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Spider is the last one back, having taken extra time to lose a pursuer. You look from him to Grach, sizing up the intel as the line back home beeps once, twice, and finally connects.

“Captain.” Gopher greets. “Still in one piece?”

“For now, Boss.” You shake your head. “Can’t say the same for everyone who came with us.”

He doesn’t ask you if it was worth it. You’re not sure yourself, but you know you can’t just sit here and mope about it. “Ready when you are.”

You nod. “Tenth went out first thing to reconnoiter the airport and hit heavy resistance. First came in and smashed their pursuit, but not before we lost a man.”

Grach speaks up. “We were all prepared for this eventuality. From my team’s report, Baroque’s life was spent as well as could be hoped.”

You opt not to reflect on that, either. “That aside, we have two in for repairs… one of whom is currently in police custody, along with the Link Riders.”

Gopher raises an eyebrow. “Another unit’s entire force presence?”

“My first independent operation could perhaps be going better,” you reply flatly. “That aside, they’re under orders to cooperate--without tipping the police off that we’re here.”

“Beggin’ your pardon,” Spider adds, “But I think that gamble paid off handsomely. The mavs seem to think all we sent are boots and bodies.”

“Sort of.” You note. “I made some friendly, unfriendly contact.”

Gopher’s attention hones on you sharply. “I’m listening.”

“Ran into a guy by the name of Pink Rhomphaia,” you explain. “Stealth tricks like Collide and Ink Stylist. Didn’t seem all that interested in a fight, and unless he was making a hell of a bluff, he had another guy with him as backup. And he offered me a deal. Not sure if I had the authority, but…”

The Commander’s tone scrapes a few levels down to No Bullshit voice. “Captain, I put you in command, so command. Now continue.”

“Yes sir.” You glance over your shoulder at the Berets behind you, maintaining their weapons before returning to their barracks for the night. “I didn’t like my odds, it’d blow any cover we had, and he could have wiped out my team before any of them knew they were there and didn’t.”

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>>3213872
You clear your throat and continue. “The deal was to leave the harbor area for the day, and we’d avoid a fight. I took it.”

Gopher rubs his chin. “Understood.”

“For our part, we cut off two maverick fronts,” Grach notes. “The airport hasn’t reported any activity since we left.“

“And Dalet’s little move on the hydrocity is no more,” Spider adds. “All with little to no profile.”

“If I may, sirs,” Iris interjects, her vidscreen winking on and giving you your first view of your navigator--whom you immediately want to take out for ice cream--”It would be prudent to expect hostile escalation.”

You nod. “We hit them where they were busiest, and according to Envision’s meeting, they’re still on for whatever happens in three days.”

“Meaning we can expect them to double down on whatever they do,” Gopher agrees. “So what are you going to do about the Councillor situation, Captain?”

>The police can’t leak what they don’t know. First is stonewalling, once the questioning is done we offer provisional support.
>We give them what we know about Envision and start collaborating directly. They can use the help, and so can we.
>I’m paying them a visit at first light. We got our surprise day over on the mavs, now’s the time to endear ourselves to the locals.
>Other?

>>3213873
>We give them what we know about Envision and start collaborating directly. They can use the help, and so can we.

>>3213873
>We give them what we know about Envision and start collaborating directly. They can use the help, and so can we.
As much as possible, I'd rather not make the maverick hunters political manipulators.

Besides, who receives info of a spy and expects ANODE as the real orchestrator?

>>3213873
I'm uncertain of how the second and third options are different. I like them both, and they seem to involve the same actions toward the same ends: talk to cops, help cops, cook Envision.

>>3213897
"All right, the Hunters have obviously sent a master of espionage, so if we-- wait, perimeter breach-- HOLY SHIT IT'S LIVEWIRE--"

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>>3213906
The first involves sharing information but not divulging the extent of hunter operations.

The second involves laying all your cards on the table and revealing your officer presence and working directly instead of through the intermediaries of your enlisted forces.

>>3213873
For the most part
>>The police can’t leak what they don’t know. First is stonewalling, once the questioning is done we offer provisional support.
We do not have a lot of info on Envision and the moment we tip our hand, Envision is going to clam up. We need to make it seem like there are only boots with maybe someone who sneaked in being an outsider.
Another thing to consider is find where the enemy rests. Specifically their officers. If we can strike them after one of their operations, we can decap their combat leadership.
We want to avoid escalation when we can. Even with police assistance, we are not going to last once shit hits the fan.

>>3213916
Then I like the less overt of the two.

>We give them what we know about Envision and start collaborating directly. They can use the help, and so can we.

>>3213873
>>3213916
considering HC's explanation, gonna go with this
>The police can’t leak what they don’t know. First is stonewalling, once the questioning is done we offer provisional support.

I think we could let them know about the 4th being there, but not mention Anode, Spider, Or Grach obviously. Dont even mention Officers being on ground if they dont ask.

>>3213873

> vidscreen winking on and giving you your first view of your navigator--whom you immediately want to take out for ice cream--

kek

As for my vote,
>I’m paying them a visit at first light. We got our surprise day over on the mavs, now’s the time to endear ourselves to the locals.

Given that we can't expect Anode to stay a secret after running into PHANTOM and the police will be a huge boon in manpower and investigation now that Richmond's been freed up, it might be time to make nice and make allies. They also have authority we can ride on if we need to be legit, and most of our scouting and dirty work is done.

(Con't)

>>3214133
Continuing the strategic discussion and voting on unit placement from the last thread:

>>3211657
> Can we contact Foxfire regarding help with Dalet? At the very least, she might have an idea how this guy usually works.

Oh, this is a good idea. However annoying she is, that's an angle that might head off a serious problem.

>>3209543
> My tentative plan right now is:
>Spider on pianist
>Anode sitting in either a decoy truck or the bomb truck, hidden from action until they actually try to open it
then
>B: Grach AND BB going for the Victoroids

I agree with prioritizing the Victoroids, but even if we go a little loud doing it we can't afford that bomb falling into the wrong hands. Given they're likely to escalate, we can expect that the team going after the bomb will be heavies, so Anode is a good surprise motherfucker to throw at them.

Not having the 10th and the 1st go in together may have been the difference that cost us a KIA, and I don NOT want to play hardball with the lives of the Bravely Broken if we can help it. Grach will keep them safe and we're following his playbook in these urban areas anyway.

>>3213873
>We give them what we know about Envision and start collaborating directly. They can use the help, and so can we.
DEAD OR ALIVE YOU ARE COMING WITH THEM

>>3213873
>We give them what we know about Envision and start collaborating directly. They can use the help, and so can we.

>>3213873
>We give them what we know about Envision and start collaborating directly. They can use the help, and so can we.

>>3214139
If we knew what the score was, we would likely have a better understanding and if the accelerant is important enough for direct anode usage. Our lock on hunter could work alongside Susan and his rifle for taking down foes.
Our shriver driver can also do one hell of a number to the Ride Armor guy. Then again, we can also take his ride armor from him.

>>3214710

If the shipment is going today, and it does happen to be important, we don't have anyone else who could take the kind of force they would send. First and tenth are out of commission, fourth is needed for the Victoroids, Spider isn't suited for that op, and Grach can't handle heavies alone. The thinking is that it might go loud, but it's the least likely to further deplete our forces (which we can ill afford at this point) and if it does happen to be important it will absolutely ruin their day.

>>3214723
Fourth is not needed for the victoroids. In fact, I would say thats more an anode mission and only if its morning. They are not going to be able to handle Pinky and if they do face the machines on a combat footing, they will not be able to handle them. Victoroids and heavy targets are Anode priority. We are not sending them in against heavy foes who are likely well guarded. Maybe send someone to scout, but no direct conflict unless we are certain they can handle it.
Second, the 1st is with the police. They are going to give intel by the looks of it. That frees up our riders. I would say wait until we get that intel before making a choice.

>>3214793
Pinky's out of the area already.

I can't help but feel that Random Pianist Guy is going to be the most important thing, just to mess with us.

>>3214894
I suspect he'll be publicly executed at the start of the hostage situation, to really rile people up.

>>3214793
As >>3214796 said, Pinky's out of the area already. I'm willing to compromise and send them to scout, but we need to do something on that front and Spider is far more suited to tracking the a kidnapper down with his contacts and knowhow.

>>3215138
Contacts and knowhow are more grach's thing though and going to the waterfront after Pinky's talk with the bravely broken or Grach seems like a bad idea. Spider can serve better as a scout there since he is quite good at fitting in those sorts of places.

The other thing is, we don't know if the Victoroids moved or not. If they did, then the BBs are going to just draw attention and slow either of them down.

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Okay, got home after an adventurous day with next to nothing to eat. Working on that now, brain.exe may not be cooperative tonight. Will do my best.

