify yourself.” You multiplex the signal to the other Magds.

“Oriel. Was here first. Ogre is mine. Retreat, or will claim you as well.” There is a rumble in his voice, like oncoming thunder.

“Sam; Two contacts. The site 7 Locusts took off and are coming our way. They’ll be here in minutes.” Lis chimes in.

“We’re target practice here Sam; we need to find this guy.” Jennings shifts off the lead.

“Stay in position Jennings. Focus on incoming, I’ll feed you targets if they come in range.” You shift back to the international channel. “Are you IRH? You are in VC territory and are classed as hostile. Surrender yourself immediately.”

“Oriel is Oriel. Simple. Does not recognize your claim. You are outnumbered. Will be more outnumbered with the Ogre. Flee now drone.”

“Shit. Warners lit; He’s lazing us. Sam!?” You hear the whine as the add-on PD on 02 warms up.

>Parley: Insist on diplomacy. Use the time to get Durga prepared to support. You can swat his reinforcements down far easier than he can do vice versa.
>[#CHARGE]:Use the signal to track the lead unit and rush it. You’ll end this before the factor can harm you.
>[#DEFEND]:Form up on the Proto-knight to repel the initial assault. It must not be harmed.
>[#N/A]: Retreat is not acceptable.
>Write in?

>>2943593
>Parley: Insist on diplomacy. Use the time to get Durga prepared to support. You can swat his reinforcements down far easier than he can do vice versa.
All these third parties are making me very uncomfortable.

>>2943593
>[#DEFEND]:Form up on the Proto-knight to repel the initial assault. It must not be harmed.
It's a gamble but maybe the Proto-knight will classify us as allies if we fight with it and it'll help repel this attack with us.

>Write in?
Get Durga strapped in regardless in case we need fire support.

>>2943593
>>Parley: Insist on diplomacy. Use the time to get Durga prepared to support. You can swat his reinforcements down far easier than he can do vice versa.

>>2943632
>>2943660

>"Hold everything. Let's just give peace a chance right?"

>>2943633
>[#DEFEND]

ROLL:1d100 Best of 3
BONUS: "If you HOLD out on us, WE ensure you a SHORT and painful life full of horrors. Do you understand?"

Rolled 60 (1d100)

>>2943679

Rolled 11 (1d100)

>>2943679

Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>2943679
>Bonus
What?

>>2943679
This is getting pretty spooky, guys.

>>2943688
>>2943692
>>2943699

BEST: 95
BONUS: "Failed" This is a good thing.
“Think of it like an escape pod. It cannot work if it decays here, so it waits for a host.”

Sunlight catches your eye?

It will have to work.


Writing.

>>2943721
>so it waits for a host.”
>spooky # opts show up after handling nanobots
>option to defend a nanobot unit

Guys, I think we're infected.

>>2943756
Probably.

It'll be 'fiiinne'

>>2943721

A wave of nausea hits you like a physical strike. You pull your HMD and heave.

You don’t have time for this. You steel yourself and jam the helmet back on, immediately keying your mic.

“…hold it… Hold it! We are considering your… claim!” You choke out. Your vision is swimming.

You hear the whispy voice break into far stronger laughter. When it has continued beyond the realm of good taste, he finally responds. “Oriel will allow. Whole soon; will wait till then.”

You rummage through your pockets, locating a slim cylinder of nothing. Withdrawing it, the object returns to your consciousness. It is empty. You swap back to your squad channel, taking a deep breath and forcing the panic down. “Get Durga online; we need to have the Erinyes up.”

“Sam, you sound awful. Are you OK?” Lis has a genuine note of fear in her voice.

“No; but I don’t think I can fix it here. Hold on”

You squeeze your eyes shut, letting the world fall away. Some thoughts stick and loop, which is terrifying from a personal perspective, but you spend the time to force them down. No matter how much it disturbs you, It still doesn’t surprise you what is being drawn up: Technical reports on arms and armor, communications protocols, your awareness of your squad… All held in your mind to be perused.

“I don’t like it, but it’s a fair enough trade.”

The memory comes unbidden and out of context, the sentiment and meaning forcibly applied. You rebel against it and it redoubles. You are overwhelmed for a moment, then it stops. The thought turns to poison, the meaning becoming equal parts sarcastic and estranged.

