All of your suits sustained various levels of damage and are undergoing repairs as we speak. You lost your GM Command Beam rifle, but on the other hand you also managed to salvage 05's Heavy Gatling cannon as well as it's Shield, so you no longer have to rely on the somewhat poor quality GM shields you've been stockpiling thus far.

ANY ORDERS BEFORE YOU REACH TEXAS COLONY?

>>14520941
Fuck Yeah Zeonquest!

Anyway, who would work with the gatling the best? Elaine, Option, Rance, or David?
Also, do we even have the ammo for it?
David gets the gundam shield, though.

Besides doing repairs on all suits, how is Nell's Elmeth and her bits holding up?

>>14521018

She's lost some bits, you have a small stock of spares, but not an unlimited amount.

If we're successful in holding off the Federation at Texas Colony, will that be enough to redeem us?

Anyway, do we have the ammo to use the Gatling?
I don't think it would go well with David's fighting style, though. It's more of a stand-off weapon, and David likes to get in close range.
Have we recovered any other beam rifles, or will David need to switch to a beam-spray gun?

>>14520918
>when you pushed your luck harder than a normal Zeon pilot can sustain
Oh god, we're turning into Char!

That beam wreapon last week was bullshit, there was no way it could have hit the entire debris field without a 180 degree field of fire. Likewise those mines would have needed nuclear warheads to add that much damage.

>>14520941
ANY ORDERS BEFORE YOU REACH TEXAS COLONY?
Load up that Gundam vulcan cannon we stole and find out if Ookawara has an ammo drum big enough for it.

>>14521054
Yes! Now we just need to kill Garma and the transformation will be complete!

>If we're successful in holding off the Federation at Texas Colony, will that be enough to redeem us?

If the world was so simple then there would be no need for war Anon.

>Anyway, do we have the ammo to use the Gatling?

There's a little bit of ammo left, but it looks like a custom calibre, so you don't have any ammo to hand. You could take a small detour to Pezun to have some ammo made up for it though. Taking on spare parts there probably wouldn't be a bad idea either.

That said, it would increase your journey time by about an hour.

Your choice.

>Have we recovered any other beam rifles, or will David need to switch to a beam-spray gun?

Well, technically, Jolyne is using that Rail Gun you captured in Odessa at the moment, so her Beam Rifle is free. The power reactor of the Nacht-Zaku is enough to power that relatively without issue now.

>>14521054

Yeah, I didn't want to say anything, but you guys were REALLY pushing it last episode. A flanking attack was alright, but then flying into the teeth of a heavy formation of Trojan Horses and advanced Mobile Suits without cover? Last time you tried that you at least seeded the area with anti-beam chaff and had the element of total suprise, even then you still lost Hovis.

>>14521124
I think we should make the detour to Pezun. Lasercomm a message to Char that we're on the way, and give him the modified ETA.
We won't be any good to them if we're low on ammo and spare parts.
We might as well pick up ammo and spare parts for his forces too, if we can find places to jam it in.

>>14521124
>but then flying into the teeth of a heavy formation of Trojan Horses and advanced Mobile Suits without cover? Last time you tried that you at least seeded the area with anti-beam chaff and had the element of total suprise, even then you still lost Hovis.


Yeah guys, what happened to equipping Gyans with beam chaff dispensers instead of hide mines?

>>14521265

I think Option's Gyan currently has those equipped, but like all suggested refit packages it hasn't circulated all that much, what with all of the chaos that's been going on lately.

Apologised, do we know the force composition of the task force that Char is with?
If we could pick up spare parts and ammo for them, it might improve our odds of success.

>>14521324

You do not currently know Char's force composition due to the communication lines being damaged in the fighting. The message was recieved via radio transmission made outside the Minovsky zones, and then relayed through the intact parts of the communications network to your position. Well, everyones position really.

Reparing the Laser Comm network in an ideal world would be first priority, but right now, simply mass manufacturing as many mobile suits as possible to shore up recent losses is the order of the day.

So, are we all in agreement with stopping off at Pezun first?

>>14521369
>So, are we all in agreement with stopping off at Pezun first?
I think so.
Also, since we're using the UMP, just getting as many spare parts as we can fit into the OH should be useful, right?

>>14521369
Yes, lets get to pezun ASAP.

In before Chars fleet has been dead for an hour when we get there.

>>14521406

Yes. Although some of your suits are still using bespoke parts here and there. Nothing too strenous, especially since Pezun built most of your suits for you in the first place.

Pezun luckily happens to be on the way, so it's not too bad of a detour. Luckily some of the communications network in this area is still up, and your able get a message ahead of time asking for replacement parts. You're also able to send over specifications for the new ammo for the Gatling you're going to need even though you haven't quite decided who should get it.

In anycase, they say that they'll get the workshops right on it.

The stop-over is a quick one, lasting no more than 45 minutes. You don't have time to even leave the hangar bay as your too busy helping with the repairs to you're Mobile Suit. As usual, Pezun delivers.

