>>40003955
>>Get Showered
>Start Packing


We going to run into 13?

>>40004160
MAYbe... It's mostly a meta-joke about how Nu came back from the dead for CP.

>>40003955
>Get Showered
>Start Packing
How'd the exams go Dead?

>>40004287
As well as they could, I guess. I get my scores on Monday.
>>40004160
>>40004287

>Get Showered
>Start Packing
You walk into the shower and manage to keep yourself from clenching up at the feel of cold water- apparently someone decided that heated showers was too much of a luxury for a Major.
After managing to put your shivering self into your general-use uniform, you begin to pack everything you have that's clean.
It's not much.
You probably need to do some laundry.
On the bright side, there isn't much laundry to do, so you won't need to pack much more.
Letting the AC draw away some of the cold, you look around at the sparse room.
You realize, once again, that you don't have many posessions.
Wait- when you arrived in Kagutsuchi, you only had the clothes off your back.
Your gaze narrows as you realize that this is likely Rachel's doing.
Creepy bitch.
You throw your bag on your bed.
Now what? You need to do laundry before you can go, but your stomach is drawing you to food.
You also need to ask Tsubaki about the schedule, and talk to Noel because... reasons.

>Laundry
>Mess Hall
>Scout Out Yabiko
>Find Noel
>Find Tsubaki
>Write-In

>>40004453
>Find Noel
>Mess Hall

>>40004453
>>Mess Hall
if w see either of the on the way talk to em.

>>40004498
>>40004508
>Find Noel
>Mess Hall
Force of habit or not, you find yourself going to Noel's room before the mess hall.
Knocking, you hear no response, and (as creepy as this phrasing sounds) yoou don't hear any breathing.
Figuring she must be out and about, you go to the mess hall.
One of the first things you notice as you walk in is that Tsubaki and Jin are talking, albeit a bit solemnly.
Tsubaki is holding her hat in her hands as she talks to Jin, her eyes focused on the table.
Jin gives you a cursory glare as you enter, but continues to speak to her.
When you get your crappy eggs, bacon, and pancakes (real American Breakfast right here), you move to sit near them, but just out of listening range.
From where you eat, you can tell that Tsubaki is sad, almost on the verge of crying, but her eyes still remain dry.
Jin is simply listening to her.
For once in your short time knowing him, Jin is actually concerned for the well-being of someone else.
>Listen in
>Focus on eating
>Stick with your own business
>Wait for them to finish talking and then talk to Tsubaki.
>”This isn't about your father, is it?”
>Write-In

>>40004650
>Focus on eating
>Stick with your own business
>Wait for them to finish talking and then talk to Tsubaki.

>>40004650
>Listen in
>”This isn't about your father, is it?”
Seriously he was putting off as much Smug as Terumi does.

>>40004683
>>40004705
Unless someone shows up, tiebreaker roll.
Label your choice and roll 1d6 with dice+1d6 in the Options box.

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>40004683
mine

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>40004705

File: Well_Shit.jpg (3 KB, 95x95)

3 KB JPG

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>40004787
>>40004829
>The Wheel of Fate is Broken
...Evens is 87, Odds is 29.

>>40004859
>Focus on eating
>Stick with your own business
>Wait for them to finish talking and then talk to Tsubaki.
After a little internal debate, you feel like it's best to be subtle here.
No need to interrupt them.
You wait and eat while she and Jin talk about something.
The longer they talk, the closer Tsubaki gets to tears.
Jin gives you his LOOK and motions Tsubaki out of the hall with some calm words.
They go around the corner and disappear from view.

Well, dammit.
Guess you lost your chance to hear them out, but it saved you some grief with Jin.
You get a full meal either way, but the question still bothers you.
What the hell was so important that Jin and Tsubaki wanted to talk about it in private?
Whatever it was, you're pretty sure it was related to Byakuga Yayoi.
What a bastard.

Seriously, is the entire NOL hierarchy filled with assholes?
That might explain why Ragna wants to tear the whole place down so badly.
But it doesn't excuse him taking it out on soldiers... soldiers like you.

Clearing your mind again, you finish your meal and move out.
Jin and Tsubaki didn't go far- you might be able to search them out.