Confusion sets in: You should not feel that way… You agree wholeheartedly. You need air.

“I’m not thinking straight…” You curse, forcing yourself past the understatement. “No. I’m entirely compromised. Something’s messing with my thoughts. I’m abdicating command.”

“Sam! Don’t you d-“ Lis is cut off

Durga keys in, with a surprisingly steady tone. “Lis, Assume command. Jennings, I want you to retreat and engage the locust type frames in the air. Lis, shut down the data link to 01 and guide Sam to the provided rendezvous point manually. Do not permit him any deviation from course or external access. He is not in danger as long as he stays inside. If he attempts to disembark, Shell the hatch.”

You move to protest, only for your links to go dead, leaving you with nothing but visual and the unsecured channel. You see Durga’s portrait on your periphery, silently relaying instructions and mocking your status. You toggle the connections, but they remain dead, even your backdoor access. Roiling with wordless rage and despair, you slam the release on your harness and move to the hatch. You grip the handle and brace to force the manual latch before you're trapped.

>>2943876

“We have retrieved from the bay a set of dog tags that allow us to, with certainty, reclassify Captain Armistead as Killed in Action. Her effects will be presented to you as soon as they clear quarantine. We are terribly sorry for your loss.”

There is a quake and the rich ring of metal on metal washes over you like a breaking wave, filling your ears and flooding your mind.

Your off hand reaches out and brushes the bright metal of the tags, glittering in the dim interior. You stand frozen for a moment, paralyzed as the wraith seems to drain through your fingers. It’s in the past; That one especially.

“Yeah… Sorry. I’ll sit down.” You mumble after a long moment, accepting a rebuke not born from appropriated memory, but from a genuine, current sentiment. You can feel your mind marshal another assault on your emotions, but a second gentle touch to Maya’s tags routs the attack: The sound is honestly more of a click really.

You strap back in, donning the helmet and taking a moment to get your breathing under control. The Proto-Knight has advanced on its own, a few dozen meters ahead, leaving you, Lis and Jennings behind.

“Are you under control?” You ponder the absurdity of hearing that phrase from Durga.

“Yeah. It’s quiet for now. I’m following Lis?”

“YES!” Lis intercepts the question, taking a shuddering breath and swallowing “We are moving North-East…. Jennings intercepted one of the incoming, and Durga is distracting the guy. We’re getting a fix on the command unit now…”

“Distracting?” You ask.

“They’re arguing over If Durga is gonna slag the M-type. The Oriel guy has some delusions on her obedience.” Jennings pipes up. “Durga says to keep you out of the C3, but are you good enough to cover us when we engage? We’ve spotted at least 5, and I really would prefer If I only need to go two and oh.”

>Frontline: If you take point, you can avoid needing the extra tactical data. The extra adrenal kick might help you shake off the cloying thoughts.
>Support: Cover Lis and Jennings. By taking the reactive role, you can compartmentalize yourself in the meantime, hopefully solidifying your control.
>Decoy: You aren’t going to risk engaging. Even if you stay stable, you can’t be sure stable actually means competent.
>[#RET- You’re not falling for that one again. Focus on clearing your mind. Leaving Lis and Jennings high and dry isn’t ideal, but neither is losing control.
>Write in?

Leaving it here for tonight. Next session Sunday October 7, 5 EST

>>2943880
>>Frontline: If you take point, you can avoid needing the extra tactical data. The extra adrenal kick might help you shake off the cloying thoughts.

>>2943880
>>Decoy: You aren’t going to risk engaging. Even if you stay stable, you can’t be sure stable actually means competent.
Wow, we're not doing so hot. I knew there was a bad side to those options. There's no telling if that freak-out might happen again; we need to put ourselves somewhere were we'll do the least harm in the meantime.

>>2943880
>Support: Cover Lis and Jennings. By taking the reactive role, you can compartmentalize yourself in the meantime, hopefully solidifying your control.

>>2943880
>>Support: Cover Lis and Jennings. By taking the reactive role, you can compartmentalize yourself in the meantime, hopefully solidifying your control.

>>2943880
>>Decoy: You aren’t going to risk engaging. Even if you stay stable, you can’t be sure stable actually means competent.
We're not reliable at the moment, but we still have a job to do.

>>2943880
>>Decoy: You aren’t going to risk engaging. Even if you stay stable, you can’t be sure stable actually means competent.

