First for linking back

>>4785536
IT BEGINS!

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+++XENO QUOTE OF THE DAY+++

>SELECTED Belcossan

“Hey Thistle, how is your seedling doing these days?” Doctor Amelia Dakota asked as she entered the tent, not unkindly.

Thistle-of-Magenta did not answer immediately. Thorn-of-Ebony may be from their shared pod unit but these past few seasons their melodies had soured, their tunes carried harsher tones and their lyrics sharper words. Their songs tended toward rage, to violence. Less regret and more anger, though there was plenty of both going around in Camp Freehaven. Food and medicine might be in low stock, but in regret and anger the Three Pines camps were abundant. And weapons. The discarded arms and unlocked armouries of the failed Republic holdouts on this fortress world had not gone un-scavenged for long. Doctor Amelia knew full well the young belcossan sprig, seed-sibling to Thistle, was tight with the Republic Resurgent faction these days. More focussed on trying to claw something out of the ruins of this world before it died than helping those trapped beneath the wreckage of this world. It shamed Thistle, to see their pod-family turn to violence over healing, but it was hard to find a human song that could properly express their shame at the futility of their seed-sibling’s course of action. Or perhaps convey their own shame at the futilityof their meagre efforts to mitigate the misery in the camps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l-rX3W3tyQ&ab_channel=G4FRecords – Spring Folk Song

Brrrrmm Akht. Krrrrmm Akht.
Mrrrrmm Brrrrmm Krrrrmm.
Akht. [ / = untranslatable?]

“Belccie tunes today, I see.” The Doctor spoke lightly but the concern in her voice at Thistle’s sombre mood was as plain as a warm summer’s day. “With this new shipment from the Comp-an-y… at least the children won’t go hung-ar-y?”

Doctor Amelia’s clumsy attempt at rhyme was obviously a particularly unsubtle attempt to cheer Thistle up. If only it worked. But Thistle burbled a happy repose in response even if their sap was not in it. Doctor Amelia insisted that she was no doctor, that she was barely even qualified to administer healing to the smaller four-legged mammalians that her human kind, but that seemed just about the same thing to Thistle. So they called her Doctor.

[1/3]

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The other humans called her Doctor too, and in any case during the leaner times when food shipments were few are far between there seemed to be less and less of these four legged mammals around. ‘Pets’, as the humans called them. Thistle wondered if there was some connection, the small creatures were probably out hunting rodents away from the camp was their best guess. They didn’t give it much thought, they didn’t see much point in the furry little companions. The small avians on the other hand, so very like the Asandi, were a different matter. Far too short lived compared to their larger alien cousins, but at least they could sing worth a leaf. Earth must have been a beautiful place so much like Spring, where even the trees sang as the wind passed through their curled branches.

“Sorry Thistle, I’m better with poetry.” The Doctor’s face had taken on an unusual colour, though Thistle had seen that occur before without being symptomatic of any catastrophic organ failure so they were not immediately alarmed. Amelia turned away swiftly, busying themselves with counting the stocked shelves of the shelter. A tent staked years ago with the intention of being temporary, long since rendered permanent. There was more on the shelves than usual, a happy change in the fortunes of the seasons. “In any case, those antibiotics will mean we can get this typhoid crisis under control, and we’ve even got mercenary SecCom units on loan to help dish it out. Make sure the food and medicine gets where it needs.”

Thistle did not grunt; they were incapable of the noise. But they had to admit to some degree of surprise. All too often the shipments from the Federation and other sympathetic benefactors would find their way into the pockets of the petty warlords and criminals that ran the camps and their black markets. Turning intended relief into a bargaining chip for those with power. This human mercenary company may be unrepentant killers, the kind of peers Thorn might admire, but at least they were not fools. And even Thistle could not entirely shake off the deep feeling of gratitude that was shared by most humans, and even the sparse remaining Belcossans, towards these black-armoured gunmen.

“Months. Maybe a year, if we go for half-rations from the very start? Maybe Thorn has a point.” Doctor Amelia sighed heavily, weight not visible to the Belcossan eyes dragging at her shoulders. Thistle had little doubt were she belcossan her petals would be withering and turning to the dying brown of despairing autumn. “What’s the point? Each day the air is getting worse, whether we can power the atmo-recyclers or not. We’re stuck aboard a sinking ship, trying to make sure the passengers don’t starve or die from sickness or-or kill each other! Keep them alive just long enough to drown… “

[2/3]

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[3/3]

Thistle wrapped a tender appendage around the not-Doctor’s shoulder. Sometimes Thistle could forget that the humans were also a dying species, albeit one not quite drawing its last breath yet compared to the Spring Folk. “Sorry…I’m… I just… I’m trying to figure on why we’re fighting so hard to keep the lights from going out when all we seem to manage is changing the lightbulb again and again….”

The Spring Folk may express their griefs in a more dignified manner than leaking fluids from the face, but sorrow is sorrow. The two of them stayed there in silence for a moment, human hand clutching belcossan branch. Poetry was not Thistle’s strong suit, if it had to be anything that wasn’t a song they preferred haikus. It bridged that bizarre gap between True Speak and what the other races conversed in, it wasn’t a song but nor was it exactly a conversation. The human tongues (what species would ever thought to have needed such diverse dialects!) were tricky but well worth the effort of research. Many other races, despite all their technological achievements, were so… pedestrian when it came to the High Art. Sometimes Thistle would break out the old sound recorder, a primitive but quaint large black disc was something Thistle would readily dispense quality medical aid in return for, and human songs from centuries past would ring out over the camp and into the hills. They knew of course that the human artists could not match the Greats of Spring Folk History, but some very few came damn close. Thistle struggled to find the right human words as the silence between him and his fellow doctor dragged on. Eventually the words came to them as the Thistle and Amelia stared out over the scarce few lights in the camp and into the gloomy barren hills of Three Pines beyond.

“Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”

============================================

Xeno Quote of the Day (select one for the next thread)

>Asandi
>Auxl
>Belcossan
>Chorkrum
>Coryx
>Drax
>Faenwedhe
>Kroll
>Pect’Max
>Quexi
>Savis
>Yibrak
>Vesh

>>4785576
>>Drax

>>4785576
>Kroll

Good to see you back, hope the time off was fun

>>4785576
>Savis

>>4785576
>>Savis

We’re going up against the fuck I feel it’ll probablly be appropriate

if only we could transport three pines refugees to the planet the feds stole, teach them the realm meaning of 13% of the population 50% of the crime

>>4785576
>Kroll
always

My computer is acting hella slow, but it shouldn't be so bad that I can't stick to my daily updates. Good to see some of the regulars back in action already.

>>4785592
>spoiler
Ah, an ideas man I see.

>>4785582
Spent every day surfing and loved every second of it. And I managed to paddle out past this point I was always scared of, so I'm pretty chuffed with myself. Hopefully you players will help keep me grounded.

How have you guys been in the meantime?

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>>4785576
>Savis

>>4785608
Waiting for the quest bossman. Or just lazing around, nothing much.

>>4785576
>Faenwedhe
Big need.

>>4785608
Honestly the more we learn about the setting and its history the more I understand jihad as an option that I hope we embrace at some point

Glad you had fun during your break I’m bedridden due to mystery leg and back muscle cramps so I can’t stand or sit pretty much at all

>>4785608
Been good senpai, passed some tests to prep for a new job and have been looking forward to this game

>>4785576
>Many other races, despite all their technological achievements, were so… pedestrian when it came to the High Art.

Man this kinda explains why during first contact the belcossans were evasive until humanity transmitted some music tracks.

First contact:

Humans: Hey there
Belcossans: ...
Humans: uhhh... hello?
Belcossans:...
Humans: *Play My hips don't lie*
Belcossans: OwO wat's this?

Xeno Quote of the Day
>Savis

>>4785576
>>Drax

We're back! 4th time lucky?

>>4785576
>Asandi

>>4785576
>>Coryx

Should I vote Drax because they've consistently been a top-tier choice? Yes.

Would the Savis be an apt choice seeing as we're probably going to be murder-fucking a whole lot of them? Of course.

But no, I'm a pleb that wants to know more about the Captain's acrotomophilic bug waifu.

>>4785576
>>Faenwedhe
Aw yeah

>>4785624
>Humans: *Play My hips don't lie*

if this is the song they've chosen, humanity has fallen farther that I ever feared.

>>4785576
>>Pect’Max

>>4785576
>Savis

Glad to see you back, good to be back.

>>4785576

>Asandi

>>4785576
>Savis

I'm so happy you're back.

>>4785576
>>Yibrak

>>4785576
>Belcossan

>>4785576
>Savis

Hope you had a great vacation!

Know the Enemy.

>>4785576
>Savis

welcome back, shark bait!

>>4785576
>Savis
We have heard from races of two of the Powers, now its time for the rats.
Glad to have you back, Forgotten.

>>4785576
>>Vesh

Here we go again!

>>4785576
>>Drax

>>4785576
>Faenwedhe
KRIEGER STORM

>>4785576
>>Savis

>>4785576
>Asandi

>>4785576
>Faenwedhe
Skyriau

>>4785576

>Kroll

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>>4785576
>Faenwedhe
Come on Kirggas! Do you want to live forever?!

