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Prior Thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/49147810
Archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Maverick%20Hunter%20Quest
The IRC: suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com, #MHQ
The Twitter: https://twitter.com/HunterCommand
The Recap (thanks to Scarab): http://pastebin.com/wMtuXJM2

You are maverick hunter Anode, on-mission in--or under--Germany, in pursuit of Disruptor Sabomole.
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>>549235
Or, well, not right now, you're not. He just showed up and threw down the giant, clawed gauntlet, but you think you're being lured. Towards a trap or away from something else, you don't know, but you know that most of his digging is happening clear across the combat theatre and he just came all the way over here to harass you and then ran off.

You don't like it.

With you are the Bravely Broken--your squad of four mass-produced Steel Berets. Though only given a C combat rating, you've outfitted them with improved weapons, kit, and ablative armor, hoping to keep them in the fight (and their blood off your hands).

"We still have that comm signal?" you ask.

"Yessir," Susan, their erstwhile leader, replies. "I've got Derby tracking."

"Any odds on getting seismic readings piped in from topside?" You ask Drang, the local German mission control.

"I can try, but don't rely on it," he tells you bluntly. "It will only work as long as we can reach you."

Having opted to track the distress signal of a missing recon team, you put aside directly targeting Sabomole now, and weigh your options. You already dismantled one trap, you don’t doubt there’s more--and you don’t want to leave something nasty at your back.

>Head straight for the distress signal.
>Do at least a quick sweep of the areas you would otherwise skip.
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So, uh. Hi folks. Interesting weather we're having.
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>>549238
>Do at least a quick sweep of the areas you would otherwise skip.

There's clearly something going on down here, and we're being baited to run on by. Let's make sure we don't miss it.
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>>549238
>Do at least a quick sweep of the areas you would otherwise skip.
I guess we should get a feel for the kind of traps and mechaniloid variety we'll be facing.
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>>549238
>Do at least a quick sweep of the areas you would otherwise skip.
Not letting ambushes happen is important in shit terrain like this.
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>>549238
>Do at least a quick sweep of the areas you would otherwise skip.

>>549243
Welcome to hell, HC. Excited to watch everything you guys put time and effort into die out?
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>>549235
SHIT YES! I'm finally awake for one!
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>>549238
>Do at least a quick sweep of the areas you would otherwise skip.

First for /tg/ mods being faggots
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>>549238
>Do at least a quick sweep of the areas you would otherwise skip.
Also hoo boy it begins
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>>549249
>>549251
No sense worrying about what's out of our hands. As one of the longest-running QMs (pretty much exclusively due to my glacial pace), it's disappointing, but sometimes you've got to play the hand you've been dealt.

For now, let's try to keep it positive. We've all got enough to worry about in our day to day lives already.
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>>549238
>Do at least a quick sweep of the areas you would otherwise skip.
Sabomole showing up like that sets my teeth on edge. I have no trust for this situation.
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>>549243
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? Now I have to actually /update/ MHX.
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>>549238
>Do at least a quick sweep of the areas you would otherwise skip.
May as well sound off as here.
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>>549238
>Do at least a quick sweep of the areas you would otherwise skip.

Sabomole's presence was a lure. The signal could be one too. The biggest threat here is the environment.

Let's peek around first, get better situational awareness so something doesn't pick off the unit as we go for the signal.
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>>549238
>>Do at least a quick sweep of the areas you would otherwise skip.
Shouldn't be hard. We have our eye things to help with odd signals, and a extra four pairs of them to check spots we're looking for at a decent clip.
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>>549238
>>Do at least a quick sweep of the areas you would otherwise skip.
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>>549238
>Do at least a quick sweep of the areas you would otherwise skip.
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>>549238
>Fire all weapons into the tunnel ceiling
>Die from cave-in
we qst now
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>>549238
>>Do at least a quick sweep of the areas you would otherwise skip
Morning HC
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>>549238
>>Do at least a quick sweep of the areas you would otherwise skip.

Woo! First new MHQ thread since I finished the archives!
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>>549330
Nice. What'd you think?

Also, writing in progress. Pretty obvious what won.
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>>549330
Welcome, fresh meat! Prepare to suffer.
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>>549336

Lots of fun, good balance of combat and camaraderie.

I miss Schwarz.
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>>549245
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>>549249
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>>549330
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYmZHShs00g

“Let’s not leave anything behind us. Not immediately behind us, anyway,” you order. “Stack up, I’m on point.”

“Copy,” Susan replies crisply--his usual sarcasm less ever-present when on the job. “Flak, take mid, you’ve got the heavy stuff. I’ll take back, Marx in front.”

The tunnels slope this way and that, but trend mostly down--wide enough that you don’t have to crawl, but evasive room is minimal. This whole place reeks of ambush.

...And, sure enough, there it is.You slow your approach, the squad following suit behind you with weapons up, as your OPAL scanner chimes in your ear.

“What is it?” asks Flak silently on the hunter line.

“Just rocks,” Susan replies. “Maybe--”

You covertly switch over to your T. Coils. One of those rocks is not a rock.

“Get ready,” is all you reply, taking a step forward.

From the ceiling, a large, blocky mass of stone plunges down the moment you’re beneath it--only for you to spring backwards, firing a cable into the thing as it unfurls into a humanoid. It snags his chest and goes taut as you yank back and grab the line with your free hand, turning on your heel and slamming the Crag Man into the wall. The squad opens fire, plasma splashing across his rocky armor. He plunges his fist into the wall behind him and pulls out a giant chunk of stone, but you yank him off-balance and swing again, stumbling him. Finally, the combined output of the squad is enough to put him down, the rumble of his explosive death swallowed up by the cavern.

Susan finally breaks the silence. “Wow. How’d you know?”

You grin and tap your temple. “Let’s go.”

After calling in to warn Drang that you’ve had contact with hostile Reploids, you move deeper down, the signal getting stronger and stronger.

Finally, you find it. Holding up a hand, you gesture at still forms in the dark.

Marx takes a cautious step forward, rifle raised. “Is that…?”

“Two mechaniloid signals, there and there,” you point out.

“Right around them,” Susan observes.

>I’m going in, you guys cover.
>I’ve got the heavier ordnance, I’m on overwatch.
>Other?
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>>549378
>>I’m going in, you guys cover.
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>>549378
>>I’m going in, you guys cover.

We're the tank, they're here to back us up.
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>>549378
>I’m going in, you guys cover.
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>>549378
>I’m going in, you guys cover.
We've got the OPAL system so our spatial awareness should be better in the dark, and we've got the armor to take a hit if need be. Time to head the charge.
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>>549378
>I’ve got the heavier ordnance, I’m on overwatch.
come on, they need SOME live experience.
>>
Hell yes, Maverick Hunter Quest is on.

>>549378

>I’m going in, you guys cover.
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>>549378
>I’m going in, you guys cover.
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>>549399
>come on, they need SOME live experience.

Problem with that is it can all to easily turn into death experience, especially if we're putting them into a situation we're better suited for than they are.
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>>549378
>I’ve got the heavier ordnance, I’m on overwatch.

Don't do their job for them. Let them get some EXP, it'll be good for them.
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>>549399
We were built to be a tank. only makes sense we go in first.
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>>549378
>I’m going in, you guys cover.
Time to be the bait we were made to be.
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>>549399
They have plenty of live experience. Two of them were on the Saetos Op. Besides, their role for the most part is Support and area control. They work best as a unit and don't handle surprises that well from what we were told.

>>549412
Please, thats why we let them get the last hit in to get all the exp.

>I'm going in, you guys cover
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>>549378
>I’m going in, you guys cover.
It's nice to have some backup gun so we can do our intended role.
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>>549378
>I’m going in, you guys cover.

but capcha we are playing a robot.
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>>549378
>I’m going in, you guys cover.
Checking in late as always.
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>>549386
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>>549479
“Same deal as before,” you declare. “Get ready to bail me out of whatever I stick my foot into.”

You advance slowly, the radio distress beacon right on top of the unmoving forms--this close, you verify what you already suspected--this is the missing recon team. Their armor is riddled with scorchmarked pinholes, all of them slumped over atop one another. The silence is deafening.

And then, as you near, the mechaniloids spring to life, two columns punching through the earth from where they were set, pillars blocking you off from either side.

“Wayings!” Marx calls, but the real trap is overhead. A third, undetected mechaniloid springs to life, a camouflaged dome sliding open to reveal a gun turret that immediately begins filling the area with bounding lasers, spraying wildly this way and that. Shots scratch across your armor as your shields flare, the small, frantic blue needles of energy sending disorienting flashes down the once-dark corridor. Behind you, the Berets open fire on the Waying blocking the way, obscuring the shot on the turret.

“Incoming seismic!” Drang calls urgently, filling out the explosive chaos of the last second.

>Turn and fire on the Waying. Get out of there.
>Take out the turret first, declaw the trap.
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>>549533
>>Take out the turret first, declaw the trap

And I'm off to sleep, best of luck
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>>549533
>Take out the turret first, declaw the trap.
if Sabomole wants to divide and conquer, let's surround him before he can.
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>>549533
>>Take out the turret first, declaw the trap.
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>>549533
>Turn and fire on the Waying. Get out of there.
No reason to worry about taking out the trap if we get out of it, and I'd rather not wait around for Sabomole to show up and take advantage of it. Also pretty certain that the recon team is already dead so I doubt we need to worry about the turret hurting them any more than they already are.
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>>549533
>Take out the turret first, declaw the trap.
Do use a T. Coil to gain some high ground
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>>549533
Turret and immediately get ready to lance and buster any mole that decides to pop out, here or by the Berets.
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>>549533
>Turn and fire on the Waying. Get out of there.
Sabomole's plan is probably to either wail on us in the trap, or trash the fire support team while we are isolated.
Busting out of the trap will keep him from doing either.
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>>549533
>Take out the turret first, declaw the trap.
Tempted to say get the hell out, but I know that leaving things alone will screw us somehow.
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>>549533

>Take out the turret first, declaw the trap.
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>>549533
>>Take out the turret first, declaw the trap.
Sabomole is going to take a swat at someone to stun them so the turret can rip them apart. Best way to counter that i the ol' Megaman X tactic of 'the floor is now lava' and wall jump to safety. Use the lock on hunter for this and don't forget the tumult shells. They are made for shit like this.
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>>549577
This.

The turret is the most urgent target. Even if the mole is playing the backstab game, we cannot let it get in our head.
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>>549617

Yeah. We aren't a rookie and besides if thry cannot avoid an evident backtab of a Maverick that's playing Mechanoid, our team will be toast.

We cannot play babysitter, that will just make a weak team. We can take the bigger risks but they need to.pull their own weight around.

Also, we really need to get that BFG miniboss killer four our team after this.
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Doesn't Flak have a BFG or am I imagining shit?
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>>549646
Pretty sure one of our berets (name escapes me) has rocket launcher loaded up with a couple of our flak missiles, but I wouldn't really classify that as a BFG. Not from our perspective at any rate, it probably is from the perspective of a beret...
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>>549636
I wonder what weapon data we have or we can buy that will make the best bazooka amunition to take out a mid boss? Since it would have a huge payload, it would have only one ir two shots by mision, probably two since it would be a dedicated weapon instead of Variable Weapon Data Ammo.

It would have to be generic, maybe based on data from an explosive weapon?

We could ask Em, his speciality is stabbity"and slashity weapons but maybe he knows a BFG specialist?
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>>549533
>>Take out the turret first, declaw the trap.

We can probably face Sabomole if the turret's down when he gets here; we don't want to have to leave this trap active, whether we escape from it now or not.
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>>549646
>>549657

This is more of a two shots weapon ( one if we had it as VWD) that's there to take out a mid boss by making massive ammounts of damage.

Something a heavy C class or near B class would carry.

Is basically so our team can take out a big mechanoid on their own. So it would probably have to be an explosive rocket or something like that.

After all, is our team, a midboss killed is a necessity.
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>>549665
Ehhhh.. the problem with a physical weapon as oppose to a VWES weapon is that you are carrying extra weight in something that can be targeted. Considering Anode is the current king of 'gotta go fast', that'd be bad. Mind you, we do have some god damn horrifying weapons like the wrenade so sheer pow is not an issue.

Besides, unless otherwise provided Mortarphant will be our next target and she'll have a giant ol explosive weapon.
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>>549665
Sounds like something Bison would have been able to give us advice on
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>>549685
"Wrenade"

I approve of this.
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>>549533
>>Take out the turret first, declaw the trap.
nice to have you back again so soon.
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>>549693

I like the sound of that too.
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>>549665
Tangentially related, what sorts of stuff could be made out of us, if we went maverick and were defeated by a hunter?
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>>549693
>>549696
>>549685
You guys really do have a hell of a knack for names like that, I love it.
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>>549699
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>>549685
>>549686
>>549693

And not every mission is a speed mission. Currently we don’t have a heavy on the team and paying for that upgrade on any of the team would be expensive. We can still post the add in the berets forum and see if there any takers.

"NEED HEAVY TO CARRY BFG, WANT TO TAKE OUT A MIDBOSS IN ONE OR TWO SHOTS? CONTACT CAPTAIN ANODE.*

*Must have big and heavy build already. Also be able to carry great weighy. Armor upgrade negotiable.
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>>549699
Oil for the oil god, heads for the head throne

Good day everyone
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>>549716

Hah! Makes me think of all of those late-night adds for local used car lots or Jesus Christ Bail Bonds.
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>>549716
I uh, just meant that I approve of the nickname. Wouldn't say no to giving our berets some of those though. Add a little cannon to their glass.
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>>549716
Yeah that sounds like something Anode would do.
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>>549533
>Take out the turret first, declaw the trap.
Give him less help if that's really him incoming.
(Also, recap updated to current events.)
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>>549735
Sadly we eighter need to nail some good paying misions tp upgrade Flak into a heavy or we have to hope our add works.

And no those heavies are still C class since they are too slow to be Bs without build in weapons.

The same build with at least one BFG build in counts as a B with the right armor. The right armor being heavy armor since it isn't a speed build.
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>>549699
A massive electric lance. A heavy electricity based body upgrade or an electric forceshield, that last one being the most expensive upgrade. The hunter would get nothing from our VRD and might keep one of our external wespons.
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>>549769
Yeah, problem with upgrading one of the berets too much is that they'd likely just get re-assigned and we might have trouble bringing them along for missions after that. Also it could be seen as favoritism and cause some friction in the rest of the squad and we wouldn't want that. Might work out if the upgrades were modular, so they could theoretically work with any beret...
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>>549699
A non-transferrable coupon for eternal stink-eye from Cathode, Em, and India
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>>549839
*VWD, what would VRD be anyway? Variable Raw Data?
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>>549546
>>549551
>>549552
>>549557
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>>549617
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>>549763
You ignore the bolts spanging off your armor and flooding the deathtrap, the bodies at your feet twitching and dancing as the stray fire rakes across them again, kicking up plumes of dirt all around. Instead, you grit your teeth and sight upwards, shooting your busters straight up into the ceiling.

Another hit gets through before the damned thing finally goes down, and you turn to address the damaged Drill Waying separating you and your squad.

It goes down just as Sabomole bursts from the wall, sizes up the distance, and turns to swing a massive, clawed hand into Flak’s chest.

Metal scrapes and rends, and there’s a sizzling flash as the Beret tumbles backwards, three long furrows carved into his armor before he can even yelp in surprise. You fire through the falling wreckage of the Waying, but he’s already disengaging again. You and Susan both sprint to the exit hole, the Beret sending a gleaming blue light of his Lockon rifle down after the mole, you chasing with a hurricane bomb. You hear a distant explosion and a dull patter of thumps, shrapnel embedding itself in earth. You can’t tell if you hit him.

“I’m okay!” Flak says, voice a little garbled and modulated. “I’m okay. I think the armor…”

Well, it didn’t hold, that’s for sure. The ablative chestplate overlay you commissioned lived up to the ‘ablative’ part, carved clear through by those massive claws. The wounds dig deep past the outer plating and into the stock chassis beneath, angry-looking furrows. The wound itself smells like ozone--you suspect this is part of the whole “Disruptor” Sabomole thing.

“Signal retreating,” Drang confirms. “It stopped a few hundred yards away.”

After a moment, Flak can stand, shaking his head clear of the EM interference. Susan keeps his gun up all the while, despite the lack of moles or mechaniloids.

“Not really built for that sort of thing,” Flak says sheepishly. “That was a pretty good hit.”

“Have we got a bead on where the digging stopped?” Susan comms.

>Stay focused.
>Where’s he at, Drang?
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>>549841
That's the beauty of tegnicalities. With no in build weapon, no VWD weapons and not even a weapon with a direct link to it's power core. A slow heavy, even with heavy armor, still counts as a C due to basically being a sitting duck.