>>2943880
>>Decoy: You aren’t going to risk engaging. Even if you stay stable, you can’t be sure stable actually means competent.

>>2943876
>You see Durga’s portrait on your periphery, silently relaying instructions and mocking your status.
So when we get back to base, with us out of action the rest of the group is going to have to sort us out, which will presumably include taking a good look at our mech, inside and out. Unless we want to answer some rather awkward questions, we need to hide our little spyware program in some way that isn't an obvious coverup.

>>2943880
Canceling today's session due to illness. Sorry folks. Will be back sometime this week.

>>2950199
get well soon

>>2950254

Next session will be Thursday 10/11, 5 EST. One way or another, I'm going to write.

>>2954594
Get well soon

>>2943963
>>2944168
>>2944803
>>2944966

>Decoy

>>2943981
>>2944097

>Support

>>2943958

>Frontline

Vote closes in 15

>>2958697

>"I'll leave the lifting to the team. Better safe than sorry. If I go through the motions, the enemy won't be able to take advantage of it."

Writing.

>>2958752

“Flip it around: Cover me and Jennings. I can’t trust engaging, but I think I can get away with running interference: They might be able to hammer down Jennings’ armor if they focus on him; so I’ll give them a lil’ more tempting target.”

You reach forward and toggle the control links, leaving the corresponding targetters and weapons active. You repeat the action, trying to assess your perception. Everything stays mostly clear. You toggle the capacitors on the coilgun and are satisfied by the angry warning tone.

“I’m disabling my weapon links. We can pull them back up if absolutely necessary, but I’d prefer to stay cold until I’m sure there’s nothing skewing my optics… I’d normally go eyeballs, but…”

“It is prudent.” Durga cuts in on the channel. “I have traced the command link. North-North-East. The Oriel unit was shadowing the target along our previous vector. He is moving in quickly to prevent my support. Tracking 4 units moving in; Not sure yet if he is among them.”

“How are we going to manage four Locusts? We ain’t a fair match for one.” Jennings shifts up, inverting your formation and leading you slightly.

“They’re not real Locusts: the design is stripped down hard. A real Locust would have tanked one of those missiles easy.” You try to pull up footage, only to meet an error: being out of the loop is going to suck. Guess you’ll have to be social. “You grounded it with one, right?”

“Two; I think it flared going down, but it still hit hard. That means my remaining missiles take care of two if we’re perfect, and we’re not getting into that armor without luck”

“If they’re remote, there’s no point trying to crack the cockpit anyways: Just chew up the rotors, aerials and the main gun. Maybe get the ammo; it’s fed from a cassette.”

You feel an out of place curiosity about the weapon, which you carefully shelve before continuing. “It’s good enough to cripple; we don’t want to leave much salvage out here for the M-types anyways.”

“Fair enough. I hear ‘em. Lis, put some cover up on the south-west. Nothing fancy, just put up some hammocks and load HE. Sam; Move to my 11. Rush the first one that lands, Juke close. Either Lis or I will hit him. Not so bad I guess, we’re up to a foolproof three?”

You barely manage to move into gear when wind hits: The lead machine flies over at full speed without slowing. Jennings doesn’t have the time to fire.

“One contact still up: They dropped off radar in the forest. The Oriel units are flanking individually… That must be incredibly computationally expensive…” Durga shakes her head. “I mean they cannot be coordinating well. His focus must be split.”

>>2959098

“Alright. New plan, we’ll blitz em. Gimmie a vector Durga.” Jennings shifts up, picking up momentum with his heavy load.

“145. 0.3 kilometers, dropped alone. You are not going to surprise him 02.”

“Never say never, Durga. Come on Sam. Lis, trail at 15 meters.”

You fall in, picking up speed. You scarcely enter the treeline before you see a tree trunk shatter a few meters distant.

“That was from behind: I think he was waiting to try to flank us.” Lis moves in quite a bit closer than 15 meters.

“I think so too. His movements make a great deal more sense if there was a hidden second team. Turn and engage.”

“This look familiar Sam?” Jennings chuckles. “That’s a negative Durga; he’s playing tennis again. I’m gonna put five dollars on…”

The treeline reveals a ridge, where one of the locust units is setting down. The machine almost absentmindedly sets about its loading, oblivious to your unexpected approach.