>Track them down (2d6 Versus 8)
>Laundry
>Noel might be back from whatever she's doing
>Scout out Yabiko
>Go find Newton and see if he knows anything
>Write-In

>>40005004
>>Go find Newton and see if he knows anything

>>40005004
>Go find Newton and see if he knows anything

File: Tager_Skyline.png (406 KB, 683x384)

406 KB PNG

>>40005025
>>40005082
>Go find Newton and see if he knows anything
You take a stroll to find Newton, but eventually, he finds you.
Running up to you, he grabs your shoulder in alarm. “Dude, Sector Seven's got the Red Devil on the loose. Word on the street's that they're after Hazama- er, Terumi- shit, that bastard with the nice vest.”
“What?” You turn to him. “You mean that Tager guy?”
You've seen Iron Tager before.
That guy looks like he could bend steel beams like cardboard, or launch grown men into orbit.
And if he and Ragna and you are all after Terumi, you might be able to put the bastard down once and for all.
The trick would be convincing Ragna and Tager to help the NOL.
Well, the trick would be finding them both without looking suspicious and then working together, but it might work.
Maybe.
“We're gonna set up a bunch of lines splitting the city to draw them out- even if we can't stop them, we need to know where they are.” He gives you a smirk halfway between courageous and scared. “You in?”

>Yeah, I'm in.
>I need to know more. Who do I talk to?
>Is this gonna stop the trains?
>Sorry, man. I need to be somewhere else.
>Who else is on the lines?
>Write-In

>>40005288
>Yeah, I'm in.
>Is this gonna stop the trains?
>Who else is on the lines?

Someone Get Noel, Jin and Tsubaki in on this too. mark my words this is going to get ugly.

>>40005379
>Yeah, I'm in.
>Is this gonna stop the trains?
>Who else is on the line?

“Yeah, I'm in.” You slap him on the shoulder. “We have to get to Yabiko soon, though. Is this gonna stop the trains?”
His smile turns to confusion to a second. “If you're going to Yabiko, count me in. But yeah, that train isn't gonna run until those three leave.”
“Well, who else is on the line?” You two walk towards a small huddle of soldiers.

“Everyone we can spare. Anyone who's willing. As you can guess, not a lot of people are volunteering to stand in front of a human tank like Tager. Tank would be too little, actually. Battleship might be better.” Newton pulls some gum from his pocket. “Want some?”
You take some out of gratefulness, and find it's mint.
Overlooking the skyline, you can see trolleys coming to a halt and the lines covered every ten to twenty feet by individual guards.

“We're gonna need everyone we can get, you know.” you mutter. “Even Jin.”
Newton snorts and pulls out some field binoculars. “Dude, there's no way they're pulling Jin out after how badly he's injured, and how hard you beat him.”
“You'd be surprised how badly Jin wants to fight. What about Relius and Byakuga?”
“Staying behind, like usual. Commander's privilege and all.”

You think about this for a second.
You've gotten stronger, but stronger might not be strong enough.

>”I'll get everyone we can spare.”
>”I'll get Tsubaki and Noel.”
>”On second thought... keep Tsubaki and Noel out of this. I have an idea.”
>”I'll think over this some. See how I can help.”
>Write-In

>>40005649
>”I'll get Tsubaki and Noel.”
>”I'll think over this some. See how I can help.”

>>40005649
>>”I'll get Tsubaki and Noel.”
>”I'll think over this some. See how I can help.”

>>40005693
>>40005757
>”I'll get Tsubaki and Noel.”
>”I'll think over this some. See how I can help.”

“I'll get Tsubaki and Noel. It might be hard keeping Jin out of this, though.” You turn to walk away.
“Yeah, try to get them in on this. Except Jin, of course.” Newton turns back to the skyline, and you hear an explosion. “And hurry. I think something's going on in Quadrant Four.”

Your pace quickens as you return from where you came.
Quickly checking the mess hall, you find neither Noel nor Tsubaki.
You run down the men's hall and practically break down your door to get your gun, which you throw over your back.