The moment it gets a in build weapon or a weapon with a link to it's power core, it becomes a probationary B and it might get reasigned, but if we don't aprove those upgrades, is still a C.
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>>549859
>Stay focused.
Don't want any of them running ahead.
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>>549859
>Hand signals only, plan standard bait, Flak get out of danger, light steps. Sabamole cannot hear encrypted inner coms due to it's distructor interference.Got any more ideas?

Remenber when we learned berets hand signals? Let's use them.
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>>549859
>>Stay focused.
but keep someone watching the sensors. Pretty sure he's going to keep harassing us.
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>Loop Zipline around Waying
>Hit Sabomole with pointy bit when he pops up
>Now he can't run away without pulling the waying all the way out
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>>549859
>Stay focused.
Keep calm.
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>>549859
Thank god for the ablative armor. Keep focused on the task at hand. He'll be coming for us again and again and will be damned in trying to stop him from using hit and run tactics.

>>549894
this is a good idea as well.
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>>549883
>>549894
This. There is no way the Mavericks are up to data with new gen berets hand signals yet. And Sabamole own build up screws him if he tries to listen to our encrypted short distance coms.
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>>549859
Additional thought: do we have the option of retreating teammates if they suffer too much damage? Sabomole seems to have more mobility than us in this environment.
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>>549859
>Stay focused.

Also this
>>549894
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>>549863
Good point. I bet some Hunters do this rules lawyerering to stay as B class and don't get sent against the most dangerous targets. Also as a A class Captain we have the right to keep any member for some time before we decide is ready for a promotion test anyway.

But yeah let's keep the heavy as C class if we ever get it, just in case.
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>>549919
We don't have acess to emergency beam out for our troops. Also as soon we we go too deep, we cannot even use our own emergency beam out. At most if half or more of our team gets injured, we can order them to retreat.
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>Additional thought: do we have the option of retreating teammates if they suffer too much damage? Sabomole seems to have more mobility than us in this environment.

Can we fake an injury and retreat to lure him out?
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>>549994
probably a bad idea. Sabomole seems damn certain to keep us from something. Either their command structure or the machines that make all those holes. Guy is probably on a deadline, trying to breach his target and get the loot.
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>>549994
We can talk about our options using hand signals with the berets, who have way more team training than we have.
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>>549994
>>550009
>>550014

This. Sabamole can at most disrupt communications and create false images of his location by using digging mechanoids with fake signals. But even with black market upgrades he isn't build to intercept communications due to his own systems causing interference. And no we aren't pulling this out of our ass, both us and Cathode have the knowledge of an electric engineer since we were build to be A class and not including that knowledge would be stupid. Granted we don't know enough to build our own bots without a build it yourself kit, but we have the basics and could act as the Fourth electrician in an emergency.

This is because our creators are tobot wars nerds so they made us electricians in homage to Elec Man and other Electric themed robot masters. And also so we didn't try to pull comic book stunts with electricity.

Does that work?
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>>549859

>Stay focused.
>Hand signals only, plan standard bait, Flak get out of danger, light steps. Sabamole cannot hear encrypted inner coms due to it's distructor interference.Got any more ideas?
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>>550048
Seems logical, Anode would have fried himself more than once trying to play Electro or Black Electric Guy otherwise.

Also there is a huge difference between being an electricist and being able to build your own bots.

That reminds me. Did we finally bought that do it yourself Meetool building set? They are basically this century Lego robots kit so we shouldn't have too much problem with it. We could also get a military meetool kit since we are a Captain.

But we should probably save the military set as a gift to Em.

"Think of it as a segurity system for your lab. You are second in Comand of the Fourth now. That means a lot more spies."

"You just want to see Meets with gun turrets in my office that shot intruders don't you?"

"And you don't?"

"Fine, but you cannot mess with them. No shooting commanding oficers with painballs, no treating High Commander Halcyon as target practice and so on."

"Em... you are acting responsible! Our little Emerald is all grown up now!"

"Still not letting you touch the military meets."

"Aww."
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>>549883
>>549899
>>549905
>>549935
>>550055
“Focus,” you order Susan. “He’s going to try this again.”

“I--” He steadies himself and nods. “Yes, sir.”

“Plus, we got what we came here for. Is this them, Marx?”

“Yes, sir.” Advancing cautiously, he kneels next to the bodies as you take advantage of the time to cut down the remaining Waying opposite you. “FOF transponders are Bundeswehr. All human, KIA.”

“Laser trap got them,” Derby says quietly. Trapped them between the bars and then just… He drifts off, shaking his head, as Susan and Flak look around, keeping their guard up.

“Right, I’ll call it in. Drang…”

“We heard,” he says. “We appreciate you trying.”

“We’ll mark their location,” you offer. “For once it’s clear.”

“Thank you, Captain. And… if you could collect their dog tags…”

“Understood,” you reply. “I’ve got them.”

“I’ll pass the news on. Thank you again, Captain.”

“Hey.” Marx breaks the long silence from the squad. “Y, catch.” Derby looks up as Marx tosses him a small field data drive.

“What do you make of this?” he asks.

Derby sets down his gun and opens his toolkit--the other Berets moving to cover him, as you finish collecting the fourth set of tags from the downed humans. “It’s not encrypted--at all. They must have gotten this together in a hurry.”

“We’re still in the clear,” you tell him. “What is it?”

“This is… a map of a tunnel system.”

“They were doing recon,” Susan points out.

“No, no, the elevation is all wrong. It’s down deeper. We’re almost straight above it.”

>I think we just found what the mavs are trying to hide from us. Let’s go.
>We can check it out later. We got what we came here for, let’s retask on Sabomole.
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>>550165

>I think we just found what the mavs are trying to hide from us. Let’s go.
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>>550048
A trend I am noticing for this batch is we seem to have a half and half split of mavs. One half running interference, the other half going for data or research. Gibbon is doing something with data, Moloch attacked a research place, Atlantica has a optics guy, and Foxfire had that crazy data while also hacking Rho. Add the possibility that Sabomole is trying something and it's making for a pretty strong case.
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>>550165
>>I think we just found what the mavs are trying to hide from us. Let’s go.
No need to hunt for the mole. With our reenactment of the Zero division, he'll want to come at us.
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>>550165
>I think we just found what the mavs are trying to hide from us. Let’s go.

If Sabomole doesn't want us there then that means there's a decent chance he hasn't had time to booby-trap the hell out of the place. Also going where he doesn't want us seems likely to draw him out. If it doesn't, we can change tactics, but we went looking for the recon squad because we wanted more information. Let's use the information we got.
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>>550165

>I think we just found what the mavs are trying to hide from us. Let’s go.

Either it's where he's trying to get to, and we'll get there before he's prepped the deathtraps, or it's what he's trying to keep us from knowing whatever is there and he'll move to intercept us. Either way, he's chasing us instead of the other way around.
>>
>>550165
>>Get a lot of votes for hand signals, no hand signals used - -

>>550175

Of course is all about data. The bastard who ripped our power source from us us trying to make stronger Reploids and upgrade itself. Even we know that.

We just haven't rationalised it tet.
>>
>>550165
Are we going with the bait and the hand signals or not?
>>
>>550165
>I think we just found what the mavs are trying to hide from us. Let’s go.
>>
>>550216
That depends on if you're going after Sabomole directly or not.
>>
>>550165
>I think we just found what the mavs are trying to hide from us. Let’s go.
With a destination in mind, we can take Sabomole as he comes to us, instead of him popping up to take surprise swipes as we chase him.
>>
>>550254
We had a lot of votes for hand signals yet you didn't use them in your post. Unless you wanted to imply they were using them and the talking was to trick the mole.
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>>550295
Dude, were are not going to use them all the time or right away and as is its just basic info and reporting. Calm thyself.
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>>550244
This. Let's lead the mole to our chosen battleground. Too bad we don’t know of any metal rooms were he can't use his digging ability easily
>>
>>550295
Hand signals are used to communicate tactical actions. "Go here," "wait here," "flank him," that sort of thing.

You just received more intel about the mission. There's no hand sign for exposition, unless you do too much exposition, then it's just an air-jerk.
>>
>>550310
Even if we don't go after the mole directly, the fact private coms are safe from him is important.

>>550313

This works. Not that the tunnels will have many if any metal rooms with metal floors. But picking the battlefield is a good idea.
>>
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>>550165
>I think we just found what the mavs are trying to hide from us. Let’s go.
i hope there's something really REALLY expensive for us to interfere with down there. a particle accelerator would look cool on our trophy wall.
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>>550324
So I guess we should all learn ASL? That would be one way for unimpeded communications. Might look a bit funny, though.
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>>550324
I am sure that "private coms safe" and "bait tactic insert number here" are standard hand signals.
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>>550363
You can generally assume that the secure line is in use for combat communication unless you're speaking to someone without access to the hunter line.
>>
>>550165
>>I think we just found what the mavs are trying to hide from us. Let’s go.
He'll be desperate to stop us from getting to whatever he's up to so he'll eventually be forced to engage us if we get too close to the end of his secret tunnels. If he can't run without jeopardizing his mission, we can take him out when he makes his stand.
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>>550363
Coms + private + safe= Three hand signs. Then we just use the private coms with our team frecuency to say the rest.

Using too much sign language would be for when we have the private channels compromised.
>>
>>550165
>>I think we just found what the mavs are trying to hide from us. Let’s go.

Sabomole seems to like coming to us. Let's force him to do so by threatening what he's trying to keep us from.

Maybe we can even get a chance to pick our battlefield.
>>
>>550391
Yeah this works.

I assume that due to certain misions we had were we had communications hacked, that our team has an encrypted short range coms.

And Hunter Command, if Anode is us, then he no longer trusts the public channels.

Also that each team has its own channels is standard in this type of fiction and even in real life military units.

Plus the Dog is gone, so is Frog. We are in an oficial war situation. We don't trust Halcyon and we don't trust the new leader of the Fourth.

We had a whole argument the past thread about if the mole has a death switch or not. Anode current paranoid levels: medium.

And there are things we cannot say to our therapist. Like the fact that we suspect some new transfers to MHH (Maverick Hunters Headquarters) might be spies.

Of course we might not be thinking all this in a concious way.

Oh my, next time we get drunk we better not start to rant all this...
>>
>>550461
Let's just do a private party. Us, Em, India and maybe our syster. Warm Em to shut us if we rant about certain things.

Foxfire will end in the party even if we don't want to, right?

Junk spoiler about my OC ahead
So it seems Bokan would be a B class female pilot, data analist with the ability to control mechanoids. She would always have a scort of four flyng small mechanoids, with Meet like brains so they have some autonomy. Also work for Halcyon as eighter his secretary or assistant (or a secretary of a make secretary of Halcyon). With her boss taking credit because that's what bosses do. She doesn't have VWD due to being an old model. But lack of social life means all her money went for upgrades. Then India finds there is another pilot in base and forces poor Bokan into social situations.
>>
>>550461
The hell? We trust Gopher fine. He's not a bad officer, he's just a gruff by the books one. There has been zero reason to not trust him. For the most part while I may be ok with some of this, we are not going to go full paranoia right off the bat because some of you say so. While we do influence his choice, we don't influence his every little action and thought.

You lot act like this is your first rodeo with bullshit raining upon our heads while Cain Labs laughs in the background. Us shooting the shit does not mean Anode is thinking it.
>>
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>>550174
>>550190
>>550193
>>550201
>>550244
>>550290
>>550347
>>550373
>>550407
“Let’s check it out. He’ll come to us.”

The squad falls in and you continue to advance--you don’t have hard map data, but you have relative Z-position, and you’re getting closer to the “start” of the tunnel system.

“Drang, didn’t you say there was a company that had rights to this place?” you ask. Static. “Drang? Can you hear me?”

Well, shit.

“So much for that,” Susan observes dourly.

There’s strangely little activity down here--not even shifting earth. More worrying is the knowledge that if Sabomole makes another run on you, there won’t be advance warning. You spot signs of combat here and there--the recon team must have made a fighting retreat with their intelligence. Eventually, though, the tunnel breaches into older, harder stone--grey, rigged up with lights and rigging. Storage containers that read AEGIS litter the sides.

“This is older digging,” Marx observes. “Different striations, different machinery. I think we’re here.”

“Well, where’s here, is the question,” Susan notes. “What are they looking down here?”

“Footprints,” Flak says quietly, pointing down at a thin layer of dust--broken by fresh bootmarks, in and out.

“That iust be the recon team’s infil and exfil,” Derby says. “Too small for Reploids.”

“Hold up. Did you hear that?”

The squad goes quiet, listening, and… sure enough, there’s a faint, droning noise.

>Let’s go the way the recon team went. Maybe they found something.
>Follow the sound. Nothing else should be active down here.
>Other?
>>
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And on that post, I need to go run an errand, back in a little bit.
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>>550570

>Follow the sound. Nothing else should be active down here.
>>
>>550570
>Follow the sound. Nothing else should be active down here.

SEEK THE HEART SEEK THE HEART SEEK THE HEART SEEK THE HEART SEEK THE HEART
>>
>>550570
>Follow the sound. Nothing else should be active down here.
>>
>>550511
We don't like Gopher since certain mision, even if we understand why he sent us. Yeah is not like the dislike we have for Halcyon. But for us Gopher is the type of leader that seems to care more about the mision than his men.

That's okay, we saw how making it about the people you lead destroyed Frog. But Gopher will never get from us the same respect we had for Frog, because Gopher doesn't care about his men on a personal level. We are all replaceable for him.

Granted, that's the sane way to be a leader in the MH, but we don’t have to like it.
>>
>>550511
Not that guy but I disagree we dont trust Gopher but we don't distrust him either and if he keeps it up we will trust him pretty soon but Frog has never screwed us and gone to bat for us time after time I for one would follow him into hell as the saying goes. Basicly Gopher is just some hunter who happens to be our CO while frog is our friend.
>>
>>550570
>Follow the sound. Nothing else should be active down here.
>>
>>550570
>Follow the sound. Nothing else should be active down here.
Tough choice. Got a feeling we should keep on the trail, but there is a chance this thing is a power generator or drilling machine. Either or are good targets, but we should keep an eye on the position and map so we can get back on the trail.
>>
>>550570
>Follow the sound. Nothing else should be active down here.
>>
>>550622
>Follow the sound. Nothing else should be active down here.

Let's be careful team.
>>
>>550612 here >>550603
has a point about us possibly never liking him but to me Gopher seems like a good officer and i respect his position He also seems the type who wants his people to get out and uses his distance to cusion the inevitable times they don't. TLDR he will probably never be liked as a friend by us but respect as an officer and appreciation for his command seem to be something we can muster.
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>>550603
I don't think it's so much disposable but more he sees us for our role and simply doesn't want to sugar coat. He was very accurate about our role. We are sturdy, tough, and stubborn as all hell and that makes us the best option for these sort of missions which would kill Em or India. This also means that due to the nature of the missions we are going to see the worse sort of shit. They need to be done, so send the person who can do it rather than the person who feels like it or doesn't.

Season 1, for all it's hard points was a very bright point for being a mav hunter. Now we are at war and every decision we make costs lives or important strategic points.
>>
>>550570
>>Follow the sound. Nothing else should be active down here.
We know there is something active that way so I vote the bird in the hand not the two in the bush.
>>
>>550511
>>550603
>>550612

Basically what Bokan and the Anon said. Gopher is just our leader, Frog was a father for his men. Also Gopher doesn't care about us in a personal level like Frog did. We are just cogs in the machine for him. But that's still better that the social climber shit with no morals that Hacyon is.
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>>550661
Personally? I like Gopher. He's a hardass, sure, but a reasonable one. I can respect that, even if he might never be a buddy. Different from Frog is not necessarily bad, and I agreed with his decision to terminate Wren (even if I didn't like it). Anyway:

>Follow the sound. Nothing else should be active down here.
>>
>>550663
Yes we are replaceable for him. Have you seen some of our list of targets? At least two of them should be for the Zero unit not a menber of the fourth.

Also Zero unit would get emergency recall and priority healing against a G class. We won't.
>>
>>550736
Oh I'm curious now, which two?
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>>550736
What we did to piss off Halcyon so much,
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>>550755
We survived. Unlike Seven we haven't had the chance to piss him off personaly yet.
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>>550753
Got the list? I didn't save it.
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>>550753
The way you design them? Pick any two.
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>>550775
Oh I've aaaaaalways got the list.

Barrage Mortarphant
Broadside Yamatoad
Disruptor Sabomole
Glacier Gibbon
Graverend Moloch
Hurricane Wren
Soul Foxfire
Stellar Atlantica
>>
>>550706
correct me if i'm wrong gut you like gopher as a commander not as a person (at least not more than any other random person) Becaus that is my position I also agreed with his decision to terminate Wren and didnt like it I also felt he did it in the best way for Anode mentally and emotionally.
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>>550788
The full list, names alone tell nothing.
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>>550775
>Mortarphant & Yamatoad
I assume are who you mean Yamatoad is an S
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>>550813
What you are refering to is the dossiers not the list.
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>>550813
Speak for yourself, they tell me eeeeeverything.
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>>550799
He has the right mindset to be a leader of Hunter Command. As in, Mavericks Hunters don't last long, so don't form personal relacionships with them and that the mision comes first. We understand that, we just don't like it. We are also less likely to trust someone that sees us as replaceable.