“No takers then. I’m clipping his wings. Lis, put HE up his nose please.” You hear the 30mm on Jennings machine spool up.

The machine reacts a touch slow, ejecting its exposed shell and throwing itself forward. Jennings holds off for just a tad longer, waiting for tracking to settle, and then puts a crisp burst into the air, peppering the upper surface of the machine. The shells do little to the main hull, crazing the finish and chipping the edges. A row of the grenades runs ahead of the fans, potting like a pool ball. The proximity fuse activates as intended, putting flak into the high speed internals. Two of the rotors virtually evaporate out of their housings, leaving mangled rings of metal where engines once were.

While the machine careens dangerously on a little more than half of regular lift, it pushes through the rotation, throwing its legs underneath its form. The anemic structure buckles rapidly under the forces involved, but the catastrophic breaking puts the machine upright and facing your team. A duo of machine guns fires from recesses under the chin, plinking against Jennings’ armor.

The machine angles its main cannon to load a round, only to discover the impact has twisted its frame beyond useful tolerances and is unable to access the ordinance. Jennings sidesteps to give Lis her shot, and she obliges, the detonation smashing the machine’s face. The machine slumps, whirring actuators still trying to aim weapons that no longer exist.

Jennings kicks back up his speed, turning towards the north. “One down, like a turkey. Light chin guns and even lighter arm-“

>>2959107

As if bidden by hubris, a penetrator glances across 02’s face, gouging the centerline. The round slams into the ground ahead of you, kicking up a mess of dirt. You trace back to the attacking machine, firing from a position 70 meters distant along the crest. The machine seems to smile wickedly, the rounded casement forming a toothy grin with the expanded armor panels accommodating the cannon at full elevation for reloading.

“I deserved that.” He cues in loudly, no doubt half deaf from the impact. ”Second verse, same as the first. Try to get some of this Sam?”

>Mount the ridge: With your lighter machine, you can force him to commit to a rather different firing solution by reaching his elevation and expanding the angle.
>Chicken: Going full speed, you can ensure the enemy’s attention. All you have to do is dodge at the right time… simple enough.
>Cover Lis: At this range, the Coil is going to be your best bet. They’re going to want to shut that down fast, and you’d very much prefer if they didn’t.
>Feint: Charge your coil and lase the target. Even if you don’t trust yourself with live ammunition, the enemy has no such guarantee, and will have to decide if tanking the shot is worth getting another one off.
>Write in?

>>2959111
>Feint: Charge your coil and lase the target. Even if you don’t trust yourself with live ammunition, the enemy has no such guarantee, and will have to decide if tanking the shot is worth getting another one off.

>>2959111
>>Chicken: Going full speed, you can ensure the enemy’s attention. All you have to do is dodge at the right time… simple enough.

Glad to have you back.

>>2959131
>Feint

>>2959232
>Chicken

Rolling in 10

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>2959338

>>2959380

"If he lines up on 02 again, Jennings is in trouble. I'll get their attention."

ROLL: 1d100, Best of 3

Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>2959384

Rolled 18 (1d100)

>>2959384
Fuck Captcha

Rolled 38 (1d100)

>>2959384
here we go

>>2959396
>>2959410
>>2959418

BEST: 49

Writing

Ouch

>>2959426

“What is the damage 02?” Durga hides a hint of concern under a tone you’re relatively certain she’s borrowing from you.

“No sale: Seal is intact, minor spall in the air gap. I can do this all day… Problem is I don’t think they’re going to settle for skipping shots off my front.” Jennings replies

“I’ll draw him, get another shot lined up Lis.” You hook behind Jennings, pushing your machine into full sprint. The distance is obnoxious, but you don’t have to be concerned if you’re not engaging. You can put the entirety of your focus on maneuvering and defense.

The rhythmic thunder of the machine clears your thoughts. You know the machine’s cycle time: You’ve seen it fire enough to be certain you can clear the distance. He levels, you juke, Lis shoots. Score 2-0 for the good guys.

So why are you so tense? Some prey instinct going mad underneath the surface. A feeling like being chased in the dark by blue eyes. Great. More bleeding through: You’re glad you kept yourself out of core strategy. The damnable things were going to take away your nerve. You’ve got no reason to be afraid.