In this case several thousand shells for the new Gatling, along with a retooled belt-feeder for loading the ammo drum. They weren't able to make any spares of those however, so if you run out of ammo for the Gatling, the pilot will have to return to the ship for reloading.

Oh hey, early Zeonquest. Wonder what I've-

>intro post

..motherfucker. I leave you guys for two weeks and this happens?

With the ressupply job complete you quickly push on towards texas colony.

The journey is relatively short since the two are quite close. Taking little more than half an hour at top speed.

"You glad to be going home Elaine?" Zolomon asks her.

"God no. That place is the most retarded town I've ever seen."

"Huh? How'd that happen?" You ask out of curiosity.

"Look, it's not called Texas Colony because that's where the colonists are from or anything sensible like that. It's called Texas colony because it's founded, inhabited and ran by Wild West cosplayers. It is the most stupid thing you have ever seen. I am so glad the damn thing is uninhabitable now."

"How does that even happen." Jolyne asks, mildly horrified.

"The founder, some inbred idiot with family money basically sunk the entire family fortune into it, got disowned by his family, and then made it all back by charging like minded idiots for plots of land and then selling the crops they grew to the rest of the side for cash."

"Wow. That sounds medically retarded." Is all you can say.

>>14521533
Hey, it looked like a good, audacious plan at the time. I was also secretly hoping that some of the lurkers would pipe up and offer a better plan, but they just sat back and watched as that disaster happened.

>>14521484
Which one of our team should get the Gatling?
Jolyne's using the railgun right now, and Zol is a CQC guy so he won't have need for it.
David could use Jol's beam rifle, so that leaves Elaine, Option, and Rance.
Did the profiles for Option and Rance show any aptitude with heavy weapons or support fire roles?

>>14521533

Essentially, they forgot that just because THEY have plot armour, doesn't mean those mooks they've taken with them do.

And with their reputation so high NONE of the wingmen were going to point this out, they just blindly followed and thus all got killed.

>>14521572
Option piloted a Dom for a long time so it's likely he has more experience with bazooka and rifle type weapons.

Really the only one who has used anything like the gatling before would be Zolomon when he was using the Gouf. I'm reluctant to put more strain on his suit though with all of the cutom shit he has piled on.
Ask Elaine if she wants to try the gatling or use Jolynes beam rifle. Her high mobility type upgraded with UMP parts should have enough spare thrust to not be effected by the extra weight. If not David should take it with the matching shield we salvaged.
Speaking of shields, how have the Zulu shields held up?

>>14521638
Alright, let's see if Elaine's MS can be fitted with the Gatling, and she's comfortable with it.

>>14521638
Pretty sure he's still using a Rick Dom II, which is probably the suit best able to support something as massive as the mega gatling. The Gelgoogs could, but I'd rather they keep more versatile loadouts. Same with the Nact.

>>14521638
>Speaking of shields, how have the Zulu shields held up?

Well, the sloped configuration has worked quite well against conventional rounds, and the large size means that it gives good coverage and protection, but it does nothing against Beam weapons as you'd expect.

The large size can also make it a little unweildy as well for beginners.

So, you are now approaching Texas colony, sensors a revealing at least one Trojan Horse carrier, backed up by 3 Salamis cruisers. Several mobile suits have been detected, and they appear to be engaging light friendly resistance.

No sign of the Gundam or Char.

CHOOSE YOUR LOADOUT
THEN
YOUR ORDERS?

BRB DINNER.

Just a thought- but you could possibly mount the gatling on the elmeth and give it some dedicated anti- MS fire besides the bits. And furthermore, you could probably weld some spare shields onto it's frame and reinforce parts of the armor to better protect her. It's a mobile armor- it can handle it.

>>14521771
I think David in the Nacht, with Jol's beam rifle and the gundam shield, with as many cracker/flash grenades he can carry, is a base configuration we can all agree on.
Jol continues to use the rail gun and provide sniper support along with Nell.

Oh, has Zolomon been resupplied with the beam lances for his suit?

>>14521804
The Elmeth already has 2 megaparticle cannons mounted on it, unless the prototype version doesn't.

>>14521804
Ah, wish we had thought of that when we were still at Pezun.
But yeah, welding extra GM shields onto the Elmeth should be doable; most of her fighting is done via the bits anyway. Though I am worried about it affecting manueverability if she needs to escape when something goes wrong.

>>14521771
I'm sure if David took a zulu shield it would last a grand total of 1 sortie. Oh well, something worth trying.

David: Nachtzaku- Zulu shield, Gelgoog beam rifle, bullpup MG, granades, flashbangs, panzerfausts
Zol: Gyan Kreiger Custom- Custom shield, beam lance, gundam hammer, chaff grenades?
Jolyne: MS-14C- Zulu shield, railgun, bazooka, grenades, backpack beamcannon, beam naginata
Elaine: MS-14B- Gundam Shield, Gundam Gatling, 90mmMG+GL(backup), flashbang, chaff grenades, beam naginata
Option: Gyan- Gyan shield with chaff, beam carbine, beam saber
Rance: Zaku Kai- 90mm MG+GL, Bazooka, grenades and panzerfausts, Chain mine, heat hawk?