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>>3213891
>>3213897
>>3213929
>>3214170
>>3214174
>>3214317
“First and foremost, we’re feeding them Envision,” you say, slapping your hand into your palm. “Once they have their dirt, they can figure out how to actually use it.”

“Good call,” Gopher agrees. “We’re not cops. Let them do their job and focus on yours.”

You nod. “Iris, can you get ahold of the First?”

“I can,” she replies. “I’ll direct them to share. What should they tell the police about their sources?”

“You can tell them Commander Firestorm Gopher, Fourth Overland, is available on comms from Geneva,” he says. “I’ll handle the red tape.”

You nod. “Iris, orders are for them to cooperate as far as they can without letting on we’re here. That includes evacuations, arrests, whatever.”

“Understood. I’m on it,” she promises.

“So what about the Harbor?” You ask. “Of course we’re going back, but…”

“Trap,” Gopher asks-without-asking.

“I’d be disappointed if it wasn’t,” you reply.

Spider chuckles, kipped back in his chair and nursing a thermos of what looks like tea. “It depends an awful lot on this Pink fellow,” he says. “Know it’s hard for you hunter-types to believe, but sometimes there’s honor among thieves.”

“Thieves, maybe,” you note. “Militant Reploid supremacists, not so much.”

“I’m unsure,” Grach offers. “I have seen things in my own travels. Not every maverick is so cut and dry. Of course, you’d be a fool to trust him.”

“It’s his sparing the Berets, that gets me,” you admit. “He was making it pretty clear where he stood, with where he stood.”

Gopher folds his arms, a breath whistling through his teeth like a head of steam. “So either whatever objective he carried off was worth missing a fight already in his favor, or he’s playing the long game.”

“Or he’s honest,” you add, “Which frankly scares me more.”

“It should. Anything further, Captain?”

“Being that I’m not suspended, arrested, or discharged, no sir, I think we’re good.”

He chuckles. “Glad to hear it.”

>Check in on home while you can.
>Cut the line and coordinate with your locals.
>Other?

>>3215882
>Cut the line and coordinate with your locals.
The less we fuss with outgoing comms, the less likely we're exposed. Don't forget that enemy signal intelligence is in the area.

>>3215882
Can we do that thing were we ask Firefox about Dalet?
Also, query on Baccarat's stock weapon
>Any advice about fighting hand to hand specialists?
keep it subtle, juuuust in case.

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>>3215904
Ah dammit, I knew I was forgetting to write something.

>>3215882
>Cut the line and coordinate with your locals.

>>3215882
>Cut the line and coordinate with your locals.

>>3215882
>Cut the line and coordinate with your locals.

>>3215904
>>3215908
So long as that can be done first so we have more intel. Every bit helps.

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>>3215903
>>3216126
>>3216158
>>3216376
“Oh--” You say. “Before I forget, can you tag in Foxfire and ask if she’s got anything on Dalet?”

Gopher folds his arms. “Good thought. I’ll see what I can do.”

“That’s all for now. Vancouver out.”

Gopher nods. “Good work.”

The line drops, and you sigh, leaning back in your chair as Grach settles in beside you. “Sure doesn’t feel like it.”

“Three officers and their retinues, plus a possible fourth,” he says, voice as gentle as ever. “There was no way to have known, and we made great strides from it.”

“How are you holding up?” You ask. Baroque was his trainee, after all…

Grach bends to collect his mug from by his heel. “I appreciate your concern, Captain. But I’ve seen far worse than losing one man, as have my Berets. Red, though...”

You think--there was a civ model mixed in with his squad, just this morning. “Yeah?”

“He’s new to this. My recruits came from 1st, 2nd, and 4th. All of them are used to deaths, endured the loss of comrades, survived the attack on headquarters. Red is a volunteer.”

“How’s he taking it?”

“He’s quiet, for now.” Grach says, not unkindly, looking back up over the low artificial sunlight trickling in from the window overlay. “The rest will come with time.”

“Think he’ll be up and at ‘em before we get outta here?” Spider asks.

“I think so. I’ll spend some time with him.”

“Not like they’re going anywhere until Mastiff’s back,” you note. “Assuming the police play ball.”

“They will,” Grach says, and his voice suggests a level of familiarity with exactly this kind of scene. “Though they may be upset that we did not announce our presence, the help will be welcome.”

“And,” Spider adds, tipping his thermos up at him, “they’ll tally what we did for them today.”

Your Russian friend nods. “Just so.”

You mull that over for a minute, before looking back up at Spider. While Grach looks comfortable, familiar with the situation, the mercenary still manages to look laid-back, draped over the back of his chair and resting one leg on the other, enjoying the digital sunrise.

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>>3218155
“So what do you think happens in three days?”

He shrugs. “You ask me, a lot of stuff. Best way to carry somethin’ off is to do ten other things at once. They can’t be everywhere at once.”

That makes sense. “Plus, when they’re stretched thin…”

“You hit ‘em hard where you need to, and by the time they can swing back, you got what you came for.”

“So what did they come for?” You ask, musing aloud like Iris did, not so long ago. “Probably not men, not munitions, not money…”

“Probably not money,” Spider adds. “Not that I think it, but there’s a lot of thugs who’ve built a nest egg like your lizard here and then tried to quiet the business.”

“It doesn’t match his patterns,” Grach notes.

“But what does?” You ask rhetorically. “It feels like he just shows up to start shit.”

“Safe to assume whatever he does involves a whole lot of that,” Spider replies. You nod grimly.

You’ve still got a little while left to burn before you make your next move. The waiting is anathema to you--you’re so used to your missions of go here, do this, blow someone or something up. All this waiting is … taxing.

>Ask Grach about the strain. He’s used to operations like this one.
>Ask Spider about the criminal element and life on the seedy side.
>Other?

>>3218160
>Ask Grach about the strain. He’s used to operations like this one.
Anode's never been on a slow-burn op like this. Some perspective would be nice.

>>3218160
>Ask Grach about the strain. He’s used to operations like this one.

We said we were taking his lead on this op, and he's our friend. Either way, what he has to say is valuable.

>>3218160
Could the whole city hostage setup be a ploy to mass-convert the citizens into mavericks?

>>3218160
>Ask Grach about the strain. He’s used to operations like this one.
The worst part of the wait is that we can't order a pizza, in case the delivery guy gets attacked.

>>3218160
>Ask Spider about the criminal element and life on the seedy side.

>>3218160
>Ask Grach about the strain. He’s used to operations like this one.

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>>3218160
>Ask Grach about the strain. He’s used to operations like this one.
Random thought: Moloch's behavior implies he isn't capable of making long-term plans or commanding an organized group. Whatever the major plan is, he probably didn't come up with it.

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>>3218160
>Ask Spider about the criminal element and life on the seedy side.

Of the two, this seems like the thing we know the least about. Might be a useful bit of psychology to have.

>>3218160
Let’s ask Spider about what’s going down on the wrong side of the train tracks.

>>3218160
>Ask Spider about the criminal element and life on the seedy side.

We need to plan for the day we go too far and have to live on the lam.

>>3218160
>Ask Grach about the strain. He’s used to operations like this one.
Anode's thinking about running more big ops, he's gonna have to learn how to wait.

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Okay, calling vote 5-4 in favor of playing the Grachenspiel.

Stand by, I've eaten about 700 calories of food today. Brain think not good.

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>>3218176
>>3218210
>>3218368
>>3218456
>>3218599
>>3219828
You sigh, pinching the bridge of your nose and sitting back upright. “Got any tips for dealing with the wait, Grach?”

He chuckles. “Bad coffee and a campfire to stare into help, usually.”

“I could set Spider on fire,” you offer. Spider snickers.

“There’s also war stories,” Grach adds.

“You’ve been at this a while,” you nod. “I bet you have a few.”

“Everyone does. Though most of the ones I could share with are no more.”

You nod slowly. “I never did hear much of your family beyond the details.”

“Well, we’re all past opsec now,” Grach says, his trademark accent falling just a hair. “Shall I tell you about them?”

“If you’re offering,” you reply.

“Ten of us, ‘black’ and ‘white.’ Kingfisher, Wydah, Cardinal, Falcon, and Rook, yours truly.”

“This all safe for you to be letting on?” You ask warily.

He scritches his beard, unworried. “I already shared all this and more with your General. It’s almost certainly found its way on from there already.”

“I take it the lot of you were all built…” Spider gestures at him vaguely, waving a card in his hand.

“Yes. Human, both in build and appearance. We were armed with black market equipment--traceable, but not to home. Very deliberate. You don’t see much in the way of solid-projectile weaponry on the market.”

“Understrength?” You ask.