The feeling subsides, much to your relief. It quickly turns right back to exasperation as it is replaced with what is best described as a whisper; a gentle tug at the sleeve. You’re 3/4ths to the enemy machine and all the way to fed up when you realize the tug is directional. Forward and left, off in the woods. Fear.

>>2959995

You would like to think that you had an insightful thought about the importance of communication at that moment. Whatever it was, it was scattered by the scream of metal and the ping of shrapnel. You feel heat across the back of your left calf. You hear the beginning of the shriek of the impact alarm, but the much abused speaker apparently decides enough is enough and gracelessly warbles itself to its final rest.

Your machine staggers a pace or two while you adjust the stride entirely by feel. The tempo returns to the familiar pace. You scatter smoke to the treeline mid-stride, twisting to angle your torso. Another round slides behind you by less than a meter. You allow yourself a few select curses for your tunnel vision before you key in.

“Hit. Flesh wound I think. Two of ‘em caught up. These lil’ bastards are quick. Are you lined up?” By your reckoning, the visible machine has finished loading.

By way of answer, you hear the concussion of a round firing. Too early: The machine leaps backwards, without needing to commit to either the loading or firing solution. She’s not going to get a second shot. It lands hard, digging in and bringing the cannon down. It’s going to be either your or Lis, and you’re the better target.

>Fire: You have to risk going for armaments: the 30mm at this range should work, and is too short ranged to harm your partners.
>Follow-through: You can still bait the shot. The coil cycles much faster than the recoilless they’re using. Get it wrong and you’re paste though.
>Tackle: The machines are very light. If you forego the dodge, you might just slam into it and bowl it over. Puts you out of line with Jennings and Lis, but also keeps you clear of the hidden gunners.
>Scramble: The machine is remotely operated. If you focus your EW gear, you could possibly break the link
>Write in?

Took a few rewrites. Wasn't satisfied. Sorry for the delay.

>>2959998
>>Fire: You have to risk going for armaments: the 30mm at this range should work, and is too short ranged to harm your partners.

>>2959998
>>Scramble: The machine is remotely operated. If you focus your EW gear, you could possibly break the link
I don't trust us with live guns at the moment; something is in our head.


>Sorry for the delay.
Don't worry about it. You done for the night, or are you still good?

>>2960013

I'm going to try for one more. At worst I'll finish it in the morning.

>>2959998
>Scramble
It's either this or fire. The other two at this range will probably just get us blown up.

>>2960013
>>2960021

Spoke too soon. I'll leave this up and try for an update tomorrow. Next full session is 10/14 5 EST.

>>2959998
>>Tackle: The machines are very light. If you forego the dodge, you might just slam into it and bowl it over. Puts you out of line with Jennings and Lis, but also keeps you clear of the hidden gunners.

>>2959998
>Fire: You have to risk going for armaments: the 30mm at this range should work, and is too short ranged to harm your partners.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>2960892
>>2960011

>Fire

>>2960025
>>2960013

>Scramble

>>2960835

>Tackle

Brain is just not turning over today. Sorry guys. I'll get an update up when it comes back to me.

>>2969972
take your time

>>2969972

>"Plan lasted until enemy contact... Sounds about right. "

Writing

>>2975272
Glad to see you.

>>2975272

“Son of a…” On practiced reflex, you swing the 30mm forward, manually targeting the enemy’s footing and slapping the safeties without hesitation.

As the enemy’s recoil-less gun returns to horizontal, the machine’s torso snaps to your angle with terrifying speed. You cross your fingers and open fire, walking the gun with a surprisingly steady hand for firing at full stride. The staccato chain of explosives races the Locust’s groaning turret ring… and loses. You stare down the barrel for the longest split second of your life, while your 30mm traces up to the target, still blistering fast in the squeezed time.

The rounds strike nigh simultaneously along the machine’s leg, scattering armor and rocking the machine. You feel rather than see the round hit and the concussion blanks your mind for a moment. When you come back around, your leg hurts, which you take as an encouraging sign that you haven’t been decapitated or otherwise disqualified from the mortal coil. Without the C3 link, you’ve got limited detail on the impact, but from the damage control alerts, you think you got an icepick through one of the radiator blocks, if it didn’t just skip off. A disadvantage of that kind of catastrophic KE penetrator: Like your own high power coil-rounds, putting a perfect hole in a target is only useful if that hole’s in something vitally important.