>>14521804
The Elmeth doesn't have any hardpoints to mount external weaponry, and she would have no way of firing it. Besides, it already has a pair of mega particle cannons, which are far more effective anyway.

NACT: Gelgoog beam rifle, Gundam Shield II, dual beam sabers, flashbang/chaff grenades, drop tanks
GYAN CUSTOM: triple beam lances, custom Krieger shield, Gundam Hammer
GELGOOG B: Gelgoog beam rifle, 360mm bazooka, beam naginata, Zulu shield, cracker grenades
GELGOOG C: beam cannon, GM railgun, beam naginata, wrist rocket pods, Zulu shield, cracker grenades.
RICK DOM II: mega gatling cannon, heat saber, MMP-80, grenades, drop tanks
ZAKU FZ: dual Zaku bazookas, dual MMP-80s, grenades, heat hawk, drop tanks

I'm assuming the Krieger Custom forfeited its backpack hardpoints for the lance servo arms.

>>14521917
Zeta Zaku, Options Rick Dom II was left at Solomon, the majority voted to give him Calvin's Gyan at the time.

I think the problem with last week was that someone was really intent on killing the Trojans, when we were just going for a flank attack. But that's in the past now, so let's move forward.
Agreeing with >>14521917 for loadout.

>>14521917
>>14521895
I thought Zolomon lost the Gundam Hammer in the last battle?

>>14521959
Ah, hm. Well in that case, swap the mega gatling to either the Zaku or Gelgoog B and give the Gyan standard loadout.

>>14521968
Yeah, I'm the guy that wanted to sink the Trojans. If it was a bad idea to attack them, you should have vetoed me.

Yeah, I regret it now, after seeing the results of the attack, but I felt it to be a valid attack plan at the time.

>>14521970
I cant find any mention of it in last week's thread. Did we?

The only reason I'm suggestion Elaine take the Gundam shield this time is because she'll be a bigger target with that gun. Really, anyone we give it to will be.

>>14522034
It's cool brah, like you said, it sounded like a good plan at the time.
Hindsight is 20/20 as they say.

>>14522037
I could have sworn Zol lost the hammer, but checking back through the session again, you're right, he still has it.

>>14522037
You've got a point, but David is also the one to most likely get stuck at close quarters and require a shield.

After some thought, seconding the loadout from >>14521895 but changing David from the Zulu shield to a GM shield. We picked up a whole stack of them, might as well use them.

>>14522159
Okay. Also I forgot to add beamsabers to David's loadout again.

Hey Apologised, would sticking two GM shields together affect the weight and balance to a large degree?
With a 2-layer shield, it would stand up to more punishment, right?

>>14522120

One of the chain links got cut, but it was later retrieved and repaired.

>>14522274

Aside from the problems with persuading the Flanagan institute to let you modify their prototype, there's also the fact that if the Elmeth ever get's in a situation where it has to use them then things have gone so badly wrong it doesn't even bare thinking about.

Also, the Elemeth is huge, you would need at least 10 to 20 shields.

Seriously guys stop trying to pimp the Elmeth, it's already pimp enough.

>>14521895

The Zulu shield is too large for the Nacht-Zaku to use properly. Only Heavy Mobile suits like the Rick Dom and Gelgoog can use it correctly.

Everything else is fine. Do you want to use a different kind of shield? Another GM shield? A Boxer Shield?

>>14522501
>Do you want to use a different kind of shield? Another GM shield? A Boxer Shield?

GM shield like
>>14522159
said
And also give David beam sabers.

>>14522501
I think we're going with a GM shield for the Nacht.

Also, could you answer this question: >>14522274

>>14522554
>And also give David beam sabers.

The Nachtzaku has it's Beam Sabers replaced.

>Also, could you answer this question:

I thought I did?

>>14522586
He meant about stacking a pair of GM shields. Though I think you mentioned that about a year ago.

With your loadout chosen you give the order to sortie in a close escort of the Outer Heaven until you have a better understanding of the situation.
After another couple of minutes, Anita relays an updated tactical situation to you.

There are 4 Rick-Dom pattern mobile suits engaged with roughly double that number in standard GM's. Friendly mobile suits appear to have originated from the two Zeon cruisers on the other side of the colony. Char's familiar Falmel type Musai, and a Chivvay Heavy Cruiser called the Mulligan, which is listed in the registry as being commanded by Rear Admiral M'Qube.

The enemy ships sighted consist of 3 Salamis cruisers and one Trojan Horse carrier. Markings indicate that this is THE Trojan Horse. There is no sign of the Gundam or other support units from it.

Texas colony is largely deserted, and there is no response to your hails to the colony for the tactical situation inside.
Damage to the colony as well as several wrecked ships from the one-week war has created a debris zone that affords some cover.

They are still waiting for tactical feedback from the friendly ships, as the Laser com link is still being connected.

YOUR ORDERS?