>>4785576
>>Auxl

>>4785576

>Coryx

>>4785576
Aw yiss, glad to see you back Forgotten.

>Savis

>>4785576
>>Savis

>>4785624
I figured they found the Voyager Record and really liked the Chuck Berry, singing natives and Birdsong tracks.
>Savis

>>4785576
>Faenwedhe
Fuck xenos. Humanity #1 .

>>4785576
>Savis

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>>4785576
Auxl

I don't know if this counts as avatarfagging, but I can never find my posts once the quest gets going, so on the off chance that Forgotten wants us to link back, I am attaching this ridiculous image so I can remember which post is mine.

>>4786764
Do that or type something that you will remember in your first post, even if you only remember one word of it. For me, I will remember calling Savis rats, which should be enough.

>>4785576
>Savis

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>>4786764
You make a good point sir.

>>4785576
>Chorkrum
Chonkers

>>4785576
>>Coryx
I just like the name.

>>4786793
I did that last time, and it still got lost in the crowd.

>>4785576
>Savis

Gotta learn more about the little bastards

Man, humanity is sad in this universe…I wonder if we can ever turn things around

>>4787168
I hope so, but at best it would only be "turning it around", in that we stop the decline and sheer deceleration we are in and begin to improve things. That by itself would be enough to be proud off.

>>4785576

>Faenwedhe

C'mon technobarbarians. Gotta happen eventually.

>>4785576
>>Drax
Fuck yea we back.

>>4785576
>Savis
Hope I made it.
Dust.

>>4785576
>Faenwedhe

Hope you enjoyed your break Forgotten.

>>4787257
Bah all we really need is a decent sized place to call our own. Humanity is very resilient.

>>4787745
Unfortunately its the logistics of getting their and making it our own which is the issue.

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>SELECTED Savis

++MISSION OBJECTIVES++
>PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: Fires of Rebellion. Arm the local slave population and initiate a planet-wide uprising that will demand a Savis Legion response. Extract once confirmation of large scale Savis Legion deployment is confirmed.
>SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: Free League of Dis. Liberate, motivate, equip and train a sufficient number of slaves to ensure that the insurgency will persist to the point where crushing it will require a significant drain on the Empire’s resources.
>SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: Plausible Deniability. Keep any incriminating evidence of outside involvement in the rebellion to an absolute minimum. Witnesses, having members of your squad captured and other indiscretions will further the risk of this objective failing.
>TERTIARY OBJECTIVE: Finish your deployment with 50% Combat Effectiveness for Third Squad.

++EQUIPMENT++
>Maglock Pistol: +5DC to Wetwork, +5DC to Close Encounters
>Shock Trooper Carapace: +30AV
>Ballistic Carbine: +0 to Hostile Cas Lethality
>Standard Ammunition (4 Firefight Engagements)
>Shrapnel Grenades: +1 Re-Roll to Firefight (2 Firefight Engagements)
>Ghosthelm: +10DC to Firefight when using Wetwork Ploy Tactict, +1 Re-Roll to Wetwork.
>8 Cases of Military Supplies

Dis. An arid mining world in the backyard of the Savis Empire with more than half of the population living in conditions that could only be described as chattel slavery.

A skilled and valued slave serving a family unit in the towns might live a relatively luxurious lifestyle or at least the liveable conditions of an appreciated servant. They may even be granted their freedom following long years of loyal service. But for the most part, especially on the mining world of Dis, the majority of slaves lead short and brutal lives working to death in the countless pits and shafts that dot the surface of the planet. There is no distinction between race or class for these sorry workers, human refugees captured by Pect’Max raiders rub shoulders with disgraced Savis nobles and numerous Federation races or more bizarre species bought wholesale on the flesh markets. In the darkness of the mines and the relentless dust kicked up by the industrial scale strip-mining efforts, one dirt-swathed slave seems little different than another. In the wake of the Rot and Purification Wars there was no shortage of expelled and unwanted populace that any slavemaster could turn a profit on.

Those slaves that defy such a pitiless existence are subjected to harsh disciplinary actions, executions and for those that look like they’d give good sport a horrific end awaits them in the Gladiator Pits that form the basis of recreational events for the free Dis townsfolk. Still, a brave few that manage to avoid the slavers and hunter-killer patrols will achieve freedom at the price of a harsh existence in the rugged hills of Dis or the belt of tropical jungles the circle the planet’s equator.

[1/2]

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[2/2]

It’s the perfect breeding ground for resentment and revolt, though with their current meagre armaments and lack of coordination the disparate escapee hamlets have managed little more than the odd hit-and-run for desperately needed supplies. Dis is no stranger to the occasional slave riot or even short-lived rebellion, the local Legion garrison seems to welcome the target practice. But with the Black Company infiltrating Krieger companies all across the planet via Black Talon Gunship insertion, this time around the Savis Legio XXIV won’t have it so easy.

Your squad will be touching down in a mountainous region in the northern hemisphere to rendezvous with a Black Company operative from the Pathfinder Cadre, one of the specialised sect of deep-cover operatives and survivalists that has been embedded in one of the escapee camps since before the Company every officially undertook this contract. This operative, callsign ‘Wasp’ will direct you and the other hard hitters to identified targets in the region that will ensure the rebellion kicks off with gusto. From there, with whatever slaves have escaped in the chaos and are willing to fight, your squad and others over the planet will help get the untrained and untested hopefuls ready for the inevitable response from the unforgiving Savis Empire.

That’s what the plan is according to the briefing anyway, and from the sound of things this deployment will last weeks if not months. You foresee a lot of uneasy and sleepless nights ahead, with hard treks across rocky hills and what passes for jungle on this world. So you’re getting a head start on your sleep while you can, the bumpy ride on the Black Talon Gunship is practically soothing compared to a Helldrop and all but rocks you into a gentle slumber during re-entry. If only you weren’t still getting echoes from nightmares of the Void Jump…

========================================================

Visions of Death
>Floating helplessly amidst lifeless wreckage, cast adrift in the endless void of space. Watching that oxygen counter trickle down to zero. [Adrift]

>Bleeding out in the ruins of some urban warzone, gut-shot by one of your own. Someone you thought you could trust. [Betrayed]

> Your every step stalked and shadowed by an alpha predator immeasurably more lethal than you. Run down and eaten alive, while you still have breath left to scream. [Hunted]

>>4787932
>Floating helplessly amidst lifeless wreckage, cast adrift in the endless void of space. Watching that oxygen counter trickle down to zero. [Adrift]

I could see Snake Eyes having serious issues with a death she has absolutely no control over. A situation where she can do literally nothing to prevent it. Dealing with war, being hunted? All normal shit. Watching your O2 run out whilst your try to take shallow breaths and make it last? Horror

>>4787939

Linking back because all samefags must hang

>>4785582

>>4787932
>>Bleeding out in the ruins of some urban warzone, gut-shot by one of your own. Someone you thought you could trust. [Betrayed]

Time to train some mujahideen fuckers

>>4786197
Noice work anon

>>4786197
Didn't see this earlier, that's really cool anon

>>4787932
>>Floating helplessly amidst lifeless wreckage, cast adrift in the endless void of space. Watching that oxygen counter trickle down to zero. [Adrift]

All of these are realistic fears for SE, but context is key. We're going planet-bound to aid in a slave revolt, that smacks of getting shot in the back by a scared 'comrade' trying to save their own skin.

The predator could work just in general because of our background. Heck, we took all those stimulants to emulate those great fearsome beasts. Wouldn't surprise me if some of that childhood dread kicked through.

Dying in space on the other hand seems like a pretty remote possibility here.

I'll post when I'm at my home computer.

>>4787955
I'd say that given that this is both an "echo from the nightmare of the Void Jump" and we spend the vast majority of our time in space with the real possibility of a breach leading to death the context is definitely there for the space-based suffocation nightmare. That being said though this doesn't seem like the most important choice ever so not really worth arguing too hard over

>>4787932
>>Bleeding out in the ruins of some urban warzone, gut-shot by one of your own. Someone you thought you could trust. [Betrayed]

me >>4787530

>>4787964
Touchè.

>>4787932
>>Floating helplessly amidst lifeless wreckage, cast adrift in the endless void of space. Watching that oxygen counter trickle down to zero. [Adrift]

>>4787932
>Bleeding out in the ruins of some urban warzone, gut-shot by one of your own. Someone you thought you could trust. [Betrayed]

>>4787932
> Your every step stalked and shadowed by an alpha predator immeasurably more lethal than you. Run down and eaten alive, while you still have breath left to scream. [Hunted]

>>4786197
Good job she's gorgeous

>>4785675
Linking bark

>>4787932
>Bleeding out in the ruins of some urban warzone, gut-shot by one of your own. Someone you thought you could trust. [Betrayed]

Me >>4785596

>>4785630
>>4787932
>>Bleeding out in the ruins of some urban warzone, gut-shot by one of your own. Someone you thought you could trust. [Betrayed]

>>4787932

> Your every step stalked and shadowed by an alpha predator immeasurably more lethal than you. Run down and eaten alive, while you still have breath left to scream. [Hunted]

>>4785666
Verification

I feel like we should have bought the manual on Savis doctrine would have probably helped us out in the “stay under the radar” department of our mission

>>4787932
>Floating helplessly amidst lifeless wreckage, cast adrift in the endless void of space. Watching that oxygen counter trickle down to zero. [Adrift]

>>4786171
Me

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>>4788073
We'll just use heavy stealth

>>4787932
>Bleeding out in the ruins of some urban warzone, gut-shot by one of your own. Someone you thought you could trust. [Betrayed]

Maybe our deep cover operative isn't as undercover as we thought.

