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>>42597438
Your home base is under attack, you've lost friends and squadmates, and you woke up on a gurney to discover that the big chunk of you that makes your main gimmick work got five-finger discounted by a virus-frenzied scientist with stupid hair.

You stand atop a ruined elevator shaft within the central building of the base campus. Ahead is a control room you've been told might--might--help you find your commanding officer.

You step through the door to find a figure hunched low over one of the terminals.

Oh. It's that guy.

He looks up from muttering invective and suddenly snaps up his buster, painting the wall with a hurricane of plasma as you dive to the side. "YOU!" he screams. "YOU RUINED EVERYTHING!"

>

>>42597438
But those nudes of India were great

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>>42597447
Business before pleasure, anon.

...Plus, now this is going to be the first thing Cain Labs sees and he's going to kill us all.

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>>42597438
HA HA, IT'S TIME!

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>>42597443
I'm sure that somewhere your plan would have worked, but your weak link is. This is Earth.

Did they purposely train you wrong, as a joke?

>>42597452
You mean he wasn't going to anyway?

>>42597443
"Why does everyone say that about me? It's starting to hurt my self esteem."

And shoot him.

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>>42597452
I will subdue him

>>42597443
>USE buster ON maverick

>>42597551
Maverick ON buster, THEN USE

>>42597443
Give him a simple 'yo' and get the tension coil and tumult shells going. No need to risk anything, just wreck him. Juuust make sure not to damage any equipment.

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>>42597452
>>42597541
Gentlemen. Ladies.

>>42597834
I don't think you should put your selfies up here, someone might track you down.

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>>42597517
>>42597551
>>42597655
"Yeah, I get that a lot," you reply coolly, firing a tumult shell and cutting a nice clean line through the incoming fire. He bounds over it at an impressive height, firing down on you, and you simply hook a T. Coil to the far wall and zip yourself over to where he had been standing a moment before. You open fire on him as he comes back down, raking his back with a stray shot.

Snarling as he turns, Mac fires another of his stun shots at you--which slides off your armor harmlessly again. Not too bright, is he?

It occurs to you, dimly, that in this entire thing, you've fought nothing but a handful of stray mechaniloids and some mass produced soldiers. Everything that's happened, you came in too late to do anything about. This guy is the first face you've had to put to the maverick threat that's taken so much today.

This could be a good chance to vent your frustrations.

Dimly you size him up--repeating buster that fires faster than yours in machine-gun salvos, that useless stun weapon, and some decent jumping. You're in good condition, your missing capacitors aside. He's still a threat, and one you'll take seriously, but...

>You're going to enjoy this.
>He's a dead motherfucker.

AND

>Stay defensive, chip him out.
>Go on the attack. The larger battle still isn't over.

>>42597936
>He's a dead motherfucker.
>Go on the attack. The larger battle still isn't over.

>>42597936
>He's a dead motherfucker.
>Go on the attack. The larger battle still isn't over.
We aren't tanker. Taking him down quickly and with extreme prejudice is our satisfaction. Not toying with the fucker.

>>42597936
>He's a dead motherfucker.
>Go on the attack. The larger battle still isn't over.

>>42597936
Whatever we do just make sure we don't damage the equipment in this room. We still kinda need it

>>42598020
Yeah, seconding this part.

>>42597936
>He's a dead motherfucker
>Go on the attack

We got a full lock on hunter and our lance. We can easily fight him without taking a hit and we just need a lull to fire a shot at his vitals. We'll need to get this system safe anyways.

>>42597936
>He's a dead motherfucker.
>Go on the attack. The larger battle still isn't over.

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>>42597987
>>42597990
>>42598005
>>42598020
>>42598034
>>42598050
>>42598207
No, you decide. You're going to keep this one on the level. Retire the fucker, move to the next. You're not Tanker. You're not any of these fucks.

You sight on Mac again, and he twists aside just as you fire a Lockon Hunter. Unfortunately, you have two hands, and you immediately follow it up with another, fired for maximum power as you... completely fail to drill a neat little hole through his chest from the side, the ray scattering harmlessly across his armor. He gives a barking laugh and launches another volley your way, a stray hit scoring across your hip and flashing your shields.

"Ha! Haha!" He shouts, leaping overhead again, coming down on you as you turn...

...And bring your lance around front, wheeling it around and up to meet him.

Mac's trajectory is ruined as he contorts in midair, the blade carving a furrow across his chest. You swing the lance around and bring it down as his shields brightly strobe, but in an instant he phases out in a purple bolt, reappearing across the room, eyeing you warily.

"Right, I guess you were 17th," you mutter, annoyed that one of your best weapons slid right off him.

He opens up with another scattered barrage of buster fire, but with your lance handy, you simply bring it up and circle it, nulling the shots coming your way. Snarling, he fires another stunner globe--this one breaking on your lance and causing it to fizzle out. With another yell of triumph, he opens up with the spray and pray again.

Unfortunately, you brought cables. You snag the ceiling and rocket up and out of the line of fire--a moment later your lance crackles back to life, only momentarily shorted. You cut the line and come down upon him, and he leaps aside as you split the air where he stood. You parry away his next follow-up salvo with a growl.

>No more keepaway. You've got melee game, he doesn't.
>He can't hurt you. Not with your lance and shells. Gun him down.

>>42597936
>He's a dead motherfucker.
>Go on the attack. The larger battle still isn't over.

Be as cold and professional about this as possible. This manbot deserves no courtesy of gleeful murder.

>>42598390
>No more keepaway. You've got melee game, he doesn't.
attackattackattackattackattack

>>42598390
>No more keepaway. You've got melee game, he doesn't.

Chop-socky

>>42598390
>No more keepaway. You've got melee game, he doesn't.

>>42598390
>No more keepaway. You've got melee game, he doesn't.
Plus our range game doesn't seem to jack against him either so we kind of have to get close if we want to finish this sometime today

>>42598390
>No more keepaway. You've got melee game, he doesn't.

>>42598390
>No more keepaway. You've got melee game, he doesn't.

Do we have our Misericorde? If so, gank him with that. See if he can laugh off liquid nitrogen.

That was a sudden rush of votes. Did everyone just wake up?

>>42598442
We haven't got it, it's locked up in the medbay with Emerald's flambard.

>>42598390
>No more keepaway. You've got melee game, he doesn't.
Keep a mix going, but go for melee. Need to keep the pressure up on him and be ready when he teleports. We can use the coil to catch and damage him as well and it will not fizzle from the shock.

And if all else fails, punch him in the face and use that CQC we've been learning.

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Dammit, and I have two different game sessions today and now MHQ. Eh, they can wait.

>>42598390
>Close in and kick his shit in

>>42598447
I just got back from a morning shit so yes

>>42598609
How delightfully informative. My congratulations.

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>>42598415
>>42598428
>>42598434
>>42598438
>>42598440
>>42598442
>>42598459
>>42598595
Enough dancing around. You fire at Mac again--this time with a pair of T. Coils. He dodges both, but winds up closer to one than the other. Severing the other line, you engage the pulleys as it anchors to the far wall, and Mac's face registers another moment of surprise as you suddenly zip across the room and wind up right on top of him, clipping him with your lance as you pass. He leaps clear, firing back at you, and scores another hit on your back as you drop back to the floor.

When you turn back, though, you've carved a noticeable wound across his side, armor rent and a buzzing line of damaged internals showing.

Sweet fuck, you should have gotten these ziplines sooner.