>>14522586
No, you answered the question about adding panels to the Elmeth.
My question is about having a double-GM shield for the Nacht-Zaku.

>>14522699

To be honest, aside from the weight ratio offsets it would have, anything that one shield can't stop is unlikely to be slowed down by two.

>>14522716
Should we, and can we, approach the battlefield via the debris field in an attempt to flank the Trojan?

>>14522746
Not sure what kind of plot armor THE Trojan Horse has, but we should probably assist those Doms, and take out its support.
I know we're pretty good at sinking Pegasai, but with no sign of the Gundam or it's supporting mobile suites, I think it'd be a gamble.

>>14522716
We should consolodate our forces but those Doms need support ASAP. David and Jolyne have the longest range weapons. I sugges that the OH head for the other ships along with David and Jol, they'll all put down some long range support fire on the GMs.

Send everybody else and half of the Elmeths bits throught he debris field. If they get the chance to ambush the Fed warships do so, otherwise lay in wait to cut off any Fed MS going to or from them.

>>14522792
So how about the team goes to help out the Rick-Doms, while the OH and the Elmeth make towards the Zeon capital ships. Nell launches her bits to start doing recon and to find the gundam.

>>14522816
>>14522804
These sound good.

>>14522816
>>14522804

Okay, so. Do want to have the Outer Heaven and Nell escorted by mobile suits, or do you want to have all of your mobile suits aid the Rick Doms?

>>14523024
Let's have the longer range suites escort OH and Nell while the rest go help.

>>14523024
So it's 4 Rick-Doms against 8 GM's?
David and Jolyne should be more than enough to get those guys out of trouble.

How big is the area? Is the debris field beyond Nell's range if she and the Elmeth were to park with the cruisers?

>>14523043
By that I mean Jolyne and Elaine escort while everyone else goes to help.

>>14523057
>How big is the area? Is the debris field beyond Nell's range if she and the Elmeth were to park with the cruisers?

No it's not that big. If I was bringing back the hex map (which I won't as I don't envisage this being an engagement on quite the same scale) then it'd only be six or eight hexes wide at the most.

Well in range.

So, you only want David and Jolyne to aid the Rick-Doms whilst the others escort the ship and Nell?

>>14523082
I'm >>14523043 and >>14523068. I amend my plan to go with what you said, as two aces should be enough to take care of them.

>>14523082
Alright. Then I'm with Arty's plan of sending the other MS in our team into the debris field to lay in wait for a chance to ambush the Trojan.
David and Jol go in and support the Rick Doms.
Nell goes with the OH to have the protection of the cruisers, and has her bits spread out for recon to find the gundam.

>>14523116

You have Jolyne back you up whilst you move to aid the Rick-Dom's you have the rest of the team continue to escort the Outer Heaven to link up with the firendly vessels.

Jolyne takes up a sniping position behind a reasonble beefy piece of debris whilst you continue your forward charge. You pull out your Beam Rifle as you see one of the Rick Dom's lose a leg, he manages survive the initial injury, and you take the shot as his pursuers move in for the kill. You lance the point attacker with your opening shot, a second beam from behind you scores a second kill, the GM exploding a bloom of fire. A third GM recoils from an unseen blow, most likely Jolyne's Rail-Gun. The blow doesn't cause the GM to explode, but it leaves savage damage to it's lower torso, tearing a gouge clean out of it.

By this point however the other GM's have seen you, and have begun to attack you instead. This takes the pressure off the Rick-Doms at least, allowing them to try and come to your aid in return. Although for now yu're going to have to concentrate on dodging the enemies shots. You also catch sight of the Salamis cruisers moving to assist.

YOUR ORDERS?

>>14523308
Bait the GM's backwards, using the gundam shield.
We want to keep them alive long enough that the Salamis moves out of position and is vulnerable to an attack.

>>14523308
Have Jo try to take out the bridges of the Salamis while we move in and take out some other GMs. If it gets too hot, we should call for help.

>>14523308
God dammit people. In another minute or two the rest of the team could have attacked the carrier without its escort.

Fine then. Attack the cruisers with half of the Elmeth bits. Not from directly ahead either, that'd make them to easy to see where the fire was coming from. Beneath and above. It'll divide their fire and their atention.

>>14523392
I don't know what happened. I thought we had more votes to move the rest of the team into the debris field.
Actually, I don't see ANY votes to have the team escort the OH and the Elmeth towards the other cruisers.

>>14523308
Apologised, why are the rest of the team escorting the OH, when we asked that they go to the debris field to prepare to ambush the Trojan?

>>14523345
>>14523392
>>14523353

You give the order for Jolyne and Nell to concentrate on the encroaching cruiser whilst you continue to dance with the GM's. With five of them, you don't really have time for complicated showboat maneouvers, you're going to have to try and go for one hit kills and hope the Rick-Doms can distract them enough to survive.

