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Waiting by the door like a silent colossus (or the world’s most feudal bouncer) is Templar Madillo, one of your newest unitmates, supposedly an escapee from the Weissritter, and keeper of at least a few secrets.

You follow Gopher outside the Dodo, the dim pre-dawn gloom an adjustment from the warm lighting inside. Cool April air greets you as you look from face to face.

“Did someone die?” You ask warily.

“Not yet,” Gopher replies. “I’m still working on getting you cleared for intel, should be through by this afternoon.”

Templar--the bundle of secrets in question--bows his head in a nod. You glance back at Gopher. “What else?”

He hands you a datapad. “I’m keeping Madillo on standby in case I need to bail you out fast,” he says bluntly. “But he’s not authorized to hunt yet. Support only.”

How in the hell does the organization that pushes 2nd Recon to ‘finish the job since you’re already there’ come up with ‘support only maverick hunter?’ You try not to register the annoyance on your face. “Yes, sir.”

“Try not to need it. Oh, and here.” He slides you a datapad. “Command orders for Mortarphant. Deploy is moving some equipment around while we’re relocating, so we’re giving them a little extra notice on your loadout.”

You glance at the datapad.
Requisition: 4th Overland contingent
Commanding: Captain Anode
Standby: Lieutenant Templar Madillo

Deploy indicates that they can deploy 20 units of space to the combat zone.


Assets:
-Ride Chaser (single): 4x space.
-Reploid infantry (single): Trained Hoganmer with experience commanding mechaniloids. 2x space.
-Drimole W (new, sturdy, digs and capable of some damage): Limit 2, 3x space.
-Spiky (spiked wheel, cheap and plentiful): 1 space.
-Blady (bladed wheel, fast and unpredictable): 1 space.
-Earth Commander (light air harrier): Limit 4, 1 space.
-Walk Blaster (slow mobile cannon, folds compact): 2 per 1 space.
-Crash Roader (sturdy, improved offroad mobility): 2x space.


>Go heavy on the digging ‘loids. They can attack from relative safety and guarantee two of three satellite sites go down.
>Put together a mobile attack force. A light mechanized infantry team could actually do some damage.
>Focus on light, harrying mechaniloids--you need some ablative armor to distract Mortarphant for a volley or two.
>Other?

>>1324329
Patchy in heat? Lewd

>>1324333
>>Go heavy on the digging ‘loids. They can attack from relative safety and guarantee two of three satellite sites go down.
> But get enough mobility that once we've taken them down, we can move in on the remaining targets without being sitting ducks.

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>>1324333
>Go heavy on the digbots.

I get the feeling that anything visible from above in this mission will get shelled hard.

>>1324333
>Go heavy on the digging ‘loids. They can attack from relative safety and guarantee two of three satellite sites go down.

>>1324333
>>Go heavy on the digging ‘loids. They can attack from relative safety and guarantee two of three satellite sites go down.

Sounds like we're gonna want to get as much stuff underground as we can and get ourselves as possibly mobile (and armored to the teeth) as we can be as well.

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>>1324333
>Go heavy on the digging ‘loids. They can attack from relative safety and guarantee two of three satellite sites go down.
Aw man, now I'm excited. This is my first MHQ thread. Fantastic to finally catch one.

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>>1324417
Welcome to the Fourth.

>>1324333
>Go heavy on the digging ‘loids. They can attack from relative safety and guarantee two of three satellite sites go down.

It's baaaaack!

>>1324417
Hope you enjoy your stay.

>>1324333
>Go heavy on the digging ‘loids. They can attack from relative safety and guarantee two of three satellite sites go down.

Gee, I wonder what's going to win? The votes are too close to call right now.

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>>1324502
Quit your sassin', boy.

>>1324333
>>Go heavy on the digging ‘loids. They can attack from relative safety and guarantee two of three satellite sites go down.

Glad to see you round here again.

>>1324333
>Go heavy on the digging ‘loids. They can attack from relative safety and guarantee two of three satellite sites go down.
Artillery Strike The Earth

>>1324333
>Go heavy on the digging ‘loids. They can attack from relative safety and guarantee two of three satellite sites go down.


I'd be joining you more actively but there's Wild left for me to Breathe and we're in session for robots of our own tonight. Good luck getting shelled, kids!

>>1324333
>Go heavy on the digging ‘loids. They can attack from relative safety and guarantee two of three satellite sites go down.

I don't suppose they have a few surplus Bunniloids, while we're at it?

Humiliating as it is to use them, I'd think the jumpy little things would be the most likely to survive artillery fire for a while, even if they accomplish... Jack Shit, overall.

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>>1324348
>>1324374
>>1324376
>>1324417
>>1324553
>>1324581
>>1324626
>>1324662
You decide you need diggers and mobility, first and foremost. The Ride Chaser is a given, as are the Drimoles. That’s half your deployment, right there. You put aside the idea of another officer onsite--Artillery can handle the other half of the command component, and Recon will be in the field--plus, even if a hoganmer CAN use a chaser, that’s a bit too costly to field two operatives.

Putting aside the faintly disquieting mental image of the shielded model trying to survive standing under one of Mortarphant’s shells, you put the rest of your deployment into a mixed bag of fast movers--2 Spiky, 2 Blady, 2 Crash Roaders, and 2 Earth Commanders for a (meager) low-flying air picket. All of them should be able to at least keep on the move, and hopefully stagger out enough on the terrain to have SOMETHING show up in one piece.

All that secured, now you need to figure out your disposition. You duck back in to catch the end of the movie--Madillo parting ways with Gopher for a moment to join you. He’s a good movie-water, mostly by the fact that he says nothing, but given the drunken clamor of the rest of the bar, it serves mostly to make him stand apart from the rest of them. He seems to watch the people more than the screen, contemplative, though you can see an occasional flit to the movie when something catches his interest.

You’re cleaning up and packing your shit a few minutes later, Max seeing out the last of the drunks. Spider is rather neatly stacking glasses in the back, as Firefly ports entire tables in either hand, returning the furnishings to their places.

You’ve got a few minutes to see (or call) someone before you deploy, if you’re so inclined. Or you could get a start on your new home.
>Go to the new barracks. Meet some new neighbors.
>Call or meet someone (specify?). Max, Flares, Spider, and Templar are all present.
>You can’t shake the pre-mission jitters, go get the last leg of your deployment nailed down.
>Other?

>>1324686
>Go to the new barracks. Meet some new neighbors.

>>1324686
>Go to the new barracks. Meet some new neighbors.

>>1324686
>Call Cath is she's fixed, give her the birthday present already
>Barracks if she's not available

>>1324686
>>Go to the new barracks. Meet some new neighbors.
fresh blood to prank. It's april fools, right?