>>4785748
Me

>>4787932
>Floating helplessly amidst lifeless wreckage, cast adrift in the endless void of space. Watching that oxygen counter trickle down to zero. [Adrift]

>>4785654

>>4786412
>>4787932

>Adrift

>>4787932
>> Your every step stalked and shadowed by an alpha predator immeasurably more lethal than you. Run down and eaten alive, while you still have breath left to scream. [Hunted]

How else should a child of the Green die?

>>4787932

> Your every step stalked and shadowed by an alpha predator immeasurably more lethal than you. Run down and eaten alive, while you still have breath left to scream. [Hunted]

>>4787591
My frist post,dust

>>4785890
1st post
>>4787932
>Bleeding out in the ruins of some urban warzone, gut-shot by one of your own. Someone you thought you could trust. [Betrayed]
We already had the Adrift one before the station mission, and this dream fits with this mission since we will eventually be doing urban warfare. Also, we have gained the trust of 5 out of 9 of our squad, so betrayal would still be possible and hurt at the same time.

>>4787932
>> Your every step stalked and shadowed by an alpha predator immeasurably more lethal than you. Run down and eaten alive, while you still have breath left to scream. [Hunted]

me
>>4785941

>>4787932

>Bleeding out in the ruins of some urban warzone, gut-shot by one of your own. Someone you thought you could trust. [Betrayed]

Tempted to go Adrift, to make it seem like Snake Eyes has a persistent fear of being trapped in the reaches of space. This one seems more appropriate for the mission though.

>>4787341

First post.

>>4787932
> Your every step stalked and shadowed by an alpha predator immeasurably more lethal than you. Run down and eaten alive, while you still have breath left to scream. [Hunted]

Just like back home

>>4786197
Dats me

>>4787932
>Bleeding out in the ruins of some urban warzone, gut-shot by one of your own. Someone you thought you could trust. [Betrayed]

>>4785611
First post

>>4787932
>>Floating helplessly amidst lifeless wreckage, cast adrift in the endless void of space. Watching that oxygen counter trickle down to zero. [Adrift]

>>4788389
guess my ID changed when the power cut out, I'm >>4785960

>>4787932
>>Floating helplessly amidst lifeless wreckage, cast adrift in the endless void of space. Watching that oxygen counter trickle down to zero. [Adrift]
We have had a similar vote before, right? What happens if we keep voting for the same thing? What happens if we keep spreading our votes out?

>>4786764
i tried
i really did

but a nigga
gotta do what
he gotta scoob
dooby doo.

100

>>4788579
>>4788234
You previously chose Krieger’s End, where your Drop Pod malfunctions. Adrift is a different grisly end.

>>4787932
>Bleeding out in the ruins of some urban warzone, gut-shot by one of your own. Someone you thought you could trust. [Betrayed]

>>4787168
Linking back

>>4787932
>>Bleeding out in the ruins of some urban warzone, gut-shot by one of your own. Someone you thought you could trust. [Betrayed]

>>4788966
Okay, thanks for the clarification on that point.

>>4788966
My mistake. I will still stick with my choice, as the both of them are space related, so my point still stands.

>>4787932
> Your every step stalked and shadowed by an alpha predator immeasurably more lethal than you. Run down and eaten alive, while you still have breath left to scream. [Hunted]

>>4785940

>>4786823
me

>>4787932
>Floating helplessly amidst lifeless wreckage, cast adrift in the endless void of space. Watching that oxygen counter trickle down to zero. [Adrift]

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>SELECTED
>Bleeding out in the ruins of some urban warzone, gut-shot by one of your own. Someone you thought you could trust. [Betrayed]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzmCD7qUA8I&ab_channel=AntonMedina – Betrayed

You slump back up against the wall, unable to move any further as numbing pain and deadened exhaustion tighten their grips. The tell-tale thumb-sized craters of ballistic firearm detonations spatter the wall behind you, but not all had missed. At least one of those familiar Company rounds has found its mark. Your helmet is cracked beyond immediate seal-repair, fracturing your vision into several fields like that of a broken mirror. Your normal HUD readouts aren’t registering, you can’t even tell if your difficulty in breathing is due to poor atmo or the pooling blood in your lungs. The person responsible is still standing over you, sidearm lowered now that the damage is done. They make no move to help, nor to finish you off. They remain standing there, dust sweeping between their feet from outside the abandoned hab-block. Dust, a dry planet then… or is it ash? Is that smoke you’re smelling?

The kind of life you live, the kind of life you had lived, has made putting your faith in others a rarely taken risk. You don’t have a lot of friends in this galaxy, and maybe a lot of that is your own fault. But this one… this one you thought you could trust. Times were you’d have taken a bullet for them yourself, but this isn’t exactly what you’d had in mind…

“…” You struggle to speak their name through shredded lungs, though you cannot say whether the gaze you level at them is one of pleading or accusation. You try again, air faintly wheezing through your open mouth.

“…sss…” Your painful effort is of no consequence, blood bubbles in your mouth with a faint hiss. Whatever curses you were going to shout, whatever pointless questions of Why? you were going to ask, all peters out into nothing. Your shoulders sag, your will sapped as much as your physical strength.
You lean your head back against the wall, savouring the metallic taste of blood swirling in your mouth. Not savouring perhaps, but you’ll be Void-damned before you spend the last moments of your life drooling your own blood out onto the floor in front of your killer. They turn to leave, pausing at the doorway one last time to deliver some parting words.

You don’t hear what they say, not really. The whys and wherefores hardly matter at this point anyway. Not now, at the end. Good reasons or bad, this is how your story finishes. Your heavy lids are already drooping over your eyes as you struggle to retain consciousness. Your last thought before you drift off into the black-between-black is Maybe I deserved this…

[1/3]

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Upper Atmosphere of Dis (Savis Empire Space) - Black Talon Gunship Hold – 4th Cycle June 2230AD

“Void damn, how’s she eating at a time like this?” The disbelieving voice of Trooper Bone is the first thing you hear as you shake yourself from the waking nightmare of the Void Vision.

Orbital re-entry in the hold of a Black Talon Gunship was luxury compared to the more infamous method of Krieger planetside transportation, but nevertheless the somewhat bumpy ride was not typically conducive to one’s appetite. Try telling that to Trooper Boot though, the little urchin that crawled her way out of the depths of a Savis mining station not so long ago was even now powering through another flavourless ration bar, her third judging by the odd wrapper strewn across the hold of the gunship. The scrappy little tyke was digging into the snack like it was her last supper.

“She is partial to Snake Eyes-sama’s cooking, lethal toxins and all.” Corporal Crane, your ever dependable second, does not bother looking up from the latest sitrep data about the conditions around your destined drop zone. He always was one with an eye for the details, quite unlike you. You like to think of yourself as a big picture kind of gal. Or living in the moment or something. “Compared to that, a little turbulence is nothing.”

“A little?” Bones mutters incredulously as the gunship rocks violently again. More violently than it should be in your experience, but probably not as violently as it would be if it was actively evading planetary defence fire.

[2/3]

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[3/3]

Crane’s expression is impassive but you’ve gotten better at detecting his dry humour. You think.

“The dreams again?” Your Second leans in across to your seat with a lowered voice. Corporal ‘Crane’ Shizuka doesn’t miss much, so it’s scant surprise that he picked up on your sudden start from your fitful dream. You give a hesitant nod, rubbing the spot where the ghost pains from the shots still linger for a moment. No one seems to be able to explain why those dreams are so real compared to your run-of-the-mill nightmares…

Crane gives you his typical up-and-down assessment, poker face not flinching an inch. “…want to talk about it?”

=======================================

>“Fragging oath I do, get that scud off my chest. What about you? Do you get the void visions too or wimp out and down the pills?” You know for a fact Crane doesn’t truck with voidcracker pills, but he never talks about how the Void Jumps affect him in their own unique way. Rare for him to ask you on his own accord. [Daredevil]

>“Not really. How’s the fresh meat settling in? Any dramas?” Although not uncommon in the Company, you’ve never actually had a Voidborn in the same squad before. Hopefully SGT ‘Casket’ is the exception not the rule. Crane probably had a lot more dealings with them in the past given his… ‘previous employment’. [Firebrand]

>“Got plenty of real problems to worry about. I’m worried about this Pathfinder bulldust. What do you know about this ‘Wasp’ character? Scud, is he even human?” You’ve never done a job involving the Pathfinder Cadre before. A whole breed different from Kriegers, you’re going to be relying on this one too much for your own liking. [Xenophobic]

>>4789825
>“Got plenty of real problems to worry about. I’m worried about this Pathfinder bulldust. What do you know about this ‘Wasp’ character? Scud, is he even human?” You’ve never done a job involving the Pathfinder Cadre before. A whole breed different from Kriegers, you’re going to be relying on this one too much for your own liking. [Xenophobic]

Me >>4785596

>>4789818
>big picture kind of gal
>living in the moment or something
lol we're retarded

>>4789825
>“Not really. How’s the fresh meat settling in? Any dramas?” Although not uncommon in the Company, you’ve never actually had a Voidborn in the same squad before. Hopefully SGT ‘Casket’ is the exception not the rule. Crane probably had a lot more dealings with them in the past given his… ‘previous employment’. [Firebrand]

At least space gypsies are human

Well, frick. That makes me not wanna trust anybody.