Also Cain, the full list.
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>>550829
Then figure out what two Mavericks I was talking out yourself. Since the names tell everything.
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>>550843
Y'all disrespectful shitbirds need to get out or shut up.
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>>550843
I am quite sure one on the list used to be G class but I don't wanna bother with looking at old threads. That's what you are referring to?
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>>550843
>>550833
Jesus christ you two are being fucking insufferable. Re-fucking-lax and dial back the shadowruns.
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>>550843
Warpstar Griffin and Legion Strigiform. Definitely those two.
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>>550895
> Warpstar Griffin and Legion Strigiform

Welp. Those now all kinds of exist.
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>>550843
Calm damn man. Seriously, all it takes is a archive binge for you to look it up man. As is you are just stirring the shit. Another thing you have to realize is the 4th took some of THE heaviest casualties at the moment in both soldiers and officers. We have fought S ranks before. We have breached fortresses before, and as is it's less 'what to do to fuck us' and more 'shit, we need to get these done but our forces are spread thin'.

Don't assume we'll be given the best missions, assume that anyone else who could possibly handle it are facing their own mavs.
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>>550931
I can actually give you stat sheets and abilities and all that. They were the two incidently most kick ass bosses in my campaign.

Warpstar Griffin was a negative-light all around S-Rank, Legion Strigiform was a walking cyberspace anomaly, basically.
>>
>Next chance you have, compare the 'last modified' and 'created' dates on the map files.

Because giving a trap map seems in this guy's wheelhouse.
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>>550570
>Follow the sound. Nothing else should be active down here.
>>
>>550949
We only have survived S ranks so far thanks to:

-Team up with our sister.
-One time use only extra life and a emergency upgrade.
-We literally just survived while we waiting for Zero to fight it. Was that G class or S class? Cain and Command love to change rankings.

And the G class is Stellar Atlantica. That's the only reason it has ? rank.

I mean 98% of the time Hunters Headquarters has some data in the target. About a third of the time the data is outdated (or in our case about 60% of the time). Hence why pros tend to go after Bs that have been Mavericks for a while as if they were black market As. And to treat an hunter that went Maverick as an A as A plus, that means more than regular A, not a true S.

The only reason to assign a ? Ranking when there is actually some data of the target is if the target abilities are classified or unknown. Or the target got a dangerous weapon that made its ranking be over S.

I mean the bad guy we defeated with our sister was a S but the weapon it had stolen made it closer to G actually.

And unknown targets are a First or Zero problem. The only reason is even on the list is due to the Maverick Hunters loses. Granted a S that actually does figure as a S on the list is gonna be a pain in the ass. But not as much as a Maverick so dangerous they refuse to give it a ranking.
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>>550883
Shadowrun? No, what we are paranoid about makes completely sence in character. We have a story of faulty data, traitors and our superior admitting to us we are just a cog in the machine for him.
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Sabomole in his hit debut film.
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>>551066
The S we fought as the Season 1 boss fight was as close to G as possible and we actually managed to shut down a lot of it's most bullshit gimmicks. Thats a pretty good accomplishment of talent.
Saetos was a trap from the start that Seven pushed on us. The entire thing was set up to kill as much people as possible. We survived it. Finally, any philosopher is G rank and on the higher end. The reason Atlantica is a unknown is because she was originally a civvie model. Her problem isn't going to be her so much as the enviroment and her control over it. The fact we plan to rush the 3 man chain right away is a sign that we are going for it.

We are also fighting the known S with the entire Armored division. If we remove Mortarphant, we could possibly free up 3 artillery officers and move in there as well. This is war. We'd be fighting mavericks of higher threats than serial murderers and crazy frozen hobos with killswitches. Besides, the Ranks mean jack all in terms of what they are capable of if even Foxfire could wreck us.
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>>550833
The list of those that remain on our roster is at the end of the Pastebin recap, linked in the OP.
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Okay, back now and gearing up.
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>>551130
We could have killed Foxfire with a single shot. We just were an idiot and underestimated her.

And Foxfire was a civilian model yet was still ranked B. ? Ranks are extremely rare when the Maverick in question has already killed hundreds of people. There is something fishy about that rank. Hence why I agree the Maverick must have stolen experimental tech. We are ranked as a A class Captain yet the information is still classified for us.

So yeah for me she is a G or at least S plus until proven otherwise.

But we could talk about the ? rank with Em first. He is the old and experienced Hunter that we trust after all.
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>>551108
We should be paranoid about the unencrypted data conveniently left on the corpses.
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>>551215
Yeah let's ask Em about it. Also Foxfire too, she might have some idea.

She might be ? because she can create many hardlight copies of herself. Hence she is like fighting a whole damn army. And only damaging the original counts.
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>>551222
>>551259

Oh the copses are bait, that's for sure. But we cannot fight the mole well until we get the right terrain aka steel floor.

Wonder if we will fight him or we just end fighting a Mechanoid copy of him?
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>>551274
That's a posibility. That there are one or more false Sabamoles. It would fit the whole data theme so far.
>>
>>551215
Not really. Just because you just need to hit her once doesn't mean it'd be easy. She had a nasty upgrade and a lot of data along with being a evasive model. We may be fast, but we still need to work on our accuracy and this was our first trip into cyber space. She was going to be a pain no matter what because that was her purpose.

And that data is classified because Stellar's manufacturer don't want any info about their idol coming to the surface. Thats not command's fault, thats her company's fault. Besides, lots of lower reploids can kill shit tons of people. People are not hard to kill. They are squishy and made of meat.
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>>551306
We are not at the beginning of the war. Nowadays any civilian model that goes crazy in public gets put down hard. She has not, her data is also classified for a damn Captain of the Mavericks Hunters. Her manufacturer cannot keep her data secret when she has already killed more people that some A class that have gone Maverick. Things don't add up. Let's ask Em and Foxfire what the hell is going on. And what classified te h she stole.
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>>551373
>We are not at the beginning of the war.
Er, mate, ever hear of Doctor Doppler and a certain something called the Doppler Rebellion?

Yeah. We're at war.
>>
>>551306
>>551373
I really think her rank is unknown as a game mechanic -- it will increase over time. If she was our very first, say, she might have been B or so. But the longer we wait, I fear, the more killer Quick Man force beams she'll install in her room.
>>
So... how many sabemolecopies we will end fighting? About five?

https://youtube.com/watch?v=2BzMrn0prAk
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>>551373
We know what classified tech Soulfire stole. It was that super adaptive Batman tech. And hundreds is not that much for a A threat. Even with Wren's downgrade, she was still killing in the thousands a day. The reason why Stellar is likely A rank is because she is building a huge fortress in the middle of the ocean which in terms of tactical priorities would require an A. You are also assuming that just because they can be put down hard that they are able to. High speed, high mobility, or even smart mavericks could evade police and hunters just like criminals can. Possibly more so.
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>>551393
But not the beginning of it, the beginning was the Sigma rebellion.
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>>551393
The beginning of the Maverick War. >>551417
The Maverick with the ? ranking.
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>>551437
What Punk said.
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>>550579
>>550584
>>550601
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>>550622
>>550633
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>>550666
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>>551054
You can’t help but feel increasingly paranoid, down this deep and cut off from support. “Any odds this info is fishy?” you ask.

“Maybe, but I doubt it,” replies Marx. “Everything else looks normal. The drive was branded AEGIS too; they grabbed it and ran.”

After the entryway, the corridors down here are, mercifully, wider--there was plainly more time to dig these out. The squad fans out, grateful to not be scraping paint off each other’s shoulders in the close confines.

“Careful,” you warn them. “He can pop out anywhere. As long as we’re underground, treat it like we’re out, wide open.”

You slowly make your way towards the sound, expecting an ambush at any moment. The sound grows louder until you can feel it, a tremble in the earth, a dull droning that fills the corridor like an impromptu echo chamber.

And then, the wall behind you explodes.

A massive, gleaming steel behemoth claws its way out of the stone itself, filling the corridor from floor to ceiling. Dark green casings over what look like pneumatic cylinders hiss as it chews through the rock. Moored in the center is a primitive-looking yellow mechaniloid, floodlights below its optics glaring down on you.

It’s not stopping.

No order needed, you all start running like hell.

“How fast can you move?!” You call over the din of smashing rock.

“Not very!” Flak yells back.

Up ahead, the path splits…
>Send the Berets one way, you take the other. Maybe one of you can shoot it in the ass.
>Try to destroy it on the run. It has a lot of rock to chew through, that will slow it down!
>Other?
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>>551449
>Try to destroy it on the run. It has a lot of rock to chew through, that will slow it down!

If we split, the sabomole clone will kill them.
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>>551449
Why hello there Armored armadillo's miniboss. What's that? Storm eagle wrecks your shit alongside penatrative attacks? Well then! We can slow it down with lock on hunter and wrenades while using our wires to aid in mobility. Anyone trips or slows down, we tarzan to their rescue.
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>>551429
>>551437

Sure, if you take the S off the end of the Maverick Wars, as it has always been referred to in plural and take it all as one long singular conflict maybe. But at the end of the day this is a separate outbreak and separate war.

>>551449
Anode's seen enough horror movies to know not to split up. Give it a bad day.
>>
It's got floodlights.

That means it needs to see

Flak attack
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>>551467
>Try to destroy it on the run. It has a lot of rock to chew through, that will slow it down!

We are not 100% sure is a copy, but yeah, do not split the party.
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>>551449
>Try to destroy it on the run. It has a lot of rock to chew through, that will slow it down!
Don't split the squad.
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>>551449
>Try to destroy it on the run. It has a lot of rock to chew through, that will slow it down!

...Is this a Wily-tech metool-operated machine?
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>>551449

>Try to destroy it on the run. It has a lot of rock to chew through, that will slow it down!

Wreck this mid-bosses shit with Lockon Hunters, Wrenades and maybe Flaks to screw with the searchlights.
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>>551449
>Try to destroy it on the run. It has a lot of rock to chew through, that will slow it down!

Also this
>>551471
And if it becomes appropriate we should definitely do the Tarzan shout. Totally fits with Anode's personality.
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>>551449
>Try to destroy it on the run. It has a lot of rock to chew through, that will slow it down!
Aim for lights or optics, maybe we can ditch it by faking which path we take
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>>551449
>Try to destroy it on the run. It has a lot of rock to chew through, that will slow it down!
>>
>>551449

I say we take out those lights. It'll be harder to chase you if it can't tell which way you went.
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>>551478
The war doesn't end until all enemies are dead, defeated or have surrendered.

Is called the Mavericks Wars but is more like a long conflict with small pauses on it, like the 100 year old war.
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>>551449
"Not very fast" means don't send them running. Make it a damage race against the little pilot. Run while shooting at him.
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>>551546
Can we drain them for power? Or too risky? Actually how risky is to climb the thing on the side once we reach a place we can do that and just drain it's power?
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>>551567
That would be cool but we lack open spaces.
>>
>>
>>551547
Well, for all intents and purposes, they largely had. End of Megaman 2 Sigma was done in and most everything between the Doppler Rebellion is just putzing around and police actioning as the spine of the Maverick was (from what could be told at the time) irrecovericably broken. To hand wave what has always been regarded in lore to be a series of wars as just one for the sake of saying corporations have no right to with hold sensitive trade information is not only innaccurate to corporate culture and civil law but also flies in the face of established lore.
>>
Drop some grenades to make a crater. Then, when he tilts forward, we have a shot past the armor.
>>
>>551609
Still one of my all time favorite gif posts. But this wasn't me.
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>>551610
After the whole G class deal we just had? We are under martial law and open war so the Corporations better cooperate unless they want criminal charges and get blacklisted.
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>>551676
>Martial law
The Maverick Hunters is a peace keeping organization, not the literal entirety of world governments. It has no ability to enforce martial law. Thats a local government thing.

The G class (who was reduced to S, canonly notably) was literally the start of the Doppler rebellion. When we woke up after it half of the base was leveled.
>>
>>551676
Unfortunately Halcyon is a social climbing cunt. Our former grand commander would have actually used the martial law for that but he is gone.
>>
The political concessions he can get out of the company in exchange for not insisting on a closer look are well worth the trade. Halcyon trusts the men under his command to prevail even under slightly sub-optimal circumstances.
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>>551710
Yes he is a fair and just and competent leader.
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>>551726
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>>551710
And I would be more wiiling to believe you if Halcyon had not openly tried to kill his predecessor when it still was in charge.
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>>551726
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>>551746
>it
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>>551760
DON'T JUDGE
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>>551815
India: So that's were my lipstick went...
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>>551815
>>551911
"The end result of the incident, later known as the Great April Fuckup, was a whirlwind of pay cuts, court martials, and General Rhode's personally punching every single member of the Fourth."
>>
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>>552012
And then him having to resign due to forgeting some Hunters are human and almost killing some of them. Not to mention the video of him punching women went viral.
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>>551746
Rhodes did the same thing, as did his predecessor before him.

It's a hunter tradition.
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>>552095
>>
>>552096
Ironically true.
>>
So... no one has any stories to tell while we wait? Lobster? Cain? Nuclear bear?
>>
>>551467
>>551484
>>551494
>>551513
>>551515
>>551516
>>551523
>>551524
The Berets break into a sprint. “Fire on the move if you can, otherwise, with me!” You call.

“We could flank--”

“Negative,” you reply. “Not with Sabomole out there.”

“Copy,” Susan replies.

The Berets are at an unhappy disadvantage, with their longarm buster rifles. You can snap-shoot back at it freely, not that it does much good, half your shots splashing across the burrowing teeth ineffectively. You need something with more punch.

At the same time, you’re stuck trying to figure out what the hell to hit--quick looks over your shoulder aren’t very helpful for identifying a weakspot. Your first hunch is the mechaniloid controller, which is unfortunately well-armored and hard to hit besides.

Fortunately, you’re pretty sure the Wrenades don’t give a shit. You snap-fire one and enjoy the shrieking ball of blades sailing downrange, impacting with the peal of metal on metal a hundred times in an instant.

It didn’t like that much, for sure. You hear dull thumps, and then micromissiles streak out overhead and impact, muffled explosions vanishing into the ceiling an instant before whole torrents of loosened rock and soil fall in clumps from above.

Marx yells in surprise as he’s caught, his run slowing to a sluggish crawl as he tries to pull his legs out of the loose earth. Derby is already turning, but you dash back and grab him by the arm, even as your lance streaks out and slashes through the debris. Between the two, you manage, barely, to pull him free before the digger drags him under. Your shoulder wrenches back unpleasantly as you dash clear, hampered by his added weight.

“T-thanks,” he manages, resuming his dead run.
>Spend some time trying to build a little more charge (current: 35%), fry it.
->Alternate: Spend backup battery to get up to 60%.
>Try to snarl up the cylinder with T. Coil cables.
>More hurricanes to its ugly mug.
>Other?
>>
>>552242
>Spend some time trying to build a little more charge (current: 35%), fry it.
I worry that Sabomole might use the charge against us in some way.

Like turn our charge into ANOTHER emp burst that hurts our allies rather than him or anode.
>>
>>552242
>->Alternate: Spend backup battery to get up to 60%.
fry it fast and quick. Sooner we do the better. After all, Sabomole is probably strong against electricity.
>>
>>552242
>Burn the battery to fry the bastard fast.
>>
>>552242
>Use the battery, kill the shit out of this guy.
>>
>>552275
we are not that desperate yet. The battery is for life and death moments only.
>>
>>552260
No. Not wasting stuff in just a mini boss.
>>552259
>Spend some time trying to build a little more charge (current: 35%), fry it.

Guys, our team needs experience so they better learn to DODGEEE!
>>
>>552242
>Alternate: Spend backup battery to get up to 60%

I don't like the way this thing is looking at our berets, and people have a point, Sabomole is likely resistant to electricity at the very least, so we might as well use it here.
>>
>>552242
>>Spend some time trying to build a little more charge (current: 35%), fry it.
>>
>>552287
This. Lets not give the bastard time to learn or tactics, stick to the basics.