>>1324686
>Go to the new barracks. Meet some new neighbors.
We might not be socializing here, but at least we're going to socialize elsewhere. So we're not totally turning into Em and Schwarz

>>1324686
I'd talk to Flares before we leave, seeing as how she's probably had to be up on her anti-artillery tech more then most.

>>1324774
I wouldn't mind doing that before heading to the barracks.

>>1324774
Good point, seconding this before we go.

>>1324804
Good idea.

>>1324686
Seconding >>1324774 and then barracks.

>>1324686
>Call your damn sister, it's been like three years.

Maybe we should have a talk with Flares before we leave.

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>>1324689
>>1324701
>>1324702
>>1324703
>>1324717
>>1324774
>>1324785
>>1324804
>>1324807
>>1324864
>>1325207
You head over to Flares as she sets down a whole stack of chairs against the far wall, helping close up shop for… however long Max needs to clean it up before the returning morning crowd.

“What’s up?” She asks, seeing you beeline (heh) for her.

“I’m going after Mortarphant in just a few,” you tell her. “Shellephant sends her regards, by the way.”

She nods. “How’s she doing?”

You snort darkly. “She’s ahead of the game, put it that way.”

She laughs a little at that. “So they went ahead and did it, huh? They were saying they might.”

You nod. “Anyway, I figured I’d ask the pro. Any tips?”

“Obviously, I’m more used to flying over the shells than standing under them,” Flares observes. “You’re going to have to spend a little time getting used to what she’s firing at you before you know how to deal with it, but…”

“We’ve got decent intel on what shells she uses?”

She stands up straight, stretching her arms overhead before she runs her hand over her raised visor. “Sort of, because she uses all of them. The most common things you’re going to run into are HE and AP, she has some ground-penetrating material, thermals… fuzing, most of her saturation-fire is going to be detonating on impact.”

“I might be able to knock some of the stuff directly overhead out early, then,” you muse. “But we know she’s got the range of the entire theater.”

Flares sucks her lip for a moment. “Then you should watch out for airburst shells and timed fuzing. Those are just going to detonate in the air over or around you. She can saturate an entire area with cluster munitions, but those aren’t going to hurt anywhere near as bad as a direct hit with AP. She’s built to take down high-grade armor.” Like yours. Great. “Your best bet for the pinpoint stuff is staying on the move, but she’ll know that, too. Any cover?”

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>>1325507
“Some--I think. And maybe the option to create some.”

“Obviously, you don’t want to get bogged down, but you may not have a choice. Ground approach?”

“No other option,” you say cheerfully.

“Ride chaser?”

“Good guess.”

“Professional’s opinion--while that thing is running, you don’t stop gunning it.”

You nod. “So all her weapons can’t be dumbfire, can they?”

Flares shakes her head. “The guided stuff will be slower to fire. She’s got IR sensors and trackers that will direct it in transit--those systems aren’t really hardened, because they rarely need to be. You might be able to spoof them.”

“Think a little EM field in the atmosphere might screw them up?”

“It might. She’s up on the mesa, yeah?”

“Right.”

“Then all her shots are going to have lead and fall time. You might actually stand a chance at clearing the envelope. Mostly,” she adds.

You DO have OPAL, you realize--it probably can’t catch anything unguided, but it might be able to give you advance warning on the nastier stuff.

>You want to come with me to the barracks? I was going to see the sights first.
>You’ve already taken a bit too long--you should go figure out your force deployments.
>Other?

>>1325515
>You want to come with me to the barracks? I was going to see the sights first.

We should still have a little time left... if not, head straight on back.

>>1325515
>>You want to come with me to the barracks? I was going to see the sights first.
Veeeery quickly. Double-time it, don't spend too long there.

>>1325515
>You want to come with me to the barracks? I was going to see the sights first.

>>1325515
>You’ve already taken a bit too long--you should go figure out your force deployments.

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>You’ve already taken a bit too long--you should go figure out your force deployments.

>You’ve already taken a bit too long--you should go figure out your force deployments.

>>1325515
>You’ve already taken a bit too long--you should go figure out your force deployments.

>>1325515

>Running at the same time as Audit Quest? Whatever if Anode dies he dies. He is not a cute slime princess.

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>>1325973
You COULD always get that upgrade...

How rude of me not to make my presence known sooner. Greetings all.

>>1325986
I'd like a cost rundown to make Anode a cute slime princess, please and thank you.

>>1325986
>evaporated by Wren blades
>Buried by sabomole
>exploded into a fine mist by mortarphant
....at least we'd be geared to fight Ink Stylist.

>>1326036
>sucked up into evil cuttlefish's magic pen.

You'd be whatnow

>>1326078
didn't you know that was exactly the plan?

>Now that we're so close, he can't resist the cuteness! ~~~CARE BARE STARE~~~

>>1326078
The fool! He'd never be able to write without our permission again!
It might seem trivial at first, but come the holiday season he'd be sending UNSIGNED CARDS. Muwahahahaha!

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>>1326023
>>1326036
>>1326078
>>1326097
>>1326216
>>>1326078

Y'all need Light.

>>1326223
Is there a problem, Hunter?

Am I being detained?

>>1326223
Light abandoned us long ago.

>>1325986

I think changing Anode into a Slime Princess would cost more money than we have Anode waste since the Quest started. I mean yellow Devil tech has not been used in a while, and we would nee research and...

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>>1326331
There was sort of a lapse in that technology, wasn't there? Did the secrets of it die with Wily? When were they rediscovered? There's those elemental glob robots in Command Mission but those have skeletons, so do they even count?

>>1326423
I always figured it was just NANOMACHINES, SON and the collective desire of everyone to not be turned into yellow goo

>>1326423
Despite the slime princess nonsense, I am actually curious about where Yellow Devil fits into this universe. I guess this would be a Cain Labs sort of question.

>>1325515
>You’ve already taken a bit too long--you should go figure out your force deployments.

>>1326078
This is gonna be the subject of the next disturbing fanfic, isn't it?

>>1326423
>Did the secrets of it die with Wily?
The UN did only recently start making giant robot dragons, whereas Wily already had one by game 2.

>>1325515
>You’ve already taken a bit too long--you should go figure out your force deployments.
Let's get this show on the road.

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Right, gonna go pass out and try to get crackin' early. I'll be running slow burn for... well, however long this takes, this is our first mission on the all-week-long schedule. With luck I won't be here til doomsday.

>>1326451

There is at least one more color for the Devils.

>>1326732
At least a Green and Silver, yeah.

>>1325986
Just so we're clear, this isn't ACTUALLY somewhere in the archives for me to add to the titanpad purchase list, RIGHT!?

>>1327029
Wouldn't it just be an endo purchase?

>>1327513
not if you got some doohickeys to get electric current to travel through the slime

>>1327029
This is not in the archives. At least, not yet, but you never know with this crowd. That said, considering Toxic Seahorse can become goo, there may actually be the tech for this out there.