I think it'd be interesting to see a voidborn's take on the effects of space travel. Not that I think Casket is a good font of advice.

If the Pathfinders screw us I'm confident the Kriegers can pick up the pieces. Not sure what to expect when we go planetside, but when in doubt, apply gratuitous amounts of violence.

Will post when I get home.

>>4789825
>>“Fragging oath I do, get that scud off my chest. What about you? Do you get the void visions too or wimp out and down the pills?” You know for a fact Crane doesn’t truck with voidcracker pills, but he never talks about how the Void Jumps affect him in their own unique way. Rare for him to ask you on his own accord. [Daredevil]

>>4789825
>>“Fragging oath I do, get that scud off my chest. What about you? Do you get the void visions too or wimp out and down the pills?” You know for a fact Crane doesn’t truck with voidcracker pills, but he never talks about how the Void Jumps affect him in their own unique way. Rare for him to ask you on his own accord. [Daredevil]

>>4789838
Some girls are Live Laugh Love, Snake-Eyes is Lean Lethal Lucky.

>>4789854
I'm curious as well to know more these visions, hence why I want Crane take on it.

>>4789825
>>“Fragging oath I do, get that scud off my chest. What about you? Do you get the void visions too or wimp out and down the pills?” You know for a fact Crane doesn’t truck with voidcracker pills, but he never talks about how the Void Jumps affect him in their own unique way. Rare for him to ask you on his own accord. [Daredevil]

ME >>4787530

Good to talk about it, not bottle it up. Wonder if crane will open up.

>>4789825
>“Not really. How’s the fresh meat settling in? Any dramas?” Although not uncommon in the Company, you’ve never actually had a Voidborn in the same squad before. Hopefully SGT ‘Casket’ is the exception not the rule. Crane probably had a lot more dealings with them in the past given his… ‘previous employment’. [Firebrand]

>>4789927
Sorry I keep forgetting my autism link

>>4785582

>>4789825
Confirmation
>>4789825
>“Fragging oath I do, get that scud off my chest. What about you? Do you get the void visions too or wimp out and down the pills?” You know for a fact Crane doesn’t truck with voidcracker pills, but he never talks about how the Void Jumps affect him in their own unique way. Rare for him to ask you on his own accord. [Daredevil]
Really want to see what the Voidborn has to say but I also can't miss out on some bonding time with /ourboy/.

>>4789825
>“Fragging oath I do, get that scud off my chest. What about you? Do you get the void visions too or wimp out and down the pills?” You know for a fact Crane doesn’t truck with voidcracker pills, but he never talks about how the Void Jumps affect him in their own unique way. Rare for him to ask you on his own accord. [Daredevil]

>>4789825
>“Fragging oath I do, get that scud off my chest. What about you? Do you get the void visions too or wimp out and down the pills?” You know for a fact Crane doesn’t truck with voidcracker pills, but he never talks about how the Void Jumps affect him in their own unique way. Rare for him to ask you on his own accord. [Daredevil]

Let's see what Crane bro has to say about this shit.

>>4786492
Moi.

>>4789825
>“Fragging oath I do, get that scud off my chest. What about you? Do you get the void visions too or wimp out and down the pills?” You know for a fact Crane doesn’t truck with voidcracker pills, but he never talks about how the Void Jumps affect him in their own unique way. Rare for him to ask you on his own accord. [Daredevil]

Dude space nightmares amIright?

>>4785624

>>4789825
>>“Fragging oath I do, get that scud off my chest. What about you? Do you get the void visions too or wimp out and down the pills?” You know for a fact Crane doesn’t truck with voidcracker pills, but he never talks about how the Void Jumps affect him in their own unique way. Rare for him to ask you on his own accord. [Daredevil]

me >>4785626

>>4789825

>“Not really. How’s the fresh meat settling in? Any dramas?” Although not uncommon in the Company, you’ve never actually had a Voidborn in the same squad before. Hopefully SGT ‘Casket’ is the exception not the rule. Crane probably had a lot more dealings with them in the past given his… ‘previous employment’. [Firebrand]

We'll talk about it later, after we've settled on planet

>>4785666
Verification

>>4789825
>>“Fragging oath I do, get that scud off my chest. What about you? Do you get the void visions too or wimp out and down the pills?” You know for a fact Crane doesn’t truck with voidcracker pills, but he never talks about how the Void Jumps affect him in their own unique way. Rare for him to ask you on his own accord. [Daredevil]

>>4789825
>“Fragging oath I do, get that scud off my chest. What about you? Do you get the void visions too or wimp out and down the pills?” You know for a fact Crane doesn’t truck with voidcracker pills, but he never talks about how the Void Jumps affect him in their own unique way. Rare for him to ask you on his own accord. [Daredevil]

>>4785940

>>4789825
>>“Fragging oath I do, get that scud off my chest. What about you? Do you get the void visions too or wimp out and down the pills?” You know for a fact Crane doesn’t truck with voidcracker pills, but he never talks about how the Void Jumps affect him in their own unique way. Rare for him to ask you on his own accord. [Daredevil]

>>4785960
first post

>>4789825
>“Fragging oath I do, get that scud off my chest. What about you? Do you get the void visions too or wimp out and down the pills?” You know for a fact Crane doesn’t truck with voidcracker pills, but he never talks about how the Void Jumps affect him in their own unique way. Rare for him to ask you on his own accord. [Daredevil]

Don’t let the squad hear ofc, private comms

>>4787168
Linking back

>>4789825

>“Got plenty of real problems to worry about. I’m worried about this Pathfinder bulldust. What do you know about this ‘Wasp’ character? Scud, is he even human?” You’ve never done a job involving the Pathfinder Cadre before. A whole breed different from Kriegers, you’re going to be relying on this one too much for your own liking. [Xenophobic]

>>4787591
Frist post dust.

>>4789825

>“Got plenty of real problems to worry about. I’m worried about this Pathfinder bulldust. What do you know about this ‘Wasp’ character? Scud, is he even human?” You’ve never done a job involving the Pathfinder Cadre before. A whole breed different from Kriegers, you’re going to be relying on this one too much for your own liking. [Xenophobic]

Tempted to talk about Crane's void dreams, but getting some info on our Pathfinder is more important to me right now. Plus, we probably shouldn't get all touchy-feely speaking-about-our-vulnerablities in front of the troopies before we get planetside. Might erode that carefully cultivated image of competent badassery of ours.

>>4787341

First post est.

>>4789825

>“Fragging oath I do, get that scud off my chest. What about you? Do you get the void visions too or wimp out and down the pills?” You know for a fact Crane doesn’t truck with voidcracker pills, but he never talks about how the Void Jumps affect him in their own unique way. Rare for him to ask you on his own accord. [Daredevil]

>>4787654
This is me.

As much as I'd like Crane's insight into our more immediately relevant problems, it'd be good to get this off our chest and see if he opens up.

>>4789825
>“Not really. How’s the fresh meat settling in? Any dramas?” Although not uncommon in the Company, you’ve never actually had a Voidborn in the same squad before. Hopefully SGT ‘Casket’ is the exception not the rule. Crane probably had a lot more dealings with them in the past given his… ‘previous employment’. [Firebrand]

>>4788303
me right there

>>4786823


>>4789825
>“Fragging oath I do, get that scud off my chest. What about you? Do you get the void visions too or wimp out and down the pills?” You know for a fact Crane doesn’t truck with voidcracker pills, but he never talks about how the Void Jumps affect him in their own unique way. Rare for him to ask you on his own accord. [Daredevil]

>>4785890
First post
>“Fragging oath I do, get that scud off my chest. What about you? Do you get the void visions too or wimp out and down the pills?” You know for a fact Crane doesn’t truck with voidcracker pills, but he never talks about how the Void Jumps affect him in their own unique way. Rare for him to ask you on his own accord. [Daredevil]
Only tell him if he tells us what he saw.