Now if you only knew where the girls were.
You think for a second. Noel could be in her room, but she could also be lollygagging somewhere else, doing laundry, or talking with Tsubaki.
Tsubaki could be anywhere you haven't already been, but knowing her conversation with Jin, they'll likely be someplace private.
You don't have much time. First destination.

>Laundry!
>Noel's Room!
>Tsubaki's Room!
>Jin's Room!
>Training Rooms!
>Search for somewhere out of the way!
>Somewhere else!
>Write-In

>>40005909
I forgot to add
>There's no time for this! If I have to fight alone, so be it!

>>40005909
>Noel's Room!

>>40005909
>Laundry!
>Noel's Room!
Not in this order.

>>40005943
>>40005947

>Noel's Room!
Your go-to for crazy stuff going down. Running over to the female wing, you find Noel's door and rap on it smartly.

“Noel, we have an emergency! Come on, open up!”
After a few seconds frustrated with the door, you turn to go to the laundry room when you nearly fall over in surprise.

Noel is in casual gear, carrying a laundry basket.
She blinks in surprise.
“What are you doing?”
You consider an explanation.
No time.

“There's a bunch of crazy stuff going on right now! You need to get ready for combat!” You take the basket from her. “Just get in there and change to your combat uniform!”
A slight glance down answers one question you've been pondering, but as soon as she opens her door, she hurriedly takes her laundry and rushes in with a huge blush on her face.
Now what?

>Wait for Noel. We can't waste time on Tsubaki being prepared.
>Tell Noel you're finding Tsubaki.
>Tell Noel you'll be in Quadrant Four
>Write-In

>>40006120
>Wait for Noel. We can't waste time on Tsubaki being prepared.

>>40006120
>>Tell Noel you're finding Tsubaki.
Tsunaki was taking with Jin any ideas?

>>40006120

>Wait for Noel. We can't waste time on Tsubaki being prepared.

>>40006195
>>40006269
>>40006195
>>40006269
>Wait for Noel. We can't waste time on Tsubaki being prepared.

You wait for Noel... and try to keep your mind off of the fact that you saw no bras within her laundry.
In three minutes, she steps outside. “If you tell anyone... I'll...” She looks for terms with which to express her embarrassment.

“Not a word.”
“Let's just go.”
“Right. Sorry, we can't waste time finding Tsubaki. We need to get to Quadrant Four. Apparently Ragna, Hazama, and the Red Devil are all there.”
You two make a short sprint through the halls, and find yourselves where Newton was before.

He brightens up. “Good. Where's Tsubaki?” He looks around.
“She's with Jin. No time to find her.”
“Well, you'd better get out there. Tageer just broke through the line and is heading through Three towards Two. I think that's where either Hazama or Ragna is.”

>We'll find him in Three.
>We need to cut him off in the line between Three and Two.
>We need to find his target in Two.
>Noel, let's split up.
>Noel, let's stick together.
>Write-In (something else or specify)

>>40006472
>>We need to cut him off in the line between Three and Two.
>Noel, let's stick together.
Can someone use a radio so we can get a better picture?

>>40006472
>We need to cut him off in the line between Three and Two.
>Noel, let's stick together.

>>40006527
>>40006634

>>We need to cut him off in the line between Three and Two.
>Noel, let's stick together.
>Can someone use a radio so we can get a better picture?
“We need to cut him off between Three and Two. Noel, stick with me.”
“Got it, um, Major.”

“Just call me Ben.” You turn back to Newton. “We'll go to the line there. Can anyone get a better picture of where he is?”
“No luck. The best we've got is a weird signal. The tech guys say that whatever he's got, it isn't 'really' Ars Magus.”
You raise an eyebrow. “What's that supposed to mean?”
“Hell if I know. Must be Sector Seven and their Anti-Ars policy.”
Suddenly, one of the soldiers from below waves to Newton and you.
“You probably ought to move. Good luck.”

“You're not coming down?” You ask.
He put away his binoculars. “Well, yeah, I am, but I was talking about fighting Tager. He'd kill me, so I'll just try to distract him while you two take him down.”
You nod and move towards the line.

…

When you get there, everyone is bracing themselves.
Surprisingly, Newton is out of breath, but you aren't.
The first sign is a palpable field of magnetism.