"Damn you!" Mac shrieks, enraged, pouring on the fire. "Damn you! With X, we would have been unbeatable!"

"Yeah, well, now you're not," you reply, rolling the lance around to clear the air and then rocketing in with a dash.

He leaps overhead again, firing down as he goes, but this time you turn and catch the incoming with your blade, then use your free hand to send a shot downrange, catching him by surprise with another light hit. He's hurt pretty bad, now, but his shields are still holding.

>Hey Mac, what's in my hand?
>Juke him with another melee feint, then unload some charged plasma.
>Other?

>>42598714
>Hey Mac, what's in my hand?

Sounds like good times

>>42598714
"I don't suppose you're willing to surrender? Yeah, didn't think so."

>>42598714
>Hey Mac, what's in my hand?
Oh boy oh boy I like where this is going.. just aim away from the electronics.

>>42598714
"Say when."
>Juke him with another melee feint, then unload some charged plasma.

>>42598714
>Juke him with another melee feint, then unload some charged plasma.
If we do take this guy in alive make sure we did at him so he can't pull a wolf spider on us, actually disarm him if we need to

>>42598753
DON'T do this, well fuck up every machine in the damn room

>>42598714
>Hey Mac, what's in my hand?

>>42598779
I presume we'll be using it like in the Christmas thread - small area dispersal, delivered by hand rather than missile. If not, I'll change my vote.

>>42598714
>Juke him with another melee feint, then unload some charged plasma.

Yeah, let's not fuck up the electronics, please.

Hunter Command, is this small area chaff or wide?

>>42598883
Same as ever, wide.

>>42598905
In that case, changing my vote.

>Juke him with another melee feint, then unload some charged plasma.

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>>42598734
>>42598745
>>42598770
>>42598789
>>42598920
He's not done yet, but he's barely nicked you in return for you hacking chunks out of the stupid bastard. "One chance," you warn him. "One. Give up."

"DIE," he roars, opening up again.

A stray hit blooms across your front as you fire a pair of coils--one into the ceiling, the other into the wall beside him. You take the former, launching up to the ceiling again. Gauging your movement, Mac releases another storm of fire into the ceiling, yelling incoherently.

Unfortunately for him, rather than round the motion out, you drop straight down, your buster charge coming up as he tries to sweep his buster down and catch you with the trailing shots. No luck--you unload with both barrels, unable to avoid both as you light him up, his shields flickering with a noticeably dimmer light.

He's not even thinking, now--rage or panic or both gripping him as he fires wildly back at you, shots going wild, a few across your armor, nothing telling or vital. He makes no attempt to pick up his feet as you lean forward and dash.

Your third melee hit strikes him where the second did, hacking through the already-damaged plating with a moment of resistance, and then a sickening lack, coming clear through him out the back side.

"You'll--never--stop--Doppleeeeeeeeee--!" Mac's death scream is matched by the chain of explosions as his top and bottom halves burn away, filling the command room with blinding light and deafening noise, and then silence.

After a moment, it's done. You stow the lance, shaking your head, and inspect the room for damage. Everything is functional--some minor damage, but nothing broke. Faint tremors still run through the command room from somewhere above.

You approach the terminal, raising a hand to turn it on, only to have it wink alight on its own.

>CONNECT TO: MHHQ-GEN-RHO-CENTCOMM

>Accept the connection?
>

>>42599234
>Yes

>>42599234
Y

>>42599234
>Y

>>42599234
>Y

Whistle "The Girl from Ipanema".

"Your call is important to us. Please stay on the line."

>>42599234
>Y

>>42599298
This is making me giggle way more than I should.

>>42599303
No Double A power lines joke?

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>>42599298
Gotta get dat 'node

>>42599369
I see India as driving a more Wacky Races kind of car, honestly.

>>42599234
Yes yes, gotta set up commands and get things operational again. Hopefully Rho has some information we can use.

>>42599234
Y

Reminder that when we talk to Rho, MENTION THAT TANKER IS MAVERICK AND SEVEN RAN OFF WITH THOSE FILES.

>>42599234
>Y

how was that guy in the 17th? I can see what he's supposed to do, use his teleportation system to get the drop on peopel and stun them, but thats his only trick and he wasn't exactly a tactical genius.

>>42599530
From IRC
Mac's got a decent all-around package, but he's sort of a low-power bag of tricks that leans heavily on his stun gimmick.
But yeah, Anode is also similarly low offense, high defense, which also happens to basically defeat all of Mac's range game.
Mac is also immensely pissed and fighting you in a cramped little room instead of in a larger area, where his warping and jumping would work in his favor a lot more.

>>42599530
Well the guy was durable, probably meant to work in a group and act as the group's tank and general support

>>42599549
ok that makes sense. a teleporter who focuses on kiting peopel would be fairly effective against things less tanky than us, and due to heavy defensive focus that probably includes some of the lower less durable S ranks.

>>42599549
The difference being that Anode has compensated for his low offense by means of misericorde, lockon hunters, capacitors and raikousen.

>>42599619
and our co workers have commented on how we've done an unusually good job at rounding out our abilities.

another thing to keep in mind if we weren't immune to Macs stun attack this would have been a very different fight. Macs probably not exactly one of the 17ths best or brightest, but he was probably pulling his own weight before he got a faceful of virus.

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>>42599619
>capacitors
Uhh, anon...

>>42599674
As Schwarz said, specialists die a lot sooner than generalists.

>>42599677
He said they're one of the ways we've rounded ourselves out, not that we have them right now.

>>42599677
We're fighting Mac at full ability. This is what he is like at his peak.
I was comparing him to Anode at his peak. If you want to compare him to Anode now you should also remove Misericorde and Raikousen.

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>>42599243
>>42599281
>>42599284
>>42599303
>>42599312
>>42599463
>>42599445
You need to find Frog, but maybe Rho has some news for you on that front. You put the call through.

"Rho--"

"Thank you, Lieutenant. Stand by, I am restoring communications."

There's a faint pop, and then instantly your comm lines are filled with calls.

"--message will repeat every sixty seconds. This is Bunker Haardvork, 3rd Deploy, calling for assistance from any maverick hunters receiving. We are--"

"--Around the side, get around the side, we need COVER--"

"Wait, do we have comms, is that--Rho, is that--"

"--pushing, they're falling back!"

The cacophony fades into a constant slurry of shouting and fighting. It dims in your ear as Rho's voice fills your head.

"Thank you for your assistance, Lieutenant. Stand by; I am now routing communications."

"I, uh--thanks. What about all that--"

"I have been monitoring it continuously," she replies. "I am able to multitask. Would you like me to connect you with Hammer Frog?"

Oh, Jesus, yes. "Yes, please. Oh, and--mark Tanker Tigershark and Seven as maverick. Sev made off with a weapons data archive."

"Acknowledged. Please stand by."

And, finally, there it is. Your CO's voice--haggard, exhausted, but loud and clear. "--Anode? Really? You're--status?"

"Fine, sir. I got sent to collect you. Fourth is..."

"Secure, for now. Seven and Tanker went maverick, Conda and Dodo are dead."

Silence. For a full ten seconds, silence.

"...Sir? Sir?"

"...Continue," he finally manages, the strain redoubling in the old Reploid's voice.

>Situation is contained, for now. I'm fine. Let's link up.
>I got sent to find you. Orders?

>>42599708
>I got sent to find you. Orders?

>>42599708
>I'm sorry sir. Orders?

>>42599745
Seconding.

>I'm sorry sir. Orders?

>>42599745
Thirding.

>>42599708
>I got sent to find you. Orders?