>>4789825
>“Got plenty of real problems to worry about. I’m worried about this Pathfinder bulldust. What do you know about this ‘Wasp’ character? Scud, is he even human?” You’ve never done a job involving the Pathfinder Cadre before. A whole breed different from Kriegers, you’re going to be relying on this one too much for your own liking. [Xenophobic]
>>4785819
link back

>he
with a name like wasp it's going to be a girl

>>4789825
>>“Got plenty of real problems to worry about. I’m worried about this Pathfinder bulldust. What do you know about this ‘Wasp’ character? Scud, is he even human?” You’ve never done a job involving the Pathfinder Cadre before. A whole breed different from Kriegers, you’re going to be relying on this one too much for your own liking. [Xenophobic]
>>4785941

>>4789825
>>“Not really. How’s the fresh meat settling in? Any dramas?” Although not uncommon in the Company, you’ve never actually had a Voidborn in the same squad before. Hopefully SGT ‘Casket’ is the exception not the rule. Crane probably had a lot more dealings with them in the past given his… ‘previous employment’. [Firebrand]

>>4789825
>“Fragging oath I do, get that scud off my chest. What about you? Do you get the void visions too or wimp out and down the pills?” You know for a fact Crane doesn’t truck with voidcracker pills, but he never talks about how the Void Jumps affect him in their own unique way. Rare for him to ask you on his own accord. [Daredevil]

>>4789825
>“Not really. How’s the fresh meat settling in? Any dramas?” Although not uncommon in the Company, you’ve never actually had a Voidborn in the same squad before. Hopefully SGT ‘Casket’ is the exception not the rule. Crane probably had a lot more dealings with them in the past given his… ‘previous employment’. [Firebrand]

>>4789825
>>“Fragging oath I do, get that scud off my chest. What about you? Do you get the void visions too or wimp out and down the pills?” You know for a fact Crane doesn’t truck with voidcracker pills, but he never talks about how the Void Jumps affect him in their own unique way. Rare for him to ask you on his own accord. [Daredevil]

>>4786804

File: Corporal 'Shizuka' Crane 2.jpg (163 KB, 1267x1613)

163 KB JPG

>SELECTED
> [Daredevil]

You subtly motion for your Second to switch to the dedicated two-way closed comms channel. Last thing you want it to spook the squaddies with a recount of your visions, or worse, let them think you’re a superstitious crybaby.

“Fragging oath I do, get that scud off my chest.” Telling Crane about it does you a lot more good than you had realised, he remains silent during your recount of the vision aside from the odd question or affirming sound to confirm he’s listening. You feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders, and you can say without a shred of certainty you wouldn’t have felt comfortable divulging this information to anyone other than your most trusted Second-in-Command.

“Who was it that betrayed you in the dream?” Crane asks, cocking his head at you. “Was it me?”

“I dunno… Maybe?” You wince, remembering the pain of the bullet in your gut. “If it was, dream you is a dick.”

“I beg to differ. Dream-me probably had very good reasons for shooting you.” Your supposedly loyal Second shrugs nonchalantly. “Not to mention 本当の私, Snake Eyes-sama…”

“Hey!” You scowl, punching the Corporal on the shoulder and earning some looks from the other chatting Troopers in the hold. “What about you? Do you get the void visions too or wimp out and down the pills?”

Crane’s silence in response to your question stretches out to the point of uncomfortableness. You’ve just about figured he’s not going to answer at all when he leans back in his seat with a heavy sigh.

“It is always the same dream for me, Nat. Always. Every time there’s some new detail I see clearly that I never noticed before.” You don’t move a muscle as Crane continues, him opening up is rarer than a Vinehound going vegan. “The look in his eyes when he knew it was me, the twitch of a smile when he called me 兄貴, ‘brother’. The pattern his blood left on the window. The smell of the aftershave on the 部長 when I told them it was done. Every time, it’s something little. Something new.”

“Damn. You know these visions don’t mean jack-scud right? Just because you keep dreaming the same dream.” You try to sound reassuring, but you’re not sure you believe it yourself. Mercenaries are superstitious lot enough as it is without throwing void visions into the mix.

“I’m afraid you’re right. But not because of what you’re thinking. I know what I dream will not come to pass.” The careful lack of emotion in Crane’s voice sounds precariously fragile. “Because everything in my dream already did.”

[1/2]

File: 77th Krieger Platoon, new(...).png (1.52 MB, 1600x1404)

1.52 MB PNG

[2/2]

You’re not sure what in the void to say to that other than maybe that the Void Mother, if she does happen to exist, can sure be one weapons-grade bitch. It’s clear that Crane is done with this emotional rollercoaster of a conversation for now, busying himself again with the dataslate as he reads the briefing summary again for what might be the third time. You guess you all deal with things in your own private way, if he wants to talk more about his past then he will. For what little is it worth, you’ll be listening. At least now he knows that.

>+1 Re-Roll to Leadership when attempting to gain Battle Brother status for Corporal ‘Crane’ Shizuka

In stark contrast to the tried-and-true reliability of the Corporal, your newest untested addition to the squad is a virtual unknown. Spare spots in the 11th, 22nd and all the way up to the 99th Kreiger Platoons routinely stationed on the Prince of Megiddo go quick. You and the other double-digits platoons get the big jobs, the big risks and the big paydays. On top of that it’s considered a place of honour in the Company to be stationed aboard the flagship herself. Of course, you can’t buy a whole lot with honour so it’s mostly the big pay that attracts the greedy, a trait predominant in mercenaries. Or the big risks that lures the adventurous, a feature common in gunslingers. Or the big jobs that appeal to the ambitious, a quality not unheard of in some soldiers. Whatever the reasons, finding a replacement for your understrength squad with Trooper Goldie still healing up didn’t take long at all.
It’s probably a good sign of their soldierly traits that the rookie is slouching fast asleep at the end of the line, even after that bumpy flight. They possibly even saw their share of combat in the 13th Krieger Platoon, you didn’t get a chance to look at their record before the Lieutenant foisted them on you in the hangar bay. But they’re in the 77th now, and that makes them an untested greenhorn so far as you’re concerned.

Maybe they’ll prove themselves, maybe they won’t. You’ll guess you’ll just have to wait and see.

===============================

As no particular OC character gained a clear majority interest I took inspiration from all the suggestions over the holidays to present these options to give a representation of the different varieties of Voidborn stereotypes. Never fear though, who is to say your own preferred space gypsy isn’t stationed with any of the other Kreiger platoons in the service of the Black Company?

I’ve also ret-conned the originally carrying Krieger completement capacity of the Prince of Meggido from max 5 platoons to a full 12 (traditionally only the double digit platoons and command sections are actually stationed on the flagship though).

SELECT NEW VOIDBORN SQUADDIE

> [Trooper ‘Ring’ Ortega]

> [Trooper ‘Remember Seven’ Černý]

> [Trooper ‘Hand-Me-Down’ Dlamini]

>>4792251
>> [Trooper ‘Remember Seven’ Černý]

She seems interesting, lets keep her

Verification post:

>>4785582

>>4792251
> [Trooper ‘Remember Seven’ Černý]

>>4792251
> [Trooper ‘Ring’ Ortega]
that coat alone is enough to win me over

me: >>4785596

>>4792251
> [Trooper ‘Remember Seven’ Černý]

Gib Orphan soldiers

>>4792277
Verification >>4785592

>>4792251
>> [Trooper ‘Remember Seven’ Černý]

And of course anons are jumping on the fucking urchin girl again

>>4792358
It's got nothing to do with her gender anon, she's interesting. She's a voidborn witch person, she has a helmet locked on permanently, she has a cool hook (the thing about seeing the weapon made to kill her etc).

Anyway its still early as fuck in the voting process, don't bitch and whine just yet, Ortega may yet take the lead

>>4792251
>> [Trooper ‘Hand-Me-Down’ Dlamini]

>>4792251

> [Trooper ‘Hand-Me-Down’ Dlamini]

New Antioch gyppo seems like fun. If he doesn't wind up with us in the end, I sincerely hope he winds up with Sgt Heavenly's squad, for the bantz.

>>4792425

>>4787341

1st post here, forgot it before I hit post

>>4792251

> [Trooper ‘Hand-Me-Down’ Dlamini]

>>4785666
Verification

>>4792251
> [Trooper ‘Remember Seven’ Černý]
Just because her nickname reminds me of the KID games and simpler, happier times

>>4792251
> [Trooper ‘Ring’ Ortega]
Ring seems like a man after our own heart, always looking to score some credits.

>>4792251
> [Trooper ‘Hand-Me-Down’ Dlamini]
Ain't no bloody babysitter to magic juveniles. And this guy fits my OG recommendation the most.
>>4785611
OG post, hope my ID didn't change.

>>4792251
>[Trooper ‘Remember Seven’ Černý]

>>4787168
Linking back

>>4792358
>>4792277
I don't think I actually said her parent/s were dead. Just that she was a bastard.

>>4792251
> [Trooper ‘Remember Seven’ Černý]

>>4790397

First post: >>4785657

>>4792251
> [Trooper ‘Remember Seven’ Černý]
She does have a terrible nickname

>>4792243

> [Trooper ‘Remember Seven’ Černý]

>>4787591
Frist post, dust

>>4792251
>> [Trooper ‘Ring’ Ortega]

>>4792251
>[Trooper ‘Hand-Me-Down’ Dlamini]
based scavenger gypsy

>>4785819
link to the past

>>4792251
> [Trooper ‘Remember Seven’ Černý]

>>4792251
>> [Trooper ‘Remember Seven’ Černý]

>>4792251
>> [Trooper ‘Ring’ Ortega]

I like the idea of a well traveled, story-slinging, pirate voidborn with a sickass coat.