"Just run ahead guys, I will keep it busy!"
>>
>>552292
on the flip side we don't want to get in the habit of using a battery on every opp they are expensive.
>>
>>552287
The thing is a immediate threat to our squad and is likely going to cost us a lot of resources to take down while protecting our berets. A decisive kill will save us ammo and health we need. Wrenades, lockon hunter and coils will be important to deal with Sabomole.
>>
>>552305
We can get more money, the lives of us and our Berets are irreplaceable.
>>
>>552305
Yeah I was debating pretty hard between burning the battery and stalling to get more charge, but I think in the end it'd be better to burn the battery and make sure our squad stays in tact. We paid for their equipment too, and even beyond that you can't put a price on earning points with the enlisted.
>>
>>552292
supporting this
>>
>>552305
Not exactly. Compared to an upgrade they are cheap. All this stuff and the mission on hand is worth it. Same with us being in peak shape and not losing men. Sometimes you have to spend money to make money, and this is one of those times.
>>
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Heads up, disappearing for another hour or so, need to do some life stuff.
>>
>>552313
But it will deny our berrets experience they sorely need. This is as powerful as enemy they can take out in their own. If we just waste the battery to kill it in one go they will learn nothing.
>>
>>552324
>>552319
eh i ss your point but i think we don't need it to kill this thing but i could be reading this wrong so i get your position. On the other hand that means we can't use it for emergency dashing in teh actual boss fight which is still an issue.
>>
>>552334
they will learn nothing if they die. Right now this giant peice of junk is pushing us AWAY from the other objective. We kill it fast, we save them. And berets don;t gain experience form the kill. They will not level up. Do not risk them needlessly because you want to save the damn elixer.
>>
>>552337
True, but we have other means of mobility, so I'm no tooooooo worried about the loss of dashing potential. Also we should hopefully be able to build up at least a little charge between this and squaring off against Sabomole. I hope.
>>
>>552325
I fuckin love that God, seeya soon Boss
>>
>>552334
Ditto.

We can just tell them to run ahead if we are so worried about them getting killed. Is not the battery, is the mole using cameras and learning all our moves. If we stick to the basic moves like motion recharge instead of the battery he will know less about us.
>>
>>552242
>->Alternate: Spend backup battery to get up to 60%.

Yeah. Stop screwing around and eliminate this dangerous distraction, so we can get back to what we're actually here for.
>>
>>552337
We will likely build up a charge in time. Falls and drops give us plenty and we are going down. As is, there is no point in risking it. Who knows, this thing might be protecting a E or Heart tank. Seems of the same make as Armored Armadillos machines
>>
>>552355
Dude don't even bother responding. The temptation is real, believe me I know, but it ain't worth it.
>>
>>552368
Well, he is an electric engineer like us. Cameras are a posibility.

This enemy is not that hard, if we tell the team to hust run ahead instead of trying to shot they will be fine. Then we can just take this thing out
>>
>>552368

I honestly don't see what him learning about the battery gains him, since we only have the one. Hell, if he sees us use it, it might /mislead/ him as to our capabilities because of that, make him expect us to have more.

Learning our moves is only helpful to him if there is a chance of us using those moves again before he's retired.
>>
>>552242
>Spend backup battery to get up to 60%.
>>
>>552390
>>>We expend about half our stuff in mocks and minibosses. The darn mole learns all our moves.

That's what I am worried about. This Mechanoid is not even a mid boss and the tunnels are kilometres long.
>>
>>552242
Don't burn the battery. It didn't like the Wrenade, so huck more at it.

Or better yet, Lockon Hunter should teach it something about tunneling.
>>
>>552421
You know maybe bringing a team to this particular mision was a mistake. We should have left them behind when we learned that a mere mock electric attack could kill one of our berets even with the armor on.
>>
>>552320
Actually, slighly different vote; depending no

Have the berets clear the path slighly ahead; (not splits, no), if they can run and gun forward, leaving Anode to engage the driller with less distractions.
IF they're fast enough.

If they're not: Active battery, fry the fucker.
>>
>>552428
Those wrenades are likely sabomole's weakness. We really should not waste them all. Meanwhile it is a electrical expert so it's most likely insulated like Mac was. Our charge will be useless and if we must dash we have the coil and jet pack.. which we should use with the charge blast.
>>
>>552437
Yeah. The problem is that part two will be full of enemies a mere C team will have trouble with.

Considering that they lack our shielding, bringing them was a bad idea. But too late now.
>>
>>552442
Given
"
No order needed, you all start running like hell.

“How fast can you move?!” You call over the din of smashing rock.

“Not very!” Flak yells back.
"

I'm pretty certain they're not fast enough. but yeah if they actually can outpace it then I agree, we can just fire over our shoulder and kill it at our leisure.
>>
>>552442
This works.
>>
>Try to snarl up the cylinder with T. Coil cables.

Battlebots banned entanglement for a reason. Get in there.
>>
>>552442
This. Trying to shot the thing is slowing them down. Just tell them to let you take care of the mechanoid.
>>
>>552442
Our guys are pretty slow and their shooting style has been shown to be very orderly. Any roadblock in the path they will likely not clear it in time. They are not moility base and we have no idea if Sabomole will try his shit again. We need to deal with them fast.
>>
>>552242
change >>552293 to >>552442
>>
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>>552242
>Alternate: Spend backup battery to get up to 60%.
Fry that sunnova bitch with everything available. I don't want any unnecessary casualties soldier!
>>
>>552500
Why not combine it with the charge?
>>
Halcyon for president.
>>
>>552551
Then why the hell we brought a team that isn't insulated to an electric dungeon?

"Next Time I want to bring you guys to face an electric type, feel free to shot me in the head unless I get you insulation first."
>>
>>552242
>Try to snarl up the cylinder with T. Coil cables.
Battery is for emergencies only.
>>
>>552606
You know what? I vote for whatever option has more vites that doesn't waste the battery.
>>
>>552605

It just occurred to me that Anode isn't proofed against mining drills! We'd better return him to base. We wouldn't want our military personnel deployed anywhere there's a danger of something damaging them!
>>
>>552605
Because we brought them to the ground dungeon. This guy is pretty much earth and corridors, which is good for a squad who doesn't move fast.
>>
>>552618
This. Is just a mini boss after all.

And Lobster something as cheap as a rubber suit and rubber soles can protect against electric attacks.
>>
>>552642
I'm onto your attempt to trick Susan into fetish gear, you sick fuck. It isn't going to happen.
>>
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>>552650
>>
>>552642
>rubber gloves and boots
>protecting against EMP claws

Are you just playing us now? Because thats several flavors of wrong.
>>
>>552650
Says the guy with deep sea exploration armor that doesn't have to worry about most attacks.

And Susan is a guy, as much as a C class Reploid with no sexual parts can be considered a guy.

Why would I want to...

No India I am not wearing that! Just how much did you drink? Yes I know I am a girl reploid too but I didn't waste money to get tits like you!

No, get that dress away from me! Cathode, is not funny stop laughing!

(And poor Bokan is suffering a girls night out or like zhe loves to call it, night from hell)
>>
>>552684
Implying "they" haven't been playing us from the get-go
>>
>>552697
Did you used to Naruto run between classes in school? Just curious.
>>
>>552720
Naruto run? I don't undertand your mosern slang.
>>
>>552732
Shhh. I'm talking to Bokan. Who, as you can see, is a completely different person from you. SILLY BAKA BAKA GAIJIN DESUYO
>>
>>552684
Electric attacks, not metal. And there isn't such a thing as EMP claws, don't be silly. A Electric Magnetic Pulse would be an area effect weapon that would screw most electronics. Unless you mean magnetic claws or something like that?
>>
>>552745
(Let's just say I am old enough to love the eighties Thundercats. And the Naruto dub around here was shit)

"Cathode, why did you let her watch that dumb old show?"

"Thundercats isn't dumb India!"

"Fine but you are getting that sword away from her. And were did she got that cat ears headband?"

"HOOO!"
>>
>>552780
I guess now we know the next series Anode will be showing his friends.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=_fymyLcXUew
>>
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That... was a long hour.

Okay, going to try to write more, if my soul is still there.
>>
>>552852
Welcome back.
>>
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>>552852
You okay bruh?

Mavs gettin ya down? Don't worry, just take comfort from your good friend and comrade cain labs, he'll get you feeling better.
>>
>>550970
Who got his ass kicked by a couple of WEEBS
>>
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>>552260
>>552275
>>552285
>>552292
>>552393
>>552551
“Okay, I’m applying the Fuck It adjustment,” you declare. “And I swear to God we’re getting you guys dash systems when we get back.”

“Death machine first! Death machine first!” Flak yelps, his sprint coming in long, loping steps from the launcher on his shoulder.

You burn the battery, your reserves jumping up over half. Hitting the ignition on your lance, you wheel about, sizing him up. His moving makes lining up a precise shot hard, so...

Fuck it.

“WITNESS ME!” you bellow, triggering dash and barreling straight into the son of a bitch, energy crackling through your lance as you swing.

You core the mechaniloid out of the central control unit like you’re shucking a clam, the little Sinefaller controller concaving in on itself before exploding, debraining the giant, toothy bastard, the drum spindle slowing to a halt, those gnashing teeth stalling…

...as you fall into them. You flail with a coil to try to snag the ceiling, hitting loosened earth and falling slack, your shields spiking as it starts to chew your leg off.

And then it finally churns to a halt.

“Ha. Haha. Haaaaoooooooly shit,” you breathe. “Everyone okay?”

“...’Witness me?’” Susan asks, incredulous.

“We need to get you boys a video player,” you tell him, still laughing in hollow exhaustion at how close you came to getting mulched.

The bad news, though, is that your entrance DID get mulched. You have no idea where you are or where the next tunnel up is--if there is one. You’re trapped down there.

“Silver linings,” says Flak five minutes later. “Check it out.”

It’s a portable radio relay, damaged, but new. “I think the recon team left this here and it was disabled later.”

“Can you fix it?”

“Fix it, yes,” Derby says. “Power it, no. This battery’s slagged.”

“Well, shit,” you opine. “How are we gonna…” You trail off, as the Berets all stare at you in unison. “Oh.”

You are Anode, A-rank, Captain, the Last Man Standing of the Fourth Overland Unit of the Maverick Hunters, operating out of Geneva.

And you are now literally being used as a battery.

“--can’t tell you how glad I am to hear from you again,” Drang is saying. “We can try to excavate, but the odds are by the time we can clear a path…”

“I know, I know,” you reply, doing jumping jacks to try to keep a scant trace of power running through your capacitors. “We still have a job to do, and we’ll try to do it.”

“There’s more,” Drang says. “The hunters sent another operative--9th Rangers. They found something taking an alternate route through the tunnel network. The console was smashed, but they managed to recover something. You’re going to want to hear this.”
>>
>>553202
>This scene
Jesus christ that's amazing.
>>
>Hotwire the tunnel borer

>Joyride
>>
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>>553202

>PLAYBACK BEGINS
>”They’re here.”
>”Yes, very good, I noticed. Get up th... deal with them.”
>”’Deal’ with…”
>”Take care of them. The terms were clear.”
>”Do... have to kill--”
>”The terms. Were. Clear. Unless you’d like to get… ck in installments, I suggest y...RE TOLD.”
>PLAYBACK ENDS

And that’s when you notice the eyes in the back of the room.

>?
>>
>>553202
"Let me guess, the mole got mechanoid copies?"
>>
>>553224
I highly suggest we get our new optic system in gear and check things out, if we can.
>>
>>553224
Looks like Mole is being forced into this or someone else is. Get everyone into a defensive position and be ready for shit to hit several fans.

"If thats you Mole, I suggest you come out slowly."
>>
>"Want a chat, off the record?"
>>
>>553224
>Signal to cut off coms. Turn off all your coms.

"I think we might be able to help each other. I mean, you could always have a death switch to bring down all the tunnels or something. How about we talk off the record and see if we can help each other?"
>>
>>553224
This
>>553258
>>553256
I... don't think that's Mole. The recording sounded like someone who's being strong-armed. My guess is that the mavs have a buddy of theirs hostage and are threatening to return them "in installments" unless whoever it is complies and tries to make mince-meat out of us.
>>
>>553275
This works.

>Signal to cut off coms. Turn off all your coms.
>"So, I think we might be able to help each other. I mean, you could always have a death switch to bring down all the tunnels or something. How about we talk off the record and see if we can actually help each other?"
>>
>>553279
Mole seems very likely when you consider what he's been doing. Civvie model goes mav and rather than kill he digs. His ambush could have been much worse if we was going straight for us, and the fact he showed himself meant he likely didn't know we were there to start.

We assumed that Sabomole was viral or rebelious, but a hostage situation makes sense as well. He was the best man for the job and the Mavs were not willing to take no for an answer. Hope the french help us with this situation.
>>
>>553319
Well... you have a point there. Regardless, let's see if we can defuse this without killing anyone who don't need killing.
>>
>>553319
We assumed a shitload of things man. That he was "downgraded", that he had four copies of himself. That he had spy cameras everywhere. That this whole thing was a death trap specificaly made for us...

We assumed so much we almost became an ass.
>>
>>553346
You were literally the only one who assumed all that.
>>
>>553362
Please stop responding to them. Please.
>>
>>553362
I can say i was willing to go along with some of his assumptions but that was mostly from an operational stance of paranoia to always assume the worst is possible and plan for it then you have a 50% chance of overestimating the threat.
>>
>>553362
I actually thought we were going to face copies of Sabamole since it made sence with we have seen so far. And a downgraded Reploid, as in one eighter resurrected and feral or so infected it became pure instincts and atack programing was scary.
>>
>>553224
holy crap. a reploid baddie who isn't braindamaged or a sadistic whackjob. is he even a maverick?

if we see a chance to redeem sabomole as a person instead of cashing him in for upgrade tokens we should take the risk and reach out.
>>
>>553427
Do you even remember season one? We had one who was just a spy hunted by his own government but wasn't evil and we actually saved. And another who became a Maverick because they were going to "retire" his team.

Chalet norte capcha? Not with our salary.
>>
>>553449
Yeah that particular mision seemed more like he just wanted to go down fighting. But if they had offered his team a retirement package like Anode almost got, he would not have gone Maverick.

But then it seems not only Reploids are second class citizens. Being under A class makes you a third or fourth class citizen.
>>
>>553482
Nice try with samefagging, I can see your deleted post.
>>
We all saw that, asswipe
>>
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>>553449
>>553482
>>553525
You can stop now
>>
I thought he was as good as busted earlier when the wrong one responded to a question meant for the other.
>>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uSTOHa4Im4
>>
>>553224
Very cautiously, "Installments, Sabomole?"
>>
And, though unsurprising (again), that's about my limit tonight. It's been a day.

I'll probably write more tomorrow. Threads on /qst/ bump to 750 or autosage after 72 hours.

Thanks for reading, everyone, and I hope you enjoyed the thread.
>>
>>553617
Sleep well.
>>
>>553617
Have a good night and thanks for the start today!
>>
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>>553617
As always, thanks for running
>>
>>553617
Night
>>
>>553581
Doesn't change the fact that you're straight up having a conversation with yourself.
>>
>>553654
Yeah, and all the previous double-votes. Just report the little shitbird.
>>
>>553617
Have a good evening, and thanks for running!
>>
Dr. Cain and his team had managed to locate the X-Hunters' fortified base inside the Arctic Circle. Assaulting the base would prove to be a much more difficult task, as the Mavericks had planned a coordinated backlash timed to the loss of the Europa facility. X left Rhodes in charge of withstanding the counterattack and organized the assault on the X-Hunter Base. With resources from the 2nd Recon finding no safe aerial or terrestrial ingress, a combined detachment led by 1st Advance Commander Striker Cobra in tandem with the 6th Marine Armada and 13th Polar Region managed to break through the outer perimeter forces and secure access to the inner facility via an open hangar. Cobra's team provided cover while X proceeded alone into the X-Hunter Base, narrowly slipping through multiple closing bulkheads before being confronted once more by Violen in an operations tower.

Despite the X-Hunter's preparations and the incredible threat posed by his deadly mace weapon, X was able to exploit his vulnerabilities, learn the drawbacks of the room setup that Violen had prepared, and ultimately turn the tables on the bestial Maverick to spell an end to the first X-Hunter. Although the way into the main citadel was clear, X found himself barred from accessing the operations tower controls - someone was locking out systems remotely. From a hidden station somewhere in the base, Serges was running the show with the outer turret perimeter and closed gates to stop X's ingress. Undeterred, the Hunter Commander worked with 1st Advance, 2nd Recon and 5th Communications to find an alternate route through the partially-submerged maintenace substructure.
>>
>>553774
Despite the sweeper traps placed to "clean" intruders into spike pits and a deadly vertical ascent up an unstable exhaust shaft, X was able to breach the main building. What he did not anticipate was having to face off against the newest war machine of Serges, piloted by the mad Maverick himself - a deadly floor-to-ceiling tank lying in wait. The cunning Reploid had plotted out the most likely course of entry and ensured that his machine would be ready and waiting, although in his haste to destroy X he forgot to shut off the local maintenance platforms, which X was able to use to his advantage despite having no interface from which to control them. The powerful Giga Crush blew away the weaponized shell of Serges' battle tank, leaving him facing off against the Maverick Hunter in nothing more than a specialized weapons pod. Nonetheless, he still managed to prove a difficult adversary thanks to the unstable footing and his erratic motions. X was able to best the wily Maverick and use the debris of the tank as a platform from which he could jump past the spike pit and safely into the primary citadel.
>>
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>>549665
OH

I KNOW A BIG WEAPON WE COULD GET

HOW ABOUT... THE RETARD SWORD!
>>
>>554120
+5 sword of retardation supporters represent!
>>
>>554601
NOTHING CAN GO WRONG BY CARRYING A MINY NUCUAL REACTOR ON YOUR BACK! I MEAN IT WORKED FOR THE GHOST BUSTERS!
>>
She is.. gone.