Then you hear thunderous strides moving towards you.
Feeling them would be more accurate. Whatever subtlety Tager had in Kagustuchi was long-gone as he plowed through a toll booth and looked at the line of NOL soldiers.
Some pulled out weapons or prepared Ars. All of them were scared at looking upon the scarlet behemoth.

He ignored them and looked at you and Noel.
You've instinctively taken a fighting stance, but Tager doesn't seem intent on conflict.
He speaks in a calm tone.“This doesn't involve you, you know. This is between us and Hazama.”
The soldiers turn to you to speak for them.

>Shoot him
>”What do you really want?”
>”You should have thought of that before destroying half a city.”
>”Surrender, Iron Tager.”
>”We'll discuss terms when you stop attacking our city and our men.”
>Write-In

>>40006886
>>”What do you really want?”
>>”You should have thought of that before destroying half a city.”
Cause let's face it Hazama is on the outs here, and with you ripping the city and my men to shreds you won't find him unless he wants you too.

>>40006886
>”What do you really want?”
>”You should have thought of that before destroying half a city.”
>”We'll discuss terms when you stop attacking our city and our men.”

>>40006886
>>”You should have thought of that before destroying half a city.”
>”We'll discuss terms when you stop attacking our city and our men.”

>>40006924
>>40007063
>>40007282

>”What do you really want?”
>”You should have thought of that before destroying half a city.”
>Cause let's face it Hazama is on the outs here, and with you ripping the city and my men to shreds you won't find him unless he wants you too.
>”We'll discuss terms when you stop attacking our city and our men.”

“Iron Tager... What do you really want?” You level your gun at him.
“Hmm? I don't understand the question.”
“You've already destroyed half a city to get to this point, and let's be honest. Do you really think you would find Hazama if he didn't want you to? We can discuss terms when you've stopped attacking our city and our men.”
There's a silent standoff. The air is filled with static and tension.

He looks at you, his face unmoving and stern behind the goggles.
“Very well. Kokonoe will talk to you and Noel. Putting her on speaker.”
You're almost incredulous at this. “You destroyed buildings and killed people because you wanted to talk to me?”
“Wow, looks like someone has a bloated ego. No, jackass. You can carry out negotiations, and I have a few questions about Noel I want answered.” It's that catty female voice from before- Kokonoe, was it?

Kokonoe clears her throat obnoxiously. “Let's cut to the chase. I want Hazama dead. You want Hazama dead. I have Ragna the Bloodedge captive.”
“They've got Ragna?” One guard asks. “Pass it along! Sector Seven claims to have Ragna the Bloodedge!”
“Now, Ragna's never done anything to Sector Seven, so I COULD let him go free and wreck your shit.” Kokonoe's voice comes from behind the speakers. “OR... I could hand him over to you guys in exchange for Hazama. You want to make that decision, big guy?”

>No deal. You've done too much damage to negotiate now.
>I need to talk to my superiors first.
>How do I know you'll make the trade?
>We'll need your help capturing him, you know.
>How do I know you have Ragna?
>Write-In

>>40007367
>>How do I know you'll make the trade?
>>We'll need your help capturing him, you know.
>>How do I know you have Ragna?
Also insulting someone is the antithesis of successful negotiating, might want to work on that in the future since unlike most officers I try to keep my men safe. Someone would have told you to blow out it your ear for that crack.

>>40007434

>>How do I know you'll make the trade?
>>We'll need your help capturing him, you know.
>>How do I know you have Ragna?
>Also insulting someone is the antithesis of successful negotiating, might want to work on that in the future since unlike most officers I try to keep my men safe. Someone would have told you to blow out it your ear for that crack.

You lower your gun, only slightly. “How do I know you'll make the trade?”
“Aw, you hurt my feelings. Am I not trustworthy enough? You'll have to count on it, kid. Either way, Hazama's dead, so we both win anyways.”

You furrow your brow. No matter who this is, you're not letting her talk down to you. “Yeah, but only if we have your help capturing him. Otherwise we're doing your lifting in exchange for you releasing someone we were already fighting in the first place. Also...” You raise your gun again. “How do I know you have Ragna?”
“Well, I could give you a voice clip from the man himself.”
“That could be pre-prepared or manipulated. Try harder.”
“You little- fine. I'll give one of your little technicians a chance to check to see if it's the real deal. But only after we have something worked out.”