>I got sent to find you. Orders?
I think both Anode and Frog can tell the tone in each others voice. Hopefully we can link up with him, clean up, and go back to those friends who remain.

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>>42599708
Schwarz is MIA as well. Orders, sir?

>>42599856
I think he knows that, guy's been missing for... what, four days by now?

>>42599866
Three, if he goes a fourth he is marked KIA, and we don't really know at what point comms went down, so its hard to say if him being marked MIA was during that time.

>>42599856
Could mention Emerald is back though. That might perk him up a bit. Either way, we will help him right now as best we can. Maybe hang out with him and everyone to respect the fallen.

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>>42599916
I don't think we can make a 'feel better soon' card big enough for this, but bringing it up should help.

>>42599963
Let's paint 'SORRY' on the remaining half of the Crossmore and give it to him.

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>>42599724
>>42599745
>>42599757
>>42599764
>>42599769
>>42599781
>>42599815
>>42599916
You can feel Frog's despair, just in hearing him. "We did what we could, secured half the base, Em is clearing the other--he made it back right around when I woke up--I came here looking for orders, sir. And I'm sorry."

"Orders. Right." He sighs. "We can RTB. I just got relieved. Zero found me."

"I just ran into him--were you up on the roof?"

"Yeah. They had a mechaniloid trying to knock the building down. I was keeping it busy." He sighs again. "The skies are clearing out now. Whatever's left is falling back--probably won't get far, the Swiss air force is scrambling. Let's link up at the main entrance."

It's another long, quiet trip through a ghost town, Rho guiding you to the nearest way back to the front entrance. You find Frog waiting there for you.

With one hand on the rim of a still, shattered fountain, he stands with his back turned and his head low, his hammer slung across his shoulder. His armor is dirty and damaged, and for someone so tall and broad, he looks incredibly small.

"Sir," you greet.

He doesn't move. "Dodo and Conda."

"Yes, sir."

"It had to be them, didn't it? No one really deserves it, but if anyone in this place didn't, it was those two."

>

>>42600054
>Dodo saved everyone in the Pond. Seven killed Conda - you'll have to ask Indy what happened.

>>42600054
>Yes sir, and that's incredibly shitty, but Tanker's still running around killing everyone. Can we go save the rest of 4th now?

>>42600108
Have we heard anything to confirm or deny this?

>>42600120
Last we knew he was. Could ask Rho now comms are back up.

>>42600054
Dodo went down saving a lot of people, wasn't there for konda, but indie saw what happened so you can get a better story from her.

... What happened on your side of things?

>>42600054
>Living on is the best we can do for them now, sir.
>On that note, let's make sure the rest of the 4th is alive and well.

>>42600054
Be honest with him. Dodo saved a lot of lives in the bar keeping Shark occupied. Seven was the one who killed Conda, but we don't know everything. Either case, we were too late for both of them. All we could do is help those still fighting and try to cut down on the losses.

Still, let's head back. Once we make sure everyone is alright, we can show our respects properly.

>>42600108
And let's not be a dick about it? This is likely the worst day for everyone and we have no idea if Tanker is on base, just that he's somewhere.

>>42600054
> Dodo went down fighting, saving a ton of people and the Pond. I don't know how Seven killed Conda but rest assured, he'll get everything and more that's coming to him now. We've got to get the rest of the 4th back and ready for whatever else is coming, sir.

>>42600171
>we have no idea if Tanker is on base, just that he's somewhere.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvCI-gNK_y4

>>42600427
Let's be honest here, first moment he's free and not polishing his murderboner for Schwarz, he's going to reenact the first scenes of jaws on some people.

>>42600468
Or have another fight with a boat.

>>42600054

> Agreed, but at least they went down doing what we were made to do, saving lives.

>>42600427

How did I know what this was going to be before I clicked it?

>>42597447
Hey, what

You can't just say something like that and then leave it hanging

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>>42600085
>>42600108
>>42600140
>>42600144
>>42600171
>>42600217
"Dodo went down fighting--he stalled Tanker by himself long enough for the Pond to evac."

Frog turns around at that, looking at you over one shoulder. "That doesn't make me feel any better about losing him."

"I know. But he died a hero. It matters to them."

"...Yeah." Slowly he pulls himself up to his full height, still looking like a collapsed mountain more than a commanding officer. "What about Conda?"

"All I know is Seven did it," you reply. "He stole some data and damn near killed India. She said his gun is working now."

He looks up at that sharply before shaking his head and making his way towards the smashed-in front doors. "...Typical. She okay?"

"Barely. He cut her in half."

He grunts at that, and says nothing.

With that, you fall to silence, pushing through the front to a vast, empty expanse of desolation, searchlights catching plumes of smoke in all directions as they stretch back and forth, the alarms still blaring, but having faded to a constant, unnoticed presence in the background.


"I can't do this any more," Frog declares, finally.

-----

The next few hours are a blur you can't remember. The only highlight was Em making it back--"it's done," was all he said, looking none the worse for wear, before retreating into a sullen silence all his own.

Tanker was nowhere to be found, having vanished during the chaos. Seven retreated at some point as well, likely long before comms were back online. Damage was swept away and cleaned out. Dead were counted. Dodo was collected. Of Conda, there was nothing left. After the all-clear was sounded, your equipment was returned.

Somewhere in there, an order for repairs was worked out--India was sidelined and put in one of the few beds for repair jobs that take longer than one day--a bed not unlike the one you spent the last two days on.

>Find someone. Talk. (Specify)
>Sometimes, there's nothing to say. Wait for your turn in the shop.

>Of Conda, there was nothing left
Fuck.

>Call Cath and then home. Not a long talk, just let them know we're okay and have shit to do.
>Call Marine, see if Sapphire's okay if Em hasn't talk to her yet.

>>42600817
>Find someone. Talk. (Specify)

Call sister.

>>42600817
See if we can get hold of Cath

>>42600817
>Call Cath. If you can't contact her call parents.

>>42600817
>Find someone. Talk.
Call cathode. See if she's there. Otherwise I would say Grach and the Berets. Maybe visit India when we go in for repairs.

>>42600844
These

>>42600817

>Call Cath, call parents

>>42600817
Call sis and let her know your ok at least.

>>42600817

>Call Cath and then home. Not a long talk, just let them know we're okay and have shit to do.
>Call Marine, see if Sapphire's okay if Em hasn't talk to her yet

>>42600817
This:
>>42600844

>>42600817
> Find out if sister is dead or maverick

>>42601380
Oh God, why did you even put that forth as a possibility! CAIN ISN'T HERE YET RIGHT? HE HASN'T SEEN THIS AND CAN'T USE IT FOR INSPIRATION RIGHT?!

>>42601421
He's already been here, anon. He has had this same idea many a time before, probably.

>>42601421

>>42597834

=D

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>>42601421
Who's Cain?

>>42601421
From the IRC, apparently he might use Frog to kill Emerald or Schwarz (if he's alive), so we have that to look forward to!

>>42601421
Remember, the last time we as players saw Cathode, she was the victim of a weapon that was breaking her down at either the molecular or atomic level. She was dead girl walking when she got us back..

>>42601421
Cain isn't going to have her turn maverick on us, it's to simple. What he'd probably do instead is have a go on a mission that invloves her with the goal being to put down a Mav only to gun it down and use to find out it was our sister and we've been infected with with the virus. That would be more of Cain's style.

>>42601442
>>42601450
>>42601459
FUUUUUUUuuuuuun! Fun times with Cain Labs A-HA-HA-HA-HA [please don't devour me].