Susan, kind Susan. Always polite, always nice. She always had a smile for everyone.

She was the human, you are the faulty Reploid, she was suposed to live for decades more while you got "retired" in a few more years.

Sure there was the wars, but she lived in a safe building, no Reploids there to go crazy, strong human guards with anti Mavericks weapons protecting it.

Yet she is gone.

It wasn’t a Maverick, it was just... a car. A human driving a car ran over another human. Not even the AI of the car to blame. It was in manual mode.

And now she is gone.

And the faulty Reploid remains.

She wasn't your friend, you don't have friends, just the job. Should you feel sad? Should you cry for someone you barely knew?

And now you are going to the funeral because someone you know is going and...

And she is gone.
>>
>>554661Ah, been looking for you, Bokan. The offer was a Pbp game I am running, by the way.
>>
>>554704
Where and when?
>>
>>554625
Ah Yes, the MINY NUCUAL Reactor. Invented 3776 by Elvis Q. Farid at the behest of Queen Magister Anna of the Teroi Empire. It's able to power entire solar systems from a galaxy away. When weaponised it's used to power a sword so powerful that a single swing can wipe a world of all life.

I don't know where that came from.
>>
>>554752
Now I notice that powering a solar system and wiping a world with a swing are on entirely different magnitudes. Oh well. Let's chalk that up to crappy power conversion.
>>
>>554759
Actually is because it was used on a sword and swords usually don't do long range.

Also creating a supernova every time you swing the sword would be quite impractical.
>>
>>554759
Reely? They seem about right to me a steady safe lowish level thrum of a whole systems industry for several hours days or even weeks sems about what it would take to glass one planet in a few seconds.
>>
>>554830
To power an entire solar system you basically need a sun. Anon Aparently wants a sword that you swing it and creates supernovas, even if that means killing the user.

But is not it like Anode would even get that sword. Even the retard sword is not powerful enough to nuke a city, much less a planet.

I should totally do a Megaman Legends Quest so snons can invest is stupidly powerful weapons and get that out of their system.
>>
Same spot as it has been: http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?415283-Maverick-Hunter-Into-the-Breach. That has the rules in general that we are duct taping the rest on to.
>>
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>>553256
>>553258
>>553588
“‘Installments,’ Sabomole?” you ask, slowing your movement and examining the eyes.

“That seems telling,” Susan says, still looking over at the radio.

Flak sweeps the area loosely with his rocket launcher, rifle slung over one shoulder.

“Eyes up,” you comm.

The four are on alert again immediately, as you let go of the radio. Drang’s voice slows and fades on a “Did you hear somethi...”

The Berets sweep the room, examining each corner with their weapons up, and looking straight past the eyes straight ahead. You take another step forward, a figure coming into light.

A garish cyan-armored figure seems to melt into view, an extended plate acting as a tall, plated helmet, flanked by four short, segmented tentacles coming up around his shoulders, curling and uncurling. A long ceratanium-bladed pole rests under one hand, spanning from well over the top of his crest to the floor.

And, after a moment, it turns and leaves without a word.

“Why does everyone keep doing that?” you mutter.

“...Sir?” Susan asks. “What is it?”

“Did you not see?” you ask. “We’ve got company.”

“You, uh, you sure about that?” Flak asks.

“He was pretty sure about the laser trap,” Marx observes.

“...Point,” Susan admits. “Okay, back at it, team. Lead the way, sir.”

There’s really not much further to explore. The eyes--or the blue bright nightmare who owned them--aren’t forthcoming, as you ramp down an atypically clear-cut, unbroken hall, with smooth stone and actual fittings along the walls and roof. And, at the end, an actual door.

The room within is enormous, and resting in the back is the mother of all drills, a long, cylindrical tube aimed 15 degrees downward. And, at a small terminal in the back, the cyan Reploid is just finishing something up, tossing what looks like a small purple-gold geode up into the air and catching it with a flourish, a moment before punching in a final command and the entire room heaves.

“Ta-daaaa,” it says. The Berets instantly fan out, guns up--and in all directions. They really can’t see it.

“Where I’m looking,” you mutter, before raising your voice. “So, uh. Hi?”

“Now then! Work is done, time for dessert,” it positively trills, turning crisply on one heel… and faltering. “You’re looking at me.”

“Um,” you reply, looking around. “Yes?”

“...Well then!” The Reploid wheels its long lance--it looks very much like an upsized fountain pen, you realize--and levels it on you. “Things begin as they mean to carry on, I suppose. Your jumping jack form is very sloppy, I should say.”
>>
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>>555799
“Yeah, well, whatever. Who the hell are you?”

“Can’t see anything at all,” Susan warns you on the private line. “This is going to be rough.”

“I? I,” preens the Reploid briskly--a cuttlefish, you realize--”Am Ink Stylist, PHANTOM number three. And YOU--” He wheels the polearm again, his mantle of tentacles stretching to full and coming to a rest, pointing at you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06qJVpUSKZY


“Are all dead men.”

>
>>
>>555802
>Broken fall back. Try to keep the cuttlefish off them.
>Coordinate support fire by signal where possible.
>Maybe get Flak to chaff the bastard?
>>
Aww... And here I thought we were going to fight a mutated version of the original Copy X ("Ickx" from some weird Japanese TCG)...

>>555802

Seconding >>555844 . This Cuttlefish is probably either S or fucking G Rank for all we know.
>>
>>555802
So we found a secret boss in this level. Flak fire his bazooka alongside a wrenade. Try to litter the field with metal both as grapple points and conductive points. OPAL is probably why we can see him, so using private channels to pinpoint a support strike while we use our lance to keep him from slashing someone may be important. Keep him talking as well.

"So Ink Stylist, I take it this entire thing is your master piece? Cave things in, take some geodes, possibly strong arming civilians?"
>>
>>555802

Kindly request he surrenders while flooding the area with flak.
The flak might be able to either interfere with his optical camo, or maybe scrape some of it off if it requires anything delicate on the surface.
>>
>>555802

> Blackout Rocket on the Phantom, then Steel Berets fall back in a defensive formation
> Engage with coils, try to sever tentacles before closing to melee
>>
>>555844
I am definitely in favor of chaff the bastard.
>>
>>555802
Chaff this shitter
>>
>>555802
>Chaff him, try to keep him contained within the chaff to mark his position
>Berets provide cover fire from range
>>
>>555864
..OH SHIT! The terminal! Bastard likely started a cave in! Really hope that thing is chaff proof because we may need it to prevent everything from getting WORSE.
>>
>>555918
Also keep an eye out for possible extendo-pole shenanigans. He's probably going to go for the Berets first, since they'll make easy picking but could end up being a significant factor later in the fight if still alive.
>>
>>555802
>“I? I,” preens the Reploid briskly--a cuttlefish, you realize--”Am Ink Stylist, PHANTOM number three. And YOU--” He wheels the polearm again, his mantle of tentacles stretching to full and coming to a rest, pointing at you.

>“Are all dead men.”

did this motherfucker Launch Octopus tentacle thumbs down us
>>
>>555960
Seems to be a tradition with those sort of reploids. I want that geode though. It's either something very valuable to the mavs or a upgrade for us.
>>
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>>555844
>>555887
>>555909
>>555918
>>555919
You left the Blackout Rockets at home. Current VWES loadout is Lockon Hunter, Hurricane Bomb, Tumult Shell, Tension Coil.
>>
>>555995

Doesn't Flak have a Blackout Rocket Launcher, though?
>>
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>>555995
I meant have Flak chaff him
>>
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>>555999
>>556001
THAT you can do, yes. I was planning on it once the vote was done and I commenced writing.
>>
>>555802
Flak lays down the Blackout.

>Tumult Shell to zone, but focus on coiling him so the others know where to shoot.
>Appear to rely on the team for firepower, but once he finds a way to disappear from them again, go in with close combat dash/lance
>>
>>555995
Call for a Flakout, then try to snare Stylist in coils.

So what if he's invisible? The Berets can shoot at the end of a taut wire.
>>
>>555999
Yes. Good idea.

We won't get anything useful for us from this guy, everyone in favour of giving this guy VWD to India? Her plane could use steath. We can't because of electromagnetic interference. That means that as soon as we used electricity we would ruin the stealth. Maybe our sister could use it. Sent her a copy as a present?

But India plane could definitely use it.
>>
>>555995
then keep with the wrenade. Right now he is on the other side of the room away from us and the blast should deal some good damage or gauge his ability. Going straight for the coil last time almost crippled us with Wren.
>>
>The upgrade talk is already beginning
>>
>>556154
Too real.

Too real.
>>
>>556154
Oh crap not again...
>>
>>556102
Lets hold on the upgrade talk; please.
Plus, this guy is a midboss; we're not gonna get DNA off of him.
>>
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>>555844
>>555856
>>555864
>>555887
>>555901
>>556001
>>556033
>>556091
>>556105
You paint the target with a coil, sending the cable straight downrange, only for Stylist to swing his(?) polearm up and let the end latch onto the back of the weapon. He levers it back immediately, pulling it up and hewing through the line in one swing. “Flak, chaff him!” you order, even as his four tentacles aim down and burn through the grapple on his weapon, the severed end dropping off and returning him to relative invisibility.

By then, at least, Flak has had time to sight and fire, blasting the maverick with chaff. A few scratches decorate his garish paintscheme, but no real damage.

“There!” Susan calls--the chaff seems to have interfered with whatever cloaking system Stylist has. “Tag him!”

A lockon hunter streaks downrange from his rifle, a lethally accurate snap-shot that nonetheless scatters uselessly off the cuttlefish’s helmet. Derby and Marx have a bti more luck with their busters, but not for long--their fire lingers where he was for a moment as Stylist lopes free of the cloud, unblinded and largely unperturbed.

“He’s moving,” you warn. “I’ll try to keep him marked. Fire on my targets!”

“Will you, now?” Stylist asks, two more, longer tentacles unfurling from his back and sighting onto you, lobbing a pair of arcing globules of what looks like ink. A second pair fires at a completely different angle, looking to check your evasive options as he parries your fire out of the air on the run, bearing straight down on you.

>
>>
>>556233
Since when we have that rule on the ones that can talk? Previous mid bosses were just Mechanoids. This one is a Reploid.

"I faced a guy that had a steath system, no data weapon was recuperable."

And then India atrangles us.
>>
>>556246
>Try to steal away his stylus with your totally not spiderman weapon, because if we don't get his weapon data somehow, India will kill us.
>>
>>556246
Tummolt shell to deal with ink blobs, buster a couple of times then juke and try to get a hit on him with our cables so the berets can take shots.
>>
>>556246
Yeah, coils are not going to work. Instead, use the wrennade to his face followed by the flame dash and lance. The fire should burn away the ink if the wind doesn't blow it away, and the sudden dash might counter his blow.
>>
>>556272
Bokan, this is a life or death situation and you want to do a dumb, risky move when he is going at us from MULTIPLE angles when the wires have shown to NOT work. Are you trying to get us killed?
>>
>>556246
>Everybody maintain distance
>Punt a Wrenade down his throat
>Go for close-quarters if all else fails

Stop acknowledging the autist, people.
>>
>>556246
I'll back this one >>556289
>>
>>556289
We shouldn't waste all the same type of weapon ammo, or we will run out for the Boss fight
So this:
>>556288

And India will kill us when we eventually slip and tell her we couldn't get this guy weapon data, I just know it
>>
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Right, going to do my daily workout. Please, I beg you, don't make this another longest hour like yesterday.

Also yes, per your votes, the Wrenade will be used in the next offensive action, I didn't forget.
>>
>>556246
Switch to hi-beam melee; he's got tentacles and we've got a hi-beam cutter.
Also, proably a lot more soft points and we're denying him his ranged shot box-games.
>>
>>556319
We have 6 shots left and he is going to put pressure on us very soon by being in melee range where we CANNOT use the grenades. Buster fire plinks off his head and you want to use that. What did I say about Elixers? Use them in dire situations, don't save them.

Knowing our luck this IS our Boss fight. Our secret boss ala the X hunters.

>>556334
Right, take care.
>>
>>556246
second >>556288
or let shell Wrenade is ok to
>>
>>556289
Don't we just have eight of those things? Just how many we used so far?
>>
>>556340
Busters worked on him the laser from Lockon hunter pinged.
>>
>>556353
2 one on each micro boss.
>>
>>556307
>Seconding
>>
>>556340
You are the Lobster aren't you?

And I am angry because we aren't even using this weapon right. We used it for the giant drill mechanoid then just wasted a battery to finish it, so it was wasted ammo.

This isn't the only weapon we have, let's vary a little. Unlike the games we cannot refill until after the mision.

But no, most people is going by the wrenade to the face option. Do you guys remenber we have our electricity and three other weapons data, right?

Hey remember our lance? Remenber our variable length saber?

Nope.

Let's just hire a demolition expert for the team later if you guys live explosions so much.
>>
>>556399
>Let's just hire a demolition expert for the team later if you guys live explosions so much.
Great idea. We should do that.
>>
>>556411
Let's practice by making as many explosions as we can, this mission! Thanks Bokan, this is a good idea.
>>
>>556246
Splat some of the ink on a Tumult Shell, dash into that opening and then feed him a Hurricane Bomb. Let's see how he writes that one off.
>>
>>556399
>Remenber our variable length saber?
We do not have one of those. When have an armor piercing dagger with a long recharge time.
>>
>>556399
Missed the name mark by a mile. You noticed how the lock on hunter reflected off his head? Lasers and electricity might not work head on. However, the wrenades are more concusive and physical, with metal blades. One getting into a joint or soft section could give us a conduit. You are right that we can't refil, but we have used only 2 of 8 and you are suggesting to not use the heavy hitter to grant us a opening because just in case when this guy is a very viable threat. Our charge is low. The coils don't work, lock on hunter bounces off his head, and tumult shells are a defensive option. We need to make openings for those other options because head on they do not work and he is heading straight at us.
>>
>>556246
Then Wrennades are powerful, but limited; save them for now. Tumelt Shells for the ink, then close into meme with the lance.
>>
>>556436

Anode just calls what's basically a sword that can turn into a knife that, just to make a Crocodile Dundee reference when he finally faces a knife nut Maverick.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=POJtaO2xB_o

And we really should use the tumult shells to block.


Hey I wonder what I will need to bribe Emerald with so he makes me a Sword of Omens?
Maybe I could help Em set a squadron of military meets to guard his lab? No, that would be silly.
>>
>>556288
>>556289
>>556307
>>556348
>>556377
>>556433
>>556561
You fire a grenade as he lunges, breaking to the side, where you’ll have more time to operate. He brings his lance up in a warding slash, the grenade impacting with a shrieking whirlwind for him to pass through--you don’t have time to keep eyes on him as you snap-switch to the T. Shells and fire one straight into the arcing ink glob bearing down on you, the ink splashing across it and fizzling unhappily, rapidly evaporating into acrid smoke on the dissipating shell. You fill the opening created in the ink salvo, rapidly dashing clear as you foil his setup. He lets the polearm fall to his side as he sizes you up again, helmet ringed with superficial cut marks, oily fluid dripping from his small mantle-tentacles from shrapnel bites.

“Flak, fire on your way out,” you comm the squad privately. “Keep defensive, keep your distance.”

“Not much we can do if he bears down on us that fast,” Susan warns.

“I’ll worry about that.”

An eyeblink later, and Stylist is moving again, breaking left and dashing straight at Marx. He fires, plasma slapped out of the air as you move to catch up. You lunge in to intercept, going for your lance--

“So predictable,” coos Stylist mockingly, catching you mid-charge with one of those ink globs, even while he plunges his blade into the stone. In an eyeblink he’s used his momentum as a fulcrum and swung around on the pole, catching you square in the chest with both feet.

You fairly well fly back, snapfiring another hurricane bomb back at him before your back impacts the wall, hard, shields still flickering from the brutal force of his kick. Flak uses the setup to launch another chaff rocket--toward the ground just between Marx and Stylist, clever--and rings the air with even more shrapnel. Stylist chooses the lesser of the two blasts to evade through, pirouetting amidst the shrapnel, his head-tentacles firing lasers in all directions.

Derby takes one in the shoulder but keeps firing, ignoring the beam slashing through the armor, leaving angry red metal cooling. Marx is the first out with the opening created, refusing to get caught out again. Flak is behind him, with Derby backpedaling, still shooting, and Susan last of all, keeping his rifle up and plasma downrange.

And then, with a dismissive sweep of his stylus, the maverick slings a sizzling line of molten rock out of thin air, spraying from the end of his stylus. The lava arcs high, splashing behind the Berets, blocking their exit.