>>1326920
So, uh, metallic lime-green goo

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Morning, folks. Going to get a morning post out and then hit the gym.

>>1325674
>>1325789
>>1325870
>>1325950
>>1326505
>>1326628
Right, there’s no sense putting it off any longer. “Right, thanks, Flares,” you say. “I’m gonna go get this over with.”

“Safe travels,” she replies.

You make your way to the Command room--for the last time, you think, before the entire thing gets moved--and settle into a seat, punching up the mission data.

You’ve got a ride chaser, two Drimole-Ws, a small convoy of 6 fast-movers, and two Earth Commanders. The mechaniloids won’t be able to keep up with the chaser, but they can be tasked to any objective based on timing--the trick is avoiding detection as long as possible.

The maverick force has firing solutions ready for the entire theater, but still needs observation--long-range reconnaissance and satellite imaging suggest they have drone patrols, and likely a few response teams. If you’re fast, you can delay detection, but staying on the surface, it’s inevitable. You could also leave the team in reserve at the 15th’s staging ground, and send them in response where needed. There would be a delay, but it would keep your cover and preserve your force for a timely distraction or counterstrike.

Sabomole has been placed, you’re notified, and is already on-mission with his Recon escort, one Warrant Officer Compass. His orders are to dig a path to the furthest of the three satellite positions, leaving it nearly-but-not complete. The tunnel team will then double back and move on the next-nearest artillery base. Ideally, they will strike with good timing on your own assault on the third base.

Choose one from each set of options:
Option 1:
>Send the Drimoles to support the dig team. They can hole up at the end of the tunnel to breach when you’re ready to hit it.
>Task the Drimoles on digging secondary tunnels--they’ll be small and won’t get far, but they could be cover in a pinch.
Option 2:
>Send your mechaniloid convoy out as an early distraction. They won’t last long, but they’ll keep the heat off.
>Reserve the convoy until you have an objective to task them on.
>Deploy with the convoy. With leadership and burning down observer drones, they should be able to make it much further undetected.
>Other?

>>1328215
>Send the Drimoles to support the dig team. They can hole up at the end of the tunnel to breach when you’re ready to hit it.
>Reserve the convoy until you have an objective to task them on.

>>1328215
>Send the Drimoles to support the dig team. They can hole up at the end of the tunnel to breach when you’re ready to hit it.

>Deploy with the convoy. With leadership and burning down observer drones, they should be able to make it much further undetected.

We need to stop and think of what disastrous shit the Mavs have planned. Crap like "Mole is secretly collapsing shit" or "Wren has a support team hidden away to get her up to snuff" or "Saetos is not only a higher rank but has huge reserves in multiple spots we don't know about including the tunnelers".

Like, what if they have conventional ground forces they're deliberately going to sacrifice to hold us down til Mortarphant fires danger close? What if they have something or someone to jam our comms to ruin our coordination? etc

>>1328215
>Send the Drimoles to support the dig team. They can hole up at the end of the tunnel to breach when you’re ready to hit it.

>Reserve the convoy until you have an objective to task them on.

>>1328215
>Send the Drimoles to support the dig team. They can hole up at the end of the tunnel to breach when you’re ready to hit it.
>>Deploy with the convoy. With leadership and burning down observer drones, they should be able to make it much further undetected.

>>1328221
Seconding this.

>>1328231
>"Mole is secretly collapsing shit"
That, uh, wasn't secret. Him collapsing shit was literally the reason we were there. He was actively being sloppy enough to give advance warning so he wouldn't kill anyone.

>>1328231
We're not too pressed for timing. The critical point is Sabomole moving to the other base after digging the first tunnel, everything else doesn't necessarily have to go off at the same time. It would be BETTER, but I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it.

What if the payload DOES change? What if it switches to exploit our elemental weakness?

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>>1328260
>What if the payload DOES change? What if it switches to exploit our elemental weakness?

So, birdshot?

>>1328266
I don't think we're part bird.

I meant more like suddenly getting freeze rockets as opposed to regular ones.

>>1328215
Option 1: Send the Drimoles to support the dig team.
Option 2: Reserve the convoy.

>>1328215
>Send the Drimoles to support the dig team. They can hole up at the end of the tunnel to breach when you’re ready to hit it.

>Reserve the convoy until you have an objective to task them on.

>>1328270
Neither of them are approaching in doom bird form, so it likely would be fine. Unless PHANTOM support here ends up being a snow owl or something. Then pray to your cold, uncaring gods.

>>1328472
Did somebody call for a cold, uncaring god?

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>>1328511

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>>1328511

>>1328215
>Send the Drimoles to support the dig team. They can hole up at the end of the tunnel to breach when you’re ready to hit it.
>Other. Could we split the convoy in half; half in reserve until we have a task and half with us if we need them to do a quick deployment?

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>>1328218
>>1328234
>>1328246
>>1328324
>>1328341
All of this hinges on doing as much as you can before you’re caught. You know the mavericks love their multi-pronged surprise attacks, so there’s no sense adding another variable until needed--the land strike team can chill with Artillery until the time comes. At the same time, you relay an order for the Drimoles to be sent to link up with Sabomole underground--they can task them to something, or speed up digging in a pinch.

Not for the first time, you wish Schwarz was here. But like he told you what feels like ages ago--most of stealth is not being where they look. All you have to do is somehow be a goddamn ninja on the back of a ride chaser.

There’s no getting it to you out in the field, no way to airdrop it. So you’re going to have to ride it in. Assuming everything else is lining up, you’ll be in transit before the tunnel team hits the second site, if you’re to stand any chance of hitting them at the same time.

...You could, however, opt to keep it powered down and walk it in through that defile, staying low-profile as long as possible. At the same time, going fast forces the maverick gunnery to focus their attentions on you, or accept the loss of one of the satellites when you get there. And if you can knock out those observers fast enough, maybe their shooting will be playing catch-up as you outstrip the last reported locations. Plus, you can’t help but feel a niggling doubt about how slow your response time will be if any wheel on this particular cart falls off.

You frown, weighing the options.
>Take the defile on foot, walking the bike with you.
>Go in with the engine blazing.

>>1328674
>Go in with the engine blazing.

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>>1328674
>Go in with the engine blazing.
Sometimes the simplest option really is the best.

>>1328674
>Go in with the engine blazing.

>>1328674
I think Firefly's opinion was to put the pedal to the metal, yeah? That's probably what we should do.

>>1328674
>420 blaze it

>>1328674
>>Go in with the engine blazing.

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>>1328674
>Go in with the engine blazing.

>>1328674
>Go in with the engine blazing.

We're Anode.

>Pop a wheelie as you go in

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>>1328682
>>1328685
>>1328687
>>1328689
>>1328690
>>1328702
>>1328721
>>1328795
>>1328897
It’s morning in Algeria.

You step off the pad to find your chaser’s engine growling, a 10-Plate turning the handlebars and giving you a salute as you walk past. Ukumari is already on-site, directing the setup of several emplacements.