“Not for our role. A few diehards kept to the ballistics market, even to this day. More cumbersome logistically, but comparable output. And certainly not indicative of our ‘real’ hardware.” Having seen his hands spring free to reveal shotgun barrels and grenades, you get the picture.

“In other words, anything to make you seem like a random human soldier.”

“Mm. We all had our favorites.”

“What were they like?” You venture.

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>>3221430
Grach smiles thinly, rolling forward to rest his arms on his knees. “Black Kingfisher was a prodigy. I wonder what he might have done had he survived. His sister is still missing, and of course, I can hope, but…” He shakes his head. “The Falcons were the most intense. White’s… White was almost not a surprise, after Black’s KIA.”

Once again, the images unbidden, thoughts of sibling leaving each other behind dig into your nerves. And then you remember White Rook.

“How do you do it?” You ask.

“By now, it’s easy,” he says. “Or at least, a manageable familiarity. Long campaigns, friends and family gone, the long stays of tension and bursts of violence… one learns. It comes with time.”

“What about the strain?” You ask. “The moment-to-moment breakdowns?”

He looks up at you. “It comes and goes. Some handle it better than others.”

You nod grimly. “Everyone’s got their breaking point.” Your thoughts turn back to Geneva--though you wanted to ask what was going on, half out of concern, half out of fear for what might go down while you’re not there. Everyone’s under some kind of gun.

“Think your veteran experience might help a hunter?” You ask.

“I hope so. I will be tending to Red this morning. Though it seems you may be asking for more than yourself?” Grach asks.

>... Spot on. Fourth is a wreck and I could use the help.
>Let’s keep to the here and now, for now.
>Other?

>>3221434
>Other
We know a guy who might need it, he's short, green...

>>3221451
This.

>>3221451
I'll follow on with that.

>>3221434
>plz help my angsty leprechaun find his rainbow

>>3221451
Got a point. While it is has been tough, we have for the most part gotten ourselves out of the abyss. But that doesn't really help when everyone we like is in there.
Learning how to lead, how to handle the tough parts, and aid in our fellow hunter's health is important.

>>3221434
>Let’s keep to the here and now, for now.
Em might accept Grach's aid, but he also might shut him out as Grach was designed to do what Em's most afraid of (killing humans). It could also put Grach in Rezador's sights, which could end very badly.

There's also a sort of "when this is all over" vibe to it, and I don't want to raise any death flags for Grach.

>>3221588
I was kind of assuming that Grace would be giving us advice rather than dealing with Emerald himself. Or maybe just help us assassinate Rezador, that’s fine too.

>>3221434
>My best friend is trying to work himself to death.

>>3221434
>>3221451

Get him over the loss of his Motherfuckery teacher by giving him a more motherfucked mentor.

>>3221451
This this this

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Well, uh.

I'm home early.

>>3223017
HC's house confirmed for water stage

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>>3223091
FUCKING CRYOMER

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>>3223094
ACKSHUALLY that would be hydromer

>>3223094
Wait, it flooded AND froze up?

That's rough, buddy.

>>3223017

O O F

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>>3223099
Hydromer ain't burst pipes.

So tonight will prossibly have an update, but it also has a twelve ounce whiskey sour.

>>3223017
You, uh. Need some towels? I could send some towels.

>>3223017
WOLFSPIDERRRRRRRRR

>>3223235
Shit dude, I hope nothing got too damaged.

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>>3223890
Fortunately for me, it was between my floor and the basement, and all my shit in the basement was already elevated so it didn't get waterlogged.

The flipside is that I only have bathroom water until Monday morning, so no laundry, and cooking is gonna be a challenge. Could've been much worse, so I'll take it gratefully.

>>3223980
Well, at least it's nothing permanent. Glad your stuff is ok.

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>>3221451
>>3221458
>>3221519
>>3221529
>>3221765
>>3222044
>>3222103
“I mean, no, but… also yes?” You shrug. “Now that you mention it.”

He gestures, kipping back up to pay attention more fully. “Go on.”

“You remember Em? Tiny green guy, I think you threw him into a weapons rack that one time?”

“I remember. Interesting fellow.”

You snort. “That’s a term.”

“In my time, I’ve known many colorful warfighters.” He blinks. “Pun unintended.”

“I bet. Okay, so… Em’s a fucking mess,” you state bluntly.

Spider pantomimes chokes on his drink and stands up. “I’ll give you two some privacy,” he says, and you nod appreciatively.

Grach waits a moment for him to leave, before looking back up at you, eyes more focused now. “The attack wasn’t kind to him?”

You tick it off on his fingers. “MIA behind enemy lines, gets back and his mentor’s MIA, his brother’s gone…”

“I see.”

“...His CO retires and a guy he can’t stand takes his place, he falls in with an asshole who feeds his inferiority complex, and then his mentor shows back up again playing for the other team. And pins him to the ground like a butterfly.”

“...I see.”

“Yeah.” You would spit bitterly, if you had spit. “I’m doing my best to help him keep it together, but I feel like I’m losing ground.”

“I haven’t had many friends, but there are two I can think of worth the distinction.”

“Yeah?”

“The first is Abram, of course. He not-so-subtly guided you towards sparing me when first we met, you recall?”

“Yeah, the trail of audiolog breadcrumbs,” you nod.

“The second was a mercenary I traveled with for some time. Human. We made a good pair.” He doesn’t frown, but his face goes stony for a moment. “I watched him die of radiation poisoning.”

“I see,” you return lamely.

Grach plants his feet and pushes himself back up in his chair.“He asked me to send a letter to his father. A pawnbroker in Sault Ste. Marie.”

“No shit.”

“I owed him that much, at least. And his father was grateful. Another good friend, but one I kept at arm’s length, at least a little. It wouldn’t do to bring his son’s business home to him.”

“I can understand that.”

“What I’m circling around is that a close friend can mean a very great deal. And it sounds like you’re all he has.”

“He’s said about that much,” you acknowledge. “Between beers.”

“This Doppler war has enough strain even without all that.”

“It goes deeper, too, though I don’t know how much further I can get.”

He holds up a hand. “It always does. I don’t need to be privy to it all.”

“So what do I do?” You ask, letting your frustration with your best, dumbest friend vent. “How do I keep him from offing himself?”

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>>3224980
“Perhaps it’s cold, but we all have levers and switches. Find his.” You raise an eyebrow, and he cracks a smirk but doesn’t rise to the innuendo. “There are things, I’m sure, that anger him. Surely there will be things to run the other way.”

“Few and far between, but… yeah.”

“In a way, your story reminds me of my own.”

“Oh?”

“You have to understand, Anode, for me, the worst-case already happened. Every possible thing went wrong, and I was alone. My paranoia bore out, and it saved my life.”

“So… what, do I tell him to harden up and expect the worst?”

“You guide him towards what changes he can make that won’t sabotage the better prospects, if they do bear out. You help him accept when they won’t, and don’t.”

“I’m hoping the worst is already over,” you reply. “I’m not sure if the damage is already done, is the thing.”

“Then, for your sake, not for his, be ready. I’m sure he would not wish to take you with him.”

“I’m not sure I’m ready to write him off,” you say. “I think I’m getting through, just slowly.”

“Then you’re already making headway. Sometimes the best you can do is hold down what you can and wait for circumstance to lift.”

You nod grimly--and your comms ping.

“Capt--erm, Anode?” Iris asks. “I’ve just gotten an update from the First.”

You stand up, motioning Spider back over as he turns to look. “Go ahead.”

“The police have Richmond secured,” she says, a buoyant tone in her voice. “And all the better, they are now coordinating with us directly.”

Excellent. “So Richmond is handled?”

She nods. “And if not, we’ll know as soon as it becomes an issue.”

“Any other news?”

“A fair bit. Known mavericks Torment and Schism--”

“Seriously?” Spider asks flatly. Grach snickers into his mug.

“--Have been spotted within city limits. No concrete information yet.”

“Anything on our leads?” You ask.

“There were a few pizza delivery holdups in Surrey,” Iris continues punctually, running down the list. “No injuries, but a few vehicles written off.”

You file that one away for later. “Any movement on the harbor?”

“I asked Warrant Officer Ruffo to inquire,” Iris says matter-of-factly. “And…”

“Good thought,” you say appreciatively.

You can hear her non-existent flush pink. “Erm. Thank you.”

Spider, now on the call, promptly drops back out to snicker his soul out.

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>>3224985
You grin. “Sorry, sorry. Go ahead, Iris.”

“...And,” she rallies, “On checking the harbor freight reports, no ships have docked or departed in 24 hours.”

“Meaning those Victoroids might still be in play,” you note.

“And it may still be a trap,” Grach adds.

“Yeah,” you agree. “Anything else, Iris?”

“The police have repaired our representative from the 10th, and are releasing him.”

Well, that’s something. You’re still down one, but three trained infrastructure specialists still count for something--especially if they operate in tandem with the law.