You're first shot cleanly immolates the head off one GM, it tumbles backwards momentarily disabled. You have no time to deal a killing blow as you dive to avoid tracking shots from two more of the enemy. You toss a pair of cracker grenades to disrupt their formation. The grenade detonates behind them and lucky shrapnel manages to pierce the core of one, causing it to explode.
The other GM passes too close to you to try and get a clean shot and you manage to lop his gun arm off with your foot mounted heat blade, a follow up shot from your Beam rifle finishes the target. You notice that the headless GM being taken out by the Rick-Doms, leaving two GM's left. Now the situation has reversed. With you outnumbering them.

Behind you all, the closes Salamis crumples in flames and explosions.

>>14523446

I was repeatedly told you only wanted two team members to attack the GM's and the rest to escort the Outer Heaven. I asked twice if this is what you wanted. Both times I was told yes.

>>14523580
Your wording didnt help.

>Okay, so. Do want to have the Outer Heaven and Nell escorted by mobile suits, or do you want to have all of your mobile suits aid the Rick Doms?

This is after it was said above that David and Jol would be the suits escorting the Cruiser and elmeth, you didnt ask which suits at that time. It was only in >>14523082

where you said:
>So, you only want David and Jolyne to aid the Rick-Doms
>whilst the others escort the ship and Nell?
that you brought up the test of the team escorting the ship. No one specifically agreed to the rest of the suits escorting the ship after that post.

With them badly outnumbered, they begin making their retreat back towards the enemy ships. You give pursuit in order to try and prevent them from reaching the defensive covering fire envelope of the Federation warships. Your Rick Doms have the advantage of speed, but they can't take the enemy for granted. A beam spray pistol scores a glancing blow on one of your allies. It flies away, no limbs lost, but it shows heavy pitting from the heat, and it's Bazooka spins away for a second or two before it explodes.

Your beam rifle scores another kill, and you begin to concentrate on the last remaing enemy, as it begins to zig and zag through pieces of debris, giving it some protection from the Rick-Dom's bazooka's. You see it spin out of cover awkwardly, a large chunk from it's head missing, head vulcan ammo spooling into space, Jolyne apparently saw a shot.

You take advantage and fire with your wrist Beam Gun and slag his right shoulder, the arm flies away, as he resumes his flight. Damaged as he is he's still got movement. 880mm Bazooka shells explode around him, he's missing them by a hairs bredth, too close to not be taking damage, but he keeps moving.

You pull up as you reach the lee of half a destroyed Magellan, and signal the others to do the same. You've reached the boundary of the enemy ships optimum attack range.

"Sir! The Trojan Horse appears to be launching! 1 Mobile Suit and one Space Fighter unit." Anita signals to you over the comms.

YOUR ORDERS?

>>14523764
Alrighty then, let's see if we can't get the rest of the team over here to take out the other two cruisers and see if someone can get a positive ID on which MS just launched.

>>14523764
what the fuck happened? All quiet on the Zeon front?

Have Nell and Elayne taget the Trojan Horse bridge. Zol and Jolyne focus on the new MS that just launched while we go for the fighter.
Any other squad members not mentioned focus on the Trojan Horse as well. Killing that is more important than killing a gundam.

A single MS plus a single Fighter has never been a good sign.

Brace for Gundam!

On a less meta-note, a single of each type would be suspicious. ID them, being very cautious.

>>14523982
>>14523989

As you open up contact with the Outer Heaven to call in the rest of the team, they tell you that the tactical link has been made with the friendly ships.

"It looks like the Gundam and Char are currently fighting down in Texas colony. Rear-Admiral M'Quve also took out his Gyan Kai to engage him as well. But they don't know how the battle is proceeding as radio contact within the colony is disrupted by the minovsky fields scattered around the area, and they've fried most of the unhardened electronics the colony has."
Anita informs you.

"I trust Char to look after himself, but I'm not too sure about M'Quve boss. Do you think some of us should try to help him out?" Zolomon asks you.

YOUR RESPONSE?

>>14524120
Hmmm. Have Zol and Elaine go to the help. Hopefully the close quarters will favor Zol, and the Gundam gatling will be good for suppressing fire. Everyone else on me, while Jolyne and Nell keep the Salamis busy.

>>14523580

No, no one said that the rest of the team should escort the OH. That was something you said in >>14523082
All other suggestions were to hide the rest of the team in the debris field.

I will make sure in the future to tell you when the suggested course of action you wish to confirm is wrong.

>>14524184
Second.
Also, while we keep the single MS and fighter busy, have Nell sneak through the debris field to the rear of the Trojan, and see if she can take it out.

I can't wait for our new subquest: Bring that Vase to Lady Kcyillia (It's very valuable)

For anyone interested, Arty's been banned because the word filter doesn't like people talking about Nell's Elmeth parts.

>>14524184

You order Zol and Elaine to help out Char and M'Quve whilst the rest of you push the attack on the Trojan Horse.
Sensors are revealing another Salamis cruiser that had been hiding in the debris away from your sensors moving to support them, although they don't appear to be launching any Mobile Suit, so it must have already done so.

They, and all of the rest of the cruisers are however launching balls. As well as that, the ships appear to be retreating into the denser debris field to try and give themselves some cover.