“As little adjustment as possible,” she calls. “We want fast solutions, not perfect ones.“ She turns and nods to you. “Captain.”

“What’s the word?”

“Nothing yet--we’re using the haze to set up a little closer than we could get away with otherwise.” She gestures with a claw over the horizon, where, sure enough, the air is thick with dust and fog.

“Smoke,” she explains. “Mortarphant’s been busy.”

“The fireworks started yet?” You ask. The ground isn’t shaking and the air isn’t whistling, yet.

“Nothing. The Drimoles were sent after the dig team. Compass grumbled a bit, but he has them following a few hundred yards behind them. They’ll probably park them at the entrance to breach the first tunnel on your go, unless you say otherwise. By the way, this is for you.”

Ukumari hands you what looks like a slender silver pole with a disc on the end--you can’t help but smirk wryly at the hastily-scratched-on doodle of your face at the center of a ringed bullseye.

“Attractor,” she explains. “Call for a jolt and it will find you. Remember, though, once I go loud, you get one, maybe two volleys tops.”

“What have you got on standby?” you ask.

“Myself, Earth Commanders for some close spotting, my unit will be operating Muzzle Crash artillery. We’ve seen the enemy has the same from some of the shell patterns in the terrain, but we doubt they’re as current as our own. I’ve got Cannon Drivers for the front.”

>Further questions?

>>1329078
Hazy... It might make it hard for us to detect incoming obstacles on our chaser, but it'll work to help screen our approach, too. Do we want to rethink our blitzkrieg approach?

No questions here. Let's burn rubber. Or whatever you burn on a ride chaser.

>>1329078
>Go fast, hard and try not to die; pretty much the normal model. Might try to see if OPAL will give us a bit of headway if we get into too much of the dust but I think at this point, there's not much more we can honestly prepare for without losing some extra time and energy.

>>1329078
Er, HC, I think you may have forgot about our VWES loadout? Usually that's part of our last minute preparations, even if we tend to settle on the same loadout most of the time.

I'm bringing it up because I think the Tumult Shell would be extremely useful this time around, either to block a single shot of something from Mortarphant, or to advance on mechaniloids trying to pin us down so she can get a shot off.

We almost never use it; it could use some airing out, for a change.

>>1329078
We have been to France recently. Algeria and France have a fairly fraught relationship. Will the fact we smell vaguely of baguettes and self-importance be a problem for the locals?

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>>1329177
Dammit, so I did.
Choose one to NOT take:

[ ] Tumult Shell
[ ] Tension Coil
[ ] Hurricane Bomb
[ ] Lockon Hunter
[ ] Blackout Rocket

>>1329177

This makes me think of a question.

Tumult Shells travel slow.

Do they speed up if we're going fast? Like, will a dash shot be faster than a normal shot? If we shoot a shot ahead of us on the ride chaser, will we crash into it?

>>1329193

Ooh, neat. I get a cool color for my ID.

>Hurricane Bomb

Maybe leave the heavy firepower behind this time? I mean, T. Coil is a solid mobility option, L. Hunter might help us skirmish at a distance, T. Shell may buy us one more hit, and B. Rockets might interfere with firing data.

>>1329193
>[X] Lockon Hunter
Useful workhorse as it is, we absolutely can't get into a sniper duel with an artillery maverick zeroing in on us.

Flak and Hurricane bombs to kill mechaniloids and mess up Mortarphant once we get to her, Coil and Shell for mobility and safety. Hopefully.

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>>1329193
First instinct is to leave the coils.

>>1329221
T. Coil is usually good for mobility it there's something to attach it to.

>>1329193
>[ ] Lockon Hunter
everything banks on getting through that firing range

[X] Lockon Hunter
Yeah, every option we have might be useful, but in this situation? This is the least.

>>1329193
The mobility from the coils could be nice, but I'm not sure how much mobility we'll get from them given the terrain. Still not entirely convinced we should leave them.

>>1329199
Pretty sure I remember this being answered before (...years ago...? WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE USED THEM?! AAAHH!). Shells travel at a set speed, no matter our velocity. That said, their speed IS roughly our standard running speed, so they're not slow and plodding, either. We just tend to bounce around so much that they rarely factor in to Anode's usual combat style.

Poor tumult shells. We hardly know ye.

>>1329274

...so firing tumult shells forward while on a ride chaser is probably a bad idea unless we angle it upwards or jump over it?

Huh... could we ramp off of one? Actually, I think this question was answered before too, but I can't remember what it was...

>>1329199
>>1329284
>>1329274
Yes, T. Shells will travel slow, but you're not gonna plow into one unless you shoot to do so on purpose.

>>1329193
>[X] Lockon Hunter
I think for this, it's probably the best to leave behind? It's normally quite useful, but for the moment, it's not the best for the situation.

Lockon Hunter might be useful for remote disabling of observers. I'd rather leave the shells behind, frankly.

>>1329193
>[x] Tension Coil

>>1329304
To expound on this, both Lockon Hunter and Blackout Rocket are both solid ranged options against distant observer targets and incoming fire.

Tension Coil can, if we (god forbid) get unhorsed, be used in combo with our other mobility options to maintain a limited sort of speed.

Hurricane Bomb is just OP as fuck.

Tumult Shells are good for incoming fire, but I sincerely doubt they're "incoming artillery fire" good.

>>1329193
Tumult shells

>>1329322
hmm. Good point. Changing my vote from this >>1329243 to [X] Tumult Shell.

Also, as a side note, we probably should put some money into those to make them go faster. Like, not Ride Chaser fast, but maybe just regular, unaugmented dash speed?

>>1329193

[X] Tumult Shells

>>1329193
damn, I forgot about the observers. Still, tumult shells have some use if we juke and do zigzags.

Do blackout rockets travel faster than tumult shells?

>>1329193
>[X] Lockon Hunter

>>1329359
Yes.

>>1329193
>[X] Lockon Hunter
If only because the scenarios I see needing it are only slightly less likely then the other weapons'

Not happy giving up our longest ranged weapon, but there's no obvious bad weapon for this mission.

If we don't have the X2 Opening Stage theme playing while we're going full GBD, I will be rather cross.

>>1329193
change >>1329235

to
>Tumult Shells

What was the max range and projectile speed on the hurricane bomb again? I'm thinking that this S-rank artillery specialist might be resistant to our shrapnel bombs, if that's the case then it'll probably be most useful on the approach. If it lacks range and projectile speed then we might be better off leaving it behind.

>>1324329
I'm going to vote to drop the Hurricane Bombs.

If the Opal can give enough warning we might be able to intercept munitions with Tumult Shells, Lockon Hunters and Blackout Rockets.

Using the Tension Coils we likely can make sudden higher speed turns.

>>1329434
They are basically grenades.