>>4787654
This is me.

>>4792251
>> [Trooper ‘Ring’ Ortega]

>>4792251
>> [Trooper ‘Ring’ Ortega]

File: Batman_Morgan_Freeman_The(...).jpg (57 KB, 1024x576)

57 KB JPG

>>4792251
>> [Trooper ‘Hand-Me-Down’ Dlamini]

Only because I cannot unhear MORGAN FUCKING FREEMAN VAing him.

me >>4785626

>>4792251
>> [Trooper ‘Remember Seven’ Černý]

>>4792251
> [Trooper ‘Remember Seven’ Černý]

>>4785675

>>4792251
> [Trooper ‘Ring’ Ortega]
We need the Durvano replacement. Hopefully it will go better for him this time.

>>4786492
Me.

>>4792251
>[Trooper ‘Remember Seven’ Černý]
We will continuously use the wrong verb and numeral when addressing her.
>>4786572

>>4792251
>> [Trooper ‘Ring’ Ortega]
>>4787066
me

>>4792251
>> [Trooper ‘Remember Seven’ Černý]

>>4792251
Remember Seven(I would just cal her Sev, for short, despite it being a man's name) is in the lead, with 15 votes.

Ring has 8

Hand-Me-Down has 6

I have no problem with any of them, but i'm voting for
> [Trooper ‘Ring’ Ortega]
just to be contrarian. I'm fine with mystical waifs, they can just get a bit to serious when done in a Dark Fantasy or Sci-Fi setting.

Hey lads, just a reminder that if your ID has changed please link back to your OG vote at the start of the thread. Otherwise your new votes won’t be counted.

>>4792251
>> [Trooper ‘Hand-Me-Down’ Dlamini]

me >>4787530

>>4793492
Sorry man. I keep making that mistake and shouldn't need reminding.
>>4793492
>>4785890
This is me

>>4792251
>> [Trooper ‘Hand-Me-Down’ Dlamini]

>>4793519
But your ID haven't changed

File: vdq7dpeeb7641.png (327 KB, 698x358)

327 KB PNG

>>4793950
Still good to link back and save Forgotten the effort

>>4792251
>> [Trooper ‘Hand-Me-Down’ Dlamini]

>>4785624

File: 7168859F-239E-4217-85BE-C(...).png (711 KB, 1366x768)

711 KB PNG

Hey lads, being held back hella late at work tonight. No update tonight, but I promise a chunky boi tomorrow.


>>4793954
I seen as I laid eyes upon you, I knew you were my krigga.

>>4794077
So what you're saying is we need a Stv/Bcq company meme now?

>>4794082
I wasn’t, but I am now.

>>4794082
It's coming, only a vietnam memem can work here

File: agh help me auxl clansmen.png (112 KB, 600x600)

112 KB PNG

>>4794084

It's an old one, but it did sum up our last mission pretty well.

File: The void sees all.png (2.71 MB, 2048x1476)

2.71 MB PNG

Lmao well this didn't work out perfectly due to angels but I did my best

>>4794092
angles fucked it too

>>4794097
I'm pretty sure Crane can absolutely turn his head 170 degrees. Can't sneak up on him.

>>4794139
No sneak on snake

God I'd kill to be able to use a computer right now

Emille vs Sinclair
>"You think Peasants are going to take your shit instead of fighting for a better life THINK! SINCLAIR THINK!"

Hewitt vs Emille
>You think Copperclipping is going to buy you salvation? THE ALLMIGHTY OUTLASTS EVERY PIECE OF COPPER IN CANTON THINK! HEWITT THINK!

>Snake eyes vs Bugs
What did you think was going to happen!?! You are going up against a goddamn Tyrannosapien you stupid bugs THINK! BUG THINK!

>>4794494
Dude are you me? I was thinking of the exact same thing

>>4794494
I honestly love that the fanbase is so able to run with different characters and different ideas and shit.

>>4794497
Not unless we're samefagging scum anon or we're clones but I'm pretty sure we're not either.

>>4794509
>Tfw no blackguard copperclipper for Stv

Feels good/bad

>>4794667
Tfw you don't secretly clip coppers on the side between games

>>4794682
Sorry, I can only cop clippers.

File: TPR 'Remember Seven' Cerny 2.jpg (46 KB, 500x550)

46 KB JPG

>SELECTED [Trooper ‘Remember Seven’ Černý]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPINpmrOgUU&ab_channel=VideoGameSoundtracks – The Dis Dust Run

Voidborn. You haven’t had a lot of experience with them, those not in the flotilla fleets scattered across dead space tend to keep to themselves. Pirates, scavengers and gypsies by all accounts. A lot of the young ones actually born in the depths of space have this kind of witchy look about them, disturbing purple eyes and more often than not shocking white hair. Judging from the literal basket-case sitting down the hold from you, you’re willing to bet this one was conceived, carried to term and then delivered during a dangerously long void jump. Maneating plants and poisons you can understand, lethal predators and murderers you can get a grip on. But seeing things in the space between spaces? Something about the voidborn gives you the willies, and you’re far from the only one.

“The rookie, ‘Transgender Kevan’, you reckon she’s up to snuff?”

“Her name is ‘Remember Seven’. You know this.”

“Right, Dismember Heaven. It’s what I said isn’t it?” You grin at Crane’s frown, sometimes it’s worth it just to get a rise out of the straitlace guy. “Whatever. What kind of nickname is that? Hardly a promising sign. Why can’t they give us a guy called Sharkface or Murdermachine, huh? You’d think that’d look good on a mercs resume.”

“If she slows us down, gets someone killed or risks the integrity of the mission, you can always just give me the word and I will put a bullet in her.”

“That’s not funny, Crane.”

“I am not laughing, Snake Eyes.”

“Woah!” Trooper Bones whoops and Sapper Convict pauses chewing his gum as a heavier jolt of turbulence than usual jolts the ship.

“Putain de fils de pute!” Another jolt sends Signallier Night Night into fits of swears as the joltstick she was using to fine-tune her equipment flicks out of her hand. Thankfully it lands within branch-reach of Petal, who flick it back to her inbetween the violent rocking of the ship. “Merci, mon ami fleuri.”

Lean on m-

Medic Petal’s singing is abruptly cut off and Convict starts choking on his gum with the most violent turbulence yet. Gunner Nines holds Convict down in an iron grip so Trooper Husk can deliver repeated blow to his back.

It’s probably nothing, you think as you unbuckle your seatbelt while Trooper Boot pulls out her fourth ration bar. Just a little turbulence. Nothing to worry about. Still, you clamber up to the cockpit of the Black Talon Gunship and peek your head in.

[1/4]

File: Black Talon Gunship.jpg (135 KB, 1091x595)

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“We all good up here?” You direct your question to Halfpipe, the gunship’s pilot, doing your best to make it sound like a standard routine enquiry and not a nervous groundpounder dropping mud at the prospect of a fiery crash.

“Rosy on the rocks, Sergeant. Can’t see scud in this but nothing’s beeping that shouldn’t be and the instruments say we’re on course for the DZ.” The pilot’s flippant reassurance is punctuated by a further shudder, this one vehement enough to nearly slam your forehead against the top of the doorway. He grins at you apologetically from underneath his avi-specs, oxygen mask hanging loosely from his helmet. “These dust storms are a bitch and a half though.”

“You’re telling me.” Halfpipe’s co-pilot speaks up, the words Nutcracker emblazoned on her helmet. “How much mining do these Savs need to get up to kick this amount scud up into the atmosphere?”

“These storms aren’t natural?” You frown, Intel didn’t mention the origin of the semi-regular continent spanning storms. Dis is supposed to be a predominantly arid landscape, with humid belts of jungle around the equator. You figured the dust storms would be a factor in land combat, if and when they arose. But it looks like they’re taking a scud in the flyboy’s cereal too.

[2/4]

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“Void no, you might expect to see shale, clays and other surface minerals kicked up in the lower atmosphere. But these furry fraggers are gouging this mining world with both hands. Look at this.” Nutcracker taps a glowing green screen that means exactly nothing to you. “There’s traces of Thorium and other underground metals in the middling atmosphere.”

“Hmm, yes. I see. Of course.” You nod at the screen blankly, scratching your chin. You raise an eyebrow at the unasked-for lesson in mineral mapping, Nutcracker has to tear herself away from your near-hypnotic amber eye. “What are you Nut, a fragging geologist?”

The co-pilot gulps. You don’t mean to loom menacingly over her, it’s just kinda cramped in here. “I make it my business to know exactly what kind of scud can clog up our engines and leave us all prisoners of merciless mother gravity.”

“…You’re fragging with me.”

“Not really. But we just brushed the outskirts of the storm, clearing it now. See?” You look out the screen of the cockpit and see… precisely nothing. Looks as dark as the void out there and about half as inviting, Dis doesn’t have so much as a moon to reflect what little light the world does get from her dwindling sun. You can’t even make out the other two gunships you’re supposed to be tailing. Nutcracker shakes her head disapprovingly. “It’d be a different story if we were caught in the storm proper, wouldn’t like to try that for a laugh.”