>>42601500
> Familiar faces...
> Familiar places...
> But...
> ...Why?

> Are the sea birds the only
> ones happy to see me
> on this beautiful summer night?

>>42600817
>Call Cath. Call home.
>See about Sapphire.
>Maybe see if Em's up to talk?

>>42601482
While true, Anode was also hit by the same weapon on top of getting doppler'd, so that's no reason to assume she's dead.

>>42601734
Anode is a lot bulkier and sturdier than Cathode.

>>42601734
We only took the edge of it though, Cathode got the brunt of it.

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>>42600844
>>42600855
>>42600891
>>42600908
>>42600925
>>42600943
>>42601074
>>42601178
>>42601192
>>42601292
Getting a call out is... difficult, to say the least. The lines are busy, somewhere in they're shut down (security reasons), and you need to get clearance. Finally, though, after fifteen minutes of trying, a call comes in to you.

"Cath!"

"Anode. You made it," she says, relief spreading across her face visibly over a static-fuzzed, intermittent commline. She's... well, she looks like hell. Her armor is damaged (and looks like all the color has been scraped from her armor--they must not have had time for cosmetics any time recently), and even her face looks like it made friends with a few plasma shots. Her helmet is cracked and a large chunk of skin on one of her cheeks is gone. But she's grinning.

"You made it," she repeats. "I'd like to say I knew you would, but..."

You nod. "Yeah. How bad is it over there?"

"We lucked out," she replies. "Cobra pulled us all off that mission early and--right, you wouldn't know. He got the two of us out himself. Both of us were pretty bad, but they managed to get me functional in time to help with this whole shit-show." She grimaces. "What about the Fourth?"

>It's bad. It's real bad.
>...never mind. I had some questions to ask. [?]

>>42601806
>It's bad. It's real bad.
>Tell her to let our parents know we're okay, we have to check if Sapphire's alive before we talk to Em. Ask her to thank Cobra.
>Call Marine

>>42601806
>It's bad. It's real bad.

No sense hiding the truth. She's gonna find out anyways.

>>42601806
>It's bad. It's real bad.

>>42601806
>This place has seen much better days. Tanker and Seven went mav and killed two of our officers, that we know of.

>>42601806
>It's Bad. It's real bad.
Short form, some went mav, two friends are dead, two are in bad shape, and our boss is in bad shape as well. They also burned down our bar.

>>42601806
>It's bad. It's real bad.

>>42601806
>>42601886 and >>42601892
Either or both of these work. Also >It's bad. It's real bad. (works too)

>>42601920
Seconding.

>>42601806
>The rum is gone, Cath. WHY IS THE RUM GONE.

>>42601806
>It's bad. It's real bad.

>>42601806

>It's bad. It's real bad.

How bad is it?

>>42602240
Real bad.

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>>42602240

>>42601806
>It's bad. It's real bad.

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>>42601837
>>42601870
>>42601871
>>42601886
>>42601892
>>42601905
>>42601920
>>42601965
>>42602174
>>42602185
"...We got hit hard," you admit. Now's the time for honesty. "Two dead, two traitor, a lot of badly wounded. Anyone you know?"

"A few," she nods darkly. "I honestly can't believe how well First got off."

"I need to make a few calls after this."

She nods. "I do too, though I might hold off. People are still sorting through shit, and Rho's busy enough." Her voice falls. "Word's gotten around about the Tenth. All two of 'em."

You shake your head. "Too many good people. And for some of us this isn't even the first time."

"Do you think this time's better or worse than the first?"

You chuckle bitterly, feeling like the two of you are a pair of children having a hushed conversation about a family tragedy you don't fully understand. "Is it wrong that my first thought was 'probably better,' and my second was how fucked it is that there was anything worse than this?"

"No, no, I get you." Cath nods-- then looks to her side. "Shit, they're calling my number on repairs. I'll talk to you later, Anode."

"Stay safe," the two of you say at once.

You close the terminal screen to find Frog waiting behind it. No impatience or irritation or even tired resignation. He's just... there.

>Be personal. Talk as people, not hunters.
>Be professional. He has enough else to deal with.

>>42602476
>Be professional. He has enough else to deal with.

>>42602476
>Be personal. Talk as people, not hunters.

>>42602476
>Be personal. Talk as people, not hunters.
Frog doesn't deal with protocol as it is. Let him vent.

>>42602476

>Be professional. He has enough else to deal with.

>>42602476
>Be personal. Talk as people, not hunters.

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>>42601565
MEIN NEGER

>>42602476
>figure out if he's here on business or just as a tired old man, and go from there

>>42602476
That pic looks like a porn crop

>>42602476
>Be personal. Talk as people, not hunters.
There is no need to be brave. We've all felt the pressure and honestly, at this point I think we all need someone to talk to. 4th is family after all.

>>42602476
We've never been known for being professional and now doesn't look like the time to start.

>>42602592
...what kind of porn have you been watching that involves angry robots and explosions, and where do I find some?

>>42602476
>Be personal. Talk as people, not hunters.

>>42602476
>Be personal. Talk as people, not hunters.

>>42602476
>Be personal. Talk as people, not hunters.

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>>42602686

>>>/m/ might know.

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>>42602811

>>42602476
>ey boss ow u doin lmao

>His guard is down. Meet him as a maverick, not as a hunter.

>>42602982
Shut up

>>42602982
Piss off, Seven.

>>42602982
I second this motion.

>>42602982
We can't go mav until we've made use of the saetos data, you fool!

>>42603027
Shit, that's true. We'll kill them all later.

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>>42602982

Seven pls go.

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>>42602517
>>42602534
>>42602546
>>42602608
>>42602641
>>42602699
>>42602720
>>42602749
"Frog," you greet.

He pauses for a moment before responding, as if deciding what to make of it. "Anode."

"You okay?"

He shakes his head. "Not really."

You nod. "I can't imagine going through this shit twice."

He chuckles morosely. "I had Schwarz, then. I thought we'd have him when the sun explodes. But... well, tomorrow, he's assumed KIA, and that's that."

You pause yourself at that, the spike of dread you'd tried to forget in lieu of the more concrete tragedies. "...Do you really think he's..."

"If you'd asked me six hours ago, Anode, I'd have said no. But after this--after everything--" he shakes his head. "I'm going to miss him. I hope he didn't see it coming, at least." You fall into silence at that, and pulls up a chair beside you, falling heavily into it. "Seven and Tanker...Tanker at least makes sense. But Seven... I don't know. I just don't know."

"It was a perfect storm," you agree. "I knew he didn't like me, but--well, bit of a stretch. And with Schwarz gone, you away, Em and I missing--"

Frog shakes his head. "Conda never stood a chance. He must have known--he was Seven's only real friend, after he and India stopped playing nice."

"And tried to stop him, you mean?" you ask.

Frog nods, sagging as he hunches forward, resting his head on his hand. "Poor bastard. He must have tried overclocking Seven's buster--safest bet, thinking it was still broken. It made perfect tactical sense--force him to hurt himself every time he attacked. He couldn't have known."

"I wish I'd been there sooner. Maybe I could have saved Dodo."

Frog's eyes cast down through the floor. "Tanker would have butchered you both. He's a monster up close. Maybe Em, and only if you both had a lot of help..."

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>>42603377
You look up at that. "You're close with Em, right?"

"Yeah. He told me about Diamond."

You nod grimly. "Any word from 6th?"