>>1329524
>>1329529
You've got me convinced.

>>1329193
Changing >>1329364 to [X] Hurricane Bomb.

>>1329529
>>1329607
For additional context, they're grenades, but they do not lob. This is closer to grenade launcher than softball pitch.

>>1329524
>>1329529
Again, good point. Changing >>1329349 to [X] Hurricane Bomb.

>>1329322
Tumult shells might be able to detonate contact

>>1329653
Also true! I still think we should find a way to make them faster after this mission, though.

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>>1329664
We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. The Tumult Shell accomplishes what it was designed to do very well. it's good in confined quarters, for example; coasting down a corridor to clear plasma is probably its optimal use.

Different tools have different uses. Maybe we could see about an option to "hold" the shot and use it as an umbrella in the future; I forget what the rules on modifying old weapons data is now.

>>1329750
Fair. Really it was just more of an afterthought along the lines of "What-If HC & Cain Labs have us run in a straight line through an artillery bombardment again" than anything else.

>>1329193

>Tumult Shells

I don't really buy that they're going to stop oncoming shells and those are our primary worry with this deployment. I'd almost say Lockon Hunters but they could be used to down observer drones, probably more effectively than any of our other kit, so I'd say should stay.

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So if I've mathed it right, it looks like there's 4 votes each for leaving Hurricane Bomb and Tumult Shell behind.

I'll do you a final kindness, since I don't think I'll have time for a proper post by the end of the night.

Hurricane Bomb is superlatively powerful, and has Wren's gruesome capability to tear through armor intact.

Tumult Shell, meanwhile, couldn't ablate the entire impact of a bomb, but it could act as the surface upon which an impact fuze goes off.

On that note, I'm probably going to try to turn in a little early, new schedule changes have left me a little bit wiped--hence why we're so slow two days in.

I'm planning to run thread(s) until Mortarphant's segment is done, posting at least once a night if I can. Suffice to say we're not letting up until the mission is over, so no fear about another long delay before we get to the action.

As always, thank you for reading, and have a good night.

Final vote will be a tiebreaker for leaving behind one of the following:
>Tumult Shell
>Hurricane Bomb

>>1330183
Tumult shell

>>1330183
Hurricane Bomb

>>1330183
Tumult shell don't wanna fight on the off chance one of our limited shots will set off an artillery shell and we also happen to be out of range even though they move slow. Not to mention tossing a wrenade into a forward command bunker would be a very final way of dealing with the issue.

>>1330183
Tumult Shell

>>1330183

>Tumult Shell

There is no good reason to leave behind our heaviest hitting weapon when we know for a fact that our enemy is highly armored. Also even if we manage to stop a guided shell a tumult, we're likely to still get caught in the shock wave. If a crutch might impale you, it's better not to walk with it.

>>1330228
*stop a guided shell with a tumult
Sorry, apparently I can't words right now.

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>>1330183
Leave behind the Tumult Shell.

If one of Mortarphant's specials ever heads straight for us, the way to survive it will be to GTFO, not set it off early.

>>1330183
>Tumult Shell

I may have been the one to suggest shells in the first place, but I definitely don't rate them over Wrenades.

They both answer the same concern I had, anyway: "What's the best option for advancing on a group of entrenched mechaniloids shooting at me?"

>>1330405
That's the thing though, we might be trying to avoid those bigass airburst explosions. Tumult shell might save us from a bunch of little explosions rather than 1 big one. Course, the enemy could always switch..

>Guys, let's leave behind the thing that will knock impact-detonated ordinance out before it hits me!
Are we literally retarded?

>>1330944
No, we're the most mobile hunter in the 4th, and possibly the whole force. Our whole shtick is not being in the way of the incoming shell.

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>>1330944
Its a slow moving projectile that will not stop the thing from exploding around it, and at best will cause a premature detonation. Which if we are anywhere near enough to be firing the thing, we will likely be caught in the blast anyway.

>>1330944
>>1330981
>>1330985
Not to mention that it's possible some of her ordinance will just straight up pop the shell like it's nothing.

>>1331013
Yeah if she shoots anything AP at us the shell isn't gonna do jack.

>>1330183
>Tumult Shell

>>1331049
Those we might be able to sniper with Lockon Hunters.

Mortarphant has been classes as a B when in melee range. The hard part will be getting to her not taking her out.

>>1331371
Presuming she doesn't pull a Bloodhound and have a melee buddy as support. This could well be a two boss hunt, after all.

>>1331371
Calling it now, she's sawn off all her guns so she can lay down point-blank shellings.

>>1331423
>sawn-off artillery
not sure if I should be scared, upset, or aroused

>>1331395
inb4 Squilliam Fancyson shows up again

>>1330183

>Hurricane Bomb

>>1331049

It would bait her into using AP more often. I bet AP is a hell of a lot easier to dodge than a cluster bomb. The more predictable she is, the better our odds.

>>1330405

Setting it off early helps us GTFO faster, relatively speaking. It means we're further away from the bomb when it goes off. Remember, all her shots will have a lead and fall time. That means it's going to be easier for us to predict where they're going to land.

In other words, we're not using the shield to block, we're using it to help us dodge in a roundabout way.

>>1331371

Fair point with the lockons. I'd say an AP shell would be hell to hit but that's why we have OPAL.

Wasn't aware of her melee ranking but also I don't trust a B to behave like a B and just die nice and easy. The past has taught me that much.

>>1331427
Why not all the above?

>>1331600

Yeah, no kidding. B is for Bad News.

I mean, weren't *we* a B at one point?

Also the main character of this franchise is B-rank as well. Just in case anyone forgot.

That's a pretty good rule of thumb. If the maverick is B-ranked, we should go in expecting to fight X.

Reposting the mission select info in case I'm not the only one who needed a refresher:

Barrage Mortarphant (A-class)
Known weaponry: Blaster Shell, Command Strike. Mortarphant is built for command and control of multiple mechaniloid assets, and designed around long-range bombardment. WARNING: Mortarphant's extreme-range weapon approaches S-graded armament, offset by her near-total lack of close-range options--the most danger will be in the approach.
A former 15th Artillery officer, Mortarphant has gone violently and sadistically maverick, still operating out of the remains of a 15th remote base, situated on a mesa in Algeria, overlooking a shelled-out town in a valley. Mortarphant's long-range capabilities are terrifying--the relative shelter of the valley is the only available approach, with wide fields of interdictor fields preventing close-in insertion. Mortarphant is a high strategic priority--she is both providing artillery fire for multiple maverick operations in the region, as well as sidelining several loyal hunter assets due to the threat of being a potential infection vector for her interlinked sister units.
Available support: 15th Artillery is unable to mass counterbattery fire against the superior position and gunnery of Mortarphant, but has requested the assigned hunter seek their counsel before engaging.


>>1330183
>Hurricane Bomb
Remember we can also try shooting shells backwards to maybe take the brunt of an explosion we didn't manage to outrun.