>Questions or comments before planning the next day?

>>3224990
>"Known mavericks." I don't know 'em. What can they do?

>>3224990
>Any changes to the people? Panics, riots, people packing into very vulnerable chapels?
>You know the guys, Spider?

>>3225025
This.
Also, on the pizza robberys, they cant really believe they could use the delivery vehicles to fool anyone, could they? I mean, we can just get the licenses, and if they take them off, well, we'd still know? Or is it just another case of them screwing people out of food?

>>3223017
Well shit man, I hope the clean up goes well
>>3224990
>>3225025
I'll third this

>>3224990
Anode's sort of a lady killer, isn't he? Albeit mostly on accident, it seems.

What's the word on Envision?

>>3225064
Could be both. When life gives you stolen vehicles, make exploding cars. The food could also be used for hostages.

>>3225206
Oh yeah, I didnt think of car bombs. Damn, gonna have to watch out for that too

>>3225064
>>3225206
The vehicles being written off is worrisome too, it means the perps are using live weapons, and that puts bystanders in danger even if they're avoiding civilian casualties.

>>3224985
>“There were a few pizza delivery holdups in Surrey,” Iris continues punctually, running down the list. “No injuries, but a few vehicles written off.”

So they're spreading out to cut off food deliveries in other areas of the city.

I already know people who eat mostly delivery or restaurant food, and I don't even live in a major city. I can't even imagine how many might be living like that in 21XX. Feels like these reports may be underselling just how much of a problem this could turn into, if deliveries are shut down but people are still scared to go out to eat.

>>3225206
>>3225346
like I said, cutting the SkyLoop AND food deliveries would make the city a hellhole very very quickly.

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“I’m not familiar with those two mavs,” you say. “You heard of ‘em, Spider?”

“Nosir,” he replies. “Not personally, at least.

“Their creator is currently on trial for building a plurality of criminal Reploids. The two of them are a pair of avian models--”

”Ugh,”” you groan.

“--magpies, to be precise, specialized more in thievery and evasives than direct combat.”

“And their activity?”

“None yet,” Iris says. “An air traffic official detected their headers very briefly this morning.”

Makes sense--without actual air traffic, they might be monitoring for hostile activity. “We’ll keep an eye out. Gut feeling is they might try a smash and grab on that bomb shipment.”

“How about the people? Panic, riots, that sort of thing?”

“Nothing so far. The evacuation from Richmond met with plenty of shelters across the city, nowhere concentrated.”

“They might even be able to move back,” Grach observes. “Though not where their buildings are damaged or destroyed.”

“Okay, what about the mavs? Any movement there?”

“Checking… Yes, just now. The police have dispatched their first decoy transports and are reporting probing strikes on their convoy.”

“Where?”

“Point Grey.”

You may need to get involved in that… Okay. “How about Envision? They moved on him yet?”

“Not yet, but they’re preparing a confrontation. They believe he’ll fold readily when pressured, but even if not, he should be at least prevented from conduct for the duration.”

“The one I’m not sure about is the delivery ambushes,” you muse. “They’re not going to starve out a city hitting pizza scooters. When you say ‘written off,’ do you mean stolen or destroyed?”

“The latter,” Iris replies. “I’m sorry, I should have been more clear.”

“No worries.”

“Reports suggest small arms fire, nothing higher than C-class weaponry.”

“Might be a task for your Berets,” Spider notes. “If that. The police can chase a few bad tippers.”

Which brings you to today’s plan. Iris updates your mission notes as you round up the teams.

-----

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>>3226252
UPDATES
• 10th has been repaired and is ready for duty. The squad is understrength by one, but could be deployed to good effect either in support of the Vancouver Police Department, or alongside Grach for a combat operation.
• 1st is now openly cooperating with the Vancouver police. While assistance is being provided and offered, the police are still questioning them regarding hunter presence in the city.
• Police coordination of assets, intel, and resources is now available.
• Law enforcement has been notified of Envision’s illicit dealings and will be taking direct measures against him.
• As of this morning, the terms of your deal with Pink Rhomphaia are complete, and you can visit the Harbor again without additional reprisal.
• Known mavericks Torment and Schism have been reported in city bounds. Their affiliations are not yet known.
• The police decoy transport for the accelerant has come under attack.
• Soul Foxfire is currently in talks with Halcyon and the Weissritter, per Heilige, and not available at this time. She will be directed to contact you when she is made available.

TASKS/LEADS: Can be completed by one person/unit.
• Rumors have begun circulating of something the mavericks are calling “the big score.”
• Possibly related, Spider has returned with word that the mavericks are planning something in three days.
• Communication jams in the Harbor area suggest a maverick SIGINT specialist in play.
• The Richmond attack revealed the enemy has sophisticated reconnaissance capabilities. Expect an enemy officer.
• No ships have entered or left the Harbor, suggesting the Victoroids are still packed in freight.

OTHER/OPTIONAL

DIRECT ACTIVITY
WARNING: While scouting for intel will be necessary, sending recon out to all corners of the city may attract unwanted attention and reveal your presence quickly. Some operatives (e.g. yourself) are more overt than others (e.g. Grach). Bear this in mind when deciding on activity.

>Anode: Available.
>Spider: Available.
>Grach: Available.

>1st: Unavailable.
>4th: Available.
>10th: Available.

AVAILABLE ASSETS
OFFICERS
Anode
Spider
Grach

ENLISTED
The Bravely Broken (4th Overland Steel Beret squad)
Tenth Recruits (10th Civic scouts, low-profile anti-collateral training)

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>>3226257
ACTIVITY/INTEL
• Dalet’s attack on the SkyLoop has been called off. While the hacker remains at large, his mustering force has been cut off at the knees and the survivors scattered.

• The evacuation of the Richmond area has been completed safely and the area is now deemed secure.

• After a standoff in the Harbor, the Victoroid shipment remains in play.

• A well-known local pianist has been kidnapped by a Reploid named P1C0, who is believed to have gone Maverick. The attack occurred in Gastown and the attacker is not believed to have gone far. No further news has been uncovered at this time.

• A handful of Mavericks are believed to be sabotaging food deliveries in Burnaby, destroying delivery Mechaniloids and in at least one case leaving behind a dead delivery operator. Food deliveries have been suspended in the area pending further study.

• Local Maverick activity seems to have spiked chatter about a "bomb" under development which is planned to be used in a major attack. A device which could be used as an accelerant component is being moved by police away from UBC and into a safe storage facility until further notice in hopes of preempting an attack on the campus to steal it. Police have dispatched their first decoy transit, which is coming under fire.

DOSSIERS
• Crewd: A known Maverick who favors an Ox Ride Armor in battle. Wanted for an assault on Los Llanos Air Base in Spain wherein he stole a classified Hubara Fuertaventura low altitude subradar carrier and murdered several personnel during the escape. Crewd is known for working with others for planning and coordination and is currently a target on Firestar Aardwolf’s dossier. The 3rd Deploy out of HQ5 consider Crewd to be on their personal shit list as the prototype had been destined for them. No distinctive combat characteristics, but custom gear on his Ride Armor is a virtual certainty.

• Claxton: Name matches a defector from the Royal Airforce - a Jetlight Tommy who worked as an urban stealth paratrooper. RAF reports no unusual equipment or specs outside of his camouflage pattern being designed for city operations rather than wilderness, though he’s been at large for some time.

• Dalet: No active intel as he never showed up in the Hydrocity, but what we’ve heard suggests a competent hacker who matches records from Shadow Hunter communications of a Maverick with a similar name. Dalet is likely a Shadow Hunter himself and may be coordinating with Moloch or his group - that signal drop suggests someone with some counterintel skills and hacking ability was working the job.

• Dammahnation Blade: Per Spider’s reporting, there is zero chance Blade is working with Moloch. When asked why, Spider explained “because you haven’t found Moloch yet and Dammahnation’s still alive.” Blade has all the subtlety of a freight train at a tea party.

Cont.

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>>3226252
BIRDS

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>>3226260
• Hutchins: Via Spider: A real piece of work, don’t let the tuxedo paint job fool you. Mercenary, Maverick, would-be crime boss; Hutchins is a violent criminal in a business suit. During his time as a Hunter Killer, he was known to take trophies from his kills - expect him to be packing grenades and other utilities and tools commensurate with a kitted-out Hunter.

• Pink Rhomphaia and “Blink”: We’ll have to open new dossiers for this intel. Anode suspects that at least Rhomphaia, and probably his unseen counterpart as well, can be linked to PHANTOM, the RUDRA special forces group that has caused problems for him in the past. Rhomphaia’s manner suggests that he’s not affiliated with Moloch, though we can’t put too much stock in the words of a Maverick. Apparently possesses PHANTOM-grade optical camouflage and some capacity to project illusions, per Anode’s report.