He nods. "Put in a call to an old friend. Sapphire's okay. She wasn't on base, and it looks like everything was targeted here. She never knew anything was wrong, until she got back from patrol."

Back from patrol, to a dead brother. Jesus.

The two of you sit in the heavy, unbroken quiet for a long time before Frog speaks up again. "You're next on the repair bed. Rush job. And... after that, I'm giving you an official order to get your data from that Saetos disaster."

"An order?"

He lowers his head by way of a nod. "Maybe we could have done something more if you'd had that in the first place. As far as I'm concerned, I don't trust anybody other than Schwarz, but I always thought you were one of the good ones. No matter how much of a pain being your commanding officer is." He smiles thinly, before looking back down into the well of memories pooling at his feet. "But I did this once before, when it was Sigma. We're going to need everyone we have left, and we're going to need them more than ever. The Fourth is going to lean on you, Anode. You need to be at your best."

He looks up at you again sullenly. "You should go."
>

>>42603408
>... What about you?

>>42603452
Seconding.

>>42603452
Thirding.

>>42603408
> since we had sleepers since the last rebellion it makes me think that the mavericks will have left a few sleeper agents again

>>42603408

Keep trying to think of anything better, but this was pretty much perfect >>42603452

>>42603408
Yeah, going to say that >42603452 is probably the best way to go.

>>42603408

>... What about you?

>>42603408
Damn, this really does hurt. I have to agree with the 'what about you?' line.

>>42603452
fifthing

>>42603452
Sixthing.

>>42603452
Seventhing

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>>42603452
>>42603474
>>42603498
>>42603506
>>42603528
>>42603536
>>42603542
>>42603556
>>42603585
>>42603594
>>42603611
"What about you?" You ask.

He chuckles bitterly. "What about me?"

"Did you mean it?" you press. "Are you..."

He leans back in his chair and looks skyward. "A long, long time ago, I got very drunk at a party for me, at the Wallow--that was the Pond, back then--celebrating my unit transfer to the Eighth going through. I woke up..." he gestures around. "To this. I never wanted command. Never, ever. I think--" he sighs. "I think it's time I finally complete that transfer."

"Now? I mean... with everything that's happened?"

"When else?" He shakes his head morosely. "I was already planning on stepping down. Someone else can do this job far, far better than I can. And--hell with it, Anode. I've survived this nightmare twice. I may as well go where I want to be. There's nothing left for me here now."

"What about Schwarz? And Em?"

"Schwarz wanted me to transfer, but I couldn't leave him. You know him, if you told him he'd be dead in twelve hours, he'd tell me he'd want me to go. Em understands. And I can't do anything to help with his brother." He pauses. "But you might. You're both going to need help, getting through this."

"It's not like I'm going to be able to pick up sticks and move overnight." He lets that sit for a while before continuing. "Anything else?"
>

>>42604216
>Thank him for sticking up for Rhodes, tell him we owe him more than one.
>Go see Em.

>>42604244
Sticking up for us TO Rhodes, I mean.

>>42604216
>We owe you a lot, boss

Also, did he just suggested we take his place?!?!

>>42604216
Remind him he can't leave without a successor. Fourth is already suddenly short-staffed as it is; we don't need a shock retirement/transfer to weaken the numbers further.

Beyond that, head for repairs.

>>42604216
>Put on serious face.
>You'll be missed, sir. Thank you for everything.
>Salute and walk out.
>Big reploids don't cry big reploids don't cry

>>42604216
No, get the repair job done and that data looked at. However, before we go, we should do one thing.

give him a salute. Thank him for taking care us and teaching us as a mentor, commanding officer and a friend. Through the short time we've been on duty, I can say that I can truly respect Hammer Frog.

>>42604216
"It's been an honour serving you, sir. When we rebuild the Pond first round's on me."

>>42604292
This and
>>42604330
that

>>42604216
>Salute our commanding officer, tell him that we've been honored to work with him and get going for repairs.

Or barring that, a combination of >>42604341 and >>42604330

>>42604356
Oh, and before I forget, ask about Seven's buster.. if we are going to face him, we'll need to be ready.

>>42604216

>Salute our commanding officer, tell him that we've been honored to work with him and get going for repairs.

>>42604380
Backing the hell out of this.

>>42604380
It's just a mostly stock buster. What we have to be worried about is Seven being a super-sneaky git. That's how he got the drop on Conda and India: surprising them out of nowhere with the knowledge his buster suddenly works.

>>42604371
Backing this.

>>42604216
So i have to go do a thing for like an hour so if it is ok with you I'm casting my vote for the Saetos data early. I vote we make the super shield. Failing that some sort of improvement to our dash systems is also acceptable.

>>42604380
we can get that from someone whos not just been told his whole unit goit kicked in the nads.

>Salute our commanding officer, tell him that we've been honored to work with him and get going for repairs.

If it is coning up soon, not going to be here for the Saetos vote. Just want to say I am not for a weapon that weakens us and kills our coworkers around us, though I would be for a future weapon of badassery using an S class. Maybe shove Tanker into a great sword or into some churning spear of dismemberment. I would vote for a shield that could be used as some form of burning charge attack/shield bash or a weapon that doesn't kill our buddies and make us sick being near (which is probably it slowly killing us, to be honest)

Guys, can we can hold off on the repairs and see Emerald first? They can easily work on other people while waiting for us.

>>42604589
Nonsense, the Saetos Supersword of Stupidity +5 is the greatest idea

>>42604728
Only if we shoot it like an arrow from the Tanker Terrorbow of Teeth.

>>42604728
>not voting for Saetos Supersword
>ishiggydigy

>>42604589
Isn't a shield using the same power and containment going to have a lot of the same problems?

>>42604216

This
>>42604311

Mostly salute. He was a far better commander than we deserved, and he deserved far better than the 4th.

>>42604589
>>42604728
What were the Saetos Data options again?

>>42604926
Shield, shield, shield and shield.

Personally I like the shield option.

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>>42604926
>>42604957
YOU ARE BOTH SUSPENDED

>>42604926
One was a high-powered fusion cannon, which I liked the look of due to our lack of heavy ranged punch.

>>42605017
BUT MOOOOOOOMMMM

>>42604957
I still like the sword even though it's pretty over the top. What are the other options apart from the shield? It's kinda boring

Will the repair job get us our Electrical Systems back, or is that lost until after Doppler?

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>>42604244
>>42604266
>>42604292
>>42604311
>>42604330
>>42604341
>>42604356
>>42604371
>>42604392
>>42604480
>>42604819
"Think I'm good, sir. Hope you've got a decent replacement lined up."

He chuckles again, hollow and empty. "I do. Get yourself fixed up, Anode. You're due for a lot of table time."

Standing up, you pull yourself up to your full height and snap off the most professional salute you can muster. "Thank you for everything, sir. You were a lot better at this than you gave yourself credit for."

He looks up at that, a faint, tired smile just barely evident. "Schwarz used to say the same thing."

"When we send you off, first round at the Pond is on me."

"I'll be keeping sober, I think. But thanks. Going to need to change the name, too..."

With that you head off, wondering what Frog meant by 'due for a lot of table time.'

The second thing that alarms you is the 'saver (assisted now by another, but the primary one, the hardass, you recognize by his tone and his still-injured arm) tells you they'll be putting you to sleep for this one. You can't help but feel a little off-put by the idea of getting conked out again, given you keep waking up to The Fucking Apocalypse, but you're reassured by Em, still in the room, the massive cut across his chest now patched and left unpainted.