“You’re a barrel of laughs as is, Nut.” Halfpipe dials something in and one of the screens takes on a reddish hue. “Check the scanners again. T-minus two minutes to the drop zone.”

“Think they know we’re coming?” You murmur, well aware how quickly this mission could go to scud without the element of surprise on your side. With the usual gunners and ammo for the Talon left behind to make more room for the supply crates, your prophetical cheeks would be bared for any Sav resistance you come across in this early stage.

“Nah. Even if they did detect much of anything it’d be scrambled all to void with that storm.” Nutcracker glances at another screen and shakes her head again, approvingly this time. “We’ll be slipping in all cozy and secret-like. Like a lover into a married woman’s bed.”

“Your charming simile fails to account for the jealous husband, should they discover said stealthy bachelor.”

“Either way, someone’s getting fragged.”

You blow air through your lips, none too reassured. “Can’t argue with that.”

[3/4]

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[4/4]

“Kicking dirt in T-minus two minutes, better let your boys know.” There follows a brief pause as you jump back down into the hold and then what sounds very much like a relieved sigh. “Void but she gives me the willies. Did you see her eyes, Halfpipe?”

Your men all shift and snigger as you clamber back into the hold, looking either at you or the cockpit where the pilots seem to have forgotten to switched intercom.

“Nevermind the eyes, Nut. So far as knuckledragging Kriggers go, Snake Eyes is fine. It’s her loose cannon corporal you’ve got to watch out for. But just be sure to notify the medbay before you accept a sandwhich from her…” You’re stuck between childish giggling at the thought of Crane being considered a loose cannon or blustering indignation at your avant-garde cooking skills. “And don’t go mouthing off or you might find those python arms of hers coiling around your neck.”

"What?" Nutcracker snorts, an especially odd sound through the oxygen mask over the comms. “Worried she’d throttle the only people keeping this bird, and her mind you, in the air?”

“Far from it. Worried she’d survive the crash afterwards…”

“TWO MINUTES!” You holler, ignoring the idle (and frankly rude) chatter between the flyboys as you make your way down the hold of the gunship calling final checks. Your eyes are drawn to the only figure not currently in motion, way down the end of the line. The new chick.

You kick the outstretched boot of the new addition to your squad. “Rise and shine, rookie.”

===================================

Select any TWO squaddies that are not the rookie. These two squaddies have begun to form a close bond beyond that of merely a trusted squad member.

>[Write in: Squaddie ONE]

>[Write in: Squaddie TWO]

>>4796207
>[Write in: Squaddie ONE]
Boot

>[Write in: Squaddie TWO]
Crane

>>4796207
> TPR Husk
>GNR Nines

Something about them both having machine-like efficiency and not having facial expressions. (Maybe a scenario about husk being mistaken for being nines or another machine)

First post: >>4785657

>>4796207
>Husk
>Convict

Is there a pastebin with the current comrade status of all squad members?

>>4796207
>Husk
>Convict
I do like this combination.

>>4785611
Fat man sitting in water, that's me

>>4796207
>[Write in: Squaddie ONE]
Bone

>[Write in: Squaddie TWO]
Husk

>>4785654
Verifying

>>4796207
>Boot
>Convict
Because I think it would be funny.

>>4796207
>Husk
>Convict

>>4786197
dats me

>>4785890
Me
>>4796207
Ok, time to list off a few possibilities for our 8 options that I like before giving my vote:
Boot and Husk: Both of them grew up as slaves(regardless of Bug jargon) to an alien race. It gives them something to bitch about together.
Boot and Night Night: the only two women on the squad(besides us and boot is more of a girl), so they might find something to bond over.
Boot and Convict: I feel like the two trouble makers would get along.
Boot and Nines: asshole kid and robot sound like they would also be amusing.
Boot and Bones or Crane: little sister-big brother.
Bones and Crane: both seem like the most serious of the squad, so they could bond over needing the mutual sanity.
Husk and Convict: both are on the quiet end of things, so they could bond over >implications and loaded grunts.
Husk and Nines: bonding over their distance due to humanity, one for being an AI, and the other due to always needing a mask.

My choice is
>Boot
>Husk
I think they could bond over their hatred of Xenos and I think the sight of the ornery kid and the silent and semi-menacing masked man would be heartwarming.

>>4796207
>Boot
> Husk

I guess working out in the bush all week makes me miss the 24 hour first vote dealy

But I'm going to vote anyways.

>>4796207
>Petal
>Nines
something about them both being outcasts, and maybe a shared appreciation of old earth culture.

>>4796682
Verification >>4785596

>>4796207
>>4796631
Actually can I change to boot and nines?

I always think that husk is the robot, probs because it reminds me of ME Legion, which had husks in the game.

>>4796207
>Petal
>Nines
They just be making raps at each other
Soon they going to drop a phat album.

>>4787591
Frist post dust

>>4796916
>petal starts singing some real belcossan shit
>nines has systematically perfect synth beats
It's the weird fucking sound in the galaxy but damn if it ain't catchy.

>>4796207
>>[Write in: Squaddie ONE]
Petals

>>[Write in: Squaddie TWO]
Nines

>>4796207
>[Write in: Squaddie ONE]
Husk
>[Write in: Squaddie TWO]
Nines

>>4788391

>>4796207
>Boot
>Convict
I love this combo. Gruff old veteran and the moody kid, they bond because they have both been to hell and back.

>>4796933
I'm thinking maybe Nines has - for some reason - a huge cultural database and so he's the only squaddie actually able to understand and properly interpret everything Petal "says", and he is able to give scholarly commentary as well.

>>4796207
>Night Night
>Nines

>>4797177
>Nines is not an unshackled military AI, but a runaway music recommendation AI put into a combat chassis.

>>4796207
> Having to choose only one pair

>>4796916
>>4796933
I didn't vote for this, but it seems kinda too awesome not to include as well.

Also, what do people think of Nines and Crane, just hanging out being stoic together while having tea and observing the others.

>>4797040
This is also pretty good.

I really wish we could vote for more than just one pair.

>>4797242
well obviously his creators had something bigger in mind than just an aimbot when creating him. If you're dealing with proper AI it makes sense to feed it the entire Wikipedia.

>>4797376
> If you're dealing with proper AI it makes sense to feed it the entire Wikipedia.

Actually, the ideal AI is able to digest the entire Wikipedia on its own with emergent learning behaviour. Establishing the drive to improve, such as a programmed "reward" for satisfying curiosity, is the way to true AI.

Pretty much just copying the same way human intelligence develops as people grow from children to adults.

>>4797392
The two ways of making an AI that I have thought of is making it from scratch, thereby giving its development more predictability. The problem is actually designing the damn thing. The other way is starting simple and small and pre-program it to develop. So its either chiseling David out of marble, or growing him like an embryo.

>>4796294
You know what, fuck it i'm drunk changing to
>Husk
>boot
Grumpy russian high on gas telling a little shit huis faavvourite stories fuxk yeaaaaaa and bitching about alien shitttts

>>4796207
>Boot
>Convict

I agree that this idea is great. Too much comedy gold to pass up

Verification
>>4785582

>>4796207
>Petal
>Nines

>>4796207
>Petal
>Nines

>>4797299
Thanks, iv always been on the dj nines train

>>4796207
>Petal
>Nines

I've been convinced.

>>4787654
Me.

>>4796207
>husk
>convict

>>4786171
Pooooost

>not going Petal+Boot for more griping about Xenos

Also its pretty clear Crane killed his oathbrother or something right?

File: GNR 'Nines' 2.jpg (106 KB, 700x393)

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>SELECTED Medic Petal and Gunner Nines

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec0XKhAHR5I&ab_channel=masterofacdcsuckaS – Petal’s “ear”buds.

“Huh?” The rookie what’s-her-name starts suddenly from their nap, looking first down at your military issue boot then up at your physically imposing figure. “Uh right, Sergeant.”

Behind you, Nines and Medic Petal are the first ones ready and at their positions. Though you note the plantoid is still singing along to whatever is playing in the earbuds on their hand-branch.

It ain't me, it ain't me
I ain't no senator's son, son

“++Criticism. Music is a highly inefficient form of direct communication. Proposal. This inefficiency may have directly contributed to the lack of successful Spring Unity first contacts in their initial interstellar history. ++”

When a man's an empty kettle he should be on his mettle,
And yet I'm torn apart.
Just because I'm presumin' that I could be kind-a-human,
If I only had heart.

“++Calculating emotive response. Result = Outrage. As the only non-organic member of this squad, this chassis will not be requiring your expertise. Suggestion. Consider the disparity between that equation and a Medic’s frequent enjoyment of this units provision covering fire.++”

“Alright, stow that scrag and form up.” You blink and shake your head at the scene of what has to be the weirdest example of Krigger back-and-forth scud-talk you have ever seen in your entire career. Frankly you’re just glad you don’t have time to process whatever the frag that was. “We are the first team in, if the Savis have laid a trap we are the ones sticking our necking into it.”