• Raschen: An ex-Hunter with the 15th, expelled for insubordination and conduct unbefitting an officer. Psychological profile indicates recklessness, fascination with explosions, short temper, and extremely poor socialization. Appears to have rearmed himself with a stock Muzzle Crash cannon limb in place of the civilian arm he was issued when he was dishonorably discharged. No surprise to have found him in Richmond; bombarding the airport and surrounding area would be right up his alley. Still a bit hard to contemplate that he’d be working with anyone trying to keep a low profile, as he’s unstable.

• Unidentified flying contact: Joined Crewd and Raschen at the attack on Richmond. Profile matched a Jetlight Tommy; likely Claxton going by coordination of reports.

• Unidentified jamming source: Possibly Dalet; something disrupted communications both at the Harbour and in Richmond. There may be more than one contact responsible.

• Unidentified spotter: Pratt’s analysis on the attack on their unit suggests a spotter calling shots, though no contact was ever made. It is possible that this was the result of discipline and training among the maverick ranks, but given the scale of their operations, it is not unlikely there is a dedicated intelligence officer. This may have been Claxton or some other unidentified party.

• Torment and Schism: Magpie-build fliers. Rated at B-class for high mobility and evasive capability.

-----

>Deploy your forces.

>>3226267
I don't see much change on my tentative plan. We shouldn't be moving on everything, so I'll leave those food deliveries to stew for another turn.

>Investigate Harbor and Victoroids
>Grach
>4th
Although 10th would be more likely to recover the Victoroids intact, I suspect taking out the SIGINT specialist will get real loud real fast.

>Piano guy rescue
>Spider
He can save a man as well as poke a few more details out of the big score.

>Bomb Escort
>10th
friendly faces that won't accidentally shoot the bomb

plus.....

>SURPRISE BITCH inside one of the trucks
>Anode
I'm fairly certain we can gank one of the Magpie fliers instantly with jumpjets+misericorde.

>>3214139
Dis me, updating my vote.

>>3226305
I mostly agree with this distribution, but given that the 10th is down a man I would recommend sending them to something less lethal than what might be one of the enemy's main targets.

>Food Deliveries
>10th

>>3226267
4th to convoy support.
Flak and Susan have extreme long range and anti air weapons with their flak launcher and sniper rifle. If the magpies come, they can pick them off or force them back. Anode plays our hand too much since this is a police op.
Still, each decoy we save is one where they further split up the enemy forces.

On the other side, Anode is the best bet for the Factory. We have anti invis and various tricks against traps and are just built tough in comparison. Sending Grach to the place where Pink had his number is a terrible idea. Grach can serve well with the hostage situation as would Spider, but Spider I actually want to support anode on this. The reason being Spider works really well with a distraction. Anode brings the noise, Spider hunts the signit or victoroids. A one two combo.

Finally, the 10th should support the police or grach with the hostage situation. Their low damage power works with the hostage or food issue.

>>3226267
Anode and Spider on the harbor.
Grach and 10th to Gastown.
Bravely Broken: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpvT-Fciu-4

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>>3226267
The 2 birbs and/or Claxton have the potential to show up at any operation that takes place outdoors; they're not likely to intervene with P1C0 and potentially the Victoroids (if that op stays low-key).
Where to send Anode is tough. I have to lean towards the bomb shipment, Moloch's just more likely to show up there. and we can send the BB as muscle to back up Grach, they can handle the stronger Mechaniloids.
>Anode: Bomb
>Spider: Food
>Grach: Victoroids
>4th: Victoroids
>10th: Gastown
Switching Spider and the 10th's tasks could also work.

>>3226795
From the sounds of it the birds are thief-types rather than our usual murderbirds, despite their edgy names.

Unless they're the sort who like a bit of ultraviolence, anyway.

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>>3227019
Just don't want to leave our masspros unattended around any unfriendly B-classes

>>3227019
In either case, bird locations require people who are anti air. Right now thats Anode and the 4th. 10th should really be partnered with someone rather than on their own. The enemy is doing a uptick of stuff so expect the worst. Incidentally, they are just sending the decoys to start. Losing the decoys may make it harder, but it also means we can converge our forces together.

>>3226372
I disagree, food delivery could be the MOST lethal stage for 10th. They'll be running around the whole city tailing food delivery trucks, plenty of space to get ganked by something bigger than low level mooks.

I definitely don't want to send them on food delivery without Grach.

>>3227364
Most importantly, we might see Grach dressed up as a Dominos delivery guy.

Day 2 of your operation, eh? Boy I sure hope nobody put birds in your lizard quest. That would be damn rude of him. Whoever did that would be a really rude smart awesome person.

>>3227675
If the Berets kill them do they get their VWES data for upgrades?

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>>3227680
If their data is set to recoverable?

Of course!

>>3226267
>>Convoy ambush
Anode, Bravely Broken
>Gastown
10th,and Grach
This is the one that fits the least, which is why it seems REALLY suspicious, especially since we dont know what the maverick endgame is.

>>Burnaby, Food Delivery
1st, police support. If they want to play harassment, we can play too. It'll be a win if we dont lose anyone an make them have to over commit their forces to this.

>>Recon
Spider. I want Spider to see if he can narrow down where we can find some of these roaming threats, specifically Torment and Schism, Claxton, and if possible, whoever their spotter is. If we can take them out before a big fight breaks out, then everything will get a lot safer to manage, we might even be able to get Grach to take one out when theyre alone.

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So today's superb owl day, not that I'm going anywhere or doing anything for it. Might leave the vote open a little longer, see if more input filters through.

>>3226267
>Anode & Bravely Broken: Bomb threat
Seems like the biggest Maverick operation at the moment, though it's going to blow through the last bits of secrecy we have.

>Spider & Grach: Harbor
Stealth shenanigans at Harbor require good sensors, so Spider has to go since Anode's busy. Grach's stealth should be good taking out the guards, who appeared poorly trained. Both should be good at identifying a trap set by Pink, plus I kind of want to see them team up for a mission.

>10th: Intel
Use police contacts to get some better info on remaining objectives, especially threat rating on P1C0.

>>3227740
Thanks, Cain. Now I can't unhear you as him.

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>>3230826
He's definitely himself, Abridged.

Any further votes or should I close it and see if I can get cracking?

>>3230829
I'm holding off voting because my tactics are shit, so update is good imo.

>>3231206
Right, I'll close it here. No update today but depending on how tomorrow goes I might be able to squeeze in a double. Gotta be stuck on station waiting for the plumber.

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>>3231248
Okay, uh, it turns out I have less votes than I thought.

>>3226444
I haven't counted yours yet because I'm ... not sure what you mean by 'factory.' The Victoroids are coming in as freight on a ship via the harbor, if that's what you're thinking.

WITHOUT--and I'll count this once I get confirmation, this is just where I'm at as of right now--I've got majorities as follows:

4 votes for Anode to Point Grey.
2 votes for Spider to the Harbor.
3 votes for Grach to the Harbor.
Tie of 2 votes for the Bravely Broken to either the Harbor or joining Anode at Point Grey.
3 votes for 10th unit to Gastown.

Once >>3226444 confirms their vote, I'll re-tally officially. This one's a bit messy since there's a few overlapping ideas (sending one versus several, etc).

>>3231574
whoo thats a right mess.. by factory I mean the harbor.
I am against sending both our stealth dudes to the harbor since it leaves openings and we really should not leave the 10th alone in gastown.
So Grach to Gastown with the 10th.
Anode to Harbor
Spider to Harbor
4th to Point Grey Thats my vote.

>>3231574
On second thought, I’ll vote for Bravely Broken to go with Anode to Point Grey, and 10th to Gastown. No particular vote regarding Harbor, but sending both Grach and Spider would be fine.

>>3231574
Wait, wheres my vote to send Spider to rescue the pianist?
>>3226305

>>3226267
>Vote:
Harbor/Victs -> Anode & 10th. Electricity+water+sensors = trap? Also shows the 10ths presence which is already known.
CommJams -> Grach. Can sneak in, get the deali-o, get out. If this is at the harbor, Anode being a big target only helps with the distraciton factor to hone in and take them out. Leaves him positioned to switch plans/support Anode and the 10th if priorites change or his main clears.
Three Days/Big Score -> Spider. Best chance on actually slipping into the right circles enough to decipher that. Knowing their endgame is super duper important.
Bomb Escort -> monitor and see how well the police handle it.
4th/BB -> in reserve. There to approach and assist whoever aggros the Enemy Officer(s). Hopefully baited out by anode. Don't want to play this card yet, it's so far totally unplayed and they'll be the scale tipper on any really tough fights.
Food Poisoning -> Not a hunter thing. At least not yet.
Pianist -> Stretched too thin, not yet.