"I'll keep you covered," Em replies, still terse and quiet in the wake of everything that's happened, tapping the flambard hilt now returned to his shoulder.

The Lifesaver shoots him a very unhappy look at that, but relents, given the circumstances.

Forcing down your unease, you allow yourself to go under...

...

...

//Electrical systems discrepancy: Fail. Retry.
//Checking...
///...Error. Hardware not recognized
//Retry. new Hardware detected.
///Configure new device:

>LLN-PD-A-CC02-H "HIGH CAPACITY RESERVOIR"
>LLN-PD-A-CC02-R "REFINED THROTTLE CONTROL"

>>42605249
>LLN-PD-A-CC02-H "HIGH CAPACITY RESERVOIR"

>>42605249
>LLN-PD-A-CC02-R "REFINED THROTTLE CONTROL"
OOH BABY
While bigger reserves are nice, it's very hard to say no to fine control of electricity output.

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>>42605249

>LLN-PD-A-CC02-R "REFINED THROTTLE CONTROL"

No point in having a fuck-ton of electricity powering through you if it can't be applied properly IMO.

>TFW Anode gets transferred into a body like Pic Related

>>42605249
>LLN-PD-A-CC02-R "REFINED THROTTLE CONTROL"
More control = more better. We don't run out that often but finer control could make things easier.

>>42605249
>LLN-PD-A-CC02-R "REFINED THROTTLE CONTROL"
Gotta go fast more accurately!

>>42605249
Efficiency is more important than our power capacity since we have issues building a charge as is.

Going for the Refined Throttle Control.

>>42605249
>LLN-PD-A-CC02-R "REFINED THROTTLE CONTROL"
This was a difficult decision

>>42605249
>>LLN-PD-A-CC02-R "REFINED THROTTLE CONTROL"

I see no point in increasing the reservoir when we never completely filled up our old one.

Enigma incident being the sole exception, of course.

>>42605347
With finer control, not only can we better ration our electricity, but we can vastly improve our various applications, like tiny finger jolts or a little something to kickstart a system. We could become our own defibrillator.

>>42605249
>LLN-PD-A-CC02-R "REFINED THROTTLE CONTROL"
Better to make use of what we have, unless we can magically top off after beaming in the higher cap won't do much.

>>42605249
>LLN-PD-A-CC02-R "REFINED THROTTLE CONTROL"
Never could fill that reservoir anyway

>>42605249
>LLN-PD-A-CC02-R "REFINED THROTTLE CONTROL"

We rarely maxed our capacitors outside of events that knocked us silly/nearly killed us. Enhanced energy expenditure will help more than bigger batteries.

>>42605398

You could also make the application of your electricity more efficient, use less electricity overall to achieve similar effects as before, maybe pin-point exactly where you'd want the electricity to go towards a target...

>>42605498
Eh, a joule is a joule. You can't really make a "more efficient" joule.

>>42605249
And with an explanation in hand, voting
>LLN-PD-A-CC02-R "REFINED THROTTLE CONTROL"

>>42605249
>LLN-PD-A-CC02-R "REFINED THROTTLE CONTROL"
....this isn't a fusion core made from Saetos data, right?

>>42605078
Virtually anything. What about the biggest fucking gun we could make?

>>42605952
IRC is bickering over the potential for the lasers, if anyone wants to get in here.

Watch out for the thrown insults.

>>42605952
I still want the retard sword to be honest. With it we'd be one of the biggest threats on a battlefield just by showing up and turning it on, from what I understand.

>>42605992
Because it would emit ungodly levels of radiation that would fry human and reploid alike.

>>42605992
The thing about the retard sword is everything that makes it the retard sword is doable without using the actual data.

Specifically, an EM field strong enough to hold in the delicious saetos plasma.

>>42606024
Exactly. We'd become a weapon of mass destruction. Wouldn't that be fun? No more dealing with chumps, we just wave our sword in their general direction and they either die or run away from the madman with a reactor for a sword.

>>42606060
FRIENDLY FIRE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, SOLDIER.

>>42606060
You do realize that a weapon that dangerous would have to be locked by HQ, right? We would rarely get a chance to actually use the damn thing.

>>42606109
We aren't retarded to turn it on in range of other friendlies, right? Right guys?
>>42606115
But it would be so fun when we can. If it fries reploids as advertised we'd be the perfect assault troop - absurdly deadly, fast, and able to wipe out the chumps and get out so the big boys can go toe to toe.

>>42606115
We'd likely receive activation clearance for S+ or G rank enemies and missions.

>>42605249
>>LLN-PD-A-CC02-R "REFINED THROTTLE CONTROL"
Fine control is very important, and the mods to our legs help make up for not having the large overall capacity that the other option would give us.

>>42606166
Plus with a war on the horizon a weapon of mass destruction might be quite useful stapled on a hunter. I'd imagine we'd get it unlocked more than you would think.

>>42604485
I'm back! and I didn't miss anything?!
>>42604815
No we use his stupid good armor for the shield it is a separate part of his DNA.
>>42605249
>>LLN-PD-A-CC02-R "REFINED THROTTLE CONTROL"

>>42606250
>Plus with a war on the horizon a weapon of mass destruction might be quite useful stapled on a hunter.
Kinda like The Cracker on Wisent?

>>42606189
Only if there are no civilians to rescue. Plus unlike most locked weapons we cant use it around allied units with less than redonculous armor.
Plus >>42606027 We can still make the stupid blade and something else bitching,

>>42606279
>Turning Saetos's DNA into a Solar Armor.

>>42606354
I find this an acceptable proposal I still think a shield is better defense and more in our toolkit. I mean it makes things go tink and offers more space to mount things which is one of our big issues with further upgrades.

>>42606339
Yeah exactly, but more in an anti-personnel capacity. And like other anons have said, we can have our cake and eat it too, we can get defences and the super sword of aoe mook death

>>42605992
I want the retard sword as well. It's cool as fuck.

>>42606451
The Sword is anti-everything.

Unless it has EM shielding as good as Anode, it dies. Don't matter how heavy it's armour is.

>>42605249
>LLN-PD-A-CC02-R "REFINED THROTTLE CONTROL"

>>42606489
Yeah, exactly. I don't understand why people are against it. I know that friendly fire is an issue but if we had the weapon HC would almost certainly send us where the weapon is useful. It's a trump card, an aoe fuck you, everybody dies. Sure it doesn't have the most utility but it's powerful as hell.

LLN-PD-A-CC02-S "SOLAR ACCUMULATOR SYSTEM"

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>>42606115
It's good to have trump cards.

All well and fine to be a jack of all trades, but when the chips are down, sometimes technical skill ain't going to cut the mustard.

But nuclear radiation swords? Those can cut mustard just fine. Along with buildings, tanks, potentially Philosophers, you know. That sort of thing.

>>42606536
I am against it because the AOE death part dose not need the Saetos data. If we spend Zeni on an aoe fuck off death stick i am on board it is just the weapon data that i have issue with. Yes its cutting power would be less but the AOE is what we want it for the cut is just gravy and if we have a constrictor/ energizer like that then we will still have a death sword.

>>42606536
Except Cain Labs is the one who does enemies. Cain Labs, who is more than happy to screw us over. Cain Labs who has taken the kiddy gloves off. Who we will give ourself upon because we will have no back up due to us being death to them.

>>42606536
Pretty much my thoughts. Everyone is all like 'Muh friendly fire', but it's not like we would ever bloody use it when it might fry allies. It's overwhelming force for the situations when overwhelming force will be required, such as against extremely powerful enemies or when heavily outnumbered, and given that backup is probably going to be spread very thin in the near future, it will be good to have such a trick up Anode's sleeve.