The enemy locust scatters a burst of MG fire into your face, elevating its cannon for another cycle. You return the favor with the 30mm, this time with a high pattern to incapacitate the rotors. It’s too much to ask that the enemy repeats the same mistake twice however, and the Locust does not throttle up to evade. Instead, it ducks and charges at full speed, bringing the barrel low enough to resemble a lance. The improvised weapon if you could even consider such does not pose a threat: You draw your fire down and the explosive rounds chew the torso of the machine. At 10 meters, the rapid fire successfully breaches the hull, and the machine is wreathed in flames as the reactor is ruptured. A moment later, the ammunition cassette detonates, butterflying the drone craft and scattering a cloud of acrid smoke as incredible heat provokes oxide fires.

>>2975624

You take advantage of the temporary concealment in time for a pair of anonymously addressed penetrators to strike the ridge beside you.

“One more down. I take it from incoming that it wasn’t the command unit?” You pace back towards the others on the far side of the ridge, watching the horizon for more threats.

“Negative. I believe he has stayed grounded to avoid detection. As far as drones go, there are one or more units still trading coded bursts in your vicinity.”

“We’ve met. One of them put a round under my seat. They don’t seem to perform under pressure.”

Lis’ mic clicks.

“Do not count on it at this point. I think it is an architectural flaw based on the number of units he is trying to manage. The fewer he is working with and the tighter their formation, the better.” Durga responds confidently.

The certainty of the statement raises your eyebrow. “So, a couple of them shoulder to shoulder would be?”

“Not appreciably slower.”

You adjust your headset, praying for a garden variety headache. “Is there any good news?”

“Oriel appears to be covering a withdrawal. He is unwilling to risk the destruction of his prize and intends to regroup and refit to rout us… He is remarkably earnest about it.”

“Any chance he’ll call off his dogs?”

“Not happening Sam; He just whiffed another shot over us.” Jennings almost growls. “He’s being a real prick about it too; Won’t fire unless he’s gonna have an angle on Lis. He’s trying to go tit for tat.”

“He probably wants to get rid of the coils; We match them for range and firepower as long as they’re up.” You grit your teeth. “Do you have their location?”

“They’re not being subtle: At this point they’re practically marching up; I have to keep backing off so they ain’t getting close enough to wreck my plate. Lis is going to throw a KE shell their way next time we need to move.”

>Flank: If you let the enemy advance, you can put a coil round into their side when they pass you.
>Regroup: Make best speed to catch up with the team. Three on two will let you put pressure back on the Locusts.
>Offensive: Strike immediately to pull attention off. Hull down on the ridge is a better defense than Jenning’s over-armor.
>Bug Out: Harry the Locusts and have everyone break off separately. You still don’t want to seriously engage unless you have to until you have your head fixed.
>Write in?

>>2975626
>>Flank: If you let the enemy advance, you can put a coil round into their side when they pass you.

>>2975626
>>Flank: If you let the enemy advance, you can put a coil round into their side when they pass you.
We're in a fight with an enemy that will be a considerable pain in the future if we don't deal with them now, and we seem to be stable enough for the time being. Though after the fight, we should go properly weapons cold in case of another mental issue.

>>2975637
>>2975808


>"Like hell you're going to waste a positional advantage."

Writing.

>>2975841

“Give me a range, I’m willing to trust myself with the coilgun.” You test the relevant circuits.

“670... I’ve been shuffling every time they get inside a half click. Not sure if its enough range to matter, but they don’t want to fire until they get close.” He

“Hold fast on the next one; I’m going to target the one that’s further east, so have Lis take the second one.”

“I’ve got him this time Sam; Just don’t get hit again.” Lis sounds subdued.

“Not planning on it Lis. Take your time.” You hope you sound confident.

You do some rough reckoning. You’ve actually overshot the position slightly, so you backtrack before creeping up the ridge. For the umpteenth time, you curse being outside of the network: Poking your head up over the earth berm isn’t the ambush you were looking for. You put everything to idle in an vain attempt to catch the strike of a foot or the whine of the rotors. If there’s anything to catch, it’s over the hill.

You feel that unsettling tug on your mind again. Might as well be blind with how vague and ungraded the feeling is. Haven’t these things heard of a compass? A 13.3 degree bearing with a 0.08 delta isn’t usef-

17 year old you would have killed to have these things in Calculus. If you weren’t expecting them to “borrow” you at any given moment, you might have felt the same. You load your weapon and begin charging the capacitor.