>>3231574
Spider should go somewhere he can have someone or something big and loud causing a distraction, as per his usual modus operandi. I envisioned that as Anode causing a ruckus at the Harbor while Spider finds and possibly sabotages the Victoroid shipment. If it doesn't shake out that way, he can... I dunno, do intel or something.

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>>3232059
My tally up there only listed the winning/majority votes. There's only been one vote to send Spider to Gastown.

Speaking of, here's the current tallies:

Anode to Point Grey: 5
Spider to Harbor: 3
Grach to either Harbor or Gastown: 3
4th to Point Grey: 4
10th to Gastown: 5

Given general sentiments about keeping the 10th supported because they're understrength, we're more or less at one runoff vote, and that's for which combination for 10th, Grach, and Spider.

>Send Grach and Spider to the Harbor, keep 10th in reserve.
>Send Spider to the Harbor, Grach and the 10th to Gastown.
>Send Grach and Spider to the Harbor, 10th to Gastown.
>Other? (Please be as clear as possible for swift tallying)

>>3233162
>Send Spider to the Harbor, Grach and the 10th to Gastown

With the understanding that Spider is going for intel, not to pick a fight unless necessary.

>>3233162
>Send Grach and Spider to the Harbor, keep 10th in reserve.
Don't want to send any group by themselves until we deal with jammer guy.

>>3233162
>Send Grach and Spider to the Harbor, keep 10th in reserve.

>>3233162
>Send Grach and Spider to the Harbor, 10th to Gastown.

>>3233162
>Send Grach and Spider to the Harbor, keep 10th in reserve.
I don't have many guns to stick to with this tally, but I kinda want Grach in the Harbor and there's nothing wrong with taking it slow.

>>3233162
>Send Spider to the Harbor, Grach and the 10th to Gastown.
Really think the Pianist is going to end up being important, especially since it seems so strange alongside everything else going on, and it going to bite us in the ass if we ignore it, same as Atlantica. No one else seems to think so, but im going to go with my gut.

>>3233162
>Send Spider to the Harbor, Grach and the 10th to Gastown.

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>>3233178
>>3233354
>>3233664
>>3233812
Okay, 4 to 3.

Final results:
Anode to Point Grey.
Spider to the Harbor.
Grach to Gastown.
4th to Point Grey with Anode.
10th to Gastown with Grach.

Stand by, I'm going to do my best to write, but, uh.

It hasn't been a good day.

>>3233162
>>Send Spider to the Harbor, Grach and the 10th to Gastown.
Spider is for intel gathering. Maybe a cheap shot but thats it.

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Okay, sorry folks, no go again tonight. Got things ready to move once life gives it a rest over here, hoping I'll have more spare time and energy tomorrow.

In the meantime, may as well poke the discussion bear. Everyone having fun? How's the first year of 2019 been treating you?

>>3234451
I got infected by Cain Labs and I am creating a despair situation for my game group. It involves ART.

>>3234451
Many quests are happening, that's for sure.

I'm excited for more upgrades, but I also know I've been too busy to really update the format like last year.

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>>3234451
Our MHX game can never find a day that works for everyone so we've moved to a play-by-post format, which would be great if people could be bothered to check the roll20 at least once a day (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE), and now everything's at a crawl. But at least it is moving, I suppose.

>>3234451
>How's the first year of 2019 been treating you
>first year
You okay HC?

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>>3234451
In recent news

>>3234780
Now that is some deus ex shit

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>>3234776
>first year of 2019

>>3234780
The cyberpunk future is Soon™.

>>3234776
He's having a Groundhog Day year.

>>3234451
2019 has been busy
Finished trade school on Friday
Spent today looking for work
Your flooding problem getting cleaned up okay?

>>3234776
I'll know on Friday, probably.

>>3234780
When I saw that, I sent it to CL and told him that we're no longer science fiction.

>>3235005
Work in progress. Plumber thought he had it isolated to a dishwasher line, then had to come back and will need to be back again today to replace basically everything in the kitchen sink line.

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>>3226267
FRASER SURREY DOCKS - DAY 2
PRIVATE SECURITY CONSULTANT SPIDER

You are Spider, and you’re being followed.

It’s cloudy today, the Harbor cast in solid white-grays, broken only by the stark phantoms cast off the wall of mirrors that are Vancouver’s Glass Gothic architecture. That, and by the furtive flickers behind you.

They’re good, but not that good--and of course, it doesn’t help their case that you’ve got eyes in the back of your head.

You keep walking, sizing the offender up as you move--definitely built to brawl. His helmet sports two sets of fins on either side, swept back and up, coming to glinty points that suggest bladed edges. Similar backswept blades ring a wideset, flat-topped chassis, rising up from the shoulders like a collar. Wider, more angular slats augment the bracers on the outside of either arm, looking very much like the ports you draw your cards from. His pointed boots are atypically narrow for a Reploid, aside from a pronounced back heel that suggests a natural forward lean… and a robust dash system. A line of red-yellow-red triangles crisscross over his chassis at the widest point centerline, with blue and green accents on his limbs.

You keep moving, waiting and counting footsteps--he’s not in a hurry, but you can make out he’s a fast walker notwithstanding.

The footsteps multiply.

You don’t duck an alley or a blind turn, you don’t turn and shoot him, you stroll along, waiting as you count two, three more sets of boots. A thrum of a repulsor. Small mechaniloid-size props turning.

Finally, as if tired of waiting for you to flee into a chokepoint, one of them steps out in front of you. A Degraver, you think, the mining fellas, strides out, tapping his pick in his palm.

“Howdy,” you say, slowing your pace. The footfalls stop to your back, then left, then right. All sides, then--right in the middle of the street. “Lovely day for a walk, isn’t it?”

He doesn’t reply. The one behind you does, arms hitched up at his sides almost like a gunslinger. “You’ve been sticking your nose where it shouldn’t go, Itsy.”

You shrug grandly. “Coincidence?”

He scoffs. “You just happen to be a lone armed Reploid, everywhere we go? Following Hutchins, snooping around the harbor?”

“Maybe I’m looking for work,” you offer, mostly just to tweak him a little bit. “Itsy, for all your handcrafted murder needs.”

“You’re listed as off the market,” he replies, not rising to the bait. Two blades snap to life, hooked back over his forearms on either side, shaggy green beams alight in the light fog.

“Whoa, now,” you say, finally turning to look at him. You slide into a profile stance, one hand behind you, the other at your hip. “Are we going to have to have a discussion?”

“Mattack?” The maverick asks--the Degraver grunts by way of reply. “Knock his stupid hat off.”

>Draw.

>>3236260
Smash the Degraver behind us first - disarm him, retire him, whatever takes him out quickest. Weakest targets first, even up the number game as soon as possible.

>>3236260
>>3236345

Mostly down with this, but in addendum to knocking out the weakest one first, make a run for it when their way is opened up and try to use the terrain to our advantage to get in some surprise attacks. Play it smart, avoid an all-out brawl.

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>>3236345
Hey, welcome back!

>>3236385
I've been here, just didn't put my name up. I've never lost track of an episode yet, don't you worry.

>>3236260
I had a bad feeling about Spider in the harbor, but this isn't what I was expecting. Wonder if pianist would be better or worse.

>take out the miners, one by one. Keep low, maybe explode a pickaxe into leader friend here.

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>>3236260
Get distance
I fucking dare that degraver to actually throw the pickaxe

>>3236260
Smack the Degraver and get some distance.
Blame Anode for everything.

>>3236371
>>3236345
I can agree with these. If possible, make it so friendly fire is a issue for them. They are trying to block us on all sides, so either getting behind one guy or using them against one another can help. Fight smart, fight dirty.

>>3236260
Christ. I knew it was a bad idea to send Spider alone.

>>3236260
I don't have any combat plan in mind, but I think Spider needs to get out. He's been made and if he stays he'll only gather enemy attention, which I don't believe he'll be able to endure

Well, it took almost a full week but I have a working sink again.

Downside, I do not have a working dishwasher.

Down-downside, I do have a stacked up mountain of pans, sheets, bowls, glassware, and miscellaneous dishes.

Gonna be a fun evening tonight, and I may not have time to get a post in. Will do my best.

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I am HC, the absolute best at formatting a closetag. I blame prune fingers and whiskey.
>>3236345
>>3236371
>>3236501
>>3236563
>>3236744
>>3237040
You turn back to the Degraver who--sure enough--winged his mattock (the name hits you--ugh--) at your hat. You cock your head to the side to let it pass, the trajectory sailing on gracefully and clattering at the feet of the talker you’re now steadfastly ignoring.

Sure enough, that pissed him off. He throws himself into a dash, lunging at you and chewing up the distance quick, a corona of scything blades shredding through the air in a wide arc around him.