>>1331841
We were never a B, but good point.

It was mentioned in an earlier thread that Mortarphant could and likely would possibly arrange danger-close artillery strikes on her position if given the chance, but as long as the satellite bases get taken out we shouldn't have to worry too much about that. Which isn't to say we shouldn't watch out for any nasty surprises, but the biggest danger is in the approach.

>>1331857
Nicely summarized. Now to turn theory into practice and survive the mission.

>>1331841
We were rated an A from day one. We are in literal "one-man army" territory.

>>1331857
Correct. Mortarphant is unafraid of shelling herself.

>>1331857
Also she doesn't seem to be entirely in her right mind and easily provoked, so I'd expect desperation moves like... Cooking off all of the ammo in her body or firing into a magazine or something instead of an elaborate trap or anything. Mines were mentioned as a thing closer to the mesa, I think.

>>1330183
>Tumult Shell
Hurricane Bombs are our strongest weapon. It's the only thing I wouldn't even consider dropping.

>leave hurricane bomb

>Tumult Shell

We have no idea if she's had Saetos-level upgrades done for melee or if she has a squidguy or something. Offensive punch is great.

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>>1331428
I need to go to work, but I want you to know that was the funniest goddamn thing.

>>1328257
Sorry, I'm retarded.

Mole wasn't the Maverick we had to fight was the twist there.

>>1330183

>Tumult Shell

At the level of firepower she has, we would waste all our load just stopping a shot. She won't use the heavier stuff over herself because those are meant to destroy reinforced buildings and she is not that shielded.

Hurricane has the chance to catch some of her shells and make them explode in her face, right?

>>1332683
>Hurricane has the chance to catch some of her shells and make them explode in her face, right?

Nope. The Hurricane Bombs are timed grenades. The Tumult Shells are more likely to trigger impact fuses.

>>1332774
still not worth it. If there are unknown threats backing up or in addition to Mortarphant, who is a powerful asset in addition to Mavericks loving their "multi-pronged attacks", we want to be able to push through quickly and not leave them behind us or destroy them outright.

While tumult shell might be useful in a very specific situation we really never want to happen, there is still a good chance it won't help at all. More killing power against groups or individuals never hurt us before, especially since swift killing power is one of the things we lack.

blackout is fairly likely to trigger premature contact, honestly. After all, it's got like a bajillion solid knives

>>1332913
not only that, but it should also fuck up her guided munitions too since that's their main function. the razor flak cloud is just an added bonus.

>>1332913
Mind that it's dumbfire and we don't really know how long it'll travel before detonating if it doesn't hit anything. If push comes to shove, we might have to shoot it ourselves to trigger the flak cloud.

>>1332888
>While tumult shell might be useful in a very specific situation we really never want to happen, there is still a good chance it won't help at all. More killing power against groups or individuals never hurt us before, especially since swift killing power is one of the things we lack.

Just to turn that around the situations you are expecting are the ones that are unlikely to happen. We are attacking an artillery base with lookout posts not entrenched infantry which indirect fire grenades would be good against.

The choice between Tumult Shells and Hurricane Bombs is a choice between weapon that will help get to the target (more) intact and weapon that will be more effective at taking down a target that we should be able to take out.

>>1332913
Don't think that the Blackouts will trigger any impact fuses. Nothing solid enough to trigger them. Things can still pass through them if they are tough enough/stupid enough to ignore the death of a thousand cuts.

They will likely mess up guided munitions by being a ball of interfering shrapnel.

>>1332926
Tumult Shells for "dumb" explosive impact munitions.
Blackout Rockets for smart guided munitions.
Lockon Hunters for kinetic penetration (AP) munitions.

>>1333071
>>1333071
Except tumult has no guarantee that it'll stop even a little bit of an explosion. it might go right through. we are attacking an artillery base. do you expect it to be undefended? Nothing goes as planned, and frankly thinking a tumult shell, which has been questionably useful, is more important than our most powerful offensive weapon is kind of bananas, especially since HC just gave us a bone about one being superlatively powerful while giving us a caveat about the other.

Almost every run has had a nasty surprise and we should be loaded for bear everytime we go out. We have literally no idea what's going to hit us during this mission and preparing for a very likely scenario - Mortarphant having unknown backup to protect the installations and/or herself - is more important than something that might be useful, potentially, in a situation we should be planning around or completely avoiding at all costs.

We don't know how bad it's going to be. Things go wrong or surprise us every mission. Tumult Shell isn't anywhere near as useful as making enemies really unhappy as the Hurricane Bomb and I doubt the shell would even protect us from one shot.

Mortarphant, and whoever directed her here, is no fool about her weaknesses and has something up her trunk to counteract her vulnerability up close. She's in a valuable tactical position and you're taking our intel for granted.

since I didn't make it offical before,

>Ditch Tumult Shell

Also what the hell this is awful: http://www.avclub.com/article/cartoon-network-picks-new-mega-man-animated-series-253147

At some point I think we should consider either upgrading the tumult shell or completely redesign the way we use the data from the ground up. Even from the beginning its usefulness was limited outside of trenches, corridors or point defense.

>>1333450
Likely upgrade as I do not think we can repurpose something after it gets set like that.

we just used the base data so we should be able to repurpose

>>1333525
See, I am not entirely sure myself. Just saying, may not be able to is all.

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>>1333384
[screaming internally]

>>1332888

That's a pretty good point. They probably wouldn't think twice about dogpiling us with enemies to slow us down just enough to get hit. Not like they have reason to care about friendly fire...

...kind of starting to wish I'd voted to leave behind Lockon Hunter, even though I really wanted to keep it for this mission.

>>1333573
Man of Action has really gone to shit.

>>1333573
Only internally?

>>1332774

>No hurricane effect at all.

Damn mac maccool names!

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>>1333798
They're pretty hurricane-y, trust me. Anyway, back home now--would have been home sooner but I had to run back here to get my sneakers for the gym--and writing now.

>>1333573
Of fucking course it's 3d.
What the hell happened to 2d animation? Did people develop a fucking allergy?

>>1333842
2d animation is just flash nowadays.

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>>1330200
>>1330220
>>1330225
>>1330228
>>1330405
>>1330424
>>1331284
>>1331962
>>1332253
>>1332683
>>1333384
You check your weapons--still a little doubtful, you’d opted to leave the T. Shells behind for a few reasons. Not the least of which is that it’s focused on energy weapons, and you’re not sure you want to trust your life and a VWES slot to something that might stop a shell.

Coils expand your mobility, Wrenades will be reliable, vicious damage, Lockon Hunter will let you burn down observer drones and (hopefully) pierce heavy armor, and Blackout Rockets should play havoc with trackers.

Hopefully.