“No one gets out alive,” Stylist purrs, lofty and unconcerned.

Meanwhile, you look down at the ink coating you, oily and persistent, casting odd glare in the harsh floodlights. Behind you, the massive drill starts to move, droning loudly as it burrows, slow and steady, into the earth.

“Like I said,” he repeats, turning back to face you as the smoke fades from his lance blade. “No one gets out alive. Except me, of course.”

>?
>>
>>556871
Amputating his tentacles with the misericorde seems like a good plan.
>>
>>556871
Getting those tentacles out of the way is probably best. Also changing it up from our normal routine may be a better shot as well, since he seems to have a fairly good grasp of those.

Almost wish we could get some electricity into him with something, he's got a lot of little lightning rods to funnel that into.
>>
>>556871
>THIS IS A KNIFE! Dash at him with our knife then make it longer when we are close to make a sure hit. Aim for a leg or arm, whatever you are more likely to hit
>>
>>556871
Alright. So what do we know. Guy's head is defensive, but it seems to be showing signs of fatigue. If that hunter keeps hitting the red spot, it might create a opening. Second, the ink is deadly and we have not used our fire dash yet. Boil it away. He might not expect it. Use the knowledge of sword fighting we got from Grach and Em. fight dirty, trip up his pole spin with a wire, use quick jerky movements with our electric dash. Kick him, surprise him and keep the pressure on.
>>
>>556871
>Work the tentacles by
>1) pumping any amount of juice into him through them
>2) amputating them if there's an opening
>Hug his ass and keep him off the Broken at all costs
>Break off the misericorde in his ass

Sigh. Fucking cuttlefish.
>>
>>556871

This

>>556964

With a dash of

>>556903

Time to de-smug him a bit.
>>
>>556871
So he can melt and siphon rock into his penlance, or maybe sample mattter and spray it? Either way I'm suddenly worried about any of ththe squad getting stuck by it. Maybe prioritize breaking the pen?
>>
>>556982
Let's remember to not make our knife longer until we are close, that's up the chances of cutting something off the guy. An arm or leg would be best but a tentacle is fine too.

Cathode why are you looking at me like that?
>>
>>556982
If he's still holding onto the geode, I suggest kicking it out of his hand as well or knocking it out. If it's valuable, he'll want to grab it. If not, he'll still be taken aback.

We could also bounce our grenades as well, make a bank shot and aim for the drill and his back. Surprise him that way as well. The base is still hgihball skipper, the bouncy explosive of doom after all.
>>
>Wire spike into the drill controls

If he gives a fuck about the drill he'll have to try and stop Anode.

If he doesn't give a fuck we get free charge.
>>
>>557093
While I'm certainly down with acquiring the geode I'm thinking maybe we want to avoid breaking it. Seems like something it'd be nice to recover... we could always feint at it just to draw his attention and use that. Also bouncing wrenades sounds like a good idea to me, provided we have some left. We can save our lockon hunters for DPS if we have to fight another boss after this guy, though I'm hoping we might be able to come to a peaceful conclusion with Mole/Whoever.
>>
>>557124
ditto
>>
>>557124
Well, if its so damn valuable, he will likely move away from it to protect his target. There is another thing to consider; The drill. If we can position him and aim a proper blast, we could send HIM into the drill and kill him that way.
>>
>>557153
I was under the impression that the drilling tip is embedded in the floor, but I honestly don't know. If we could force him into it that'd be great though (and give Anode something else to talk with a shrink about).
>>
>>556903
Last I checked, the misericorde is a clunky, frail, one-shot-per-mission anti-armor weapon. I am forgetting an upgrade somewhere?
>>
>>557238
Nope, Bokan's just a moron. It can't change length. Just ignore them.
>>
>>557194
The drill is angled down, so our window is pretty tiny on death-by-environment.

That doesn't mean we should ignore it. It would give part of the squad something to mess with while we handle the boss.
>>
>>556871
what's our capacitor sitting at after that impact? Also try to engage with your lance and fire charge.
>>
>>557238
As a hi beam it is only a little fragile the LN is one shot. It is still a high beam and should cut off vulnerable tentacles well based on the games. I could go either way on using our one LN shot with it but the hi beam is wat we need.
>>
>>557263
I guess we could have the berets start going after the drill but I have a feeling that'd just mark them as a target and get them killed which... we would definitely prefer not happen. Still, I agree that if the opportunity to shove Cuttlecreep under the drill's business end arises, we should definitely take it.
>>
>>556871
We came from the factory with a lance, so nominally we should be able to use it. Close to melee and deal with him up close, using coils as needed to trip him up. We need to lay off the grenades, we've already used half our supply.
>>
Oh look, it's a sea monster. If only someone had mentioned that last thread.
>>
>>556871
We haven't FIRE TACKLED anyone in minutes!

Also, dear mhqfriends, I made a deal with Command to do my next storytime if h did the two-parter this weekend, and as he has delivered and life has kept me out of the house and awake too damn long, I'm only about 50% done. I'm gonna polish it up, though, so next quest thread it will be prepackaged and ready to post, no delays. Highlights include base tours, a new teammate, a 'mole in the tunnels' mission way less exciting than this one, and an ally we all know and love. A hardened veteran that's always ready to go.
>>
>>557263
>The drill is angled down
RIGHT INTO LAVA PIPES!
>>
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>>556903
>>556919
>>556964
>>556966
>>556982
>>557270
>>557392
His head is armored to last, but those tentacles are segmented and relatively fragile. You think.

“So, what, are you tunneling into hell to release demons to sell your diet pills?” You ask.

“...What?” Stylist and Derby ask, together.

“Don’t worry about it,” Susan mutters.

“Nevermind. The hell is the drill for?”

“Oh. Oh, I see, are you--” Stylist puts a hand over his mouth in mock-shock. “Are you asking me to grandstand? Oh my goodness, you are. Oh, that is delightful, of course, I’d love to.”

You resist the urge to roll your eyes. Is this guy for real? “You see, there was an aborted survey here, looking for exploitable energen deposits, many years ago. They never found a thing, and so they just picked up and left. Didn’t even clean up after themselves, but really, it was a human firm, what do you expect? So THIS--” he gestures at at the drill behind him, “--Was one of several probes they’d set up and just abandoned once they gave up. It’s going to make the rock here rather unstable for an hour or so.”

“We’re too far down to do any damage by collapsing tunnels,” Susan observes. “What’s that rock you pulled out?”

“Ah-ah,” Stylist tut-tuts. “That would be telling. Speaking of telling--”

He’s already lunging before he’s said the word, leaping and raising his lance high overhead, maybe expecting you to break left or right.

Not this time--you dash forward and activate your burners, tackling into him midleap, registering the surprise on his stupid cuttleface for a glorious microsecond before he twists to the side and skids to a halt, polearm digging a furrow into the ground to slow him. Sure enough, the Saetos jump jets burned clear through the ink, foiling whatever it was that he had planned.

...but you didn’t pick up any charge from that attack. What the hell?

He lunges again, and you dash, engaging the raikousen to blink to the side and fire a grenade at his trajectory. He comes down on the very point of his lance and swivels ‘round again, pogoing off the tip and coming down on you again with an overhead smash. Your lance springs up and catches the blade across its length, flat across, pushing you back with the impact. He smirks at you as those tentacles rise up and rake across your face and chest with blue-white lasers, sending you stumbling back, shields flaring too late to stop them from burning scars up your front. Stylist leaps back from your warding lance sweep, letting the stylus blade rest behind him at the ready.

“Lava’s cooling!” Flak reports in your ear. “Do we stay or do we go?”
>>
>>557509
Before you can muster an answer, the tunnel wall rumbles and shifts, and from a pile of dirt and stone, Disruptor Sabomole reappears.

“I’m here,” he says glumly.

“You really are Johnny-on-the-spot with those observations, aren’t you?” Stylist says. “Well, you know what to do.”

Sabomole looks back and forth between you and the Berets, already warily edging out to get distance from the walls. “I’m sorry,” he says, hefting those massive claws into a ready stance.

>?
>>
Rolled 44 (1d100)

Chances of dying horribly in the next five minutes.
>>
>>557520
>"I'll kill this fish AND all his dumb PHANTOM friends if you don't attack us."
>>
>>557520
>Hey, uh, why not use your bulk for us and help gut this fucking cuttlefish?
>>
>>557520
>"So who and where's the hostage? And do you really think he's going to let them go?"
>>
>So with the total comms blackout nobody will know what's going on here until after the fact

>So how's about you help me gut this cuttlefish and I'll fake my own death for a few hours.
>>
>>557520

"Y'know, we both hate this guy so... want to help get this sushi on a platter?"
>>
>>557520
stay calm and on the defensive. Explain what you've heard from the relay. That he's got someone or something important to Sabomole. That he threatens to destroy or dismantle it. Well, with the way he's planning to possibly turn germany into a volcano with that lava, a lot of innocent people are going to get hurt and this PHANTOM is likely lying through his teeth. I mean come on. Guy is so generically evil he's grandstanding willingly.

Point is, he has no desire to keep his promise, will likely boot you to your death, and that person you care for. However, we want to help. The Rangers already intercepted the signal and are probably going for the hostage. While we can't guarentee it, we WILL do what we can to stop them and help as many as possible.

Please Sabomole, lend us a claw to stop the real enemy and we'll take you peacefully and assist.
>>
>>554759
Interesting wrinkle.

>"What does he have on you? Help us out and I'll get it back."
>>
>>557392
>More Lobster story time
Yeeeessss

>>557620
Backing this
>>
>>557620
Additionally, I worry about what was in that ink. No charge from a tackle is troubling. Either it leaked into and froze our kinetic coils, or Stylist is made of jelly.
>>
>>557562
Adding onto my vote:
>You seriously don't trust this guy to do you right, do you? He's going to kill you and that hostage as soon as you do us in. Or they're already dead and you just don't know it yet.
>>
>>557238
I was talking about the variable length knife you idiot.
>>
>>557701
We don't have a variable length knife, and there is no need for namecalling
>>
>>557701
Uh... we don't have one? Beam sabers in this (including anodes lance) are set-length.
>>
>>557520
Supporting >>557620

>>557701
The only knife we have is the Misericorde. AND IT DOESN'T CHANGE LENGTH!
>>
>>557520

> Put a wedge between these guys. Seems like Stylist's weakness may, in fact, be Sabomole's claws.
>>
>>557730
Then whatever happened to that adjustable low high beam thing? Because I remember us having more than one use junk.
>>
>>557782
>calling the miserocrde junk
>key item in defeating Saetos
>>
>>557782

I vaguely recall that being mentioned as a possibility for upgrading either the lance or the misericorde at some time in the past.

Like, mentioned once.

We didn't pick it. It never came up again, at least not within the story.
>>
>>557804
Honesty did I just hallucinate the adjustable knife that could turn into a saber? Was it just something Em let us borrow for a while, or what?
>>
>>557818
We never had one. Ever. I recommend a slower re-read of the archives.
>>
>>557782
The saber we picked up during the Jagwire op was a standard beam saber which can be converted between low and high with the right tools. We opted to have Em set it to high and applied the ice data we got from Wolfspider.
>>
>>557826
Lo and high have nothign to do with /length/, it's power output. A low-beam is less damaging but can be kept on and is more power effecient. A hi beam is stronger, but drains juice a lot faster, and can only be kept on for shorter periods.
>>
>>557817
We used one at least once. So it must have been something Em let us borrow then.

Basically it was a knife with adjustable intensity and size.
>>
>>557837
Em has a blade which has a pommel guard with a different output to the main blade. Nothing to do with size or interchangeable intensity. We've never used it.

If that's not what you're thinking of, then I have no idea.
>>
>>557837
Pretty sure you're just confused.
>>
>>557835
Yep. I was just pointing out that the only "adjustable" beam saber, the one we dubbed the Misericorde, we've gotten was set to hi-beam and had the ice data applied. We have never had a varible length saber.

>>557837
Nope, Em has only lent us one weapon the fire/sonic flamebard.
>>
>>557868
That must have been it. And it got me confused with the time we played as Em.

Pity, a variable length knife would be fun. Or having Wolverine like claws to give people a shock. Or a Scorpion from Mortal Combat atack only with electric cables.

We really should give another upgrade to our busters, we aren't Em and we could use the firepower.

Also as Em showed when he used it, our Lance rocks, we just suck. We really should put more training time with it. Is basically our main weapon.

So, sabotage or direct attack? Inkblot ninja seems to love his shinnies so atacking the drill controls might eork.
>>
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>>557551
>>557562
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>>557673
“We heard the comms message,” you tell him immediately. Sabomole flinches as if struck. “We can help you.”

“No one can help me,” he says resignedly. This close, you can see the tiredness in his eyes. If he’s been digging constantly--under duress, no less--it makes perfect sense. “They got my crew. Human. Only family I got.”

“They’re not gonna let them live,” you tell him urgently. “They’re mavericks. Their entire agenda is--”

You move a split-second before Stylist puts his blade through your head. “When we need something done, we’re willing to bend,” he says smoothly, emphasizing the motion as he turns the attack into a graceful twirl around the length of his polearm, his almost boneless (urgh) design allowing him to bow his back to look up at you--you realize from Sabomole’s gaze that he can’t see the PHANTOM either.

“And what about when the job is done?” Flak points out heatedly.

Stylist shrugs languidly,. “I don’t know, and I don’t really care. I’m not here for you or the mole. As far as I’m concerned, wiping out five maverick hunters is just a neat little bonus for a job well done.”

“Sabomole,” you start again, “listen--”

Sabomole lunges with a short but furious burst of strength, bringing those claws down like a thunderbolt, and you have to spring back to escape.

“No one knows we’re down here!” You call. “If we take him out, they won’t know!”

“There you go, that’s the way,” Stylist says cheerfully. “Keep him busy while I take care of the children.”

Sabomole looks up at you again, flexing his claws. He’s sturdy. construction built into every inch of him, but you can see that those claws are a recent addition--even with the dings and scratches from moving thousands of tons of earth, they simply don’t match the rest of him, looking like heavy gauntlets fitted--or grafted--onto his arms. They menace with spikes where the rest of his plating is smooth and compact, so as to not snag on anything as he digs. The only exception is his star-nose, ringed with sensors. You wonder if he could be disoriented by a chaff rocket to the face--

And then he goes on the attack.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSGwCvs-qaI

>?
>>
>>558005
Gotta keep the pressure off our team if we want a chaff rocket on Sabomole. Try to play keep away while shooting at Stylist.
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>>558005
>Flak, chaff the fuck out of the mole
>Dance with the fish fuck and try getting him into range of the mole fuck
>Plant the fucker on one of those mole claws one way or another
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>>558041
Seconding. Time to die.
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>>557835
>Lo and high have nothign to do with /length/

In this case it does. In order to turn the stock beam sabre into a hi-blade, the blade had to be shortened since that was the only way for it to get the heat intensity of a hi-blade.
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>>558041
Work a coupla more 'fucks' in there and do this
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>>558041
This. Also screw up the drill somehow since inkblot seems to love it so much.

That Reploid rp you guys are playing, is in a forum? I know the rules are in a forum but I don't know if you are playing it there ).
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>>558005
"Flak! Blackout!"

Focus our own offense on Sabomole's probably-new arms, try to lop them off and end his threat fast. Misericorde, even, if need be.
>>
>>558005
>>558041 Works for me, let's get this fish to the fryer.
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>>558091
That's a blackout versus Stylist, to be clear. Make him visible.
>>
>Stabomole
>>
>>558005
That's a great pic.
Flak hits mole, the rest of the broken tie mole up; We focus on Inkie. Misericorde, /maybe/, if we get a clean opportunity; as mole is officially our target.
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>>558079
Also Em has an adjustable blame that does that as a gimmick. We used it when we played as Emerald hence my confusion since I am terrible with names and thought Anode was the one that had it. Also we honestly suck with our Lance, we should get Em to help to train with it at least two hours everyday.
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>>558146
>Also we honestly suck with our Lance, we should get Em to help to train with it at least two hours everyday.
1) We know
2) In case you didn't notice, we're at fucking war, the odds of the both of us being off-mission and in a state fit to train are gonna be super low for the foreseeable future.
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>>558005
>>?
So, largely, big pciture:
a) We can focus on Sabomole
b) Focus on Inky despite Sabomole
c) Try and play them off each other.

They're really forcing the issue to go down route A, but there's the possibility to do route C. I'm not sure exactly how; but there's enough plot and mindgame peices it's doable.
>>
If we take down inky sabomole will be a hell of a lot more likely to surrender.
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>>558175
"So inkblot, weren't you gloating about how you loved to hear people scream when you torture them? Did Sabamole friends scream just like you wanted?"