You at least manage to ID the enemy Mobile Suit, it appears to be a Guncannon unit, backed up by a Core Booster. Probably not a problem for you.

Option, Rance and Jolyne meet up with you and the two Rick-Doms that haven't had to retreat back to their ship for repairs.

"So, how are we going to do this?" Jolyne asks.

YOUR ORDERS?

I ALMOST FORGOT THAT INCOGNITO IS OUR UNCLE

>>14524318

Wha? The hell? Is that perhaps how I got banned once?

>>14524120
To be clear:

Zolomon and Elaine pull out and go to the Texas Colony to help Char and M'Quve. Zolomon because he's close combat, and Elaine because she knows the layout of the colony, has a gundam shield, and can provide cover fire with the Gatling.

David, Option, Rance, and Jolyne to attempt to ID and fight the single MS and fighter that was launched, with the remaining Rick Doms.

Nell to have her bits manuever through the debris field to come up behind the Trojan and attack it from behind.

>>14524319
Nell is to sneak the bits through the debris field. Avoid the Salamis and Balls, and concentrate on sneaking up on and killing the Trojan.

David and Jolyne will go after the fighter.
Option and Rance will go after the Guncannon.
The Rick Doms will keep the Balls busy.
Gratuitous use of flash/cracker grenades.

>>14524337
Perhaps.

This appears to be going smoother than anticipated- make sure to watch your ass out there.

For the Glory of Zeon, send that white devil back to hell!

>>14524344
>>14524373

You quickly outline the plan, to the rest of your squad, and then begin your assault.

The debris is at it's thickest here, such as it is, and the Balls are using it to best advantage. Heavy cannon fire from close range will give even the heavy armour of the Rick-Dom's a bad day, and there's a fair number to contend with. Lukcily, the lack of AMBAC capacity makes their movements more predictable, even a standard targeting computer could do it, let alone your skills.

The first sign that the combat just got interesting is when your beam rifle fizzles as you fire it. You confirm with the onboard sensors, they've seeded the entire area with anti-beam chaff. It'll negate much of their heavier firepower, but those anti-ship guns aren't really suited for close range point defence work.
Conversely the best weapons you have for taking on the Trojan Horse have just been negated. You draw your Bullpup and take down a pair of Balls whilst you consider your options.

MEANWHILE INSIDE THE COLONY...

Elaine continued to fire, covering the shattered remains of M'Quve's Gyan Kai. Although impressively ornate, the mobile suit had turned out to be somewhere below the Kreiger in terms of perfomace. They'd arrived just in time to distract the Solomon Express equipped Gundam from delivering a fatal blow.

A strike meant to bisect the Gyan Kai in half had 'only' cost him an arm and a leg. The Mobile Suit was destroyed, and M'Quve himself had been lightly injured, but he was alive at least.

Dr Flannigan himself had already pulled him out of his cockpit and was administering first aid with help from Lalah Sune from the back of a covered wagon. What on earth the two of them had been doing here she couldn't begin to guess.
An unpleasant memory of getting splinters in the back of one of those wagons at her eighth birthday surfaced causing her to direct her rage at her target.
She was rewarded with a glancing blow on one of the Gundams large, nay, massive boosters. They gave it a ferocious turn of speed, but they sure as hell didn't help it's agility much.

Oh balls here it goes with another round of vomiting giant panzerfausts and missiles everywhere.

---

Zolomon leapt away from the falling heavy munitions. He wasn't targeting the civilians and wounded actively, but those explosive charges were going everywhere. He must have been running out by now he absently thought to himself as his thrusters screamed in complaint.

Zolomon hadn't seen Char anywhere yet. He had to assume he was lying low, or had already been killed. A dry riverbed afforded him some cover and allowed his overheated thrusters to cool. Nothing like an actual atmosphere to shed heat into, compared to having to deal with heat radiation management in space.
He pushed forwards into the explosions, willing to risk a little blast damage to close the gap under the cover of these explosions. The computer complains even more.

>>14524992
---

Char waited. By his observation, the Gundam was all but run out of disposable munitions, and his fuel bunkers were at least 70% expended with all of the maneouvering that operating within a atmosphere that he'd had to do. Char estimated that Amuro would have to eject his fuel pods in roughly 2 more minutes of action. At which point he would strike.

>>14525001
Bump.

Despite the anti-beam chaff, you continue to press forward. Despite the lack of beam weapons, you still manage to cut an impressive swathe through the enemy numbers as you advance towards the still retreating enemy ships. Nell retracts her bits, useless as they would be in an anti-beam chaff field, content to provide recon data to the team of you.

You and Jolyne spot the core booster. Mounted Heavy Gatling guns spew bullets at you, and you both return fire. Despite the obstacle strewn terrain he dives away from your attacks and into cover at full speed, he's either reckless or an elite pilot. Maybe even a bit of both.