You file that away as your sensors--all of them, shoulders and ankles and hat and knees and all--take in the scenery, and you get a wonderful panoply of Vancouver in a heartbeat. A card snaps into your fingers as a custom-painted Earth Commander rises over a squat little bodega, the Degraver producing another pickaxe. Your shuffler chews its food, and then:

>--10C--

You fling your card and catch him straight in the headgear, the wafer detonating and taking his own hat off with a gout of superstate energy. Your draw cycles as you lean and fairly well stride out of the lunging path of the guy behind you--

>--ZF DOUBLEDART--

--Reads a stripe running up the paint on the side of his boot. He takes longer to slow down than to speed up, rounding back up as the Degraver, hatless and headless, crumples.

“It’s like you’re moving in slow motion,” you drawl, retaking a ready stance as he seethes.

Play-fighting aside, this guy’s trouble. A hothead, but you could feel the air buffeting from that storm of blades around him. It’s not gonna tickle if you get tagged. He’s green, but if he ever gets a handle on that temper, you could be in hot water quick.

Around you, another trio announce themselves--and that Earth Commander abruptly flings a roiling blue ball of energy at you, divesting itself of a shimmery bubble. Your card (--5H--) hits the tumbling sphere and…

… poofs.

Wuh-oh.

You dive to the side and only just spring back on your heel in time to avoid the Doubledart’s blades driving down for you. He lunges after, bringing the forearm sabers around in a scissor. Your flux is at 60%--it’ll do.

You decide to play your hand.

>--2H--3S--3C--AD--KH--

You can work with it--you flag 2, and 3, and cycle the rest--

>--2D--3S--3C--10D--3D--

It’ll work.

>HARMONIZATION
>--2H-2D--3C-3D--
>OUTPUTTING
>READY

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>>3238505
You level your bracers and fire mid-lunge. He sees it, eyes flicking wider before he leans into the dash.

The first card explodes with a blast like a cannonball, the second shearing harmlessly off his shield of blades--but the force of it driving him off to the side and just barely out of the way. He skids to a halt, glaring daggers at your near-escape.

Around you, the Earth Commander(?) swoops, a Hoganmer finally rounds a corner, and two civs with claptrap busters start firing, running like molasses in January.

Change suit (choose one): (Current Spades)
>Spades: Balanced. Attacks target multiple enemies at high Flux.
>Clubs: High power, slow velocity. Multihit single targets at high Flux.
>Diamonds: High velocity, low Flux build. Promotes shear over explosiveness at high Flux.
>Hearts: Low power, swift Flux build. Captures and surveys enemy data at high Flux.

>Choose actions.


NOTES:
>Current Flux: 0%
>Flux of 50% enables a 5x card draw. Spider can hold any number of these five outcomes and replace the others for a "hand." Combat generates Flux.
>Flux above 50% produces more favorable harmonization outcomes.

>>3238511
Stick to Spades, just because we have a variety of threats on us.

Take care of the civs first, then work on the Earth Commander and Hoganmer. Doubledart can keep bullcharging as much as he wants; we'll get to him eventually after we deal with everyone else.

>>3237167
You guys haven't even met minibosses The Rain and Smythe.

>>3238511
Nice implementation of Spider's Command mission mechanics.

>>3238599
I'll support this.

>>3238599
Supporting this.

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>>3238511
>Change suit: Man-Eater Bug, I mean, Diamonds
Dubs is covered in enough crap where shear is necessary

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>>3238666
You have no idea how much I needed this laugh.

>>3238511
>Clubs: High power, slow velocity. Multihit single targets at high Flux.
Considering the mattocks and bladeshield, I'd rather pierce straight through and oneshot enemies. We're still going through the minion list, but one at a time instead of pinging everyone.

>>3238700
Seconding. Gotta keep 'em guessin'.

>>--2D--3S--3C--10D--3D--
>>It’ll work.

>>HARMONIZATION
>>--2H-2D--3C-3D--


>Realize that you were hiding a 2H card up your sleeve.
>Feint with the spare 3S that you didn't use for a three-of-a-kind.

>>3238511
So, way I see it; Spades is your mario option,
Clubs is your anti heavy armor option, Diamonds for Dakka and shields, Hearts for mooks and building up our flux.

Flux is our battle currency and we should see into building it up. Switch to hearts, start thinning the civvie modles and earth commanders which are lighter armor. With less attackers, we can switch to Spades, Diamonds, or Clubs to deal with the enemy.

Mr Swordy seems like he is weak to clubs or diamonds though.

>>3238511
>Diamonds: High velocity, low Flux build. Promotes shear over explosiveness at high Flux.

Focus on Earth Commander, anything that can erase cards is a hassle we don't need. Follow up on taking out the two civs, try and save up a good Flux for Doubledart.

>>3238511
>Spades: Balanced. Attacks target multiple enemies at high Flux

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+1 for Spades and dealing with that Earth Commander

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Spades and Earth Commander
>>3238599
>>3238647
>>3238652
>>3239402

Diamonds
>>3238666
>>3239103


Clubs
>>3238700
>>3238765

Looks like Spades and the Shield Commander.

>>3238878
That was a typo--Spider drew Two Pair.

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>>3238599
>>3238647
>>3238652
>>3239402
You dance around the incoming volleys from the civs, putting yourself between them and the Doubledart--sure enough, he rushes you again, and this time you opt to leap clear over him at the last instant, forcing him to stop short and his shooters to aim wide. You sling a card up over their heads at the modified Earth Commander as it swings low.

Sweet chariot that it is, your shot plinks off a new shimmering barrier, which it spits at your destination site. You machinegun four more cards at it, the recoil forestalling your landing just long enough to let it roll straight by. You dash forward, the Doubledart on your tail again, and gatling another hail of shots into the mechaniloid overhead. It’s as slow to react as you’d hoped, and your shots chase each other up its backside before something detonates, the whole thing listing over as it turns on its side back toward you. A final shot to the laboring propeller takes it down--

And the interior pod flywheels free, the shield blazing to life around it as it rolls for you like a bat out of hell. There’s no way to avoid hitting it.

It’s actually fortunate that it does, as the Doubledart’s blades scythe through a split-second later, missing you only from the flash of your shields. He lashes back in a follow-up, but you’ve already backed off and struck him in the side with a 6 of hearts for his overcommitment. He swings his arm wide to catch you, but you’ve already backed off, peppering his buffeted shields with more to arrest his advance.

In return, he leaps up--straight up--and throws his arms wide, those blade projectors overcharging and then divesting themselves as they lance skyward.

An instant later, a hailstorm of scissors streaks down around you. Lambent energy blades crisscross the street, slashing rifts through storefronts and sidewalks. A fire hydrant goes up in a gout as the pressure cap--hell, the whole outlet--is shorn cleanly through, and a real rain follows the artificial one as he comes back down in the freshly-scored asphalt.

You avoided it, but barely. He doesn’t look all that put out about it.

You fire one, two, three more cards at him, which he shreds from the air at arm’s length, the explosions doing nothing but give his crisp paint job some seasoning. “What, is that it?” He scoffs, his goons coming around either side to flank him.

>Flux: 55%

“Nope.” You snap your dealers up and fire on full-auto, one-two-three-four.

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>>3241269
“You’re all talk, Itsy,” he sneers, lowering his smoldering bracers, none the worse for wear. “This is going to be easy.”

As one, his companions crumple to the ground beside him, chests buzzing from one-two-three-four sparking rents.

You sent your love letter in triplicate.

“How’s that?” You ask politely.

Confusion, then shock, then rage morphs across his face as he casts his glance about, then back to you.

>You bought yourself a ticket out of here, now punch it.
>Kid hasn’t learned his lesson--and you’ve got a job to do.
>Other?

NOTES:
>Current Flux: 75%
>Current Suit: Spades (Multiattack Active)
>Flux of 50% enables a 5x card draw. Combat generates Flux.
>Flux above 50% produces more favorable harmonization outcomes.

>>3241272
>Kid hasn’t learned his lesson--and you’ve got a job to do.
>Diamond
wow, that must be quite a bit of collateral.

Clubs might make him cool his temper. I'd rather spam fluxed diamonds until it's too late for him to realize the supersplosions.

>>3241272
>Kid hasn’t learned his lesson--and you’ve got a job to do.

>>3241272
>>Kid hasn’t learned his lesson--and you’ve got a job to do.
Bugger is dangerous if we let him be and taking him out removes a threat from operations. Diamond should work against his beams and shields, plus we can keep him pressured.Worst comes to worst, we start using flux and get a 5 draw for something good.

>>3241411
This one

>>3241411
Sounds like a plan to me.

>>3241272
>Kid hasn't learned his lesson--and you've got a job to do.