Uh... help? Neverse psychology is not my thing.
>>
Just realized, we're in Boss Stage now, so we don't have to worry about ammo reserves as much. We can BLAZE OF DESTRUCTION TIME now.
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>>558192
No. Let's keep our dignity for now.
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>>558237
We lost that ages ago. Back on our first mision to be exact. Playing blind man with a killer does that. Then there was the Liberty Anode incident and then more incidents... and then lately there is certain video online of us acting like an idiot..

What would be the fastest way to kill Inkblot?
>>
>Switch opponents (private comms)

Sabomole is still a civvy with very little combat experience. He'll have a hell of a time dealing with multiple opponents. Also, we can see inky, the bravely broken can't.
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>>558039
>>558041
>>558068
>>558085
>>558091
>>558092
>>558122
“Like hell,” you growl, diving to the side--Sabomole isn’t exactly as graceful as Stylist is. You ping the Beret line again. “Flak, I’ll cover you, I need a rocket on Sabomole.”

“I’ll do my best,” he replies.

You juke around as Sabomole lunges again, this time with a palm-launched bomb that chases you, detonating into a crackling burst of energy--that jumps your capacitors up 15%, while dealing no damage whatsoever. “Wh--” He starts.

“Thanks!” You call, pouring it into the raikousen and coming up on Stylist and his stupid, smug face. He turns to look just in time for you to barrel into him, swinging the lance as hard as you can. He tumbles end-over-end, before righting himself midfall and plunging the lance back into the ground, springboarding back the way he came with it and barreling back down on you. Too late--Sabomole yells in dismay as he’s wreathed in a blinding storm of shrapnel. You don’t dwell on it, instead shooting Stylist as he streaks back in.

You catch him with a hurricane bomb dead-on, and he wobbles off-target, one of those laser tentacles sliced off him halfway down. It was a trade, though--as he approached he fired another globule of ink, spattering you. You try to dash clear as he rolls back to his feet mid-trajectory and sprints at you--

--And your capacitors sputter uselessly, the conduits fouled with ink. You try to dash, but it isn’t enough--you fly across the room with a crash of metal, shields flashing as a bolt of foreign energy sizzles across you, evaporating the ink as it passes. Your capacitors unclear, lightning sputtering wildly from your feet as you topple from the panic-discharge, but you quickly cut the power and haul yourself back up…

...And now, there are holes in the floor. All over the place.

Stylist chuckles from across the way and turns toward the Berets again, with Sabomole stumbling clear, buster fire pouring in on him, warding off as much as he can with his claws blind. To keep protecting the squad, you need to get back in fast.

>Try to sway Sabomole again. He doesn’t want to be here.
>Attack Sabomole. He’s the weaker of the two.
>Attack Stylist. He’s the real threat.
>Other?
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>>558286
>Try to sway Sabomole again. He doesn’t want to be here.
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>>558286
>Attack Stylist. He’s the real threat.
Did our jumpjet recharge? We need to burn the ink again
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>>558286
>Attack Stylist. He’s the real threat.
>Use the lance, then when he focus on it use VWD ammo (pick one?)
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>>558286
>Try to sway Sabomole again. He doesn’t want to be here.
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>>558286
so his ink grounds us... that's why they have him as sabomole's retainer. Well shit.

As long as your team can keep mole busy I say we focus on stylist so...
>Attack Stylist. He’s the real threat.
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>>558286
>Attack Stylist
Saetos dash to lance him.
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>>558286
>Attack Stylist. He’s the real threat.
>>
>>558325
Adding to my previous post:
Tumult shells to block the ink and one wrenade to the drill controls or whatever part of the drill works best
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>>558286
>>Attack Stylist. He’s the real threat.
How many rockets does Flak have?
>Get some words in edgewise with Mole if you can
maybe try to trick him into giving us another boost?
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>>558347
Theory of this being a trap for us confirmed. At least one spy left on the Hunters hypothesis created.
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>>558286
Attack Stylus in a hurry, but yell/banter at Sabomole that we can protect him. We've even done it recently for somebody far more annoying.
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>>558286
>Try to sway Sabomole again. He doesn’t want to be here.
>Attack Stylist. He’s the real threat.
>>
>>558375
This works, also use tumult shells to block the ink attacks. And use a
wrenade on the drill controls to piss of inky.

And India will kill us for not getting any weapon from inkboy, I just know it. Pilots and their dafn love for stealth.
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>>558286
>Attack Stylist. He’s the real threat.
He's the one who holds the reins on Sabomole and his stuff is what dampens our shock. But that works both ways. We can dodge and splash Sabomole while taking his missiles using the wires to move around. Be the big blue target, maybe while talking.

'You know, A thing I've noticed is that unless there is a remote becon, outside commincations aren't possible. Considering the only one around has a charge is you or me, he can't comunicate. Meanwhile, he's probably staying away from those sharp claws of yours. Claws that could cut those arms of his off.'
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>>558286
Start off with Lockon Hunter on Stylist to get him to dodge again.

Use the coil when Stylist slams his lance to change direction. He can't block while he's doing that.
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>>558286
>Attack Stylist. He's the real threat.
>Play Stylist off of Sabomole with bants. Insinuate that the humans are dead. Whatever it takes to get under Sabomole's skin while still fucking with the fish.
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>>558398
This but add tumult shells to block.
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>>558360
I believe Flak has one more rocket but I'm not sure. His max ammo count is 4.
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>>558398
Hmm, appeal to morality? "Would your team want you to help mavericks and destroy cities to keep them safe?"
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>>558398
There's such a thing as hardline communications. He could have a beacon in the tunnel to a line somewhere else.
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>>558453
Yeah. 2 were used already along with a third, but we still have one more.
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>>558459
Unlikely unless it's at a fixed point. Or would be several miles of cable and easy to find by the Hunters. Unless it's the communications that were abandoned in the mine.

Yet another reason to blow up yhe control panel.
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You open up a private line to Sabomole, even as you do a raikousen--the channels cleared just as quickly as they jammed, after the impact. “I’m not letting my team die,” you tell him. “I know you understand.”

“Yeah,” he replies glumly, looking back at you from the corner of his eye as you open fire on Stylist’s back. In response, he seems to suddenly flare with a ring of scintillating, blinding colors, Derby yelling in pain as he catches the corner of it. You stop short before barreling into it, then immediately fire a T. Coil the moment it fades, trying to play for time.

“You can’t save them,” you try. “I’m sorry.”

“I gotta try,” he replies, taking a halfhearted swipe at Marx. “I got to.”

“I hope you’re not talking with the enemy,” Stylist chides, batting the incoming cable away. “After we’ve given you so much.”

Given him--those arms. “Sabomole, they upgraded you?”

“They made me,” he says, torn between defensive and pathetic.

“I took out a mercenary,” you tell him. “They gave her viral mechaniloid support.”

That freezes him cold for a moment. Stylist notices and clucks his tongue, before turning and barreling in on you again, whirling with lasers on the approach.

“They never--” You fire another coil, this one into the ceiling, yanking yourself out of the attack and coming down, lance drawn. “They never were going to let them go.”

Sabomole flinches again, even as Stylist adroitly catches your strike, letting you slide to the side before hooking your foot with the back of his polearm and sweeping you. “If there’s a chance--”

“They were going to make you kill them yourself!” You shout aloud, engaging your jumpjets again at point blank range, sending Stylist tumbling across the ground with you. “...If they aren’t dead already.”

Sabomole stands there, stupefied, ignoring the plasma fire raining across his small back from the Beret team, even as Stylist sighs theatrically and laces you with another coating of the ink. You fire a Hurricane Bomb into him at point blank range, two more tentacles shredding off his face even as the howling winds bite into you as well.

“STOP DOING THAT.” Stylist barks annoyedly as he kicks off your chest, leaving you stuck in your own grenade until you scrabble out, barely avoiding one of the new pits he created--these can’t be real, you realize, something about the ink, as Susan walks straight across one, and Flak launches another rocket--his last? Near your position, just barely catching Stylist again--

The cuttlefish titters amusedly as he casually swipes the ground you’re on, coating it with a layer of frigid rime and causing your footing to slip, just as you gain purchase. He comes down on you again, stylus held high--

--And Sabomole shoulders into him from the side, sending him flying across the room.
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>>558675
The digger pulls you upright with those massive claws, turning to face Stylist as he rises, a rather sour expression on his face.

“Oh,” he huffs. “So that’s how it is.”

“Yeah,” Sabomole mutters, eyes downcast. “Yeah, that’s how it is.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qSvazH7OSE

“What do you need me to do, boss?” he asks softly.

>
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>>558684
Have him use his attacks that energized on us while in range of Stylist or something like that.
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>>558684
>Tell Sabomole to seal off his exits. Stop whatever comms he might try. He doesn't get out of this alive.
let's keep him as much out of the fight as he can. He can give us charge, but we need to get rid of the rest of the ink before electric attacks will work consistently.

>Start off with Lockon Hunter on Stylist to get him to dodge again.

>Use the coil when Stylist slams his lance to change direction. He can't block while he's doing that.
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>>558675
>--And Sabomole shoulders into him from the side, sending him flying across the room.
Best. Boss Fight. Ever
>>
Does Sabomole have a key frequency given to him or something that lets him see Stylist, or is it just the chaff?
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>>558684
Tell Sabomole to feed us electrical attacks when we aren't covered in ink, and otherwise make sure that Stylist doesn't get away. Bear in mind that we're still the only ones who can actually reliably see Stylist, so it'd probably be better to keep Sabomole in more of a supporting role if we can, since, you know, I think we'd like for him to survive this.
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>>558684
>Claws into those tentacles could be useful, even better if they can claw his head off but I wouldn't pretend that'd be easy. Heck, if we could get Stylist thrown into the path of the drill, it'd be a win-win for everyone...

Also, helping us out with some electricity could help us keep the pressure on.
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>>558684
"You know how to stop that drill?"
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>>558684

Lob the electrical attacks and help keep ink-face penned in.

Those electric hand bombs charge us up and might hurt the Cuttlefish. Between Sabomole and our team, they should be able to restrict his movements enough for us to put on the hurt.
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>>558684
>Hit me with as much electricity as you got.
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>>558684
Pressure. The guy is dodgy but he relies on that pen of his. Break up HIS footing, cut a tentacle, split his focus. He fires ink? We fire shields. He moves for one of us, we smack him down. Your missiles charge us up so use them on us.

Pin him, force him to make stupid decisions, punish him for every action and deny him. We should have a few more wrenades. If we can, use that to juggle him into a bad spot. If we can take his pen, we take away his mobility option. Besides, all that shrapnel in the brain makes for some good lightning rods.
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>>558765
Oh, and we should have him get the berets out of here too.
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>>558684

> Charge me up with your electricity, cut off his tentacles if you can, and...we'll deal with that "bos" thing later.
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>>558772
This. Might as well try our damnedest to be the one catching someone off-guard for once.
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>>558773
That works. Him being with the berets makes it less likely that will shot him.
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>>558772
On further consideration, this is better. Press the advantage, even in an unstable room, -then- shut the drill off.
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>>558798
Fuck off Bokan don't agree with me
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>>558867
Then just change your vote for to kill the mole or something like that.

So... who wanna bet inky has a death switch?
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>>558777
“Light me up,” you tell him. “And seal our exits.”

He obliges quickly, electricity washing over you and quickly frying out the ink covering you.

“I’ll warn you if Stylist gets close,” you say, though you don’t expect much issue--as the only one who can actually see the son of a bitch, you don’t doubt he’ll go for you first.

He’s not quipping any more, you note with some dark satisfaction--instead he sweeps his stylus again and coats the already-iced floor around you with spikes. You barely make it clear, disoriented as you are. Sabomole gives you one last jolt and makes for one of the nearest walls, going to close up the tunnel there. You launch another hurricane bomb as you close with Stylist, the Berets firing blind after you.

Stylist runs along the ground, firing lasers back at the Berets as he goes--you fire a tumult shell, pre-empting his ink attack the instant he fires it, and dash clear--a quick switch to T. Coil and you zipline out of reach as he tries to cut you. He plants the blade in the ground and spins around--you fire a coil at it to try to arrest his move, but he saw it coming, blasting the hook out of the air and springing away.

...Away from you, costing you another grenade that you’d sent where you thought he’d be. He comes down on an unsuspecting Sabomole, who tumbles away from the wall with a nasty gouge across his back. You charge after, forcing the surreal vertigo you feel bounding over false pit traps down, and bring your blade down in an overhead swing that he catches easily with his lance.

“Sabomole!” You yell.

He gets the picture, firing a rolling pulse of electricity that washes over the tow of you, jumping your capacitors to 75% as Stylist grimaces, but holds steady, reprising with another blast of lasers in your face--this one cutting through the shields, burning deeper.

“Is that all?” He asks, amused.

You grab him by the wrist as he tries to shift the grapple, and you keep zapping until the capacitor reads 0.

“No,” you pant, feeling the strain of accumulated injury. “No, it’s not.”

He can’t smug that one away, the son of a bitch--his armor almost noticeably darker for having been given the teslafuck express, he shoulderchecks you off him with a grimace and leaps away as Sabomole slashes a nasty hole in one of those ink-launchers from behind.

“Fine, then,” Stylist declares sourly, wiping ink from the damaged tentacle with two fingers, rubbing it with his thumb. “You’re still going to die in the collapse, hunter.” He leaps back as you send a charged shot after him.

“Stop him--” You call.
>>
>>558942
But in a flash, his body shimmering a darker blue, Ink Stylist disappears, leaving nothing but his eyes and a crooked smile. Flak is sent sprawling at one of the entrances, Susan’s blind-fire down the tunnel failing to register any hits.

The drill rumbles again, almost fully disappeared into the earth. “Can we turn that off?” you shout over the din.

“No!” Sabomole calls back. “No way to recall that kinda probe once they send it off!”

A rather distressing shudder runs through the room from bottom to top, a few grains of rock clattering down from the buckling ceiling.

“Then… he’s right,” Susan mutters, resigned. “We’re trapped down here.”

“Beggin’ yer pardon,” Sabomole replies, punching the wall and blasting a huge chunk out of it. “But no, yer not. C’mon.”
>>
And that's the thread! I actually need to get in to work early tomorrow, so now I need to rush and knock out everything that needs doing tonight.

Thanks for reading, and see you all next time.
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>>558954
Thanks for running! Glad to have you back. It looking like you might be able to get back into some sort of schedule?
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>>558948
damn, we should have taken more opportunities to saetos dash him or the puddles.
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>>558961
eheheheh... let's not be overly optimistic.
>>
>Loot the three limbs we cut off him

I'll be damned if we don't have SOME loot from this mission. Bet the boys at the lab will appreciate it.
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>>558954
Good night!

So, should we let this die or someone got stories to tell?

And I still don't know were the hell they are playing that MH rpg, whatever. At least India cannot kill us for not getting inky weapon data since he ran away. Can our systems suport ecolocation? Also we should shield themselves better against hacking this is the third time, counting that G rates bastard, that they mess up with our sences.
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>>558954
>>558995
>Loot the three limbs we cut off him
This. That way we can maybe get counter measures up and running for the inevitable re-fight.
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>>558995
That and the geode if he dropped it. Hopefully he did during the chaos. Want to make him be a whole lot less smug
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>>
I'm lurking here for questions for a bit, insofar as I am able to answer.
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>>559020

Why?
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>>559020
How injured is Sabomole?

Is Anode compatible for a system that can drain energy through a hug attack?
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>>559020
So, over all did we get the 'best end' for the mission? We're probably not going to get much for rescuing Sabomole and intel, but the fact we took on what could be assumed to be a Anode style X hunter probably speaks a lot.
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>>558948
Based Sabomole gonna saved the day
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>>556578
Nah, what happened is the (to us, at least) crap tier lobeam saber got retuned down to a good tier hibeam knife. Permanently in knife form, but if you get the cryo hit in their armor is fucked.
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>>559005
Yeah sure. Hopefully they don't have viruses.

We would have been doomed if we didn't win Sabamole over but overall it all seemed... like we need to do some training with our lance.

We can't always count on just getting a charge so we should improve the use of our primary weapon. Upgrades are good but training is a must.

Also inky will probably have a harder counter for us next time, so let ask for advice. Heck maybe Foxfire can help.

How badly would a date of Em and Foxfire go?
>>
>>559031
Because!

>>559033
Ehh, he'll live. Unless something else happens to him. On an unrelated note where are PHANTOM number one and PHANTOM number two?

I refuse to answer any questions involving hugs.

>>559037
Depends on how you define "best." You didn't kill a blackmailed civilian and you found out about PHANTOM, so that's pretty damn good, right?
>>
So, semiobvious question, I assume it would be hilariously expensive to get OPAL for our berets, but is it feasible to at least get some sort of widget that our OPAL can talk to to feed them tactical overlays or some such?
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>>559037
I think Ink Stylist was actually closer to the Nightmare Police (Bit/Vajurila FF and Byte/Mandarela BB) from X3.
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>>559064
Hadn't thought of that. I'll talk with HC. It might have lag issues since it's running through your own optics, but we'll see.
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>>559064
based anon

>>559076
does Sabomole have authority to shut down the mechaniloids still in the tunnel?
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>>559064
You mean like those backpack coms? Do those even exist in Megaman X?