Meanwhile, Option and Rance find themselves pinned down under heavy fire from the Guncannon. Random walk fire pounds their locations relentlessly. The two return fire when able, willing to wait out the enemies ammo magazine. The two Rick-Doms attempt to turn the tide by flanking. One takes a pair of heavy 240mm shells to the chest. The armour spalls off and shatters in great chunks as it flies backwards. The other tries to bring it's bazooka to bear, but he's picked too close an engagement range, and the Guncannon is able to get in under his arm. The rocket fires overhead, pointlessly and the Guncannon begins punching enthusiastically. A quick but disabling blow to the blinding scatter pod is first, followed up by a flurry of additional blows. The heavy armour takes most of the damage, but it can't be much fun for the pilot. An overhead two fisted blow crumples the Rick-Doms head followed by a two legged lariat that kicks the heavy mobile suit away and into a piece of debris. The Guncannon is push back into cover by the momentum of this attack.

Rance and Option, unable to fire at such close quarters with a friendly, instead took the chance to redploy.

"Spirited guy, isn't he?" Rance observed to Option.

At which point Kai Shiden threw an entire asteroid at them.

>>14525190
well, thinks look like they're going pretty...
>At which point Kai Shiden threw an entire asteroid at them.
Oh nut bunnies.

Your shots are on target, but he keeps using the terrain keep himself alive. He's also psuhing his engines as fast as he dares as well to try and get away from you. Storming through the halo of debris you continue to give pursuit.

"You think he's trying to lead us away from the Trojan Horse?" Jolyne asks.

"It's suicide if he goes to far and our beam weapons start working. If he leaves the debris field we'll have him. So, sooner or later he's going to end up back where he started. He's just trying to buy time and get us to waste our ammo."
You reply.

---

Option and Rance retreat from their positions away from the Guncannon. Firing off several grenades and other munitions as they go.

"How about we just take on the carrier? He's probably out of ammo by now." Rance suggests.

"You're welcome to take the risk, but I think first priority is to see if any of the Rick-Dom pilots are still alive." Option points out.

Ceding to the more experienced pilots suggestion, the two of them begin tentatively scouting the local area trying to find their lost allies.
Luckily they manage to find them limping back to the mothership. The one that took two cannon shots to the chest is heavily damaged, it's a wonder the machine wasn't instantly scrapped. The shells must have not exploded after penetrating, removing those is going to be fun, and neither Option or Rance envy the wingman who has to carry his wounded compatriot back with a potential timebomb lodged inside it's chest.

"Well? Do we attack the Trojan Horse now? Whilst we probably still have time?" Rance asks, almost petulantly.

Zolomon had lost his shield arm and the Gundam had been forced to eject his thruster pods in the exchange. Out of all of the pilots Zolomon had faced, Amuro Ray's attacks were most likely the "sharpest": the quickest in reaction, and the most accurate. Even the bosses attacks weren't that quick to respond, although if he had to guage the two, David was probably the better at dodgin. Amuro was clearly still used to fighting battles against things which couldn't easily penetrate his Gundamnium armour and he was prone to take the odd glancing blow here and there.

Zolomon hadn't banked on the thrusters being THAT easy to detatch. The amount of stress they had been put under lately he would have put good money on those being more securely attatched that that.
Unwilling to lose the momentum, missing an arm as he was he attacked with his Gundam Hammer, the Gundam's sight of him was partially obscured by smoke and flames from those thrusters exploding, and his attack managed to hit home. Unfortunately that resulted in it hitting the reinforced chest plate. The left chest covered splintered and shattered under the force of the blow, and the Gundam was knocked backward, it arrested it's fall and stabilised itself. Not actually damaged in any crucial way. It raised it's beam rifle in it's left hand.

Heavy bore bullets fell down like rain and the gundam began to try and dodge away from Elaine as she came to assist, the Gundam was forced to split it's fire. The Hyper Bazooka in one hand firing at Elaine whilst it fired beam shots at Zolomon, splitting it's fire proved a mistake as it scored no hits on either.

Then Char made his attack.

The Bright Red Gundam, leapt from wherever it was that he'd been hiding, it's beam sabers drawn. It's first slash dispatched the hyper bazooka, the second the Beam rifle, but the third and fourth Amuro had already drawn his own beam sabers and the two clashed, sparks cascading from the colliding yellow and ruby plasma.

"Get those three back to the ship!" Char orders

"NOW!"

>>14525887
Bullshit!

ZOLOMON NEEDS TO GRAB SOMETHING AND HIT AMURO WITH IT! ANYTHING!

GET HIM IN A FULL NELSON IF HE HAS TO!

>>14525887
As much as I want to have Zolomon get the killing blow in on Amuro and leave Char with nothing, it's not worth it.
Not when we can get Zolomon repaired and back up in the fight, and Elaine can come back and put the hurt on the White Base with her Heavy Gatling, while they're in an AB chaff field of their own making.

>>14526011
Good Idea.
>>14525925
Bad Idea.

While denying Char personal glory would be a hoot- it isn't worth the risk of potentially killing off one of the better pilots at your disposal.

Regroup and resuply then it's time for pic related

Degwin noticed that the contents of the diplomatic evelope had been marked Top Secret. As if that had somehowever actually been less than the case.