Besides anything else, we don't want any witnesses, yeah?

Can we switch suits without being at zero flux? If not, spend it and switch to Diamonds; otherwise, switch to Diamonds now and save it up unless we need a draw.

>>3241411
I'm game to back this.

>>3241272
>Kid hasn’t learned his lesson--and you’ve got a job to do.
>Diamond

>>3241272
>Kid hasn’t learned his lesson--and you’ve got a job to do.
Diamond, keep him mad.

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Okay, folks, I'm home after what has truly been a hell of a week. This morning I woke up and the first thing I did was pull a muscle in my neck/shoulder really damn bad.

On the bright side, I had a medical test I've been waiting for over twelve years on, and finally got an answer. I'm pouring some scotch.

>>3243800
>Magenta beams
Oh shit, Iris has shot eraser gear.
Sorry to hear about the shoulder stuff, been dealing with a stiff back myself.

>>3243800
>I had a medical test I've been waiting for over twelve years on, and finally got an answer

Bad news or good news?

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>>3243977
Expected news. And closure, I hope.

Long story short, I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a wide swath of conditions that, in my case, makes you dislocate your everything.

I finally got confirmation of it, in those terms and in writing, from a geneticist.

>>3243995
Oh man, I hope this means you can get somekind of support for this.
I don't have any nice Scotch, but I'll pour some good schnapps

>>3243995
I remember you mentioning that. Now that it's confirmed, you can move forward.

>>3243995
yeah thats worse than a bad back. I'll offer you some booze if I ever see you. Do what you gotta do.

>>3243995
Fuck, man, that's rough. Medical diagnosis is good, at least, moving forward. Better than not having it.

>>3243995
EDS? Sounds familiar. Wait, I think I might have a family friend who has it.

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>>3241411
>>3241414
>>3241431
>>3241491
>>3241526
>>3241609
>>3242272
>>3242710
>>3242828
You size him up--this won’t be easy, and it may not be pretty, but you’re pretty sure you can take him.

He forestalls the standoff by lunging forward again, springing high and throwing out his arms to call down another storm of swords on you, bounding off the landing to chase you on the follow-up.

You dance among the shredding rain, pealing off metal, nicking brickwork, and carving through everything. The clatterclang dies as you jump straight back--and throw a single card at your feet as you spring.

He’s at least got the good sense not to blunder into it, even though it was a bluff--this time. It explodes at his feet as he stops short, buying you the moment you need. You come back down at the ready, one hand on the brim of your hat and the other to your side, snapping it back to draw another card as the last of the clattering dims.

Fella likes knives, does he?

You switch suits, your flux more than high enough to shift the outcome plane to speak his language. You wind up, he raises his hands…

And he stumbles as a card slashes through his thigh, leaving a perfectly clean slice that buckles the leg.

His eyes widen, not expecting the new trick--you throw two more, hitting his arm and shoulder. He lunges forward, sending down another rain--you break left, but a falling guillotine bites your shoulder, and another slices the tip off your hair on the right side.

All that becomes less important as he finally catches you up close, and rakes his blades across your arms.

You turn with the blow on instinct, and instead of hacking your sleeve off, he instead rakes a brutal furrow through your forearm up to your elbow, the other digging into your chest and out with a spray of parts you’d really rather have kept inside you today. This close, his savage, predatory grin cuts across his features.

>--7S--2D--5D--3D--3C--

Three, Four, Five--

>--5H--3H--5D--3D--3C--

>HARMONIZATION
>--5H-5D--3H-3D-3C--
>OUTPUTTING
>READY

The grin slowly slides from his face as he looks down, puzzled.

Tucked up beneath his chin, the dealer sizzles, its outcome projected.

His expression keeps sliding down before finally slipping free, shorn clean off and through.

The Z4 Doubledart collapses, dead by the sword.

Silence reigns.


You inspect the damage with a grimace--you’ll live and your shields still work, but you’re not winning any beauty contests for a little while.

“Spider to HQ,” you comm, grimacing as you touch the shorn piece of your headgear with your finger.

“Go ahead,” Anode replies after a moment.

“I’ve been made. Ran into a nasty fella and his friends. Damaged but functional.”

“Damn.” A pause. “You good to keep going?”

“Reckon I am,” you reply, having taken a moment to surmise that yourself.

“Copy.”

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>>3245000
“See if you can send some boys in blue out to collect this guy,” you add, nudging him over with your toe. “Remains are intact enough to give the labcoats something to poke over.”

“Understood. Out.”

Close-lipped today, isn’t he? Well, he’s got his own bag of cats. You have yours.

The harbor is almost placid, the ships rolling up and down lazily in the automated tide. Container ships have been pulled up right alongside the docks. You get the feeling their Captains were told some time ago that they’re not going anywhere until Vancouver is a maverick-free zone again.

They offer a better view than the pier, and a handy way past the barricades separating the civilian freight from the military servicing cranes.You scale one, kicking off a porthole with a faint crack (oops), and make your way up to the top of a stack of crates.

You notice your tail at the top of the crane.

You jump from the top and snag the hook on the next over as a trio of oblong lasers fork out, thudding into the side of the crane as you kip back up on top into a crouch. You dive-roll and throw a card back at the returning fire, hitting…

...Nothing. Nothing at all.

You glance behind you--there. In the distance, you see two hulking forms--civilian Ride Loaders, lifting massive boxes from a cargo crate and placing them harborside, next to a small picket of armed Reploids. Given the cordon and the complete lack of shipments in or out, you’ve got your ticket.

… And your new dance partner. Where--

There.


He shimmers into view with a strangely audible di-di-di-di-di, a uniquely shaped buster with a forked slat around a central green emitter gem leveled on you.

“Howdy,” you call.

With a rasp like a rolling frost, he whispers. “Hell-”

You don’t wait for the o, instead immediately firing a pair of cards through his chest.

… Through his chest. He takes on a thousand hues, a scintillating kaleidoscope washing over the white panels of his armor, and your cards sail right on through and detonate against the far crane. He slides out of focus and then out of view, as shouts of alarm ring out from the maverick load team.

>Square up and take on the newcomer. He’s a custom jobby, just like the Z4.
>Cut and run to pin down the loaders before they get away with the goods.

NOTES:
>Current Flux: 10%
>Current Suit: Diamonds (Shear Inactive)
>Flux of 50% enables a 5x card draw. Combat generates Flux.
>Flux above 50% produces more favorable harmonization outcomes.

>>3245003
Victoroids are just muscle. Information and Stealth are waaaay more important here.

>Square up and take on the newcomer. He’s a custom jobby, just like the Z4.
>Hearts
if even Diamond doesn't catch him so easily, I'd rather analyze the various kinds of jamming and telefrags he's got going on.

....sidenote, I thought overesplosiveness meant that the cards literally explode. Whoops.

Sidenote, this CAN'T be as good as what a certain dragonfly was packing, and literal teleport tech is high-tier.

I'm thinking projected illusions that can also fire special buster shots. Is this guy our frosty friend from SV?

>>3245003
>Cut and run to pin down the loaders before they get away with the goods.
blast hornet miniboss.png

>>3245077
I think he might be one of those Geists, at least a modified one, their specialty is optical cloaking

>>3245120
Optical cloaking doesn't flat out prevent damage in the space you're standing in. There's got to be more to it, even if it's just "makes you look 5 meters to the right of where you actually are"

>>3245131
I read it more as the guy fired, then immediately cloaked and moved while Spider was dodging.

>>3245003
>Cut and run to pin down the loaders before they get away with the goods.

>>3245003
>Square up and take on the newcomer. He's a custom jobby, just like the Z4.

Doing something else while there's a stealthfucker on the scene is a great way to get ganked, especially since we don't have any backup. Perfect time to swap to Hearts.

>>3245003
>Cut and run to pin down the loaders before they get away with the goods.
Switch to Clubs, better for stopping the loaders

>>3245003
>>Cut and run to pin down the loaders before they get away with the goods.
Switch to hearts, build up power on the loaders. If they turn that dumb muscle on, we are in deep shit. Sides, we want to fuck with their big game. We have multiple sensor fighters on this mission, but not even close to enough muscle if they go all out.

Seven's stolen sting chameleon data

>>3245586
do cards count as slicing damage?

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>>3246463
Diamonds suit at high Flux does.

>>3245557
Actually I will change to Clubs for now. Getting the loaders down is important along with stalling their movement. If possible I would say dunk the crates into the water or anything to prevent transportation.

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Okay, CL has food to go be having, we're likely going to pick up with the next thread. Maybe tonight, more likely tomorrow.

So how y'all doing tonight?

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>>3247506
Having some food, probably hunting monsters with you later, the usual.

>>3247506
Spent the week job hunting in the snow with no results
Cuddled up on the sofa with the cat and a book