“How are we doing out there?” You key in, shifting your machine’s stance to quickly crest the hill.

“505… Slowing down like clockwork. You ready?” Jennings sounds tense.

“Twelve seconds. Lis?”

“On target. Jennings is body blocking for me. Their tunnel vision is unreal.”

You begin a count from ten, shifting your machine over the ridge.

“Make a pattern, then break it. Draw a line, then cross it. The unpredictable will be eliminated from affecting the outcome, while the predictable will be relied upon… Broker trust with your enemy, then break it as you break him.”


This one’s your memory again; a lecture on skirmishing operations. Why’s that imp-

“Now loose the salvo… before they figure your firing time.”

>>2976539

“Fire now.” You push your machine up and over the hill, ignoring the hiss of the damaged radiator as the reactor heats. “Lis. Fire now! He’s sandbagging the timing. Jennings! He’s going to put both of them right in your front.”

“Yep.” The monosyllable reply.

As you summit the hill, you hear the recoilless fire along with the ring of the two rounds impacting. Shortly after, Lis’ coilgun fires and the further machine goes up like a roman candle, struck midline by an KE round. You track the second unit, loading another round with what suicidal confidence by VC standards, but with the remotes is only a calculated risk. You cast an HEDP round on his head, replacing his cockpit and comms array with inferno.

From Durga’s frown, you fear the worst. You push your machine into a sprint to reach Jennings stricken machine only to slow when you hear a chuckle on the radio.

Jennings takes a deep breath, drawing it out. “02 reporting. Two impacts, right side. Auxiliary plate penetrated at 30 off axis, minor damage to underlying. Major damage to pants.”

“Did you fucking plan that Jennings? I’m going to strangle you… both of you!” Lis makes her indignation known.

“Ain’t exactly a plan; but I had the inkling he was trying to get me to sit still. Thanks for the tip Sam; I wasn’t angled yet.”

You shake your head. “Have I told you you’re a bit mad lately Jennings?”

“Not taking that from you today. Old fashioned showdown beats getting shot in the back any day. Especially if you’re gonna cheat and wear a frying pan under your jacket.” He coughs. “Since I’m the one wearing the fat suit, I made the call. Okay with you Corporal bullet-dodger?”

“Looks like it is quiet. No more signal traffic. There should be zero IRH units active out there.” Durga keys in. “Expect a reprimand 02.”

“Do your worst Durga; Can’t stop me from getting these slugs mounted on a plaque.”

“As soon as I fix Sam; I am confiscating those.” You can see a smirk on her face as she maintains a serious tone.

Jennings doesn’t have that luxury and begins to bargain/beg.

>>2976542

Shortly after setting Jennings straight, Durga makes what you think is the wise decision to call the mission, between battle damage, your “escort” reaching site 12, and your newly discovered OPFOR. You frankly aren’t willing to inject any amendment or objection to her decision: Even if you trusted your judgement, you’ve still got a shrapnel wound in your leg. On inspection, it appears to be a decently long splinter of the penetrator, pinning your muscle and jumpsuit to the underlying polymer. You half expect a primer on leg injuries to flood into your mind, but thankfully, your mind seems to be placid. You’re left with your highly technical assessment: It’s a flesh wound, unless it starts gushing, which means it isn’t one.

You track Lis’s machine like a dog on a leash. Jennings takes your usual role at the lead, often relying on his heavier frame to simply bully brush out of the way. The straight line path isn’t the safest option, but Jennings isn’t entirely foolish: You break into a familiar road a dozen kilometers from your camp and begin a subtler traversal home.


I won’t be able to hit another decision point tonight, so I’m calling it here. I’ll be putting up a new thread a bit later than my regular on the 18th, Thursday

It means very little on page 10, but as always, questions, comments and critique welcome..

>>2976545
Thanks for running

>>2976545
Thanks for running what you can.

When we get back to base, we need to have a conversation with Durga. This false memory / surprise skills thing didn't start until we handled those "safe" nanites. I'm pretty sure she mentioned nanite infection having some extremely unpleasant side effects, including some very painful deaths.

We might also offer to have ourselves detained for a while. I'm afraid we're going to end up hurting one of our little group during one of these fits.