With that aside, there’s nothing else for it. “I’m going in loud,” you tell Ukumari, kicking a leg over the seat as you mount your Cheval. “If we happen to lose comms, you can task my ‘loids.”

She nods, flashing you a sharp-toothed grin. “Spoken like an artilleryman,” she replies. “Go make some trouble.”

You throw her a wave over your shoulder as you gun the Cheval, the jets pulsing as it rises up and skims the ground, dustclouds blooming around the thrusters. With one last twist of the handle, the generator whines, and your body jerks back in the seat as you take off.

“You’ve got a clear approach to the satellite base, but the mesa is mined,” Ukumari comms. “You can send the wheel ‘loids to sweep and clear ahead of you once you’ve got their attention.“

“What else we got?” You call, surprisingly cool air rushing past your ears as you clear the hunter base camp.

“Well, you can take the defile on your way in, but the stealth goes both ways--they know it’s there. Or you can take the straight shot in--the risks are a little more obvious.”

“The type that whistle, right?”

“That too. We know they’ve been through everywhere at least once.”
>Take the defile approach.
>Take the open line.

Let's take the defile. The less time we have to spend dancing between high-yield explosive raindrops, the better.

>>1333912
>Take the defile approach.
The ballsy approach is probably not the best choice, at least this early in a mission. We should at least TRY to keep the ride chaser intact, if only for a while.

>>1333912
>Take the defile approach.
Don't give the doom elephant more chances to shoot us then we have to.

>>1333912
Take the defile. I worry she'll start to get suspicious if we're too easy to spot.

>>1333912
>Take the defile
>Have 'loids on point

If I were 'phant, I'd have rigged the defile and any other easy stealth or cover with mines or other deathtraps. On the other hand, 'phant is a bit loopers right now.
So send in the disposables first, and if they spontaneously explode, then get out into the less likely to be inherently explosive ground.

>>1333912
>>Take the defile approach.
We're nothing if not the type to go the route most booby-trapped. But it does hopefully save us some shelling at the least.

Also, >>1333980 seems pretty on point on what to do.

>>1333980
Backing this.

>>1333980
That'll slow us down too much. We've already outpaced our backup mechaniloids. The whole point of bringing the ride chaser is to go in fast, and try to skim whatever patrols Mortarphant has going, before they zero in.

>>1334155
I thought we took fast 'loids for the purpose of not dashing into danger alone?

>>1324686
>All of them should be able to at least keep on the move
This suggests to me that the 'loids can keep pace, am I missing something?

>>1334199
This is what I was going on:
>>1328215
>You’ve got a ride chaser, two Drimole-Ws, a small convoy of 6 fast-movers, and two Earth Commanders. The mechaniloids won’t be able to keep up with the chaser, but they can be tasked to any objective based on timing--the trick is avoiding detection as long as possible.

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So we're opting to blaze through the defile, mechaniloids behind us, ready to be tasked to any side objectives?

>>1333912
>Take the open line.
We've got other parties waiting on us to complete their objective. We need to move fast and be a distraction so Sabamole has time to dig. The more they see us the less they patrol for Sabamole.

>>1333912

>Take the open line.

We aren't a stealth type and Ride Chasers are noisy.

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>>1333912
>Take the defile approach.
the mines worry me more than the exposure. I feel like we used up all our luck with mines in the Skipjack mission.

>>1333912
>Take the open line.
the defile is more likely to be densely mined, and it's better if we can start breaking observers gradually instead of all at once.

>>1333912

>Take the defile approach.
CalculatedRisksBird.jpg

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>>1335920

>>1335969
I want to say that Longshot Sparrow's weapon data would give Fluke Shooter, but I think that'd have to be Odds Orca's weapon.

>>1335979
Longshot Sparrow's weapon would be the Kestrel Chancer. It brings immense firepower but an unbelievably low accuracy.

In season 4, Anode will use it on a one in a million odds hit on Blitz Chiroptera, now a bloodthirsty maverick.

The moment will be known forever after as K.C. At the Bat.

>>1336167
Yeah, but why did Longshot Sparrow go mav?

>>1336194
A very, very bad miscalculation.

>>1336167
fuck you, that made me laugh.

>>1336194
Because all bats and birds are evil.

Longshot Sparrow is 3 ounces, and very dangerous.

>>1336222
Has MHQ collectively had eight fanon/joke Reploids to make a roster picture with? I remember Largescale Mustang and Uncultured Swine, Longshot Sparrow makes three.

>>1333912
>>Take the defile approach.

Cover they know is there is better than no cover.

>>1336349

Knowing our luck the place is mined to hell and back. And by that I mean is full of mines!

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just remember rule 16 my friends.

>>1336639

Hence why I want us to be a badass and

>Take the open line.

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Okay, settling in after a very long day, writing soon.

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>>1333936
>>1333945
>>1333959
>>1333977
>>1333980
>>1333988
>>1334964
>>1335920
>>1336349
You bank left, letting the defile slowly rise up around you as you take the ‘safe’ approach. “Going through the ravine,” you comm. “Expect action soon.”

Your pace is slowed--down here, in the shade, some scrub stubbornly clings to life beneath high plunging cliff edges. The path is spacious, but rough--you bank around a few rocks and have to slow your pace a little from the terrain. You scan the cliff walls, listening and peering intently, waiting for the inevitable.

It’s almost a relief, then, when OPAL chimes in your ear--a mechaniloid activation signal. The walls are suddenly alight as rocks clatter and purple-framed walkers emerge from the crevices they hid within, clinging stubbornly to the cliffsides. Multi-directional lasers begin to blink down overhead at odd angles, the normal firing lines tilted up or down a hair by the rocky overhangs.

“Contact, right overhead,” you warn. “Can’t fire on them at this speed. Barite Lastars--can they put out a warning?”

“Not by themselves, no, but we’re seeing incoming fliers. Our scouts have an ID on Scramblers.

You frown, racking your brain as you gun the engine--flying pincers on a propeller, they can grab and reposition something. “Maybe trying to unseat me?”

“I doubt it, they lack the precision. An--hold on, we’ve got contacts, topside.”

You look up to see the sky shadowed as something leaps overhead, bounding from cliffside to cliffside. A moment later, another, and another. Something adroitly lands on a rock and jumps its way down, coming to face you. It crouches with oddly dextrous legs, tilting the barrels of the guns on its back at you, and fires, dead on.

>Gun it right past.
>Bank to avoid the fire and take it out as you pass.
>Other?

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o7

>>1337055
>Bank to avoid the fire and take it out as you pass.

Really would rather avoid losing the Ride Chaser this early.

>>1337055
>Bank to avoid the fire and take it out as you pass.
If the jumpy things are what could be relaying our position (seems like a good bet?), they need to be taken out. Leaving one behind us would be bad, long-term.

>>1337055
>Bank to avoid the fire and take it out as you pass.

>>1337055

>Bank to avoid the fire and take it out as you pass.