Still he had to admit this was important news.

He opened up the internal hardline to Kycillia. She was busy as usual, trying to shore up the shattered forces of the Grenada division without letting the Federation or the Loyalists realise just how badly weakened the Grenada forces had become.

An issue that in part might be about to resolve itself.

"Have you seen the latest communique from the Zum City representative?" he asked.

She replied with an affirmative.

"Can it be trusted?" he then asked.

"I wouldn't expect it to be completely trustworthy, nevertheless, it does scan. The Loyalist forces have been increasingly quiet since the Von Braun assault, and there have been indications of an ideological split between the idealists and the political support in various ways. We've also not heard anything from Gihren in recent weeks indicating that he's possibly on the outs even with his own hand picked coterie. The deal seems good, amnesty for Gihren supporters for any connected warcrimes and relocation to the Axis redoubt in return for full co-operation with details of Girhens activities and location, and should it come to a trial, a legally binding agreement to give evidence against him."

Degwin studied the diplomatic language of the letter he was reading again.

The title of the letter simply read: "PROPOSAL FOR ZEONIC REUNIFICATION"

TO BE CONTINUED...

>>14526107
>PROPOSAL FOR ZEONIC REUNIFICATION
Okay, while this won't be enough to actually win the war, this could help stem the Federation tide.

>>14526061
>3 coffins
Kai Shiden - 1
Sayla Mass - 2
Only ashes of White Base crew - 3

OMAKE

Side 4 Deep Recon team report.

"We infiltrated the general battlefield area after being seeded in the Domitan colony prior to the end of the siege. We were able to locate a defence sat that had survived with it's memory core intact for perusal.

Scans of it's hard drive footage reveals that as ordered, the automated defence systems did fire on the enemy ships when they got close. Although roughly 45% of them were knocked out by long range fire before they had the chance to do so. Nevertheless, the defensive fire accounted for roughly 3 Salamis Cruisers and 1 Magellan was seen to take heavy damage. Impossible to guage Ball and Mobile Suit losses, although initial study would indicate losses to be light.
The carriers chose to hang back and let the cruisers and battleships take the brunt of the fire, not hits record on any of those vessels. Only two of these ships appeared to take part in the final removal of defenses from Side 4.

We then proceeded to locate and retrieve the hard drive of the Goblin Traffic Sat. From data within that we can largely confirm that it seems likely that of the two Gundams engaged here, both were destroyed. The second unit is observed burning up on re-entry.
NOTE: The Gundam was seen to launch a "core fighter" unit which did manage to escape this fate, it docked back with one of the two retreating Trojan Horse carriers.

After the initial mobile suit wave secured the area, subsequent conventional troop transports proceeded to swiftly occupy the side colonies and place them securely under Federation occupation. A final cruiser squadron, complete with full MS and MA compliment arrived to act as a space garrison, and as a visible threat of force to any resistance.
Communications and movements will be highly restricted from now on. Further reports unlikely for the time being."

MESSAGE ENDS

>>14526187
>The Gundam was seen to launch a "core fighter" unit which did manage to escape this fate
Goddamnit! How much plot armor do these Gundam pilots have?

So, for next time:
Should Option and Rance attack the White Base?
It's beam weapons are down, and Kai is probably low on ammo by now.
But Kai has been shown to throw fucking asteroids at them, and the White Base is still covered in conventional AA cannons.
And of course, there's all those Balls flying around.

>>14526400
And I think there's still some Salamis around to cover it, I dunno what king of armament those have.
Oh! And the Guntank, we can't forget about the Guntank.

>>14526420
Salamis-class cruisers have 6 twin-barreled machine guns, 12 missile launchers with 4 of them being 6-tube launchers.
Fortunately, with the anti-beam chaff, they won't be able to use their 6 turreted beam cannons.

>>14526420
I'm not TOO worried about the Guntank, since it doesn't have magnetic treads or a thruster system to allow it to operate in space.

>>14526420
At this point they've replaced their Guntank with a second Guncannon, so there is that to worry about.

you know, Kai is kinda like their Zolamon.
bet they'd get along in person.

"So then what?"
"I threw a rock at em!"
"Sweet!"

>>14526400
>>14526595
>>14526493
With all the plot armor that the White Base still has left, I don't think Option and Rance will be able to take it.
We would need a coordinated assault with the entire Nachtmaren. Now, fortunately, if we pull both Zolomon and Elaine out of Texas Colony, that will leave Char and Amuro fighting each other.
We bring Elaine's Heavy Gatling into the AB-chaff field and have her mow the lawn, as it were, of Balls. That should leave the Salamis cruisers bereft of support.
While all of this is going on, I think Nell should have the bits trail the White Base, waiting for either the carrier to move out of the field, or, for the AB-chaff to disperse enough that she can get some beam shots in on the Pegasus' engine block and MS hangar.

Bah, I missed a good Zeonquest thread!

>>14528402
Hey, any session where we're not threatened with demotion is a good one in my book.