Overall being paranoid about the mole made us not rush to attack it. So I am happy with this op so far. Will we post an add for a demolition expert or not?
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>>559060
Knowing our luck? Probably screwing with Gibbon and someone else like the bastard bonus bosses they are. Was stylist killable or was he going to port away no matter what?
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>>559118
Theoretically he was killable, but it was extraordinarily unlikely. He was cautious, prepared and had stacked the deck in favor of not dying today.
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>>559138
So a lucky shot with the Misericorde could have done it? Or would he just have escaped even after that?

Also can we even get weapon data from him? At least for India pet project?
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>>559173
1) Keep in mind, he facetanked a fight PLUS 75% Anode capacitor zap and was still at full fighting capability, if visibly injured. Not to mention, the misericorde isn't a one-hit kill, it's an armor piercing tool more than anything.

2) Without DNA data--which he may not even have set to be recoverable--there's no weapons data to create.
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>>559173
Holy fuck Bokan, fucking stop
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>>559209
Are they gonna fill in these tunnels, or just use it for a subway or something?
>>
Bunch of same-posters up in this thread...
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>>559020
Could we have met a PHANTOM agent in one of our previous missions?
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>>559331
I don't think so.
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>>559254
Gonna pour concrete down this hole till it comes out the Neuschwanstein sewers.
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>>559339
Are we guaranteed to meet the other two, or are they secretly teleporting around on the stage select screen where we can't see them?
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>>559339
Any chance Sabomole ends up deployed as part of the Fourth? Manpower is down, and he's got the right skillset for it.
>>
So how upset was Inky getting with sabomole's blatantly halfassed work?
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>>559368
Oh I would expect the other PHANTOMs will turn up in time.

>>559376
Considering he's a civilian, I don't know whether the commanding officer would Gopher that. It's certainly something you could suggest to the unit commander, though.
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>>559436
Well, support and retrieval might be a better option for him. Help with setting up battlefields, breaching, and rescuing trapped civvies.
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>>559436
Eh. We're in a World War scenario, and it's not like Command *isn't* tapping every resource they can. I'm sure we could use someone to help fix up all the shit getting rekt, and if that means he works for a civilian company that's now part of the war effort then that's close enough.

I don't have any real reason to want him in the Fourth. I''m just aware that the guy will probably need something to do with himself when everything here is said and done. We can help set him up with something where he can keep making a difference.
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>>559376
Depends on if he wants to, for starters. He doesn't really seem like the type, but maybe that's just me. Also, being solidly built is only part of being combat-viable.
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>>559490
>it's not like Command *isn't* tapping every resource they can.
they have to balance combat ability and the services that support the soldiers, such as building, infrastructure, manufacture, agricultural, medical, etc. A fighting force without a civilization to support it won't last long.

I like the guy so far, but not everyone wants or needs to be a soldier, or anywhere near military roles.
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>>559491
I'm not thinking he'd see direct combat. Closest would probably be fortifying positions along the front line, but I dunno if he wants that either.

Reconstruction, sure. Fortification anywhere not along the back line, sure.

The Fourth is the occupation force, after all. There will be plenty of occasions where he could come in after we've cleared an area to fix it back up.

With all the myriad ways we fuck things up, it's probably needed.
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>>559525
He'd be good for set up and retrieaval if those claws allow him to find people. Probably would be a god send for Mortarphant and Moloch's battle fields. Setting up bunkers for us to evade mortar shots or rescuing trapped civvies in terror attacks
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>>559543
Being able to tunnel into Mortarphant's position undetected would be fantastic.
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Personally I think Sabomole will want nothing to do with mavericks or maverick hunters after this. Especially since all of his friends are now either mavs or dead.
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>>558954
So are we fighting our way back to the surface next thread, or are we done with this "level"?
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>>559523
I'm thinking more Army Corp of Engineers than Infantry. Infrastructure in a military setting.

>>559543
Helping in those battles would be the best from our standpoint, though it puts him on the front line. I wouldn't push him towards it, but I don't think we can lie and say it wouldn't be super awesome.

Hell, just having him in the Fourth might make the mavs divert resources in those battles to defend against underground attacks. We wouldn't even need him there to do some good then!
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>>559560
Pretty certain his crew was everyone he really and they're all dead. But hey! Revenge can be a powerful motivator. I say we encourage him to put those claws to good use.
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>>559560
Yeah. This is not a decision we make for him; this is a conversation with the civilian we just saved about what they need to keep going.
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>>559638
Agreed on that. We can't force him, but we can open doors and give examples of where he could help.
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>>558087
Yep, the RP is in a forum. Not here, meaning some of the stuff from before was rather out of place on your end.
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Recap updated.

http://pastebin.com/wMtuXJM2
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>>559718
Considering people has basically posted summaries of their roleplaying sesions here before, not really. I mean Cain Labs is basically posting backstory for this quest and Lobster did post a few stories with his chraracters. But the nuclear bear thing was literally summaries of what they roleplayed.

How that went from that to those characters actually apearing in this quest I have no idea.
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>>560537
Oh, I know. More the part where he was roleplaying the interaction with characters from the quest for his own character he would like to play. I give story times when I have time on the feats of my pcs, and are roughly at the same point in time. Hell, I am even borrowing cast and ideas from HC and Cain Labs, but know full well my stuff and theirs will not interact, or at least not routinely. Most I have done is given some of the least seen some screen time, like Dodo and Conda when a couple of my guys went to help out the Fourth in Vienna post Skyjammer.
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>>560746
I agree with Tortoise there is some real overreach i like Bokan's stuff but don't like the use of MHQ mainstays in that stuff.
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>>560032
God's work scarab, god's work.

....wait, so do we black out Sabomole's portrait? Put a gold star instead for not killing him?

>YOU GOT......Disrupter Sabomole!
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>>560795
Well shit. A few show up in Ori's stories, though I'm careful to consult with HC on those matters.
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>>560829
well we put a greyed out foxfire so treat sabmole the same I guess.
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>>560865
....I feel stupid.
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>>560850
Well i knew that because both you and HC have said so but i have been in more than one other quest where people were trying to shew hoen in collaboration without or beyond the the QM was cool with and it was uncool. TLDR I haven't had an issue with Ori.
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>>560850
I set the campaign I run in MHQ-niverse at the time they started, but the only characters from MHQ that it really includes to any degree is easter egg type things and Cobra, since its the 1st.
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Oh, that said, in general any offer I make for a game is open to anyone. Only play by post and not here, unfortunately, but it was the best I could do. So far, got an Oni prison warden, science mushroom, old mangled construction Frankenstein, T-100 shark, racer griffon, and the drunkest hoganmer from 4chan. Though that said, I have slowed down due to job hours increasing at times
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>>561068
Can confirm. I tried really hard to get into Cathode's fencing course but it never panned out.
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>>561556
Granted that was because, more than anything, Jim is a melee freak and can't resist training.
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>>561135

Well the only things about Bokan that I posted that are "canon" are that nice human that died and Bokan went to ger first human funeral. That was left generic enough it could have been anytime after the first game. And her backstory before that.

Her interacting with Cathode and India is fun, but doesn't count. Think of it like omakes of those short at the end of cartoons were characters interact but doesn't count as part of the main story. Mostly is "what ifs" as in "What if India, Cathode and Bokan had a Girls Night Out?" and it snowballed from there.

I mean Anode basically just knows India as a scary girl because he messed up with the Ride Armors. But Cathode didn't do that and Bokan is some highter up secretary and like Cathode isn't in the Fourth, Cathode went to know stuff that her bro hides from her and India just dragged Bokan after the poor girl was forced to take vacations after the Maverick attack and India discovered there was another female pilot in Maverick Hunter Headquarters.

It doesn't count as canon unles Hunter Command say it does.

I mean the problem with Bokan in a RPG is that I would have pick a division, have her kick some butt during the Maverick attack in self defense. Then be forced in a two weeks vacation. She isn't an active rooster Maverick Hunter, her work as data analist is considered too valuable to be sent to the field. She still has a few misions but never solo since she is a B rank with a custom build and in those misions she stayed in the back.

I mean she could be in any division that isn't X zero, first or fourth. She might have interacted with those divisions since she does data analysis. Part of her work would be to put in order the first reports, since they are first responders and their data is invaluable. She would have little to do with Zero due to most of it being classified. She could also oversee the Computer that does the misions match ups since there was sabotage in the past.

And yes she would be the reason Anode keeps getting so many flying types that kick his ass, save for the first one.

Anyway in in what forum are you posting the rpg?
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>>562047
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?415283-Maverick-Hunter-Into-the-Breach
This is the ooc. As for B ranks that are secretaries only, at this point that is very unlikely to be a thing-a B is still a rather strong force requiring excessive amounts of normal soldiers to take down otherwise. Expanding on that further, Rho doesn't seem to be the one that assigns hunts, per se, considering there is a job available in each unit to do just that. Also...well, India IS scary.
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>>562110
Bokan doesn't do the mission asignements, but she verifies the data before is officially logged into the archives. Faulty data is deadly and they recently discovered a lot of missions were being sabotaged, most blatant in the Fourth as Seven got careless. Hence why RHO is being watched. Specially with the whole Maverick virus deal and the last mision were X got a copy of his old armor. That gives some delay to missions but the emergency status declared due to the headquarters invasions requires it.

And then she got forced vacacions after the invasion as a "reward" so she is not doing that job right now.

Bokan ranking is B, but that ranking is outdated. Even with her mobile flying weapon system, aka the bird mechanoids, any B class could take her and win. So by current standards she would be a C due to lack of upgrades.

And Rho makes "suggestions" based on the data, and most commanders end following it. Due to how many Hunters were lost, there isn't time to go every mission personally.

Is basically a future version of 21th century programs that do job selection.

Why make a Hunter do a job a machine can do better and faster?

They also did pay cuts, so really Rho is doing a lot more jobs that the highter ups are willing to admit.
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>>562889
Eh? Look, we may need to take this to private messages on the forum. Make a name and then contact me under Eshkigal, alright? Could probably figure out what you get there more properly and not clutter this up more.
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So what would people here like more, A Megaman Legends Quest or Megaman Classic Quest? I am way more familiar with Classic, but Legends would be a different quest as it would involve exploring, resource management and a totally different quest that just playing a Megaman.
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>>563645
Legends if you intend to make no or passing usage of canon characters, Classic if you intend to use canon characters.
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>>563645
Legends is a bit more open and easier to add a bit of your own flavor to the mix so I recommend that. Think there was one Legends quest way way back on tg that never got finished so it may be nice.

Now to this Quest, we may have to make some tough upgrade choices soon. Funds will likely be low so we may have to stick to basic things like the battery, jumpjets to get our saetospack moving to bigger options, and possibly skip upgrading any weapon that starts to age. Remember; unless the berets are willing to chip in, each Dash system costs 47k and we will likely get from 50k to 70k from this mission.
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>>563745
Hence why I think a team might not be worth it if we wanted max stats. Also very basic dash systems, the first or second gen models, should be cheaper.

Granted they would not be as fast as the up to standard Dash system, but it would give our team an edge and be better than nothing.

We should ask Hunter Command how much the used basic dash systems that no B would be caught death using are worth.

And yeah Legends would be better for what I want, I think I have legends 1 disk somewere but I don't wanna go the trouble to take the old ps1 and the old tv out of storage to play the game.

Might be worth it later, when I get access to a PC with internet conection at home.

So not any time soon.

Maybe Turtle, lobster or nuclear bear could run it? I mean as things are right now I would have to do some research so even if I got Internet at home tomorrow it would take me a while to even start the wuest
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>>563881
Well, a thing we may consider is that our team is also making money from missions. Likely not the same ammount we do, but even a fifth would mean that in two missions they halve the price for their dash systems. Might not be something to worry too much about anyways if we go for Mortarphant, then Yamatoad, since I see the elephant being the worse to bring our team into and Yamatoad's mission seems more like a take over 'clear the site of all enemies' situation so there would be less need for speed.
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>>563881
Not a good story teller and I have games elsewhere to run. Also a job that I am hoping is calming down instead of getting ready to ramp up.
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>>563984
Dash is more a means of dogging and an ability to go more places tool the speed increase is just a side effect.
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>>564477
Yes, but thats less a issue in a military front like Yamatoad once Mortarphant is cleared. For Moloch or Gibbon? Yes. They need speed to assist civvies and avoid sniper fire. But mobility is less an issue for a siege or something that brings the 8th armored to the fray. It's an important thing, but not a 'must have right now' thing considering more pressing issues. Small upgrades and resupply for now.
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>>564505
Think Moloch actually does tie up part of the 8th currently.
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>>564943
No, moloch is taking up the 1st and 3rd, not the 8th. Marine and 8th are being held up by Yamatoad.
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>>564477
Hence the sugestion for going for old models. It would be cheaper and still be an improvement. I mean there isn't much point in paying for decent dash systems if their armor can only take a few hits and then needs to be replaced.

We should ask how much a basic speed improvement costs. If they cannot do a maraton run, our team is as good as dead for any non dungeon/maze misions. And dead in any run away from the falling building missions.

Dash systems are for short bursts of speed, best general speed is more useful in the long run.
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>>565202
What about some variant ideas? I mean, this is the super science future, maybe they have some civilian class tech that can be repurposed. I mean hey, it works for mavs and the hunters traversing their stages, right? If plasma is too expensive, we find an alternative.
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>>557818
we brought back a cheap, civilian grade saber, and with Em's help altered it into a shorter but higher output weapon.

I'm the one who suggested it.

later we used Wolfspider's DNA to give it liquid nitrogen jets that freeze's and weakens the target on impact, but in exchange for making the modded weapon more unstable. We can't safely use it underwater.
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>>565222
>>565310

I don't think we can really do anything with civilian dash systems if those even exist.

But there could be a civilian upgrade for general speed, maybe for faster model reploids.

Yeah that could work. A general speed upgrade instead of Dash systems.

And we really should hire a demolition expert. Put an add for that in the berets forum.

And we should really train with our lance. Better training is better than upgrades for now. We had a ton of upgrades, so we can live without upgrades for a while.

One or two hours a dash with Em beating the crap of us with us using our lance and not.
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>>563984
It might be a good idea to ask them what they are saving money up for also.
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>>565369
They mentioned their pay is shit. This mission will be the best pay they had in ever, even taking into account that the highter ups decided to do pay cuts.

Sadly we just cannot take the team to face anything highter than a C class. And considering one of our first missions, the high ups give shit about teams.
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>>565960
*B class.
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>>565325
Or hell, we look at construction designs like Tunnel Rhino. He literally has specialized wheels on his feet for increasing his speed, what other stuff could we come up with? Better yet, what modular stuff could we find or potentially develop?
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>>567224
I don't think our Team can use that. We need cheap upgrades and not so expensive ways to improve our team.

Does at least everyone agree with the add in the berets forum for a demolition /explosives expert?
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>>567279
>We need cheap upgrades and not so expensive ways to improve our team.
As cruel as it sounds, we also need them to be equipment or otherwise easily transferred so we can replace a Steel Beret without having to shell out for fresh upgrades. They're way less durable than us and are likely to take casualties when (not if) we fuck up.
I'd favor equipment over modular upgrades though, just because "And here's the dead guy's feet, put them on now" would kill the new guy's morale in an instant.
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>>567608
Berets aren't designed to be modular anyway. And if HQ recicled dead hunters some parts would be dirty cheap.
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>>567279
Figured it would be a better suggestion than rocket skates. Although that said, I wonder if Back to the Future 2 style hover boards are a thing and if they could be modified to work with dash systems for effectively modular Beret speed boosters.
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>>567712
Eh, if they exist, they are just expensive toys not fit for combat. I guess we could get them Ride chasers, aka bikes but those only work well in the surface.

A general speed upgrade would be worth it, but we have to find out how much it costs. Also check your pms in the forum.
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>>567933
Seen them, have not had time to respond. Anyway, Ride Chasers are ridiculously expensive, but my point is see what is out there and what is available. Useful VWES data that tends to accelerate the user or offers new mobility patterns in slaved weapons, like our T. Coil, or some stuff a pc suggested that if HC and Cain liked it could be weak combat, high mobility options. Looking into civilian, industrial, and non Beret gear for things that could be redesigned and refitted to military or Beret design. Asking them about what they would pursue, and maybe seeing if one would like to begin training in demolitions before we begin hunting for an expert, if they enriched their DNA. Hell, some of my most used mid bosses are upgraded personnel, had a squad of four where one guy devoted all his systems to better energy output, a teleporter, and a gun with heavy energy draw but effective fully upgraded X buster tier charge, with his companions covering saturation and trapping. Things like that.
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>>568187
Nothing we can do without HC and CL here to say if it's possible anyway.



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