“You heard the Sergeant. Intel says we are meeting with friendlies, but no one is dropping their guard here. ” CPL Crane scans the bustling Kriegers with his signature cool voice, heavy with cold steel. “When we hit dirt, clear your sectors and watch your six. I want this to go smooth and by the numbers.”

[1/3]

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The lights in the hold turn red, indicating the final run on the DZ. You can feel the gunship’s changing motion change as it switches to hover, circling the site before touching down.

“TWENTY SECONDS!” You take a spot right at the front, not advised Company protocol for NCOs but that’s the daredevil in you. First feet on the ground, that's how you roll.

Everyone has their own last item to check for the umpteenth time, one last clack and rack of a magazine or tap on the HUD to ensure comms are up and vitals ticking.
Bones thumbs his mouthguard up into a secure spot on his gums, Boot crumples up her half-eaten ration bar and stuffs the wrapper in a spare pocket while Convict spits out the gum he’s been chewing and places it under his seat, as if he’s really going to come back for it later. Nines zooms his primary camcorder in and out, twice, while Crane carefully stores his dataslate away in his secure tacpad. Petal unplugs their earphones from their hand-branch, checking the strap on their medkit is secure before tucking them both away and Night Night taps her fingers on her knee in quasi-morse code, rehearsing the emergency channel switch protocols by rote until it’s ingrained as muscle memory. Husk clicks his gas mask to a different setting then clicks it back, taking his place with the new girl at the rear and giving her reassuring thumbs up. Ghosthelm visors go down and safeties come off. Everyone has someone lucky charm or force of habit to ward off ill-fortune at the outset of a live missing. Speaking of which…

You blink and brush your thumb against the serial plate hanging from your belt, ‘X-90//B-403’ tucked comfortably away there on what resembles a dog tag to the untrained eye. Void damn near jinxed yourself there, whole mission would have been a surefire disaster if you’d forgotten to do that.

The light turns green and the gunship doors slide open. “GO! GO! GO!”
[2/3]

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[3/3]

The DZ is situated in a rocky valley, towering dust-kissed crags looming up on every side, a sorry site to be caught in an ambush, just one rodent with a launcher would make this a one-way trip. But it’s also well concealed from prying eyes, higher paygrades than yourself selected this sight. You don’t know why they didn’t pick a spot that wouldn’t sacrifice all tactical viability in the name of secrecy, but hey you’re just a lowly NCO. With no moon and plenty of dust kicked up by the landing, the DZ is nearing pitch black visibility as your squad rushes out and sweeps the area. They do so with a practiced and clinical proficiency that gets your Sergeant cockles all warm and fuzzy.

> Experienced Veterans: At least 50% of your squad is Comrade Status or Higher. 2 Strategems and 2 Squaddie Orders per turn. +10DC to Firefight. You contribute +7DC to Firefights.

The Ghosthelms come in handy, amplifying existing night vision with tracking any patterns of movement into a recognisable signature that’s clear as day even in this limited visibility. When a crouching humanoid figure breaks cover and approaches your position you breathe a sigh of relief. Too big to be a Sav and too small to be one of the Pect cronies either.

“Callsign Wasp.” The figure swathed in rags to ward against the dust is human, and he provides the right identifying code. “Alpha-Echo-Niner-Fiver-Foxtrot.”

“Callsign Vinehound. Delta-Gamma-Six-Niner-Echo.” You smile at the dusty Pathfinder and lower your weapon. “Gotta say I’m happy to see you here instead of a Legio platoon.”

“*Hssk* Sarge, we having incoming! *Hssk*” Husk calls from his position at the rear south of the perimeter the squad has set up.

Your grin rapidly disappears as more signatures identify on your HUD, scattered to the front of the valley but approaching together. For a moment you think your reader must be glitching, not believing the massive signal until they’re close enough to see clearly with your own eyes. It was no mistake, one of the figures approaching is huge, looming over the others as a tower of rippling muscle, fur and sinew. And it’s getting closer with every step.

==========================

> “I see you brought some buddies. Check your fire squad, we got friendlies.” If this Wasp is compromised your squad is in the scud anyway, might as well lean into the trust early on and not get off on the wrong foot here. [Daredevil]

> “Woah, woah! The briefing said you’d be coming alone, who are these guys?” His identifier checked out, but this breach of protocol is a worrying sign. You take a cautious step back, but keep your weapon lowered. [Firebrand]

> “Stop right there! One step closer and I will Put. You. Down.” You’ve never seen one up close before, but you know enough by reputation to figure out just what a single Auxl can do if they get their hands on a squishy human. [Xenophobe]

>>4798272
> “I see you brought some buddies. Check your fire squad, we got friendlies.” If this Wasp is compromised your squad is in the scud anyway, might as well lean into the trust early on and not get off on the wrong foot here. [Daredevil]

It's risky as fuck but... lets give him some trust and hope it pays off

Verification
>>4785582

>>4798272
> “Stop right there! One step closer and I will Put. You. Down.” You’ve never seen one up close before, but you know enough by reputation to figure out just what a single Auxl can do if they get their hands on a squishy human. [Xenophobe]

Briefing said nothing about Auxl and this thing seems sus.

>>4798272

> “Woah, woah! The briefing said you’d be coming alone, who are these guys?” His identifier checked out, but this breach of protocol is a worrying sign. You take a cautious step back, but keep your weapon lowered. [Firebrand]

Fuck...

>>4787654
This is me.

>>4798272
>> “I see you brought some buddies. Check your fire squad, we got friendlies.” If this Wasp is compromised your squad is in the scud anyway, might as well lean into the trust early on and not get off on the wrong foot here. [Daredevil]

>>4798264
> “Woah, woah! The briefing said you’d be coming alone, who are these guys?” His identifier checked out, but this breach of protocol is a worrying sign. You take a cautious step back, but keep your weapon lowered. [Firebrand]

>>4798272
> “Woah, woah! The briefing said you’d be coming alone, who are these guys?” His identifier checked out, but this breach of protocol is a worrying sign. You take a cautious step back, but keep your weapon lowered. [Firebrand]

>>4785940

>>4798272
>> “I see you brought some buddies. Check your fire squad, we got friendlies.” If this Wasp is compromised your squad is in the scud anyway, might as well lean into the trust early on and not get off on the wrong foot here. [Daredevil]

me >>4785626

>>4798272
> “Woah, woah! The briefing said you’d be coming alone, who are these guys?” His identifier checked out, but this breach of protocol is a worrying sign. You take a cautious step back, but keep your weapon lowered. [Firebrand]
monke

>>4785611
'tism

>>4798272
>> “I see you brought some buddies. Check your fire squad, we got friendlies.” If this Wasp is compromised your squad is in the scud anyway, might as well lean into the trust early on and not get off on the wrong foot here. [Daredevil]
ordinarily I'm partial to putting one in the contact, but we'll see how it plays out.

>>4786197
Let's rock

First post: >>4785657

>>4798272
> “Woah, woah! The briefing said you’d be coming alone, who are these guys?” His identifier checked out, but this breach of protocol is a worrying sign. You take a cautious step back, but keep your weapon lowered. [Firebrand]

>>4798272
> “Stop right there! One step closer and I will Put. You. Down.” You’ve never seen one up close before, but you know enough by reputation to figure out just what a single Auxl can do if they get their hands on a squishy human. [Xenophobe

>>4787591
Frist post dust

>>4798272
>> “I see you brought some buddies. Check your fire squad, we got friendlies.” If this Wasp is compromised your squad is in the scud anyway, might as well lean into the trust early on and not get off on the wrong foot here. [Daredevil]

>>4798272
>> “Woah, woah! The briefing said you’d be coming alone, who are these guys?” His identifier checked out, but this breach of protocol is a worrying sign. You take a cautious step back, but keep your weapon lowered. [Firebrand]

>>4785890
me
> “Woah, woah! The briefing said you’d be coming alone, who are these guys?” His identifier checked out, but this breach of protocol is a worrying sign. You take a cautious step back, but keep your weapon lowered. [Firebrand]
My guess is its a cell of escaped slaves, including whatever the big guy is. However, it is still a breach of protocol and my guess could be wrong.

>>4798272
>> “Stop right there! One step closer and I will Put. You. Down.” You’ve never seen one up close before, but you know enough by reputation to figure out just what a single Auxl can do if they get their hands on a squishy human. [Xenophobe]

>>4798272
> “I see you brought some buddies. Check your fire squad, we got friendlies.” If this Wasp is compromised your squad is in the scud anyway, might as well lean into the trust early on and not get off on the wrong foot here. [Daredevil]

I think that we can all agree that forgotten isn't gonna fuck us right out of the gate

>>4798528
Verification
>>4785624

>>4798528
I don't we can be sure of that, he's been happy to let us dig our own graves before.

>>4798272
> “Stop right there! One step closer and I will Put. You. Down.” You’ve never seen one up close before, but you know enough by reputation to figure out just what a single Auxl can do if they get their hands on a squishy human. [Xenophobe]

Let them know we're professional and mean business, taken both ways.

>>4796631
Verification I guess.