“You know, insulting people is one of the worst ways to get negotiations done. I don't know what your commanding technique is, but I generally don't like to put my men in the way of danger. And if it was Head Yayoi instead of me talking, Tager would have been under fire two minutes ago, after Byakuga told you to blow it out your ear.”
“Maybe I don't give a damn about your opinion, brat. Are you gonna take the deal or not?” the speaker cuts out temproarily.

Iron Tager looks at you with a shrug. “I can't speak for Kokonoe, but I must follow her orders. Things may get worse if you mouth off to her more.”
Everyone is still tense.

>We'll take it.
>No deal.
>I'll pass it up to Colonel Relius.
>I'll pass it up to Head Yayoi.
>I'll pass it up to Major Kiseragi.
>Write-In

>>40007687
>We'll take it.
Alert the lord, general and major about this. If they have a problem they can come out and deal with it.

>>40007687
>We'll take it.

>>40007730
>>40007749

After some silence, you come to a conclusion. “We'll take it.” You turn to a nearby guard. “Send it up the line that we're taking the deal! If Colonel Relius, Head Yayoi, or Major Kisaragi disagree, then they can come down and talk!”
Iron Tager almost looks relieved. “Well, that went better than expected, all things taken into account.”
“Wait, Colonel Relius? That son of a bitch is... You know what? Never mind. Kid, whatever your name is-”
“Ben Herald.” Tager corrects her.
“Herald, whatever. Don't trust that slippery bastard Relius with a damn thing. They say the devil you know, but I know Relius enough that there's no way him running this will end well. I want you and whatever band of chuckleheads you can pull together to work with me on this. If he's in on it, everything will go to shit.”

You sigh and look up at the branch. “You think I don't already know that?” you whisper.

….
Well, that ends it for tonight. Good session.
I hope to have one tomorrow, too. But it's good to be back.
Any quick questions?

>>40007878
How do the men think of us? Does Kokonoe think we could give Taeger a fight? Thanks for running!

>>40008049
The men think you're basically a complete and utter badass who fights with both his strength and his wits in perfect sync.
You're basically the Ciaphus Cain of the NOL.

Kokonoe thinks that it would have been up in their air if it was you against Tager, because fo your maneuverability, but that Tager would have won had he gotten the drop on you by simply grabbing you once and then unleashing a barrage of crazy damage, finished, of course, by a Genesic Emerald Tager Buster.

>>40008158
She forgot about Noel didn't she? Also can Ben into resonant harmonics?

>>40008208
Heh.
Putting Noel on the field basically tips the scale from 50:50 to 10:90 NOL favor.
Ben can into resonant harmonics.
It might be a bit difficult to pull off, though.
If you want to try it on people you may risk your skull imploding.

>>40008263
How would it risk Our skull imploding? Hole point of it would be to fuck up other people with directed sound waves. We can already shield against such.

>>40008292
Concentrating on a particular wavelength can leave you distracted, and if you get interrupted, it could temporarily backfire on you. Besides, just because you risk your skull imploding doesn't mean that you would die.
It WOULD be very painful, though.
In any case, keeping your Drive up for long periods can be a drain on you. Use it too much and you may find it can't answer you when you need it.

One more.
I need to go to bed.

>>40008350
So how badly did Nyakuga mess up Tsubaki? How pissed is Jin over it and will he blame us?

>>40008389
Here's the thing.
I do have a possible plot twist that involves Byakuga, and it does involve Ben.
It does, however, have only slight justification.
>So how badly did Byakuga mess up Tsubaki?
Let me put it like this: The bloodline of the Yayois is pure to allow for strong Ars Magus users.
This means, however, that a lot of the children are born weak and sickly.
So, basically, Tsubaki is the strongest surviving child of the Yayois in terms of natural Ars Magus potential.
It's implied that the Yayois discard children who don't meet their standards.
They're also running out of family members to breed with.
>How pissed is Jin over it?
Very.
But not at you, specifically.