>>1337055
>Bank to avoid the fire and take it out as you pass.

Part of run and gun means gunning more than an engine.

>>1337055
>Joust it.

The Ascent Lance is perfect for this. Pop the plasma blasts and impale the sucker.

>>1337055

Ohhhh, shit, changing this
>>1337168

to this
>>1337229

>>1337055
>Bank to avoid the fire and take it out as you pass.
Taking it out might alert other things, but gunning past it would likely mean being shot from behind.

>>1337229
>>1337349
Thirding this.

>>1337229
Against my better judgement, I gotta see this.

>>1337055
>>1337229
>Joust it.

>>1337229
4th'd. (heh)

>>1337229
This actually sounds good.
Let's commit suicide by mechanic!

>>1337229

I'll support this. Jousting it also seems faster.

I'm reminded of the dash attack in Jet Stingray's stage...

>>1337055
Jousting seems fine. What's the worst that could happen?

>>1337055
I don't see anything wrong with >>1337229
let's do it.

>>1337229

Ditto.

>Joust the motherbuckers!

>>1337055
>Bank to avoid the fire and take it out as you pass.

I'd really rather have Anode's epitaph be, "He saved the world. A lot." than, "Well, he died in an incredibly stupid way, but damn it looked cool!"

>>1339092
In this case, both Jousting and Banking are doing the same thing. Dealing with the mechaloid's fire before killing it as we pass.

Banking is having us dodge and then kill it with either buster or lance attacks while Jousting is having us use the Phase properties of the Ascent Lance to "kill" the mechaloid's attack before killing it with the lance.

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>All those jousting votes
Oh. Oh my. I do hope this turns out to be as exciting as I hope!

The lance is, after all, a fantastic tool for blocking... Plasma. I can't wait!

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As the anon that suggested we tether some torpedos back on the Skipjack op, I approve of this write-in.

>>1337229
Lets do this shit

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to be a bit more specific, let us juke, deflect the shot with lance, then run it down with the Arrest Buster.

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>>1337055
>You look up to see the sky shadowed as something leaps overhead, bounding from cliffside to cliffside. A moment later, another, and another. Something adroitly lands on a rock and jumps its way down, coming to face you. It crouches with oddly dextrous legs, tilting the barrels of the guns on its back at you, and fires, dead on.
This isn't Mortarphant, is it?

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>>1339691
I don't think Mortarphant is that mobile, and she's supposed to be on top of the mesa. So I very much doubt it.

>>1339517
...This is a good point. The ordinance might not be plasma based; it could be a missile. This thing could even be one of those DNA Mimics or whatever, with VWES capabilities.

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>>1334964
4/4/17, 2:58 AM.

>>1337229
4/4/17, 21:56 PM.

You guys made it ... 3/4 of a day.

I need to stop giving you ride chasers.

>>1340056
Oh dear.

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>>1340056
I'm not sure why I didn't make it loop when I made this. Here's a looping version, for Cain Labs' viewing pleasure.

>>1340056
On the subject of crazy ideas, we won't land on mines if we mariojump on enemy mechaniloids.

>>1340056
I was always terrible at Ride Chaser segments, especially in X5

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>>1340148
No, X5 was terrible at Ride Chaser segments. Friggin' Adler rote memorization ass rassum frassum...

>>1340056
Just a point, but you were the one who gave us the Ascent Lance (lances are a spear/polearm intended to be used while mounted on a charge), the option get an upgrade to let us couch it, gave us a Ride Chaser and put an enemy in front of us.

This is a fully viable tactical idea considering the choices you gave were "Charge passed it," "Dodge to the side and kill it" and we have a Lance that kills projectiles.

Considering our armament I opted to suggest that we use the Lance to kill the projectiles and kill it of as we pass by.

This was not a silly suggestion.

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>>1340158
Oh, no, I get all of those aspects.

It's just that you're in a narrow defile with cliff walls.

Anyway, writing now, and no, it's not gonna be a Smite button for badwrongfun.

>>1340154
Overdrive Ostrich in X2 and Avalanche Yeti in X8 (which I'm imagining this defile section to be like) are the best Ride Chaser stage in my opinion.

>>1340166
Are you taking my suggestion to mean multiple passes? I only meant one as I figured that this was not a boss or mini-boss.

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>>1337229
>>1337349
>>1337376
>>1337379
>>1337548
>>1337679
>>1338455
>>1338555
>>1338840
>>1338929
>>1339020
>>1339613
The mechaniloid hops back and forth from perch to perch as you weave around the first round of shots, swinging around a trio of pulsing energy shots. Snapping your lance out, you bear down on it as you accelerate, snaking around a rock as you socket your lance and brace.

You catch it midjump, the body twisting away and splitting open as it explodes, parts tumbling past you with a satisfying shock of impact. Your one-handed grip on the controls wobbles a little, but you keep it under control.

...Only to nearly bank into the cliffside at a shallow angle. You pull to the right and overcorrect, fishtailing wildly again as you struggle to get the chaser under control, nearly fumbling your lance in your hurry to return your other hand to the bars. You scratch up the side of the chaser against the cliffside, sparks flying and pebbles flecking the paintjob as you slowly come back to control, your knee a little scraped but otherwise unharmed.

Up above you, more of the little bastards are hopping side to side. You fire your buster skyward, mostly to keep the more choice angles denied as you pass, a little more cautious for your near-miss. The sky clouds again, though, as something flies overhead on its way past you.

“Those Scramblers are repositioning the Lastars,” Ukumari warns.

“How sturdy are they?” You ask.

“Not at all.”

>Spend a few Lockons to knock the Scramblers out of the air and de-turret the path ahead.
>Focus on evasion--they’re filling the air quick, but one or two light hits won’t destroy the Cheval.
>Other?

>>1340206
Well let's be fair, Overdrive Ostrich is just all around awesome. On a totally unrelated notes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ9oQCCSw8o&t=13m21s

>>1340235
>>1340235
Spending our ammo to make the way ahead safer is a good way to spend our ammo. Make them the low charge shots, of course.

>>1340235
>Spend a few Lockons to knock the Scramblers out of the air and de-turret the path ahead.

and

>others
fire a blackout rocket for cover if there are any more enemies in firing range behind you.

>>1340235
>Spend a few Lockons to knock the Scramblers out of the air and de-turret the path ahead.
The quicker we've got a clearer path (and keep our ride in one piece) the better.

>>1340235
>Spend a few Lockons to knock the Scramblers out of the air and de-turret the path ahead.

As a side note, Mortarphant is A-class, right? That means we could get Nav support. Would it help, or would it just crowd comms?

>>1340275
a navigater wouldn't really provide anything we aren't already getting. and as much as I'd love to get another helping of Wellington's snarkiness, the boy has more important things to do right now.

>>1340235
>Spend a few Lockons to knock the Scramblers out of the air and de-turret the path ahead.