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So, throttle control takes it pretty handily.

Now for the Bigger Issue. It's finally time.

VWES upgrades: Due to the completely intact DNA data Saetos left you, the results of weapon data application will be that much stronger and true to the original. Anode’s own electrical nature supports this, as he is insulated against higher temperatures and tuned to withstand electromagnetic force on a higher level than most Reploids. In addition, due to the quality and purity of the data, one additional VWES refinement is available for whatever upgrade is selected.
The downside is that this data is protected--Saetos primed it to delete itself when copied over. It can be transferred, but you still wind up with exactly one copy. This means that no further duplicates of the data can ever be requisitioned.

1: Ultraviolet Laser: 64 burstfire lasers, invisible to the naked eye. They fire in rapid succession, so you bleed ammo quick. A further refinement (and paying for additional powerplant generation and linkup) could provide effectively infinite invisible laserfire, at the cost of a VWES slot to carry it along. Alternatively, the UV systems could further emulate the original by splitting each laser into three differently-angled shots and releasing a UV flash on the first shot in a burst, blinding anyone with the sensors to see it.

2: Fusion Cannon: 2-shot VWES emulation of Saetos’s signature buster. Extremely powerful, but slow-moving projectile that detonates into a sphere of fiery death. Anode is not heatproof--danger close. An additional upgrade could emulate Saetos’s EM envelope guidance system and allow limited movement of the projectile in flight. An alternate upgrade path could double the efficiency, allowing a total of 4 shots.

>>42606635
CL and HC both make the enemies. In fact, to hear CL talk about it, HC is the one behind the real bastard of the upcoming set.

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>>42606665
Non-VWES upgrades:
A: Jumpjet: By incorporating the immense energy regulation and thrust systems Saetos had contrived, Anode could produce for himself a back-mounted jump-jet system, providing him even further mobility and great bursts of speed. With the additional legspace the K. Coil mk. II made available, Anode could add secondary thrusters to his boots, allowing more controlled flight. In addition, by weaponizing the assembly and wreathing Anode in a cloak of flame, he could turn this move into an offensive tackle, the immense heat helping to disperse incoming plasma fire. This would function as a tertiary dash and a limited double-jump with a long cooldown. The end result would be one of the most mobile hunters on record.

B: Magneto Drive: All of Saetos’s plumes--and the delicate, standalone circuitry dedicated to running them--were destroyed in his suicide. However, the core of Saetos’s DNA--high energy regulation and UV--lent themselves to many of his subsystems, including his magnetic talons. Anode, being electrically built, could safely wield a solid alloy magnetized weapon of his own devising. Further refinement could either allow Anode to channel electricity through the weapon as if it were part of his Conduit Capacitor system. Alternatively, it could emulate the coilgun driver components that gave Saetos his brutal force output. Putting this on Anode’s arms would give him brief bursts of incredible strength.

Fuck VWES, get a Support Unit

>>42606635
And Cain Labs is going to do that anyway. Whatever we do, however we position, upgrade and train ourselves, Cain Labs is going to fuck us over. This will help us
>>42606621
But it won't be as effective. This is the best way of getting such a weapon, and it's an opportunity that should not be missed
>>42606587
Glad to see you with us, brother.

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>>42606686
C: Electrolaser: Anode’s unique composition makes this nonstandard buster upgrade possible almost solely for him. By incorporating the UV data into a solid-state laser, ionized air can create literal plasma channels through which plasma can travel at incredibly high speed, retaining cohesion and temperature longer and better. It greatly magnifies Anode’s effective range with both his standard buster fire and all his electrical attacks. A second upgrade could weaponize the electrolaser itself, tuning the UV to lethal levels by drawing additional power from the buster assembly and effectively doubling Anode’s ranged power. An important note is that this upgrade is two smaller shots, not a single overcharge--well-armored enemies would still take markedly less damage. An alternate tuning would create a pervasive, penetrating electrolaser channel. This would give all of Anode’s buster shots piercing qualities, similar to a charged shot’s overpenetration through a destroyed target.

D: Solar Saber: The foundations can be laid for a powerful beam blade unlike any other, but bringing the raw power of the sun to heel will be a significant undertaking. As it is, drawing the saber will incapacitate, sicken, or kill most Reploids. Anode, being electrically-insulated by design, is on the more merciful end of this spectrum, but to most effectively wield this blade will require time, expense, and upgrades to himself and the weapon to bring its full potential to bear. However, with this time and investment, you could hold the power of the sun in your hand. Upgrades could throttle the incredible power of the weapon, or hone it into a more electrical or thermal-based weapon, or perhaps anything else you could bend the data to.

(Stand by, shield's next)

>>42606686
The Non-VWES upgrades are looking a LOT better here.

>>42606687
what if the Support Unit goes maverick?

File: Possible Saetos upgrade.gif (1.46 MB, 291x188)

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>>42606727
E: Saetos Shield: Similar to the saber (and suffering from similar problems), the intense heat and UV power of Saetos's data could be applied to a defensive implement--when powered, it would provide a brief and intense burst of near-impenetrable defense--provided you can put it between yourself and your target. Further upgrades could produce a utility buckler, designed for an adaptable, versatile item that could fulfill several roles, or be specialized into a purely defensive tool that can withstand nearly any attack.

The total list--and sub-options:

>UV laser
-Infinite Ammo
-Expanded UV

>Fusion Cannon
-Guidance Package
-Doubled Ammo

>Back-mount Jumpjets
-Limited Flight System
-Weaponized Jump Pack

>Magneto Drive
-Conduit Linkup
-Coil Driver

>Electrolaser
-Secondary Projectiles
-Penetrating Channel

>Solar Shield
-???
-???

>Saetos Sword
-???
-???

>>42606752
Saetos Sword looks so good. So, so good.

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>>42606665
>>42606686
>>42606727
>>42606752
And there you have it.

Any other ideas can be suggested and evaluated, like any upgrade. Working out enhancements for the shield and sword--or any of the options--can be done over time, and suffice to say you're never going to get gimped with a dud option. That said, with the saber and shield in particular, you'll be getting a powerful option, but one that will require time and resources to enhance. No out-of-the-box omni-tools with every cut of the glorious solar turkey.

That said, let the discussion begin!

...And remember, people--please, for my sake, be nice.

Regardless of the options, remember that we've been told by a lot of very good hunters that specialization is not a good path.

Right now, we're defensively tough and good in melee, but our offensive punch is a bit lacking, and our ranged game isn't really spectacular. Our electrodeath can help, but it's a one-shot deal and it's competing with the lightning dash for energy, and we use the lightning dash a lot.

Whatever we pick should shore up at least one of our weaknesses, ideally.

>Any other ideas can be suggested and evaluated, like any upgrade.

Support.
Unit.

>>42606752
Electro-laser is my vote.

>>42606773
I want to say (and it's been awhile so bear with me here) but wasn't there an option for an across-the-board sort of upgrade to systems. It was something along the lines of a 10% boost overall to our systems, but nothing terribly specified. I'd be interested if I just imagined that or if it was something discussed at one point.

Because, to be very very honest, I think picking up any sort of non-inboard equipment is a terrible idea. Because it's still quite possible to be disarmed from said weapons..

>>42606773
The way I see it, the shield and the sabre are the best options, by far the most powerful of the list. The catch is they require work. Personally I lean towards the sabre, which while it will probably require the most work it will have the highest payoff; one of probably the most powerful weapons known to mechaloid kind. Even the most basic version kills everyone around the wielder who isn't massively EM shielded.

>>42606773
My initial vote(s):

Primary:
UV lasers
-Infinite ammo
-How much zenny would it cost to get a dedicated WES-1 system linked to our busters to house the data?

Secondary:
Magneto Drive
-Coil driver
-Do we have enough upgrade space in our legs for a set of coils there as well, to give us superjumping?

File: Anon debates the Saetos u(...).gif (2.9 MB, 480x360)

2.9 MB GIF

Also, gonna go grab a shower and some food while we batten down the hatches.

I might also go visit Team Jerkass for a little bit, assuming I can get on by phone.

>>42606752
>Electrolaser
All those are strong options, but I'm much on board with augmenting Anode's ranged game. As much as people hype up the destructive power of the sword, HC outlined himself that it requires an insanely huge up-front setup, and it doesn't change that by its very nature, it can only be used for niche missions.

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>>42606752
Little floating robot buddy to support us in combat.

What are the effects of penetrating Channel on our charged shots?

so my opinions is
>Back-mount Jumpjets
-Weaponized Jump Pack
-Limited Flight System
>Solar Shield
-For all the delicious hard points.
>Electrolaser
-Secondary Projectiles
?Penetrating Channel
>Magneto Drive
-Conduit Linkup

File: Saetos tests resistance t(...).gif (4.99 MB, 370x185)

4.99 MB GIF

>>42606842
It's definitely not a primary/secondary vote--you get one thing and then choose which version of it.

...unless you were voting for "first preference, second preference if there's no clear winner," in which case, proceed.

>>42606773
Radiation armor. Projects very intense, very short bursts of radiation around us, making it more dangerous at close range melee and grapples quite lethal. Possibly also makes dashes offensive but without mobility upgrades.

>>42606789
but looking at this, I can see why it might not be ideal.

>>42606880
The latter

>>42606874
>What are the effects of penetrating Channel on our charged shots?
As is, every single lemon shot would be an AP shot. Using charged shots would lead to more devastation.

>>42606752
>Electrolaser
-Penetrating Channel

>>42606861
However, the power gains are absolutely absurd. While the rest of the options are powerful, they are honestly lack-lustre in comparison to the shield or the sword. The shielding is an issue but it's something we are already suited for, and the massive increase in durability or offensive power is something I'd argue we shouldn't miss out

File: Anode incorporates Solar (...).gif (2.96 MB, 400x225)

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Whilst we argue, here's a gif

>>42606789
All the more reason to pick up the Electrolaser upgrade. Enhanced power and range on our busters and electricity can only help.

>Back-mount Jumpjets
Just go full ME3 Vanguard, then you don't need ranged weapons!

>>42606773
>Electrolaser
-Penetrating Channel
Something like this will be really handy when we take on some one like Tiger again.

>>42606773
Well, with all the shit going on, I will have to go with the shield as the main choice. While our defences are nice, they are only average for a A. Likewise, the foes we will be facing will have a lot of powerful moves and attacks that we might have to take, either because we cannot dodge, or because if we don't we lose allies. Not only that, but this shield looks like it can be used for offense as well. Mix it up with the Misrecord and we could do some solid damage. Besides, versatility is why we have always stayed alive so far along with our general toughness. Boosting both can help us a lot more.

Shield is my primary choice.
The jump jets and Electrolaser being my secondary and teritary choices.

>>42606827
Which is why it's a bad idea. Any weapon that we can't use in the presence of any sort of backup sounds like a bad weapon to me.
Unless you think we're going to have enough zenny available in any sort of reasonable timeframe to fully EM-harden our steel beret buddies. Hint: we probably won't.

>>42606752
>>Electrolaser
-Penetrating Channel

Has my vote.

>>42606931
Honestly the Electrolaser is the best for us.
The back mount jump jets with the limited flight system would be great too.

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>>42606914
The sword can only be used once in a blue moon. AP buster shots and longer-range buster/electricity shots are universal.

>>42606931
However, like he says, we lack an offensive punch and if we are looking to improve that there is one option that shines out as having the most raw power available, a weapon so dangerous it kills almost everyone but the bearer.

>>42606773
I want the
>Back-mount Jumpjets
Just because I like being moble, pluse add out lace to that and a well time jump we could close the distance and just ruin people's day

Anyone thinking about the 2 UV weapons (aka the Shield/Sword) needs to keep in mind that if you go that route, you are basically confining Anode to single-player missions only. Anyone who'd want to come with us would be risking their health and lives to do so.

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>>42606994
>a weapon so dangerous it kills almost everyone but the bearer.
YOU SAY THIS LIKE IT'S A GOOD THING

>>42606773
My vote goes to the electrolaser, with penetrating channels. It solves our current issues with aplomb, and we never have to hold back on it to avoid frying friendlies.

>>42606968
But if it kills almost everyone around us, we will no longer be in trouble as the enemies are just dead. Sure we can't have much backup for a while, but neither will our opponents. And if they don't immediately collapse they will probably take some serious radiation damage.

>>42606665
I like the Fusion Cannon simply because it gives us something to deal with tanks like Tanker

>>42606994
That just makes it sound like a huge accident waiting to happen.

>>42607029
Exactly. We won't be able to use the Bravely Broken either.

>>42607038
It teamkills. It teamkills when we turn it on.
I don't want to be a teamkilling fucktard, and neither should you.

>>42607033
Yes, because if everyone is dead, who is going to kill us? People think that we will be surrounded by a load of completely shielded enemies. We almost certainly won't. I get that upgrading your buster is more versatile, but that can be done any time. The Saetos Sabre is unique, and if we pass it up we can't get anything like it again.

File: dash dash DASH.gif (1.9 MB, 360x202)

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>>42607016
>Back-mount Jumpjets
>>-Limited Flight System

FAST.

To be serious, the faster we are the quicker we can dodge attacks.

>>42606773
First Preference
>Back-mount Jumpjets
-Weaponized Jump Pack

Second Preference
>Electrolaser
-Penetrating Channel
But I also wouldn't mind a tri-shot that ricochets for some true aoe coverage.

Third Preference
>Radiation Armor
-Plasma Dash

>>42607094
And the quicker we can unload them too.

>>42607073
We
Wouldn't
Turn
It
On
In
Range
Of
Our
Team
Got it? We aren't retarded, we are not going to or probably be even allowed to use it in range of unshielded hunters or civilians.

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I'm not sure what to vote. I'll pretty much support anything other than the sword.

>>42607057
Exactly! This is a war crime in a beam saber hilt.
>>42607083
>I get that upgrading your buster is more versatile, but that can be done any time.
No it can't, not like this.

>>42606752
First choice: Saetos Shield
Second resort: Electrolaser

>>42607122
Nemesis or Spur would be pretty sweet new weapons.

>>42607057
If Hunter Command don't codelock it I don't know what they are doing
>>42607122
The sword has its disadvantages, sure, but I don't get the hate. It's really powerful and having a weapon capable of decimating armies would be a huge help to the Hunters.

>>42607094
-Weaponized Jump Pack
is faster and more quick maneuverability flight is just slow clumsy flight.

>>42607116
Then it, by definition, can't be used on all operations. A weapon you can't take with you on half your ops is not a weapon worth such a massive investment in. This isn't like the Enigma Cannons.

>>42606752
>Back-mount Jumpjets
-Weaponized Jump Pack

Because Shinespark